Bound to You (Naruto)

Chapter Fifteen

Orochimaru looked out over the reflective surface of the crystal-clear water reflecting the moon and the stars within its cool water. Tsuki was lying atop the waters surface giggling as koi fish would come up to the surface and tickle her back, legs and arms. He frowned after a moment as he thought back on the days events. Normally he'd have been livid to find that someone had disobeyed him, but it was different with her. All he'd cared about, was her safety.

"Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto quietly appeared at his side and offered a polite bow of his head, "Sasuke has finished with his training and has retired to his room." He reported before his onyx gaze drifted to the water's surface as he heard Tsuki's soft giggling. "What is she doing?"

"Do you think she's changed?" Orochimaru asked after a moment ignoring the boy's previous remark.

"Tsuki?"

Orochimaru shot him a glare, "Who else would we be discussing?"

Kabuto bowed his head once more, "Sorry, it's just that usually when the topic of Tsuki comes up, you tell me it's not my concern." He paled as Orochimaru shot him a dark glare.

"She's not your concern." He growled.

Kabuto sighed, "I haven't noticed a change in her." There was slight hesitation, he was lying, "Perhaps you're the one who has chan-." He cut off as he was met with an even more terrifying glare. "As far as the girl is concerned, I mean." He attempted once more.

Orochimaru pondered this. Had he changed? He treated the girl more gently then before, but he'd told himself it was because it made her more cooperative, though he didn't really experiment on her much anymore. He only occasionally drew blood samples from her, but he hadn't tested her regenerative Towa clan abilities in a while. Earlier in the day he'd nearly set her free, because of the desolate hopeless look in her colorless eyes. When that idiot Jiraiya had threatened her, he was worried, not for himself, but for her. He had been angry that Jiraiya had hurt her and that she had been crying. Was it possible she'd changed him? Would it hinder his research?

"You don't bully her anymore." Orochimaru noted causing Kabuto to jump. "Why is that?"

Kabuto cleared his throat, "I underestimated her. She's not as weak and useless as I had originally thought she was." He averted his gaze. There was more to it than that, something else had happened between the two of them.

"Find out what she's so happy about." Orochimaru waved him away dismissively.

Kabuto made his way across the water's surface with a sigh. Lord Orochimaru was acting strangely. He stopped when he was within arm's reach of the giggling starlight girl and smiled as he saw a swarm of brightly colored koi fish nipping at her revealed arms and legs.

"You seem to be in a good mood today."

Tsuki let out an adorable squeak and nearly plummeted beneath the water's surface having been startled by his sudden appearance. Kabuto hurriedly caught her by the wrist and pulled her up before she could fall into the frigid water.

"Kabuto-san! You scared me." She cried as she managed to control her chakra flow to float atop the water's surface once more.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." Kabuto smiled as he released her wrist once she was stable. "What are you looking so happy about?"

"Huh? I look happy?" Tsuki asked curiously.

"Well you've been out here giggling for quite some time now, so I'd venture to guess you're happy about something."

Tsuki smiled, "I made my very first friend today."

Kabuto shook his head, "That's it?"

Tsuki frowned, "I thought it was pretty exciting. No one's ever called me a friend before."