Orochimaru's POV

Kimi and Orochimaru sat down at the restaurant and ordered their food.

"I saw you in the crowd today. What did you think?" she asked.

Orochimaru wasn't sure how to respond. It was as if her attitude completely changed. He almost wanted to tell her exactly how her singing affected him, but decided against it.

"It was good."

"Good?" She had a confused look on her face.

"Yes."

"Just good?!"

There she goes getting angry again. He smiled at how she looked when she was angry. He wasn't sure why it put a smile on his lips, but it did.

Kimi's POV

Kimi was upset and a little dumbfounded. After all her time on the road she had never heard such a chill response. She always received high praise for her voice and now this guy just says 'good'? It took her a minute, but she realized he was smiling again.

"Again with the smirk?"

Normally, she could read people like a children's book, some were even like a picture book, but reading him was like reading old poetry. It was left to interpretation.

Just then their food arrived. Kimi dove in almost forgetting how infuriating her date had been. Wait… was this a date?

"So who trained you? Considering you're not a shinobi they did a good job." he asked changing the subject.

"My dad. He lost his leg on a mission, so they let him retire. I was only two years old at the time. When I hit age 5 I showed an interest in singing. My mom died giving birth to me so it was only my dad and I. Anyway, when my dad heard me sing he decided to take me on the road and I sang in front of people. He taught me about chakra and how to use it. My dad had a hard time finding work so my singing became our source of income."

"If you bring your father to me, I know a jutsu to fix his leg."

"That's kind of you, but he died when I was 17."

Kimi thought for sure Orochimaru would try to bring up the Reanimation Jutsu, but thankfully he didn't. It was her opinion that the dead should stay dead.

"Have you been on your own since then?"

"Pretty much. I have my admirers everywhere I go so it's like having lots of friends, but I'm almost always by myself when I travel from place to place."

"With how much people love your voice, I'm surprised you haven't settled down."

"I've thought about it, but nowhere has felt right. I've had a few boyfriends that could have turned into husbands too, but I had to turn them down."

"Why was that?"

"Different reasons. One sounded like he was proposing to my voice instead of me. Another one, I found out after a week of being engaged, only wanted to brag about the fact he had conquered me."

"I see."

She was surprised that he just listened, and at the fact he was asking about her. Most first dates at some point usually asked her to sing for them.

Once they had finished eating they said goodbye and went their separate ways. Kimi took her time walking home as she admired the stars that now shone brightly. The Land of Fire had been one of the only places that she could see the stars this clearly. She hummed as she walked till she finally reached her hotel.

After she shut the door to her room she stripped off her kimono revealing her green strapless bra which perfectly held her in place and panties. She flopped on her new bed and let out a sigh. After resting for a moment she got back up and went over to her vanity mirror, grabbed her brush from her travel bag and began brushing her hair.

A few moments later the door that adjoined to the next room broke open and several men tumbled to the floor with the door. Kimi let out a loud scream and she quickly grabbed her robe.

Orochimaru's POV (back in front of the restaurant)

Orochimaru and Kimi had said goodbye and he started walking towards his house, but then decided he was going to secretly follow her home to make sure no one tried anything. After the stories she had told him, he just wanted to be on the safe side.

She started humming and it put him in almost a trance like state, but he forced himself to stay focused on making sure she was safe. Once she disappeared inside and he saw a new light go on he was satisfied she had made it safe. He started back towards his home when he heard her scream.

He rushed as fast as he could to her room and slammed the door open to find several men lying on top of the door that had obviously given way. Kimi was wrapped in a baby blue robe that brought out her eyes.

"What's going on?!"

Kimi's POV

Just as Kimi finished wrapping her robe around herself and was about to lay into her unexpected guests, when Orochimaru burst in. For a split second she saw worry on his face.

"What's going on?!" he demanded.

All of the young men's faces went pale.

"They were peeping on me!"

Orochimaru shot them a glare that caused them to tumble over each other trying to get away as fast as they can. Slowly, Orochimaru made his way over to them causing them to retreat entirely into their own room. He stopped at the top of the door that had fallen. Kimi was a little scared about what he was going to do.

"You bother her again, and I'll put my curse mark on all of you." his voice was deep and threatening as he stretched his neck up to an unnatural length and moved it like a snake. Kimi had to stifle her laughter. He then picked up the door, put it back in place and leaned one of the lounge chairs against it to keep it up. Unable to keep it in, she burst out laughing once the door had been put in place.

"What's so funny?" he asked looking confused.

"What you did with your neck." she continued to laugh. Once she settled down enough she continued to explain. "I have seen lots of weird things in my life, but I think that tops them all."

"It tends to freak most people out."

"I can see why, but I find it hilarious." There was a permanent smile on her face.

"Did any of them hurt you?" he asked changing the topic again.

"No, no. I'm fine. I've had this happen before with men peeping on me…" She giggled again. "But I've never had a door collapse like that before."

"Well, I don't think they will bother you again."

"Yeah, not after you scared them half to death."

Kimi finally relaxed her grip on her robe and she felt her heart flutter a bit as he looked at her.

"I'll let you get some rest." he said after a moment of silence.

"Okay, I'll see you later."

Once Orochimaru left and the door was closed, she pulled one of the blankets off her bed and tucked it over the top of the door to block any more peeping, just in case. She removed her robe again and fanned herself. For some reason she felt really warm. When she sat in front of the mirror again she could see why. Her face was red. She must have seriously blushed when Orochimaru had looked at her.

She went back to brushing her hair and went to bed. It never took long for her to fall asleep on the day she arrived in a new place, so it was only about ten minutes before she passed out.