Orochimaru looked out over the reflective surface of the crystal-clear water reflecting the moon and the stars within its cool water. Tsuki was lying atop the waters surface giggling as koi fish would come up to the surface and tickle her back, legs and arms. He frowned after a moment as he thought back on the days events. Normally he'd have been livid to find that someone had disobeyed him, but it was different with her. All he'd cared about, was her safety.

"Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto quietly appeared at his side and offered a polite bow of his head, "Sasuke has finished with his training and has retired to his room." He reported before his onyx gaze drifted to the water's surface as he heard Tsuki's soft giggling. "What is she doing?"

"Do you think she's changed?" Orochimaru asked after a moment ignoring the boy's previous remark.

"Tsuki?"

Orochimaru shot him a glare, "Who else would we be discussing?"

Kabuto bowed his head once more, "Sorry, it's just that usually when the topic of Tsuki comes up, you tell me it's not my concern." He paled as Orochimaru shot him a dark glare.

"She's not your concern." He growled.

Kabuto sighed, "I haven't noticed a change in her." There was slight hesitation, he was lying, "Perhaps you're the one who has chan-." He cut off as he was met with an even more terrifying glare. "As far as the girl is concerned, I mean." He attempted once more.

Orochimaru pondered this. Had he changed? He treated the girl more gently then before, but he'd told himself it was because it made her more cooperative, though he didn't really experiment on her much anymore. He only occasionally drew blood samples from her, but he hadn't tested her regenerative Towa clan abilities in a while. Earlier in the day he'd nearly set her free, because of the desolate hopeless look in her colorless eyes. When that idiot Jiraiya had threatened her, he was worried, not for himself, but for her. He had been angry that Jiraiya had hurt her and that she had been crying. Was it possible she'd changed him? Would it hinder his research?

"You don't bully her anymore." Orochimaru noted causing Kabuto to jump. "Why is that?"

Kabuto cleared his throat, "I underestimated her. She's not as weak and useless as I had originally thought she was." He averted his gaze. There was more to it than that, something else had happened between the two of them.

"Find out what she's so happy about." Orochimaru waved him away dismissively.

Kabuto made his way across the water's surface with a sigh. Lord Orochimaru was acting strangely. He stopped when he was within arm's reach of the giggling starlight girl and smiled as he saw a swarm of brightly colored koi fish nipping at her revealed arms and legs.

"You seem to be in a good mood today."

Tsuki let out an adorable squeak and nearly plummeted beneath the water's surface having been startled by his sudden appearance. Kabuto hurriedly caught her by the wrist and pulled her up before she could fall into the frigid water.

"Kabuto-san! You scared me." She cried as she managed to control her chakra flow to float atop the water's surface once more.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." Kabuto smiled as he released her wrist once she was stable. "What are you looking so happy about?"

"Huh? I look happy?" Tsuki asked curiously.

"Well you've been out here giggling for quite some time now, so I'd venture to guess you're happy about something."

Tsuki smiled, "I made my very first friend today."

Kabuto shook his head, "That's it?"

Tsuki frowned, "I thought it was pretty exciting. No one's ever called me a friend before."

Kabuto rolled his eyes, "I can't believe you're so happy over something so childish." He jumped as small jolt of lightning shot in his direction. Dodging the small bolt of lightning, he turned to the starlight girl with a glare, "What was that for?!"

"You were being mean again!" Tsuki grumbled as she folded her arms across her chest and shot him what was supposed to be an intimidating glare but came out as a cute pout.

"I just don't see the big fuss. And it's not your first friend." Kabuto pointed causing Tsuki to look to him confused. "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Really?"

Kabuto nodded.

Tsuki smiled and threw her arms around him in a hug, "I've always wanted us to be friends, Kabuto-san. Since the first day we met." She giggled.

Kabuto caught her and nearly lost his balance as he was thrown off by her actions. His heart fluttered unsteadily in his chest. She'd always wanted to be his friend? Even after he'd been so cruel to her? He'd endangered her many times. He always bullied her. Why would she ever want to be his friend? The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he suddenly felt as if his life were in danger. He chanced a glance back to the shoreline and felt all the color drain from his face as he was met with a fearsome glare from Orochimaru.

"Ah, Tsuki, let go of me." Kabuto panicked. He didn't have a death wish and if the beautiful girl kept hugging him, he was sure Orochimaru would find a way to kill him with looks alone.

Tsuki took a step back with tears brimming in her colorless eyes, "Thanks, Kabuto-san." She smiled.

Kabuto could still feel Orochimaru glaring at him, "Tell me about the friend you made today."

Tsuki beamed, "Her name is Sakura, she's from the Hidden Leaf Village. She was looking for her friend, Sasuke." She frowned after a moment, "Is he really here?"

"Yes."

"Orochimaru-sama told Master Jiraiya, he came here by choice, why did they make it seem like it was an abduction?"

Kabuto looked to the shore warily, "They just don't understand."

"Kabuto-san?"

He looked to the beautiful starlight girl curiously.

"You and Orochimaru-sama do things that other people think are bad, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Because they don't understand?"

Kabuto sighed, "I hope you don't pester Lord Orochimaru with your frivolous questions." He grimaced as he saw her flinch, "Sorry." He offered her a strained smile, "Just don't worry about it."

Tsuki bowed her head, "I want to be useful, to Orochimaru-sama."

"Then don't ask stupid questions and stay out of trouble." Kabuto shrugged before realizing he'd said something cruel again, he sighed, "Just keep being you. That's enough."

"Tsuki." Orochimaru's voice sounded from the shoreline causing the starlight girl to turn to the shore. Kabuto felt his heart flutter unsteadily in his chest as a dazzling smile lit up her face before she flitted across the water's surface back to the shoreline. He reached out and affectionately pat her atop the head, "The sun will be up soon, go back."

Tsuki nodded and returned to the lair.

Orochimaru turned as his subordinate appeared on the shore beside him, "Well?"

"She made a friend today." Kabuto shrugged.

Orochimaru watched her retreating form. Her starlight hair appeared to glow in the moonlight, lighting up the night around her, drawing creatures to her with her surreal appearance, her otherworldly eyes and her sweet charm. There had been a change in her, since she'd been captured by The Hidden Leaf Village. Kabuto was in denial about this fact, but it was as if the docile girl had finally been pushed past the breaking point. She seemed stronger.

"Tsuki being captured by the Hidden Leaf, that was your doing was it not?" He shot a dark look in Kabuto's direction, gauging his reaction.

All the color drained from the young man's face, "Ah, what are you talking abou-?"

"I assume she didn't tell me in order to spare your life." Orochimaru noted, "That explains the change in your attitude, she holds your life in her hands." He watched as the fairy like girl disappeared from view. "This isn't the first time she has spared your life." His reptilian gaze flicked in Kabuto's direction and he smirked as the young man flinched.

"I'm aware." Kabuto attempted to straighten himself up, determined not to show any fear.

"Then it's only right that you spend your life to repay that debt." Orochimaru pointed, while Tsuki was a stronger fighter than Kabuto, she was much too soft and didn't like violence, she'd have a hard time making the first move in a fight, she'd need someone to protect her, someone who wouldn't hesitate. "Her safety is your top priority."

Kabuto bowed his head, "Yes, Lord Orochimaru." Was he really going to spare his life? All he had to do was keep the girl safe? He looked in the direction the starlight girl had disappeared, how hard could it be to keep her safe? 

Video- "Take it All" By Ruelle