"Dad…Dad no! Dad…I'm…no…no, I'm not sorry."
.,.,.,.
Ryik, at only seven years old, knew what the flames meant as they demolished his home/ prison. His father wasn't coming out, and he was alone now. But that was just perfect with him. No more abuse, no more long chants about how God hated him, just loneliness.
He broke out into inaudible chuckles as she fled from the flames. He couldn't contain himself; he was just so damn happy.
He didn't even realize he was a good distance from the town of Saktraz until he had to skid to a stop to avoid crashing into the stranger in front of him. He could have just dodged him, but something about his presence felt welcoming, almost wanting him to find it.
"Are you lost, little boy?" the stranger asked in a silk-filled tone.
Ryik was speechless. No one had ever asked him if he was alright, if he hungry or tired or ready to die. They all just pasted him by, not caring if he was there the next day.
He smiled up at the man and took a step forward, but he stopped. The feeling from the man was suddenly dark, evil even, and felt as if it was breaking into Ryik's soul and eating him alive. The feeling was all too familiar.
"No…dad…" he fell to his knees.
"No you're not sorry."
He look up to see that the stranger was now at his level, but he couldn't see his face until he lifted it.
"You're not sorry, you little demon!"
.,.,.
Ryik shot up with a gasp "No dad, no…" he relaxed only slightly when he saw Itachi asleep below him, almost consumed in his sleeping bag because he refused to share the bed with him or take the guess room. "That's right…" he whispered as he remembered the days occurrences. Itachi had let him stay over after…
He shuddered thinking about the strange experiments the ANBU medical copes had done to him. He remembered the seals, the fire, and the pain, so much damn pain.
He shook the thoughts away and smiled. All his life, he tried to find something positive to think about when the trauma became too much. It used to be his mother, a beautiful woman he had never known, but now, it was the crazy Anko.
"We's gonna be planning her a surprise in a couple of days." He said out loud. He chuckled lightly as he let all his ideas sink in.
./././
The next week went by quickly, something Anko wished she had during her house arrest sentence. She barely saw Orochimaru, other than the few times he left his house and went to some unknown destination.
One day, she had been making up her bed when she saw little Kimimaro show up at his door from the corner of her eye. Her stomach jumped, and she was half a second from running out with a kunai when it opened. But to her surprise, the door opened and a smiling Orochimaru stepped out, and after a few minutes of muted talking, he stepped aside and let the young boy in.
Each night was plagued with strange dreams, and occasionally a nightmare, all of which involved Orochimaru doing something to her that she didn't understand but made her wake up trembling in a sweaty haze.
She had sighed in relief, but then her face turned bright red when she saw Orochimaru look back and give her a wink.
She was currently laying out in the garden area, or at least the excuse of one since it was nothing but grass, enjoying the afternoon sunshine. Other than a few insects swarming through the air, all was quiet, and for once Anko was at peace. The grass under her fish-netted back was warm for October, and was beginning to lullaby her to sleep. She smiled up at the murky blue sky before letting her eyes close.
It wasn't long before the peace was shattered forever.
"Hi Anko."
Anko kept her eyes close, hoping the fool that was above her would just go away. But no such luck, "Anko wake up," the person said, giving her leg a slight nudge.
Anko muttered a string of curse words to herself before opening her brown orbs to intake the person's shadowy form. "What do you want…Iruka?"
He smiled warmly and squatted down to her level. "I've been given a mission and it involves you."
Anko jumped up; a week without something dangerous to do had made her agitated. "Alright! What are we doing."
Iruka grinned mysteriously. All was going according to plan. "Follow me and I'll show you."
Anko followed him without protest. She needed some kind of action other than what Orochimaru's surprises.
.,.,.
The group of three peaked out from behind a wall and watched Iruka and Anko disappear. "Alright then, let's get party started!" he dragged the giant bag of supplies out and started hauling them to Anko's apartment.
Itachi and Kakashi exchanged side glances; Ryik's craziness was the only thing the two seemed to agree on. It was Ryik's idea to get Kakashi to become the fourth party in "Operation: Throw Anko an awesome as Hell birthday party" but he didn't want to much to do with Itachi and Itachi with him. "This whole thing's going to blow up in our faces." Itachi said, no one seemed to here him.
"Come on!" Ryik called out; he was only on the foot of the steps. "Damn…this is taking too long." He closed his eyes and let his mind get warped into the darkness.
Kakashi looked to Itachi for an explanation but Itachi was staring at Ryik in a look of disgust. "Just don't ask." He said as he walked up to the still scooting Ryik. He stared down at him until he stopped and looked back at him.
"You're an idiot." He said simply before picking up the "party bag" as if it were nothing. "And you're weak, let's get this over with."
Ryik jumped up, a new expression on his face. "Yeah that right! We's got to plan my main girl's 17th, HELL YEAH!"
Kakashi just shook his head as he followed the two up the stairs; a S-class mission would be heaven compared to this.
.,.,.
"Oh come on!" Anko yelled. Iruka was being difficult and was being entirely discreet about this so called mission.
He only gave her a gentle smile. "Just be patient Anko."
"Iruka, I'm so patient that I stayed in my Mom's stomach for twelve months, TWELVE MONTHS IRUKA! You can't get any more patient than that."
Iruka rolled his eyes. "Well you're not going to have to wait a year to get the Hokage's office because we're here."
"Hallelujah!" Anko exclaimed with a sense of mock. Iruka led her up the familiar stair case to the Hokage's office and knocked. They were instantly greeted with a "Come in."
Iruka opened the door and let Anko walk in first. "Alright, what's up?" Anko said a her greeting.
"Good to see you to Anko." The Third said, but he decided to skip the scolding. He smiled at Iruka. "I see your mission was a success, Iruka."
Iruka bowed "Yes it was Lord Hokage."
"What freaking mission!" Anko shouted, considering the Hokage hated it when she cussed, she replaced her curse words with something a little more appropriate, or close to appropriate.
The Hokage began digging through the many files on his desk, mumbling something about his inability to stay organized.
Anko looked at Iruka for an answer but he only gave her a shrug. She was a second from strangling him when the Hokage regained her attention.
"Found it." He said in satisfaction.
Anko had to restrain herself from snatching the file from him. She took it and, after shooting a glare at Iruka, opened it. Her eyes widened in both surprise and confusion at what was in it.
She gently ran her fingers over a pink and white card and ever so carefully picked it up. She gave the smirking men a questionable look before opening it. Inside, written in neatly black ink was:
Happy seventeenth Anko, hope you have many more, but not so many that you get old like old man Hokage…
She looked up at the Third who had a look of obvious. She laughed softly before she continued reading.
Signed by: Kakashi, RYIK!, Asuma, Gai, Hayate, Kurenai, Iruka, and Itachi.
Anko could have cried, she should have cried.
Iruka came up behind her and put a careful hand on her shoulder. "Happy Birthday Anko." He whispered.
Anko turned to him, her eyes glassy. "I…I didn't know…" she covered her eyes.
Both Iruka and Hiruzen paled. "Don't cry," Iruka said "It's supposed to be a happy day, not a-" he was caught off by Anko's fist in his arm.
"You bitch." She laughed. She turned to the Hokage. "You too; you both set me up."
Iruka groaned "It was my mission…"
Hiruzen burst into laughter. "You catch on quickly, Miss Mitarashi."
Anko looked back down at the signatures. She would have expected Iruka, and maybe even Ryik to sign, but everyone else was just a blow. They had all been polite to her whenever they were put together with her, but none ever seemed to necessarily care for her existence. To know that there were actually some people who didn't hate her filled Anko with a new sense of joy.
She looked back at Iruka, who was still rubbing his arm from her tap. He flinched as she came at him again, but was caught off guard by her warm arms around his neck.
"Thank you…"
Iruka was one big blush when she released and turned to the Hokage. "Come on," she said as she opened her arms "you too, come here."
The Third sighed and stood, he was too old for this. But he let her suffocate her with her death hugs.
She was blushing when she released him. "I can't believe I forgot my own birthday."
Iruka stared at her in surprise. "Really."
She shrugged "I haven't celebrated one since I was eleven." her expression became sad as she crossed her arms. "My last one was with Orochimaru."
Hiruzen and Iruka paled slightly, but neither one tried to cut her off.
"It was just me and him…but it was perfect…he gave me my first fire scroll, told me that we could try it out after cake…" she smiled sadly and blinked back tears. She let out a small laugh to cover her sorrow. "It tasted like sand; Orochimaru was a great ninja, but he was a despicable cook."
The men laughed softly with her.
She gave them a playful look. "If there aren't any more surprises, I'd like to go back to my apartment and put this somewhere it won't get ruined.
Hiruzen and Iruka went into a panicked state. "NO!" the exclaimed.
Anko jumped slightly "Why?"
"Because…" they looked at each other for some kind of idea.
Anko suddenly glared. "Is something going on at my apartment?"
"Of course not!" Iruka said, but then he added "Well, technically yes, but-"
"SO this was a set up!" she yelled, making the men confused. "You brought me down here so that ANBU could search through my stuff because of that incident a month ago, didn't you?"
Hiruzen and Iruka stared at her in disbelief; both their mouths gawked in 'O's.
She laughed in a snarl. "Well you know what, Lord Hokage!" she shouted. "Just for your benefit, I'm going to let them search because if you actually trusted me, you'd know I have nothing to hide!" shot around and stormed out of the office without another word.
"Son of bitches, both of them…" she muttered as she paced downed the stairs. She was at the end of the staircase when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows.
"What the…" her eyes widened and she turned a new shade of white. "Oh shit!"
Mizuki laughed as he released her, something he wouldn't usually do. "Relax, I didn't pull you aside to fight."
She grabbed the front of his shirt and forced him into the wall. "How about rape huh? Or are you still a fucking messenger boy?"
He simply smiled and started going through his jacket pocket.
Anko growled and searched for a knife or something sharp to guard herself with. Damn! She had forgotten her kunai pouch when she walked out that morning! Some ninja she was turning out to be. Oh well, she sick snakes on him if it came down to it.
He found the item he was looking for and slowly pulled it out.
"Summoning-! What the heck is that?"
Mizuki revealed a light blue square box with a light blue bow holding it together. "It's for you, from Tsubaki and I." he held it out to her. "Happy Birthday Anko-chan."
Anko stared at him and down at the box. It was as if taking it her very soul would be taken if she took it. Her heartbeat began beating rapidly, her palms were getting sweaty as well and her mind was making her see different colors.
"O…Orochimaru?"
Her half lidded eyes traveled back to Mizuki. He had a mocking smirk on his face and his eyes were controlling. "Go on, take it."
She mentally slapped herself for letting him see her weakness so easily. Growling, she snatched the box out of his hand and circled away from him before he got the chance to grab her again.
She started to jog lightly when she got out of the building.
"Anko! Anko wait up!"
Without thinking, she ran as fast as she could away from the person calling her name. She had no idea what she was running or why, but each time she thought about stopping, the frightening image of Mizuki's devilish smirk in her mind, and for some reason she thought of Orochimaru; the Orochimaru she hated and feared.
"Anko!"
"Damn!" she gasped. She almost slipped as she made a sharp turn around a corner in order to hide in the shadows.
"Anko come back!"
The voice was louder and getting so close that she could hear the footsteps that belonged with it.
Remembering that she was weaponless, and bit on her thumb and prepared herself to summon the most poisionious snake her chakra would allow.
The footsteps slowed to a normal walking pace and slowly advanced towards her. "So here's where you were hiding…"
"GO TO HELL!" she screamed as she sent her serpents towards her follower.
She didn't even get to see his face before the color of blood took over her vision.
.,.,.
"Watch it." Itachi hissed when Ryik almost made the ladder he was standing on to decorate the ceiling with streamers and a banner he had yet to read fall over.
"Fine." Ryik contended, giving the ladder a slight push before stepping back to "watch" the ladder.
Itachi began shaking as the ladder started falling to the side; his feet were caught in the steps so he couldn't jump off in time. "Ryik-!" He toppled down with it, popping an assortment of colorful balloons as he did.
Ryik laughed with satisfaction. "Well, I did my job." He said as he started to go to something else. A lightly tanned hand grabbed his ankle and almost broke it as it pulled Kakashi to the floor.
Less than a second later, Ryik and Itachi were rolling on the floor, bumping into things and screaming curses at each other.
Itachi: "You did that on purpose you son of a bitch!"
Ryik: "I was only doing what you fucking told me to do; and leave our mothers out of this!"
Itachi screamed and continued the process of trying to suffocate the masked teen.
.,.,.
Kakashi was currently looking for tape in Anko's room.
"Tape…tape…" he mumbled as he searched all of Anko's drawls. He opened up one and pulled out was in it and screamed when he discovered that it was a pair of underwear. Slamming the drawl quickly, he crawled under the bed and prayed the object he was looking for would be there instead of something else.
He crawled over the dusty floor and felt all the invisible objects, "Come on, something sticky…" his hand hit something that felt like plastic. He examined it more and discovered the sticky substance on it.
"Ah, here it is." he beamed as slid out from under the dust covered world. "Now we hang up those…" Kakashi's attention was caught by the glass frames on Anko's window seal.
He smiled picked up one of them: the one of Gai, Kurenai, and Asuma, all of whom except Gai, who had been on a mission for almost three months, were supposed to show up for the grand occasion taking place that night. He placed it down and carefully picked up the one with the broken glass. He could barely recognize the people in it at first but once he studied the faces for a moment, familiarization hit him.
"It's…it's Anko." He said delightedly. He laughed. "I remember when she was this kid, back when she was happy." His eyes wondered to the person next to her. "I've seen you before…" Kakashi mused. "You hurt her so much, and even though you aren't around, you're still hurting her." his right eye twitched and he had to use one of his hands to calm the fire burning in it. "Someday…I'll make sure you can't hurt her again, I'll make sure you can't hurt anyone-"
"LET GO OF MY LEG YOU BASTARD!"
Kakashi flinched at the sound of a crash. "Oh Hell, now what?" he dropped the picture, grabbed the tape, and ran back to the living room.
Ryik hit the wall with a cough, he opened his sore eyes just in time to see Itachi coming at him with an angry fist. He ducked and Itachi's hand created a hole in the wall twice the size of it.
"Damn…you…" Itachi hissed as he pulled his twisted limb out of the plaster.
Ryik wasted no time and got back into a fighting position. "It's your own fault."
Kakashi popped into the room. "What in the Hell are you two doing?" he watched as Ryik and Itachi fought, swinging punches and throwing kicks at each other's heads.
"Come on, Itachi I expect a lot more out of you as a Jonin, and as an ANBU. And Ryik you-" he ducked just in time to avoid getting hit with a vase.
"Shut up you mange-ridden mutt!" Ryik shouted, apparently he had been the one to throw the vase. "This don't concern you!"
A knock at the door caused them all to freeze.
"What if it's Anko?" Ryik asked nervously.
"It's not." Itachi answered calmly.
"How the Hell would you-"
"Why the Heck would she knock on her own door." Itachi hissed as he went to answer it. "Who is it?" he asked.
"Oh sorry," the person said, "Must have the wrong apartment."
Itachi's memory spiked and he opened the door. "Hello again Asuma-san…who's this."
Asuma's face turned a pink shade as the woman with him smiled to the Uchiha. "Hi," she greeted softly "I'm Kurenai."
Itachi blushed. "Uh…"
Suddenly, a rather large, and dopey looking man appeared in between. "Hello youthful Uchiha!" he held out a box "I took it upon myself to bring healthy, non-saturated snacks for this event."
Kakashi's ears perked at the familiar voice. "Oh shit!" he grabbed Ryik, "Backdoor, where the Hell is the back door?"
Itachi turned very pale. "Great…another Ryik…" he eyed the strange man more closely "An…uglier Ryik…"
"This is Gai…" Asuma said in disgust. "He heard about Anko's surprise party and since he's been away for three months…" he grimaced. "I sorta drug him along."
"Why don't all of you come in?" Itachi said.
The three did so, Asuma sulking, Kurenai smiling, and Gai marching in like a proud solder. Itachi's eyes wondered to Kurenai's buttock; hey, he was only human.
"KAKASHI! MY TOP RIVAL, I HAVE RETURNED"
Kakashi stopped mid Ryik-chocking and turned with a doubtful expression to the jump suited ninja. "Hello…Gai…"
He marched up to him and slapped him on the back. "We have much to catch up on!"
"Let me did…just let me die…"
"So," Asuma said as he made himself at home on Anko's couch and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. "Where's the birthday girl?"
Ryik saw this and jumped in front of the Sarutobi. "Hell to the no man. Put out that tree or I'll burn the weed right off your head." He lifted his fist where a tiny flame engulfed it. "Your choice."
Asuma looked to Kurenai for support. She gave him a hard look and, with a sigh, put his cigarettes away.
"That's more like it." Ryik said. "And Anko girl's with…" he said the next thing in disgust. "that Iruka boy."
The unoccupied people in the room had a bit of a laugh from that.
"Since when do you hate Iruka?" Itachi whispered, trying to get involved yet stay out of the whole matter.
Ryik just snorted and turned his back on the people. "Come on Uchiha, we stills got a lot of work to do before Anko and…the boy come back."
Guy seemed to hear this and stepped away from a greener that his jumpsuit Kakashi. "Did I hear that there is work to be done?"
"Oh boy." Asuma mused, Kurenai laughing softly.
"Uh, yeah." Ryik answered; he nor Itachi knew too much about the man. "We still needs to get the rest of these decorations up, and then we got to get the rest of the snacks going-"
Gai had an apron as well as a chef hat on half a second after Ryik was cut off.
"How the Hell did he…"
Asuma pulled the two confused boys down. "Just sit back; this guy here will cut your work load in thirds."
Kurenai nodded. "He's never tired; that's even more impressing since he just got back from a S-ranked mission."
.,.,.,.
Red was a terrible color. Especially when it was everywhere, and was warm, and you weren't exactly sure where it was coming from.
Anko had her eyes squeezed tightly shut so that she couldn't see the red, but it was still on the inside of her lids. She heard whimpering, not noticing it was her own.
"A…An…ko?"
Anko's eyes shot open. "Kimimaro?"
The blood-soaked boy was crouched down, bone like structures sticking out of his arms and impaling the creatures Anko had sent to kill him.
"Oh my God," she gasp, falling to knees so that she could jerk the dead serpents off of him.
Kimimaro could only stare at as the snakes disappeared in puffs of smoke.
She shook him roughly, "Are you okay!"
He gawked at her with fear-filled eyes.
"Kid! KID!"
The child finally found his voice, to an extent. "I I I I'm alright…"
Anko sighed in relief and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry."
His eyes closed slightly. Her warm was very welcoming, and somehow he could smell past the blood and find her human scent. He didn't get to enjoy it too long though.
"Why were you chasing me?" she scorned accusingly, but gently.
His expression spiked and he began digging in his pockets, pulling out the card Hiruzen and Iruka had given her earlier. "I saw you drop this when you ran out of that building over there." He held it out for her to grab. "I thought it was important."
Anko could have slapped herself for being so foolish. "I'm so sorry." She took it, "Thank you."
He smiled as if the event from before hadn't happened.
"Let's go home and get some clean clothes on."
"Okay." He said.
As the two exited the ally, another person stepped into their path. "There you are Anko…" Iruka saw their blood matted clothes and got very uneasy.
"Relax Umino, it's just snake." Anko said impassively, walking past him and pulling Kimimaro with her.
Iruka followed. "Where are…you two going?"
"Home." Anko said, turning to him slightly "I'm sure ANBU are done now."
He sighed. "Anko I-"
"Can it." She scoffed.
"Anko…WAIT!" he shouted.
"Don't listen to him." Anko instructed Kimimaro.
"Maybe we should just hear out what he has to say."
Anko looked back at Iruka who was jogging up behind them. "He's not worth it."
"Anko PLEASE!" Iruka grabbed her shoulder to get her to stop, but immediately wished he hadn't when Anko grabbed is arm and almost broke it.
"Don't. You. EVER. Touch me!" she growled as she slowly twisted his limb. "Do you have any idea how close you are to dying Iruka?"
Iruka was turning blue, but Anko didn't care until Kimimaro wrapped his arms around her waist to try to pull her off. "Anko your killing him please!"
Anko flinched and released him, watching the limp man fall to the ground. She stared at him as he gaged and struggled to regain his stance.
"Anko…"
Anko's watched him stand, a bit a guilt stinging her when she saw the purple marking on his neck. "…I'm sorry." She said formally.
He stared at her with a hurt expression. "Screw you." He said and walked away.
Anko was a bit surprised by his surrender. Iruka was the one who ended the disputes with patience and non-violence, not once did he just walk away without making sure the conflict was completely resolved.
Something about the way he walked away triggered something in Anko. It was sort of a Déjà vu feeling, like she had actually seen this happen before. She had, only it was a different person under completely different circumstances.
"He's walking away…" she whispered to herself. "He's walking away, just like…"
Her heart almost stopped. "Orochimaru."
He was almost gone now, just a brown blur disappearing in the dust.
"Iruka!" she called after him. He didn't hear her, so she began to ran, but Kimimaro pulled her back.
She stared down at him in confusion.
"Lord Orochimaru…I mean, Father, says that you should let go of anything that holds you back. If something makes you weak, kill it. If it gets in the way of a goal, kill it." He released her. "You should let him go Anko; you'll hurt yourself in the end."
Anko looked back and saw that Iruka was gone.
"Thanks for the advice kid." She said in a low voice. "But there are some things you can never let go." She sighed. "Let's just go home, okay?"
.,.,.
"What the Hell happened to you man?" Ryik exclaimed as a beat up Iruka stepped into Anko's house unexpectedly.
The other people in the room looked up from their occupations and watched the crestfallen Umino fall back on the couch. "I don't want to talk about it."
Kurenai put the box of decorations down she was handling and sat beside him, Asuma taking the other side. "Were you in fight, you're all bruised up."
Ryik jumped in front of him. "Where's Anko! So help me boy if she's hurt…"
"She's fine Ryik." Iruka sighed with irritation "We just…got into a fight."
"Oh really?" Ryik accused with dark sarcasm. "Wow, we really didn't notice, especially with that bruise on yo' neck."
"Ryik!" Itachi growled. "Give it a rest, guy's been through enough."
Ryik shot him a glare and then turned his attention back to the meek man. His eyes carefully sketched the shape of the mark on Iruka's flesh. It was a hand print no doubt, and obviously belonged to someone with great strength. But it was a little too small to belong to a man, unless the man was Ryik's age.
Then, it hit him.
"Anko did that, didn't she?"
Iruka glared at him. "Yeah, what of it?"
Ryik's eyes widened before he snarled. "You bastard! What did you do to her!" he charged at him but Itachi and Kakashi were holding him back a second before.
Asuma stood in front of Iruka for better protection while Kurenai stayed beside him for extra support.
Iruka jumped up, snarling just as much as the boy. "I barely laid a hand on her you obnoxious little ass!"
"Denial!" Ryik screamed at him. "You's denying that you hurt her; I can see it!" he continued to struggle to the point where even the Sharingan bearers could barely hold him. "What did you do you fucker!" he yelled. "Did you hit her Umino? HUH? Is you a woman hitter fool!"
"You shut your fucking mouth!" Iruka screamed; now Kurenai and Asuma were holding him back. "I would never do that to her! Anko means everything to me!"
The entire room stilled at Iruka's confession. Everyone new that he had some kind of feelings for Anko ever since they were all Genin, but it took a loud-mouthed nine year old to make him to admit it. It was pathetic, but kind of funny if you knew how to laugh at it.
DING!
Everyone looked up to see that Gai, who somehow managed to stay out of the whole conflict, had brought yet another baked good out of the oven. "Nachos are done!" he announced, immediately turning back to the oven.
Iruka wiggled out of his comrade's grips and reached for Asuma's forgotten cigarettes and lighter, leaving the apartment without giving his reason for taking them.
Everyone exchanged estranged glances before turning glares on Ryik.
"…What?" he asked as if he hadn't done a thing wrong. Every conked him on the head before returning to their party tasks. The last thing heard was "Man I hope that fool doesn't smoke all my cigarettes."
.,.,.,,
Outside, Iruka was on the bottom steps trying to get the lighter to flame which proved to be a very difficult task considering he had never handled one of those things.
He always used the simple rock and stick to light a fire during a mission, and relied solely on his heater as the heat source in his apartment.
"Damn it!" he growled as he banged the metal contraption on the steps in an attempt to make it work.
"Allow me." A silky voice said as a pale hand reached for the lighter from beside Iruka.
The young man slowly turned around. "Oh, hello." He greeted, standing so that the man wouldn't have to crouch anymore. "I didn't even hear you come up."
"Your lighter." The man said again, extending his hand. "I can lite it for you."
"Oh," Iruka sputtered, handing it to him and pulling out a cigarette. "It's okay really, I don't exactly smoke…" he stopped when the man handed him a lite cigarette. "…thanks." He said as he hesitantly put it in between his lips.
"Pleasure." The man said, watching Iruka closely.
Something about the man felt darkly familiar to Iruka. He was sickly pale, but his skin was flawless, no markings or blemishes to behold. And those eyes, those eyes belonged to a demon of some sort from his past.
Lost in thought, Iruka accidently took in a gulp of the cigarette and instantly began to suffocate as soon as the poisionious gas hit his virgin lungs.
The man laughed gently and took the cigarette away from him, throwing it down and stomping it out. "I should let you choke."
"Pardon?" Iruka coughed.
"The only way you youth learn these days is by mistakes." The man said, his head turning towards the apartment that had been the center of a lot of controversy that day. "I've seen that happen recently with my newest neighbor."
Iruka's eyes widened. "You live here? And you know Anko."
He smirked. "A little too well I'm not ashamed to say. She and I had our problems at first, but we're getting along famously now. She and my son seem to get along as well; he really enjoys her company."
Iruka paled. "Son?"
He chuckled. "Yes, Kimimaro. He's too young for her if that's why you're panicking so much."
Iruka was a bit suspicious of the man's tone but he had been raised better than to throw accusations at complete strangers. That's why he needed to learn his name [;)]
"I'm Iruka Umino." Iruka greeted, extending his hand. "I'm a friend of Anko's."
The man turned back to him with a new darkness in his eyes. "…Urami Choro." He took his and was delighted by the silent shudder Iruka gave off.
Iruka was on the break of hypertension "This touch…oh dear God…I know this touch…"
"Iruka?"
Iruka gasped and saw Anko and the child from before standing there. She looked scared. He released Urami's hand and ran to her, happy to be released.
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither one too sure what to say. Finally, Anko caught him off-guard and wrapped him in a hug. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
Iruka sighed, her touch felt so much better that the other man's. "Don't worry about it. I should have given you more details."
"Yeah," Anko laughed. "You should have." She suddenly pulled back with a disgusted look on her face. "Did you start smoking or did you go bungee-jumping in a chimney?"
Iruka blushed. "Um…"
"Evening Anko."
The two turned to Urami. "Hi." Anko greeted in a growl.
He chuckled and gave them a slight wave and nodded for Kimimaro to come with him. "Thank you for looking after Kimimaro today."
"No…problem." Anko went along.
"Good night ." Iruka said.
He gave them one last smirk before he and Kimimaro retreated up the steps. "Oh, and Anko." He said without stopping. "Please tell the guests in your apartment to keep their noise on a leverage."
"Guests?" Anko turned to Iruka, a calmer look than an accusing one on her face. "Iruka, will you please tell me what's really going on so that I have a reason for punching you."
Iruka sighed and shot a glare at the man's back. "It was meant to be a surprise."
"Iruka you know I hate surprises!" she growled.
"Yeah well…" Iruka took her hand. "Follow me."
"Oh boy." Anko said.
Iruka stopped when they reached the top of the stairs. "Wait here."
"No way." Anko said, pushing past him. "Iruka, there better not be anything on fire in there."
"Anko please!" Iruka insisted.
Anko stared at him, she really hated that whine. "You got thirty seconds."
"Thank you! Stay right here!" he scurried to Anko's apartment and slipped inside.
"How the Hell did he unlock the door?" she asked herself. She began counting the seconds down to the time Iruka had left before she went in and pulverized him.
He went over his limit and spent five minutes in her house. She was second from going in there and knocking him out when he stepped out in all smiles. "Okay, come on in."
"You bet I will!" Anko snapped. "It's my damn apartment!" she yanked the door open and was greeted by bright colors and a huge wave of sound.
"SURPRISE!"
Anko screamed and jumped off the porch.
"…Anko… girl?" Ryik queried.
"It's us," Kakashi stepped in. "we're just throwing you a birthday party, you know, since we haven't seen you in a while…"
Itachi shook his head and retreated back inside. "I told you this surprise party thing was going to blow up in our faces."
Gai looked as if he were going to cry. "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME I'VE MADE ALL THIS YOUTHFUL REFRESHMENTS FOR NOTHING!" he broke into a great sob, grabbing Asuma as a comforter.
"Anko…" Iruka called wearily called after her. he turned back to the disappointed crowd. "I guess we-AH!" he screamed as Anko pulled him by the back of the hair to leverage herself as she climbed over the side of the porch.
"Anko!" Gai cheered.
"Anko let go!" Iruka pleaded.
"What the Hell is going on up in here!" Anko roared at the crowd.
They were all very quiet; even though most of them were older or a higher rank than her, they all had an experience of some sort with her anger. They exchanged looks before saying "Surprise!" in slightly deader tones.
Anko slowly glared at her comrades, paying close attention to their nervous smile and shaking bodies. She turned to Iruka who turned green from distress. "You made me humiliate myself." She said in her calmest Anko tone.
He tried to step away from her approaching form but found the porch railing stopping him and he wasn't in the mood to jump. "Uh…look I just really-"
Anko slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, come on I'm not mad."
"You're not?"
"You ain't?" Ryik called from way in the back.
"Of course not!" she cheered, wrapping a sisterly arm around Iruka's shoulders. But Anko was a very strange family member. "Okay, maybe I am, but there are kids here and I don't need blood all over my porch."
Iruka laughed nervously; his shaking had increased.
"I smell food!" Anko exclaimed.
The small crowd lit up.
"Let's…PARTY!"
"HELL YEAH!" Ryik cheered. Somewhere in the apartment, loud music began playing and the guests ran back inside.
Iruka sighed in relief and was about to follow when Anko wrapped her arm around his neck. "I'm going to get you later." He gulped and watched her walk inside; really watched her.
Anko looked in awe at the bright colors giving her bleak apartment a little life. There were streamers that looked as though they had been forcefully glued to the ceiling and a couple of balloons that were scattered every other place. Food of various smells and appearances were laid out all over her counters and table.
She looked up at Gai who was making sure everything was perfect. "Wow, you've really outdone yourself this time beast."
Gai smirked as he removed his chief clothes. "Those children do not know anything about fine cooking!"
Anko laughed softly. "Well, the closest thing Asuma ever does to cooking is when he goes to that barbeque place and puts all his food on his plate."
They both laughed at this. "This is true Anko-chan, but I was referring most to the little ones: the young Uchiha Itachi and the brown one."
Anko looked back at Ryik and Itachi. Ryik was trying to get Itachi to eat some strange green dip Gai had made.
"They planned this?"
"Oh yes," Gai shrilled. "And they got all of us together to celebrate your day of age."
Anko turned slightly green. "I'm not going to kill him I'm not going to kill him I'm not going to kill him I'm not going to kill him…"
"Anko!"
Anko looked up to see Kakashi extending a hand for her. "You just gonna stand there or are you going to get this party rolling!"
Anko smirked and took hold of the masked Jōnin. "Only if you can keep up."
Itachi flinched as the crowd cheered loudly. He stood from the corner and secretly headed to the door. Even Ryik didn't notice his departure for he was trying to keep the teenage 'buffoons' from smothering Anko.
Itachi breathed in the clean air as he got outside. He couldn't leave; even if he wasn't known by the others, his absence would be noticed by Ryik as soon as he was thrown across the room.
He leaned into the railing letting himself get lost in thought. He wasn't even sure why he let himself get stuck into things like this. Ryik was his partner, that was all it should have been. Yet it was a lot deeper than that. Ryik was the closes thing to a friend he had since cousin Shisui went on his long mission, and despite his suspicion of her, Anko and he might have had some kind of relationship.
He sighed and leaned onto the porch railings and stared down at the dusty ground below. It was a long fall, long enough for a child of ten years to fall and get killed.
He laughed softly, the idea absolutely hilarious to him. "Like something that simple could really kill me." Still, as he continued to stare at the light brown abyss, he wondered what dying really felt like.
What did the hundreds of corpses he had watched bake in the setting sun years before think about as they slowly died. Did they know they know they were facing death? Were they willing or were they scared out of their skins?
"I'm not scared." He whispered dazedly like a child telling his parents he was not afraid of the dark. He balanced his self on the railings and slowly climbed up until he was standing over the ledge, trying not to immediately fall over. A cold wind picked up and was strong enough to make his solid frame tip back slightly.
"I'm not scared." He assured himself again. He stepped forward so that the tips of his toes were exposed. "I can do it. I can-"
"No!"
Itachi's head shot to a smaller boy across from him.
"Please don't do this!"
Itachi stumbled back to reassure the child. "Alright, I'm down."
Still, Kimimaro rushed to him. "Why were you attempting such a selfish thing?"
Itachi was a bit taken aback by the strangers concern. "Look, I wasn't-"
"Do you not care about the people who are going to miss you?"
"Kid calm down!" Itachi finally shouted. "I wasn't going to do it."
Kimimaro stared him down, a harsh glare sketched on his usually impassive face. He edged closer until their eyes were even. "You're lying to me."
Thankfully though, the door opened, letting a blast of loud chatter out. "Uchiha, why is you out here when a party's going on!" Ryik's eyes fell on the boy him and the stranger. "Who's your new friend?"
Itachi turned his back to Kimimaro. "No one, let's go."
Ryik watched Itachi walk back inside before turning to the child. "You okay?"
Kimimaro turned his back to him and began to walk back to the apartment he had exited from.
"Hey!" Ryik called after him but wasn't even given a glance back. He sighed and went back to the party.
"Excuse me."
Ryik turned to see Hayate, carrying bouquet of flowers under one of his arms and a woman with long, lavender hair climb arm and arm up the steps.
"Is this the house of Anko Mitarashi? We're here for the party."
"Hey!" Ryik greeted excitedly. "You's that guy who helped out with that son of a…" he didn't cuss to ladies. "Gun, Iruka!" he laughed. "I thought you were good as dead with Hatake said you were coughing your lungs out!"
"What!" the woman accused to Hayate.
Hayate groaned. "Thanks a lot kid."
Ryik smiled with a bit of shame. "Anyway…who's the lovely girl here."
Hayate's mood changed slightly and he smiled. "This is my girlfriend, Yūgao Uzuki."
Ryik winked at him. "Well shame on you for bringing her just to make her stand outside. Come on in!"
As they walked inside, Ryik was grabbed and pulled to the side. He gasped and stared into Anko's deep eyes. "Look girl I swear this was all-" he was cut off by a hug, something he wasn't use to by no means.
"You little shit." She whispered. "You plotted this whole mess, didn't you?"
Ryik smiled sheepishly. "Well…Uchiha brought it up, so, hehehe, I just couldn't resist."
She ruffled the brown mass growing too long over his blushing face. "I'll have to give you a little surprise myself when your birthday comes up."
Ryik frowned slightly.
"What is it?"
Ryik laughed. "Don't worry about it! Come on, let's just celebrate."
Anko cocked an eyebrow in question and stopped him. "When's your birthday, Ryik?"
A small drop of sweat appeared at the corner of eye. "Um…" he laughed nervously. "I…I ain't sure."
Anko's eyes widened. "You don't know your own birthday."
Ryik shrugged. "Growing up, my father always said my birth was a demons awaking. My mother died the day I was born; there was never a thing to celebrate."
Anko stared in sympathy. "I know exactly what you mean." Her hand wandered to the curse seal on her neck. "I used to be hated by so many people, but lately, I barely notice it." Her other hand hesitantly rested on Ryik's shoulder. "You're a nuisance Ryik, but you're my nuisance and I want to share the day you came into this world with you."
Ryik beamed and, without thinking, poor soul, hugged her tightly.
Itachi had been watching, and because of his Sharingan, had been able to understand their own conversation. He looked down at the liquid in the cup he was currently drinking and frowned at this reflection, the reflection of a real monster.
Sighing, he turned to the ridiculous banner Ryik had made earlier in the day and picked up one of the colored markers.
"HAPPY 17TH ANKO-GURL!
After fixing the "gurl" to "girl", he added [and Ryik] before the explanation points.
Kakashi was turning down the music to the extent that the crowd could hear him.
"Hey everyone!" Kakashi shouted. No one paid him any mind for they were all chatting with one another and trying to stay away from some of the strange things Gai made.
"Guys?" he called out again, this time turning the music completely off. "Everyone?" Suddenly Ryik put a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him to the side. Ryik calmly but loudly brushed all the presents off the table they were on and threw it to the side, causing a loud crash to make the room to go still and silent.
"My table!" Anko exclaimed.
Ryik smiled. "There you go Kakashi."
Kakashi paled and cleared his throat. "Umm, despite how early it is, some of us do have things we regrettably have to do tomorrow." Kakashi had an annoyed look on his face as he said this.
Anko laughed slightly; he was probably the only one.
"In…light of this, I think we should let the birthday girl start popping out the presents, finish parting 'till we're stoned, and get out!" A bowl of rice mixed in with some kind of discolored meat was thrown at him.
"You suck man!" Ryik shouted. But he and everyone else guided Anko to one of the couches.
She looked around awkwardly, unaccustomed to the smiles and positive attention her comrades were gifting her.
Everyone crowded around the "birthday girl" to the point where Anko could have jump sunk comfortable in between the couch cushions.
"Hey, HEY!" Anko yelled over the mob suffocating her. "I'd like to breathe if you please!"
Ryik pushed through the teenagers to get to his main girl. "Back you animals! BACK!" he managed to pop down beside her and give her a bit of space. Before they could really get situated, the bouquet of flowers Hayate and Yugao had brought earlier was dropped in her lap.
"Those are from us."
Anko looked back at the two who were squashed in the back of the crowd, but she could easily see their smiles. She was somewhat acquainted with Hayate, having graduated the academy at the same time as him, but knew little about the lady with him except that she had a warm smile and didn't have the eyes of someone who judged others.
"They're beautiful." she said to them. She found the small card that was customarily in the bouquet. "Happy 18th Anko."
She turned a grin to them. "I'm 17 fool."
Hayate frowned while Kakashi and Asuma gave him a hard time over the mistake. "How was I supposed to know?"
Another present was dropped in front of her as she set the roses carefully to the side, this one was in a simple bag. She reached inside and brought out a box of latex condoms.
"Alright, who the fuck did this!" Anko's angry gaze searched over the shocked crowd.
Itachi stepped forward without hesitance. "You're almost an adult now, this is just to help you out in case…" his eyes wondered to Iruka as a false example, which everyone noticed instantly. "You and a certain gentlemen decide to hook up."
Everyone, with exception of Iruka, Anko, and Itachi, burst into laughter.
Anko glared at Itachi, who just gave her a careless grin. She knew his true mind, and hated the ten year old for it.
"Alright!" Ryik shouted to break the crowd up. "Next up is…" he searched over a rectangular box dressed in green paper. "Asuma and Kurenai…hurray!"
Anko, still a bit pink from Itachi's "present", she was more carful unwrapping the item that time. She sighed in relief when she saw it was just a magazine of some sort. She flipped through it and discovered that that it was an encyclopedia of coupons. She looked to the couple of an answer and Asuma pointed to the beaming Kurenai. They were some of the few who had tried to show her sympathy after the Orochimaru incident. Sadly, Anko had been too angry and depressed to except anyone.
"The magazine has a coupon for every shop in Konoha. I thought if you got tired of all these boys, maybe, you and I could….well…." Kurenai was not the kind of person used to approaching psychotic tomboys.
Anko secretly gaged but had enough manners to at least show appreciation for the gift. "As long as there is a coupon for food in here, I'll go…shopping with you any day."
The crowd applauded the two girls lightly.
"Next up…Kakashi's." Ryik announced.
"Finally, something that doesn't want to make me slit my throat." She took the small package and unwrapped it. She stared at the object inside and then at him.
"Instant ramen? You really shouldn't have Kakashi."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Well, It's the best I could do with a lousy budget and limited timing." He looked at Ryik when he said the last part.
Anko shrugged. "At least tomorrow's dinner's taken care of."
"But Anko-chan!" Gai shouted out of nowhere. "You have so many leftover's that shall provide you strength and energy for weeks!"
"…Okay Ryik, what's next?"
Ryik picked up the nearest box. "It's from…Oh Hell, Green man himself."
"UPPA!" Gai exclaimed.
Anko had half a mind to send Ryik to set the box on fire, but Gai was practically on top of her, jittering like a school girl coming in contact with their crush.
Anko sighed, seeing she had no choice. She reluctantly opened the box and stared down at the green clothing. She pulled it out and went pale. "Gai…"
"IT'S LADIES LINGERIE!"
Anko shriek and threw the skimpy, silk material back in the box. "What the…Gai?"
The spandex ninja laughed heartedly and slung an arm around Anko's shoulders.
Ryik almost blew up and Itachi secretly wished an asteroid would fall from the sky and kill the man.
"As soon as I heard of your celebration, I had to get you something that you would appreciate yet use often." He gave a bright red Iruka a wink.
"Uh…" Anko undid his arm and handed Ryik the box. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." She quickly whispered to Ryik. "Burn it."
"Way ahead of you." He whispered back, slowly sneaking the trash out.
She took another gift, a slim, square shaped, Iruka's. "No condoms okay?" she said to him.
He smirked shyly.
She unwrapped the purple paper and was surprised to find a record. "Dance with the Devil" Anko said aloud. She looked at Iruka.
"It's from one of the Western bands, it's actually very good."
"I don't have a player."
"Check under your couch!" Ryik shouted from a distance.
Anko did so and pulled out a small, silver CD player. "Wow…" she laughed.
"That's something we all pitched together in." Kakashi said.
"You mean some of us." Asuma emphasized.
"I have a bad budget okay!"
Anko laughed. "Relax Hatake, I'm thankful." She studied the many faces of her comrades who were willing to give up a few hours for her. "Thanks guys, I really-"
"WAIT!"
There was a loud crash and Ryik came stumbling back into the room. "You forgot mine girl!" he was about to point at the gift he had gotten for her but saw that it was not there. "Crap!" he growled.
"Ha! Maybe you'll think twice next time about throwing my stuff around." Anko laughed. She soon shrieked when the couch was flipped forward and she was thrown to the floor.
"Found it!" Ryik exclaimed. He turned to the glaring Anko who was being held up and back by Kakashi and Asuma. She softened though when Ryik showed her the crumpled package covered in a white, sticky substance.
"I got a little carried away with the glue." He mentioned as Anko struggled.
"Gee, thanks for the head's up." She growled as she untangled the sticky paper from her fingers. She brought out the shiny object and stared at it in surprise. It was a heart-shaped jewelry box that had a small lock on it. She opened it and stared at her reflection through the mirror built in it.
"Ryik this is…I don't know what to say."
Ryik smiled. "Just don't make me pay for the table and all will be said and done."
She ruffled his hair. "You wish."
"Well," Kakashi spoke out with a yawn. "It's late; I don't want to be around for the child molestation." He was talked within seconds of finishing that sentence.
Anko pulled his arm to the breaking point, "What was that? What did you call me? Why don't you repeat that you pervert!"
Asuma and Iruka finally pulled the enraged woman off of Kakashi long enough for him to crawl out the door. "He's just looking for a way out of work Anko! Don't let him get to you!"
Kakashi, at a safe distance, shouted back"Bye Anko!"
"Drop dead you loser!" she pulled away from the boys and turned back to the stunned people. "What?"
Itachi cleared his throat and took Ryik's arm. "We need to go; ANBU don't get a break even if it is for a…well, whatever you are to me."
"Goodnight asshole." She muttered as Itachi pulled Ryik to the door.
"Some to you, bitch."
The remaining teenagers sat around to enjoy the last hour of each other's company before having to return to their normal lives.
"Wow," Kurenai commented. "I never would have thought kids could be so…juvenile." She looked at Iruka. "You're teaching skills must be pretty low."
Iruka gave her a soft glare. "I believe the saying is: "It's the seed not the apple" or something like that."
Asuma laughed and started to pull out a cigarette from his extra pack. "Well, both those kids are messed up no matter who's teaching them."
"I don't think those two even attend a school of any sort." Yagao added. "Both of them are ANBU, or at least the Uchiha is. I'm not too sure about to small one."
"You ever spend time with any of them?" Kurenai asked.
"Not really." Yagao sighed. "I'm mainly stuck with guard duties on the border so I don't see too much of the inside action."
Anko's fist clenched at her sides. Even though it was just friendly conversation, she felt as if she were betraying "her boys" but letting the people in the room speak of them in such nugatory fashion. Still, she smiled a little when she remembered that Itachi probably wouldn't care and Ryik would just start screaming at everyone.
Asuma suddenly jerked up, clutching his stomach.
"Asuma?" Kurenai exclaimed worriedly.
The Sarutobi gently pushed her away and ran out the door only to bend over the porch railings and puke his entrails out. Kurenai and Iruka ran up behind him and held the falling pieces of hair back from his mouth.
Everyone else slowly turned to Gai who had been munching on Nacho's and some strange jello-like food. "Wh-at?" His cooking had to have something to do with Asuma's sudden illness.
"Uh guys?" Kurenai called when Asuma's vomiting lessened some. "I think I should get him home-" Asuma heaved again. "Or a hospital."
Yagao and Hayate stood. "We'll come with you; it'll take more than one person to carry that ape."
Asuma's middle finger shot to Hayate, not knowing it had actually been Yagao that had made that unfortunate comment.
"Gai," Hayate said while reassuring Yagao. "You stay with Anko and help her-" Gai was suddenly at Asuma's side, slinging him over his shoulder. Kurenai screamed, Iruka, Hayate and Yagao paled, and Anko laughed so hard she fell out of her chair.
"I'LL RID YOU OF THIS STOMACH DEMON ASUMA!" Gai exclaimed as he jumped off the porch.
"Asuma no!" Kurenai called after him, Hayate and Yagao trailing right behind her.
Iruka was about to follow when a thought came to him. He stuck his head back into Anko's living room to see her recovering from her laughing fit. He smiled at the lightly pink expression that adorned her smiling expression. "You need any help cleaning up?" he asked.
Anko wiped a stray tear from her eye. "Nah, go chase the green monster down." She laughed again.
He nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Hey Umino."
He glanced back at Anko who slowly strolled to him.
"Thanks." She said, giving his nose a slight peck. "For everything."
Iruka's face turned bright read as he stumbled out of the apartment and down the steps.
"Don't die out there!" she called to him in the darkness. Her reply was the sound of trash cans falling and a cat screeching. She rolled her eyes and went back inside.
She surveyed her living room and kitchen. Gai had been charitable enough to clean most of the dishes from the party; the rest could wait until morning. Still, there was a lot of food left, and despite how Anko didn't trust Gai's cooking skills, she knew she'd eat it all eventually. And other than a few crumbs and plates here and there, clean up wasn't too much of a chore.
She decided to wait on the cleaning and put her living room back in order, staring with the table which had somehow endured Ryik's rough-play.
"I'm still kicking his ass." She muttered when she managed to turn the heavy thing back over.
"What did I do now?"
Anko dropped the table with a gasp and turned to the invader. "Orochimaru for God sakes knock before you do that!"
"Well birthday girl, when one leaves their door unlocked, it's an invitation to just waltz on in."
Anko scoffed. "An when a criminal comes into a village, a notice of some sort is supposed to be given out." She pointed to her counters. "Make yourself useful and pick up a little."
He sighed. "I want to wish you best wishes on your special day and you toss me aside."
"Hmm." Anko paused. "Tossing aside, where have I heard that before…?"
"Don't pull it up Anko." Orochimaru growled.
Anko laughed softly. "Just playing with you snaky." She turned so that he could see the tease in her eyes, but instead met something she hadn't wanted to. Maybe.
He was bent over, picking up trash and exposing his back regions to her.
Anko's head slowly limped to the side, her partially undeveloped mind creating thoughts that teenagers had no business knowing. She didn't even feel the light drool trail swimming down the corner of her mouth for her senses were beyond impaired now.
Orochimaru suddenly looked up, catching her red-handed. "Like what you see Anko."
Anko threw a couch cushion at him. "Shut up pervert."
"You're the one who was staring at my-"
"I said shut up!" she shouted, taking hold of the collar of his shirt and shaking him lightly. They stared at each other for a moment, mocking irises arguing with raged ones.
He pried her hand off of him and stated, "Don't be too offended , I'm actually rather flattered."
Anko's face went green as he brushed past her. "What's all this?" he called, breaking her out of her trance. She saw that he was looking at the pile of gifts she had received earlier. "Presents." She said walking up beside him.
He held up the bouquet of roses. "You really need to keep things like this in water Anko."
She rolled her eyes and took the flowers from him. "There's no point. They'll just die in a few days."
"You could still try."
"It's pointless." She said again. "Besides, I hate flowers."
He laughed softly "Tomboy." He picked up the coupon book. "You hate flowers but you seem to enjoy shopping."
"Free stuff." Anko said simply.
He shrugged and examined the box of ramen. "This was a present."
"It's the thought that counts."
"And the…" he snickered at the box of condoms.
Anko threw them. "Don't ask."
"At least this box looks nice." He said as he looked over the jewelry box, opening it to see his heart- shaped reflection.
Anko's face appeared alongside his. "You're not that good looking you know." She joked.
"Same to you." He said, earning her dirty look. He looked around until he found the remaining objects sticking out from under the couch. He picked them up: the card Iruka's disc, and the unopened box Mizuki had given her earlier that day. "You forgot one."
Anko scoffed and went to throw the box away. "It's from Mizuki. It's probably another death threat."
Orochimaru's eyes furrowed in confusion. "He's still giving you a hard time?"
"Not exactly, but every time I see him he looks ready to kill me, no thanks to you."
Orochimaru sighed irritated "I asked him to back down."
"He obviously didn't get the message." Anko said, throwing the small package in the trash.
"Whatever." He said, opening Anko's card. His eyes scanned the styles of writing over the pages and coldness filled his stomach. "You have good friends." He commented more to himself than to her.
Anko frowned. "You could call them that."
He glanced back at her but didn't see that expression on her face, but could tell there was sadness in her actions. He hated that she felt those kind of things if he didn't cause them, and felt the urge to take them away.
He opened the disk and stereo, slipping the "Dance with the Devil" disk inside and waited for it to load.
Anko stopped what she was doing when she heard the light bass beat begin.
"Here I stand, helpless and left for dead…"
She turned slowly to him as the music picked up.
He had a hand stretched out for hers. "May I have this dance, birthday girl?"
"Close your eyes, so many days go by…"
She stared at him in surprise. Was she really going to risk a dance with this devil? His hand gave off a warmth of want and kindness, but his eyes held a sharp darkness that Anko was terrified to step into again.
But, she found herself hypnotized by the devil as her hand took his.
"Easy to find what's wrong, harder to find what's right…"