Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto.
Warning: This is rated M for Lemons... Previous warnings apply.
Hello all! I have had quite a few people express a desire to see a definite ending to Snake Bites so I decided to write one. Since I really could see the story going both ways this will be the first ending.
You can probably guess by the title just who wins in this one...
Please remember, this is angst once again, so sick and twisted will make apppearances no matter what ending comes. If you want something sweeter try Dispar or even Amaterasu.
"Sasuke! Sasuke please!"the pink haired woman begged as her beloved fell into rage, the dark marks of the cursed seal completely taking over him as wings burst from his spine. "Don't do this, come to Konoha with me! Please Sasuke! I did this for you!"She was screaming now, her fingers biting into him as his grip threatened to break her arm. "Orochimaru told me if I did this you could leave! Sasuke!"
"URUSAI!"He roared, his voice pained, sounding less human by the minute. Hate filled him, consumed him so that the part of him that had fought the seal gave in, greedily accepting the power. Hatred for himself. Hatred at Itachi. Hatred at his mentor. Hatred at Sakura. Pure, unrefined hatred eating him from the inside. Itachi had said he lacked hatred. He scoffed. Was this hatred enough. Looking towards the broken kunoichi sobbing and pleading with him he snarled. "You betrayed me!" Wrenching his arm back he threw her, her petite form sailing towards the wall. Reflexes kicked in, her body flipping so that she jumped off the wall instead of smacking into it forcefully.
"Sasuke!"She sobbed, trying to get him to see reason, crystaline tears running down her delicate face. Walking towards him, she opened her arms, and he screamed a high pained sound.
"Shut up! Shut up you bitch!"He cursed, his mind becoming encompassed by the hate, the pain, the anger coursing through him. Lunging at her, his clawed hands swiped at her, drawing long bloodied scratches on her arm.
"Yamete Sasuke!"She pleaded, trying to dodge his attacks as he fell into mindlessness, the drugs in her bloodstream still sealing away her chakra. "Onegai!" She shrieked as he delivered a harsh blow to her middle, a long line of red following it. Kami! What had she done! Maybe she deserved to die. She had betrayed him. Her tears came harder. Oh, God she had betrayed him! Still, she dodged, instincts desiring self preservation, the killer in her demanding that she fight back even as her heart protested. She could never kill him, not her Sasuke.
Red eyes gazed in a blind fury at her bloodied and beaten form as some part of him realized he had done this. He let out an agonized scream, clutching his head as he tore into his own body, fighting himself. He could hear them, those voices torturing him. Itachi's voice telling him he was weak, that he should sever bonds, that he needed hatred. Orochimaru's voice beckoning through the cursed seal telling him to give in to the power, to become invincible. His own voice entreating that he stop this. His heart screaming that it had been betrayed. It was too much!
Falling to his knees, the avenger raged, his clothing tearing as he fought an unseen assailant, the pain stark on his features causing Sakura's heart to break. Torn, she crawled to him, uncaring for her own wounds as she reached his body, kneeling next to him, her fingers grasping his shoulders, trying to still him.
"Sasuke, fight it!"She demanded, her face blotchy from her continuous stream of tears. "Onegai Sasuke! Fight it! Fight it so we can go back together, back to Konoha!" Mindless he couldn't hear her words, the voices growing fearfully stronger so that he could feel his will shattering into pieces as he relieved every horror, every pain. Tearing free from the kunoichi's desperate hands, he gave a sudden, sharp, heart-wrenching screech, before all went quiet. From the sideline's Orochimaru watched, his gold eyes glinting in a dark satisfaction.
"Sasuke?"Sakura questioned, her hands reaching up to cup his face tenderly. Staring into his eyes she shattered. They were lifeless, the sharingan blazing yet without anything behind it. "Oh no,"she sobbed, clutching him."please no..."her voice grew softer, whispery,"Sasuke, please, come back! Come back!" Shaking him she received no response. Biting into her lip hard enough to bleed, she cried, her voice rising in a wail of sorrow as she rocked the unresponsive body of her beloved against her. Her own mind retreating into itself as the anguish became too much.
Rising from his perch on the bed, Orochimaru, redressed himself in his robe and turned to his faithful servant. "Kabuto," his voice rasped, lilting with pleasure,"once the kunoichi stops her weeping separate them and bring Sasuke to me. I am sure his choice was quite clear." He gave a smug grin, his fangs flashing dangerously, as he left the room.
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama,"the silver-haired nin responded, gathering his own clothing. Before he looked towards the hopeless couple. Yes, his master was indeed a genius.
Torches lined the stone walls, their flickering light casting erratic shadows across the floor. A simple bed lay against one of the walls, the torch-light giving it an amber glow. Shadows danced across a pale visage, green eyes reflecting the flames as they stared vacantly at shackled hands. The air was surprisingly cool and the room was silent save for the sound of the occupant's breathing. The shackles were unnecessary. The pink-haired young woman couldn't leave, in the week she had been here her chakra had continued to be suppressed.
The latch clicked, the sound signifying someone was going to enter, and the young woman looked up, her green eyes gazing towards the door inexpressibly. After she had been separated from Sasuke, she had awoken in this room, feeling too numb, too lost to do anything but stare idly at nothing. Her solitude was uninterrupted but for the coming and going of Kabuto each day to bring her food and administer the injections. She no longer cared. Konoha would perhaps figure out where she had gone after her "vacation" time was up and try to save her but it was useless. It was already too late to save the kunoichi. Her heart was shattered, her love lost to her forever, and it was all her fault.
The door swung open, the light spilling into the room, illuminating the tall figure of a man. Her breath caught. Her eyes filling with a spark of light as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. "Sasuke..."she exclaimed softly, standing.
The dark-haired shinobi smirked, one hand stuffed into his pocket as he walked towards the hopeful kunoichi. "Hello Sakura,"he replied, coming to stand next to her.
"Sasuke,"she repeated, part of her overjoyed and another part of her growing wary, warning her that this might just be some spiteful trick. Reaching for him she ran her hands over his shoulders, leaning against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Bending his head, the dark-haired nin kissed her, his tongue running across the seam of her lips and hesitantly she parted her lips for him, her tongue dancing against his. His hands gripped her harder, moving to trace her curves before moving to the ties that held her sound kimono together. With a tug he undid the binds, and broke the kiss, crimson eyes drinking the sight of her bared body.
Feeling her kimono open Sakura tensed, her green eyes searching those of the shinobi before her as her senses warned her that something was off. Memory clicked, invading the coccun of hope she had spun around herself and she moved away from him, hiding her body.
"You're not Sasuke,"she hissed, her eyes filling with anger. "Stop using his face you bastard!"
Pouty lips curved into a grin, ivory fangs peeking out from the darkness of his mouth. "Oh, Sakura-chan,"that low, boyish voice mocked as it became raspier until it was back to it's original tone."I thought you would prefer this face. But if you would rather..." Sharingan eyes faded away to a glistening gold as the skin began breaking, pieces falling away to reveal snow white flesh. Releasing the kunoichi completely from his grip, the dark-haired nin reach up pulling off the useless flesh, long dark hair tumbling forth as the face of the snake was unveiled.
The small hope in her died as she looked upon the face of her tormentor. "Orochimaru,"she spit out, backing away from him. Smiling devilishly, the snake sannin undid his own tie, the material of the kimono fluttering about him so that exposed pale flesh showing through peach as pieces began to fall away. Sakura's breath caught, her body instantly remembering his, and despite herself she felt her heart race with something other than fear. Silently she cursed herself. "Go away,"she demanded angrily,"I won't let you touch me again you bastard." Seeing him wearing the guise of her beloved had exposed the emotions she had sought to bury.
A long purple tongue snaked out to lick his pale lips."Now Sakura,"he replied in a condescending tone."If I can recall you once begging me to fuck you." Her body shook, disgust, humiliation, and anger raging through her as she recalled those words. Stalking closer to her, his hand shot forward suddenly, taking hold of the chains binding her wrists in a blur of movement. Tugging her towards him, her kimono fell open again, and he brought his face inches from hers."Tell me Sakura,"he hissed tauntingly,"do you remember you gave your word you would let me do with you as I please if I gave your Sasuke-kun a chance?"
Swallowing she fought tears,"yes.."she answered meekly, her anger fading in the face of her folly. She had assumed he meant until Sasuke decided to leave for Konoha. Guess I was wrong, she thought grimly.
"Very good," he stated seeing her anger begin to die. Satisfied that she was going to behave, he released her wrists, the chains falling away. "Take off your clothes,"he commanded, his voice growing deep and dark with lust. Resigned she did as he asked, shrugging off the flowing material onto the floor until she stood nude before him, her body glowing a reddish glow in the light. Gazing down on the floor she refused to look at him, knowing that he body would react regardless of her wishes, as she heard the whisper of cloth sliding down his skin to pool on the floor, the cream color of that material stark against the darkness of the floor where it sat at the edges of her vision.
Leaning into her, he brought her head up, her eyes forced to look his youthful body as they ventured up to meet his gold gaze. Running a finger through her hair, her tugged her head to his. "Let's try this again,"he whispered, his warm breath caressing her skin, making her body errupt in gooseflesh. Closing the gap between him, Orochimaru kissed her roughly, his mouth pillaging in stark contrast to the kiss before. His other hand snaked around her waist, pressing her body hard against his so that she could feel his erection against her stomach. She shivered, her nipples hardening against his smooth, musculed chest as her body, as her tightened in anticipation. It seemed on some level her body knew this form was Sasuke's despite Orochimaru bearing it, and that made her reactions stronger, sharper, so that it was not only the man she had engaged in coitus with that she reacted to but also the man she had always wanted yet never gotten to hold.
Fangs nipped the tip of her tounge, sucking the bleeding muscle so that Sakura gasped into the kiss. Orochimaru smirked inwardly. The little blossom was precious. Releasing his grip on her hair he allowed his hand to trace down her spine, causing the kunoichi to shudder against him, her hands grasping at his chest. His other hand dipped down, moving to cup her cheeks before moving down to run circles along her thigh, the other hand tracing its way across her ribs to fondle her ample breasts. She moaned, her body instinctively arching against him.
Damn body,Sakura thought angrily as she felt herself begin melting into his touch. It shouldn't feel good damn it! I should be ashamed! Sasuke's gone, her heart ached painfully at the thought, and my body still wants the snake! Fucking bastard, she thought but the heat of her anger had faded, leaving her only with her shame and her body's growing arousal, it must still be those drugs.
Moving, Orochimaru formed two seals, and broke the kiss suddenly. "Sen'eijashu" he hissed harshly, snakes shooting out from behind him to catch the kunoichi's legsand arms in a vice-like grip. The kunoichi gave a started eep as she was rendered immobile by the snakes, their scales rubbing harshly against her skin as she fell forward, her body leaning against the sannin. Jade stared into gold, the lust in her gaze tinged with fear as the sannin grabbed her hair roughly and gave her a forceful kiss before he sent a jolt of chakra through her shackles, undoing them. Their loss, however, was not missed, as one of the snakes slithered up to take their place.
"What do you plan on doing to me?"The rose-haired young woman asked shakily, her heart beating wildly in her chest as the pale shinobi teased the nub between her legs with a long finger.
"Nothing you won't enjoy,"he replied, dark voice mocking her as he licked her cheek. A cold pang of fear shot through her as she gazed into those serpentine eyes inches away from her own, eyes that promised dark, sadistic things. Her body shivered lightly in a mixture of disgust and anticipation as his wet muscle violated the skin of her cheek. Kami, why did she have to be so weak! Those damn, fucking drugs! She had allowed the vile nin Kabuto to feed them to her day after day without so much as a fight, but now, with Orochimaru having renewed her hope for a few fleeting moments only to rip it away, the fires of anger and self hate were renewed.
Laying her upon the bed, the dark-haired shinobi formed hand-signs, the earth beneath them shuddering and cracking until two poles of rock rapidly shot upwards to meet with the ceiling only a few feet from the bed. Why would he need to do that? A flurry of depraved pictures flew through her mind and she swallowed. On second thought, I don't want to know!The kunoichi thought to herself, her fear and anger helping abate the throbbing of lust through her body. Suddenly, the pink haired young woman felt her body lurch forward forcefully a startled exclamation escaping her as the two snakes entwined about her legs lunged towards the poles, their long forms coiling about the rock with a hiss so that Sakura felt her legs spread obscenely wide, her body angled sharply upwards as though in offering. Had she not been a kunoichi, the position might have been painful.
Embarrassment burned through her body despite her having lost her virginity to this same man and she struggled, trying to wrench her legs free only to have the snakes hiss threateningly, fangs bared, as they constricted about her legs. It was futile, even her hands had been rendered immobile by her living chains stretching her arms above her head and tangled tight against the circle in the wall where her steel chains had been fastened.
The sannin smiled maliciously, his eyes gleaming with that hunger she was all too familiar with as he stared at her folds glistening with the slight wetness that had collected there in the fire light. Jade eyes closed, the medic too ashamed, too humiliated to continue watching him devour her with his eyes. If only that was all he was planning! Kami, why now? She thought helplessly. She had spent days here and not once had he taken her again, why did he choose now?
Gold eyes glowed in the firelight, pupils widening marginally as he stepped forward, the reddened hue of flames coloring his paleness with amber shadows. Stalking towards her with all the grace of a predator, the pale skinned sannin ran his hands over the smooth skin of her legs, trailing to cup the cheeks of her posterior before smoothing themselves along her spine. Unwillingly, the kunoichi quivered her body beginning to throb again at the slightest touches, her closed eyes magnifying sensations sevenfold. A flash of fang gleamed as the sannin licked his lips. Positioned as she was, the little blossom's entrance was gloriously exposed and aligned to his own groin even standing. Perfect.
Drawing a hand away, Orochimaru slid it upwards to tease the bounty displayed in offering to him. Agile fingers moved, spreading the lips of the kunoichi's sex to give a clear view of the tight, little cavern he would so soon explore. A finger teased that entrance, causing the kunoichi to arch slightly, her eyes still shut, before sinking in. Immediately her body grasped him, hot muscles clenching his slender digit. Twisting his finger, the shinobi added another one, starting a slow rhythm of teasing before withdrawing.
"You are wet little one,"Orochimaru stated, his voice purring darkly,"but not wet enough." His gold eyes looked towards her face, taking in the sight of her breasts hanging heavily to frame her features, before turning away. His eyes narrowed, the blossom was not watching him. That would have to be remedied. Bending down, Orochimaru pressed a hard kiss to her thigh before biting it, his fangs sinking deep into her vulnerable flesh so that emerald eyes shot open and a shriek tore from her throat. Removing his canines, the snake sannin began licking the blood seeping from her wounds, his long tounge cleaning the stark crimson from her skin.
"You will watching me kunoichi,"he threatened,"or there will be very unpleasant consequences." Sakura stared at him for a moment, her eyes showing her anger and humiliation before she nodded solemnly, the movement difficult with her body so stretched. Nails dug into her skin, leaving red trails. "Tell me kunoichi," he commanded, his voice promising retribution should she not comply.
"Y-yes,"she replied shakily, hating herself for her easy submission.
"Good,"the gold eyed nin purred. "Then let me begin."
Eyes locked on hers, the sannin drew his fingers against her clitoris, teasing it while his other hand moved to play with her breasts. A shuddering moan spilled from her, unbidden, as the nukenin expertly rolled her nub between two fingers causing her body to clench and ache as need began to grow in her. Bastard, she thought, even as her hips tried to surge and she fought to keep her eyes open as decreed. He was nothing but a slimy bastard.
"Wh-whyy are you doing this?" Sakura questioned, voice breathy, as the nin allowed two of his fingers spear her, stroking in and out of her in time to the flicking of her nub."W-why nnow?"
A mischievious gleam filled his eyes then, his lips parting in a wide grin. "You will see, little one,"he replied, chuckling to himself, his raspy voice seeming to rub against her in his malicious pleasure."You will see..."
Pinching her clit, Orochimaru was granted a reprieve from her words as she moaned, her body slickening itself further around his invading digit. Very nice, the sannin thought to himself as he began torturing her senses, fingers playing upon her to cause her breath to come in pants and her body to writhe deliciously as her body began filling with that unbearable pressure. Satisfied that she was now well lubricated with her own juices, the snake nin withdrew his fingers from her body.
Reptilian pupils gazed out at the breathless kunoichi, her eyes in mere slits as she struggled to keep her eyes trained upon him. The blossom was proving to be quite delicious, her invigorating combination of fire and fear causing him to shudder inwardly with delight as a blanket lust settled down thick upon him. Drawing chakra into his finger tips, the raven-haired male called upon the medic technique he had copied from Kabuto, quite pleased at his endeavour. The sharingan truly was priceless, and the little spit-fire beneath him was to thank for its acquisition.
The kunoichi hissed lightly in pain, feeling her flesh sting as it was cut. Trying to peer up she found the nukenin hovering over her, the heat of his body teasing hers from inches away as his fingers began to cut patterns into the delicate flesh of her stomach. A humm of pleasure came from the dark shinobi towering over her, his eyes staring in perverse fascination as her flesh opened in neat cuts to trail red. Flinching, Sakura tried to maintain her composure as pin-pricks of pain fell upon her sensitized form, slowly dampening her once raging need. Her vulnerability came to her then, the realization that she was completely at his mercy, and she gasped, tugging at her living binds.
Subarashii, the nin commented to himself, hontoni subarashii. His long tongue snaked out from his lips, moving to soothe the sharp edge of pain as he lapped away the blood marring her skin. Oishii. A feral hunger rose in him, dark and taunting as he noted the metallic scent of her blood, the sweet saltiness of that vital liquid. A shiver of pleasure ran through him and he felt himself harden even more, his body demanding that he take her. Giving one last slash to her flesh, he retreated, allowing the chakra to dissipate from his fingers as he settled himself against her.
Oh, Kami-sama, tatsukete! Sakura prayed as she felt him rub against the petals of her inner sanctuary, the slight pain bringing her out of her lust induced haze enough to realize what was about to happen even as her body bubbled with desire, a threatening wave coming over her as he nudged her bud. Twisting, the young woman bit her lip, fighting the instinctive and induced reactions of her body as she felt hands grasp her immobile limbs, and the slide of skin as the snake slipped into her.
"Shimata," Orochimaru cursed, his words a low hiss as he sunk into the soft heat of the kunoichi's body. She was just as exquisite as the first time, her body slick and desiring even as it fights him, enveloping his length in a terrible tightness. She shuddered around him, body sucking him in involuntarily as he hit the end of her, his length grinding for a moment, deliciously, wonderfully, devastatingly, painfully pleasurable as he stroked that spot deep inside her easily accessible at this angle. The sannin smirked, his face tight as he retreated, a low moan escaping the kunoichi beneath him as he leaned forward, his arms bracing themselves upon the bed, centimeters away from the bounty of her breasts. Giving into temptation the nukenin allowed his long tongue to reach out and run over a pert, rosy nipple before capturing it in his mouth, his fangs biting into the creamy flesh as he began a forceful rhythm against her.
Kami... Thought began to fly away from her as he began a hard, fast, deep rhythm, his body prying hers open only to retreat just as her walls began to accustom to him before slamming back in. Despite herself, her hips surged, her body writhing as she fought against her scaly ties. She could feel it, feel that ominous pressure building up inside her so strong that she could only thrash helplessly against her bonds as her hips attempted to meet his and a chorus of moans were ripped from her throat. God, it was so hard to think yet she knew this was wrong!
Mouth parting from the blossom's ample breasts, the snake sannin looked down at his conquest, her face contorting with the pleasure he was forcing her to endure as she gazed vacantly out of slitted eyes. He groaned, feeling her walls contract against him, tearing his eyes from her face, he looked where their bodies were joined, his pace quickening. He could see her body sucking at his eagerly as he rammed into her repeatedly, flesh welcoming the onslaught even as he knew that little one would be distressed once she came to her senses. For some reason it made it all the more arousing. Delicious.
His hands racked her body, each scratch causing the blossom to moan and twist, her muscles tightening against him at the pain lost among the sea of pleasurable sensation. It was almost time... He swirled within her, enjoying her heat as he felt her begin to spasm, her body vaulting towards orgasm as he ground against her until finally she exploded. Quickly righting himself, Orochimaru gritted his teeth, fighting his own pleasure before summoned chakra into his hands, immediately he laid his hands upon her abdomen.
Sakura gasped. Even lost in orgasm she could feel her muscles contracting impossibly wide with each new shudder as the sannin pressed himself deeper against her, his long girth rubbing against her cervix only to slip through as it dilated. Her eyes widened as she began to return from her heights, feeling the nin pulse inside her very womb for a moment before he retreated, beginning a new rhythm. This should be impossible! She thought as he withdrew quickly before plunging into her again at a slower pace, his body invading her most sacred of places.
"No!"She protested as he withdrew, voice hoarse. This was wrong! Terrible! Vile! Yet her hips still moved against him.
"Yes,"he rebutted, voice rough and he grinned as he felt himself enter her womb again. The plan was going perfectly. Reaching down, he tweaked her clit causing her to tighten against him and lose coherency again as he began thrusting anew. Moving deeper than should be possible within her he felt himself drawing close. Just a little bit more, he noted to himself giving a hard thrust, his length venturing even deeper than before succumbing to his own pleasure, his body shuddering into hers as he spilled himself, coating the walls of her womb. Soon she was joining him.
Smirking he lifted himself off her after a few moments, his flaccid length spilling out of her with a wet pop as he summoned chakra to his hands once again and placed them upon her stomach. Instantly the kunoichi felt her body spasm again, her cervix snapping shut and she groaned.
"You did well, Sakura,"he mocked, his eyes glinting with a light she couldn't trust as she stared at him wearily. Bending to collect his clothes, Orochimaru pulled on his kimono, tieing it losely with his purple sash. "I am sure Sasuke would be pleased."
The pink-haired medic's breath caught and she struggled to sit up and catch sight of the onxy-haired nin. "What do you mean?"she queried breathlessly.
The sannin moved closer, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. A Cheshire-cat like grin spread across his hauntingly pale skin flushed lightly with sweat. A dark chuckle filled the air, and Sakura shivered, dread filling her as she remained helpless and nude before him. "Sakura-chan," he taunted voice rolling the syllables of her name as though tasting them individually,"what was Sasuke's goal?"
What the hell? She thought, trying to fight off the sickening feeling settling within her. What does that have to do with this?
"Sakura," the nukenin repeated roughly, his voice demanding an answer.
Hesitating, she swallowed, her stomach twisting with terror, shame, and dread. "To kill Itachi,"she answered, her voice soft and fearful.
If possible, Orochimaru's smile grew wider, his teeth gleaming white and sharp. "No, little one,"he replied his eyes glinting with triumph. "What was his second goal?"
Suddenly it hit her as cold and shocking as if she were drenched in ice water. Kami no,she thought, the sinking feeling of dread growing deeper as she looked up at the sannin with terrified eyes. Not that! Shakily she opened her mouth, needing to know for sure before she fell into the pits of terrified horror. "To rebuild the Uchiha clan,"she replied unsteadily. Praying fervently that it wasn't the right answer. Hoping that along the lines his second goal was something else like killing Orochimaru perhaps?
Her heart dropped "Exactly," Orochimaru answered his eyes flickering into the Sharingan as though to kill all lingering doubts. "Congratulations Sakura," he hissed,"you will be the mother to Sasuke-kun's child." Dispelling the jutsu that held the snakes, Orochimaru bend down to place a quick kiss to the stunned kunoichi's lips before sliding the manacles back onto her. Casting a last satisfied glance at the kunoichi, Orochimaru slipped away, the door slamming shut behind him.
Lying listlessly upon her bed, Sakura's hands trailed down involuntarily to rest upon her abdomen. Tears welled into her eyes and she curled into herself, pulling the covers over her nude body as she sobbed quietly. It all made sense now. The snake, that bastard, had been injecting her with fertility drugs to counteract the effect of her birth control and make sure she was ovulating within a week. Closing her eyes she fisted her hands into the covers. That bastard might have her, but she would be damned before she allowed him to take her child. Sasuke's child...The thought calmed her somewhat. Within her she held a piece of her beloved. Swallowed she silently swore to herself that she would never allow her child to fall into Orochimaru's hands. Never. Even if it meant sacrificing herself to kill the bastard. Silently, she prayed she would be capable of remaining sane enough to fulfill her vow.
There had to be hope! Right? Inside she dreaded learning the answer to that question.
Here you go, the 1st ending of Snake Bites. No I will not write more. You can guess more or less what will happen to Sakura, this is after all the more angst filled ending.
Anyway I hope you like it. I think poor Sakura has suffered enough under Orochimiaru's care, so next up will be ending 2.
RATE AND REVIEW please, you don't know how comments really make my day. In fact, they make me want to write more often! Lol. It is always nice to know when one's work is appreciated.
