True Intentions
By: Karea-chan

I want to say that the reason I am writing this fic is for my Chris-kun. I'm not a really huge Tayuya fan but I don't see anything wrong with her and I like her pretty well so I figure that I'd write this for him. I love you Chris.

I DON'T OWN NARUTO! DISCLAIMER ONLY ONCE!

"Talking"
Thinking
Flashy Backs
(A/N: Author Note)

CHAPTER 1: Fate's meeting.

How long has it been? I can't see anything! Dammit! Her long red hair was matted to her face with blood and damp dirt, Tayuya tried with every amount of strength to look around her. Trying to see where she was going. Though she tried to see where exactly it was that she was walking her vision was far too blurry and her strength had finally drained away from her and she couldn't see anything around her. Had anyone been around to see the bloodied heap that Tayuya was in at the moment, all would gawk with envy at how she continued to drag herself though the god-forsaken forest. Thorn bushes reached out and tore the skin from her legs with every step she some how managed to take. Pain was an understatement in her case. She had bruises and cuts all over her body and it twisted around her till the urge to scream with every step became to great and she gave into herself. The high pitch sound tore through her throat in a horrendously vile screeching.

She stumbled un-willingly through the hell that she'd been lost in, and without knowing why, she continued on. Orochimaru had been pretty hard on her when she returned to him without Sasuke. She'd failed. That was un-acceptable. He'd beat her until she'd taken off from him, simply ran away. She'd taken blow after blow from Orochimaru's hand, taken every hit that she could. She'd held on and even tried to fight back a little. Though it had become too much and she realized that this was no ordinary beating. After it registered in her mind that Orochimaru had no intent on beating her and going on his way, that's when Tayuya had decided not to be killed just yet. She, with quick skills fled, away from him. Tayuya felt like a complete coward after taking flight from him, but it was that or be killed. It wasn't until later, when she was drained off all her strength and nowhere to go that she realized he wasn't going to come after her. It hit her then that he wasn't going to come after her because she was more then likely going to die anyway.

She stumbled over a few tree branches, leaving splatters off blood wherever she stepped. If she had the ability to cry she'd be doing it by now. She'd been stupid and careless. Now she had nothing and death was upon her. Though for some reason she couldn't force out the tears that she so desperately needed to shed. No, she only continued through the mess of trees and blood blindly. Her hands stung from the cuts and bruises that lined her palms. Her right arm was un-doubtablely broken and moving her arm felt like millions of small sharp knives forcing their way out, tearing up her flesh from the inside. She growled and cried out in frustration. Though as she made the noise she tripped over another tree branch as thick around as her own body and slide down it, growling in pain. She had nowhere left to go. She had nothing left. Not even her cherished flute. Tayuya's soft brown eyes closed as the thought of death approached her. It was a nice thought.

It was Orochimaru who would have killed her in the end, but at least she would get to die in the peace and quiet of the forest. Tayuya was going to die alone as she'd intended and the thought didn't scare her as much as she'd thought it was. In fact both those thoughts of alone and the forest, gave Tayuya a little peace in her mind. But she still had to wonder why she'd gone with Orochimaru in the first place. Her eye's shot open as she felt something cold and wet fall on her face. Tayuya tried to clear her vision of red and the blur that surrounded her but it was of no use. Sighing deeply she closed her eyes once more. A few more wet droplets fell on her cheeks. In the next instance the forest was dancing with the sounds of pouring rain. A small smiled up turned the corners of Tayuya's face and she let the rain soak through her bloodied soul. The rain could wash away anything? The rain washed away everything. It symbolized the beginning, a fresh start. It could heal and it could kill. It gave and took life. It was nothing but beautiful.

"The beginning…" Tayuya mutter hoarsely to herself "The beginning and…. the end." The words were whispered in a tone that was UN recognizable to her.

As quietly as the sun sets down away from the horizon on another day well done Tayuya slipped away into what she would have called the end of her life. Death was peaceful and calm as it claimed her. But if I let Tayuya die now, there wouldn't be a story now would there? No I think there wouldn't so why would I let her die now? Well I won't. Of course Tayuya doesn't die! Geeze I'm not that cheesy. No here what really happened.

Tayuya listened intently to her surroundings, the rain bringing a calming effect that she hadn't been able to feel in years. It always relaxed her even when the water was cold. Something soft sparked inside her when she thought about dying and she suddenly had the urge to see her mother again. That's when she remembered why she was with Orochimaru. If she hadn't of gone with that snake bastard he would have given her mother the curse mark. Tayuya knew that her mother didn't deserve that so she had agreed to go with him if he kept her mother safe. She'd gone back to check on her mother every now and then. Each time Tayuya had gone she'd seen her mother, healthy, busy, and beautiful. So Orochimaru had stuck to his word. The rain reminded her that her mother would be safe now because Orochimaru wouldn't bother with her anymore, her mother wasn't important enough to be killed. All of this was Orochimaru's fault.

"Is she unconscious?" The voice of a woman snapped Tayuya back into reality faster than a kick to the gut would have. The voice was un-familiar but it sounded friendly and girly. Tayuya tried once more to see what was around her when she opened her eyes but everything was just as blurry as it was before.

"I think so, she isn't moving." A male voice came to her ears. She tried to make out whom they were but her mind was so fizzed out that she couldn't come up with anything. The two of them would probably see her purple bow and leave her where she was like smart human beings.

"This isn't a good idea, Naruto. She's one of Orochimaru's. What if it's a trap and she kills us as soon as we get close to her. I think we should go get Kakashi and then we can look her over." The woman was smart to say this to the male, Naruto. Tayuya listened more intently; she wanted to hear this Naruto's reply.

"We won't have time. Look at her she's bleedin to death! Sakura-chan, if you scared I'll do it." His voice was closer now and Tayuya was going to wait to make a run for it. She wasn't in any condition to fight them off; so running from them would be the best solution. Again she was being a coward.

"Just be careful you idiot." The girl replied with a snort. Tayuya could tell that she was a little bit worried despite the façade that her voice presented.

She heard his footsteps as they approached her and she waited in silence with her eyes closed. If they took her back to where ever it was that they were going to try and take her, then she wouldn't get to die her peaceful death in the forest. Once he got close enough Tayuya sprang to her feet, startling both of the ninja. She tried to make a run for it but she'd lost so much blood that she took a couple of steps and fell over again. The two quickly moved over to restrain her. Naruto reached down to the soaked Tayuya and scooped her up into his arms, intent on getting information out of her about Sasuke. He expected a struggle of some kind and a fight at the very least. Tayuya hadn't realized how cold the rain had made her until she'd felt the Naruto person's arms slide around her shoulders. Instinctively she snuggled into his arms, trying to absorb as much of the warmth radiating from the being as possible. Of course the Ninja were surprised by her actions. Naruto and Sakura exchanged a short glance of confusion.

"Um…" Naruto said shortly, staring down at the red head girl in his arms. Or at least he thought that this person was a girl. Maybe she wasn't a she but a he. Either way though he'd hopefully get the information that he needed out of her, or him. (Naruto couldn't recognize Tayuya from the fight with her while she was covered in blood and bruises.)

Naruto shifted her in his arms, trying to make himself a little more comfortable since he was obviously going to have to carry her. (Since Sakura was against him even getting close to the girl.) When he shifted her on her right arm, pressing lightly into Tayuya's flesh, she growled at him as the pain shot up her shoulder. He stumbled and stared down at her. Tayuya had her eyes screwed shut in anguish and for a moment Naruto only stood there, holding the girl as carefully as he could. Her body slowly relaxed after a moment and she braced herself for more pain. Tayuya waited. Though she waited for a good while, the pain she had been anticipating never came to her. Silently she looked up again at the one who called himself Naruto. She couldn't see him, more so she felt him as he stared down at her with confused eyes.

Breathing sluggishly she mumbled in the loudest voice she could muster, "Lemme go."

He must have realized that her arm was broken because he shifted her so that she wasn't anywhere near pressuring her arm. Tayuya tried once more to focus her blurry vision, and this time she could make out splotches of orange and yellow. "Ow." She mumbled into Naruto's coat.

"Ya gotta name?" Naruto asked quietly, the idea of her not being an enemy slow sinking in.

"Yeah…everyone has…. a name." Tayuya bit out and hissed as she tried to wrench herself from Naruto's grip. Though something in the back of her mind, a small nagging voice that told her it was okay and she should trust him. Something in the pit of her stomach told her that this would be alright and that she should trust him. She quickly banished the thought. No one could be trusted.

"And yours would be?" He coaxed her. She could tell that he was walking now, or maybe he was running? Tayuya felt the wind rushed out from under her feet, so she assumed that Naruto was running with her in his arms. She went limp. Clinging to him, she didn't answer. He was warm and her instincts were over running her rational mind.

It didn't take her long to realize that she was going to trust this person, even if her mind wouldn't allow her to physically trust him. Even though she knew it with every core of her existence, she was going to do everything in her power to resist it. Trust, she knew, could not be given out so easily. Naruto and the Sakura woman chatted on about the weather in Konoha while Tayuya clung limply to Naruto's, what she assume was orange, coat. It wasn't long until she knew that they were only walking through the woods, because the wind wasn't blowing in her face quiet as harshly as it had been before. Tayuya had given up all together on any attempt to open her eyes and see the world around her. She knew it just wasn't going to happen. So instead she settled on listening to all that was around her and she listened closely. Her ears were burning from the blood in them, but it wasn't the worse pain in her body at the moment. She wanted to hear this Naruto person's voice.

"So where were you born at?" Naruto asked her calmly. He was acting as if he came across a Ninja in the forest everyday, bloodied, battered, and completely un known.

Tayuya said nothing in reply.

"Do you like Ramen? Cuz Ramen is amazing and that's what were gonna have to eat when we get back to the village." He continued on cheerfully. Ramen seemed to throw his spirits toward the grace of whatever higher being was out there; put him in a better mood.

Again Tayuya made no reply to him.

"Why do you wear a purple bow on your back? Doesn't that get in the way when you're fighting?" Naruto was looking over Tayuya's form and she merely shrugged and continued to say nothing.

"Since I don't know your name, can I call you something else?" Now Tayuya was starting to get annoyed with him now that he was going on about nothing to her. She glared at his coat jacket, silently hoping to set fire to it and burn this Naruto.

"No you can't." She growled out as dangerously as possible in her condition. Naruto hesitated in his walking. She was scary.

"You speak!" Naruto said in mock shock and he even jumped up a little for a dramatic effect.

Tayuya was taken aback for a moment. Though she quickly composed herself. She was silent again.

"Ah come on, don't be so stingy. What were you doing out in the forest near your death like that? If we hadn't have come across you, you'd have died! Are you stupid? Or do you want to die?" When Naruto said this he sounded serious and genuinely concerned.

When he put it like that, Tayuya didn't wish for death as much as she had back in the woods. Absent-mindedly she nodded to answer his question.

"What made you want to die?" Tayuya wished he would stop asking her stupid questions like this one.

"Oh, you know, the usual, stupid ass Ninja who don't know when to leave broken and bleeding to death Sound Ninja in the forest alone to die." Though she was thinking this, she never actually said the words out loud.

"Do you like red? Since its your hair color?" He didn't even expect her to reply, he just went right on through with his questioning.

"How old are you? You look like you're around 13?" He prompted. Tayuya sighed deeply and just let him ask away.

"So did you go to a Ninja academy where your from? Or was it a school there?" He would pause and look at her after every question he asked, and Tayuya was answering his questions in her own mind.

They did but I never actually WENT to the Academy. No points in going, my skills were top notch already. I could kick your ass if I wasn't half dead right now!

"Did you have any friends there?" Tayuya snorted at that one. Again Naruto paused, waiting.

Friends! Ha! You're a fucking idiot Nin aren't you! As if I need friends!

"How about family, did you have any family." The question got Tayuya thinking. She couldn't really remember most of her family, except for her mother of course. Orochimaru had made sure to threaten every bit of her family life.

"I don't remember much about them, is that even an important question? Stupid nin." Tayuya hadn't even realized that she'd said the words aloud.

"Well, yeah. Your family is all apart of who you are. Your family helps form the person you are. So if I know about your family, I can learn a little more about you." Once more Tayuya was taken off guard by the leaf Ninja. She looked up at him in an obstruct manner. Naruto chose to ignore the 'stupid nin' comment.

She closed her mouth again to remain silent. She shouldn't be answering questions like that.

"So do you have any evil brothers and sisters that you just want to take vengeance on and kill because they wiped out your entire clan right before your eyes?" Tayuya wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about but she assumed it had nothing at all to really do with her.

The three continued on in silence after that last question. Tayuya felt herself slipping away into unconscious and she faded in and out of sleep. Naruto had thankfully stopped his pointless yammering and asking her questions that he'd never get answers to. The girl that called herself Sakura didn't say much either. Tayuya slipped into a peaceful darkness. It was nice to let go. When she finally woke up again she didn't know how long she'd been asleep. Looking around herself her vision came back into view and she was staring straight ahead into an orange coat with strange symbols and markings on it. Her eyes traveled up to the nape of her carries neck. His short blonde hair was brushing across his shoulders ever so slightly. Yawning quietly Tayuya looked up at his face. And for the first time in her life, Tayuya allowed herself to stare un controllably. Her lips parted ever so slightly as she gazed on the man before her.

It was at this point that she realized they were no longer in the woods that she'd been in. I wonder how long was I asleep? When her eyes moved from his face reluctantly she glanced around the place that she was being carried through. It seemed to be a hall way with no doors and plain wood floors. The floor looked faded and small scuff in the floor boards said that they were many a year old. Tayuya didn't give them a second glance though. Her eyes traveled to the picture less walls, to Sakura. Though Tayuya had to quickly pull her eyes away. The pink blinded her eyes worse then the looking directly into the sun did. Without her own will, her traitor eyes traveled back to Naruto. She took in every inch of him. She absorbed all that she could. She liked the whiskers on his cheeks they made him look tough. Tayuya was quiet comfortable being whisked around bridal style in Naruto's arms.

The trio turned down another narrow hall way where doors aligned every side of the walls. They had brought her to the hospital.

"Excuse me." Naruto said to a passing nurse to catch her attention. She had sharp gray eyes and a pushed up nose. She was skinny, but older looking. She didn't seem to friendly to Tayuya.

"Yes what is it?" The woman breathed out ruefully. Apparently she wasn't in the mood to be talking to Naruto or Sakura.

"Which way is room 309? We have the patient and we need to get her down there as soon as possible." Sakura chided in. Tayuya guessed that Sakura dealt with people like this woman a lot. The woman paused a moment and then sighed.

"Your going the right way. Just continue down this hall way and take a turn to the right. It should be in that hall way on the left side." This was told to the three politely but the her nose wrinkled like she had better things to do. Sakura smiled and they continued on there way.

"Hey Sakura why'd you stop and ask her where it was? You know where we're going." Naruto looked over at Sakura incredulously. Tayuya looked over at her too, curious.

"She didn't seem familiar. I mean I've seen her around but she seems out of place." Sakura whispered honestly. That made perfect sense to the both of them and Tayuya pulled her head back into Naruto's shoulder. She was comfortable. For some reason he was unfazed by this.

Once the three finally came to the hospital room that Sakura was to bring Tayuya too, Tayuya could feel herself slowly slipping away into sleep again. This day had worn her out and she was ready to take a break. If she survived through the night she would have to try and think of a way to escape from where ever it was that she was at. Until then she would trust this Naruto. In her book he had already earned her trust. Trust was the key to everything, which Tayuya knew. Orochimaru had given her the power that she had never wanted. So she used that power as little as possible, that's why she was so weak. She looked up at Naruto whom just so happened to look down at her at the exact same moment. Together they silently told each other that they trusted each other. Somehow Tayuya could tell that this is what Naruto was sending to her without actually speaking. Naruto felt the same way about Tayuya. It was strange what passed between them. Quickly Tayuya looked away from him. Her eyes felt heavy, she was tired.

"One more thing." Naruto said, quickly realizing that Tayuya was drained of all her energy.

"Yeah what?" She answered hoarsely

"What'd ya say your name was again?"

This time Tayuya had no trouble answering this Naruto's request. "Its Tayuya." She muttered. "My name's Tayuya." She repeated again.

Clinging tightly to Naruto she allowed herself to slip into the awaiting darkness once more. She would trust him, this Naruto. She would be familiar with him until he proved that he couldn't be trusted. That or familiar with him until her head got back on her shoulders. Maybe when she awoke he would tell her 'good morning' Tayuya had never had someone tell her good morning. At least not in the years she'd been away from her mother. It was a nice thought. Silently she heard Naruto's voice carry over the awaiting sleep that threatened to thwart her being. He was whispering a song, maybe a lullaby. It sounded like he was singing to himself and Tayuya let a small smile play over her lips. "Night Tayuya-chan." Naruto muttered into her ear. With a soft and sad smile, Tayuya slipped away into the darkness. Letting it claim her and make her its own.

End Chapter.