Each of us has words that we long to hear. Those sentences, said at the right time and sincerely, would have the power to make us the happiest people on earth. However, for one reason or another, these concepts almost always remain buried in our minds at an unconscious level; if someone didn't intervene promptly to pronounce them by slapping them in our faces like a slap, we wouldn't even know what they are exactly. They would remain there prisoners but always intent on pushing and scratching making us feel bad, not making it known why. It's inevitable, these words have immense strength. When they come out of someone's mouth in front of the lucky interlocutor, they move mountains, shatter fortresses built and tested over several years, they can even change aspects of the character of the listener after a life spent desiring them without knowing it.

Even Kisame had kept such important words within himself, Tayuya had caught some facets of them, small flashes here and there, while Nagato, following the path already traced by him, had hit the target. The arrow that lands on such a target never hurts, for Kisame the pain had been swept away in an instant. The torment of doubt, that not knowing what Itachi felt for him that he couldn't find an answer to, saw him as blurred by a thick fog. The dark was in every gesture of him, he found it even in the simplest, most normal and everyday ones. It was his first thought when he woke up in the morning, Kisame often imagined himself having a conversation with him, what he would have done or said if Itachi had been there. Every night he fell asleep thinking of the shiny obsidian in his eyes, his dreams were full of him.

Kisame had said I love you, the fact that he had said it while Itachi was asleep certainly didn't make that feeling any less sincere. He had chosen that moment in order not to further disturb the dark's difficult situation, pronouncing those words, Kisame had nurtured the hope that they could still reach Itachi even if filtered by his dreams.

And I, Itachi? Am I the same for you?

After breaking up with Nagato, Itachi had come running to him. Kisame seemed to have been his first thought, he had walked miles under the sun with shoes hanging from his hands and nothing else.

To come to you.

I'm the weasel, you realized those weren't my shoes, you saw your hand full of foundation.

The phone call to Obito that he purposely made him listen to, the tears he let go in front of him for Nagato and Sasuke. And then? Ever since he had risen from that stretcher and walked towards the bar without even looking back, it seemed that the previous day had never existed. He had gone away with his brother without even saying goodbye and now it was more than a month that he hadn't heard from him. Kisame saw no way out to escape this infinite loop, he felt suffocated as if the sky itself were oppressing him.

That had always been the time of year that he had loved most since he was very small, the spring that slowly gives way to summer. Memories of him wind surfing as a boy, always vivid and relived each time with a smile, now hurt him by their very existence.

Kisame had been unable to recognize himself until he saw Nagato's eyes, so peculiar, fixed inside his. The strength and security that he was capable of emanating from that annihilated body had been like a running train that he had kindly allowed himself to run over. Only those who have known true pain have the ability to understand that of others, only those who have suffered seriously can derive the full satisfaction that lies behind the act of helping others. He had found in Nagato, in a few minutes, all those answers that had been tormenting him laughing in his face since the night Itachi had slept next to him. It pained him to realize how Itachi and Nagato had hurt each other, albeit in good faith, for the duration of their relationship. Two people tormented in the same way, albeit for different reasons, can never benefit from being together, one drags the other down and vice versa. These were those cases in which the search for something different that is also complementary is essential for relieving the depressed person.

Although Nagato had come so far after knowing what inhuman work Itachi was forced to do, that evening Kisame had seen a completely new light on that hollow face, the parts had reversed, it was the red that had relieved him of an extreme situation despondency. Here Naruto had performed the miracle again with that person in need of pushing every time he takes some crush on which Kisame had so much joked when neither of them knew Nagato yet.

The blond had always been aware of his own nature and now, in the space of just over a month, not only had Nagato understood that Itachi didn't do that job for fun, but he had begun to find his true self again, lost in sight for years. He had even gotten to the point of wanting to help both him and Itachi having realized that they were different but complementary like he was with Naruto. What one lacks, the other has and vice versa, in this way two people can form a whole that will no longer have to suffer for the lack of some fundamental aspect for happiness. Nagato had decided to help both Itachi and Kisame by paving the way for them to get closer.

Kisame even smiled while he set the table for three, that evening he didn't want to embark on silent and imaginary dialogues born only from his head, but he wanted to see his living room full of smiles and joy. During the day it was illuminated by sunlight, in the evening it would explode chasing Deidara's energy. Kisame had in fact invited him and Karin to dinner that evening. He didn't know how Tayuya and Nagato had managed to give him all that certainty. Both had confirmed to him that Itachi just needed time, that he was a person who had suffered and whose difficult situations hadn't ended yet, that their bond was so strong and indissoluble that they both had it clear after a few seconds.

Kisame was wondering if Itachi had managed to set the record straight with Sasuke, when the usual Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits trumpeted in the street startled him. Deidara's trademark, he'd been using it since he'd known him on that famous New Year's at Kiba's; their youth, inevitably studded with mistakes, quirks and intense emotions.

Kisame walked to open the gate leaving the door open before that blond earthquake demolished them both. Deidara's tire scuffing on the immaculate driveway left horrific black scars. The image just seen couldn't help but bring Kisame back to that evening when the crazy blond had left with his car packed with hand-made explosives to make a show of him that had left them all in suspense. Kisame's thoughts automatically returned to Hinata, the shy brunette he had conquered on that occasion.

This time in her company an equally discreet redhead, however the one with Karin was taking the turn of an important story, Kisame had been noticing it for some time already; the redhead was gradually melting losing the tendency to be embarrassed by every silly thing since she was with him. Deidara, for her part, had stopped looking at her with eyes enraptured by her physical desire for the umpteenth girl he wanted to turn into a prey, now in those strange and large pupils of hers one could also glimpse something more than she.

It seemed that the couple had agreed on how to dress that evening, Karin wore a short skirt of dark blue jeans with a short sleeved shirt of the same color, nail polish of the same shade on both her hands and toenails which poked elegantly from black leather sandals. The exact same blue found space on the lines of Deidara's shirt, they intersected each other forming squares on the white background, his jeans seemed made of the same material and color as her skirt. The blond managed to be elegant and flashy even if the shirt was untucked, it was short enough not to appear shabby even though the last button had been left unbuttoned on purpose. That blue seemed to have been artfully chosen to be two shades lighter than his eyes making them stand out as never before even though he used to go over them with black pencil in a very marked way. The two had certainly not arrived empty-handed, Deidara with two bottles of white wine in hand while Karin had a strawberry and cream cake.

"For tonight you will have to say goodbye to your diet, Kisame."

The blond grinned as Karin's cheeks colored slightly, her swaddled feet touched their toes as her heels parted in a cute I did it with my hands pose. Deidara squeezed her in a hug from her, giving her a sound kiss and then letting go of a big smile that seemed to say I'm proud of you. Kisame felt relieved to have confirmed that he was right by inviting those two to dinner. He just wanted some fun.

"Wow, Kisame, you've settled in really well. This room itself isn't that big, but the arrangement you've made of the furniture gives the idea that it is. White then does the rest."

Deidara had placed himself in the center of the living room wrapping his right hand around his torso while he kept his left pointed under his chin. The cocktail music that Kisame had put on his faithful stereo enveloped them as if it were pleasantly tepid water. The serious and concentrated gaze assumed by the blond examining the environment had made Karin and Kisame smile.

"I was right to bring some white wine, I see. The smell of seafood that I smell does not deceive me."

Without giving the other two time to reply, Deidara had rushed into the kitchen corner, uncovering the pan that Kisame had on the fire.

"Look what I can do!"

The blond, having grabbed a large wooden fork, had started throwing baby octopus and prawns into his mouth on the fly, making the other two laugh out loud. Maybe Karin was the first time she let herself go like this.

When a person gets to change so much it means that they are really in love.

"Argh… I burned my tongue, Karin!"

The other two had tears in their eyes from laughing, the girl went to the rescue of her companion by handing him a glass of chilled wine, the three friends thus made their first toast.

While they were eating the delicious spaghetti, Kisame looked again at the chair in front of him, the fact that now it was occupied by Deidara didn't give him absolutely any unpleasant thoughts, on the contrary, he smiled observing how the blond's innate cheerfulness grew with each glass of wine. Both Kisame and Karin noticed how Deidara was exaggerating, however they couldn't help the good humor he brought and that's why they let him.

Kisame only considered the abysmal difference that existed in the way of eating between Deidara and Itachi. The only time he sat there, Itachi had grabbed the onigiri that Kisame had prepared for him by improvising as if they were violin strings, he brought them to his mouth with disarming slowness, touching them only with his velvety lips before eating them. Kisame remembers how he had been as silent as possible to pick up all the imperceptible noises Itachi was making. Deidara, on the other hand, was enthralling due to the noise and the huge bites he put into his mouth while continuing to speak without scruples. Neither canceled the other, each was unique and with its own characteristics and, in life, everything was needed. You could fall in love with both.

"Karin, did I ever tell you how Kisame and I met?"

Kisame felt a cold shiver go down his spine for an instant, Deidara, now without inhibitions, was about to bring out the New Year from Kiba. The fluency with which the blond was able to talk about everything in detail was incredible, he had even gone so far as to reveal about Hinata in front of his current girlfriend without the latter being angry. Indeed, Karin appeared very interested and amused.

After all, these are events from when we were young, there's nothing wrong with having experienced them. Karin too will have her youth vicissitudes.

Kisame relaxed heated by the wine while Deidara remembered the fireworks show with which he animated that party under Karin's admiring eyes.

"And then, you don't know what happened next."

The blond assumed a mischievous expression as his smile leaned a bit mischievously to his right. Kisame had to feign nonchalance while Deidara rattled off, word for word, that amusing incident that had happened because of Tayuya. Karin became serious for a moment rolling her eyes from one to the other before bursting out laughing followed by her boyfriend. Kisame's hilarity followed that of the others mostly due to feeling immensely relieved by the redhead's positive reaction.

"I'm glad to know you've been friends for so long, Deidara has always been a joker. I feel honored to be part of the group" Karin smiled as she moved her glasses with her fingers, wiping away the tears from laughing too much.

Deidara's smile became sweet, he hugged her while her eyes sparkled: "We haven't told you the most important thing yet, Kisame. Karin and I are getting married in September."

If Tayuya hadn't intervened to make him spend a fun evening, if he hadn't talked to Nagato, if he hadn't had Naruto's support while handing him the keys to open that open door on his journey, hearing those words Kisame would have collapsed. Maybe he would feel like crying because all his hopes of finding someone to love was lost. Seeing all his friends finding love except him. Maybe he wouldn't have embraced both of them smiling sincerely, he would have been prevented from feeling the joy flowing through both of their veins. He certainly would not have dedicated the last toast of the evening to them.

"Kisame, love is on the way for you too, rest assured. I'm usually never wrong about that."

The blond spoke those words looking his friend intensely in his eyes and squeezing his hands tightly. The energy that crossed his pupils made Kisame realize that Deidara was the third person to give him that confirmation in a short time.

From the outside they all see much more than me who are inside, I feel that they are right. Tonight I finally feel alive after a long time.

His newfound joy also allowed him to enjoy Deidara and Karin kissing on the couch next to him as they relaxed watching a comedy film. The blond's hands slipped under her skirt in a way that made Kisame understand that he was considered one of the family by both of them. Kisame didn't feel embarrassed but immensely happy. Karin's bra came out after Deidara blew the top three snaps off his denim shirt. Their sighs and giggles progressively faded until they disappeared. When Kisame noticed it he turned in their direction discovering that they had both collapsed asleep, on the other hand they had completely drained the two bottles of wine brought by them plus the other two that Kisame had. The landlord got up smiling and shaking his head to go get a blanket, it was late spring however they were both practically half naked. Before covering them he took off Karin's glasses which fit half askew on her face. He gathered Deidara's long hair which, from his head resting on her breasts, almost ended up on the floor, Kisame had to stifle a laugh seeing her mouth awkwardly open in her sleep. As he made his way down the corridor to his room, Kisame found himself thinking about what it would be like when he and Itachi too would have spontaneity like that. He visualized Itachi there in the house together with him now spontaneously. Falling asleep with a smile on his lips, Kisame imagined Itachi immersed in sleep next to him, who knows if he would have kept his mouth open like Deidara or if he would have even snored?

I would still love everything about you.