Orochimaru ran back to his room, on the brink of tears. He furiously fought them back, vowing he wouldn't cry. He couldn't show weakness, especially not now! Now was when he needed to prove to everyone how strong he was, and how he could pull through anything…he needed to pull himself together, and fast. Orochimaru bolted into his room, slamming the door closed behind himself and flying into his bedroom. He fell face-first onto his bed, plastering his face to the pillow and trying to smother his tears. Orochimaru took deep breaths, eventually turning over for lack of breath. He lay in the enormous expanse of his black-sheeted bed, arms spread and tears dripping down the sides of his face. Orochimaru allowed a single whimper to escape his throat, suddenly aware of how alone he was.

How alone he had become.

And the tears began to fall.

Desperate sobs wracked Orochimaru's body, and he turned onto his side, facing away from the door. He found himself curling up into a ball, wrapping his arms around his midriff and pulling his legs up towards his chest a bit. Orochimaru couldn't stop crying, what with the memory of how things used to be…with Itachi. They used to be so happy together, stealing short, sweet kisses when no one was looking. They would often cut meetings and go out onto the beach near the Akatsuki's hideaway on the riverbank. But then…then, slowly, but surely, Itachi began to become more and more controlling of Orochimaru, and he would repeatedly abuse him. One night, he raped Orochimaru, and that was the final straw. Orochimaru decided it was time to stand up for himself, and tried to take Itachi's body as vengeance. Itachi left Orochimaru broken once and for all, and Orochimaru had fled the Akatsuki out of terror. He had founded Hidden Sound, and thought he would be safe there. But no! It couldn't ever just…happen without a hitch for him! It always had to be difficult! Orochimaru felt his stomach beginning to turn; from what, he had no idea. He slowly got to his feet, wiping the tears off his face and stumbling into the bathroom. Within seconds, he was vomiting into the sink, made sick by the simple stress of the night and force of his tears. Orochimaru held his hair back with one hand, bracing himself on the counter with the other. When he was finished, Orochimaru stood for a moment, panting and trying to determine what his stomach was doing now. Finally, it seemed that the nausea had passed, and Orochimaru straightened, grabbing a towel from the bar behind him and wiping off his face. He rinsed out his mouth, wiped his face again, and walked, very slowly, into the kitchen. He sat down with a glass of water and a bottle of Gatorade, aiming to slowly start rehydrating himself after his dreadful sickness.

"Orochimaru-sama?"

Orochimaru didn't bother to even turn his head. He recognized the voice of the male who had spoken. "Go away," he said sullenly. "I don't want to talk to you."

Kabuto sighed and walked over to Orochimaru, pulling a chair over closer to him and sitting down. He gently placed a hand on Orochimaru's back, allowing it to move in a gentle, circular motion. "Then I won't speak," he said quietly. "And then you won't have to talk to me, either."

Orochimaru sighed, but said nothing. He continued taking long, slow, sips from his glass, just trying to focus on keeping himself hydrated. But Kabuto's hand continued to move comfortingly over his back, and Orochimaru could feel his resolve betraying him. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He allowed himself to say softly:

"I just got sick."

Kabuto nodded understandingly. "Stress. Do you want me to check you over, anyway?"

Orochimaru shrugged vaguely, not giving Kabuto an answer of any sort. Kabuto's hand glowed a gentle green over Orochimaru's back, stilling its back-and-forth motion for a moment. Kabuto then lifted his hand from Orochimaru's back, saying, "You're fine." Orochimaru shrugged again, and Kabuto gave up a sigh of resignation. "Talk to me, love," he whispered, leaning forward and gently kissing Orochimaru's soft-skinned cheek. "Don't shut me out…I want to help you, I promise."

Orochimaru finally set down his glass, turning to face Kabuto and saying, "I don't even want to think about what I'll have to face tomorrow. I just want to go to sleep, alone, and wait until morning to even think about what's happened to me."

For a long time, Kabuto was silent. Then, after thinking over Orochimaru's situation, stood up and said, "Alright. Go to sleep, and we'll see how you feel in the morning." He couldn't imagine anything would happen to Orochimaru-Itachi had fled after Orochimaru had jumped from the roof, and Kabuto couldn't fathom he would return that same night. Maybe the next one-but not the same night. "I'll come and find you in the morning, okay? I'll wake you up, as normal. Is that okay?"

Orochimaru nodded, standing up and embracing Kabuto. "Thank you," he murmured, stepping back, "and I'm sorry."

Kabuto nodded awkwardly, muttering, "Sure," as Orochimaru left for his bedroom. He walked out of the suite, gently shutting the door behind him. Orochimaru had guards everywhere in that room, both in it and outside it. There were guards everywhere except in his bedroom itself. Orochimaru would be fine…Kabuto firmly told himself this, and then left the wing for his own room.

OOOOOOOOO

Orochimaru knew there was something wrong the second he entered his room.

He took nervous glances around, trying to determine the source of his unease. He could see nothing that would cause such a feeling within him. Orochimaru shed his kimono, sliding into his bed and taking one last look around.

The window was open.

It hadn't been open when he walked into the room, he was sure of it! But he had heard nothing, seen nothing, sensed nothing as far as chakra went-! Orochimaru's breathing increased, and he sat up, one hand sliding back to reach under his pillow for a hidden kunai.

A gloved hand shot out and covered his mouth.

Orochimaru tried to scream, but was suddenly unable to breath. His attacker had covered his nose and mouth, cruelly blocking off all sources of oxygen. Orochimaru thrashed and struggled against the person behind him, trying anything to get at least his nose free to breathe. His consciousness was slowly fading; black spots were dancing in front of his eyes. Orochimaru tried one last time to break free, but then he had grown too weak to fight back anymore. His efforts failed, and Orochimaru grew completely limp in his captor's arms. A veil of red descended upon the world, and then, everything faded to black.

OOOOOOOOOO

Orochimaru woke up in darkness.

Only one candle lit the room, giving off a faint scent of sage. Orochimaru knew in a heartbeat that Itachi had come back for him-but the same night?! And now he was going to be furious with him. Sure enough, Itachi's bloody Sharingan were easy to spot in the darkness, which Orochimaru saw immediately. But when he went to withdraw from Itachi's presence, he found himself unable to move. Itachi had bound him tightly by tying his wrists to ankles, forcing him to bend his knees and spread his legs. A collar around his neck, secured to a leash, kept him tied to the bed, and chains around his ankles further restricted his movements. Itachi had gagged him, as well, to keep him from summoning any of the guards he had stationed around his suite. Orochimaru's heart immediately leapt into double speed, driven by fear and adrenaline. His breathing picked up; his nose and throat burned from his fast-paced breathing. Itachi seemed to notice: a slow smirk spread across his face. "Awake, I see," he murmured, shifting closer to Orochimaru. Formerly, he had been sitting on the bed near Orochimaru's bare hips. Now, he moved up a bit to reach out and gently caress the side of Orochimaru's face. "My apologies, love, but it was the only way I could do it humanely," he continued, still mockingly stroking Orochimaru like a domestic pet. "I know you hate being bound so. I didn't want to hurt you." He leaned over Orochimaru's vulnerable body, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. The kisses continued all down the side of Orochimaru's face, down along his jaw, and onto his neck. Itachi's hands began roaming Orochimaru's body, spread out beautifully before him in a gorgeous display of porcelain-like skin. Sinfully soft hands traced down Orochimaru's stomach, gently petting the impossibly sot skin they found there. One of Itachi's hands curved around into Orochimaru's lover back, sliding down between his sheets and his rump, gripping the firm muscle he found there and kneading at it with one hand. The other continued to pet Orochimaru's stomach, extracting a breathy moan from Orochimaru. He tried his best to arch his body away from the touches, but Itachi was everywhere with him, showering him with unwanted attention and affection. Sharp teeth bit into Orochimaru's neck; lips sealed over the bleeding wound, sucking hard enough to raise a dark stain of blood under paper skin. Orochimaru whimpered at the harsh treatment; Itachi's nails were beginning to dig into his ass, and the bite on his neck stung like the sting of a bee. Still, he couldn't fight Itachi. Not if he wanted to live to see the sun rise. Itachi's hands continued to move over Orochimaru's body, one sliding down between his legs from his stomach. Orochimaru's body began to shake-he knew what was coming next-

Itachi brutally shoved two fingers into Orochimaru's entrance.

Orochimaru tried to scream, arching his back against Itachi's touches and strokes, lifting his hips and trying to pull himself away from Itachi. But, by lifting his hips, he had inadvertently given Itachi more room to move his fingers. Itachi took advantage of the situation Orochimaru had presented him with, pushing one more finger into Orochimaru's entrance. Orochimaru felt the sting of tears against the backs of his eyes, and fiercely fought them down. He wouldn't cry! He couldn't give Itachi the satisfaction of seeing him break down! But it was too late. Two tears slipped free, trailing down Orochimaru's cheeks, a painful reminder of what was being done to him. Itachi continued to stroke Orochimaru inside and out, taking advantage of him without shame or remorse. Orochimaru wasn't sure what to do at that point: there really wasn't anything he could do.

Itachi stripped himself amazing fast for someone using only one hand to do so, and then pulled himself out of Orochimaru. The snake allowed himself a small sigh of relief; Itachi would be a moment, wouldn't he? Orochimaru's fast-beating heart prayed he would be. He needed to calm himself down a little before-

Too late.

Itachi shoved his entire hard length into Orochimaru, extracting another strangled cry from the tortured snake. Orochimaru began struggling again, trying his bonds, only to find that Itachi had tied him so cruelly that struggling would cause such terrible rope burns that Orochimaru would bleed. But Orochimaru kept trying, even as blood began soaking into the ropes and dripping down his wrists and ankles. Itachi didn't seem to care; he kept slamming mindlessly into Orochimaru, losing himself in the pleasure of the moment. Blood was coating his cock from Orochimaru's torn entrance, but Itachi still didn't care. Deep-rooted hatred began to blossom in Orochimaru's heart-along with incredible sadness. He had loved Itachi so deeply, for so long-and Itachi couldn't return that. When he grew abuse, Orochimaru thought it would be best for them both if he left. But no-Itachi had to follow him, and make it all come crashing down! Orochimaru felt the sobs wracking his body grow worse, and the tears continue to fall, but he didn't even care anymore. All he wanted was Itachi away from him-!

Itachi came hard into him with a low, guttural moan of pleasure, and Orochimaru felt so relieved. Itachi would leave now…and sure enough, he pulled back, leaving Orochimaru at last. Orochimaru waited-usually, Itachi would let him go, and then leave. Itachi put his clothes back on, using the sheets to clean himself up. But, he didn't even go for the bonds. Instead, he drew back a fist, and let it fly. Orochimaru was struck in the head, and felt himself losing consciousness again. But not quite…Itachi raised a hand, hitting him again, and Orochimaru could suddenly hear the Uchiha screaming at him: "I loved you, and you dare defy me? Reject me?! You don't even know what you want, you worthless little shit! I don't know why I put up with you anymore!" Orochimaru tried even harder to break away as Itachi continued to ruthlessly beat him, tears smeared across his face by Itachi's hands. Itachi began to spread his strikes more, burying his fists into Orochimaru's stomach, shoulders, and even arms. He repeatedly berated Orochimaru for rejecting him, as he put it, and refusing him when he had given so much. Orochimaru had given up at that point: he was sobbing uncontrollably, trying to break free desperately, trying to somehow communicate with Itachi, tell him everything-! But it seemed Itachi was completely and totally unwilling to listen. Orochimaru's whimpers and cries fell on deaf ears, and Itachi heartlessly continued to beat Orochimaru. But, finally, Orochimaru felt consciousness slipping away from him, and welcomed the sweet release from the pain. He couldn't even begin to fathom what Itachi was planning-if he was just going to leave him here, unable to move, Orochimaru didn't even know what he was going to do. No one would know until he didn't show for anything next day…wait! Kabuto! He was going to come for him in the morning…oh, thank God! It was only the night Orochimaru would have to endure…one last tear slid free, and Orochimaru found himself cursing Itachi with his last conscious thought:

Damn you, Itachi. May whatever God you believe in damn you to the darkest depths of hell for what you're doing to me!

OOOOOOOOO

Kabuto woke up the next morning, as usual. He cleaned himself up, dressed, ate breakfast, and then headed over to Orochimaru's room. He had to wonder how Orochimaru slept that previous night-doubtless, he was restless from fear. Hell, Kabuto was restless that night, as well. He couldn't stop worrying. He felt like he had forgotten to check something very important, like someone was right behind him, like someone was watching him…the entire night! Like there was an unwelcome guest in the complex. Kabuto had tried to just shake it off, like he was just being paranoid, but he still couldn't get rid of the feeling. Now, he was just hoping that he had been right about last night, and that Itachi wouldn't come back on the very same night. Kabuto entered the suite without knocking, only bothering to knock on the bedroom door. He and Orochimaru had grown too close for Kabuto to bother anymore with knocking. But Kabuto could feel his pulse pick up when Orochimaru's entire room was silent-even the guards seemed on edge, and Kabuto could read it in their every aspect. Their faces were tight. Their hands were twitching towards their weapons at every spook of a shadow. They looked tense, with their muscles coiled and nerves strung. Kabuto quietly slipped past them, entering Orochimaru's bedroom without a sound.

Shock greeted him.

Orochimaru lay out across his bed, bound and gagged, unconscious. Kabuto rushed over to him, immediately reaching for the sheets and yanking them up and over Orochimaru's bare lower regions. "Get in here!" he called desperately, pulling out a kunai and beginning to hack at the bonds Itachi had tied Orochimaru down with. He had to give Itachi credit for the quality of the bonds: they were expertly placed so movement was impossible, and struggling was painful. The collar was a choke, which made Kabuto's blood, which was already sizzling, boil over. The door slammed open, and Orochimaru's guards rushed in, stopping short when they saw Kabuto struggling to undo Orochimaru's restraints. "Help me with him," Kabuto grunted, slicing at the ropes around Orochimaru's wrists and ankles. The ninja immediately set to work, working the collar off, pulling the sheets more over Orochimaru and then wrapping them around his waist, stripping the bed of all the bondage that had come from last night…Kabuto lifted himself up onto the bed, pulling Orochimaru's unconscious form into his lap and gently cradling him in his arms. Healing chakra sparked at his hands, and Kabuto lowered his palm to Orochimaru's forehead. He tenderly brushed away a few stray locks of hair, then pressed his hand to Orochimaru's soft, porcelain skin. He slowly brought Orochimaru back into the waking world, watching him intently with worried eyes, searching for any sign of pain. Orochimaru's eyes slowly opened, and he suddenly started at the sight of so many people around him. Kabuto quieted him, motioning to the rest of the ninja to back off. He wrapped his arms more tightly around Orochimaru's shoulders, pulling him back into his lap and turning Orochimaru's head into his shoulder. Orochimaru seemed to welcome the embrace, and his breathing soon seemed to return to relatively normal.

His breaths hitched.

Kabuto glanced down, suddenly painfully aware of the dampness soaking into his shirt. He felt sorrow stab at his heart like a sword, realizing just how bad Orochimaru had been tortured. He slowly rose to his feet, helping Orochimaru to his feet and throwing the kimono next to his bed over his shoulders. Orochimaru clutched it over his body like a lifeline, and then allowed Kabuto to put an arm around his shoulders and guide him downstairs to the medical wing of the complex. The entire walk down was like a blur to Orochimaru: doors, walls, faces, people…everything just blurred into one big splash of unintelligible color. Kabuto finally directed him into a room off to the right, switched on the light, and softly closed the door behind himself. "I called Kenshin," Kabuto said quietly. "He should be here any second."

Orochimaru nodded quietly, but said nothing. He walked over to the chair against the left wall and sank down into it, wrapping his arms around his middle and bending over slightly, as if nauseous. Kabuto sighed and ran his hand over the horrible bruises on Orochimaru's body, feeling the skin and muscle shiver as Orochimaru's pain was made known. Pain, or fear, Kabuto told himself. Is he afraid of me…? Is he afraid of being touched? Oh, Kami-sama, Orochimaru-sama, what has he done to you…?

Just as Kabuto was pondering this, the door opened, and Kenshin walked in. "Hell, Orochimaru, what beat you up?"

"An Uchiha," Orochimaru said bitterly. Kenshin immediately realized what had happened, and his gaze softened. He stepped up to Orochimaru, gesturing for Kabuto to hold him. Kabuto shook his head, instead kneeling down next to Orochimaru and taking one of his hand sin his own. Orochimaru snatching his hand away, as if burned, but Kabuto persisted. He stood up, instead draping his arms around Orochimaru and then lowering himself to the seat next to Orochimaru. He held Orochimaru in his embrace for the entire time Kenshin was checking Orochimaru over…

And long after that, as well.

A/N: So there you have it, folks. A ton of emotion, a little action, definitely romance, both fluffy and smutty, and a good deal of swearing. So don't complain that I left out anything amazingful!! But review anyway, please? Cookies!!