Chapter 14: The Story of the Plum Blossom
A week later Ume was in the snowy village where Haku was now residing.
"Oh my god this place is beautiful."
"Yes it is and its very peaceful too I love it." Replied Haku.
Ume entered his home with her book bag when she saw a giant portrait in the living room wall.
"Is this your mother Haku-kun?" Asked Ume.
"Yes this is the only thing that I have left from her, my parents died shortly after I came to Konoha." Replied Haku.
Then he took Ume to the room she would be staying for the next few days.
--Konoha, Haruno Shrine--
Sakura was alone sitting on the porch staring at nothing in particular.
"You could end up like a zombie if you keep doing that." Said Neji.
"Oh shut it Neji." Sakura murmured with a frown.
"Well Ume told what happened."
"What are you now my counselor?" Asked Sakura.
"Just one word of advice get over Uchiha he is a very sensitive and it will take a while before he's receptive to anything." Replied Neji and left since Sakura kept ignoring him.
As soon as she saw Neji had left Sakura broke down crying uncontrollably because of Sasuke she knew she had developed feelings for the Uchiha that were going past friendship and she had been to blind to see it. She then stood up and went inside the shrine when right on front of her a young woman appeared. Sakura looked at this apparition that looked exactly like her but with much longer hair.
"Who are you?"
"Me I'm you I am your soul."
Then she went inside Sakura's body and she fainted.
--Kiri, Haku's house--
Ume sat on the bed looking at the plum blossom pendant and then she laid down on the bed and kissed the pendant something that Kiba felt on his lips even though he was in Konoha.
"I'm such an idiot Kiba why didn't I see it before the way I felt for you." She murmured and smiled joyfully.
Then she went to sleep and had a dream but this time it was not the violent one it was just a beautiful dream of Kiba.
--Two Days Later--
Ume walked through the house when in one wall she saw the painting of a woman. The woman in the painting had light blue hair but instead of straight it was very wavy and she had very dark brown eyes. She tried to hold back her tear she was about to turn to search Haku when he passed by.
"What are you doing here.?" He asked.
Who is that woman?" Ume said looking at him.
"That is my aunt Kaori Kasumi, she died of child birth but we never knew what happened to the baby." Explained Haku when the door bell rang.
"Oh wait moment Ume-chan." He said.
Ume nodded she was confused she had questions and she needed answers and the only ones she knew had the answer were in Konoha making her life miserable. The thought was gnawing when Haku shouted at her.
"Ume this is my friend Zabuza, and well this the gorgeous friend I told you about." Haku said with a grin.
Ume smiled and shook the other's hand shyly but with a small smile. Later in the day Haku was in his room when Ume knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Ume walked in shyly and sat on his bed.
"I'm curious about something how is your relationship with Kiba doing I heard you had grown very close." Said Haku and looked at her slyly.
"Well we uh." Ume was at a loss for words.
"So it's true I'm glad you have somebody else just protect yourself from doing anything you might regret." Said Haku.
Ume nodded and smiled she knew she could always count on Haku to ease up any tense feelings.
"Haku I have to return to Konoha I need to clear some things."
Haku nodded and smiled and then she left to pack her things.
--Konoha, Haruno Shrine--
Itsuka had gone to the Haruno shrine to talk with Sakura who had been depressed all this time because of Sasuke. She knew that Sakura had been suffering but she didn't know to what extent.
"Sakura don't worry about Sasuke, it will take time but he will return to his senses. It's just that he has been really affected by what happened and from them looks of you just turned into his major strength and weakness."
"But why I wasn't doing anything with Naruto he can't seem to understand that." Sakura replied starting to cry.
Itsuka wrapped her arms around her as she cried for a long while. When Sakura finally calmed down Itsuka gave her a pat on the head and left to her home.
--Kiri, Haku's home--
Ume had finished with her luggage so she simply laid on the bed she was waiting for Haku to get ready.
--Days Later--
Ume had arrived at the Hyuuga Mansion, Sasuke was still in his cold state refusing to see Sakura. In other words nothing had improved and apparently it was going to get worse. Ume slowly walked to her closet and took out a plain indigo blue kimono and left to her mother's room.
"What is it Ume?"
"I want to reunite the family there are some things I need have cleared out." Ume replied and left leaving her mother speechless.
--Nightfall--
Ume prepared herself for the meeting she took out of her closet a black kimono decorated with silver butterflies she had never used and she thought this was the perfect occasion to wear it. She then took a bath and got dressed and finally before leaving the room she stashed something inside her obi. She walked to the meeting room and met with Hinata who had a confused look in her face when they got there Hinata took a seat and Um sat in front of the whole family with a calm and collected look on her face.
"Why did you call us for Ume?" Asked one of the elders which Ume recognized as the only one who treated her kindly and always spoiled her behind everybody's back.
"Well I need to know something I very sure Hiashi knows everything perfectly along with my mother since I doubt any of you might know anything." Ume replied taking a deep breath.
Hiashi and Ume and Neji's mother went pale in unison something Neji and most of the elders noticed. Then Ume took out a picture out of her obi it was of the same woman in the painting.
"Who is this woman mother this is a picture of my friend's dead aunt. I would love to know why do I look like woman from Kiri who's already dead." Ume demanded.
"You have no right to ask anything you brat." shouted Hiashi.
This made Ume angry and she threw the picture at her 'mothers' face expecting an answer.
"Tell who is that woman right now."
The woman quivered under Ume's gaze and under the gaze of the clan and she finally gave in.
"That's you real mother Ume she died giving birth to you that same day I had given birth to the child who would have been Neji's sister but she was a stillborn so we had an agreement with the doctors they had told me a child had been born that same day that child was you Ume. Only Hiashi-san new about the agreement we decided to take you in and raise as Neji's sister so that one day tell you the truth and marry you to Neji." Replied her mother flushed.
"Marry me to Neji never I rather chew sand than marry my own brother. If I marry anyone it will be who I choose not the one you choose for me and I already love someone." Ume shouted.
Neji looked at his mother and then at Ume who turned away and left.
"Ume where are you going?" Asked Neji.
"I'm going to the Haruno shrine and don't count on me coming back soon or ever." She replied without turning back.
Ume then went to her room to pack her things up. As she prepared her things there was a knock on her door. When she opened it she saw the elder.
"Ojiisama what are you doing here?" Ume asked.
"You are leaving I won't stop you I know you deserve far more than what we offer you my child but I came to give you this a memento of my late wife." Replied the elder.
When Ume saw the memento it was a beautiful comb to decorate her hair.
"Oh thank you ojiisama." said Ume and embraced him.
"Remember that if you ever want to come back just let me know I'll take care of you." He replied and gave her a pat on the head.
Ume nodded and smiled at him holding back her tears then she took her things and headed to the Haruno Shrine. As soon as she walked out the gate she started to run to the shrine when she arrived Sakura was in the porch looking at the stars when Ume arrived with her bag panting and crying.
"What happened Ume?" Sakura asked standing up rapidly.
Ume dropped her bag and almost fell face first to the floor if Sakura wouldn't have moved to catch her.
"I renounced to the Hyuuga family." Ume replied and closed her eyes due to the fatigue.
Sakura dragged her to a spare room and laid her on the bed. Ume was too weak so she decided to refrain from asking any questions.
Well that explains Ume's startling resemblance to Haku and why she didn't look like the Hyuuga's well she is Haku's cousin.