He didn't make eye contact, or any direct contact with me, when the next day rolled around. He fixed me breakfast but did not eat with me. He listened, I assumed, but did not speak with me. I did not regret what we did, merely because I didn't think it mattered.

Sajima stopped by. I suppose he called her for a date sometime yesterday. They spent half an hour in Orochimaru's bedroom. She lefted flushed and giggling. When Orochimaru emerged and caught sight of me, he looked livid.

The day was moving in slow motion. It seemed mechanical and empty. I went to my job and worked until my shift was up. I went to the forest and slept in a tree for a while. I didn't mind the quiet today, because my throat was sore.

I sat against the bark after awakening to ponder my life as it was. Revolving around Orochimaru. A man I knew would go psycho in about ten years, give or take. And I definitely might of taken some with his new found lolita complex. After everything that happened in my past life everyone this could effect. Kimimaro, Emine, all of his prisoners. The greater good. My children could come at a later time.

I sighed and hopped to the floor. Stretching my cramped muscles, I walked forward towards town. I had a compulsion to sing but there were no songs to sing. I felt cold. It was time to go home. The sun was starting to set behind the hokage's monument. She saw Sarutobi's face cast a shadow over two of the previous hokages. "I suppose that answers my 'Is he a hokage?' question."

I began to hum the tune to 'You Belong to Me'. I danced in small circles with slow movements. I knew I was trying to stall going back to Orochimaru's. In midstride, I decided that I should eat before going to his house. I didn't need to burden him anymore than I needed to. Around town I had seen a place called Ichiraku. That seemed like a nice little shack. Ramen was sounding quite appealling now.

I didn't actually eat much ramen. I usually lean towards fishy stuff. I'm not picky with food unless it's dog meat. Seriously, it would be like cannibalism. Then again, no one ever goes up to you to offer dogs to eat unless your desperately starving.

When I sat down on a stool and a young man asked me what I would like, I replied with a question. "Does Orochimaru ever eat here?" The man look taken back for a second before scratching his head.

"Excuse me Miss?"

"Call me Shoujo-chan for now. I was wondering if Orochimaru eats here. Ever. He's hard to not notice. He's very pale. Long black hair. A nice ass. Sn-"

"Oh, one of Sarutobi's. Yeah, sometimes. Call me Teuchi-chan. He's not a regular but he enjoys the food. Always leaves a hefty tip for me."

"What does he order?"

"Shōyu ramen with beni shoga."

"I'll take one order of that to go and . . . " I didn't know what to get. I knew what I liked so I guess I could get some help on the subject. "Do you have anything with fish or is spicy?"

He stepped back to think. "Well . . .Shōyu comes with kamaboko. Miso has fish broth and tōbanjan. Shio has kamaboko and is the healthier choice. We could make any of the ramen spicy though. You just need to ask."

"The Shio ramen is fine." I glanced up at the menu behind him. I felt stupid to not notice it before. "Oh, hold the onions and cabbage though. Add chili peppers and seaweed for sure."

"Coming right up." There was no back room, seeing how it was just a shack, so I could watch him prepare the meal.

"Aren't you the least bit concerned?"

"About what?" He flashed me a hearty smile as he spoke. I was glad that he turned to face me when he spoke.

"I could be a rival restaurant spy sent here to steal your secrets."

"Well you aren't. It's obvious since you decided to mention it. Besides almost everyone here are honest folk. You haven't been living here long have you?" He gave a knowing smile and patted my head. I felt as young as I looked in that moment. A sense of not-belonging overwhelmed me and brought a blush to my face. I was so easily picked out of a crowd.

". . . No . . . I came to the village recently. It's that obvious, ne?" I didn't intend to, but I left off in a bitter tone.

"Yes, well, sorta. I know most everyone, or at least can recognize them, in the village. I've lived here for a while and everyone's comes here at some point." He paused and gave a chuckle. "If I do say so myself," He moved to make a bow and put a stoic face with surfacing amusement. "Aku made itamae desu! *"

I didn't stifle my laughter. "Oh! That's terrible!" I covered my mouth with my hand as tears fell from my eyes.

He broke out into giggles right after me. "Then why are you laughing?!" He almost doubled over. I was sure he would have if not for the finished food in his hands.

"Thank you." I was still snickering.

"Your welcome. Please come again."

I began to walk to Orochimaru's house. Flashes of what I did so shamelessly at the time, brought burns of humiliation to my face. What was I thinking?! Of all the things that happen, I lose my train of thoughts one times. This one time and then I screwed completely. Why is that, huh?

Silence greeted me and I cursed my habit. Sometimes I talk to myself with the idea that Kaji or Takeda would answer back, but I long killed them. How? Why? When? I won't dredge that far into my past right now. The future is proving to be more difficult.

I touched my fingers to my mouth. My mind went back to the previous subject. Sex. Love. Lust. Name what doesn't belong. I let out a long held in sigh. Looking up, I saw I was already infront of the house. With that one glance my mouth went dry. Sucking it up, I walked in the door, bumping into Orochimaru.

With my air of confidence surrounding me, I stuttered and fidgetted. "H-hel-llo." I gave a weak smile. He stared impassively. I tried to move away and he moved to block. I broke the eye contact, he forced my face up. I moaned, he kissed me. I stumbled back, he wrapped his arms around me.

His erection pressed against my stomach. He leaned down and whispered, "Only this wakes for you. I couldn't get it up for Sajima or any whores in a brothel. Only you. Now I know for sure you belong to me." His calloused thumb brushed against my cheek in a soothing maanner. I stood on my tiptoes to listen to his rapid heart beat.

"That's all I could ever want."

"There will be conditions to this. . . " Relationship. Please call it a relationship! Dreams to make it what it once was made everything stop for a moment. For a moment, there was no movement. For a moment there was silence. In that moment, her heart stopped, her breath stopped. In that moment she was the living-dead.

In the moment after, she was shattered. "Tryst . . . I suppose." He broke it down to a point where de ja vu tingled her spine.

1st. It won't ever occur in public. No flirting, harrassment, or declarations.

2nd. I won't tolerate sharing. Do not move your infatuation to someone else.

3rd. It will end when I say.

4th. If I have a question, you will answer it fully and truthfully.

5th. In no situation shall you lie.

"These conditions are simple and I'm sure you understand them, right?"

"Yes. And they will go both ways." I ran my finger over his bulge. "Or else this tryst ends in the privacy of the Hokage's office."

* I'm one hell of a chef. It's a joke from the manga Kuroshitsuji. You'll get it if you read it. . . or watch the anime on stagevu.