I finally updated! It didn't take me long to write, to be honest. It's just that I needed to update another story first and that one took me way too long to write XD I hope you guys enjoy this!


Chapter 48: Secrets

Here I was… Behind bars… It's been a few days already. I've been blindfolded and tied down to prevent me from using any jutsu to get out. They haven't fed me or given me anything to drink either. They've even put chakra seals on me. They haven't dealt with me yet, but I know it's coming. They're just waiting for me to get so weak that I won't be able to resist their interrogation. How am I feeling about this whole thing? I don't feel anything, really. I know that normally, I would feel betrayed and feel scared, but… They had no choice. My friends didn't know what to think. It was all so unexpected. It was partially my fault for keeping the Kazekage's death a secret from everyone. To be honest, it doesn't really matter anymore.

Being stuck here has been… a very interesting experience. I heard things that were probably not meant for my ears. My senses, however, are much more acute than most, as I've grown to learn. This was probably something necessary for my body to be able to absorb and use any jutsu from a dead corpse.

I still remember clearly the things that were said between the shinobi that work in the prison…

"Kiu? She's not from here, is she? What clan is she even from?"

"Actually, it seems that she from the cursed clan."

"The… you mean THAT clan? The one that…"

"Shh… We're not allowed to speak of it…"

"But that name… Kiu… Isn't that person already dead?"

"Enough. We can't afford anyone hearing us."

That was it. I deduced that they probably knew about my true identity. This village is probably hiding a very deep dark secret. I doubt any of the younger generation knows about this. However, this made me realize that, if I want answers, I'd find them here. Only in this village.

I hear footsteps approaching. Someone opens my cell door.

"I can't believe we're just going to release her like this."

Release me?

"It's not our choice. This is a direct order from the higher ups."

One of the shinobi takes off my blindfold and releases the seal. He then unshackles me.

"Consider yourself lucky. Apparently a bunch of genin were pleading for your cause along with your sensei. They were able to prove your innocence. You're free to go."

What…? I stay expressionless, but, deep down, I can't believe what I just heard. They… They did this for me?

I'm escorted outside the prison. There, stands one person waiting for me.

"Kiu…"

"Gaara…"

We stand in front of each other, silent for a while. Gaara can't look me in the eyes. I take his hand in mine.

"It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself."

I tell him and smile gently. He then pulls me into a hug. A very tight hug… So tight that I feel my lungs being crushed against his toned chest.

"I'm so sorry, Kiu… I didn't know what to think back then… I should've believed you right away. I should've had more faith in you… Especially that you risked your life and did all of this for my sake… I really don't deserve you…"

"Gaara, please don't feel this way. I don't blame you for anything that happened. In that situation, it was a perfectly normal reaction. And I did this because I believed that you do deserve it. And I will keep doing everything I can to protect you… Besides… The reason why they let me go is because of you guys right?"

Gaara lets me go and looks me in the eye. He slowly nods.

"After they took you away, Temari, Yukari, Kankuro, Yuto, Ikki, Koji, Maru, and me started each talking to our respective sensei. We convinced them to help us plead for your innocence. We looked around, finding proofs against you being the murderer of the Kazekage. It was actually obvious once we looked at the body. We then convinced the head of the prison to let you go."

I felt tears threatening to escape my eyes. To think that they did all this for me… I feel so lucky to have friends like them… I then hear my stomach grumble painfully.

"Um… Can we go get something to drink and eat? I'm on the verge of dying of dehydration…"

Gaara then takes out a bottle of water that we use when going on missions and handed it to me.

"I thought you'd need it."

I smiled widely and took the bottle from him. I drank it slowly, not wanting to shock my body from the sudden intake.

"Best water I've ever had!"

I exclaimed when I finished it. This caused Gaara to chuckle. He then takes my hand and starts leading me along with him.

"Let's go home."

Home… I wonder where my real home is… I need to lay low for now, but I will definitely find out what happened and who I really am.

We reach the Kazekage's mansion. As soon as Gaara opens the door, I am greeted with a room full of people that I recognize very well.

"Welcome back!"

They all scream. Everyone's here…! Yukari, Ikki, Yuto… Kankuro and Temari… Maru and Koji… And even Otokaze-sensei!

"Kiu! I'm so happy you're finally free!"

Yukari runs to me and hugs me.

"I heard it was all thanks to you guys."

"Actually, Gaara and Koji were the ones who were running around the most to get you out."

Yukari whispered in my ear.

"Hey, Kiu. You should eat something. You don't look too good."

Koji says while coming up to me.

"Yeah, you're right. It feels like it's been forever since I ate anything."

"Wait. Don't tell me you weren't fed for three days?"

Maru exclaims.

"She wasn't given any water either. That's how the Sunagakure prison works… They wanted to weaken her as much as possible to be able to question her later without having much resistance from her."

Otokaze-sensei informs everyone. I see all of their faces getting clouded with guilt.

"Don't tell me you guys are also blaming yourselves for this…"

"Kiu… If only we'd stood by you from the beginning this…"

"This would've probably still happened."

I answered Yukari.

"They would've kept me locked in until I was proven innocent. If it weren't for all of you, I'd still be stuck there. They didn't seem in a hurry to release me."

Since they probably know something that we are not aware of… After everyone starting feeling a bit better, I was offered some food that Yukari had prepared. Safe to say that I was kind of glad that it was her cooking I got to eat on an empty stomach since Temari's could be a little… too strong in my current state.

I try to have fun with everyone and relax my mind after everything that's happened but… I still have the conversations I heard in prison in the back of my mind. The cursed clan? And I'm supposed to be already dead? It's all very hard to understand. But I will find out. I will find out who I am.


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