You think that I can't see right through your eyesScared to death, you face realityNo one seems to hear your hidden criesYou're left to face yourself alone
Evanescence's "Where Will You Go?"
'Whose hand is this?' Anko asked herself as a pale hand appeared in front of her face. Everything about it was so clear; the lines and fingers as she examined it stood out and kept her intact with the reality she was living in at the moment.
'Is it…' the hand disappeared, leaving behind the horrifying realization…
'Never mind, it's just mine.'
Anko's sat up and immediately stared down at her hands. They were shaky and sweaty and…white. They were her hands. She truly was alone. Her eyes stayed glued to them when she thought 'How am I even able to see them?'
She looked around; she was in a small, stone room lying on a thin cot. The only source of light came from a white glowing lantern on the wall beside her. She was in a prison cell. Orochimaru.
Anko threw the rag like blanket off her legs and walked to the door. She stumbled slightly because she still ached from her injuries.
She twisted the lock, locked. Typical, No problem though. She walked backwards away from the door, biting her thumb in the process. She placed her hand on the ground and focused her chakra "Summoning Jutsu!"
A loud blast echoed off the walls and smoke filled the room... but when Anko opened her eyes, she was met with a disappointing sight. A six inch garden snake slithered up her wrist and lifted its puny head to await its master's command. Anko frowned at the creature ''You are kidding me! The bastards must have messed with my chakra!" she sighed, annoyed, "Might as well use what you got." She squatted down and leveled the little guy with the lock; he was just the right size "You think you can unlock this damn door so I can get out?" The snake crawled into the lock as a response. After some clicks and snaps, the serpent crawled out back into its master's hand. Anko turned the knob, success. She smiled at him "Thanks little guy, you can go home now if you want now." The snake wrapped itself tightly around Anko's arm. "That must be a no." she laughed, lowering her arm to her pocket so that he could slither inside "Stay in there," she grimaced at what could be ahead "This could get sick."
She opened the door and stepped out, looking both ways and mentally numbing the pain traveling through her body. She took in some breaths before dashing down the hallway. She had to find a way out of here, her life depended on it.
She sprinted though hallway after hallway, dodging wall and jumping over steps...almost falling down a flight or two. Finally there was the entrance she had come across earlier, for some reason it was still adjured. Anko practically jump through that door, she was so happy when she felt the night wind on her face and arms. She stretched her arms out, closing her eyes to enjoy her freedom.
The peaceful moment was shattered however when an unrecognizable, earsplitting shriek hit her ears. She glanced back and the scream seemed to get louder. She turned back and took a few steps away, she stepped away from Hell.
But the screaming turned into shrieking and it became too loud for Anko. 'Please...I don't want to go back in there.'
Anko continued walking, one step at a time. The shrieking stayed in her head and ears. She had to make it stop. Cursing herself, she shot back into the fortress and ran for the sound.
One hallway turn. A second hallway two turns. The turn led into a room with no other way out. God shut the screaming up. It was there, in that room. But there was no one around who was screaming.
Suddenly it was quiet. The screaming had stopped and the nightmare was over.
She look around for the source of the shrieking. All there was a white lantern, similar to the one in the prison room she was in, and a table with...a tape recorder?
Anko walked to it. The recorder was quite old, different then the top of the line ones that were used in the Leaf.
She picked it up and pressed the REWIND and then PLAY button. She jumped when screaming, the exact screaming that had brought her back to this miserable place. She turned it off and threw it back on the table. She hated herself for falling into this trap.
"She's not here."
Anko shot around to see Orochimaru entering the room. He was smirking at her. Anko wanted to claw his face off. "Since they were so worthless this evening, I gave them the task of taking your friend home."
Orochimaru closed and LOCKED the door and walked into the light. He was so much more threatening when he could be seen. This was the first time in six years Anko could clearly see him.
Anko pushed herself back but the table kept her from moving. Either she could climb over it or she could stand her ground. Stand the ground seemed better.
Orochimaru reached out and his fingertips touched her face "What's wrong darling? You look scared to death."
Anko glared at him, ducking under his arm and getting a good distance between them. She lowered herself into a fighting stance.
"Relax Anko, I'm not here to fight."
She continued glaring, unconvinced "Why is Tsubaki's scream on that recorder."
Orochimaru chuckled "You aren't in condition to make threats and commands...but, since you're so interested in my work I'll tell you." He turned away fro a moment to rewind the tape recorder.
Anko glanced back at the open door, it was tempting but she knew she would be safer if she didn't try to run again. She felt movement in her pocket. The garden snake...she could use him if she ran out of options. He could at least crawl into Orochimaru's navel cavity and fuck up his brain. She slipped her hand into her pocket. The worried serpent rubbed against her wrist and she massaged his head.
"She has such a lovely scream." The click of a button and screaming made her turn back to Orochimaru. He stood there holding the recorder, smiling at the pain that slowly shadowed Anko's face.
Anko's ears started ringing to the point where she couldn't hear the screaming. Finally she couldn't take any more. She covered her ears with both her hands and shrieked "Turn it off! TURN THE DAMN THING OFF!" She didn't notice that the garden snake was now in plain view or that Orochimaru was now standing in front of her.
He grabbed her arm "Who do we got here?"
Anko pulled back, her back hitting the door "My escape key since you messed up my summoning abilities!"
He chuckled, stepping closer to make her uncomfortable "And yet you still managed to escape."
She stared into his eyes "You're going to have to do a lot better than locked doors to keep me in."
Orochimaru jeered "Indeed." he looked down at the garden snake "Shall I dispose of this one for you?"
The snake curled up into a striking position, poor thing thought he was a threat to the great Snake Sannin.
Anko led the little one away "Leave." She whispered to it "Wait up for me if you want but stay away from here." She put her hand on the door and the snake crawled down it to the floor. He hesitated before sliding under the door and disappearing. Anko was alone again.
"Once again you risk your life for the weak and pathetic." Orochimaru scowled "They do nothing but hold you back from what you could reach."
"I've reached plenty because of them." She spat him "More than I ever could learn from you."
"They've taught you lies."
"No, you taught me those."
Orochimaru glared at her disapprovingly "Watch your mouth."
"Go to Hell."
Orochimaru grabbed her neck, burying her in the door "I live in it."
Anko's leg instinctively shot up and kicked him in the shin causing Orochimaru to release her temporarily. She took the opportunity to feel for the door knob and lock. Thankfully while Orochimaru was still distracted, she found it, twisted the lock, and falling out the door before breaking away.
She heard something break back in the room and they heard "YOU KEEP RUNNING! YOU CAN RUN FOREVER BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Anko shook at those words but set her concentration on finding the exit. This time she didn't look back or stop when she heard something screaming.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.
"So let me get this straight...you went after Orochimaru to get information on Mizuki's mark, you are gravely injured but somehow managed to crawl back to the Leaf Village gates before passing out."
Tsubaki shrugged her shoulders "Pretty much, yes."
The Third Hokage glanced at Jiraiya who just shrugged his shoulders as a response to Tsubaki's story. "Tsubaki," Jiraiya said "You aren't in trouble and there are no ANBU around to say otherwise. You can tell us the truth."
"That is the truth." she stated
"Then where is Anko Mitarashi?" Sarutobi asked "You disappeared after she went missing. Care to explain that?"
"Maybe it had something to do with you dragging her in that day and accusing her of hurting Mizuki." she spat.
"You deny that Anko tried to harm Mizuki?"
Tsubaki gulped, she wasn't good with the lying bit "No, I know that she did try to harm him but I believe that it was in self defense. Mizuki was sick then, he didn't realize what he was doing and attacked Anko because of it."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes 'This kid's a worse lier than I was.'
"Thank you for your help Tsubaki. Get some rest now." Sarutobi said motioning Jiraiya to come with him.
They closed the door behind them "What do you think?" Jiraiya asked "What's happened to Anko?"
Sarutobi stayed quiet for a long time. Jiraiya was uncertain whether to ask again or let the silence be.
"I don't want to think about it right now." Sarutobi stated.
Jiraiya stopped while he walked ahead. 'Poor guy, he must be worried sick about her.'
Suddenly Jiraiya heard heavy breathing and a myriad of footsteps come up behind him. He turned to see what was happening. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Anko. She was soak through and in shock.
Anko skid to stop, falling on her side and repositioning herself on knees because she was to exhausted to stand. She reached a hand out for someone "Hokage-Same!"
Sarutobi shot around "Anko?"
She smiled in relief, her arm and head lowered as shock and fatigue ran like a slow stream through her body "I know where Orochimaru is." she gasped "He...he...he's still in Rice...Patty Place..." a shadow sank over her eyes "I saw you..."
Her arms gave out.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
'Who's hand is this?' Anko asked herself.
Again.
'It can't be mine...it's too pale...' she flinched "her" fingers 'to unfeeling...it's not my hand' The hand disappeared. Her eyes wondered around; she wasn't sure what she was looking at.
'Who's hand is...'
Orochimaru appeared and punched her.
Anko shot up "Oh my God." she said hoarsely. She looked around, she was in a hospital room. A small, prison-like, suffocating hospital room. She threw the covers back, this place reminded her too much of Orochimaru's hideaway. She couldn't stay here. The second she stood on both her legs she crumpled to the ground.
"That's a sign that you need to stay put." Anko looked up to see Jiraiya standing over her. He put his hands under her arms and holstered her up, laying her back down. "You didn't sustain too many injuries but your suffering from dehydration and exhaustion." he stated "You'll need to spend the night here for further observation."
Anko stared at him emotionlessly, she then averted her eyes and asked "Is Tsubaki here?"
"Yeah, we found her on the outskirts of Konoha today. Your little field trip took a lot out of her."
Anko gripped the sheets "Is she alright?"
Jiraiya swiped a fly away that was buzzing around his face "Uh, yeah. She lost a lot of blood but a transfusion took care of- GO AWAY!" He continued to slap at the pest "You think they'd keep pests like this out of a hospital." he growled
"Just eat it, you know, stay in character." Anko joked
Jiraiya looked at her, though the comment unnerved him, he let it slide when he saw her smile "Don't ever stop smiling." he said
She nodded "But it's hard to sometimes you know."
Jiraiya smiled "I know it is, but-"
A knock at the door interrupted them "Jiraiya-sama, it's time to head out." Said an ANBU with a bear mask on.
Jiraiya sighed "Coming." the ANBU nodded and left.
"You're leaving already?" Anko asked sadly
"Not exactly, me and a few others are going to investigate the Rice Patties, see what you and Tsubaki where talking about."
"We didn't lie about anything." Anko defended, though she did poorly at it.
"I believe you." Jiraiya said as he began to leave "But there are some who don't." he didn't give her an explanation, he just left, closing the door behind him.
Anko growled, "I guess I'll go on never knowing." she yelled out sarcastically. She received no response. Sighing, Anko relaxed and closed her eyes. She wouldn't be very surprised if her former sensei haunted her mind tonight.
She hoped they would find Orochimaru and lock the mad man up.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,
The door to Orochimaru's hideout blasted open as two after two ANBU Black ops dived in. Jiraiya followed close behind them, seeing his former comrade fresh on his mind. The hallways were lit dimly as if there was someone still living in this ruined place.
The first set of ANBU suddenly stopped "What is it?" Jiraiya called to them. They were hunched over, examined something "Blood." one said simply, accustomed to the sight "It's not quite fresh but there's plenty of it."
"Keep moving," Jiraiya ordered "There may be injured here."
After a few moments of careful searching, the group came across a double hallway "Half of you take the left, me and the rest will go right." Everyone obeyed.
The hallways were long and never ending, the trip was taking much longer than expected considering that there was a door ever twenty feet and they had to open them in order to cover as much of Orochimaru's hiding places as possible.
"He isn't here," An ANBU with a beaver mask stated "He most likely left and we are wasting our time here."
Jiraiya hesitated but reluctantly agreed "Yes, l'm call the others, we'll leave and-" the ground started to shake and then...
"AAAAAAAWWWWW!"
"What the-!" the sound of bone crushing shut Jiraiya up quickly. He turned to see on of the ANBU's legs being held a rock at had somehow shot out of the ground and grabbed a hold of his leg, squeezing it slowly and putting the poor fool in intense pain. "MAKE IT STOP!" he screamed, twisting and pulling while his comrades tried to calm him down.
Jiraiya stared unbelievably at the sight around him 'Who-' the answer to his unfinished question was hiding in the shadows less than a few feet down the hallway. Somehow they hadn't been able to sense the person before he attacked.
"Orochimaru!" it was more of a question than a command but the person sped off anyway.
"Call for medical assistance I think I found him." Jiraiya ran past his fallen comrades and followed the figure in the dark. He could barely make out Orochimaru's form in the dark but Jiraiya was able to tell that there was something unusual about him.
The person stopped for a few only a second and a huge fireball came towards Jiraiya. Jiraiya jumped to avoid it, but lost the person in the process. He growled before pressing on "Stop running Orochimaru!" he shouted. He twisted into another hallway and caught a blurry glimpse of someone disappearing out of it. 'Gotcha!'
Jiraiya ran into the hallway only to discover that it ended to a room that was being close. He twisted the lock but it had just been locked. Jiraiya sighed "You're making this harder on yourself." he called as he applied chakra to the lock "But you're going to get worse from the ANBU and Lord Hokage when we get you back to the leaf." he got the door open and cautiously stepped inside. The room appeared empty, there were no lights, and Jiraiya couldn't sense a presence "Damn it he must have teleported away!" He turned to rush out the door but was kicked in the stomach and sent flying backwards by the surprisingly strong force. "Fuck-" the person grabbed his throat before he could finish swearing. He squeezed with abnormal strength. It was then Jiraiya noticed that the hands were smaller than what Orochimaru's should be, Jiraiya had plenty of experiences to know what his ex-comrades hands felt like around his throat.
Jiraiya was losing air fast but found enough streangth to grab the person and throw him back. The person grunted as he hit the floor, he was not Orochimaru.
Jiraiya felt around franticly in his weapon pouch of a match or some other light sorce. Thankful just as the person got up, his fingers hit a flashlight "Who are you!" he shouted as the light came on. The person screamed as the powerful beam hit him. He crawled back and hit the wall, his screams muffled by his knees. Jiraiya stood in a confused daze and showed the beam on the...child?
The person was dressed in ragged brown clothes with matching shinobi shoes, he seemed to have dark brown skin and slightly lighter spiky hair. He was shaking and mumbering incoherent words.
Jiraiya stepped closer causing the beam to get larger. The child's head shot up, his arm covering his eyes "Turn that damn thing off!" he screeched, his voice was weak rough, and high, the voice of a boy who hadn't yet hit puberty. Jiraiya swished it around slightly "Will you attack if I do?" The shaky child smirked "Maybe..." Jiraiya got directly in front of him, shining the light directly at the child "Bad choice of words."
He boy held back another scream, brave child "Okay OKAY Just turn it OFF!" Jiraiya took a few steps back, keeping the light on him "Why don't you answer some questions for me first?"
The boy curled up like a slug in salt "I can't." he cried
"Look kid, Orochimaru won't hurt you if you help us, I'll make sure off that."
The boy scoffed "I can't answer because I don't know. I've been lock up in this part of hideout for...for..." the child didn't know "For a long time."
Jiraiya turned the flashlight away for a moment, giving the child some piece. He uncurled himself, stretching out lazily on the floor "So how's the guy with the mask, I heard him, how much damage did I do to this one?''
'"This one?"
"That's my purpose I guess, to break and burn, break bone and burn skin. Break and burn..." Jiraiya sensed the uncertainty in the child's voice, he decided to change the subject. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated "Ryik I think."
"You think?"
"No one's said my name in so long that I don't really think about it."
Jiraiya nodded "I suppose that makes sense." his hand trailed to his communicator "How about your age, you look quite young."
"Nine." 'Ryik' stated "I'm pretty sure I'm still nine. Let me guess your about to say 'still'?."
Jiraiya chuckled "Yeah."
"I haven't been outside of this place for a long time, I don't even know if I've gotten older."
"How long do you think you've been down here?"
"I don't know." anger was rising in his voice. "It's been too long."
"Do you remember a man with long hair coming near you."
"I never gave that snickering bastard the chance. I threw fire at him every time I saw him. I got bone's thrown at me from that kid with him for doing it but I burned him too."
"Where are they now?"
He sighed angrily "I don't know. I never left this room."
"Until today you mean."
"They left all the damn doors unlocked, I thought I'd find those girl's who broke in earlier and show them the way out but then you and those masked guys showed up so I tried to get you out of here."
Jiraiya lifted the flashlight slightly causing Ryik to flinch "What girls?"
"I didn't see them but I heard them. I know what girls sound like."
" How is that."
"...girls are nice."
Jiraiya was somewhat surprised at that comment, Orochimaru must have put him through Hell. "Do you know what became of them?"
He could see his head shake vaguely "I hope they didn't suffer though."
Jiraiya grimaced, hopefully he was talking about the girls who were alive back if Konoha. He felt like changing the subject "Why didn't you run when you saw us? We didn't even sense you come up, you could've hidden."
Ryik laughed brokenly "I don't run from anyone. I beat the Hell out of them before I let them get me."
Jiraiya smiled, this child's attitude vaguely reminded him of a certain violet haired chuunin back in the Leaf. "Jiraiya-sama are you there?" his communicator spoke. Jiraiya grabbed it, his eyes leaving Ryik for a moment "Yeah, I'm fine. Look I need back up down here. I found a kid, he doesn't look lingered but he needs an examination, he's been down here for a while."
"Alright but the medics are still working down here, it may be awhile so hang tight."
"Okay." he turned off the communicator off and looked to Ryik "Help's on the way kid." he lifted the flashlight to the boy's face and caught sight of his eyes for the first time. They held no fear but were golden brown with insanity and pain. Thankfully though, there was a will of fire hidden in his irises.
.,.,.,.,.,
Anko covered her bleeding mouth that Orochimaru had punched. She kept her eyes locked to the floor but Orochimaru's feet were still in clear view. The Snake Sannin bent down to her level but made no move to contact her. Anko got sick of this and decided to set an example and turn to him.
There eyes met. For a moment nothing else existed but golden sadistic eyes and brown bold ones. The reality returned when Orochimaru smiled at her and stood, leaving her to herself.
"It doesn't matter right now, I will be seeing you very soon. You will receive your anguish then."
.,.,.,.,.,
Anko opened her eyes slowly, taking her time to adjust to the dark that took the place of the light. She was still in the hospital and was still tired but she didn't want to go back to sleep just yet. She sat up gingerly, the newly formed stitches aching as she did. As her back hit the pillow, she noticed that she was not alone in the room. Someone was standing in front of the closed door.
"Hi Mitarashi."
Only one person called her that. The person stepped out of the shadow and it was to her dismay Mizuki. He was in regular street clothes indicating that he had been exiled from the hospital for some time. Anko glared at him "GO away." she growled, her hand secretly searching for the call button that should have customly be on her pillow.
"Don't be like that." Mizuki said. His voice was calm and seductive but Anko saw past all of that and picked out the brain washed insanity. "I'm just here to deliver a message from Lord Orochimaru."
This perked up her attention "I'm listening."
"He would like you to know that he is not going to let yesterday's happenings slide. He will be coming soon to settle the final score with you as soon as you are able to leave the medical ward."
Anko hid her fear "Is that suppose to scare me?"
He stepped closer and smirked at her "You are afraid. In fact you're terrified."
Anko turned away "Fuck off."
"Oh don't worry I am leaving, but I am still fulfilling Lord Orochimaru's whelms."
"You're going to fry for having anything to do with that monster." Anko spat, her eyes still adverted from him.
Suddenly he was right beside her, whispering in her ear "I am the victim in those fools' eyes. You are the trash that no one trusts. We are both insane meaning that no one will believe us. If I rot in prison for my crimes Lord Orochimaru will be there for me while you will be rotting in a coffin some miles away."
Anko presses the call button "Get out."
To her surprise he did, he walked directly to the door and opening it. The last thing he said was "YOU are nothing to him." he closed the door disappearing out of her life.
Anko stared at the sheets, Mizuki's words echoing through her mind 'You are nothing to him.' 'He'll be coming soon to settle the final score with you as soon as you are able to leave the medical ward." How true was that really? If Mizuki wasn't as crazy as he seemed, she would have to face her Former Sensei once more. She couldn't decide whether to keep this bit of information to herself or tell the Hokage.
The door opened and her state she screamed "I TOLD YOU TO FUCK OFF!'' She shot a gaze at the door and saw a trembling nurse there. "Sorry," Anko said "Bad dream."
"Can I get you something?" the nurse asked shakingly
"Just wake me up in the morning so that I can get the Hell out of this place."
"Yes ma'am." She said hurriedly so that she could leave.
Anko laughed softly "Great, there's another life I've fucked up." She kept this thought in mind as she let herself slip into a dreamless obsess.
'You are nothing to him.'
"I know."
The next morning, Anko received word about Jiraiya's return. After an issue with a nurse and a terrible breakfast later, she wound up at the Hokage's office. She knocked at the door and Sarutobi's voice called "Come in."
Anko opened the door and the Hokage stood along with the other two council members Koharu and Homura. "How are you feeling?" Sarutobi asked smiling.
Anko didn't realize she wasn't smiling back "Fine, just tired."
"That's expected." Homura muttered, his back still to her.
Anko shot him glare but was stopped by the Hokage "Anko, I and the council members owe you an apology. We had no right to accuse you so suddenly."
Anko shrugged "It doesn't matter anymore."
Sarutobi wasn't entirely convinced but didn't want to press the details "Jiraiya and the ANBU squadron returned this morning as you were told. Orochimaru was no where to be found but they found a child who seemed to be imprisoned."
"Imprisoned?" Anko asked "I saw a few children when Tsubaki and I were there but they didn't seem to be prisoner."
"Can you describe these children?" Koharu asked leveling a brush over a piece of paper.
Anko tried to remember there details. She kept seeing glimpse and pieces of there forms in her mind "One had long white hair. He was a boy, I'm guessing about eight or nine. The other..." She had nothing on the other one but a memory of being choked and beaten. Her hand subconsciously went to her neck.
"Anko?" Sarutobi asked when he noticed her distant expression. Anko looked at him with dead eyes "It's alright if things aren't too clear right now. You can just come back to me later when you remember."
Anko nodded. Something else was on her mind "What's going to happen to Tsubaki?"
Sarutobi stared at her questionably "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"We both left the village. Isn't there a punishment for that?"
There was a hint of a smile in Sarutobi's eyes "Well because lack of evidence on both your parts, the only thing I can do is give you both community services until this matter clears up. Mizuki will receive the same plus therapy and medical assistance to further assure his well-being." He had the same 'hint hint' in his voice as Jiraiya.
Anko her back a shout of rejoice "Thank you. Tsubaki will appreciate that too."
"I'm sure of it. Well that's about all we called you in for so you may leave if you don't have any questions."
Anko couldn't think of anything at the moment, too overcome by thanks. But there was one thing she wanted to know just for the sake of time "What will happen to the child Jiraiya found?"
"He will be question and his faith will depend on how much he knows."
Anko's stomach jumped slightly "Faith? That's a little harsh for a child don't you think?"
Sarutobi said "I suppose but he was with an enemy which makes hi a traitor. We won't have much of a choice in the matter."
'You have plenty of choices.' Anko wanted to say but held her tongue "Let me know if anything pops up." she said instead. She turned her back to them and left before anything else could be said. She stood outside of the door for a few minutes, squeezing to knob and pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind for sorting out later.
As she left the Hokage building, a group of ANBU walked past her who she made to mind to. With them was a child, the same child found in Orochimaru's former hideaway, with a black sheet over his face because the light hurt his eyes to a dangerous extent. As they passed on another, everything seemed to stop for a moment. Ryik and Anko where going to be in one another's life more than either would have anticipated on.
They sun had set by the time Anko got to the front door of her apartment. The first thing she noticed was a white piece of paper taped to her door above her damaged lock. Anko picked it up and it read:
Next time you run away, leave out a spare key. I have to leave the village tomorrow but I'd like you to eat breakfast with me before I leave so do me a favor and show up.
-The Gallant Jiraiya :)
Anko smirked and rolled her eyes "The Gallant Idiot is more like it." she murmured but in her mind she was grateful to that man. But she also mad a mental note to make him pay for the lock later.
She opened her door and stepped in. She walked across her living room, sliding her trench coat off and throwing it over the coach so that it would be in reach before she headed out in the morning. She had just gotten to her bedroom door when the pain hit. It started at her neck as it usually did and then spread over her arm and back and then took its toile on her nerves and muscles. She collided against the door and then fell to the floor. Mizuki's premonition ran through her mind
'He would like you to know that he is not going to let yesterday's happenings slide. He will be coming soon to settle the final score with you as soon as you are able to leave the medical ward.'
Anko growled out loud "I should have stayed in that fucking hospital!" She laid her sweaty forehead against the door, the cool wood helping her think more clearly 'He's in my room.'
She took in a deep breath and straightened up. There was no way she was going to let this psycho terrorize her in her own home. She cracked the door slowly and reached for her weapon pouch only to realize she had forgotten it at the hospital. Damn her memory and the fools who hadn't given it back to her! She would have to face the lunatic on her own.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside meeting a surprising sight. Orochimaru was standing beside her bed, looking at the picture's she had there. One was from Gai of him, Kurenai, and Asuma from the genin graduation ceremony. The other one was of her and Iruka that they had taken during a festival some three years ago. She was sticking her tongue out at the camera while he was smiling weakly.
"You've made good friends?" he asked, setting the picture face down and turning to her. Anko kept silent and glared at him. Orochimaru smirked "To bad you didn't have that hate a few years ago, you could've been with me then."
Still silent.
Orochimaru strolled to her slowly his eyes never leaving her "No questions? You aren't going to ask me why I'm here..." He touched her jaw "What do I want..." he circled until he was behind her, kicking the door shut and making Anko clench her fist. There was no escape now. His icy fingers ran up and down her neck "What am I going to do?" Anko closed her eyes and pulled away from his touch "Get out of my house." she growled. Orochimaru grabbed her shoulder and turned her around "Make me."
For some odd reason she smiled. He learned why when her leg shot up to his shin. The second he was one the ground she dodged his and jumped through the door. The impact caused the door to explode while she hit the floor in a heap for her body was not completely healed from the battles and running she had put herself earlier, the wooden pieces leaving behind cuts and scratches.
She was halfway up when Orochimaru grabbed her hair and started dragging her down the hall back into her living room. "Damn it let go!" she screamed. He responded by grabbing her arm with his free hand and throwing her over a table. She rolled over it and hit the floor again with waves of pain running through her back.
"Happy?" Orochimaru jeered.
Anko forced herself to look at him because she promised herself that she would never cower in front of an enemy.
He was standing over her, waiting for her to make a move so that he could make one of his own. She pushed herself back and used her shaky arms and legs to get herself up. She wiped a bloody scratch on the corner of her mouth and looked at him. He was enjoying her defeat and she would not give him satisfaction for anything "For the last FUCKING time, get out of my house!" she screamed pointing to the door. Orochimaru glanced at it but turned back to her grinning "No, consider this part of my vengeance."
"What the fuck do you mean?" she growled, the exhaustion from being thrown around like a rag doll building up.
"One, such language is inappropriate for a girl your age. But then again, you think you're all grown up, giving you the privilege to do whatever you want..."
Anko felt her head get heavier and she could see black clouding up the corners of her eyes. Orochimaru noticed that she was blacking out and grabbed her neck to keep her awake long enough to finish what he wanted to say. "Well darling I should warn you, in my eyes you are still that little girl I left screaming in the darkness."
Anko tried to move away. She wanted nothing more but to pass out some where and sleep but Orochimaru had other plans. He shook her slightly "Not yet, just a little longer darling...secondly, despite the sorry excuse I have for a messenger, he was equivalent. I came here to teach you a lesson about blabbing off useful information to people I hate. And as easy as it was to just get rid of...Tsubaki was it?" The widening in Anko's eyes gave him her answer "I decided to take this on a more private and personal matter." He threw her back; she hit a wall which strangely fell softer than the floor and table.
"So what? You came all this way just to beat the hell out of me?"
Orochimaru chuckled, leaning down and grabbing her shirt collar "That was my intention when I walked into your door earlier tonight, but since I am now in a better mood, I decided to make your torture slow but manageable." He pulled her up and pushed her against the wall, steadying her so that she could keep herself standing.
Anko kept her head tilted down while he walked to her couch "How slow are we talking?" she glanced at him to see that he was making himself at home on her couch. "Slow enough to make that carefully guarded control of yours snap in two." He leaned back and closed his eyes "Until Kimimaro and Kabuto...two of my subordinates, you met them...find our new facility, I'll be lying back here. I'm sure you don't mind considering I spared your life."
Anko snickered while straitening herself. Blood was pouring from her nose; she would be black and blue in the morning "So you're going to torture me with your presence? Yeah that might do it."
Orochimaru chuckled from his place on the couch "It might. Go clean yourself up, I'll see you in the morning."
Anko scoffed at him "You think I'm going to give up that easily? Fuck no! If your aren't off my couch and out of my living room in the next ten seconds I'm summoning Genhebi and throwing you out."
Orochimaru glanced at her and started standing "Fine, I suppose you win this round." He exited to her hallway.
"Where the Hell are you going?" she shouted after him. She tried to run but her body made it clear that she didn't stay as still as possible that it would shut down right then and there. She took in some air and made small steps to follow him "Don't fuck with me Orochimaru!" she called after him. By the time she rounded the hallway, she could see the ends of Orochimaru's hair disappear into her bedroom.
She stumbled into her doorway, stepping over the blasted bits of wooden door that still laid there. She had to stop to breathe, her ribs were sorer and she probably going to die of suffocation.
Orochimaru was lying on her bed, his arms under his head and his eyes abjured. The son of a bitch was right at home.
"This is not what I meant when I said get out of my living room." Anko panted [she could taste salt and blood in her mouth and she was starting to how it got there.]
Orochimaru spoke "I need somewhere to sleep." He sat up slightly "I was wondering ealier what you might look like without your clothes on. Would you mind showing me?"
Anko blushed much to her dismay, she swallowed her embarrassment and gave the last of her energy into screaming "GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOUSE-"
Orochimaru didn't oblige. He sat up crossed legged and watched her, waiting for her to completely lose it.
Anko opened her mouth to chew him out but the only thing that came out was a slight cough of blood. She used her hand to keep it from hitting the floor but even though it didn't matter to her if it did or not. She knew that she couldn't fight him physically, mentally maybe but she was already shutting down so it would only be safe to deal with the craziness in the morning [if he didn't kill her some time during the night].
"Scoot over." she coughed, staggering to her bed.
Orochimaru raised and eyebrow as Anko forced him over and gingerly positioned herself on her pillow. "What are you doing?" he asked although he had guessed by now.
"I need sleep. The couch is not the best choice while I'm in this condition so either we slit the bed or you move and since you won't do that I am forced to take option one."
Orochimaru smirked as a thought came to him "In a way, we're sleeping together."
Anko bit the inside of her mouth to keep herself from jumping up and killing him "Save your perverted thoughts for the morning okay."
Orochimaru chuckled and slid more on 'his' side "Try lying on your stomach, it'll help your ribs heal faster."
"Shut up." Anko said but turned on her stomach, her back to him, to get more comfortable [which she couldn't do with him in her bed]. "Just for your benefit, if you touch me while I'm out, I'm going to have to cut your hands off."
"Thanks for the warning." Orochimaru said.
Anko smiled "I need you in at least two pieces when I turn you in tomorrow."
"How do you know I won't leave before then."
'I don't' "You will be." she sounded so sure.
Orochimaru watched Anko's back move up and down as sleep took over her. He didn't really see the wrongness in this situation but he still didn't like how close he was to the girl he had just tried to kill. He let his right hand hover over her mesh covered back; part of him wanted to heed Anko's pathetic warning but he knew that she couldn't cause him any harm at the moment. His chakra poured from his fingers into the damaged muscles and bones in her back and ribcage. At least Anko wouldn't be as sore in the morning.