Bitten Chapter 4

Kyoko sat up with a quick jolt. She felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck as she looked at her dark cold trailer. Every day, the wolf girl slept with the pack. She hated being alone…she would rather die than to be alone for the rest of her life. Reaching up to touch her ears she froze feeling another presence in the room. She was expecting to see the little Uchiha but it was none other than Kakashi Hatake.

"So you're finally awake Kyoko. How long has it been since you were in the village?" he asked. The last time he had seen her was when she was a young girl, and now she was a beautiful young lady. So many years had gone by that Kakashi believed that she was dead.

"How'd you know…how'd you know it was me?" Kyoko asked quietly. When she had finally realized that it was Kakashi she tried to stay away from him. She had been ordered to stay away from everyone she knew, why was everything changing now?

"Even as a child, you preferred archery over what we tried to teach you. You have perfected your technique almost completely," Kakashi praised. Kyoko only frowned, she didn't want to be praised, she wanted to be left in peace.

"Why are you here?" Kyoko growled. "I have been out of sight for the last…for the longest until you four showed up."

"You haven't been exactly out of sight," Kakashi countered in a partially playful manner.

"You know what I meant! I have kept the ribbons on, I haven't let anyone get truly close to me, I have done everything that the third told me to!" Kyoko snapped. By the way she spoke, she probably did not know that the third had unfortunately passed away. For now, it was best to leave her uninformed about his death.

"Yet Sasuke still saw you without the ribbons. Need I remind you to be careful priestess," Kakashi replied. She opened her mouth to counter his statement, but she knew better. She couldn't have created an explanation for her actions. She shouldn't have even shown him the transportation technique.

"You're right…I'm sorry. I'll try to be more careful," Kyoko muttered. Her ears which had been standing up in an alert fashion finally relaxed to something Kakashi was more used to. As a young girl, Kyoko was carefree and very relaxed, even when she was troubled. This intense angry girl was something he had never seen.

"Why have you become so bitter? You were such a sweet child," Kakashi said quietly. Kyoko brought her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around her legs. She let out a gentle sigh, remembering the good old days. Even though she did hate Shinobi, she enjoyed her time in the village. She was well loved, and taken care of.

"Here…its dog-eat-dog world…These girls are Hyenas, they'll do anything to make sure that you look bad. I had to grow a tough exterior, unfortunately, it has also made me very bitter," Kyoko said with a gentle voice. She missed her former self…the little girl that was innocent and loved romping around in the fields of high grass and sweet flowers. Yet life isn't as pretty as the flowers as she used to collect. Life was as harsh and rugged as the weeds that grew in that very same field.

"Get dressed, and come join us outside. I'll try to keep Sasuke off you as well," Kakashi said patting her shoulder softly. She heard the door close quietly behind him as she looked at all her belongs. It was like looking back in to the past, of her happier life. She let out a deep sigh as she stretched her legs and stood up. She was tired of her lifestyle; she was tired of not being able to see anyone she was close to. It was a fate worse than death.

"I'm shocked to see Kyoko allow anyone in her trailer, especially someone she doesn't know. Do you think they did anything?" a brunette gossiped with the other three singers. Her name was Imara, a young, beautiful and stubborn young lady. She was the last singer to join their group. She had every intention in becoming the leader of their group, even if it meant destroying Kyoko's reputation to the point where she'd commit suicide.

"Maybe she keeps guys in there. She's a real fool, if she likes older men" Terumi snapped. Like all the women in the little group of singers, she was a ravishing beauty. Yet she wasn't as beautiful as Kyoko, none of them were. Terumi and the others were utterly jealous of Kyoko's beauty. Terumi sabotaged all of Kyoko's creams and moisturizers so her beauty wouldn't be as radiant but Kyoko was too keen for her, who would discard the lotions before using them.

"She isn't a fool. She outwits you in everything Terumi. You're all beauty and no brains," another snorted. She was christened Victoria. She was a foreigner to these lands and she was often ridiculed for it. Most of the time she spent time by herself absorbed in any book she could get her hands on. She could really care less about the group dynamics, and what they envied about Kyoko.

"I can't believe you would say something like that. She's our leader and the most humble out of all us, besides Victoria," a gentle voice sighed with disappointment. She was the second to join after Kyoko and Kyoko best friend, Kaede. She was sweet and gentle brunette and hated how her fellow artists were so cruel. Yes, Kyoko had features to be envious of, but she never allowed herself to form strong emotional bonds with anyone. Kyoko was a mystery to everyone, including their manager.

"Oh you and your group dynamics…we look like hags when she stands next to us," Imara snorted. Kaede always tried to stay in the middle of discussions, she almost never took sides.

"Shush! Here comes the pretty pretty princess," Terumi mocked in a hushed voice. Even though her posh lifestyle allowed her to wear the nicest clothing, Kyoko dressed plainly and she only used make-up for special events and concerts.

"Good Morning ladies," Kyoko said quietly. She really didn't feel like talking to the gossiping ladies.

"You look like a rag doll with all of those injuries," Terumi huffed, puffing out her chest, crossing her arms and cocking her hip. Imara and Victoria giggled as Kyoko just stared at the road ahead of her. Kyoko continued to stare before letting out a sigh.

"I'm sorry, you lost me right as you opened your mouth. Now if you don't mind, I have a couple of people to talk to," Kyoko replied.

"When do you ever talk to people?" Terumi demanded.

"When have you ever had a brain?" Kyoko countered. "Now if you'll excuse me." Kyoko let out a sigh as she searched for the Shinobi. Looking up into the morning sky she thought about her encounter with Itachi the night before. It couldn't have been a dream, it felt too real, and what about his warning? She was going to be severely injured in the next three days? Who could predict something like that? He was a Missing-nin, how could she trust him? Yet the prediction was pretty serious. Also, why would he warn her? Should she tell Kakashi? But if she did, what would happen afterwards? Would she have to go into a more permanent hiding place and occupation?

"Kyoko? Are you alright?" Naruto asked the zoning out young woman. She snapped out of her trance looking at the young boy. For once she took a good look at him. It had been awhile since she was in the village, but she was positive she had seen him once before. Then again, she was young back then too.

"I'll be alright. I just have a lot on my mind right now?" Kyoko sighed. She had to make friends eventually. Kakashi was right, she had become so bitter. She truly did miss her soft and kind self. "I wasn't always this bitter."

"Huh?" Naruto mustered looking up at the singer. He could tell that something wasn't exactly right with her, he wasn't sure what, but something was off. It wasn't her appearance that felt strange to him, it was her personality.

"You're name is Naruto, correct?" Kyoko asked. She seemed so sweet now and Naruto was slightly unsure what she was getting at. Team 7 had been with them for a couple of days, and Kyoko had always been cold and distant. The other girls were delightfully cheerful, what was with the change of heart now.

"Yeah?" Naruto answered suspiciously.

"I can sense your suspicion. I'm more real than any of these dolls. In a couple more days, they'll show their true selves," Kyoko responded. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as a small whisper passed through her ears. She quickly looked behind her only to find that no one was there. Her face was so pale and her anxious exterior set off an alarm in the back of Naruto's head.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Naruto asked her. She nodded slightly as Sasuke and young Sakura. Kyoko quietly excused herself hearing her wolves howl for her. It was already getting close to noon and Kyoko had to start her hunting.