CHECK IT OUT!!! I actually got the second chapter done. I've been working on this -nonstop- since chapter one was met with such praise. A little bit every day and look what I can accomplish, ne? I'm not a total wreck when it comes to writing. Conversely, I'm a little shaky about this one. I'm not sure if it came out as well as I'd hoped, but then I'm pretty happy with it. I'm actually having a -lot- of fun with this story. Perhaps too much. NAH! Can't have too much fun with a fanfic.
Anyway, here's hoping you all enjoy chapter two as much as you seemed to enjoy chapter one. Especially you, luv. XD You know who you are.
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Kabuto woke up, sitting up to rub sleepily at his eyes. He hadn't even realized that he'd passed out. Offhandedly running his hand through his messy platinum bangs, Kabuto reached out and put his glasses on. He had no idea what time it was, or how long he'd been out. However, he felt better overall. Nothing hurt, his temper felt more controlled, and as he got to his feet, he felt no weakness whatsoever. Wandering over to his wardrobe, he changed his clothes appropriately, feeling much more comfortable in his own clothes. Kabuto smiled to himself. Only he could recover with nothing more than a little bit of rest.
And then he remembered that he was supposed to have met with Orochimaru. The colour drained from the medic's face, and he dashed out of his room, skidding slightly on the stone floors as he made his way to his master's chambers. It took him very little time to make it to the ornate wooden doors, but the oto'nin stilled his hand as he moved to knock. He still had no idea what time it was. For all he knew, Orochimaru was sound asleep, dreaming up ways to punish the ignorant surgeon for blowing him off. But things would only be worse if Kabuto failed to demonstrate that he'd even remembered.
Swallowing his hesitation, Kabuto knocked lightly at the door. "Lord Orochimaru? I apologize for my tardiness, but I fell asleep." He paused in his speech, listening for any subtle movement behind the doors. There was nothing. "Are you there, Lord Orochimaru?"
"I'm right here, Kabuto." Orochimaru's cold, smooth, voice washed over Kabuto from behind, causing the young man to start slightly. Before the boy had a chance to turn around and face the San'nin, a slender porcelain hand clasped Kabuto's shoulder, holding him in place. "Do you know how late you are, Kabuto?"
The oto'nin in question shook his head slowly, staring at the door in front of him. Taking a deep breath, he answered calmly, "No, unfortunately, I do not know how late I am. However, I do understand that I'm late, and for that I apologize, my lord. Nonetheless, I can't help but remind you that I had clearly outlined my need for extra sleep today."
"Do you really have the right to cock that attitude with me right now?" Orochimaru retaliated, "You make me wait for you for four hours and expect me to just forgive you because you were tired?"
Kabuto flinched as the hand on his shoulder tightened painfully. Maintaining a level tone of voice, Kabuto picked his words carefully so as not to incite more violent reactions from his leader. "I didn't mean for that to happen, Lord Orochimaru. You know I would never intentionally put my needs before your's. However, I can only push my body so far and it would seem I reached that limit days ago."
A soft, exasperated sigh met Kabuto's words, the slender hand slipping away and allowing Kabuto to turn and properly face his master. Orochimaru looked tired, frighteningly so. His shoulders had dropped, his once vibrant golden eyes almost listless as he met Kabuto's concerned stare. It was such a drastic change from the last time Kabuto had seen him that the medic instinctively stepped closer, placing a hand on the other's cool forehead.
"Are you feeling alright, Lord Orochimaru? You look exhausted." Kabuto was genuinely concerned for the San'nin's health. It wasn't normal for anyone to fall so hard in only four hours.
Irritably brushing Kabuto's hand away, the man in question attempted to level an aggravated stare at the other. "I'm fine, Kabuto. I'm just feeling a little tired right now. I just spent the past hour and a half dealing with a less than pleasant Sasuke-kun." Straightening himself, Orochimaru stared accusingly down at his personal medic. "What did you do to him?"
Kabuto smiled in spite of his better judgment, habitually adjusting his glasses and answering smoothly, "I just saw him out of my room, Lord Orochimaru. He shouldn't have been there in the first place, and I think I was rather civil about it. Why? Was he upset?"
"To say that Sasuke-kun was 'upset' would be the biggest understatement I've heard in a very long time, Kabuto, so you'll forgive me when I doubt your supposed civility." Stepping around the younger man, Orochimaru opened his door and slid into his room, motioning over his shoulder for Kabuto to follow. He then took a seat on the edge of his bed, once again making eye contact with his subordinate. "Kabuto, you really should know better by now. You know a fair bit of…patience is required when dealing with Sasuke-kun."
The medic scoffed and crossed his arms. "I've used up the last of my patience with him, my lord," Kabuto defended himself, "If he wants to mock me and belittle me on his own time, fine. I'll even tolerate his attitude outside of Otogakure. But in my room? No, that's one step too far. You know I already endure his intolerable presence in my lab."
Orochimaru sighed and nodded reluctantly, bringing his right hand up to worry his forehead. "Yes, I suppose you have done quite a bit for Sasuke-kun. I really shouldn't be blaming you for his mood. The boy seems to thrive on acting the way he does."
"I appreciate your understanding, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto smiled, walking to stand in front of his surprisingly worn out leader, "But if he's causing you so much grief, you have to wonder if he's worth it. There must be some other vessel you could choose."
Anger flashed dangerously in the snake lord's eyes, the older man's body tensing at the surgeon's casually uttered statement. He growled low in his throat, snarling through his teeth, "You want me to give up the Sharingan simply because he wears on our nerves, Kabuto? What kind of pitiful fool do you take me for? There is very little I wouldn't do for that power, and you have to understand that, boy. If I hear you speak so flippantly of giving it up again, I will not hesitate to teach you your place."
Kabuto took a step backwards, surprised by Orochimaru's venomous tone. He hung his head and mumbled his understanding, bowing deeply. He kept forgetting that Sasuke often took precedence over him. "I-I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru. I hadn't meant any offense." Quietly, the oto'nin raised his eyes and offered an apologetic smile before he turned to the door. "I'll…see myself out then."
"I don't remember saying you could leave, Kabuto." The older man's silken voice had calmed significantly, all traces of malice having vanished as if they'd never been voiced in the first place. If anything, it sounded like the leader of the Sound was teasing the surgeon.
Turning around almost to quickly, Kabuto stared at his master in mild confusion. He never could follow the older man's mood swings. "Forgive my ignorance, my lord, but I'm not sure I understand why I can't leave. Is there something you needed?"
The San'nin got smoothly to his feet, walking over to take Kabuto by the arm, leading the younger man to the large wooden desk against the far wall. He then moved his hands to Kabuto's shoulders, gently guiding the medic into the chair by applying soft pressure. Once his right hand man was situated where he wanted him, Orochimaru leaned in, whispering next to Kabuto's ear, "You can't honestly think I'm going to let you get away with standing me up for four hours, Kabuto. These papers won't complete themselves."
Kabuto blinked stupidly for a moment before laughing outright. "Of course, Lord Orochimaru," he answered as his laughter trailed off, "I'd almost forgotten that you had work for me to complete." Absently shaking his head, Kabuto straightened himself to properly face the daunting pile of papers and picked up the first one, scanning it over with his eyes.
Patting the boy on the back, Orochimaru gave his own soft chuckle as he made his way back over to his large bed. "Do try to be quiet, won't you? I'm going to try and sleep," the raven haired man added, his voice accompanied by the soft sound of fabric hitting the floor and sheets being moved.
"I'll do my best, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto hummed softly, already working on the third piece of paper. He was so absorbed in his work that it took a moment for him to realize that Orochimaru had, for the second time that day, casually stripped off his clothes with Kabuto in the same room. Did the man have no discretion? Sighing heavily, Kabuto shook his head and opted not to think on it. The last thing he needed was to distract himself with the image of Orochimaru's pure perfection and wind up ruining his work.
Hunching over the desk and setting his mind fully on the work he'd been given, Kabuto worked tirelessly, silently thanking himself for stealing the sleep he had. If he'd simply reported to Orochimaru as he'd been expected to, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he would have fallen asleep on the older man's desk. And lord only knew how that could have ended. But he'd make up for his mistakes and prove to Orochimaru that he was far from incompetent by finishing the entire pile before the older man woke up.
The hours ticked by, the candle by which Kabuto was working slowly burning away to nothing. He rubbed tiredly at his eyes, lighting up a new candle with the dwindling flame of the first. He'd gotten through most of the pile, only a quarter of it still sitting in front of him. However, his eyes were beginning to droop, blurring his vision. Kabuto stifled a yawn as best he could, getting to his feet to stretch his aching body. He made a note to himself never to sit in one place for so long again before slumping back into the stiff chair.
Behind him, the oto'nin heard the soft sounds of Orochimaru stirring and instinctively held his breath. He didn't mean to wake the other man. He should have known better than to move around; Kabuto knew Orochimaru wasn't a heavy sleeper. But the damage had been done, the sound of the older man shifting his weight to sit up all too clear.
Groaning, Orochimaru mumbled with muffled irritation, "Kabuto? You'd better have a damn good reason for waking me up."
"I'm afraid I don't, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto apologized softly, turning around in his chair. His master was little more than a slumped form in the dark, the candlelight beautifully highlighting the edges of the man's flawless pale skin. "And to be quite honest with you, it was never my intention to wake you. You're something of a light sleeper, my lord."
Voice still thick with sleep, the San'nin countered halfheartedly, clearly not quite conscious enough to be upset just yet. "Don't blame this on me, Kabuto. I told you I was going to sleep, and you know I'm a light sleeper." He yawned without hesitation, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. "Get me my robe, would you? I might as well make use of myself if I'm going to be awake."
Kabuto shook his head in mild disbelief, but got to his feet and did what he was told, pulling out one of Orochimaru's many, simpler, robes. Draping it over his arm, the medic then moved to his master's side, offering the garment wordlessly. Kabuto couldn't help but stare as the lithe older man dressed himself, sliding his long arms gracefully into the soft fabric. The oto'nin swallowed dryly and licked his lips involuntarily. God, Orochimaru was gorgeous.
Belting the simple robe, the snake lord flipped his long raven hair out to sit on his shoulders and faced Kabuto with a faint smile. "So, just how much work did you get done while I slept?" Orochimaru teased, glancing past Kabuto to the desk.
"I'm nearly done, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto replied, frantically regrouping his thoughts, "I think you'll be pleased with my progress."
The leader of the Sound brushed past his right hand man, reaching the desk and leaning down to examine the work the boy had done. Kabuto was rooted in place, his eyes transfixed by the sight of the faint candlelight playing across the stunning contours of Orochimaru's face. Those unique purple markings framed his master's enthralling golden eyes in perfect contrast. The man's sleek hair fell haphazardly about him, acting as a breathtaking veil. Everything about Orochimaru was exquisite, untouched, perfection.
"…buto? Kabuto! Are you even listening to me?!"
Orochimaru's sharp words snapped Kabuto out of his daze, the heat rising to his face. Oh no. The older man had been talking, and all the medic had done was stare like some hormonal teenage girl. He hadn't caught a word of it. And he knew lying about it would just get him in more trouble.
Smiling sheepishly, Kabuto scratched absently at the back of his head, hoping the San'nin wasn't too upset about his little slip. "I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru," the platinum haired surgeon apologized, "I didn't…" Kabuto took a deep breath. This part never went over very well. "I wasn't paying attention."
Orochimaru stalked over to stand toe-to-toe with Kabuto, swiftly taking the other's face in his left hand. He stared down at his subordinate, eyeing him critically. A slow smile crept across his face, and the taller man inquired teasingly, "Are you blushing, Kabuto?"
"Wh-what?! No!!" Kabuto knew he'd answered too fast, knew that, if anything, his face was even redder than before. But he couldn't admit it. Not to Orochimaru. Not like this!
Leaning in, Orochimaru scolded softly, "I can see that you're lying to me. And I'm a touch disappointed; you're normally much better at lying." He then pressed his forehead against the medic's, maintaining eye contact. "So I suppose the real question is why are you blushing, Kabuto?"
Every word in the surgeon's vocabulary fled his brain, the only thought that remained being his flustered confusion. Since when did Orochimaru get this invasive? Sure, the man had very little respect for personal space, but this was just absurd. His whole body began to tremble as the moments stretched on between them, the feel of Orochimaru's warm breath feathering across his face causing his knees to go weak.
"Well? I'm waiting," Orochimaru purred.
Kabuto swallowed, amazed he was still standing. Clearly his master wanted an answer, and yet he could barely sort out his own thoughts. Shaking all over, the young man stammered weakly, "I-I was…you just…y-you're stunning Lord Orochimaru."
The leader of the Sound chuckled faintly. "Am I now? Well, let's just clear this up so you can get back to work, hmm?"
Before the oto'nin could fully understand the implications of his master's barely audible statement, Orochimaru had covered Kabuto's mouth with his own, licking boldly against his medic's soft lips. Kabuto's body tensed and he took a sharp intake of breath. Orochimaru was…kissing him?! However, just as abruptly as it had started, the San'nin broke off, almost callously releasing the boy and taking a step backwards. Kabuto couldn't stop the small sound of protest and disappointment that escaped him at Orochimaru's sudden rejection, but the older man clearly didn't catch it.
"Now, why don't you get back to work?" Orochimaru offered nonchalantly, "The sooner you get through those papers, the sooner I can have you start something else."
The medic was still dazed by the unexpected kiss and absently raised his fingers to his lips. He could swear they were tingling from the experience. But then Orochimaru had addressed him again. Best not to push his luck.
Nodding his head slowly, Kabuto answered mechanically, "Yes. Of course. The papers…"
Orochimaru patted the younger man on the head as he stepped past him and moved towards his door. "Good boy, Kabuto," he commended, "I'll be back for you in a couple of hours. After all, I do have work of my own to get through." With that parting statement, the snake manipulator left Kabuto staring blankly ahead of himself, the sound of the large wooden door closing finally snapping the medic back to reality.
Finally on his own, Kabuto allowed himself to collapse in a heap on the floor. How exactly was that supposed to help him concentrate?! His whole body felt numb and his mind was racing a mile a minute. Orochimaru had kissed him…Orochimaru had kissed him…Orochimaru had kissed him…Nope. No matter how he said it, it failed to make any sense to the surgeon. Clearly the older man was toying with him, as he toyed with all his subordinates, but that was too much. Orochimaru hadn't even paused; he'd made it seem so easy. Kabuto shook his head furiously. No! This was just another one of the San'nin's sick little games.
"Very funny, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto grumbled to no one as he pulled himself back to his feet, "You can't understand me, so you try to mess with my head. Real clever." Wandering back over to the desk, he flopped unenthusiastically into the chair, taking up the paperwork where he'd left off. Let Orochimaru play his games; Kabuto was not going to become just another pawn. Something he'd be sure to inform the other man of as soon as all the damn papers were done…
The second candle had burned away to half its size by the time Kabuto set aside the final sheet of paper, the medic leaning back and heaving a long sigh of relief. That had been fairly painless. Why Orochimaru refused to do it himself was beyond the young medic. If the man just completed them as they came up, it wouldn't pile up like it did. And it would save them both a lot of time. But, if Kabuto had learned anything about his master, it was that once the man got in his head that he didn't want something, there was no convincing him otherwise.
It then occurred to Kabuto that he hadn't heard from Orochimaru since the man had left him to his own devices. Surely the allotted "couple of hours" had ellapsed. Pulling himself out of the chair, Kabuto stretched and made his way towards the door to the room. However, as he extended his arm to take hold of the handle, the ornate piece of wood swung open violently, Kabuto jumping backwards to keep from taking it to the face.
"Where is he?!" a clearly infuriated Sasuke demanded, locking his furious eyes accusingly on Kabuto. "Where the hell did he go?!"
Kabuto blinked quietly for a moment before pushing his glasses up. "I assume you're asking about Lord Orochimaru," the oto'nin answered placidly, "In which case, I'm not sure where he is. He's clearly not here." He narrowed his dark eyes dangerously. "Although I'm curious as to just why you're here. Didn't we have a discussion last night about keeping out of others' rooms?"
Snarling, Sasuke allowed the Sharingan to bleed red as he stared Kabuto down. "I'd hardly call that a discussion, you son of a bitch. You pulled my hair."
The medic smiled and tilted his head in mock sympathy. "Oh…I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. I hadn't meant to hurt your feelings," he sneered condescendingly. He walked in closer to the young Uchiha, asserting his lack of fear.
"Come any closer and I'll rip that smile off your face," the younger boy hissed threateningly, reaching for his kunai pouch. "Now stop playing dumb and tell me where Orochimaru went."
Kabuto sighed and shrugged overdramatically. "I really don't understand your hostility towards me, Sasuke-kun," he lamented with a shake of his head, "I've done nothing but try to help you assimilate here. And as for Lord Orochimaru, I truly don't know where he is. I was just about to look for him myself."
Scoffing, Sasuke looked away as he retorted, "Bullshit. It's no secret that you hate don't like how much attention Orochimaru pays me." He turned his own mocking smile on the medic. "And better yet, you've been made to look after me. So if anything happens to me, it's automatically your fault." The Uchiha then flipped Kabuto off as he turned on his heel and began walking back down the hall, adding over his shoulder, "And if I find the bastard, I'll let him know his wife is looking for him."
The oto'nin held back the urge to throw a knife into the back of the impudent boy's head. Stupid little brat thought he could say whatever the hell he wanted…Kabuto swore under his breath and shook his head. He had bigger things to worry about then Sasuke. Orochimaru's absence for example. It wasn't like the San'nin to just up and leave without at least hinting such motives to Kabuto. And thinking back to the older man's parting words, nothing of the sort had been said. This was not good.
Closing the door behind him as he left, Kabuto glanced down the hall to either side of him. Nothing; not even one of the lesser …that wasn't too surprising, considering a furious Sasuke was prowling the halls. He made his way briskly down the dark halls, glancing in this or that room to no avail. Where could Orochimaru have gone? It's not like there were many places to hide that Kabuto wouldn't find. Even the interrogation of some of the wandering Sound Jounin turned up no results. A handful of them had seen him leave his room, but hadn't bothered to make note of where the man had been going. As most of them made known, following Orochimaru around on their personal time was not a common pastime.
Kabuto's head was already beginning to hurt. Not only was he worn out from that damned pile of paperwork, but he'd had to deal with Sasuke's less than pleasant mood, his emotions were still in an incomprehensible jumble, and now Orochimaru had just up and disappeared. Was there no one else who gave a damn? Some days he hated having the status he did in Otogakure.
Putting his bitter feelings on hold, Kabuto set his mind to simply finding Orochimaru and making sure the man was alright before he beat the man senseless for making him worry. The medic wandered outside and was surprised to see the sun just barely rising over the horizon, bleeding the sky a brilliant mixture of reds and yellows. Kabuto took a pause to drink the sight in. It was a rare occurrence, these fleeting moments of peace, and he'd be damned if he let one precious second slip by him.
"Enjoying the view, Kabuto?" an all too familiar silken voice purred from behind him, a slender hand sliding down his face and throat. Damn! How hadn't he heard or sensed Orochimaru coming?
The oto'nin kept his cool, maintaining a level tone of voice as he replied, "Yes, I am actually. Although what I'd planned on doing was finding you." He turned around to face the older man accusingly. "Just where did you go? Sasuke-kun's angrier than usual."
Smiling, Orochimaru offhandedly tossed his hair over his shoulder, some of it having slipped forward when he'd leaned in to talk to Kabuto. "That's why I left, Kabuto. I didn't need Sasuke-kun whining to me already. Why? Were you worried about me?" There was a mocking lilt to the San'nin's voice, and Kabuto was getting sick of hearing it.
"Not particularly, Lord Orochimaru," he retaliated with his own subtle ridicule, "Should I have been?"
Cocking his head to one side, Orochimaru laughed at his subrodinate's bold words, smile widening predatorily. Stepping in closer, the snake lord leaned in to whisper next to Kabuto's ear. "So then just why were you looking for me, Kabuto? I doubt Sasuke-kun is the only reason. Perhaps you missed me?"
Kabuto held his ground solidly. No! He would not cave this time. Orochimaru was using what had happened earlier as leverage, hoping that Kabuto would be as hormonally vulnerable as he had been before. But the surgeon would be damned if he submitted himself to that kind of humiliation twice in the same day.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Kabuto corrected, "Nothing of the sort, Lord Orochimaru. I simply wanted to tell you that I'd completed my task. All of your papers are finished and sorted appropriately."
Orochimaru pulled away, the expression on his face clearly less than amused. All humor in his voice had disspitated as he said flatly, "Ah. I see. Well then, now that you've told me, feel free to take your leave. I've no further use for you."
No further use?! Kabuto was taken aback by the callously offered statement. Since when did Orochimaru "have no further use" for him?! There was always something for the medic to do. Earlier today the snake manipulator had alluded to some second task after the papers had been completed. Well…maybe not exactly, but usually when the man said anything about having his own work to complete, that meant that some of it would be pawned off on Kabuto. That Orochimaru was simply dismissing him…just didn't make any sense.
His confidence slipping somewhat, Kabuto pressed, "Nothing at all, my lord? You're just…done for the day?"
"Oh, I'm hardly finished, Kabuto. But you are." The darker haired man topped the cold notion off with a brisk wave of his hand as he brushed past the medic. "Now run along. There's nothing for you here."
Was this another one of Orochimaru's sick games of cat and mouse or was there something else going on? It was so unlike Orochimaru to simply write the oto'nin off, and Kabuto didn't like the uneasy feeling that accompanied being given time off by his merciless leader. Cursing his lack of conviction, Kabuto went after Orochimaru, reaching out to grab the other man's retreating shoulder.
Staring at his feet as the San'nin glanced back at him, Kabuto muttered noncommittally, "Ok, so maybe I was a little worried. But only because you don't usually fail to mention when you're going out or for how long."
"Are you saying that I have to report to you, Kabuto?" Orochimaru asked impersonally, rounding on the medic.
Kabuto shook his head adamantly. Great, his poor choice of words had gotten him in trouble…again. "No, nothing like that, Lord Orochimaru," he amended, bowing his head in a show of subordination he knew his master enjoyed, "I suppose I was just saying that I'm a creature of habit."
A short, derisive laugh met Kabuto's words. Taking hold of Kabuto's face, Orochimaru forced eye contact, his broad, sadistic smile back in place. "And just what does this confession of your's have to do with anything, Kabuto? I still don't think I have any use for you here."
"There must be something you're witholding from me, Lord Orochimaru, something you're planning to spring on me later when I'm busy with a task of my own. I'd just rather you told me now so I could have my evening to myself." Kabuto refused to let the matter go. He got the most work done in his lab during the long, quiet, nights. During the day, as it was now, he would be pestered to no end by various other ninjas of the Sound village, occasionally watched by aspiring medics. And none of that allowed him to do all that he wanted to do. There were some experiments best conducted in private.
Orochimaru cocked his head and licked his lips, taking another half step closer to the medic so that their bodies were mere inches apart from one another. Clearly, Orochimaru was taking advantage of the morning's rather embarassing event, using Kabuto's new found 'weakness' as leverage. The man would use anything he could to get a leg up on his opponents, especially those of them that worked for him.
Leaning forward to whisper against the other's ear, Orochimaru purred, "Why so desperate, Kabuto? I've never heard you beg me for work, before."
The oto'nin gave an unintentional whimper, wanting to draw away but knew a retreat would simply fuel his master's already blazing confidence. He fought down his base instincts and held his ground, commending himself as he managed to maintain his subtle arrogance. "I'm not begging you, Lord Orochimaru. Simply saving time for both of us. If you simply give me the work now, neither of us will be bothered by trying to find the other later."
"Clever, Kabuto. But perhaps I want you to come look for me later, hmm?"
Kabuto's face lit up uncontrolably. What the hell was Orochimaru talking about?! But before the medic could back away and pose such a question, the older man had, for the second time in eight hours, pressed his mouth to Kabuto's, this time forcibly sliding that sinfully long tongue into the surgeon's mouth. The oto'nin tensed, but let out an uncontrolled moan, arching into his master's body. He knew he was just playing into Orochimaru's hand, but his mind couldn't seem to process any other response. Maybe he'd be able to talk about a pay raise if this kind of thing kept up.
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I would like to thank, once again, all of you who were so kind as to review my first chapter. You're all so nice to me~! So if you wouldn't mind, I would like to hear some feedback on chapter two as well. =D I appreciate -all- comments, be them positive or negative. After all, can't improve if no one points it out.