Be real with me
Suigetsu of the mist village. Hibiki lounged in bed as she thought. But no matter how long she thought she still came up with a blank. She didn't know this one, or at least she wasn't told to look into him. Of course, she knew a lot about the mist village; Having regularly look into the politics playing out she was familiar with all the great shinobi nations and their villages.
Hearing Suigetsu describe his home in such little detail and disinterest was comical to Hibiki. She couldn't help but giggle at his exasperated voice.
During their conversation, He had mentioned the seven swordsmen, and even their leader Mangetsu Hoozuki. A man closer to her in age, and from what Hibiki could tell, was a great fighter. A swordsman above swordsmen.
So this was the supposed other Hoozuki boy. Suigetsu was about 12 right now, he was quite young for a kidnap victim but that only further stresses his worth. The Hoozuki clan's liquefaction Jutsu was an interesting one and one Orochimaru was undoubtedly interested in obtaining.
However with Suigetsu and Isarabi's worth both being top tier, how Amachi was able to get both in his lab was a wonder. No matter the corruption in the Eastern Hideout, loyalists were always within reach. Either Amachi had blind luck or something else was going on.
Yuu must be busy dealing with Isarabi, leaving Suigetsu alone. This was an interesting development.
Hibiki wasn't the one to put him in here, that was rare. This opened an opportunity, the ability to have someone her age to speak to without them hating her for putting them in Orochimaru's clutches. She didn't dare dream of them becoming friends but at least for the time being they can have a human connection. A distraction from the world around her.
So, As the girl promised, she came back the next day around noon. She entered the room just as cautiously as before, taking careful and deliberate steps. Checking her balance with each step. When she finally made it to the tank she sat in front of it. After a few long seconds Suigetsu spoke up.
"Here again huh." He sighed.
"Yes, I don't have much to do here." She answered.
"Funny me neither." He scoffed. She smiled a little at his snide remark.
"So, how old are you?" she asked.
"Twelve." He said and after a moment of thought "And you?"
"Fourteen. How long have you been here?" she asked.
"I got caught in February I think," he fought to remember.
"So, about 10 months." She concluded.
"It's been 10 months?" He was aghast, how could 10 months have gone by so soon?
"Time goes by fast when you do the same thing every day." She said, an awkward smile forming on her face.
Suigetsu stayed quiet for the next hour. Hibiki sat with him while he took in this development. How could he be gone for so long and yet, no one has found him. Were they even searching? Was he doomed to remain here? To die here?
"Your brother should be looking for you," Hibiki said as if reading his thoughts.
"Not possible, He's dead." He sighed. The only person in the world who might have come looking for him was dead.
"Is there anyone else, anyone who could be looking for you?" She asked.
"No, that's not the way of the mist. I'm already dead to them." He concluded. "…you should go."
Hibiki nodded, taking her to leave.
After that day Hibiki didn't bring up anything about his brother or his kidnapping. Every day Hibiki returned to Suigetsu's side around noon and stayed until he kicked her out. Every night Hibiki carefully thought about what questions to ask, and what subjects to bring up. She was careful in her selection, doing her best to pick subjects he could be interested in. And as this was meant to be a resting period for her, Hibiki didn't use her foresight. She allowed Fate's hand to take control, and for once actively participated in the current world.
It was … nice in a way. Odd, she was so dependent on her foresight that living in the moment had become foreign to her. She continued to ask a lot of questions and would have him tell her stories from his village, the missions he's completed, and the people he admired. He would mindlessly answer her questions and watch as she would sit before him and smile with a forced awkward smile.
…
Suigetsu would never admit he liked having Hibiki's company, but in truth, he looked forward to seeing her each day. He did his best to keep an indifferent air around him but it often slipped into excitement, humor, and so many other emotions he had forgotten he had. For what felt like an eternity, he forgot every emotion except anger and vengeance. Those were the only emotions left after being kidnapped and painfully experimented on.
Yet here he was feeling a sense of companionship and joy. Even back in Kirigakure, No one was interested in him, not like this at least. It felt like she honestly wanted to know about him and that was new. Even his parents were indifferent to his existence, the only comfort he had was his older brother who was almost always away on missions. And the few times they were able to be together, it was a silent bond that needed no words. His brother didn't need to know him and Suigetsu didn't need to know his brother. Together they were a single entity, called the second coming of the demon, and both were meant to be members of the seven swordsmen.
In all honesty, he was a backup for his brother, if he were to die it would be Suigetsu who would take his place. Or that was the plan. But now Suigetsu was here, in a tank, alone and robbed of his purpose.
Yet here she was, a blind girl who was somehow connected to Orochimaru. She seemed to care, she seemed to hold some kind of interest. Here he wasn't a package deal, a replacement, or a warranty, he was just Suigetsu.
He would never say anything to hint at these underlying feelings hiding in the pits of his heart.
It was a normal morning, his vitals were taken, a serum was administered into his system, and a blinding pain would overtake his body. Usually lasting an hour before he could see straight again and his body finally relaxed. He sighed in annoyance, glaring at the lab technician, A tall blonde woman named Ruharu. He memorized the names of the captors he hated most. This woman was beyond the level of a 'bitch'.
He fantasized about capturing her, tying her up, and slowly cutting off each limb. It would be with a rusted dull knife so she could feel every muscle fiber tear. When he reached her bone he would snap it like a twig before continuing. He dreamed of her pain and horror-filled screams. Once she was limbless he would gouge out those blue eyes that reminded him of ocean water. Maybe he would even force her to eat her own eyes. He wouldn't even deal a finishing blow, he would instead watch her face as the blood drained from her body and death finally settled in.
He let out a soft chuckle as he thought of the irony, If she were captured by Orochimaru her fate would be far worse than the plans he had for her. Suigetsu offered a painful and slow death, and Orochimaru offered A living horror, one in which death is begged for.
A soft shuffling woke Suigetsu from his daydreaming, and Hibiki returned. He watched her carefully navigate the room, being careful not to slip on any water that may have wound up on the floor. It was more than once that he laughed as he watched her slip, the shock would cross her face and a dull thud would resonate when she landed on her ass. She always gave him a pouty look, upset for being laughed at.
He liked that stupid pout, it was cute, not that he would ever admit it.
He had no idea how long Hibiki had been here, but it had to be at least a month or two. He wondered how much longer she would be here. It felt unsettling to know she might leave any day, who would entertain him then?
…
The sound of footsteps echoing off the walls brought Suigetsu's attention to the door. It was way past midnight and the noise had disturbed what little sleep he got. He watched the door with a scornful look as Amachi and Ruharu walked in, both with a look of anger and disappointment.
"So Suigetsu, I hear you've been spending time with Hibiki. Is that right?" Amachi asked as he began to slowly pace in front of the tank.
"Why the fuck would I tell you anything?" he snapped.
"Then how about this, recently has the serum been painful at all?" Amachi questioned again.
"So what if it was?" Suigetsu sneered.
"Well according to your charts you should at least have scales forming on your body by now. Yet here you are, not a single physical change has occurred." Ruharu explained.
"Not my fault your shit at your job."
"Well that's the thing Suigetsu, Isarabi has been losing her body modifications, becoming more and more human, and you have yet to change at all. This is quite alarming. And from how often you and Hibiki speak, I have a feeling this isn't a situation I caused." Amachi stopped in front of his tank.
"What the hell do you mean?"
"It seems both you and Isarabi have been receiving a reversal serum, one that would bring your bodies back to their original state." Amachi accused. "And I wondered who could have switched the serum? Well the blind girl couldn't, but her assistant could, and he is very likely acting on her orders." Amachi concluded.
"Are you saying Hibiki sabotaged your experiment?" Suigetsu asked.
"Precisely. And that is a real shame. I will have to do something to rectify this mistake." Amachi smiled.
"Are you threatening Hibiki?" Suigetsu asked, his voice lowering slightly, his brows furrowed and he glared daggers at the two.
"I wish I could, but she is close to Orochimaru for some reason, and if I even touch a strand of hair on her insignificant head I'd be digging my own grave," Amachi said.
"Then what the hell are you here for? I don't give two shits about any of this!" Suigetsu yelled.
"Well I can't directly attack Hibiki, this is true, but an accident could happen. That's where you come in." Amachi smiled broadly.
"Oh?" Suigetsu questioned.
"How about we make a deal, Suigetsu?" Amachi offered.
…
Hibiki returned to Suigetsu's side as usual, but recently he's been in a sour mood. He wouldn't answer her questions or even speak to her, only making grunts to acknowledge her. They would sit in silence for a few minutes before Suigetsu would tell her to leave. Still, she returned the next day always trying to speak to him before leaving when told to. This lasted a week.
The following week, just like always she navigated the space and sat in front of the tank.
"Here again?" he grumbled. Hibiki nodded with a forced smile.
"Are you in the mood to talk?" she asked.
"Sure." he frowned.
A few minutes pass in silence.
"No 20 questions today?" Suigetsu scoffed.
"If you're not in the mood for questions then how about a game?"
"A game."
"Sure, let's see how you play it…hmmm. Oh right so we pick a category and then we take turns naming something in that category, but it has to be done in alphabetical order," she explained.
"That sounds stupid." He sighed.
"It's just a suggestion…" Hibiki said.
"Fine. How about colors?" Suigetsu suggested.
"Oh ok, Apricot," Hibiki answered.
"That's a fruit." Suigetsu chuckled darkly.
"It's also a color?" she hesitantly defended.
"What is pineapple a color too?" he remarked.
"Ok ok, geez. How about alabaster?" she gave in.
"Blue."
"Cadmium red"
"Dark blue"
"You suck at this Suigetsu." Hibiki chuckled.
"It's a color isn't it?" he defended.
Hibiki Sighed. Perhaps a different category would be better. She thought
"Hibiki?" Suigetsu asked, his voice a little off.
"Yes?" She answered.
"You're a pretty fake person." he scoffed. Hibiki sat there for several minutes before moving over and leaning her back against the tank. The cold metal and glass sent a shudder through her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sighed. The atmosphere took a 180.
"I know," she finally responded, her mask dropping.
"I overheard the research bitch a while back. You're one of Orochimaru's higher-ups. One of the top dogs right?" he asked.
"That's right," she confirmed.
"Yet here you are coming in here acting like an innocent person. Asking so many bullshit questions and acting like you had any interest in my answers." He quipped
"I was interested in your answers," she argued.
"No, you weren't. Am I a fish in a tank to you? A novelty to admire?" he coldly laughed.
She sat up and turned her head towards him, "That's not what you are.." she began
"Fuck yes it is! Are you recovering information about me for that asshole Orochimaru?" He accused his voice rising.
"That's not.." she began again.
"Then what is it? Why are you here? What do you want?" He yelled.
"I don't know,"
"You don't know?" he snapped.
"I-I just wanted to talk to someone I guess." She said turning away.
"And the guy trapped in an experimental tank is your choice of 'someone to talk to? If you're going to bug a lab rat then bug the Isaribi or whatever the fuck her name is? Why are you here bugging me?" He pushed.
"Isarabi is a good person. I thought that since you're not a good person either, we'd get along." She admitted.
"Not a good person?" he laughed
"You're not exactly innocent Suigetsu!" she finally yelled back.
"I've murdered a few people sure. But what you're doing is completely different. You're sending people to torture and pain beyond anything you'd even know! I'm a sadistic fuck but even I'm not this cruel."
"I don't have a choice. Without Orochimaru I'll die or worse!" she yelled back standing.
"Fucking die then!" he retorted.
"If I gave you the option of death right now would you take it?" She defended.
"I have more than this Hibiki. I have a fucking dream and I have a fucking purpose. What about you? What is your drive? Besides living for the hell of it, what other reason do you have? You're such a boring empty piece of human garbage! Do you have any reason to continue other than the fact you're already alive?"
"I don't. You're right, I have nothing. I have no goal or purpose. I'm just alive because I haven't died yet." she yelled.
"Then why the hell are you still throwing so much damn energy into Orochimaru's plans? What benefit are you receiving from him that it's worth making humans into worthless rats? What reason is there?"
"I don't know. I really would be better off dead… everyone would be better off with me dead. I have no purpose or reason for my existence." She agreed with him.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Get the fuck out of my face. I don't want to see you again unless you can give me a good goddamn reason to." He spat.
Hibiki turned and ran, returning to her room and slamming the door shut. She paced the room as tears formed in her eyes. Why was she still alive? Why was she causing so much torment if she could so easily solve a thousand problems by dying? If she wanted to be with her mother so badly why didn't she just join her in death?
…
Two days later Hibiki came back to Suigetsu's tank room. For a while, he watched as she stood by the door, not completely hidden behind the wall. He waited for her and after an hour she finally turned and walked halfway in.
"So you came back…" he noted.
"I thought about it. About my reason for existing," she said. From where she stood Suigetsu could see she wasn't wearing her hair band. Her long hair freely hung in her face.
"Oh yeah and what reason is that?" he asked.
"Spite" she answered, not missing a beat.
"Spite?" he scoffed.
"I am alive right now because I want to spite all those who wish I was dead. Those who tried to kill me, use me. I'm alive because if I die, then they win. And I refuse to let them win! Even if my living means causing others pain and suffering."
"Spite huh…" Suigetsu pondered this for a moment. "Alright, I like it."
"What?" she gasped.
"It's pretty badass if you ask me. You live just to spite others. It's a little flimsy I gotta say, but it's good enough for now at least." he smiled, his sharp teeth flashing.
"Weren't you just screaming at me yesterday for being a bad person? That I needed to die?" she asked exasperated.
"No I was yelling at an empty shell, it's pathetic to see someone like you living like a ghost. If you're going to do something 'bad' you can't do it so half-assed. Today you seem fuller. Not complete but not a shell. I want nothing to do with a goddamn shell." he sneered.
"So what, do you approve of me now?" she scoffed.
"I have respect for you now." he corrected.
"Oh is that my prize?" she smiled, coming forward and sitting, leaning back against the tank.
"Hmmm sure. Hell keep this attitude up and I might give you a better prize."
"Oh, a prize from a boy trapped in a tank?" she bitterly questioned.
"OOOOH smart ass. we might just get along better than I thought." he taunted.
"Suigetsu…." she trailed off.
"What?"
"Thanks."
…
Later that night Hibiki lay on her back and let her mind wander. She thought of Suigetsu's confrontation, it was unexpected but it did help. Suigetsu had asked a question she had been avoiding. Now that she had found the answer she felt a bit better. Spite. That was her reason for living, for now at least. She wondered how long it would work, maybe when it stopped working she could come to see Suigetsu.
It was an oddly nice thought.
A creak pulled Hibiki back into her room. She sat up, "Nobuzo?" she called. A shiver ran down her spine and she became nauseous. Something was wrong. Grabbing her hidden knife she held it up. "Nobuzo?" she called again.
In a sudden rush of movement, Hibiki found a hand covering her mouth, and another keeping her knife at bay. She shook and was about to start struggling when.
"Calm down, it's just me." Suigetsu whispered.
Relief flooded Hibiki and she relaxed. Suigetsu let her go and took a seat on the edge of her bed.
"Suigetsu? What's going on? How did you get out?" she asked.
"I'll explain everything in a minute, but first tell me, Did you switch the serums?" he asked.
"What Serums?"
"The ones that were being injected into me and Isarabi," he explained.
"You've been receiving the same serum as Isarabi?" she asked, moving her hands and taking his face between them.
Suigetsu was a little shocked but stayed still as Hibiki examined his face. After a moment she retracted them and frowned.
"You shouldn't have received anything Suigetsu. Your physiology is what you are being studied for…" Hibiki sighed. "This is so bad… if you receive any serum your composition might be jeopardized, Orochimaru would never authorize this."
"So you had nothing to do with the serums?" Suigetsu asked.
"No, I've been busy preparing for a purge of the Eastern hideout. But if you've had any alterations made…" Hibiki began to worry.
"Calm down, I'm fine, apparently someone switched the drug, and me and Isarabi have been given a reverse serum. Amachi is pissed." Suigetsu brushed it off.
"It wasn't me… one of Amachi's men is sabotaging his experiment… A loyalist maybe?" Hibiki wondered aloud.
"I don't know. But Amachi thinks you did it. He made a deal with me. If I kill you and make it look like an accident he's going to free me from Orochimaru." he said.
"He's really stupid if he thinks you wouldn't just run as soon as your free…" Hibiki chuckled. Then she stopped and looked in Suigetsu's direction, "Why didn't you?" she wondered.
"I want that bastard and the blonde whore to die by my hands." He shrugged.
"Ah makes sense… then why are you here?" she asked again.
"I um… I…" he stammered.
He cleared his voice before speaking again, "I wanted to know how upset Orochimaru would be if they died. Like would you be punished or something?"
"You worried about me?" Hibiki smiled.
"Hell no!" he retorted. Leaving a silence between them for a few moments before saying "Just answer the question." he demanded.
"Amachi and Ruharu are on the top of the purge list. So no repercussions would happen to me if you were say to escape due to incompetence and go on a rampage." Hibiki shrugged.
"Sly. Then you should leave first, go to the Eastern hideout, I'll finish things up here." He agreed.
As Suigetsu stood, Hibiki reached out and found his hand. He turned and looked down at her.
"I can't guarantee Orochimaru won't come back for you." She frowned.
"I know."
"And I can't promise to stop his plans to do so." She said,
"Yeah."
"But I can promise not to give him any information. I'll stay out of it." She added.
"Yeah?" Suigetsu asked.
"Yeah." Hibiki agreed.
With that Suigetsu left and captured Amachi and Yuharu. Meanwhile, Hibiki woke Nobuzo and let him in on the situation. Together they packed what little they brought and slipped out into the night. Hibiki looked back as Nobuzo carried her on his back. She wished she could see the lab fade away as they got further and further. She wished she could have seen Suigetsu waving goodbye after seeing her off. But neither would nor could happen so she just imagined it.
…
It was late in the night and Suigetsu washed his hands of blood, both Amachi and Yuharu lay dead behind him. It had been a satisfying game and went better than he imagined it would. Amachi's begging was music to his ears, he followed through with his fantasies. With a content sigh, he slowly leaves the Hideout, his mind wandering to Hibiki.
Authors Note: Hello readers! I hope everyone has had a good day and a good week! I'm still working steadily on the Series, however, I did read the rules and Guidelines for this site. It says I can't have the same story in different categories, and I want to follow the rules. I am going to keep Updating the T version but if anyone feels this series has become too graphic for the T rating please PM me and I will fix the issue. I hope my old readers are still reading even after my long break. I love you guys and thanks for all the support! 11/10/2022