Mend Me

Chapter 13

 

Orochimaru exhaled loudly as he uncharacteristically slumped into a chair in his study. The dimly-lit room became even darker as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. The past two days had taken a toll on his mind.

 

“Something wrong?”

 

Orochimaru opened his eyes just long enough to see Kabuto lurking in a nearby corner. His arms were crossed with a self-satisfied look on his face. The lord didn’t respond.

 

“I hope this wasn’t part of your plan when you marked her. We can’t have a child that young running all over the place. And Saya-”

 

“Damn you, Kabuto” Orochimaru suddenly hissed. “Do you ever stop? I have never seen a grown man act like such a spoiled brat.”

 

His serpentine eyes caught the invisible slap to Kabuto’s face, even though the young med ninja remained defiant.

 

“Lord Orochimaru,” he started though gritted teeth, “I only have one objective, and that is keep you out of harm’s way. To keep you in the shadows and assist your training of Sasuke. Saya has no place here, let alone that boy.”

 

“That boy is my son, Kabuto, and I would advise you to be very careful of both your words and actions around the two of them. I remember all too well what you did to Saya, how you disobeyed me time and again. I will not be so forgiving again.”

 

Kabuto’s face finally began to fall. “For a woman you don’t even know?” he almost whispered. “What is she to you?”

 

Orochimaru laid his head back against the chair and stared up into the blackness of the ceiling. That was actually a difficult question to answer, but Orochimaru had no trouble making Kabuto squirm with his response.

 

“She’s one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met, and for that I enjoy her company.” He paused to move his head and sneer at his young right hand. “Of course, there’s also that body. It’s one I would love to slip into again.”

 

“Please stop,” Kabuto cringed as he tensed his shoulders.

 

Orochimaru chuckled. “No, Kabuto. You asked for reasons and I will give them. Like, how there is nothing I would rather have this moment than for her bare body to be straddling my lap.”

 

Kabuto fought the urge to roll his eyes. “With all due respect, Lord Orochimaru, a harem of women would be much less of a commitment than cursing and impregnating just one. And you don’t get that attitude of hers.”

 

“I like her attitude,” Orochimaru chimed.

 

“Fine,” Kabuto sighed. “The heated arguments you two share are a form of foreplay. Still-”

 

“Yes and no,” Orochimaru interrupted him as he stood. “But if those are the images you want to be left with, then so be it.”

 

Solitude was something the lord eagerly sought since saying goodnight to Saya. It would seem as though the comfort of his own bedroom would be his only chance.

 

Kabuto wasn’t going to let him go so easily. It did not make any sense whatsoever as to why Orochimaru was acting like a hormonal teenager.

 

“I take it that Saya’s visit will be the same as the last, then? A week long mating dance?”

 

Orochimaru paused at the door. “If you must know, no. Saya seems quite intent on Tetsuya forming a bond with me. I will humor her for now, but nothing lasts forever. Akira will slowly but surely be forced to the back of her mind. She’ll be easy prey then.”

 

“Now,” he continued, “I need to rest my mind. When I see you tomorrow, Kabuto, your mind will return to more concerning matters. That is an order.”

 

With a stern glance, Orochimaru left Kabuto to turn in for the night.

 

Once his lord was gone, the young man’s eyes narrowed. “Only when you do.”

 

Saya needed to be out of the picture as soon as possible. The boy was the key in Orochimaru and Saya forming a bond of their own, but it would be suicide to do anything to him. Maybe Akira’s plan wasn’t such a terrible idea. If Orochimaru wanted him to be civil with Saya, he certainly would. Stories of the true Orochimaru would have her running away once again.