Bound to You (Naruto)

Chapter Sixteen

Tsuki woke from a restless sleep of tossing and turning, her dreams filled with nightmares about the Hidden Leaf Shinobi trying to hurt her to hurt Orochimaru. She jumped as strong arms encircled her and let out a squeak as she was suddenly tucked against a taut torso with a layer of blankets in between.

"You're being noisy." Orochimaru scolded her lightly as he held her in his arms, she'd spent the majority of the morning flailing about wildly in her sleep and crying out.

"Sorry." Her voice came out soft and timid.

He looked down at the trembling girl. She'd been calling his name in her sleep. It sounded as if she were worried for him. "What did you dream about?"

Her pale cheeks flushed scarlet. "It's nothing." She let out a surprised squeak of terror as she was suddenly rolled over to face him and instinctively flinched as he shot her an annoyed glare.

"Tsuki, you're trying my patience."

"S-sorry." She bit her lip and averted her gaze, "People were trying to capture me, because they wanted to hurt you."

Orochimaru's gaze softened, "You don't have to worry about that." He gently stroked her cheek in an attempt to calm her. Once he was sure she was no longer distressed about her nightmares, he released her from his hold and slowly sat up. He chanced a glance back at the starlight girl buried in blankets, "Will you bring lunch for three to the training room, later?"

Tsuki smiled, it was the first time he'd requested her cooking, normally she just brought it to him of her own accord and he'd accept it. She nodded.

"Good." He lightly pat her on the head and smiled softly to himself as she let out an adorable squeak, embarrassed by his small display of affection.

Tsuki watched as he summoned the small white snake for her before leaving. She smiled to herself as she rolled out of bed and giggled as Yuki lightly coiled around her ankle. "Good morning, Yuki-san." She beamed as he reached her shoulders and affectionately nuzzled her cheek.

She and Yuki started their day with a few hours cleaning before heading to the kitchen as Tsuki tried to think of something to make for lunch that would help keep everyone's stamina up for training. Yuki went to wait for her under the kitchen table as she bustled about the kitchen. It had to be nutrient enriched, but still had to taste good.

Deciding on a protein focused meal, she prepared some seared steak and made nutrient enriched rice bowls with high protein steak and nutrient rich vegetables. She retrieved a tray from a small closet tucked around the corner and stacked the three bowls on top before making her way to the training area. Yuki trailed along behind her after happily enjoying some of the raw steak scraps she'd tossed his way.

The training area was pitch black when she arrived and she didn't sense Orochimaru's presence. Perhaps he stepped into the lab for a moment? Tsuki slowly stepped into the room and went to set the tray down atop a table in the corner. As she set the tray down she sensed movement behind her. Yuki let out a hiss of warning and attempted to strike at something but was sent flying.

"YUKI-SAN!" Tsuki cried as the pure white snake flew across the room. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sensed movement to her side, approaching quick. She barely managed to dodge a fist aimed for her face before turning to see her attacker.

It was a boy, around Sakura and Naruto's age with unruly black hair and strange eyes with crimson irises, black pupils and three black tomoe within the crimson iris. She'd never seen eyes like that before. The boy recovered quickly and made a move to strike her with his free hand.