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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: VISIONS OF DEATH

"Karin, are you okay?" Gaara spoke, coming in.

"Yes," I smiled, looking over my shoulder at him. "Is your room the only one downstairs?"

"Yes, I took over it a few years ago because Temari always complained that I didn't sleep anyway. This used to be my room," he smiled, sitting on the couch.

I walked over and stood in front of him, smiling. He grabbed my waist and pulled me gently forward. I shifted and ended up straddling him. As I brought my lips to his, I felt him through his pants and knew he was happy with me there. As I deepened the kiss, I felt him harden more and I had to smile as I pulled back and rested my head against his shoulder.

"Technically, you need to be resting, Gaara," I breathed as I trailed my lips against his neck.

"But that's no fun," he whined.

I laughed and got off of him. "You need to lie down. Deathly experiences are the worst to recover from."

"How would you know?" he inquired.

"Did you forget what happened to me during the exams? You found me as I was close to falling into shadows forever. You saw me after you and Naruto had been out of chakra during that invasion. If I ever get my hands on that man…" I growled, trailing off as I walked into the closet.

"You know who attacked you?" Gaara followed.

"Yes, the legendary snake Sanin, Orochimaru. He didn't want me to ruin his plans. No one knows if he missed my organs on purpose or not," I sighed and felt Gaara's aura darken in anger. "Calm down Gaara, I'm alive and that's all that matters."

It took a few moments and his anger slowly receded. I knelt in front of my bags and opened the first bag and saw my old Shinigami uniform. I sighed as I trailed my fingers over the fabric and saw spots of blood from the man I had killed. I clenched my fists as the memory ran through my mind.

I felt my wolf surface and I froze in shock. I reigned in my anger and pushed her back into her cage.

"Karin…? Are you okay?" Gaara knelt in front of me.

"I think so…" I looked at my clenched hands and relaxed them reluctantly. "An old memory just ran through my mind.

"One that started to bring out the wolf?" he inquired, making me look at him.

"Yes," I muttered. I summoned my fire and let the clothes in my lap burn. "I got angry at the memory."

"I thought you had full control," he growled.

"I… I guess that I've been so relaxed and confident that she was locked away that my grip loosened…"

"Can I see your form again?"

I transformed suddenly and made myself into my pup form where I was not even two feet tall. I crawled into his lap and rested my head on his thigh. He chuckled and his hand came up to scratch between my ears.

"You're cute in this form, but nothing can truly compare to you, Karin," he whispered.

"Thanks," I thought to him and he jumped. "Never had that reaction." I lifted my head and looked at his surprised face.

"You can talk in this form?"

"It's more like thinking but yeah," I laughed.

"Gaara, Chie?" Kankuro walked into the closet and froze, his eyes widening as he saw me.

"What do you want ding-dong?" I thought to him and Gaara laughed hearing my greeting.

"…um…Chie?" he stammered.

"My name is Karin. Why are you so surprised? You've seen my wolf form before," I growled.

"I saw a gigantic wolf twice the size of a house that lifted up buildings, not a pup," he growled, recovering from his shock.

"I can change my size anytime. It's a fun little perk I have."

"What do you want Kankuro?" Gaara sighed.

"Lunch is ready," he smiled. "Do we need to get some puppy chow?"

I lunged at him and latched my teeth into his hand. He tried to shake me off but I didn't budge. I only released when I had a mouth full of blood. I trotted back to Gaara, while swallowing the warm liquid. I crawled into his lap and looked at Kankuro.

"Let that be a warning for you. If you insult me in such a manner again, neither you nor I may know what may happen to your remains," I growled.

Kankuro left and I shifted back to my human form while still in Gaara's lap. My back rested against his chest and my legs were folded Indian style. I stood up and took a breath.

"There's blood on your lips," Gaara smiled standing up.

I licked my lips as I looked at him and his eyes widened. "I take on unusual habits from being a wolf. There was a time when I was younger that I even though I had full control, I couldn't change back to my human form. It was like a jutsu was placed on me but I was in my world at the time so it was most likely some binding spell. I wonder how Kankuro is; I took a bit of blood."

We walked out of the room and walked downstairs while holding hands. When we entered the living room, Temari was wrapping Kankuro's hand. Kankuro stood up as I entered and he swayed.

"How lightheaded are you?" I smiled.

"You took a bit of blood…" he growled as his eyes narrowed.

"Serves you right," Temari growled. "You need to learn to watch that mouth of yours. Karin, you also need to watch yours."

"Whose side are you on?" Kankuro snapped.

"Mine," she smiled. "Time to eat."

Temari had made chicken sandwiches, but I wasn't really hungry. I ate about half a sandwich before leaving the table. I walked back to my new room and got into the shower. Afterwards, I dried off and put on a pair of black booty shorts and a black tube top that covered my whole torso before leaving the bathroom while drying my hair with a towel.

I sat on my bed and pulled out a book, 'Death Kills,' ANBU had brought from my apartment. It had always intrigued me because even thought it was fiction, it was about the world of Shinigami slaying hollows, plus a little romance. Either some Shinigami learned to jump worlds or Shinobi had an accurate imagination.

There was a knock on my door. "Come in," I called.

Gaara came in, he seemed unhappy. "What's wrong? You didn't eat much."

"Just wasn't hungry," I spoke, putting my book on the table next to the bed. "Care to take a nap with me?"

His face lightened up and crawled onto the bed. We laid down and I laid my head on his chest. His arms came around me and I closed my eyes, letting sleep conquer.

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I opened my eyes and saw myself in Soul Society. I was being escorted out of the Shrine of Penitence by four men dressed in white. I had a collar around my neck that ate at my Reiryoku and my hands were tied behind my back.

I was led to Sokyoku's hill and placed on it's alter. Every Captain and Lieutenant of the Gotei 13 was there watching. Their faces blank as I was raised up to the cross beam and Kido Corps unsealed the blade. I started to struggle in my fear of being executed, even though my struggles were futile.

The fire swirled around the Halberd and the phoenix revealed itself. It flapped it's wings and flew at me…

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I opened my eyes and bolted up into a sitting position, gasping for air. I was in the Shinobi world, with Gaara next to me. I ran my fingers through my hair and then hid my face in my hands. Gaara sat up beside me and the sun was starting to set.

"What is it?" he whispered.

I didn't respond as I took a shaky breath. I slid on a blue kimono type robe and walked onto the balcony, thinking. That dream would be my reality if I was found by Shinigami except I'd never have the chance to see inside the Shrine of Penitence. I'd be taken straight to the hill; I wouldn't get the trial for my treason.

"Karin?" Gaara growled, coming to me.

"I'll be fine," I whispered.

"What's wrong?" he pulled me to him.

"Bad dream," I sighed, resting my head on his chest.

"What was it about?"

"It's what would happen if I was found by my people. There we imprison people for crimes. Treason gets to meet the Sokyoku and their execution," I whispered.

"Sometimes I wish I could see your thoughts," he sighed and I laughed.

"Do you really wish to know inside my mind?" I looked up at him. I was smiling but I was serious.

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