Chapter 3

Rating: Mature

Pairing(s): Orochimaru x OC, One-sided Sasuke x OC

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Kishimoto-san does. =] But, if I did, after writing this I would be horrified of what could happen. o-o

A/N: Update, finally! I know, I know, some of you guys have probably been waiting. I apologize sincerely.
Hope you like it and there's a poll at the end of the chapter. Leave any suggestions. I tried to get this up in a hurry so if they're any mistakes I apologize and I'll fix them when I can.

"So how'd your sparing session go?" Karin questioned. "Oh, it went pretty well. I actually won the match." Emiko said, smiling. "Really? I wouldn't have known that because you have a pretty good amount of bruises." The girl said impressed. "Yeah, speaking of wounds I really need to clean mine up. Would you mind coming with me to a river or something?" Emiko asked. "Sure, I don't mind. Besides I'd get some time away from these losers." Karin responded, referring to Jugo and Suigetsu. Emiko and Karin both laughed and headed to Emiko's room to get bathing supplies. Orochimaru sat in the darkness of the parlor room, smirking to himself. "Interesting....." He hissed, laughing manaically.

The sadistic sannin could never get any privacy it seemed. If it wasn't one servant it was the other prying into matters that was none of their concern. Sasuke seemed to be accustomed to it regardless of how many times he's been 'advised' not to. He did not even bother to mask his presence. Or, he was possibly making a horrible attempt.

"Orochimaru-sama." Called a voice from behind Sannin. "Yes, Kabuto?" Orochimaru addressed the ninja without even casting a glance in his direction. "Our pursuers haven't given up just yet. We may just have to flee base if they find us." Kabuto informed. "Well now, we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen won't we?" Orochimaru asked, hinting to Kabuto that it would be more of a 'he' and 'they' effort, not a 'him, the leader' effort. "Understood." Kabuto said with a nod. "I believe Karin and Emiko are on their way out." He said. "I'm aware." The Sannin stated.

The snake shinobi clasped his hands and placed them under his chin. He seemed to have a bit of difficulty completing the task, as if his arms were stiffening. "I believe you should have asked Emiko to heal you again." Kabuto said, kneeling at his lord's side. "Well actually, she suggested that you should heal my wounds. But I turned the offer down." Orochimaru chuckled.

"Ah, you almost offend me Orochimaru-sama. Are my abilities not enough to please you?" Kabuto asked, a bit of humour lacing his voice. Orochimaru let out an amused hisss. "Kabuto, you know as well as I do that Emiko's healing abilities, though limited, are quite extrodinary."

"Indeed I do Orochimaru-sama. In fact, the fact that she was able to use basic medical ninjutsu to partially heal your arms is extrodinary." Kabuto smirked, adjusting his glasses. "But I wouldn't get too confident in her abilites Orochimaru-sama, after all you still are not able to form hand seals and the healing only lasts from a few hours to a couple of days. Therefore they need constant healing." He continued.

" But she still is not aware that this was the work of the Third Hokage. I'm highly doubting that she can completely reverse the Third's technique with her abilities and give me the ability to form handsigns. But the sheer fact that I can move them freely for a small amount of time is plausible. After all, you could not even come close to doing that Kabuto-san." Orochimaru said, making a point to his servant.

"I suppose you are right Orochimaru-sama. However I find it very strange that she has not truly taken up the field of medical ninjutsu, but only learned the basics. Contrary to when I tried with the best of my abilities, it still wasn't enough. Emiko-san must have an affinity for medical ninjutsu that even she herself is not aware of." The underling chuckled.

Orochimaru was almost grateful for Emiko's hidden aptitude. He and Kabuto had tried many things to help him regain the use of his arms; Kabuto's best medical ninjutsu, the most effective herbs that could be found, and even the fine use of chakra to manipulate the arms like a marionette. The last method being the most effective, but it didn't suit Orochimaru's taste. He was no Sasori or Chiyo of the sand, so it was up to Kabuto to enlighten him on how the method worked. However it was not only a bothersome feat to accomplish, but it did nothing for his lost ability to use jutsu by hand. It was true that Emiko's healing did not help him regain the use of jutsu either, but he had a feeling that with constant practice and maybe some tutorage, Emiko could defy all odds.

"Seems you have quite a bit of faith in Emiko-san, my lord." Said the silver haired shinobi. "But of course, after all. She is my creation. Perhaps I unraveled something upon her transformation?" The Sannin voiced his theory. "Possibly...she is your 'creation' of sorts I suppose. It seems as if your interest in Sasuke-kun has not been as strong my lord. If I might ask, is they're something irking you?"

Orochimaru's slitted eyes fell onto Kabuto's still knelt figure. "Now that you mention it there is. Sasuke-kun has been... disappointing me lately." He stated. "Ah, I see. Surely you are not reconsidering your next vessel are you?" The servant questioned. "Unfortunately, I am not. However, I believe I just may reconsider my intentions with him..." The snake shinobi said.

"How noble of you Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto said with appraisal. The silver haired shonobi lfted his head to pose another question. "About Emiko-san...are you really-" Kabuto was interrupted by his master. "Are you questioning my motives Kabuto?" Orochimaru hissed, giving Kabuto a menacing look. Kabuto allowed his head to fall again. "Of course not my lord." He said, before he took his leave in a poof of smoke, leaving his master to brood.

Emiko and Karin leaped from tree to tree in the dense forest. Karin was ahead just in case they ran into some unforseen trouble. "It's good to have another female around." Karin said, glancing back at the other kunoichi. Emiko nodded, smiling bit. "But...I wonder does this mean there's more competition for Sasuke-kun?" She asked, a smirk slipping onto her face. "Huh?" Emiko asked a bit confused. "Of course not." That was the last thing it meant. Emiko was actually indifferent towards the Uchiha, that was until he started to act strangely. Now she really didn't care for him too much. "Hmph." Karin brushed off Emiko's response and continued to concentrate on the path before her.

They reached their destination in a small amount of time. Karin could sense that they were much closer to their enemies than before, but chose not to say anything. She would just keep a watch just incase they got a bit too close. Karin glanced over at Emiko as she nonchalantly stripped herself of her robes. Emiko settled herself in the water, which was suprisingly warm. She sighed in contentment and let her eyes fall close.

Why was Karin even guarding Emiko in the first place? Was it because Orochimaru ordered everyone to keep an eye on her? The two women weren't exactly friends. More like rivals for Sasuke's affection. At least, that's what Karin surmised. Luckily she didn't always voice those assumptions or she'd probably get laughed at.

"You should join me, instead of giving me that suspicious glare." The violet haired kunoichi said. Karin was taken back by Emiko's perceptiveness. "I-I'm fine. Thanks." Karin refused, an akward smile plasteerd on her face. "You seem like you dislike me. But, I don't think I've given you a reason to." Emiko opened her slitted eyes and stared into Karin's red eyes.

Karin suddenly stepped forward to the edge of the water. "Well I can't say that I like you, but I don't dislike you." She stated. Why the mixed feelings?" The snake-like kunoichi asked. " Because regardless of what you say, I'm sure you can't refuse Sasuke. And I don't care if you're one of Orochimaru-sama's 'pets' like he is, that doesn't mean you can get what you want." Karin snapped. Emiko blinked and sat upright so she could face the other kunoichi. "You're very wrong if you think that I'm after Sasuke, Karin."

"Heh. And you lie, I'm sure of it. You're after Sasuke, because if you weren't you wouldn't have tried to seduce him earlier." Karin narrowed her eyes. 'Seduce him? Earlier?' Emiko thought, pondering what Karin meant. "Wait, you mean you--" Emiko was cut off by Karin. "Of course, I saw that little display in the halls earlier. I'm sure that made you get in over your head, and this morning when you slapped him it was just an act."

Emiko let out an exasperated sigh. Karin was working her nerves really bad. She had some imagination to think that. If she did see the display this morning she must not have heard what was said, or saw the entire thing. Or else she wouldn't have been assuming it was Emiko coming onto Sasuke.
"Karin...I really think you shuld just not bother yourself with it. It's not your business." Emiko meant that Karin was dragging herself into something she had no clue about, but Karin took it an entirely different way. Karin began to get defensive. She wrapped her hand in Emiko's hair and jerked her forward.

Emiko hissed, out of anger rather than pain. "You're really getting on my nerves. Now let me go before you instigate something you wish you hadn't." Emiko warned her. Karin scoffed. Her attention was momentarily diverted when she sensed four opposing chakra's moving closer. She hoped they wouldn't get any closer. She then felt a fifth chakra source that had suddenly appeared, and was only a few feet away from her. Emiko was facing in the direction of the intruder and her eyes widened slightly. Before Karin could even see if she recognized the person, there was a pale hand on her wrist and a sword held to her throat.

A/N: So? What'd you think?

**POLL**

*) Should the village hidden amongst the stones kidnap Emiko? Which would leve Sasuke and Orochimaru in a bind in which they might just have to work togther?

*) Should Sasuke kidnap Emiko, and piss off an already ill tempered Orochimaru?

Thoughts, comments, and suggestions are all welcome. According to your prefrences, I'll try to have the next chapter up by the end of this week. Next week at latest. Fuel me with reviews?