Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 20

Mori's paws pounded through the streets as she raced through the throng of people, ears pressed back against her skull. She knew they were here, but why? For the Chunin exams? She skidded to a halt as she came to the end of the street, her nose leading her there. Her red eyes narrowed when she saw a group of ninja standing on the other side of the street, talking amongst themselves.

One particular scent caused her hackles to raise, and a loud growl vibrated through her chest. He was here. The man in the middle took notice of her and his eyes lit up. Even though he was in a different body, Mori knew it was him.

It was Orochimaru. He was wearing a disguise, but Mori knew that scent.

In a blink the young woman took the wolf's place, and she quickly grabbed a knife from her weapon holster. The man gave an inaudible order, and the ninja around him moved back. Mori gave a cry and launched herself at Orochimaru, weapon raised. He easily dogged her throw, causing Mori to swing again. She missed again as he quickly disappeared and Mori looked around, letting out a low growl. A stinging sensation raced across her back, and her eyes snapped up to see Orochimaru had thrown a kunai at her. The blade had sliced through the back of her shirt and embedded itself in the ground beside her. Blood began to well from the wound, and a dark chuckle caught Mori's attention. She looked to the kunai, and her eyes widened when she saw a paper bomb attached to the handle. She crouched and jumped just as the bomb exploded. The shock wave sent her flying through the air, and with a grunt she slammed into a wall. As she slid down the hard exterior, she opened her eyes as a dark shadow fell across her.

"Well well, it looks like I've found my lost little pup" a deep voice said.

Mori's stomach clenched when the disguised Orochimaru knelt down to her level. He raised his hand and in mock gentleness, pressed his hand against her cheek. She flinched briefly as the images of her torture flashed through her mind. With a large smile, his hand slowly descended to her neck. In a flash, he slammed Mori into the wall by her neck. Cracks appeared in the wall around the impact as stars exploded in Mori's vision. Blood spurted from her mouth as pain raced through the back of her head, and she felt blood dripping down her neck.

"This is the last time you will get away from me. I have your brother and mother, and now I have you" he hissed, eyes narrowed as he pressed her throat into the building harder.

Mori gasped as the blinding pain intensified. If he continued pressing, he was going to break her neck. She reached and grasped at his hand, scrabbling to grip his sleeve. Orochimaru released another dark chuckle as he watched the struggling girl in front of him: he was going to make this insignificant girl suffer. Mori gritted her teeth as she struggled to free herself. Breathing became more and more difficult as the seconds passed, and black spots swarmed around in her vision.

After what seemed like an eternity, Orochimaru released her neck and leaned close to her ear.

"I will be back for you, my pet" he whispered, and was gone in an instant.

Mori gasped for air as pain raced through her body. She couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't speak. It took her a while to realize someone was talking to her.

"Mori? Mori, what happened?!" a worried voice said in front of her.

Her eyes opened slowly and her red eyes landed on a male figure kneeling in front of her. Her unfocused eyes blinked slowly, and her brain tried to connect the voice to a face.

"Mori, can you hear me? It's me, Iruka. Come on, I'm going to take you to the hospital" Iruka said gently.

He slowly grasped his friend around her shoulders and leaned her forward until she was leaning against her knees. He then put his one arm under her knees and the other across her shoulders and slowly lifted the young woman up. Blood dripped down steadily from her wounds as the academy instructor jumped from roof to roof, looking for the hospital building. Iruka didn't know what happened, but when he was walking down the street he saw a black wolf. He never saw a black wolf in Konoha before. It was just staring at him, and then turned around and disappeared around the corner. He decided to follow the black wolf, and when he rounded the corner he saw Mori in a bloody and crumpled heap.

His arms tightened unconsciously around the woman in his arms. Mori's head rolled against his chest as he continued jumping. Her eyelids fluttered as he landed at the hospital doors. Iruka rushed through the doors as his ears picked up a small groan coming from the woman in his arms. A couple nurses hurried to him and took Mori from him and placed her on a hospital bed. Iruka stared after the nurses' backs as they hurried Mori away.

He sat down on a chair with a heavy sigh. What happened to her? Who did this to his friend...and why? 

He rubbed a hand over his face as his mind raced. This wasn't the first time his thoughts included the young woman whose blood stained his vest. Every time he thought of Mori, his heart raced and his face always felt hot. What was going on with him?