Kimimaro carefully removed his finger bone and inserted it into the pathetic excuse for a lock. He had had enough of this dump and all of its inhabitants. Well, almost all. Except for Kabuto. Kabuto was the only reason Kimimaro hadn't suicided yet. He was sweet enough to Kimimaro, and he allowed him more room to smart off than perhaps Orochimaru gave Kabuto.

"What are you doing?"

Kimimaro spun around at the sound of Kabuto's voice. Kabuto barely had time to react before a hand was plastered to his mouth and another hand was holding his in a crushing grip. A small mewl of fear escaped the genin's throat, but it was stifled by Kimimaro's hand.

"Shut up!" Kimimaro hissed, squeezing Kabuto's wrists even tighter. "I'm leaving this mud hole. And you're gonna keep your mouth shut."

Kabuto's eyes widened and he jerked against Kimimaro's hold. Kimimaro slapped him firmly, then twisted Kabuto's wrists until he was forced to his knees.

"Quiet," he spat, slowly and carefully removing his hand from Kabuto's mouth. "Shhhhhh, quiet," he repeated, "or I might have to tell Orochimaru-sama about this." When he was sure he felt Kabuto trembling under his hands, he released the frightened genin.

"Coming?"

Kabuto looked up, as if to ask a question. Kimimaro sighed.

"Being quiet? Well, then, I'll just make the decision for you. You're coming."

"No."

Kimimaro's eyebrow quirked. "Oh, now you talk."

"I have to stay with Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto said, pushing himself to his feet. "He needs me."

"So do I," Kimimaro snapped. "Before I break your arm, please?!"

Kabuto sighed. "I guess I have no choice then," he said. He straightened and turned to face Kimimaro fully. "I suppose that's it. Sh-Should we be going?"

"No."

Kabuto spun around, so fast that he lost his balance as it was. And when an ankle was thrown into his, he completely tripped and fell. Kabuto braced himself and slammed into-

Orochimaru's body.

The snake sannin had jumped forward sat the last second and caught his favorite against his chest. Kabuto felt strong arms encircle his shoulders and hold him fast. Kabuto didn't bother resisting him; he was grateful for the protection-and temporary affection-his master showed him. Kabuto felt a hand running gently through his hair, and a raspy voice whispered in his ear,

"Quiet, pet. Was he hurting you?"
Kabuto nodded and pressed his face to Orochimaru's shoulder. "Orochimaru-sama," he began, "I apologize for my behavior earlier. I realize now that it was not my place to question your judgment, nor to speak out so strongly, and I beg your forgiveness."

Orochimaru smiled. "You lay it on too thick."

"Don't flatter me," Kabuto said. "I'm not that great."

"Yes, you are," Orochimaru said softly, and continued to stroke Kabuto's hair. "But I still think you need to be punished a bit further. Tonight, my room, nine o'clock."

Kabuto gave an involuntary shudder, knowing what was to come. But he exhaled, hiding his emotions, and replied, "Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru nodded. "Good boy. Now, go do whatever you have to do, and I'll worry about Kimimaro."

Kabuto stepped back without a word and melted into the shadows. Orochimaru would always marvel at how he could do that: the subtlest of movements could hide him so extensively, and Kabuto could become invisible if he wished. Orochimaru waited until Kabuto was out of earshot to turn to Kimimaro.

"Kimimaro-kun, what possessed you, to think that you could harm Kabuto without reason?"

Kimimaro's sea-green eyes narrowed. "I was going training, and he got in the way."

"Training would not have caused him to try to stop you," Orochimaru pointed out. Several bones broke through Kimimaro's skin out of anger.

"Do you care?!" he finally shouted. "Ever since Sasuke came it's been all about him! What about me? I was supposed to be your next body, and all of a sudden I'm what? Crap, that's what! All of a sudden little mister perfect shows up, and I'm worth a pile of shit to you!"

"Kimimaro-"

"Screw it, all right?! Just screw it! If I'm really that worthless, I may as well just leave!"

"Kimimaro-"

Kimimaro's movement blurred, and all of a sudden Orochimaru found himself reeling from the impact of a blow. He staggered backwards, lost his orientation and fell to the floor, spitting blood.

"Okay, I really should not have let you do that."

"Yeah, right," Kimimaro snapped. "You let me. I don't ever want to see your face again!"

"Kimi, don't be like that-"

Kimimaro flinched at the childhood nickname Orochimaru had given him when he first found him. Kimimaro could feel tears surfacing, and he was at the point where he didn't even care and didn't bother to push them down.

"Shut up!!"

A sharp bone pierced Orochimaru's side, but he made no attempt to stop it. Kimimaro twisted his wrist, extracting a groan of pain from Orochimaru. The snake sannin grasped the bone firmly and wrenched it out of his flesh.

"You're a brat, you know that?" he gasped, allowing Kimimaro to repossess his ulna#. "You do know who raised you, gave you a home and a purpose, and a life in general, right? And this is how you repay him? By attempting to kill him?"

"I don't want to kill you," Kimimaro growled. "I just want to get the fuck out of this dump!"

The door Kimimaro was trying to open earlier collapsed as his bones cut it to pieces. "Won't be seeing you."

Orochimaru sighed as Kimimaro stepped over the pile of rubble and broke into a run. He forced his legs underneath him, trying to stand. The wound in his side, however, kept him from going far, and he sank back to the ground, gasping and clutching at his side.

"Kabuto," he whispered, releasing intense vapors of chakra. "Get the hell back here."

Sure enough, the genin was at his side in seconds, easing Orochimaru into his lap and carefully pushing the robes aside.

"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto exclaimed upon seeing the wound. Orochimaru knew the boy well enough to know that he was gently scolding him for getting himself stabbed. Orochimaru closed his eyes as his favorite carefully stripped off his shirt after the robes, leaving his white chest exposed and chilled. Orochimaru shivered; the dank air was freezing.

A cool hand descended to his stomach, and Orochimaru flinched away. Kabuto's hand swiftly captured both of his, and he moved them up over Orochimaru's head.

"Kabuto, don't you dare-agh!!"

Green chakra exploded around Kabuto's hand, and the boy could feel Orochimaru begin to struggle under his hold. Kabuto tightened his grip and put a leg across Orochimaru's hips in an attempt to still him. Orochimaru, however, was having none of it, and continued to fight viciously. Kabuto cut off the chakra flow and released his master, jumping back at the same time. He knew Orochimaru was strong enough to break his leg with a single twist, and he didn't want to be in the way. The second he was released, Orochimaru tried to stand. Kabuto darted forward, and his hands fastened over the sannin's hips as Orochimaru slipped in the blood covering the floor. Orochimaru collapsed onto Kabuto's shoulder, slender body rippling as Kabuto's hands slid underneath his shoulders and legs. His weight was abruptly lifted, and he sighed into Kabuto's chest as the young genin cradled him in his arms.

One of these days, I will take this insolent little pup into hand…! …But not today…no, definitely not today…

"Take it easy," Kabuto murmured, "and try not to kill yourself."

Orochimaru made a small noise of disproval against his favorite's chest. "You're bordering on defiance, Kabuto," he warned.

"I probably am," Kabuto said nonchalantly. "But for the moment, try to relax. I'll get you into bed, and I want you to sleep."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, but he let his head fall to Kabuto's shoulder, and he averted his gaze from Kabuto's. Being this helpless and this out of control was not familiar to Orochimaru, and it was uncomfortable. Unlike Kabuto's arms…

The ghost of a smile flitted across Kabuto's features as he watched his master close his eyes. He simply began walking, though, to hide his true emotions.

A snicker in the corner caught this attention.

Kabuto halted mid-step and turned. Tayuya stood against the wall, one ankle crossed over the other, arms mimicking the cross. She pushed off the wall and very quietly strode to Orochimaru's side. Kabuto saw a smirk tease at the corners of her mouth, and she pulled her hair away from her face.

"Tayuya, you brat, don't you dare touch him-"

Before Orochimaru knew what was happening, red hair was brushing his cheekbones and a light kiss was hovering over his lips. Orochimaru snapped awake within the second and glared at Tayuya with clear murder in his eyes. He managed to get his legs on the ground before Kabuto pulled him into check.

"I should just let him go!" he yelled, still trying to restrain the steaming sannin. "And a little advice, bone-head-! You might wanna run!!"

Tayuya gave a short bark of surprise at the sudden assault and took off laughing her face off. Kabuto sighed and held Orochimaru even closer to his chest to keep him from moving much more.

"Orochimaru-sama, stop it!" he scolded. "You're going to re-open that wound, and we're going to have to go through this all over again, now please, just-!"

"Kabuto, you little-!"

"Orochimaru-sama! Knock it off!"

"You little brat, let go right now!"

"Orochimaru-sama!!"

Orochimaru finally stopped struggling with Kabuto and held still against his chest. "Fine. You win. But only because my side hurts!"

Kabuto smiled and picked him up again. "Yeah, right." He continued walking towards Orochimaru's room, keeping a sharp eye out for Tayuya. I pity the fool…

"By the way, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto asked, still looking for the stupid sound nin. "Where did you put Kakashi?"

"I left him in my room," Orochimaru replied. He too, seemed to be looking for Tayuya; it was only a matter of who could spot her first.

Kabuto slowed. "Then I'd probably better put you in my room."

"I don't care."

"Obviously.'

Kabuto carefully pushed open the door to his own room with his foot, and then kicked it shut behind him. Orochimaru felt Kabuto slowly lowering his body to a small bed, and he sighed at the transfer of weights. Kabuto drew a blanket up over his exposed shoulders, re-warming his cold skin.

"Get some rest," Kabuto said softly. He gently rested his hand in Orochimaru's hair and brushed it back from his face, over sloping shoulders and onto a curving back. "You're going to need it."

Orochimaru nodded and turned onto his side, completely facing his servant. 'Why?"

"Your body needs to recover," Kabuto replied. His hand was still in Orochimaru's hair, and Orochimaru's tongue slid out to carefully lick the inside of the boy's wrist in a show of affection. Kabuto blushed and tenderly kissed Orochimaru.

"You over extend yourself."

Orochimaru's tongue coiled around Kabuto's wrist, pulling him closer to kiss his palm. "Look who's talking."

Kabuto blushed again at the praise and stood up. "I'm going to let you sleep," he said, drawing the curtains over the windows. The room was plunged into darkness almost immediately, and Kabuto kissed his master one final time.

"Goodnight," he murmured, and stepped away. Orochimaru sighed to himself at being forced to stay put, but he didn't move from where he was. If Kabuto said he needed to recover, he probably did. He trusted Kabuto: to the extent of his life.

A/N: Cute, huh? Sorry this is so late, I didn't mean for it to be…whoops. Hope that was IC, please tell me if it was or not. I am tired of flames; if you hate me that much, keep it to yourself. I will feed all flames to my pet fire demon. Thank you!# The ulna is the bottom of two bones in your arm. Just in case you're not attending medical school like I am...