Chapter 19

As the sun was rising over the Pridelands, Sakina woke to just find Kiara leaving the den. Getting to her paws, she followed her to the ledge of Pride rock and stared down at the young lioness as she made a run into the savannah. 'Where is she off in such a hurry this morning?'

Turning her back from the ledge, she froze when she noticed the spot where she last saw Kovu laying in was now vacant. Heading over, she sniffed the area then snapping back around she stared over the Pridelands; she lifted her head as Zazu flew over. "Zazu have you seen Kovu?"

The Hornbill flew down and landed in front of her, "No Miss I haven't seen that riffraff. Maybe he is gone. To leave us all in peace once again" he commented puffing out his chest and ruffling his feathers

Sakina chuckled and turned her gaze back over the Pridelands. "Zazu fly and tell Simba Kovu has left Pride rock and his is wondering around. I don't believe he's here out of good…and that he should be watched over carefully"

She watched as the Major-domo made flight to search out Simba. Walking down the ramp, she followed Kovu's scent through the grasslands; she searched for half of the morning until she had finally found the dark lion…and much to her displeasure he was with Kiara. Standing firmly, she placed a stern look on her face when they walked toward her, stopping when they finally noticed she was blocking their way.

"Aunt Sakina…oh, you missed it! We had so much fun this morning!" Kiara smiled brightly at her aunt, but the smile slowly vanished when her aunt's hard gaze turned on her. "Aunt Sakina…"

"What are you doing out here with him Kiara?" Sakina demanded, stepping toward them pushing in between the two younger ones separating the two.

"Kovu…Kovu was…just…" Kiara stumbled on her words as she took a step back when her aunt pushed between the two of them.

"I was teaching her the proper way to hunt. Whoever taught her did not do a good enough job," Kovu added for Kiara looking down his snout at Sakina who narrowed her eyes. Growling the lioness put her face against Kovu's, "I was the one who taught her!"

"Then you seriously aren't doing a good job" Kovu smirked, flickering his eyes toward Kiara who was backing away from the two. If there was something the young princess knew, that was not to insult her aunt, in any way.

Sakina snarled, "I am second in command to Nala of the Hunting Party. I am far more skilled then you. Kiara is still young and will learn but not from the likes of you!" she turned toward Kiara and nudged her with her head. "This way back toward Pride rock. I'm not letting you out of my sight"

Kiara jumped away from her aunt, "Why can't I be around Kovu? He saved my life after all"

"Because I say he's dangerous. His whole family is!"

"Yet you love my brother"

The words echoed in her ears, making the lioness turn back to face Kovu. "Do not bring Nuka into this…" she warned, her ears pressed back.

"But it's true…you say my whole family is dangerous yet you love my brother…" Kovu said giving her a smug look, before Sakina's paw connected with his face. Turning his head around he stared at her in shock, he had only met Sakina a few times as a cub, but Vitani had met her more, but he had remembered she was kind and gentle, nothing of the lioness that stood before him with hurt and anger mixed together in her eyes.

"Like I said leave Nuka out of this!" turning around once more toward Kiara and walked past her. "Let us go…now Kiara!"

Kiara looked after her aunt and then toward Kovu, "I'm sorry…I have to go with her. I'll see you back at Pride rock. And I'm sorry for her hitting you…she gets really upset if Nuka is ever mentioned," she said as she turned and ran after Sakina.

Kovu watched the two lionesses walk away, sighing he shook his head, he should be thankful Sakina took Kiara way. After all she was distracting him from his mission…right? But why was some part of him upset to see Kiara walk away? Was it the fact that for once he felt young, with the fun they've had that morning? All these questions were running through his head as a maddening laugh was heard above him.

Raising he head, he looked up at Nuka who was perched on the boulders near him. "Why are you here Nuka?" he ordered, but he knew full well his mother had scent his half brother to spy on him.

"Getting a little cozy with the enemy are you? Maybe I should report this to Mother, to tell her you're falling behind in your mission because you're falling for the little bitty princess" Nuka jumped down the boulder and approached his brother with a smirk playing his features.

Kovu growled, "You're too chicken to tell mother" but he shifted nervously wondering if his brother really would tell their mother. That certainly wasn't something he wanted. This was his mission and he would see it through.

"Oh am I?" Nuka laughed, and sat back, "We shall see when I tell her…unless…you do me a favour"

Raising a questioning eyebrow, Kovu sat down, "What kind of favour?" wondering exactly what it was his brother wanted from him. Kovu was no fool, he knew how Nuka felt about him, which made him all the more curious as to what Nuka would want from him in the form of any favour.

Nuka smirked and looked toward the direction Sakina and Kiara was last seen in, "You are to have Sakina go down to the watering Hole tomorrow night and you're to make sure she goes alone. Is that clear?" he asked turning his attention back to his little brother.

"And just how am I supposed to do that?"

"That will be for you to figure out on how to do so…but just get her to meet me. Do you hear me? Or else I will tell mother about your little romance with the Princess whose dad your suppose to have killed by now"

Kovu growled and grumbled to himself, he knew Nuka wasn't lying. "Fine. I'll get her down to the watering Hole"

"Good!" Nuka smirked and walked around him, "I'd be careful little brother, mother has spies everywhere!" he laughed as he bounded off to give a report to his mother.

Kovu sighed when he had left and shook his head, standing his bounded off toward Pride rock, all the while pondering how he was going to get Sakina down to the watering hole the next night and keep his brother from telling his mother the truth of what he hadn't done yet but allowing the princess to distract him from his mission.