A DETONATING DANCE
Chapter XXI: Aiko and Kimimaro
"It's true that we don't know what we've got before we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives."
-Anonymous
Days dragged on like weeks as Aiko forced herself to sit up once again, awaking from a horrible nightmare. She continually suffered through a hideous dream where the Akatsuki came to save her from Orochimaru and Deidara fought Kimimaro until one of them died, their blood splattering upon her face to disguise the tears cascading down her cheeks; yet, before she could figure out who was killed, the dream always ended.
"Aiko!" Deidara would yell, ice-blue eyes flaming with anger. "Get out of here!"
She would hesitate, clutching a kunai tightly against her hammering chest. "Deidara!"
As if on cue, Kimimaro would always arrive, attacking Deidara with his bone sword and always, always sliced into him, drawing blood that would slap across Aiko's face. She would be able to do little less than breathe, quivering as she watched the painful scene unfold, Deidara then retaliating with C1 chakra bombs.
There would be nothing for her to do, no place for her to step in.
"Please," she would whisper, eyes brimming amid agony, "stop…please stop…"
Neither would hear her, and even as she broke into screams, they would not hear her. She felt helplessness rile over her; it felt so real that it made her body freeze in terror, tears stalling in her eyes as each of her breaths would hitch in her throat. She was weak to resist her mind's terrible conjurations. But it had to end. And of course, it would always end with an unfinished conclusion that made her heart twist until she was sick with nauseas.
"She won't return with you!" A maimed Kimimaro would bellow, raising his bone pike.
"You want to bet on that, hmm?" Deidara would snap, face marred with scratches.
And as if it were rehearsed many, many times, the two would clash; Deidara withdrawing a kunai to parry Kimimaro's weapon, but when they collided, the grief-stricken sound of their shouts would shock Aiko into blindness as blood sprayed onto her face, blinding her eyes.
Then, she would wake up.
Aiko buried her face in her hands, lifting herself from the confinement of her bed to go to the bathroom located within her room. She allowed the water to run until steam billowed around the faucet, then twisting on the cold water to balance the temperature. When she dipped her hands beneath the running water, it was lukewarm and comfortable; when she splashed the water into her face, it reminded her of that nightmare, of having Deidara and Kimimaro's blood searing onto her cheek, and it burned her skin.
She let out a tiny cry, backing away from the sink.
Why was she thinking about that?
Closing her eyes, she allowed the dream to play through her mind again, knowing that maybe if she watched it once more it would simply become habit and she might not mind it so much. Her breaths were sharp, concise as she inhaled and exhaled, leaning her back against the wall and shifting her vision to that of her mind's eye.
"She won't return with you!" A maimed Kimimaro would bellow, raising his bone pike.
"You want to bet on that, hmm?" Deidara would snap, face marred with scratches.
And as if it were rehearsed many, many times, the two would clash; Deidara withdrawing a kunai to parry Kimimaro's weapon, but when they collided, the grief-stricken sound of their shouts would shock Aiko into blindness as blood sprayed onto her face, blinding her eyes.
Instead of ending, it continued.
Wiping desperately at her eyes, Aiko removed the blood with trembling fingers before she realized that it was not theirs; it was hers. A bolt of pain sparked in her chest and jolted throughout her entire body, meeting another that jabbed through her back, crippling her as she crumpled up on the ground, blood gushing from a wound inflicted upon her body.
She glanced down, confused.
Protruding from her chest was Kimimaro's bone sword, just like that day. Blood spilled down her chin as she painfully twisted around to see Deidara's horrified expression, his kunai stabbed into her back. It became clear to her that she had run in to intervene. She spluttered, a hacking noise choking her as blood rushing up her throat from her lungs, the agony forcing her to turn back around to meet Kimimaro's startled gaze.
He was overcome with shock.
Seeing such things made Aiko run to the sink, afraid that she was going to vomit. Clutching the sides of the porcelain support, fingers clawing into it, she hung her head over the faucet where water continued to drip in a slow, unsteady pattern. Her head was spinning, swirling with anxiety and queasiness as she stepped back, reigning in the emotional stress.
She told herself in her mind repeatedly that it was only a dream.
Her eyes screwed shut, breathing heavy.
But it felt more like a premonition.
Lifting her tear-stained gaze to the ceiling above her, Aiko begged whatever heavenly being there could be to prevent such a scene from ever occurring; she feared that which she suspected would come to pass and she couldn't bear to witness something so horrible ever again. If she did, she felt that she would shrivel up and die.
Running her fingers through her matted cobalt blue hair, Aiko was unsatisfied with her condition and decided to step into the shower. Even that didn't ease her pain; the water would rush onto her skin, and all she could feel, see, taste, touch and hear, was the warm blood blinding her eyes and spewing into her agape mouth as the sounds of shouts drowned her in a whirlpool of agony. She finished her shower as quickly as she could manage and dressed herself in a lavender kimono that Orochimaru had left out for her.
The silken feel of the purple cloth scorched her skin.
Aiko hid her face in her hands.
Why does this keep happening to me? I don't want to keep suffering, I don't want to be a ninja; having power used to be a blessing, but now I find that it's been a curse. The Akatsuki needed me for my skills and Orochimaru ended up regaining me…but now…
I'm powerless to resist my fate.
A sigh of despair fled her lips, making her feel utterly vulnerable.
Jiraiya burst into the Hokage tower, breathless and on the verge of collapsing.
"Where's Tsunade?" the Sannin barked at Shizune, who was rushing down the hall.
Stopping, winded herself, Shizune snapped to attention and answered, "She just finished tending to everyone that returned from the Sasuke Retrieval Mission—all of them doing well, by the way." She smiled weakly and turned around from the direction that she had just come in. "Follow me, Jiraiya-sama; I'll take you to her."
Nodding, Jiraiya managed a curt, "Thank you", and followed Shizune, his eyes narrowed in concern as they sped through the hallways, walking briskly to where they located Tsunade talking to Shikamaru, the sand nin waiting inside her office. Jiraiya wasted no time approaching the beautiful blond woman, easily gaining her attention.
Sensing Jiraiya's overwhelming presence, Tsunade tilted her head. "What are you doing here?"
Glancing at Shikamaru then back to the female Hokage, whose hands were resting on her hips, Jiraiya solemnly announced, voice booming, "We have another problem regarding Orochimaru; I just picked up some rather disturbing information from my most trustworthy source and it appears that he has recruited a rather interesting person."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Jiraiya hardened his gaze. "The Kunoichi of the Ketsuekigan; Aiko."
Shikamaru blinked at this and the three sound nin poked their heads out of the office to listen as Tsunade's brown eyes widened in a frightening blend of horror and ire. "What?" she snapped, russet orbs flaming red. "Damn it! Tell me you're kidding!" Jiraiya shook his head gravely and Tsunade shouted, "What does he want with her? It has to be a mistake!"
"Alas, I don't think it is."
Whipping around, Tsunade saw Rock Lee stagger into the room; overhearing their strident conversation, he arrived with Might Guy trailing behind him, both wanting more news on Aiko. Tsunade's stare darkened, glower directed at Lee. "What do you know about this situation, Lee? You must tell me everything!" She folded her arms, fingers drumming against her elbow.
Head bobbing in agreement, Lee stated, "Very well." He paused to think for a moment, wide eyes reflecting his swirling thoughts. "I went to help Naruto, but when I did he was battling this Kimimaro guy that I swore to defeat while he went to find Sasuke, and while we were fighting, Aiko-sensei popped up out of nowhere and passed out; then Kimimaro picked her up and took her away just before Gaara arrived to help me get back to Konoha."
Tsunade's nose crinkled. "What? Wasn't Aiko with Orochimaru before she came to Konoha? Argh! Damn that stupid bastard! I hope he rots in hell!" She slammed her fist into the wall, cracking it. Everyone remained silent, fearful of the angered woman fuming before them.
"Hey, uh, Tsunade-sama," Guy tried, half-smiling. "Maybe we could send out a search party."
"For what?" she growled, eyes glinting. "That girl again…and Orochimaru…damn it!"
Throwing her head back, she proceeded to stomp into her office, yelling at everyone to give her some time to herself. Tsunade slammed herself into her chair, shoving the accumulating papers off to the side, temper raw. She was so sick of the problems being caused; the Hokage position was tougher than she would have liked to admit and she was at her wits end.
With everyone.
Taking fistfuls of her blond hair and wrenching at them with frustration, Tsunade cursed the world, willing it to stop being so annoying and troublesome. What was she supposed to do about the situation anyway? Then again, if she didn't do something, Orochimaru was bound to return to attack the leaf village again soon.
The weight of her responsibilities fell heavily onto her shoulders and she bowed her head, spirit decadent amid distress. Tears accumulated in her eyes and she wiped them into oblivion with the hard palm of her hand, calloused from working so hard and using so much medical ninjutsu constantly. She sniffled, stress pushing her past her limits.
A comforting hand found its way to her shoulder and she gasped.
Jiraiya was standing behind her, smiling gently.
For once, she didn't deny his consolation, rather, she conceded and stood up, throwing herself into his readied embrace. He received her with welcome arms, hugging her to his bulging chest in an act of friendship, stroking her hair and murmuring, "We'll make it through this, Tsunade. I promise that I will help you if that's what it takes."
Comforted, Tsunade nodded against him, closing her eyes. She parted her lips to speak, voice muffled against his warm body. "I…I'm worried…I can't think…Orochimaru is just so impossibly unpredictable…he hasn't changed a bit and that in itself concerns me as well." She hesitated, drawing in a long breath. "In a way, I still wish he didn't leave the village."
Jiraiya tightened his grip on her. "Yeah…"
Biting on her lower lip, Tsunade managed to say, "I…I feel like such a horrible person now; I keep denying Tenzo and Kakashi permission to go and get this 'Aiko' that everyone speaks so fondly of, despite their sorrows regarding her disappearance. Speaking of which, why didn't Sarutobi-sensei ever change her status in the Bingo Book to a missing nin?"
Shaking his head, white spikes flowing against his back, Jiraiya gravely returned, "He couldn't. He regarded Aiko so fondly that he didn't want her name to bear any disgrace; he never told the villagers of her true fate, only a select few people know that she was taken away by the Akatsuki, and even fewer that she's currently being harbored by Orochimaru. He didn't want anyone to know anything." Tsunade went rigid and Jiraiya frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I…changed her status to missing nin when I became Hokage."
"Aiko, darling, are you in here?"
Hearing Orochimaru immediately, Aiko's head flicked up, mouth tightening into a thin line as her gaze darted to the blank walls. He laughed lightly as if they were playing a game and waltzed over to her bedside, settling down beside her and beginning to stroke her softened hair, still slightly dampened from her shower. He chuckled.
"You know, you'll catch a cold with a wet-head," Orochimaru purred.
Aiko hesitated. "I…I'll be fine." Her voice and eyes hardened. "I'm not a child anymore."
Laughing again, Orochimaru continued running his fingers through her hair, voice creeping so close to her neck that it made her skin crawl. "I've missed you so very, very much my dear Aiko. When you left, I simply didn't know what to do!" His eyes raked over her face, her body, and it made the sweat perspiring on her brow leak down her face. "Now look at you," his tongue slithered between his lips, wetting them, "you're all grown up."
A voice in the back of Aiko's mind screamed at her to get the hell away from Orochimaru, but she was anchored to her spot. This was her punishment, wasn't it? Who was she to defy the goddess of fate, the eternal craftsman weaving destiny with the untouchable threads of time?
When Orochimaru's hand began sliding down her neck, an impulse in Aiko triggered the fleeting image of Deidara's face smiling at her, his lips touching her, and allowed herself authorization to speak. "Orochimaru-sama…Orochimaru-sama, I…I…I can't…please…"
She was disrupted by the door slamming open.
"Aiko?"
Any words she wanted to speak suddenly disappeared as Kimimaro interrupted them.
Like a godsend, he was there, her white angel; Kimimaro. Seeing him had never been so wonderful as she leapt to her feet to greet him, eyes wide. If anyone could save her now, it was him. However, when she felt the tug on her arm, ushering her to sit back down, she met Orochimaru's intrigued orbs of gold, lip curling into a leer.
"Kimimaro, what brings you here?" Orochimaru brought Aiko back to him.
"I came to have a word with Aiko," Kimimaro stiffly replied.
Looking at Kimimaro, peering at him with scrutinizing eyes like she had avoided doing so ever since she was dragged to Orochimaru's, Aiko began noticing things that she hadn't before. His eyes, weary with fatigue, were no longer as striking, as confident as they used to be. Her gaze softened, noticing the way he dithered weakly in the door, expression set and hard.
Then, he began to cough.
Snapping to attention, Aiko felt fear pulse through her when his coughing turned to retching and he collapsed. Stomach rising to her throat, Aiko raced to his side, Orochimaru liberating her, and crouched beside Kimimaro. "K-Kimimaro?" she stammered. He drew himself onto his knees, hacking, blood dribbling down his chin. Aiko felt a cold chill spike in her blood.
"Kimimaro?" Orochimaru voiced from the bed, strolling over. "What's wrong?"
Slipping beneath Kimimaro, Aiko supported him from below, lifting him to his feet. She clamped her eyes shut for a moment, lips wavering as she managed, "Orochimaru…sama…I want to take Kimimaro to the hospital wing to take a look at him, please. If there's something I can do, I want to do it. Now that I'm here…I ought to be of use to you."
The look in Orochimaru's eyes was that of pure delight.
Cracking an eye open, Aiko felt not only the weight of Kimimaro's weakened frame boring down upon her, but also that of the heaviness of what had just so carelessly fled her lips; what disturbed her further, was that it had come out so naturally that she didn't have to put much thought into it. A shudder rippled through her, although she shook off its effects.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
"Oh," he paused, still overcome with satisfaction and excitement. "Three doors down."
Nodding to show her acknowledgement, Aiko steadied Kimimaro, walking him down the hall.
Kabuto passed by them, the look of awe on his face irreplaceable as he joined his master.
"Did they make up?" Kabuto asked, referring to Aiko and Kimimaro.
Shrugging, Orochimaru purred, "Oh, who knows? It doesn't matter now…my dear and darling Aiko has returned to me, has returned to my…services to serve me. Ah, how I've missed that dear, darling girl of mine! Now she's grown into a strong, powerful kunoichi—just like I always knew she would." He sighed, shuddering with ecstasy.
Concerned, Kabuto mused aloud, "Orochimaru-sama? I'm not sure if I quite grasp what it is exactly that you mean…that you knew she'd grown into a strong and powerful kunoichi." He frowned, adjusting his glasses. "Of all your subordinates willing to give their lives up to you, Aiko is, has been, and always seems to be your favorite; why?"
Orochimaru's eyes glinted, sensing Kabuto's envy. "Jealous?"
Unable to argue with the fact that he harbored a bitter rivalry with the girl, Kabuto said nothing, staring at his lord and master, who snorted at his insolence. Rubbing his head tiredly, Orochimaru leaned back in his chair, Kabuto watching him with an intent gaze.
The snake nin spoke, voice accusing. "How could you ever possibly understand?"
"Orochimaru-sama!" A nine-year-old Aiko held up a flower, cupping it in her hands. "Look!"
"Hm?" Orochimaru tilted his head, observing her find.
Giggling amid childish glee, Aiko stroked the petals, saying, "I found it, Orochimaru-sama! I can use the nectar as a medicinal aid and as a supplement if I mix it with some of my antidotes; isn't that amazing?" Orochimaru smiled and nodded, adoring the tiny child.
"Ah, yes, it is amazing," he murmured fondly, turning around completely to cup her cheek, drawing her face closer to his, "but not as amazing as you."
Watching Aiko grow up, raising her, teaching her, watching her learn, had been an experience that left a lasting impact on Orochimaru. She was unlike any of his test subjects, closer than anyone could've ever possibly been. Like him, she had lost her parents, however, not her naiveté, which made her a charming prospect.
She possessed power; skills and talents beyond her years, yet she kept her innocence even when being used as a cold-blooded killer, which Orochimaru had tried to avoid, often by pairing her up with Kimimaro. Though, when Kimimaro had somehow found a way to slip into her heart and possess her in a way that Orochimaru could not, the snake nin found himself overridden with greed and covetousness, determined to have Aiko be his and his alone.
Why was that?
Orochimaru didn't look at Kabuto as his thoughts continued twisting around his mind, churning the wheels that never stopped. Aiko was sweet, tender, loving, and compassionate; she was the perfect medic nin, the perfect student, the perfect person; he wanted to claim her success as his, yet he owed it to her to keep it all to herself. This girl tore him between him and his ambitions like no other; perhaps that was why he was attracted to her.
She was irresistible.
Shaking his head, Orochimaru muttered to Kabuto, "You will never be able to comprehend the bond that Aiko and I share; she came back to me throughout loyalty; why else would she be here? Perhaps to see Kimimaro, yes, but still," his eyes flashed, "I won't allow her to leave this time; she is far more than just a prize to be squandered among villages."
Before Orochimaru could continue, however, an Otonin Jonin appeared at the door.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
"What is it?" Orochimaru questioned whimsically.
"I've brought you Uchiha Sasuke."
"Missing nin?" Jiraiya inquired, tone changing drastically as Tsunade winced.
"Yes," she managed, shrinking back. "Both Aiko and Uchiha Sasuke."
Storming away from Tsunade, Jiraiya coldly murmured, "People are going to start getting the wrong idea about Aiko, and I don't like that. It's bad enough that we have Uchiha Itachi conversing and working actively with the Akatsuki, but Aiko too? Konohagakure doesn't need to be aware of that; neither do any of the other nations!"
Wincing at his sharp, piercing tone, Tsunade muttered, "You don't need to be so upset about it; besides, no one has been questioning her whereabouts, not even Sunagakure who was supposed to be receiving her," a note deriving jealousy sounded in her voice. "Why do you care so damn badly about her anyways?"
Jiraiya stiffened. "It's my fault she's gone."
Shivering, Tsunade growled, "What do you mean? I'm aware that you were supposed to escort her to Sunagakure and all, then you got ambushed by the Akatsuki, but that doesn't make it your fault; none of this is your fault!" She stomped her foot. "Don't blame yourself, Jiraiya!"
There was a sudden knock on her door and Tsunade whirled around, eyes alight.
"Hold on!" she snapped, only to find the door opening. "What is it now?"
Much to her surprise, Tenzo burst into the room, hands clutching papers with writing scrawled across them, panting and breathing heavily. Tsunade's brown orbs disappeared as she closed her eyes, not prepared to deal with another one of Tenzo's rants; although she allowed them to flash open, realizing that she had to listen to him, regardless.
Tenzo didn't hesitate to blurt out his findings. "Tsunade-sama! I just heard the news about Aiko's being captured by Orochimaru from Guy out there and I have other information that goes together with that all too well; Orochimaru was formerly a member of the Akatsuki some odd years back and Yakushi Kabuto used to belong to Sasori; now Aiko is trapped with them and I heard that the Akatsuki is on the move to reclaim her."
For a moment, Tsunade didn't speak.
Jiraiya's eyes flashed. "The Akatsuki? On the move? To reclaim her?"
Nodding vigorously, Tenzo replied, "Yes! I just heard from a traveling Shinobi who was passing by when I was coming here from the interrogation corps; he was a slight man who stated that he was approached by crimson-cloud wearers on their way to the Land of Rice Patties and that they were the most dangerous people they had ever come across." He swallowed hard, eyes glazed. "They're traveling in a group of four as well."
"Group of four?!" Jiraiya exclaimed, flabbergasted. "But I thought they only worked in pairs!"
"Clearly," Tenzo's eyes flashed, "they want her back."
Chewing on her lip, the formerly silent Tsunade murmured, "Well, I think that it's best not to get involved with this at all." Tenzo and Jiraiya turned to her and on her, although she dismissed their angered gazes with a snort. "I'm Hokage, after all, and I'm putting my foot down; Orochimaru and the Akatsuki are a dangerous pairing and I'm not sending anyone in there to risk their lives; no one," she glared suspiciously at Jiraiya.
The male Sannin scoffed. "I go in search of the Akatsuki all the time and I heard a rumor that their main base is located in Amegakure, although I haven't yet gotten close enough to confirm that; I'm always chased away by members of the Akatsuki, recently Aiko and the Iwagakure bomber Deidara." He smirked smugly. "I'm not afraid of a couple of kids."
Tsunade's temper flared. "Grow up! These aren't kids we're talking about!"
A composed male voice interrupted them from the doorway.
"I agree."
Spinning around, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Tenzo found Kakashi gazing solemnly at them, arms folded across his chest as he nonchalantly leaned against the doorframe. Tenzo cast him a cold stare, accusing his betrayal with his glinting eyes, and he twitched. "Kakashi!" Tenzo bellowed, "Don't you want Aiko to come back at all?"
Kakashi narrowed his only visible eye, silencing Tenzo.
Clearing his throat, Kakashi murmured, "I care deeply about Aiko; she is not only a fellow Konoha Shinobi, but a friend dearer than any I have; I know the heartache of losing people as do you all, but you act like Aiko's lost and we cannot regain her." He reigned in a sigh. "We ought to hold back and wait for the choice opportunity to get her back."
Tenzo was about to speak, but Tsunade rapidly cut him off.
"Than that is that, it's settled," she stated brusquely. "No one is to talk of this."
Her eyes flickered to Jiraiya.
"Feel free," Tsunade muttered, "to keep tabs on the Akatsuki."
Nodding, Jiraiya replied, "And if I may, I'd like to take Naruto under my wing to train him in case he ever counters the Akatsuki again." Tsunade agreed to this request with a curt bob of her head and a smile split across Jiraiya's lips as he placed his hands together. "Excellent, I'll go let him know immediately."
Jiraiya disappeared, leaving three.
Tsunade turned to Tenzo and Kakashi with a saddened sigh. "I'm sorry to both of you for disallowing you granted permission to pursue Aiko, but I will keep you alerted. When that day comes to retrieve Aiko, the two of you will be the first on the assigned squad," she smiled, "but until then…
"…don't either of you dare make a move regarding Aiko."
"Here we are, lay down," Aiko ordered, helping Kimimaro into a hospital bed.
The white-haired man lay down, eyes pinched shut in unimaginable pain as his muscles constricted beneath his tightening skin, lips parting to release more blood as he hacked. Aiko was pawing desperately through the available pain killers, seizing some and giving them to Kimimaro, eyes softened by her despair.
"Try to swallow these," she ordered, weaving quick hand signs. "I'll fix you, I promise."
She closed her eyes, concentrating, and when she reopened her eyes, they blazed golden with a promise to be fulfilled, Ketsuekigan activated. She observed the blood flowing through Kimimaro's body and bit back a horrified gasp at his condition; his blood vessels and chakra network were entwined in such a way that they were beginning to wrap around and crush his heart each time he used a jutsu, constricting each time he breathed.
The pain was something she couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Biting down hard on her lip, Aiko whispered, "Hang on…I have to reset your blood and chakra channels around your heart; it'll take a lot of chakra and you will go into a coma, I'm sure, but you'll come out of it alive, I promi-!" She was cut off by her realization that he wasn't responding. He wasn't breathing. He wasn't moving.
He was dying.
"Kimimaro!" Aiko screamed, hysteria slapping her across the face. "No! Don't die! Wait!"
She frantically maneuvered her shaking hands over his chest, palms glowing blue with healing chakra as she concentrated, eyes filling with tears.
"I will heal you of your illness…and I won't let you die…"
She winced, head beginning to throb.
"I promise!"
Author's Note: I appreciate everyone's support on this story so very, very much; thank you, thank you, thank you! I love writing about Aiko and Orochimaru's relationship, I really do; Orochimaru truly cares for Aiko in a warped, daughter-like way. Anyway, I also want to send out personal thanks to Miyu29 and Azura Soul Reaver for both of their reviews on the last chapter.
As always, please review!
-Aiko of the Akatsuki