Please read: Three in one! And yet no continuation of the Zaku-pie thing yet... Well, i feel this had to be done. One, to explain why the Sound Three (or at least Dosu) appeared to be quite civilized despite being street-kids who never knew what a real school was. Two, to explain- in my own way- the real reason Dosu challenged Gaara. And three, to show in a bittersweet way why Kin didn't end up with either Zaku or Dosu.

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But that Doesn't Mean I Have to Care about You...

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The Sound Three never received a proper education. You'd think it was because when the world didn't give a damn about you, you'd probably never even have a chance to see a book. However, this had not been this case. Growing up with Kabuto, you were exposed to a numerous amount of large, educating books quite often if you passed by his research room.

Yet, most of the Sound Three had either not believed that Kabuto would let them touch his books, or just didn't care for them. Practicing killing people without regret had been the main mindset for the wind-tunnel boy. The Abumi had never cared for learning how to read. In the real world all that mattered was how strong you were. This was a reflection of either how low Zaku's I.Q. had been, or how painfully ignorant he tried to pretend he was. But playing the part of someone who doesn't care only gives you the unfortunate ending results and often the same dismal fate as one who truly didn't. For Zaku it had been both.

For Kin it had been for the first reason. From the start the white-haired medic had been anything but big-brother like. In fact, she was sure after that after their up-coming separation (because the Three were only six right now and he was ordered not to leave them for another four years) he would forget them. When they were ten they hopefully wouldn't see him ever again, and even if they were to four years after that, she was sure he would have forgotten all about them. Therefore, the chances that he'd even look at them when it wasn't time to train, was in her opinion, very slim.

Only Dosu had been sensible enough to want an education enough to ask for one. Being the oldest (six and a half), he felt he was brave enough to do it. Standing outside a door in a dark hallway didn't faze him at all. The fact that it was midnight and Kabuto was up as always studying also didn't bother him. The fact that Kabuto never did get any sleep-as far as he knew-and yet still kept a perfect complexion, no eye-bags and a very lean figure...slightly disturbed him. Yet, Dosu knocked anyways.

No answer. Dosu knocked again. A sigh form the other side of the door and then a sound of a wooden chair sliding and quiet footsteps. The door opened to reveal a tired-looking twelve year-old standing in the light of a single candle with a raised white eyebrow.

"What do you want Dosu?" Kabuto asked in a tone that announced he was both irritated at being interrupted, but also relieved to have a break from it all.

The small boy with messy blond hair gave no reply. Instead he entered the room and walked over to the large shelf containing rows and rows of books. Taking one at random he held it up to the astonished pre-teen.

"W-What?" Kabuto said uncertainly. His eyes narrowed and he adjusted his glasses as he regained composure. "You want me to read you a bedtime story?"

Dosu shook his head.

"Then what?"

"I want to read this,"

"You don't know how,"

"Teach me,"

Kabuto blinked, once again not hiding his surprise. He then shook his head and scowled. "Are you kidding me? I'm busy."

He walked back to his desk and sat down. He made a gesture to shoo Dosu away.

"Go to sleep now. Run along,"

Dosu hesitated. He looked from the book to the boy who now had his back to him.

"B-But...You're my sensei..."

Dosu didn't see but as Kabuto picked up his pen his eyes widened in surprise at his words. For a minute Kabuto remained silent. Then he cleared his throat and resumed writing.

"That doesn't mean I have to care about you," he said finally. "Now go away,"

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The night after the Sasuke encounter really took its toll on the Sound Three. Other than Zaku having both his arms broken and his ego almost completely slaughtered, the pain had knocked him out cold. Even Kin who had suffered a head injury being slammed against the tree came to before him.

It was midnight and the long-haired girl's head was throbbing. This reminded her of the time she had her first- and last- hangover back in the Sound. She was lying down with her back on a tree- where yeah, just where she wanted to be- against another one of those damn things. Her black eyes were mis-focused and her vision was blurry but she could just make out the outline of her fallen black-haired comrade lying on a bed of moss nearby. Served him right, she thought bitterly.

A few yards away sat another figure the bell-girl classified as her teammate. He seemed drowsy, barely able to keep his eyes open. Had he been up all night?

"Dosu,"

Said boy raised his head and turned around. "Yes, what is it, Kin?"

'As polite as ever,' she thought dryly.

"Zaku is an as-

"Kin," the sonic-arm boy warned.

"He nearly killed me," came the acid reply.

"For the sake of the mission."

"..." Kin's face was expressionless. She then looked uncertain and slightly hurt.

"You would've done the same thing then?... Are you really ready to easily kill me for the 'sake of the mission' " she asked, her voice hallow.

"..." Dosu didn't look at her.

Kin couldn't believe this. "B-But.. I'm you're teammate!"

Once again Dosu didn't respond right away. After a few minutes which actually felt like hours, he replied.

"That doesn't mean I have to care about you," he replied quietly. And they never spoke about it again.

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"Kin!"

That voice sounding so angry..and saying her name like that. It pierced the young girl more painfully then any blade.

"Y-yes," and the long-haired girl cursed her weakness. The wind-tunnel boy came running up behind her as she stopped walking. she felt his grab her hand roughly and turn her to face him. His dark eyes met hers.

"What the hell is this?" he demanded scowling. It had been a while since she saw him so angry.

"You're hurting me," she said quietly trying to pull back her hand. He ignored her.

"What the hell is with Sakon telling me about you and Dosu?!" his voice was furious but his eyes looked desperate. Meanwhile Kin looked dumbfounded.

"H-He's lying!" she exclaimed. "Zaku I-

"How could you cheat on me?" her boyfriend growled angrily.

"I'-I'm not I-

"Then tell me you..tell me you love...me," the black-haired boy said with pain in his eyes as he let her hand go.

Kin froze. Not because it was cold or she didn't want to answer- but she felt it. That deathly silent chill, and she knew he was watching. The twelve year-old looked frightened and her eyes darted around.

Oh no... Not here...

She knew he was watching. And she knew she was breaking a Rule.

His number one rule: no love.

"Z-Zaku..." she replied regaining her composure. And it killed her to do this. "I can't. I don't."

She turned away so he wouldn't see her tears. And her cold voice hid her shattering heart.

"You're my girlfriend," Zaku tried staring at her with disbelief.

"That doesn't mean I have to care about you," she whispered in return. They broke up the next day.

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And because I can't help it:

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Dosu couldn't believe it when a set of "hooked-on-phonics" cassettes and a casseteplayer appeared on his bed one day. He didn't want to question it, but when he found a large dictionary in his room for his seventh birthday and a book every other month after that, he just couldn't help but ask.

Kabuto told him one day as they passed in a hall, "They're taking up too much space in my room."

And that would always be the white-haired boy's answer every time the bandaged boy would thank him. But if Kabuto's answer was was true, then how come the Yakushi's room was almost empty except for a few medic journals when Dosu checked one day?

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"Please, Orochimaru-sama.." the bandaged boy begged, actually on his knees.

"They failed, Dosu" the snake man replied simply. Cold scorn was in the pale man's voice and the sound genin refused to look up into the golden eyes in fear of being turned to stone by the horrible stare.

"Please...it was just one battle...And they were up against the heirs of the Aburame and Nara clans..."

"A loss is a loss. They're useless to me now,"

"No, Orochimaru-sama- I'd do anything- I- Please..." and Dosu put his forehead to the forest floor and begged solemnly. "Please, I'll do anything you say if you would just spare them..."

Orochimaru actually chuckled. A cold, horrible sound that was worse than his scolding.

"Well well," came the cold reply. "Very well then. If you can succeed in your first mission, I'll.. consider it,"

"My first mission, M'lord...?"

"Get Sasuke,"

Dosu couldn't believe it.

"If I get Sasuke..you'll spare Kin?"

"I suppose...And Zaku too..."

"T-thank you my lord..." Dosu replied looking up with wonder in his visible eye.

"Of course...But, you must do it before the final phase of the Chuunin Exam. Meaning, you must fight Sasuke earlier than planned,"

"Yes, thank you,"

And that night Dosu went out to seek Subaku no Gaara.

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"I lied..."

Hn?" the wind-tunnel boy stirred. It was dark, the forest was silent. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What the hell, what is it, Kin?"

His teammate was sitting nearby with a sad look in her eyes. Whoa, wait. Sad?

"Zaku..two years ago when we were.."

"You're going to wake up, Dosu," Zaku said blinking at his exhausted teammate. After Sasuke broke Zaku's arms and Kin was knocked out, he hadn't slept until they were both conscious and ok. It was Kin's shift in staying up.

"Zaku, I love you,"

The half-asleep boy's eyes widened and he stared at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Ok..." he said slowly. "Yay?"

"Zaku, I really do!" Kin insisted quietly. "Remember, when we were going out..."

That did it.

"Feh, drop it," Zaku growled looking away. Now he remembered.

"I'm sorry...I couldn't say it before because-

"Leave me alone,"

"Zaku...I lo-

"No,"

"But I really do!" the sound girl was almost crying.

"Prove it,"

"Fine! I-I'll...I'll lose on purpose if we have to fight in a battle in the third exam!"

"...Orochimaru-same will kill you,"

"..But you'll believe me?..."

"Sure, whatever," and he went back to sleep.

Kin lost her match. Zaku never saw it.

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