Loyalty (Sasuke Uchiha)

It was at a waterfall this time.

I sat at the other side of the river from where Sasuke stood, as I watched him curiously from the branch of a tree.

Chirori was chirping loudly in his left hand as Sasuke stood there looking absentmindedly at something off in the distance, his cursed mark stretched out and enveloped half of his face and spreading to his neck and chest.

And then, similar to before, he released his chidori in his own way, affecting the tree I sat relaxed in.

The little flowers of the tree rained down into the water and the rocks, as I watched a few of the flowers fall down upon my bare skin.

I wonder. Could that bastard have been aiming for me?

I watched in irritation as he retracted his arm back, taking a few steps forward.

And then I snapped my head the second I felt a presence underneath me.

A presence that sparked something within me, that put me on edge in an instant even though I hadn't seen this presence yet. The same presence I had sensed not too long ago.

I looked down, seeing the same boy with dirty blonde hair bent down by a few of the small flowers that had fallen onto the rock.

"Tell me.. Do you like red camellias or white camellias?"

I narrowed my eyes at the blonde haired boy. Could that be... Yuukimaru? What is he doing here? And why is he trying to talk to Sasuke?

"Camellias don't lose petals; instead, the entire flower falls off. You can get oil from the nuts, and the tree makes great charcoal." He spoke oddly as he picked up one of the white flowers in his hand.

"Don't come back here. Go away." Sasuke spoke lowly.

I switched my gaze to his as his back was turned to us, then moving it back down to the boy.

"Go away? I wonder where to? Where should I go to? Is this were I'm supposed to be?"

I watched as Sasuke turned back around, as his eyes watched the boy cautiously.

"But something's not right. This is not the place where I'm supposed to return to. That's right.. You wouldn't know that, would you?"

When I last spoke to Yuukimaru, he wasn't as odd as what he was being right now. I wonder.. did Kabuto or Orochimaru get to him?

"Say, do you have somewhere to go back to?"

"A place like that does not exist for me." Sasuke spoke blandly.

"Ah, here you are Yuukimaru. It's time to go."

I moved my gaze to the sound of Kabuto's voice as I watched him walk up to the boy.

"Okay." Yuukimaru said as he smiled.

"Sorry to bother you." Kabuto apologized, directing his comment to Sasuke.

And then he turned around and walked off with the boy, not before looking up at the tree and giving me a smirk.

"See you soon, Sasuke." The boy called out.

"Do you know him?" I asked him, curious. The uncomfortable pit feeling in my soul lifted as he went further away from me.

"He belongs to Orochimaru."

I groaned in annoyance. "Of course, I am the last to know of whatever the hell that bastard is doing." I mumbled to myself as I laid back on the branch.

But poor Yuukimaru. If Father got to him, then that means something unpleasant is about to happen to the boy. I tried to ignore the nauseous feeling that had been flooding my head.

"Miyako. Let's go."

-

I stood upon a tree branch with Sasuke as we watched Yuukimaru being led across a field with Kabuto leading him off somewhere. It was this scene before me that I knew something horrid was about to happen. And I still couldn't shake off this odd feeling whenever I laid eyes on Yuukimaru. It was like I was trying to be pulled towards the boy, but I couldn't bring myself to help him. Father wouldn't have it.

I hated to admit it; I had been trying so desperately to ignore this fact for the past few days; weeks even.

But the time for Father taking a new body, Sasuke's body, was coming.

"It's almost time." Sasuke simply stated, before disappearing from behind me.

-

I sat impatiently upon Father's chair, tapping my foot in irritation. He orders me to come meet him in his chambers, which, thank God, didn't take me that long to find since this hideout is smaller than his last one. And then he doesn't even show up. He isn't even here.

I slumped myself in his chair, my legs swinging out on one side of the arm rest while I leaned back against the other. I allowed my head to hang upside down as I stared at the stone ground, swinging my legs in boredom.

I even brushed through my long auburn hair completely three times, my patience beginning to grow slim.

I didn't bother sitting up when I heard the click of the door opening and closing, as footsteps approached me.

"You're late." I said in annoyance, not bothering to look at him.

"I know you aren't a very patient person darling, so let me get straight to the point." Orochimaru started, his tone dead serious.

I opened an eye, turning my head to look at his upside down form, a displeased expression on his face. I ignored it as I shut my eye, relaxing back down.

"If you don't know already, I care for you. I care for you so much that I would even go far enough to call you my own daughter.

Miyako, your own power has far beyond exceeded my expectations. You have grown so far these past few years, which I find impressive since you didn't awaken the beast inside of you once.

The truth is, you are the perfect vessel for me."

I sat up in an instant, shooting him a furrowed glare.

I didn't know wether to feel shock right now, or fear. But he hadn't done it three years ago, or the year before that, or even in the months between that. He had every opportunity to take me as his vessel, but he didn't.

And now, he was going to.

A grin spread across his face.

"Don't be afraid, darling. As I said before, I care for you. Which is why I haven't taken over your body then, and which is why I won't now. Why do you think I have Sasuke Uchiha here?"

My eyes widened in dismay.

"He's the next best vessel." I said softly.

"Correct. And it seems that Sasuke and myself have similar aspirations, unlike you and myself. If I'm not mistaken, you plan to kill any of us who go near your precious Naruto?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He continued on with a sly smile. "That's the feelings of the beast inside of you. You don't really care about Naruto. Its the beast that cares for her own creation. As she does with every tailed beast out there. That's why you feel something for not only Naruto, but to Gaara of the sand. That's why you felt a connection with the little boy, Yuukimaru."

My eyes widened, eyebrows furrowed in shock.

"YOU MONSTER! YOU KILLED HIM!" Fury surged through me as I tried to charge at Orochimaru, but his snakes coiled around me before I could move a muscle.

"Tell me, Miyako, do you wonder why I haven't killed you?" Orochimaru continued, ignoring my sudden outburst.

"Because you can't." I growled through clenched teeth.

"Because the beast inside of you won't allow it. If I could defeat her easily, believe me when I say this; You would be dead by now."

I let out a choked gasp as I felt my expression freeze in horror.

At that moment, Sasuke emerged into the room as Father looked down at me in delight. I held back the tears that were threatening to escape.

I felt Sasuke's eyes burn through my face but I didn't bother to look at him. Instead I closed my eyes in frustration, my teeth clenched together.

"You called?" Sasuke spoke.

"I figured I'd test you to see the extent of your power." Orochimaru said.

"I see."

Father let out a sinister chuckle. "You didn't even flinch. Impressive. You're very confident taking me on like that."

"I'm ready on my end. Anytime."