The Angel Meets the Devil

I awoke from my sleep, feeling refreshed. Though my body still ached from the years of torture, my body still felt better than it had in…forever. I stretched my sore muscles, making a content sigh as my back cracked pleasurably.

But soon, my nose instantly picked up the smell of food. Following my nose to said food, I sat down to a tray full of food on the sole desk in the room. A bowl of rice, steamed vegetables, and meat just sat there waiting to be eaten by me. The smell alone, made my mouth water uncontrollably. Next to the tray was a jug of what I suppose was water, but at this point my mind didn't care if it was muddy sewer water, it just wanted it!

With near animalistic frenzy I attacked the food in front of me, tearing into the meat like a dog. I drained the jug of its contents forgoing cups and utensils as my instincts drove me to only think of nothing but one thing, Eat! Drink! In what seemed like less than a minute my stomach was letting out content growls as I slouched in my chair.

But then that reminded me of who fed me this meal and my happy mood was driven away faster than the food that was placed in front of me. Now that I had a clearer head (Sort of), I looked at my situation pragmatically. I tossed out the idea that this was a sick joke, that was a given, no one would go this far for a horrible prank. I also tossed out that Orochimaru was just some demented man playing out some sick obsession with the Naruto series.

One likely possibility was that I was having a horrible nightmare that made pain entirely possible. Something called Night Terrors I believe they're called. That could be it, having Night Terrors could explain all the pain I've encountered so far. All of this could all just be in my head. I shook my head and tossed that idea out as well.

If I was having Night Terrors, there would have been breaks between the dreams as I woke up. And I wouldn't have such crystal clear memories as I am horrible at remembering dreams if at all. I also doubt Night Terrors would have a happy ending (sort of), it would just continue being horrible, not little breaks of pleasure like this

That left me with the most obvious, and at the same time, most unbelievable theory.

That I was somehow reborn into the Naruto universe as a small four or five year old child with wings. That makes no sense though; I was a perfectly healthy woman in my early twenties, I couldn't have just died in my sleep. I had no heart problems, a respectable cholesterol level, both good and bad. I had no known diseases and I never had a genetic history of stroke or cancer. So how could I have just 'died' in my 'Old' world?

I vaguely remember the Naruto storyline from my teens and funnily enough I didn't exactly follow either the manga or anime very seriously. And that's the crux of the problem, right? Isn't the story of Naruto FAKE? It was made up, a fantasy, everything in Naruto the imagination of a couple of Japanese writers, possibly high on weed to come up with it in the first place.

But then I remembered something my dad used to say when I was younger. He was an avid reader of fantasy adventure books, reading series that spanned dozens of books and stories spanning decade's even centuries in a worlds timeline. He once told me when I was about twelve or thirteen years old, "Authors don't make up worlds, they somehow tap into worlds, observe it, experience it even. They then write those experiences down, to show our world their stories. So you see books aren't just stories, they are completely different Universes."

So is that what happened to me? I was sent to experience something in the universe of Naruto, and then write it down when I got back home? That made no sense though this world was already tapped if the creators of Naruto have anything to say about that. So why was I here? What was my purpose?
I cradled my head in my hands almost having a mental break down. Oh god my head is hurting.

I sat back up, and took a deep calming breath, then exhaled slowly relaxing both my mind and body. This was getting me nowhere. Contemplating how I got here was useless, wasting both my time and energy. Right now I needed to look to the present and somehow get myself out of the hands of a madman.

First fact, Orochimaru is a missing nin, so I doubt he would just make his base easy to enter, let alone find, so waiting for rescue was pointless. Second he is devious, he probably has traps, maze like corridors, patrols, anything to make it harder to get to him or his secrets. Third he probably has ways of tracking people inside his bases. Whether it was with cameras or some ninja detections seal…thingy, I'm not sure but I doubt he wouldn't have his entire base tapped somehow.

Just as I was thinking of somehow using this information to my advantage, my thinking was interrupted by my door opening. A pale teen, about thirteen or so stood there. The teen's skin was as pale as Orochimaru's, the reason eluding me, his hair a pale white reaching below his shoulders. He had no eyebrows only two spots of red where the eyebrows were supposed to be.

The teens clothing was a copy of Orochimaru's white coat with purple rope belt, and white pants.

The teens eyed me in apparent apathy as if he already knew I was nothing of note. Before my annoyance at him could get the better of me though, he spoke in a monotone, "Orochimaru-sama wishes to speak to you."

I blinked in surprise, but before I could even ask why he turned and left. I scrambled to follow him as I shouted out, "Hey wait up!" After catching up to him I walked about a half foot behind him, not comfortable around this kid to be standing right next to him.

After about two minutes of silence and the pattering of my bare feet and his sandals, I asked, "So what's your name?"

A glance back at me, then he looked stoically forward again, "My name is Kimmimaru."He didn't sound hostile, just blandly saying his name. But he could have been raging at me and I wouldn't have known, his voice sounding that dead.

I nodded and gave a grin despite myself, "Nice to meet you Kimmimaru, my name is…" I paused for a second, not sure whether I should go by my 'old' name, or if I should use my 'new' name. "Hotaru. My name is Hotaru Rowe." What can I say, I love compromises. Kimmimaru again gave a look over his shoulder, in what I assumed was an eyebrow raised in curiosity, "Rowe? I have not heard a last name like that before."

I shrugged, a sheepish grin on my face, "Hey it's my family's name. I can't choose my name." Kimmimaru gave a thoughtful look before turning forward again, "No I suppose not." He murmured. Silence fell again, this time less tense then it was before. Not exactly what I would call comfortable, but it was better than when we first met.

Finally we reached a simple pair of stone doors with what looked to be engravings in the middle and borders of the doors. Kimmimaru knocked loudly on the door, waited for a heartbeat then pushed the doors wide open. Inside the room was huge, about as big as my old two story house I grew up in my old life.

Torches dotted the walls on the far side of the room, and despite their purpose the torches gave off little light a circle of light about two or three feet before the shadows took over again. The entire room was empty except for a raised stone dais, and placed on it was a simple stone throne. It was easily twice as big as me, and perched like a king inspecting his kingdom was Orochimaru.

He sat there with an amused dark smile, slouching in an obviously bored fashion as he watched me and Kimmimaru approach him.

It's different looking at an evil man's lair from T.V., and experiencing it in real life. When you watch it on T.V., you think 'Oh god that guy really needs to see an interior decorator.'

But being in the lair of a truly evil man, I didn't think the décor was drab. It terrified me. The reason why these guys have such terrible decorations is not because they have horrible tastes; it's to intimidate both their enemies and subordinates alike. It's to make you feel hopeless, to let you know that you are worthless to the master of this room, this base, this kingdom.

This room intimidated me greatly. The hairs on my arms and neck stood to attention as my body fought with instinct. I felt like I just trespassed into the domain of a dark god, and now my soul was Orochimarus property to toy with as he pleased, like countless others before me. In this room he knew he was a god. The only reason I was alive now was because of a whim nothing more, that fact chilling me to the bone.

As I look back on that moment, it was an egotistical, arrogant way of intimidating people, but unfortunately for me, it was a very effective method. Especially for someone who has never known a man that would, and could kill me for the littlest of reasons. Moisture left my mouth, as it relocated to my palms making them feel clammy. My heart started pounding in my chest as breath became hard to come by with every step closer to this destructive creature.

We stopped scarcely two meters away Kimmimaru stopped, with me hanging back a bit my instincts telling me to run the opposite direction of this powerful predator. Kimmimaru then got onto one knee, like a knight to his king, "Orochimaru-sama I have brought the girl as ordered."

Orochimaru's eyed him for a moment as if remembering his presence. "Ah Kimmimaru-kun, thank you for your assistance, you are dismissed.

Kimmimaru gave a bob of his head in confirmation, as he stood back up and without a backwards glance left the room, the doors slamming with a resounding and somehow damning boom.

Orochimaru eyed me, analyzed me with his eyes, somehow making me feel naked, and the sorry excuse for clothes that I wore right now not helping me at all either. Apparently he like what he saw as he grinned darkly for a second before asking, "So tell me Hotaru-chan, how do you like your stay so far? Was the food I gave to your liking?"

For a second my tongue couldn't form words, my mouth opening and closing like a beached fish for about thirty seconds. Finally I was able to speak albeit hoarsely and quietly, "Yes sir, I loved it."

Despite not liking this man one bit, I had to give him respect. Or else he might kill me. Really simple as that to be honest, he probably would kill me anyways if I hadn't piqued his interest, so it was a bitter pill I easily swallowed if I wanted to get out of here alive.
Orochimaru's grin widened slightly, and in a faux cheerful voice said, "I'm glad Hotaru-chan. I feel terrible for what I did to you and all the pain I caused. I wish there was something I could do to let you know I am sorry." He adopted a thoughtful expression, before turning his attention back to me, "So what is it that you wish for Hotaru-chan? Ask, and I will give it, within reason of course." The last said with a grin.

I gave a tentative nod as I thought furiously, thinking, Should I ask if I could leave? It's worth a shot at least.

"Actually, sir I want…" My mouth stopped talking my mind in a whir as possibilities seemingly went through my mind against my will. It seemed my mouth seemed to take a mind of its own as I said, "I want…I want to get stronger." Hateful words I never knew I harbored poured out from mouth of its own volition as I looked on in horror, "I never want to be as weak as I was when those men experimented on me. I want to be able to destroy anyone who dares to touch me like that. I don't want to be weak like that EVER AGAIN!" I practically shouted at the end, any and all terror I harbored before was driven away by the strength of my rage and hate, that I was slightly scared of myself that I felt so much negative emotions.
By the end of my little rant I was panting hard, my hands clenched so hard they were shaking, my nails making divots in my palms.

Orochimaru grin was the definition of the 'Cat who ate the canary.' As his smooth voice asked, "Are you sure Hotaru-chan? If you want to get stronger you cannot turn back. You will have to swear your loyalty to me if you wish for me to teach you."

My heart dropped into my stomach as my voice still laced with anger said, "I'm sure." My mind screamed at my body trying to tell myself to stop speaking, but the damage was already done, as Orochimaru said, "Good Hotaru-chan. We will have you formally sworn in at a later date, and we shall begin training when your body has healed from my men's careless actions."

A tap on the arm of his throne, and Kimmimaru again came into the room with a blank expression on his face. When he stood next to me he got onto his knee again, "Yes Orochimaru-sama?"

He waved his hand over to me, despite his minion not being able to see him do so, "Hotaru-chan here has agreed to join our ranks. Take her to her new room, and give her proper clothing as well. In the morning I want you to show her around the base so she does not get lost. "
Another head bob, "Your will, Orochimaru-sama." He murmured, and getting back up turned towards me, "Follow me."

My body trembled after we exited the room. I could not believe what I had just said, what I had actually felt. It was like a horrible slimy monster just came out of my mouth spilling words of hate and anger.

Not only that but I had not even planned on saying anything like that all, my body had just decided to defy me as it spilled those words of hate, and surprisingly after, it felt like I had just gotten rid of some parasite that had been eating up at me for decades, likely going so far into my 'old' life.

I was so caught up in my loss of control over my emotions and body that I never even realized we arrived at our destination until Kimmimaru called out loudly, "Rowe-san!" My head snapped up instantly to see the pale teens face staring blandly back, "We have arrived at your new quarters."
Looking inside my new home until further notice, I noticed it looked almost like the other room I was in. This one had a wardrobe, futon on wooden supports, with a desk and chair. Candles lined the four walls, giving out plenty of light in the small five meter, by six meter room. I gave a hoarse, "Thanks." I shuffled into my new room, feeling lost and dangerously near tears.

Kimmimaru didn't leave though, staying instead. When I turned towards him Kimmimaru stepped forward and placed his hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eyes with a compassionate look, "I know Orochimaru –sama is scary sometimes. But he has never done wrong to his loyal servants. You have chosen the right path in joining us Hotaru." I guess my lost and scared look was noticeable enough that even Kimmimaru picked it up. I felt thankful that he had given me this advice despite knowing I would ditch Orochimaru the second I could.

I just gave him a weak grin and nod, not trusting myself to talk. Kimmimaru gave a satisfied nod, and then patted my head in affection, which I annoyingly swatted away. A twitch at the corner of Kimmimaru's mouth was seen, then gone in the next second I might have imagined his mouth moving at all.

He turned to exit my room but before he did he twisted his head to the side, looking me with one of his impassive eyes, "Good night Rowe-san, and know that you have made the right decision." And with that he left.

A minute after he left, I finally slumped into my futon, wrapping my arms around my legs my forgotten wings now curling around my entire small frame with my head bowed in despair as sobs racked my body.

I had just signed a contract with the Devil, and already I felt I had just lost my soul.

Authors Note: Sorry for the late update but I couldn't get any internet for a bit because I was out in the boonies. :P. No internet for five days, bleh. Anyways I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it, and any and all criticism is welcomed. See you next time.