Kabuto watches Sasuke - pale skin and dark hair and narrow hips - walk down the dimly lit passageway, arrogance personified as the head is tilted high, eyes looking down over high cheekbones.

Sound nin are bitter people. Bitter, jealous, and Sasuke has given the Sound village a reason to unite.

Because of his arrogance, because of the natural way he handles kunai and because he is the container. Because he is Orochimaru's favourite. It is clear that Sasuke will not be accepted. They will abuse him, try to trap him within their jutsu, and it will infuriate them even more because they can not kill him. That is why Kabuto has never even attempted to fight Sasuke. It would be too easy, just close his hands around that slender neck and squeeze.

Kabuto knows his limits. And once he starts, he'll never be able to stop.

Not that he believes Sasuke is that easy. There are things about the Sharingan that Kabuto hopes he'll never have to find out, and he knows that he'll never be able to make Sasuke scream like he wants to. Itachi has taken care of that.

It irritates him slightly, because he'll never understand the Uchiha brothers and the twisted mesh of hate and fear and love (and lust, but that is only his interpretation.)

It's illogical. That Sasuke's world revolves around Itachi, and not Orochimaru.

But Sasuke's predictable, in that way. Mention Itachi, and he'll jump. Mention it again, he'll try to kill you. The word makes him dance like a puppet, and Kabuto enjoys watching the show.

Easy. An hour's entertainment.

Kabuto's cool stare doesn't change as he watches Sasuke knock on the door and enter without a word. Orochimaru must be bored today. It's not soon before bedsprings start creaking, heartbeat quickening and breathy sighs fill the musty air.

He smirks to himself, amused.

Then again, Sasuke's easy in different ways.

end

AN: The last line is intentionally bad. D Bday fic for Anu.