Friends' support

''Orochimaru-sama.''

Her sweet voice was heard when she bowed respectfully.

''Orochimaru-sama!''

She called his name across the room to greet him.

''Orochimaru-sama?''

She made an adorable pouting face.

''Orochimaru.''

Now Orochimaru startled.

''Is there a need for such a rude tone, Jiraiya?''

''If Ino was still around, you wouldn't hear me at all.''

Worried expression on a dark-haired Sannin made his friend laugh.

''It's fine, nobody noticed because nobody knows you as well as I do.''

Damn. Orochimaru should have known his best friend would become suspicious about his daily absence from the lab.

''Let's see,'' Jiraiya rubbed his chin. ''First you explained you were here to look for Tsunade and you knew exactly where she was. Then you delivered a sample of artificial skin by yourself and you never do it, to finally give the poor girl the thankless job to assemble information and write a report for every procedure where at least one of your creative medicine has been used.''

It wasn't Orochimaru's fault. He wished to browse those reports. It was a convenient coincidence Ino was the one on duty when he came to the hospital today. And yesterday. And last week. And-

''Come on, you will tell me everything,'' Jiraiya nudged him. ''You have no excuse to stay here any more. Ino will be busy for hours, probably cursing you and your unnecessary demands!''

Orochimaru shrugged, knowing Jiraiya was right. Ino was a hard-working girl and, cursing him or not, she would spend time thinking of him.

''For how long?''

Jiraiya didn't waste time on small talk, he wanted to know the facts about Orochimaru's behaviour out of ordinary. And that included spending far too much time at the hospital, spying on a certain young medical kuniochi which gave Jiraiya enough evidence to ask the right question. He may not have a clue about women, but Jiraiya definitely knew men who had similar problems like him.

Orochimaru was staring at two bottles on their table before answering. Until this question, he was secretly hoping it was temporary and it would go away the same way it appeared. Needless to say he didn't know the reason for all the tension he was feeling. Therefore he couldn't solve it and move on.

''You remember when I bought your books?''

He was trying to preoccupy his mind with something else, use his valuable time on his precious experiments or finally have a good night sleep while not thinking about certain young blonde.

''That was months ago.''

Orochimaru shrugged, feeling desperate. The two of them spent countless nights in this very bar, discussing Jiraiya's love life. Orochimaru was making fun of him way too often and he appreciated his friend was serious. More or less.

''I bought them to have my thoughts distracted from this. Issue. Problem.''

''Did it work?''

''Of course not. I couldn't believe you wrote them and not some scribbler! In those books the main character only looks at the object of his desire and - bam! - they are happy and in love!''

Out of all men, Jiraiya should have known it wasn't as nearly as easy as that. Maybe he was feeling frustrated because of the real situation, making his characters irresistible.

''Does that mean you tried that method?'' he teased.

''Of course not,'' Orochimaru frowned. ''I am trying the best method I know. Ignoring that unfamiliar feeling.''

They were both silent when the waitress brought them another two bottles. When she finally left them alone, Jiraiya leaned forward to whisper the unimaginable.

''I think you are in love with her.''

Naturally, Orochimaru reacted impulsively.

''I am not!'' he snapped.

Jiraiya shrugged, giving his friend a compassionate look.

Orochimaru sighed to calm down.

''It's just, you know, I have never been-''

''With a woman?'' Jiraiya provoked.

''Of course I have, I am almost hundred years old!'' Orochimaru snapped. ''What I wanted to say,'' he continued quietly, ''I have never felt like this before.''

At the same time he wanted to be near Ino as much as he wanted to leave her closeness. Her wide smile would make him smile too and he was kind of mesmerized with her blonde hair. Not that he liked blondes. Or slim girls. Or medical kunoichi.

Blonde Suna princess was way too rude.

The girl with buns was uninteresting.

And that pink girl was totally annoying!

But Ino wasn't like them. She stood out by just being herself. But he definitely wasn't in love with her! As a matter of fact, he's never been in love to distinguish that feeling from anything else.

When Tsunade arrived, she scolded them for drinking without her. Jiraiya respected the secret deal of not discussing Orochimaru's personal problems in front of Tsunade, although Orochimaru could use a woman's perspective and experience. He took his shot to find out as much as possible when Jiraiya left their company to flirt with the waitress.

''Tsunade.''

While she was gazing at him, waiting for his question, Orochimaru hesitated to ask anything.

''What's on your mind?'' she said softly. ''You seemed absent the entire evening.''

''I was wondering,'' he stared at the ground, ''how does love feel?''

A soundly sigh came from his friend, while she was gazing at the distance dreamily.

''It's the most powerful emotion you can experience. To be loved and be able to love is a privilege. The world doesn't exist without that special person and a single thought of the two of you together makes you forget about every problem you have. Not to mention kissing and-''

Tsunade chuckled to herself, aware she got carried away.

''Love feels wonderful,'' she concluded, having a small smile.

There.

Now he knew.

He definitely wasn't in love.

Around Ino, he was in a cold sweat, wishing to leave the room, concerned she might hear something from him she might dislike and end up hating him; he was avoiding eye contact, too nervous to meet those beautiful bright eyes and-

Damn.

''So who is that special lady?'' Tsunade grinned. ''Someone I know?''

''No, it's nobody, I was just curious!''

''Sure, like you asked me details about skin care products and out of nowhere you made your own anti-ageing serum.''

''That's not the same and go to hell.''

''I am very grateful you gave me a sample and you should know it works for real. I feel younger and you are in love for the first time! Are you sure you didn't mix hormones with the ingredients?''

''If you are trying to be funny, you are not.''

''You are actually hilarious. Jiraiya will tell me anyway.''

Orochimaru hated his enthusiastic friends, but more than that he hated this strange feeling he couldn't control.