Anko made it a point to be the first to turn in her report after a mission. From the outside, many thought of her as a sophisticated soldier and one that was efficient beyond the norm. There was no doubt about the latter, but sophisticated she was not. As an ANBU, Anko's job required her to do some nasty things. What wasn't required was the relish she took from doing them. It was because of that that most people didn't hang around her more than necessary. The fact that she Orochimaru's former pupil didn't help either.

"Fucking snake." She murmured under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Tsukasa. Stay focused or do you want to get killed? I'm sure that would be a reprieve from all the work you complain about." Anko whispered softly.

Anko turned her attention back to the scene ahead of her. They were about 50 yards from the enemies' camp site. Until the signal was given that the encampment had been infiltrated they were to wait, hiding in the trees. Recognizing the call signal Anko smiled in anticipation.

"There it is. Time to party Tsukasa." They sprinted towards the campsite, striking down anyone in their path until they arrived at what was presumed to be the captain's tent.

"Report." Anko demanded.

"Enemy encampment secure. Casualties: 1."

"Better than expected. Accompany our fallen soldier back to the base," Anko said to the ANBU.

Anko turned her attention to the only survivor of the regiment, a man that claimed leadership over the camp.

"I need some answers from you." She said smiling. There was unanimous eye shifting from her squad. They were the toughest of tough but when it came to Anko's tactics they couldn't help but feel the menacing chill exuding from her while she was working.

"You will get nothing out of me. You have my word." The captain replied.

"Then it's a good thing I place no value on your word. According to me, you'll be spilling in the next 3 seconds."

"You can't –." Before he could finish, Anko was behind him dragging a knife through his stomach, blood already pooling at his feet.

"See there, I told you you'd be spilling." She said digging the knife deeper. "Now what I want to know is very simple and if you give a satisfactory answer it will save you further…trouble."

"N-n-never." He choked.

"Just what I expected. More fun for me." She said from across the room smiling. The ninja's eyes widened and looked over to see her sitting comfortably in a chair.

"And just when you thought you were about to die." She laughed. "Sorry. Not that lucky."

The ninja looked down to see that he was in perfect condition.

"Genjutsu!"

"Bingo. I figured you would be able to see through that which makes me wonder who you really are. Why don't you tell me where the real captain is?"

"I am the captain."

"I suppose that leaves your word against mine and that simply won't do. Why don't we ask him?" Anko shot snakes out of her sleeves, busting through the ground to ensnare the ninja hidden very cunningly beneath the dirt.

"Well, well, well." Her snakes had a death grip on him constantly running her chakra along them to negate his own. A skill well learned from her former sensei.

"Anko."

She was surprised to hear a very familiar voice but it was one that didn't belong.

"May I help you, Ibiki? I'm sort of in the middle of something." Anko said without a glance in his direction.

"You are required at headquarters. I'm taking over the mission for now."

"On whose orders?"

"The Hokage's."

"I guess you lucked out soldier." Instead of loosening her grip Anko's snakes tightened up.

"Anko." Ibiki said firmly.

"Oh alright Ibiki." Anko said plainly.

Before she left the tent she paused in front of Ibiki's face. "I'm in charge here and don't you begin to think otherwise."

"Damn it!" The first interrogation in a while and she had to stop at the start of it. She was still fuming when she arrived at the base.

"I'm afraid pulling you from your duties was necessary Anko. I'll get right to the point. Orochimaru is looking for you." Tsunade said seriously.

Anko froze.

"He kidnapped one of our kunoichi and inquired as to your whereabouts. He returned her, but not in the condition she left. She's not able to talk at the present so this is all the information I can give you. I won't pull you from your missions Anko but I'm assigning someone to shadow you until further notice."

"Ibiki." Anko stated.

"Yes."

"Hokage, Ibiki and I aren't exactly friends." She said trying to be more reserved in her personal assessment of their relationship.

"I am aware of that, but I am also sure that anyone else wouldn't be able to keep up with you," To be understood completely Tsunade lifted her chin and fixed Anko with a serious look, "I have made my decision and I trust that will not be an issue."

"No ma'am." Anko said grudgingly.

"I want to add one more thing. We both know what he is capable of and whatever he wants you for won't be pleasant. I don't like to entertain the idea that he will…abduct you, but if that happens he'll use your mutual past to manipulate you. There are some things we cannot help Anko, but don't let him use it against you."

There is was. Anko had always suspected that Tsunade was aware of her feelings for Orochimaru, but this was undeniable proof. Regardless of how she felt, Anko could never help him. She would never forgive him for what he did to her; manipulating her, abandoning her, and betraying the village that even he taught her to love. She tried to push back the memories that flooded her mind but she couldn't stop visions of Orochimaru's pats on the head, his smile when she exceeded his expectations and her desire to be the perfect ninja for him.

"Hokage, I have and will protect Konoha with my life. He and I have a history but that could never break my oath to this village. I hope you believe me."

"I do Anko." Tsunade said sincerely. "But for now Ibiki is assigned as your teammate for future missions and I will contact you should there be any more developments. Return to the camp site and help with interrogations. Dismissed."

"Yes ma'am." Anko said saluting.

On her way back to the encampment she was lost inside her head. She couldn't believe this was happening. She thought she was rid of that particular stain on her past. Years of service to her village convinced her she made amends for being the student of a murderous fiend. Since Orochimaru was dedicated to making things evil and corrupt, she determined to be the opposite. If she could do that then he'd have failed in damaging her. Anko took extreme pleasure in that. However, though the thought comforted her, she remembered another time when she was sure she'd defeated him for good. What a fool she had been. Right when she had prepared to die and take that son of a bitch with her, he escaped her restraints. Proctoring the Chunin exams wasn't a memory she often dwelled on.

When she made it back to the camp she sought out her new torment.

"You didn't save me any leftovers?" she asked referring to the prisoner.

Ignoring her question Ibiki said, "Now that you have been briefed I expect no trouble from you. We both have jobs to do and this side matter will have no effect on it."

"You know I'd do anything for you Ibiki," she said sarcastically. And then in a lower voice she added, "You can stop with the bullshit. I'm only putting up with you because the Hokage, though misguided in her assessment, believes I need protection from you. So, unless I call for you to help me, which won't happen, leave me the fuck alone."

When she left the tent she felt even more burdened then before and an unsettling idea was beginning to form in her head.

What if I finally face Orochimaru for the last time and end it? All the frustration, all the worry, all those torturous feelings I have for him would be gone.

But in the same beat she thought, Shut up Anko. You would be the one dying. There is no way you can take on a Sanin.

"Anko…Darling where are you?"

"What? I'm right here Orochimaru-Sensei!" Anko said in a child's voice.

"And where might that be?"

"In a tent maybe, there are lots of trees around."

"That's not very helpful Anko. How can I get to you if I don't know where you are?"

"I know I'm trying to remember!" She cried. "But Sensei how come you can't find me? Wait, you left me. You left me alone and didn't come back for me!" Her voice began to regain its maturity and she realized this was not reality.

Get out of my head Orochimaru! Get out!

She could hear his laughter echoing around her.

I'll get to you eventually Anko and you're going to lead me straight to you… goodbye for now my dear.

"Anko, wake up!" She felt the strong sting of a slap across her face. Before another could strike she grabbed the wrist.

"I'm fucking awake." Her voice was shaky and her clothes were heavy with sweat.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ibiki asked.

"Nothing. And I don't remember calling your name. Get out of my way." She got off her mat and brushed past him.

"It didn't take him long to get to you." He said, making Anko stiffen.

"He doesn't know where I am." She said annoyed.

"For now. He'll find out where you are eventually and neither you nor I will be able to stop him."

"So you say."

"I know how these mind games work Anko so don't act like I'm a fool. I'm older than you and I have more experience than you, especially in this subject. If you don't accept my help he'll weaken you until you are powerless to stop him."

"Whatever Ibiki." She turned away from him and exited the tent.

She knew Ibiki was alert and watching for danger, but she didn't care. It was only when she reached the tree line that she felt the full affect the dream. She couldn't believe he had reached her so soon. He was doing exactly as Tsunade said. He made her a child again, the child that needed him.

Anko was hidden in the trees surrounding the encampment trying to calm the chills running through her body. Why can't I stop shivering? She heard footsteps below her and wondered if she was going to get another lecture. Ibiki simply threw a coat that landed on the tree branch in front of her.

"I want that back." He said and walked off.

"I don't need this!"

"Yes the fuck you do. Now shut up and put it on or get back in the damn tent." He called to her still walking.

Anko liked to think she was right most things but this time she was wrong. So wrong it was sure to haunt her forever because instead of following Ibiki's advice and accepting his help she continued to battle on her own. She felt herself weaken with every dream but being the stubborn person she was didn't acknowledge it. Orochimaru did come for her and it was because she told him exactly where she was.

She could only remember flashes of the dream but she did remember the smile on Orochimaru's face when she finally told him her location. This time she did not snap out of young Anko's thoughts. He was the best sensei in the world, why wouldn't she want him to find her?

Where are you darling? I know I made a mistake, if you tell me where you are I'll make it up to you.

It was with happiness that she answered him and before she realized what she had done, she was enveloped in darkness.

She woke in a drug induced haze that blurred her vision and filled it with vague shapes and shadows. She was sitting slouched over on a stone floor, arms chained behind her back.

"Where are you, you bastard? You have me, so tell me what you want!" She yelled desperately rattling her chains.

"Why Anko, is that really any way to talk to your Sensei?" A pale hand shot out under her chin and affectionately pulled it upward to face him. She shook with fear and something more dangerous…exhilaration.

"O –Orochimaru…"

Seeing his face brought relief to her somehow, but realizing how twisted that was she said, "I hate your guts and will be happy to see them spilled on the floor." Orochimaru leaned closer, his breath caressing her face.

"That's all you have to say Anko?" He whispered. His mouth, a mere inch away, had her lips trembling. She had dreamed of those lips on hers and in a moment of weakness reached up to meet them. She expected him to pull back but he didn't. Instead he deepened the kiss using that skilful tongue of his to elicit a moan from her. He remained in a crouch, snaking a hand in her hair to pull her closer.

Slowly she began to awaken from her haze as the drugs wore off and she regained her senses. She whipped her head to the side and demanded that Orochimaru take his hands off her before she ripped them off and beat him with them.

"Well, it certainly didn't take long for you to regain your composure, but I have to admit you've surprised me Anko. I didn't think you felt quite like that about me." Orochimaru whispered against her neck, along with feather light kisses. He drew his devilish tongue up her throat drawing out an infuriatingly aroused whimper from Anko.

"I hate you."

"Don't be boring Anko," he said pulling away. She spit in his face to show her disgust.

"Not a very good girl, are you?" He said wiping it from his face and smiling.

"Just let me out of these chains you son of a bitch and I'll be a really good girl."

"I think our definitions of 'good' differ exceedingly." He said smirking.

Turning his attention away he shouted, "Kabuto. Notify me once it's complete." With that he exited, not once sparing a glance for his former student. That hurt Anko more than it should. Shouldn't he at least offer some explanation for why she was here? Shouldn't he be the one getting the information he wanted from her? Instead he asked Kabuto, as if she were just another prisoner. But maybe that was all she ever was to him; just another prisoner.

Kabuto entered with a syringe in his hand looking very resigned, as if he had lost whatever humanity he once possessed by being in this place. Whatever was in that syringe however troubled her the most. She knew it was important that the viscous substance was not injected into her.

"You know Kabuto, what happened between me and Orochimaru could easily happen between you and me." Anko knew it wouldn't work, but she smiled seductively anyway.

"That won't work on me Anko." He said staring her straight in the eyes.

"I know. I just had to distract you long enough for me to devise a plan."

He smirked, "And what could you possibly have devised in that short period of time?"

She laughed cynically, "Absolutely nothing."

"As I thought." He preceded forward and injected the serum.