Kakashi knew Kabuto had let him go at last. But he still stood there, paralyzed by fear and apprehension. Was this a trick? He knew that anywhere within ten square miles of Orochimaru couldn't be safe, so he was hesitant to make a move.

But I have to do something, he rationalized. If I don't I am willing to swear that I will end up road kill. Aw, hell, I'm dead meat anyway. May as well be dead with my honor. He sighed and slid the chains off his wrists.

Kakashi fully expected an explosion of some sort.

He froze, waiting for something to blow up or for the sky to fall. When nothing happened, curiosity suddenly leaped to the surface and he tried his chakra.

Why could he perform a jutsu? He had just used a clone jutsu, and nothing happened. Why wasn't the building crumbling? Why wasn't a major flood crashing through the earth? Why wasn't the world as we know it coming to an end? Kakashi sighed. I am so going to regret this later.

He stepped into the corridor.

OOOOOOOOO

"Well?"

"Hn? I apologize, Orochimaru-sama, my mind was elsewhere."

"Clearly."

Orochimaru's first reaction was to backhand the boy. He fought down the urge, though, and he sighed. "What was his reaction?"

Kabuto shrugged innocently. "I left him."

"…You what…?"

Kabuto shrugged. "He'll come to me. I know he will."

"And you were equally as certain that Sasori wasn't mistreating you."

Kabuto flinched. His master's words hurt more than any physical punishment he could ever receive. "Don't say that."

Orochimaru smiled. "Oh, you know I didn't mean it that way."

"No."

Orochimaru's smirk disappeared in a second. He rose from his stone pedestal and stepped down to approach his servant. "Kabuto, what's wrong?"

The hand that was stretched out to touch the boy's face was harshly slapped away.

Orochimaru tried again, and this time caught Kabuto's hand in his own. "You can talk to me, you know."
"What I know," Kabuto started, yanking his fist away, "and what you think I know are two entirely different things."

Orochimaru recoiled as if slapped. "Well then…" he said slowly. "I'll just have to educate you."

OOOOOOOOO

Kakashi slipped around the corner, distinctly aware of every sound and smell in the underground dungeon. He fought down the urge to cough as the dank air flowed into his lungs, threatening to suffocate him. He sighed when the feeling passed, and continued down the last corridor.

He knew where Kabuto's room was, and where Orochimaru's rooms were, and they were dangerously close to each other. He had planned to just steal some medicine for his wounds and get the hell of here, but then he realized how close the snake sannin would be.

Footsteps sounded.

Kakashi looked back and forth frantically. A wall, a pillar, a doorway-oh, why is there never a falling anvil when you need one? Knock this punk's lights out.

Kabuto stood directly in front of him.

"I see you've figured out how to get out," he said, taking a firm hold on Kakashi. "Let's go."

Kakashi didn't bother to pull away. What was the worst that could happen? If he was lucky, he might even get some medicine…

Come to think of it, the worst was pretty bad.

Kakashi sighed. Too late now.

OOOOOOOOO

Orochimaru was stunned by Kabuto's behavior. He had never been this touchy about his past, and he had never, ever actually tried to strike Orochimaru. Was it Kakashi? That jounin did strange things to him, let alone Kabuto. The poor boy really is overworked. I just hope he'll find a way to get more than four hours of sleep a night. One of these days he would take that insolent little boy into hand.

But not today.

Definitely not today.

He sighed, and summoned the Sound Four.

Sakon arrived first, Tayuya hot on his heels. Kidomaru took another minute, and Jiroubou nearly another ten.

"Hurry up, Fatso," Tayuya snapped. "We've been waiting here for at least fifteen minutes."

"Well it's not my fault!" Jiroubou whined. "I can't help it if speed isn't my strong point."

"That's because you're fat," Tayuya sniped.

"Skinny!"

"Fatty!"

"Bony!"

"Flabby!"

"And Six-Arms over here doesn't get any love?"

"Eeeeewwwwwww, you pervert!"

"Better off than you!"

"I'd rather be fat than spend an hour with you!"

"You'll be spending days together, so get it under control," Orochimaru hissed. All of a sudden, you could hear a pin drop.

"Man, we should have you around more often," Sakon groaned. "I'm lucky if I can hear myself think when those two are together."

"Better off than you," Jiroubou muttered under his breath. "You're not the one fighting her."

"And soon you'll all be fighting me, so shut it!"

Orochimaru looked towards the back.

"Kimimaro, finally made it," Orochimaru said dryly.

"Forgive me, Master," Kimimaro said, dropping into a deep bow at the sannin's feet. "I did not hear you call me."

"Suck up," someone muttered.

"Tayuya, you shut your trap!"

"It'll be catching a lot more than rats in a minute!"

"All of you shut up!!"

Orochimaru sighed and kneed Kimimaro. "Up," he said. "Or they'll tease you more. And Kabuto, I must thank you. For once, that temper of yours has finally come in handy."

Kabuto's temper sure kicked in then. Before he knew what was happening, Orochimaru was watching six kunai fly towards his face. And then he was witnessing Kimimaro jump in front of him and use a plate of bone to shield Orochimaru from the attack.

"Thank you, Kimimaro. Kabuto, I will need to see you later-"

"Don't bother," Kabuto growled. He shoved Kakashi to his knees and kicked him over to where Orochimaru stood. "He's your problem now. I'm out of here."

Orochimaru slid his hands under Kakashi's arms and carefully lifted him, taking care to avoid the bruises over Kakashi's body where Kabuto had just abused him. "One of you, find him a room. The rest of you, find Kabuto. I want him back here by sunset."

Tayuya glanced at Jiroubou. "I'll take him if you go."

"Fair."

Tayuya grabbed Kakashi and half carried, half dragged him out of the room. "I wouldn't advise you to smart off to me," Tayuya said waspishly, "unless you want to be in a lot of pain."

Kakashi sighed and pressed his face to Tayuya's chest. Damn, I hope she thinks this is cute…it usually works on girls…and sadly, some guys, too.

Kakashi could feel Tayuya's grip on him suddenly soften, and he smirked to himself. Victory is mine.

Before he knew it, Tayuya was running a hand through his hair. "I'm glad you decided to pay nice," she murmured. "I don't like hurting cute things."

If she gets mushy, it is game over, I swear on my mother's grave.

"Good thing you're not cute."

Game over anyway.

Kakashi reached down, drew back his fist-

And nailed Tayuya right in the gut.

That outta hurt like hell for a while.

He took off running, not caring anymore who caught him, as long as he was in gentle arms that wouldn't want to hurt him. Kakashi could feel tears rising to the surface, and he didn't even bother to press them down anymore. That is it. Anything here I can use to slit my throat?

Kakashi was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't realize where he was going. But by the time he did, he was already a few feet away from Orochimaru's room. Perfect. You know what, keep going. If I die, I die.

Orochimaru let him run right into him.

It hurt like hell, but he managed to get his arms around Kakashi and hold him to his chest. "Quiet," he murmured, keeping his grip on the jounin. "I thought Tayuya had you."

"Not for long."

Orochimaru smiled as he began to stroke Kakashi's hair, trying to comfort the jounin. He was going to like this one…