A couple days passed and there was still no sign of Kisame. It seemed to me, he still wanted to avoid me.

It was beginning to bother me but I didn't know why. Or perhaps I did, and I was lying to myself.

It seemed, in truth, there was a part of me that enjoyed his company. His silence, the way he was, the things he said, I was beginning to like all of it.

It made it even worse knowing he didn't feel the same way. If he really liked being around me he wouldn't avoid me.

I sighed looking down from the rooftop of Pein's tower as I breathed in the fresh air.

I frowned.

There was no mistaking it, it was going to rain soon.

Still, I would stay here until my heart felt at ease. Until this feeling I couldn't describe went away.

I was avoiding Sana.

I couldn't bring myself to see her. I didn't know why.

Or perhaps I did know, and I was avoiding admitting it to myself.

Either way, I wanted nothing more than to be by myself and so as I walked to the rooftop of the hideout preparing myself to be alone.

I continued walking all the way up the stairs making it to the top of the tower. Opening the door to the rooftop I felt myself begin to relax as I walked out into the cold fresh air.

This hideout happened to be the tallest building in Amegakure, and as a result the view from the top of the roof was exquisite. I could see buildings far into the distance, the rivers that surrounded the village, and tall sturdy towers just as far as the eye could see.

I was happy we had come to Amegakure. I had never been here before now, and the area was something I liked experiencing.

I took a deep breath out and I was about to go sit down at the edge of the building when I spotted someone already sitting.

Sana.

I hadn't even noticed her. She was building up chakra and I assumed she was using it to hide her presence.

I thought about going back inside and I was on my way when...

"Oh, Kisame?"

I sighed. I had been caught.

I turned around slowly to face her and she stiffened.

"S-Sorry, if you don't wanna talk I can go back inside."

It's too late for that.

"No, I'll stay," I said forcing myself to stay calm.

My heart was beating. Looking at her and being in her presence was making my heart rate skyrocket.

I walked towards her keeping my composure before sitting beside her silently on the edge of the building. There was no railings protecting us from falling off the edge but since we were both shinobi, falling off was just a matter of focusing chakra into our legs so we had a safe landing.

I looked over at Sana's calm expression and just as I expected I felt a warmth begin to fill me up.

I enjoyed being around her and I hated that I enjoyed it.

I was fond of her.

She sighed as she looked off into the distance.

Her pink hair flurried in the wind and she held her knees with her arms as she sat. She was wearing a black shirt and black pants and she looked better this way compared to when she wore her Akatsuki cloak.

"You've been avoiding me lately," she said.

My body stiffened and I mentally cursed. Why was it that these days my body was so quick to show my emotions?

"I know," I said.

...

She looked at me opening her mouth to say something but closed it soon after. I knew what she wanted to ask. She wanted to ask me why but the Sana I knew was much too polite to invade on someone else's feelings.

I liked that about her. She was sensitive and thoughtful. She didn't care much about formalities. She didn't care much for heavy moments. She just wanted peace.

I wanted peace too and I found I was at peace when I was around her.

Looking at her long pink eyelashes, her rosy cheeks and clear blue eyes I was filled with wanting.

Wanting?

Yes, wanting.

I wanted her.

I wanted Sana.

The realization made my eyes widen and I closed my eyes slowly.

I lost the battle. I could no longer continue lying to myself.

I liked Sana.

I decided to be honest, "Sana, I've been avoiding you because-,"

Thunder struck.

Rain began to fall.

I looked up at the sky before tilting my head. I gave a simple pure smile for a few seconds. Perhaps, the rain was telling me not to say anything. At least, not yet.

Sana frowned as she looked up, "What the hell?"

It was too bad for her. I had decided to listen to the rain's suggestion. I was no longer going to say anything.

Two seconds later, it began to shower viciously and I chuckled a bit.

This was nice.

Sana smiled too.

"It seems the rain doesn't want you to tell me why," she said making me smirk.

"We'll save it for another day."

She got up slowly, "Should we go back inside?" she asked her hand above her head trying to shield herself from the rain.

"Sounds good," I said.