Yattsuke Shigoto

-A Damned Job-

Kabuto hates Sasuke.

He can deal with the arrogance and the lack of respect; it's the way that he has a monopoly on Orochimaru's time that really annoys Kabuto. It wasn't as bad with Kimimaro: he could take 'no' for an answer. But not Sasuke: thanks to his excessive belief in his own superiority, when Sasuke wants to train, Sasuke trains.

Orochimaru delights in it, of course. Who wouldn't want a body in such good form? Orochimaru can't wait to be the proud owner of a Sharingan and if it comes in a pretty, decorative box, all the better.

Kabuto can understand why Orochimaru spoils Sasuke. He's more than just a project to keep Orochimaru amused (one does run the risk of becoming bored when immortal); he's what Orochimaru's dreamed of and after it took so much to get him here, he's going to make the most out of having Sasuke at his disposal.

Which involves marathon training sessions, endless missions and generally a large amount of time away from the base.

It's not that Kabuto gets lonely, as such (he quite likes being able to get some work done; besides, Orochimaru leaves him in charge so there's no reason to complain); more than anything, he's just jealous. He'd finally managed to get rid of Kimimaro and along comes another (healthier) protégé. There was an unspoken agreement between them before: Orochimaru could spend all day with Kimimaro, but the night belonged to Kabuto. Of course, if Sasuke wants to train all night, Kabuto won't see Orochimaru again until morning. It's almost as if his Master likes making him sulk.

Even being seductive doesn't work. Kabuto can whisper whatever he likes in Orochimaru's ear, but it can't compete with a shouted "Oi, Orochimaru".

Kabuto finds himself missing Kimimaro.

- - -

It amuses Orochimaru to watch Kabuto become more and more frustrated. It's payback, in a way: Kabuto had the audacity to say 'no' whilst Orochimaru was busy convalescing, so Orochimaru's going to do the same now. It may be petty, but Orochimaru does love to play with his subordinates' minds. Besides, he only has a limited amount of time to perfect Sasuke: he'll have Kabuto for a while yet.

Then again, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep Kabuto happy. The more Orochimaru thinks about it, the more it appeals. Sasuke isn't much fun, after all.

"That's it, Sasuke-kun: we're finished for today."

- - -

Kabuto rolls his eyes when he receives the message that Orochimaru wants to see him. "Great," Kabuto says to the snake that delivered the piece of paper. "What will it be this time? Heal Sasuke, create some better soldier pills for him, teach him medical jutsu..." The snake flicks out its tongue and slithers off.

It's been a while since Kabuto's made his way to Orochimaru's room. It's empty so often now that he doesn't see the point. It feels weird for Kabuto to sleep on his own, in his own bed. He'd only ever thought of his room as a precaution: he and Orochimaru could easily share a room, but that would make their relationship seem worryingly normal. As it is, one visits the other for sex and just happens to sleep there, too. It's a matter of convenience.

Kabuto's woken up alone far too often for his liking, recently. But he gets rid of that thought (it's not the sort of thought he should be having, anyway) and opens the door to Orochimaru's room. They passed the 'knocking' stage long ago.

"Orochimaru-sama, what do you..." The end of Kabuto's sentence never finds its way out of his mouth. He came prepared for Sasuke, but that wasn't why he was needed. Kabuto was too quick to complain before.

Orochimaru exudes the type of effortless beauty that only comes from pain-staking preparation. He sits on the edge of the bed in an intricately patterned yukata, tied so loosely that it barely stays on. It shows enough skin to gain Kabuto's interest and little enough to keep it. Orochimaru always was very good at planning.

"What do I want?" Orochimaru stands up as Kabuto walks towards him. Orochimaru leans forward and whispers into Kabuto's ear. "I should think that that's quite obvious."

It takes mere seconds for Kabuto's restraint to crumble. It's been too long since he's felt his Master's lips against his neck.

"I'm sorry for neglecting you, Kabuto." Insincere. Very insincere. Orochimaru doesn't apologise (often he isn't sorry, anyway) and if he does, he doesn't mean it. He takes off Kabuto's shirt. "But I'll make it up to you." In Orochimaru's defence, that's not a lie. "Just for tonight..." He kisses Kabuto. "You're in charge." No further explanation is needed. Orochimaru smirks and kneels down, dragging the rest of Kabuto's clothes with him.

Kabuto doesn't care if Orochimaru's being sincere or not: he moans out his Master's name and entwines his fingers in his hair.

Kabuto still feels disgruntled at being neglected, but this is helping to soften the blow.

- - -

"I want to train: get up." Sasuke doesn't knock, even though it's seven in the morning and he's well aware of the possibility that Kabuto could be in the room as well.

Orochimaru wakes up as soon as the door is opened. He narrows his eyes at Sasuke, but the glare gets lost in the low light of the room.

Kabuto opens one eye, takes one look at Sasuke and groans. He wonders if last night helped at all: now he feels even more annoyed at the prospect of someone stealing Orochimaru away from him.

"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru begins. He puts one arm around Kabuto and pulls him closer. "Go away."

Sasuke leaves in a huff, making a derogatory remark about Orochimaru and Kabuto on his way out.

"He's going to be unbearable for the rest of the day," warns Kabuto, secretly celebrating his victory.

"Teaching him a forbidden jutsu will solve that." Sasuke is a simple creature, really. "By the way, you're free to sleep in this room whenever you like, Kabuto."

Kabuto wonders if 'forbidden' was the word that linked the two sentences and doing so leads him to wish that his powers of insight weren't quite as impressive. That wasn't an offer of 'when the room's empty'; Orochimaru has just offered him intimacy without sex. He's so caught by surprise that all he can offer in return is 'thank you'.

Kabuto blushes and remembers just why he puts up with the unfavourable aspects of his job -- even Sasuke.

Surely, that must be some kind of love?