Lol, another update! ^^
My deepest apologies to all you readers, that this chapter had been delayed for one week. I did not want it to be too sloppy and rushed so that means that I have to spend more time on it. T.T

To Gerkyhen: Ah...well, I think that I just proved that writing fan-fiction at an ungodly hour like 1am is a recipe for disaster. ^^

To Trissacar: Ohmygod! You are back! ...nah, it's alright. After all, who doesn't have personal issues? Glad to have you back! .

To cs: It's alright, after all, now you did review! :P

To Ryunn Kazan: That is a poem thing I guess. I have tried my best and i hope they reflect what is in the respective chapters. Glad that you liked it. ^^

To NinjaSheik: Ah...patience please...but then again, I think your question will be answered at the next chapter. But he won't be 'telling' her...there would be no fun in that, wouldn't you agree? ^^

Thanks to those who reviewed!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and any of its characters. But I do own the poem! ^_^

X X X X X X X X X X X

Ahh...sudden revelations,
A nasty shock.
Now she knows her efforts,
Were all for naught.
He had known right from the start,
And had been silently playing his part.
But why didn't he kill her,
Why did he allow
Someone he abandoned,
To come back to him now?

A slip of the tongue,
How out of character.
Why it happened,
He wasn't sure.
But it will never happen again,
He will make sure of it.
Such qualities is unfitting of him.
Afterall, he aims to be the Ultimate Being.

The Fates looked on at the humans' sport,
Such complications right from the start.
When the Fates deals them their cards,
Will they manage to last, or,
Will death do them part?

X X X X X X X X X X X X

"Orochimaru sama, about that...is it really safe?"

Orochimaru smirked at his medic's unneeded concern. "I believe so, Kabuto. While the last 50 test subjects gave me a failure, the latest 10 showed favorable conditions. And even if something were to really go wrong, I don't think it will be anything I can't handle."

"But the effect will be for quite a long time, and the cure will only work after an hour...what if..." Kabuto was still unsure of his Lord's plan. It seemed mighty risky to him.

"If it were to come to that Kabuto, then allow me to say that I have full confidence in your capabilities. The mission is the next day, I hope that you have prepared what is necessary..."

Kabuto felt a little proud. Orochimaru is not one who dish out praises afterall. "Yes I understand, my Lord."

X X X X X X X X X X X X

This mission is mostly for the guards to familiarize themselves with each other, Orochimaru had said. That was the only reason why all five guards, Kabuto and even the Sannin himself is going on this mission, which was just to retrieve a container from one of his other bases.

She had found out more about the other guards, if knowing their names is considered something more. The silver-haired guy that left a lasting impression on her the last time they met, went by the name of Kadaj. The one with short and unruly black hair and piercing red eyes, was another boy called Kyo. And then there is the other girl, Winter, with long brown hair drawn back into a ponytail, and ocean blue eyes. Finally, there is Hei, who wears a green bandana, covering the front of his black hair.

All of them, when told to introduce themselves, had acted as if they did not know each other. Anko, taking the hint, mentioned nothing of what she saw and heard in the kitchen. She was still sore with Orochimaru at how he treated her, a couple of throbbing bruises on her arms acting as a constant reminder.

Still, Anko had been on high alert ever since the start of the journey, expecting anything to happen at any moment. But the mission had already gone on for two days, and yet nothing happened. She had even stayed awake when it was not her turn to keep a lookout at night when the others were asleep. Afterall, if they wanted an opportunity, the four of them could easily strike at Orochimaru when he was asleep and then escape into the cover of the night. This was the third day, in the evening, and they had already retrieved the rather large container, which the four guards have been carrying in turns.
(A/N: think of the container Sasuke was in while he was on his way to Sound)

Anko shifted the bulky thing in front of her, cursing the fact that it was her turn now. They were running through the forest, with Orochimaru in the lead.

Suddenly, Orochimaru came to an instantaneous stop, doubling back and coughing. One of his pale hand supported himself against a tree, while the other covered his mouth, as he attempted to regain his composure.

"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto exclaimed in shock, as he rushed over. The rest of the guards followed suit, all of them rushing to Orochimaru's side immediately. Anko was not even aware that she had dropped the container and rushed to help support Orochimaru, everything seemingly done instinctively, naturally.

"I am alright..." Orochimaru managed to whisper through his eccentric breathing. Kabuto reached for Orochimaru's hand, but Anko beat him to it. Anko pried, his hand away from his mouth, and even though she had been expecting it, she was still taken back by the large amount of blood he had coughed up. His hands were cold, colder than usual. His forehead even showed signs of sweating, something Anko was not accustomed to, when it was Orochimaru.

Something stirred within her. Anger. Does immortality really mean so much to him? Is he really willing to go to any extent to achieve his goals, even if it means that he must degrade his body until such condition? Why can't he take better care of himself?

And then there was also pain. But Anko did not understand. Why would there be pain? Why would she feel hurt when he is injured? Why should she even get upset over this?

A flashback, a trip back to the past...She closed her eyes. Yes, she remembered that time...

"Anko, you are exhausted...I think you should stop your training." Orochimaru said as he watched his student train. Anko ignored her teacher and continued to form the seals required for the next jutsu. Snake, Ox, Monkey, Boar-

Her process was halted by a pale hand grabbing her wrist. "I thought I told you to stop..." Orochimaru said this with a frown, clearly not happy that she had decide to ignore his words.

"But I am still not good enough." She answered, avoiding her mentor's eyes.

"If you continue, I will be angry..."

Anko smirked, meeting Orochimaru's eyes this time. "If that is all then I think that it will be alright to continue."

Orochimaru sighed. This girl... He released her, crossing both his arms loosely in front of his chest, looking to the horizon, as if contemplating on what he should say next. Then, he bent down and ruffled Anko's hair. "Continue training, and I will be angry. And upset."

Anko gave him a quizzical look. She could understand the anger, but...
"Why would you be upset?"

Orochimaru chuckled lightly at the puzzled expression on her face. "Well, I would of course be unhappy if my dear student faint from chakra exhaustion, that is for sure. So I would like to prevent such an unfortunate event from happening, you see..."

Anko smiled, and stopped training immediately...

"Orochimaru-sama. What is this?" Anko questioned him stiffly, her eyes never leaving the red color liquid that stained his hand. "I think you should stop doing whatever is causing this to happen, Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru looked up at the girl holding his hands. "I don't think that is of any concern to you, Freesia."

Anko's eyes narrowed. "But it would affect the mission. I don't think you should do anything to slow us down." Don't do anything to make me worry...I don't want to care...

Orochimaru laughed a little, which turned into a cough. "Well you are correct, if you phrase it that way. Yes, we wouldn't want that would we?"

"I think we should set our camp here and rest for the day." Anko said, more to Kabuto than Orochimaru. Kabuto nodded. "I agree."

The just sat down on the forest floor. There was no need for fire as it would only serve to alert any ninjas or bandits out there of their location, and they already had their dinner.

"I will take the first watch." Kabuto said, as he jumped up to one of the tree branches. Anko nodded, before removing the cloak she wore for the mission, draping it over Orochimaru like a blanket.

As Anko bent down to tuck in the makeshift blanket, Orochimaru leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "You seemed very concern for me, Freesia. I wonder, why is that?... And I must say, you look better with you hair tied up."

She flinched backed away. That's right! Her hair! It had been so hot in the forest that she had tied it up! Did he know? Has he found out?

Anko waited for Kabuto to spring out from the shadows and attack her. Waited for Orochimaru to say her real name with a mocking smirk, and reveal her disguise. But nothing happened.
Taking in deep breaths, she turned her back to Orochimaru. So he hasn't found out. Looks like he really forgot who she was huh...

Somewhere, deep in her heart, the dull pain re-emerged. He does not remember me...

Anko mentally berated herself. What is she thinking? She should be happy that he could not recognize her! It would make her mission go more smoothly.

"Don't misunderstand," She said, answering his question. "I merely hope for you to recover sooner so we can proceed back to the base faster. That is all there is to it."

Orochimaru smirked a little, as if he knew better. "I see..."

With that, Orochimaru closed his eyes. Anko sat down opposite Orochimaru, leaning back on a tree. She looked at his form, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. He must be sleeping. How innocent he looks...one would never guess the monstrosity that he have committed if they were to watch him now.

Anko continued to look at him. But what did he do to make him so weak? Hadn't he gained immortality already? Didn't he know how vulnerable he would be now? With all these questions plaguing her mind, Anko fell into an uneasy sleep.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

The sound of fighting woke her up. Her eyes snapped open only to be met with the scene of Kabuto fighting with three of the guards. Anko rolled to the side as a stray kunai embed itself into the tree where she was at just seconds ago. Eyes snapping towards Orochimaru, she saw him struggling to stand up.

"Orochimaru-sama!" She said in a fierce whisper as she rushed over, forcing him to lie back down. "You are too weak to be moving!"

"Kabuto...g, go help him." Orochimaru managed to rasp out. Anko spared enough time to make sure Orochimaru was comfortable, before rushing to aid Kabuto.

Hei was lying on the ground, probably dead, seeing that there is a poisoned kunai lodged at his heart. Anko threw a kunai at Winter, forcing her to jump back, halting her in her attempt to strike at Kabuto.

"You...you are the other guard." Winter said, her voice cold and unfeeling. "Leave while you still can."

Anko stood her ground, ignoring Winter's threat. "Why do the three of you want to assassinate Orochimaru?"

Winter lips formed a small, cold smile. "Well since you refuse to leave, you will die here. Fine, I will tell you our reason, as a farewell gift before you go on you long journey to hell."

"We were given an opportunity by an organization. This is like a test for us. If we kill him, we get to join them. That is the aim of Kadaj, Kyo and Hei. But I want to take his life for a different reason. Five years ago, my fiance was asked to go to Sound and help them in their research. But it was forced on him. He had no choice but to join, for fear that the Sound ninjas will attack his closed ones. He never returned. I have spent Four years looking for him, and for the head of the Sound, to exact my revenge. But information about the Sound was hard to come by, and kept under covers."

"Then the organization approached me, somehow knowing of my objective. They offered to provide information on the leader of Sound, and in return, they just ask for me to kill him. I was of course, more than happy to do that. I was then assigned to Kadaj's team, who was given the same mission. But we had to bide our time, and so we enrolled as his elite guards. And today, even the Fates is on our side. He fell ill, and was weakened. What more better chance than to strike now?"

Anko watched, as Winter's blue eyes took on a maniacal gleam. She knew what is meant, by helping the Sound in their research. It meant being a lab rat. Once again, she was reminded of Orochimaru's evil deeds that spared no one, not even woman or child.

"You fiance would not want you to do that. He would rather you move on."

"What do you know?" Winter screamed at her, her eyes flashing. "You don't know the pain of losing a loved one. Watching as he was forcibly taken away...but no matter, Kadaj have gone to report to our superiors, and would be back soon. No one but us will leave this place alive!"

Losing a loved one...as much as it pained Anko to say, yes she had lost her loved ones before...
Not her parents because she could not remember them at all...

The first, her sensei, Orochimaru. One whom she loved and respect. He had left her, she had lost him. Even though he is alive, the kind and caring teacher in her memories is dead to her. He exist, only in her memories.

The second, her lover. Although they were very young at that time, he was the one who help and consoled her, in a way, her after Orochimaru defected from Konoha. After she found out his true self. They had started out as friends, then they began to date. He had promised to stay with her forever. But, like her sensei, he left her with a deep scar to her heart. And he was her official first love too, not counting Orochimaru. Her first love, Uchiha Itachi.

Anko was so caught up in her thoughts, she did not notice Winter's approach. When she was finally aware, it was too late. Winter had her katana over her, and was bringing it down, ready to strike Anko. Anko saw everything in slow motion, as she brought her hands up in a useless attempt to defend herself. She knew, she knew that it was too late. Ah, but there was so much she want to do. Look for her first love and find out why he did what he did to he. Find out why Orochimaru choose her.

But it was all too late. Anko closed her eyes and readied herself for the final blow.

"ANKO!" Her eyes snapped open, and she saw that Winter's katana was stopped by another blade. She was not dead yet. But what was it that she heard?

Her eyes followed the tip of the blade to the hilt, to the pale hands of the wielder, who seemed to be panting from just the effort of holding up the Kusanagi.

Orochimaru just called out her name. But how...? That means that... he had known right from the start.

XXXXXXXXXX

Okay people, so this is the longest chapter I ever wrote I think. Oh, and I am changing the age of Itachi and Anko a bit, hope you all don't mind.

So what do you think? Hahaha! Itachi's sudden appearance!

Anyway, please review and tell me what your thoughts! ^_^