Sorry I'm so late everyone! Got sidetracked with school and whatnot... and then FFN wouldn't let me upload. Anyway, please enjoy! ~KB

Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns all rights to Naruto

Ch 15: The Truth

Manami was tense from head to toe. She knew she couldn't lie, but she also had to keep the Keybearer's secret. Ibiki just sat in front of her, enjoying Manami's inner turmoil.

"Well?" Ibiki urged.

Manami held her breath. "Alright. I saw the smoke."

Ibiki just stared at her, eyes narrowed, without comment.

"And-" she continued, hanging her head, "and I'm the cause of it."

"Now we're getting somewhere," Ibiki declared. "Care to share how you caused it?"

Manami shook her head as she stared at her lap. He can't know-

*Wham!*

Manami's head jerked up to see Ibiki's fist had slammed down on the table, a mean snarl was etched on his scarred face.

"How did you make the smoke appear?!" he growled angrily.

"It was an accident!" Manami exclaimed. "I never meant for it to happen!"

"For what to happen?" Ibiki followed up.

Manami's eyes widened. She had slipped up just enough for an opening. Manami looked at the large man and drew her lips in a thin line.

Ibiki stood up abruptly and walked over to Manami, standing directly behind her. Manami straightened in her seat but held her ground.

"Shall I get the water? Tell me what happened." Ibiki said in a low tone.

"I can't say." Manami replied pointedly.

"And why is that?" Ibiki asked leaning in.

"Because it would lead to other questions I cannot answer." Manami kept her gaze in front of her refusing to be intimidated.

Ibiki walked back to the other side of the table and leaned forward to look directly at Manami.

"Why can't you tell me?" he pushed. "Is there a jutsu on you that prevents you from speaking? Or are you just stubborn?"

Manami held Ibiki's gaze, "I would tell you if I could, but for the protection of this world it is better for you to not know!"

Ibiki's eyebrows furrowed at her answer. "For the protection of this world? So suddenly you're our 'protector' now?"

Manami rubbed a hand over her face, "It's not that simple."

Ibiki slammed his fist on the table again. "Then make it simple! You can't just appear out of nowhere, know about a strange smoke sighting, and then withhold information from us!"

"Fine!" Manami shouted. The corner of her eyes were damp; she couldn't back out of this one. It wasn't worth getting into a fight over either. If she couldn't keep it a secret, the least Manami could do was control who knew it in this world.

"I'll tell you everything," Manami said with a steady voice, "but here's the deal: I speak to you and the village leader alone. You two are the only ones I will speak to and everything will be kept off the records. Deal?"

Ibiki frowned and crossed his arms. Manami finally yielded, but not without stipulation.

"That rope would look really good on your neck right about now." he threatened.

Manami held Ibiki's stern gaze, refusing to back down.

"If you don't agree," she said in a low tone, "then I will rot away in a cell, never breathing another word."

Ibiki eyed her suspiciously.

"You drive a hard bargain," he finally replied, "but I can accept those terms. You are no threat to us."

Manami leaned back in her chair, releasing the breath she held as Ibiki left the room.

This is it, she thought.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Manami stood as the door opened up. It felt like forever since Ibiki had left, but he finally returned with the lady Manami met earlier. Tsunade sat in the chair across from Manami and Ibiki stood in a corner. Manami sat down as well and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

"So," Tsunade bluntly began, "Ibiki tells me you won't speak unless it's just us. Here we are. Now talk."

Manami nodded. This woman is almost as terrifying as Ibiki, she thought

"It's my ship," Manami began slowly, "When I came here, I crashed into the trees trying to land and damaged a wing plus the engine, which caused the smoke to pour out of it."

"A ship?" Tsunade inquired. The only ships she knew of were on water.

"Yes," continued Manami, "it's one of a few ships used for travel."

Tsunade furrowed her eyebrows but it was Ibiki who asked, "Where are you traveling from?"

Manami's voice caught in her throat for a moment. "Please understand that I can't say where, technically I'm not supposed to say anything about what I do."

"Stop wasting our time!" Ibiki shouted angrily, taking a step from the corner. "Tell us who you are and what you do! Or shall I cut off your fingers, one by one?!"

Manami shrank as far back in her chair as possible. Tsunade merely held up her hand without a flinch, signaling Ibiki to back off.

"So why are you telling us?" Tsunade asked calmly.

"I don't want to start any fights or anything of the sort. We're not supposed to meddle in world affairs, but I figured that if I do have to explain myself, I should try to limit the number of people that know. That's why I asked for just you two. You, ma'am, because you are the head of the village and him," she said, nodding her head to Ibiki, "to verify that I am telling the truth to you."

Tsunade nodded in acknowledgement.

"I respect your decision," Tsunade said, "so what can you tell us?"

Manami saw Ibiki glaring at her from the corner he stood in. She took a deep breath and answered, "I am a Keyblade wielder. We are protectors of the worlds and fight the Darkness."

"What's a Keyblade?" Ibiki asked crossly.

Manami thought about it for a moment then replied, "Basically, it's like a sword but in the shape of a giant key."

"Can you show us?" Tsunade asked curiously.

Manami bit her lip, "I'm afraid I can't."

Ibiki growled menacingly, "Well why not?!"

"Because I can't summon it!" Manami replied; her expression grew dark. "Before I came here, something happened and I lost the ability to summon my Keyblade."

"So you can't summon your weapon, and yet you still came here?" Tsunade inquired.

Manami nodded solemnly, "It was supposed to be a simple recon mission. Get in, get out."

Ibiki visibly stiffened in the corner and Tsunade's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean recon mission?" Ibiki asked roughly.

"Uh- I mean," Manami swallowed thickly, "when a world first appears, like this one did, we do a simple recon mission to get a lay of the land and to make sure it's clear of any Heartless."

Tsunade gave Manami a quizzical look and Ibiki piped up, "Elaborate on 'when a world first appears'."

Manami's face hardened. "I can't say much but there are other worlds besides this one. Occasionally a new one will appear and it is our job to protect them."

"Protect it from what?" Tsunade asked, concern in her voice.

"From the Darkness and its creatures," Manami replied earnestly.

Ibiki took a half step forward and asked, "What is this 'Darkness' you keep referring to?"

The hairs on Manami's neck prickled in discomfort. "It's hard to describe, but sometimes the darkness in people's hearts become so great it takes a form of its own. That's how Heartless are formed."

"What are Heartless?" questioned Tsunade. "How much of a threat are they?"

"Heartless are manifestations of the Darkness that come in different forms," Manami replied. "If you see them, they are usually noted by their black bodies and yellow eyes. Their only goal is to gather more hearts and create more Heartless."

Manami stopped there. They didn't know about the Keyhole or the heart of the world and it was better that way. Huh, Manami thought, ignorance really is bliss.

"So how does all of this relate back to you?" Tsunade asked.

Manami's eyes drooped, "I was- am a Keyblade wielder. Only Keybearers can truly get rid of Heartless because the Keyblade is a weapon of Light. Any other weapon will just temporarily dissolve them, but they always come back."

"I thought you said you can't wield a Keyblade," Ibiki snapped.

Manami hung her head. "I am still a Keyblade apprentice. My master said he would help me find a way to summon it again. But that won't happen unless I get back."

"And you can't get back," Tsunade continued, "because your ship is damaged."

"Exactly," Manami replied, leaning back in her chair.

Tsunade looked back towards Ibiki. He nodded his head stiffly, confirming that everything Manami said was true.

Tsunade turned back towards Manami, "Now I see why you were asked to keep this all a secret. Is there anything we can do to help?"

Manami shook her head. "Not unless you have a Gummi Block or two lying around."

"A Gummi Block?" Ibiki inquired.

Manami searched for the best way to explain them. "They're like large blocks made of a jelly, or gummi-like substance. I don't know the specific mechanics of it, but that's what the ship is made of and how it works."

Tsunade shook her head, "I'm afraid we don't have anything of the sort. Is there anything else we can do to help?"

Manami sat there for a moment and thought through everything. Without repairing the Gummi Ship, she was stuck in the village.

"Is there a place I could stay for a while?" Manami asked.

FIN