Kimimaro knocked on the door of Orochimaru's room. He was one of the few people that knew how to avoid the traps that were set up near Orochimaru's quarters.
He opened the door quietly when Orochimaru didn't respond.
The Snake Sannin was hunched over his desk, tearing through scrolls. He looked up as he sensed another presentence enter the room. "Kimimaro, I thought I asked you to keep watch for a few hours, why have you abandoned your post?" he watched Kimimaro's childish eyes tear up. He wiped a sleeve across them.
Orochimaru rose and put a hand on the boy's shoulder "What happened?" his voice was stern and held forced compassion.
"There was a woman sneaking around the entrance," he began "I thought she was another guard at first but then she began looking around like she didn't know where she was. I knew then that she wasn't one of yours so I attacked her…" his voice broke as his sobs became heavier.
Orochimaru eyed the child "You were doing what you were told, why do you feel sorrow?"
Kimimaro calmed down and took in some air "Her eyes were just like mine. I got scared when I saw them so I hesitated in killing her." He hugged himself "She was nice, she asked me where my parents were and things like that. But then I mentioned you and she said she would kill you so I stabbed her…" he couldn't control his shaking.
Kimimaro met Orochimaru's eyes "I don't think I killed her." He stated remorsefully
Orochimaru sighed and began to leave "I'll take care of this intruder. Calm down Kimimaro, you know I don't appreciate weakness."
Kimimaro stood up, his back to his Lord. "I'm sorry Orochimaru-sama."
"Just close the door when you leave." He growled in response.
---
He made his way down the labyrinth of hallways that somehow were easy for him to recognize. He made it to the last hallway that would lead him to the hideout entrance gates. 'Perhaps Konoha sent a spy of some sort to investigate the happenings of three days ago.' He smirked when he reminisced putting the seal on that boys arm to slow him down. The fear and pain in his eyes, the way he shook when he thought that he never be good enough…it was fun but it was time for something new. 'Still, it would be interesting to see how Anko and that other girl reacted. Come to think of it, I haven't really seen Anko in over four years; she must be a beautiful creature now that she's almost grown up.'
Orochimaru stopped when he saw that the entrance door was wide open 'I never thought Kimimaro would be so careless.' He thought.
He walked out into the open. There was a small amount of blood on the ground a few feet away but no body. He looked around a little more but there were no other signs of a struggle.
'They probably ran off, Kimimaro must not have done a very good job in injuring them.' He walked back to the gates when it hit him. 'Perhaps this girl walked into a trap…I might actually get to see Anko again after all.'
Anko groaned as the shadow over her eyes slowly disappeared. She tried to sit up but a person along with a splitting headache let her do otherwise.
"So you can attack your comrade but you can't fend off a mere child? What was Orochimaru teaching you all of those years?" A voice said venomously.
That voice was vaguely …"Tsubaki?"
There were some scraping sounds and then person turned on flashlight. It was indeed Tsubaki. "I bandaged your wounds." She scowled.
Anko glared at her "What are you doing here?" Anko scowled back, suddenly feeling better.
Tsubaki glared "I was going to ask you the same thing."
Anko rolled her eyes "I'm trying to get some answers on what Orochimaru did to Mizuki. I thought it would be easier to go straight to the horse's mouth, or in this case snake's." she laughed at her own pawn but instantly turned serious "Now it's your turn, spill."
Tsubaki straitened up "I wanted to talk to you after Mizuki wound up in the hospital a second time, but you were leaving so I followed you. I saw you go into the hospital and then leave to this place…and get attacked but a child no doubt…"
"That was a surprise attack!" Anko defended "If I had expected it I would have damaged that child."
"I honestly wouldn't doubt it." Tsubaki muttered
"Hey," Anko threatened "I might be sadistic as Hell, but I am not a monster. I would really appreciate if at least one person other than Lord Hokage or Jiraiya would realize that." She added the last part more to herself.
Tsubaki spoke "I know you're not a monster. I just want to know what's happening to Mizuki. I don't care who did it I just want to help him."
Anko stared at her "You're a good friend Tsubaki…but you are way off. I think it's been too late for Mizuki for a while."
Tsubaki shook her head "I still think I can help him."
Anko sighed "Your boyfriend." She looked around. They were in a murky hallway that reeked of death and mold. 'Why the Hell did she choose this place to recuperate?' "So, are you leaving or are you going to help me kick Orochimaru's ass?"
Tsubaki looked at her in shock as she grabbed the flashlight and began walking away "You're still going ahead with this?"
Anko turned back, pointing the flashlight at Tsubaki. The shadows on her face made her look dark, almost possessed "I've waited four years to make that man pay for what he did. If I walk away now, I'm just proving that I can't surpass him." She started leaving her again.
"Still," Tsubaki called "shouldn't we at least go back and call in some ANBU. This is Orochimaru were talking about anyway."
"I don't have time, but by all means be my guest."
Soon the light was completely gone and Tsubaki was left in the dark to make her decision. She looked back to the place she came from and then to the direction Anko had gone in. If she went back to Konoha, she could get the help they needed but that would mean Anko could get seriously damaged without a backup. If she stayed…she didn't want to think about it after reading the documents on Orochimaru's illegal experiments back in the Leaf.
Hesitating she ran back to Anko "Wait up!"
"NO!" Sabutobi yelled slamming his fists on his desk. "I want those girls brought back here. I don't care if it means Orochimaru's capture or not, they're more important."
"But Hokage-Sama-"
"NOW!
The two ANBU scurried as fast as they could out of the room, almost running into Jiraiya who was leaning against the door frame.
"What do you mean 'girls'? Who else is missing?"
The weary Hokage leaned back in his seat, deeply inhaling the chemicals from his pipe. "The third party from the mission Anko is going through hell over, Tsubaki. She was supposed to come here last night for questioning but when she didn't show I sent ANBU to her home. Her mother answered and stated that she had gone on a mission."
Jiraiya nodded "A self exclamatory mission." He pondered for a mission "You think she's running with Anko."
"Why else would she lie to her own mother?"
Jiraiya chuckled "Maybe she hates that her daughters dating that nutcase Mizuki and wants to keep her little girl safe."
"Jiraiya I am not in the mood for your games!" Sarutobi snapped
The Toad Sannin cautiously stepped back "Sorry…I'm just trying to lighten the mood in here-"
"Well you're doing a sorry job." Sarutobi muttered
Jiraiya flinched. It had been years since his former Sensei had acted like this. Hell the last time was when they had discovered about Orochimaru's experiments and Sarutobi had to send the ANBU after him. That was one hell of a day.
"I'm sorry." The Hokage spoke after a moment "I just can't help of what those girls might go through if Orochimaru gets to them."
Jiraiya smiled reassuringly "Don't worry about it. Besides, despite everything, Orochimaru did train Anko well. If he does have them she'll know what to do. And that Tsubaki girl's got it going on herself."
Sarutobi turned to the window. Grey clouds were hiding the sun and were releasing small rain drops in return. "I hope you're right Jiraiya."
'Me too.' Jiraiya thought
Anko peaked behind the corner, giving Tsubaki an okay before they darted through another hallway.
"This guy must like getting lost in this place." Tsubaki grumbled. They had been going at this for an hour and there was still no sign of any sort of life other than rats and mold.
Anko herself was starting to get weary and was close to passing out from her barely healed injuries. She paused and leaned against the wall.
"Are you alright?" Tsubaki breathed
Anko didn't answer but instead sat down. "Let's take a break okay?" she gasped
Tsubaki nodded and sat down across from her. "Did you notice how difficult it is to sense anything in here? I mean, I can tell there are people around but their charka signatures are all off making everything unrecognizable."
"Yeah." Anko said but she hadn't really been paying attention. The gashes on her body were starting to burn intensely. "Tsubaki, what did you heal me with?" she asked painfully.
"My chakra mainly…" she saw the pain on Anko's face "I'm sorry, I didn't bring any pain killers or something like that. I hadn't expected this to be a mission that required major medical supplies."
Anko grinned, trying to hide her pain "No…no I'm okay…just a little weary is all."
Tsubaki opened her mouth to respond but all that came out was a scream as the wall behind her gave way and swallowed her before closing back up in a flash.
"TSUBAKI!" Anko screamed trying to stand up. She groaned and took in a deep breath as pain shot through her body.
She dropped to her knees. "No don't do this…TSUBAKI!"
Silence stayed with her for the longest time. She stared at the wall Tsubaki had fallen in, silently praying that it would open and Tsubaki would appear, illustrating that all was okay. But alas, after ten minutes that hope was shattered.
Anko tensed when she heard a terrifyingly familiar cackle echo through the room. It rang through her ears, among through her nerves and senses, taking her through a place where she didn't want to be…
FLASHBACK
Anko trampled to the ground as pain spread through her body. Orochimaru sunk his teeth deeper into her neck. Her eyes widened at his prowess. She opened her mouth but the only thing that came out was a shock whimper.
He finally pulled out; allowing Anko's limp body to slowly collapse…but then the real pain began.
"Orochimaru-Sama! What have you done this pain is…"
All he gave her was a laugh…a mocking, uncaring, haunting laugh…
END FLASHBACK
The laughter seemed to die away as did the horror that was momentarily in her eyes. She blinked a few times in order to get her head straight before standing.
She turned to the direction that the laughter was best fading away into. Despite how her body was pleading for her to rest, Tsubaki's life meant more to her. She took in a deep breath and staggered to what could be her doom.
Tsubaki put her arms in front of her to lighten some of the impact from being thrown down again. Her face was scratched and bleeding and her entire cadaver was screaming with distress. She tried to reach for a kunai but that only resulted in her wrist being snapped by the person who was torturing her. When she tried to scream, the person would kick her in the jaw or mouth to make her quiet.
At the moment, she wished she had a knife to cut her hair out of the grasp of the person dragging her. Finally she was released, only to be met with a pale pair of feet.
The figure in front of her didn't make a move so she had to. Tsubaki gathered her strength so that she could sit on her knees. She arched her heavy head up so that she could get some kind of look at the persons face.
She blinked a few times to get her vision clear. All she could see was barley there face illuminated by the torch light behind them.
The person bent down to her level giving her a better look at the person…man in front of her.
Her breath hitched when the figure touched her face. "You brought me the wrong girl Kabuto." He stated. "And you did a terrible job of killing her."
Tsubaki's heart stopped when he grabbed her neck, lifting her into the air. "You have to make it so that they can't breathe…"
---------
"Awww!"
Anko almost fell down the steps she was walking down. A vicious pain started at her curse mark a spread around.
'He's close…I feel…Tsubaki…'
She struggled on. Tsubaki wouldn't make it if she didn't.
---------
Tsubaki gasped for breath as the grip around her throat tightened slowly. 'This person…this monster…what…what is he?'
"You have to be sure their windpipe is right at the base of their throat…just like this…"
Her throat made a sickening crack and everything went dark.
Orochimaru smirked and dropped her. The sound of her body crumbling was invigorating. He turned to Kabuto's impassive face "Don't worry, you'll get it right eventually."
Kabuto smiled timidly. His smile faded though when he heard the sound of feet pattering down the hallway.
"Kabuto, you may leave." Orochimaru suddenly said.
The eleven year old stared at him but he knew when to test his masters' patience. He nodded and walked away into a separate hallway, giving one more glance to the doorway. For some reason, his master vanished too.
-------
Anko halted when she came to a room. She was stunned by the pain in her neck and by the sight before her. She dropped to her knees and stared angrily at the corpse like figure before her. "Tsubaki?" she whispered. No response.
She crawled to her, squinting her eyes. There was barely any light in the room. She brushed hair away from her face with a shaky hand. Her face was scratched, bloodied, and ….peaceful…too peaceful.
Anko couldn't hold back. She clutched the sides of her head, buried her face in her legs and tried to scream her heart out. She yelled and yelled until the lack of air made her stop. All she could do now was clutch Tsubaki and snivel.
"Tsubaki…" A weak cough just below her caused her to hang on to her control. She looked at Tsubaki. Her eyes were parted slightly and she was struggling for air. "Oh Hell yah Tsubaki!" Anko cheered.
Tsubaki's lips moved but Anko couldn't make out what she was trying to say. She arched Tsubaki's body to her ear "What? Come on girlie you're going to have to speak up."
Tsubaki whimpered "Your elbow's in my chest…"
"Oh shoot!" Anko shouted, removing her elbow from Tsubaki's mid-center. "Sorry dude." She tried to pick Tsubaki up but Tsubaki grabbed her arm and whispered urgently "There's someone else in here….they tried to kill me…" she went into a coughing fit.
"Come Ts- calm down." She looked around. There was a presence in the room but it seemed like it was fading, same with the pain with her curse seal.
Anko removed her trench coat and made it into a pillow for Tsubaki. "Stay put okay, I'll figure out how to get you out of here."
Tsubaki stared at her worriedly, almost as if she was saying 'Pleas don't leave me.'
She stood up and gentle began moving away. There was another exit in the room, that was where the presence was disappearing into. "I'll be right back." She said to Tsubaki. She received no answer.
She pushed the door open. 'Great, more hallways.' She grimaced. Closing the door gentle behind her, she breathed in the moldy air and once again began a destination. 'Orochimaru where are you?'
--
Tsubaki began to close her eyes. The shadows from the torch on the wall were lethargic to her weary mind, helping her fall into a peaceful illusion…
Someone, this on shorter and younger than the two who had tried to kill her earlier, blocked the shadows and created a new image of death for the Kunochi.
The two stare at one another. The child, a boy it seemed, had tear stained eyes and cheeks. The dim light made him look ominous, like a broken spirit. He lifted his hand and amazingly a six inch bone sprouted out.
"I'm very sorry." He whispered "I must kill you soon."
--
Anko dug her nails into the wall; her other hand covering the fire on her neck. The pain from her curse mark was returning, this time it was more intense and it was smoldering her senses. 'Where are you?'
He was close…just ahead…no closer than that…where…
She straightened her self up. If she was going to meet the devil she would do it with dignity. Her hand remained where it was though until the pain simmered down.
She could see the barely there figure of someone in the hallway. She removed her hand from her neck, shaking her arm slightly so that one of the knifes she had in her sleeve would fall out. Finally feeling it, she gripped on to the hem; ready to attack her could be former Sensei.
But as she got closer to the shadow, she noticed that the person was shorter, than what she had expected him to be, gaunter, with dark clothing covering the muscles he there was any.
She was less than five feet away from the person when he, yes he, spoke. "If I were you, I would try to leave while your legs are intact. Lord Orochimaru isn't very merciful to intruders."
Anko was for some reason a little surprise by the boy's words "I know." She said "But I'm not leaving until I see him."
The boy invisible smiled "So, you do know him."
Anko sulked 'I thought I did.' But she brushed that thought off,"Yes, can you take me to him?"
He tried to hold back a laugh "Certainly." He turned his back to her "Come with me."
Anko reluctantly followed the estranged child down many passages and doorways. "You know," he whispered "You were so close…" he slips a morphine syringe into his sleeve.
"How so?" Anko questions, tightening her grip on the kunai she possessed.
He laughed lightly "You almost made it…" he swung around to lunge the needle in her stomach. Sadly, he didn't know Anko's agility.
She caught his wrist, lifting it beside her head "Boys your age shouldn't carry around such dangerous toys." Anko commented snickering, giving his wrist a rough squeeze. She released him, the syringe falling to their feet.
The child grimaced, taking hold of his injured hand. "I admit I hadn't anticipated on that."
Anko leveled the kunai with his neck "And I hadn't anticipated on having to kill a ten year today." Anko stated "Now tell me where Orochimaru is!" her patience was already at shreds and this threat from a child was causing red to flash in front of her eyes.
The boy pushed her hand away from him, almost in a mocking matter. "I'm twelve and if you promise not to attack him, Lord Orochimaru will meet you right here." He moved past her and pushed a door that she hadn't seen there.
Anko glared at him "Kid, I'm not stupid…and I am not dying today."
He smirked 'Right where I want you.' "If that's the case, then I'll just have to ask Kimimaro-san to kill that pretty girl who you left injured in one of the storage rooms."
Anko's heart skipped a beat "Tsubaki…"
"So that's her name…" he stopped talking when Anko pushed him against the wall "If I find one more scratch on her body I will-"
"You'll what!" the child jeered psychotically "If you had stayed in you precious Leaf village, she wouldn't be here right now."
Anko froze 'What…?"
He smiled at her fear "Hey hey, don't worry, I hold no quall against you. And I'm sure Orochimaru doesn't mind the extra deadweight lying around. I know I don't …"
Anko slapped him across the face, the sound of her hand hitting his skin echoed through the hallways. "She's not dead yet…"
She stopped when she saw the shock on the kid's face. "What?"
He looked up and snarled at her before he jumped on her, causing them both to fall into the open door.
He tried to punch her in the face but she dodged his fists. She managed to throw him off her but he was up again. This time he tripped her and grabbed the kunai she was still clutching. He was ten seconds from thrashing it in her heart when the savior {in Anko's case} popped up.
"Kabuto!"
The boy stopped, the kunai poised just above Anko's body. His eyes where wide with anticipation and fear as he slowly turned to face his master.
Anko's breath hitched in her throat as Orochimaru walked into the room. "This is no way to treat a guess, even if they are an enemy."
Kabuto jumped off of Anko as if she was on fire. Anko however stayed put.
When he was done glaring at Kabuto, he turned an evil grin to Anko "Stand up my dear, I'm getting a crick in my neck from staring down at you."
She slowly obliged, in shock that Orochimaru was actually here and not killing her yet.
Orochimaru chuckled and turned his stern look back to Kabuto "Get."
Kabuto nodded fearfully and went about to do his masters task. As soon as Orochimaru couldn't see him through, he smirked at Anko and mouthed "I hope he kills you." before running off.
Anko glared at his direction but was intensely flooded by her new found fear. She turned her glare back to Orochimaru. For the first few minutes neither one of them spoke to one another. They just stood and stared and everything but each other's eyes, taking in their appearance that they hadn't seen in over ten years. Staring…watching…waiting…remembering…
"You've grown beautifully." Orochimaru stated, breaking the silence.
Anko held back a gasp before glaring and saying "And you haven't aged a day."
Orochimaru jeered "Years of jutsu's darling."
Anko scoffed "Monster."
Orochimaru eyed her angrily "Watch your tongue girl or I'll cut it off."
Anko gritted her teeth to hold back her very necessary insult.
Orochimaru smirked satisfied "That's better. Now why are you here in my humble home?"
Anko shuddered "Umm…hey, I believe that you have something to do with some…incidents that have been going…going on in…the …last few…" she was getting irritated with the way he was watching her. "Get your dame eyes off me!"
Orochimaru howled with laughter, the walls seemed to shake. "I can't help it. I'm trying to get a better look at you but you're cowering in the shadows as if I'm going to attack you. I have to stare at you."
Anko grimaced. She reluctantly stepped into the light of the lantern hanging on the ceiling above them. "Is uh…this better?"
Light flashed in his eyes. "Yes…you were saying?"
Anko cleared her throat. "Okay…I was on with a mission two days ago with two other shinobi's. One of them was attacked and a seal appeared on his arm. I talked with Jiraiya-sama and he said it was a jutsu that you knew. Did you have anything to do with that?"
Orochimaru didn't answer but just stared at her smirking.
'Oh whatever! I know he's guilty, there's no point in sitting here three hours when Tsubaki's probably getting hacked up right now.'
She tried to walk pass him but as soon as they were side by side he grabbed her arm. "What do you think?"
She yanked her arm out of his grip "I think you need to keep your dame hands to yourself before I cut them off."
Orochimaru laughed as Anko exited to the hallways "You've matured into such a spitfire Anko. But you should know, I never intended to hurt you today, I just wanted to see how you've grown."
She ignored him and focused on finding where she and Tsubaki were once at. "I wouldn't try to find her if I were you dear. Why not leave and save yourself?"
Anko twisted around and shouted "Because I'm not you." That was the last thing she wanted to say to him.
Orochimaru smirked as he attempted to follow her "Oh but you are love, more than you will ever know."
She did her best to ignore that comment, her sanity meant more to her than his crap. As she walked down the never ending obsess of passage ways, she kept hearing another pair of footsteps just behind her. She stopped and glanced back only to hear the footsteps stop along with her. She rolled her eyes and brought out another kunai "If you want to fight, just face me head on instead of hiding like the coward you remind me of."
Orochimaru stepped halfway out of the hallway; most of his form was still hidden in the shadows. Seeing he wasn't making a move she continued to her destination. "What's with all the hallways?" she shouted "Afraid your dinner's going to escape?"
The closes thing to a response she got was the sound of Orochimaru's footsteps quickening. She stopped and so did he. She gave herself a few seconds before sprinting down the hallways. 'Gotta get away…'
She almost crashed into a few walls on behalf of the lack of light to guide her but all in all she got pretty far ahead. She skidded to a slight halt before racing down a flight of stairs, these seeming to some extent familiar. 'I think there's a doorway just ahead where I left Tsubaki…' she dodged some large stones 'If what that kid said was true than I need to hurry up and get us out of here…'
Suddenly she caught sight of an open door with bright orange light illuminating out of it. 'Yes!'
She was less than ten feet from it when the familiar scalding fire struck her.
She collapsed instantly, gripping her neck and muffling her own scream. Her eyes burst open when she felt Orochimaru quietly slip past her like she wasn't there. He said nothing, gave her no gesture to do anything. She just laid there and shook as he entered the door and closed it behind him.
'….wait…?' she stomached her pain and stumbled to the door. She turned the knob but …why the hell was it locked?
She banged her fist on the door "Hey…hey open up!" she heard screaming, Tsubaki's. "Open the dame door!"
She fell into it as some unknown being unbolted it for her. She stopped herself from falling but it wouldn't have mattered, she was shocked enough to pass out.
The white haired boy she had met earlier that day had a dagger of some sort in Tsubaki's stomach; he was slowly pushing it in as she laid there and whimpering.
"No!" Someone grabbed her before she could take another step. She struggled against them before the person pressed a kunai to her neck. "Shhh, shhh, shhh…"
She froze completely as she recognized the tone of voice. Orochimaru.
"If you had left like I suggested, you wouldn't have to see this. You've grown so stubborn-"
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Anko screamed to him. "Please! She has nothing to do with this!"
Orochimaru chuckled before pulling her closer "I know she doesn't. But I can't let the fun be ruined for Kabuto and Kimimaro."
"Please," she whispered "What do you want?"
He was a little taken back by her question "I'm not sure you want me to answer that."
Anko squeezed her eyes shut; she couldn't watch Tsubaki suffer anymore. "What do you want. I'll do anything, just leave her be." She gagged when she said those words.
'Let a perfectly good experiment walk away…or keep Anko captive…there both too tempting.' Orochimaru thought amused. He stared off a the comrade Anko was selling herself to protect. While he was doing this, he buried his nose in Anko's hair. She smelled nice.
He brushed her hair away from her neck "This is going to hurt." He warned.
Anko was caught off guard by two sharp points entering her neck. They went slowly, torturously. "What are you doing?!" she screamed. "Ow!"
---
A pale hand closed in on her face 'Who's hand is this?' she asked herself.
'Oh wait…it's just mine...'
---
Orochimaru wiped his mouth with his sleeve, letting Anko topple to the ground. "You can leave her alone now Kimimaro." Orochimaru stated.
The Kaguya survivor pulled his bone out of the stranger. He wasn't sure if she was alive or not. "Now what do I do sir?" he asked timidly.
Orochimaru glanced down at Anko's unconscious form. "Well, now since she surrendered willingly, I suppose mercy is in order." They stood over her, their shadows covering her face.
"She's mine now."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&I am a total screw up
Does anyone know Tsubaki's or Mizuki's last names? Do they even have them?
I'm going to try to make the chapters longer from here on out but then it will take longer to update... Lord Jesus PLEASE let me find a reasonably priced Laptop with a warrantee!