AN:

Hey I'm so glad that someone reviewed even if it's only one. I've been waiting for ages, and I appreciate it. Thank you and hope to get more reviews in the future...

So anyway, here's chapter 13...

Jutsu - bold & italic

Flashback - italic

Previously...

My heart races as I loom over his shaking form. Reaching for the cover on his head, I pull it off and I gasp out in shock...

Chapter 13: Loyalty to the Great Snake

Mixed emotions jumbles up inside me. Shock, confusion, betrayal, anger, hurt and sadness. All of these rage on.

He sits there, shaking and panting. He's one of them. A traitorous snake. He betrayed Lord Orochimaru. He betrayed me.

"How could you... Yukito?" I ask with sad eyes.

He looks up at me with sadness also evident in his grey eyes. As our eyes met, he quickly looks away. "I am sorry."

"Why?"

"..."

"Why do it?"

"Tayuya."

"Why turn traitor?" I say, my voice starting to rise.

"..."

"Answer me Damn you!" I grab his scarf, lifting him as I could.

"It was Shiin. My clan's head. He wanted to break free of Orochimaru's contol..."

"Is that why you betrayed your friend? You were following damn orders!" I say with disgust. "Damn you!"

He looks away. Guilt and sadness were in his eyes.

"That's the reason..." I say disbelievingly. "The reason why sensei threatened to kill me if I didn't obey or why you tried to kill me if I stopped you."

"Tayuya I would never hurt you." He looks back in shock.

"Don't bother. You already did." I let go of him, and he falls to the ground.

"Are you...going to kill me?"

I look at him not with hate or sadness, but with pity. Prisoners are tortured or worse even experimented as guinea pigs. Being killed in battle is much better than being captured. They'll break you until you have nothing left. You're only means is to escape, like I did years ago. When I saw those people in that prison, they pleaded for my help so desperately. I didn't understand back then why they were afraid and desperate. Now I know why.

"You're going to kill me aren't you? Better be killed in battle than be a prisoner. Itsuki-sensei told us that."

"Save your breath." I take out a kunai.

"Tayuya..." He looks at me in the eyes then hangs his head. "For our past friendship, please make it quick."

He was prepared to die, resigned to his fate. I could see him with a peaceful face, ready to die at my hands. I throw the kunai and it lands with a thud on the ground in front of him.

He looks up in disbelief.

"For our past friendship, I'll spare your life."

"Tayuya-"

"Go... And don't ever come back."

"I'm sorry, so sorry Tayuya. I-"

"Yukito! Just go damn you!"

Tears stream down his face. He gets up and whispers a small "Goodbye" before running away into the darkness of the trees.

Holding my arms, I stare at the moon. Its silver light illuminates the area. Why does this always happen to me? My heart can't take anymore of this pain.

~oOoOoOo~

"Report."

"Lord Orochimaru. The traitors were captured but, a few others got away." I say grimly.

"Very well, it doesn't matter." He says with disinterest then looks at me and smirks. "Excellent work Tayuya."

"Thank you, my Lord." I say, looking down on the floor.

"Something bothering you, dear child."

I sigh. "My friend...I guess he's not my friend anymore, was one of the traitors who attempted the coup."

He nods, indicating me to go on.

"He got away."

"I see."

I try not to look at him in the eyes for fear of him knowing how I purposely let a traitor escape. I sigh inwardly. How could they do this? First sensei then Yukito. Why does everyone I form a kinship with shatters either by death or betrayal. The only people I have left now are Lord Orochimaru and Karin. I don't want to be abandoned. I don't want to be alone, but I'm afraid of losing another bond. I don't want to feel like this anymore. Empty and hurt. And the buried rage within grows as my heart aches in pain. The bonds I shared only hurts me. I'm sick and tired of feeling this way. I'd rather be alone than share another one. That way I won't feel my heart break yet again.

My thoughts were interrupted as someone knocks on the door.

"Enter." Says Lord Orochimaru.

Two men drag a beat up Itsuki in front of Lord Orochimaru. He was tied with thick cords on his hands. Bruises could be seen all over his body.

A pang of pity and remorse washes over me. But I know that he deserved it. He's a traitor isn't he? He was a ninja of the Hidden Sound. He was my sensei and...almost like an older brother and...a father. Yet he betrayed his village. He betrayed Lord Orochimaru. And he betrayed my trust. Yes, he deserves this. I should feel no remorse to a traitorous scum.

"Itsuki." Lord Orochimaru says darkly. "Was it you the sacrificial pawn Shiin sent to assassinate me?"

I don't whether he heard it or simply is ignoring my Lord's question as Itsuki just hangs his head not looking up or even moving.

The man beside him slugs him hard on the face. He falls down on the floor coughing. The other man hauls him to a sitting position as before.

Itsuki looks at Lord Orochimaru then at me.

"Good." Lord Orochimaru says. "Now answer my question again. Was it you the assassin Shiin sent?"

Itsuki chuckles. "I'm not obligated to tell you anything." He says darkly then spits blood down at my Lord's feet.

Anger boils up inside me. The man, who punched him earlier, readies a fist to Itsuki's smug face. But I beat him to it as I strike him hard with my own.

"Bastard!" I shout angrily.

And once again, he falls on the floor. His lip was spilt and blood trailed down his mouth. "Tayuya." Itsuki looks at me with sad eyes.

"Damn you." I say.

"Tayuya."

"Damn you to hell!"

"Tayuya." This time it was Lord Orochimaru who spoke my name.

I didn't realize it until now, but I was breathing heavily. I was so angry that I didn't realize I was holding him by his shirt, ready to punch him once again. My grip softens and he falls back to the floor. Turning back I went to my place earlier beside Lord Orochimaru.

"Forgive me." I say softly.

He smirks then brings back his attention to the traitor. Itsuki still looks at me with sad eyes. Eyes that conveys an apology.

I close my eyes. Apologies won't cut it. I won't forgive you. I can never forgive you when you betrayed me.

"For the last time Itsuki, cooperate or die. Are you the assassin sent to kill me?"

"..."

"Take him." Lord Orochimaru commands the two men.

As they try to grab him, Itsuki looks at Lord Orochimaru. "Yes. I am the assassin." He smirks. "And you want to know why?"

My eyes widen as Itsuki somehow breaks free from his bonds and knocks the two men unconscious with swift kicks and jabs. I bring myself out of shock as he dashes toward my Lord, kunai in hand.

Bringing out two kunai, I intercept and block his attack with my left and counter-attack with my right. Only problem is that I hit air. Itsuki ducks from my attack, kicking me solid in the gut. I fly backwards to land at Lord Orochimaru's feet. Getting up, I put on a defensive stance, ready to defend my Lord at all cost.

"Lord Orochimaru." I say. "Let me handle this. I know you can't fight because your hand is...I'll defend you with my life."

He smirks. "I leave him to you then." And with that he disappears like flames, slowly vanishing away from sight.

"Come back here Orochimaru!" Itsuki dashes toward the Snake Sannin, but halts and jumps backward as I throw a kunai at him.

"Your opponent is me!" I say before dashing toward him. I make a ram, snake and tiger hand seal. Four clones appear and throw kunai at the same time, while I circle to his back unseen or at least I think I was until he blocks my attack from behind with a kunai, grabbing hold of my arms and throwing me down on the ground.

Opening my eyes, I see him readying a punch. I roll away just in time as his fist impacts the ground, creating huge cracks on the floor.

He's concentrating chakra on his hands, making them stronger and dangerous. I'd better watch out.

Getting up on my feet, I jump a few distances away from him. Sensei...Itsuki is a jōnin level shinobi. He's good at ninjutsu and taijutsu, and even great at genjutsu. While I can say I'm good at genjutsu, I'm not on par with him. My taijutsu and ninjutsu are only average. I'm at a disadvantage. My ninja tools are almost gone. Only five paper bombs, ten meters of wire string, two shuriken and a single kunai.

"Tayuya, stop this." Itsuki pleads.

I raise an eyebrow. "You're not my sensei anymore. So don't tell me what to do."

"Idiot!" He shouts. "Can't you see Orochimaru is playing for a fool?!"

"Playing me for a fool?" I point at him. "You're the one who played me! You betrayed me! You betrayed my trust! You're the fool to think I would trust you again!" I sprint at him, kunai in hand.

He blocks the attack and grabs my wrist, kneeing me to the gut. I fall down, clutching my stomach in pain. "Rule number seventeen. A shinobi should never let emotions dictate what to do."

"Shut up!" Grabbing a kunai on the ground, I lunge at him with the intent to kill. He simply dodges my swings, and it only irritates me how easy it was for him to counter-attack.

I slash at him, but he dodges as he jumps backward and takes out his flute.

Shit! I need to stop him before he casts a genjutsu.

I throw my last kunai. He doesn't have a choice but to dodge my attack.

He dodges and tries to play again, but what he didn't expect is a fist in the face. It smacks hard, and he falls on the ground only for it to poof up in smoke and a glass container lies on the floor.

Substitution!

I barely had enough time to dodge a kunai at the head. It hits the wall as I duck and jump forward, leaping over the glass container and rolling to my feet. I take the kunai on the wall and block Itsuki's attack with it.

We stood there steel against steel until we jump back. I grab my flute as does he. And at the same time our flutes produces sound, both melodies exactly the same.

'Demonic Flute: Silent Prison'.

My surroundings changes, shifting from Lord Orochimaru's quarters to a red cage bar. I couldn't move my arms or legs as they were shackled with metal chains, going out of the cage to the red space where there was no end.

Shit. I'm caught trap in his genjutsu. My hands are bound so I bit my lips. Hot iron liquid drips down as the pain wakes me up from the genjutsu.

I look around. Itsuki was nowhere to be found. "Shit."

"Tayuya, please stop this." Itsuki's voice echoes around the room.

"Where are you coward?! Where are you hiding?!" I turn around, looking for him. I search the room but he was nowhere to be found. "Stop hiding like a rat and show yourself!"

"Tayuya. I don't want to fight you."

"Really. Then what were we doing five minutes ago?" I say sarcastically.

"My only target is Orochimaru, not you. I didn't want to hurt you. You're...you're like a dau-"

"SHUT UP!" I scream. "I don't want to hear your excuses!"

I look at my surroundings. It all seems so real, but I could tell they were illusions. I'm still inside a genjutsu. Closing my eyes, I stop the flow of chakra and let it burst. My surroundings slightly changes and Itsuki appears before me.

I try to move, but I couldn't. I was tied up.

Great...

"Don't try to escape, Tayuya." He says, his voice commanding, and then his features soften. "I'm sorry. I'll be back for you when this is all over." And with that, he runs out the door, leaving me alone in the room.

Bastard...

I try to break free of the ropes. It was securely tied and hard to break through. But I was his student, so I know how he ties these things and know how to escape them.

It took me a while before I got loose of the binds. I rub my wrists. "Bastard." I mumble. Getting up, I pick up three kunai on the floor before exiting the room.

I run through the corridors, searching for Itsuki. But I couldn't find him. And even if I did, I can't beat him. I'm outmatched. The only reason I captured him in first place was because he was distracted and he didn't expect me to get the jump on him. But now...

I stop and lie my on the wall. I can't beat him. He's too strong...and I'm...still weak. I can't protect anyone. Nothing's changed. My knees feel weak, and I slide down to the floor. I feel like crying. But I hold the tears back. I close my eyes as despair and helplessness washes over me.

"You're good at making strategies. That's why you always win at shogi. Even if you fight an opponent much stronger than you, if you make up a good strategy, you can win the battle." Yukito's voice echo inside my head.

Of course. A devilish smile creeps up my lips as an idea pops into mind.

~oOoOoOo~

Okay. The trap is set. All I need now is to find the rat and lure him in. His objective is to kill Lord Orochimaru. So...

Forming a dog, boar, ram seal, I transform my body exactly like Lord Orochimaru. I hope this works.

I wander around the corridors, hoping to find him or him finding me. The hideout is pretty large with numerous rooms and corridors. It's like an underground maze. Living here for four years, I've memorized every twist and turn in the hideout. If not, then good luck.

Turning down a corner, I see dead ninja lying on the ground. Marks and scratches on the walls and floor indicated that there was a battle.

He was here.

Kneeling beside one of them, I examine how long ago he was dead to find out it was only recent. He's near. Standing up, I make my way forward when an earthen wall suddenly shoots out from the side. I jump backwards, avoiding the sudden attack when another one shoots out of the wall beside where I landed. I jump out of the way just in time.

"I finally found you, Orochimaru." Itsuki smirks.

Good, he found me. All I need now is to get him to the trap.

"Orochimaru, prepare for your-"

I throw a kunai at him, and he dodges easily. But it was a good distraction as I flee away from him. He soon follows and throws two kunai at my head. I dodge the attack and turn left at a junction, heading toward the room where my traps are laid.

I stop in the middle as I enter the room. It was fairly large with furniture and other equipments stacked on the side. The room was dimly lit, hiding the trap wires in the darkness.

Itsuki enters the room, kunai in hand. "There's nowhere to run and hide, Orochimaru." The room slightly starts to change. And I immediately knew I was being caught in an illusion. I break out of it quickly.

As the room turns back, I suddenly see a kunai flying straight to my head. I duck and flip backwards as Itsuki dashes towards me. He attacks relentlessly with two kunai in hand. It took a lot of me to block and dodge his attacks while maintaining the transformation jutsu. Step by step, I move backward, leading him to the far right corner where my traps are laid.

As he swings his blade at my head, I duck to the ground, kicking him in the gut. He blocks the kick with his arm and jumps backward, making a bird hand seal.

"Earth Style: Falling Earth Spears!"

The ground suddenly produces large spikes, and I barely managed to avoid getting skewered. A bad memory flashes across my mind. Anger boils up inside me as I see an image of my mother impaled within the stone spikes.

I throw a kunai at him, but he dodges, rolling to the left, his back right behind the traps. Dashing at him, I throw a punch. He blocks, grabbing my fist with his left hand while he thrusts his kunai at my chest. Spinning to my right, it missed my heart, stabbing my left shoulder. Continuing my spin, I give him a roundhouse kick, but he blocks it with his right arm, grabbing a hold of my leg. He pushes me forward, making me lose my balance and fall to the floor. He pins me to the ground, ready to strike a deathblow.

Okay. Plan B!

Undoing the jutsu, I transform back to myself. He was shocked and speechless not just because I was really the one he was fighting all along not my Lord, but because of the exploding tags wrapped around my body.

I form a seal to blow myself up with him along with me. Itsuki quickly retreats not knowing I was only faking it as I didn't input any chakra. As if I would actually blow myself up.

As he backs away, he trips the hidden wires. The equipment and furniture beside him falls on top of him. He dodges the objects, but I'm not finished yet. While he was busy dodging, I throw two shuriken with wire strings attached. I manipulate it to wrap around his body, securing his movement. Taking out my flute, I play him a melody.

Itsuki stops moving. His face was emotionless as he was caught in a genjutsu. I dash toward him, kunai in hand. I need to end it now before he escapes my jutsu.

He opens his eyes as he breaks the genjutsu, but he was too late. His dark eyes went wide. He looks at me in shock then his eyes trailed to my right arm down to my hand and at the kunai stabbed in his chest.

"Ta...yu...ya..." He says before the light in his eyes vanishes. He falls on the ground with a loud thud.

He's dead. I did it...I killed him.

I heave a long sigh. I killed him...I killed him. He's dead and I killed him...

My heart suddenly aches, and I was surprised. Why am I feeling this way?

I look at his lifeless form, crumpled on the floor. Red stained his shirt where the kunai was imbedded in his heart. I look down at my hands. There was little blood on them. A sign that I had killed someone...

"I hate you." I say. "I hate you. How could you make me do something like this?" I could feel tears starting to form, but I hold them back. I clutch my wounded shoulder. The adrenaline wore off and now pain was surfacing around my left arm.

While I was staring down on the red blood, I hear footsteps coming down from the corridor. It came closer and closer until it stops. Glancing towards the person in question, I see Lord Orochimaru, standing behind me.

"Tayuya, well done." He says.

I could only nod. I didn't think I did a good job. I felt wrong somehow. And for the life of me, I don't know why. Why would I feel sad about the death of a traitor? Is it because I used to care about him? Or maybe it's because of the bond we shared. But now it's gone, and it's his fault it was severed. I trusted him. And he betrayed me.

"Lord Orochimaru." I say. "What...what will I do now? I don't have anyone to teach me anymore."

He chuckles. "Don't worry Tayuya. There are scrolls of jutsus from the Shiin clan that were left behind. You can still learn their jutsu." He shakes his head. "What fools they are to even think of attempting a coup d'état on me."

I nod, looking down on the floor.

He looks at me intently. "Humans die whether they be killed or by some natural ailment. A shinobi experiences this whether they want to or not. Death always surrounds us, and you must learn to accept it."

"I...I understand, Lord Orochimaru." I say.

He chuckles.

"My Lord?" I say, looking up at him questioningly.

"From the first time I met you, I knew you were someone special."

"Uh..." I blush. I didn't know what to say.

"Tayuya. Can I count on your loyalty to me?"

"Of course." I was surprised he would ask such an absurd thing. I would never become one of them. "I am your ninja and always loyal to you my Lord."

"That's what I wanted to hear." He smirks. "Now, I will grant you your wish."

"Wish?"

"Four years ago, you asked me if I could make you a powerful shinobi."

I nod.

"I think it's time, for you to taste what power is."

My eyes widen as his neck suddenly elongates. His head then shoots out toward me. I try to back away, but my body wouldn't respond. He closes in on my neck, and I felt a sharp searing pain as he bites down on my flesh.

"Wh- what are you doing?" I ask my voice was laden with fear.

He chuckles maliciously. "Why my dear Tayuya, this is my gift for you." He says and retracts his head.

My knees buckle as the searing pain worsens. I grab the back of my neck as the pain was coming from there. I grit my teeth. "Wh- why...How could you- AAAAAAAGGHHHH!" I scream as unimaginable pain pulses throughout my body.

I fall to the ground. My body was burning on fire! Every pore, every muscle, everything was flooded with hot burning fire! I can't take it anymore! It hurts! It hurts too much!

"PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!" I scream at him, begging him. "AAAAAAAGGHHHH!"

I faintly hear the sound of a door closing above my screams. And it all fell upon me like a ton of bricks. He left me. He left me alone! Tears stream down my face as the unimaginable pain courses throughout my body.

I hate this! I hate this! Why is the world so against me?! What did I ever do to deserve this?!

Help me...Mommy...Daddy...please...anyone...

Help me...

Help...me...

The pain was too unbearable. I could feel myself losing consciousness. And eventually, darkness succumbs me to sleep...