Pretty Pets

They'd been traveling non stop for a little over month now. To Kabuto it was not only becoming a bother but outright annoying. The feeling of being chased was starting to make him paranoid. Not to mention jittery and jumpy. His foul disposition seemed to cause Orochimaru a grand amount of amusement.

Kabuto jumped from one thick tree branch to the next silently brooding over his thoughts. All the while keeping pace with his mentor. A dark scowl marring his pale smooth features.

Orochimaru "Don't look so bitter Kabuto-kun."

Kabuto "I can't help it! Why are we running away like this?"

Orochimaru spared him a glance from the corner of his golden snake like slitted eye.

Orochimaru "Whatever gave you the idea that we are running away?"

Kabuto "The fact that we have'nt stopped anywhere for over a few hours to rest and grab supplies this past month?"

Kabuto grimaced seeing the flash of annoyance in the older mans eyes before jumping to the next tree top.
Upon landing he turned and waited for Orochimaru to land beside him waiting for the long over due explaination.
Orochimaru merely quirked a sleek eyebrow at him smirking before chuckling darkly and answering.

Orochimaru "And I suppose you don't understand why I pratically GAVE the fox demon to that boy right?"

Kabuto shook his head and laughed to himself.

Kabuto "That's putting it mildly.."

Orochimaru "I want the sharingan simple as that. In order to get it I had to use bait. That fox won't stand in my way."

Kabuto "We could've just grabbed him when he came to claim the fox."

Orochimaru "I don't want that one Kabuto."

Kabuto looked affronted at his mentors words and stopped to openly gape in confusion at him.

Orochimaru sighed and jumped to the next tree top laughing humorlessly, his gaze cold and cruel.
Kabuto quickly began to follow him again wordlessly listening.

Orochimaru "That boy isn't capable of what I want, or need. I'm after the one that's chasing after the fox's tails."

Kabuto paled. "Itachi.. He's impossible though.."

Orochimaru "He'll be distracted. Besides his pitiful little brother now has the very thing he wants the most. It won't sit well with him. He's more then likely seen them together by now. And that the demon would crush him if he came anywhere near his dear baby brother again. I'm sure Sasuke-kun has told that flithy little demon beast why he wanted him in the first place by now. And I'm sure Itachi's watched them long enough to see that he has no choice but to find ME now to get around the fox."

Kabuto stopped moving tilting his head thoughtfully before pushing up his glasses. Stray wind tugging at the tips of his long silver ponytail.

Orochimaru stopped as well smirking back at the young silver haired males thoughtful expression.

Orochimaru "What do you not believe me that it will happen the way I said it all will?"

Kabuto "I'd never doubt you. I just think that demon is rather headstrong and to proud to ask for anything."

Orochimaru "Ah but see it's something that he really wants and needs. Love is'nt prideful but it can be a huge weakness."

Kabuto "...That is true."

Orochimaru "And it even works on someone of complete genius such as Itachi Uchiha."

With sudden understanding Kabuto's manical smile rivaled the pale dark haired mans standing in front of him.


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Naruto just could'nt bring himself to do it. No matter how much he argued with himself he just could'nt. As much as he hated it. In a sick and twisted way he enjoyed every second that passed like this. He sat perched on the windows ledge in Sasuke's bedroom staring up at the moon. Then after awhile he shifted his gaze back to the root of his current headache. He laughed humorlessly to himself while enjoying the play of moonlight and shadows over Sasuke's pale smooth exposed back.
Naruto 'I'm the one damn demon that just had to have a human conscience huh? Oh the fucking irony of it all!'

Sasuke shifted once again onto his back in his sleep with a slight whimper tears leaking from his closed eyes. The smell of his tears and fear was driving the blonde completely insane. Not only did the scents make him want to wake him up, it made his blood sing with excitement and thoughts that he instantly felt guilty for. It was obvious from the twitching of his eyelids and panting that Sasuke was'nt having a nice dream.

Naruto 'No he's not dreaming. He's reliving something worse then a nightmare because it really happened..'

He continued to watch the raven haired young man jerk and twitch in his sleep. Sometimes he'd cry out things like "no" and "why?" but that was about it. This had become habitual routine for Naruto. He enjoyed watching over his human friend as he slept. Tonight though just as the blonde was about to force himself from the room something that had'nt happened before occured.

Sasuke "Naruto!"

Freezing midstep Naruto turned wide eyed and slowly walked back to the bedside not sure if he had heard right.

Naruto 'Did I wake him?'

He then realised the Sasuke was still asleep.

Naruto "I must've just imagined that"

Sasuke continued to toss his head to and fro in his sleep shuddering and whimpering.

Sasuke "N-naruto please.. Please don't l-leave me..."

Naruto was sure now. Sasuke was calling out to him in his sleep. And the desperation in that lone cry made his heart twist and the final decision for him. Kneeling down and reaching out he slowly combed his fingers through Sasuke's soft silky black hair before saying anything. Pushing the raven colored strands behind the shell of his ear Naruto pressed his lips to his temple before whispering to him.

Naruto "Shh, it's okay. I'm here, I'll always be here. You're safe with me Sasuke, rest easy. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Naruto smiled at the sudden change of scent around the raven haired male. Happy with how he immediately relaxed and settled motionlessly into his sleep with a soft sigh. Once he was sure Sasuke was sleeping peacefully he stood to leave the room to fetch a scroll to read by moonlight.

Naruto 'Might as well multitask and learn something new. It's not like I need much sleep anyhow.'

He knew he'd have to leave the room before sunrise and Sasuke woke. But he'd cherish the time he had left of the night to study the dark brooding prodigy. Looking back at the now easy resting Uchiha he slipped out the bedroom door with a smile and whisper mostly to himself.

Naruto "Because you're mine Sasuke, because you're mine."

Sasuke woke hearing the blondes whispered words. He drowsily stared at the now empty open door way bleary eyed and confused. His thoughts completely scattered like so many fall leaves caught up in sudden wind as he drifted back off to sleep.

Sasuke 'He watches over me because I'm his? Nevermind. I'll think more about it all later.'

Smiling his pulled his covers back over himself and drifted back off to sleep dreamlessly with a content sigh.
He knew that Naruto would'nt let anyone near him. Much less while he was vunerable sleeping.

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First off I want to say thank you to everyone for being patient with me. I'll try to post more (and longer) chapters as well as speed up the plotline a bit as soon as possible. Again I'm very, VERY sorry for the delays. Life has recently tossed some stuff at me that has been less then pleasant dealing with. As always reviews are loved. 'passes out cookies and plushies'