"Alright, we're ready."
Misao grinned. "Finally! I can go on my first mission as an ANBU!"
Kakashi smiled. "First you need to go through the ceremony and get your tattoo and armor. Then we go and kick Uchiha ass."
"Ooooo, both?"
Kakashi grinned broadly; his daughter truly was her mother…"Of course."
OOOOOOOOO
Yumiko waited while Orochimaru's senbon pierced her skin once. A curving music note swirled from the senbon in black. Yumiko smiled; she was the daughter of an Uchiha, and her blood proved it. So did the fact that Orochimaru had chosen her as his very first ANBU; and Orochimaru was very picky about his ninja.
Orochimaru pulled the senbon out of Yumiko's flesh and handed her an intricately carved mask.
"Congratulations," he purred, "on being my first ANBU."
OOOOOOOOO
"Come here, bad boy!"
Tayuya glomp-tackled Kimimaro from behind, almost knocking over the bone-bender. Kimimaro laughed and reached over his shoulder, trying to pull his lover off.
"Get," he said, laughing. "I warn you, my shoulder blades can get pretty sharp."
Tayuya giggled and peeled herself off Kimimaro. "Okay, okay, you win."
Kimimaro smiled and took one of Tayuya's hands in his own, sliding the other around her waist. Tayuya closed her eyes as Kimimaro drew her into a tender kiss.
"Wanna dance?"
Tayuya grinned and Kimimaro spun her around. The two continued, laughing and tripping, while Kabuto watched unseen in the doorway.
"What are we looking at?"
Orochimaru peeked over Kabuto's shoulder. "Oh…yeah, they're cute." Just like someone else I used to know…
FLASHBACK
A blonde girl and a black-haired boy sat on the top of a hill, the girl leaning against the boy.
"I signed my summoning contract today."
"Finally! Orochimaru, I was beginning to think you would never choose your animal! What did you choose, anyway?"
"Tsunade…" Orochimaru sighed. "You're cute. I thought you of all people would be able to guess. Snakes, of course."
Tsunade shrugged. "Whatever, I can respect your decision…although personally I hate snakes."
"Thank you, Tsunade. I know how much it must take..."
Tsunade nodded. "Hey, the spring dance is being held at the Academy next week. Wanna come with me?"
"…Sure…why not?"
END FLASHBACK
Orochimaru gave a short, wistful sigh.
"Remembering?" Kabuto asked quietly. Orochimaru slowly nodded, and Kabuto set a hand on his shoulder, gently pulling him back.
"Come on," he said softly. "I made you dinner."
OOOOOOOOO
Shikamaru heard the footsteps.
He just didn't bother to get up.
The tip of a foot prodded his side.
"Hey…Nara…you still alive…?"
Shikamaru sat bolt upright at the sound of the girl's voice. "Temari!"
The blonde smiled. "Up," she said, taking his hand and hauling him up. "I gotta show you something."
She spread her fan and swirled it around, manipulating the air currents to keep the fan afloat several feet above the ground. Climbing on, she helped Shikamaru on and took off-straight up. Shikamaru held on for dear life as Temari took him up into the clouds.
"You keep saying how you want to be a cloud," she said. "And plus, there's a really pretty cove down in the jetty."
"Awesome."
Temari moved her fan slowly through the puffy white clouds, letting Shikamaru enjoy them and laze around. And here," she said, pointing down, "Is the jetty."
Shikamaru looked down. "Awesome…"
Black, craggy rocks jutted out sharply against the sandy beach and rocking waters, and Temari set down at the water's edge. Shikamaru waited for her while she took off her shoes and collected her fan, then, on a whim, took off his own. These he set next to Temari's and waited again.
A mischievous grin slowly spread across Temari's face.
She ran up to Shikamaru, seized his hand, and dragged him into the ocean spray. Shikamaru stumbled after her, laughing, and within seconds the two were splashing each other.
"For a lazy little ass, you're good at this!" Temari laughed. Shikamaru smiled.
"I'm with you," he retorted. "You'll whack me with your fan if I ever stop moving!"
Temari laughed again and kicked up even more water as payback.
OOOOOOOOO
Yumiko slipped on the gloves, the first of the armor Kabuto handed her. The medic was helping her with the armor, and she was glad for his help. He was cute, and all her friends said so. That was why they were all so excited when she kept being promoted in rank; closer to the hotties, they said. Yumiko looked at Kabuto as he worked at finding her adequate armor and weapons. Yumiko stared at his back; he had such a cute ponytail…and when he was facing her, he had the sexiest smile…
"Here, try this."
Yumiko blushed, embarrassed at her thoughts, and accepted the arm guards from Kabuto. His eyes were so deep and honest at the moment that Yumiko found it hard to believe-
"You like me."
It wasn't a question.
It wasn't a statement.
And it was horribly, horribly, true.
Yumiko sighed. "Well, who doesn't? You're smart, close to Orochimaru, you can calm him with a gentle touch and a few words, you're insanely hot-"
Kabuto laughed and handed her a carved mask-the one Orochimaru had personally handed her. "Wait a second," he said, stopping her from putting on the mask. He set his hands on Yumiko's shoulders, simply staring her in the eye for a moment.
"It's funny," he said softly. "I always felt the same way about you."
Yumiko blushed, black bangs falling into her face. Kabuto could see her dark eyes dancing, and he fully understood the crush she had on him. Girls…but even so, he felt something…something like a magnet, pulling him towards Yumiko. He leaned forward and kissed her-a quick, chaste one, like he would do to quiet Orochimaru. Yumiko looked so stunned when he pulled away that he almost laughed.
"I'll be coming along on this mission, so you won't be alone," he murmured. "Here."
Kabuto thrust several wrapped senbon into her hand. "Use them wisely. This is Manda's venom, and I paid dearly for it. Please, use it wisely. Only I possess the antidote…aim carefully."
Yumiko nodded and carefully slid the senbon into one of her shuriken holsters. "Thank you."
"Of course."
"I-I'll see you around then…I guess," Yumiko said quietly.
"Yeah…" Kabuto gently pushed her forward. "Good luck."
A/N: Just my pathetic attempt at Kabuto fluff with anyone but Orochimaru…bleh, whatever. Next chapter will be better, I promise…No seriously, all I do is ItaKaka and OroKabu! Review please…