Chapter 11
“What did you do when you found out I left?”
After having a lengthy cry and scolding Orochimaru for locking her up like an animal, Saya was persuaded to stay with the man for the night. At least, as long as he didn’t touch her. It took Orochimaru quite a while for his promise to sink into her head.
They both now lay on the bed with their backs to each other. Saya wanted to talk about everything right that minute, but it was clear that Orochimaru was growing tired and ready for sleep. She couldn’t help but share her curiosity with this question, though.
Orochimaru had been speaking to her with his eyes closed, but now he opened them. He remembered that night as much as Saya did. Every detail was etched into his brain, and for that the man was slightly disturbed, just as he was years ago when he suddenly realized that in his weakened state he had ran outside and into the woods to follow an hours old trail made by the woman. It still surprised him.
“I lived,” he smirked at her as he mocked her earlier comment.
Saya rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine,” she started with a smile, “I’ll just keep thinking that you were absolutely devastated.”
Despite himself, Orochimaru chuckled. Devastation was not what he had felt, but he had certainly felt a sting. It was something he would never tell her, though.
Silence fell between the two after that as sleep overtook them. They both slept peacefully, leaving Saya surprised and Orochimaru comforted the next morning. Saya’s dreams did not disturb her during the night. In fact, neither Akira nor Orochimaru appeared in her dreams.
Orochimaru slept bizarrely soundly. Healthy or sickened, he never slept throughout the night. He was always woken by his restless mind, but for the first time in a long time, it was at rest. A smile graced his face the next morning as he woke with Saya turned toward him. She was actually already awake, however, and had been watching him as he slept. Orochimaru’s face blanked quickly.
Saya turned her eyes away as she tried to keep from smiling. She had only seen Orochimaru sleeping truly peacefully once before, and in contrast to his violent nature, it was amazing seeing him in such a lightened state.
As she opened her mouth to speak, the bedroom door swung open. Saya’s expression changed from amused to horrified as Orochimaru swiftly reached under his pillow and uncovered a dagger. He turned swiftly in bed to the intruder, but stopped short as he laid eyes on him.
Tetsuya stood frozen, his bright eyes roaming from his dad to the weapon in his hand. “M-mom?”
Saya peeked from over Orochimaru’s shoulder at her son. She gently laid a hand on the man’s arm as he began to lower it. “It’s ok, honey. Come here,” she told him as she patted the bed.
Orochimaru breathed heavily as he tossed the dagger onto the bedside table and watched as his son hesitantly climbed onto his mother’s side of the bed. He buried himself in her arms, but it didn’t stop his little eyes from starting at him.
“What was that about?” Saya asked, exasperated.
“Reflex,” Orochimaru quickly replied. His eyes were still locked with his son’s.
“To what?”
“Assassins. Right, Dad?” Tetsuya answered for him.
Orochimaru grinned down at his son. “Very good.”
Saya unconsciously pulled the boy closer to her. “Are you serious?” she whispered.
Orochimaru’s eye slowly rose to meet hers. She couldn’t read the answer in them, but something told Saya the answer was one she didn’t want to hear. What she didn’t know, however, was that there was more than just assassins after her former lover. Orochimaru almost chuckled as she looked worriedly at him.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Tetsuya interrupted. “Dad has guardians. Show her what you showed me yesterday.”
Saya watched curiously as Orochimaru’s hands became a blur as he swiftly preformed a simple summoning jutsu. From under the covers as if from his body, a small white snake slithered around the man’s pale back and down his arm.
Saya’s face grew to one of worry once again as she instantly recognized the snake. The white snake encircling the man’s wrist and arm like a pet was one of the many white snakes that harassed her in her hallucination after receiving her curse mark.
Tetsuya was absolutely transfixed as he reached out to touch the creature. It carefully left the palm of its owner to slither into the boy’s own. Orochimaru smirked at his fascination, but Saya tensed as the snake was brought close to her.
“Isn’t he amazing?” Tetsuya asked as he turned and pushed his hands closer to his mother.
Saya instantly jumped from the bed as she heard a hiss escape the serpent’s mouth. Both pairs of slitted pupils shot toward her in amusement. Tetsuya even managed a small laugh.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I-I” Saya started as she backed into a wall. “I don’t like snakes,” she almost whispered. She looked away from her son as the sentence left her mouth, hoping the boy wouldn’t take it personally.
Orochimaru’s mouth curled wildly at her comment. His eyes drilled into her until she felt his gaze and turned towards him. He could see the confusion in her eyes as she did so. With a poof or smoke, he released the summoned serpent.
“That’s a fear you would do well to overcome,” he told her calmly.
Saya’s blood pounded in her ears as her adrenaline began to slow. She stared back at the man as she tried to understand his meaning. Clenching her jaw in frustration, she turned her eyes to her son and smiled softly.
“Tetsuya, why don’t you go on back to your room? I’ll come and get you for breakfast in a bit.”
The boy half-pouted at her, but uttered a small, “Fine” as he headed for the door. He gave his father a faint grin before he disappeared into the hallway.
Saya rushed to the door as soon as Tetsuya shut it. She silently turned the lock into place, which earned her a raised eyebrow from the man still in the bed.
“You have to sleep with a knife under your pillow?” she almost whispered. “What’s going on?”
Orochimaru closed his eyes and smirked. “There are many things going on, Saya. That’s a ridiculously broad question to ask.”
“I’m being serious,” she replied as she crossed her arms. “When you were hurt you weren’t this jumpy. What have you gotten into since I left?”
The man chuckled then. Without a word, Orochimaru stepped out of bed and slid into his deep red nightshirt. He turned his head to look at her from under his curtain of hair. “That’s not your concern, and you don’t want it to be.”
Saya lowered her arms looking taken aback. “It is so my concern. If you’re afraid to sleep without a knife at your side, then it’s not exactly safe for me and Tetsuya to be here.”
“I’m not afraid, Saya,” Orochimaru instantly shot back. “I’m prepared.”
The two now gazed at each other. Orochimaru’s face was fairly calm, albeit a hint of hardness. Saya just stared stony-faced at him. She signed loudly and shook her head.
“Still, if someone is after you-”
“You are safe,” he interrupted her. “Don’t worry about that.”
“And what about you?”
Orochimaru blinked slowly at Saya before he turned away from her to head for the door. Quickly but softly, Saya reached out to stop him. He turned his head and looked down at her from over his shoulder.
“Look, Orochimaru,” she said almost comfortingly, “we need try to get along while I’m here. For Tetsuya. You’re his father. Despite what’s happened between us, I’m going to automatically be concerned for you.”
The man laughed then. “This coming from the same woman who dared to put a blade to my throat? Motherhood has certainly caused you to lose your spark, Saya. I’m not quite sure I find it appealing.”
“Oh, Saya snorted as she harshly drew her hand back, “as if I am the least bit concerned about what you find appealing.” She squared her shoulders at him. “I just want us to be good parents, and I don’t want Tetsuya’s memories of you being negative ones.”
Orochimaru turned and pressed his back against the door. He smirked as he crossed his arms. “And what are your memories of me like?”
Saya narrowed her eyes at him, both because she knew his question was a trap and that she had no definitive answer. She had plenty of nightmares and hard times because of him, yes, but they had also shared a few laughs and more importantly, he had given her a son. She cleared her face.
“What are yours?” she pressed him.
Orochimaru gazed at the woman for a moment before he slowly left the door to approach her. Saya nearly protested as he came almost chest-to-chest with her. He continued to look calmly down at her as he raised a hand to her face. His fingers delicately danced along her jaw until they grazed across her lips.
“How much I loved that mouth of yours,” he finally purred.
“That’s disgusting,” Saya spat at him as she smacked his hand away. Without giving him a chance to reply, she stormed from the room.
Orochimaru silently and slowly followed as she headed for their son’s room. Tetsuya was eagerly waiting and joined both of them at the door as they were coming up the hallway. He grabbed his mother’s hand, but his attention was directed elsewhere.
“Can I come watch you train today?” he asked Orochimaru.
The man raised his eyebrow at him. “Are you interested in becoming a shinobi?”
“He’s obsessed,” Saya answered for him, which earned a giggle from the little boy.
“Well then,” Orochimaru said lightly, “you both are more than welcome to come with me. I just may have time for training of your own, Tetsuya.”
Despite the sudden gasp and pleas from her son, Saya shook her head. “I’m not sure. We both had a tiring day yesterday.”
“Aw, mom!”
Saya parted her lips to calm her son down, but she was interrupted before she could speak.
“Then you can stay here and rest, Saya. I’m sure you’re quite interested in catching up with Kabuto.”
As her shoulders tensed at the thought, Saya looked worriedly at Orochimaru. Kabuto was not a man she liked to joke about.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to tag along.”
With a cheer, Tetsuya jumped and jogged up the rest of the hall, despite his mother calling for him to stop. Saya sighed loudly as she began to come after him, but two hands on her shoulders held her back. They were crushing at first, but softened as her body stilled. Hot breath could be felt on Saya’s neck as Orochimaru lowered his lips to her ear.
“You misinterpreted my earlier comment,” he told her with another purr.
Without a look back or waiting for a response, Orochimaru dropped his hands and made his own way up the hall.
