Finally, I've return to update this story. Many apologies for the long hiatus. I have been so caught up in my Junior College work and projects that I was not able to properly tend to a lot of things. However, as I have mentioned before, I will NEVER leave a story unfinished, so don't worry that I will no longer do any updates. As for my frequency in updating, I'll try to keep it at a regular pace. Even now once every two week would be hard, but I'll try. ..
So anyway...on with the story~
Flower name: Hollyhock. Hollyhock represents "Ambition".
Flower name: Rose. Red and white rose together represents "United".
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and any of its characters.
Information on the flower mentioned above is from Wikipedia, on Language of Flowers.
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The hollyhock swayed in the wind.
For that moment, he had wavered.
For that moment, he had given in,
For that moment, he had fallen.
Pride. Ideals. Ambitions.
They meant so much to him,
Oh, how he had hungered for them in the past...
Finally, he came to a decision.
They have, and will still be
what matters to most to him.
Nothing will change.
Not for him.
Not for her.
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It was a new morning but within the underground passage of the Sound's hideout, it was impossible to tell. In the room of a certain snake lord, the few candles that had been lit the previous night had long gone out, leaving only a puddle of hardened wax behind. A slight movement stirred at the bed as Orochimaru slowly rose, taking care not to wake the sleeping body beside him. He stood and made his way to the bathroom. Shutting the door he turned on the tap and rinsed his face with the cold water, a futile attempt to clear his mind.
What was he thinking? To have connected so intimately with her...really, what was he thinking? Why did he not kill her? So many chances, so many reasons that he have. So why?
It have been a long time since he felt so much emotions. Confusion. Hesitance. Doubt. Uncertainty. And, a hint of Fear. At that moment, Orochimaru couldn't stop himself from chuckling, the maniacal sound escaping his lips and echoing within the walls of the bathroom. One pale hand clutched his stomach while the other clenched the rim of the basin for support. Fear? He, Orochimaru, felt Fear? How amusing, how very laughable. Did he fear losing her?
Just as sudden as how the laughter started, it stopped.
He stared at the water swirling in the basin, slowly trickling away. Just like his ambition, just like his drive. He could feel it. When he really stopped to think, something seemed to have changed. He felt so predictable. So weak. So very...human.
Orochimaru raised his eyes to the mirror in front of him. His reflection looked back at him. With an angry hiss, he shattered the mirror with a punch. Fragments fell to the ground, littering the bathroom tiles with its glistening pieces. What was not shattered had crack lines on the surface, snaking out from where he had hit., some parts shattering and falling to the ground. He is the Otokage. And he is going to be the Ultimate Being. He would never feel fear. Because fear is unbecoming.
Orochimaru clenched his slightly bloodied fist, glaring at the remains of the mirror, his breath coming out fast and shallow. Nothing have changed. Not now, not ever. His goals, him ambitions will remain the same.
Because for him, nothing will change.
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Anko stirred from her sleep. Her eyes slowly opened, taking in the unfamiliar surrounding. The soreness she felt at certain parts of her body kick start her mind.
Last night she had...with Orochimaru...
Her face flamed red. Anko didn't know what to do. While the art of shinobi may train her to be ready for all sorts of situations, Anko was very sure that there are some exceptions. Like, for example, not knowing what to after waking up in an enemy's bed, after spending a rather...heated night with him. Though, of course, some may question as to how she had got into such a situation in her first place.
But, first things first. She needs her clothes. Flinging the blanket aside, she hurriedly gathered her clothing, which seemed to have ended up in rather strange places. How on Earth had her underwear gotten under the bed?
The bathroom door opened, as she tugged down her mesh top, finishing dressing just in time. Orochimaru stepped out, donning a bathrobe tied rather loosely around his waist.
"I see that you are awake."
Anko almost forgot to breath, unconsciously holding her breath the moment he exited the shower. Her brain was overwhelmed with the sound, the scent, the sight of him, right there, almost close enough to fling herself upon.
Just looking at him, just looking into his eyes, she could remember the previous night oh so clearly...
Eyes the color of purest gold practically glowed at her, causing her heart to leap in her chest until she thought it would burst right out of her.
And his mouth, with that lush sensitive lips, could drive her insane with desire, branding into her the slightly sweet, slightly spicy taste that was wholly unique to Orochimaru.
Anko absently smiled to herself. That night, amid the throes of passion, Orochimaru had called out her name. She could feel it, in his consideration of not using much force so as not to hurt her, in his faint smile and smoothing of her hair after they were done. She was sure that Orochimaru was not as he seemed. There was the slight chance that perhaps, insane as it is, he may have developed something for her.
Just as she had for him.
Anko's eyes widened. Impossible. She mentally shook herself awake. They were the worst match in the entire Universe. The fates would not be so cruel to let her fall for such a cruel man. Still...'Cruel' and 'Ambitious' was not the first thing that came to her mind, as she looked at him now, not after that night. Dare she hope...?
"Orochimaru...about last night-"
"There will be no mention of it," Orochimaru said, interrupting her. "I understand that this decision is what you want and also that it is the best decision for us both. It will not happen again, and there will be no more conversation on it." His tone held one of finality, giving no rooms for argument.
Anko felt as if a bucket of cold water had just been doused on her. So that was his answer... She numbly nodded in agreement, as all sense of thought left her. She could only vaguely remember mumbling somewhat incoherently to him about going back to her room for a bath. Even as she walked out the door, he didn't even attempt to stop her.
Had she turned around, perhaps she would have noticed the conflict and confusion that constantly reflected in her eyes ever since her arrival. The self-condemnation that, for some reason, even he could not explain.
The trip back to her room was very vague to her. She wasn't aware of her surroundings at all. It was like she walked there, but did not.
Like she heard his words, but did not.
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Anko sat on her bed, her mind in a haze. She felt so naïve. She had trusted him, and he had let her down once again. What did she expect out of this cold-hearted man? How foolish of her to believe that his momentary display of affection would mean anything at all. She drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself, stifling a sob of pure misery as her heart cried out for him. It was just one night, but it was as if it was in her fantasy, where Orochimaru never betrayed the village. Never betrayed Her.
Despite her nightly pledge that she would not think of him, would not dream of of him, and never trust him again, she did just that. Her hand reached up to her necklace, gripping it tightly in her palm. She probably didn't meant anything, her memories with him probably didn't mean anything to him...
At one point she thought there might be hope of a future with him. That tiny little morsel of hope shriveled up to nothing and wafted away, the pain of his rejection leaving her with a feeling of lost. As Anko sat on her bed, unmoving, the long hours of night passed into a joyless dawn.
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After trying to sleep and failing to do so, Anko dragged herself out of bed, shuffling her way to the tiny adjourning cubicle in her room. She didn't even bother looking into the mirror. She knew that if she felt so lousy, her reflection wouldn't look any better. After going through her morning routine with all the finesse of a zombie, she went back to sitting on her bed, grabbing a bottle of sake (that she'd snitched from the kitchen) on the way. Her mind was still a little fuzzy so, she decided, a little bit of wine would be required remedy that. That, and the nagging ache in her heart.
The alcohol brought renewed confidence back to her. So what if HE didn't care about her? She was a shinobi of her own standards, the world would not end even if he does not feel anything towards her. She had been able to live through his betrayal for the past years already. Then, she would have no problem continuing on, after she have escaped form this hell-hole. Anko smirk. Finally, she felt like herself again. All this worrying and fretting did not become her. She was made up of so much more sterner stuff than that, and by Gods, she would make sure that Orochimaru knows that.
Just as she was about to take another swing from the sake bottle, a hand reached out to stop her. Instantly, her eyes snapped up to meet the owner of that offending hand.
Itachi... Uchiha Itachi...
Anko was so shocked that her words caught in her throat. What was the S-class nin doing here? What was he doing here?
So speechless was she that she did not even react when Itachi reached to arrange a white and red rose in to the strands of her hair, before tucking them behind her ear.
"What are you doing her?" Anko asked, instantly berating herself for the slight stammer in her tone. Around this man who have the skills to kill his entire clan, showing any hint of weakness is suicidal.
Itachi simply reached down, pulling her up to his chest, his arms encircling her waist. "I've missed you."
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