A/N: I fixed some errors and added a bit, then reloaded it. Just want to say special thanks for Lasaire to catching the Fourth Hokage thing! I don't know why I didn't think of that ... facepalms anyway ...

Oh. It's this dream again.

Anko cast weary eyes across the room and the blurred and hazy faces of her classmates. They were barely recognizable, but for some reason she knew them all by name. Hitomi, Haru, Usada, Ryoto ...

Back then, Anko had been an Uchiha Sasuke, a Hyuuga Neji. Her chakra was advanced far beyond her age, and even Ayumu-sensei had a hard time teaching her; often, she had been sent to work with Genin teams for instruction. But all that was before he came, before he entered her life and snatched it all away. Well, not all of it ... she was a special Jounin, right?

Whatever breath Anko possessed in that fragmented dreamworld snagged in her throat as Ayumu-sensei stepped up to the front of the class and began to speak. She heard no words, as he had no mouth to form them, yet she knew what he was saying. This event had happened only once in reality, yet a thousand times over in her dreams -– he was announcing the Genin teams.

The class should've been elated. They should've been grinning from ear to ear, congratulating each other and clapping their friends on the back. They should've been showing off their forehead protectors, experimenting with ways to wear them. But how could they do that, even as much as they yearned to, with the death of Daisuke and Hiyono just two days before? They hadn't even lived to become Genin ...

Everyone's name had been called, all her classmates already sitting in their teams of three; only Anko was left. She glanced around wildly, wondering if there had been some mistake.

Ayumu-sensei cleared his throat. "Anko, we have a ... unique situation on our hands. Daisuke and Hiyono would have been in your group if they hadn't been murdered ..." his voice became soft. "So you are in a team by yourself. Your sensei, however, is Orochimaru. You know, one of the three Senin?" He grinned at her, and she laughed nervously.

She spent the rest of the class tracing circles on her desk with her fingers, wide sweeping Os; she didn't have the courage to scribble off the rest of his name. O. Oh. Zero. Nothing ... just like the future of her two classmates.

She felt a shadow pass over her and a weight fall on her shoulder. She instantly forgot her sorrows. A Senin. She was going to learn from a Senin and become the best damn shinobi in the entire village. Right?

No, whispered a voice in the back of her mind.

She looked up and instead found wide shining eyes and gleaming teeth. A Senin. His thin, pale lips formed a greeting, and she grinned back at them.

"And you mussst be Ank—"

Her dream suddenly twisted into a fragmented nightmare.

"—o, if you truly loved me, you'd do this for me."

Heartbeats, fast breath.

"Weakness, Anko, you have too many weaknesses—"

"It's Orochimaru, he's—"

Screams and blood.

"What have you done to me?"

She sat straight up, eyes wide and mouth open in a silent cry. Suddenly realizing where she was, she let her breath out in a whoosh and fell back onto her pillows.

Today was not going to be a good day.

Anko always took pride in her superior hearing. It took a rare and talented ninja -– someone like Kakashi (she kicked herself for even thinking it) or Gai or him to approach her unnoticed. And whenever she caught her teammates in an attempt to ambush her, she took her time in gloating.

So it came as a surprise that New Years had been able to sneak up on her. Her part in the Chuunin Exam had come and gone, and she found herself without assignment on those lazy days preceding its much-anticipated third section.

"Anko? Hello? Earth to Anko!"

She blinked, suddenly coming back to reality. Lunch with Kurenai. Oh, right. "Erm, sorry. What were you saying?"

Kurenai sighed and leaned back in her chair. Anko was hopeless. A good, strong woman, but hopeless. "I wanted to know if you were going to any New Year's parties. Knowing you, you've probably got at least twelve dates lined up."

Anko scowled. "Actually, I don't, this year."

"This year?" The smoke-haired Jounin smiled slightly, causing her companion to roll her eyes.

"What with the Chuunin Exam and Orochimaru's ... reappearance, I didn't have the time for men."

"Funny. It seemed like you had the time for—"

"Don't go there, Kurenai." Anko said, eyes blazing dully.

"Alright, alright." She raised her hands in defeat. "I was just teasing."

Anko sighed. "I know."

"Well, if you have nothing better to do, you can tag along with me and Asuma." The faintest hints of a blush found their way onto Kurenai's cheeks. "We're to this party, and practically half of Konoha's gonna be there."

"Well, it's better than sitting at home alone and drinking myself to sleep, I suppose."

"You don't have to be alone, you know. Gai would jump at the chance of spending even a minute with you, and I'm guessing that Kakashi wouldn't be too disappointed to have you back, either ..."

"Kurenai, I can't do that. People will start to think I'm no better than a whore."

"Anko, I'm sure some already do, so you don't—"

"What?"

"Well, just look at what you're wearing!"

The mauve-haired Jounin cast a hasty glance at her attire. "I happen to like fish nets, thank you very much." She snapped, pulling her trench coat tighter around her shoulders.

"Was just saying ..." Kurenai muttered dejectedly, turning her gaze to the floor. Under her breath, she added, "And you only wear it because he liked it."

Faster than lightning Kurenai found herself with the blade of a kunai pressed against her throat. She let out a squeak, eyes round – yes, Anko was known for her temper and not-headed behavior, but had never, ever drawn a weapon over her attire.

"I heard that," Anko hissed. "Don't ever say ... don't mention him in my presence or else I swear that this kunai will be embedded in your chest instead of pressed to your neck. Got it?"

Kurenai nodded slowly, eyes on the blade. So that's what this was about. Not prostitution, but him. I don't blame her ... I'd be touchy about it too.

Anko sheathed her kunai, no trace on her posture or expression hinting that she had just threatened her best friend with death. "So I'll see you New Year's Eve, your place? Seven sound good?"

Kurenai nodded again.

"Great. Here's the money for the bill. Good luck with Asuma tonight." She winked, and left. Kurenai sat in silence until the owner of the restaurant shuffled over, concerned.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" He spotted her forehead protector. "Oh, I'm sorry. You probably could've taken care of her yourself."

Kurenai smiled weakly and paid him. She headed for the door, navigating the array of tables swiftly, mind wrapped up in other matters.

So that's how it was.

Interesting.

A/N: I'm thinking about revamping this entire work into a new story. My style has changed so much that this story bugs me. -.-;;