The Prey And The Predator
Chapter One: Caught.
Haruka stared unhappily at the thick downpour of rain that kept her from leaving this dull village.
She sighed and tucked a white strand of spiky hair behind her ear. She really wanted to get back to Konohagakure before Jiraiya-nii-san left, if only to apologize to him.
Sandaime – she really did love him but sometimes he was such an idiot – had sent her on a mission that had lasted a month. When she returned, Jiraiya would probably be gone to search for Orochimaru.
That had been fine with Haruka at the time, as she was angry with her brother for refusing to let her come with him to look for and then spy on Orochimaru.
He had told her flatly that she wasn't yet good enough if they got into a fight with the snake Sannin. She had argued that she was nearly as good as a Jounin and that the Sannin rank didn't exist for anyone aside from the legendary three since they had only gotten the rank because they had survived an attack by Hanzo – the leader of Amegakure – and then fled back to the village.
Jiraiya had gotten furious at that and, glaring at her, had coldly told her that even though she was a Chuunin, she had barely scraped by the examination.
They hadn't spoken since, Haruka having gone away on mission immediately and Jiraiya locking himself away in his apartment.
Another sigh breezed its way into the open and she glanced around at her dismal room. It had the bare necessities – not that she really expected much from this village. The people here were so... expressionless. It scared the hell out of her.
She propped her chin on top of her open hand and leant on the windowsill with her elbows. The rain appeared to be ebbing slightly. Haruka groaned. She wanted to do something, not just this sitting and waiting.
Even her mission had been boring! The entire mission had pretty much been a wild goose-chase. Some of the locals had reported seeing a 'scary looking pale-skinned man with snake-like eyes and a sly grin.' It had to be Orochimaru, she was so sure of that. But all her searching had been for nothing. She hadn't found so much as his scent.
The rain stopped abruptly as if it was her shower and she had turned off the tap. Well, perhaps not exactly like that, but something like it.
Haruka grinned and jumped up, shouldering her backpack and running out of her room. Now she could get the hell out of here!
She passed the reception desk, then frowned and backtracked. It was empty. The whole hotel was silent as if in mourning for something. She shivered, exiting the hotel. It was creepy.
The streets were devoid of life as well. Haruka's frown grew as she walked through the streets and alleys, often glimpsing things just out of the corner of her eye.
She passed through the gates and narrowed her eyes. There weren't even any guards here. These people were so slack on security. If they had spotted Orochimaru, guards around the walls should have been doubled, if not tripled.
A harsh wind blew at her incessantly and she broke into a run. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt eyes staring at the back of her neck.
The forest rushed by her in a blur as she put on speed and she swore she could hear branches rustling as someone – she knew who it was – followed her quietly.
A kunai flew past her and sliced her hand. She cried out in shock, even though the wound wasn't very deep.
Then came mocking, pitiless laughter that came from everywhere.
"Come on, Haruka-chan. Entertain me," that familiar voice purred and Haruka gasped and started to run again, slightly faster this time.
Adrenaline pumped through her veins and she kept on running, breath coming out in pants now.
No one would come to save her if Orochimaru captured her. They would, however sad at her supposed death, assume that she was M.I.A. even Sandaime who knew what her mission was.
She was running and then something wrapped around her right leg and yanked her to the ground. Haruka fell, eyes wide in fear. Something hissed at her from the forest floor.
He appeared in front of her, fangs emerging in a spiteful grin.
"Don't...," she whispered, pleading and then there were only the eyes and she screamed as swords pierced her body.
The world blacked out.
(I)
Orochimaru drummed his fingers, slowly, on the arm to his throne. He was waiting for her to wake up and he was tired of waiting.
Drum. Pause. Drum. Pause. Pause. Drum.
"Is she awake?"
A medic, standing nearby, closed his eyes. "Not yet, Orochimaru-sama."
There was a long drawn out hiss. "Wake her up then."
"It may interfere with the process, Orochimaru-sama."
Hiss. "Fine... Tell me when she wakes."
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama."
A merciful silence ensued until Orochimaru started to drum again. Aki sighed softly. This was fraying his nerves. His master was in an odd mood and when he was in an odd mood people died. Orochimaru wouldn't kill him, for he was too useful, but... when he was like this... Aki honestly didn't know what would happen. It changed all the time.
As for the woman... he had no idea why Orochimaru was interested in her. She was out cold and lying on the floor of a cage that Orochimaru had recently installed.
She bore a strong resemblance to the Toad Hermit Jiraiya. Aki had never known he had a sister, or even a daughter. She could have been either.
He glanced at the woman and almost groaned in relief. She was starting to wake up. When she was fully awake he could get the hell out of here.
"Orochimaru-sama, she's waking up."
The other man started to laugh. It was a cold, malicious laugh that Aki had heard many times. The laughter died eventually and Orochimaru stood slowly. "Leave me."
Aki glanced from Orochimaru to the woman, then bowed with a murmured, "Hai, Orochimaru-sama."
He made it to the door before looking back to see Orochimaru with a large malevolent grin on his face and to hear the snake Sannin hissing something.
"Haruka."
(I)
Haruka stirred, opened her eyes, groaned and shut them again. There was a bright light burning her eyes. It was either Jiraiya playing a mean joke on her, or she'd gotten drunk last night and left the blinds open.
Then it occurred to her that Jiraiya probably wasn't in the village anymore and this place didn't smell like her apartment.
She opened her eyes again and gasped silently as white-hot pain shot through her body. A groan forced itself past her lips and familiar contemptuous laughter sent chills down her spine.
"Haruka."
More pain made her bite her bottom lip hard and draw blood. It took her a few moments before she could choke out a reply.
"O... Orochimaru...! W... What are...?"
He laughed again. "What am I doing?"
She groaned a little, which he took for a yes.
"Oh, just something to kill time." She looked up at him and his sadistic smile made her feel sick. "You know how it is."
"You... b... bastard..."
"Mmm... Yes," he chuckled. "You are in no position to insult your host though."
Haruka shifted on the cold metal floor. The pain had cleared enough for her to get a grasp on her surroundings. She was in a small metal cage that was probably used for some sort of animal, judging by the assorted bones scattered across the floor. There was also dried blood on the floor of the cage. She felt sick again.
She glanced back up at him briefly. Orochimaru looked almost the same as he did when he left the village nearly a year ago. His skin was deathly pale and his face was framed by straight, long black hair. His eyes were the same. They were still the greenish-gold that she remembered them to be and he still had those purple markings. His attire had changed as well, although she hadn't expected to see him wearing the Jounin outfit of Konoha. Now he wore a crème coloured tunic, black pants and a purple obi. Haruka suspected that the obi had no real use other than decoration. She grimaced inwardly. Since when had Orochimaru had such good fashion sense?
Aside from her cage, Orochimaru, a throne-like chair over on the other side of the room and what appeared to be a table with various... instruments on it, there was nothing else of interest in this room. Certainly nothing she could use to escape.
At least she had her clothes on, though her ninja gear was nowhere to be seen or felt. He, or someone else, probably had to strip her to get allof her weapons. That sent more cold shivers down her spine at the thought of her being naked and at his mercy. Whatever mercy he had.
He noticed her looking around the room and laughed again. "There's no way out. It's useless trying to escape, Haruka-chan."
Defeated and starting to shiver from the cold – her thin top and pants weren't much use against the chill of what she assumed was the basement – Haruka sighed and let her eyes slide closed. She sagged against the cold floor, still shivering.
Orochimaru walked up to her cage and crouched down to gaze down at her, smirking. She opened her eyes slowly.
"I'll leave you think about your position," he purred, stood and then left, still laughing.
The pain returned with a vengeance and Haruka curled up into a ball and cried out.
She stayed huddled up like that for the rest of the night, eventually slipping into an uneasy sleep plagued with nightmares.
(I)
An unpleasant scraping sound was what woke Haruka up, along with another jolt of pain. She coughed and rose to her knees, glaring angrily at the person who had woken her up.
Orochimaru merely smiled, standing near her cage. "Ohayoo, Haruka-chan."
She spat on the ground near him.
"Go to hell, you snake!" His eyes caught hers and she froze, mouth still open and ready to form more insults.
"Really, Haruka-chan," he murmured. "That tongue of yours will get you into trouble. You haven't thought about your position, have you?" He laughed. "You're at my mercy, young Haruka."
Rage overcame her and she spat at him again.
"Die!" she snarled.
"I'm glad to see the cursed mark appears to be working correctly," he chuckled. "I was afraid the preliminary version wouldn't work as well as the others."
Cursed... mark? Haruka thought, but the fury and pain drowned that thought out with a buzzing sound in her mind that only increased her anger.
"I'll kill you!" she yelled and lunged for the bars. She grabbed them and electricity shot through her and threw her back onto the other side that shocked her as well. Haruka screamed and rolled off the bars, panting. Orochimaru was laughing.
"Oh my," he said finally, sneering. "You can't get at me through the bars. Poor Haruka-chan."
Haruka collapsed onto the floor, groaning. Her anger and the strength it gave her were both fading. She moaned again and struggled up. Her eyes opened and she saw her hands and gasped.
In the center of both of her palms were identical tattoo-like snakes, facing towards each other. Their fangs were bared and it looked as if they would lunge forward to attack.
"Wh... What did you do to me?" she whispered.
Orochimaru grinned madly. "Do you like it, Haruka-chan? I haven't used it on anyone yet. You're the first. You should count yourself lucky. Although, it is a prototype and there are a few small errors I have to smooth out."
Sudden pain made her spasm for a moment on the floor. She glared at him weakly. "Really," she snapped. "I'd have thought the pain was a bonus."
"Oh, it is," he chuckled. "In your case at least. But I don't need my subordinates unable to do their job because of constant pain." He paused and then smiled. "The other curse marks are working brilliantly. It's just this one. I have to admit I'm puzzled as to why it won't work properly."
She exhaled heavily and shut her eyes. Please just go away, Haruka willed wordlessly though she knew her silent request wouldn't be granted.
"Now, now, Haruka-chan. We haven't even started and you're worn out already?" Her eyes snapped open.
"What?" she rasped, fear starting to squirm its way into her stomach. "Wha... What are you going to do!?"
Orochimaru grinned his twisted grin. "Oh, you'll see, Haruka-chan. You'll see."