Hi, guys! Shembre here with another update! I could have updated sooner, but I was working hard on this chapter to get it the way I wanted, since this chapter is very important to the development of the 3 main characters (not that I wasn't doing that with all the other chapters). Anyway, thanks you guys who have been reviewing- they make my day! Also, the last chapter WAS supposed to be called "Hearsay Won't Yet Cure", but apparently doesn't approve of apostrophes. Oh well, the "hearsay" part was most important. ;)

He had never really told her why he was so disapproving, but his feelings had been plainly there on his face and in his voice whenever Asuma had found her returning from her nightly vigils besides their father's grave. She often was forced to endure his judgmental glances, unless on the rare occasion he had fallen asleep before her return. She didn't mind the vigils themselves, but she also wouldn't have minded stopping, too, if it wasn't impossible for her to stop, of course.

Tanga found it hard to sleep when she failed to sit vigil where both her father and Simba rested peacefully. On the pawful of nights when she had forgotten, she'd suffered with nightmares until she served her brief vigil. She hadn't told anyone about those nightmares, and after the third time it had happened, she had been tempted to seek out Tswane for some of the herbs that Asuma took to keep his nightmares at bay. Once, she'd asked her brother if he would ever try to sleep without his herbs, but she'd gotten so little out of him, she could only assume he'd probably never trust to have a pleasant night's rest again without them.

Several days had passed since Natin's return, and Tanga hadn't wasted a moment making up for all the time they'd spent apart from each other. She'd hoped it'd be like the old days, before the death of two of their kings and the drought, but she was beginning to realize it was vain to think that the past mattered so much. And only once had Asuma bothered to join in on the fun; it had been because he was trying to avoid the younger cubs.

But at least I can sit here and relax a little and not have to think about all that so much, she thought to herself, a pleasant smile alighting on her face as she sat between the graves of her father and Simba, one on each side of her. She closed her eyes and listened to the rustling of small animals in the nearby grass and the music of crickets. Thankfully, Neo and Isabis were too superstitious to bother her in the graveyard, especially when they feared the presence of a full moon. She thought it was humorous though, those silly cubs. A soft, cool breeze ruffled her fur, causing her to shiver slightly.

"So... this is where you've been disappearing to, hmmm?"

Tanga jumped to her paws and looked around until she realized it was Natin who had spoken. The young lion came towards her, his gaze sweeping nonchalantly over the dark grounds.

"Did Asuma tell you where to find me?"

He nodded. "He says you keep watch over Simba and Kovu every night... or something like that."

"His exact words?" Tanga remarked as Natin sat down at the foot of the two graves.

"No. Not exactly."

"Well, I don't care if he approves or not," she continued. "It's my business. It's just dirt."

"Why do you do it?" Natin asked her. "I thought you didn't believe in that stuff."

Tanga cocked her head. "What stuff?"

"The stars... The Great Kings... that stuff."

Tanga just shrugged. "I really still don't." She ran her eyes from Simba's grave to Kovu's grave before meeting Natin's gaze again. "So I guess I really don't know why I do it... It makes me feel close to them, and I think it's become a habit now that it would be odd if I stopped completely. I could stop any time I wanted."

Natin looked at her for a few moments, an eyebrow cocked.

"What?"

"You do know why you do this. You must not be able to stop, otherwise you would've done so a long time ago. Do you know how I know that you're either lying or holding something back?"

Tanga smiled a little. Her face flushed with hot blood. "How?"

"Do you realize that your ears twitch more when you fib?"

"Of course I do."

"No, you don't. Your ears, they just did it again. You've always done that, you know. Now tell me, Lewa..." Natin said. "Why do you come here to the graveyard?"

Tanga sighed. "You're just gonna think that it's silly, Natin."

"Promise I won't," he said. "Honest."

"Honest?"

"Honest. And I'll know if you're honest or not."

Tanga rolled her eyes and sighed. She pulled a face. "I get... nightmares if I don't keep vigil, even a small one." She flicked her tail. "Nobody else knows that. Asuma hasn't even asked."

"I thought that much," Natin replied. "What are your nightmares about?"

"I honestly try not to think about them."

"But you don't talk about them either, and they keep happening. You deserve some peace, Lewa." Natin scooted a little closer and smiled kindly. "Come, Tanga. Your secret will be safe with me."

She smirked. "Not even a king's subjects are required to speak each and every thought," she replied.

"Please?"

She couldn't resist the gentle, mischievous look in his eyes. He wants to help me... she thought.

"I don't know what they really mean," she began. "They're just filled with anger... so much anger... I wake up so afraid, and once I woke up feeling just as angry. I've never felt such hatred before. I didn't think it was possible. They don't last too long before I snap out of the nightmare, which I'm glad for, but I'll never forget that feeling of fear and hatred."

Tanga had lowered her gaze to her paws. She flicked a rock to the side with her paw and looked back up at Natin. "Sometimes I wonder if these dreams are connected to the ones that Asuma used to have," she mused. She chuckled then. "Now that really is silly..."

"Honestly," Natin told her, "I don't think that's silly at all."

"Explain to me then how it isn't silly... because I can't explain it."

But Natin just stared back at her. He opened his mouth to speak, but he shut it again.

"That's what I thought..."

"Go talk to Tswane," he told her.

"I don't think I could," she replied. "And the pride doesn't need two crazy rulers."

"Hey. You are not crazy." The firmness in his voice caught her attention. He narrowed his eyes at her and cocked his head to the side. "You think that your brother's crazy though... don't you?"

She was tempted to shrug, but she didn't. She remembered to keep her ears in check as she said, "The pride does. I don't."

"Your mother and Chaka do, I agree. They didn't have to tell me, but they fear him, and he hasn't exactly been bright and cheerful these last few days either. I wouldn't blame you if you thought he was."

"But I don't. And I'll be the last one to believe that he is. He's just... sensitive. I'm his only friend, you know. Well, except for Neo and Isabis. I feel bad for them, the poor things. He doesn't like them much, but I don't really either. Hopefully it's only because they're so young. It's not as if they're brats."

"I still wouldn't trust Asuma to be a king of Pride Rock," Natin remarked.

Tanga frowned at him. Why are you being so difficult? What do you want me to say? Why?

Then, out of nowhere, Natin's muzzle broke into a grin. "Look," he said, "I'm sorry, Lewa. I never meant to make you upset, really. I just wanted to help you out. Maybe... Maybe I could have a chat with Asuma?"

"He won't listen," she warned him, "especially to you. Why would he?"

"Because he was so suspicious of me?"

"Yes, and if he won't open up to me, I don't think he will open up to a stranger."

"But I'm not."

Tanga sighed a little. She wanted to tell Natin that he was. He'd been gone for way too long. She considered him half a stranger at best. "You can try. I guess there's no harm in it. He probably feels that we're all judging him. You're not one of us anymore, so you don't have the same opinions of him."

"That bad, huh?"

"What?"

"That he thinks everyone judges him."

"You knew that," she said more sharply than she intended. "He hasn't stopped doing that since Simba was murdered. He just mopes, and then everyone kind of ignores him. They don't know what's wrong with him. But you know what..." her voice softened.

Her tongue grew weak and she went mute for a moment. She tried to speak, but she couldn't. She stared at Natin blankly if not helplessly.

"What is it?"

But she could only shake her head.

"What? What's one more secret, Lewa?"

But she couldn't bring herself to even continue what she'd been thinking. It was much too painful. Forcing a smile... she said, "Nothing. Please just forget it." She felt so much more tired as she pushed herself to her paws and stretched. Her eyelids had grown heavy. "I've sat here long enough to not have nightmares. We can turn in for the night. Aren't you tired?"

He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Tired enough," he finally remarked. He moved to headbutt her forehead playfully and she returned his action with a wider smile. It was comforting.

They walked side by side back to Pride Rock. As they walked, she was afraid that she had spoken too boldly and had given too much away too soon. She knew her family would be disapproving, but she wanted more than anything to trust Natin, and he made it so easy to speak so boldly and openly. She knew that if it hadn't been for her pridemates, she would have held nothing back at all...

Well, maybe not everything...

They were the ones making her feel uncomfortable, filling her mind with suspicion she would sooner rather dismiss. Was everyone filled with ill-intentions? She knew that long ago, her mother was just as carefree, but she wasn't anymore. Tanga was wondering why this was right before she saw Asuma and held out a paw to stop Natin in his tracks. Her brother was just outside the den where he typically remained until she turned in for the night. He was resting with his head on his paws, his eyes closed.

She raised a brow. She whispered, "Are you positive you wanna talk to him?"

"You're asking me to?"

She nodded after a moment. "If he'll cooperate, of course."

Natin pulled a face. "But your mother and uncle... they've told me to stay away from him."

She knew she was frowning. "What? Why?"

He just shrugged. His muzzle then broke into a smile. "Do think I'm gonna start listening to them now?"

"...Maybe you should."

"But I'd rather help him."

What Natin had said about him being forbidden to talk to Asuma made her uneasy. But if I can't get through to Asuma, maybe Natin can... That's what's most important. She nodded to him. "I... want you to. He can use the help."

"That's what I thought, too."

Both young lions then approached the skeptical-eyed Asuma. He'd heard them coming, and she wondered if he had been able to make sense of their conversation. Tanga tried to smile brightly as he stood up.

"Yes?"

"Nice evening, wouldn't you agree, Asuma?" Natin remarked, looking up at the sky.

"I guess it is," Asuma replied softly. He lowered his ears slightly. "Everything alright?"

"I'm going inside the den, okay?" Tanga told them. She gave her brother a serious expression to tell him that Natin had something important to say and that he should listen. He stared back at her in irritation and confusion as she walked away, giving him little time to protest.

"Oh, I just wanted to take a quick walk. I haven't been able to bond with my..." she heard Natin quietly say. She waited for Asuma's reply, but by the time she thought to turn around and look, they were already gone.

Tanga laid down next to her slumbering mother, who appeared far more at peace than she'd looked in several moon cycles. Sleep did that for her. The cave was calm and Tanga quickly found herself heavy-lidded and relaxed.

She sighed and closed her eyes. I really do hope that Natin can help Asuma...

"C'mon, walk with me."

"Only because I know Tanga isn't going to leave me alone until I do," his cousin muttered.

He followed after Natin, who glanced over his shoulder to make sure that nobody was watching them. I can't afford to be caught by Kiara, Chaka, or anyone else who would tattle. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone knows it's forbidden for me to be alone with the dear little prince, Natin thought to himself bitterly.

They kept walking, past the watering hole, and soon they'd passed Tswane's tree. Neither of them had spoken just yet until Natin cleared his throat to catch Asuma's attention. "We've gone far enough, don't you think?" he finally said as he sat down.

Asuma shrugged and sat down as well. "What's this about?"

Natin liked how quickly Asuma got to the point. "Tanga wanted me to speak to you," he said.

"Obviously."

Natin braced himself. Hostility was written fully on the scrawny, young lion's face. "Tanga says that you're upset about something," he began. "The whole pride's noticed, too."

"That's not new."

Natin shrugged. He then started to smirk as he said, "But you wanna know something up front?"

"Something that I don't already know?"

Natin frowned. "No. I promise you don't know what I have to tell you. Unless your mother and Chaka told you to stay away from me. In that case, it would be wrong of me to even be talking to you right now."

"They did tell me to stay away."

"So you listen to nobody, hmmm? You came willingly." Natin chuckled. "Not your sister nor Kiara nor Chaka. But I wouldn't blame you if you didn't wanna listen to Chaka. The guy's a real jerk. Glad I haven't been around him all this time."

His cousin shook his head, ignoring Natin. "No, this isn't about who I chose to listen to," Asuma replied. He eyed Natin, who was surprised by the chill that ran through him at that moment. He wondered where it'd come from as Asuma said, "I actually want to talk to you."

"Tanga thought you wouldn't listen because I'm a stranger to you now. She thought that you wouldn't feel comfortable opening up to me. Why me then?"

"It's not because I'm looking for you to listen to my woes. It's because you obviously know something that I don't. That's why I'll listen to you."

"And what exactly do you want from me? I've told all there is to tell about why I've come back, haven't I?"

"Why would I ask you about that?"

Natin just shrugged.

Asuma's icy stare continued to unnerve Natin, and he was used to being studied by Kovu- the one thing he didn't miss about being away from his band of misfits and murderers.

"So... you haven't told the whole story. Otherwise, why bring it up?" Asuma went on. Natin tried not to smile at the sight of Asuma as he reasoned out loud. Asuma then added after a moment, "I don't know why you left in the first place."

"Sure you do... Your mother says they told you we were patrolling to make sure no more rogues would threaten the pride." Even as Natin said it, he knew what Asuma's eventual answer would be, or at least he thought he did. "And you know that Chaka didn't like my mother much after what her brother did. What your father did."

"That's cub stuff," Asuma scoffed, to Natin's delight. "Do you really think I'd still believe that? Remember, I was there, just the same as you were, when Rafiki brought Zazu to the den. We both lost our innocence that day. Knowing the possible fact that your mother died a year ago, and nothing else, doesn't answer my questions for the bigger story. I know they're lying to me. I'm not stupid. But I should ask myself: why should I believe what you've told me, too?"

Natin felt himself smirk.

He knew he had Asuma right where he wanted him.

Asuma frowned, raising a brow as he tilted his head. "What? Why are you smiling?"

"I could tell you everything, but I don't think it will make you very happy. Actually, I know it won't. Do you think I'd want to make you unhappy?"

Asuma must have caught on because he said, "Is this what you want from me? You want me to beg you to tell me this something, whatever it is?"

Natin nodded. "Do you want me to tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Natin said plainly: "Your father lives."

Asuma's face went absolutely blank with shock. At first Natin was pleased. He'd accomplished what he had been forbidden to do. Kovu had told him specifically to not make his presence known to his own cubs. But while Natin watched as anger crept into the young lion's face, he began to feel guilty. He waited patiently for Asuma to speak, and he watched as Asuma's expression went from anger to nearly unreadable. What little overall reaction Asuma had startled Natin. He'dexpected his cousin to break down in tears like he had so easily as a young cub, but he did none of that. He just... stares...

"Huh?" Asuma finally said, as if in a daze.

"I know this is a lot to take in, but... you were right. They've lied to you, cousin," Natin told him firmly. "He's still alive."

"How... How would you know this?"

"Do you still want me to be up front with you?"

"I would hope so. You probably will anyway." Asuma grimaced. "What's one more liar? You already fit the criteria, being related to me. And so far you're not the most trustworthy."

"I am being truthful now," Natin said, feigning hurt.

"Well I don't have much of a choice to trust you or not. So be up front."

Again, Natin began to wonder if it was a mistake to speak with Asuma, to reveal himself so quickly. But it was too little too late, and he pushed his grief aside as an after thought. He knew how 'having feelings' could get a lion killed. He said, "Since my mother died, I've been living with your father in a pride of rogue lionesses who saved him from the desert lands he'd run to. He's been biding his time, waiting to attack, and he's instructed me to spy on the pride."

Asuma was quite still, obviously brooding and mulling over what Natin was telling him.

"Mom told me what happened the day Kovu left the Pride Lands," Natin spoke up. "She said that Chaka tried to kill your father, but your mother saved him. The alternative was to turn Kovu out for his own good, despite what he'd done, but he took it the wrong way and now he thinks that Kiara betrayed him in favor of Chaka. It's because he's gone crazy. Nala, Kiara, and Vitani agreed to tell you and Tanga that Chaka had been too late to the scene where Kovu was murdered by ro-"

"I never believed that story," Asuma interrupted. He was shaking his head as he glared down at the ground. "I mean... it made sense... at first. I trusted my mother. She took us cubs aside and told us. I don't blame her though, we were so young. But later I got to thinking... about all the stuff that had happened to me... how my father had done nothing to ease my conscious when I thought I was the one responsible for Simba's death... how he wanted to get rid of me because of my stupid nightmares. I haven't had a nightmare in years because of Tswane's herbs, but every once in a while it'll get into my head that I should not take them and see what would happen. I wanted to see if they would tell me something I didn't know. But then I continue taking the herbs. I saw no point in learning more about a dead, cruel lion."

Natin could only sit and listen.

"My own father wanted me dead... you know how terrible that is?" Now the tears were coming. Asuma sniffed and swiped a paw over his nose. He was frowning deeply in apparent embarrassment. His voice cracked as he said, "Because it's really terrible. And I've told nobody about it."

Natin said quietly, "You wanna know something else?"

"What?"

"He killed my mother, his sister... or at least his lionesses did. They attacked us out of nowhere and she told me to separate and hide. When I found her body, Kovu appeared and took me into his care. I could see the conflict in his eyes, but he decided to let me live. I don't know why. Maybe it was to make up for what he did to her. Or else I'm a fool and I truly only am his errand boy and nothing more. You should know, he begged her to help cover up the murder. That's why Chaka disliked her, though she did it because he threatened to hurt me. In the end, she chose to go find him, and the bastard repaid her with death."

Asuma growled softly. "You want him gone just as much as me, is that what you're saying?"

"You?"

Asuma took a moment, but he nodded. "You say he is building an army. If he's sent you here to spy, then he must be ready soon." Asuma was shaking his head as he snorted softly. "I want him gone, too."

"No, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Sure you could!" Asuma spat. "Otherwise you wouldn't have told me about him being alive!"

"Fine, I'll confess," Natin said. "It was my idea to come and 'spy' on the pride. I need help."

"So why didn't you tell Chaka you found Kovu? You've lied to him."

Natin chuckled. "Listen to this: Chaka, when he asked if my mother had found Kovu, I told him that we, my mother and I, hadn't found Kovu and that if she had found him, nothing had become of it. Isn't that rich? I didn't really lie."

"So why didn't you tell Chaka you found Kovu?" Asuma repeated. "You could lead us all there."

"Because I wanna keep this quiet. We don't need a war. Kovu'd kill everyone in this pride if he got the chance. And I'm more worried about his lionesses than I am about him."

"Are you saying this is'd be strictly an assassin mission?"

Natin nodded. He then waited for Asuma to ask why he hadn't done Kovu in before, but the question never came. He wondered if Asuma even cared to know.

The lionesses in Kovu's small pride were restless, Natin knew this. The uncertainty he had about their motives was vague at best. Natin hadn't been able to bring himself to take the risk because he doubted they'd be thanking him for removing Kovu and taking his place as their leader. And that's just it... I don't wanna be their leader... he thought. He was younger. He was stronger. He was far less disconnected from reality- everything Kovu wasn't. He could have just done Kovu in during the night, but he'd been afraid they'd hunt him down. He thought if he had help he'd stand a better chance of getting away with the assassination. They desperately wanted a better home, and they firmly had their hearts set on taking over the Pride Lands. If he became their leader, they'd expect a war with the lions at Pride Rock. He wasn't sure how Asuma was going to help him just yet- he'd been expecting to find a much stronger version of Asuma than the one he had in front of him- but he also had never dreamed that he would get that far. Since Kovu had built it up in his head that Chaka would drive him out immediately, Natin was pleased with what he'd accomplished.

Kovu won't see this coming...

"But since this is an assassination mission," Natin began, "I need to know that you completely understand what I'm asking of you."

Asuma raised a brow. "Alright."

"You understand that you and me are going to kill don't you?"

Asuma hesitated for a moment. "Yes, I understand," he finally said.

Natin continued. "Do you understand that our target is Kovu, your father?"

Asuma's nod was instant. "I have no father," he answered.

"And you understand we are doing this because he killed Simba and my mother?"

Asuma nodded again. "Don't forget that he wanted to get rid of me, too."

Natin said, "Do you understand that if we don't do this, there will be a war?"

"Yes."

"Do you understand that we can't tell anyone else about this?"

"Yes."

"Do you understand that there is a risk we may not come back?"

This caused some uncertainty to enter Asuma's eyes. "Wait, what about Tanga? I... don't want to tell her, but... shouldn't somebody know? In case something happens to us?"

Natin thought for a moment. What if we don't come back? What if we fail? Nobody will be here to stop Kovu and the lionesses or take care of the Pride Lands. Natin long ago had put off the idea that one day he'd be a king. After so long with Kovu and knowing that he had intentions of a deadly war, he had figured he probably wouldn't survive to be king. And it was hard to remember that he was a prince when he was forced to live out in the desert, living off of very little and constantly in fear of dying before the next sunrise. It takes all concentration to gather enough food just to barely survive. Whether they accomplished the mission or not, their deaths would have a greater effect beyond the war.

Asuma, looking rather reluctant, said, "I don't think we can just up and leave."

"They'll try to stop us."

"I know that!" Asuma sighed. "It's just... Look, what if we fail, and there will be nobody to warn them about Kovu's attack? And what will my mother think? And Chaka will know that it's your fault if we're both missing. I hate to say it... but we have to tell somebody."

"Tswane?" Natin suggested.

This seemed to please Asuma. The lighter-furred lion nodded.

"If you think we can trust him, of course, Asuma."

"We don't have much of a choice, now do we," Asuma replied. "Chaka will still be unhappy, but at least Tswane if necessary can tell him what we're doing and prepare him for a war if it comes to the Pride Lands. It'll hopefully keep Chaka from coming after us."

But as he began to think, Natin was looking at Asuma through different eyes. Although Asuma was lacking right then the muscle power that would be needed to confront Kovu, he had smartened up since they were young cubs together. Asuma had been intelligent as a young cub, but just how perceptive Asuma was amazed Natin. Not only that, but Asuma was just as determined to get rid of Kovu as he was.

Perhaps his determination is a little more intense than mine even... he thought, feeling that chill again.

"We'll tell Tswane then," Asuma confirmed. "I think we should leave as soon as possible before Chaka figures it out."

"Will you tell Tanga?"

His cousin considered this for a moment. He shook his head in the end. "No."

Natin grinned. "Then it's settled, partner." He started to head back towards Tswane's tree.

"Hey, Natin?"

"Yeah?"

Asuma was walking at his side. Natin glanced at his cousin and cocked an eyebrow to the younger lion's expression of relief, and of all things, gratitude. He wasn't sure if he liked that. But then again, he couldn't do this alone.

"I... I'm... I'm thankful to you, Natin," Asuma said quietly. "I think we're helping each other out."

Natin felt daring enough when he said, "How so?"

"All this time I've been miserable, and it's all because of Kovu," Asuma said. "This is finally going to stop, and in the end I'll be able to move on. I need this more than I need someone to play therapist."

Natin smiled because he thought it would be appropriate. "I'd sooner die than let you continue to be miserable like this," he said earnestly, despite the gnawing feeling of the cringe he was suppressing. I barely know what I'm doing, and now I've dragged Asuma into this... will it be worth it? he thought before he added, "And I'd give up my life rather than let Kovu continue down the path of destruction he's on. We'll stop him. Just you wait."

Now... time to get planning...

Wow... this took me a lot longer to write than I thought it was going to. But I hope it was worth it. I can't promise the next update won't take some time due to the little amount of pre-writing that I've done, but I'll do my best- and a few reviews wouldn't hurt, either. I know, I'm lazy, too, but I'd be grateful for some more positive feedback. c: