Kabuto stared. "Kimi…"

Kimimaro just stared right back. "I know you need to focus on Orochimaru-sama," he whispered. "But just this once…could you do something or me?"

Kabuto vaguely noticed Orochimaru standing up and slipping away, and Tayuya and Kidomaru taking him into their arms and pulling him away. Kabuto put down the towel he was holding and stood up, slowly approaching Kimimaro.

"Kimi, talk to me," he pleaded. "Orochimaru-sama has to be top priority: I can't help it if I can't-"

"Shut up," Kimimaro growled. "Just shut up and listen for once, slimy-"

Kabuto leaned forward, taking one of Kimimaro's hands in his own, and kissed him.

Kimimaro stopped talking in shock, staring, wide-eyed at Kabuto. Kabuto sighed and stepped back. "Are you going to listen to me now?"

Kimimaro shuddered. "I-Kabuto-sensei, I…"

Kabuto shook his head. "No, now listen. I need to take care of Orochimaru-sama and kill Sasuke…or at least, get his body for Orochimaru-sama. I don't have time for you right now-"

"Kabuto-sensei, please-!"

"Kimi, no! I can't afford any distractions right now! I can't deal with this…I just can't…especially not now…"

Kimimaro looked so heartbroken Kabuto regretted his words immediately.

"You just don't get it…do you…? This is a different kind of love, Kabuto! The real kind, not like Orochimaru gives you! This isn't just sex!"

Kabuto flinched at Kimimaro's words. "Kimi…I know you're upset, but please, don't say that…Orochimaru-sama does really love me, and I don't think I would be able to live without him. I…I've always envied you, really, because Orochimaru-sama favored you so much. And then I looked at myself and realized that…he actually cared about me, not because of my blood, or my bones, or my eyes…but because I'm the only one brave-or foolish-enough to love him, and stay with him…through it all. If you want to tear that apart, go ahead and try. I can assure you that I will only hate you more for it."

Kimimaro glared at Kabuto. "What is wrong with you?" he whispered venomously. "Can't you see? Orochimaru is plying you: just like Sasori!"

Suddenly, Kabuto knew Kimimaro had gone too far. His blood boiled, and his hands curled into fists at his sides.

"How…dare…you…? What the hell gives you the right to say that? Have you ever been enslaved so badly that you didn't even know you were a slave?! Have you ever killed so many so young that you didn't even know killing is wrong? Have you ever even known what pain is like?! Have you ever had to go through the pain of watching your best friend die, then get better only to realize he's jealous of your current lover?!"

Kabuto abruptly stopped, suddenly aware of what he had just screamed to the world. It was no secret, but knowing people knew was one thing…screaming it at the top of your lungs was something else.

Kimimaro stared.

"You…you…loved me…that much…?"

Kabuto shoved past Kimimaro, through the doorway, out the door, and through the lair. Numb tears flowed down his face as he ran, having no idea where he was going. He vaguely picked up traveling through several corridors and up flights of stairs before he ended up on the roof. He collapsed against the swell, feeling the tears finally begin to slow down. He sat there for an indefinite amount of time. It could have been five minutes; it could have been five hours. Kabuto never did find out, but soft footsteps drew his attention to a lone figure approaching him.

Orochimaru was silent as a shadow as he settled next to Kabuto, placing his head against Kabuto's shoulder and practically begging: "Pet me!!"

Kabuto smiled as he took in Orochimaru's appearance. The rest of the Sounds had cleaned him up, and he was dressed in his usual Sound outfit. Kabuto smiled as Orochimaru closed his eyes and settled in Kabuto's lap, looking far too innocent for his own good. As Kabuto rhythmically ran his hands through Orochimaru's black hair, he noticed that all the blood had been washed out of it, and that it had returned to its usual silky softness.

"I heard you," Orochimaru started timidly. Kabuto sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"…you don't have to apologize for anything. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine."

"No…it's mine."

Kabuto looked up sharply as a new figure appeared on his other side.

"I'm sorry, Kabuto-sensei," Kimimaro murmured, kneeling in front of Kabuto. "You're right: I am jealous. I…always admired you, and always thought of you as the brother I never had. I always wanted to have your attention like Orochimaru-sama did…I always thought you loved him more…that I had something to prove to you, that I had to be better or you wouldn't pay any attention to me. I realize now that I have been selfish, and have upset the two most important people in my life."

Kabuto sighed. "Kimi, when you choose one extreme or the other, let me know."

The smallest of smiles flickered across Kimimaro's face. "I'll settle for groveling until I have assurance that I won't be fed to Sasuke."

Kabuto smiled. "I wouldn't feed you to Sasuke under any circumstances…well, almost none."

Kimimaro shook his head. "Not the point. I just want you to know that I'm sorry, that's all…."

Kabuto nodded. "These are very stressful times, Kimimaro," he said slowly. "We can't afford to make any mistakes, otherwise Sasuke will take advantage of them and use them against us. I can't wait any longer, and neither can Orochimaru-sama-we're going to have to take Sasuke's body this week or not at all."

Kimimaro sighed. "Should I be helping?"

"Yes, you should," Kabuto said tartly. "Go find out where Sasuke is, and get the rest of the Sounds up here. Speaking of which, has anyone seen Jiroubou?"

"He's in the middle of changing back," Kimimaro said dryly. "Really, you should have seen it: Orochimaru-sama with red hair? Yikes…I don't recommend it."

Kabuto smiled. "Actually, he was doing an experiment a few years ago and it blew up in his face…his hair was electric green for a while."

Orochimaru glanced up. "And then it turned pink," he said ruefully, "And I think we were all sorry!"

Kabuto laughed. "Yes, we were. Your animosity seems to change with the color of your hair…"

Orochimaru gave no comment. Kabuto sighed. Of course; he had just been through-

"So, do we have any idea where Jiroubou is?"

Kabuto shook his head.

"Sasuke?"

Kabuto shook his head again.

"Sounds?"

"Orochimaru-sama's room."

Kimimaro nodded, and sank into the tiles of the roof, heading for the Sounds. Kabuto exhaled and pulled Orochimaru further into his lap. "Do you ever stop making trouble?"

Orochimaru shrugged. "Not really. There was that time I switched out a couple of the…contents of the refrigerator…"

"Oooooooh, you did that?" Kabuto sighed. "So that's why the salsa tasted like jalapeños for a week and a half…"

Orochimaru shrugged. "I was bored."

Kabuto sighed. "As expected of you when you have nothing to do."

Tayuya appeared in a cloud of smoke, Kidomaru and Sakon right behind her. Jiroubou was another ten minutes, and Kimimaro was still another four.

"Sorry I'm late," Kimimaro said politely. "Had to clear Sasuke out. I spun him around a few times in the hallway."

Kidomaru snorted. "What did you really do?'

Kimimaro blushed. "I…kind of told him…a hot girl was looking for him in his room."

Kabuto resisted the urge to bash his head into the swell of the roof behind him.

"He fell for it?"

Kimimaro nodded. Kabuto sighed and stood up, pulling Orochimaru up with him. He held the sannin to him with one arm around his waist, and motioned for the rest of the Sounds to follow him. He began feeling around for a specific tile he had set a trap door into years ago. It was four steps from the edge, two to the left…there. Kabuto pressed in on the tile and opened the trap door, pushing Kidomaru down first and instructing him to look around for anyone else: anyone at all. Kidomaru said no, and Kimimaro went down next, helping Orochimaru down as he did so. Tayuya and Sakon followed, then Kabuto, who closed the door and sealed it again. Kabuto pulled Orochimaru into the middle of the Otonin and stayed with him, sharp eyes darting back and forth, searching for danger. Kimimaro had already drawn a bone sword, something Kabuto took as slightly ominous.

Tayuya sniffed at the air.

"I smell something. I don't know what, but it's not friendly…"

Kabuto glanced at his surroundings. "We're right by the animal wing of the complex…" he murmured, thinking aloud. "Does everyone here know how to ride?"

"Horses?" Kimimaro asked. He shrugged. "I guess…"

Kabuto nodded. "Any objections?"

No one said a word.

"We're getting out of here a little faster than we normally would."

"What are you talkin' about?" Sakon asked. "You mean we're running away on horseback?"

Kabuto shrugged. "Why not? Saves energy for us, and it's about the same speed…"

Tayuya sighed. "Whatever. Just get us out of here! Smells like Sasuke!"

"Kimimaro, do you know where the hunting dogs are?"

Kimimaro nodded.

"Find the best five and bring them with us. They obey every basic command, so just call them and they'll come."

Kimimaro nodded and spilt off, heading for the dog kennels. "Tayuya, grab saddles and bridles. Kidomaru, help her. Sakon and Ukon, help me get the horses."

Kabuto grabbed several lead ropes and ran out to the fields, catching two horses and bringing them into the stables at the same time. Both were mares; one was a steel gray, the other a brown. He handed them both to Kidomaru and ran off, coming back this time with a black stallion and a spotted gelding.

"Take him," he said, handing the stallion to Orochimaru. "His name is Noirceur. He's the best one here…relatively young, around six years old, comfortable, and very easy to handle. You'll like him."

As Tayuya passed, Kabuto heard her "cough," "Stud-muffin."

Kabuto smiled. "Actually, he is a stud."

Tayuya shook her head. "No, I meant Orochimaru-sama."

Kabuto sighed and took Noirceur's bridle from her. "Whatever. We don't have time for this. Just put the saddle on and I'll bridle him. He likes to lift his head up."

"I'm taller than you."

"He bites sometimes."

"He's all yours."

Kabuto pulled the spotted gelding down the aisle and handed him to Kimimaro. The dogs were crowding at his heels, panting and slobbering. Kabuto grinned and whistled; a lone Husky trotted up to him and sat down in front of him. Kabuto ruffled the dog's fur and whistled for the dog to follow. The dog followed him to the other end of the aisle, where he tied his horse and told the dog to sit. Kidomaru handed him the last bridle and then went to get a horse for himself.

"She's in a stall," Kabuto called after him. "Last one on the right. Name is Brise, gray."

Tayuya glanced at the horses. "We're missing one!"

"Panda's in the field. You know what he looks like?"

Tayuya nodded. "Thanks."

Kabuto quickly saddled and whistled for his dog. The slobbering canine followed eagerly, and Kabuto went out just as he saw Tayuya pulling a reluctant pinto gelding behind her. The horses black-and-white splashed legs were moving slowly, despite Tayuya carrot bribe.

"Get him, girl!"

The dog went careening towards the horse, jogging along behind him and snapping at his rear whenever the gelding slowed down. Tayuya nodded her thanks to Kabuto, and Kabuto headed back into the stable. A huge black dog was laying next to Orochimaru, chewing on hoof clippings and seemingly content enough there. Kabuto slid the bit into Noirceur's mouth, then handed the reins to Orochimaru. He led the horse outside, swung up into the saddle, and waited. Kimimaro was close behind him, mounting a gray mare and walking over next to him. The dogs came out with Tayuya, riding a black-and-white pinto gelding.

"He's cute," Tayuya said, patting the horse's neck. "I didn't realize we had this many animals…"

"The dogs are for tracking and hunting," Orochimaru said absently, as if he was lost in a daydream. "The horses are for this purpose exactly. We have snakes, of course, for security, and Kabuto insisted on some birds for tracking, communication, and hunting. There are a few cats scattered around for the mice, and I think Kabuto adopted a squirrel or something like that…some small rodent."

"It's a hamster," Kabuto spat, swinging into the saddle. "I found it in the woods, all torn up, and healed it. It's my pet, all right? I think it's cute."

Orochimaru smiled. "Eight. What did you name it again?"

Kabuto blushed. "I named it Bear."

Tayuya snickered. "Okay, are we getting out of here or what?"

"Waiting on Jiroubou and Sakon."

As each was mentioned, they walked out of the stable, Jiroubou leading a massive bay gelding, Sakon leading a smallish chestnut horse.

"It's not like this is any faster," Sakon complained, mounting. "Why do we have to-?"

"Because it is faster," Jiroubou countered. "And we can take the dogs, too."

Kabuto whistled, and the pack of five dogs loped up to them, slobbering and barking. Kabuto spurred his horse into motion, the rest of the Otonin behind him.

The complex was swiftly left behind.

OOOOOOOOOO

The thunder of hooves alerted Sasuke almost immediately.

He whipped around, parting the curtains over his window, and stared as he saw Kabuto galloping away, leading the rest of the Sound Five and Orochimaru. He grit his teeth in anger; they had chosen the fastest horses, and taken dogs!

"Get me the fastest horse you can find!" he hissed to one of the many servants around him. "Now!"

As Sasuke followed the girl to the stables, he seethed.

A/N: Just thought it would be cute…animals are, like, never involved in Naruto, so just wanted to see what it would look like. Review please, no flaming!!