It was cliché and he would rather cut off one of his own hands than admit it out loud but, being here in the ridiculously squishy bed, with her surprisingly small warm body draped over his, was peace in the midst of war.

For once, he didn't want to fight anymore.

For once, he had something he truly felt the need to protect.

Beyond the powerful pull of patriotic pride, past the instinctual necessity of spilling his own blood for anything his village needed, Genma wanted this small creature in this small apartment to never feel the pain of anything again.

The one thing he wanted to prevent, and tomorrow Hinata was going to have to rise before dawn and leave him for a mission that might be her last. Or the next. Or the next.

"Shhh, it's okay."

Her hands were cupping his face, large eyes half lidded in sleep but focused on him; how Hinata always seemed to know when to turn to him still boggled Genma. Usually he would grimace at her being able to read him but right now he used it to pull her on top of him fully.

He had to swallow twice before whispering, his voice more of a croak than seductive.

"Show me it is."

(209)

a/n: So this is the end for now, maybe add some chapter in the future but probably not. If I want to write them (which is appealing) I will probably just start a new story. Thank you for all who had followed, started, and reviewed Water - It means a lot to me. Right now, besides life (urg), I've been trying to work my way through all the fics I have started, posted, and want to start posting. Editing, revising, and stuff.

Again, thanks for reading. =]