Summary: Only one was meant for me from birth, yet I'm irresistibly drawn to them both. How is that possible, to be in love with them both? One is an avenger, the other, a snake… and either way, one will kill me… Sasuke/OC/Orochimaru

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; yet how lucky am I to be able to own Karasu Hana?

A/N: Finally, the first chapter of my first (multi-chapter) story!!! My other story, "Apprentice" explains Karasu's connection to Orochimaru, kind of… there will be a scene in the near future chapters that is a simpler version of "Apprentice".

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Come What May

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Chapter 1: Fatal Games

A tall figure, dressed in a cream colored kimono stared out at the night sky. Sighing lightly, he spoke to a girl, who stood beside him, a fake ANBU mask in her hands.

"Was he there?"

"Yes, Sensei."

"…Good. And could you sense his chakra level?"

"Yes, Sensei. It's skyrocketed since you…marked him, if you ask me. And that is perfectly understandable for a boy of his level of chakra. But… there is something I don't understand."

"And what is that?"

"…It's a different mark, a different curse, I presume, than the one you used on me. Why use a different one on me? What's so different about me that you couldn't use the same curse mark on Sasuke?"

"My dear, must you know everything?"

"No. I apologize, Sensei."

"Good. Now go, and find Kabuto. He'll direct you to the other members of the team. Find them and kill them, swiftly and without attention."

"I understand… Orochimaru-sama."

As the girl bowed, her loose black kimono hung around her form, revealing a gray and black shirt and knee-length, black cargo pants underneath. Delicate, black bandages wound their way around her wrists and ankles, covered by dark red fingerless gloves and ninja sandals. Smirking gravely, she pressed her lips to Orochimaru's cold cheek before slipping on her fake ANBU mask.

"…Karasu-san, please…"

The girl let out a chuckle. "Forgive me, Sensei. It wasn't my place to do so." Bowing, the girl pressed her hands together and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Orochimaru's thin lips curved into a sadistic smile. He picked up a kunai knife, twirling it around in his hands, watching the moonlight glint off its silver handle.

"I can tell she's hiding something," he said to himself, a small smile spreading across his lips unwillingly. "But she'll see…I'll find out what it is soon enough," he hissed, his voice fading off into a sinister laugh. He shook back the sleeve from his arm, gazing at the black tattoo that contrasted sharply against his pale skin. A deadly cobra wound its way around an elegant raven, swirling with dark beauty. It was the symbol for the branch group of the Akatsuki—a new, elite group Orochimaru had constructed of very few ninja.

It was also the seal that bound him to Karasu.

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"…Kabuto-san?" Karasu's voice came out slightly muffled from behind her mask. "There is something I'd like to ask you."

"I will do my best to answer, Hana-san," Kabuto replied quietly. This girl, although he did not wish to admit it, scared him slightly. She was almost as creepy as Orochimaru.

"Well," the girl continued, almost shyly. "Is it okay to… play with your prey, to…you know, scare them a little, before you pounce?" Her voice dripped with innocence, but the gray haired Shinobi eyed his coordinate suspiciously.

"Hana-san, just what exactly are you planning to do to Sasuke?" he asked her, his voice low. Karasu shrugged.

"Nothing," she replied, a little quickly. "Just wondering…that's all." Kabuto stared at her in disbelief; under his unwavering glare, the girl frowned.

"Well…maybe play a little game with him, I suppose." An eerie laugh escaped her lips. "I see why Orochimaru wishes for him to be his next host; I just can't keep my hands off him." She laughed again. Kabuto winced, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

"Be careful, Hana-san, with Sasuke." Kabuto's voice turned grave. "If you get too…friendly with the prey, Orochimaru may punish you." Karasu laughed, sarcastically this time.

"Don't worry, Kabuto-san. I'm not afraid," she replied arrogantly, waving her hand as she walked off, giving an abrupt ending to their conversation. Kabuto watched her leave, her black hair brushing softly against the arch of her back.

"That girl…" he muttered under his breath, his fingers automatically going to his glasses to push them up his nose. "She's playing in a fatal game. And it's one that she cannot win." Sighing, he pressed his hands together in a seal and disappeared into the night.

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So… how was that for a first chapter? I hoped you liked it… show your appreciation in a review. Oh, yah, this chapter's dedicated to Sulhadahne, Se-chan, Anbu Nin Alchemist, and monkeys-are-evil, for they are the faithful four who reviewed "Apprentice".

"Apprentice" was sort of a one-shot teaser for this, so if you want, go read that. It's between Orochimaru and my OC, Karasu. Cheers, but no lemons.

And because I'm nice…

Teaser for next chapter:

Cold tingles ran up his spine at her touch, and he instantly clamped his mouth shut as to not make a noise. Arching his body backwards, he squirmed beneath her finger. A smile spread across her lips at his reaction, and she trailed her finger lower on his abdomen, creating a crimson streak from the blood from his scratch.

"Oh, Sasuke," she giggled quietly, tracing more lines across his taut stomach. "You wouldn't happen to be… ticklish… would you?"

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Flames are for arsonists

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