Kisame sighed as he rested against the large rock, staring up to the sky above him as a distraction, however it supplied little reprieve from what was going on behind him. Itachi was doubled over, coughing loudly, blood spattering onto the ground with each violent outburst. He did his utmost to keep his eyes forward, but of course he stole glances back, even though he knew the Uchiha disliked it. Eventually the raven haired male fell silent, his breathing turning from raspy to calm as he straightened himself out. Kisame shook his head slowly, there was no way in hell Itachi was going to survive long enough to fight his brother, the kid was only 12 years old, and less than a challenge was an understatement. Only a few hours ago Jiraiya had chased the pair off from capturing the nine tails, and Sasuke had intervened, however Itachi had easily subdued him, not even breaking sweat, it would take years before he was ready. His dark eyes glanced down to his partner as he stood beside him, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Kisame knew that Itachi would be lucky to see the year out. Lifting Samehada from beside him and strapping it to his back he faced the Uchiha.

"You're dying, and a lot faster than you thought you would."

Itachi stared to him for a moment, his face remaining stoic.

"I'm fine."

Kisame shook his head no and folded his arms across his chest. His comrades were few and far between, the vast majority of the Akatsuki considered great annoyances each on their own special way, so helping the one he actually found tolerable didn't seem like such a bad idea. Besides; if Itachi died; who knew who he would get stuck with next...

"You and I both know that isn't true. If you want to face off against your brother, you need to be alive and kicking. So do you want my help or what?"

Itachi's brow raised in curiosity, Kisame had his attention.

"And just what are you able to do to help?"

Kisame smirked, unfolding his arms and staring off a little in the direction they would have to travel in.

"It's not what I can do to help. It's who I know that can help."

Itachi remained silent for a moment, his gaze falling away from Kisame who patiently awaited an answer.

"Very well then. Lead the way."

Kisame smirked once more before turning and heading off into the woods, the Uchiha following closely behind. It had been years since he had seen the individual set in his mind, but there was also no doubt that it if anyone could help Itachi stick around just that little bit longer, it was them.

It took 3 days of walking, and Kisame and Itachi now walked along the shoreline. The sun high in the sky above them illuminating the bright blue sea brilliantly, the cloudless skies bare and unending, and the platinum white sand stretching out for miles. Kisame took a deep breath through his nose, inhaling deeply and allowing the salted sea air to calm his mind and body. It had been too long since he had last visited the ocean. His eyes landed on the only manmade structure for miles, one which they had been approaching for quite some time, which was now becoming more than just a blur in the horizon. The wooden pier creaked below him as he stepped onto it, and he gave his foot a light shake in hopes of dispersing some of the sand caught between his toes. A glance behind him confirmed Itachi was still following behind, silent and watchful as ever. He began towards the floating hut at the end of the pier which swayed gently with the soft waves, it wasn't anything special, just some logs and straw bound together to form a small home, one which the blue male had visited only a few times in the past.

"Ohio Kisame-kun. Surprised to see you here."

Their attention was drawn to the sea beside the pier. A man floated beside it, his grin bright as he looked up to the people standing atop the wood before him.

"I wash up every once in while don't I?"

The man only chuckled, his white eyes flashing in excitement as his fingers grasped ahold of the pier tightly and he hauled himself out of the water. He straightened up for a moment before facing towards the water and kneeling forward; his arms outstretched. His skin was white and black, patterned in a manner reminiscent of a killer whale, on the side of his biceps, forearms, thighs and calves rested small fins, as well as one large one of his back. His hair was white as the sand the Akatsuki members still had rubbing annoyingly against their feet, his eyes matching with the exception of the dark black pupil in the centre. He was well built, his body toned and sculpted as that of a man who swam for miles everyday, which as Kisame knew, he did. His clothing consisted of a long dark blue cloth which hung around his waist, and glimmering bracers resting around his wrists. He shook his head and chuckled lightly as he stared into the water, Kisame and Itachi watching him curiously.

"Come on now. No need to be so shy!"

A bubble floated to the surface, popping quietly, and following closely behind it came a white head of hair. Large blue eyes stared up to the three on the pier, travelling between the two strangers before settling onto the familiar face which had called the form forward. Lips rose above the water, a voice quiet and calm calling out.

"I don't want to come out yet."

The man chuckled once more, leaning further forward, his arms coming closer.

"But you have to! Look Kisame has come to see us! You remember Kisame right?"

The head shook no. Kisame's smirk falling in annoyance. So few forgot his face when they saw it, he simply wasn't accustomed to it. The man straightened up, shaking his head as he rested his hands onto his hips, if she wasn't going to come out, fine. Turning to Kisame he smiled happily.

"Well even if she's going to be like that, it's good to see you Kisame-kun."

The shark like male grinned in response, nodding his head before standing to the side and allowing Itachi into full view.

"This is my partner. Itachi Uchiha."

Itachi looked over the male curiously, examining the webbed hand now outstretched to him closely before shaking it.

"Oruka, Oruka Genzai. That's some ailment you have there, Itachi-kun."

Itachi narrowed his eyes, pulling his hand free and returning it to his side. Oruka held his hand up, showing Itachi the pulsating pads lining his palm.

"Receptors, sorry about that! However I assume that's why you're here to see me?"

He turned away sharply, sighing in disappointment as he glanced down to the water once more.

"How sad, and here I was thinking you actually missed me Kisame-kun. Oh well. Let's see what we can do shall we? OK Zeri-chan it's time to come out. No more playing."

Small hands gripped tightly onto the pier, followed by the body sized to matched them. Kisame looked down to the small girl standing before him, she was just a baby the last time he had seen her, which would make her around 3 years old now. She had long white locks and bright blue eyes, her abdomen was adorned with dark blue scales on the side and ribcage, as were her shoulders. She dressed similarly to Oruka, with the exception of a band of material rested around her torso. Her cheeks puffed out as she glared to Oruka.

"I don't want to go inside yet. You told me we could play for as long as I wanted."

The man sighed before kneeling down and picking the girl up carefully, placing her onto his shoulders. She still huffed in annoyance but stayed perched, paying little mind to the men behind her.

"I didn't know we would have visitors. Kisame's friend is sick, and we're going to help him. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

She looked behind her to the two men, Kisame smiling to her, even Itachi's stoic expression softening slightly as the small girl smiled slowly, her large eyes glistening in the bright sunlight. She clamped her hands around Oruka's head, pulling his long bangs back and out of his face.

"Ok papa."

The pair began off along the pier and towards the home. Kisame followed after, taking a small moment to enjoy the fact that the girl hadn't been frightened of him, she had only looked to him as she had Itachi, as a face she was memorising. His smile lessened but his good mood remained ashe glanced out to the vast waters. Kisame had issues his whole life of feeling like he didn't belong, but when he had spent time with Oruka and his family in the past, he had felt like one of them. Oruka opened the door to the small home before them, Kisame taking a deep breath as he entered inside, the scent of seasoned mussels entering through his nose.

"Yuri-chan! Kisame-kun came to see us! And he's brought a dying friend!"

Itachi glared to the man as he set his daughter onto the floor boards. She immediately ran towards the next room, coming out a few moments later with a tight grasp on a woman's skirt. She smiled to the three men, Oruka approaching her and giving her an affectionate peck on the cheek before standing behind her, his hand on her shoulders.

"Itachi-kun, this is my lovely wife Yuri-chan. Yuri-chan, this is Kisame's friend Itachi-kun."

Kisame smirked at the slightly widened eyes of his partner. Oh he knew all too well what he was looking at. Yuri was more than lovely, she was stunning. She adorned the same clothing as her daughter, the navy blue fabric hugging her body tightly. The same shimmering blue scales covered her sides and ribcage, as well as shoulders and cheeks. Around her neck she wore a thin band of pears, matching the circlet hanging a over her head. Her brilliant blue eyes were centred in her perfectly symmetrical face, and her shoulder length blue locks were wavy yet tamed. She smiled to the pair sweetly.

"So nice to see you again Kisame-kun, and a pleasure to met you, Itachi-kun."

Kisame entered forward approaching his old friends and leaving Itachi forgotten in the doorway. Being around them reminded him of days long gone by, they were among the few he still had trust for, the few he knew weren't hiding anything, the few who knew who he was, what he was, and yet accepted him. They were his old team. Kisame grinned to Yuri and she smiled back, although when they first met he was head over heels for her, in time he had grown to see her as a sister, and eagerly nudged the man who was now her husband to confess his feelings for her.

"Looks like that siren side of you is still effective even after having a kid, I've never seen Itachi do that."

Yuri only chuckled, resting her hand over her abdomen carefully, Oruka looking to her lovingly.

"It's the pregnancy, it amplifies the charm to ensure men dont attack me when I'm most vulnerable."

Kisame only chuckled, resting his hand onto Oruka's shoulder.

"You don't waste time do you Oruka-kun? Another? Already?"

Oruka laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

"What? I like kids!"

Kisame sat quietly on the sofa in the small lounge, Itachi seated next to him as they enjoyed the steaming cups of tea set out for them. Oruka and Yuri were currently in the kitchen, insisting that the duo stayed for dinner, and promising to take a closer look at Itachi afterwards. The Uchiha sighed, setting down his now empty cup onto the coster set out before.

"So Kisame-kun, whenever you're ready."

Kisame smirked into his cup, he knew it was only a matter of time until the Uchiha's curiosity got the better of him.

"Oruka and Yuri were on my ninja team when I was a kid. I've known them for a long time. They left the village not too long after I did and moved out here. Both are Uminokodomo; sea children. They're a segregated clan which belong to the mist, but many leave in adulthood to come to live by the sea. Oruka is of the Genzai; and Yuri is of the Mizutenshi. There used to be 5 variations of them, but they've died out over time. Both have receptive abilities, able to sense various things through physical contact, but the Mizutenshi have a particular skill for healing and medicines."

"And you think they can help me?"

Kisame nodded, placing his cup onto the table.

"If anyone can help you, it's Yuri."

"My thanks for the belief in me Kisame-kun, I'll do what I can. Now let's eat shall we?"

It was almost surreal to the Akatsuki members to be seated around a normal dining table, plates of various foods set out before them as the family talked happily. It was as though they didn't care at all who they were, what they had done...it didn't matter at all to them. In their eyes Kisame had done the right thing, they had always thought that, and after they had encountered the male after they themselves had left the Mist they were delighted to see him. He was their teammate, he always would be. Kisame sighed contently as he finished off the stuffed clams on his plate, no one cooked like Oruka did. In fact he was until this day, fairly sure it was the only reason a knockout like Yuri had married the goofball.

"So then Itachi-kun, why don't you let Yuri-chan take a look at you?"

Oruka smiled at him from across the table and gestured towards Yuri who sat beside the Uchiha. The woman smiled to him, holding her hand forward as webbing grew between the fingers, and thick pads grew from her palm, which she faced up towards Itachi. Kisame watched on as Itachi glanced back to him, giving the man a curt nod, his expression falling serious as he watched his partner slip his hands into Yuri's. The woman's eyes closed for a moment. The room remaining silent as all awaited the result of her reading. Slowly her eyes opened, her bright blue lips sinking into a frown as she looked sadly to Itachi. Kisame frowned, that couldn't be good.

"You're in such pain; Itachi-kun. I'm...There's nothing I can do. You're ailment is cellular, and while I can treat your pain for you, there's nothing I can do to help keep it at bay."

Kisame's face fell. He had been so sure that she would be able to help, he had built Itachi's hopes up for nothing. Oruka piped up, still smiling to them happily.

"If it's cellular, then why don't we call in Koraru? Surely she can do something."

Yuri smiled brightly, releasing Itachi's hand and giving a nod.

"No doubt. She's spent so much of her time on her research that there's a chance she'll know something."

Itachi blinked in confusion.

"Koraru?"

"Oruka's little sister. She's twice the medic I am."

Koraru sighed as she stared to the dead newt laying on table before her. This just wasn't working at all. She was close, she could smell it she just...she needed more chakra. Everything was a science, anything was possible...she just had to figure it all out. Her fingers ran through her long fuchsia locks before she abandoned the table, laying down on the soft sofa and closing her eyes over lightly. No matter what it took; she was going to complete her formula.

Koraru's electric pink eyes shot open at the sound of water splashing. She lived in a sea cave, thin tributaries leading to the surface providing air, and stopping the large pool of water in the centre of the area from consuming the space. It was secluded; it was quiet; it was safe. It was due to the location of her home that she barely moved at the sound of approaching footsteps; that was until she noticed there was three sets of them. The only people who ever visited the home were her brother and his family, and so unless Zeri's feet had grown rapidly in size; it couldn't be them. Her head shifted and she sat up; sighing in relief as her brother waved to her; grinning brightly as he always was.

"Afternoon Kora-chan! Look who I found!"

Koraru chuckled as she sat up fully, rubbing her back as she straightened up; she really had to stop sleeping on the sofa so much.

"Ohio brother, a surprise to see you; Kisame-kun."

Kisame smirked to the woman staring back at him. Koraru, must like Yuri, was a Mizutenshi. Females of the Uminokodomo clan had a chance of being born as either a Mizutenshi or a Genzai, but males were always Genzai. They took the last name of whatever subspecies they had, which admittedly, made it rather difficult to remember who was related to who; especially to outsiders. Although she wasn't as accentuated as Yuri was, she was still attractive; the siren within her altering her appearance to ensure she could captivate anyone she was looking to entrance. Her skin was almost a standard nude colour, but an underlying tone of coral pink tinged it. Her scales were glimmering pale lilac and shocking pink, adorning ribcage; shoulders and cheeks, leading to her electrifying pink eyes and long fuchsia locks. She wore the same style skirt at the others, her top as a bikini, a large hoop centered between her breasts holding it closed, and stand alone sleeves; pink in colour to match the ensemble. The blue haired males eyes flashed as he watched her walk towards them; long forgotten thoughts resurfacing in his mind.

"Koraru-chan; it's been too long."

She nodded to him; smiling softly before her gaze fell onto the third of their party. A shinobi. Oruka wasted no time in pulling Itachi forward; the Uchiha glaring at the mans brash actions.

"Ok Kora-chan! Itachi-kun here is dying and we can't help him! ...take a look will you?"

The woman stared to her brother for a moment and rolled her eyes before chuckling. Oruka didnt dance around things, he just let it out.

"Very well then. Follow me please."

Kisame and Oruka fell onto the sofa as they watched Koraru lead Itachi towards a large table, having him sit atop it and remove his shirt while her hands changed; the Uchiha gasping as the cold scaly skin set onto torso. Kisame watched her intently as her face turned serious, strands of her long hair falling into her face.

"Why does she live down here on her own?"

Oruka's smile fell as he turned his attention towards his sister, his eyes softening in sadness.

"After she lost him...she didn't much care for the attention of men; but being the way she is; she got it anyway. So when we left the mist and she followed; she sought further solitude. This is where she ended up."

He nodded slowly; his eyes closing for a moment as he thought of the woman; of who she had lost. Koraru had for many years been the girlfriend of Mangetsu Hozuki; one of the 7 Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame himself had been acquainted with the man; with both of them, he hadn't really believed that you could truly love someone until he had met the pair; and although Mangetsu was a vicious killer, Koraru was so much of his world. For her he was gentle and caring, sweet and gallant. Kisame had often poked fun at him for it; but it never bothered him, because he had her, and that was what mattered. It all changed though when Mangetsu along with the other Swordsmen; lost his life. The woman had been devastated, falling silent for days and even weeks afterwards.

"So how does she get chakra? Won't she die without it?"

He was right. Mizutenshi didn't produce their own chakra; the took it from others. Their beauty was normally more than enough to lure victims to them; but if that failed they sang. None who could hear it could resist the sound of their voices, victims falling into a trance like state. It could be warped for other uses; but the lure of chakra victims was the most common. Oruka leaned forward, picking the dead newt up from the table and showing it to Kisame, dangling it by it's tail.

"She takes what she can from sea creatures; it gets her by. She is quite weakened though."