Two days had passed since Orochimaru left. Anko had hid her sorrow from Iruka without too much of an effort, but she had a feeling Itachi had caught on. They didn't discuss it though; Itachi was still trying to deal with Ryik, who she hadn't seen since she left the hospital, and didn't need any more problems.

Now, she was lounged out on her couch in a self-induced comatose. She had barely done a thing and yet she was tired. Depression really worked on people, and Anko was ashamed that it had hit her. Orochimaru wasn't worth it, but at the same time he was.

She was about to start dreaming of him, the only thing that kept her going during his absence, but she wasn't given the chance.

"Anko! Anko, for the love of God, open up!" echoed an ear-splitting bang on her door

She rose to answer it, but just as she got to her feet, the door exploded and Anko was sent flying back on her couch.

A tall, panting man entered. "Anko!"

"Jiraiya?"

The two stared at each other, taking in their disheveled forms. Anko stood back up, pulling her short T-shirt down as best as she could over her nearly bare legs. "Uh…a heads-up would have been great!"

Jiraiya pulled her into a tight embrace, cutting off most of her air supply. "You're okay… Thank God. I saw your name on the message and…"

A wave of misery hit Anko. "You heard of it too, huh?"

"Yeah." Jiraiya chuckled as pulled her back, trembling slightly, "I'll tell you, kid, I think I tore half the village up trying to get to you! I knew there had to be some kind of a mistake!"

Anko smiled and took one of his large hands into her small ones. "Let's talk about it over my nasty ass medicine."

"Medicine?" Jiraiya asked with concern.

"Just some antibiotics I need to help cure these burns." Anko sighed in annoyance.

Jiraiya looked over her exposed skin. She had pink blotches all over her arms and legs, and bandages were wrapped around her neck and there were tiny scars on her face.

"How bad is it?"

Anko shrugged as she placed two cups of tea down. "It feels more like really bad sunburn than anything else. Pop a squat."

Jiraiya did so, but his attention was still locked on her. Anko had always seemed like a part of his life, partly because Orochimaru had been somewhat of a brother figure to him. He wasn't sure how he would have reacted if he had arrived here and found her in a body bag. He wasn't even sure how to handle the fact she was alive now that he was staring at her now.

"Jiraiya," Anko whispered, breaking him from his trance, "you all right?"

Jiraiya forced a smirk. "I was just trying to remember what I was going to yell at you as soon as I found out you were alive."

Anko chuckled and leant back in her chair. "What made you think I was still alive?"

"Hate to bring it up, but I know for a fact that Orochimaru taught you better than that."

Anko's eyes darkened as Jiraiya continued.

"He probably would have showed up and lectured you himself."

Anko squeezed the cup in her hands. "You men are so thoughtless."

"That reminds me," Jiraiya chirped, obviously missing Anko's dark tone, "When am I going to meet this boyfriend of yours?"

Anko choked on her tea and jumped out of her chair, turning to the sink for somewhere to spit it out. Boyfriend! Orochimaru was so many things to her, but he was far from a boyfriend. A boyfriend was someone girls never left alone or called every ten minutes and got mad at if he didn't call back. No, Orochimaru was more of a…fuck acquaintance. Yes, that fit much better.

"Uh…boyfriend? What boyfriend?"

Jiraiya stood, smirking tauntingly. "The guy you wrote me about that you were so crazy about. I need to get a good look at him so that I can tear him to pieces if he tries anything with you."

"A little too late for that." She muttered, gripping the sink.

"Say what?"

Anko turned back around, catching a glimpse of Jiraiya's concerned expression before she lowered her eyes. "Well…you see—"

A knock on the door made Anko look up. It repeated and she groaned. "It's probably Iruka."

Jiraiya smirked. "Is that him?"

"What?" Anko exclaimed through a nervous laugh, "Hell no! Me and Iruka? Don't be—"

The knock became more persistent and Anko was ready to knock whoever it was out. "I got to get this."

"I'm…gonna borrow your can." Jiraiya said.

Anko rolled her eyes. "First door down the hallway."

"I know."

"How!"

"Can't hear you!"

Anko shook her head and went to the door. "For the hundredth time, Iruka," she pulled the door open," I can take care of my…" Her body stiffened at the sight of the smirking man in front of her. She came to her senses quickly and glared. "Mizuki, this is a very unpleasant surprise."

The devil smirked and leaned into her. "Trust, girl, it's the exact opposite for me."

Anko felt the acids in her stomach swish around. "Sicko." She growled.

He chuckled. "One in the same. Now, be a good girl and let a fellow comrade in."

"Fellow comrades," Anko snarled, "don't attack and try to rape one of their own."

Mizuki grabbed her by the neck and threw her inside, kicking the door close.

Anko landed on the couch and cupped her neck where Mizuki's handprint existed. Her glare deepened as he put his hands down on the sides of her thighs and leveled his face to hers.

"I have a friend in the next room." Anko said. "All I have to do is yell and he'll come running out."

"Oh," Mizuki mused, rubbing one of her legs, "Slutting around now, are we? My goodness, Anko, what would your sensei think?"

Anko kicked him away. "Get out of my apartment."

Mizuki pressed her into the cushions. "Why not let bygones be bygones, girl?"

"Because I don't like you," Anko growled. "AT ALL!"

Mizuki, much to Anko's surprise, only smiled. "Oh, but you will, especially since I'm the only one in this pathetic village who knows where Lord Orochimaru went off to."

Anko froze, her head spinning with images of him and the pain he left behind for her to deal with. "You…you're lying!" she snapped. "Why the hell would he tell you anything?"

Mizuki grinned, obviously pleased to be in her attention space. "Because I'm the closest connection to him you have now." He leant down so that his mouth was right next to her ear. "So I suggest you start being very nice to me if you want his location."

Anko's dazed eyes widened as Mizuki's uncomfortable warm lips barely grazed her neck. "JIRAIYA!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Bitch!" Mizuki hissed as he tried to shut Anko up.

Someone cleared their throat loudly and both of the shinobi's stopped and looked up. Jiraiya was standing at in front of the hallway entrance with a glare that just dared Mizuki to touch her again.

Mizuki jumped a few feet away from Anko while she stood up as well, straightening her appearance. "Jiraiya," Anko soothed calmly. "This is Mizuki."

"Hey," Jiraiya grunted.

Mizuki gulped, side-glancing to Anko. "Who is this?"

"The Gallant Jiraiya." Anko snorted.

Jiraiya couldn't help but smirk. He walked up beside Anko was glad to see Mizuki back up, intimidated by the large man. "No offense, Anko, but he doesn't really seem like your type." He said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He's not." Anko growled.

Jiraiya turned back to Mizuki. "From the looks of things, it seems you've overstayed your welcome."

Mizuki gulped and slowly backed up. "Yes, I'll leave now…" His eyes wandered to Anko. He smirked as he remembered the object he had come here to give her. "But first," he continued as he searched through his vest for the item he had brought along. "I wanted to return this to you, Anko."

Anko flinched when she saw the white box he had given her the day of her birthday.

"You actually dug around in my garbage?" Anko asked a little shakily.

Mizuki rolled his eyes in a playful matter. "Hopefully, you'll open it the second time around."

Anko glared at him. "I don't want anything from you."

Mizuki grinned manically. "We'll see about that." With that, he quickly bent over and kissed Anko harshly on the lips.

Anko's quick reflexes went into effect and she slapped Mizuki as hard as she could across the face. "You son of a—AH!"

She turned away and spat Mizuki's taste out. She caught a glimpse of Jiraiya storming out the door before a slight yelp and the door slamming shut. After a few minutes, he returned, red-faced and slightly calmer.

Anko was at her sink, gargling sake. She wiped her mouth and turned back to Jiraiya. "I swear, I think he gave me tongue."

Jiraiya scoffed. "Don't worry, I set him straight."

Anko sighed, "Is he dead?"

Jiraiya grinned. "Not yet."

"Men." Anko jeered.

"Speaking of which," Jiraiya sighed with a yawn, "I have to go check up on Old Man Third. Want to come?"

Anko felt a wave of nausea fill her stomach. She did not want to see him right now. Somehow that geezer could tell what was wrong with her, and she didn't need her secret spilled just yet.

"No thanks," She answered in her normal tone, "I'm supposed to get as much rest as possible."

"Oh, come on," Jiraiya pushed, "The fresh air will do you some good."

"Maybe some other time."

Jiraiya walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on."

A wave of pain and remorse hit Anko when he touched. She jerked away violently. "I said no!"

Jiraiya stared at her for a moment. She had been just fine until Mizuki showed up.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"Quit with the damn boyfriend thing!" Anko snapped, "And who are you talking about?"

"That Mizuki fellow."

Anko felt like ripping her hair out. "Not by a long shot."

"All right, all right," Jiraiya said, trying to calm her down. "He just seemed so familiar with you, I thought that—"

"Mizuki is a lying, perverted, son of a bitch who doesn't even deserve to walk in the Leaf Village's Looney House!" Anko screamed as she flopped down on her couch. She curled up into a tight ball. "You would know that if you had believed me a month ago."

"Anko—"

"None of this was supposed to happen." Anko whispered into her arms as Orochimaru's words went through one ear and out the other. She felt Jiraiya hovering over her and snapped. "Just leave, will you?"

Jiraiya was about to say something but closed his mouth. What ever happened in the past three days had really messed with her, and just pestering her wasn't going to help at all.

"Okay," he said, heading towards the door, giving Anko one last glance. "I'll be in the village for the next week or so, we should hook up."

Anko responded by turning her back to him. "Lock the door."

Jiraiya sighed. "Glad to see you're okay."

Anko flinched when the door gently closed. She grasped the sides of her aching head. "I'm so sorry, Jiraiya."

Sorry just isn't enough sometimes. It certainly wasn't enough for her when Orochimaru left.

"This wasn't supposed to happen. I was never supposed to feel this way about him."

She was never supposed to think more of him than a psychopath ex-teacher. They were supposed to run into each other years from now and kill each other. That was the plan, her perfect, clean plan. That was what she had wanted the day he abandoned her in the wet sand of the Land of the Sea. But now, through the want to see him, she wanted his flesh to rip between her hands.

She sat up slowly, her rage-filled eyes staring at the tools she was going to use. One day, maybe sooner than she thought, Orochimaru would be hers, but he would be her victim. She didn't quite have the heart to kill her ex-sensei and lover yet, but she could maim him. And she would maim him good. And not in an awesomely sexual way either!

Anko shot up suddenly. Mizuki said he knew! But, everything that came out of Mizuki's mouth was skeptical. She couldn't trust him, no matter what he said.

She stood up and headed to her bedroom to change. "I'm guess I'll just have to go out and find him myself."

,.,.,.,.,.,

"I keep telling you," Itachi groaned, "I don't know where he is."

He was exhausted from sitting in the little room of the Hokage's residence for the last three hours. His heart was on high alert however. He hated lying, and when he did it took a lot of effort, but he couldn't allow this terrible man to lock Ryik up again. He owed him that much.

Danzō sighed and leant back in his chair. "You're making this harder than it has to be."

"There's nothing hard about it." Itachi said. "I haven't seen Ryik Katzan since the day you sent your men to attack my mother and drag him out of my house!"

"All was necessary."

Itachi jumped from his seat and reached out to grab Danzō's neck, but stopped himself. As much he wanted to do it, to release the anger that had been bundled up inside him for the last few days, he just couldn't. He wasn't a mindless murderer.

Instead, Itachi leveled his face with Danzō's and stated, "If you ever break into my home again, I will kill you."

Danzō grinned, the first sign of emotion he had shown all throughout the interrogation. "You wouldn't dare."

"Don't try me." Itachi growled. With that, he pushed his chair in and walked to the unguarded door.

"You're harboring a criminal, Itachi!" Danzō shouted after him. "It's only a matter of time before he turns on you."

"Go to hell." Itachi spat before slamming the door. He hadn't meant to say that, be his head was spinning so much that nothing inside him was working right.

Wherever Ryik was hiding, he hoped he couldn't be found.

"Itachi, so there you are-"

Itachi growled and shot around. "Now what do you—Oh, Hokage-sama! I didn't know you were already out of the hospital."

The Third Hokage grinned. "The enemy isn't going to wait around for an old coop like me to recover." He studied the depressed look on the bowing youth seriously. He placed a hand on his shoulder to signal he could rise. "You're looking washed out, Itachi, have you been working too hard again?"

Itachi quickly pulled from his grasp. "Um…no sir. I've…just haven't been…feeling like myself."

Hiruzen wanted to press further, but the sound of a nine-year-old's cursing cut him off.

"Found him." A breathless ANBU said as he dragged Ryik into the hallway. "He was hiding in the basement, eating tuna fish."

"SO HELP ME IF I SEE THAT NO-GOOD SON OF A JACKAL ONE EYE, I'LL KILL HIM! I'LL DO IT, SO HELP ME GOD!" Ryik looked up and immediately silenced when he saw Itachi. "You've got to be kidding me."

Hiruzen sighed. "Bring him in, you too, Itachi."

Itachi lowered his head as Ryik wiggled from the ANBU's arms and slumped into the office. "What's up Hokage-man?"

"A little respect for your elders won't kill you." Itachi sighed as he walked up beside Ryik.

Ryik glared at him. "A little trust on your part wouldn't kill you either, you bastard."

"Ryik, that is enough." The Hokage snapped, silencing the little fire demon. He nodded the ANBU to leave and sat back down in his chair. "Now, I have something in store for both of you and—"

A knock at the door interrupted him. He groaned, he was never going to get this out.

"Come in," he ordered impatiently.

A sheepish Jiraiya entered. "Sorry, I'm late, but seriously, old man, you just got out of the hospital. Keep your cool!"

"I like this guy." Ryik, temporarily forgetting his anger, whispered to Itachi.

"Now that MOST of you are here," Hiruzen growled, shooting a glare at Jiraiya. "There is a matter I wish to bring up with you three: a person I'm sure your all are well-acquainted with."

Ryik and Itachi glanced at each other, each expecting a certain Tokubetsu Jōnin nutcase to be mentioned.

Hiruzen brought out a file. "This is about Anko Mitarashi and her…recent activity."

"Oh, snap." Ryik murmured.

"Shut up." Itachi whispered, kicking Ryik in the leg.

"You shut up!" Ryik growled, kicking him back. A kicking fest began between the two.

"Both of you shut up!" Jiraiya hissed as he slapped both of the boys on the back of the head.

Hiruzen continued despite the throbbing vein on his forehead. "From what my sources have told me, Anko Mitarashi has participated in dangerous and rather idiotic events in the last month and a half that has endangered several lives."

"You have no idea." Ryik murmured.

"Neither less," the Third continued. "She deserves this…"

Itachi and Ryik gulped as Hiruzen opened a drawl and searched for an object.

"I'll jump him, you knock him out!" Ryik hissed.

"You can't attack the Hokage, you'll be incriminated." Itachi hissed.

"That's why I said "we", smart-aleck!"

"What are you two going on about?" Jiraiya whispered.

"…Nothin'." Ryik responded. He sucked in his breath as Hiruzen brought out a…pen?

"I've decided to promote Anko to a full Jōnin. She's deserved it. You two seemed to be quite acquainted with her, so I believe you should—"

Ryik jumped on top of the desk. "NO, MAN, DON'T DO! SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO—Jōnin, you say?"

"Get down, Ryik." Itachi hissed.

"…Yes," Hiruzen continued. "But for every newly ranked ninja, there is a test that must be fulfilled."

"Say no more, Hokage-man!" Ryik shrilled. "Uchiha and I will make sure Anko-girl studies for whatever examine you throw at her."

"I'm not giving her an exam, Ryik," Hiruzen laughed. "I'm giving her a mission; a mission you two and Jiraiya will accompany her on."

Itachi and Ryik exchanged glances.

"Okay," Itachi said, "What's the mission?"

"We're tracking Orochimaru down." Jiraiya cut in. "A completely reliable source has given me the location of his current hide away."

Itachi paled. He had to somehow keep this mission from taking place. Anko's insanity intended on it!

"Is this really necessary?" Itachi asked. "I mean, wouldn't an escort mission or document carrying be more appropriate to test her trust and abilities?"

"What he said!" Ryik chirped.

"This isn't just about her abilities as a shinobi," Hiruzen said as he stood and turned to the bright window. "This is about facing her own demons and overcoming them."

The people in the room froze in silence.

Hiruzen stared into the orange sunset in awe. "Almost five years ago, after we found Anko after Orochimaru's betrayal, I asked her if she wanted to continue her ninja training. I said nothing would be held against her if she quit, it was her choice." He swallowed, almost tasting the tension from all those years ago. "She paled up, almost as if I asked her if she wanted to die. But then she smiled and said she wanted to prove that Orochimaru made a mistake tossing her aside."

Jiraiya smiled at that statement. It sounded exactly like something like the Anko Mitarashi he knew would say.

"I want to help Anko go through with that promise; I want Orochimaru to regret what he did to her, plus hundreds of other people."

"…Yeah," Ryik said. "about that…"

"Don't. Say. A. Word." Itachi growled dangerously.

"So," Hiruzen spoke, turning back to them. "Will you help her? She can't do it entirely alone."

"I'm in." Jiraiya said instantly. "I have a thing or two I want to say to that snake myself."

Hiruzen nodded and looked at Ryik and Itachi. "Boys?"

After a moment, Itachi replied. "I'll help her any way I can." He looked at Ryik who looked like he was ready to kill. "Ryik," he whispered. "Do it for Anko."

Ryik flinched, her dark brown eyes flaring. He snarled and walked away. "I'm gonna go talk to her." He said as he slammed the door.

"That's a yes." Itachi said. "I'm going to go with him." He bowed quickly and ran after Ryik.

Jiraiya laughed after a moment. "I can't believe Anko tolerates those two." He turned to the Hokage for a response, but saw that he was once again focused on the window.

The thirds eyes were glued on the two boys previously in his office arguing viciously. Ryik seemed the angriest of all, but it was Itachi who threw his hands in the air and stormed off, a shrieking Ryik trailing after him.

"Maybe I should have asked Iruka Umino to accompany her instead." Hiruzen murmured out loud.

"Don't worry about it." Jiraiya reassured, "This mission will be a success, I can feel it."

Hiruzen smiled despite his doubt. "You leave first thing in the morning; make sure all of them know."

"Yes." Jiraiya said, bowing. He stopped at the door. "Oh, and glad you're not dead."

Hiruzen rolled his eyes. "Get out of here before I throw you in prison."

Jiraiya laughed. "So sensitive…"

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,,

Anko looked up from her bag as a familiar yell rang through the house.

"Anko-girl!" Ryik shouted as he banged on Anko's door.

"She's probably asleep moron." Itachi spat harshly.

"Shut up! ANKO-GIRL, OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE IT KILLS ME A UCHIHA!"

After a moment, there was the sound of feet stomping and: "Who the hell is knocking on my door!" The door was thrown open. Anko glared down at the two boys. "What are you trying to—"

Ryik and Itachi pushed past her, shouting all kinds of things at each other.

"Okay…" Anko said. She watched Ryik and Itachi fight for a few seconds before rolling her eyes and returning to her room. "I've got to find people my own age to hang out with." She muttered. After making sure she had everything, she went back into her living room where Itachi and Ryik were still at each other's throats.

"Hey, guys." Anko yelled to get their attention.

They kept fighting however, now shoving and finally jumping each other.

Anko sighed and debated whether to separate them or leave them to pummel each other in their own blood. Her current mission of catching the Snake Sannin seemed more important however, and decided on the latter.

"Bye, guys." She said, knowing they wouldn't hear her. She closed the door and adjusted the straps of her backpack more securely on her shoulders as she went down the stairs. Just as she reached the last step, a giant figure got in her path.

"Hey!" Jiraiya greeted. "I was just coming to…Where you going?" he inquired, pointed at her bag.

"A trip." Anko said simply, pushing past him.

Jiraiya debated on what to do, "Will you be back in the morning?"

"Probably not." Anko said, trying to brush him away.

"Well…you need to stick around, Anko…so that we can leave by morning for your first Jōnin-ranked mission."

Anko stopped and turned around. "What are you talking about?"

Jiraiya smiled and walked up to her, pulling out a slip of paper. "Old Man Third has promoted you to a full Jonin, due to your craziness from the explosion. But you have to complete a mission to show you're ready for it."

Everything, all the anger and guilt, Anko had been feeling for the last couple of days melted into a puddle of overwhelming joy and happiness. This is what she had worked so hard for! This is what she wanted before the mission with Mizuki over a month ago sidetracked her!

She squealed with delight and almost threw Jiraiya down with a great hug. "I can't believe it! WA-HOO!"

Jiraiya stumbled back to maintain his balance. "Wow, Anko, you've gotten heavy." Jiraiya panted. Thankfully, Anko was too happy to let that comment upset her.

She pulled back and the happiest look she had ever had on her beautiful face shined. "So what's the mission, what do I have to do?"

Jiraiya smiled too, believing she'd be happy about the next part. "We're going to pay a bastard of ours a little visit."

"And?" Anko pressed, but Jiraiya laughed at her so she shook him roughly. "Come on, ten seconds ago I couldn't shut you up, give me details!"

Jiraiya rubbed his arm. "It's a capture/assassination mission on Orochimaru. If we're lucky, you'll get to take him out."

The crumpled up paper in Anko's hand fell to the floor, the glow on her face turning gray.

Jiraiya gripped to help ease the impact as she dropped to the floor. "Anko? Anko, what is it?"

"A-a-assassination?" Anko sputtered.

"Well, yeah." Jiraiya said. "Ryik, Itachi Uchiha, and I are going with you as back up, but you'll be in charge of… What's wrong?"

Anko looked down, unable to look at him.

Jiraiya was about to press on but the sound of a loud crash caught his attention. He looked back to see that Itachi had kicked Ryik off of Anko's porch and his back had been formally greeted with the ground.

"Bitch!" Ryik shouted before jumping up. "I'll kill you!"

"Oh. great," Jiraiya sighed as the two boys started wrestling in the dirt. He looked down at Anko to see if she was going to handle it, but she was still on the ground. He knew this was going to be a lot for her to take in, but he hadn't expected her to just break like this. He knew from experience that the best thing to do when a woman got like this was to leave them be and console them when they were themselves again.

And honestly, he's rather deal with two ruthless boys in the dirt than a pissed Anko any day.

"I'll be right back," he said.

Anko didn't respond. Orochimaru had taken over her mind yet again, but it wasn't anger or frustration, it was fear. She couldn't let him die yet, not like this anyway! She had to come up with something to warn him, to save his life…if he was even still alive.

She looked up and saw the blurry image of Jiraiya separating Itachi and a bloodied-nose Ryik. With just the boys, she could probably get away with it. She'd owe them big time, but that wouldn't matter later on. But with Jiraiya…

She felt a panic attack getting started and crawled off to a wall to calm down. She tried to clear her mind, but Orochimaru's smiling lips and sarcastic expression drew her back.

"Orochimaru…" Anko couldn't take the thought of killing him anymore and let a few sobs out. "Orochimaru, I don't know what to do!"