Log; Complete

[medic-assistant.livejournal.com]

When; November 21st
Rating; PG
Characters; Shizune {medic_assistant}, Glinda {popular_likeme}, and Kabuto {snake_servant}
Summary; Kabuto comes to visit Glinda after Orochimaru killed her, but encounters interference from Shizune.
Log;
Shizune paced outside the room Glinda occupied, wringing her hands. Kabuto was coming. She knew he was coming and she couldn't do anything to stop it, didn't want to do anything to stop it, even when she knew it would cause her nothing but more pain. Seeing him, watching him behave as he once had, Orochimaru's devoted servant, hurt her more than she wanted to admit.

In frustration she roughly smoothed her clothing, one of the hospital nursing gowns. She'd finally changed out of her bloodied clothing, but she didn't think this white uniform was much better. Sighing, Shizune made her way down the halls to the front desk to await Kabuto's arrival. She didn't know what Orochimaru thought to do here, or rather, what he thought to send Kabuto to do here. But she couldn't refuse. That would only imply that Orochimaru could get to her, could get to those of Konoha, by attacking those who sympathized with them. It was better Glinda realize this soon. All of them, soon.

Trying to maintain her calm exterior, Shizune waited, not willing to let her inner turmoil show.

Kabuto entered the hospitals front doors, heading for the front desk to check himself in, large and elaborate bouquet of flowers in hand. Orochimaru had insisted that he bring them to this Glinda woman, and he hadn't understood why until he had seen them. They were harmless in and of themselves, but attached was a little reminder to not go picking fights.

He saw the woman who had been harassing him since his memories had been erased. Shizune. It had taken him only a moment to realize it was her in that white nurses uniform. He walked past her, signing himself in as if he didn't even know she was there, asking the nurse on call which room Glinda was in.

She had thought he might do that. Ignore her. Brush her off. Because what was she now? Nothing. But she'd thought ahead and told to nurse at the call station that she was the patient's physician, so that when the nurse was gesturing towards her she was already approaching, taking in the bouquet of flowers... and the gift they held.

"Kabuto." She said softly. "I've been expecting you." She didn't know what to say, other than the professional, which, she supposed, she may have to stick to. As long as Glinda didn't say anything foolish.

"I assumed as much." Kabuto replied easily, shifting the bouquet to his other arm. "Now, would you please lead the way, I do not have time to stand around, other things demand my attention today." He had his own medical business to attend to, also under order by Orochimaru, but he understood the necessity of this. It was sending a message; the death and this follow up.

"... Of course..." Shizune finally said, turning on her heel to begin leading the other medic to Glinda's room. She didn't think Orochimaru would want to kill the woman again, nor did she think she herself was anywhere near the top of his to-make-deceased list. So it was reasonably safe to assume this was merely an intimidation tactic. Not that that gave her much comfort. She took her time, however, and when she reached the door to the witch's room she paused, her hand on her doorknob.

"I don't want you upsetting my patient, Kabuto." She warned, but there was no malice in her voice, only a statement. "She's been through enough, by her own foolishness, yes, but enough nonetheless."

"I am not here to speak with Glinda san any further than to deliver these flowers, and also to check on her condition myself. Orochimaru sama is interested in the recovery rate of people in the City." Kabuto readjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, waiting to be let into the room. This woman was quite bothersome, but at least she wasn't trying to feed him any more of her lies.

"The recovery rate is the same; I can tell you that right now. Unless the healing is sped by a healer, they recover in time in all the cases I've dealt with." Her manner was terse, strained; the effort of remaining unfazed by her former lover no easy task.

"But, very well." She opened the door and let him in, closing it behind them. She would not leave him alone with the woman, with anyone, and though she did not move to interfere, she was extremely close at hand, close enough to reach out and touch him if he made any dangerous moves. The snake who tells you he will not bite cannot silence his rattle.

Kabuto entered Glinda's room, and she was a bit taken aback by his appearance. He lacked the snake-like features that Orochimaru had possessed, and he didn't quite look as threatening. Glinda had expected any lackey of Orochimaru's to be a lot different. And she definitely didn't expect him to be carrying flowers.

"Hello. Kabuto, I presume?" Glinda started with a simple greeting. She had been weighing Shizune's words all night and was going to try this new thing called "not meddling."

Kabuto took in the appearance of the woman who had to be Glinda. She was obviously not a threat by appearances alone. He bowed to her, niceties always important. "That would be correct, Glinda san. I have come to check on your recovery, and to deliver these on behalf of Orochimaru sama." He offered her the elaborate bundle of flowers as he straightened from his bow.

Glinda sat up and took the flowers from Kabuto's outstretched arms. "Thank you. They're quite lovely. I must admit, Orochimaru has fine taste." Glinda ran her hands over the flowers, examining each one. They were a fine bunch, and Glinda wondered if the snake-man had picked them out himself. Her finger caught on something sharp on one side of the bouquet. "Well then… What is this?"

"Orochimaru sama picked them out himself." Kabuto had been there, watching as Orochimaru pulled out all sorts of flowers, and had even gone so far as to arrange them. Kabuto was sure that flower arrangement was something kunoichi, and not shinobi, learned in the academy, but Orochimaru had handled the situation with practiced ease and grace.

"I'm sure that there is a vase of some sort around here somewhere, you should get those in water." He was watching for her reaction to the message, and wondered if she would speak of it openly later. "He asked me to check on your physical condition, and to make sure you were recovering properly."

"How kind of him," Glinda remarked, smiling. "It seems that he tucked a special surprise in here." She reached into the bouquet and pulled out a sharp, pointed object. "Interesting. These wouldn't happen to be my bloodstains, would they?" She kept the weapon and handed the bouquet back to Kabuto. "I believe there is a vase on the table over there. Shizune brought it in earlier, after she hears you were coming. Maybe you could fill the vase for me?"

Glinda turned the heavy object over repeatedly, studying it. "You can tell Orochimaru I am fine, now. Shizune retrieved my body from the fountain and healed me. All that's left is a slight… reminder." Glinda lifted her chin so that Kabuto could see the scar Shizune had purposely left.

Kabuto took the flowers back, and fetched the vase, filling it from the sink in the bathroom connected to the room before returning and placing it on the bedside table. It was a small room so he was able to keep the two women in his site the entire time, and follow Glinda's words with ease.

He once again stood next to the bedside. "I understand this, but I was ordered to do something, and I will not disobey. So, if you will allow me perform a simple test, and then I will be on my way."

He examined the scar. "This just shows that Shizune is unprofessional."

Glinda eyed Kabuto warily and then placed her hand over what was left of the wound. "It quite depends on the test. I can assure you that Shizune is quite professional. I… I asked her to leave this."

Shizune watched them carefully, watched Kabuto in particular. Her hands were still by her side, but she was prepared to grab Kabuto if he reached for Glinda, or showed any indication of an attack. For now, she was silent, though she was surprised when Glinda smoothly lied.

Orochimaru had told him about this woman, her personality, as well as what he knew of her from conversation around the City. Kabuto had heard a little of her as well, so he could tell that she was lying through her teeth about the scar. She was far too superficial to want to keep it. “I highly doubt you asked any such thing. It seems that your doctor has some personal issues to work through.”

He came closer, examining the scar; just a thin line, easy enough to erase. Hand glowing he reached forward to erase it.

Shizune reached out to grab Kabuto’s arm, her grip firm, stopping his movement.

“Her doctor merely wished that she have something to remind her of her foolishness in confronting people beyond her power.” Her voice was level, no waver.

Using his free hand, Kabuto removed Shizune’s from his arm. “She’s been left enough of a reminder.” He indicated the kunai. “Now, since there is no malicious intent here, I suggest you mind your own business.” He continued with what he had been doing before being interrupted. Now he knew why Orochimaru kept mentioning the lack of manners people had in this place.

Her chin rose defiantly, and her grip returned to his arm.

“She’s my patient, and that makes this well in the jurisdiction of my business.” Her grip was tighter this time. “Orochimaru said you were here to check on her, and check on her you have. Delivered your message…” She glanced at the kunai. “… you have.” She couldn’t think of him as the Kabuto she knew. … He was dead now.

“I advise you leave and tell Orochimaru that this woman is fine now, no thanks to him.”

“Fine.” This woman was very unprofessional, if he were in charge of the hospital, she would not be allowed to practice here. “The scar can remain where it is.” He turned to Glinda. “If you wish to know how to cover that up properly, I can tell you, but if you want it to remain visible you will have no need to seek me out. Though, if the scar isn’t removed soon it will become permanent.”

Glinda shifted her glance between the two medics. Kabuto had been right, she really didn’t want the scar. After all, she had never had a blemish on her skin, ever. But Shizune had been right, too. Glinda needed that reminder. And as much as she hated having that puckered scar, Glinda thought it might do herself some good to find some humility. “I believe I’ll keep it.” Glinda literally bit her tongue, trying hard not to comment further. But it was so hard not to meddle…

“Then I will go and report to Orochimaru sama. Good day, Glinda san.” He turned to leave, once again ignoring the presence of Shizune in the room, for some reason he just didn’t like looking at her, despite the photo he had kept, but that was an amusing example of her poor plan. “If you find that you have any trouble with your throat, I suggest you go to a different doctor than the one who initially treated you, just the advice of a medic.”

Shizune frowned, noticing that Kabuto seemed to be going out of his way not to look at her. She waited until he had exited the room, closing the door softly behind her.

“Kabuto…” She murmured, mentally berating herself for trying this, for even entertaining the idea. But she was doing it even so.

He stopped, not turning to face her. “Yes? I don’t believe I need you to escort me back out of the hospital.”

“…” She struggled for words. Why was she still trying to reach him? Still trying to talk to him, connect with him? When she knew what his response would be.

“How… have you been?” The medic could have hit herself. But she continued nonetheless. “You look a tad thinner.”

“I’ve been fine, busy.” Kabuto answered, honest, but vague. “Though, perhaps I have lost some weight.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Any reason as to why you are inquiring?”

“It’s just…” She paused, gaze lowering, before she met his eyes again. “I worry.” Leaning against the closed door, she tried to remain… calm. Don’t get emotional. Don’t get hopeful. Don’t let your attachments- But she wasn’t listening to herself.

“… I hear you and Tayuya are doing… well.” She couldn’t help the hint of disgust that had crept into her voice with that comment.

As soon as Shizune had closed the door, Glinda pushed the covers aside and got out of bed. She crept to the door and placed her ear against it. There was no doubt that Shizune was going to talk to Kabuto. And if Glinda couldn't interfere, at least she could listen.

Kabuto still didn’t turn to face Shizune, but was keeping an eye on her with his head turned as it was. “There is no need to worry about me, I assure you.” Listening to her voice he could tell she was still on about trying to ‘win him over’, especially with the mention of him and Tayuya. “As for Tayuya and myself, we are fine.”

He adjusted his glasses. “Anything else?”

"... No." She turned her back to him, leaning against the door to Glinda's room. Mainly to hide her face and the crestfallen expression she wore. "Sorry to bother you." Her voice had fallen to a whisper, though she was trying to bolster it.

“Then goodbye Shizune san.” Kabuto continued on his way out, disgusted with the weakness the kunoichi was so openly showing.