Tsuki finished changing and stepped out of the bathroom just as a massive explosion shook the entire underground structure. She toppled forward, losing her balance from the sudden blast and let out a squeak as strong arms encircled her. Her heart raced unsteadily in her chest as she found herself pressed against a lean torso. Shakily she chanced a glance upward and met the lethal golden green gaze of Orochimaru.

"S-Sorry."

He righted her without a word before stepping away from her. She watched him curiously as he stooped next to a trunk at the foot of their bed before rummaging through it. He procured a large circular hat that provided shade to the wearer and a plain black cloak. Tucking them under his arm, he turned and lightly caught the pale girl's hand in his before pulling her toward the door.

"It's time to go."

Tsuki scrambled to keep up with his hurried strides as her heart thundered in her chest. He hadn't released her hand and he wasn't dragging her as he had so often before. His grip was firm yet gentle, his fingers interlaced between hers offering her strength and support as he pulled her along. Worry wormed through her as dust began to settle from the massive explosion. Was Sakura alright?

"Tsuki?" He sensed her hesitation and turned to her curiously.

"I want to make sure Sakura-chan is okay."  She replied timidly afraid he'd be angry for her wanting to delay their departure.

He released her hand and extended the hat and cloak to her, "That's where we're going. You'll need these."

Tsuki felt warmth spread through her core as she accepted the hat and cloak. She grinned and threw her arms around him in a hug, catching him off guard. The faintest trace of color spread to his cheeks as he struggled to catch her in his arms. Her heavenly scent enveloped him as she hugged him tight. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."

They took off in a flash once they reached the nearest exit and headed off in the direction they'd heard the explosion. Sasuke was standing atop a precipice of a deep cavern that had once been part of the underground lair. He'd completely blown through it, destroying a good portion of the lair in his blast. Tsuki paled as she realized what jutsu Sasuke was about to use. She wasn't going to reach him in time to stop him.

Orochimaru appeared at the teen's side and caught him by the wrist halting his jutsu. "I wouldn't bother with that jutsu. Be smart now." The sannin's voice was cool and crisp.

Tsuki breathed a sigh of relief, had she not been burdened with the bulky hat and cloak that protected her from the sun's rays, she'd have been able to reach Sasuke in time, but Orochimaru had taken the time to prepare them for her, she couldn't act carelessly. If she got hurt, it would cause him discomfort. All she did of late was burden him. She reached the ledge and felt her heart drop as she spotted the expressions on Sakura and Naruto's faces. Their leader, Captain Yamato, was injured with a deep chest wound, no doubt from Sasuke's Snake Sword. Her gaze fell on the boy she'd seen earlier in the Great Hall, Sai, he looked haggard and worn, but overall alright.

"Let go." Sasuke growled at the sannin.

Tsuki smacked him over the back of the head and shot the surly teen a dark look, "I told you to watch how you speak to Orochimaru-sama, brat."

Kabuto appeared at the pale girl's side in the next instant, "I'm not going to tell you again, watch your tone with Lord Orochimaru." He chimed in causing Sasuke to bristle with rage.

"Kabuto? Where have you been? You let Sasuke destroy the house." Tsuki turned to him with an adorable frown struggling to peer up at him from under the huge rim of her wide brimmed hat shading her face from the sun's brutal rays.

Kabuto blanched at this causing Sasuke to smirk, now that he wasn't the only one getting scolded by the pale girl. "I was detained."

Tsuki's frown grew as she folded her arms across her chest, "Were you really detained or were you purposefully avoiding babysitting?"

"Hey!" Sasuke snarled and attempted to lash out at the pale girl only to let out a hiss of pain as the sannin's grip on his wrist tightened to the point he was sure the bones in his wrist and forearm were about to snap.

"Leave Tsuki alone." Orochimaru's voice came out in a hiss, his reptilian eyes narrowing into slits as he threw the surly teen a terrifying look of warning that had him frozen in fear. "We're leaving."

So soon? Tsuki chanced a glance down the ledge to Sakura, her chakra was low, she was their medic and their leader was bleeding pretty badly. She couldn't do much to help her friend whose heart was hurting, but she could at least help them, to ensure they got back to their village safely.

"Wait." Tsuki spoke up before they could activate their disappearing jutsu. Kabuto and Sasuke looked to her curiously. She'd never defied an order from Orochimaru before.

"What is it?" Orochimaru's gaze softened as he directed it at the pale girl, which only infuriated the teen further. Why the hell did he treat her so nicely?

Tsuki leapt from the ledge using subtle shifts in the wind to soften her landing. She approached Sakura slowly before wrapping the pink-haired teen in a warm embrace. Yuki left the safety of the pink haired teen's shoulder and slithered around the pale young woman's neck. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I'll keep him safe and help him work on his manners, I promise. Don't give up hope. I'm sure the Sasuke-kun you fell in love with is still in there, under that bratty exterior."

She felt a tear drip onto her shoulder as Sakura hugged her back and cried silently against her. "Thank you, Tsuki."

Tsuki reluctantly broke their hug before wiping away the teen's tears. "I can do one more thing to help. I'm sorry I can't do more." She flitted away from Sakura and appeared before their injured captain.

He eyed her warily as she reached toward him.

"Tsuki, what are you doing?!" Orochimaru snapped to hide his concern for the girl, she shouldn't be using her chakra.

Tsuki flinched at his sharp tone but stood her ground. "I can heal you." She attempted to reassure the leaf shinobi. He didn't trust her. He had no reason to trust her. Though he saw her as an enemy, he held still, surprising even himself.

Her hand burned the moment it slipped out of her cloak into the sunlight. She bit her lip and placed her hand to his wound willing her regenerative chakra to heal him. In moments his pain lessened, his breathing became easier and the wound sealed itself shut leaving an angry red scar in it's place. Yamato looked down at the pale young woman in awe.

"Thank you."

Tsuki smiled, "I need you to keep them safe for me. Please be more careful in the future." She bowed her head before waving farewell to Naruto and Sakura and disappeared in a flash along with Orochimaru, Kabuto and Sasuke leaving the leaf shinobi behind.

They appeared a great distance away in a cave tucked into the side of a mountain. It was dark enough Tsuki could remove her cloak and hat. The pure white snake around her shoulders lightly nuzzled her neck before disappearing now that his job was finished.

"Tsuki." Orochimaru turned to the pale girl causing Kabuto and Sasuke to pale. Was he going to strike the girl? They'd both grown attached to the girl over the years, though Sasuke usually found her infuriating he had to admit there was something calming and maternal about her that reminded him of a happier time in his life when his mother was still alive.

Tsuki bit her lip before turning to face the music.

"You burned your hand." He extended his hand to her, "Let me see it."

Kabuto and Sasuke exchanged curious glances as Tsuki hesitantly placed her scorched hand in the sannin's. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as he tenderly pulled her closer before bringing the back of her burned hand to his lips.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun, why don't we go get some firewood." Kabuto steered the teen away.

"Why do we need firewood, we can just use a jutsu-."

"Let's go." Kabuto hissed dragging the teen away to give the couple privacy.

"I went against your wishes, I'm so-."

"You don't have to apologize." Orochimaru sighed as relief flooded through him once the skin on her hand returned to normal. He gently swept some of her pale moonbeam hair from her face before gingerly sweeping his index finger along her chin, tilting her face upward. "To me or anyone else. Ever."

Tsuki's heart skipped a beat in her chest as she met his gaze, there was some strange emotion buried within his lethal gaze, something deep that warmed her to the very core. Her body moved instinctively, her arms entwining around his neck as she stood on tip toe and pressed her lips to his. She felt a strange warm sensation emitting from the crescent moon seared into her palm. It was warm but it didn't burn, like the fire inside of her, it flared hotter and brighter as she felt his arms encircle her waist holding her tightly against him as he kissed her back with fervor.

Her head was swimming, the crescent moon mark on her palm felt as if it were buzzing beneath her skin. They broke apart panting and gasping for air and simultaneously looked down to the brands seared into their palms. The color had shifted, it was no longer a pure obsidian but now a dark grey as if it were black paint on a painter's pallet and a drop of white had been added to it. What did that mean?

"What happened?" She asked after a moment to catch her breath.

Orochimaru looked down at the mark in awe. From all his research of the Towa Clan the marks that appeared when soulmates were bound acted as a meter of sorts. As most of the Towa Clan found their soulmates before they'd developed any kind of feelings the mark would start out dark and lighten in color when their love grew. Supposedly the truest and purest of soulmates markings would be pure white, though most average pairs stayed a light grey or silver color. If the mark had lightened, it meant they both acknowledged and accepted their feelings for one another. He tore his gaze away from the beautiful starlight girl. He'd thought all this soulmate stuff had been laughable once, that love was a silly notion, yet somehow, he'd allowed the nonsense into his heart. It was the first time they'd kissed without the intention of healing one another.

"Orochimaru-sama?" Tsuki approached him cautiously and placed a hand on his arm. Her eyes widened as she noticed the faintest splash of color in his pale cheeks. It vanished in almost the same instant as he took a step away from her.

She'd bewitched him and he allowed it to happen. No. That wasn't entirely true. For the mark to lighten in color, it'd mean she too had feelings and had begun to accept them. "We're staying here for the night." He extended a scroll to her, it was their traveling scroll that was able to summon basic necessities when they were on the go. "Can you get things set up?"

Tsuki accepted the scroll and opened her mouth to question him again but cut off with a sigh as he disappeared. Why did it feel like he was running away from her?

Video- "The Missing Frame" BY AFI