Alright, I'm making good progress with this chapter. I hope it all makes sense. For those of you who don't know, Tenzo is Yamato. Tsunade assigns him the name Yamato in Shippuden, but before then he went by Tenzo. Start!

Kirika sighed and stretched her arms. "My, my. It all seems like a dream."

"Not at the time! We never had a moment's rest!" Sakura said. "I was so worried about you."

"Hah! Give us a break, Sakura! We rocked the second exam!" He grinned "I knew Kira'd be fine! How'd you get here? How'd you defeat that freak Orochimaru?"

Kirika's face fell, but quickly she smiled again. "Anko rescued me."

"So they disqualified you... why did they let the rest of us go on?" Sakura asked. Sakura eyed Kirika with concern. She'd been quieter since... The Forest of Death. Troubled. Her eyes were hollow; more mistrusting.

"Ah, that's because of your particularly special circumstances." Kakashi said

"We would have failed," Naruto said "but that guy, Kabuto helped us through the forest!"

Kirika smiled. "I'm glad."

"I can't believe he dropped out before the preliminaries!"

"I can't believe I tied with Ino." Sakura sighed

Kirika patted Sakura on the shoulder and chuckled. "Oh dear. With my disqualification and your loss the boys are in danger of passing us. We need to step it up."

"Right!" Naruto cheered. "I've passed the preliminaries! Now all I have to do is learn some new killer jutsu and beat the other finalists with one fell swoop! Then I'll be one step away from being hokage! Believe it!"

"Good luck with that." Kirika chuckled

"Yeah right! Like they'd ever let a runt like you be hokage! Or chunin for that matter!"

"That's cold Sakura!"

Kirika laughed

"Oh, hey." Sakura said. "Kakashi Sensei, you took Sasuke away after his match. How's he doing? Is he alright?"

Kakashi put a hand on her head. "He's fine. Just beaten up, he's recovering in the hospital."

"Speaking of which," Kirika put a hand around Sakura's shoulder. "Way to keep the boys from dying. Proud of you."

Sakura smiled back. "Thanks."

"Tell me, though, did you hesitate when you struck a killing blow?"

"EH!?"

Kakashi put up a hand. "Let's not get ahead of our selves."

"I'm kidding." Kirika stretched her arms again. "Well, it's getting late, I have to see the Hokage tonight." She waved her teammates goodbye. "Oh, and can we all agree not to tell my mother about what happened in the forest? Appreciate it."

"..."

"You don't have a choice." Sarutobi said. Even if she wasn't disagreeing, he wanted it made clear.

"Fine..." Whatever her feelings—distain—since Area 44, Kirika had been all acquiescence.

Sarutobi thought it well and truly humbled her, but she was growing more like her old self each day. That may be for the best. He figured within a week she would be over her encounter with Orochimaru and plotting new creative ways to rid herself of her guards. He threw in a threat for good measure. "Do it and I'll lock you up."

"I didn't say anything." Kirika sighed. He's got me. Damn it.

"Remember that when you decide your new-found humility is behind you."

Kirika rolled her eyes. "You know me too well, old man."

Sarutobi had to smile. "Good to see you're feeling like your old self.

"He's following me. I'm not going to make the effort to make sure he's on my tail every minute of every day. If he can't keep up with me it's his fault."

"I thought you might say that. Fine. Good luck outrunning him." Sarutobi chuckled. "You may enter!"

A brown haired ambu wearing a fox mask entered the room.

Kirika pinched the crook of her nose in frustration.

"Tenzo, You may remove your mask." Sarutobi said "There's no need to hide when you follow her. Stay right by her side."

"Couldn't I stay with Anko?"

"She's too close to you."

"Is that your excuse for making Kakashi my sensei, too?"

Sarutobi chuckled.

"Just so you know, I'm not keen on this either." Tenzo said. "My orders are to watch you and that's what I intend to do."

"One more thing." She spoke to Sarutobi. "My teammate is still in the hospital. I'd like to visit him. Am I allowed near Sasuke?"

"You're not forbidden from visiting your teammate. But I would advise until the situation settles you keep your distance. It certainly wouldn't help your standing to be seen lingering around Orochimaru's target."

"I understand. May I go?"

"You may."

In the hall Tenzo said to her. "He's right. You shouldn't visit Sasuke. Teammate or no."

Kirika sighed and rubbed the spot on her neck where the bandage concealed her curse mark. "You wouldn't understand."

His eyes narrowed.

"You do hate me?"

"..." He didn't answer.

"My father experimented on you, didn't he?"

"..." His fingers twitched.

"If that's the case then, by all means hate away. I'd have you under my knife in a heartbeat. But let's not forget that when you were under his, I hadn't even been born."

It excited her. The act. To have the ninja of the Leaf believe such a farce filled her with vigor. She hadn't had a good ego stroke like that in a while. She tried to control her enthusiasm, cockiness was dangerous. But damn was it entertaining!

Tenzo and Kirika walked home together. Kirika made note to slouch slightly; to hold one arm with the other; to keep her eyes dark and clouded like a storm. She had the role of 'victimised child, finally escaping Stockholm syndrome.' She must be in turmoil. She must play the part.

When Kirika arrived at home Hideko hugged her. She didn't say anything. Her eyes were puffy and red. Someone told her...

That did trouble her. Kirika hugged her back, saying nothing either; the only sounds being Hideko's harsh, post-crying breathing and her occasional cough. Tenzo stood in the doorway.

"Kirika..." She said after a few minutes. "You know, you look much more like me than that bastard."

Kirika gripped the fabric of her dress and buried her head in Hideko's shoulder. "Don't call him that." She said it quietly. "Please."

Hideko was woken up in the early by an urgent knocking on her bedroom door and a hushed voice... "Hideko! Hideko, wake up!"

"Uhh..." She groaned and ripped herself from her warm futon to open the door. Tenzo was dressed and standing in the hall.

"What's wrong? Is the futon in the living room alright? I'm sorry if you can't sleep, but it's all I have on such short notice."

"It's not that."

"Why are you dressed. It's such an ungodly hour to be up, even for a ninja."

"Where's Kirika?"

"...Excuse me?"

"Where is your daughter?"

Hideko rubbed the sleep from her eyes and ghosted down the hall to Kirika's bedroom... the lock was broken, leaving the door ajar. "You're paying for that." She grumbled. Kirika's Futon was neatly folded and the window was open. Hideko sighed. "Oh dear." She turned back to Tenzo. "Looks like you've lost your charge."

"Do you have any idea where she went?" He asked urgently

"What time is it?"

"I don't have time for this."

Hideko put her hands on his shoulders. "Ssssshhhhhh. Relax. She's an early riser." She tapped a finger to her chin and began mumbling to herself. "Sometimes I wonder when she sleeps... hmm... her father was like that..."

"I need to find her."

Hideko laughed lightly. "You won't find her if she doesn't want to be found."

"I'm ambu, that's my job."

"And I'm a mother. Understanding her is mine." She glanced at the clock on Kirika's desk. "Four in the morning." She sighed. "I doubt I'll fall back asleep again. Oh well... I'll make some tea for us."

"I don't have time for this."

"Don't worry." Hideko waved. "Kirika's a smart girl. She'll run but I doubt she would let anyone see her without you."

Kirika sat next to Sasuke's bed. He was on life support but his breathing and heartbeat were normal. Three ambu guards were posted outside the hospital room, kept from entering by Kirika's genjustu.

She touched Sasuke's cheek with the back of her fingers. Her hand drifted down to his neck and she caressed his curse mark gently with her thumb. It was held back now, to some extent at least, by the counter seal, the black circle of kanji characters Kakashi had cast.

"No one preformed a counter seal on me, you know." Kirika said quietly. "As soon as my body had recovered from the stress of the mark father pushed me right into the second stage."

Kirika heard clatter outside the room. Quickly she rolled under the bed, she gripped the railing and hung off the side opposite from the wall so as not to be seen on the floor.

One person stepped into the room and stood over Sasuke

Kabuto?

He held his hand, armed with a scalpel over the oxygen mask tube by Sasuke's mouth. As he made to slice it Kirika's arm shot out and grabbed his wrist. Surprised, he writhed his arm to free himself and stepped back. He calmed himself. "My apologies, my lady. I didn't know you were here."

Kirika slid up from behind the bed. They held gazes for a second, and it was Kirika who started the laughter. "You're the last person I expected to see here! I didn't think father would act this brash."

"Hehehe, you know how it is. We have to stir up paranoia." Kabuto straightened his glasses. "It's good to see you again."

"You as well, my friend." Kirika put a hand on her hip. "You're looking well."

"The Sound Village has been that much more dreary since you left, but we've completed some very interesting experiments."

"I envy you." Kirika sighed with a smile. "I've been stuck with official scientific journals for the longest time. And they're so uncreative. But I've managed to repair an old lab here, and I've been able to obtain more data on the byakugan."

Kabuto's eyes lit up. "I can't wait to see it." Footsteps sounded from behind the door. "Sounds like reinforcements..."

Kirika crouched back into her hiding space. "Care to help me improve my standing with the Leaf?"

The scalpel reappeared above Sasuke's life support. "Of course."

"Freeze!" That was Kakashi's voice. Kirika could see under the bed he was standing at the door.

She released Kabuto's hand to withdrawal to her hiding stop. Kabuto gripped his scalple.

Kabuto grinned. "Well, well, Kakashi. I see you've come to foil my attack. But are you ready to take me on?" In the hall the ambu guards had been killed. "Next time you should station at least ten guards."

"You. You're not an ordinary genin, are you? So what do you want with Sasuke? Finding you like this, I ought to haul you in for questioning."

Kabuto turned around and stepped towards Kakashi. "What? Just you?" He chuckled. "I wonder if you could."

"I know who you are. You're the leaf's medical corp chief's son. You're name... what was it... Kabuto Yakushi? What are you? One of Orochimaru's puppets?"

"Even if you did take me into custody, you'd never be able to prove I have any connection to him."

"Just answer the question."

"And if I say no?"

"I'm the one asking the questions."

"Look, you'll have your answers soon enough, even if I'm not here. So why don't we skip the middle man and let me go?"

"You smart ass little brat." Kakashi drew a kunai. "I'll teach you to mess with grown ups."

Kabuto drew his own Kunai. "Come on, don't be so arrogant. The cards are clearly in my favour." He hand his kunai to Sasuke's neck.

"I wouldn't be so sure... I have back up."

If it was a cue, Kirika took it. Once again her hand shot out and gripped his wrist, but this time she twisted, forcing him to drop his kunai. She quickly let go, with the twist of her fingers she caught the knife.

Kakashi ran at Kabuto and grabbed his arm, he flipped him and pinned him to the ground.

One of the fallen ambu stood up. He tried to flee, but Kakashi's shadow close cornered him in the hallway. He backed into the room. Yet again a fallen ambu threw kunai at a window before leaping out of it.

Kakashi ran to the window. The ambu crumpled to the floor. "I can't believe I let him escape..."

Kirika rose to her feet. She ran a hand through her hair.

"Not that I'm not thankful you were here, but shouldn't you be under surveillance?"

"I hate being followed. I hate being watched. 'Be quick and light'; 'move silently and never be seen': That's what I was taught. How am I supposed to do that when I'm being hounded by a so-called bodyguard?"

Kakashi sighed. "I understand... Follow your ninja skills or you'll die. When that's all you know it's hard to live any other way... But you're under suspicion. It won't look good if you're running around without your guard. And in Sasuke's hospital room, no less.

She fixed the chair next to Sasuke's bed and sat down before regarding Kakashi with bored eyes. "I haven't let anyone see me. You're the only one. I know you won't tell anyone else."

"And if I do?"

Piercing, amused eyes. His only answer was a chuckle.

Beneath his mask Kakashi was frowning. Of course, she was only his ally when it suited her. "You shouldn't stay here."

"I should." Kirika brushed a strand of hair from Sasuke's face. "You don't need any more guards. I'll watch over him from now on."

Kakashi leaned against the wall. "You know I can't do that. For all I know you might kidnap him."

"You can and you will. No one can protect him better than me."

Kakashi glared. "Since when do you care about Sasuke? How do I know Kabuto wasn't part of your plan to get closer to him?"

She laughed lightly. "You want my motives? Fine. He was hurt the same way I was and It's killing my that I wasn't there to help him."

Kakashi shot her a questioning look.

"Shocking, isn't it?" She touched her own neck, her face was calm, with the slightest hint of a smile, her eyes deep in thought. "I was four years old when father put that curse mark on me." Kirika met his eyes, her brow creased the slightest bit, with a hurt that was old enough to have been long rationalised and dealt with, but left a mark on the emotions as a scar did on skin. "I was a little girl, I was his daughter. He knew what a slim survival rate there was and he still put it on me. No pain I've ever felt has come close to the curse mark. It went so deep it was... violating. I screamed and I begged for help me. I didn't understand what was happening.
"But I knew he didn't answer me," Her expression was still calm, her smile still hinting and her brow still furrowed. Nothing on her face changed. "I realised then that in my pain, I was alone. And no one, not my father, not anyone could save me from that agony. I was four, but I was so sure I would die alone.
Kirika away from Kakashi. "No little child should ever know that..."

"Kirika..."

He could see her expression was puzzled and lost. "...Through it all, he wouldn't even hold my hand." That part was a lie. He had held her hand. "It doesn't sound that important, but at the time all I wanted was to be held. All I wanted was for someone to tell me that I was not alone." Kirika brushed Sasuke's cheek. "I wish I could have been there for him. If I could have just held his hand, and told him I understood... it doesn't do much, but it does help." Kirika took Sasuke's hand in hers.

Kakashi sighed, stood and walked towards the door. "...Alright Kirika. You can stay. But this is the last time you sneak away. I'll and post Tenzo outside." He closed the door behind him.

Kirika kept hold of Sasuke's. She took out her pocket watch and clicked it open, letting the song play. She set the watch on Sasuke's stomach and laid her torso over the bed, resting her head on his chest. For the longest time she watched the watch tick away and moved up and down gently with the expansions and contractions of his stomach. She listened to his heartbeat harmonize with the melody of the song. She hummed softly. Her face hadn't changed. She did not let go.