With Shirokumo and Arachne
"What's wrong with him?" Arachne asks. "Last time he was here he seemed angered, but not like this. Even when he came here when he killed that child he wasn't this animated. This expressive. Something truly horrific must have happened."
"So you did see that. I always wondered if you did. Not much makes it past you, does it?"
"Shirokumo do not try to avoid this. He is my Summoner as well as yours. You know you need to tell me."
"I'm not completely sure, but I think he just found out who killed his family." Shirokumo gravely says to her.
"His family is dead?" She asks in shock. "I never knew."
"Worse. They were murdered right in front of him. I think he just found out who exactly was behind it and why they did it."
"Explain please. I won't ask him, I can't imagine the feeling of going through that. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"He always had a feeling, I could tell from watching him. His distrust of Orochimaru runs deeper than what you'd see on the surface, there was something more. He didn't realize it himself but it's part of the reason he came here, he wanted to find out if his family truly were murdered or if they were killed by chance. He found his answer today, Orochimaru was behind it all. He had our Summoner's family killed so he'd have one less reason to stay in Konoha. That's how twisted and sadistic the Snake Summoner is, he's willing to sacrifice lives for a mere chance of getting what he wants."
"... I'm beginning to rethink our alliance with the Snakes."
"Their next Summoner isn't bad. It's just this one, this Orochimaru. I've met the next one, he's Alvarcus's friend. I would even go as far as a brother. The way they care for each other you would think they came from the same egg sack."
"Really? It's rare for spiders to have bonds like that."
"Really. Sasuke's one hell of a person. He's brash and arrogant, but somehow that balances out Alvarcus's meticulous planning and playfulness. You wouldn't believe the schemes he has floating around in his head."
"So they're good for each other."
"Yeah. Never thought it could be possible, but it happened."
"Do you think he could make a good Sage?" Arachne asks. "Do you remember the last one?"
"I do. That was our first summoner, wasn't it?"
"Yes, she really was quite the handful wasn't she?"
"That she was. Sometimes I miss those days. The world was a simpler place. That was back when I still had color on my exoskeleton!"
"So, do you think he could become a Sage?"
Shirokumo hesitates. "I don't know. I don't know if he even can, the Jiongu could have irreparably damaged his chakra network and it might not be able to handle the stress of natural chakra. Even if he can, it's years too early to start him on it."
"He can summon you." Arachne pointedly says. "You know what that means."
"Just because he can summon me doesn't mean he is Sage material. That's only the first condition, there are many more trials he has yet to go through. Although I admit, I've never been the first spider to be summoned before."
"You're right as usual Ancient One." Arachne gracefully bows to Shirokumo.
"None of that now. We've worked on this, there's nothing wrong with questioning me."
"Sorry. It's a habit."
...
Two Hours Later, Back in Alvarcus's Room
POOF
"Where the hell have you been?" Tayuya's voice assaults me the moment I'm back.
"Needed to blow off some steam so I went to the Nest." I briskly reply.
"You couldn't even tell me that you made it back in one piece? I thought you died today! Last time I saw you, you were going to face down a hundred opponents by yourself! What the fuck man?"
"Tayuya!" I roar. She flinches at the volume. "The second I was back in Sound Orochimaru whisked me away to his office and had Kabuto rape my mind. I took exception to that and tried to kill him. Would have done it too if Orochimaru didn't save his sorry ass by throwing me into a wall! Then I came back here and went to the Nest to blow off steam because if I didn't I would have gone on a murderous rampage!"
She snorts. "Please, you don't do murderous rampages. You're not the type. I would know, I've met my fair share of them."
Most of the tension in my body leaves me. That's one of the good things about Tayuya, she doesn't get hung up on things most other people would. "Sad thing is you're right. I probably would have gotten through one or two dozen people and come back to my senses. What do you know, I guess I do have a shred of humanity still. I wonder when Orochimaru will corrupt that too."
She boldly strolls fully into my room and plops down on my bed. She pats the spot next to her. "Want to talk about it?"
I sit down next to her. "Not really. I got most of it out of my system already." Plus I can't exactly explain everything to her. Something like 'I just found out Orochimaru had my family slaughtered to get me here so he can fill his sick twisted sense of fatherhood that for some reason is fixating on me because he pulled me from the afterlife.' I'm sure that would go over well.
"You sure? I'll listen." She wraps me in a hug.
Stupid. This is stupid. I shouldn't let her be here. I should kick her out and tell her to leave me alone. I should distance myself from her. I need to do that, I can't get attached. I can't have someone here that I care about besides Sasuke. Only Sasuke is irreplaceable to Orochimaru, everyone else can be used against me.
"Maybe another time." I lean backwards and force both of us to fall onto my bed. I'll work on distancing myself from her later. For now I'm going to enjoy not being alone. "Right now I just want to sleep. I want this day to be over."
"If that's what you want." She snuggles deeper into my side. "I'll keep you warm this time, kay?"
I crack a small grin. She totally wants my body heat again. "Whatever you say."
We fall asleep like that.
...
The Next Morning
"Psst! Jirobo check this out!" Kidomaru whispers from the other side of my cracked open door. "You're not going to believe this!"
"What do you want Kidomaru? We're supposed to be looking for Tayuya. She missed this morning's group training exercises. I swear if this is- Holy shit. Sakon get over here."
"What's gotten you both so- Damn. When did this happen?"
"How should I know?" Jirobo says in exasperation. "Should we wake them up or leave them alone?"
"Leave us the fuck alone you assholes." Tayuya grumbles from my side without lifting her head off my chest. "Unless you want your asses kicked."
Kidomaru snickers. "Better yet should we go get Orochimaru-sama?"
"Do it and die." I growl out with the least amount of movement possible. I'm very comfortable right now, and contrary to what I said last night Tayuya is actually keeping me warm. "This was such a pleasant morning. Then you dicks showed up."
"You sure we're the only dicks to show up?" Kidomaru wisecracks. "Hold up, can you even get it up? Your thread thingy didn't have side effects did it?"
I snap open an eye to glare at him. "Yes you insufferable heretic! I will kill you. They will never find the body. It will be the ultimate stress relief."
"That's not the only thing that's going to be relieved!"
"Kidomaru enough." Sakon cuts in. "We will leave the lovebirds to themselves this time. As nice as it is that you two are... now whatever the two of you have become, I expect you to not miss practice again Tayuya."
Thankfully the three males of the Sound Four leave us.
"I hate your teammates." I growl out. "Who the fuck asks that?"
"That's okay, I hate them sometimes too." She snuggles deeper into me. "How long can we stay like this?"
"As long as we want. Or until Orochimaru demands something from one of us."
...
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