"What did you just say?" His voice was calmer than he had thought it would be, especially after he thought being dead had affected his hearing. But no, unfortunately he was subconsciously aware that his hearing was fine and that he had heard those words. Those words that wrapped around him like a chain.

"Being shocked is normal Kakash-san, but I believe you heard what I said." Saying nothing he turned to look back into calm brown eyes. They were too calm for him, to at ease with the situation. Feeling frustrated and aware of how little he knew he decided to get answers to his questions.

"I am your master?" Not a single change affected the boy's face as he sat up and nodded his hand unconsciously rubbing the collar. That was another thing as well, had the boy said that he had put that collar there? If so how? "What exactly does that mean?"

For the first time since meeting the boy there was a look other than that of calm, rather a look of amusement flickering across his face. Kakashi could barely hear his soft voice so he walked over and sat in his appointed chair. Ready to hear the full explanation.

...

He doesn't look pleased about it; well I'm not either so I guess I can't blame him. Sighing inwardly he wondered where to start, Kakash-san already knew his beginning and the middle was just mindless training. I guess he wants to hear the end then, the hardest part to tell. Never goes for the easy stuff.

Breathing to calm himself, he tried not to panic as his words chained him to this nin. Those chains would not break until either of them died, no matter how he wished it were otherwise. "Perhaps you could be more specific Kakash-san."

Despite his face being covered Lael knew the copy nin was frowning, the way his black eye narrowed and was trained on him made him want to look away. "How about you tell me all of it."

The collar on his neck burned slightly as he resisted the command. Grimacing he rubbed his neck again, so the collar was already activated and working. Well that was good to know, so long as he stayed with Kakash-san he wouldn't have to worry about killing all the remaining villagers in Konoha. So long as he explained why Kakash-san was his master. "You are my master. I must obey every command you give without hesitation."

Why do I sound so calm? "There is only one way I will be able to disobey your commands." Why does he not react? "Your life is my only reason for living; if one of your commands to me ever puts your life in danger I can and will disobey it." Is this what the rest of my life will be like?

Finally his master stood from his seat not pacing just staring at him, and then he spoke. The authority in his tone causing Lael to smile inwardly. "Get off the bed."

Feeling laughter bubble up deep inside he did so, so long as he had no intention of disobeying Kakash-san's commands the collar would not activate and force him to do so. Apparently Kakash-san wanted to test out if I would obey him or not. One thing bothered him though, one thing I wanted to ask more than anything. "Would you prefer that I call you master?"

The shock on his face almost made me laugh right then and there, but my mask was firmly in place. Before he could answer I watched as Tsunade burst into the tent her face slightly flushed. Probably from the alcohol he smelled on her breath.

...

She'd had too much sake, that or she was asleep. Because there was no way that any human-being in the world young or old would ever ask the famous perverted copy nin that question. So before he could answer she walked into the tent, looking from one to the other she noticed dried blood on Lael-kun's clothing. "Are you alright?"

Seeing her gaze the boy followed it to the dried blood, he said nothing only loosened the ties on his clothes to let her see. The newly healed scar startled her; it was a clean cut and made a perfect crescent moon on the boy's left breast just above his heart. The fact that it was already healed told her that it was probably made while he was sedated. Especially considering he healed faster than Naruto. Putting her hand to Lael's forehead she checked to see if he had a fever. There is no possible way I heard correctly, no sane person would ask Kakashi if he wanted them to call him their master.

Then suddenly everything clicked, from the red collar around the boy's neck to his preposterous words. The boy had chosen his master! Groaning inwardly she silently wished for a bottle of sake. Who would have thought that when she had received Yamato's message that it would lead to this? She had been perfectly content in worrying about the boy's physical welfare, now she had to worry about his sanity! At least it wasn't an Akatsuki member. But a perverted copy nin? What is the world coming to?

"So Kakashi are you going to sit and stare or answer the question?" The copy nin hadn't even turned to look at her, he was only staring at the boy then with a sudden jerk he shook his head. "No, I don't want you to call me master."

Lael nodded as though expecting that, when he once again sat on the bed he looked slightly tired. Sitting next to him she waited, there were questions that needed answers. The only one with those answers was sitting quite calmly next to her.

...

"The reason I need a master? Well you should know that having dealt with Kyubi." The look of confusion on both the Hokage and the copy nin's face was frustrating, but he forced himself to answer calmly. They had no idea how close he had come to destroying the village with Sil's power. All because he had been uncomfortable with them staring at him.

If such a simple thing could set off the beast in him then he didn't want to imagine what would have happened if anyone had called him monster or demon. He would have shed the blood of innocent people, killed men, women, and children all without a single hesitation. That terrified him more than these people thinking of him as a monster, more than them hating him.

"Sil, while she was the most powerful of the tailed demons she was still a beast. Beasts need to be controlled, now that she is merged with me I also suffer from this. Animal rage that can be set off by the smallest of things, the instincts to hunt, kill, and feed on warm flesh, the need for blood." The Hokage looked away from him while he spoke but the copy nin just kept staring at him not saying or doing anything. He was relieved that the gaze did not waver from his, maybe this was why Sil had chosen him.

"That is why I need a master, such emotions are natural for demons and they can control them without any problems. But for humans, for me they can be overwhelming and I won't always be able to stop myself from giving in to them." I gazed intently at Kakash-san my eyes the only things that spoke. 'Do you understand now? The only reason they are safe is because I will obey you no matter what.'

It had been several days since that conversation; in that time Tsunade had given him a bigger tent so that he could stay with Kakash-san. While he knew her intentions were for her people and not his comfort he was still grateful. It made him less tense knowing that one word from the copy-nin was all it would take to stop him from unintentionally harming someone because of the demon instincts.

Now here he was at the training grounds staring at the loud mouthed blond from earlier, he wore bright orange and black. His blue eyes were sparkling with excitement even as he complained about something. Lael was more concentrated on the whisker marks on his cheeks that made him seem even more like a fox than anything else. The fact that he sported two fangs like teeth made him remember the inner beast.

Two sharp gleaming white fangs, long claws tipping each finger, silver-white hair, savage silver eyes, and a sadistic grin. All looking at me with my face, staring at me seductively whispering thoughts of blood and death. Breathing deeply through his nose he looked away from the other, not enjoying being reminded that in reality his inner being looked very similar to a monster. His eyes caught bright pink and he remembered the girl from his convalescence. She seemed tired but happy, and then there was someone he had never seen before. Pale skin and black hair surrounding a smile so fake he was sure it was painted on.

The last was his master whom he had stayed very close to for the last couple of days. After his last episode he didn't want to be without him in case something like that happened again. Absently he rubbed the mark over his heart watching as the three trained, the girl's speed was lacking but her strength made up for it. The way one blow from her fist made caused small earthquakes was impressive. The dark haired boy's jutsu was interesting to watch, as quickly painted beasts slid off the page to do his bidding. It was the blond that caught his attention; he was coming very close to his master with that weapon of his. Rasengan was it?

His hands twitched as Kakash-san barely avoided the attack, but the other on his team sacrificed one of his beasts to save him. Watching them fight in pairs of two had been something he enjoyed. It reminded him of all the times he had trained with different people in hopes of becoming stronger, faster, and more powerful. The two pairs met and parted like dancers, their intricate steps smooth and fluid as each attacked and defended.

Then suddenly the pink-haired girl was right behind Kakash-san her fist he knew would make contact with Kakash-san who would not be able to dodge. His master would be mortally wounded! His instincts rose to the fore and his legs moved without a single thought. He didn't even notice that his teeth felt slightly sharper than before, or that his nails seemed more claw-like. All his energy was on protecting Kakash-san. They seem to be forgetting something I'll help them to remember.

...

Finally we've got him now! His pleasure at trapping his sensei with Sakura made him grin. In a single motion he dispersed his rasengan and his clone pulled him out of the line of fire. Feet touching the ground he turned to watch Sakura decimate their former sensei. What he didn't expect was to see the silent foreigner suddenly in the air his back to Kakashi-sensei and facing Sakura. The fact that he just seemed to appear in the air without any former warning was only in the back of his mind, what really worried him was that soon the full force of Sakura's attack would hit him. He knew that Kakashi would be able to take the blow or at least defend against it, but the foreigner he was unsure of.

Apparently Sakura had been thinking the same way by the worried look on her face, but her momentum couldn't be stopped not in the single second it took for the blow to land. Closing he eyes he looked away hoping that Sakura would be able to repair the damage she had caused. Where was Kakashi-sensei anyway couldn't he pull the other out of the way? Stupid no one is that fast, not to act in a mere second!

When no sound came of bodies crashing into the earth he opened his eyes, his face went slack with shock. There in the air was the foreigner still in one piece his hand neatly wrapped around Sakura's fist. Kakashi landed next to him his own eye showing surprise, but the most shock was on Sakura's face. Sure her fist should have crushed the foreigner to dust, but that shock was something else.

Suddenly the foreigner jerked away letting go of Sakura's fist his fingers in his hair cradling his head. Concerned he was about to step forward when Kakashi stopped him, blinking in annoyance he was about to shrug the arm off when he noticed something else. Hair that should have been as black as Sai's was slowly turning silver. Then Kakashi was past him running toward the foreigner as fast as he could. He heard his sensei shouting but couldn't make out the words. In the air he noticed the foreigner was looking at his sensei then he too dropped from the air to land gracefully next to Kakashi.

...

Seeing Lael out of the corner of his eyes he absently turned wondering what he was doing, when he noticed Sakura's attack it was already too late. He wouldn't be able to pull the other out of the way. Judging from the calm and unmoving shield the other had provided he wasn't going to be moving out of the way on his own, Lael's former words flashed through his mind."Your life is my only reason for living..."

This isn't going to end well. Then he watched as Lael's hand lifted as though absently aware of the danger coming toward him, the blow landed. The shock-wave which blew him back but his eye hadn't deceived him, Lael took the hit without moving an inch, not even a wince to show he was in any pain. Landing next to Naruto he watched Sakura's look of shock, then Lael jerked back as though he had touched a hot coal. His hands going to his head, it was then that he noticed it. The silver bleaching the black out of his hair, absently he stopped Naruto from rushing in to help. Moving quickly he ran up the boy wondering what command he should give that would stop whatever was causing him to change. "Lael come here right now, come to me." Not at my best but at least I'll be able to see what's wrong with him.

When Lael obeyed his command and landed next to him Kakashi wasn't exactly ready to feel relief yet. The silver was still taking over the black; he also noticed that the brown was also fading from usually chocolate colored eyes. The two fangs drawing blood from his lips were also a first for Kakashi, as well as the quickly forming claw-like fingernails the boy was sporting.

"What's wrong? Lael speak to me, answer me!" His voice was calm but firm; Lael had told him what to do in this kind of situation. The boy's haunted words still disturbed him. "Inside me is the beast, when that beast emerges my appearance will change. My hair color will start fading to a silver-white; my eyes will also become silver. I'll grow fangs and claws just like a beast. The speed of this transformation will tell you how much control I have over the animal instincts. No matter what I cannot disobey you Kakash-san, your orders are impossible for me disobey this collar proves that. Do not hesitate to punish me in this form. I will be able to understand pain better than reasoning."

When Lael looked at him his eyes gleaming so like the Silver Demon's he quickly started to assess the situation. "Kakash-san are you alright? You aren't hurt?" The tone of voice startled him, it seemed odd to him that the beast have the same soft voice as the regular Lael. The worry covering his face warned him that Lael considered Sakura's attack to be a real threat. Quickly he waved the others to stay back in case Lael attacked. "I'm fine."

His words seemed to snap the boy out of whatever had happened to him, the silver faded and the fangs and claws returned to where they came from. But Lael's eyes were haunted, his breathing was harsh almost painful to hear. But he also seemed relieved, relieved that Kakashi had stopped him.

"Lael, what triggered it?" The boy laughed humorlessly his eyes training on the others in his team. "Kakash-san it seems that when you are in danger of being harmed in any way the bestial instincts automatically take over. Sort of like the way you would get an adrenaline rush, only more dangerous."

Nodding he turned and nodded to tell the other's it was okay, when Sakura approached she seemed a bit wary. He wanted to smile and reassure them all but he was too worried to even try. "Oi! That was amazing! I've never seen anyone catch Sakura's attack like that, how'd you do it?"

Naruto's words made him groan, the idiot was still as clueless as ever when it came to situations like this. Lael looked at the other for a few moments his eyes flashings silver again then settling back to brown. "I just used the same technique, instead of punching through something though I used it to absorb the impact."

Seeing the calm expression made him relax. "I think it would be best if I went back to the tent to rest."Nodding he watched as the other suddenly stopped next to Naruto.

...

The way he used Sakura's technique against her was amazing, it also gave him hope that maybe Konoha was not as helpless as it seemed. When the boy stopped next to his shoulder he froze at the cold words spoken in a soft whisper. "Tell Kyubi the next time you speak to him that if he ever has a thought about killing my master, I will not hesitate to destroy both him and you." Then the other walked away leaving him startled, how did this foreigner know about Kyubi? And what did that threat mean?