Chapter 6: The Preliminaries

It was the day of the Preliminaries, and Kyoko left Kyo with Sakura's parents to baby-sit. Kakashi led her to the high place where she could watch. She was surprised at when the Sound Jounin stood next to her.

"Fancy seeing you here Kyoko." He said in a snake-like voice that sent shivers down her spine. She knew who this man was. But why was he here? She knew he was helping some sadistic cause in the second exam, but why?

"Orocimaru…" Kyoko said with a bit of annoyance in her tone. "I see my brother decided to not go for Chunin."

"Yes, for what we are to do, he does not need to be in these silly tests." He said with a creepy smile.

"I don't know what you're going to do, but if it has anything to do with my son, I will kill you."

"Oh don't be so harsh Kyoko. Everything will come into play soon enough." He said smiling. Suddenly, Kakashi joined them.

"Who is this Kyoko?" he asked slyly.

"I'm no one of importance." He said walking away. Kyoko felt a sudden pain in on her neck. She cringed and felt the pain.

"Are you alright?"

"y…yes…fine…" the pain finally subsided, and Kakashi helped her stand up straight again and saw the mark.

"What happened to you?"

"I… I… it's hard to explain."

"Orocimaru?" Kakashi asked her.

"How do you…"

"A friend of mine warned us all about him." He told her. "Don't wo…"

"Why hello there Kyoko!" said a very outspoken voice came from behind them. They turned to see a man who wore all green, and had black hair. His smile was very wide, and his teeth seemed to twinkle.

"Hello Gai-sensei." Kyoko said annoyed. She knew that Kakashi and he were rivals, but was he now fighting over her with him? Does this man ACTUALLY try to beat Kakashi in EVERYTHING?

"What do you want Gai?" Kakashi asked not phased.

"Wha…. Hey!" he said. Obviously he was trying to get Kakashi upset by flirting with her… but not really.

Kyoko snickered. Kakashi than grabbed her by the waist, and hugged her. Gai, upset about this, than walked away. It was as if Kakashi was a dog who was making his mark on his mate.

"KAKASHI-SENSEI?!" Two Gennin suddenly appeared staring at their sensei. Sakura and Naruto were staring at the couple.

"You mean to tell me you… and Momma Kyoko…" Naruto said surprised.

"Yes Naruto. We're together now." Kakashi said with a grin showing through his mask. Kyoko grinned as he held her close.

"So Sasuke's up first right?" Kyoko asked.

"Yea. We're up here to cheer him on!" Naruto said excitingly.

"How's Kyo-kun?" Sakura asked.

"He's fine. Your parents are watching him." Kyoko said.

The match began; there were some high and lows. Finally, Sasuke won, but was worn out on the ground. Kakashi and Kyoko ran down to him.

"Kyoko, I'll go take care of him don't worry. Go and watch the rest." Kakashi said after a swift kiss through his mask.

Kyoko watched the rest of it, until Kakashi came back.

"Hey, I'm back…" he said.

"Kakashi!" Kyoko said about to hug him, but he held her back.

"How do you know Orocimaru?" he asked her in a low voice.

She looked down and put a hand on her curse mark. "Kabuto brought him home, and he's been staying at our house."

He pulled her hand away to see the mark. "Come with me, I'll seal it so that it won't bother you."

"Well it hasn't been bothering me so far. It's alright. If I do that now who will take care of Kyo? If it bothers me later I'll come to you. But right now it doesn't matter."

"Are you sure?" he asked her.

"I'm sure." She said kissing him through his mask. She stood there next to him, with Sakura, Naruto, and Gai around. They watched the match between Gaara and Lee. After the match was stopped, Kyoko felt very upset. "I'm gonna go out for some air." She said walking out.

She walked outside, but was surprised to see Orocimaru and Kabuto talking. She hid behind the wall as she listened into what they were talking about.

Orocimaru had bitten Sasuke as well. He wanted him for something, and he was aiming to take him with him to his hideout. As her brother walked away, this is what she also found out.

"I know you don't want me to have Sasuke." Orocimaru said to him. "But the only way for that to happen would be to kill Sasuke."

Kyoko gasped. After all these years, she would lose Sasuke to her brother? No, she made sure she would save him. She immediately ran to Sasuke's room. She saw the guards, and told them that she wanted to see him. Thankfully Kakashi had told them that she was OK, because she was allowed to be let in. She didn't have much time to visit him, because she heard her brother. He killed all the ANBO officers! She didn't move from her hiding spot, but watched as he came in.

She watched as he took out his kunai and looked at helpless Sasuke. He wasn't moving yet. It seemed that he was thinking about something. Kyoko was ready to attack him if he was about to get close.

"I know you're there sis." He said grinning. Kyoko, shocked, slowly came out of her hiding spot.

"I swear Kyoko, you say that you hate me being a spy, but you spy on me?" Kabuto said to his sister.

"I'm not letting you kill Sasuke…"

"Yea, yea, you swore to yourself that you'd take care of him ever since Itachi left…" he said as if he heard the story many times.

"At least I'm not an ass-slave for Orocimaru." She taunted in a sudden dark tone. Kyoko seemed different. She was not her normal shy, happy-go-lucky self. Was it because of the curse mark? It couldn't be, because the mark had not spread all over her body.

Kabuto attacked her sister, only to have her dodge it and punch Kabuto off his feet. Suddenly, Kakashi came into the room before he could land another blow on her sister.

"Don't be so harsh Kabuto." Kakashi said holding him by the arm with Kabuto's own kunai. Now free, Kyoko stood in front of Sasuke.

Kabuto finally got out of Kakashi's grasp. He looked from Kakashi to Kyoko, back to Kakashi again. He grinned. "I guess my little sister found someone else to get off from after Itachi left…" he said, but than Kyoko's eyes suddenly turned pink-like and veiny. She threw her glasses down and suddenly developed a blue orb in her right hand.

"DON'T YOU DARE!!!" she said beginning to attack him and leapt onto him not knowing that the window was right there. Kakashi caught her as she sent her brother out the window shocked and hurt. Kyoko suddenly calmed down in Kakashi's arms, and her eyes went back to normal.

"What…what happened?" Kyoko said suddenly. "Kakashi? What are you doing here?"

"Kyoko? You don't remember anything?" he asked unsure.

"N…no. I know it sounds weird, but it's like I blanked out… Why is the window broken? Where's Kabuto….Sasuke!" She said suddenly turning around to see Sasuke lying on the bed safe and sound.

"Kyoko…" Kakashi said in surprise. He didn't know what to think. She didn't know what was going on? She didn't know that she almost killed her brother with some power she never knew she had? Kyoko suddenly started crying. Kakashi held onto her tight. It was all he could do for her right now.

"When…when did he… when did he become such a…an…ASSHOLE!" Kyoko cried in Kakashi's chest.

"I don't know Kyoko…" Kakashi sighed. He never knew how to talk to women until he met her. "Don't worry, I'll protect you." He said holding her closer.

Suddenly, Kyoko remembered Itachi. She remembered how he always said he'd protect her and that now he was gone. She cried more, and her tears began to stream from her eyes. She held onto him tighter and he squeezed her.

"Please don't cry..." Kakashi said about pull his mask down to kiss her, but than they heard a groan from Sasuke, causing them to finally remember that he was there. They smiled at each other.

"I want you and your son to stay at my place… until the Chunin Exams are over at least." Kakashi said suddenly.

"W...what?" Kyoko said suddenly.

Kakashi sighed. "Obviously Orocimaru and Kabuto are staying at your home, and I'm afraid it may not be safe for you and Kyo."

"But… you live in a small apartment don't you?" Kyoko said.

Kakashi grinned. "I'll sleep on the floor if I have to. Anyway, I won't be home this whole month."

"What? Why?" Kyoko asked suddenly taken aback.

"Well," he said looking at Sasuke. "Sasuke is to fight Gaara." He said. Kyoko stared at Kakashi in shock.

"W…what? He has to fight… HIM!!!" Kyoko said in shock.

Kakashi looked down at her. "Yes. That's how the matches turned out. Don't worry, I'm going to train him to be his best." He said kissing her on the forehead through his mask walking out.

That night, Kyoko took Kyo, and they stayed at Kakashi's house without a word from Kabuto. As they packed, Kabuto just stood there at the door with not a word. As Kyoko packed her bags, Kyo packed his bags and toys into his bag. What Kyoko didn't know, was that Orocimaru was staring at her four year old. He knew that there would be no way he could take Kyoko's precious little boy, but he wanted to. He wanted to raise him himself so that when he was old enough he could use his body.

Suddenly Kyo noticed he was standing there. He gasped, and dropped his favorite toy.

"No need to be scared little one." Orocimaru grinned bending down to pick up Kyo's toy and handing it to the frightened child. "It's just Uncle Orocimaru." He said smiling with a crooked mind. He wasn't going to do anything to this child, because Kabuto told him about how strong his sister has gotten, and that the copy ninja was her lover now. He knew better than to make a big deal.

"Get away from my son." Kyoko said suddenly coming out of the shadows.

Kyoko was packing her clothes, when Kabuto came in.

"Why are you leaving?" he asked simply.

"Why do you think Kabuto? I can't be under the same roof as you. Not anymore."

"Where are you going?"

"Kakashi's place."

Kabuto grinned. "Ah… so you can't ignore your sexual urges anymore?"

Kyoko suddenly appeared in back of Kabuto with a kunai. Obviously she still remembered ninjitzu, and made a shadow clone to guard her room just in case someone attacked. She also made one to guard her son.

"It's not like that idiot." The Kyoko said who was packing, not even looking up. "Kakashi is going to be watching over Sasuke so that YOU don't try to kill him again. I can't live under the same roof as you anymore. I promised myself I'd take care of him after Itachi left, and I keep to my word." She said as she finished. She walked past her shadow clone, and came into her son's room not even glancing at Orocimaru.

Without a word, Kyoko picked up her son, and carried him out the door, where Kakashi was waiting for them.

"It's a pity Kabuto… You're sister is so bent on protecting her Uchiha child. I'm surprised you haven't tried to kill him as well. Or is it because your cold heart actually has feeling for your nephew?" Orocimaru said to Kabuto in his ear.

Kabuto grinned. "Why would you think of that Lord Orocimaru? He's not yet acting like his father, whom I despise. For some reason he reminds me of myself at that age."

"So that's why you won't kill him?" Orocimaru asked him, but suddenly grabbed Kabuto's package again just like before. Kabuto let out a groan, as his master whispered to him. "Honestly Kabu, you've gone soft." He said licking his face…