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Kabuto returned some time later, and Misaki already knew that dawn had inevitably arrived again. At the sound of the key in the lock, Misaki dragged herself out of bed and looked at the door expectantly as a dog would look for food. She had no pride whatsoever at the moment; she just wanted a glimpse of her future. It was such a simple thing to ask for.

As always, she lamented the fact that she didn't have a window to see the glory of the sun rising or own a clock that could for the purpose of marking time. Misaki didn't want to bother anyone with any requests. Also, in her heart, she knew that they would be ignored. No, she had adjust to her life as a potted plant waiting to be watered would.

When Kabuto finally opened the door and glanced at her face, Misaki wondered if he could tell that she was lonely.

"Come with me," he ordered tersely.

No greeting?

However, Misaki happily followed him out the door all the same just to experience her walk of brief freedom. She never wished to stay in that room again.

And how are you today, Mikasi-chan?" he asked her pleasantly as he sat down. The observation room was just as cold as ever, and Misaki wished that she owned a robe. She could ask for one , but she didn't want to be a bother. Misaki understood her life here didn't come without limits.

Misaki noted that Kabuto was overly friendly; a furtive smile on his lips as he sat down.

Despite the easy atmosphere, Misaki somehow sensed that there was something wrong. This day wasn't just like the others. but somehow it seemed different. Anxiously, she tugged on the hem of the kimono as she suddenly felt all too exposed. In all the weeks that she had come here, Misaki had never felt this way. Kabuto's stare was too intense, and she wanted to look away.

Kabuto clasped his hands together; the motion startling her. "I think i have collected enough data opinions on various things. Now, I would like to explore entirely different things about you."

Msaki blinked.

He said this with little to no emotion. Misaki wondered if he had been here so long that he had forgotten how to be a human. She could relate.

"In other words, tell me about yourself. What makes you happy? Truly happy."

Misaki blinked in honest confusion. She hadn't answered the question in so long that she had to think. She as could barely remember her life from before. All her memories were hidden in her deep sprawling mind with the forest. She would have to will her concentration to materialize the pregnant buds into blossoms.

Her voice cracked as she began to ramble. "Nature. The trees. Flowers."

They weren't facts that she knew for certain; they sprang from her very soul. She wanted to set it free in nature again One day. The blue of the sky or the chill of the chill of a hidden spring that was what set her spirit soaring. To explore and lose herself within the womb of the earth. That was what made her feel alive. That was where her heart remained.

Abruptly, she shut her mouth. Had she given too much information? Could it be used against her?

However, Yakushi Kabuto was still watching her patiently his expression had not changed he nodded. It was almost a supportive gesture. Maybe she had misread him. Maybe everything would be okay in the end. She just had to trust.

"What were your favorite foods?"

Misaki noticed that he didn't have his clipboard; a rare occurrence in itself. He wasn't recording; he was listening.

That fact should be easy enough to remember. Here, she was used to rice but she knew that she had once eaten other food that she had liked better. Something with a mellow organic taste and an earthy texture... Once, they had grown everywhere. Beans? And nuts. She also had an impression of a paste named peanut butter if such a thing existed. Oh, yes. Peanut butter and jam. Fresh leafy vegetables and sweet fruits that she still could scarcely name. Strawberries with little seeds ingrained in their skin and honey golden and sweet on her rice.

Misaki missed food.

For once, it felt good conversing about herself to someone else to a person who wanted to listen.

In spite of herself, she was beginning regard Kabuto as a friend. She wondered if he was beginning to view her as the same. She never knew the circumstances behind her abduction. What if they had found her and cared for her? What if they had saved her life?

"May I share share with you something that would make me happy?" Kabuto ventured.

It was ony fair.

Misaki nodded as she waited for him to speak, however, it was what he actually did that surprised her.

The hunched girl watched him lean forward, and Misaki was aware that something was going to happen when she suddenly stopped breathing. She could feel her pulse accelerating. Kabuto was getting closer...

Misaki imagined something nice. Her heart was as alert and alive as the twitter of a bird. Her lips tingled.

Then, the atmosphere changed. The light died in the silver-haired ninja's eyes, and suddenly, Kabuto's hand was on her leg. With a gasp, Misaki felt her heart stop. Why was he touching her there? She was confused at first before she solemnly understood. So, Kabuto wasn't a good man.

To her credit, Misaki didn't react. Instead she was frozen in place like a fawn in the sights of a predator. One wrong move could give him reason to give chase.

Silently, she watched as he slipped his hand under her yukata she could feel his fingertips on her bare skin like a spider. Her eyes widened as the appendages crept higher. Misaki grew aware that her skin was smooth and unyielding. Defenseless. Still, she didn't dare move. Misaki was beginning to involuntarily tremble, and she knew that Kabuto could feel her fear.

"Maybe this could help you reach your physical self and restore your memories, eh?" he murmured to the motionless body she had become.

After all, Misaki had no rank or importance here. She was a castaway. A poor unfortunate. Here, Kabuto felt that way about he could do what he liked to her. Misaki's heart crumpled in despair as she realized the truth. They had never been friends. It had all been a ploy to gain her trust. An experiment.

Misaki's eyes rolled back of her head. All emotion solidified into blind panic as she became a mere reflection of herself. At once, Misaki was outside of her body. It was as if this was happening to someone else. She became terrified as she witnessed Kabuto's once smooth calm face twist into a sadistic mask. He was enjoying her reaction. Immensely.

Kabuto licked his lips as he focused on his new target. Her. All former medical pretenses had faded away.

So, that was his plan. He was going to force himself on her.

She sat up straight as a surge of primal electricity overtook her body. It was a call to action. As the neurons in her muscles roared to life, she instinctively grabbed his wrist and twisted it back as hard as she could. Her hand had struck out like with far more strength than she knew that she possessed; the move sudden and purely instinctual. For an instant, it was if she had become another person.

Misaki realized that she could no longer deflect or hide inside her mind. Her sanctuary had been threatened, and she had to summon whatever strength was necessary to protect herself. The trees were swaying threateningly in the wind, and an intruder was stomping on the blossoms. She needed to defend herself from the attack.

Kabuto's eyes widened in shock as as his always agreeable captive dared to halt his efforts from proceeding any further in the feeble effort to preserve her modesty. Eventually, the surprise faded from his face and his eyes turned cold. Predatory.

"Bitch." Kabuto raised his arm to strike her down.

He was going to attack her. Kabuto was going to attack her. As if he were disciplining her. And, the Sound nin possessed far greater strength.

Her bravery disappeared. Suddenly terrified, Misaki huddled in her chair as she prepared for an the explosion of pain to lance through her. Once again, she had become powerless.

Then, she felt a presence enter the room; a presence that expressed itself as a cool wind sliding across her face. It was almost not of this world. It reminded her of that sliver of a moment when one crossed between sunlight and shadow.

Light laughter that rippled like a breeze through grass assaulted her.

"Now, Kabuto, this isn't a way to treat a guest. You've frightened her. I thought I'd taught you better than that."

Misaki gasped when she saw the face. She knew him. She'd seen him before somehow yet didn't have the distinct memory of meeting him.

However, the longer she looked, the more he stared back in turn. Her flesh grow cold as his sharp serpentine eyes appraised her. His hair was longer than her own. Just by looking, Misaki could sense that he was toxic. A vivid plant that only promised death.

Desperate, Misaki grasped for the memory, and indeed there was a scrap of familiarity that was for an instant vivid and clear before it shriveled and died. The recollection would not be helpful to her.

The man that loomed in front of her now gazed at her with interest and anticipation all at once. She could keenly feel his focus and Misaki wished that he would look elsewhere.

So, this was the one fated day that she had managed to attract attention. Misaki supposed would have happened sooner or later.

She couldn't help but wonder if they would both fall on her now. She would be utterly defenseless at the prospect of taking on two at the same time. She had been a fool thinking that she had been safe here. As the notion sank deeper in her mind, she fainted.

Later, Misaki awoke on a heap on the floor. She was unaware of how much time had passed.

The man-the being-that loomed above her chuckled. His laughter was still floating around her ears when he offered a hand to help her up. Misaki couldn't help but notice that he was as white as bone.

She stared at him a long second before she cautiously took it. As she expected, The man's flesh was as cold as ice yet as supple as a vine. In sensation, he was a corpse had come alive gifted with long fingers that could wrap around her and choke out her breath.

He chuckled. The stranger knew that he made her uncomfortable. She knew that he wasn't capable of missing out on anything as insignificant as a breath.

The man in the yukata leaned in close as if to touch her, and she shrank back. Misaki really didn't what kind of men these were or what they would do with her.

"How would you like to be trained in the ninja arts. Become a kunoichi?" The long-haired man literally hissed near her ear.

My kunoichi.

Honestly, she didn't relish the idea, but Misaki's heart leapt at the chance to finally leave this place. It was becoming too dangerous to stay here so near to Kabuto.

Also, Misaki had the impression that she didn't have a choice She needed to have a use here. Flowers were undeniably pretty but they they had no other needed to have a purpose here if she really wanted to stay. Be as useful as an indispensable herb.

"All right," she accepted meekly.

Tenatively, Misaki avoided Kabuto's eyes. It wasn't his decision after all.

Another Shinobi appeared to escort her to her quarters, and she was relieved to see that It was a real room for a change and not a damp cell.

She saw wax candles and a few pieces of furniture that included a bed that for a change was not lumpy or a wooden chest. Though she had no clothes to the store in the chest, she was sure that it would have a purpose They were far better accommodations. At last her life was beginning to change, and the medical ninja had the catalyst of it all. She would have to thank him later.

Misaki smiled at nothing in particular. Just to herself.

She was thankful to be away from Kabuto. His betrayal would serve as a reminder for the future not to make friends here.

Misaki still didn't know the pallid man's name but she was sure to find out. She wasn't going anywhere after all. Clearly, he was Kabuto's superior. That also meant that he was her s too.

Was he a doctor? A nobleman or the lord of the manor? Kabuto hadn't told her about him.

Misaki was exhausted, and her eyelids got heavy. She couldn't even think any more.

With little effort, she finally went to sleep; safe in her dreams.



---



"She attacked me," Kabuto groused.

Orochimaru smiled at the glowering medic; he could see that his pride had been hurt if nothing else.

"I'm sure that you were in no real danger, Kabuto,"he teased

Frustration steamed his medic's glasses. "It's just humiliating. Misaki-chan has a temper." he grumbled

Orochimaru was amused by his reaction. Kabuto's reactions kept life from getting tedious.

"Can she even use chakra? Perhaps would be better to keep her near the labs. I can handle her." An ever so slight edge had crept into his voice.

"She possessed both reflexes and adequate strength to begin training. That means that she has potential" Ororchimaru's voice was as smooth as a fish through water. "Why don't you let me judge her talent, Kabuto?"

Kabuto stopped to stop and stare at him. "You know this woman."

Orochimaru's answered with a calculating stare.

"You've met her before, haven't you? She's not just some random girl you happened to pick up," Kabuto pressed.

Of course, Kabuto knew that Orochimaru would say no more. Not now. It wasn't the right time after all

It was of little consequence anyway. All secrets would be revealed in due course or smiled. They always were.

"First, we must get her settled and direct her to training so that she can learn the basics. Then, we can see how useful she is...if at all."

Soon, Kabuto was smiling too. He couldn't help but silently agree. No doubt that she would fail as so many others did.

Orochimaru sincerely hoped that to get her rest. The girl known as Misaki known would need it.

The Otogakure was a remorseless place for the weak and a training ground for the strong. He would find out later which type Misaki-chan was.