Time meant nothing to Emiko. Days and nights had distorted together into an endless stream long ago. Days blurred into nights, and the nights were never ending. Orochimaru's lair was truly a prison. No windows to the outside world existed anywhere. It was all endless hallways and battle arenas. Perpetual darkness greeted Emiko every time she awoke from a nightmare. She could still see the silhouette of millions of tiny flames flickering against the walls when she closed her eyes. Training was all she ever did now. If she wasn't sleeping for the short amount of time allowed to her, or showering, she was training. Even meals were a special treat for her.
"How long have I been here?" Emiko's pale hand was given a soft glow due to the candle light illuminating her room. The flame sputtered, and then started back up again when she dropped her arm back to her side on the bed. "Everything is wrong now."
After three years of believing that her family was gone, she found out that her younger brother is still alive. Although Hirsoshi is alive, he has no memory of who he used to be, or who she is. Emiko knew there had to be some reason.
"It has to have something to do with that strange medicine I saw Kanashimi give him," She thought. "I can't believe she was a part of whatever's going on this whole time." What else did Kanashimi know? How involved was she really with Hiroshi?
Emiko went over every memory of when she'd seen the two of them together. Nothing seemed to suspicious though. She was still deep in thought when a sharp knock sounded at her door.
"Chou-san, Orochimaru-sama requests your presence. He says he will be the one to train you today. Please hurry."
The voice didn't belong to anyone she recognized; not that Emiko knew many people at this base anyway. She was truly a prisoner here.
Steam swirled around Emiko. The hot water of the shower stung her fresh wounds, but the pain was so common to her now that she hardly noticed. "I'm getting better." She sighed. Orochimaru didn't always train her physically. In fact, he hardly ever did. Although she had only really trained with him a few times, Orochimaru mostly remained seated the entire time. When he called on her to train under him it was always to improve her jutsu. Because of her Six Lighting Strikes of the Gods, Emiko had never needed to learn any other lighting jutsu. Of course she knew the most basic ones, but as part of the Chou clan and one of those who had unlocked all six wings, anything more would have been a nuisance. Orochimaru seemed to understand that as he only ever had her practice with her kekkei genkai.
"My accuracy has improved, and the speed at which a wing will activate has also increased." Emiko could use her first three wings with pride. It was the last three that she struggled with. When she was a student of Konoha's ANBU team, she was given C or even B rank missions. During those missions she would find herself in need of one of the last three wings. However, using anything higher than her shield required a greater amount of chakra and chakra control then each one before it. If she was fighting alone, with no team to back her up, using the last three posed a danger.
"What Sasuke wouldn't give to know everything about my clan's secret jutsu." Emiko laughed bitterly to herself.
Sensei Kogeki, rein ( first strike, rain). A series of weaker, although not entirely useless, lighting bolts would descend from the skies to strike any opponents. Emiko had reached her limit at fifteen bolts of lightning.
Dai ni sutoraiku no akuma (second strike, demon). When the second wing activates, the shattered shards fall to the ground where electrical demons are summoned in their wake. It almost looks as though the ground has split and the demons are coming from inside the Earth. The demons move under the users command, and can even merge together to form one powerful demon. Emiko has reached her limit at ten.
Dai san sutoraiku, toku (third strike, shield). The third strike is an electrical shield that covers the users body. It is invisible to the naked eye as it consist of chakra and electricity mixed perfectly together. The shield activates either when the user makes it, or when someone comes in contact with it. It will either electrocute or blind the opponent.
Dai yon sutoraiki, Doragon (fourth strike, dragon). When this fourth wing activates, a dragon is summoned. The dragon is again made of chakra and electricity mixed perfectly together. The dragon will follow the users commands and attack until a heavy amount of damage is done it. Though it takes a heavy amount of damage to dismiss the dragon, its amount of time summoned also depends on how long the user can sustain it. The dragon requires a larger amount of chakra than any of the first three wings. Emiko has reached her limit at ten minutes.
Dai go kōgeki, ken (Fifth strike, sword). Five orbs of light will appear in front of the user. They then take on the shape of swords. This is the most agile of the six wings as the movement is the easiest to control and use with flight or fast movement.
Dai roku kōgeki hōfuku (sixth strike, retribution). Not many who have seen this wing activate have survived. Legends and rumors say that this is the most powerful lighting type attack. Though it's the most powerful, it's speed it drastically slow compared to the other five strikes. Those few that have survived after seeing this attack used are not often members of the Chou clan.
Sasuke was another issue. "Ever since I've gotten here, he's made it a point to see me. We're either training together, or I walk into my room and he's sitting on my bed." Emiko hung her head and growled at the white tiled floor. She watch the water swirl into the drain while she steeped in anger. "He's so damn annoying! That duck-assed bastard knows I hate him and yet he goes out of his way to see me!"
The faucets squeaked and groaned when she turned off the water. Emiko ripped open the shower curtains and hastily began drying herself off. "I mean really! Who the hell does he think he is!"
"Why won't you look at me?" he questioned, loosening his grip on her neck a little.
"Bad memories." She muttered.
Sasuke grinned when the memory of the time Kakashi handcuffed them together, and his last moments in Konoha with her played through is mind. He let go of her neck and turned on his heel. "I want to train some more. Find you way to your room."
"Go Fuck yourself." Emiko spat on the ground behind him.
Sasuke stopped walking. Without leaving her even a second to react Sasuke showed her his true speed. He suddenly appeared in front of her and slammed her into the wall with his body. He grabbed her jaw with one hand and placed the other on her hip.
"I'd much rather fuck you.
Emiko's retort was cut short when Sasuke once again boldly took her lips with his own. He pressed himself against her completely and kissed her as deeply as he could. The grip on her jaw hurt, and Sasuke's heavy body was making her wounds sting. However, Emiko unconsciously found herself drawn to his warmth. She was always so cold now.
Sasuke broke the kiss and turned around with a grin on his face. "Naruto isn't here to stop me anymore." With that, he vanished.
"I should kick his ass!" Emiko shook her fist in front of her. He was too damn cocky. He knew he could get away with doing whatever he wanted. Orochimaru wouldn't give two shits what Sasuke did as long as he was still a suitable host in the end. That thought sobered Emiko up while she finished dressing.
"That's right," she mumbled, "Orochimaru is only training Sasuke the way he is so that he can take over his body in the end." Kakashi was the one who had explained it to her. He knew she was the only one of the group that would be able to hear the truth and handle it. Maybe saying handle it was the wrong thing. She was the only one who would keep a cool head and try to understand the situation.
"But now I'm in the same situation. Even if I do manage to figure out what's going on with Hiroshi, I have a feeling it's all centering around me becoming a possible host." There's no other reason Orochimaru would go so far out of his way to get at Emiko.
"Would I be okay with that though?" She wondered, resting her hand on the cool door knob. "If it meant I could save Hiroshi, would it be okay if I became…Orochimaru's?"
"You're slow."
"Dammit!" Sasuke was leaning back on Emiko's bed. One leg was stretched out in front of him, while the other was bent at the knee so he could rest his arm on it. His head was against the wall, while he used her pillow as a cushion for his back. Sasuke's features were made to seem darker and more mysterious then they usually did due to the poor lighting.
"Mysterious? There's nothing mysterious about that bastard!" Emiko ground the heels of her hands into her eyes before stalking forward.
"You got new clothes." He watched her from the corner of his eyes.
"Weird how that happens," she spat.
Emiko hated her new clothes. They made her look like she actually belonged in this place. Orochimaru's minion had given her a pair of short black shorts, a black tank-top, and a gray hoodie that cut off around her midsection. The hoodie had fur along the hood and cuffs. They had also been kind enough to give her a new pair of shoes. Instead of the practical ninja shoes she'd always taken to wearing, Emiko now had to wear a pair of high heeled shoes much like Sakura's. She was also now sporting the typical Sound Village blue cameo as a scarf.
"I feel like a hooker," Emiko sighed. She tugged on the shorts to try and make them go down further. "Why the hell couldn't he give me something more normal?"
"Hn. You're still to prude."
"It was rhetorical duckass." Emiko ignored Sasuke's glare. She turned to her desk and pulled open the drawer that held her extra weapons, and the means to clean them.
"You're weaker now." Sasuke remained in his relaxed position.
"Thank you," Emiko bristled, but repressed her anger. Instead, she started looking around for her sword. "I haven't even used the damn thing. What a waste to learn swordsmanship."
Sasuke watched as Emiko moved from place to place searching for her sword. He couldn't repress the amused grin when she continued getting paler and paler.
"Shit." Emiko was almost trembling. She kept her head hidden under the desk so Sasuke wouldn't see the panicked expression on her face. "It's under the bed…It has to be, I've looked everywhere else. Dammit! Why'd it have to be under the bed!"
Emiko took a deep breath to steel her nerves and stood up. She tried to look casual as she walked over to her bed, which just happened to have the Uchiha bastard on it. "I'm a ninja," Emiko remembered. "I'll just kick his ass if he tries anything."
Sasuke's eyes followed her ever movement. He actually almost jumped when she suddenly threw herself on the floor, dashed under the bed, and dashed back over to her desk with her sword in her hands. She muttered darkly under her breath and began furiously cleaning the weapon.
"Why are you here anyway." Emiko kept her back to him.
"…."
"Bastard!" Her shoulders hunched, and she started cleaning her weapon even faster. "We never spent so much time together as kids, Sasuke. Not unless we were training and didn't want Naruto to slow us down," She laughed nervously at the last part, "not that he was a bad ninja or anything, I'm sure he's much stronger now." She set down her sword and smirked evilly. Maybe she could piss Sasuke off enough so he'd just leave.
"You know, he's grown a lot. Naruto really isn't so bad looking anymore. Also not that he ever was. I still don't get why you got more attention than he did. What surprises me even more is that Gaara…" Emiko's heart twisted painfully. It'd been way to long since she allowed herself to think of him. If she kept thinking about Gaara, she'd have even more trouble saving Hiroshi. Hiroshi had to come first this time. "Gaara has twice as many fan-girls as you did, even though he used to be a stone cold killer."
"If only they knew what he was like in b-" Before she could finish Sasuke had yanked her chair back. He grabbed her arm, forcing her to drop her sword. She started to protest, but all that came out was a muffled shout when Sasuke threw her on her bed. "What are you doing!"
Emiko gasped and sank further into the small bed. Sasuke had one wrist pinned above her head, while his other hand supported his weight on her other side. The white robe he wore was so loose that his entire chest was exposed. Sasuke glared down at Emiko.
"I've never seen a look like that on his face before," She gulped. Emiko's stomach dropped when his grip tightened. "I didn't even realize until now how damn tired I am. I haven't even eaten in probably about two days. Plus I drained all my chakra in training with Orochimaru today. There's no way I'll be able to put up a good fight for too long."
"Why do you do that?" His voice was smooth and low.
"Do what?" Emiko shouted, struggling to push him off of herself. Sasuke didn't budge. Instead, he lowered himself so that his face was right above hers.
"You've always tried to piss me off by acting like that." His grip on her wrist was like steel. Emiko was pressing against his chest with her free hand, but in her weakened state it didn't faze him. She kept squirming around and grunting while she answered him.
"Because I fucking hate you! Get the hell off of me!"
Sasuke pulled back a little at her outburst. He hadn't expected her to say that. "Why?"
It was Emiko's turn to be surprised. "What do you mean why? Y-You forced yourself on me multiple times, we were always arguing, and you left the damn village! What else am I supposed to think? I can never forgive you for hurting Naruto and Sakura like that!"
Sasuke scoffed. He put a knee between her legs and forced them apart to make room for himself. His lips were like fire against her skin. He placed a small kiss in the grove of her neck, then pulled back again to look at her. Her eyes were wide, and he could practically hear her heart beating.
"Naruto and Sakura were holding me back. I had to leave, to get stronger. Isn't that why you left?" He pressed his lips against her neck again. Sasuke kissed her shoulder, then kissed her collar bone.
Emiko tried to jerk away, but Sasuke followed her. "I left because I had no one to return to!"
"Hn. Your family…" It wasn't a statement, or even a question. Sasuke began trailing kisses back up to her neck. He licked her, smirking when she jumped again. He kissed the spot that made her jump, then sensually sucked on the skin. He teased her neck with his teeth, flicking his tongue out taste her.
"I-" She gasped and jerked again. "I also left to go home to Gaara!" Sasuke stopped kissing her jaw. His hesitation offered Emiko the opportunity she'd been looking for. Emiko rammed her knee into his stomach then punched him square in the jaw. Sasuke stumbled off of her and away from her bed. Without giving him a chance to recover Emiko threw herself off the bed and ran for the door. She had no clue where she was going, or what the hell she might run into wandering through Orochimaru's lair, but anything was better than this.
Emiko had just grabbed the door knob when she was violently ripped away from the door. Sasuke slammed her against the wall and trapped her by placing his arms on either side of her. "W-why are you doing this?" Emiko's voice wavered.
"Because I hate you, and" Sasuke knotted his hand in her hair and moved closer until his lips brushed against hers. His obsidian eyes stared deeply into her purple ones. His breath fanned across her face, "because I love you."
Sasuke closed his eyes and slowly leaned into the kiss. Emiko tried to back away, to turn her head, but Sasuke's hand kept her still. His lips were warm and smooth, while Emiko's were cold and trembling. He kissed her gently and pulled back. His eyes were half lidded. Sasuke only stayed back long enough to take a small breath before kissing her again. Emiko was too stunned by his words to move. She remained frozen with wide eyes while Sasuke steadily moved his lips against hers. His body pressed against hers, moving in synch with his kisses. Sasuke's free hand slid from her cheek down her arm, and stopped at her hip. He squeezed her hip the same time he ran his tongue along her bottom lip.
"See, Gaara. You're just as precious to the village as it is to you now." Emiko cupped Gaara's face and smiled at him.
He closed his eyes, too a deep breath, and for the first time, smiled for everyone to see. "Then let me show the village how precious you are to me, so that they might protect you just as fiercely."
"Wh-" Emiko's face was on fire as Gaara pulled her to him and kissed her as deeply as he could.
The entire village fell silent for a split second before breaking out into cheers and applause. The music and fireworks started up again, and people were throwing their hands into the air. Emiko's eyes fluttered closed. She finally gave in and returned his kiss with just as much passion. After what seemed like hours, Gaara pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers.
"I love you Emiko Chou."
She smiled at him and answered, "I love you too, Kazekage-sama."
"Gaara….Gaara…." Tears began to fall down Emiko's blushed stained cheeks. "I've been trying so hard to be strong here, but I can't just forget you! I love you so much, Gaara. I-I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold on." A sob shook Emiko's body. She didn't even notice that Sasuke had stopped kissing her and was now watching her cry. "Please find me Gaara, and help me save Hiroshi! I don't want to do this alone!"
Sasuke casually wiped a tear away with his thumb. "But I have too…..I have to save Hiroshi no matter what." Emiko shut her eyes against the wave of nausea that churned her stomach. "I-I'm s-sorry, Sasuke…..kun."
Sasuke stiffened. Emiko fought against her impulse to run in order to open her eyes and look at Sasuke. "…."
Sasuke remained silent. "I'm just a little t-tired." Emiko gave up. She couldn't do it. She couldn't make herself play along with Sasuke's advances. She tore herself away from the young Uchiha and sprinted out of the room.
She hadn't even taken five steps when she ran head first into someone. Sasuke managed to catch her before she fell to the ground, but the other person landed heavily with a shout. Emiko rubbed her head and glanced halfheartedly at the person across from her. The tears that were still in her eyes fell.
Hiroshi stood before her, rubbing his head and cursing under his breath. It took everything in her not to scold him for his bad mouth. Hiroshi finished messing up his long hair and finally looked to see who he'd run into.
"Hey, it's you." Emiko's heart constricted at the sound of his voice.
Hiroshi looked like he wanted to say something else, but when his eyes fell on Sasuke, and the way he was holding Emiko between his legs with one arm around her shoulder, the words died in his throat. Emiko watched frozen in shock while his mouth opened and closed a few times before Hiroshi seemed to give up.
Instead, a horrifying rage contorted his appearance.
"H-Hiroshi?" Emiko was terrified. Even Sasuke seemed slightly on edge because his grip on her shoulder tightened.
"GET THE FUCK OFF MY SISTER YOU BASTARD!"
(A/N): Dun dun dun! Enjoy! Nothing much to say today! Next chapter is going to be a turning point, so make sure you stay tuned! Also, i just noticed i can put pictures up for my stories now, like as a cover? I'm working on one right now! I keep slacking off on my deviantART account by not even really making any pictures for my stories...-.- i'm a very lazy person. I think, if i ever stop being so damn lazy, that i'm going to draw a scene from each story, or at least some of the best scenes. I'm really not going to make any promises on anything though because i know i almost never keep them...anyway, enjoy!
