A/N:

So here it is.

Unbeknowingly once again, I have managed to come up with a simillar plot to that of the current Shippuuden fillers. And it's alway orochimaru based that i seem to be able to 'forsee' as such...hmmm

Maybe they read my story :p (one wishes)

Chapter 16

"Yamato" Raidou clapped him on the shoulders "good to see you again" he said with a smile as the two landed in the clearing. He then turned to Kakashi "The areas secure; we await Tsunade Sama's orders". Kakashi nodded in approval and signalled for Hawk to come over as he pulled Raidou away to walk and talk with him keeping an eye on Yamato who surveyed the landscape.

Kakashi put his hand in his pockets and took up his customary slouch "The Intel and theory is accurate. But there's one other thing". Kakashi stopped talking and looked at Yamato who was being filled in by Hawk on the set up of the chambers below. To think Yamato had been abducted and those chambers were his prison for the early part of his life made Kakashi see red. He itched to get his hand on Orochimaru and make him pay for all the pain he had caused his lover. He clenched his fists in his pockets and continued explain the theory further "Raidou, we have reason to believe that Orochimaru will use Yamato as his vessel".

Raidou's eyes widened in shock, he shook his head in disbelief "Does he know?" he asked and got a nod in reply. "Why is he here Kakashi? This is wrong and you know it. The kid was imprisoned here and god knows what was done to him and now…now you bring the vessel to him?! What is going on here and why are you and Iruka letting him do this?" he asked exasperated. Raidou was one of the few that knew about his relationship with Iruka and Yamato having worked with all three at some point.

"Look, Iruka and I aren't happy about it but…" Kakashi took a deep breath. Though he had supported Yamato he knew he had more to lose then gain if the mission went wrong. The thought made his legs tremble. "Raidou, he needs to do this it's the only way he'll be able to overcome the shadows. His tired, just tired and doesn't want to run anymore". Raidou nodded in understanding, he was former ANBU and had worked with Yamato on a number of missions. The stoic ninja just didn't run, he fought and he fought hard.

They stopped talking as they saw Yamato approach "The last report of a suspicious chakra signature was a mile away from the lab" Yamato said who was already in mission mode. "Tsunade Sama's orders were to destroy the lab and the snake".

Raidou took in Yamato's posture; he looked no different than he did on any other mission he had gone on with Yamato. But his eyes spoke volumes. They were different and he couldn't read the expression in them. Yamato was strong he knew, but we all had our limits. He ran a hand through his hair Orochimaru is still alive and we need to stop him and destroy any relic of him he told himself. "The labs and chambers underground have been destroyed; the final explosive tags have been prepared to destroy what's remaining. We move out first light to find and destroy the target boys, so rest tonight" Raidou said taking the information Kakashi had given to communicate it with the rest of the team.

-oOo-

Yamato stared into the dust storm produced by the collapse of the labs with glazed dark eyes. He had spent his early life there like a caged animal. Though he had no real recollection, the screams he heard and images that flashed through his minds on occasions felt real enough. Fate had intervened and he had survived but sometimes he wished he hadn't. All those other children, every single one would have been better to the world than he was. They would have contributed to the lives of many and achieved goals beyond imagination. But fate was cruel and had kept him alive so he could bring more misery to the world. He was more than useless and that was proved during the war where he was captured. Yamato was shaken out of his musings by a hand on his lower back rubbing soothing circles.

"What are you thinking Yama?" Kakashi asked sitting beside Yamato on the branch in the shadow of the great Oak.

Yamato looked at his lovers grey eye and saw worry, hurt, pain and longing. He plastered his face with a smile and said what he knew would ease his lovers mind "Thinking of you, and Iruka, and how lucky I am" he said leaning into Kakashi's touch. Kakashi's mask stretched where his lips were and Yamato knew he was smiling. Kakashi was well aware Yamato was saying and doing what he thought Kakashi wanted to hear but he was grateful for it. It meant his lover was still willing to fight and was thinking of home.

Kakashi leaned back against the trunk and pulled Yamato between his legs wrapping his arms around the slender chest. He didn't care who saw and that they were on a mission. He needed Yamato close to feel his warmth and breathe his scent to stop the fear that bubbled inside him. He felt Yamato relax in his arm and nuzzled his cheek, Yamato clearly didn't care either and wanted this. "I wish you'd go home babe" Yamato said softly.

Kakashi shook his head and sighed "we've talked about this Yama".

"I know"

"Besides, if I wasn't here you wouldn't have a comfortable pillow to sleep on" Yamato chuckled and entwined his fingers with the hand that rested on his chest. Kakashi used his free hand to caress the jaw under the samurai style face plate "Sleep" Kakashi whispered into his ear "I've got you". Yamato settled back further into his hold and kissed the hand on his face tenderly.

"Wake me up in an hour, so you can sleep ok?" Yamato said closing his eyes with a smile as he felt Kakashi nod and felt the whisper of love you on his neck. He squeezed the gloved hand in answer.

-oOo-

Kakashi felt it, felt the evil intent and tightened his grip on the man he held. Pakkun appeared at his side an instant later "Boss" he whispered trying not to alert Yamato. Kakashi nodded, so the Nin dog had felt it too.

"Alert Raidou" he said before Pakkun teleported away with his task. Kakashi pulled up his forehead protector and scanned the vicinity with his sharingan. Yamato sat up straight as a shock of a chakra signature hit them harshly.

"His here" Yamato whispered the fear evident in his voice as his body jerked into a fighting stance automatically alert and awake. The shadows surrounding them grew and shrunk in the moonlight as both shinobi's eyes flickered at every small movement caused by the wind. From their vantage point in the tree they saw Raidou and the rest of the ANBU team gather around them as they searched for the intruder. Kakashi realised all movement around them came to a steadying halt and even the night critters stopped chirping as the evil intent grew stronger and they were sucked into a deadly stillness.

The silence was broken by a short gasp. Kakashi immediately turned to see body begin to fall out of a tree and before he could think, a flash of white came hissing at them. "YAMATO MOVE!" Kakashi pushed Yamato off the branch as the white body came at his lover and followed the descending body. He heard a shout, a hiss, and then blackness engulfed him as the silence took over "Yamato… YAMATO!"