A/N: righty then next chapter. Sorry for the wait.
Usual apologies.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Tenten growled at Karin as the redhead hooked her arm around Darui. Batting her eyelashes and smiling up at the blond with a light blush on her face. Darui seemed unaffected for the most part, answering every question the girl asked him in his usual laid back attitude.
It was a bright sunny day. Sasuke was teaching Karui how to fight like he did everyday lately. Karui was sick of Sasuke putting her under 24 hour guard. So the raven decided that he'd spar with her so she could learn to defend herself. Not trusting anyone but himself to teach his mate how to fight.
However today Karui did seem a bit off. She kept spacing out and let her guard down way too many times, even for a newborn. Something was obviously wrong.
So when Karui suddenly pulled Sasuke aside no one was really all that surprised. Although they have been gone for a while now, what-
Tenten's train of thought was brought to a screeching halt at the sound of Karin's voice. The girl was giggling terribly as she stared up at Darui, with that same love sick look in her eyes.
"Wow, that must've been amazing." Karin cooed drawing circle's on the blond's arm. "Do you think you could show me?"
Darui looked at her for a moment and then shrugged, "Sure."
Karin squealed with excitement and started pulling him into the middle of the garden. Darui looked back over his shoulder, "Tenten?"
"Huh?" The girl started when she was suddenly addressed. Karin stopped as well glaring at Tenten like she'd taken Darui's attention away from her.
"Do you mind?"
"Mind what?"
The blond subtly moved out of Karin's grip to face Tenten, "C'mon, Karin wants to see me fight."
Tenten rolled her eyes completely annoyed.
Of course she does.
The brown eyed girl put her hands on her hips, "So?"
"Well Sasuke and Karui are busy right now, so how about we spar for a bit." Darui shrugged off his jacket and tugged off his shirt. "It'll be like old times."
Tenten's eyes widened a bit as she watched her best friend's brother strip in front of her and her cheeks caught in a blush. "Ye-yeah, O.K."
She turned away and waited for him to finish stripping and shift while Karin quite unashamedly gawked at Darui's naked form.
Yeah exactly like old times, she couldn't watch him get undressed back then either.
A low growl alerted her that he was finished so she turned back and found a black panther sitting in Darui's place. She on the other hand chose not to strip, she always had a spare change of clothes anyway so it didn't really matter.
Tenten quickly shifted into her brown wolf, clothes tearing off as she did. Before trotting over to the panther. Darui gave Karin a small nudge before nodding his head towards te edge of the garden.
The redhead reluctantly agreed, but not without letting out a huff of frustration at her new position.
Darui stood up on all fours and growled, letting Tenten know that they should begin. The wolf gave a small yip of understanding before she moved, circling the panther slowly as the other crouched and watched her closely for any movement.
After circling Darui a few more times, Tenten suddenly pounced. She tumbled across the grass with Darui following suit until they both jumped apart.
The panther moved next, darting forward to grab the wolf by the scruff of her neck and toss her aside. Tenten rolled with the landing and without missing a beat, leaped back at Darui making him give a mewl of surprise when she managed to pin him beneath her, with her jaw around his throat.
"Darui!" Karin screeched, fighting back her own shift at the sight of the object of her affections so close to defeat.
Suddenly Darui started shifting back, making Tenten pull back in surpise and shift as well. The blond gave her a grin once he was back in his human form.
"Alright, fine I give. Uncle."
Tenten smiled back still pinning his arms at his sides, "Losing just like old times."
"Yeah. Although I gotta say," Darui said looking Tenten over, "some things have changed since old times."
Tenten's eyebrows furrowed in confusion until she looked down and a horrible blush spread across her face, forcing her to pull away completely. "Shut up, asshole!"
Darui laughed still not moving from his spot on the grass, when Karin rushed over. Simultaneously glaring daggers at Tenten.
"You O.K, Darui?"
"I'm fine." The blond said as he pushed himself up on his elbows, when a vicious growl broke through the air and Karui suddenly came dashing through the garden at full speed in her Kaiju form. Sasuke followed close behind and caught the girl by wrapping himself around her torso, arms and legs. Forcing her to stay put. The panther growled and hissed angrily, until it stopped and began to mewl in pain.
"Karui?" Darui immediately made to stand when the girl started shifting back. Leaving the redhead behind. Sasuke shifted back as well and was holding Karui against his chest when he was.
"Let me go." Karui cried trying to pull loose only for Sasuke to tighten his grip.
"No."
"Let... Let me go."
"I'm sorry, Karui."
Tenten and Darui moved forward only for Karin to stop them. "Don't." The brown eyed girl was surprised to see the redhead staring at her with a pained expression on her face. "Sasuke has to do this himself."
"Please..." Karui practically begged, "just... let me go."
The raven still didn't budge, just started rocking back and forth with the girl still in his arms. "I'm sorry, Karui. Just... Listen to me for a second, O.K?"
The girl's head fell forward and her body slumped, as tears slid down her face.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Karui sat on her bed. Legs pulled against her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Thinking about everything and nothing and yet somehow it all kept coming back to Sasuke.
God she felt so stupid.
He lied to her and like an idiot she fell for it. She doesn't even remember questioning him at any point, just kept going along with everything. Trusted a complete stranger because it seemed like he had more to lose than she did. Because apparently she was the centre of his world so he wouldn't even try to deceive her
Apparently she was wrong.
The moment he told her the truth something inside Karui's chest just broke. Sure he didn't so much lie to her as he just didn't tell her, but it still hurt like an absolute bitch.
After her little break down at Sasuke's. Karui pulled herself together long enough to listen to his very long explanation. All of which he did with his eyes fixed on the redhead and his hand holding her's, like he was scared she might suddenly bolt.
But she didn't.
She sat there and listened because she needed to, because something inside of her refused to believe that he'd do all those things simply on a whim. Something desperately wanted things to go back to the way things used to be.
Before, when she was at his throat because the Uchiha really was an arrogant bastard. When Kurotsuji was teasing her mercilessly and cracking obscene jokes about her and Sasuke. When she'd start mentally slapping herself for thinking that she might just be falling in love with him.
Before she knew everything.
Before Kabuto.
Karui still felt incredibly guilty about him. She hadn't told Sasuke how she found out about Orochimaru and his brother. And Sasuke didn't ask.
Just asked for her to understand why he hadn't told her yet. And Karui understand's, she gets it she really does but... It was just so much to get and understand.
Part of her was still pissed at him for lying or rather with-holding the truth. Another part was still a bit confused, after all it's a lot to take in all at once. While another part of her felt guilty.
What was she supposed to do?
Sasuke lied and admitted to it and whether she wants to admit it or not, she's already forgiven him because she wants things to go back to what they were, sooo bad.
But what was she supposed to do about Kabuto?
No one knew about him, not even uncle Bee. She didn't tell Sasuke what he told her so how was she supposed to know whether it was true or not.
If he really had mated her, or if it was just another ploy to-
"You O.K?"
The redhead looked up to find Darui in the door, looking at her with concern. Karui nodded, letting her head rest on her knees to give a muffled. "I'm fine."
Darui gave a sigh before walking over and sitting on the bed. He wrapped his arms around his sister's huddled form and leaned his head against hers on her knees. The way they used to when they were kids whenever Karui, was sad or Darui felt angry.
"I know it hurts and it feels like he betrayed you, but you've gotta look at this from his perspective Karui."
Karui took a deep breath, "I'm trying, but he still should've told me, Darui. Fuck! I told him about Mom and Dad and... He killed his own brother."
"But he told you why he did what he did right?"
"Yes."
"And you understand don't you, I bet you've already forgiven him."
"That isn't the point, Darui."
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is," Karui gave a sigh, moving her head so she was looking her brother right in the eyes. "The point is... I'm scared. I was actually starting to like the bastard, Darui. What if he's just using me to get the mark's power?"
Darui let out a chuckle, "He isn't."
"How do you know?"
"I can tell. It's kinda obvious that Uchiha's got it bad."
"Again, how do you know?"
Darui stared back at Karui for a few moments until he got up off the bed. "You've seen Uchiha's mark right?"
Karui folded her legs to sit indian style and braced an elbow on one knee to lean her head against her palm. "Yeah so?"
"Uncle Bee already told you that each Kaiju's mark is different and can appear on any part of their body." Darui tugged off his shirt. "This is my mark." The blond lifted his left arm and pointed to a scar just below his rib cage.
Karui's eyes went wide. "You lied! You told me you got that from a hiking accident with Shii."
Darui shrugged, "That was two years ago you weren't a Kaiju back then Karui, I couldn't tell you the truth. Anyway that's how I Uchiha likes you."
"I still don't get it, just cause you-" Karui blinked and suddenly realisation filled her eyes. "NO WAY?! Who is she? Why haven't I met her yet? Have you told uncle Bee?"
Darui laughed as he pulled his shirt back on, "Yeah you know her, Bee already knows and I'm not telling you who it is because you're a terrible liar. Besides she doesn't know yet."
Karui growled a bit and got off the bed, "Why not?"
"It's best if she doesn't know yet." Darui said with a shrug as he walked out the door. "By the way, uncle Bee said to get ready. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
"Where we going?"
"Kaiju meeting. Its a drag but boss man wants to meet you and since you have a mate. Sasuke has to tag along too."
Karui's eyes widened again and she bit her lip. She didn't want to see him yet, "But-"
"No but's Karui." Killer Bee's voice suddenly came from the doorway. The older man had his arms folded over his chest as he stared the girl down. "You have to go, whatever issues you have with Uchiha can be sorted out later."
"Fine." Karui said with an annoyed sigh as she walked over to her closet when Darui spoke.
"Uh uh uh, little sister. All Kaiju must attend meeting's in Kaiju form, no clothes."
The redhead stopped, "But then how am I supposed to understand anyone."
"We shift back for the actual meeting."
"So what I'm going to be sitting there wearing abso... Oh my god." Karui's face flushed with heat and KillerBee let out a rumbling laugh at the look of mortification on his niece's face.
"Don't worry kid, you get used to it."
A/N: yip there it is.
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