Chapter Two

She was suppressing her chakra so he couldn't follow, even though she knew it would limit her ability to sense him. So she was surprised when he stepped out from behind a tree in front of her.

"Give it up, Karin. I'm taking you back with me."

"No! I'd rather take my chances with Juugo." She spat as she backed away.

"Go for it. He's in the Iron Country, in an aviary, in their shogun's courtyard." He replied, stepping toward her. "I'm sure you'd love to spend the rest of your days as a bird ornament."

Her back hit a tree and she stopped.

"Of course, you'd be covered in bird shit by the end of the first day. Juugo never particularly liked you."

"Neither did you."

"Neither did Sasuke." He bit back, "But I'm the one who came looking for you."

They stared at each other silently; Suigetsu had made his arguments, there was nothing else he felt he could say. If she still wasn't convinced, he'd sling her over his shoulder and walk off with her, despite her protests.

Karin was confused. It was true that she had nowhere else to go. She had no home, no family to return to. And none of the previous sound nin would trust her. But the thought of staying with Suigetsu…

"Karin?" He asked at the same time as she said, "Suigetsu?"

"What?"

"What did you do to that big guy back there?"

"A chakra spike." She shrugged, making it seem like a small thing. She was actually quite proud it. The technique had taken months to perfect and she'd stolen the idea from the two Konoha medic kunoichi.

He looked down at her hand then raised his thoughtfully.

"Suigetsu? What type of missions do you do?"

He smirked, Aha, I gotcha!

"My specialty: assassinations."

Karin looked puzzled. "Why do you need me then?"

"Are you shitting me? You're a sensor! That's what I need you for!" Suigetsu was incredulous, "What did they do to you in that village?"

She didn't answer; she couldn't answer. Admit her weaknesses to him: NEVER!

His patience ran out. He walked up to her, smirking at the uneasy look on her face. Then he bent down and lifted her up onto the flat shelf his shoulder had become. She shrieked and swung her fists at him, thumping his back, and kicking.

He picked up her pack and began walking through the forest.

"Calm down, Karin. The Mizukage wants to see you. If you keep that up, you won't be in a fit shape when we arrive."

"The M-Mizukage?" Her body stilled.

"Yeah, the M-Mizukage." He teased her, a grin on his face as he continued walking.

"Really?"

He nodded his head and continued forward until she began wriggling. Having her bare-naked backside right next to his face was causing all sorts of reactions.

"Put me down, Suigetsu! I want to get dressed!"

"But I was enjoying the view!" He whined.

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Pervert!" under her breath. He squeezed her backside as he lowered her to the ground.

"Just a hot-blooded, young man, Karin." He smirked at her.

She rolled her eyes again, as she crouched over her pack, bringing out her last set of clothes. All she had left was a large, off-white v-necked shirt that hung off her and a pair of dirty brown, baggy pants. She pulled the shirt over her head and fluffed her hair out, adjusting the collar to cover the bite mark on her shoulder, now swelling and weeping thanks to Suigetsu. She pulled on the pants before shoving her feet into her boots.

When she stood up, fully dressed, she turned to find Suigetsu regarding her in amusement.

"Those are… that's what you want to wear?"

"It's all I have right now!" She glared at him. "It's better than nothing."

"Well, yeah," He replied, "but not by much."

"And I suppose you're made of money and can afford whatever you want?" She replied, crossing her arms and turning away from him in a huff. "Some of us don't have those resources."

"Karin."

She glanced over her shoulder to show she was listening.

"You can't wear that to see the Mizukage."

"Well, what do you suggest?"

In response, he scooped up her pack, grabbed her wrist and began leading her through the trees.

"There's a resort town not too far away." He said over his shoulder, "We can rest at the hot spring, buy you some clothes and head off tomorrow."

She dug her heels into the ground and tried to pull back.

"What's the deal, Karin?"

"Not a hot spring!" She stated firmly, trying to pry his fingers off her arm. "No!"

"Why not?" He asked, eyeing her in confusion. Then her reason hit him. "You have got to be kidding me! Are you going to avoid everything that reminds you of him? So you got a little embarrassed, so what? It's not like he cares."

"I won't go! Let go of me!"

Suigetsu snarled and threw her over his shoulder once again, "You're wasting time, Karin. We're going to the hot spring, whether you like it or not."

"NOT!" She yelled, "Let me go, Suigetsu!"

He shifted his hold when she began struggling and she gasped.

"Remove your hand this instant!"

"Karin. Shut up."

For those who have read this story already, you'll have noticed that this chapter was included in chapter 1. I've modified it. I think it will work better this way.

Thanks to those who reviewed: Sepsis, ming, y-in-flame and saqee-chan. Reviews make the world go round ;)