A/N: sorry it took so long, things have been a bit hectic.

Usual apologies.

Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

Kurotsuchi froze as the cat growled at her, eyes fierce and pulsing with fury. "Uh oh..."

Before she could move, Karui pounced knocking the girl onto her back and growled menacingly teeth stained a dark red.

"Shit!" Kurotsuchi cursed hands braced on the panther to keep it a safe distance away.

Hinata gave a nervous hoot and stared between the two, unsure of what she was supposed to do. For her part Kurotsuchi didn't know what to do either. On the one hand she doesn't want to hurt her best friend, on the other hand she doesn't want to die.

"Sorry about this Red." The girl said before lifting both her legs and kicking the creature off, through a large nearby window.

Glass shattered and the cat gave a pained mewl as it hit the concrete ground outside. Kurotsuchi quickly got up on her feet and stared out the window, with Hinata right next to her.

Karui growled again until she suddenly froze and her eyes pulsed before she ran out of sight.

"Great, she picks now to flip out on us." Kurotsuchi huffed before turning towards the owl beside her. "You follow her and make sure she's O.K, I'll get Killerbee and Darui."

Hinata nodded, hopped onto the broken window sill and took off. Kurotsuchi turned around and started her shift when she saw Sasori's bloody remains on the floor and gave an exasperated sigh.

"Damn it! I forgot about them."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sasuke was restless.

The raven kept pacing up and down in the living room. A seemingly unnecessary action, but Sasuke couldn't sit down.

"Something wrong, Sasuke?" Suigetsu asked from the couch, as he watched the Uchiha move back and forth.

Sasuke said nothing, just kept moving. His body was threatening to break into a shift so he just kept pacing, afraid that if he stopped it would happen whether he liked it or not.

'What the hell is going on?!'

Karin was sitting slouched next to Suigetsu with her head resting on her hand, elbow braced on the armrest. The redhead gave an exasperated sigh, "Is it time to go pick up Karui yet? I don't remember school ever being this long. How long do we have to wait?"

Sasuke gave the girl a quick glance but didn't stop pacing. "Till three."

"Great."

Suigetsu raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Why do you care anyway?"

"I don't," Karin said staring at her nails. "I just figured I'd go with Sasuke when he goes to pick her up."

"You want to tag along?"

"Yes."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Sasuke would want this time alone with Bright eyes?"

The Uchiha flinched.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Sasuke hates it when you call her that. Besides, I won't get in the way," Karin said. "I just want to make sure she's O.K, you know with everything that's happened over the weekend."

Suigetsu gave a snort, "More like make sure her brother is O.K."

"I am not!" The redhead glared.

"Sure you aren't."

"You-"

"Are you alright Sasuke?" Juugo suddenly said putting an end to the argument. The amber eyed man sat at a table nearby with an open book, while Sasuke just kept pacing.

"Something's wrong."

Karin looked up at the raven, "What is it?"

"I don't know."

He let out a low hiss, trying to fight back the shift that just got stronger and more insistent. Fangs started growing in the Uchiha's mouth and he took a deep breath as he forced them back.

"You look like you're about to shift to me." Suigetsu said as his eyebrows furrowed.

Sasuke barely paid him any attention.

Something more important was happening somewhere else. Something that demanded his attention. He just didn't know what it was.

After a few more moments he finally decided to give in and headed straight for the front door. After all Kaiju can only fight off instinct for so long.

"Where are you going?!" Karin called sounding slightly alarmed.

Sasuke ripped open the wooden frame and stepped outside, but before he could morph a growl erupted around him. The Uchiha started scanning his surroundings until his eyes fell on a large black cat headed straight for him. Running at full speed.

Without warning the creature pounced, causing Sasuke to fall flat on his back.

Suddenly his urge to shift stopped and he stared down at the animal, which was now rubbing against his chest and purring loudly.

Sasuke sat up and got a good look at the creature in his lap. A panther with bright gold eyes and three red streaks running across its face.

The Uchiha gave a confused smile before lifting a hand to stroke the cats fur, earning an even louder purr as it stretched out on his lap.

"Who's that?"

Sasuke looked up to find Suigetsu grinning down at him next to Juugo, while Karin peered over Juugo's shoulder.

The raven shrugged, "Karui."

"So she finally shifted." The purple eyed man smirked, "Has she always been this affectionate?"

"Someone got hurt." Juugo said taking a step forward.

It was then that Sasuke noticed the fresh blood around Karui's muzzle and his eyebrows furrowed.

"What's that?"

Karin was out on the porch staring up into the sky. Juugo and Suigetsu went to stand next to her and searched the sky till they found what she was looking at.

Karui however barely paid any of them any attention, in fact the cat was just seconds away from falling asleep on Sasuke's lap.

A large black bird was circling the sky above, until it caught sight of the people below and gave a loud screech before swooping down to land in front of them.

An owl, raven feathers with large lavender eyes. The bird let its eyes sweep over them until they fell on Karui and it tried to move closer.

Juugo let out a low growl while Suigetsu and Karin hissed.

The owl stopped and started to shift. Feathers receded and it's size grew until a raven haired girl stood in front of them.

"Is she alright?" The girl asked looking a little uncomfortable in her state of undress.

Sasuke's met her before. Once when he picked Karui up from school, Hinata.

"Who wants to know?" Karin hissed, eyes narrowed in a glare.

"I-"

"She's fine." Sasuke interrupted getting confused glance's from the others. "What happened?"

"We were attacked at school. Karui made a run for it and... I guess that's when she shifted."

"You guess?"

"She made a run for it, but Deidara followed. By the time she got back she'd already shifted."

Juugo narrowed his eyes. "And Deidara?"

"Dead, I think."

"So that's his blood."

Hinata nodded at Sasuke's question. "Yes and... Sasori's."

The raven's head snapped up, "She got both of them?"

"Yes."

That was more than just a little surprising. Sasuke never could have guessed, that Karui would be that strong already.

"I'm glad she's O.K."

Suigetsu folded his arms over his chest, "Why wouldn't she be?"

"Well," Hinata paused. "She lost control, she even tried to attack Kurotsuchi before coming here."

"That's normal behaviour for newborns." Juugo said looking over his shoulder at Sasuke and Karui. "It takes a while to get used to instinct."

"I know. We were just worried." Hinata blushed, nervously wringing her hands. "I should go. Kurotsuchi should have found Killerbee and Darui by now."

"Are you supposed to report back to them?"

"Mmm, they'll probably come to get her."

"Darui is coming?!" Karin said red eyes going wide, before darting back into the house, earning a puzzled look from Hinata.

The girl shifted, gave a screech and took off.

"I guess that's what was wrong." Suigetsu said taking a few steps towards the two still on the floor.

Sasuke stared down at the cat, its back rising and falling slightly as it breathed. Karui was acting solely on instinct and she headed straight for him. The Uchiha felt a lot of pride at that fact.

Of course under normal circumstance's her pride would never allow her do anything like that. So it was mostly the mark's doing that she ended up there.

The raven smirked.

He's never gonna let her live this one down.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Karui pulled at the hem of the shirt she was wearing as she made her way through the hallway. Simultaneously trying to force back the blush in her cheeks.

No amount of words could explain how surprised she was to wake up in Sasuke's house. Again.

Although this time she couldn't remember a single thing. But judging by her clothing she must have shifted again.

At least that's what it should mean.

The redhead gave a sigh, this whole black out thing really needs to stop. If she won't remember anything every time she shifts, she's going to make sure it never happens again.

At least this time there's no tail.

Karui could hear voices coming from nearby and started walking down the stairs, following the sounds until she got to the bottom level.

The moment she got to the bottom of the staircase her senses were attacked with all kinds of weird smells. Somehow they were all familiar, if not a little different.

One however stood out among them all. It smelled like fresh cut grass and earth, with something else added to it. For some reason it immediately made her think of Sasuke.

Karui followed the scent to the kitchen, closing her eyes while her feet moved of their own accord.

"You're awake."

Karui's eyes snapped open, the first thing she saw was Darui grinning at her from the opposite side of the kitchen table, while Karin sat beside him. Giving her a glance before setting her sights back on her brother.

Hinata stood on the other side of the kitchen along with Kurotsuchi, Suigetsu and Juugo. Sasuke stood behind Karin while Killer Bee-

Uncle Bee?!

Karui flushed, pulling at the sweatshirt a little more.

"You O.K kid?" The older man asked turning a bit in his chair to look at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"You shifted at school, killed two Kaiju and tried to take me out. We were just throwing you a party to celebrate." Kurotsuchi drawled sarcastically, making her way towards the redhead. "Unless you still feel like ripping throats."

"Kurotsuchi." Bee warned narrowing his eyes at her.

"It was a joke, uncle Bee." The brown eyed girl smiled, tossing her arm around Karui's neck. "Besides, first time right? Not like she's gonna lose it again."

"I killed someone?" Karui whispered as her eyes went wide.

"Two someone's." Kurotsuchi corrected.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Karui's head snapped up at the sound of Sasuke's voice.

Has he always sounded like that?

"I remember school," the redhead's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to think back. "...and this guy with long blond hair, but that's about it. So I shifted and killed two people?"

"Well to be fair, they tried to kill you first." Suigetsu chimed leaning against the kitchen drawers.

"There's a lot of danger when it comes to being a Kaiju, Karui." Killer Bee said, "This is just something you have to get used to."

Karui swallowed the lump forming in her throat and looked up around the room, "So now what?"

Killer Bee stood up from his chair, "Now we leave, you still have school tomorrow."

"What?!" Both Sasuke and Karin said at the same time. Karin's eyes went wide. "B-but what if it happens again and-"

"That's just something we'll have to deal with." Killer Bee explained, "My conditions for you and my niece still stand Uchiha. Nothing's changed, we'll handle her shift like we handled, Darui's."

"But I didn't have a mate uncle Bee." Darui suddenly said. "If Sasuke taught her how to shift, things might go smoother this time. After all, Karui can't attack him like I used to attack you when I started shifting. The mating bond wouldn't allow it."

Killer Bee paused thinking for a few moments. "You have a point."

"If it helps, me and Hinata will be there when he's teaching her. Right Princess?" Kurotuschi gave a grin squeezing her arm around Karui's neck.

Hinata blinked her eyes when she realised that she was being addressed. "Yes, of course."

"Then its settled! Seriously though we need to celebrate."

Killer Bee said nothing just stared at Karui the same way he did whenever she and Darui talked about their parents. Like they would disappear if he looked away. "Do you want to teach Karui, Uchiha?"

"Yes." Sasuke said smirking at Karui. Of course he'd be fine with this. Has anyone considered Karui's opinion in all this?! Its like she's not there at all.

"Karui." Killer Bee started, tilting his head a bit. "Is this O.K with you?"

Karui nodded without even thinking, surprising herself and the rest of the rooms occupants. They thought she'd put up more of a fight like she's been doing since this whole mess started.

Even she didn't know why she just agreed. Karui bit her lip deep in thought.

"Then you'll start tomorrow after school. Darui I expect you to be with her in case, they can't handle it." Bee started walking towards the door giving a brief wave of his hand.

Darui smiled as he stood up after his uncle, "Sure thing, boss."

Karin immediately jumped from her chair and followed Darui out the door, "So you'll be coming over every day, right?"

Hinata made her way towards Karui, concern clear on her face. "Are you alright?"

The redhead tried for a smile, knowing fully well that Hinata wasn't buying it. "I'm fine. What happened at school, after I left?"

"Yeah about that," Kurotsuchi rubbed the back of her neck and gave a sheepish grin. "Principle wants to talk to you tomorrow."

"Great." Karui groaned covering her hands with her face. Earning a hearty laugh from the brown eyed girl beside her while Hinata just smiled.

A hand came down on her head ruffling the red locks a bit, the redhead gave a sigh. It felt really good.

Karui looked up and found Sasuke smirking at her.

"Umm," Hinata took hold of Kurotsuchi's arm and pulled her away. "We'll just wait outside."

"What and leave these two alone?" The girl said looking around the now empty kitchen. Juugo and Suigetsu had left around the same time as Killer Bee. "That might be dangerous, I don't think they have any protection."

Karui flushed with heat and she glared at her, Hinata's face turned a bright red. She hissed at Kurotsuchi before dragging the brown eyed girl away.

Karui looked up at Sasuke who looked way too amused for it to mean anything good. "Do you remember anything that happened when you shifted?"

The girls eyebrows furrowed as she spoke, "Not really. I know that I turned into a panther like Darui. But I don't remember-"

Sasuke leaned forward making Karui freeze. His eyes turned red and soon she found herself staring into the swirling orbs.

Suddenly she wasn't inside the house anymore, she was outside. On the porch.

When she looked around she saw Sasuke sitting on the floor with a large black cat in his lap, purring loudly as it rubbed up against his chest. Bright gold eyes flashed at her and Karui came back to reality.

And she groaned, "Oh my God..."

Sasuke's smirk grew into a grin, "I knew you wanted me."

"Shut up." Karui growled shoving him away before heading straight for the front door, ignoring the chuckle she heard behind her.

The moment she made it outside, Karui lowered her head in shame. "He's never going to let me live this down."

A/N: Kurotsuchi is a bit OOC I know, but I like her this way.

Please review

- Frankie