Chapter 7 Sadistic Smiles

I flattened my hands on the ground as I kicked up. The ball of my foot landed smack in the center of Mizuko's face. It seemed to easy until her face dissolved and I realized that I had kicked water.

Mizu-bushin?

So, Mizuko was a water element. I didn't find this all to surprising; Mizuko had the look of a Kiri nin. A chill ran down my spine and I spun around just in time to block a fist that would've made it's way to my stomach. Mizuko smiled and took a hold of my wrist in a Kote Gaeshi and twisted sharply. The sound of cracking bone filled my ears and I cried out.

"Is that really all you've got, Karasu?" Mizuko asked.

I smile spread across my lips and my body separated into a flock of crows. I didn't like using the crow bushin, Itachi had taught me to use doppelgangers that way. I liked to limit myself to my own personal skills but I had to confirm something that had been bugging me. Through the midst of a million feathers and black wings I found Hiko's face. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open slightly. She looked dumbfounded and I saw that sadness deep in her eyes again. I looked back over at Mizuko, who seemed utterly confused and lost, looking around frantically. I smiled softly and the crows faded away. Mizuko looked over at me.

"I win, Mizuko-san."

After we had all finished eating and letting the food settle, Mizuko asked if I wanted to have a little practice match. She claimed that fighting a person was one of the best ways to get to know them. I agreed.

Mizuko blinked but her familiar smile soon returned.

"You skilled, Mizuko-san." I said. "Better that I expected."

Mizuko opened her mouth to speak but she was interrupted by the sound of clapping. I looked over at Hiko and Ekima but it wasn't either of them. I looked back at Mizuko who's eyes were focused on the entrance of the dojo. I turned slowly to see Orochimaru.

"Fuck." I cursed.

"Impressive." Orochimaru said as he began to walk towards us.

"I thought you were going to Konoha, Orochimaru." Hiko said, standing up.

Mizuko started walking towards him, arms folded.

"Orochimaru, we had a agreement, remember?" She said. "We agreed you can't enter the dojo when I'm training."

"Yes, we did have that agreement but keep in mind who saved your life." He whispered in her ear as he passed.

Orochimaru continued to walk towards me and Mizuko glared after him.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Not a fight I assure you." He said. "Just to comment you on your growth."

"I don't need any comments from you!" I snarled.

"Your skills have defiantly improved since I was in Akatsuki." He continued, ignoring me. "Thanks to Itachi's training, no?"

"Yes, what of it?"

"Really brings back memories." He began. "Akatsuki, I mean. Of you and I."

I glared up at him, my mouth twisting into a snarl. I felt a burning sensation at the base of my neck but ignored it. Ekima, on the other had, did not.

"Please, Orochimaru-sama," She cried , running up to him. "Can't you see you're-"

Orochimaru's hand flew out and struck Ekima across the face, sending her crashing to the ground. Hiko rushed to her side.

"Don't you dare speak to me, girl!!" He scolded. "Useless shit like you deserve to crawl on the ground like yourself! Never raise yourself to my level!!"

I had never seen Orochimaru so enraged before. The look in his eyes, I recognized it all to well. I felt pain surge down my back, as if it had been sliced open…again. I looked down at Ekima. Tears were streaming down her face but she was giving Orochimaru a death glare. Her eyes were dark green with silted pupils. Hiko called out her name and the green faded back to blue. Ekima's expression turned to fear. She sobbed and clung to Hiko. Old anger mixed with new. I don't why I did it, but I reached up and grabbed Orochimaru by the collar violently, something I had never done before.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I screamed, getting right up in his face. "What kind of man hits and girl like that!? Huh!?"

Sub-consciously my mangekyo activated.

"People like you are the useless shit!! Don't you ever treat Ekima-san like that again or I swear you'll be so fucking sorry!!"

Orochimaru just stared down at me in shock but it wasn't long before a cruel smile formed across his face.

"Yes, Karasu-hime, it is that exact anger that will be useful to me in the future." Orochimaru said.

He reached out and closed his hand around my throat tightly. I began to claw at his hand, gasping for air as he steadily lifted me.

"That's exactly why I gave you the heaven seal."

I glared down at him but the edges of my vision were quickly fading to black. My shoulder throbbed and I cried out. I felt something crawling down my arm and across my face. It burned and realized that, even though these were the marks of the curse, it was really my hatred manifesting itself.

Orochimaru released me and I dropped to the ground. I gasped for air as I coughed up blood. Orochimaru left with out a word. Mizuko and Ekima rushed to my side, Hiko walking after them.

--

I hadn't realized I had lost consciousness until I woke up in my bed. I groaned and my head hurt like hell. I turned my head at the sound of approaching footsteps. The door opened slowly and Mizuko poked her head in. She had a tray of food in her hands.

"You're awake." She said as she set the tray on the end of the bed.

I sat up carefully.

"Thanks." I said, smiling weakly.

"Hey, hey, no problem." She said.

I pulled the tray onto my lap and began to eat the rice, dipping it into the miso soup every now and then.

"I've never seen anyone stand up to Orochimaru like that." Mizuko said suddenly. "You were amazing!"

"It was nothing really." I muttered. "I was the one who got it in the end."

"But your still alive, that's all that counts."

I looked at her. She smiled back. I drank the rest of my miso soup and handed the tray back to Mizuko.

"I think I'll rest a bit longer." I said.

"Sure thing." She nodded and left, humming to herself.

I curled back up under the blankets. I stared at the wall silently.

"That's all that count, huh?" I repeated to myself quietly. "Not always, not always."

Author Notes: Yeah this was a short chapter. I originally planned on not using the crow bushins but I couldn't think of another way to have Hiko react to Karasu's fighting style. Oh! And for those who don't know a "Kote Gaeshi" is a jujutsu technique.