Cera's pov

He trapped me.. he torture me... I don't even know how long it'd been... He want it.. He want to posses it's power.... But he can't  have  it.... not on his own
.. He need me for it...

I opened my eyes weakly, my energy is all drained out, my eyes wander for him in the pitch black room but I can't see anything except for darkness, it'd become a part of me now, this darkness, this loneliness, maybe I'll die here, " Good morning Cera", his voice echoed in the pitch black room making me come back to reality. I didn't say anything. I heard footsteps followed by his voice, "look at you Cera still the stubborn little girl you are", he said chucking, "let's start it, shall we", he added and those words were enough to make my legs tremble, "no please no", I managed to say but it came out as a whisper, " you said something?", He asked in amused voice, tears blurred my vision as though of what will happen next flooded my mind, "anyways let's start", he said and with that the veins tired around me started to get tight. With all the strength I have left in my body, with all my willpower I manage to teleport again.

Koei's pov

I was in the forest practicing like daily before going to work.  I heard a loud thud in the silence of the dawn so I ran towards the direction only to find a girl in a cloak struggling to get up from  the ground, i immediately ran towards her to help her stand. After she was stably standing, she looked at me and smiled but within a second she backed away a bit with a frown on her face, "who are you?", She asked in a demanding voice.  the sudden change in her made me shocked, "that's what I should ask you, who are you? And what are you doing in this forest this early?", I asked as calmly as I could, she analysed her surrounding and a deep sigh left her mouth, "I'm cera and you can say I'm lost"

Cera's pov

I teleported in a forest and fell on the ground. I didn't have any energy left, I fell on the ground not caring if I hit it hard, this is all I needed right now, rest, from everything but I can't stay here for long, I have to stop it, I have to stop him before it's too late. I tried to get up but ended up falling down. I kept  trying and trying but all my efforts was in vein, just then I felt a pair of arms pulling me up, the aura of the person felt so comforting and brotherly, I wanted to melt to his touch, after all these years of pain and hazardous situations I felt safe, like I don't need to care for any danger out there cause this person will keep me safe. I looked up at him and smiled the most geniune smile I've given anyone after years, but the smile disappeared as soon as I realised what I was doing,  how can you do this Cera, what if he's just like him. I thought and with all my strength I  backed away, a frown forming on my face,  "who are you?", I asked in a demanding voice, he looked shocked, "that's what I should ask you, who are you? And what are you doing in this forest this early?", He asked nonchalantly. I analysed her surrounding, it's really early, the sky is still dark but not too dark maybe it's still dawn a deep sigh left my mouth, "I'm cera and you can say I'm lost", I said calmly, "and you are?", I asked raising my left eyebrow, "I'm koei", he said and I nodded, "so where were you going miss Cera?", He ask calmly, "I- umm", I tried to get a proper excuse but can't think of any so I said the name of first place that came in my mind, "I'm going to the X-city", I said and he looked at me in disbelief, " you know you're standing in the X-city right now", he said and looked me up and down, "are you here for the tournament or something?", He asked and I nodded, "yeah actually I'm here to watch the tournament", I said and he nodded "comeon I'll take you out of here", he said and I nodded but as I tired to walk I again fell down hitting my head hard on the ground in the process. Koei came and bent down in front of me, his back facing me, "hop on I'll carry you", he said, I just stared at his back for a good minute, "what are you waiting for" , he said and I quickly got on his back.

Koei's pov

I find her presence here suspecsious moreover she's acting wierd, I just shrug it off  and said, "comeon I'll take you out of here", she nodded her head and  tired to walk but again fell down. I sigh, maybe she can't even walk in the condition she's in. I walked closer to her and  bent down in front of her , my back facing me, "hop on I'll carry you", I said but didn't felt any weight, "what are you waiting for" , I said and sje quickly got on my back.

I was walking to my house, Cera fell asleep on my back on the way, her hands hung loosely around my neck, that's when I noticed the bruises and marks on her arms, what exactly happened with this girl,  I thought. I started feeling a bit worried for her, stop caring for a stranger koei, I scolded myself mentally, but what if she needs help, I thought, you don't need to worry for anyone except for Kiku, I sigh and continued to walk.

Time skip the ninja residence (a/n : just came up with the name for his house 😁)

"Kiki I'm back", I said out loud and heard small footsteps approaching me, " welcome back Brother, who's the girl?", She said looking at the girl on my back, "I'll tell you first got me the first aid kit okay", I said smily warmly at her, " okay Brother", she said hurrying back in. I layed Cera in the spare bedding and started treating her bruises with the help of the  first aid kit Kiku got me, " what happened to her brother?", Kiku asked looking at the bown haired girl worriedly, " I don't know dear Kiku maybe she'll tell you when she wakes up", I said and she nodded, "what's her name?", She asked, "Cera", I said and she smiled.

I decided to let her stay here for today seeing she won't wake up any sooner.

Time skip
Cera's pov

I woke up in an unknown place, I looked around, it looks like an ancient style room, " oh you're up", a sweet girly voice came from across the room, I turned to the direction and saw a girl in her early teens standing there with a tray and a bowl wearing a kimono, she walked up to me and  held the tray in front of me, "this is for you", she said smiling. I took it and stared at it, the bowl contain soup, "I made it for you", she added still smiling. I nodded at just kept staring at it, should I eat it or not?,  "Eat it, you can trust me", she said squeezing my arm gently assuring me, I smiled and stared eating it, "by the way I'm Kiku, my brother brought you home early in the morning, you were sleeping so I think you won't remember, his name is koei", she said and I nodded, so this is koei's house . After I finished eating Kiku went back from where she came. After sometime she came back and sat next to me, "Cera can I ask you something?", She asked looking at me with pleading eyes, "sure go ahead", I said giving her a reassuring smile, she pulled my arms in her hands looking at the bruises and marks on them, "how did this happened?", She asked looking deep in my eyes, I smiled and said, "these are the marks that helps me remember I never have to give up and concer my goal", I said trying to brighten up her mood and I can't even tell her the truth, " you're just like you name signifies, brave, stong and courageous", she said smiling brightly, " it also means deanger", I said laughing and she joined. (A/n : Cera means 'bright red' and the colour signifies courage, bravery, danger and blood ofcourse. So the meaning of the name as said by Kiku is brought to you by you author nim). We had a long conversation and Kiku even told me how koei works hard so he could get her a better treatment for her illness and that made me think of how my brother would be doing right now. Is he also here with the others? I wish he's not.

Meanwhile with Kakeru...

I finished tuning Show's bike for tomorrow's race and now I'm laying on the ground looking at stars, "how are you Cera? I hope you're doing good wherever you are. I miss you a lot. I hope you can hear me, I love you sister. Please come back", I said closing my eyes a single tear escaping from my eyes.

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Heyo lovely people!! How are you all? First thing first I'm really sorry for this supar late update, actually I was a bit confused and special thanks to Best_buddies_ananya to help me with it. It's because of her I'm able to complete this chapter and I'll soon be updating the next one  that's a promise. Till than take care and be safe and healthy