Title: Arid

Author: Fenikkusu Ai

Rating: T

Fandom: Naruto

Characters: Kabuto, Orochimaru, Sasuke, Ibiki, OC

Words: 1,424

Genre: Suspense/Hurt/Comfort

Summary: What had Misaki done to be locked away? The man with the glasses wouldn't tell her, the sullen youth doesn't want to get involved, and the man with the sweep of dark hair sent chills down her spine. Amnesia. Kabuto x OC x Orochimaru.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

A/N: All flower meanings are courtesy of Wikipedia's Hanakotoba page. There might a dash of Ibianko in this.

"Ibiki-san, listen!" Inoichi walked over towards the taller man.

Ibiki stood by the office window. Inoichi knew that he could not be budged either physically or emotionally. Inoichi had no idea what was on his mind. Not without his mind jutsus.

Ibiki had been more merciless than Danzo if that was possible. To his own niece.

"What am I supposed to say?" Ibiki groused. "She knew the consequence of her actions, so she's no different than any other caught spy. She used her innocence as a disguise. She lied to us all."

To me.

Once again, Inoichi tried to explain himself. "There were jutsus buried in her brain. She had no memory. It happened in spring, and it's almost November now. So, it's been six or seven lost months for her."

Ibiki finally turned with a sneer twisting his lips. "Well, isn't that just convenient. Just enough time to learn the tactics of the enemy."

Inoichi waited.

"It is always the village first," Ibiki continued. "You know that, Inoichi. What if Ino was revealed as a saboteur? How would you feel then?"

Inoichi stiffened. "Leave my daughter out of this."

Ibiki nodded. "Stay out of my personal life, and I'll do the favor to stay out of yours."

The scarred man drifted from the pathetic view that the window offered and made towards the door.

As always, Ibiki was checking his every advance.

"She's a threat. Soon. Orochimaru will learn that she has been discovered and may send more nin here," Ibiki's words echoed after him. "I am petitioning that she go to Konoha's Strict Correctional Facility. She's a security risk."

Once Ibiki was out of the room, a deep heavy sigh escaped his lips. What Inoichi desperately needed was sleep.

Overcome by curiosity, Inoichi too inspected the rather small window and noticed that the cacti in the cactus garden desperately needed moisture. The pots were just baking on the windowsill.

Inoichi was still a Yamanaka after all. His family knew their botany.

All Ibiki possessed painful thorns and arid soil. Much like the Morino heritage.

It surprised her when the cell door was unlocked and Anko sat next to her on the cot. There was no barrier between Misaki and the outside world any more. Some would take advantage such as Kabuto or Sasuke.

Misaki made no move to run. She knew that she wouldn't get far. Also, how much more trauma could she take if she was caught? Would she be sent to solitary? The hole? To the Honesty Room?

Ibiki would probably just love to turn the screws on that rack.

Instead of joining the conversation, Misaki just let Anko talk as she solemnly stared at her feet. She was... unworthy.

But there was no threat. It was like Anko had just nominated herself as big sister when she began to soothe Misaki and began to tackle her problems one by one. Misaki has always wanted a sister to share her secrets and dreams with, yet her parents couldn't give her one. Misaki had remained a single blossom.

"I've been in your shoes, Misaki," Anko went on. "He's so charming isn't he? Before you know the truth."

But, Orochimaru had saved her. She would have let her be captured or killed. Not even Ibiki had known her or visited them. Misaki still couldn't help but still feel loyalty towards Orochimaru-sama. She wondered if Ino's father had seen or guessed that.

Had Anko had been in prison too for the same crime as consequences for her actions? Could she actually understand her?

"Do you know Orochimaru?" Misaki dared to ask.

Anko smirked knowingly. "Of course. He was my sensei. Why do you think we're talking about him? Look familiar?"

Anko turned her neck. Marring her flesh were three black tomoes as black as ink. However, they were enclosed by a ragged circle. Sasuke's had looked different.

"That's a curse mark," Misaki replied automatically.

Sasuke had one of his neck. it hung on its side like the heavy burden of a collar; it bound him to the pale man. Curse marks were gifted only by the chosen few who got the privilege to knew the serpent's bite. Misaki didn't have one. She could count herself lucky.

Misaki wondered if Sasuke would be free one day.

"Yeah, but it got sealed like ten years ago. My dumb ass almost didn't make it." The mark disappeared with a swivel of Anko's head.

Misaki wondered if she was looking at her future self. It was odd to meet a former student of Orochimaru's here. She was suspicious if the pale man had a hand in this as well. Why wouldn't he?

Then, Misaki revealed the question she had avoided asking.

"Am I going to stay here?"

Anko shrugged. "That's up to Tsunade-sama. Let's hope she's in a good mood."

Her uncle wouldn't even plead her case for her.

Suddenly, a plastic tray skidded under the still unlocked cell door. Misaki saw dinner was a lone hard boiled egg on top of coarse brown rice. It was was more than what she deserved.

"Don't worry kid. Things will look up. if I can be reformed so can you, right?" Anko patted her shoulder.

She didn't like the notion of being reformed. Misaki wasn't even sure that she was broken

"Why can't we get her out? I want to talk to Misaki!"

"Quiet, Naruto," Kakashi hushed the overreaching Jinchuriki."She is a criminal. That's how T & I sees it anyhow."

Naruto gazed up into Kakashi's face. "But, she's being used by Orochimaru. Like Sasuke."

Kakashi sighed. "She came here with the intent to spy, Naruto. An intention that she performed under orders. It will take some time to clear her name if it is at all possible."

"She doesn't want to do it! We need to help her be free of him! Ibiki needs to do something!"

Kakashi kept his tone even. "Naruto, you know Ibiki. You met him at the Chunin exams. Does he seem like a man who would understand?"

"She's his family. Why wouldn't he understand?"

Kakashi's eyes filled with a secret pain

"Can't you convince him?" Naruto pressed. "You were ANBU, Kakashi-sensei."

"It's been at least five years since then and members of the ANBU Black Ops follow orders. All the more reason that I wouldn't be able to help you."

Naruto visibly crumpled in despair. Sakura shook her head.

"We have to wait, Naruto. For what Tsunade-sama decides. Only she can end this."

The three sat there locked in silence as a cold wind started to blow.

Orochimaru remembered the day he met Misaki.

Unbeknownst to her, she was slated to be captured anyway. She most likely would have been reluctant to leave her home, so Orochimaru was the storybook hero rather than the stroybook villain

She would be a literal slave or have the men crawling over her every night. How fortunate she had been when she had met him.

She was his bluebell. His grateful little bluebell who was as faithful as a daisy.

But, admittedly, he had only been attracted to her because of her blood. Orochimaru had been on his way to collect her by force if necessary. At least papa and mama Morino had already been dispatched. The opportunistic Iwagakure nin had done the deed for him.

Although, Orochimaru had wanted the father as well. All the more to hold another Morino over MIsaki's head. He would also have Ibiki's brother.

Orochimaru folded his hands on the blanket. He well remembered the little brat as a genin.

Even as a child, Ibiki had always been big-boned, mean, and loud. And his Anko had been a good friend of his. It had only been good manners to hold his tongue back then.

Orochimaru knew even back then that the boy had a particular hatred for him; he couldn't help but wonder if it had been jealousy. Yet, now Orochimaru had his niece. That must have hurt the big man's pride.

Oh, he and Misaki was fated to be. Much like he and Sasuke and he and Kabuto. Karin too. Lost youths who needed a nudge.

Well, it had all been worth a try. In any event, his real dream was about to come true.

Kabuto had vacated the room on his search for new stronger medicine. Orochimaru didn't know when he would be seen again.

From out in the corridor, Orochimaru heard footsteps approaching.

The serpent smiled wryly. Prey was approaching.

Oh, yes The Sharingan would be his.