.
.
"To be needed by someone. That alone caused my body to move. And then I understood I had to fight in order to survive..."
It's early morning, and Anko sits with her knees to her chin, thinking about what Kimimaro had told her during those first few weeks he was detained. The fire has gone out and the ashes smolder in front of her; above her, the soft sounds of birds starts to rise. They are only a few days away from Orochimaru's hideout, but they are at a standstill; Anko can't shake the feeling that they've been walking in circles.
They trudge silently along the edge of the riverbank, Kimimaro walking two paces ahead of her, and Anko wondering what she'll do.
xXx
.
The streets of Konoha were empty, its citizens already having gone to bed. Anko walked, hands stuffed down her pockets, keeping her eyes lowered on the ground. The sulfur glow of the streetlamps puddled on the black pavement, which was glistening from the evening's rain, and as Anko walked her footsteps echoed quietly in the cold night air.
Orochimaru had defected just days earlier, and the citizens of the Leaf gave Anko a wide berth. Around her, furtive whispers of "traitor" and "monster" filtered through the crowd.
"Take me with you," Anko said. Kunai exploded and Anko pleaded. "Orochimaru. I will serve you until the end. Please..."
His mouth stretched into a lazy grin. Slowly, he reached a hand and fondled the line of Anko's jaw.
"Child," Orochimaru said, and Anko trembled inwardly. He knelt beside her, whispered into her ear.
"You are of no use to me."
Anko's eyes widened. "Orochimaru-sama."
The knife that came stunned Anko into silence. Shaking, she looked down at her side and saw blood; it dripped down the handle of the knife.
Orochimaru grinned, then leaped forward, disappearing into the dark.
xXx
.
"So this is Orochimaru's camp," Anko says. She kneels at the top of the hill, looking down at the cave below them. Behind her, she hears Kimimaro's footsteps in the grass.
Anko looks up. Kimimaro is standing; there's something in his eyes.
Anko starts to rise. "Kimimaro. What's wrong?" Anko says.
The blow that comes takes Anko by surprise. She staggers backward, her hand flying to her mouth.
Kimimaro's eyes narrow. "You have threatened to kill Orochimaru-sama," Kimimaro says. He steps forward. "Did you really think I would let you go?"
The blow slams into her face. Anko's head is knocked sideways; blood trickles down the corner of her mouth.
"Why are you doing this?" Anko says.
Kimimaro breaks away, a shard of bone ripping through his skin. He grabs it and swings, the crescent of bone like a katana in the air. Anko moves but she's not fast enough; Anko screams, the blunt end of the bone smashing her hand.
"Trash," Kimimaro says. "I am through wasting my time."
Anko folds up into herself, clutching her hand, which is mangled and bleeding. She looks up at Kimimaro, who is standing just a few paces ahead of her, and despite herself she starts to cry.
"Kimimaro," Anko says. She staggers upright. "Kimimaro!"
Anko launches forward and spins into a kick; Kimimaro dodges it, then slams his fist into Anko's chest. Her eyes widen. Blood bubbles up from her mouth.
"Why?" Anko says. She collapses again, coughing and clutching her chest."Why?"
Kimimaro stands over her, his shadow falling over her frame.
"Go home," Kimimaro says.
Anko struggles to stay awake, but the pain is too much; the image blurs, and Anko falls, passing out on the ground.
xXx
.
She wakes in darkness, the soft night sounds surrounding the forest above her.
Anko rolls to her side and pushes herself upright. Her shoulder wrenches, and Anko grits her teeth in pain. With difficulty, she holds her hand up to the light; it is bloody and mangled, the bruised half-moons of her fingertips painfully swollen. So I can't make hand seals, she thinks. Kimimaro is nowhere to be found.
Anko heaves, then pushes herself up, gripping the trunk of a tree for support. Just below the crest of the hill, she can just make out the dim glow of fire from Orochimaru's camp.
So this is how it is, Anko thinks. She thinks of the Uchiha kid, and the rest of Konoha behind her. She grits her teeth and stands.
She's come this far. She only needs to crest the hill, and make the slow trek back down.