Bitten Chapter 8

We're finally here in the city…the poor destitute people…Kyoko thought seeing a sick mother with two small children. She hated to see the children in the state of malnutrition and ill health that they were in. Stopping in her tracks Kyoko watched the older daughter feeding her mother some old pieces of bread. Shuffling in her cloak Kyoko took out her wallet and walked over to the family.

"Here use this to help your family and to get better," Kyoko soothed placing about 600,000 ryo in the younger child's hand. She wished she had more money on her to give to the family but it was in her little trailer and if her manger saw her giving money to the poor, he'd snatch the money from them and keep it for himself.

"Tha-Thank you, you must be a saint," the woman croaked as Kyoko placed a hand on the younger child's head. She saw so much of herself in the two children. With hope in their eyes but a dull pain of uncertainty in their hearts.

"I'm no saint ma'am. I just want to see all people get better, and for your darling little girls to look forward to a brighter future. I'll be working near-by, and on one of my breaks I can bring your family more money," Kyoko said cheerfully.

"Oh no my good lady, you've done enough already! You don't need to do anymore!" the mother mustered but Kyoko only shook her head with a smile. She wanted to be sure that the family would be able to survive.

"I'll be back soon enough!" Kyoko replied cheerfully.

"Woah…She really is a kind woman," Naruto muttered watching Kyoko interact with the family.

"Yes, I would say that the person you just saw right there, is the TRUE Kyoko. Don't think too harshly about Kyoko she puts on a front so that no one will ever harm that gentle side of hers," Kakashi informed.

"Ah Kakashi-sensei?" gasped Naruto.

"I'll get Kyoko, you make sure that the other ladies get inside safely," Kakashi assured as Kyoko returned to their small group.

"Don't you dare judge," Kyoko growled as she came closer to Kakashi.

"What you did was very fitting of a priestess. I'm sure your gods are very pleased with you. Kyoko, I know about what hetold you. I don't want you wandering off," Kakashi instructed. Stunned Kyoko stopped quickly. How could he have known? She didn't pick up his scent whenever he encountered her.

"How did you," Kyoko muttered.

"Kyoko, you're hardly acting as yourself. You're forgetting who you're dealing with. You're a unique individual, and someone like him could use you and your powers in all the wrong ways," Kakashi instructed. (A/N: I fixed this so it hopefully doesn't sound like an innuendo.)

"Kakashi I won't go wandering off," Kyoko sighed. She

"It's still my job to protect you, little wolf," Kakashi replied warmly.

"And I still love you for doing such," Kyoko chimed following Kakashi into her new working facility. The place was dim and from what Kyoko could see extremely large. Just like the manager to say that this was a small gig. And there are stripper poles…The only area where I'll be taking off my clothes is backstage between performances, Kyoko thought surveying her surroundings. She felt so unprotected without her wolves near-by. Hearing the sweet laughter of her co-workers Kyoko noticed the women flirting with the young and cute bartender. She sighed softly wandering through the chairs and tables to the stage. Flirting with men was never her strong point nor were they that easy to trust. Smiling Kyoko jumped on to the stage gliding over to the piano near the back of the stage. She sat down the bench placing her hands on the pearly white keys. Glancing over at her co-workers the girl let out a sigh pressing down the keys letting her voice tune with the chords. The bar became quiet as all eyes shifted to the woman playing the piano. Watching Kyoko at the piano, Kakashi enjoyed that she seemed so at peace. For the last few days she had been so stressed.

Flashback

"Kakashi! Can singing be turned into a jutsu?" a seven year old Kyoko asked enthusiastically. Besides living at his residence, he had been working with her extensively because in a few weeks, she would be graduating from the academy. Whenever Kyoko had a question, she would perch herself on the floor in front of him silently until he gave her the eye contact and attention that she desired. He was stunned to see her speak before he acknowledged her place on the floor.

"Before you think about advancing your jutsus, you should first work on advancing something far more important," Kakashi replied looking up from one of his Icha Icha books. She was squirming and wriggling with delight as he placed down his book on an end table. Kyoko couldn't help but wriggle even more knowing that his full attention is being directed on her. Whenever he was focusing on his naughty books, Kyoko felt so ignored and lonely.

"Something far more important? Like what?" Kyoko asked cocking her head innocently to the right. She scratched behind her wolf ears trying to figure out what Kakashi was talking about. Kakashi sighed, although she was smart, Kyoko was far too naïve and innocent at times. He would hate to see that innocence become her downfall.

"Teamwork," Kakashi replied.

"Team…work. What is team…work?" Kyoko asked. Although she had been living in Konoha for three years she didn't have complete mastery of their language. She would still use her own language to write herself notes and to speak with the Gods that possessed her, and she showed a true lack of interest in learning their language and its entirety. Kyoko always enjoyed being at home; she was free to have her ears exposed without consequence.

"I always forget that you're still learning the language," Kakashi began rubbing the top of Kyoko's head between her ears. "Teamwork is when you work with a group of people to achieve a common goal."

"Ohhh, why is it so important?" Kyoko asked climbing on to Kakashi's lap. He let out a chuckle feeling the girl's velvety ears brushing his face. She was always climbing on to his lap, which he hated in the beginning but now, Kakashi enjoyed the bonding time with the younger girl.

"Because Kyoko. Unlike me, you won't be assigned a solo mission right now. You'll be a part of a three man cell lead by a Jonin. The success of your missions will depend upon how well you'll be able to work with your teammates. Now I can't guarantee that you'll like your teammates, but you'll have to be able to work with them," Kakashi explained.

"Ohhhh, okay. Kakashi do you miss me when you leave?" Kyoko asked curiously.

"Of course little Thumbelina," Kakashi teased.

"I'm not SHORT!" Kyoko growled.

"On the contrary Kyoko, you're about five inches shorter than the average seven year old," Kakashi replied.

"LIFE shouldn't be measured by height! It should be measured by how big your heart is," Kyoko retaliated.

Kakashi chuckled, "and you have a very big heart little Kyoko, a very big heart."

"I'm not little either," Kyoko grumbled. He laughed at the little girl hugging her tightly.

"So when you get assigned to a Genin team, remember to work with your team to achieve your common goal not against them," lectured Kakashi. He tapped her nose, watching her big blue eyes light up with joy and happiness. Yet he could always see the pain that she suffered as well.

Kakashi awoke from him thoughts as he heard the hall around him erupt into applause. Her singing voice had become even lovelier since he had last seen her as a child. Standing up from the Piano Kyoko gave a small bow before heading backstage.

"Such a pretty voice," Sakura muttered.

"More like such a show-off!" Imara snorted in her snobbish voice. These women truly are insanely jealous. Kyoko is beautiful, cunning and her voice is enchanting, the only thing she truly lacks is a kind personality, Sakura thought.

"Always finding some way to belt out random songs to receive everyone's attention. She's a whore in more ways than attention. I bet she's back there giving any and every guy "sweet kisses" in her dressing room," Terumi snickered.

"TAKE THAT BACK!" Naruto hollered at the gossiping girls. He was tired of hearing them talk trash on Kyoko. Although she wasn't the kindest person to him and her co-workers, she was a sincere individual. Backstage Kyoko's ears perked up at the loud boy, what could he be yelling at? Peering out from the curtains she saw the boy confronting the peanut gallery of her co-workers.

"Why the hell do you care?" Imara huffed.

"Because Kyoko's not really like that!" Naruto snapped.

"It looks like she gave herself to a child," Terumi gasped. The girls giggled angering Naruto even more. "Besides what do you really know about Kyoko? She's an unwilling Shinobi for the Konoha. Her parents were killed by the very people she has sworn allegiance to. She doesn't like to form emotional ties with anyone. She's a real bitch to everyone that she knows."

"THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'S TREATED LIKE CRAP BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS!" Naruto snapped. The girls flinched at his words before quieting down.

"Why…why is he standing up for me?" Kyoko muttered turning away from the curtain.

"Because that's the way he is," Sasuke responded.

"Why are you so persistent?" Kyoko growled.

"How do you know of the Uchiha clan?" Sasuke demanded.

"I already told you how," Kyoko answered calmly.

"I don't believe that lie! You know a lot more than you're letting on!" Sasuke snapped.

"Really now?" Kyoko mocked. "Do I look like I have ties with that clan?"

"What do you know about the Uchiha!" Sasuke demanded pulling a kunai on her.

"You really think threatening me with a kunai is going to work?" Kyoko laughed evilly. "Did you think that the Third Hokage would send me here as a low ranking Shinobi? You're not the only one who has been trained by Kakashi." Just as she was about to counterattack, a woman frantically ran to Kyoko thrusting her arms around the woman. Rolling her eyes Kyoko shoved the woman away from her.

"I'VE BEEN WAITING TO MEET YOU FOR SUCH A LONG TIME MS. KYOKO! I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN! I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG TO BE ABLE TO SING BY YOUR SIDE!" the woman cried out trying mercilessly to touch her idol. Kyoko growled tiredly, she hated dealing with rabid fans. Looking down at Sasuke she saw him smirking fiendishly at her again. She really hated that look, it made her feel so inadequate and insecure.

"Yes, well it is nice to meet a fan but please don't glomp me," Kyoko said calmly. The woman bounced excitedly in front of Kyoko ignoring everything that Kyoko told her.

"I'M CALIDA! MAYBE WE CAN SHARE A DRESSING ROOM!" Calida gasped. "Wait, that's not what I meant. I'm just soooo happy to meet you! Can I hug you? Oh please, oh please, oh please!"

"Later, I need to get dressed. Why don't you introduce yourself to the other women," Kyoko replied.

"NO! YOU'RE my biggest idol!" Calida answered throwing herself at Kyoko's feet.

"Well Sasuke-kun, you're my bodyguard. Keep her out of my room and away from me. I sure a lowly genin as yourself can take on that task," Kyoko chuckled sending Sasuke her own smirk. She chuckled loving that Sasuke's fiendish grin had disappeared into a thin line. Walking away she could hear the brunette woman squealing with delight as well as a very frustrated Sasuke. Entering her dressing room Kyoko let out a sigh pulling the two ribbons off her ear. I guess this is when the fun starts she thought with a slight chuckle.

"Dearest priestess," a voice cooed behind her.

"When will you bounty hunters learn that I can't die," Kyoko sighed. Her eyes widened feeling a spiked ball tear into her side. She let out a gasp falling to the ground.

"Don't worry, you're worth more to us alive then dead. At this range…your little protective barrier is useless. Just try to pull it out. You'll rip out your skin and flesh," the bounty hunter chuckled pointing his modified crossbow at her leg. Kyoko only smirked disappearing out of the man's sight.

"I have to get back inside…and tell Kakashi. God damn it hurts," Kyoko muttered clutching her wound. She hid behind a garbage can trying to figure out her next option.

"Priestess, did you think you could escape me this easily?" the man chuckled launching another spiked ball into her.

"What do you want from me?" Kyoko demanded.

"You know these little balls are unique, just for you priestess. They suck out your chakra and I guess your 'life' energy," the man answered. "You been feeling weaker and weaker haven't you priestess? Also I know that you never had training to control your power under pain." Kyoko how could you be so stupid?