A/N: Well, I'm back and I'll admit, I should be updating fanfics instead of starting new ones, but I've had a hard life lately. My girlfriend's been in the hospital on and off and things have been rough. Please forgive me, I'll be writing more frequently now.

I've had a conversation with my friend (Melissa Norvell here Oneesan no Miroku Houshi on mediaminer) on MySpace about Zaku and his healing ability. I started to look through fanfics, because I wanted to read an OroZaku fic an there was none to be found! So, naturally, when there's not one, make one of your own. So yes, this is the first OroZaku fic in existence.

ALSO: Keep in mind that what's presented in this story as far as explanations go are strictly my opinion, you can agree or disagree. They are hunches at unanswered questions about Zaku's character in the anime/manga. He's a minor character, leaving a lot of mystery about him. I'm simply attempting to solve them through estimated guesses, not pure fact though I try to base this with as much fact as possible.

I don't know if this will have more then one chapter. More then likely, if I don't get done with this one, or if people really like it and leave a lot of reviews I may continue it.

Information

Title: Voices in the Dark

Author: Ohtori Akio

Rating: PG-13/T Maybe get to be M/R

Warning: Shounen-ai/Possible yaoi/Pedo/Angst/Creepyness

Pairings: OroZaku

Summary: SHOUNEN-AI. OROZAKU. Everyone wants to be worth something, and to Zaku worth was determined on an entirely different scale.

Voices in the Dark

By: Ohtori Akio

I. Broken

Battered and broken.

This is something he had been accustomed to, ever since his earliest days. A child of the street and thief in his own right, living his life by what few perishable items he could get his hands on, and barely having enough to eat.

Often his thieving ways didn't get him very far, and ran his straight into the arms of abuse. Hit, punched and abused by those who didn't understand, and were only selfish enough to want their food. Those who didn't take a starving and homeless child into consideration, but were so cruel to be blinded by their own greed of money. Those, who were no better then he, calling him names…

Vile…

Disgusting…

A low brat who had no future…

He spent many nights, alone and cold, with no one to do as much as extend a thoughtful or half hearted hand. He was shunned by all and loved by no one. To him, pretending he didn't care was easier then knowing he didn't fit in.

But pretending only gets the human psyche so far before self esteem begins to break it down. The delusions he had set inside of his mind rarely failed him, but when they did, he didn't like the blinding light of reality.

It never disheartened him on the outside, only caused a bitter hatred and anger to churn within his being, like a toxic mixture in his stomach. But to Zaku, humanity made him sick.

He may have been disgusting to them, but they were equally as disgusting to him.

Now, as he sat in that lone dead-end ally, lonely dark eyes being slowly over come with malice, as he clutched his piece of bread, his body ached under the force of their cruel blows, which had not been given to him but seconds ago, bruising and tearing at his already tattered body, but pain was something he had been used to.

There hadn't been a day he could remember when he didn't feel ache of some kind. His senses have long since dulled themselves and became numb under time to better deal with the pain.

As the emotions grew, so did the anger. The disgust and that sickening feeling rising within his stomach, making it churn, almost enough to make him want to expel.

As rage built up within him, he could feel a powerful energy rush through him in almost an unbearable amount, causing his body to tremble under his own rage, crushing the unsuspecting piece of bread within his cruel hands, tearing the tender flesh as his had been torn. Pieces of uneaten bread littered the ground and his lap, standing out against tattered cloth.

A pair of observant eyes watched from a darkened area of the ally, glowing with an evil presence that even disturbed the dark. A spark of inspiration and delight danced within their golden confines as they lay sight on the lone boy.

The snake lay confined in darkness, watching and waiting to tempt the young one into eating a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

After his anger had died down, the now hungry boy began to shove pieces of bread into his mouth, eating them with the dying fury he held in his blackened heart. He had sat there a while, the last residue of pain finally beginning to wear off, as he slowly made his way up, being sure that he had proper control of his footing.

It took him a few minutes to regain his composure, legs still wobbly like a new born foal, making it uneasy for him to stand.

Making his way out of the alley, with fists clenched in disappointment by his side and a frown plastered to his face. As the anger died down, the frown disappeared. Knowing that he should hold his pride, he tilted his head up and smirked a devilish sneer, cheering himself up and knowing that he must be strong.

Little did he know that from a far, the lone snake was contemplating as he stalked his victim, filled with a new sense of pride, walking along the bustling streets of Sunagakure. Golden eyes watching and monitoring his every movement. He was silently waiting for just the right time to make his kill.

When the young boy looked up, the snake was staring him down with a calm demeanor and stoic presence, yet somehow seeming cool, collective and hold a false sense of kindness to it. Dark eyes looked up to the sannin and all of his majesty.

There was a pause, and a moment of tension and apprehension. Zaku wasn't sure what this strange man would do. He was half way looking to another pounding.

But then, the long haired man spoke, his voice smooth and soft – almost calming to ears only used to hearing only gruff voices and violent words.

"I saw something in you that I liked…"

"Huh?" The boy's head snapped up. Had this strange man just…complimented him? Zaku couldn't believe his ears. Someone had been him as something more then a worthless street rat.

Someone saw potential.

After thinking for a few seconds, he had come to the conclusion that all he had ever wanted was someone who cared and saw him as something worthy.

"That look of pride in your eyes. Come with me, and I'll make you strong." He offered, with a coy smile that somehow held a kind demeanor to it. He then turned, his long black hair flowing behind him with a regal air.

Dark eyes watched the figure walk a few steps ahead of him, slowly disappearing over the horizon.

Many thoughts plagued the young boy's mind.

This may be his one chance…

If he took it, who knew what this strange man would do. He could possibly die. But did he really want to stay in this wretched village? This strange man had offered to make something of nothing. This man wanted to mold and shape him into something strong. Something strong and glorious.

The snake did indeed tempt the boy into biting into his poisonous apple.

Many options ran through his head of the bad. This man seemed sly. His words were kindly spoken, almost too kindly spoken for Zaku to believe, but they were so tempting. More tempting then anything. Especially if he could make Zaku a stronger person.

This man could be anything! A pedophile. A murderous monster. A con-man. A slave trader. It was really uncertain to tell. But the boy liked his offer of power, even if it was false, it was enough to make him consider the option.

Power was something that Zaku wished he had owned. The boy would like to kick someone around instead of being kicked around himself. He frowned deeply, he longed for it. He wanted it. The thought of crushing all who opposed him sent a wave of sadism and delight through his being.

The dark haired boy looked up. He had made up his mind.

He didn't care who this man was.

He wanted power.

He wanted to protect his pride.

He wanted to show those of the village who was truly the top dog and how sorry they would be for messing with him.

Mustering up some energy, he ran after the retreating man. As fast as his weakened legs could carry him. He'd do whatever it took to be stronger and if running into death with this stranger was one of the things, then so be it. He was never worth much, so he had nothing to lose.

The pale man calmly looked over his shoulder, acknowledging the young boy. "So you decided to follow me after all…Good child…"

"I want to be stronger." Zaku told him. "I'll follow you to my death from this day on."

The snake's mouth curved into a smirk of delight at those words. They were just what he needed to fuel the fire.

Indeed, his voices in the dark were enough to convince the boy. He wondered how he'd fair being an experiment. If he could handle the experimentation part of the plan, he would turn out to be a more then worthy subject.

The two walked in complete silence. No one questioned where they were going or what was going to happen when they got there. Nor did they seem to care. The cog wheels of their minds were churning, searching for answers to silent questions in their mind.

Foot steps could be heard, both big and small as they both pondered several things.

Zaku was unafraid, despite the negative thoughts that purged his mind. He was confident something good would come of it, no matter what he had to go through.

Orochimaru on the other hand, was working up a maniacal scheme. He had plans for a boy such as Zaku. He saw his potential to manifest anger and turn it into a powerful weapon. Though he was merely a boy, he had a lot of promise.

He wondered how this boy would work out in later sessions…

TBC

A/N: Eh, sorry about not making this longer. The second chapter will be better and there will be a bit more OroZaku in it. I hope that you enjoyed it so far, and if I get enough reviews (at least 10) I'll continue it faster. So please review and tell me how I did.