Hatake

9

"Let me help you. Oh dear. It's alright." Jiraiya says helping me out of the hospital.

The team that's going to take me is ready and they all have these little animal masks on.

"She will need to be carried." Jiraiya says to one of the men.

He nods and leans down for me to climb on his back.

I don't even get to look at the others before we start going.

I look behind me and we are already in the tree tops.

The men don't speak. They move quietly and swiftly through the trees.

I have never felt the wind like this.

After a while we arrive at a small cave like structure.

"There." One of them says.

I am carried almost all the way before I'm set down gently.

He gives me a little pat before joining the others in the shadow.

A man with silver hair and glasses walks out into the light from the cave.

"Leaf scum like you don't scare me." He says to the trees.

He stops and looks at me.

"Help me. Please." I say.

He furrows his brows and approaches.

"Please. I need..." I beg again.

"A civilian?" He says reaching me.

He sees my leg and pulls me up in his arms.

His skin feels warm on the back of my knees.

He carries me down a swirling path through this strange place.

We reach a room with an open door.

"Have you brought me a present?" A voice says.

"Dropped at our doorstep." He replies.

I can see now this new man has long black hair and white skin.

He looks intrigued.

Once he places his hand on my leg he stands and takes me from the man with the glasses.

"Go prep the medical room!" He commands.

My vison is starting to fade in and out.

I'm now on a table. And they both are scrambling around the room gathering things.

"My lord?" The man with the glasses asks.

"Silence Kabuto. This is our top priority."

Orochimaru places a hand on my face and makes me face him.

He smiles.
"Akari."

My eyes widen.

"Just sleep now dear." He says and I close my eyes.

I wake in a small room that is lit by candles.

My eyes scan and find a figure sitting next to my bed.

He relights an extinguished candle next to him.

"Orochimaru." I say with a scratchy voice.

"Yes." He replies softly.

I sigh and sink back into my pillow.

"Did you know you like to find someone's hand to clamp onto Akari?" He says squeezing my hand.

I pull it away in embarrassment.

He grabs it back and holds it with both of his hands.

"Akari, we did enough to prevent it from spreading. Where did you procure such a curse?" He asks.

"How do you know my name?" I ask.

He laughs.
"Your name is in one of Jiraiya's books. Let's call it a lucky guess."

"I don't remember getting the curse." I say.

He frowns.

"Well that's alright. I can sift around in there for you." He says.

"How?" I ask.

"With a type of mind transfer jutsu." He says casually.

"Are you really a civilian?" he adds looking into my eyes.

I don't say anything.

He laughs a hearty laugh and squeezes my hand.

"I'll let you rest." He says.

I sit up slightly.

"Don't fret, Kabuto will check on you." He says and leaves, leaving the door open.

I can't sleep, and just wait for the morning.

Kabuto visited me after Orochimaru left.

"Akari? Are you awake?" He asks.

"Yes." I reply.

"Do you need more medicine? I can make you sleepy too?" He says sitting in the chair next to me.

He has a clipboard and is scribbling things down on it.

I sigh in relief when his warm hand touches my forehead.

"Are you cold?" He asks.

I nod and he retrieves another blanket for me.

"Thank you... Kabuto." I say looking at him.

He gives me a small smile.

"How did you stop it from hurting?" I ask him.

He readjusts in the chair.

"Well Lord Orochimaru did most of it. He..." he stops.

"Are you squeamish?" He asks.

"No." I reply.

He nods and moves the blankets over to expose my bandaged leg.

"We—he cut off all of the curse. Layer by layer. It was hard but he did it flawlessly. Then I helped to reattach muscle and skin to your leg. It'll be a long while before you can walk, but it shouldn't hurt anymore." He says and replaces the blanket.

"Why are you guys being so nice to me? Why not let me suffer?" I ask.

He leans closer to me.
"Well we know about your tournament. And no civilian could complete such a thing." He says.

I frown.
"I won because I cheated."

Now it's his time to frown.
"Impossible." He replies.