I know. I Know. I FREAKIN KNOW! D: You're all upset because I haven't updated in like, a month. I'm sorry...
School has returned! Therefor, no set date for any updates. I'm sorry about this, but I can't help it. Blame school.
Also, my Animal Crossing addiction has returned! I definitely know that, after all, I paid around 300,000 bells from 600,000 of my mortgage off, caught a bunch of beetles.. I really shouldn't ramble, should I?
On a more cheerful note, Known World is up to over 2,000 views! Only YOU could've made this happen. THANKS to every single person who even ever LOOKED at this story. Everyone had helped reach this, and about a year ago, I never dreamed of 2k views. Love you all! :3
Also, this is CHAPTER TEN! I thought I'd never get here. It seemed so far away when I started this. So thank you all for that too!
And, this is the longest chapter I've written so far! :D I did pretty good.
(And, umm, sorry about the way this chapter is written. I was reading the 2nd Hunger Games, and found it extremely hard to write in past tense after such an activity. So I apologize(yet again) if you don't like it.)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto, or anything else I may use. I own ONLY the plot and my OC's.
Jiaxing belongs to shadet06vocaloid.
Raven belongs to Dragon's and Tiger's.
Also, sorry about any wrong tenses, I've never written this way before so a few may be wrong.
Chapter TEN: Where My Loyalties Lie
{Recap}
"Here we are!" Kiera burst out, opening a door. I had been too wrapped up in my thoughts to realize that we had, in fact, arrived at an office door. As Kiera pushed it open, it revealed a man, sitting at a desk. He looked at the both of us in pure shock, standing abruptly.
"Kiera? What are you doing here?" He asked. It then clicked.
"Dad?" I knew he knew who I was.
"Akua."
{End Recap}
(Akua's POV)
Wow. After all this time I thought he would be more excited to see me.
Instead, I watch as he walks around his desk, stopping in front of me.
"How.. how did you get here?" He asks. I stare him right in the eye, showing that I'm not afraid.
"The tree." I reply. He nods, and Kiera remains silent. Kiera is her 'normal' self here; whereas I am eighteen.
"And why are you here?" My dad asks. Something is different, I can sense it. He's changed in some way.
"Dad, I found her in the Naruto world! She's helping me out after-" Kiera begins to explain, but he cuts her off.
"Kiera, I know. I can watch you, and I'm very disappointed in your actions." She looks at the floor, and murmurs a quiet "I'm sorry."
Disappointing actions.. Strict instructions.. David.. Oh. It suddenly comes to me, in the similar fashion of realizing where a puzzle piece fits. My father has been brainwashed by David, his evil co-worker. As comical as it may sound.
"She was only trying to help, Dad. Sarah told me-"
"Sarah is a liar, she betrayed us here. You won't have to worry about her interfering anymore." My heart stops. For the moment, time has too. Then everything begins moving again, and before I know it, in that small moment of mental shutdown, I'm shot in the arm by some guard.
"Akua!" I hear Kiera scream, before everything fades. No voices, no sound at all. I stare at the blackness in front of me, feeling nothing. I stare on and on, for seconds, minutes, hours, however long I was staring. At least, I have time to sort things out.
David is the guy who changed Dad. Koneko is back. We got to spend time in our old home. Koko's made new friends. Koko raised in some foreign place, not home. The others will worry. My sister was with the Akatsuki, of all the people to end up with. She said Sakura had done something to one of them, was it Sakura? Why am I so drowsy? Why am I even.. aware like this?
I suppose the drugs take a while to take effect. When I finally fall into sleep, it feels like I have closed my eyes for only a moment. I awake with a start.
"It's... you.." I hear a faint, rasping voice. I turn drowsily to the owner of said voice.
"Sarah?" I question. I realize I'm not in the office. I'm in some sort of prison cell. I open my eyes and close them repeatedly, trying to awaken my mind and body.
"They found out.. I helped you.. I guess David realized that I wasn't as gullible as everyone else.." I finally wake up fully, sitting up off the cold floor. I properly look at Sarah, and gasp.
"Sarah what happened? Who did this to you?" I ask, incredulous. Sarah is covered in blood, and there was a small hole in her stomach. It looked almost as if someone had stabbed her.
"That.. doesn't.. matter. Come.. closer, I have to tell you something.." She says rasping for air again. I scoot close to her, careful to avoid blood. I'm not very squeamish, but the idea of sitting in blood could repulse anyone.
"What is it?" I ask. She gently blows air through her mouth.
"Quietly.. they have guards.. and cameras.." She heaves out. I watch worriedly.
"There is a.. device in my po.. pocket. You have to tak..e it and.. and..." She trails off.
"And?" I softly urge her on.
"I.. I'm going to die.. the tree... is... gon..e... de... can get.. you... ba.." She trails off again, and her head falls. I furrow my eyebrows in an expression of worry and fear.
"Sarah.." I murmur. I blink back tears.
"I swear... I swear your death won't be in vain. I swear I'll do my best to fix things, for you. I never really knew you, but... that doesn't matter." I mumbled. I notice a pair of guards come up to the door. They unlock it, and walk over to us.
"You..." I stand up and face them. I begin doing handsigns, but they chuckled at me.
"Chakra doesn't work here sweetie. We're just here to take this body away, and any device in anywhere." The first guard says in a snotty voice. I step aside, what else can I do? Everything's going wrong, and my pessimistic thoughts swim about my mind for a few seconds longer. Until I hear..
"Can we take the valuables?" The second guard says, eyeing Sarah's jewelry. It hit me. Sarah's clothing has no pockets. However, there was a silver locket around her neck
"Sir... since I have to stay here.. alone.. no one around to comfort me.. since I'm most likely going to die soon.. won't you fill a dying girl's one wish? .. All I ask for is that pretty necklace of Sarah's..." I trail off, trying to sound as pitiful as possible. I angle my head downward, and glance up at the two through my lashes. Also known as: Puppy eyes. The second guard grumbles at me, and the first takes the necklace off, and throws it at me.
"Greedy self-centered bitch." The second one mutters as the pair of them take Sarah's body away.
"Yes sir, you just described yourself!" I mutter. I turn the silver locket over in my hands. I can barely believe they were so easily convinced. I open it. Inside, on one part, there's a picture of a boy. Maybe a couple of years older than me, but the picture is small and I might be seeing wrong.
On the other part of the locket, there is a small flower picture. I realize how important that flower is, and secure the necklace around my neck. A shudder passes through me, at the thought of Sarah's fate. I wonder though, if they'll do something of the sort to me. I hope not, as a ninja I'm trained not to say a word; if they threaten Koko, I'll have no choice.
It's risky.
Stupid.
Dangerous.
Failure is a possibility.
I pray that doesn't happen, ever.
(Kiera's POV)
I stand here, watching the two guards take Akua away. I don't know what to do. Could I fool my father? Could I make him believe that I'll be on his side?
"Her side, Kiera? Or your real family?" Dad asked. According to Akua, this isn't how Dad used to be. He was different back then. I stay silent, finding the floor very intriguing.
"Tell me, Kiera... Tell me. Where do your loyalties lie?" He asks softly. We both knew what would happen if I choose the wrong answer. And yes, there is a wrong answer to the question.
"My loyalties belong to the person who's taken care of me all this time. Not with.. Someone who I don't even know." A part of me dies as I say that. It's not true. I felt my Dad unconvinced.
"Prove it."
I freeze in fear, but walk into the cell nonetheless. My father hands me a gun.
"Go on, Kiera. Prove to me you're loyal to me. Shoot her." I fix my gaze on Akua, who stands in front of me. Fear in her eyes, but a smidge of bravery as well.
"I.. can't." I murmur. Hot tears find their way to my cheeks, as I point the gun at my sister, as I begin to shake.
"Kiera, it's alright. It's just.. part of being a ninja. Being brave, being able to do something that kills you inside.." Akua says softly.
"Do it now, Kiera." My father commands me. I'm still shaking and silent tears stroll down my face. The look in Akua's eyes gives me bravery. I have to. I have to. I have to.
"I'm sorry." I slowly squeeze the trigger.
Bang.
I hope you enjoyed the chap! Things are getting serious now, eh? Tell me what you're thinking, I'd love to know! And, tell me if you like this way I wrote the chapter better than past tense, because I can write it either way. Next update is sometime, not sure when, but sometime.
-Kanjo no Jiyu