The next time I came to, I felt absolutely horrible. I could tell I was half dead, but still alive. Apparently Kabuto had found an antidote.
The first thing I noticed was my extreme trouble in breathing…wait a minute…I wasn't breathing but I could feel my lungs taking in air and exhaling. I also noticed something hanging from my mouth. I wanted to reach up and take it out…but you can only imagine. My arms were too weak to make the effort. I heard a constant, but soft, beeping sound like a cardiac monitor. I couldn't have been any more correct.
"Well that's a relief," Kabuto's annoyed voice sighed. My arm was lifted and something disconnected. "Lord Orochimaru would have had my head."
"Wha?" I gasped. The effort to utter that one sound was too great and hurt so bad.
"Rest your lungs, Lady Akeelah, I put you on a respirator for a reason," he said, still fussing with something on my arm. "You just came from a month long coma. Welcome back."
"Coma?" I choked again, forgetting myself.
"Akeelah, please relax your lungs," he asked, slightly more polite this time. "Yes, you were in a coma for about a month. Lord Orochimaru has never been grumpier." My arm was carefully returned to its spot by my side and then something was wrapped around my upper arm. I felt immense pressure, but nothing painful. He must have been checking my blood pressure. "Unfortunately, your little stunt with the tourniquet has caused permanent nerve damage to your foot. You'll probably never feel your toes again your right foot. I'm sure it's a small price to pay for your life. Tourniquets should be the last resort for venomous bites. Next time, staying standing and make sure the wound is below your heart…and for goodness' sake; don't run. The poison was pumped through your bloodstream too quickly."
My right leg suddenly felt slightly chilly as the covers were pulled back from it. Kabuto began unwrapping a tight bandage. I only knew this because of the sharp stinging. My eyes were closed and I wasn't sure I wanted to see how bad one little snakebite had damaged me.
Kabuto was quick and surprisingly gentle as he cleaned and dressed the wound on my foot. It barely hurt…but then again he had probably put me on a very potent painkiller. When finished, he skillfully and properly twisted the surgical gloves off, threw them away in a concealed trash can and washed his hands. When finished, he left without a word.
Now what? I was quite awake with nothing to do and no one to talk to. The only sounds were of my troubled, but assisted, breathing and the cardio monitor. After about ten minutes of sheer boredom, I simply fell back asleep.
A week later, Kabuto said I was ready to get back up. I did, slowly at first, and found that my bitten leg barely even hurt as I put weight on it. Cautiously, I let up from holding onto Kabuto's arm.
"How is it, Lady Akeelah?" he asked. "Is there any pain?"
"Not really. It seems fine," I said. He bent down and examined my ankle, checking the neatly wrapped bandage as well as signs of swelling. Satisfied, he stood up and made stern eye contact. It was brief but I took the chance to show my appreciation. I bowed, extracting a gasp from him. "Thank you, Kabuto."
He stood, shocked and not quite sure of what to say. He turned his head away, seemingly embarrassed. "Please, raise your head, Lady Akeelah."
"Why should I not thank you and why do you keep calling me Lady?" I asked, straightening up.
"You're the wife of my master. It's only proper," he explained. Lame excuse in my eyes. He was at least a chuunin and I was far less than a gennin.
"Were you sold to Orochimaru or something that he's your master?"
Kabuto seemed insulted for his eyes narrowed. "No! He freed me from the mind control of the Akatsuki. I owe everything to him!"
"Akatsuki?" I asked, bewildered.
Kabuto's eyes suddenly widened as if he had said a curse word. He looked away, neck muscles rippling from swallowing hard. "Speak no more of it, my lady."
"Oh, I get it. You were freed only to be forced back into slavery?" I guessed.
"You insult me!" he growled and turned away sharply. After taking a deep, calming breath he said, "Lord Orochimaru is expecting you. You are to explain the reason you ran from him."
"I don't have to explain anything to him," I said with a sharp attitude, crossing my arms. Kabuto seemed horrified.
"Be careful what you say, my lady. Lord Orochimaru's patience should not be tested like so."
"Bring it on."
All of sudden, my courage and boldness drained from me as I entered the dark, spacious chamber where I was to meet Orochimaru. His very form and posture was threatening. I suddenly felt like a weasel…small and taunted. Kabuto swiftly shut the door behind me and with it, the last of the daylight.
"Akeelah, you look better than you did a month ago. I expect you're in condition to try and run away again?" Orochimaru taunted from the opposite side of the room. He was leaning against the wall, arms and legs crossed, merely staring at me…amused. "Or would you like to chance my taipans and asps?"
I swallowed hard, looking only at my feet. I longed for home but I did not want to repeat the last month. I looked up and decided to resort to my old tactic. "Orochimaru-sama…please, I beg of you…let me go. Erase my memory if you have to but please, let me return home!" With that, I dropped to the ground and positioned myself into the most humble bow possible.
"Heh heh, Akeelah. Keep this up…it's adorable," Orochimaru replied after a minute of silence. I heard his footsteps approach. "Really, it's very cute, my little corn snake."
"I am not a snake!" I hissed and sat up, fire blazing in my eyes. Orochimaru took advantage of that moment to hold my chin firmly in his hand. Suddenly, my eyes could not leave his golden viper eyes. I saw a terrible fire in those golden depths. I wanted to yank free; I wanted to die; I wanted to scream. His head tilted to the left a bit and his lips reeled back into that usual horrifying grin.
"Now, now, Akeelah, what did you hope to accomplish by running away?" he said softly. "You are mine and I am yours…my dear wife." And the worst occurred. His arms encircled me and head rested on my shoulder. His face was buried in my thick, wooly hair that cascaded to my shoulder blades. I was disgusted and repulsed. My hands were tightly clenched. My dark eyes drifted to the side where his head was.
"I hate you," I stated, every bit of rage dripping from that simple phrase. I could tell I had hurt him for his grip on me eased and his face moved away from my neck.
"Surely you don't mean that, Akeelah. Come now, don't be afraid," he chuckled, clearly trying to shrug off the comment. His grip around me grew tighter than before and I couldn't move. "You will come to me, Akeelah I know you will." His face hovered above my right shoulder. Slowly his hand came up and dug beneath the fabric of my collar.
"What are you doing, Orochimaru?" I growled. He didn't answer but instead exhaled heavily on my now bare shoulder. A burning chill shot down my spine and spread into every crevice of my body. Scentless breath froze my every nerve and moving quickly became difficult. Something was going on and I didn't like it one bit.
"This will surely bind us," he said softly. I felt his lips rest softly against the base of my neck and I could only look away. I already knew what was coming. Those stone lips parted and fire sank into my flesh in the form of his fangs. It was like the mamba bite all over again…only worse.
He stayed like that, with his fangs sunk into my shoulder, for a few minutes. Each second only grew more painful. He pulled back slowly, grinning. I could see my own blood rimming his bottom lip. He wiped it away with the back of his hand. It wasn't long before my body had been wracked with so much pain, I almost completely lost control of it. Therefore, I fell forward…straight into his pale arms.
"Akeelah…" he said softly but slightly mockingly. His fingers stroked my cheek softly and tenderly. The pain grew so bad, I could no longer hold back my cries and I sobbed. Tears fell freely down my cheeks and dripped onto his fingers. Orochimaru's smile dropped slightly when he realized I was crying and his stroking only increased and soon, he was using his whole hand.
"Orochimaru…why?" I uttered. His hand then rested on my forehead.
"You'll see, my little hatchling," he softly hissed. He leaned over, his soft hair landing on the side of my face like a curtain. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable. His lips landed against my forehead and made no sound as they retreated. As if the kiss was enchanted, I feel into a deep sleep full of nightmares.
