Disclaimer: The rumors are true. I don't own Naruto. Dx

"Okay…" Sachi said, her voice shaking "Now." And that was that. She found herself fall, slowly to the ground, her legs unable to bend, and save her. She floated to the ground, like a leaf, and soon felt a pair of arms pick up her frail figure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orochimaru's Lair

Sachi lay on a hard surface. She opened her eyes slowly, waiting for everything to come into focus. She was in a small room, with very little in it other then herself, a shabby cot, some weights, and a thick wooden post, just like Sachi used to practice with at home. Sachi looked at where she was- on the floor. There was a hard metal floor, and Sachi was bit upset she hadn't been put on the cot.

Sachi wanted to get up and start training right away. It sounded stupid, but it was the only constructive way she had to rid herself of unwanted emotions. She tried to get up, but was far too tired to move. So she just lied there, on the ground in the middle of the room. She thought about training and seeing her brother and what Gaara would think of her when she came back. She realized Orochimaru had been lying to her about saying she had left to him.

Gaara wasn't one to talk to strangers. In fact, he wasn't one to look at strangers. He never had been very social, and the accusing villagers that seemed to flock to him wherever he went hadn't helped. And, Gaara would never listen to this man. He was no different then the other people in his village- seemingly harmless, but secretly vicious. Maybe they had had the same thing happen to them as kids. Maybe that's why they did it to Gaara. No, popped a little voice in Sachi's head, they do it because he's different.

Probably. Adults, and even kids seemed to do whatever they wanted. They didn't ever get scolded when they made fun of Gaara. But, if they played tag with a friend, and accidentally pushed the friend down, mayhem would occur. Then Sachi figured it out. Gaara is their punching bag. Their way to take out stress, without feeling guilty. She wondered why they chose Gaara. He never would have done anything bad on purpose, or if they had been nice to him. In fact, Gaara had never tried to hurt Sachi in the least bit since they had met.

But that was beside the point. Gaara never listened to anyone but Sachi and himself- and once Yashamaru. But that was it. So Gaara wouldn't have listened, even if this man, Orochimaru, had really come to tell him Sachi was going. But, what could he even tell him? Sachi hadn't said yes yet. She knew Orochimaru wouldn't lift a finger for either her or Gaara. So why bother lying to her? He had wanted her to come.

Yes, Sachi thought, He came for me. He said he wanted ME. But why was that again? Her kekkei genkai. He wanted her so he could have her kekkei genkai? It wasn't possible to extract that sort of thing from a person. So why did he really need her? Maybe he just wanted to examine the kekkei genkai. Maybe she'd be a sort of freak exhibit at some circus or zoo. Locked in a cage, with people around her laughing. Sachi shuddered at the thought.

But, if this Orochimaru guy could find a way, somehow, to take her kekkei genkai- he could have them. She would give him everything she had, just to see Gaara and Dai again. But for now, she had to be strong, she guessed. It was always important to remain strong. When you find yourself in difficult situations, act like they don't affect you. It might be a lie, and it might hurt you worse inside- but it was important.

Some people- most people, actually- can smell fear. They can sense when you're insecure, and pounce; just like that. Sachi had a feeling this man would be no different. Perhaps it was human nature to attack the weaker- or maybe it was nature to everyone- except Gaara. She had been lost and confused when he and Yashamaru took her in, and he had befriended her. And what had she done to him? Left him, alone and friendless, not deserving a bit of the pain he was probably in right now.

Sachi scoffed at the thought. It was selfish of her. She always assumed that HE needed HER, when, really, it was the other way around. Without Gaara, Sachi would have nowhere to turn. She'd be alone and scared, not really ever knowing what was going on in this fragile little world she called home. But then again, she wasn't sure if she was ready to call it home.

The door creaked in the little room, which suddenly reminded Sachi of a prison cell, waking Sachi from her thoughts. She raised her head, and lifted an eyebrow. The man who entered the room was not Orochimaru. This man was mature looking, with small glasses resting on his nose, which he pushed up when he saw Sachi examining them, and white- maybe silver?- hair pulled back into a small ponytail. He wore a smile on his face, but something Sachi knew well was that looks can be deceiving.

"Hello!" He said cheerily, smiling and pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I'm Kabuto." That smile was almost as annoying as Orochimaru's smirk. Sachi began wondering if this smile was fake. Maybe she should fake smile at him, just too return the gesture? In her head, she compiled a list of things she had to smile about for real. Well, for starters, she was alive. She would see her brother. She would train. She'd get better at everything, no longer be a failure to her other and brother, and the father she never knew. So she smiled. It wasn't a full smile. She kept her mouth closed, and gave this Kabuto person a weak smile.

"Hi Kabuto, I'm Sachi." Kabuto nodded, getting he understood.

"Okay, Sachi" He said, saying her name slowly, as if tasting the sound on his lips. She hoped he liked her name. She didn't know this man, but he seemed friendly enough. Besides, Sachi needed a friend. She didn't know how long she would be in this place, or even fully shy she was needed her. Maybe this… Kabuto… maybe he'd help her out?

She needed it.

Hey guys! Thanks for reading! My brother and dad are both sick with mono, and I'm not feeling well at all either. So, remember kids- keep your drinks to yourself! Or, in my brother's case, don't make out with your girlfriend if she had mono. -; Review, please!