Let's Do Some One-Shots!

Loyalty ((Kaburen))

Orochimaru looks disapprovingly at the two younger shinobi. Guren, glaring heavily at Kabuto, who seems indifferent to the situation. His indifference infuriates Guren more, and if Orochimaru wasn't there, she would have lashed out by now.

"Now, please explain what happened," Orochimaru says with a hard edge to his voice.

"Well," Kabuto pushes up his glasses, "I was running the mission smoothly. Guren, half way through, ignored my orders."

"You called that shit orders?" Guren quips.

"If you would have stayed put, we wouldn't have killed our target. I outrank you, I was leading the mission, you should have listen to the shit," Kabuto clenches his teeth, losing his facade for a split second before looking at Orochimaru, "I take full responsibility for the failure."

Orochimaru eyes the two. He new the issue, Guren had made it bluntly obvious that she thought Kabuto's loyalty was with himself, not to Orochimaru. She would never show slightest bit if loyalty towards him for that reason. "No. Both of you are at fault."

"Hm?" Guren frowns.

"Guren, do you trust Kabuto with your life?"

"No," she says.

"Kabuto, do you trust Guren with your life?"

"No."

"Ah, and now we discover the issue," Orochimaru chuckles, "Trust, even misplaced, is beneficial. I have mastered the art of earning trust, and so should you two. Now, please, don't present yourselves in front of me until you trust each other."

Panic floods Guren's features, "But, my lord-"

"Enough!" Orochimaru spits, "Leave! Do come back unless one of you is dead, or you trust each other!"

The two bow their heads and leave his presents.

Kabuto shuts the door to his master's chamber and he exchanges a look with Guren. She growls, pivoting on one foot and proceeds down the corridor with haste. Kabuto pushes up his glasses, sighs loudly, and follows her.

The walk silently for minutes. Guren too bitter to speak, and Kabuto too amused to break the silence. The entertainment of this woman's pride is priceless. He just likes to toy with her, getting a laugh out of her temper. Kabuto knows she must realize this by know, assuming by Guren's was intelligent enough to figure out there must be some alterior motive for him working for Orochimaru.

Guren stops at a T intersection of the corridors, "What?!"

"You hears him, didn't you?" Kabuto answers boredly, "We have to trust each other, or one of us has to die."

"So, are you going to attack me?" Guren looks at him sideways

Kabuto laughs, "I know I would lose if we fought now. You have the advantage in a small space, I'm not fast enough."

Guren smirks, "Smart, not bad. But, might as well take your chance. I refuse to show any type of trust toward you."

Kabuto moves towards her, "Oh? That so?"

Guren avoids his advance, "Yes."

Guren's back his the wall before she can correct herself, Kabuto's hand is on the wall next to her head; using one arm to rest his weight. Kabuto looks down at her face, "You trust Orochimaru, why?"

"He saved me," she replies sharply, "Gave me a home when I had none."

"Hilarious, half of his servants say the same thing," Kabuto giggles, "You're smart enough to know you're being used."

"I don't care, that is my purpose!" Guren grits her teeth, "Why do you trust him?"

"He gave me the means to an identity," Kabuto brings up his free hand, touching a lock of Guren's dark hair, twirling the piece in his fingers, "I trust because it's what I need to do, for the moment."

"Why should I trust you, then?"

"It's what you need to do, for the moment," Kabuto states it simply, "Now, trust me."

"With what?" Guren glares into Kabuto's eyes.

Kabuto leans in, pressing his lips against Guren's. Guren jumps from the contact. It isn't pleasant for her, she pushes him off.

CRACK!

Kabuto his the ground, a large red spot against his face. Guren looks down at him, a brighter red flushing her cheeks, "You bastard!"

Kabuto laughs, fixing his glasses, "Pushing me off was enough, no reason to hit me."

Guren steps past him. A scowl ridged on her face. Kabuto gets up, still laughing, "It was worth a shot."

Guren turns, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Kabuto looks at her seriously for a moment, searching her angry eyes, "I wanted you to trust me."

"Hell of a way to do it!" she spits.

Kabuto's hand glows blue, "See this chakra scalpel? Two hits, you would not have been able to use your arms," he brings his hand closer to her face, "And could have done more than kiss you."

Guren looks disgusted. Kabuto continues, "I don't think you get it, despite your intelligence. You're confusing trust with loyalty. Something I ask from no one. Trust me, for the moment. Never be loyal."

Guren processes this. She understands what Kabuto is saying. Why he's saying it. But, how can she trust him? Someone she loathes so much.

Once again Kabuto leans in, and Guren meets him half way.....

~~~~~~~~~

Guren didn't expect to wake up in Kabuto's room. The trust exercise went a little too far, and so did they. She quickly throws on her clothes, rushing to get out of there. Not out of shame, but out of surprise.

"Guren," Kabuto walks into the room, they lock eyes, "Orochimaru wishes to see you."

"Shit, did you tell him?" Guren sits on the edge of the messy bed.

"He knew," Kabuto shrugs, "Not sure how. But, hurry and get out."

"Rude much?" she asks while putting on her shows.

"Trust, not loyalty," Kabuto turns to leave, "And last night was one moment of trust."

Guren looks up at him, "And nothing more..."