Chapter 4:
Orochimaru rolled onto his side beneath the heavy blankets. No word of Kabuto's return had reached him yet, and he was anxious to see Kokoro. H had last seen her when she was still the leader of an ANBU Black Operations squad five years before. She was in the infirmary because of an eye injury, and she had been trying to escape her nurse's watch.
"I wonder if she's still as feisty," Orochimaru chuckled. "How delightful."
"Lord Orochimaru!" Orochimaru sat up beneath the quilt, his grayed skin hidden by the blanket. Suddenly, Kabuto appeared in his bedroom, Kokoro kicking at him from her perch on his shoulder. "Let go of me, damn you!" she snapped. "How dare you take me from the girls like that! I should kill you for your disrespect!" Kabuto firmly gripped Kokoro's waist and set her upright on the floor.
"Enough," he sighed. "You're in Orochimaru's presence. Act your age." Orochimaru watched silently as Kokoro knelt at his bedside. She spread her hands across the floor as far as she could reach and bowed low. Her hair swept across her face, and she said, "Lord Orochimaru, I'm honored that you have called me to your village. Please, accept me as I come into your home." Orochimaru motioned for Kabuto to leave, and he told Kokoro to rise from the floor.
"Come, Kokoro," he said. "Sit by me." Kokoro took her place as Orochimaru's right side. "Tell me," the snake continued, "did Lord Kazekage treat you well?" Kokoro shifted in her seat.
"Ah… yes," she replied slowly. "He was very kind to me." Orochimaru eyed her carefully. He could feel an aura of chakra radiating from Kokoro's body. A thought struck his mind, and he grinned wickedly.
"Lay with me," he cooed. "You must be exhausted after your long journey from the Sand Village." Kokoro gulped nervously, and she shook her head in reply to his offer.
"I can't," she answered, covering her chest with her arms. "Forgive me, Lord Orochimaru. Perhaps another time?"
"You're pregnant." Kokoro shook her hair and laughed.
"Absurd," she chuckled. "I'm barren. Lord Kazekage never impregnated me before, so why would it happen now?" Orochimaru groaned as he slowly raised his arm. With great difficulty he placed his hand on her stomach.
"You're lying," he grinned. "I can feel it." Kokoro gently took Orochimaru's bandaged hands and kissed them.
"I was a shinobi, like you," she murmured. "In my time, I had mastered thousands of jutsus both common and forbidden." She softly rubbed his fingers. "Your hands were like mine once, but now they're broken." Orochimaru took his hands from her, his teeth nearly bared in a snarl.
"I don't need sympathy, especially from an ANBU whore." Kokoro stood and stomped her foot.
"I don't need to be here!" she snapped. "You snatched me from my home and my friends. You have no right to call me a whore." Orochimaru chuckled, and Kokoro demanded a reason for his laughter.
"You're the same," he grinned. "Five years have passed, and still you haven't changed from the girl in the infirmary." Kokoro's cheeks burned red, and she stomped out of his chamber. Orochimaru called for Kabuto, and he whispered orders into his ear.
"Drug Kokoro's food and drink. I want the Kazekage's child dead. Kokoro must not give birth to his baby." Kabuto bowed, and he disappeared into the shadows. Orochimaru look at the snake jar again, and he smiled coldly. "You'll be mine, Kokoro. All mine."