Ch 17: Sleepover at Anko's

"Oh. My. Word." Manami was frozen in Anko's doorway, staring into the apartment. The place was literally crawling with snakes. Well, slithering to be accurate. Snakes covered the floor, the furniture- even the walls had makeshift branches made of various weapons for the things to use!

"What'cha waitin' for girlie," Anko exclaimed, "come on in!"

Manami felt a strong hand on her back and was shoved into the living room; Anko followed her in, locking the door. Manami continued to stand in place as Anko walked over to the couch, her pets parting for each step.

"What you standin' around for?" she asked, a wicked grin growing on her face. "You're not afraid of a few snakes are you?"

Manami stiffened at Anko's teasing. "I'm fine," she squeak out, "there are just so many of them, I was afraid of stepping on one."

Anko narrowed her eyes at Manami before flopping down on the couch. "It's not them you need to worry about."

Manami took a half step back, "What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.

"I mean that these guys don't do anything without my say so," Anko answered ominously. "I'm the one you have to worry about."

Manami furrowed her brows, cautiously eyeing the back of the couch. Without a response, Manami began to pick her way through the carpet on snakes to a cushioned red chair across from the couch. Reaching her destination, Manami discovered a mid-sized white snake neatly coiled up in the middle of the seat. Manami sighed and stared at the creature.

"You wouldn't mind if I asked to have this seat, would you?" she asked sweetly.

The white snake cracked its eyes open to reveal sleek blue-green eyes. It looked at Manami for a moment before coiling tighter. Manami grimaced for a moment but her eyes widened when the snake unwound itself. It slithered up the side of the chair and perched on top of the backing. Manami cautiously sat down, leaning forward slightly to give the snake some room. Anko snorted in amusement when Manami gave a slight jump. The snake had decided to drape itself around Manami's neck.

Manami let out a soft laugh and relaxed into the chair. "I suppose it's only fair, since I took your spot."

The snake blinked at Manami before nestling its head inside the collar of her vest. She could feel the faint movement from its breathing.

"His name is Kenta."

Manami looked up to see Anko reclined on her couch, snakes lying around her and even a few on her. While one hand hung over the edge, the other reached up to stroke one of her pets from the base of its head, down its spine.

"It means 'healthy or strong' and 'big or thick'," she continued. "Kenta is one of the youngest ones here."

"Ah, I see." Manami said, slightly surprised. The white snake around her didn't appear to be much at first glance, but having it draped on her shoulders, Manami could feel the strength in its muscles. Manami couldn't decide if she felt a little safer or more nervous as the creature snoozed.

"So, you nervous about your little 'test' tomorrow?" Anko asked enthusiastically.

Manami bounced her head from side to side, "I suppose so. Don't really know what to expect."

Anko picked up a kunai from the floor and began to fiddle with it. "If it's anything like the Chunin exams, you're in for a real treat!"

"What are the Chunin exams?" Manami asked curiously. Anko sat up so quickly, she nearly fell off the couch when she heard the question.

"You don't know what the Chunin exams are?!"

Manami shook her head, "That's why I'm asking. Is it something I should be worried about?"

Anko gave a short laugh before replying, "Of course it's something to worry about! The layout's a bit different every year but basically a bunch of Genin take a written test, then are tossed in the Forest of Death."

"Wait wait wait. The Forest of Death?!" Manami exclaimed, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Well, it's actually the 44th Training Ground but it's been dubbed the Forest of Death because it's such an unlucky place." Anko replied nonchalantly. "The first few teams to make it out with certain scrolls they fight for get to advance to the next stage."

"But, I'm alone," Manami chimed in. "I'm not a part of a team or anything."

"Hmm, that's true," Anko held her hand up to her chin, "Then perhaps it'll be like the third stage."

Manami quirked an eyebrow, "The third stage?"

Anko was basically bouncing from excitement at this point, pacing around the room, swinging the kunai every which way. "It's where those from the second stage go and fight one-on-one battles! It's like a typical bracket system with each winner fighting the next set. My personal favorite of the stages."

"Wow," Manami replied in awe, "so even if you make it to the final stage, you can still lose in the end."

Anko shook her head, "Not necessarily. It's possible to lose a fight but still be promoted. Just how even if you win you may not get promoted."

"I think I get it," Manami replied, "But how do they determine who gets promoted."

Anko sat back on the couch and swung the kunai around her finger. "That's a good question."

With a final swing, Anko flicked her finger and sent the kunai flying into the wall. Manami stiffened in her chair from the accuracy of the throw. It landed perfectly between two snakes with no room for error without injuring one of them. And she did it without even looking, Manami thought in amazement.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure." Anko continued, "I've never really be a part of the selecting process for who makes it. Usually it's those with outstanding qualities and good leadership skills."

"Oh," was Manami's only reply. She leaned back in her chair and bowed her head in thought, I don't have either of those qualities. I've never lead anybody and there's nothing special about me- if I don't make it, what's gonna happen to me?

*thunk*

Manami's head shot up and she felt something cold against her cheek. Glancing to her left, Manami found a kunai embedded in the back of the chair right next to her face.

"Hey!" she shouted, "what gives?!"

Anko shook her head gloomily, "You didn't even sense the threat. How are you going to pass a test if you can't even do that?"

Manami was taken aback. She had a point.

"Perhaps I didn't react because I didn't feel an actual threat," Manami countered.

"I threw a kunai at your face!" Anko retorted.

"But you didn't hit me."

Manami watched Anko's face freeze up; she had caught her there. Anko plopped back down on the couch without another word, snatching another stray kunai from the floor. Manami could see a small smirk peeking out and she couldn't help but grin herself. Maybe I do have a chance. A small one, but a chance nonetheless.

A short while later, Anko sprang up from her spot on the couch, startling Manami awake. Hmmm, I must have dozed off at some point, she thought. She watched Anko walk into a hallway and heard her shuffling around a closet. Anko reemerged with a blanket and pillow.

"I'm afraid I don't have any spare beds for you," she said, "so you'll have to sleep on the couch."

"That's alright," Manami replied, standing up, "thank you for taking care of me."

Anko waved her hand nonchalantly in the air, "It's not like I had much of a choice. Orders are orders."

Manami laughed, "That's true. But still, I really appreciate you doing this for me."

"Eh," Anko shrugged, "Kenta likes you, so I guess you're all right."

Manami beamed at the snake around her neck and stroked him gently along his spine. She sat down on the couch and carefully placed Kenta beside her. Anko grinned at the newly formed friendship between the two.

"Bathroom's down the hall and to the right," Anko announced, walking to her bedroom. "I'm turnin' in for the night."

"Night!" Manami called after her. She caught a glimpse of Anko waving her hand again.

Adjusting the pillow to her liking, Manami noticed that all the snakes had given her a foot radius around the couch and a small pathway to the hall. Glancing towards the light switch, Manami saw a large green and brown snake flick the light off with its tail.

"Thank you," she whispered to all of them. Manami settled down on the couch, pulling the blanket over her shoulder. She felt Kenta slither up to sleep on the back of the couch near her. Even with the insane amount of snakes around her, Manami felt surprisingly safe. After the day that she had, Manami fell asleep almost instantly.

FIN

Eep! Now we're getting to the good stuff! Sadly though, I must say it will probably be two weeks before I post another chapter. 1- Class are unearthly demanding right now, 2- I have a convention I'm attending next weekend so I'll be a bit pre-occupied, and 3- The next few chapters will be more action packed so I don't want to tease you the disappear for a few weeks xD
(and lemme know what you would like to see for possible ideas)

Until next time! ~KunoichiBlade