A/N: I know I promised the race in this chapter, but I already have chapter, so I'm breaking it into two. This chapter has major Gaara/Sakura fluff, just as the title alludes to. have fun with it!
CH. 21: Claimed
Sasuke growled as he tried to think of a way to make sure he won that race. He was pacing and glancing at the clock every so often. He still had about four hours before they had to meet for this thing. He would never admit it, but he was a bit nervous. This girl, Sakura, unnerved him in a way that did not sit well with him.
He looked around his barren room for answers. He turned on the T.V. to see a terrible car crash blaring on the news. Bits and pieces of the story floated to his ears. "Eye witnesses say that they saw a tall man with short white hair carrying some sort of large pole tampering with the vehicle before it left the lot this afternoon. There have been no reports of survivors as off yet. Seems the victims were Etonoshi Choza and his wife, Minwei. There have been no signs of their thirteen year old daughter, but some have high hopes she was in school during this tragedy."
Sasuke looked at the television and blinked once. The light bulb that went off over his head was almost visible as he got a sadistic smile on his face. He grabbed his riding jacket and ran to his garage. He chose the blue Kawasaki Z1000 to do a little recon on what he considered his new bitch.
He had been calling Kim on a daily basis to keep track what was going on at school. She had been giddy to talk to him everyday, but he had just asked her questions about what was happening. She told him that the Sabaku siblings had introduced her as their neighbor to some friendly acquaintances. Sasuke smiled, he knew exactly where those three lived, so now he knew where his new woman lived.
He took off in the direction of the Konoha Burbs and sped down the highway until his exit came up. He got off and tooled quietly through the neighborhood to check out the competition. What he saw made him angry enough to kill. Sitting on the roof of a house his father had sold to some rich bitch, who he now knew as Sakura, were none other than Sakura and Gaara.
Gaara was holding her while she appeared to be crying about something. Sasuke wondered just what it would take to make that woman cry. He smiled maliciously at the thought of doing to her what he'd done to countless other women. He wanted to break her spirit, to make her call him 'master'. But he had no chance with that damn Sabaku bastard being all lovey dovey with her.
Sasuke parked his bike down the block and snuck over to Sakura's house. He could hear Sakura talking calmly to Gaara now. The murmured in low voices about something that Sasuke couldn't hear. Unconcerned with their conversation, Sasuke darted into the open garage and looked for the bike from earlier. He found it and started looking it over, looking for a way to tamper with it that wouldn't raise too many questions.
While he was attempting to tamper, something large and temperamental lifted its head in the corner of the garage. He had been put there because there were two cats in the house that didn't much care for him at that moment, especially when their mistress was in such a foul mood. A large white head lifted from long, muscular legs, looking at the intruder.
The large white animal got up very quietly and slowly stalked towards the black haired youth, who was too busy trying to mess with Sakura's ZX-14 to notice what was creeping up on him. Sasuke froze when hot, putrid smelling air hit the back of his neck, very close to his skin.
Sasuke didn't move the whole time whatever it was stood behind him. The equivalent of a doggy laugh came from between the two large jaws of the creature towering over him. A growl let Sasuke know it was indeed a dog, but he'd never seen a dog as big as this one seemed to be, according to the shadow to his right side.
"Easy there Cujo…I'm just checking it out and then I'm gone, alright?" another growl came at the Cujo comment and then Sasuke felt himself being lifted up, by the collar of his jacket, and taken out the back door that was closest to his bike. The large white dog flung him carelessly onto the pavement and planted his paws in a stance that warned him to leave or get bitten.
The dog turned when someone called him. "AKAMARU!! You are allowed to come back in now! Hime and Ichimanako miss youuuuuu!" the call echoed and the dog snorted, to the confusion of Sasuke. The dog, named Akamaru, started walking back to the house, his tail wagging. It wasn't until he heard the garage doors being closed he realized that he hadn't gotten he chance to tamper with the bike.
Sakura burst into laughter at the sight of Kankuro, in a pile of arms and legs, at the foot of her steps. Others joined in her mirth while the older brunette just grumbled. He walked over to the overstuffed couch and laid himself down. "OI! I didn't see any of you going to check on her after she started crying!" he growled at them, making the laughter die out quickly.
"WHY is my little sister CRYING!?" Sakura demanded, her eyes flashing dangerously. Everyone gulped and looked away. Sai was the first to speak up.
"It may be my fault okaa-san. I saw something sticking out of her pocket. I pointed it out and she threatened me. She also insulted us then ran upstairs. Only Kankuro knew she was crying…and we don't even know how." the 'emotionless' young man looked like he was about to cry. He didn't like when Sakura was upset with him. Shino wrapped his arms around the youth and looked at Sakura.
"She said that it was a letter that was for you to read, not the likes of us. She seemed a little emotional over that piece of paper. She even took up a reflexive fighting stance against us. We were a bit taken back by her…you should have warned us…we were NOT prepared for a woman like that." Shino's words, while neutral in tone, held an accusing air about them. He did not like seeing Sai so upset, Sakura could feel that much. She sighed.
"Ji-chan must have told her something in the letter that seriously hurt her for her to act like that to complete strangers. She usually only shows that side of herself to her family and close friends. But…after reading Ji-chan's letter…she's changed, a lot." Sakura's voice was quiet. She looked up at Gaara, who nodded. She ran up the stairs and to her sister. Gaara sighed and sat down, feeling weary all at once.
Everyone looked at Gaara at that moment. They knew that Sakura had told Gaara everything by the look on the youth's face. Temari walked over to her little brother and sat down right in front of him. She gave him a stern looked and then spoke. "Okay ototo…spill it. WHAT is project crystal?" Gaara saw everyone looking at him expectantly. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, not wanting to do this.
"Sakura told me that The Center had been experimenting with fragments from her world…the one that she destroyed when she used the destruction spell of Orochimaru. She has been slowly recollecting these fragments and destroying them. The fragments are why our kekkei genkais are so strong. It seems that parts of Sakura's home world have the ability to amplify the natural abilities of those in this world. While it was natural for Sakura and her people, it causes…mutations…in normal people." everyone looked at him, a bit frightened. He continued on when they didn't question him.
"While most of us look normal, there are some at The Center with ghastly mutations. They were cast aside and locked up as 'failures'. It seems that most of the people exposed to the fragments suffer mental trauma, as the fragments seem to contain 'memories' of the world in which they came from. Most of the fragment are about the size of splinter and can't be traced by the technology that even The Center has. However…Sakura's necklace can track them no problem." Gaara watched as understanding dawned on their faces.
"So The Center is after okaa-san for her necklace, and will hurt anyone in their way to get it…" Sai's face and voice were completely devoid of emotion. He knew the turmoil that this situation must be causing his adopted mother.
"Hai…it seems that Minotsu, Karin's 'father' paid a visit to the Hatori widow, Enzeru, to take the necklace without Sakura noticing. However, Sakura had a bad feeling and got to the necklace before Minotsu could. The only problem is that Minotsu now knows that the necklace belongs to Sakura. Earlier today, in gym, the necklace warned Sakura her family was in danger. The reason behind this…was that Karin was panicked. The necklace is somehow tied to her. It knows when she is in danger." Everyone looked around at each other, puzzled.
"So…Sakura-sama is trying to figure out why Karin can summon her through the necklace?" Lee asked and everyone looked up at him, surprised. Seems no one else had been thinking that. Gaara arched his non brow and agreed with him.
Karin could feel the heat in her face. She had just dropped her warm robe to dress when that…that MAN, had walked into her room as if he belonged. She looked at the floor, her cheeks still puffed out in anger.
There was a soft knock at her door and she felt a curios stirring in her chest. She only felt this around her 'sister' so she allowed the other girl entrance. "Karin…you alright? Kankuro came up to see if you were okay…he said you were crying…" Karin's eyes widened at the thought that they had seen her crying.
"They...they saw?" she asked, fear radiating through her. She didn't want anyone to witness when she TRULY cried, not these temper tantrums she used to have.
"No…somehow he felt your tears and came to comfort you. He even yelled at everyone for being so callous. Next thing we all know, he's tumbling down the stairs and you're giving him what's what." Sakura chuckled at the embarrassment all over the blonde's tanned face. She put her face in her hands and groaned.
"I hope he's okay…I was just so surprised when he barged in and stared at me. My first reaction was to throw something at him…which was that lovely feather pillow you gave me." She smiled at the memory of Kankuro's face when the pillow made contact. He'd been just as red as her, but for different reasons. He hadn't been able to look away and the honest appreciation on his face had been flattering.
"His skull is thick…it would have to be since he lives with Temari. She gets rather violent with her younger brothers sometimes." Sakura held up one finger and nodded knowingly. Karin giggled and looked at Sakura, her face all at once serious.
Karin reached into her pocket and took out the letter. "Ji-chan wrote in the letter to show this to you. It's the other half of the letter he wrote to me. Obaa-chan brought it to me on the day Ji-chan specified, although I doubt he'd have known I would be in jail at the time…" she trailed off, looking down at the floor in shame. Sakura walked over to her and hugged her, taking the letter and leading the shorter girl over to the bed that had tan colored sheets and a white lace bedspread.
Sakura opened it and peered down at the writing she had missed so much. She caressed the page and put it to her face, tears threatening to spill out. Karin watched with growing understanding at just how much their grandfather had meant to Sakura. She put her hand on the dark headed girl's shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.
"I miss him Karin…I miss him more than I do my own family. I was too young when my clan was slaughtered to remember feeling such overwhelming grief. But…ji-chan…he was everything to me. And I couldn't save him…" a tear landed on Karin's other hand as she held Sakura's shaking hands. The tear was like liquid silver not a pure, crystal tear. Karin could feel her own tears gathering.
"Sakura…I was so jealous of how much he loved you that I never noticed that he loved me too, but in a different way. He loved you like he would love his own daughter. I was his grandchild…not loved any less, just different. I am so sorry for the way I treated you…" Karin hugged the other girl and cried. Sakura looked at the letter, tears blurring her vision.
Karin recomposed herself and murmured that she was going to change in the bathroom. Sakura nodded and just kept staring at the handwriting. Wiping away her tears, she set about reading the letter.
"Dear Sakura,
If you are reading this, then I am no longer in the land of the living. I wrote this as an afterthought to the letter I wrote Karin, so that you wouldn't think it was just another one of her ploys to be a drama queen. I know that you and Karin have never really gotten along, but you must understand something.
Karin, like you, is very special. She is not like Minotsu or my son's wife. She is not even human to tell the truth. There is a file, in the safe. It's encrypted onto a CD. I know you will know what to do with the information I managed to seal on it. Back to Karin, she is the only test subject from Project Crystal to have no lasting mental or physical defects from the crystals they are using to experiment on youths with.
I know you are wondering what this has to do with you. The truth of the matter is, that necklace of yours always seems to react when Karin is close by. There is only one thing that could mean. The fragment from your necklace is imbedded in Karin somewhere. If my information is correct, Minotsu and the scientists were trying to clone you. When that failed, they tried to create a being from the fragment of your crystal one of the scientists, I believe his name was Uchiha, managed to break off before he was captured for stealing your necklace.
I was afraid to tell Karin that my son, Minotsu, is not her father. There is no record of her birth in any hospital and, though she will never admit it, Youri doesn't know where the child came from either. She was told that Minotsu wanted a child and so he had adopted one, but the child must never know. Youri was so thankful to have a child to hold she never questioned her husband.
The truth is…Karin has no blood type, no finger prints, no dental records and no medical records. It's like she doesn't exist outside of the life Minotsu has given her. Both my sons have realized that I am on to their plans. They will act soon to get rid of me, but I must protect my family at all costs. Enzeru, Karin and you are my family, those boys of mine be damned.
I fear that the Uchiha scientist may have found a way to create beings from the crystal fragment. If that is the case, he could create an army of people just like you and modify their behavior to do whatever pleases him. Karin must be protected from The Center at all costs. SHE is the key…they need her to study. Minotsu may be a monster, but he has become attached to Karin and refuses to allow her to be harmed.
Uchiha wants to dissect her and see how the crystal made her. Minotsu refuses, but there is pressure being put on him from his brother to 'grow a pair and do it for the greater good', but Minotsu still refuses. He believes they can create another without hurting Karin. If nothing else, remember that she is your family and that you love her. PROTECT YOUR NIECE, my daughter. I love you more than anything, and I wish I could be there to help you through this mess. I will wait for your grandmother here. Until we meet again, my little cherry blossom.
Love,
Your Ji-chan"
Tears fell from her eyes as she read the last four sentences over and over. 'Protect'…'my daughter'…'love you'…'I will wait'…'my little cherry blossom'…those words echoed in her head and flashed across her eyes. She folded the letter up carefully and stood. She walked to her room upstairs and put the letter in a lockbox in the shape of a heart that had her grandfather, grandmother, her, and (remarkably) Karin on the front. When they were younger they were much more friendly.
Sakura turned and looked behind her. Karin stood there, in a pair of low cut blue jeans and a black Happy Bunny baby tee that said "I'm Not Mean, You're Just A Sissy". She was barefoot and her hair was dripping, just like earlier. Sakura smiled at the girl and quickly put the box away.
"I…um…borrowed these until I can get my stuff. There's a maid in the house that I'm friends with…She'll help me get in and out undetected." Sakura frowned at this. She walked over to Karin and put her arm around the shorter girl's shoulders.
"I'll get your stuff tonight, after your parents are asleep. Don't worry Karin, I WILL protect you. After all, you, obaa-chan and Tsunade-nee-san are the only family I have left, unless we're counting the knuckleheads downstairs and the two eavesdroppers." Sakura snickered at the 'oh shits' she heard. Two men walked in, sheepish looks on their faces.
"Mind explaining what you're doing up here?" Sakura arched one brow as she looked at the guilty party. Jade eyes looked away, a small blush painting his face. Black eyes shut and a hand scratched brunette hair.
"Well, uh, you see Sakura, we were…um…kinda, worried?" the brunette shrank back, expecting to be hit. Sakura chuckled and Karin started giggling. Both males looked confused. Sakura got up and walked over to the jade eyed spy. She only stopped when she was millimeters from his face. She watched as he slightly crossed his eyes to look at her. She chuckled again and kissed him on the nose gently. She then looked at the other spy and chuckled.
"I'll let Karin dish out YOUR punishment for eavesdropping. I feel the need to cook now and then we head off to the race. By the way Karin…this is my boyfriend, Gaara. The knucklehead who walked in on you right there is his older brother Kankuro. Since we aren't blood relatives and they are, if you guys decide to mate like Happy Bunnies, it's all good." Sakura ran out as Karin screeched and ran after her. Gaara lifted a non brow at his woman and then looked at his older brother, who was blushing madly.
"Wipe the blood from your face hentai." Gaara was amused that even after the trouble three weeks ago Kankuro still drooled over her. He chuckled and headed after his girlfriend and her step sister, leaving Kankuro there still staring.
Everyone was standing around downstairs, murmuring when a screech resounded through the house, followed by "S-A-K-U-R-A! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" A flash of black and red went by followed by a flash of black and yellow.
"You have to CATCH me before you can KILL me sister dear!!" Sakura yelled, leaping into the air and landing on the roof. Karin stomped her foot and started yelling.
"GET YOUR SISSY ASS DOWN HERE AND TAKE IT LIKE A MAN! YOU CAN'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT AND GET AWAY WITH IT!!" Karin kept stomping her feet and glaring. Everyone was staring at her with wide eyes. Everyone sweat dropped when they saw Sakura grinning like a fool sitting Indian style on the roof landing closest to the ground. It was about twelve feet in the air.
"Why don't you use you kekkei genkai to get me LITTLE sister!!" Sakura provoked and laughed when Karin turned red. She smirked when Karin's eyes flashed dangerously and the girl merely disappeared. Everyone gawked and looked around for her. They were startled when Sakura hit the ground running, laughing the whole time.
"SAKURA!! GET BACK UP HERE!! I'M NOT THROUGH WITH YOU!!" the blonde hit the ground and stumbled a bit, but took off after the other girl with surprising speed for someone who usually wore Prada stilettos.
"BLEEEEEEHHHHH!" Sakura had her hands on either side of her mouth and was sticking her tongue out. Karin started laughing until she was completely out of breath. Sakura was across the road by now and was smacking her butt with her hand, egging Karin on.
"I'll get you back Sakura! As soon as-" she never got to finish because there was the loud sound of bikes suddenly. Sakura stopped smacking her butt as a taunt and just looked at the source of the noise. Sitting on a dark blue Kawasaki Z1000 was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke gave her ass an appreciative once over and came closer to Karin on his bike. He gave her a once over as well, much to the blonde's dismay. Her eyes flashing dangerously, Sakura disappeared. Sasuke was surprised to find the short dark haired girl between him and the blonde.
"Who's your friend Sakura?" he made her name a purr which had her stomach protesting. She turned green and Karin came up to her with concern.
"Nee-san…what's wrong?" she asked, clearly not knowing who Sasuke was nor caring, which irked him. Sakura's color turned back to normal when she felt the Uchiha's irritation flare up at Karin.
"I'm fine joji…go in the house, this does not concern you." Sakura's eyes never left the Uchiha, who was checking Karin out now. Sakura growled and stepped in front of her sister.
"If you wanna keep those eyes remove them from my sister…otherwise they're toys for my cats." she hissed, shooting a look over her shoulder. Before anyone could move a giant metal salamander fell to the earth, shaking it.
Sakura looked into the window on the third floor where they'd left Kankuro. She saw him and nodded in understanding. "Joji…get in the puppet. It will keep you safe until I have handled this prick. Do as I say…please." she knew Karin would try to stay with her. Once Karin put her loyalty to someone, it stayed. She wanted her sister safe in case she had to use force.
"What's the matter Sakura…afraid I'll be more interested in her than you? Don't worry uruwashii…I have a debt to be paid back to you in full." there was a sadistic gleam in the young Uchiha's eyes that scared Karin. She hurriedly slid into the puppet and watched as it shut tight, shielding her from all harm.
Karin peered out the peepholes in the head to see her sister glaring at the dark haired youth. Before anyone could react, she was standing on the front fender of his bike, the ball of her foot on his forehead. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her eyes were sterling silver.
"That debt was yours to pay Uchiha. For the misery you caused two innocent young women. I know there are others…fourteen in total. I can't track them all down because twelve of them 'committed suicide' not long after you got done with them. Convenient that only two of your victims lived and that both of them are under my protection. Irks you to no end to know you can't lay a hand on the other two…doesn't it?" she was smirking at him now. Her eyes were like cubes of silver ice, cold and emotionless.
Her eyes made chills shiver up and down his spine. He had that look whenever he gave in to his inner demon and took a woman. He glared at her, swearing to himself he'd prove her wrong. She gave him a sadistic smile as soon as the thought crossed his mind.
"How soon we forget…it's a shame Sasuke. You've already forgotten…" She leaned down to him, her cleavage showing readily. His eyes crossed to get a good look. She snickered and whispered in his ear.
"I can hear your every thought Uchiha Sasuke. I know that you want to prove me wrong that you'll never get anyone under my protection…I know you want to throw me down here and take me in front of your friends and my family. I know my superiority irks you and I also know…you want to break my spirit by dominating me like you did Ino and Hinata…and those other women." His eyes widened to an unbelievable size when she voiced his darkest fantasy about her. She smirked at him and he just stared at her.
She straightened up and pushed her foot into his head a little further, exposing his throat. "I also can hear the echo of screams in your head Uchiha…the echoes of a younger brother…a twin…murdered in his crib. An older brother, eyes bleeding red with hate and anger, looking down at two little boys. Itachi killed your twin, so you killed him…didn't you, Sasuke?" she held him where he was as he struggled to get away. He hissed as she told him his own dark secrets.
The gang behind him just stared at her. She wasn't talking aloud, her lips never moved from the scowl on her face, but Sasuke heard her words clearly. He started shaking, his mind going blissfully blank after a while. She back flipped off his bike until she was right in front of him, gripping the handlebars of his bike.
"Sad thing is, Sasuke…that never happened. Those memories were implanted in your head to bring out the monster you so eagerly embrace. Your twin was raised in a laboratory until your own father killed him with an experiment to enhance the Sharingan. Itachi never touched him; he met the same fate as your twin. Only reason you didn't was because Madara needed one heir." Sasuke glared at her. He didn't believe her, she was lying.
"You'll pay for that, bitch. Be ready in two and a half hours. Wear something silky under your riding clothes because I want to enjoy the feel when I'm stripping it from your body." He shoved her off his bike and she took one step back before using all her weight to slam a non-chakra fueled fist into the side of his jaw.
She hissed at him as he spit out blood. He glared at her and she growled at him. "Your arrogance is going to get you killed Uchiha. Be thankful that I only gave you a warning. You come near me or mine again after this race…and I WILL kill you. Being as most of my squad already has a good reason to kill you…well…you get the picture." she turned and walked away. Sasuke, not one to NOT get the last word in, threw a kunai at her back, in a spot he was sure she'd never be able to block.
Sand wrapped itself around the kunai and broke it into tiny bits. Jade met obsidian as Gaara glared at Sasuke. Death was written in Gaara's eyes as he glared at the other man. Sasuke watched as she smiled at the male jinchuriki and leaned in to kiss him. Infuriated, Sasuke spoke before he thought.
"Hands off my property Sabaku. After tonight, she'll be mine and you'll just be another loser, like always." he smirked when Gaara stiffened and jade eyes narrowed on him.
"Koi…he is trying to bait you. He is not worth our time until the race starts, and even then he isn't worth our time." She smiled at him and shot Sasuke an evil glare than made him shrink into his seat. He stiffened at the thought of being cowed by a woman.
"Hai, mitsukai-chan…I know he is trying to bait me. I'm just letting him know that I will not be handing you over for any reason." with that said, Gaara wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He dipped his head down and inhaled her scent before biting deeply into her flesh, right in front of everyone. She gasped and arched her back, moaning his name.
Sasuke saw blood roll down her shoulder and when Gaara lifted his head, fangs were visible and stained with blood. Gaara's eyes were no longer jade, but a brilliant gold shade with black diamond shaped pupils. Sakura panted as she felt the mark heal over due to Saiki's regeneration.
Sakura could feel the primal urge to return the mark, but she wanted to do it in private, so instead, she nipped his neck to where it showed he was hers. Gaara looked down at her and scowled. She caressed his face and stood on her tip toes to whisper to him.
"If I mark you right now we will have the urge to mate and I don't like voyeurs." she tilted her head at Sasuke while she looked at the others over Gaara's shoulder. The bite looked like something had torn her shoulder open and Sasuke didn't like it at all.
Sakura could feel the black rage swirling inside Sasuke. She turned her now glowing eyes to him. Gaara's eyes slowly started to regain their natural appearance, but when Sasuke wheeled the bike closer, they snapped molten gold once more. Sasuke got close enough to them to smell Sakura's perfume. It had a slightly fruity smell, along with the undertones of vanilla and musk. His eyes dilated just a bit.
Sakura arched one brow as she noticed Sasuke sniffing the air around her. She became irritated and decided to just tell him where he can find her perfume. "Since you seem so interested in my perfume it's Exotic Floral by Filles des Iles from their Sunny Fragrance Collection. Now shoo before I sick Akamaru on you for imitating a terrier and sniffing me." She growled the last part, having scented the dog on him already. Her senses were in overdrive thanks to Gaara.
Sasuke paused his sniffing and arched a brow. She had just told him her perfume…but why? Her words penetrated his mind seconds after he asked himself that. His became red in the face from anger and wheeled the bike back to his little gang.
Giving Gaara a death glare, Sasuke took off on his bike. Gaara looked down at her. Her 'shorts' were actually knee length tight fitting pants. She was wearing a sports bra and a mesh off the shoulders top. Her shoulders were bare and his mark gleamed as a heavy reminder she was taken.
Sasuke watched as Sakura rubbed herself against Gaara like a cat would its owner. He growled and took off towards his side of town. Gaara just continued to glare, his eyes still liquid gold. Sakura smirked and walked over to Sanshouo. "It's safe now joji, you can come out unless you fell asleep in there, which wouldn't surprise me." A soft rustling noise met her teasing accusation and Sanshouo slowly crawled back to the house, his occupant still in him.
Sakura giggled, knowing the stress probably sent the blonde to sleep. That was the one thing that was consistent about Karin…if she got too stressed out, she passed out. Strong arms wrapped themselves around her and she smiled. She looked back at him with a wicked grin and rubbed her bottom against him. He growled and nuzzled his bite mark.
"You keep that up mitsukai-chan and we will be going to your room for the rest of the night. But we have a race in a little over two hours and I want to see you kick that pricks ass." Gaara licked her shoulder, making her shiver. They walked up to everyone else, some scowling, and some looking confused.
Naruto was the only one that TRULY understood what Gaara had done. He grinned like a mad man at Gaara while Neji, Sai, and Lee scowled at the red head. They looked Sakura over silently for any damage. Sakura chuckled when she felt their probes to make sure she was okay.
"Guys…he marked me…it's not like he's going to run off with me and never let you see me again. This is part of the jinchuriki mating ritual. If the male is threatened, he will mark his intended mate. It truly is THAT simple." She laughed when the three mentioned guys blushed slightly, but Sai is the only one that approached them.
"Okaa-san…what does that mean? Is…is he going to take you away from me?" the artistic youth looked very sad and his voice was very low. Sakura cooed at him and hugged his head to her.
"Koneko…nothing will ever take me away from you. Until you are ready to be on your own, or until you find a mate, you will always be my cub." she nuzzled the top of his head in a maternal way that had Gaara's own parental instincts kicking in. He felt as if his mate had a cub, making him want to protect the youth.
Gaara put his hand on the top of Sai's head and turned the boy to look at him. When he spoke, it was in a voice no one recognized, but it was obvious it was the jinchuriki speaking. "You are my mate's cub; therefore, you are now my cub as well. I will protect you as long as my mate protects you." he ruffled Sai's hair as the boy's eyes widened in disbelief. Sakura smiled at him and stroked his ruffled hair till it lay down once more.
The atmosphere broke suddenly when Kankuro came downstairs carrying a groggy Karin. He hand a red hand print on the side of his face and he was pouting. Sakura burst into laughter seeing his face. This broke the last of Shukaku's hold on Gaara and jade eyes lit on his brother. He chuckled and walked over to sit behind Sakura.
Sakura smiled as everyone gathered into the living room. All nineteen of them were now sitting together in the living room, watching each other. The scrape of nails brought four heads up. Kiba, Sakura, Gaara, and Naruto looked around and found Akamaru dragging himself in the door, his tongue hanging out. The large dog looked slightly overheated, his shaggy coat radiating heat.
"Who put him outside!?" Kiba demanded, looking around. Sakura snickered and looked over at the Inuzuka.
"I would say that Hime and Ichimanako did. They were a bit peeved when I returned earlier and they were in their true forms, which make Hie just as large as Akamaru and Ichimanako is even larger than the poor dog. I would hazard to guess they were in foul moods and sent your dog seeking the safety of the garage." Kiba remembered seeing the large cats and gulped. He hadn't known those two animals could get that big. With a soft woof, Akamaru confirmed her suspicions. Sakura chuckled at the white dog's intelligence of getting the hell out while he still had all his body parts.
Both her cats could be temperamental, as could she. If the dog had not retreated earlier, Ichimanako wouldn't have been the only animal with an eye patch. Said cats decided to come tumbling down the steps at that moment and ran into the room, chasing one another. Hime sailed into Sakura's lap while Ichimanako stopped dead in her tracks.
The larger cat seemed to sense something the kitten didn't. Then again, Ichimanako was an unusual cat, even by Sakura's standards. Ichimanako stepped lightly, her head weaving back and forth, looking for something. Her eye patch glowed slightly, using the latent power in it to find what she was looking for. A giggle brought seventeen pairs of human eyes and three sets of animal eyes to the softly snoring blonde in Kankuro's arms.
Kankuro blushed as everyone just stared at him and Karin. Karin's eyes suddenly opened slightly, her eyes glazed from sleep. Not having slept a full night in three weeks, and even before that, she thought she was hallucinating again. When her eyes opened a little more, she saw a woman with a cat head standing over a large cat with silky grey-blue fur.
Karin squeaked and held on to Kankuro like he was her life line. He blushed heavily when she accidentally got his arm twisted up between her legs, trying to get away from what only she seemed to see. Wondering why Karin was panicking, Sakura closed her emerald eyes and opened sterling ones. She, too, could see the figure of the woman with the head of a cat, holding her hands out to Karin.
"Karin…take her hands. Don't be afraid…she won't hurt you. It's a sign, its good luck. That's Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess. She seems to want to give you something, or she wouldn't be using Ichimanako to communicate with you." Sakura's lips never moved, and no one else seemed to understand what was going on. Karin relaxed and stretched her hand out towards Ichimanako.
The cat lightly took her finger in her mouth and urged her closer. Karin untangled herself from Kankuro and slowly went to the cat. She sat down in front of the cat, and the woman, and looked at them both. Suddenly, black chakra was spilling out of Karin, being replaced with a white light.
Karin screamed as she felt something being pulled out of her, something evil. It tried to keep hold of her, but it was soon banished and she felt the soothing flow of pure chakra in her system. She opened her eyes to see everyone staring at her. There was a black orb in front on her face, with an evil looking face stamped on the outside.
Looking around, the woman with the cat head was no where to be found. Ichimanako mewed and rubbed up against her. Sakura couldn't believe what she was seeing. She looked at the younger members, who were staring at the mysterious orb. Sakura's face became blank and she acted as the Leader of this organization.
"Michi, take Cheela upstairs and get her ready for the race. The rest of the girls should go get ready as well. Choji, you take Eto and the rest of the guys with you. Kankuro and Temari, you guys should go get ready as well. Gaara, Karin and I have to talk about something." Neji noticed that her face was emotionless and knew not to argue.
"Let's go guys. Sakura-sama has made up her mind." Neji gathered everyone up, much to some of the guys' dismay, and went over to their house. Temari just stared in awe at what she'd seen. Kankuro dropped to his knees by Karin, who was panting heavily. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair while she clutched at him, shaking.
Sakura turned sterling eyes on Ichimanako, who was still rubbing against Karin's knees. Sakura gasped and stared intently at the orb. She immediately grabbed it and chanted something. Hissing was heard and then a rage filled screech and then the orb was gone. Karin stared up at Sakura, whose eyes were slowly bleeding red. Karin shook even more as Sakura glared down at her. Gaara put his arms around Sakura and it was like she was snapped out of a daze.
Sakura say the terror in Karin's wide amethyst eyes and dropped to her knees, taking the shaking girl in her arms. "Karin…that sphere…that was the soul of the man that destroyed my clan. They weren't trying to clone me…they were trying to resurrect Orochimaru and you were his body…" Sakura shook as well, tears pouring from her eyes. She kept apologizing to Karin over and over, and Karin didn't understand why.
Karin held the shaking girl at arms length and gave her a stern look. "Hatori Haruno Sakura…you settle down right this minute and tell me what the hell is going on!" Sakura's tears stopped immediately and she gave Karin a shocked look that turned into a smirk.
"The last time anyone took that tone with me was when Ji-chan found out I was making Minotsu see rats crawling up his pants leg." Sakura chuckled as Karin arched her brow. The blonde giggled then gave Sakura a sly smirk.
"I KNEW you had something to do with that…" Karin stopped giggling when she remembered what had happened to Sakura when Minotsu found out that she was the one doing it. He had draw back to hit Sakura and Ji-chan had taken the hit for the twelve year old girl. After that day, Minotsu had never forgiven his father and had ripped Karin from her grandparents and from Sakura.
Sakura could tell what she was thinking about and smiled. "Even if he tried to separate us, joji, look at us now…we are together once more and we know the truth now. I have to go to Obaa-chan's and get the disk that Ji-chan hid there. I'll have to get Shikamaru to decode it…" Karin's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Can I decode it!? PLEASE!!!" she begged, much to Sakura's surprise. She had never known that Karin could decode anything.
"You can decode encrypted files?" she asked carefully, wondering if Karin had unwittingly given her father information that their Ji-chan had wanted secret. Karin must have picked up on it and waved a hand.
"My father didn't think I had any brains at all. All he ever let me do was stand around and be pretty. I once tried to show him that I did a Rubix Cube and he ignored me, thought I was lying." There was sadness in Karin's eyes and voice. Sakura delved into Karin's mind and saw the true genius behind the pretty face.
"The job is yours Karin. I trust you can do it and it will be nice having a computer genius on my team. Shikamaru is the genius on Neji's team and surprisingly, Kiba is the other computer wiz." Gaara arched his non brow in surprise. He didn't know the Inuzuka was anything but a duel bladed tank, with that giant dog of his.
Karin's face lit up…she was genuinely excited about being allowed to be part of the team. Gaara smirked at how excited she was. He turned to Sakura and crooked a finger at her. She arched a brow and walked over to him. He snagged her wrist and dragged her up tight to his body. He scented her and nuzzled her neck.
"You retrieve the file. I will take Karin to get her belongings. It is time this 'Minotsu' met your mate. He won't dare touch her with me there." Sakura shivered when he said 'mate' with that low purr. She would have protested had he not looked so serious about keeping her safe. She nodded her consent and looked at Kankuro.
"Kankuro…go with them. You too Temari. You can help Karin pack up her more personal things without the housekeepers getting in trouble. If you hit any interference, like say Minotsu or Youri, let Gaara handle Minotsu and I want Temari to handle Youri. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT allow Minotsu anywhere near her. If I search her mind and he has touched her, you all will pay…even you panda-chan." she looked at him seriously and he knew that she meant business. He smirked at her and licked his bite mark.
He bent slightly and nuzzled her ear before whispering to her. "We will settle this bossy streak of yours in bed, then we will see who tells who what to do. Dominating is my job mitsukai-chan, and I will thoroughly enjoy it." he purred in her ear and ground against her, letting her feel how much he wanted her.
She blushed and looked up at him, trying to look annoyed when all she felt was the mating heat between them. She thought for sure that the walls would have scorch marks. She pulled away from him and blinked out. Gaara chuckled and looked over his shoulder at his siblings and his new sister-in-law.
He knew Karin didn't understand the rules of mating between jinchuriki, but in the terms of their kind Gaara had married Sakura the moment his teeth sank into her shoulder. Had she returned the favor, he would have been lost in passion and taken her then and there, in front of their enemies and allies alike.
Gaara walked over to them and looked down at the little blonde that meant so much to his mate. She looked slightly afraid of him and even flinched when he brushed hair back from her face. Kankuro was a little stiff as he watched his little brother interact with the blonde he was beginning to fall for. Gaara just stared at her with jade eyes that were impossible to read.
She jumped when he finally spoke to her. "You will never know how much you truly mean to her. I feel everything she feels now. I know her heart hurts for you…for your parents always ignoring you because they didn't see the intelligence that burns brightly within you. You did something to her that day, three weeks ago. She broke down when you called her nee-san. That one word meant more to her than all the degrees she has ever earned. Don't hurt her Karin…she has suffered enough to last several lifetimes." with that, he walked away from her and stood by Temari.
Karin just stared at him. She didn't understand what he meant by whatever Sakura felt he did as well or why he thought she would hurt Sakura, but she knew that he was telling her the truth. She felt someone at her back, wrapping their arms around her waist and slightly nuzzling her hair. She squeaked and turned to face the person to find the brunette that Sakura had told her to 'mate like bunnies' with. She blushed as she remembered and looked away.
He seemed to catch her thoughts and smirked perversely at her. She turned an even darker red and he chuckled. Temari rolled her eyes and looked at Gaara. "Get us the hell out of here before he pisses her off and gets thrown down another flight of stairs." She chuckled when Kankuro protested and they disappeared.
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O.O hope you guys likey...if I had been Sakura, I'd have let him take me then and there just to show the ass that i'm no ones property...but that's just me. I dont think there were any new words, but if I missed one let me okay? Ja Ne!!