#but in my defense ive mostly stuck to researching the

[crossthread]

Jesus Christ I just had a thought like did j k rowling paint Voldermort after Hitler?? Like, first off, Hitlers father or smth was Jewish, and Hitler wasn't even German to begin with. Lots of blood purity anti Jew bullshit, very charming and shit in the beginning until people saw him to the madman he was. Razed the world and everything and brought on a huge ass war, although Voldy didn't actually have the means to step into the world platform he did do a number on Europe. Like damn how did I not realise this before I feel dumb af now.

[shoichee]

okok hc or fic: reader was teiko’s “head” manager(?) and her talent was being a medic (if someone gets injured they’re back on the court in under a minute type thing) and training plans. suddenly momoi’s talent blooms, she starts working w/ everyone in the team (+ reader’s crush akashi) and people think she’s a better manager than reader. because of this, she overworks + collapses in front of her best friends kuroko + kise (don’t let akashi know yet i have plans for that 👀)

HELLO? YES OFFICER? I JUST FOUND A BANGER REQUEST RIGHT HERE? YOUR BRAIN IS SO BIG AND SEXY IVE BEEN DYING TO WRITE THIS🏃🏻‍♀️💨 part 2 here and part 3 here AND update: part 4 here

Akashi x Reader

[Teiko!manager Headcanons]

you had a knack of being a natural chiropractor in loosening up tense muscles instantly (for more fluid play) or easily putting in back dislocated joints

basically you have crackhands

in your free time as a hobby and a job as the “head manager” (that Akashi announced to the team himself), you’d often bury yourself in anatomy studies and gym plans on the internet and databases to review over Akashi’s team training routines to see if they were effective and safe; oftentimes, you’d return back with improved plans, and as time went on, Akashi entrusted you with creating the plans yourself completely

you took on the job so eagerly to impress the Teiko captain, if you were being honest to yourself

your enthusiasm even inspires Momoi, Teiko’s other manager, to work harder

no one in Teiko knows physiology better than you, and as expected, it was also your best subject along with health

Kise often looks at you in horror and respect at how you don’t cringe/flinch at the loud cracks resonating across the room or court when players come to you for instant relief (the origin story of how he came to call you (y/n)-cchi was the very fact that you manage to put back his dislocated shoulder in 3 seconds flat one game)

when Kuroko first joined the 1st-string, he was a walking magnet for injuries, and you ended up being there for him every single time… nosebleeds? check. sprained ankle? check. nausea from over exhaustion? check.

both you and Kuroko relish in the fact that everyone in the team can never understand how the both of you do some incredible things with your hands

both of you being quite dexterous, you both often teach each other your specialties for fun; it’s almost shocking to see Kuroko effortlessly loosening up a stress knot and you pulling off a well-done palm pass

you admit, you do juggle a lot of responsibilities… from being a makeshift nurse, to a chiropractor, to a budget gym coach, and even to being moral support

Momoi often reminds you to take breaks being the caring person that she is

you often showed her the ropes and tricks of being a manager, on top of your duties, and you find it really endearing that she’s so earnest in learning from you

even if you enjoyed doing what you do, part of the massive workload is to try to get into Akashi’s good graces

talking to him about basketball duties is easier to achieve than talking to him outside of the extracurricular

you might be a tad bit insecure about it; after all, what middle schooler is already so accomplished in academics, sports, and everything you could think of? wasn’t he also studying to take over his father’s company??

to you, who only starred as Teiko’s humble manager, it felt hard trying to establish common ground for conversation outside of basketball

so you stuck to working hard at your position, hoping that your work ethic would get his attention one day; you were a firm believer of actions over words, so you hoped your actions would come off as genuine

picture you and Momoi running across campus with stacks of papers for the team… it makes most of the teammates’ hearts melt at the sight

your work certainly got you praises from other teammates, but out of all players, Kise was the one who figured out your motive

you felt absolutely morbid; to think that Kise, of all people, would figure you out like the back of his hand

Kise being sweet as he is, offers to help you get with the captain but you merely prompted to threaten to break his arm if he spilled your crush to anyone else

“(y/n)-cchi… I’ve been thinking.”

“Yes, Kise?”

“It’s really cool that you’re working so tirelessly for the team, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a reason why you work so hard.”

“O-Of course I do! I want to see you guys all succeed!”

“Then I’m curious as to why you always look at Akashicchi—o-ow, ow, ow!! (y/n)-cchi, I’m sorry! So can you please let go of my—ow!”

“H-How did you know?!”

“I-It was as obvious as day, (y/n)-cchi! I’m pretty sure even Kurokocchi found out about this before I did!”

“N-No way!!”

“Tell you what, I’m super duper knowledgeable in this stuff! You can count on me for this sort of advice—OW!”

spoiler alert: Kise was right in that Kuroko definitely noticed your attraction to Akashi before anyone else… he just never brought it up to you

one day, Kuroko comes up to you to whisper:

“(y/n)-san, have you realized that Akashi-kun has been observing you recently during practice?”

“W-Wait! Is he looking over here right now?”

“Not that I think. He’s occupied with the coach right now.”

“D-Do you think this is a good sign?”

Kuroko gives you a small smile before he replies, “I would like to think so. Keep working hard, (y/n)-san.”

and you do, you’re constantly on top of your game for the next season until Momoi suddenly gets more recognition for her “precognitive defense” skills

her newfound talent was extraordinary and never-before-seen, and her ability became more critical to Teiko’s victories than your own skills

you were happy and proud for her, because after all, her achievements were extremely deserving to be praised

it’s only when some 1st-string players started making offhand comments about how you weren’t really needed in the 1st-string and was more suited to the lower strings that placed seeds of doubt into you

these people would often compare you to Momoi in how she improved much more despite you being in the team for longer

there’s also talk about how your skills are more useful for 2nd-string and 3rd-string players because Momoi’s ability is already sufficient enough for Teiko’s starters

after all, how would a player even be injured if they can predict their opponents’ moves to avoid such incidents?

there’s also the fact that Akashi has been calling Momoi more frequently to research on upcoming teams for analytical data because her talent has become very useful to ensuring victory

the same peers and adults who gave you praise were the same people who began to ignore you or dismiss you; that being said, the collective change in attitude is definitely subtle enough that it would fly under most people’s radars

Kuroko was the first to notice and defend you against a small group of players who were bold enough to badmouth you in the gym

Kise would find out a little later about the somewhat unpleasant gossip about you and would pull the “no you” reverse card, returning back with MEANER underhanded comments that would send these shit talkers CRYING HOME (manga Kise strikes here unexpectedly eh?)

Murasakibara is someone who would be slightly uncomfortable with the gossip about you, especially since you’ve always been so helpful and kind to the team and himself; he’d either leave the room himself or easily scare them away with his looming height and presence without saying a single word when he enters the room “minding his own business”

Midorima is a bystander judging from how he’s reacted to the Teiko dynamic changes in the actual show // he, of course, wouldn’t like the nasty talk about you but would actually mind his own business, choosing to focus on himself and what he has to do to contribute to his team; he assumes that you would work hard the same way he is and let your contributions do the talking

now Akashi surprisingly wouldn’t hear much of the gossip, since his presence alone SHUTS them up and commit to their practices like normal; after all, it’s very clear that Akashi doesn’t tolerate this type of behavior in the team (example: Haizaki), and it’s more apparent that he wouldn’t hesitate to drop kick them out especially since he has a soft spot for you (which Kise never fails to bring this up to you, but you think he’s reaching too much into it) // TLDR; the teammates mostly have the common sense to not utter anything bad about you… maybe one kid would slip out and get punished for “bad sportsmanship,” but Akashi merely assumes that it’s just one bad apple and not necessarily… the many others as well

Aomine???? bro he ain’t even at practice wdym (HELPPP LMAOO) // jokes aside, if he catches wind of players shit-talking outside of the gym… say at the convenience store or when he’s walking home or something, well… they wouldn’t have a good time…

Momoi simply chastises the gossipers when they try to talk shit on you to make Momoi herself look good, and it leaves? such? a? horrible? taste? like, she wants to believe that they’re just really poor jokes and not what they really believe in, and the teammates merely reassure her that they’re just bad jokes and that they “wouldn’t do it again;” poor Momoi wholeheartedly believes them

the weird talks about Momoi being “the better manager” just signalled to you that you haven’t contributed enough to the team yet, and it motivated you to work even harder

oddly, you weren’t jealous of the fact that Momoi was receiving more positive attention than you

you were more afraid of the fact that you were going to get left behind, and this fear only tightened its hold on you when more teammates (who used to talk to you a lot) have changed their tunes when they speak with you now, compared to them talking to Momoi

and you felt that the Generation of Miracles would do the same too… including Akashi

it wasn’t an irrational fear for you because he’s already been calling Momoi a lot more frequently for help than you recently

so you even offered to mop the gym floors after practice, offered to stay later than usual to be the one to lock up the gym for anyone (cough, Kuroko) who wanted to practice whenever they wanted

at one point, you even tried to do what Momoi does: researching on upcoming teams and making your own predictions (that didn’t really work, and that cost you a few nights’ worth of sleep every single time)

not to mention that you still had regular school like any other student? you were the epitome of a mess

Kuroko was with you in the empty gym, you putting away the extra basketballs in the storage closet while he practiced his dribbling, until he heard a crash in there and a few basketballs rolled out the door

you collapsed right when you rolled in the basketball cart

POOR KUROKO HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO // he just tries to give you a piggyback ride as he abandons his plans of practice and tries to jog to the nearest local clinic

that’s where he bumped into Kise, who was heading home after an evening shoot when he saw the two of you

chaos ensue as Kise freaks out and Kuroko had to calm him down himself after answering the never-ending questions

at least the doctor there gave relieving news that you only collapsed from over-exhaustion and that the bruises from the fall were very faint

Kise makes a joke to Kuroko about, “What’s with you and (y/n)-cchi falling to the floor and fainting? You guys can’t be that alike.”

when you shortly regain consciousness, you were met with a… very stern Kuroko and Kise, who were both ready to hear your explanation and to scold you to oblivion

to your surprise, they were understanding; Kuroko understands the feeling of not being enough and working hard to meet other people’s expectations, and Kise understands the struggle of juggling multiple things in his schedule (come on, student, athlete, and model?)

they still scolded your ears off:

“(y/n)-san, you idiot. Why didn’t you ask anyone to help out?”

“That’s…”

“(y/n)-cchi, do you think we’re undependable?!”

“Er, no, that’s…”

you were still dizzy from the fall and the lack of proper sleep (and maybe nutrition if we’re being honest), and you were just a ball of stress

you kind of begged your best friends not to tell a SOUL to anyone about this incident, especially to Akashi… you didn’t want to look even more incapable in his eyes than you already were

they do agree on one condition: for you to take AT LEAST a day or two off school to completely recover and rest up (you reluctantly agree; besides how were you going to explain the bruises that can’t be covered to your peers?)

HELP WHY ARE KISE AND KUROKO THE BEST LIARS TOGETHER ON CAMPUS LITERALLY NO ONE SUSPECTS A THING… except Akashi, the ever sharp captain, felt something was amiss

especially since some Teiko players emanated a feeling of relief at the news of you not being here that day, or the next

Akashi would play detective sleuth and find out what’s really going on sooner or later

End Note: gonna cut this off here b/c I KNOW this anon got a juicy part two i FEEL IT

[kpopchangedme]

Starboy IV: The Quack Doctor

It’s simply by happenstance that you meet the cutest Resident of Traditional Korean Medicine on campus; Park Jinyoung.

Mini-Masterlist  M A S T E R L I ST

Protagonists: Im Jaebum & you / Park Jinyoung

Word Count: 2.1k

Genre: SFW – University!au – Baseball – Romance – *socially offensive language* – Mini-Series

Lysandre’s note: JINYOUNG IS FINALLY HERE. You’ve been warned. Links are broken to try to beat Tumblr at its own game, but fret not they’re still in my bio so the other parts are easy to find.

Three weeks.

The first one left you feeling like shit, which is weird because you don’t care about Jaebum – not at all. It’s probably just because you hate being yelled at; hate the idea of upsetting anyone. Although, you weren’t really the one who upset him. Thinking back to that night – overthinking – made you realize he was just drunk and mad. Not really at you, but rather at the situation and you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or he was just scared...

That’s why you’re so angry at him the second week. Who the fuck does he think he is to yell at you like that when you were just offering help? Over a fucking broken pint of beer?

You hope he bursts his pitching shoulder… Still, by the second Thursday, you surprise yourself by researching the Tommy John Surgery on internet, feeling guilty about the negative energy you’ve been sending Jaebum’s way.

Now, it’s the third week and you realized that you don’t care. You learned a lot through this experience. The next time you’ll need a quick fix, you’ll make sure to choose somebody without anger issues and most importantly... Somebody that nobody ever talks about...

“– amazing season! Their best in 15 years, all the rookies are amazing.”

You take a bite of your sandwich, silently listening to your colleague talk to his friend and feeling like blowing your own head off. Why did you have to get stuck with people obsessed with baseball? Why not hockey or water polo, actual entertaining sports.

“Important MLB teams already want him, but he insists on graduating from here because of his family and studies, isn’t that crazy?” You roll your eyes; yeah sure.

His friend chirps in. “What’s his nickname… It’s something cocky and–”

“Starboy”, you answer morosely, causing both men to stare at you. “Everyone calls him Starboy.” 

“Yeah, exactly!” Your colleague Chansung claps, somehow proud that you know this much. “I didn’t know you followed baseball y/n!” You’re about to say you really, really don’t, but he goes on: “Do you know why? His fastballs are a-ma-zing and he’s just a rookie. He has been recorded at over 95 mph so far! Crazy, right? That’s why they say he’s shooting stars!” You choke on a piece of turkey from your sandwich, but your senior doesn’t stop, simply sliding your glass of water closer.

Hell.

Guess Jaebum’s shoulder is doing damn fine.

“Starboy… Shooting stars. Get it?”

Chansung chuckles, amused and you wonder if you should’ve taken the time to ask Jaebum this at any point. He did cockily proclaim he was the pitcher to know, but you never asked him what the nickname stood for. You just assumed it was because he was the star of the team or something. He was right that night, you really don’t know anything about him.

Wasn’t it the whole point of having sex that way though; no strings, no questions & no small talk? It’s not like you were ever on friendly terms, still...

“Do you guys know... What’s his name?” Chansung’s eyes almost pop out of his head at your random question. “That guy’s full name.”

“Im – Im Jaebum, why?”

“Just…” Im Jaebum, it feels like you should’ve known. “People always call him by that pompous moniker.”

He frowns at your underlying disdain for his favourite player before turning to his friend again. “Wanna hear something even crazier, Taek? He’s a leftie – well, for four-seams at least – I mean, the boy is ambidextrous. He mostly uses his left when he plays, but sometimes pitches with his right too.” You frown, trying to conjure up that night. What hand dropped the pint again? Was it his left hand or his r– A timid knock on the door of the clinic interrupts your train of thoughts, and you jump to your feet, aware it’s for you. Well, kind of. It’s not like Dr. Tran ever made it to the clinic for any of his appointments anymore.

“Hi y/n!” Yugyeom calls, peeking inside just on time. The young batter smiles when he meets your eyes. “Oh no, I’m interrupting your lunch!”

“Hi, don’t worry it’s fine, I was done!” You gladly leave Chansung and his friend Taekwoon alone, opening the way. “Have you been doing your exercises thoroughly?” You guide the patient through the short corridor of the clinic, only noticing another man following when you get inside your boss’ office.

“Yes, I promised I would!” The man-boy answers with an overly serious tone making you smile. “Are you also in charge of my last appointment? I thought I’d be finally dealing with the mythic doctor, but I’m glad it’s you.”

“Yes, he’s out of town again, unfortunately.” You purse your lips at the cover-up lie, getting Yugyeom’s rehabilitation papers, already on the desk.

Dr. Tran, the clinic supervisor, hasn’t been reliable ever since his divorce has been finalized, last year. He’s often drunk in the middle of the day and never picks up the phone. He’s probably still in bed even if it’s the afternoon, you and Chansung have been covering for him for months.

“If I sign your papers, you’ll be good to go, Yugyeom…” You smile, trying to hide your discomfort at his innocent questioning of your boss’ absence and flip his file open. “But you should also keep doing the exercises I gave you. It’ll help to reinforce your wrists and forearms to prevent future injuries.” Nodding, the young player takes his familiar chair across you, on the same side of the desk, and you lean closer to examine his wrist. You don’t spare a look the tall and silent stranger’s way when you address him. You hate being observed by a third-party when you work, especially when you’re covering for someone. “Are you here for a consultation? You should go and meet my senior colleague, Mr. Hwang, to schedule an appointment.”

Yugyeom stiffens as you start toying with his right wrist, but the other man only chuckles at the noticeable coldness in your voice.

“Oh, I don’t do sports!”, he informs although that’s not what you asked, “I’m Gyeom’s babysitter for the day.”

You still don’t look up, feeling the tendons and ligaments with your fingertips to see if the player across you twitches. “Mobility and sensibility look fine.”

“I told him that, but he was still anxious.” You ignore the stranger, concentrating on the patient instead.

“Show me how you did your stretching and strengthening exercises, and you’ll officially be good to go!”

Standing up suddenly, you almost collide with the man who was leaning above you, surveying your movements. You really hate being observed like that.

“You gave him exercises?” He simply chuckles again, backing away. “Are you a Sports Med student?”

At this, you bite the interior of your cheek wondering if he’s one of those; the ones who only believe in doctors. You go sit behind Dr. Tran’ desk this time, for authority, taking your time to answer. Yugyeom is working with a softball, not minding his friend’s odd behaviour. Once you’re sitting, you fully stare back at the intruder, crossing your arms in defiance. He’s about your age and surprisingly good looking, still, it doesn’t change the fact that his presence is annoying.

“No, I have a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and I specialize in rehabilitation treatment for my Master's. I’m qualified to recommend treatment for a minor injury.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it that way.” The man smiles as if especially pleased by your defensive answer. “Yugyeom was right, you’re perfect. I was just making sure he was in good hands.” 

His eyes crinkle as he details your lab coat and dishevelled tied hair. It’s obvious he’s checking you out. You blush, straightening on the chair, embarrassed you didn’t put any care to your presentation this morning. Much like every other day spent at the clinic, you only put BB cream proforma, not even bothering to shower or brush your hair. You aren’t sure what that guy means, aren’t sure if you should feel insulted or complimented.

“I thought you were still a student!” Yugyeom looks up, surprised you already graduated. “You never corrected me!”

“Well, I’m always studying.” You dodge, he probably meant he thought you were way younger. You clear your throat, bringing your attention back to the curious stranger. “So, you are an assistant coach?”

“Oh no. God, no!” The man chuckles for the umpteenth time, although it finally makes you grin back. “I’m Dr. Park Jinyoung.” So that is why he asked about your qualifications. “I’m a Resident of Korean Traditional Medicine.” He adds coolly, straightening his coat and awaiting a reaction from you that never really comes. You’re too busy trying to remain serious – herbalism – and he wondered if you were studying Sports Medicine.

“Jinyoung’s the best at acup– Argh!” He kicks Yugyeom’s shin to shut him up and you hide your smile behind your hand.

“Korean Medicine… Needles and herbs, hum?”

It’s your turn to obviously check him out this time and he bears your scrutiny with disarming confidence. Perfect skin, full round lips, hair as black as coal, unusually round pale brown eyes... It’s obvious he never was an athlete here for a consultation to begin with. The white dress shirt and thick black glasses would’ve been a dead giveaway if you’d looked at him from the start.

“Please… I’m also amazing at moxibustion.” He grins, not shying away or embarrassed the least. “I just got back from Yangsan med campus to complete my Residence here.” Wow. Smooth way of bringing up his impressive background. Busan National University is considered one of the greatest medical faculties in Asia.

Smart and good looking – scratch that; gorgeous.

“You don’t look like the idea I had of a healer...”

Jinyoung winces, “It’s the hair, isn’t it?” You’re surprised he’s not more annoyed or embarrassed by your skepticism. He’s probably really used to it. It’s not like traditional treatment is particularly esteemed in the rehabilitation field. Or any medical field as a matter of fact. “Yugyeom, be honest – aren’t I way too stylish and handsome to be a doctor?”

You can’t help your stupid giggle and the batter looks between you two several times, rendered uncomfortable by the flirtatious atmosphere. Because his friend is trying to woo you, in an obvious and highly flattering manner. You can see it from the glimmer in his stares and hear it in his voice. Clearly, Yugyeom sensed it too.

“I think I’m done, y/n!” He tries, changing subject.

“I believe you are!” You agree, brought back down to earth. You tear your eyes away from the charming quack doctor to smile at Yugyeom. “Your sprain seems completely fine. Let me just sign your papers, I’ll have Dr. Tran review them this week… Do you have any mobility problems when handling the bat?”

“None at all!” Yugyeom grins brightly, glad you’re back to his business. “You know, I’m definitely going to play this Saturday, you should come! You never even saw JB pitch yet. He’ll blow your mind and he’d lo–”

Yugyeom stops in the middle of his sentence, realizing he opened Pandora’s box, totally obvious. Your hand freezes for half a second over his discharge papers in short-lived panic at the mention of the pitcher. Then you resume, remembering Yugyeom’s the one who introduced you two, and that it doesn’t mean your past mistakes aren’t known throughout the entire country.

“You’re lucky the damage to your ligaments was almost nonexistent, Yugyeom.” You smile coolly, acting like nothing happened. “I hope you’ll be a bit more mindful of your warm-ups from now on.” He nods, staring seriously at the paper you’re signing to avoid your gaze.

“Do you know JB?” Jinyoung asks in curiosity, and if he notices how uncomfortable his question makes everyone else in the room feel, he doesn’t let it show.  

“The whole campus knows him: Starboy.” You say this even though you clearly had no idea a few months prior. The hot doctor cannot find out about that. “He’s our brightest star.” Your voice is cold, indifferent and at your avoidance, Yugyeom wiggles on his chair.

“Right!” Jinyoung snorts, entertained. “I bet he rather enjoys celebrity status!”

“You know him?” Finally rising your eyes above your desk, you look at the Resident, curious.

“Jinyoung, I don’t want to be late for practice.” The batter interrupts, probably just eager to stop third-wheeling. You wouldn’t blame him for it. “Thank you for everything y/n, I hope to see you around!” Yugyeom stands up, motioning his friend to leave, but he doesn’t budge.

“Would you wait outside?”, the doctor nods towards the door and your cheeks flare up at the intensity of his gaze, highly nervous. Oh shit, you’re no good at this. The young player still seems to hesitate, frozen between the door and your desk. “We need a moment, Gyeom,” Jinyoung insists, lips curling upwards dangerously.

Mini-Masterlist  M A S T E R L I ST

[swiftkick404]

Expedient Appendix (II)

Be What You Be

(i/iv)

o o o

we could be old and cold and dead on the scene

o o o

The base was built under and into a mountain and had about it at all times the mired scent of mushrooms.

Karin preferred to stay in the labs rather than the cells because at least then she had the reprieve of chemicals to cover the otherwise moulded and stale air that aggrieved both her senses of smell and taste. The labs also kept her from having to listen to the moaning and pleas of the prisoners (and while she was indebted to Orochimaru, she didn't always appreciate the man's means to his research). The subjects that made it to the labs were not usually live specimens and therefore much easier for what remained of her morals to ignore.

However, with Orochimaru's apparent death, Karin had found more and more she was feeling unnerved. She didn't have any reason to be scared because Orochimaru was dead; she was scared because with Orochimaru dead, Kabuto was the one in charge of Otogakure and all its operations.

Well, Karin liked to think she was still in charge of her lab and her cells and the wellbeing of the people...prisoners inside. She made sure to act like she was the boss whenever anyone had the mind to bother her – maybe especially when that anyone happened to be Kabuto. The day he saw the truth of her fear of him would be the day she died.

And she wasn't dying anytime soon. She had the base to run, after all.

Karin leaned back from the tissue sample she was observing to rub where her glasses had stuck into her nose. Her pencil and notepad were across the lab at a different station and she glared at their faraway spot from over her hand. She repeated on a whisper the time to start of deterioration as she went to retrieve her records.

She didn't know whose cells she was looking at, but slide after slide told of their eventual downfall to a strand of invasive foreign material. The takeover of the foreign material was similar to Juugo's cells and the Curse Mark Orochimaru used, but different, too. It wasn't a chakra-induced metamorphosis – but the manner of the takeover made her think of her former leader.

Karin paused in her writing as a noise from outside the lab doors caught her attention; the sound of rushing movement and then, preceding a slamming entrance, “Karin!”

She lifted an eyebrow as she stood up to see Suigetsu storming his way over to a metal gurney. He deposited the body he had slung over his shoulders there and Karin felt a twitch at her brow. Suddenly agitated as she sprung from her seat, she heard her voice rise a few notes in annoyance.

“What the fuck–  I told you not to bring the live ones here! They go to the med bay – damn it–” Karin cut herself off to stop at a faucet to get a pan of cold water. “You're so impossible...”

“Like hell this one is gonna pull through.” Suigetsu waved away her complaint as she joined him at the gurney. He sneered. “See, now you got your fresh samples for harvesting right here.”

“I'm not harvesting them, you toe-sucker.” And then, watching the gurney man's shivering and spasms ease away, and knowing what that entailed, she snapped, “set up the preservation seals...”

Karin found a mask for her face, covered her eyes, and snapped on a pair of gloves. She tossed the same precautions to Suigetsu, who seemed to find the protective layers novel.

She didn't like Suigetsu – he was a tireless antagonizer – but at least he could, on the rare occasion, break the dull monotony of her work; there was less time for the tempting depressing reflections she tended to pursue when alone if Suigetsu was around and making a general mess of everything.

Making a sharp slap with the hem of his gloves, he said of the preservation seals, “I'm not your slag assistant. Do it yourself.”

“Why rush in here – ugh – never mind. Just. Get out of my way if you're not going to be useful.”

“It is the you-know-what though, right?” Suigetsu barely moved enough to let her work, and hovered over her shoulder to ask redundant questions. “You even figure out what's doing this?”

“It's some sort of ...infectious...disease, obviously,” Karin muttered, trying to look too busy to speak as she took various readings and live-tissue samples from wherever her hands could get to fast enough.

“They got a name for it, you know,” he said, meeting her detached tone with smugness, “since you can't be bothered to identify it.”

She huffed, glared at him although she was focused on the body...patient. He hadn't quite lost the battle yet, even if at this point she was unconcerned with treatment or minimizing pain, she just needed to save information.

“They're calling it, the ague,” Suigetsu told her.

Karin rolled her eyes. She found the hysteria behind the recent deaths overplayed and unimpressive. “Yes, I've heard. How creative.”

“What? It's fitting.”

“It's just adding fuel to the whole thing. It's becoming a thing. Otogakure has more important issues to consider right now. And instead we have people worrying about a – mostly contained – fever.”

Well. It worried her, too, but she didn't want Suigetsu to know as much. She really needed a team to understand how this thing was spreading, more about its lifespan, incubation, early symptoms, earlier means of diagnosis...not to mention, how to cure those who were sick from it.

Shit, Karin was in over her head.

As she worried internally, Suigetsu had moved to the other side of the man. He spider-walked a hand up the man's arm to come to a stop at his slack jaw. Moving the man's mouth without any concern for decorum or possibly infecting himself, he taunted her, “come on, Karin, guy might make it if you let him take a little nibble... Um, nom, nom.”

“Stop that,” she hissed and slapped Suigetsu's intruding hand away. “He's suffering enough as it is to have to put up with your bullshit.”

She wasn't going to risk her own neck for a slight possibility anyhow. Healing damage from brawls was one thing, but a biological matter... Karin wasn't as comfortable offering her own skin for that sort of healing; not when she could be exposing herself to something her body might be incapable of thwarting.

For the moment, she had tenable control over her body and she was going to keep it that way. She just had to get answers and a resolution before anyone learned of the recent incidents and thought to use her as a mobile treatment center again.

Karin breathed through a flinching shudder in her muscles but her company still caught the tell of weakness.

“Ah, so she is scared? I knew it.” Suigetsu 'tsked' at her. She was almost grateful when he misinterpreted her thoughts. Still smug, “you thinking this is something contrived? Some sort of ninjutsu and that's why you're hesitating to lend the man some skin.”

Karin spared him a glance, surprised at his deduction. He wasn't wrong – she had thought of something like that.

“Oh – fuck – he's gone.” Suigetsu said, dropping his smirk as the man heaved a last small breath and expired. “Eugh, gross. I'm not sticking around for when, you know, he starts leaking everywhere. When I die, it'll be nice and clean. Just a little wave of water and I'll be good. None of this...oozing shit from everywhere. Nah-uh.”

“When you die, huh. Have a time in mind? I'd be happy to assist,” Karin said, returning the boy's sneer.

“Yeah, I'm sure,” was his teasing reply and she was disappointed by the lack of reaction. Despite his announced intention to leave, he hung around as Karin continued her tasks, almost as if he felt obligated to make pithy and sharp comments about her occasional fumbling.

The motions were still unusual for her and she had to keep checking that she was doing the right things – saving the right things. She was a sensor and a kunoichi, and only newly a scientist. Any healing she had done in the past had been of a different variety – taking apart corpses and sealing organs was still unfamiliar to her.

“I mean,” Suigetsu started as Karin made a face over an incision she intended to use to crack open the chest cavity, “if it is ninjutsu of some kind...the ague...then that means we're under attack. You reckon it's another village or an inside job?”

“Don't make such a stupid accusation. No one here is going to start any shit.”

Suigetsu exaggerated a thoughtful expression. “Maybe not when the big guy'd still been around. But now? People start getting ideas. Start thinking it's time to move up. Stretch their limbs.”

“Or it's an outside attack – perhaps because of people like you who have no sense of loyalty spouting off about insurrection.” Karin was maybe a little too eager in cracking open the ribs. “Not that any of this speculation matters since I don't know if this really is an orchestrated series of attacks. It could just be a new disease in the area. Something brought in from somewhere else.”

Too many unanswered questions and Karin didn't even know if she were asking all the right ones.

She didn't even know why the ninja had died. She didn't know if others in the country had been sick with the same thing, had died as well but without her knowledge.

“So if it is an attack,” Suigetsu went on, too curious to be easily dissuaded, “why this sort of angle?”

She sort of agreed, murmured, “kunai would have done the job just as well.”

“Like I said – someone is stretching their limbs.” He punctuated his thoughts with picking up an arm and then dropping it back to the gurney for a cold, short clap.

“You're just hoping for someone interesting to come around now that you’re friendless.” Karin didn't have to say, 'Sasuke is gone and you're clearly bored,' much clearer than that. But saying that name aloud was still too sore for her.

“Like I'd miss that sour frown shitface,” Suigetsu insisted, a touch too defensively. Then, wagging a finger between them mischievously, “besides, we're friends.”

“No.”

“A little.”

“Definitely not.”

Karin didn't like Suigetsu. And yet...hours later, after the body had been taken apart, drained, scratched at, pinched, tugged, and all manner of things, she remembered she still much preferred him to Kabuto.

When Kabuto strolled into the lab, back from a mission to the West-Northwest territories and rough from travel, he announced his arrival by dropping a second body on the recently cleaned gurney, and she almost missed Suigetsu.

The second body was still a person, really, because she was alive and even mostly conscious. Her eyes were quick to scan the room, Karin included, and catalogue her surroundings.

Kabuto didn't seem concerned. He greeted Karin very politely, leisurely placing himself next to the blood she was separating. He couldn't quite manage the charm to his voice that Orochimaru had mastered, but the imitation was clear if not entirely purposeful. “Clear one of our special tanks, will you, Karin? I would like to learn a little more about our guest.”

Glancing at the woman, Karin asked, casually as she could, “is she...sick or something?”

She really didn't need any more victims ofThe Ague showing up in her lab that night – both to save her from the mess and also an explanation for the unusual cases.

Kabuto gave her a sly, shallow sort of smile. “Quite the opposite, I should think. I do expect she will be staying with us for...an indeterminate, but extensive stay.”

Karin nodded, relieved and suddenly not very keen on the woman.

“She really is quite interesting,” Kabuto went on, taking a moment to look back at his haul. The woman didn't respond to him in any way and didn't appear to even understand his words.

Karin leaned back in her seat and thought there wasn't anything grand to say about the tiny, gagged and bound person. The woman was petite, older, pale all around, and looked more like a corpse than a proper person if not for her flickering gaze. Raising an eyebrow to Kabuto, she shrugged a shoulder.

“You must be seeing something I'm missing,” she quipped.

“I am,” Kabuto said, reserved in his glee but there was a certain excited shine to his eyes. “You should look a little more closely at our friend.”

Frowning, bothered by his insistence but reluctant to blatantly disobey him, Karin dragged her feet to join him as he returned to the gurney. As she neared the woman, taking in details more properly, her mouth opened in surprise.

“What the...” Karin hovered a hand over the lines of scars covering the woman, feeling their depth and thickness with awe. And then, to be sure, she checked the woman's pulse; it was steady and constant. Not a puppet with rolling eyes. Aghast, “she's really alive...”

“An exquisite specimen, truly.”

The woman could have been the man Karin had earlier cut open and sawn into bits if only stitched all back together again and somehow brought back to life.

“Who is she?” She asked, voice soft with honest wonder.

“Yet to be determined,” Kabuto filled in, very helpfully.

“Where did she come from –”

Kabuto patted her head as she spoke, effectively cutting her off, and Karin resisted the instinctive need to shrink away that quickly drowned out her awe. “Ah, ah. Tank first, inquiries second, Karin. You're help is so greatly appreciated...”

Orochimaru had saved Karin and had taught her how to fight, how to access her full array of powers. She owed her life. Karin had no such feelings for Kabuto, but she did feel a ghost of loyalty to him out of respect for the esteem Orochimaru must have held for the man. Esteem or ...something like that.

She inched out from under his palm and gave him a bland, forced smile of acquiescence. “Of course, sir. I'll have that ready for your guest” –rather, most certainly subject– “immediately.”

“Thank you, Karin.”

She held her breath and her tongue all the way from the room, but her mind was a tangle of wonder and hope and, like shadows haunting the flame, fear.

o o o

continued in part (ii/iv)

Author’s Note:  I’m still working on my portrayals of Kabuto, Karin, Suigetsu. I’ve never written them before! Also they all had more development at the point and after I stopped reading the manga, so my understanding of them is limited.

I think Karin and Suigetsu clearly have a tolerance for awful things, as most in the Naruto world should, but I think each would be happy to pursue lives outside of Orochimaru’s experimentations..... Kabuto, on the other hand, is a straight up Villain for me without any sense of morals, ethics, or respect to anything outside his own endeavors. I read him and am choosing to portray him as ultimately self-serving.