Tayuya was escorting to my room. The base was underground like almost all of them from what I heard from Kin and Zaku. Tayuya was hard to read, well not Blank Out wise I could do that easy. I don't think anyone else but me would notice it, Tayuya was bad mouthed, mean and aggressive but there was something about her that lead me to believe it was all just an act. I have seen into people's minds and matched up facial expressions with their thoughts, I knew expressions better than probably Ibiki.
"This is your room. Mines across the hall." Tayuya said stopping in front of a door that looked like all the others. She turned and went into the room across the way.
I started to go into my room, I stopped. "Hey, Tayuya?"
"What?" She sounded cold, anyone else would have flinched at her voice. But not me, one I was used to this with Grandma Tsunade. Two it was all an act, a very good act that deceived Orochimaru and everyone else. I knew acting when I saw it, probably since I've been doing for most of my life. Pretending to be okay but dying inside.
"Are you alright?" I turned to her. She looked at me as if I was from another planet or something. "You can always talk to me, you know. I'm a good listener." I smiled.
Tayuya looked as if she couldn't believe her ears. "Uhh..." She looked uncertain and rather taken aback. "Thanks?" With that she went into her room, shutting the door behind her.
I shrugged. It would take a while for people to get used to me, the way I acted was alien to even those in the Leaf. I turned and walked into my dark bedroom. I fumbled for the light switch on the wall, my hand pushed it upward while I was still trying to find it.
The room was an average size, nothing special. It had a twin sized bed in the back right corner, the covers were white. There was a large desk in the back left corner. A dresser was against the same wall the door was on. Nothing special, but what did I expect? A royal suit? Nope, to be honest this actually meet what I was expecting.
I walked over to the bed there was a white nightgown folded on top of it, as well as a white bathrobe, white bath towel, white wash cloth. What is it with white in this place? Oh well, white is cheap. I pushed them to the foot of the bed and just sat on it.
What have I gotten myself into? They better be grateful I-
A knock on my door cut off my train of thought. "Yes?"
The door slide open, Guren, the lady who could wield crystal was there in a, surprise, surprise, white bathrobe, her towel slung over her shoulder.
"Showers. We only get-" She stopped in midsentence. I noticed I was crying. She crossed the room and sat down next to me. "I'm not going to ask if you're alright because that would be a stupid question."
I glanced at Guren. She actually looked concerned. I shrugged. "Things just bottle up and over flow." I said, I sounded very old and I felt it. "Life is never easy. Always throwing things at you that you don't think you're ready for. But the world only gives you what it thinks you can handle..."
"You sound very wise for your age." I felt Guren's shock.
"Hmph. I wish I wasn't. With wisdom comes pain. What can one expect from the life style of a Shinobi?"
"You sound like an-"
"Elder? I know. I get that a lot." I stared at the ceiling. "This world sucks." I don't know what came over me. "Sorry, I normally don't talk like that."
"You think what you said is bad?" Guren laughed. "You should hear what some people say around here! Tayuya especially. A word of advice stay out of the lounge after midnight. Not a place for kids."
"I'll think I'll take that advice...." A lounge? "There's a lounge here?"
"It was just a large empty room someone came across once and they collected mismatch furniture and poof. Those who play instruments often practice there. It's the one place Lord Orochimaru doesn't go." Guren said.
"There a piano in there?" Please let there be a piano!!
Guren thought for a moment. "Yes I think there is. No one plays it and its probably out of tune but... Why? You play?"
"A little. Like most things I know I taught myself." I paused. "Come to think of it... I pretty much taught myself everything but medicine..."
"Really?"
"There are no other Wood Users are there?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"I know what you mean there. I never met another Crystal User."
"It's almost kinda lonely. Being the only one."
"It is." Guren glanced up at the wall. "Look at the time! We have ten minutes to get there and shower!" Guren sprang up. I hadn't noticed the clock on the wall.
Guren left so I could get into my robe. I slipped my feet into the slippers at the foot of the bed. Guren was waiting for me outside my room. "Thanks." I said as we started walking.
"Don't worry about it. I was kinda scared when I first came here."
"How'd you get to be here? You know my reason but what's yours?"
Guren looked off into space. "As a child, I came from a small village. I was shunned by others because I had unique powers. Later, Orochimaru appeared and destroyed the entire village single-handedly. He was intrigued by my powers and offered for me to come with him. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain."
"I see..." I shook my head. "Orochimaru tends to go for that."
"For what?"
"People who are alone and lost. Nowhere to go and no one to turn to. He uses that to his advantage. Makes people feel like the only way for them to be useful is to work for him. There's more but it would most likely offend you." I said.
"Why did you leave that animal behind?" Guren asked.
"Her name is Sumi and I didn't want her to see any of this. Sumi... To me..." I couldn't put my feelings to words.
By this time we'd reached the showers. each shower was separated by dividers, there were doors as well for privacy. At least that much.
I reached for the soap bar but I noticed it didn't smell right. I didn't touch it but I bent down and smelt it. I get it. Prank the new girl.... Do they think I'm this stupid? There was no one in the stall next to me. I had a root grab the soap bar in my stall and switch it out with the one in the next stall. This one smelt like regular soap. I heard a someone get into the stall next to me. I couldn't help but smirk. I stepped out of the shower robe on, towel wrapped up on my head.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
A Sound Kunoichi bolted out of the shower towel wrapped around her body, itching like crazy. All the other girls and women were laughing so hard some were leaning against the wall for support. Some had stood up on the metal seats in their shower so they could see what was on.
I felt kinda bad for the brown haired teenager, she was about my age. "What the hell!" She screamed. "I went through my initiation already three years ago!!"
"Sorry." I said. "But do you people think I'm that stupid?" I raised my eyebrow at the Kunoichi around me. "I grew up with Naruto for a cousin and Kushina for an aunt. I know every trick in the book. Poison Ivy soap? Pa-lease! That armature prank! Not to mention I was head of the Initiation Committee at Konoha's hospital. You don't want to know what I made those poor rookies do! I know more tricks than all of you combined."
They were all looking kinda disappointed and some even scared. I paused before I left the showers. "Oh and by the way... I know every poison known to man and twenty I invented. All tasteless and odorless. Also half of them have no cure. So think twice next time, okay?" I smirked leaving them all scared. This might be just a little fun...