A/N: Chapter 3. It feels really awkward so if you hate it, I totally understand.

Apologies for spelling, grammar and OOCness

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Karui sat in silence, trying to absorb the mountain of ridiculous information she's just been given. She still couldn't believe it.

At first she thought that they were just joking. There's no such thing as ancient shape shifting people that take on the form of animals. There's no way her uncle and big brother were some kind of weird half cat things. It couldn't be true.

But after uncle Bee changed into a five hundred pound tiger right in front of her, she realised that it was very true. Right now she was sitting at the kitchen table along with Bee and Darui. Both of them were staring anxiously waiting for her to say something.

Karui swallowed, "W-what about mom and dad?"

"They were the same." Bee said still staring at the girl.

"Why are you only telling me all this now?"

"You turned sixteen, its the normal age for Kaiju to start shifting," Darui started, "plus your scent was starting to get stronger."

The girls eyebrows furrowed, "My scent?"

"You're like me and uncle Bee, neko, basically you sort of smell like us."

"You mean I reek of cat!" Karui exclaimed before shrinking back in her chair in embarrassment.

Bee chuckled, "Its really not that bad, you'll be able to smell us once you shift."

"Do you remember how Naruto's friends kept sniffing last night?" Darui asked Karui nodded, "They must've caught your scent that's why they were acting a bit weird."

"Naruto's one too?!" She said almost jumping out of her chair.

"Yes, although he's a Kitsune, not Neko like us."

"A-and the others?"

Darui looked up in thought thinking back to the night before, "I caught the scent of dog, deer and a snake coming from their table. As far as the others Ten ten-"

"Ten ten too?" Karui growled a little upset that her friend was keeping a secret like this, "Next thing you tell me that Choji is a Kaiju too."

"Good guess."

"Really?!" Karui's eyes went wide, "What about Ino? And Sakura?"

"No their human."

"Lucky."

"Its O.K," Bee started taking the girls hand giving her a reassuring smile, "you get used to it. And we'll be here to help you out along the way."

Karui smiled back feeling a little bit better, "Thanks uncle Bee." Maybe things wouldn't be too bad. It is pretty cool when you think about it, although something was bothering her.

"What does it mean to be mated?"

Both men froze, staring at the girl. They were quiet for a few moments until Darui spoke, "The guy who grabbed your arm, you said he was with Naruto right?"

"Yeah."

"Which one was he?"

Karui felt slightly uncomfortable, they seemed really tense for some reason, "Uchiha Sasuke, he has black hair-"

"Sitting on the far right next Naruto right."

"Yeah."

Darui frowned, Bee looked at him waiting for a reply. "Snake."

Bee said nothing just stared at the table for a long time.

Karui snapped, "Will someone tell me what's wrong?!"

"Last night you said your stomach felt funny and you got really dizzy. That's probably around the time that he mated you."

"And what does that mean?"

"Once you've shifted you'll be able to get the eternal mark," Bee started, "its sort of like a coming of age. When you get it, it'll look like a scar and it can appear on any part of your body. There's no set age for receiving the mark, but once you do your power, strength and speed will increase tenfold. However, that the only way to activate the marks power is to take a mate."

Darui looked up at his sister, "Karui you've seen animal planet, right? Saw the parts where a lion takes a mate?"

"What does that have to do with-... no..." Karui's eyes went wide and she stopped breathing.

"If this, Uchiha, has his mark then you really could have been chosen to be his mate."

The girl shook her head, "No! I-I haven't even changed yet and I'm already being pawned off as some guys sex toy?!" She stood up and started pacing up and down the kitchen.

Bee gave a heavy sigh, "The mark is about more than that, once he has fully mated you your souls will be bound together for all eternity. Hence the eternal mark."

"And exactly how is he going to 'fully mate' me?" Karui stopped eyes fixed on the two men at the table. Who did nothing except stare back.

Sometimes silence speaks a million words.

"I knew it!" She started pacing again. "There is no way I'm going through with this."

"You may not have a choice in the matter." Darui said leaning back in his chair.

"Why not?"

"You've already started feeling the effects of the bond last night, you remember what it felt like when he touched you right."

Karui stopped, fidgeting uncomfortably. Oh she remembers what it felt like, the memory alone sent shivers up her spine. "Yeah so."

"You might have control over it right now, but once you shift all bets are off. Kaiju are all instinct Karui, sure you have some level of control over yourself but you can't fight it forever."

The redhead scoffed, "Watch me!"

She turned to leave the room when Bee called, "It could ruin him."

Karui stopped but didn't look back.

"A rejected mate is extremely traumatic for a Kaiju, rejecting could destroy him."

She said nothing.

"Dad once told me that mom almost rejected him, he said it nearly killed him."

...

...

"I'm going to go get ready for work." The girl walked out of the kitchen and headed straight for her room. She closed the door before sinking down to the floor. Karui felt a sharp tug in her chest and started to feel sick.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"This is certainly an interesting situation you've gotten yourself into, Uchiha." The blond woman said lacing her fingers together and bracing her elbows on the table in front of her.

Sasuke sat on the other side of the dining room table staring at the blond woman on the other side. There's no one authority when it comes to Kaiju law, but there are elders who try and... manage the chaos. Tsunade is one of those elders. Like all societies there needs to be a base of operations for these authorities. Of course central buildings would draw unwanted attention from the humans, so for simplisity's sake all Kaiju business is conducted in the elders home.

Much to their annoyance.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the woman, "How is this interesting?"

"Well usually when you find a mate, they've already gotten their mark." She started, leaning forward. "But this girl hasn't even started shifting yet and that, could be a problem."

"Normally when you mate someone, their mark allows them to mate you back which signifies the eternal soul mate ideal." Tsunade placed her chin on her hands keeping Sasuke in her gaze, "However since she doesn't have her mark yet, there's no guarantee that she'll mate you once she does."

Sasuke froze. Just when he'd made some resemblance of peace with this whole mating thing, he finds out that he could lose her before he even has her. "What?"

"It would be different if she already started shifting then the odds would be in your favour, but since she hasn't there's a chance that she might mate someone else."

"Lady Tsunade, what will happen to Sasuke if she does mate someone else?" Shizune asked, who had been standing at the blond woman's side.

"His bond to her will stay regardless of how she feels, so ultimately-"

"I'll end up like Mizuki." Sasuke interrupted staring off into space.

"This is a rare circumstance Uchiha, its not impossible. I doubt that she'll find another mate, but if she does its only fair you know now." Tsunade leaned back in her chair, "I'll do some more research on this just in case. In the meantime I suggest you play nice with your kitten, you wouldn't want her to reject you prematurely."

Sasuke nodded stiffly before standing up and leaving the house.

She could pick someone else?

She could pick someone else?!

Like hell she would!

Sasuke started to shift anger burning in his gaze as he glared at everything and nothing at the same time. His clothes slid off of his body as it stretched. One destination etched in his mind-

"You'll scare her if you show up like that."

Sasuke looked back, he was half turned so his neck allowed for the normally awkward movement.

He saw Tsunade standing on the porch of the large house leaning against a pole by the stairs. "Remember Uchiha, play nice."

The raven hissed as he finished his shift and left rapidly moving over logs and leaves. So maybe that wasn't a good idea but he knows the next best thing.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Karui glared at the brunette in front of her, who was smiling nervously hands raised in surrender.

"It wasn't my place, this is something you have to talk about with your family."

"And what about when I started to smell like cat?"

Ten ten laughed nervously, "Darui made me promise that I wouldn't."

"Great," Karui huffed slumping into a chair behind the counter, "I've been sold out."

"Oh come on Karui," the brunette said, "at least you know now."

"Whatever." The redhead mumbled folding her arms over her chest.

"Excuse me, can I get a refill." Karui stood up and grabbed the coffee to refill the mans cup who was sitting at a table near the counter, after filling his cup she walked back. It was unusually quiet for a saturday, with barely more than five people in the diner.

"So, what made them tell you." Ten ten asked wiping the counter top clean.

Karui went to work two hours after she had locked herself in her room. She needed to make a decision, even though she really didn't want to.

Karui wasn't heartless, she wouldn't let someone suffer and maybe die because of her. But that doesn't mean that she was just going to give in. Besides she wasn't really sure that she'd survive Sasuke's suffering either.

So after hours of of uncomfortable thought she decided to at least give him a chance. Until he gets on her nerves in which case the bastard can die.

She looked around not sure if she could talk about such things in public. "Apparently I've been mated."

Ten ten stopped and gawked at the redhead, before shouting, "Mated?!"

Karui shushed her giving her a small glare, "Would you keep it down. Ino's here I don't want her finding out about this."

"Sorry, its just... when?"

"Last night."

"Last night?!"

"Ten ten!"

"Who?"

"The alcoholic on death row."

"Sasuke...?"

The brunette froze and stared in complete silence. Karui waited, but no ones ever accused her of being patient. "Just say something."

"Holy shit!" Well at least its something.

"So now what?"

"I don't know," Karui said absently tucking some hair behind her ear, "I figured I'd wait for him to make a move. I mean, I don't know what to do in this kind off situation."

There was silence.

"Normally," the brunette suddenly said eyebrows furrowed in thought, "You're supposed to be living with him now."

"Living with him?!"

"My mom once told me that your supposed to live with your mate once you've found them. Something about unbearable distance or something."

"Distance, huh."

"Yeah, its also supposed to make the whole consumation thing easier too. I guess the closer you are the easier it is to-"

Ten ten looked up at Karui for a moment seeing her obvious discomfort with this topic and she grinned. When else would she ever get such a perfect opportunity to get Karui back for all the teasing she's received over Darui.

"Karui~" Ten ten said with a sing song voice.

The red head looked at Ten ten surprised at her tone of voice, "What?"

"You know how you two are going to complete the mating right?"

Karui felt her heat rush to her face.

The brunette walked over to Karui and took her hand giving her the best fake sincere face she could, "As the future mrs. Uchiha, you have certain... obligations that you have to fulfil."

"Very funny." The redhead ripped her hand away and made to retreat to the kitchen.

Ten ten followed laughing loudly, "I'm serious-"

Just then the front doors opened and both girls looked back to see the new customer. Gold eyes went wide as they met with onyx and the red head froze and her heart started beating wildly.

"Hey guys!" Naruto said loudly appearing behind the raven.

"Hey Naruto... Sasuke." Ten ten said with a sly grin aimed for the Karui.

Karui didn't notice she felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest. As if sensing her discomfort the raven smirked.

The redhead's head snapped towards Ten ten and the brown eyed girls grin grew even bigger as she started humming the wedding march. "Bum bum badum, bum bum badum..."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sasuke growled in irritation.

A whole hour went by and Karui was yet to make an appearance. After Sasuke arrived at the diner, the redhead said a quick hello and ran like a freight train straight for the kitchen.

After his talk with Tsunade the Uchiha made a bee line for Naruto's to get the blond to go with him to the diner. He needed to make sure that the girl wasn't about to reject him, but he didn't want to be too obvious so he convinced Naruto go with him with the promise of free food.

When he walked through the door he felt an instant pull towards his mate and when he saw the look of shock and disbelief on her face, he couldn't help but smirk. He actually started looking forward to this. Unfortunately the redhead had other ideas and bolted the first chance she got.

The raven growled again clutching the glass in his hand so tightly it started to crack.

"Something wrong, Sasuke?" Ten ten asked giving him a knowing look.

"Yeah Teme, you look really tense." Naruto asked watching Sasuke over his bowl of noodles.

"I'm fine."

"You know Sasuke its been a long day," Ten ten started refilling his cracked glass with more water. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the girl confused at her actions. "Usually Karui takes a break around this time, there's a bench next to a tree out back. Her favourite spot."

The ravens eyes widened slightly before he gave her a grin and stood up, walking towards the front door.

"Where are you going?" The blond asked setting down an empty bowl.

"Outside, I'll be right back." He said over his shoulder, with Ten ten snickering behind the counter.

The second he got outside he felt same familiar pull as he felt earlier. Sasuke walked around the side of the building, the first thing he saw was crimson hair swaying in the breeze. The girl was sitting on an old bench with her head lay back, eyes closed. He walked up to her surprised that she didn't immediately look up, she was asleep.

The raven smirked before sitting down right next to her. Moving a little closer Karui's head slumped to the side, falling on his left shoulder. Sasuke felt a slight heat rush through him and settle on the spot where the girls head rested. Compared to his shoulder the rest of his body felt cold.

She moved in her sleep and started nuzzling his neck lips slightly parted. Sasuke knew what he was feeling was due to the mark, it had nothing to do with his own feelings. How could it? The tug in his chest had nothing to do with him, it was the mark's pull. And the way his hands burned to touch her had nothing to do him either.

That's why Sasuke felt less guilty when he lifted a hand and gently stroked her cheek. The redhead let out a soft sigh and her own hand reached up to take his and she lightly rubbed her cheek against his palm. The Uchiha was so transfixed in the sight that he didn't notice her eyelids start to twitch until they slowly opened. Gold peered up sleepily at him and Sasuke could've sworn that his heart stopped.

"...Sasuke..."

The girl stiffened as her eyes went impossibly wide and she pulled away as if she was burned, scrambling back on the bench. "WHAT THE HELL!"

The Uchiha winced when she shouted seeming to snap back into reality. "Calm down."

"What are you doing here?" Karui growled eyes narrowed at the raven.

"We need to talk." He answered leaning back against the bench, an unemotional look settling on his face.

"About what?"

"About last night."

At this the redhead froze before looking down at her lap. "What about it?"

"Do you know what happened?" Sasuke asked watching the girls face and the emotions passing through it.

"Yes."

Sasuke almost breathed a sigh of relief. Karui didn't seem to have any knowledge of Kaiju what so ever the night before. Her knowing now would make things so much easier.

"Good. I take it you haven't shifted yet."

Karui shook her head still not looking up, prompting Sasuke to continue. "Alright. Then you'll be living with me from now on."

The girls head snapped towards him eyes fixing on his face, "Excuse me?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Karui's head snapped towards Sasuke eyes fixing on his face, "Excuse me?"

"You're my mate, you'll be living with me."

Karui ignored the pang of happiness, which she couldn't (more like wouldn't) explain, in her chest and settled to focus on a more familiar emotion. Anger.

"No I'm not."

The raven smirked, "What makes you think you have a choice?"

'That's it! The bastard can die!'

"What makes you think I don't?"

Something flashed in Sasuke's eyes and turned into a glare. Karui flinched but before she could move he moved first. Quick as lightning the Uchiha had moved across the small bench and pinned the girl beneath him. Karui gasped as her back connected with the wood.

"Like I said before," Sasuke growled, "You're my mate, what I say goes."

The redhead tried to move her arms but failed and settled to glare up at her captor, "You don't own me! You can't tell me what to do."

The grip on her wrists tightened, "That's where you're wrong." Sasuke smirked as he leaned in "You feel it don't you?"

Karui instinctively tried to move back before she realised that she had nowhere to go. "Get. Off."

"The pull." He said now so close he was breathing against her neck, lips brushing gently across her skin, which made her shiver involuntarily. "There it is."

"Go to hell!" Panic filled her mind but she hid it well. A strange feeling was boiling up inside of her setting off warning bells. She took a deep breath trying to calm down only for the smell of his skin to fill her nose and intensify that odd feeling.

It felt good.

Karui's heart race and her breaths started coming out in pants. He needs to get off of her NOW.

Suddenly a loud crash came from the front of the diner, before a feral snarl erupted in the air.

A/N: Chapter 3 complete.

Next chapter is important. I've always like Suigetsu and Juugo so I had to put the remaining members of team Taka in this. Tell me what you think. Suggestions appreciated

Please review.

- Frankie