[Surprisingly enough, Kisame isn't here to troll; he isn't even here for the girl on girl action, attractive though it is. He actually sounds surprisingly friendly--he's laughing, even, grinning at Sakura through the screen, though the expression bares an unsettlingly sharp mouthful of fangs in his amusement.] So, kitty's got claws, does she? That's kind of cute.
But that fighting spirit, there--that's not bad at all. You seem pretty gutsy, for a little Leaflet. The question is, though, are you going to stay a house cat? Or are you going to grow into a lioness?
[Kisame's never quite been like Madara in some ways--he just isn't that patriarchal, and doesn't particularly want to be. He can respect women, if they're worth being respected--men are supposed to be tough, after all. It's only expected; you can't survive if you aren't. But women have different standards--they're given more leeway, cut more slack, not expected to be as ferocious and tenacious as a man would be. But he knows--he knows that women can be just as terrifying in their own right, just as strong, just as fearsome and noble and inspiring--if not moreso. Because nobody thinks they will be that way. Because nobody pushes them so hard to be; they have to do it themselves. They have to find it in them to realize that being a protector can mean being terribly powerful, and make that a reality.]
[He rather likes the tough girls, however they bring it out; it usually shows that they're at least worth dealing with.]
[ Is all of the Akatsuki going to come and comment on this dream? At this rate, Sakura thinks they just might. Wonderful.
But Kisame, oddly, has given her a compliment. Of sorts. She bristles a little at the way he says cute, but on the whole, he's being kind of friendly.
She thinks she sees where he's going with his metaphor, but she doesn't think it's a good idea to go one way or the other. Being noncommittal is probably for the best. ]
You're welcome, I think. [He's reminded a little of his exchange with Yukari, about the dream from his youth; it makes him chuckle again, and he tilts his head at her, almost encouraging. He always has liked kids, in some way. It's so interesting, watching people grow up, find themselves, grow into their own skin.... Kind of satisfying, really. Watching life flourish and grow, choose the direction it will go and the shape it will take....]
[It's rewarding in a way that's different from how he usually snuffs people's lives out. The latter is as likely as not to be a hot, passionate feeling, something that makes his heart pound and his blood race--but the former is more settled and firm, warm and cozy, something that makes him smile and look back on his younger days with a nostalgia that's just a little too bittersweet. This is different and curious, and unsettles him just enough to make him think it must be worth doing.]
What you need to be, huh? That probably depends on what Konoha needs you to be. But more importantly, what do you want to be?
Yeah, bringing up the rear does suck, doesn't it? Never getting to take care of things yourself, just having to hang back, getting shoved aside for more important things.... Kind of ironic how nobody remembers that the rear guard is nearly as important as the point position, in a lot of ways.
[ He missed the point a bit, but then again, she didn't expect anything different. His response tells her a little about him - indicates that he, too, is used to taking a back seat. Odd to imagine, since he always came off as being battle-hungry. There's a lot to these people, she realizes. ]
It's true that each part of a team is important in its own way. [ Here, a very small smile escapes; she almost doesn't realize it. ] I'm just trying to make sure I'm as useful as I can be to the people I care about.
[Battle-hungry as he is, and a decade older than Itachi though he is, Kisame is the junior of their partnership, not the senior; Itachi tends to call the shots, and Kisame tends to be content to follow his judgment, for the most part. Sure, he can rush ahead sometimes, but if Itachi needs him to hold off and guard his back.... hell, Kisame's willing to forgo whole fights just to ensure that nobody gets a hit in on him, if need be. Now that's dedication.]
[He offers her a lopsided grin in return, nodding knowingly; Kisame doesn't often do things in half-measures if he can help it.] You keep that up and survive, kiddo, and you'll probably go far. If that's what you really want, don't let anything stop you. [Here, the grin slides into an amused smirk.] Seize the day and throttle the hell out of it.
But that fighting spirit, there--that's not bad at all. You seem pretty gutsy, for a little Leaflet. The question is, though, are you going to stay a house cat? Or are you going to grow into a lioness?
[Kisame's never quite been like Madara in some ways--he just isn't that patriarchal, and doesn't particularly want to be. He can respect women, if they're worth being respected--men are supposed to be tough, after all. It's only expected; you can't survive if you aren't. But women have different standards--they're given more leeway, cut more slack, not expected to be as ferocious and tenacious as a man would be. But he knows--he knows that women can be just as terrifying in their own right, just as strong, just as fearsome and noble and inspiring--if not moreso. Because nobody thinks they will be that way. Because nobody pushes them so hard to be; they have to do it themselves. They have to find it in them to realize that being a protector can mean being terribly powerful, and make that a reality.]
[He rather likes the tough girls, however they bring it out; it usually shows that they're at least worth dealing with.]
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But Kisame, oddly, has given her a compliment. Of sorts. She bristles a little at the way he says cute, but on the whole, he's being kind of friendly.
She thinks she sees where he's going with his metaphor, but she doesn't think it's a good idea to go one way or the other. Being noncommittal is probably for the best. ]
I guess I'll become whatever I need to be.
[ She hesitates. ]
Thank you... I think.
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[It's rewarding in a way that's different from how he usually snuffs people's lives out. The latter is as likely as not to be a hot, passionate feeling, something that makes his heart pound and his blood race--but the former is more settled and firm, warm and cozy, something that makes him smile and look back on his younger days with a nostalgia that's just a little too bittersweet. This is different and curious, and unsettles him just enough to make him think it must be worth doing.]
What you need to be, huh? That probably depends on what Konoha needs you to be. But more importantly, what do you want to be?
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[ He probably doesn't understand what she means, but she doesn't want to reveal too much. Sakura speaks with a firm, quiet conviction.
She's part of the way there, at least. Progress is being made. ]
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It's true that each part of a team is important in its own way. [ Here, a very small smile escapes; she almost doesn't realize it. ] I'm just trying to make sure I'm as useful as I can be to the people I care about.
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[He offers her a lopsided grin in return, nodding knowingly; Kisame doesn't often do things in half-measures if he can help it.] You keep that up and survive, kiddo, and you'll probably go far. If that's what you really want, don't let anything stop you. [Here, the grin slides into an amused smirk.] Seize the day and throttle the hell out of it.
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