This fic is to thank those who have been constantly following, supporting, and of course, reviewing my other fics, especially the current on-going one, 'In the language of flowers'. I really appreciate the support, every review really makes my day. :D
So, this fic is dedicated to AvaleeDarling, Gerkyhen, NinjaSheik, Ryunn Kazan, thegriffin88, Trissacar and all the others who have taken the time to review/read any of my fics (including this) ! ^^
So, this idea have been with me for a long time and I didn't feel the need to write it out. But after thinking, I feel that I really owe you guys something. Hence, this fic is born. ~.~
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and any of its characters.
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"No."
"Yes!"
"No. I mean it Anko."
"But you promised!" Anko sniffed. "I won't ask for anything else, so please help me join this contest!"
Orochimaru frowned. Perhaps it was a mistake to promise her that he'd do her a favor as a birthday present. At that time, he didn't think too much about it. He just wanted to get her a suitable birthday present. So the best and most practical idea at that time is or her to choose one herself. But she has not told him what she wanted. Until now, that is. But how was he to know that later on, his 'practical' idea would turn out to be a practical disaster?
"I don't understand why you have to take those comments of your classmates to heart. They are just joking you know." Orochimaru sighed, rubbing his forehead. She may be his only student, but she was a handful enough. And people ask why he didn't want to get more students to train.
"They keep making fun of me! So I want to win this contest to show them that I am not a 'Tomboy'!" Anko insisted, her eyes shining with determination.
Orochimaru shook his head. If only she showed such enthusiasm for training without his prompting. "Does that really matter? Them saying that you are one doesn't make you one does it? All you have to do is ignore them. We know the truth. That is enough."
"But I don't like how they always jeer at me!" Anko wailed.
"I'll have a word with their instructor, how about it?"
"Sensei, it will just make it worse. Then they start calling me a 'tattle-tale tomboy'." Anko resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
Seeing that she wasn't willing to back down, and the fact that what he was going to do is her birthday present somewhat, Orochimaru relented. "Fine, fine. All I need to do is to find a lady to accompany you for the 'Mother-daughter beauty contest' right?"
Anko nodded happily. "Yup! And when I win it, I'm going to rub it in their face! Hah, that will teach them to laugh at me!"
While he felt that Anko would not stand much of a chance at winning, Orochimaru refrained from saying so. Such contests are based on looks, which is true to a certain extent. While it'd be hard to say whether Anko have an advantage in terms of the beauty department, there is also the part where the mother and daughter have to show the strong bond that they share with each other. That would be the part where she'd lose most points at, seeing that anyone he found to accompany her would not be able to say much except for "Anko loves dango."
On a more positive note, since Anko is an orphan, any single lady would be able to enter the contest with her. This means that he could help her find one that would look a lot better than the average woman, to help her score more points.
"I'll see what I can do then." Orochimaru said, as he ruffled Anko's hair.
"Yay! This is the best birthday present ever!" Anko squealed, as she hugged him around his knees.
Orochimaru gave a small chuckle. "Don't you say that to me every year?"
"Well, presents from Orochimaru-sensei are always the best!" Anko said, after thinking for a while.
"Is it really…" Orochimaru murmured, feeling a sense of comfortable warmth spreading within him upon hearing that sentence. "So, you will meet this lady two days from now outside the tea shop at 2pm, okay?"
"Yes!" Anko said as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Alright then, it's getting late. I'll find my friend and tell her of the favor while you'll head back, is that clear?"
"Aww, why can't I go with you? I want to see her now!" Anko grumbled.
It never cease to amaze Orochimaru how fast her moods can change. "It's a surprise." He said, as he gently pushed her to the direction of her way back to her apartment. After bidding him a grumpy 'goodbye', Anko dragged her feet back to her place.
Running his fingers through his hair, Orochimaru sighed. Now, he will have to find Tsunade it seems.
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"What do you mean Tsunade is on a mission?" Orochimaru asked Jiraya, his voice strangely hoarse.
"Well, it was very sudden. The squad assigned to patrol the borders met with a few unfortunate ambush. Their injuries are quite severe, and since Tsu is the best and available medic, she was sent there." Jiraiya finished.
Then his eyes lit up. "Why are you searching for her?"
"It's just that-"
"What? You're asking her out on a date aren't you?" Jiraiya exclaimed, his eyes wide as saucers.
"Stop jumping to conclusions. I just need her help for something." Orochimaru replied irritably.
"Help for something? For what? …oohhh! I see." The toad sannin nodded, as if he understood something. "THAT kind of help huh. Don't worry I know a few good places where you can have a great time, if you know what I mean." Jiraiya wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, as he elbowed his pale teammate a little.
Orochimaru frowned as he slapped aside Jiraiya's offending elbow. "It's not what you think."
"That's what everybody says." Jiraiya snorted. "You don't have to be shy you know. Every man has his needs afterall."
"That is not the case," Orochimaru replied, trying his best to maintain a reign on his escalating temper. "Do you have any other female acquaintance that have not yet marry? As long as she is still single and not married, I do not mind. There is something I'll need to request her help with. "
".GOD." Jiraiya gasped. "I didn't think this day would every come!" Jiraiya eyes started to tear a little. "You want to get married don't you? Of the three of us, for you to be the first one to do so, I am really shocked. But don't worry, you got my full approval to-"
Before Jiraiya could say anything more, Orochimaru pushed his face into a nearby wall. Hard.
Ignoring the profanities directed towards him from his teammate, Orochimaru made his way back to his apartment. A lot of thoughts ran through his head. He really considered telling Anko that he was unable to help her, seeing as the only one he was going to approach would not be back from her mission in a week. The contest was to take place in three days time. And anyone else that he wants to ask is already attending the contest with another child.
He'd hate to do it, but it seems that he have no choice except to break the news to her the next day.
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"Anko, I have got some bad news."
Anko face fell a little, but she still waited for him to continue.
"I wanted to ask Tsunade to accompany you, but it seems that she is out on a mission and would not be back in time." Orochimaru said softly.
Anko smiled. "It's alright, I don't really mind. It isn't that important to me after all."
That's right. That is how things are going to turn out. Orochimaru have it all planned. It will all pass smoothly; she will be the understanding girl that she is and just forget about the contest. Then they will continue training.
As always, everything will go as he planned.
Sitting under the shade of a tree, he waited for Anko to report to their usual meeting place.
"Orochimaru-sensei~!" The cheerful cry brought him out of his thoughts. As he sat up, Anko tackled him back down.
"So? Can I meet the lady today? Please please please! I'll behave! I won't ask for five plates of dango anymore. Please?" Anko pleaded.
Orochimaru sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to remember what he was supposed to say. "Yeah, about that…Anko, I have got some bad news."
Anko's face fell. She waited for him to continue, but her disappointment was obvious. She wasn't disappointed in him, but somehow, Orochimaru felt a little guilty.
"I wanted to ask Tsunade to accompany you, but it seems that she is out on a mission and would not be back in time." Orochimaru said softly.
Anko smiled sadly. "It's alright, I don't really mind. It isn't that important to me after-"
"However, I believe that there is someone else I can call upon, so you don't have to worry."
Anko looked as if she could die happy right then. Orochimaru looked as if he had swallowed poison.
"REALLY! Thanks so much, Orochimaru-sensei!"
"I..it's alright." Orochimaru managed to force out amid his internal cursing of himself. "Why don't you take a day off for today? I'll let you rest for the day while you prepare to meet her tomorrow, how about that?"
Anko was so happy, that if Orochimaru requested that she throw herself off a waterfall, she would also agree to it.
As he watched her retreating back, he contemplated on calling her back and just telling her that there is nothing he could do to help her. But when he saw how upset she was even at the hint of the fact that she might not be able to participate in the contest, he couldn't help but just blurt out something that would bring the smile back. And now he landed himself into this pool of trouble.
But he is a smart person, one who is considered a genius. He instantly thought up of everybody he knew, and just as quickly shot them down. The guys were out of question, Midori is going with her niece, Tsunade is out on a mission, Konoka is married…
And everybody can't seem to be able to help him now. But of course, the genius that he is, he thought up ALL possibilities. Perhaps it was because of the heat that day, he wasn't thinking straight. Or maybe he was just too desperate.
He was the one who gave Anko false hope in the first place. Then, even though he knew that he could not find anyone to help, he lied to her. So the least he could do was to make sure that lie becomes a reality.
Taking a deep breath, Orochimaru made one of the toughest decisions in his life. As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. This is a desperate time. Hence, he will be resorting to a desperate measure.
He decided to enter the contest with Anko.
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This was actually meant to be a one-shot but since it'll take me quite some time, I decided to break it down into a few chapters. If everything goes smoothly, this will probably finish in 3 chapters.
Anyways, enough on this. What do you think of the starting of this fic? Any favorite part? Or is there anywhere that needs improvement? Please Review! ^^