Chapter 1 - Snake-men and Flying

Orochimaru, the man who closely resembled a serpent, offered me his hand after that, he said he wanted to give me something I'd never had… power. He asked me to join him, to fight for him, and that if I didn't, I would become a plaything of his servant. I just looked at him with disgust.

"Ugh… My head hurts, perhaps you could do something about that and I'll be able to think straight!" I whispered, my voice somehow horse. A warm green glow clouded my vision for a moment, and I felt hands on the back of my head, the man… person, from before, was behind me. I felt warm and tingly for a few seconds and then the cloud was gone, along with the presence behind me. I looked round, but saw no one.

"Right… so, uh… where am I? I think I hit my head pretty hard… this isn't my house… or was I outside…?" I babbled on for a moment, completely ignoring Orochimaru, much to his distaste. He grabbed my chin in his cold fingers, pulling my face round, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"Did you hear nothing of what I have said child? I told you-"

"Child? Who the fuck do you think you are calling me child? I've dated guys older than you pal! And of course I've not been listening, 'cos' I don't give a shit. Now get your hands off me!"

Orochimaru let go of my chin and took a step back. I was shitting myself inside, freaking out, but I couldn't let him see that. Any weakness could set him off, that much I could tell just from looking at him. He would exploit anything he could to get what he wanted. I couldn't give him that satisfaction. But I was on my own here. I didn't even know where I was! There was one freaky guy in front of me and another hiding in the trees behind me… Fuck, I was alone in the woods with some nutter and his puppy!

Or so I thought.

Metal rained down around me, striking out at the snake-man, sending him back, away from me. Both relief and fear flooded though me. One freak was gone, but now I had this new threat to contend with.

Six men (at least I think they were men) landed from above, all around me, like a wall of protection, or a cage, I couldn't tell yet. They all wore the same armour. Black skin tight shirt and trousers, and white block panelling. They all wore masks. Apart from their uniform, the only thing that joined them together as one team, was this symbol on the masks, it looked a bit like a snail had fallen over…

Three of the men crowded closer to me, the other three moved towards Orochimaru… were they some kind of police force?

I reached out and tugged at the sleeve of one next to me, then whispered, my voice low enough that only he would hear me.

"There's another one, in the trees, he's got glasses… and can heal stuff."

There was a pause as the guy processed the new information and then he stood right behind me, his body touching mine, he wrapped one arm around my waist and the other took out a metal weapon, a kunai…? I'd seen them on T.V. but never in real life before. I couldn't help but shiver in anticipation, my legs automatically bent a little at the knee, my eyes never leaving Orochimaru. He freaked me out more than anyone else here.

The men in white uniforms never spoke, they held their ground and let their body language do the talking. It was basically, 'Fuck off Orochimaru, you can't have her', an it felt quite cool to have so many guys protecting me for once.

Normally they just bullied me or ran away scared. Which sucked if you were trying to get a date.

G-force pushed my chin into my chest before I could understand what was happening, and I found myself being carried bridal style, through the tops of the trees! What the hell?

I looked up at the mask above me, I couldn't tell if he was looking at me or right ahead, but I smiled weakly at him just in case. I looked down, bad idea! I let out a whimper and clutched at the man's shoulders, burying my nose in his neck and whispering, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck… Heights, why did it have to be heights? Put me down, put me down, put me down, put me down…"

I went on like that for a while, my body frozen stiff, the silence was total apart from the rush of wind as we flew through the trees.

We slowed and then stopped, I peeked out from under my fringe, the view before me was astounding!

A massive gate rose up in front of me, the village behind it quaint and advanced at the same time. I was set on my feet and I sat down quickly, eyes wide. Two men, with that fallen-over-snail symbol on their headbands, approached the group. They looked at me with a little confusion, questions in their eyes. I clung to the leg of the man who had carried me, seeking comfort, which he didn't offer. He was cold and distant, but I clung to him none the less.

Children ran past the gate, throwing a ball back and forth between them. Women were out shopping, men off to work or taking their girlfriends and wives to lunch. It was all so normal, apart from the people jumping from roof to roof, or even running up walls that is.

"I wanna go home…"

I whispered so quietly that I didn't expect anyone to hear me. But the leg I clung to moved, and arms wrapped themselves around me, looks like the guy wasn't as cold as he might have though he was. Picked up again, I watched the world go past, not really paying attention. We reached a large building with a strange symbol on the front, and a massive staircase to the top.

I was carried up all these steps and taken into what looked like an office, it had windows round the whole back wall, giving unrivalled views of the village. There was an old man behind the large wooden desk, he stood and greeted us all. Dismissing all but three of us. Me, the guy still holding me, and their little leader. He handed a scroll to the old man and vanished, then I was set on my feet and the other guy vanished too. I whined in protest, my legs like jelly and my hands reaching out to the empty spot where the man had stood but a moment before.

I was so confused, where was I? What was going on? How did I get here? How come those people could do all that cool stuff? What did Orochimaru want with me?

My head span a little at the enormity of the situation. I finally passed out from the stress and exhaustion. My last glimpses of the elderly man walking slowly towards me, before it all went black.

(AN: Well, how did the emotions and confusion play out... I have really wierd dreams, this is the product of one. Let me know what you think so far by Reviewing, please, it would help. Until next time!)