Kisame Hoshigaki x Reader

Chapter Five: You're Blushing

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         Morning came too swift in a dreamless night. I could feel the gentle shaking of my shoulder as I was ushered to rise in the twilight of dawn, the morning light barely making its presence known over the horizon before the three of us were awake and beginning to pack. My eyes were still foggy and stung as I rolled my bag up and then tied it onto my rucksack. In a dreamy daze, I stood and breathed in the morning air, dew clung to the leaves and grass, its aroma bringing a peaceful feeling as we then began to walk. My feet had become wet and my legs damp as we waded through the dew making our way back to the roadside. I trailed along a few paces behind my two partners as my mind fought to accept that we were now awake even with the chill of the morning air brushing against my bare arms. The night had been silent and with the well-executed mission, I felt at ease.

         We travelled in silence for some time before Itachi stopped us on the road and instead wandered off into the trees by himself. Kisame, taking advantage of this pit stop disappeared in the opposite direction, leaving me to stand in the middle of the road. As I waited for them to complete their business I heard a noise around the bend and soon saw a merchant wagon drawn by a horse come into view. It was an elderly couple sitting at the front, the man holding the reins. As they rode up the elderly woman waved to me and I stepped to the side so they could pass. My Akatsuki cloak was crusted with dried blood and so I had rolled it up and stuffed it into my rucksack last night; the couple had no idea who I could be.

         The wagon stopped in front of me and the man and woman smiled. "Oh, now where could a young woman such as yourself be heading off to all alone in the middle of the forest?" The elderly woman asked as her husband, I presumed, nodded.

         Smiling at her and playing along I responded kindly, "Oh, thank you for your concern, ma'am," I softly bowed, "But I'm not alone. I have a travelling companion who just dipped into the forest to relieve themselves. They'll be back any moment and then we'll be on our way once more." I tilted my head with a large, innocent, closed-eyed smile.

         "It's good you aren't out here alone." The elderly man said as he continued to nod with a serious expression, arms folded across his chest. "There can be some troubling people who wander these parts of the forest. Bandits and rouges. They would most likely take advantage of your solitude, taking and doing whatever they well please." I shuddered as I thought of Hidan wandering around, terrorizing travellers. I knew what he would gleefully take from them and how in the end they would beg for deaths release.

         "Pa, you're going to frighten the poor girl!" The woman scorned.

         "Warnings aren't meant to do anything but, old woman!" The man retaliated.

         "Not to worry," I said with a wave, hoping they would continue on their way. "I'll heed your warning and make sure to stay close to my travelling partner. We'll watch each other's backs." I gave another soft bow as the elderly couple smiled at me. When I rose back up the man flicked the reins and their horse began to move again, the woman turning to wave back at me as they rode off out of sight around another bend in the road.

         Itachi and Kisame had returned as the dust from the wagon dispersed where I stood. Coming up onto the road they looked in the direction the wagon had gone before turning their attention to me. Itachi nodded his approval before motioning for us to continue our journey. I smiled at the suttle praise and followed his lead.

         Kisame walked beside me in silence for a moment before turning to me. "It was smart to say you were travelling with one companion, I suppose." I looked at him as we walked, his long legs taking slower strides so he could keep at my side. "It was also a good thing you didn't put your cloak back on. Sold the innocent traveller look." He grinned and I turned my head to face forward again, giving him a side smile and resisting the urge to roll my eyes at him.