The Ward

Disclaimer: Read the ones from past chapters :)

A/N: Yes, I seriously take too long with these updates… ;; forgive me and attempt to enjoy.

Recap:

"Those kids are becoming a menace. Find out what they're planning and report back to me; we might have to take some measures to get them out of our way."

"But there's no real way for them to get this Sakura out, right? It should be a futile effort; this is the FBI, after all."

"You never know with sorcery, kid. And I don't trust them. Listen, I got some business to attend to. Let me know what happens."

"Will do, sir," Kieren replied, putting away his cellphone and turning to leave.

Meilin stood at the doorway of the bathroom with toilet paper in her hand, her eyes brimming with tears. He had been so engrossed in the conversation he hadn't even heard the door open. "Who are you, you sick bastard?"

Chapter Eleven: Clash of Loyalties

Kieren stared blankly at Meilin, completely caught off guard. "Wha- What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously. "You don't just walk in on someone when they're in the bathroom!"

"You have some nerve to talk to me like that! I came 'cause I had remembered we didn't put in a new roll of toilet paper," she said, using the roll of toilet paper to wipe her tears as they continued to fall.

"How much did you hear?" he demanded, his tone becoming cold and businesslike.

Meilin tried to hide her surprise at his change of tone. "Th- that's none of your business… you should be explaining yourself at this very moment!"

He raised an eyebrow and continued to look at her questioningly.

"You knew all about it… and you betrayed me." Meilin said between fits of anger and tears. She didn't know which was worse; the fact that she'd led him to them, that she'd trusted him, or that she was almost sure she was starting to fall in love…

"Alright, so you've found me out. I work for the FBI, if you hadn't figured it out already," he said in an almost careless tone.

She looked at him disgustedly and threw the roll of paper at him. "How can you be so heartless and cold!

He shrugged. "It's my job." He walked up to her, took her hand into his, and paused. "Look, Meilin. I am sorry, but this is my job. It's funny; I got a little wistful and almost thought for a second that we could've had something together."

Meilin wiped away a few newfound tears and gave him a look of utmost contempt. "I absolutely loathe you for doing this to my cousin and to innocent Sakura. Get out."

He looked at her almost pleadingly for a second, then turned his back. "You don't understand, Meilin."

"No, Kieren, I think I understand perfectly. You're turning your back on us, on me, because of your 'job.' You'd rather see an innocent girl be tortured for the rest of her life rather than make a family and a group of friends happy. You'd rather live knowing that you did your job well, instead of knowing that you made a few people infinitely happy, and condemned a girl who's done absolutely nothing wrong, and tore her away from the only person that means anything to her now. Just get out, Kieren. Leave me alone; I never, ever, want to see you again."

The words rang true in his head, but he had no more energy left to think it out. Silently, he stalked down the hallway, ignoring everyone in the hallway and left, closing the door silently behind him.

Meilin found herself being led into the living room by Tomoyo. "What's wrong? I heard a lot of yelling, and Kieren stalked out without so much as a glance."

"He knows everything, Tomoyo, everything we did, about Sakura's powers, our plan to rescue her again – he works for the FBI! I can't believe I trusted him Tomoyo, this is all my fault!" she shouted, and burst into tears once more.

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He didn't know quite where he was going, and he certainly didn't know what to think. "…You'd rather live knowing that you did your job well, instead of knowing that you made a few people infinitely happy, and condemned a girl who's done absolutely nothing wrong…"

Was that really him? His feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and he found himself in front of the facility where Sakura was being kept. He took out his ID and went through the standard security procedures, and headed towards the room she was being held in.

He was greeted by both Dr. Arannsen and Dr. Bane, both who were diligently staring at Sakura through the one way windows. "Ah, Kieren, what a pleasant surprise," Dr. Bane said in an unconvincing manner.

"What are you doing here, Kieren? Your part of this job is virtually over," Arannsen said, not bothering to look up at him.

"Just wanted to have a few words with the patient – privately. Boss's orders," he lied quickly.

"Well… alright then. Just knock at the door when you're ready to leave," Bane said, opening the door for him and locking it behind him.

Sakura was no longer tied down to a bed; instead, she sat on it almost nonchalantly, swinging her legs back and forth repeatedly. She stared at him with blank, dazed eyes when he entered.

"Hi, Sakura. Remember me?" he asked, pulling up a chair in front of her.

"Remember you… of course I do. You're………………………….KIEREN!" she exclaimed loudly, bursting into giggles.

He looked slightly taken back, but continued to question her. "Do you know where you are?"

"Mmmmm noooo…. BUT I know I'm in a looney bin. Isn't that right, Kieren, isn't it?" she asked, smiling childishly.

Sakura was strong; there was no doubt about it. The "medicine" Bane and Arannsen gave to their patients made their minds so fuzzy they usually couldn't comprehend simple words and thoughts for days, making them equivalent to babies. "Do you know why you're here, Sakura?"

Her eyes became troubled and unfocused, and she suddenly leapt off the bed and into his arms. She clung to him almost desperately, her eyes filled with tears that wouldn't fall. "I wanna go home, Kieren, won't you take me? I wanna see Syao Syao, he didn't visit me this time! Where's my wolfy?"

Startled, he patted her back sympathetically and held her for a little while, until she drifted off into sleep. The action faintly reminded him of someone he knew and loved… but he wasn't about to bring that memory back into light. He placed her back onto the bed and went over to the door, knocking softly. Bane almost immediately opened the door, making Kieren wonder whether he'd been able to see everything that had just happened, if not hear it.

"You're done, I take it?" Arannsen asked. "We still have lots of work to do on her."

"Yeah, I'm done. I'll see you both around," he said briskly, walking off.

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That night, Kieren lay in bed awake, unable to fall asleep. Thoughts of Meilin's tears, and Sakura clinging to him were still fresh in his mind. He wanted to help them, he really did – but his job wasn't worth risking. After all who was he to decide what was wrong or right? If the FBI thought they were doing the right thing, then so did he. But then again…

The questions troubled him all through the night, until he was finally able to close his eyes at the break of dawn – only to be troubled by dreams.

'Won't you play Kieren, won't you, won't you PLEASE?' she asked, pouting as she usually did when she wanted something.

'Go away, Rina, you know I'm busy.' He'd just gotten his first big assignment, and there was no way he was going to screw it up.

'Aw, you're absolutely no fun anymore, big brother. I'm telling mother!' she said, grinning and sticking out her tongue. 'You'll get it now!'

'Yeah, you go do that,' he said, rolling his eyes.

'Fine, I will!' He heard her run down the steps, and her little voice as she complained vigorously.

'Rina, you know you're not supposed to bother Kieren while he's working. He doesn't have the time anymore. Why don't you go outside and play with Uraya?'

'But mommy-'

'No buts, Rina.'

He could almost hear her fume and he chuckled, going back to his work.

It was later that day that they'd realized little Rina had gotten hit by a car, and no one was able to find out who had done it. The family was heartbroken, and the mourning never truly ended. Kieren had come to loathe himself, and devoted his life entirely to his work.

Kieren woke with a start, full of anger and malice. Of everything that he could have dreamed of, it had to be of Rina. He hurled anything that was near him at the wall and yelled loudly. It was his fault Rina was dead, and it would be his fault if Sakura was lost. Yet nothing could be done…

---Yeah, I know it's boring . I don't know what's wrong with me! Anyways, I'm trying, and I'll try to make the next chapter better if I can help it. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review.