The Right Way Around: Book One

Chapter Nineteen

A/N: Kind of a filler chapter. Gotta do some groundwork before the next movement in the plot. So it's a bit shorter than usual. Sorry about that everyone. I know you guys must be used to 15 or 21-page chapters by now.

My brain is also a little messed up currently. I'm waiting for a really important medication that's been taking since last Tuesday to get filled. IT IS DRIVING ME INSANE. I also have to finish up my big psychology paper that's due on Tuesday. I gotta catch up in my fitness class and start my end of semester project for that. I gotta sign up for next semester courses. There's a lot going on at the moment. So I'm sorry if things seem weird or shorter than usual. This chapter is 12 pages though. So...a normal chapter length in a young adult book, I think. Meh... don't hate me?

(Pic is a shot from the anime.)

ON WITH THE SHOW!!!

------

Pale, slender fingers traced along an incomplete seal idly while golden slitted eyes stared at the scroll without really seeing it. "Orochimaru-sama, are you alright?"

Orochimaru blinked a couple times, looking up to see Kabuto standing in front of him. "Ah...yes, I'm fine." He looked back at the seal.

"Still can't get it right?" Kabuto moved forward, looking at the scroll to see that it was still stuck at the same part it was last time. "Didn't you ask Naruto for help?"

"No yet... no." He shook his head, frowning slightly. "He'll figure out what it is I'm trying to do before I can surprise him." Orochimaru sighed, leaning back on his hands. He was out in his zen garden on one of the meditation stones.

"But if you can't finish it, what's the point? There won't be a surprise if you can never get it right." Kabuto picked up the scroll looking at it. "I guess you could try asking Kurama? Should've asked him when he was here for those two days."

Orochimaru snorted quietly. "I thought to ask Kurama, but you know how he is. He already harassed me without even knowing what I'm planning." He frowned, watching Kabuto look over the scroll.

Kabuto lifted a brow, looking at his mentor. "Wouldn't the teasing and embarrassment and possible humiliation be worth it?"

Slender brows lifted. "Of course it would. But it's also still too early. I want to time this correctly." He stood smoothly, pointing at the center of the scroll. "I need to wait at least three years, possibly four."

"Will this current body hold out? Remember last time? We went for Sasuke because you needed a new body." Kabuto frowned, concern evident.

"Yes, I'm aware." Orochimaru's frown returned. "But what can I do?"

"You take over the body you did last time!" Kabuto scowled, rolling the scroll up and pointing it at Orochimaru. "You stay the fuck alive. I don't care about your fail-safes in the curse marks you've given."

"Kabuto... I can't do that again. I'm going to release all of them." He stroked his long fingers through his black hair.

"What!?" Kabuto clenched his jaw. "You've already released more than half of every base of experiments and potential bodies. Why are you going to these lengths? Just for HIM!?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened and his brows raised high to his hairline. He looked at his assistant and apprentice. "I was not aware that this bothered you so much, Kabuto."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean!? You've known for YEARS how I've felt!" Kabuto growled, throwing the scroll on the ground and leaving the garden.

Sighing Orochimaru leaned to down pick up the poorly discarded scroll. He gripped it possessively, bringing it to his chest possessively. "I think he hoped us coming back in time would change things between us."