Panic flashed through the halls as the crowd scattered in different directions. Shrieks and screams echoed the house followed by the many thudding feet which rushed for the nearest exit. It was to no ones surprise that many fell and were run over in the hurry. The death of the Imperial had been an alarm none could avoid fearing. A man of great power killed, at a party in which he was hosting. Yiara had swiftly grabbed Orochimaru by the wrist and dragged him away from the scene hurriedly. Orochimaru knew exactly what had happened, the murderer was indeed still among them as the NW's feared, however being the murderer himself he was not unnerved. Orochimaru had done the crime flawlessly getting away, he wasn't proud of it. Not because he felt bad for the crime but simply because he felt it was far too easy a kill. He missed having his enemies fight back, where was the risk in his latest kills? They had all been with the protection of an NW, if not Balear then Yiara. Orochimaru followed Yiara out, looking back once to see Deidara being lead not to far behind him, they arrived shortly after Yiara and Orochimaru in the busy street. Yiara called for two metallic moving machines. Car is the name he gave it, the ninja simply obeyed and stepped inside unsure of how the device would take them to their immediate destination. They went in separate cars, Deidara and Orochimaru. Usually he would have been unnerved but for some reason the night thrill had restored his confidence. He sat down next to Yiara who looked out the window solemnly. He shook his head and looked at the Sannin.

"We weren't the closest of friends... The Imperial and I." Yiara said, he looked down at the snake some what angrily, "that doesn't mean however that I wished to see him die."

"I'm sorry." Orochimaru said, "I'm sure security will be more strict from here on."

"It will for sure. When we get home you will get a tracker, two trackers. Just incase you rip the one off." Yiara said somewhat darkly.

"Two? A bit over the top, it would seem you think I am a suspect to pin the Imperials murder on." Orochimaru said brushing hair out of his eyes and looking directly at Yiara.

"You're more than a suspect." Yiara said, "I'm not blind to you or your past."

"And what do you think you know of me?" Orochimaru asked.

"Exactly what I need to know." Yiara said.

"Is that so. Well I'm not to blame for the Imperial." Orochimaru said.

"I'm not certain. Did you speak to Imperial Balear?" Yiara said.

"Yes." Orochimaru said honestly, "he greeted me, and asked for me to speak to him in private, I didn't get a chance to."

"I saw you walk off with him somewhere, what stopped you?" Yiara asked.

"He wanted to speak to me somewhere private, but we never managed to get somewhere private. We met a few other elite NW's and one dragged him away to catch up, I went for a walk in the garden to get fresh air after that. When I returned a few moments later, the room was in panic." Orochimaru said.

"When you were in the garden did you bump into the Imperial?" Yiara asked.

"Balear? No he was off with another NW." Orochimaru said.

"Not Balear. Our lost Imperial." Yiara said.

"Oh, I'm not sure. I saw two men walking in the garden. I've never seen the Imperial and wouldn't know how he looks." Orochimaru said, "could have just been guards though I'm not sure."

"Two? You didn't recognize any? None of them looked like ninja?" Yiara asked.

"Well not that I know, I can't say I know all the shinobi of the world, and because of that for all I know they were both ninja. I'm familiar with people from Konoha and Sound, then the elites. Nothing more." Orochimaru said, he lost interest in the topic and his eyes wandered out the window. Yiara shook his head and looked out his own window.

"Well regardless of if you did it, your getting two trackers. Unfortunately the rise in rogue attacks has gotten out of hand. It's hard to trust anyone my dear. Don't take it personally." Yiara said, he glanced at the small male beside him to see his reaction, he didn't get much of a reaction however. The Sannin nodded lightly still distracted by the many lights on the busy streets. Orochimaru noted he recognized the place, from the times he turned into a hydra and looked over the buildings. The metallic machine or rather car, stopped at a red light. Orochimaru watched the busy street until one particular person caught his eye. It was a shinobi from Konoha, once under Danzo much like himself. He had met the male briefly, Sai was his name if the Sannin recalled correctly. What the serpent saw however displeased him greatly. The ninja was being cornered by guards, and as a natural reflex he was preparing to fight them. But a ninja was no match for an NW. With technology on their side, it was one shot and the shinobi would be out. Orochimaru saw one of the NW's raise his weapon, point it at Sai. He had seen it many times when looking out from Yiara's estate, but being up close with the crime, and knowing who the victim was made the serpent unable to stop. He pushed at the metallic door, remembering how he had seen Yiara get out, he swiftly unlocked it before pulling the handle. He entered the street, looking at an incoming car. He had no fear of things rushing towards himself and easily avoided it hitting him by jumping quickly to the side. He heard Yiara yell for him stop, warning him to be careful. Then he heard Yiara open his own door and race out after him while telling the driver to wait. Orochimaru found himself in front of the NW and his gun. He didn't know what made him stand in front of the ninja he hardly knew. He only slightly regretted it when looking into the barrel of the gun.

"Kill them both." A nearby NW said.

"Don't shoot!" Yiara called, the NW's turned to face him.

"Yiara..." The one said, "let me guess. You fancy this one?"

"If I say don't shoot, simply do not pull the trigger. I didn't ask to give you my life story. " Yiara snapped, "Orochi, can you please step away from open fire."

"Only if he doesn't kill him." Orochimaru said.

"O-Orochimaru..." Sai said, he looked at the Sannin with wary eyes, but all the same he looked grateful. He glanced between Yiara and the NW standing with the gun, then finally at the Sannin.

"no no, we're leaving at once. There are rogues on these streets it isn't safe." Yiara said.

"Then why bring us here? If we are such a danger to your people you should have just left us alone." Orochimaru said, "surely him living isn't such a danger to society."

"Don't try compromise with him Yiara, good Lord he doesn't even have a tracker." One NW said, another two came beside the Sannin. Each restraining one of his slim arms, the serpent struggled in their grip as they pulled him aside. He saw the man once again lock his gun on Sai. Panic ran through him, and then he heard the shot. The body fell to the floor, choked for a second then went limp. Orochimaru felt a chill run down his spine, he felt slightly light headed as he saw the blood pour out from the body. He let out a strangled gasp as he saw the familiar face go cold and his black eyes go hollow. His own hand was clasped over his mouth as he stopped himself from choking out again. He didn't know why such grief hit him, only months ago he would have done it himself. Why was natural order such a main role in the acceptance of death. Orochimaru was given freedom of his arms as soon as the shot was fired. He heard another shot and saw the body bounce up before falling back down.

"Just to be safe." The NW who had taken the shot said, the sound echoed in the Sannins mind, rebounding off every wall and shattering his sense of reason momentarily. He felt himself move, but didn't recall giving his body the command to do so. He ended up at Sai's side, the blood flowing off the body and staining the royal kimono he wore. He lightly tried to check the males pulse, but found all he got were bloodied hands. Sai was long gone it appeared, no longer in the world where the Sannin waited for him. The serpent didn't know the other ninja, didn't like him even. He didn't know much more than his name for that matter, maybe a few of his friends names give or take. However he felt directly impacted by the death. He watched the body hopelessly, for some reason feeling that if he stayed long enough, perhaps the gods would offer him a second chance. Perhaps he would be brought back to the world of the living.

"Orochi- my love..." Yiara seemed slightly unsure of his reaction, he watched the Sannin almost poetically sitting beside the others corpse. His kimono splayed out on the floor, blood fading into the purple, staining it, his hair blowing softly in the wind as it also splayed out around him. Yiara watched the ninja, he shook slightly, but whether from anger, sadness or adrenalin he didn't know. Maybe all of them. He went to the serpents side and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry my love." He said, "there was no reason to do that."

"There was plenty reason. He was of no use to us. We don't have resources to waste on things like him." An NW replied.

"I was saying you could have simply done it else where. No one wants to see a bloody murder General." Yiara snapped. He tried helping the Sannin up, he was met with resistance. Kakashi probably knew him Orochimaru thought, no wait, Kakashi definitely knew him. How close they were he didn't know but did it matter? He didn't know him well and it affected him this much. He could only imagine how Kakashi would feel.

"Come, we need to leave." Yiara said, he tried leading the Sannin again this time slightly more forcefully, "he is dead, there's nothing more for you here."

Orochimaru got up, his eyes still locked on the body. He brushed his hair with his two hands, still slightly shaking. He shook his head and pushed past Yiara then made his way to the car. He entered it, not once sparing a glance at anyone else. He could feel tears push their way to his eyes but he didn't allow it. He bit his tongue in an attempt to stifle them. He didn't speak for the rest of the drive, he didn't spare anyone a glance. Yiara left him to it. Only once placing a reassuring hand on his back as an attempt to be supportive. He was simply brushed off.

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When Kakashi woke up he found everyone was in their original sleeping arrangements. Deidara and Orochimaru were peacefully asleep, although peaceful may not have been the word for the serpent. Deidara comfortably breathed in and out, his face relaxed and content. Orochimaru tossed every now and then and held the end of his blanket in a dream like struggle. His eyes were closed tightly, and he looked uncomfortable with what ever he was dealing with in the surreal world of his mind.

Kakashi considered waking him, he watched him for a few more moments before getting up and walking over. He sat on the edge of the bed and placed one hand lightly on the snakes shoulder. As gently as he could he shook the pale Sannin, who in return moved away from the contact swiftly. When his blurry vision became clear and he saw it was only Kakashi he relaxed. Kakashi was disturbed by the saddened golden eyes he was met with from the snake, they seemed distressed about something but over and above that he seemed generally sad.

"Kakashi." Orochimaru said softly as not to wake the other residence of the room.

"You alright?" Kakashi asked worriedly scanning the other over.

"Fine." Orochimaru said, the words offered were brief and Kakashi was struggling to find a reason for it. Kakashi felt the urge to get closer to the Sannin, and due to their last encounter he felt safe enough to do so. The snake had made it clear how he felt for the copy ninja after all. Kakashi sat closer to the Sannin and looped a hand around him drawing him closer. Orochimaru didn't put up any resistance but simply blinked up at him some what confused.

"I said I'm fine." Orochimaru said.

"You don't look like you're fine." Kakashi said, "I'm not here to force you to tell me anything. Just to let you know I'm always around."

Orochimaru fell into silence after that, he didn't seem to have any reply but simply contemplated the words over in his head. Kakashi had no objections to his decision and patiently sat holding the male. He lightly brushed through his hair with his one free hand, the other still around the Sannin securely. He could feel every intake of breath Orochimaru drew and every falter that came with it. Eventually the Sannin seemed more at ease. The stars were still out, and darkness was still all that could be seen in the night sky. Light would come shortly, but even that seemed like to long a time to wait. The two elite ninja fell asleep eventually, why the sudden fatigue hit them they didn't know. They didn't even know they had fallen asleep together until the next morning.

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"Isn't that cute hm?" Deidara said, it took Kakashi a moment to realize why the other was saying that. He found the Sound leader laying beside him, his arms crossed on the copy ninjas chest while his head rested on top of them. He lazily lay on him, still weighing nothing to Kakashi's surprise, looking rather comfortable. Deidara had made no point of leaving his bed either, sitting up with the blanket wrapped around himself for warmth. It was cold outside and the two smaller males seemed to have no intention to leave their warm sheets. Orochimaru leaned forwards slightly and pecked Kakashi before a small smile passed his lips.

"Morning." He said.

It was the first morning Kakashi would ever remember from the duration of living at Yiara's house. The Sannin looked perfect, despite having just woken up. His hair was slightly messier than it usually was but over all he just looked as he always did. To Kakashi the word to describe it was perfect. He smiled back and ran one hand over his long black hair, which slipped through his fingers like silk.

"Morning." Kakashi replied.

"Get up you lazy pieces of-" Kisame said harmlessly attempting to pull the sheets of Deidara. The comment was aimed at everyone, but Deidara got the rough end of the deal as he was closest.

"Leave me." Deidara whined pulling his sheet back in a mild game of tug of war. Orochimaru stared at the two of them in amusement but then looked back at Kakashi.

"Cold?" Kakashi asked, noting how the serpent got as close as he could to get body heat. To be fair, it was Kakashi who had his hands securely around the others waist. There was no other place for Orochimaru to go at that point. Orochimaru shook his head.

"Not for so long as you are being a human heater." He said settling back down on top of the others strong chest.

"I'm ganna break up a happy couple, of this so called happy couple doesn't get up. It's not that cold but breakfast might be if we don't hurry." Kisame said, he looked over at the two ninja and couldn't help but sigh. They seemed wrong and right all at the same time.

"He is right." Orochimaru said sitting up, he found himself pulled back down by his waist. He glared at Kakashi, although more playfully than anything else.

"Do I need to ask permission?" Orochimaru asked, Kakashi met the challenging golden eyes of his lover.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps I never plan on letting you leave." Kakashi joked making a point of pulling the Sannin closer. Orochimaru rolled his eyes and attempted to slip away again. To Kakashi's complete surprise the snake managed to somehow slip out from his grip. He slid out, as true to his nature, and quickly hopped of the bed. He smiled at Kakashi proudly, like one would expect from a cat who finally managed to get its way despite the unlikeliness and looked back with complete and utter assurance. A some what of a 'hah' look in his eyes. His eyes were playfully defiant, playfully triumphant as well. He turned off to fetch his clothes from the cupboard and left a defeated copy ninja behind. Orochimaru dropped his eyes when the other couldn't see him, he didn't want to tell his lover about the fallen ninja he had tried to save. Tried, sadly being the operative word. He dismissed the thought. There was no reason to burden Kakashi with the news, after all, it was not like all of Kakashi's friends were alive to begin with. At this point he would only ever hope to be reunited with a few and even that would be a miracle. In retrospect there was no reason to tell him. It would simply distress him. And anyway, he had bigger news for the group. He was getting them all out.

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Kakashi walked over to Orochimaru and looped an arm around his shoulders, the smaller male fit into the shape of the others chest comfortably. He looked down at the Sannin and straight into his beaming eyes which seemed to constantly be asking questions. He received a small smile from the serpent, a rare genuine smile which Kakashi seemed to attain rather easily. Kakashi lightly pecked his forehead as they walked together towards the lounge they had decided to go to. The days were long, with hardly anything to do, they would eat and then go to the garden, then back to their room. It was tedious and hardly a fulfilling purpose for the overly active snake. However Orochimaru had a way of keeping things interesting Kakashi noted. How often the Sannin wouldn't come running in with some odd bit of news. For the moment, it appeared the Sannin was at a loss of strange yet wonderful ideas. Kakashi laughed to himself, he was a long shot wrong if he ever thought the snake was not plotting something.

"So what is next on your to do list?" Orochimaru asked, Kakashi stopped momentarily, he was planning on asking the snake the same thing.

"Nothing at present. Perhaps we can go check on Asuma? He is still in a coma from what I've heard." Kakashi said, Orochimaru nodded. He hid the fact that he really detested Asuma. Their last meeting was far from pleasant. But for the sake of his lover he would lie, fake a smile and push on. He would act concerned for the other ninja, he would offer to help him if need be. He didn't have to like him, he just needed to love Kakashi enough. They walked towards the medical center passing by many unfamiliar faces. Until they bumped into a not so unfamiliar one.

"Kakashi." A girl said from behind them. They turned around, the serpent still happily leaning into Kakashi's strong chest. The woman had thick brunette hair, and her eyes were soft yet daring. She looked at them confused, and to a degree with a bit of judgment. She looked at Orochimaru coldly then allowed her eyes to pass up to Kakashi. She observed the way Kakashi had his arm wrapped around the rogue, keeping him as close as possible.

"Kurenia." Kakashi said happy to see another friend, he swiftly released the Sannin and went to meet her. Orochimaru could once again sense the tension as she watched him with hateful eyes. She removed her gaze and smiled up at Kakashi before embracing him. After a few moments of the hug, Kakashi let go and looked down at her. He then looked over to the Sannin, if he was ever to get the two to coincide now was a good time to start.

"Orochimaru this is Kurenia, a good friend." Kakashi said, trying to get a more friendly greeting.

"No need to introduce yourself. Everyone knows who you are." Kurenia replied to the serpent. Orochimaru tried to cool the situation down slightly. He politely smiled at the angered woman.

"I'm sure you two will want to catch up. I'll leave you to it, it was a pleasure meeting you Kurenia." He said flashing a small smile at Kakashi before taking his leave. It appeared that every step he took he met another enemy. A friend of his lovers. An enemy of him. He could sense Kakashi wished for him to stay, but the situation was certainly not one for sticking around. The serpent had abandoned the hall and entered the medical centre, he decided he might as well try and pay his respect to the man he threw off the building. He entered the room expecting the male to be asleep, as he was told. He entered to find the man gasping for air, trying to get up. There wasn't a single medic around, to no ones surprise, why bother with a ninja after all. Orochimaru raced to his side and aided him into a sitting position. Asuma found it slightly easier to breath, but not much. Orochimaru looked around the room, some things were familiar enough to him. He knew basic technology at least. He didn't however know how to start up the machine that could pump oxygen into the male. He held the breathing mask in his hand but looked at the machine hopelessly. He had little time to waste and decided he should act instead of wait and see. He tried his best at managing the machine, to his relief it kicked to life. He was about to place the mask over his mouth when Kakashi and Kurenia walked in. Kakashi ran over and assisted the snake in placing the mask over the mans face and in moments Asuma had returned to normal breathing. Orochimaru was relieved to see him alive again, but rather uncomfortable being around the two enemy ninja. For some or other reason Kurenia was glaring daggers at him. He didn't need to take a hint to work out the situation was not meant for him. He walked to Kakashi and softly spoke in his ear.

"I'll meet you in the garden when you are finished here." He said, Kakashi had to lean down slightly to allow the shorter male to whisper in his ear. He watched the Sannin once again say his goodbye to the unfriendly and unapproachable female. Kurenia barely offered a response. She seemed ready to attack him for that matter. Kakashi watched the Sannin swoop around the corner his hair trailing slightly behind him.

It was going to be harder than he thought. The serpent and the people of fire seemed worlds a part. He couldn't help but wonder why Kurenia was so angry at that point, hadn't she just seen Orochimaru try and save Asuma? Hadn't she seen the change?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please leave a comment! Its always good hearing from viewers! Thank you to everyone who has commented and always does! You know who you are! :D