"Yuka? Are you okay?" Daisuke asked, his voice a little frantic outside the door. It had been well over twenty minutes.

She crossed to the door, deactivating the seal before opening it. "I'm good, just freshening up. I may take a nap before dinner," she admitted, smiling softly up at the young nin. "Do you care if I nap or will you get in trouble?"

"No, I won't get in trouble. I just have to keep watch. Are you sure you're okay though? Kiba would kill me if anything happened…"

"I'm fine! Kiba can answer to me if he needs to," she assured, nodding at him. "Just wake me in a couple hours if Kiba hasn't come back. I'm sure he'll start looking or something when he's done speaking to Tsume-san."

"Alright, well I'll be right out here if you need anything," Daisuke assured, moving to stand against the opposite wall. "Have a good nap. I'm sure you need it after all that."

She just smirked at him. "You're lucky I let my guard down, pup," she mimicked, trying to sound like Tsume.

Daisuke just smirked, shaking his head. "Oh boy, were in for a rough transition, I can tell."

"You know too much," Yuka insisted, closing the door as she went back inside the room. The second she did she put up the seal again, moving to the bed. Her thigh was still throbbing. The seal didn't help her much. It restricted its spreading making it cover only her inner thigh but it still ached. It was a deep discomfort, something odd and imbalanced.

Thisss is the beginning, my Yuka… she heard, her eyes searching around for the speaker. She expected Orochimaru to slither out of the darkness but she saw nothing. This is a side effect of my ultimate curse mark. I can communicate my orders to you. Are you prepared? I come tonight, at midnight, to transport you to my safe house.

"I thought we had agreed to perform the ritual here, under cover to deceive them into bringing you back to the village?" Yuka thought, hoping he could hear her.

My plans have been compromised. Konoha is aware of our plot. As we speak the Hokage is planning a counter attack.

Yuka froze, unsure what to do. If Konohamaru knew, then so did Tsume. Kiba had to know now, she was sure he'd never trust her again. This is what she had wanted, to make him keep his distance from her but she never expected this. Orochimaru must have known the whole time that they were suspicious of her. He used her as a pawn but to what other end she had no idea.

Yuka, listen carefully. My plan has come to fruitation. Soon I will be there to take you away and we shall join, as one, to consume Konoha- our ultimate goal. I will be Hokage of a new village and you will be the face of this new nation. Those who owe allegiance to Naruto Uzumaki will flock to your name, of this I'm sure.

"Sensei, was this you're plan all along? To make yourself known to Konoha? I do not understand."

My plans changed. What matters is that you stay alive until I get there. They are suspicious of you; even you're precious Inuzuka boy. I knew you would give in to him, something I banked on this entire plan. You have released your seal, something not easily mended. It was not intended to contend with a stronger chakra. Now that you've given yourself to that Inuzuka brat, you are in a delicate position. You carry his seed which I will have great need of later.

"Orochimaru-sama," Yuka insisted, dumbfounded by his claims. "You planned this-every step? The curse-mark, coming to Konoha, falling for Kiba-kun? You knew everything?"

Do not be bitter, Yuka-chan. He whispered seductively. You've always been mine. You may not end up impregnated by his seed; that is not what is important. The fact that his DNA is now within you holds significant value for me. The Inuzuka are the most powerful clan of Konoha, even more so than the Hyuuga. Did you really think I'd leave the faith of my future body to the child of that brat Naruto Uzumaki?

"You… you said Jiraiya was your target, that his body held the key to your immortality and that he was the ideal vessel."

I did, and he is. However, I can see that there is no way to get to him. He is well protected, both by his clan and the Kyuubi spirit that still exists within him. However, the seed of an Uzumaki and an Inuzuka would prove to be most useful especially if Konoha is to be mine.

"This was a set up," Yuka gripped the sheets of the bed, her head throbbing in protest, trying to force Orochimaru out. "You used me to create you're ultimate vessel. I'm nothing but a stepping stone for your sick plans!"

Don't be so ignorant. You've known this from the beginning- when I first found you scrapping by on meager ninja skills learned from the pupil of my former best friend. You've known this whole time that I was going to use you. You're just acting like a child and now there is nothing you can do. Konoha wants nothing to do with you and that Inuzuka boy is probably heartbroken. In fact, I believe his father went insane from such pressure. We'll see how the boy holds up.

"Don't touch him! Just leave him out of this… he did nothing wrong."

This is a new side of you, Yuka-chan. It's quite surprising. That passion will prove useful, I'm sure.

"Don't hurt him, please. I'll give you anything you want. I'll kill anyone you want. I'll do you're bidding and I'll give you the ultimate vessel from my own womb. Just don't hurt him."

You may not be pregnant… but when I combine his DNA with yours and produce the ultimate body, I will be invincible. My will will be impregnated within you, my spirit trapping your own within my ultimate genjutsu. When I have used you to fulfill my true destiny then, and only then, do you have my permission to die.

Yuka started sobbing, her body finally growing weak. She fell to the side onto the soft bed, the scent of Kiba lingering everywhere. She felt the hot and stinging tears roll down her cheeks, soaking the blanket beneath her. "No," she whispered, clutching the blanket close. "No… please no…"

Be ready, Yuka. I have been building up chakra for this very reason. You can try to run from me, try to fight me off, but in the end it will only go unwell for those who are in the way. I will possess you and in that purpose, you should take comfort. It's what you were born for.

"NO!" she screamed, throwing a pillow at the wall. It landed with a thud and she groaned, holding herself in the fetal position. Her heart had sunk, so far that she couldn't even feel it beat. Her mouth was dry, her head pulsing and the more she tried to expel Orochimaru's chakra from her body the stronger it became until finally, a dull haze had settled over her. She didn't even remember passing out.

Kiba stood at the entrance to the arena, his eyes firmly locked on the far wall. His mind was overrun with anger, annoyance, regret, and most of all confusion. He'd devoted himself to Yuka and he felt as if he couldn't be away from her for more than a few hours. His chest ached, his head throbbed, and the memories of the night before made his heart heavier than lead. He needed her, he knew he did but it was a war within. He barely knew the real her, had never felt love like this before, and was utterly deceived by the first person he's let in in almost five years.

He needed to take action, to confront her and finally get the truth from her, even if he had to be rough. Damn it. Shikamaru had laid out a plan, something to anticipate Orochimaru's attempt at breaking Yuka out of the Inuzuka compound if the situation arose. Kiba was meant to keep up a charade with Yuka, keep her thinking that everything is secure and the same as before. He really didn't think he could do that.

As he stood there, contemplating what to do, Daisuke came up behind him, sniffing gently. "You seem preoccupied, Kiba-san," he admitted, leaning up against the railing next to him. "What's up?"

"Where is Yuka?" Kiba asked, trying to keep the harshness from his voice.

"Sleeping. We were sparring a little while ago."

"Sparring?" Kiba asked, looking him over. He had no particular bruises or cuts. "How did that go?"

"Good, until she let her guard down. Almost pummeled her," he said, raising his hands in defiance. "She's fine though. Thought I injured her but she said it was nothing."

"I'm going to find her. Don't disturb us," Kiba said, turning from him without another word. He sauntered down the hall toward Yuka's room, ignoring Daisuke's voice as he talked after him. Kiba didn't care. He had to see her, had to do something. If their plan came to fruitation, she would be locked up for a long time.

When he came to the door he paused, sniffing lightly. He smelled nothing out of the ordinary, his eyes narrowing. It was almost too perfect, the room quiet and steady. He could smell Yuka from outside, her form somewhere in the room though he couldn't quite place it. He slowly turned the door handle, stepping inside. He felt a change in pressure the second he shut the door behind him, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. Yuka must have had a seal up around the room.

He found her, her huddled form, curled into the covers of the bed. Her cheeks were damp, her eyes swollen from tears. He halted immediately, unsure what to do. He hadn't considered her capable of real tears. He quickly made his way to the side of the bed, looking down at her. She was breathing steadily, her facial expression blank. He didn't want to wake her, not like this. Watching her sleep was something he found to be enjoyable; the way her chest rose and fell and the way her lips parted made her look weak, almost innocent.

He knelt down, his hands on the bed as he watched her, his face inches from hers. He wanted her again, more than ever. His sexual urges were mounting, making it extremely difficult to focus on his mission. He tried to remember her alliances, her allegiance with Konoha's natural enemy, Orochimaru, but all he could see was Yuka, the girl he thought he knew. He had to show restraint. His mother had made it clear to him what happened when he mated during his transformation.

A chain effect, set off by his own powers, would instill Yuka with his own chakra, a distinct marker that never left her body. Once marked, all who belonged to the clan were aware of her position and allegiance. A special scent emanated from her like a hive. She was the Alpha's forever and anyone who wished to challenge it would be, like a wolf pack, cast out. Kiba had unknowingly provided her with the ultimate protection. He gently sighed, his breath blowing the hair from her eyes. It was like thick silk, untamed and blood red in the lighting.

He pushed a lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. He could hear her softly sigh at this, her eyes still firmly closed. She didn't stand a chance against Orochimaru, not by herself. And what fate awaited her in Konoha wasn't much better.

"Yuka," he whispered, his eyes watching her face. "Yuka, wake up."

She stirred slightly, her eyes opening quickly to stare at him. She wasn't startled, her eyes searching his slowly. He could see the gloss of unshed tears in her eyes as she looked away, her hand coming to push herself upright. Kiba quickly sat on the bed next to her, pulling her to him in a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her words barely audible between her gasps and soft sobs. "I'm so sorry Kiba."

"For what?" he asked, his eyes closing as he inhaled her scent.

"Don't play stupid," she murmured, her hands clutching his leather jacket. "Don't… you know what I've done."

He grabbed her shoulders, pushing her back so he could look into her eyes. "Say it," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me the truth now if you really mean it."

She paused, her eyes drifting down to the bed. She closed them for a moment before looking back up at him, her eyes meeting his. Orochimaru's words were ringing in her ears. You can try to run from me, try to fight me off, but in the end it will only go unwell for those who are in the way.

"Promise me you won't interfere, promise me that you won't put yourself in harm's way to try and stop this… to try and stop me…" she begged, her tears still brimming in her emerald green eyes.

"I won't. I owe nothing to you, Yuka. You used me," he whispered, his grip tightening slightly. "You used me to get close to Jiraiya, to get close to my friends and family. You used me to get close to the Alpha. I owe you nothing."

"Than kill me now," she said, moving to sit on her knees before him. "Take your kunai and end me now, while you can."

Kiba looked at her abashed, his eyes growing wide. There was true sincerity in her voice, her eyes watching his face closely. He quickly grabbed his kunai, bringing it up so it was level with the pale skin of her neck. She extended it, raising her chin, her tears rolling down her cheeks and jaw line.

"Do it," she whispered, her breath a bit uneven. "Kill me, Kiba."

Kiba stared at her, her unwavering eyes and the way in which she was determined to end it all. She wanted this, truly, and he could tell. This was the real Yuka, the woman he fell for. Selfless, brave, and most of all, she was his and his alone. She didn't want to share herself with another; she no longer wanted revenge on Konoha. She was free of all that, from all the pain that had once shackled her to hatred.

"I could do it," he whispered, his other hand going to the back of her neck. "I could slit your throat and all of Orochimaru's plans would go up in flames. I could end this whole sequence of events with your death. But I don't think that's good enough for you."

Her eyes widened and she grasped her knees, her lip quivering. "There is no time," she gasped. "Before the curse mark consumes me, kill me Kiba. Kill me to save everyone else. Jiraiya, Hinata, Tsume, Hana… everyone. Kill me to save yourself."

"I just need to know why? Why did you lie to me? Why did you promise yourself to me?"

"Please," she murmured, a pained expression coming over her face. "Kill me."

"Begging for death? That isn't like you," he growled, tilting her head to look him in the eyes. "Why? Why did you do it?"

"I won't tell you," Yuka assured, her eyes closing. "You'll never know and that is something you have to be content with. Now be a man! Be a shinobi, be the Alpha you were meant to be and save your clan and village. Kill me!"

He growled harshly, grabbing her hair and pulling her head back so it revealed her neck again, his kunai held steadily against it. "You have the curse mark… so tell me, what is it like betraying the only person who's ever loved you? What is it like knowing that with your death you will have destroyed everything that was once important to me, everything that was once mine?"

"You don't even know me. You cannot love me and I cannot love you. Right now I'm your enemy, a threat to Konoha and its future. Kill me before it's too late."

"It's already too late!" Kiba howled, throwing his kunai into the wall and pinning her to the bed on her back. He stared down at her with both hunger and sorrow. "I cannot kill you, and neither can any member of our clan. We are bound."

She tried pushing him off of her, her chakra levels phasing in and out. The seal was making it ever more difficult to control herself. She pressed against his chest, shaking her head back and forth until his hand clasped around her hip, the other palming her breast. She almost screamed at him.

"You don't understand do you?" he said, his voice deeper than usual, almost animalistic. "We've mated. You belong to me, and I to you. You are the female Alpha in our clan, no matter how much we both regret it. What is worse is that you now hold my seed within you; the ultimate protection."

Yuka's eyes went wide now, looking into his face with horror and disbelief. She couldn't even find the words to articulate what she was feeling. Suddenly she felt a strong pang of pain emanate from her thigh, the room around her going white. She could feel Kiba's arms shake her, and his frantic voice trying to bring her back to him but all she could hear was a drumming in the distance. A deep drum that seemed to grow louder and louder as time went on.

Kiba was panicked, his arms shaking her as gently as possible. "Yuka!" he said, his arms pulling her to him. "Yuka! Snap out of it. Come on, seriously… you're better than this. You can overcome it. Yuka!"

His voice was echoing in the drums, his words coming to her in bits and pieces. She tried shaking herself, to break this haze but her head started to throb, her legs going numb. She reached out, her hand touching something warm and solid. "K-kiba…" she urged, her arms reaching for him. She almost gasped at the warmth that encased her. It was Kiba, his arms holding her to him, his soft words tickling her ear.

"Come back to me… you don't have to give in to him. Be strong."

A harsh pain erupted within her head, making her stomach turn in protest. She cried out, her head falling back over her shoulders in an unnatural way making her body look frail, even breakable. "Kiba! Kiba kill me!" she begged, her arms flailing up and down. "Do it now. I don't want to hurt you! Please! Kill me!"

Suddenly she was falling, her body leaving her as she felt the cold dark embrace her. "Kill me."

"No!" he cried out, his voice reaching her from what seemed like a distance. "Yuka!" She felt his arms pulling her, her own descent halted by a warmth she'd never felt. Suddenly she realized she was on the bed again, her hands grasping Kiba's upper arms like a vice. He came into focus now, his face a conflict of panic and concern.

"K-kiba…" she said, her eyes wide in horror.

"Be quiet for now," he whispered, his hands grazing her sides. "Just relax. I can protect you…"

"I can't let you. He'll find you. He'll use me to get to you. I can't just let you do this," She begged. "Please, Kiba… if you really love me you'll take that kunai and kill me, right here, right now."

"I can't. Don't you understand? You're my alpha, my other half! If I kill you it will kill everything that I hold dear. I would be a shell of my former self. Not to mention it is impossible for one alpha to kill another. The bond is too strong."

"Then someone has to do it," she cried, her shaking arms wrapping around his chest. "Please, Kiba… I would rather die than see harm come to you or your family."

"I wish there was a way out of this Yuka," he groaned, his arms holding her as she shook in his arms. It reminded him of a newborn pup, frightened and helpless.

"Kiba," she managed to whisper after a few more minutes. "I can't stay here. He will find me. His curse mark is designed to both communicate with me and reverse summon him. When the time comes he will come here and…and…" she couldn't finish, her tears spilling over her cheeks like a waterfall. She hasn't felt this weak since that fateful day that started this whole series in motion.

"I will not let him touch you, no matter what I have to do," he whispered into her hair. "You're protected by our entire clan, even if Konoha will not aid. As our future alpha you are primed to carry my child, but as my woman you are bound to me in the most intimate way possible. Nothing can break that."

"I cannot ask that," she protested, pushing him away. "I will not risk the entire future of the Inuzuka clan to save myself."

He just grinned at her, kissing her lips gently. "Spoken like a true Alpha," he murmured.

"I won't allow it," she affirmed. "I won't."

"Then what is your plan?" Kiba asked, his eyes finding hers. "Konoha already knows of your betrayal. Shikamaru has come up with counter-measures and Hokage-sama has agreed that, if you are still alive at the end of this conflict, you will be put under strict punishment."

"Then I'll die, and take him with me," Yuka said, moving to stand in front of him. She swayed a bit before gaining her balance. She crossed the room before Kiba could grab her and pulled out a handful of scrolls from her bag. "These are my most precious scrolls, passed down from my mother. They detail a seal, originally developed for the tailed beasts, to bind and seal a soul. It is almost exactly like the Reaper Death Seal, used by the third and forth Hokage. That seal was actually developed from this one."

"But that means-."

"I know and I'm more than willing to go through with it. No matter what the cost," Yuka affirmed, laying the seal face up on the floor.

"No, there has to be another way," Kiba pleaded. "We could neutralize him, kill him once and for all."

"If his soul isn't sealed or I'm still not dead he will find a way to regenerate through his other cursed pawns," Yuka insisted. "His soul, and mine, needs to be sealed away and there is only one way to do this. You have to stick with Shikamaru's plan."

"I won't," Kiba insisted. "Shikamaru's plan is-."

"Brilliant, I'm sure," Yuka said, turning to face Kiba who was now standing next to her. "I love you Kiba. I've never felt this kind of love before. I've never wanted to. Now, more than anything in this world, I want to preserve it. You have to promise me that you'll stick with his plan, whatever it is. They cannot know what I plan on doing. Orochimaru will pick up on it."

"How do you know he won't read your mind with his curse mark?" Kiba asked, his eyes following hers.

"I don't. It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"And if it doesn't work?" Kiba urged.

"Than kill us both, like you are probably intending on doing."