A/N: The song "Cold Cold Heart" was written by Hank Williams and tweaked slightly by me to fit this fic. Told in Misao's POV. This is VERY short, but to make it longer would ruin it, in my opinion. I think I have gotten the point across.

Rating: G

**denotes lyrics

~*Cold Cold Heart*~

**I tried so hard, my dear, to show that you're my every dream.

Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil scheme

A memory from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart

Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart?**

Ice blue. The shade of his eyes, the color of his heart.

I watch him constantly, the days streaming by in a sea of endless, painful moments. Sadness has taken on a new meaning. It wraps around me like a permanent condition, but still I cannot stop. Can't stop watching, can't stop hoping, that someday he might look at me and see that I am everything he needs.

He keeps himself distant from me, surrounding himself with the scent of incense and the taste of green tea, wearing the icy shroud that fits him so well. It keeps his face expressionless. It has stolen his smile.

The memory of our fallen comrades, the men who had been part of our small ninja family, haunts his every waking thought. The time has passed, but still he can't forgive himself. He blames himself for their deaths, bracing the weight of their souls on his shoulders. It is a pressure that would have long ago crushed any lesser man.

It has not buried him, but it has further locked away the emotions he has always strived to hide. The beauty of his face is like the glory of ice. At once it sparkles, but the surface is hard to touch. With enough force, I could shatter it. With the heat of my desire, I could melt it. But he will not let me near; he keeps me pushed away. And every day, he tears apart my soul and chips away at my fragile heart.

**In anger unkind words are spoke that make the teardrops start

Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart?**

He doubts the validity of my emotions. He claims that my love is no more than that of a childhood infatuation. He says in time his ice will overwhelm my fire. He drives me away with vicious words and I weep until the tears have dried and it feels like I am crying dust.

Every time it happens, I promise myself that I will stay away. But for reasons beyond me, I always find myself returning to his side. His aura pulls me near, the way flowers are drawn to the sun. But he lacks the warmth of that yellow orb. Instead, his ice scalds me with its intensity and I am left broken once more.

**Why do you run and hide from life? To try it just ain't smart

Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart?**

I wonder why he continues to hide, spending countless hours in the temple, refusing to speak to people for days at a time. He avoids us all. I only see him when I intentionally seek him out, bringing him a tray of tea and sweets, hoping that one day he will look into my face and see that he is destroying me.

Through a false smile, I attempt to hide my despair. No matter how much I try to draw him out, he remains safe behind his invisible walls.

It is almost as if he is afraid. Afraid to let me near, afraid to open himself up to the possibility of heart break. But he must know that I would never hurt him. If I could, I would gather the stars and lay them at his feet. To see him smile, I would circle the world. To have him love me, I would sprout wings and take flight.

**There was a time when I believed that you belonged to me

But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory

The more I learn to care for you, the more we drift apart

Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart?**

All my life, I have loved him. For him, I have spent cold nights in the forest, alone and trembling. For him, I have searched these streets and towns. For him, I have risked my life.

When we met again and Jiya lay bloody at his feet, I felt as if my heart had been torn from my chest in one violent motion. He looked at me, his ice blue eyes relentless and unyielding.

While I shattered inwardly, my mind forced me to chase after him blindly. But he struck out at me with spiteful words and the entire situation was enough to freeze me in place. I watched him walk away, breath hitching in my chest, my heart breaking slowly.

After Himura brought him back, I assumed some things might be different. I never thought they would be this way. I never thought I would have to suffer through this continual agony.

But even as I call myself a thousand kinds of fool, I carry his tray to him day after day. My strength is my faith, my strength is my persistence. I will never accept defeat. One day, he'll look at me and see that he is all I ever dreamed.

One day, he'll look at me and I'll see behind his icy walls.

One day, he will return my feelings. He will love me as I love him.

Until that day, I will be at his side. It is where my soul belongs.

One day, I will melt his cold, cold heart.

~*OWARI*~

Thanks for reading! Again, I know it is short, but for this particular song, I think the length was perfect. I wanted to keep it simple, not pretty it up, because the song is a simple song. Still, the meaning in it comes across clearly.

Hope you liked it. Please review!

~Midori

Go ahead. Push the button. Keep me inspired!