Italics: Bits of Flashbacks that go along with Anko's thoughts.
.,.,.,.,.,.
I want what's left of us
Just hurry up and throw me the bones you bleed
I am not the one who forgot
On second thought, I'm leaving this life
You scream...
Nobody knows me, nobody will
Nobody knows this pain I feel
Taken for insult or taken to heal
Or taken away
We're all like you
We've all seen through your eyes, with our lives
It's not easy to go on, believe me
It's alright
We're all alike
Do you want to know what you can't allow inside
And out of hope
And still you scream...
We're all alike
Evans Blue's- "Through your eyes"
He was there again, haunting her sleep as he had for the last several years. What he didn't know was that she was not afraid this time. She had killed him; he could not hurt her.
Besides, this was only a dream. A hideous, horrible nightmare.
Right? Of course.
He knew this. It was shown in the way his eyes were cast to her in an unsure glare, the way he clenched his fists to keep himself from making a wrong move.
"Why are you here?" she hissed at him through the darkness.
He smirked through his worry. "I miss you."
"Fuck off." Anko growled, throwing her hand up in dismissal. But she had nowhere to go.
"Oh but darling," he retorted, stepping closer. "I'd like to fuck off with you."
Anko jumped back. Her mind was set. She was never going to be used by him again. He was never going to gain any type of control over her. "You are not going to do that again."
"Why not?" he questioned soothingly, his figure becoming more clearer and frightening. "You enjoyed it last time, why not let me pleasure you once more?"
"I hated it!" she screamed at him, the malice in her tone causing him to halt. "How could you do that to me? What were you trying to prove?"
His jaw clenched. "I…was trying to prove that I could break you at anytime," he smirked in reassurance of his tale. "that no matter what you think, what you do, I am so much stronger that you will ever be."
Anko scoffed, much to his surprise.
"Maybe power wise, but in human strength and self-control, I have the lions share." she licked her lips. "You're so weak it's sad."
"Do not test me girl!" he growled. He was losing.
"I've already have, and you've failed. Miserable."
"Anko?"
Anko glanced behind her. A light of some sort was starting to break through the utter darkness.
Iruka…
"Sorry Sensei," she teased. "My darling-dearest is waiting."
Orochimaru smirked, finding her only weakness so far. "You're fucking him now? He'll be done with you in a week."
Anko rolled her eyes and turned away from him. "He's dealt with me this long."
"Trust me Anko," Orochimaru played. "After a few rolls in the hay, he'll want to find someone better." He tested his waters. "I know I did."
Anko jolted to a stop. "You little bastard-
"Anko, wake up now."
Anko closed her eyes and let her hatred towards the man behind her die away with the melody of Iruka's voice. "That was a low blow," she said to him, smirking. "But you're not worth me sticking around to beat the Hell out of."
"You want to bet?"
Anko understood it now, why he kept testing her. He was stalling her. He wanted her to stay. "Not really. Goodbye Orochimaru."
No.
"Don't you dare." Orochimaru warned, grinning sickly.
Breaking.
Anko almost considered stopping, but the moment that made her hate him flashed through her thoughts and she picked up speed. "I killed you. You can't do shit." she scoffed.
"Anko!" he hissed after her.
She blocked him out. "I'm through with you."
This time I'll be the one to walk away.
"Please don't leave…"
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
"Anko, come on sweetheart, wake up."
Anko slapped groggily at the offensive voice. "No…" she whined.
Iruka chuckled at her childish behavior. "Anko, I have to go now. I wanted to say goodbye so that you won't kill me later."
Anko's eyes cracked slightly. How thoughtful of him. Her sleepy mind had yet to take in the seriousness of what she had done the night before.
She took her time sitting up, too tired to care that Iruka might be in a hurry. "Well," she yawned, making sure she was covered, "bye."
He smiled and leaned forward, brushing against her lightly and fully waking her with a gentle kiss.
She was a bit annoyed by his tenderness. He was still treating her like a fragile doll despite some of the rough, unspeakable things she had put him through. In a way however, she was thankful.
Orochimaru wasn't as nice.
Their lips kneaded together slowly, still adjusting to the new tastes. Iruka's mind was still spinning from the amazingly fun sin he had committed the night before. He loved Anko so much, more now than he ever had. But there was that sickening reality that she didn't love him back, that he was just one of those one night stands and she didn't want him anymore.
He pulled back and caressed her warm cheek. Anko's tired eyes closed and her head rolled deeper into the embrace. No, She wouldn't do that. She may have been rough and scorched on the outside, but he knew that there was an actual human-being under her that needed him more than he needed her.
She didn't know what to think when he pulled away.
"You should get more sleep. I don't need the Hokage coming after me for helping you break your deal." he whispered. He gave her one last long kiss and slowly left, his eyes on her until the wall got in the way.
Anko laid there after that, now trying to grasp what she did. She had hooked up with her best friend, and felt sick to her stomach for doing it. She shouldn't have used him like that, not after all he had done for her.
She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling, horrifyingly similar to the way she had that dark night just four days ago. And as she was then, she was numb all over and confused. All she wanted to do was scream and break something but her body was too stiff to cooperate. She felt anger, regret, and hate towards the man she slept with.
But f she had asked for it this time,
Don't treat me like I'm breakable.
Why did she feel so tainted?
Is this what runs through every raped victim brain when they try to move on?
She hated that word: victim. It was a person who had subcommand to darkness, to weakness. She had been one and hated it. Jiraiya had been right; she could have done something more to stop Orochimaru. But what could you do when a maniac had a hand around your neck and a knee dug so far in your stomach you couldn't breathe?
She took in a deep breath, absolutely determined that it was not going to get to her right away. She flipped over on her stomach, hissing some from the dull pain, and buried herself deep into the warm blankets. "I'll think about it later, when Iruka comes back."
If he comes back.
That one thought prevented her from sleeping.
.,.,.,.,.
It couldn't be. It was impossible.
Mizuki watched in numbing shock as the vaguely familiar Iruka Umino quietly snuck out of Anko's apartment. What the Hell was he doing there? He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to deny the possibility that Anko had recovered so quickly from her mission not even a week later.
He let out a shaky sigh and began to descend from his former destination, his mind set on a new task.
Orochimaru was not going to like this.
"Iruka Umino, you dog."
Iruka jumped at the familiar tease from behind him. Mizuki slid out from behind a dark alley, an all-knowing smirk plastered on his pale face. He slid beside him, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but was that or was that not Anko Mitarashi's apartment you just tried to sneak from?"
Iruka sighed, his cover blown. "Mizuki, don't jump to conclusions."
Mizuki slung an arm around his comrades shoulders pulling him close. "Oh I'm jumping all right," he leaned into him, teasing him, "Jumping like the way you jumped into Anko's bed last night."
Iruka snatched out of his grip. "Shut up will you?"
Mizuki frowned. "What? You can't deny it Iruka. I saw you, and besides, I highly doubt you of all people were able to keep your "goody-goody gentlemen" incognito up with someone like Anko Mitarashi."
Cracking.
"I said shut the fuck up!"
Mizuki stared at him. "Don't get mad at me because you fucked up."
Cracking.
"Mizuki, I mean it."
Mizuki smirked. "So do I."
Iruka's lips were shaking. He couldn't think of anything else to say; all he wanted to do was walk away and clear his head at work, but at the same time, he craved to have someone console him, help him see past the current dilemma. "I'm sorry." He apologized. "I…I'm just confused."
Mizuki forced his smirk to stay friendly. "Virgin regret huh?"
Iruka leaned into a wall and slid to the ground, Mizuki's warmth quickly followed. "I shouldn't have done it, not like this…but…she was just so sad, and lost, and…and I didn't know what else I could do."
"Pity sex huh?"
Iruka gave him a look that dared him to say one more thing.
Mizuki turned away for a second, swallowing his seething rage before faking a gentle smile. "Did she seem troubled when you left?"
"No." Iruka whispered. He looked down at his knees. "She was still practically asleep."
Mizuki stood, gaining a questionable look from his companion. "Then you have nothing to worry about. I have a few experiences with Anko's anger, as you know, and trust me Umino, if she was pissed, you'd have left her apartment with broken legs."
Iruka watched him slowly leave. He felt graced with reassurance, with hope, and questions that he wasn't ready to have answered.
A scowl was etched on his face, but his voice was still full of coaxing grace. "You said you wanted to help her, and since she didn't kill you in your sleep, it seems you did." He's fingers twitched, the urge to dig Iruka's orbs straight out of his eye-sockets growing more incising. It was time to leave. "Just tell her how you feel." He said, and walked on in a quicker pace.
Iruka sat there for a moment longer, staring at the space Mizuki had been. He wished he was still here so that it wouldn't be empty any more, but he couldn't pull him into his mistakes. He had to stand on his own legs, had to fix this himself. Sighing, he headed to the academy, the idea of his first day on the job lifting his spirits graciously.
But suddenly he stopped, realization hitting him. Hard. "Why was Mizuki near Anko's apartment?"
.,.,.,.,.,.,.
"No." Mikoto stated firmly, clinging to her youngest child as she declined to Itachi's latest request.
"Please Mom," Itachi begged, like a child begging for a new and incredibly expensive toy. Only, Ryik was the toy.
"Itachi," Mikoto growled, gulping. She never had to get on to her children and she hated to start now. "I am not letting that thing back into our house."
"Mom!" Itachi hissed, glancing at Ryik to see if he had heard. His body was still under the covers, as it had been ever since their argument. Itachi knew he was awake though, and probably hurt from Mikoto's comment. It must have hurt more considering Ryik really liked the Uchiha mother. "Please Mother, if he doesn't stay with us, he'll go back with ANBU and put himself in danger again!"
She swallowed her tears "I can't put you and Sasuke in danger again sweetie," She whispered in her motherly tone, placing a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "Try to understand." Sasuke struggled in her arms and she sat him down, watching him as he toddled around only a foot from the bed
Itachi snatched away, the first time in his life he had left one of his mother's embraces. "You should do the same." he snapped. "Ryik needs me, us, but you're too much of a coward to try."
Mikoto's movements were not her own as her hand collided with Itachi's left cheek. She jumped from his bedside, covering her mouth with the hand she had offended him with to harbor the yelp of surprise.
Itachi remained frozen. She had never hit him. His dear, mousy, loving mother had not once laid a hand on him other than to inflict an adoring act upon his form. However, he could barely feel it. Why was that? Did he love his mother too much for him to feel any pain from her? Or was he becoming too numb to feel anything? He couldn't look at her.
"I'm so sorry." He heard her sob. The sobbing continued as she hauled Sasuke from the floor.
The door opened. Fugaku entered, but was almost pushed back out when Mikoto barged into him. He saw the tears on his wife's face, and the worried expression on Sasuke's innocent features. Something terrible must have happened if his strong, noble mate was in sorrow. He turned a stern look to his oldest son, instantly noticing the bright pink patch that stood out of place on his tan face.
"What happened?"
Itachi looked up at him. Isn't it obvious?
Fugkau was angry, but found a rope of humor twisted in with the situation. "What on earth could you say to cause her to slap you, son?"
The truth.
The Uchiha elder rolled his eyes at Itachi's childish silent treatment. "Whatever the reason, " He stood, readying himself to leave, "don't let it happen again; I have the hardest time dealing with your mother when she's hysterical."
Something inside Itachi's brain pressed against his possessive points. He lifted his shamed head to face his father, staring at him, absolutely dumbfounded. He shrugged. "Is that it?"
Fugaku eyed him.
"Why aren't you giving some kind of long-ass speech about how I should respect the woman who brought me into this world?"
"Watch your mouth young man." Fugaku snarled. "She might have brought you here, but so help me God I can take you out."
Itachi, against his will, laughed at this. "Are you threatening me?" He added with an exaggerated air, "Father I am shocked!"
Fugaku stepped forward and grabbed the smirking boy's collar. "One more word out of you and I'll make sure you're in this hospital for a very long time."
"Go ahead." Itachi dared with a smirk. "Like they'd even notice another bruise, right?"
Fagaku blinked, and after a long moment, laughed and released Itachi with a gentle push.
This was a game they played. Neither one of them could respect each other as blood relations, but they could value the way they were able to drive each other out of their skins. Fagaku treated Itachi more like a pupil than his son, and tortured him like one. Itachi resented him for the things he made him do, for the pieces of his childhood he couldn't live because of him. But he was his father neither less, and Itachi loved him…sometimes.
"Do what you want." Fagaku scoffed. "I'll be back later to check you out."
"I'll try to contain my excitement," Itachi muttered, pulling the covers back to his chin. His eyes landed on the hunched figure that had been the center of his attention just five minutes ago. "Dad!" Itachi called out, jumping up despite the agony.
Fagaku paused, his body hallway out the door. "What is it?"
Itachi gulped. He hated to betray his like this mother, but he had to regain Ryik's friendship at any cost. "Would it be okay if Ryik stayed with us like he did last time?"
"That spiky-haired fellow?"
Itachi nodded to the white hump on the other side of the room.
Fagaku stared at him for a moment, his face screwed in an expression of deep thought. "Didn't he get in trouble with you mother last time he was here?"
Itachi restrained a flinch. His mother had kept the ANBU visit a secret, whether to prevent Fugaku from going out on a tangent with the Hokage, or maybe, for Ryik's benefit. "Yeah, but I'm sure she's over it now." He swallowed the vile filling his throat with the next words he had to say. "Please?"
Fugaku smirked, enjoying the disgust on Itachi's face. "I'll try to talk her into it."
"Great." Itachi sighed. He watched him leave before turning to Ryik, smirking. "Looks like we're going to be roommates again Buddy." To his absolute surprise, Ryik peeked out from the sheet for the first time in over a day.
His eyes were bright red. He had been crying. "It don't matter what you do," Ryik whispered. "I's getting the Hell out of here before they get the chance to lock me up again. If I don't, I ain't never getting out this time." He re-hid himself.
Itachi was speechless at the renewed sobbing. The Hokage wouldn't let Ryik go back there after all he had done, right? He looked down. He couldn't let those monsters drag Ryik back into that Hellhole, but if his parents wouldn't allow him to stay with him, then where was the haven? There was only one other person, someone he had tried to push into his subconscious. But she was back, and he needed her help. He slipped out from under the warm blankets and made contact with the chilly atmosphere. He removed his hospital clothes and dressed in a clean outfit his mother had left for him during her visit that morning.
With determination etched in his heart, he opened the window and slipped outside, his farewell to Ryik being: "Don't worry Ryik, I'll keep safe from the monsters."
Ryik's body slowly came to life at the sound of the window closing. Itachi was doing the sole deed that could save his life, and it set the flame inside her back on. However, he was still filled with anger, and was not going to rely on the Uchiha for everything.
The covers soon came off of him too. It was time for action.
It was time to forgive.
.,.,.,.,.
This was getting old; the whole waking up in intense pain scenario.
However, Anko could tell that it was well after noon by the way the sunlight leaked through her window and she had to get up sometime. Growling, she threw the warm covers off and stretched her limbs. She wasn't nearly as achy as she thought she would be after a night intercourse. Iruka had been unsatisfying gentle, but Anko had expected that.
Iruka still believed she was some kind of delicate flower that needed constant care and pampering despite some of the…activities she had introduced him to the night before. She'd have to work harder for him to catch the hint, but at the moment, her only real concern was getting up, finding the last of the pain medication she had saved, taking a shower, and picking up the cracking pieces of her life.
She used the sheet to cover herself and scouted around for her dress. It was in a neat, almost perfectly folded pile at the foot of her bed. Anko rolled her eyes; she had to break Iruka of some of his sickeningly nice habits.
She found the material she was looking for and searched the pockets for the remaining pills, and was puzzled to find they were gone. Had she finished them off sometime during the night? Had Iruka found them when he was getting up and thrown them away?
She groaned loudly and threw the dress to the side, heading to the shower. She'd just have to go by the drug store later and pick some of her own up. The shower curtain, which had been torn down due to her carelessness the night before, was now fixed securely in the tub. She was fairly certain it was Iruka, but something in the back of her mind called out Jiraiya's name. She pushed him in the back of her mind. She was still mad at him. She decided to scrub him out of her brain.
Everything was much different than it had been before. She didn't feel like the world was crushing down on her, nor like she needed death to escape her turmoil. There were no fresh bruises on her skin, nor bite marks. There were no traces of Orochimaru on her body, thanks to the makeup that was Iruka Umino.
She wondered about him. Was he planning on going through this screw up of a relationship they had started together? Was he anything like Orochimaru and-
No, she wouldn't even think about that question. Iruka wouldn't hurt her; she just had to realize that. Just as she was starting to relax for once, a quaking knock on her door rattled her entire mind.
"H-Hello?" she called while subconsciously covering herself despite the security her shower curtain already provided.
There was silence, and Anko stepped out slowly to retrieve her bathrobe. Maybe it was all in her head.
The knock repeated, this time harder. Anko whined and tied the belt tightly around her, pulling up her hair in a wet, sloppy ponytail. "Just a sec."
BAM BAM BAM
Translation: Open the damn door!
Anko pulled her door open, her frustration clouding her better judgment. "Could you wait one damn-"
Pain. That was the only thing that made physical sense to her. The back of her head was throbbing with it, overflowing with it in fact. She tried to hold it together as she sprawled out on the floor and tried to form proper insults at her attacker. She jumped slightly as something heavy fell directly in front of her face: a heavy weight that resembled a purple Venus pig-figure that Lady Tsunade had given her on their final therapy session well over a year ago. It was supposed to be holding her leaning books against her bed shelf. It had the slightest smear of blood on the edge of it.
"I turn my back for one week, and you go off to fuck someone else."
Anko's heart jumped. It couldn't be…he was dead…she had killed him.
A pale face slumped to her level, but it wasn't the face she was thinking it was. "And it's that prick Iruka of all people." The fingers of the face flicked her head. "What a bitch."
Anko seethed at the familiar face. Through the relief, she felt great irate. "You're the bitch, Mizuki."
The demented shinobi howled with laughter.
Anko struggled to move away from him, but the pain in her head restricted her movements, and Mizuki's rampage wasn't making matters any better. "Would you shut your damn mouth?" Anko groaned as she managed to prop herself against the wall.
Suddenly, Mizuki's expression was wiped clean, his eyes focused on her in a way that made even someone as headstrong as her shake.
The impassivity changed into a snarl and Mizuki's hand shot up to collide in a hard smack against her cheek. He grabbed her by the back of the hair, arching her sore cheek to his raspy mouth. "You fucking slut!" He yanked her forwards and caught her mouth in a demanding kiss, forcing his tongue down her throat.
Anko shot out and bit his offending lips until the taste of blood made him release her. Her hatred was reaching a new height. "You're dead." she hissed.
Mizuki licked the small gash on his lips. "Of course," he pressed his leg between her damp thighs, "but that'll come much later."
"Why in the Hell do you keep doing this?" she hissed, trying to restrain the hands running on the openings of her robe. "What do you want from me!"
Mizuki's motions stopped and he stared at her quizzing, as if she should know the answer. He finally shrugged "I'm just keeping you warmed-up for Orochimaru-sama."
Anko flinched at the mention of her deceased ex-mentor's name. "Orochimaru…is dead." She gasped. "There is no reason for you to do anything anymore." She hoped he'd get the point, not only for her sake and his, but for his girlfriend Tsubaki, the woman who loved him dearly despite his record, and everyone else involved. "You're free."\
Lucky bastard.
Mizuki looked away, his expression showing he was giving her comment some thought. His grip on her loosened slightly, but not enough for her to escape with her head injury.
"Mizuki?"
He released a puff of breath, shaking his head as his gripped her again. He picked her up effortlessly, pressing is body to her, pulling at the rope of her bathrobe. "Well then, I suppose I can keep you all to myself."
Anko couldn't move for a moment. This was all too horrifyingly familiar.
Stop moving you bitch!
The slaps to her face, the severe punches to her stomach and skull, the constant pounding to her lower regions…all of it was going to happen again.
Unless…
Anko let her body slip down the wall in surrender, to make him think that anyway.
He's just one more person to deceive.
"And where are you going." he played, watching her as she reached his knees. He put his hands against wall, blocking her. "Ah, I see. So you want to do this the easy way. I can live with that.
She locked her gaze with his, distracting him with deception. She wanted to throw-up. "Like I have a choice…right."
His eyes were filled with lust and eccentricity. He was excited from just looking at her. He knew she must be good at what she did if she was able to get Lord Orochimaru and Iruka (not too surprising on his part) inside of her. Lust was an object men craved, but for him, it was only slightly different; he craved it from her and her alone. Why? He had no answer other than the resurging fact that Iruka craved it as well. That's rivalry for you.
He moaned slightly when on hand gripped his belt, the other sliding elsewhere. He didn't rush her. There was no one to interrupt them. Iruka would be gone until late evening, and from he had observed, she had severed her ties with Jiraiya and those other boys.
She stiffened when her fingers landed on the object she needed.
Got it.
"Fuck yourself."
His eyes didn't even open. Anko had slammed the pig sculptor into the side of Mizuki's skull with as much force as her weak being could muster; and by the way he fell lifelessly to the floor, it was a lot.
She stood when he fell, and watching him as he twitched in pain. She was not sorry. In fact, she felt so revived, as if she was taking out a vengeance note on Orochimaru through Mizuki. She held the side of her head and approached Mizuki who was still stunned from her blow. She smirked at him, so many feeling coursing through her veins. "I hate you." she hissed as she raised the object again.
Orochimaru?
"I…hate… you!"
Why did you do this to me?
"Die!"
Because I can, darling.
"Anko don't!"
She struggled against the arms that were restraining her wrists. The Venus figure collided with the wooden floor, breaking into several sorrow-filled pieces. She was pulled to the other side of the room, away from the weapon and Mizuki.
Shh…I'll take good care of you…
"Get off me!" Anko screamed at the top of her lungs. Her robe came open put she didn't care; she just had to get out of his arms. "Let me go you son of a bitch!" The hands tried to turn her around, and her struggling only increased. "Stop! You bastard I'll kill you"
I'd love to see you try
"Anko it's okay, it's me! It's Itachi!"
"Ita-" Anko's eyes parted with two rivulets of tears. She was staring into a blur of crimson, deep and dark, yet warm. Her tense body drooped into his supporting hands, her mind became more focused, her eyes seeing past the darkness that was the Uchiha and into the modern world filled with moans of pain from her fallen enemy.
She gently pulled away from Itachi's arms, staring at the youth with confused, demanding orbs. Only one thought on his progress came to mind: "What are you doing out of the hospital you idiot?"
Itachi grinned nervously, both from getting caught and having Anko's sanity back. "I…checked out earlier." His eyes lowered and fell on Anko's creamy breasts. He blushed and looked away quickly. Anko caught on and quickly closed her robe. "And." she pressed, her cheeks harbored with a blush of their own.
A groan covered Itachi's response. The two looked back to see Mizuki trying to pick himself up, a river of blood pouring from his temple which added to the crazed, livid expression on his face. "I'll kill you…" he spat, using his hands and feet to get up. His eyes were only set on Anko, as if he had no idea Itachi was with her. "I should have killed you when you were totaled to that damn hospital…or after the earthquake…or when you were lying in that fucker Iruka's arms."
Anko became defensive then. No one talked trash like that about her man, especially when this man was her best friend.
"Mizuki," Itachi said in a warning tone. "just calm down and-"
"Shut the Hell up brat!" Mizuki hissed menacing at the youth, reaching out for him. "This is between her and me!"
A large, gruff hand came down on Mizuki's shoulder, almost popping it out of place. "No, it's between you and me now scum."
"Jiraiya?" Anko gasped. His eyes fell on her for a slit second, but she couldn't tell what he was feeling. He was becoming rock solid, like her heart.
His cold eyes fell back on Mizuki, who he turned to face him. He grabbed the injured youth's collar, jerking him a few inches off of Anko's bloody floors. "Didn't I warn you last time that if you so much as breathed the same air as her again, I would slit your throat and drown you in your own blood?
Despite the haziness, Mizuki's fear was on wide alert.
Jiraiya smirked. "Anko, boy," he growled through his grin. "Cover your ears."
The obeyed, watching with horrified amusement as Jiraiya dragged Mizuki out of the room with a blood soaked fist. They could hear several muffled yelps and curses from both parties through their hands, and finally gave up with trying to block them out. There was the sound of a door slamming, and the two were left in thick silence.
Itachi glanced at Anko. She was shaking, and she looked disgusted and startled. He couldn't bring up Ryik when she was like this, but he was running out of time.
"Um, Anko…I…"
Anko stood. "I'm going to put some clothes on." She rummaged around her room, pulling several items out of a drawer before beginning to remove her robe. The room began to spin and Anko placed her hand against the wall to steady herself.
Itachi stepped up. "Anko, are you all right?"
Anko smirked. "I just had my head busted in, not to mention I was almost raped…again…what do you think?"
He shuddered at the prick of ice in her voice, but he knew she didn't entirely mean it. She was just upset and he would have to be patient. But he was running out of time.
Anko placed a hand to her wound and pulled back with a hiss. Her hand was bright pink, a sign that the bleeding had stopped.
"Damn," she growled, examining her injury through the mirror on the desk. "I hope this doesn't need stitches."
Itachi smiled and shrugged. "Do you have a first-aid kit? We can bandage it up ourselves."
Anko sighed tiredly and plopped back on her bed. "There's some stuff over the sink you can use." She rolled onto her side and held her head. "Damn I wish I had some pain killers."
Itachi gathered the half bottle of peroxide and a rag; there wasn't much for him to work with. She was dressed when he returned and asked her to take a seat.
Anko hissed as he moved her hair away from her wound. "Be more careful or let me do it, God."
Itachi gave her roots a light tug, earning a slap from Anko. An argument broke out between them.
"I mean it kid!"
"Would you quit squirming?"
"Hand it over, I'll do it."
"No, you won't do it right. I can handle it."
"You're making it worse!"
"Well you're not making it better!"
A blood coated Jiraiya stood outside of Anko's room, listening to the fight with an amused interest. Anko was still a child, no matter how stubborn and grown-up she acted. He remembered that little girl, the only student of his best friend. She was so outgoing and high-strung that Orochimaru had to constantly train her to wear her out, but somehow she was still on fire when he saw her. She was so happy back then.
Where did that child go?
He knocked, and the harassments on the other end faulted.
"Jiraiya?" Anko's voice called.
He opened the door just a crack and peaked in. Anko had Itachi by the hair while he had Anko's other arm pinned behind her back. He smiled at them and stepped in, reaching a hand out to Itachi. "I can take it from here."
Itachi hesitated. The Ryik subject still weighed so heavily on his tongue.
Jiraiya leaned down slightly so that Anko wouldn't get a clear hint of their conversation. "You might want to hurry before the ANBU drag that friend of yours away." Instead of the scared gaze he expected to see, he earned a glare from the young Uchiha, and a hit of the red orbs as he jumped from the bed and stormed out of the room.
"What did you say to him?" Anko demanded harshly.
Jiraiya shrugged. "Just a word of advice." He picked up the rag Itachi had thrown down and drenched it with peroxide before meeting Anko's unsure glare. "Can I see it?
Anko stared at him for a moment. She could still feel some of that rage and fear inside of her from the day before. Jiraiya had hurt her, and she couldn't tell if there was remorse on that stone face of his. She didn't know if she could trust again. Once was too much.
Still, she could feel a drop of warm blood pour down her neck, and knew she needed his help if she didn't want to spend another night in the hospital. She pulled her hair away from the gash, waiting for Jiraiya to make a move.
He sat down cautiously on the edge of her bed, gently cleansing the injury on her delicate head. It wasn't deep enough to be concerned about, but she would have one Heck of a migraine as it healed.
"Why'd you come back?" Anko asked with bitterness as Jiraiya continued to clean the gasp with small, gentle strokes.
He didn't know how he could tell her. How would she react to the fact that she might have not killed her ex-sensei? Would she be scared out of her mind and panic? Would she be relieved? Would she keep her true feeling from him and take it out latter? He hoped not, he needed to know how she felt.
He stopped what he was doing and placed a hand on he shoulder. "There is something I have to tell you."
Anko shrugged out of his grip, giving him a hard look. "You can explain without a little less touching, I'm sure."
Jiraiya stuffed his hands, showing he meant no harm. "Kid…" he was finding the words proper for the situation hard to come by. "I…"
Outside the building, Itachi edged himself as close to the window as he could without being seen. He was not about to listen to some old man who had no business with him. What was he saying to Anko? If he so much as laid a finger on her he'd kill him without a second thought.
He took in a ragged breath. The pain was coming back. He suddenly wished he had taken some pain killers before he snuck out of the hospital.
Speaking of sneaking out…
Itachi shot around as an extra weight caused the gutter by the windowsill to creak. "Ryik, what the Hell are you doing here!" he hissed.
"Oh, shut up Uchiha." Ryik spat back, situating himself on the gutter as carefully as possible. "What's going on in there?"
"You shouldn't be here." Itachi pressed. "If they find out we're both gone then-"
"They won't do shit to you." Ryik muttered.
Itachi was silent. Ryik was right, but he wouldn't let him face the punishment alone.
"Why'd you follow me?"
Ryik wouldn't look at him. "Who said I was? Maybe I just wanted to check on Anko girl here…" he face fell. He really felt awful about the things he had said to her yesterday. He didn't want to apologize directly, just drop hints here and there.
Itachi smiled gently. "I guess that makes more sense. Why else would you be seven stories above ground?"
Ryik looked at him long and hard. He knew Itachi was trying to make matters right after all that happened. He wanted to let it all slide, but there was too much pain under the wounds that would take much longer than he would like to heal. Still, he smiled at the Uchiha, laughing slightly. "Man, if it were just you, I'd leave your ass up here to freeze."
Itachi began to laugh with Ryik. It was so great to see this side of him again. Their laughter abruptly ended however when Ryik made a wrong step and began to fall forward, grabbing Itachi to balance his self but failing and pulling the boy with him straight through the window and onto Anko's bed.
Jiraiya froze, believing he was about to meet an intruder, but calmed when he saw it was only Ryik and Itachi. He glared at them as they groaned in pain. "I thought I told you to get your ass back to the hospital!"
Itachi struggled to lift the weight on top of him off, but soon discovered that the weight was too…human-like to move.
Ryik lifted his head from the sharp sheets, gasping when he came face-to-face with Itachi, who was pressed under him. This was awkward, yet too funny to resist.
"You have some beautiful eyes." Ryik commented.
Itachi blushed and threw Ryik on the floor, sitting up and picking pieces of glass out of his hair. "Moron."
Ryik jumped up. "It's your own damn fault for being so damn clumsy."
"Oh, I'm the clumsy one!"
Jiraiya cleared his throat loudly, earning their attention. However their attention quickly went to Anko. She was sitting on her desk, her head cast down.
"Anko girl?" Ryik inquired.
She didn't move.
Ryik gulped. "Look girly-girl, if this is about yesterday-"
"You two need to go." Jiraiya said, trying to be as gentle as possible. "Now."
Ryik shot past him and stopped at Anko. "Girl I'm…" he forced the words out. "I'm sorry. Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean, any of it. Not a damn word. So, you know, don't be sad anymore."
Now, Anko glanced at Ryik, but she said nothing.
"That's it." Jiraiya growled, reaching out an grabbing Ryik's collar. "Both of you out."
Itachi was grabbed as well, but he was a bit more cooperative. Ryik however was thrashing wildly. "Let go you me you damned-"
"Jiraiya!"
The three of them stopped, looking up at the bruised angel that was Anko. She jumped up from her desk and signaled for the Toad Sannin to follow her. "I want to talk to them; I'll walk you out."
Jiriaya didn't have a chance to deny her request before she was out the door. He released Ryik and with a thrash, and warned them as he left, "You two better behave yourselves."
Ryik glared at him as he straightened his shirt. "You should be looking after yourself old man."
"Ryik, chill." Itachi, also rearranging himself, whispered.
Jiraiya closed the door and headed to the living room where Anko was waiting. He calmed down instantly. He placed a hand on her shoulder and felt a slight lurch from her. "Are you okay?"
Anko rolled her eyes and forced a fake smile. "My ex-sensei, a man I could have sworn I watched bleed to death at my feet, a monster who fucked me and tried to kill me and the boys, might be up walking around and probably is looking for some bloodily amazing way to get back at me. How do you think I feel?"
Jiraiya shrugged anxiously. "I'm sure you're sad, and confused," his fingers ever so slightly brushed her cheek. "And maybe, just a little scared."
Anko could have melt at the warmth in his touch. She had been missing it, the gentle, fatherly aurora he gave off. She threw herself at him, clutching onto him tightly.
Jiraiya gasped at the sudden attack, but stilled and swallowed the gushy emotions trying to surface.
"What am I going to do Pervert?"
Jiraiya smiled weakly at the mention of one of his many nicknames. "I'm not going to say that everything is going to be all right, because I know you'll kick my ass if I do."
Anko also smiled, relieved at the humor in the situation.
"But," he continued. "I'm not leaving until I am more than certain you are safe."
Anko shook her head and pulled away slightly. "I won't let you do that. I won't let you, or Lord Hokage, or anyone waste there lives away for my sake."
"Anko," he sighed. "If it's for you, it's not a waste, it's a privilege."
Anko closed her eyes. She saw all the faces that would put their lives on the line against that mad man Orochimaru: Jiraiya, Hiruzen, Iruka, maybe Ryik and Itachi, and maybe even some of her comrades from the village. She then tried to picture those faces lying face-down in their blood. She opened her eyes to relieve herself of the nightmare. She would never let someone get hurt for her. She did not deserve their safety.
"If only you knew Jiraiya." she whispered in his strong chest. "If only-"
There was an abrupt bash at the door, and Anko jumped. Was Mizuki back for a round two? Was it the man they were discussing?
Jiraiya pushed Anko to the side before she could make a move. He was already trying to protect her. He pulled the door open, waiting for a fight, but only received a slight bump as a familiar Chūninpushed past him.
"Iruka, what are you doing here?" Anko questioned as Iruka, pale and wide-eyed, searched her over.
"I-I pasted Mizuki on the way up here. Anko, his head was gushing blood. I got worried…he…was he here?"
Anko's mouth fell open, but her brain would not give her the lie she was looking for.
Jiraiya stepped in instantly. Although, his support was exactly what Anko expected. "You should probably start looking for some new friends." Jiraiya said. He opened the door and started to walk out. "The one you have is going to cause you a lot of problems."
Iruka looked back and forth from Jiraiya to Anko, his face etched with question.
Anko put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Be right back." She slid past him and out the door, just in time to catch Jiraiya before he could reach the foot of the steps.
"Jiraiya, wait."
He did so, and looked back at her.
Now that she had his attention, she wasn't sure what to say. "I…um…" she fiddled with her hair slightly, annoyed with her self at the girly habit.
Jiraiya looked down, and finally had to let something out. "Anko, I'm…I'm sorry about yesterday."
She froze. She had almost forgotten about their tussle the night before. She didn't want to remember it at all, but it was too late to stop it.
"I didn't mean any of it." Jiraiya defended. "I swear it."
Anko forced that smile again. "It's okay-"
"No it's not!" he interrupted. "I was angry Anko. Not at you entirely, just from the whole blood mess." he ran a hand through his thick hair, but couldn't calm himself down. "I didn't want to believe that Orochimaru would do that to you. I didn't want to believe that he was mad enough do something like that. Anko, I'm so sorry. I took it out on the wrong person."
Anko wrapped her arms around his neck, locking him into a forgiving embrace. "I know you are. Everything's okay, I promise."
He kissed the top of her head. He knew she was lying. Poor girl; she was so messed up. If she didn't want him to stick around, how could he protect her? An idea came to him.
"Anko," he whispered, pushing her away enough so that he could see her. "Why don't you go with me this time?"
Anko lurched at his suggestion. "Jiraiya, you know I can't do that."
"Oh come on," he pressed, grinning. "We can go anywhere you want, do whatever you want."
Anko sighed. "Jiraiya, I can't just run away. More people will get hurt in my place."
"That's not going to happen." Jiraiya reassured. "Like I said, we're not entirely sure if he's still alive."
"But I do." Anko said. She pulled away and stood her ground. "And if he ever steps foot in this village again, Jiraiya I swear I'm going to kill him."
Jiraiya gulped at the darkness in her voice. "That's…great to know."
She looked back at him, a gentler expression on her face. She cupped his face, and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, but I have to fight for myself this time."
Jiraiya reluctantly nodded. He couldn't stop her, even if she was still just a child. "If you change your mind…"
She ruffled his unruly hair. "I won't. Goodnight."
He watched her retreat slowly, almost as if she was waiting for him to stop her. But he never did. He couldn't help her if she didn't want it.
She closed the door, and was immediately met with three pairs of differently, questionable eyes.
However, they all asked the same thing: "What the Hell is going on!"
Anko stared at the three with a blank expression. She knew what she wanted to say to them, but her mind, her poor, twisted mind, could not properly register the words she wanted to say.
She suddenly felt a weak pain in the back of her skull, so sharp and so deep that it made her nauseous.
It wasn't pain though.
It was sound. Laughter.
He was laughing at her.
She placed a hand over her mouth and leaned against the door.
Shut up.
A hand clasped onto her shoulder suddenly. She looked up and met the concerned, gentle features of Iruka. "Anko, are you all right?"
She could have pushed him away. She didn't want him in this mess anyway. He could be so much happier with someone else; someone who wasn't tainted and could put his life at risk. Yet, she wanted the warmth and love he was far too willing to give away. She hated to, but she would take advantage of him for just a while longer.
I'm not sorry.
She slid her arms around his awaiting neck. "Yeah, I'm fine." She murmured in his shoulder.
Iruka wasn't too sure what to do now, but just holding her seemed like the right thing to do.
However, their tender moment was shattered by Ryik.
"What in the Heck is going on around here?"
Anko rolled her eyes and pulled away from Iruka to listen to Ryik's ranting.
"Damn! Why the Hell are all these people walking up in here like they own somebody? I tell you it's crazy as-"
Itachi pulled him back, his eyes begging him to shut the heck up. Anko only smirked at his rambunctious behavior as she approached him.
She bent to their level, which was at her waist. "It's complicated."
The two youths stiffened as Anko suddenly pulled them to her, locking her arms around their slender waists. They looked at each other with unsure grins.
Anko held them close. Her boys. Two miscreants that were almost as screwed up as she was. Almost.
Itachi finally made some sense of her strange behavior. She was scared, and he could only think of one person who would stir it up inside of her.
"Is he coming here?" he whispered just to her.
Anko pulled away, her face smiling, but her eyes told him everything.
He kept quiet, but he would not let her get away with this secret.
"Listen guys," Anko sighed, crossing her arms. "Some things have come up, and…" she twitched. This wasn't working. She couldn't play calm much longer. "Well, I have to deal with them on my own."
Iruka raised an eyebrow in suspicion, worry filling his being. "What do you mean on your own?" It was Anko's turn to stare at him in question.
"As in, by myself, no assistance-"
"Without me?" His tone was rough.
Anko closed her eyes for a few seconds. She knew this would come, but hadn't mentally prepared for it. "Iruka…I don't think we can work this way."
"Oh shit," Ryik whispered to Itachi. "They's gonna have a throw-down like no other!"
"What's not going to work, Anko?" He knew good and well what she meant though. But he had to hear it from her mouth.
"Us Iruka." Anko sighed. She saw the shock on his face and turned away. She knew now that he felt the same way she had when she woke up after Orochimaru left due to his sickness: used, abandoned, and worthless. But men didn't take things as smoothly as most women did.
"What the Hell does the stuff you're going though have on our relationship?"
Ryik gasped. "Relationship! What the Hell did ya'll…" his caramel brown face turned green. "Oh Hell…you two did the…Oh…God no!"
Itachi put his head on his knees. "Is this why she's acting so strange?"
Both of the fighting parties ignored Ryik.
"It has everything to do with it Iruka." Anko went on. "It's made me into a person I don't even like, and I know you won't like her, so what's the point of you sticking around if I'm just going to make you miserable as Hell."
"Love Anko!" Iruka stated. "I want to be with you because I love you, you crazy, moody, psycho of a woman!"
Anko just rolled her eyes. "Iruka, you're eighteen. You don't know what the Hell love is."
"I have a basic idea." He said with a small smile, one of his hands trailing over her cheek. "I feel it every time I'm with you, and I want you to feel it too."
Ryik sniffled. "I feels like we's watching one of them soap operas."
"Ryik," Itachi begged wearily. "Please shut the Hell up."
Anko pulled away from Iruka's grip. "It's better this way. I can't sit back and let you or anyone else take care of me like I'm some kind of child. I have to be independent."
"Anko," Iruka laughed. "You are independent! I've spent the past six years watching you take care of yourself: shopping, paying bills, taking solo missions and refusing medical assistance if you come back conscious."
Anko couldn't help but smile at his words. He had always been that secret angel that had never let her out of his sight. It was a comfort, and a burden.
"But I don't want to see you be alone forever. I want to be with you, no matter how messed up you are. I want to be more than just a boyfriend, or whatever I am to you. I want to be…" He took in a nervous breath, running a hand through his hair.
Anko could sense the fear in his pulse. "You want to be what, Iruka?"
Ryik shook Itachi. "Man I'm scared!"
"Please!"
"Oh be quiet Uchiha, this is the most excitement I's had since you got the shit beat out of you by bone boy."
Itachi paled. "You just had to bring that up."
Iruka smiled and gripped the hand she had on his shoulder. "I want to be so much more."
"What is he doing now?" Ryik whisper to the Uchiha as Iruka knelt down on one knee.
Itachi was frozen. "Oh…shit!"
Anko's own knees were about to give out. No, she couldn't go through with this! She was just getting over an abusive relationship for God's sake!
"Iruka don-"
Too late.
"Anko, will you marry me?"
BUHAHAHAHHAAHA! I THREW YOU OUT ON A LIMB WITH THE WHOLE Orochimaru/Mizuki/Anko THING!
That was cruel, wasn't it?
Sorry '^-^ Fear not though! Orochimaru shall make a rather exciting entrance quite soon!
Please stop stoning my house, my window money got cut. : (