Mend Me

 

Chapter 8

 

There wasn’t a day that passed where Akira didn’t think of Saya and get depressed. That day was no different.

 

Their situation was hard enough at home. From the time he learned of Saya’s night with Orochimaru via her pregnancy, Akira had to deal with the fact that while she loved him, she lusted for Orochimaru. Anytime he made an intimate move toward her, the back of his mind would always remind him that her curse was causing her to imagine him.

 

That being said, it was not easy to watch both her and Tetsuya walk away with him. It was also hard to watch Orochimaru take them in so easily, not that Akira actually wanted him to greet them disdainfully. A part of him wanted Orochimaru to act differently; to prove to Saya that he didn’t care about her.

 

There was the boy, though. He had every right to see his real father, even if the truth had been distorted for Tetsuya’s wellbeing. Orochimaru actually did well with kids, as he had seen for himself, so Akira hoped for the best. It still hurt to think that his makeshift family may slip though his fingers, though.

 

He watched the three of them until they could no longer be seen, but then another sight caught his eye. Someone else was watching them intently. As Kabuto turned his back towards them, his eyes locked with the other man’s.

 

Akira squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes as Kabuto stepped forward.

 

“Listen,” Kabuto started when he was within earshot, “I don’t like this anymore than you do.” He readjusted his glasses and smirked. “What do you say we team up for once and figure out a way to cut this visit a little short?”

 

“That’s impossible,” Akira told him as he shook his head. “One, the only way keep Saya away from him is to literally kill him. He made sure of that himself, so be mad at him, not Saya. And two, it would be even harder to work with you.”

 

Kabuto laughed. “Or, I could just kill Saya. I almost did once, you know.”

 

With lightning speed, Akira pulled a kunai from his pocket and launched it. Kabuto barely had time to duck from the close range assault as it whizzed past his head and into the tree behind him.

 

“I’ll kill you, Kabuto. Touch a hair on either Saya or Tetsuya’s head and I will tear you apart,” he snarled.

 

“And if you plan to do the same to Orochimaru,” Kabuto started as he closed the distance between them, “and I’ll do the same to you.”

 

Both men started each other down. Determination burned in their eyes, driven by the need to both protect and destroy Orochimaru and Saya.

 

Akira sighed loudly. “The man took me in and became my mentor. I wouldn’t do that, but I will jerk him enough to end this. Saya’s my top priority now. If you want to help, fine, but you will not let you lay a finger on her.

 

You’re much closer to Orochimaru than I used to be,” he went on, “Find a way to get to him. Get under his skin, get in his head, and just do what it takes to get him to push Saya away.”

 

Kabuto crossed his arms and examined Akira. He certainly wasn’t the arrogant man he used to be when Kabuto joined Orochimaru’s ranks. His remaining years at the compound and his unexpected leave had chipped away at that.

 

“I’ve never heard you sound so desperate,” Kabuto laughed, “but I’ll see what I can do. Who knows, it may even be fun.”

 

“I am desperate,” Akira admitted. “Do you what you have to, but don’t-”

 

“Hurt anyone. I got it,” Kabuto finished for him. “When will you be coming back?”

 

“Exactly a week. Saya wants to check in with me privately.”

 

Kabuto smirked. “Oh, I’ll have her ready to leave by then. Trust me.”