Bitten Chapter 9

"You're even conscious," Itachi chuckled lifting Kyoko's head, "you never cease to amaze me, it's too bad that you can't speak." She blinked weakly focusing on Itachi's face. Pushing her back against the tree Kyoko tried to escape her captor but failed miserably because of the painful neurotoxin raging through her body. "I had warned you Kyoko and you didn't listen. I should leave you here to be found by your attackers but we have a lot of work to do my priestess." For once, Kyoko felt truly frightened as Itachi picked her up. What had she done to deserve this pain and agony?

"Why didn't you just take her?" Elder Ken growled.

"You know how stubborn Kyoko is. Also, Kakashi would have known no matter how much you convinced him," Itachi replied. He had stopped the bleeding but her wounds needed to be cleaned and properly treated. Kyoko was unconscious but shaking from the neurotoxin.

"Yet look at her! All because of you Kyoko's like this!" Elder Ken snapped.

"I had warned her," Itachi answered.

"He does have a point. Kyoko was warned and she ignored him," Elder Ken's mate answered. "She's stubborn."

"Itachi could have told her the reason why," Elder Ken growled at his mate.

"You know Kyoko would have just run away. She's safe now, but we have to get back to the pack. They'll come looking for us and Kakashi will be suspicious. Keep her safe Itachi," Elder Akilah answered. Elder Ken just huffed angrily following after his mate.

"You'll be at peace soon Kyoko," Itachi cooed disappearing into the night. He had to get her to the cave. Kyoko needed time to rest and heal. Kyoko why are you so stubborn? Itachi thought pulling her close.

"Thank you for bringing her here. These are very skilled Luponian bounty hunters, to be able to use this type of neurotoxin without Kyoko elapsing into a coma is absolutely amazing. She's very strong, but Itachi…keep a constant eye on her and when she's conscious enough to speak…you know what to do," a recluse ex-priestess ordered. A poison ball to her shoulder, two to her abdomen, one to the leg, several stab and cut wounds…if Kyoko was a normal human…she would be dead right now, the priestess thought wrapping Kyoko's right forearm in bandages.

"When do you believe that she'll be strong enough?" Itachi asked as the old priestess smeared deer blood on her own face and arms.

"You should know. You're the one aren't you?" the priestess asked.

"You know how stubborn she can be," Itachi answered taking the weakened woman's hand per instruction of the recluse.

"Good girl…Continue to hold her," the woman ordered. "I'm going to etch her crystal signature into your skin. It may hurt a little bit. This'll help bind you together once you mark her. You can also shame her into submission." The ex-priestess painted the blood on Itachi's body uttering a chant to bind the two people together. "The crystals in Luponian bodies makes it easier for Luponians to use Natural Energy." Carefully the ex-priestess drew blood from Itachi with a small hunting knife. With an albatross feather as her pen and his blood as her ink the recluse woman drew an intricate design all over Kyoko's face continuing her chant causing Kyoko's body to glow a gentle blue. A dull pain throbbed up Itachi's arm as Kyoko's body transferred her crystal design on to his body.

"Kyoko will have to realize this love on her own," Itachi growled. "Her childhood memories have been locked away and altered. She'll have to remember."

"Don't be as stubborn as her, just be glad that she does not have a dominant personality. You shinobis don't have our crystals, so don't be surprised if you're in pain right now. Your bodies may react to each other but nothing horrible should happen to her. You on the other hand may suffer from fevers, cold like symptoms and in worst cases non-Luponians have contracted fatal illnesses," the recluse answered. "Well she'll be fine for now, you've done a great job patching her up. She may have some ugly scars but she'll be alright. Kyoko has never been obsessed with vanity."

"Where is the priestess?" Kaede demanded to the bounty hunter.

"I…I lost her. Even though she was injured, Kyoko put up a fight," the bounty hunter answered.

"You let Itachi get her? You know what will happen!" Kaede hissed.

"I said I lost her, I don't know if Itachi got her," the bounty hunter growled.

"You know Kyoko will be spared if she gets into Itachi's hands. That damn pacifist will do anything for her. I'm supposed to be the next high priestess but she has to be dead! YOU were supposed to put her in a coma so we could do the ceremony! Now get out there before that bastard finds her," Kaede ordered.

"Shut up, all you ever do is whine. Aren't priestesses supposed to be kind and virtuous?" the bounty hunter asked.

"You don't want to mess with me. Also I want you to deal with Kakashi," Kaede said in a low voice. "He loves that girl as if she was his sister."

"I'm a Luponian Bounty Hunter, not a Shinobi Bounty Hunter. It'll also cost extra," the bounty hunter answered.

"I don't care what it costs…I need you to kill Kyoko. I'm going to be priestess," Kaede answered.

"Whatever," the bounty hunter groaned leaving her cart.

"Itachi," Sasuke growled from outside.

"The black haired man?" the young wolf asked. Hatefully Sasuke glared at the wolf causing her to whimper and cower.

"Where is he?" Sasuke demanded.

"I don't know…but he loves our lady," the wolf answered. "I can find her. I have the best nose."

"What do you mean love?" Sasuke demanded.

"He loves her…I've already said too much. Tomorrow, we'll find her," the wolf replied before running away. What the hell was that all about? Sasuke thought watching the wolf.

"Kyoko…you'll be alright," Itachi soothed placing a hand on her forehead. She had a raging fever and her body would quake every so often from the neurotoxins. I should have rescued you earlier…but you would have only run away, Itachi thought dabbing her face with a wet towel. He heard her groan as her body seized. "It'll be alright. Only a few more days and the toxins won't hurt you anymore." Her eyes flickered open as her body continued to tense with agony. Leaning over her, Itachi looked into her light blue eyes. "She's still unconscious. Poor girl." He rubbed her cheek gently as her body slowly began to stop quivering and her eyes closed.

"No," she muttered opening her eyes.

"Shush Kyoko," Itachi cooed.

"N-No," Kyoko continued.

"Kyoko go back to sleep," Itachi answered pulling her into a sitting position. She let out a cry gripping her bedding.

"N-Not you," Kyoko groaned disdainfully.

"Everything will be alright Kyoko," Itachi cooed rubbing her head. She felt like a helpless child in his arms but she oddly felt safe.

"Let go of me," Kyoko snapped.

"You haven't changed Kyoko," Itachi chuckled.

"QUIT TALKING TO ME LIKE YOU KNOW ME!" Kyoko hollered through her pain. Immediately Itachi pressed his hand forcefully against her mouth. He smirked at the fear in her eyes knowing he could quickly scare her into submission.

"Priestess, I know you don't remember much but we were raised together," Itachi replied before becoming threatening, "And I suggest you keep your outburst to a minimum." Kyoko whimpered slightly wondering what he had planned for her. Kyoko let out a cry as her body shook from the pain. Gently he shushed her laying her back down on the futon. He gently massaged her muscles hoping to lessen the pain of the neurotoxins. He continued massaging until she fell unconscious from the pain. Not yet…she's not strong enough…Itachi thought placing a cool cloth on her warm forehead.

A bit on the shorter side but it'll get longer I promise.

~WoofumsPup