Meeting – Part I

The young Yakushi Kabuto ran unhindered in the small village. No one stopped him from his destination. A sharp pain pulled on his heart as he remembered how Orochimaru-sama had died. He was killed by the leader of the Konohagakure survivors, a boy only a few years older than Kabuto himself. This wasn't supposed to happen. Orochimaru-sama was supposed to defeat him, and start building Otogakure. Kabuto's fists were clenched and shaking in anger. That boy was supposed to be dead by now. We didn't think he would be able to use mokuton that quickly. Kabuto's thoughts stopped after a moment, and much to his shame, tears began to streak down his face and chin. Just like with Mother. Just like…goddamn it! You were supposed to protect me, Orochimaru-sama…

"As of this moment, you and I will desert Konohagakure's Foundation. And also starting now, I shall be your superior, your sibling, and your parent. I will protect you from Danzō…" The despicable leader of the Foundation was dead now, killed in the Kirigakure's successful attempt to destroy the village Kabuto and Orochimaru-sama hated so much. Kabuto was grateful to them for that. But now the leader of the ones who had survived had killed Orochimaru-sama, Kabuto's most precious person. As the center of the village came into his sight, Kabuto allowed himself a smirk. Now you will suffer the same pain that I have suffered…twice…Obito-kun.

Rin walked along the hallway where thirty-three residents were caged. Her dark brown eyes wandered to the twelve that she had escaped with from certain death with. All wore worried and tense expressions. I'm surprised that the village head allowed us to take refuge here. Koriyama-sama was meditating peacefully as the rest of the villagers stared at the Konohagakure refuges with suspicion and fear. Their looks caused Rin to have a dark feeling settle in her stomach, sometimes causing her to forget to breathe and feel as if the last week hadn't past. The Three Tails had remained silent since he had destroyed Konohagakure, and a part of Rin was grateful. Another part of her remained uneasy. Kushina-oneechan said that the seal will grow weaker with every year. And when that happens…I'll be in hell again and Obito may not forgive me.

Rin touched her cheek, the place where Obito had kissed her. You have to come back, Obito. And not just for them. For me. A warm feeling replaced the dark feeling that Rin had felt, and caused her to remember what Kushina-oneechan had told her first about being a jinchuuriki. I love him, don't I? Instead of feeling afraid however, Rin felt happy. This was the happiest she had felt since that day. She looked around and saw everyone that was under her protection, including the ones who hated and feared the former Konohagakure kunoichi and shinobi. I'll protect them with my life…because that's what I promised you, Obito. I won't let you down anymore.

Suddenly Rin heard unfamiliar footsteps hurrying towards the hallway. Whoever it is, is a shinobi. Rin reached for a kunai in her pouch and grasped it in her hands. I've missed this. "There is someone coming, everyone." Cries from the villages threatened to cause chaos, but Rin soothed them. "I will protect you, and there are shinobi and kunoichi besides me who will protect you as well."

At that moment a boy stood in front of her. He had light gray hair and round glasses framing his face. And although the boy was taller than her, Rin figured he must have not been older than eleven or twelve. He wore a loose-fitting grey shirt with black pants and shinobi sandals. A dark aura surrounded him, and Rin recognized that the anger in his eyes came deep from his heart. His entire body was shaking as he spoke specially to her. "Your happiness is my undoing." His voice became quieter with each passing moment. "Your leader…killed my master. And now he's coming to save you." Obito! Rin felt immense relief at the news that her teammate and the man she loved was alive, but her memory remained sharp. "And now he's coming to save you." Rin took a step backward and tightened her grip on her kunai. Suddenly the formerly silent follower of Orochimaru started to yell and scream.

"You Konohagakure bastards destroyed my life! I thought I had found my purpose again after losing someone dear to me...but no…you had to take another person from me! Now I'm alone because of you." The boy raised his eyes and Rin saw hate in those gray depths. "I had nothing in the beginning, and you took it all away and now I'm alone. Again…I'm alone because of you." He bared his teeth and began to run towards Rin with only his bare fists. "My only purpose in life is to destroy whatever's left of what's precious to him!" Obito…he plans on hurting Obito. Rin remembered what her teammate had told her about Orochimaru, and about the strange boy beside him. "There's this weird kid named Kabuto who apparently followed him since the beginning." This must be the boy. Dark as the missing-nin was, Rin thought, Kabuto truly loved Orochimaru.

"Kabuto!" The boy suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes were wide, as if he hadn't heard the sound of his name for a thousand years. "Kabuto," Rin repeated. The boy looked at her. "If killing us is a way to avenge Orochimaru-sama, how then would our deaths heal the hole in your heart? How would his absence be gone? You would only be causing more deaths and blood on your hands. I understand that you have had a tragic past and you're wanting to know who and what you are. I understand that." Rin sighed. "But Kabuto, everyone around me has overcome the pain you have experienced. They start to fill the hole in their hearts. That's what makes us human." During the time that Obito was unconscious, Rin hadn't just practiced ninjustu. She had thought. Why am I here? Why do I have this power to only destroy and cause harm? I know most of everyone had forgiven me…but can I ever forgiven myself?

"The village you hated was the village I loved, Kabuto. I was the one who destroyed it." A soft wind blew in Rin's face and through her hair. Kabuto looked at her in shock. "Kirigakure used to me and the biju inside me to destroy everything I held dear, but I survived. There are still times when I don't know why I'm even here. I hated myself, and I didn't know what purpose my life had. But in time, my heart healed again, and I've found a new purpose, Kabuto." Rin closed her eyes. "You can still find a way to heal the hole in your heart, Kabuto. You can still find yourself."

"You're wrong!" Rage seeped in his rasping voice, and Rin made no move to stop him as he jumped over her with a kunai in hand. Suddenly wailing from the infant children echoed in Rin's ears, and she heard Kabuto's wavered footing cease. She looked back and saw him frozen and shaking. Unbidden tears rose in Kabuto's eyes, and slowly, they traveled down his cheeks.

"Why can't I do it? I…killed the one person most precious to me, and yet I can't kill strangers who are standing in front of me." Pain was thick in Kabuto's voice. His was biting his lip until he drew blood. "I don't…"

"I think you do understand, Kabuto." Rin faced Kabuto. She looked him in the eye, seeing only fear in his gaze. "You have a gentle heart, Kabuto. You truly don't want to harm anyone. If you had continued to stay with Orochimaru-sama, then you would have been corrupted and cold and unfeeling." I couldn't save you, Kakashi, but maybe I can save this boy. "This person shedding tears in front of me is the real you, Kabuto."

The young boy lifted his face towards her own. "I only…I only wanted a place in this world. And it was taken from me. How can I find the happy place in my heart again…Rin-san?"

Rin smiled, remembering how she had asked a similar question to Kushina-oneechan.

"Love, Kabuto."

The kunai clattered to the ground. "Thank you, Rin-san." Kabuto whispered.

"Rin!" The jinchuuriki kunoichi turned her head from Kabuto to see Obito running towards her. A shameless smile echoed on Rin's face at the sight of the man she loved was safe and sound. I'm so happy you're safe, Obito. That everyone is safe. Then abruptly Obito's eyes located Kabuto, and it wasn't until Rin told him that the young boy was an ally and the said boy apologized did Obito lovingly embraced Rin.

"I'm happy you're safe," she whispered in his ear.

He smiled softly at her with the most lovingly look. "Me too."

Suddenly, Rin heard a voice coming deep from inside her. "So, you accepted yourself at last. And him. But will you ever accept me?"