Stuck Between Slugs and Toads
A reincarnated soul finds itself stuck between a short-tempered Senju princess and a perverted Dead Last—all while stuck in the mind of the series's infamous, sociopathic snake. Foreknowledge barely means anything when the pieces of the plot have yet to begun. Reborn!OC
fourteen: teacup
orochimaru: four years
years to second war: twenty years
"Oh, Mister Snake Eyes, you so nice!"
Tsunade pretends to drink hot white tea from her quaint little cup. She pats demurely at her face with a napkin.
"Miss Flower, Tsunade love tea," the girl smiles.
"Thank you, Miss Princess." Biwako gestures to the plate at the center of the circular table, where there are sandwiches cut up into perfect squares and lightly sweetened green tea candy. "Care for more food?"
"Yes!"
As Tsunade takes the majority of the food, Biwako looks at me. "Mister Snake Eyes, you've barely eaten anything!"
I bite the sandwich, just a small piece. It goes down my throat as a tasteless paste.
Biwako does not look satisfied at all.
"What's wrong, Orochimaru?" Her big, mahogany eyes seem airbrushed in the light. "Why does this sadness follow you?"
Tsunade burps.
"So yummy!" Tsunade clutches her rosy cheeks. "Hey, hey! Save some for Poppy and Granpoppy, Miss Flower!"
Just like that, Biwako smiles pleasantly. "Most certainly. I plan to."
"Mister Snake Eyes, Tsunade finished tea," she announces.
As custom, no one may be allowed to fill their own cups. Once again, I pick up the ornate teapot and pretend to pour tea. I set it down cautiously while Tsunade drinks it all up.
"Ahhh! Yummy!"
Biwako and I know if we actually gave her tea, she'd probably drink too much and end up using it on herself. I'm pretty sure I'm not much better, too.
"Ah, Mister Snake Eyes, you thirsty?" Tsunade picks up the teapot for the first time since setting it down to begin the game. She pours it the exact same delicate way I did, tilts it over my cup for the same amount of time. "Here you go."
The cup is empty, but I keep staring at it.
"Not thirsty?" Tsunade's smile vanishes.
I take the cup and mime drinking it, receiving a delightful giggle from the other toddler.
That was shocking, honestly. Even Biwako looks amazed.
end