A/N: YAY, it's nice to see some reviewers! I'm glad you guys are enjoying it so far and THANK YOU for the comments on my previous story. Enjoy this next chapter :)

THREE – Stranger In The Night

After the filling breakfast, the pride commenced their various daily activities and Kovu found himself once again bored and restless on such a nice day. He sat at the mouth of the cave at Pride Rock, watching the King and Queen. They sat closely together at the summit, their backs to Kovu. He watched as they talked and laughed amongst themselves. He admired the way they interacted with one another, not just as loving mates but also as best friends.

Seeing two beings in love was something unusual to Kovu; affection was a foreign emotion to him. Although he held deep feelings for Kiara, he often felt difficulty translating them to her. He was brought up to be a hateful killer; therefore love was never in his mother's vocabulary.

Kovu sighed, feeling lost. He constantly battled with himself everyday, struggling to leave his old life behind and embrace his new one. Both were complete opposites and he felt the old side of him tear at his heart, overwhelming him with the guilt he knew he should feel for abandoning his mother and brother. There were days he wished terribly that he could make it up to them but knew that there was no way of solving this problem.

Evening crept in and dinnertime had passed. After the meal had been consumed, Kovu decided to take a walk with Kiara and finally have someone to talk to. Earlier that day, he'd heard her and Vitani talking to Simba and Nala about walking to some place to do something but he had only been half listening. Now that night had fallen and they still hadn't returned, he wondered exactly where they'd gone. And why didn't they ask him to come along? Kovu made up his mind to pry them about it later.

"Nala, I'm off to do the night patrol," Simba called out to his wife as he exited the den. Kovu quickly walked up to Simba to take over this opportunity.

"I could take on the night patrol tonight…if you don't mind," he offered to Simba.

"Are you sure?" Simba asked him.

"Yeah, I could go for some fresh air," Kovu replied, eager for the wide open space of the savanna.

"Okay, great," Simba said, smiling kindly. "And while you're at it, maybe you can find Kiara and your sister and bring them home? It's getting late," he added.

"No problem," Kovu said with a nod. Just as he made to set off, Simba stopped him.

"And Kovu?" he said.

"Yes, Simba?"

"I know it's been a bit challenging for you to get adjusted here in the Pridelands, but give it a little more time. It won't be long till you feel at home," said Simba, a comforting tone to his words.

"Thanks…I didn't know it was that obvious," Kovu responded sheepishly, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Don't be ashamed, just give your mind some time to let it sink in," Simba assured him.

Kovu nodded understandingly before Simba walked off then started on his own walk. He set off at a steady run, breathing in the crisp, clean air of the savanna, then slowed to a walk once he was a good distance from Pride Rock. He observed the wide plains, looking for signs of any disturbances. All were silent and peaceful save for the usual chirpring of crickets. Kovu walked on until he reached the edge of a watering hole that sat a mile away from Pride Rock. Because of its distance, the pride seldom visited it. It was a quiet place that Kovu retreated to when he felt he needed to be alone and organize his thoughts. Besides himself, the only other visitors to the watering hole was a small herd of zebras, but they ran off whenever they caught sight of him.

Kovu lied on his belly and gazed into the water. He sighed and began wondering about his future. Would he eventually be forced to leave Pride Rock? Simba and the rest of the pride were beginning to treat him like family but he still wondered, what was his real position in the pride? Was it possible that he could become the next heir to the throne?

"Yeah right," Kovu said aloud, laughing to himself. Him, become the next ruler of Pride Rock? He wasn't even sure if Simba fully trusted him yet. No, he probably had some plan to find someone else more noble and aristocratic to marry Kiara off to. Then what would become of him? The thought of seeing Kiara happy with another lion made Kovu feel some kind of uncomfortable.

He groaned irritably and stood to take a drink of water. Just as he began sipping, the sound of a twig snapping startled him. He immediately looked up, his eyes and ears alert. He gasped slightly when he caught sight of the silhouette of another animal slowly moving toward him, its eyes glowing in the darkness. As it neared Kovu, he quickly went into attack mode, growling and extracting his claws.

"Don't worry brother, no need to be so defensive. It's only me," said the stranger in a voice that was all too familiar.

Kovu's heart missed a beat when he heard it spoke. No, it couldn't be…

"N-Nuka?" he croaked, his heart pounding now.

The stranger was now directly under the moonlight, and stood close enough for Kovu to see his face more clearly. He gasped when his eyes met the stranger's; they were all to familiar. He suddenly felt as if he had fallen into one of his nightmares. The stranger caught sight of the fear in Kovu's eyes and smiled slyly.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my precious baby brother."