The Reality of Things

'Water Style – Water Vortex Jutsu.' She finished the hand signs and watched as the attack threw Orochimaru into the woods.

"Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and their Sensei are all in on it – why can't I be?" Tsukiko roared, watching as her Sensei returned soaking wet.

"Sharp as ever I see… and if I told you… you wouldn't do it."

"What are you talking about?" Tsukiko retreated a few steps, distancing herself from the man she called Sensei.

Orochimaru gazed thoughtfully up at the black sky, there were no stars tonight. "Don't worry, Tsukiko, I know that you'll do what I need when the time is right. For now, just train your heart out for the Chunin exams. Fighting Sasuke will be tough."

Tsukiko rolled her eyes, "Gaara asked me to switch matches with him."

Orochimaru nodded in agreement, "That would be for the best."

Tsukiko glanced behind her, she wondered if Kakashi had woken up yet. "I need to go." Tsukiko muttered as she turned and began to walk away. She felt a hand tug her backwards, "Just remember who your Sensei is." A new – all too familiar voice – murmured into her ear. Tsukiko shuddered and closed her eyes as she turned and blindly took a swing, "That's not funny." Tsukiko snapped.

Orochimaru smirked and the façade melted, he leaned forward and gently kissed Tsukiko who turned her head violently. "I'm sorry, I know those memories pain you." He whispered while shoving her back into a tree.

Tsukiko grimaced and tried to catch her breath, "What are you doing?" She choked, struggling against his iron hold on her.

"You've grown soft…" He mused, nipping her neck with his fangs, "we have to make it look like you fought me… and got hurt." He grinned, pulling the Grass Cutter Sword from his belly.

Tsukiko shook her head, "Wait no-", her words were cut short as the blade made contact with her soft flesh. "Bastard," Tsukiko snarled, frantically making hand signs while Orochimaru left marks up and down her body. His hand extended and pulled her back up the trunk of the tree, leaving a bloody trail in her wake. Tsukiko bit her tongue, she was quickly losing blood and she stood no chance against her Sensei.

"I'm just trying to make it look real," Orochimaru smirked, lapping up the blood that trickled down her neck, "forgive me?" He sneered, his golden eyes pierced her own, sent her mind reeling.

Tsukiko couldn't respond, she began coughing up blood and screamed when Orochimaru thrust the sword through her stomach.

Tsukiko dropped to her knees, "You're sick." She hissed, grabbing at his ankle as she tried to absorb some of his chakara.

Orochimaru laughed and kicked her backwards, "It won't work, but I'll take some for myself." He grinned and grabbed Tsukiko's hand, quickly sapping her chakara just as she rose up and punched him in the jaw. Orochimaru kicked her backwards and lunged, Tsukiko pulled her dagger and stabbed him in the gut, twisting the blade deep in his flesh. He stopped, inches away from her, grinning as he pulled the dagger from his crimson-stained shoulder.

"Not bad!" He cackled, handing it to Tsukiko.

She leaned against the tree trunk for support, "Get out of here before you get caught." She muttered, watching as he dissolved into the darkness. She slowly made her way back to Kakashi and used the last of her chakara to alter his memories. "I'm so… so sorry." She whimpered, and then collapsed into his arms.

:::

Kakashi awoke, Tsukiko was laying limp in his arms, her blood was everywhere, it drenched her clothing, and his as well. "Where is he?" Kakashi cried, sitting up and bracing himself for a full-out brawl with the legendary Sanin. Instead, he was sitting in the middle of an empty forest, with a bleeding girl he knew little about. "Tsukiko…" He gasped, scooping her up and rushing off to Hokage's office.

:::

Kakashi arrived and burst through the doors, Tsukiko's body lay limp and bleeding in his arms.

"Kakashi what is the meaning of this?" Hokage roared, jumping to his aged feet.

"We found him and I-I froze… Tsukiko, she fought him and-"

"ENOUGH! Get her to the hospital!" Hokage boomed, furiously pointing to the door.

Kakashi nodded and bolted from the building and down the street.

:::

Kakashi arrived after what seemed like hours to him, he hated handing Tsukiko off to the strangers, but he knew – deep down – that they would be the ones to help her, not him.

They brought her into a special room, healed her fully, and finally moved her into a quiet room that she would rest and heal in.

"Will she be alright?" Kakashi asked, gazing down at Tsukiko's pained face.

"She'll be fine, don't worry. It's amazing that the scum-bag didn't bite her." The nurse let out a sigh of relief.

Kakashi nodded in agreement, "No one is to enter this room, alright? No ANBU, no friends, no one. Only Hokage and I." Kakashi ordered, his hand drifted to Tsukiko's limp one.

The nurse eagerly scribbled down the orders, "Yes, Kakashi. But what if she wakes up and you're not here?"

"Tell her to rest and wait." Kakashi growled.

The nurse nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Kakashi alone with Tsukiko.

"Tsukiko… I should have helped… I shouldn't have stood there like a scared little boy…" He rubbed Tsukiko's hand thoughtfully, wishing the life back into her. "Damn," He sighed mournfully, staring down at Tsukiko's placid face, "I'm so sorry…" He whispered, before turning and walking out of the room.

:::

Two days passed, and still Tsukiko didn't wake. Each Genin showed up to visit, but none of the nurses would let them in, they simply told everyone they couldn't. Sasuke was angered and distraught, Tsukiko had been attacked by Orochimaru and he hadn't been there to stop him! Naruto, Sakura, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Lee, Kiba, Hinata, Shikamaru, Jiraiya, and even some Jounin showed up – but only Kakashi and Hokage were aloud into Tsukiko's room. Many people brought gifts and get well cards for Tsukiko, but the nurses would bring them into her room.

:::

"Do you think she'll wake up?" Kakashi murmured. He and Hokage stood over Tsukiko's immobile figure, they gazed down somberly at her unconscious form.

"She wouldn't give up that easily. Go home and get some rest, Kakashi, you have to train Sasuke tomorrow." Hokage kindly reminded.

Kakashi knew his Superior was right and they left together; leaving Tsukiko alone in the dark room.

The only sound was her steady breathing and the beeping of her heart-rate monitor.