Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.

Note: This chapter takes place a week after the last one.

Ghost of Love: Chapter Ten

The door opened silently beneath her hand and the young kunoichi slipped easily into her room.

She stopped short, eyes wide. "O-Orochimaru?"

"Ah, little Sakura… I was beginning to think you had tried your luck at escaping," the tall, dark-haired sannin rose gracefully from his seated position on her bed and approached her.

Sakura's shoulders slumped and she turned her face away from him. "No." If I could, I would be gone from this place.

"What's wrong, my dear? You're no fun when you're all… droopy and resigned," the snake sannin reached out one elegant hand and flicked the ends of her bangs, tucking them behind her ear with deceptive tenderness.

Sakura flinched away out of reflex, though she remained where she was otherwise. It had been a lonely and disheartening week since she had first ventured forth from her room to explore the Sound compound. No one spoke to her now; no one even looked at her anymore. It was as though she didn't exist.

Orochimaru lifted her chin, peering into her eyes with half-feigned concern. He did not appreciate his new toy and power source becoming boring so soon after acquiring her. "What is wrong?"

Sakura shivered but didn't pull away. She was too tired to bother pretending not to crave his attention. Too tired to lie. "Do you honestly want to know?"

Orochimaru's fingers tightened and his eyes grew dark with impatience. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

The pink-haired kunoichi didn't fight the angry scowl that flitted across her brow. She didn't enjoy being treated so unkindly and was increasingly unafraid of letting him know it. "Fine. I'm afraid I'm never going to get out of here. I'm angry because I was an idiot for going off alone and trying to rescue Sasuke when deep down I knew all along that he didn't want to be rescued. I'm tired of being alone all the time and I don't like it when you stop pretending to be kind." She yanked her chin out of his grasp and glared up at him with mutinous eyes.

Orochimaru chuckled softly and patted the girl affectionately on the head. "Is that all? Ah well, I may have something to take your mind off your worries…

"I'm going to teach you how to harness your newfound power."

I feel like a traitor for wanting to be around him. It's stupid, though… It's not him I want to be near. It's anyone. Anyone who will look at me instead of through me. I need to let go of my fears for now, or won't survive this without going insane! I have to use whatever I can to see me through this, until I can escape. Because I will escape.

Sakura followed along behind the swift-moving Orochimaru, staring blindly at the gleaming strands of his hair which flicked and caught the light as he walked. Where he was leading her she didn't know and didn't really care. It had become apparent after the second time he had siphoned off her excess chakra that he wasn't inclined to hurt her. She realized quite quickly that he preferred her to be… entertaining and if she were mortally afraid of him she would be anything but. No, he seemed to enjoy antagonizing her and invading her personal space in order to get a reaction out of her. She was all too willing to oblige- for as long as she was both valuable and interesting to him, she was safe.

"Here we are," the snake sannin opened a heavy metal door off one of the many, many hallways which made up the labyrinthine maze that was the Compound. He gestured politely for Sakura to enter first, the vague smirk around his eyes and lips letting her know that he knew she would find that very… unfavourable.

"Never be the first to enter a room if you can avoid it."

Sakura grimaced slightly as her old sensei's words intruded on her thoughts. No way around it. She stepped through the doorway, trying not to appear too cautious- and failing.

Orochimaru followed closely behind her, taking the opportunity to compound her discomfort with his close proximity. He stifled a low laugh as the pink-maned girl spun around and shot him an annoyed scowl. It was pleasing that her anger was still tempered with that delicious flicker of fear. It would be no good at all if she was completely unafraid of him at this early stage.

"So, let's begin your training. I have been rather impatient to see what you can do with all that chakra, but alas I have been busy recently, what with the renewed efforts of your little village to find both you and Sasuke."

Sakura's eyes widened, a tiny blossom of hope blooming in her chest. Orochimaru smirked and shook his head. "Don't go getting too excited yet, my dear. They don't have any idea where we are… I just take the opportunities for fun where I can. And I could hardly resist three lowly jounin wandering aimlessly about not two miles from here, could I?"

"Two miles? That's not too far away."

Oh her eyes were still glowing with newborn hope and he couldn't help but offer her the crushing truth, a gleeful lilt in his velvety voice. "Yes, but they won't remember anything except finding miles of forest completely devoid of Sound ninja. I'm sorry, little Sakura," his eyes softened and he reached out caress her cheek.

Sakura blinked back tears, rocked by the unexpected news that rescue had passed so close by and yet now was even further away than before. They'll never find us…

She stiffened in shock as the snake sannin pulled her into a warm hug. Use whatever you can to get through this… use whatever he offers, just don't believe in it. She forced herself to relax and take whatever false comfort she could from this strange experience. Whatever his twisted motivation for this is… I can't say it's not nice to feel cared about again. Even if it is one big manipulation wrapped in an obvious lie.

AN: Well isn't that out of character? lol... he's really not being remotely sweet, despite what this might look like. More explanations next chapter.

Thankyou again for the encouragement, guys XD You really do help a great deal with this- your reviews provide excellent motivation.