Ohmygosh! Very sorry for going missing in action for so long, and leaving you guys hanging!I hope that you guys can bear with me.
I am actually going to take my O-levels to get into junior college this year, and the teachers are not easing up on the tests and homework.

"In the language of flowers" will be updated, slowly but surely. It will be very irregular, but I will definitely complete it!

Thanks again to those who reviewed. Special thanks to those who have been continuing reviewing for every chapter! And, extra special thanks to Trissacar, for reviewing every chapter in every story that I wrote! Love you lots!
(It's pretty obvious isn't it...that's right, every single reviews really makes my day...)

Okay, enough of my ramblings I guess, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and any of its characters, and for this matter, some of the ideas used is adapted from their respective manga, so I do not own them too.


Anko panted and sweat trickled down her neck, as she viewed the fallen ninjas around her. How pathetic, to think that they even thought that they could take her on.
But still, weak as they are, if they kept coming relentlessly, even someone of her caliber will surely get tired.

But, she was tired and satisfied. One of the guys had ask if she had gone to the wrong venue, that she was supposed to go and become one of Orochimaru's, for the lack of a better word, toy. She had made it her personal responsibility to see that the very guy will never breath the same air as her again.

Suddenly, Anko heard someone clapping behind her. She thrust her leg backwards, aiming at where the person's head will be.
A hand shot out, and effortlessly blocked the possibly lethal blow. Anko felt positively shocked. She was sure that she had taken down all the fighters, so where did this person suddenly come from?

As Anko's eyes traveled up the pale hand that still held her leg, to that mysterious person's face, she found her voice stuck in her throat. The thudding of her heart seemed to have become so deafening that it was a wonder why that person did not sense it at all. She had finally came face to face with her ex-Sensei, Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smirked, as he saw her eyes widen in shock. She had obviously not seen this coming.
" Miss, it would be much appreciated if you refrain from striking at anything that comes near you without first identifying them. May I ask of your name? ...oh, and your leg, if you wouldn't mind..."

Anko blinked at him stupidly for a few times. Her leg? Then she looked at her leg, that was still positioned right above Orochimaru's shoulder, beside his head.
" Oh...oh! Err...yeah, my leg."

She lowered her leg. All of a sudden, the silence seemed very deafening.
She did not know what to say at all. She sneaked a peek at the man standing before her.

She have not seen him for a long time, and time had not been cruel to him. His skin, if possible, just seemed all the more paler.
Despite his age, there was no wrinkles or the likes, that usually comes together with aging. He truly still looked like the sensei that she had always admired from young, only that he seemed more mature than before.

"You can answer the question you know..."

Anko snapped out of her thoughts. "Eh? ...oh yeah! Umm...my name is..."
Shit! Why didn't I think of a name! She panicked, as Orochimaru looked at her expectantly.

"...Freesia. My name is Freesia."

Orochimaru looked at her, with indifference. But inside, he felt amused. Was it her mission to let herself get caught? Why did she even used that name? Nonetheless, he must admit that she still never fail to surprise him...

"Freesia...i have seen you in action, and I am please to say you meet every requirements needed to qualify as one of my elite guards. Kabuto will lead you to your room. There is still somethings that still needs to be settled. I hope you can get some rest, and be at your best condition tomorrow."

Anko stared at him, before following Kabuto. That wasn't too difficult... Actually, she was quite lucky that Orochimaru did not make any connection with the name to the real 'Anko'...
Or maybe, she thought, he knows about it but wants to keep quiet about it? ...nah, that can't be.
I think old age must be catching up to him! Thinking thus, Anko could not resist a giggle. Kabuto turned back, giving her a puzzled look.

Orochimaru watched Anko's retreating back. He had not failed to notice that she had grown during the time that he did not see her. Still, there was a little childishness that seemed to accompany her despite her age. He smirked. That's right Anko, rest well, for this is only the beginning.


Despite this very,very very late and short chapter, I still hope for reviews. Hope that it will not be too much to indulge me in my selfishness ^^