Chapter 1
The forlorn adolescent prepared her bland meal in the solitary hideout she'd grown to call 'home'. She was interrupted from her train of thought, by the sound of footsteps echoing in the long winding corridors: she halted her meal preparations, listening intently to the suspicious tapping. One: uneven, possibly limping or weak. Two: hasty, orientated themselves around number one. And three: steady, long strides. As they came closer, number one stopped and coughed dryly. Number two's footsteps immediately stopped and backtracked to stand beside number one. It was only when his concerned please came (urging number one to take his medicine) that Mei recognised the voice she linked to a deceitful male with gray hair and overly large, round glasses. And if Kabuto was here she was certain he was travelling with Orochimaru. Suddenly, realisation smacked Mei in the face like a fillet of fish. The coughing was Orochimaru; his health must have deteriorated even more.
"Hmm, that just leaves number three." Mei concluded.
She plopped her embryonic rice ball back down onto the wooden plate and ambled out of the dank kitchen area to greet her master. As she rounded the corner Mei walked straight into a young man who towered several inches above her. Although the lighting was dim and she could barely make out his face, his vermilion eyes burned through the darkness and ignited the apology suspended on her tongue. His silhouette stood arrogantly, with one hand on his hip and the other loosely by his side. Even in the dark Mei could tell when she was being looked down on. The two bright flames mounted on his face were narrowed 'it looks like he's glaring at me' thought Mei.
"Sasuke . . ." A raspy voice called out angrily. The young man shifted his gaze to Orochimaru, and his scorching red eyed faded into a cold onyx.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke, is it?" Mei apologised for her bumping into the man. As an answer to her question she received a cold grunt. "Lord Orochimaru, you look tired. Please, come in and rest." She tried to sound concerned but she knew sickly old creep could tell she didn't truly care about his well being. And that's why Orochimaru thought of her as useful: because she was a rare kind of person who could breeze through life, not making any real ties or emotional connections with anybody. And so, Mei lived her life in isolation, keeping her master's eastern hideout in a habitable condition. Orochimaru opened his mouth to reply, but the sudden intake of breath ran along his raw throat like sandpaper and he erupted into another fit of coughing. He buckled at the hips. The fragile old man folded in half like origami paper, he buried his mouth in his hands and continued to hack and splutter.
"I think that would be best." Interjected Kabuto, whilst patting his Master's back. "Mei, go fetch Lord Orochimaru some water". He commanded in a stern voice.
'Sure, he sounds all serious, but I can tell he's smirking inside just at the thought of being in charge.' Mei thought as she scowled at Kabuto. "Okay." The younger two walked towards the living area whilst Orochimaru staggered several paces behind and clung to Kabuto for support.
The visitors took the weight off their fatigued selves, falling back onto the saggy sofas. Kabuto couldn't have sat closer to Orochimaru if he'd tried (without sitting on his lap).
'But I bet the little Labradoodle would love that' Scoffed Mei as she handed Orochimaru his water. "Are you hungry? I was making rice balls, if you want any." She offered. Mei didn't really want to go to the trouble, but it was rude not to offer. Sasuke's hazed eyes seemed to wake up from his day dreamy state. Mei mentally cursed, 'Great! So I'll take that look as a yes.' she thought sarcastically. Mei rolled her snowy eyes, "Oh-kaay," She huffed. "How many do you want?"
"Three." Answered the stoic young man in an apathetic, impolite manner.
"I think you're forgetting the magic word." Mei's voice was cute and childish. Sasuke looked up to meet her gaze and shoot her another of his fiery glares. But wasn't met with the playful, teasing face he'd expected. Instead, his red hot flames were extinguished by two pools of liquid nitrogen. From the glower on her face it was easy to tell Mei wasn't joking. Sasuke was enraged at the thought of someone like this telling him to say 'please'. Rage emanated from his being. If Kabuto hadn't risen from his seat and interrupted, it's highly possible that the daunting Uchiha's head could have exploded with anger!
"And I'll have three as well, please." Kabuto emphasized the 'please' as he wasn't naive enough to provoke Mei (whose fuse was shorter than the required amount of time to run after you'd lit it). "I'll help you make them." He said cheerily. Mei eyed him suspiciously.
'Did he just offer me help?' she thought. But she shrugged away her disbelief, concluding that four hands are better than two.
The two of them left the room, now filled to the ceiling with an atmosphere as heavy as lead, and were making their way to the kitchen when Kabuto turned to Mei with a distressed look stamped on his face.
"Mei, Sasuke isn't the most patient of guys: In fact..." He rubbed the back of his neck and gave an awkward smile. "I might even go as far as to say he's less patient than y-" Kabuto was cut off by Mei's growl. He jumped in shock, but after composing himself he continued with his lecture on angsty guys' lack of patience. "Anyway, he's pretty easily ticked off, and he's got no problem with taking his anger out on people. So just stay in his good books, not his bingo books, and we won't have pay for your grave." Mei erupted into a fit of laughter, clinging to her sides as if her ribs were going to shatter. Kabuto failed to see the hilarity in what he'd just said. Mei regained some composure and stifled her remaining giggles as she wiped away her tears.
"Thanks, but I can look out for myself." She said dryly. Before entering the kitchen
"B-but, what' was so funny?" Asked Kabuto, still puzzled. Mei smirked and shook as she tried to suppress another bout of laughter.
"Like you'd pay for my grave!" She replied. "I'll probably be just another or your test subjects." The tone of her voice was almost sad. But, not quite. It was as if she'd accepted it. Obviously the hilarity was in the thought of Orochimaru and Kabuto grave shopping for her, not her sinister future as an involuntary organ donor.
The two finished making the rice balls with tuna in what Kabuto thought was an awkward silence. Mei just thought of the silence as normal.
Back in the living area, Mei handed Sasuke his food and raised her brow in anticipation of a 'thank you'. But, of course, all she received was an impassive look. 'Pah! I hope you choke' She thought. The two glared at each other (mentally cursing the other) and Kabuto sighed at the thought of footing the bill for all they'll, no doubt, destroy in their inevitable upcoming battles.