Chapter 7: The Truth Hurts

At the very moment that Karin saw the records of the siphoning money from VanoDragon's profits, she was internally pissed. Her father knew it all from the start… the life-risking battle with Kunimitsu, her purchase of Link from Stitch's family, her sexual experience with Derryk, Ibuki finding out about the whole scam… EVERYTHING! Now she had the slightest feeling that her father might have been using her or Link. Regardless of this, she wasn't going to let this stop her from maintaining a loving friendship with Link and a romantic relationship with Derryk.

It was now the morning after the discovery and Karin was already on her laptop in her room at the Street Fighter HQ, researching on the real facts about what has been happening since her encounter with Stitch and Kunimitsu. She went to the same day she first landed in Hawaii and it said that the account for her zaibatsu was already connected to VanoDragon's, ready to suck up the money. She went three days further and saw that 500 million dollars were already taken from VanoDragon and into her zaibatsu… for no apparent reason! This shocked Karin as she continued to read through the records. Link and Mynifuzz were playing together on the floor on the right side of her bed. Curious as Link was, he just couldn't stop staring at her newest best friend. He kept a frown full of worry the whole time he was staring at Karin and she felt his eyes looking at her before she looked at him in a split second… only to see him minding his own business with Mynifuzz. She turned back to her laptop with concern.

Link has really been worried about me since I found out about the scandal. Karin said in her mind as she read more of the records. Since every single cat is out of the bag, we really need to work together to bring VanoDragon to justice… but with Derryk involved, I just can't risk it. I… guess I have no choice…

Twenty minutes later…

"YOU'RE DUMPING DERRYK THAT QUICK?!" Ibuki screamed with anger. Karin started tearing up, but kept quiet as the pissed kunoichi continued. "ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR DAMN MIND?!"

"It's for his own safety, Ibuki." Karin protested calmly. Link and Mynifuzz watched with curiosity and worry in Link's case. "Since my zaibatsu is the victim of careless money siphoning, I have all the responsibility to put an end to this with Link only. If Derryk were to get involved, there's really no way we can maintain a relationship. So, just being best friends is the best solution. How to tell Derryk about this is the hard part right now."

"I can tell him for you."

"…no."

"Karin…"

"Ibuki, the truth is gonna hurt… and I have to take his pain alone. I don't want to put you near his fist… if he gets that angry about it. So, I'll tell him."

"You know Marshall's gonna be chuckling at you when he hears about this."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take."

"……………"

An hour later, at the Ziiva Supermarket storage room…

"…and so, I figured that you and I should just remain best friends." Karin finished after she explained her situation. Derryk heard every word and vigorously sputtered out his coffee with shock after that last statement. Karin got splashed a little, but she didn't care.

"WHAT THE FU-?!" Derryk was about to before Karin cut him off.

"I'm sorry, Derryk, but if I need to deal with VanoDragon, I can't risk getting you involved. Just being friends would be the best way to go… for now."

"And all that happened with me?"

"The sex and everything?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't use you."

"Whew!"

"But, still…"

"……Mm!"

"……………………" Karin showed a look of desperation through the whole minute of Derryk thinking about the whole situation. After the full sixty seconds, Derryk instantly turned the frown into an understanding, yet handsome smile.

"……………well, I… guess there ain't no harm in dat, baby girl. If dis is how ya feel, then go ahead, girl! You do yo' thang, Karin! I'll support ya on this decision." Karin was overjoyed by what she just heard and cried happy tears as she embraced her best friend with all the love she could give. "Awww, baby. Ya know I still love ya."

"Thank you so much, Derryk. I knew you would approve. I promise that, when this is all over, we'll be back to being a loving couple again. I promise… from the bottom of my heart."

"A'ight, baby. Good luck… and take as long as you need. I ain't goin' anywhere."

"Oh, I know you're not, my strong solider." After that was said, Karin gently stroked Derryk's smooth ebony face before she passionately kissed him on the mouth, tasting his tongue with extreme lust. Derryk moaned within the kiss as he played along with her, tasting her with all of his sexual glory along with gently massaging her ass under her skirt. Karin moaned with pleasure as she wrapped her arms around her best friend's neck, pulling herself up and deepening the kiss even more for about fifteen more seconds before the two broke the kiss slowly and Karin walked out to begin her official business of dealing with VanoDragon and bankrupt them once and for all.

Another hour later, back at the Street Fighter HQ…

"How did it go?" Ibuki asked with concern as soon as Karin just walked in from the front door. "Did he take it peacefully?"

"…with all of the love in his heart, yes." Karin sighed with a smile. Ibuki nodded once in satisfaction with a smile of her own as she approached her fellow Street Fighter friend. "He said that I can take as long as I possibly need to get through all this… and with that being the case, I need you do double-duty for me."

"That's great to hear, but… why me? Why can't it be Chun-Li or Sakura?"

"You're the only other female Street Fighter that feels a little left behind on recognition. Am I right?"

"……………!!"

"Obviously, you don't know this. Not many people have seen you since Street Fighter III: Third Strike. To some of the public, it was your farewell performance. You can really make a dramatic comeback, if you help me out. Besides, you're in Super Street Fighter IV with Dudley and Makoto, so…"

"Okay-okay… I get it! Sheesh! I know that already, at least. I was just asking a simple question. A simple 'Because I trust you.' would suffice."

"Sorry. I just needed to make sure you knew the valuable reason why I trust you on this… especially since you don't get shocked by Link's ANGEL Security anklet. Did you even notice that on him?"

"Actually, no. How long has he had that thing?"

"Since I first met Derryk."

"Wow. So, when does it do the shocking?"

"When he's about to be attacked or if he was to get threatened. It'll shock the victim, but not Link himself. I don't know how, but it's just amazing to me."

"Awesome! I guess there's the reason why I didn't get shocked. The anklet knew I was being peaceful."

"Exactly. By the way, there is one other reason why I chose you to help me through this…"

"Shoot."

"…you're the only witness to everything I've been doing with Derryk and Link. Since your efforts are on the other Street Fighters' behalf, I will make you responsible. Is… that okay?"

"Does Don's involvement count in the process?"

"Yes."

"Then, sure. I'm okay with that. Don can actually do the honors of protecting Link physically. You and I can deal with VanoDragon ourselves without keeping Link in our sights. Don's got my scent down pat by now. When he needs me, he'll find me."

"……………You and Don are that tight of the typical pet and owner relationship, huh?!"

"I've had him for a long time. He's practically my little brother."

"Awww, that's cute. Well, then… it's settled. You and I will work together to stop VanoDragon from getting their hands on Link and my zaibatsu. I'll make sure that my zaibatsu pays you for your services when this is all over."

"Thanks. I have a feeling that we'll make a great team. I'll do my dangerous duty of being the assassin, just in case."

"That works… and I just realized one more thing."

"What?"

"Leaving Derryk alone for this purpose actually makes it easier for him to accomplish his Zakamon researches and rescues. Hopefully, having me on his mind won't disrupt his work."

"He'll be okay. Now, what's the plan? I'm ready."

"So am I. Well, let's see… First, we need to talk some sense into my Father. I have a suspicious feeling that he knew everything from square one was going to happen… and I do mean EVERYTHING."

"Whoaaah."

Ten minutes later, in the Glade of Ninjas…

"Yuta!" Ibuki called out, running into the small village with Link in her arms. The handsome young ninja heard his name and he smiled when he saw her. "Can you and Don do me a huge favor?"

"Sure. What is it?" Yuta replied before he froze with shock, finally seeing Link in the kunoichi's arms. "Whoa! What the hell…?"

"Yeah. This is the favor. This is Link. He's actually the inherited money alien that Karin needs to keep from harm until VanoDragon is gone. I just need you and Don to keep him for a while. This is the safest place I could think of for him."

"Well, that depends on how much money he's worth."

"Eight hundred and fifteen million dollars… give or take."

"…………!!"

"We will watch him for you." Master Sanjou reassured as he approached Ibuki and took Link from her. "Don will have full responsibility."

"Thank you, Master." Ibuki thanked. "Karin and I are gonna settle the score together until it's all over. If we succeed with flying colors, I won't be so desperate for the many things I want anymore."

"Meaning…?"

"Her zaibatsu will give me a huge paycheck for my duties."

"…well!! This is certainly a big turnaround for you, Ibuki. I wish you good luck."

"Thanks. If something happens to Link, please let me know. See ya!" After that, Ibuki dashed out of the Glade. Yuta looked at Link for about a minute before he spoke.

"He's worth all of that money for real?" He asked Sanjou, who nodded in response before Don approached the two. "Wow. Well, Don… you better be good to him then."

"He will." Sanjou said with pride before he gently placed Link down on the ground next to the tanuki. "Right, Don?" Don nodded. "Good. Since we must keep him safe, Ibuki's room is the safest place to be in. Lead him to it and keep him there for the time being. It all depends on you."

Meanwhile, at the VanoDragon HQ…

"Karin's on to us now." Jason warned as he looked at the company website. "She somehow hacked into our private withdrawal and deposit accounts and downloaded everything we had under our name! I knew this was a bad idea."

"Stay calm, Jason. Karin may have won round one, but it's far from over. Once I get Link in my arms, nothing can stop me now." Marshall reassured. "I just need his location."

"That's unknown at this point, sir. Karin has the extraterrestrial well hidden."

"Humph! She is on to us after all. We need to establish a new plan, then. Until we do, however, I need you to send spies all over this city and get Link's location."

"Yes, sir. I'll dispatch them right away."

Meanwhile, at Karin's mansion…

"Father, we need to talk." Karin started as she sat down in his office with Ibuki sitting next to her on her right side. "I've been… looking through our zaibatsu's account and it turned out that you have been siphoning money illegally from VanoDragon's account. I demand an explanation… NOW!"

"Wha-?! How did you-?!" Daikenjuro was about to ask before Karin interrupted him with extreme anger.

"I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS, FATHER!!! NOW, TELL ME!!!"

"…………!!" Daikenjuro couldn't believe what he was hearing from his only daughter… and by seeing Ibuki sitting next to her, he could already tell that this wasn't going to be the typical father and daughter discussion. "…Karin!"

"What?! Are you scared that I might have found out that you've been using me?!"

"Yes… and I do admit this. I have been using you… for everything you've been doing since you first met Kunimitsu and Stitch. I knew that you would purchase one of Stitch's extraterrestrial companions after that deadly battle that could've cost us our zaibatsu completely."

"Yes, well-wwwwhat?! That battle could've… cost us?!"

"Yes. If you were to lose, VanoDragon would own everything under our name… including Link."

"…………I… I don't believe this."

"Wait a minute." Ibuki came in. "What about me finding out about the whole scam from the very beginning?"

"I knew that was going to happen as well. Having you find out about all this doesn't matter, though. The scam has already started and nobody knows about it. Let's just call you another victim in our little scandal."

"……oh, no…"

"You WANTED Ibuki to get involved!!" Karin screamed in realization. "Why?!"

"That's irrelevant, Karin!" Daikenjuro replied. "All I can tell you is that, since I knew everything from the beginning, you might as well get used to the fact that……"

"……………" Karin and Ibuki gave him the most serious stare imaginable as they awaited the finished statement.

"……… I actually want VanoDragon to obtain Link."

"………………!!" The girls were speechless as they sat back with shocked eyes, having Karin slowly tearing up, but never leaked a tear. Ibuki teared up as well, but toughened up as she spoke.

"…What the hell is wrong with you?!" She asked with anger. "It's no wonder you were so cruel towards the little guy when you first met him. You… you're a madman!"

"And I can't help that. Now, Karin, what are you going to do about this? Heiress to the zaibatsu or not, what's in the past is done and cry all you want. Nothing can keep you from VanoDragon's attempts to obtain Link any way they possibly can."

Karin really had nothing else to say and not just because of the extreme crybaby tears she was leaking out of her innocent brown eyes with the uncontrollable hyperventilation. She couldn't believe that the only blood relation in her small family was not on her side. She was right about the truth being painful and it was stabbing her heart multiple times at this point. Ibuki looked over at her sad friend and frowned with sympathy, but only had watery eyes. She remained as tough as the ninja she is and gently embraced poor Karin with all the appreciation she could give. During the hug, the kunoichi gave Daikenjuro the coldest stare ever as she spoke.

"Well, say what you can while you still breathe." She started with extreme anger. "Your words will never stop us from keeping a promise to Stitch's ohana. If Heihachi died because of how evil he was towards Kunimitsu and Stitch's relationship, then you will die eventually for betraying your own only daughter… and I'll be honored to make your death quick and painless once all this is over. You have been warned…… you damn egotistical monster! C'mon, Karin. Let's get outta here and stop VanoDragon once and for all."

"(sniff, sniff)…… my sentiments exactly." Karin finally spoke between choking sobs. "Let's get the hell outta here and prove my evil father wrong. Ibuki took my words right out of my mind, but I would like to say this one more thing…" Karin gently pushed Ibuki off of her and the kunoichi understood as she crossed her arms with anger before Karin finished. "You may have won this time, but as a street fighter, I say to you that this fight is not over yet. We can take as many rounds as we possibly need to get through this and if you interfere…" Karin paused as she got in her father's face before she finished by saying: "…I'll make sure… that Ibuki makes your death bloody as well. So, chuckle and insult me while you still can. You'll never prevail." After that, the two girls left to fulfill their task at hand.

To be continued…