A/N: No, I am not dead XD I am so sorry for the extremely late update! I have just been so busy! It's CRAZY~!
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all of you and Jesus and all sorts of stuff :)
Btws, I actually explain the things that are marked by these *. FINALLY.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I am sorry for it's shortness; I was in a hurry to update D:
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She was broken, but she was finished. Her soul was shattered, and her heart was in pieces.
She was done. She wasn't going to cry anymore.
A crazy grin appeared on her face.
She was going to get revenge.
-:-
(The author suggests you listen to 'Mysterious Family' from the Fruits Basket Soundtrack during this portion of the story)
-:-
Kotone stepped around broken glass and overturned furniture. Her geta made unique imprints on the dusty floor, and the princess vaguely wondered how long it had been since someone had been in the household. She let a finger paint a clean line on a circular mirror in the hall. Her eyes met her own reflection and she turned away, dreading her own blank stare.
Upon entering the kitchen, she took note of how the table was upside down, and nearly all of the chairs were snapped into pieces. Amaterasu nearly cut her foot on the knives that were spilled across the floor. She tiptoed across them, and began her trek up the stairs.
When she reached a room that was utterly destroyed, Amaterasu accidentally stepped upon something. The item played two notes of a musical theme before stopping. The princess knelt down and examined the item. As she turned it in her hands, she realized her palm was stained with blood. She dropped the box promptly, astonished by the sight of the crimson liquid.
Deciding the wipe it off on her katana sheath, she continued to inspect the box. Upon further examination, it became obvious that it was a musical box. The crank was key-shaped, fitting perfectly in the box in a nifty keyhole-shaped opening, as though the musical box was a treasure chest. The lid had nearly been broken off, but Kotone was unsure if it was her fault. The inside of the box was indigo velvet, with splotches of crimson. Amaterasu tossed aside the lid, believing nothing else to be inside.
The bottom half of the musical box revealed the damage the princess had done. There was the small statuette of a young woman, with her hands held out as though cupping water to drink. Her head had fallen off. Kotone gently prodded the small figure with her finger and it began to turn slightly, and the musical notes began to play for a single moment before abruptly stopping.
Amaterasu respectfully placed the clue back onto the ground and picked up the lid to put it back near its counterpart. Suddenly, in a slow movement, a photograph slipped from the lid (most likely hidden underneath the velvet covering, releasing itself upon Ketone's tossing it aside) and fell to the ground. The damsel immediately snatched it up, inspecting it thoroughly. Unfortunately, it had been burnt to crisp, the only 'picture' part remaining beginning the remains of what looked like a woman posing with her arms crossed.
Kotone gathered up her clues before adding up her information. She ran her fingers through her snowy mane.
"Akio," she whispered, addressing the mute who was on the roof, keeping a lookout.
The tan fellow dove into the room through a nearby window and looked up at his love.
Yes? He signaled, What is it?
"What do you make of all this?" Amaterasu asked, waving a single hand in a motion that seemed to gesture the entire room.
The foreigner walked about the premises, sniffing at random destroyed objects and prodding others.
Someone went on a rampage, he pointed out.
"Something useful, maybe?" Kotone snapped.
The two looked at each in a dumbfounded silence. The pale woman's expression was blank, yet shocked as she digested her own words. Akio did not recognize her.
"I apologize.." She whispered quietly, "I do not know what overcame me."
"You're frustrated," Aiko explained, appearing in the doorway, "Just like me. There's nothing here but blood, ash, and chalk."
"Chalk?" Kotone inquired.
The blind girl nodded, humming, "Mmhmm. There's some in the next room. It makes some sort of pattern, but I couldn't identify it."
The trio rushed out of the demolished bedroom before diving into another, attempting not to note the rotting smell and splatter of crimson all about. Akio sniffed the air, unfazed by the putrid scent.
"It's other there, I think," She said, pointing doubtfully.
Kotone followed the girl's aim and looked down at her feet. She held back some bile, nearly raising a hand to cover her mouth.
It was the outline of a human body.
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-:-
Hiromi was unsure of how she felt when Sai told her that Kotone had punched him square in the face. She was unsure of how she felt at all.
She did not voice her depressed state to Sai.
"Oh," she said, frowning, "I guess it's because she doesn't like you."
"Why is that? I hadn't really even met her formally," Sai reasoned.
Hiromi didn't put much effort into responding. She rested her chin on her hand and let out a forlorn sigh. Her expression was detached.
"She probably is upset by the way you aren't very emotional," she responded dully, "Kotone didn't have any emotions when she was younger."
"Then doesn't she understand my position?" Sai asked.
"No," Hiromi sighed, "She wanted to have emotions, but she couldn't."
"Why is that?"
"I think it'd be best if you asked her; I don't think it's my place to say."
As though hearing her name, Kotone appeared, seemingly in a mad dash. Hiromi was shocked by the way her friend seemed almost desperate. The blonde thought perhaps the royalty would ignore her after their 'dispute' but Amaterasu did not stray from the straight path to Hiromi.
"Did you know?" She asked immediately.
"Did I know what?" the depressed teen responded, clueless.
Kotone eyed Sai questionably before continuing, "About the Arakawa household."
"No," Hiromi replied, her eyebrows rising with curiosity, "Why? Is there something there? Tsunade-sama told everyone to not go there .. That there was a gas leak or something and it was too dangerous."
"She lied."
Before anymore could be said, four ANBU officers appeared from thin air, each pointing a dangerously sharp sword towards Kotone, one blade nearly touching the curve of her neck.
"Kotone Kimiko!" one of them exclaimed, "You are to come with us at once!"
Aiko and Akio jumped into action, forming hand signs, but they were stopped by two more ANBU officers. Aiko growled and tried to bite one of them. Akio glared into his opponent's soul.
"What do you want?" Kotone asked.
Hiromi watched in shock. What in the world was going on!?
The loud ANBU officer continued, "You are to come with us at once!"
Amaterasu repeated, "What do you want?"
"You are under arrest for trespassing on government property."
-:-
Kotone burst into Tsunade's office, followed by four ANBU. Akio and Aiko lagged behind, nearly being stabbed in the back by the other two ANBU. The Hokage was relieved they caught her.
"Did she leak any classified information to the public?" She asked.
By public, Kotone guessed, she probably meant Hiromi.
"No, ma'am."
"Good," Tsunade sighed, "Very good. You all can leave. I don't think our guests will be causing any trouble."
The ANBU officers disappeared upon command and Kotone's posture stiffened considerably. Her subordinates seemed to be inching their ways to their weapons.
"Who in the (curse.) do you think you are?" The Hokage asked, her fury visible.
Amaterasu remained silent.
"You can't just come barging into my village and cause havoc!" Tsunade slammed her fists on her desk, sending a few papers floating to the floor, repeating, "Who do you think you (curse.)ing are?!"
Once again, the princess held her tongue. Aiko was itching to snap at the old hag.
The Hokage continued despite the lack of response from the audience, "Things are off limits for reasons! Things are kept secret for reasons!"
She shoved a finger in Kotone's direction.
"You can't just come here and try figure out these reasons! Stop trying to make me the bad guy! Some secrets are for the protection of others!"
The irate woman ceased her rambling, waiting for a proper response from her opponent. Amaterasu lifted her hand and showed her palm to the Hokage. It was dirtied by dried blood.
"This," she said calmly, "cannot be for anyone's safety."
It was Tsunade's turn to bite her tongue.
"I demand answers" Kotone said, her voice neither strong nor weak.
The Hokage hissed, "I can't give you any."
The two fell into a competitive silence until Aiko broke it.
"Why'd you sic your dogs on us?! We weren't doing anything!"
"You were trespassing government property!" Tsunade growled.
Amaterasu flipped her palm over to look at it intently, responding, "A 'dead' friend's home is.. government property? Did you kick Maiko's guardian out?"
This enticed a reaction from the Hokage. The blonde woman overturned her desk angrily, causing all of her paperwork to go flying into the air. Aiko and Akio dove into action, hurriedly making their hand signs*, but Amataerasu did not draw her sword, so they did not fight.
Tsunade, with a few stray hairs out of place due to her anger, yelled, "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! I'M TRYING TO PROTECT YOU BUT YOU KEEP COMING BACK TO GET HURT! GET OUT OF KONOHA IMMEDIATELY!"
The trio stood in silence, the only sound in the room besides the huffs of a furious Tsunade.
Akio eyed his female friends. They just got settled in their new home! They were happy and comfortable! Aiko was happy (though Akio did not deny that he wished that his sister hadn't discovered streamers. The other day he opened the closet door only to be rained upon by miles of rainbow paper) and safe!
"You're being childish." Kotone rebuked.
Tsunade bit her thumb to calm herself down. She was being childish. She was angry. She wanted to slap Kotone for being so ignorant. The Hokage just wanted to pull the princess out of the mess she was creating and shove her somewhere safe.
The blonde woman vaguely wondered if she was feeling a fraction of what Naruto has going through with Sasuke.
"Shall I escort her out, milady?" asked an ANBU officer, who had apparently deemed it necessary to enter the office.
He or she seemed unfazed by the scattered papers.
Tsunade bit her thumb before nodding, "Let me calm down," she added, her tone suddenly calming, "I'll call you back tomorrow, Kotone."
The princess nodded obediently and began to exit the office.
"And, please, don't do anymore snooping around," the Hokage sighed, exasperatedly.
-:-
The ANBU led the trio down winding hallways, clearly not to the exit. His or her high purple ponytail was swinging like clockwork. The ninja's slim figure pointed to a female.
"Where are we going?" Kotone asked.
The ANBU stopped for a moment before saying mysteriously, "Somewhere where we can't be heard."
The group continued (though their guard was up now) until they reached a small room with a sliding door. The ANBU officer closed it behind the group before letting the tension build.
Suddenly, in a bizarre manner, the officer ripped off her hair and tore off her mask.
"Oh, tsk, tsk!" The woman smiled, "you've gotten yourself into so much trouble, haven't you?"
"Hanako-sensei." Kotone deadpanned, though there was a hint of relief in her tone.
The dark-haired jounin rested herself upon a nearby chair and laxly leaned back.
"So," she smiled, "what's been going on that made Tsunade have such a fit?"
Aiko and Akio guarded the door loyally as Kotone took a seat as well, sitting with a strict posture in a cozy cushion.
"I snuck into the Arakawa household."
Hanako dropped her playful grin, "Did you really?"
Kotone nodded, putting a hand into her kimono, "That's right, and I also managed to take this," she pulled out a burnt photo and handed it gently to her sensei.
Hanako examined it thoroughly, her keen dark eyes rolling over each scratch. She turned it over and performed the same procedure.
When she was done, she passed the clue back to Amaterasu.
"Do you know her? The woman in the photograph?"
The elder female ran a hand through her black strands, groaning in frustration.
"I wish I did," she admitted softly, "even if I did know her, I wouldn't be able to tell because I can't see her face."
Aiko slammed her fist into the wall, "(Curse.) it! All of this for nothing!"
Her brother reached over and gently rubbed her shoulder. It was code for 'I'm here for you. Don't worry.'
"It's not for nothing," Hanako explained, giving them hope, "you've found something. You did something."
She let her eyes fall solemnly to the carpet.
"You're doing better than any of us have."
Kotone kept the picture in her hands, fearing that if she let it go it would disintegrate into the air and all her hope would be lost, "Even Shikamaru Nara?"
The room fell silent as Hanako looked up, her dark eyes wide.
The mother looked away, "He denied it at first. Said she was out there fighting her way back home. He kept thinking that until about a year ago, when Ino knocked some sense into him. You.."
She broke off and looked out the window that had suddenly made itself known. The village was bright and cheery, oblivious to the suffering of some of the villagers.
"You should go look into his eyes. They're.. They're broken. You may not see it, but I can. I was broken for ages when .. she died."
Kotone followed her sensei's eyes to the window, but stood, suddenly realizing something.
"Is that.. Sakura Haruno?"
"What are you talking about?" Hanako asked, her eyebrow raised.
"She's panicking," Amaterasu suddenly stood, "something's wrong."
The group suddenly plunged at the window. It was true. The pink dot frantically bouncing around was definitely Sakura. In a swift movement, the window was broken and Akio and Aiko were leaping to her rescue.
Kotone followed them after informing her sensei in a firm tone, "She's not dead. I know it."
-:-
Akio had an unsure expression when Sakura fell into his arms, her expression filled with terror. Aiko dove beside the two, searching for wounds on the pink-haired girl. Kotone nearly forgot that this was the woman who saved the twins' lives. She let them calm Sakura down.
"What happened?" Aiko asked hurriedly.
"I- It- Fo- I- He- S- I- Help!"
Clips of phrases leapt out of the chunin's mouth, fear apparent in her behavior and appearance.
"She's having a panic attack," Aiko informed, "Let's get to the hospital."
-:-
Hiromi and Kotone watched in awe as the twins sat faithfully at Sakura's side, asking her hurriedly about her health. Their loyalty for her almost beat their faithfulness to Amaterasu. She admired it.
"I have no idea what came over me," the chunin explained, "I was just so scared."
Akio wrote something on her arm, but she couldn't understand so she just nodded. Aiko translated and Sakura responded, but then Hiromi intervened.
"Whatever happened really scared the wits out of you!" She exclaimed, "We're just lucky your panic attack didn't last minutes, or even hours."
"What did happened?" Kotone asked.
The pink-haired girl sat up in the bed and began.
"I was just picking some herbs.. when something attacked me."
-:-
Sakura collapsed, her basket of perfectly usable herbs strewn across the grassy floors. She gasped for air, looking around desperately for the cause of the blunt blow to her chest.
"You'll pay."
A demonic voice chanted the phrase over and over again, sometimes whispering, sometimes yelling. Sakura wanted to cover her ears and cry.
"I didn't do anything to you! Leave me alone!" She eventually proclaimed.
Another blow occurred at her stomach and she was pushed over. Whoever or whatever was out there was strong. Sakura didn't want to get up.
Her stomach was suddenly filled with the sensation of a thousand glasses breaking. She felt hopeless.
"You're a monster."
"Stay away!" Sakura screamed, backing up into a tree.
Her eyes grew incredibly wide, her pupil shrinking in fear. There was something walking towards her. It was gangly. It was too big to be an animal but it seemed an unhealthy size for a person.
"You killed him."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
The creature suddenly stopped, and Sakura could identify beady black eyes and sharp teeth. She covered her face with her arms and let out a scream as she felt like a thousand birds were flying at her, pecking at her skin.
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She opened her eyes anxiously and saw nothing. The forest was suddenly bright and sunny again, like nothing had happened. Sakura scrambled to her feet hurriedly and ran, not even noticing that her basket of herbs was sitting delicately beside the tree she was once huddled at.
One new herb had been placed in the basket. A Pacific Bleeding Heart.*
-:-
1* - The Twins' Hand signs
Akio
1. Make two 'Love' symbols with your hands. This means your pinkie and your pointer finger should be raised with every other finger down except for your thumb.
2. Now, cross your two hands. Do not make two diamond shapes.
3. Flip your hands over so that your middle finger and ring finger are facing you.
4. Now cross your hands. This should make a diamond shape; Akio's hand sign for the Akivi's water style ninjutsu.
Aiko
Do the exact same thing for Akio's 'Step One'.
Cross your two hands. This should make two diamond shapes.
Now place your hands on the ground. This is Aiko's hand sign for the Akivi's earth style ninjutsu.
2* - Pacific Bleeding Heart
A poisonous herb shaped vaguely like a heart. Every single part of it is a deadly posion if not taken correctly.
A/N: Cliffhanger? Maybe? I love cliffhangers XD
Thanks to..
(If your name is 'censored' or you are unable to identify it, I apologize!)
(Reviewers)
MaoIsSleepy - .. I can't say.
Thank you! I hope you love this chapter as well v.v
Yamiroo Alice (Chapter One): GURL DON'T YOU APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHIN'
As long as you are happy, I am happy :)
I hope you are able to catch up! c: I hope you like these recent chapters!
Don't rush v.v You don't even have to do it at all if you don't feel like it.
Thank you for reviewing!
ShadowBloodNinja : Isn't everyone, deep inside? v.v
Hahahaha~! XD I totally agree! But anymore than two deaths really bother me v.v It's like 'yeah he's fine'
*collapses dramatically, grasping chest* HEAVENS
It doesn't sound like it'd be too yummy n
EXACTLY. And then it's like 'umm no no no stop heavens no stop'
I would've dropped her. I don't really like children at all to be honest XD Unless they don't cry, scream, or whine.
Mock Election? Sounds fun! :D Though I'm sure I would've gone into a huge debate with someone v.v
I wanna go on whatever school trips you go on XD
Rant as long as you like c: I love long reviews. Especially when it has little personal touches!
Thank you for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter :D
Animefangirl95: *feeling guilty* ughmaafklfkagworepyjfba. THEY WERE KINDA MADE FOR HER LIKE LITERALLY I PLANNED IT OUT AND EVERYTHING
Aww, thank you c: I felt epic while typing it.. I was grinning too XD
SDGHADKFJHGAKLDJFHGALKJDFHG AHHAHAHAAHHAAHAH FDGUIHAFDGUAHFDG
dkfhgakdfhg DFKHGAKDFG XD Omg that is great.
I hope you liked the pics :O I did awfully with them, and then right after I sent you the bad ones I was like,
'Those were awful I should make new ones'
And so now I have more XD idk i just look at them
Sorry for the late update, but I hope you like this new chapter! :)
bored411: She got caught XD
Thank you so much for your kindness u I seriously love compliments
Here's the next chapter. I hope you liked it v.v
suzie1107: Maiko = the definition of stubborn XD
It's not TOO far. I mean, it's not secluded in the forest. It's near the main hulk of the village, but is surrounded by trees.
I apologize for the lack of their interaction v.v I just didn't think you readers would like me shoving in details of them in a story about Kotone XD
Kakashi was friends with Haruko. Haruko, actually, was an ANBU black ops, which is how the two met. Hanako was not an ANBU.
Btws, their relationship is fine c: Hanako just gets jealous of Kakashi because he gets all of Haru's attention but they love each other X)
Thank you for reviewing v.v Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
DatFace: YOU'RE TOO SWEET\
... Dat username.
Thanks for your review :D Hope you like this chapter as well!
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A/N: THAT TOOK ME FOREVER I HATE TO ASK SOMETHING OF YOU GUYS BUT WILL YOU PLEASE GO LOOK UP YOUR THANK YOU'S IN GOOGLE TRANSLATE SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY GOOD OKAY
Okay. That's all.
Btws, am I the only one who sobbed about the ending of The Walking Dead? The GAME? The show is great but the game made me tear up. I won't spoil anything ;)
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