You're not like the others

3

Leaves my body glowing

"Hi! Nice to meet ya, I'm Iruka!"

Iruka suddenly bursts into the scene, sticking his hand out for Orochimaru to take. I, meanwhile, am still frozen still, my hand still locked in Orochimaru's.

A smirk curves onto the black haired man's lips and he disentangles himself from me, brushing his long pale fingers over mine as he moves his hand towards Iruka.

"A pleasure." He replies, though his voice sounds almost mocking, as if he's aware of some secret joke that none of us could get.

Iruka pumps Orochimaru's arm up and down with his over-the-top handshake and I then manage to flash back into the world.

"Iruka and Anko are engaged," Shizune says, smiling fondly at my fiancé's irritating display. "Tried to beat Genma and I to the wedding aisle, since they got engaged before us and all," the woman's eyes narrow slightly. "But they didn't,"

Dear God is Shizune competitive when it comes to love. The girl was convinced she was going to be a spinster for the rest of her life, but as soon as she managed to snatch a guy up, she just hasn't be able to stop gloating. I shoot her a look and her expression turns slightly guilty.

"Sorry." She mutters, while Genma grins behind her.

Orochimaru's grip on Iruka's hand turns slack. "Engaged hm?" His eyes move to meet mine. "I would never have guessed."

Ok, so, if I was Iruka, I would have definitely snatched my hand back by now, because the look on Orochimaru's face is almost murderous. I feel a slight thrill run up and down my spine; is he jealous?

Wakey wakey Anko. I try to coax myself back into reality. You don't even know this guy and he doesn't know you. And even if you did know each other, why would someone as hot as that even bother with someone like you? Though you are really sexy. Actually…yeah, you're pretty damn sexy Anko…

Shizune suddenly waves her hand in front of my face and I jump. "What?" I question.

"I was saying-" Shizune pauses to give me a disapproving look for leaving the conversation spiritually. "-that you, Anko, are a P.E. teacher, and that Iruka is a primary school teacher."

"Right, right, yeah," I agree hastily. I look back up to Orochimaru, who is looking at me with an amused smile on his face. "What is it you do Orochi…" I can't even say his name without my body tingling. I stop short and leave it at that, my tongue going numb.

Orochimaru's smirk transforms into a wolfish grin as he watches me babble incoherently. Oh great, so the hot guy likes watching me struggle for words does he? Well I bet he'd like it even more if I was struggling to speak because-No, no Anko. I shake my head aggressively, trying to destroy the awful -hot- thoughts that have just wandered into my head. Great, now I look like I have a nervous tic.

What am I doing? Guys do not have this effect on me. No guy ever has had this effect on me, and now Orochimaru, a guy I don't even know, is simply standing in front of me, and I'm popping a lady boner.

"I own a pharmaceutical company," he answers me, his face still amused as he watches me fight inwardly; apparently he's used to having this effect on poor, innocent women. "Make up, that sort of thing. Nothing you would have need for. Your face is already…bewitching."

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh my Lord I am going mad. How has this man not been locked up yet? How is no one in the room, including the guys, not pregnant?

Iruka seems oblivious to the whole situation as he loops his arm over my shoulder, grinning broadly.

"Yeah, Anko's beautiful!" He agrees happily.

I don't shrug his arm off, but I also don't look away from Orochimaru. The man holds my gaze with his deep golden gaze. Despite myself I bite my bottom lip slightly. Orochimaru's mouth curves up at the sides and then he turns to look at Shizune, his long ebony locks swishing with the movement.

"How about another round of drinks?" He suggests, he glances back at me. "On me, of course."

Before Shizune can answer, Jiraiya and Tsunade both cheer loudly.

"Yeah! Definitely!" Jiraiya yells, absolutely destroying the relative ambience the other guests of the hotel had settled into.

"Jiraiya," Shizune hisses, glancing around awkwardly. "Could you maybe keep it down please?"

"Yeah, sure!" Jiraiya concurs, though he doesn't lower the tone in his voice at all.

While Shizune smacks herself in the forehead, Orochimaru turns to look at me once again.

"What would you like to drink?" He enquires. He throws his head back slightly and I gape at the pale whiteness of his throat, imagining what it would be like to bite it.

"I'll have a Guinness please!" Iruka says.

Orochimaru's eyes slide to the side slightly, but then he redirects his attention onto me. I guess I'm gonna have to talk.

"Yeah, a Guinness would be good…thanks."

Orochimaru's mouth, once again, curves into a smile. "Perfect." He states, before turning to look expectantly at Genma and Shizune.

Shizune waves her hand around, shaking her head. "No. No alcohol for me thanks! I need to make sure I fit into this wedding dress."

I roll my eyes. "C'mon Shizune, one drink isn't going to-"

Shizune sticks her finger in my face, her eyes narrowing even before I can finish my sentence. "Puerto Rico, 2002," she growls. "Never again."

Ah yes, I'd managed to completely forget that Shizune never listens to me when it comes to drinking anymore, thanks to that holiday. How was I supposed to know she was going to sleep with three guys and then fall into the swimming pool from her hotel balcony!?

I go cross eyed, looking at the finger in my face and then grin sheepishly at her.

"There sounds like there may be a story behind that." Orochimaru drawls, leaning back against one of the chairs slightly and crossing his arms.

"Just Anko making bad decisions, as always," Shizune replies airily. "Most of my stories to do with Anko are simply the result of bad judgement calls on her part."

Orochimaru raises his eyebrows and looks at me. "You make bad decisions, do you?" He murmurs.

The way he's looking at me sends shivers up and down my spine. Still, I do have to defend my honour.

"I didn't tell you to leave with those three men!" I shoot back at my best friend. "That was completely your own decision, if I recall."

Genma's ears perk up at this. "Three men?" He repeats. "This sounds interesting."

Shizune lets out a yelp. "No! No it isn't interesting!" She begins pushing Genma towards the bar. "Help Orochimaru out with the drinks, would you!?"

Orochimaru chuckles -his eyes still on me- and then he floats past, joining Genma as they walk over to the bar.

"Hey!" Jiraiya and Tsunade yell in unison after him. "You didn't ask what we wanted!"

Orochimaru turns slightly. "Rest assured I shall buy you the most potent of the alcoholic beverages available." He returns.

His two friends immediately pipe down, apparently content with this answer. I watch as Orochimaru and Genma strike up a conversation at the bar. I take the opportunity to examine my new -accidental- object of lust. He's around the same height as Genma, standing at least a head taller than me, with striking dark black hair, which reaches down to his lower back. It looks soft and touchable…as does his butt, which is currently clad in black slacks. I gape at him.

Ok. So I am fully aware I need to be snapping out of this, because currently I'm behaving like some pig on a building site, but…dear Lord. Has he been placed here just to tempt me?

I don't know if I can tear my eyes awa…oh shit. I go bright red when he turns and looks at me. Orochimaru's gaze hits me and then he follows my eyeline down his body, smirking when he realises where I'm looking.

I rip my eyes away and look anywhere but him. That is until I realise that another pair of eyes is also on me. I look over to see that Shizune's giving me a suspicious look, her brow crinkled.

'What are you doing?' She mouths at me.

'Help me.' I mouth back.

Shizune's brow creases even more and then she looks around at her other guests. "Could you please just excuse me for one moment?" She smiles. "Anko and I need to talk. Wedding stuff, you know."

Iruka, Jiraiya and Tsunade all nod in acknowledgement and then Shizune moves forwards and links arms with me, pulling me across the room and into the grand hall. Her heels tap along the wood and then she spins round to look at me.

"What's up with you?" She demands.

I disentangle myself from her and then look up at the high ceiling. "Shizune, remember that time I told you about a guy I met outside a bar?"

"Beautiful Rain Man TM?" Shizune returns, raising her eyebrows as I bring my gaze down to meet hers.

Right. So I'd forgotten about that nickname.

"Uh…yes," I reply, waving the nickname away. "Well, he's…he's kinda here."

"Where?" Shizune begins whipping around, her ponytail nearly slapping me in the face, such is her vigour. She stops and then jabs her finger at the floor. "In this room?"

"No!" I reply despairingly before swinging my arms out and gesturing towards the smoker's lounge. "In there!"

Shizune follows my rampant arm movements and then suddenly gasps. "Orochimaru?" She exclaims. "He's Beautiful Rain Man TM!?"

"Would you stop with that stupid nickname!?" I retort. "And, yes, that's him!"

Shizune stares at me for a few moments and then she shrugs, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Well so what? It's not that much of a big deal, surely? You only met him once, and you have Iruka now!"

My mouth drops open. "Have you seen him?" I return.

Shizune places her hands on her hips, turning into my mum…which is something she does often.

"Anko Mitarashi, if I find out you've done anything with Orochimaru, and hurt poor Iruka's feelings, I will murder you."

I cringe slightly and begin fiddling with one of the toggles on my hoodie. "But Shizune-" I go to return.

"But nothing," Shizune interrupts, pointing her nose up in the air and crossing her arms. "You're not an animal Anko; you can fight base desires-"

"But I'm not in love with Iruka." It all comes out in a rush and my eyes widen dramatically as I say it.

Shizune's eyes also widen and she turns to look at me, her arms uncrossing and coming to hang uselessly at her sides.

It feels so…strange to have said it out loud. It feels odd and weird, but it also feels right. I suddenly feel as if an enormous weight has been lifted off me, as if I can breathe for the first time in a long time.

"Right, well…" Shizune shifts uncomfortably. "That changes things."

A loud grumble of thunder sounds as the rain attacks the windows, banging loudly against the panes of glass and I grip my still wet umbrella in my hand, bunching the fabric between my knuckles.

Suddenly everything seems a lot more real.

An: Hey guys! So here's the new chapter! Thank you very much to: Azelride (You're so lovely! Thank you for your compliment on my writing :3), Guest, NinjaSheik (Thank you very much!), Ghostsammeo and UnderTheHood for your lovely reviews! They honestly mean so much and inspire me to continue!