Serena- Yes! First chapter up and running! Oh, and I've completed up to ten chapters, so there is no way I can discontinue it! YES!

Disclaimer- I own nothing except my Original Characters, but even then- they have a mind of their own.

Boundless

By: Serena

Chapter 1

Meeting Uchiha-sama

August 1st

The first rays of sun glistened onto my face and I quickly opened my dark green eyes, saying a silent curse. Springing from my bed, I raced over to the dresser and pulled out two random articles of clothing and flung them on my bed. Grabbing my brush I pulled it threw my dull red hair while kneeling next to my bed, searching frantically for my shoes.

Master Orochimaru expected me for breakfast which was served at exactly seven. Having been tinkering with some hybrids late into the night, it was no surprise that I slept in. However, no matter what excuse I presented, Master Orochimaru would still punish me.

Shoot! I thought, doing a mental check of all my responsibilities before breakfast and how long each one would take. I won't be able to bathe this morning. Oh well, another cleanless day………

Deciding it would take too much time to do my hair the way I normally did, (pulling the front part of each side of my hair back and braiding it) I roughly pulled my waist length hair to one side, and carelessly braided it. After finishing, I swung it over my shoulder and quickly stripped to the underwear and chest bindings that I always wore under my clothes. My attention then turned to the things I had retrieved from my dresser.

The first thing in my grasp I took a brief glance at, and saw that it was in fact a long, bright orange skirt. I silently put it on, almost tripping in the process. I then grabbed the second thing and gave a quiet curse before squishing the purple shorts back into the dresser. I pulled open the draw beneath it, and grabbed a handful of clothes before finding a dark, v-neck, long-sleeved green top.

Throwing that on, I didn't even bother to stop to check my clashing appearance as I raced out of my small, one roomed hut that was next to my large greenhouse. All Master Orochimaru's doing of course.

"Caraway…check…Ginger…check…Arnic…check…Aloe…check!" I finished the last row and quickly ran back to my little cutting table. I slammed the clipboard- filled with my inspection of the plants- down and ran out of green houses door.

I quickly glanced down at my watches face and cursed. My cursing only grew louder as I felt my leg get caught in something. My body hit the ground and tears threatened to fall, but I mentally scolded myself, saying, You're thirteen and you're acting like a crybaby! Look at yourself! Get the heck up, and get to the mess hall before Master Orochimaru gets madder then he already is, you lazy idiot!

I shut my eyes and pulled myself up. I made my way through the forest, and then the various tunnels and passageways that consisted of Master Orochimaru's lair. I skidded to a stop in front of the large mess hall doors. I took a long, deep breath to calm myself, and ran my hands over myself, making sure I looked half-way decent.

My hand timidly grabbed the brass handles and I quietly pulled them open. Behind the doors was a large, long, room that gave a slight damp smell. The room was illuminated by candles that were spread evenly around the room, giving it dreary setting. A large, narrow table was set in the middle of the room, and chairs in the matching dark wood were spaced evenly around it.

When the Sound Five were still around, there was always light chatter, not loud enough to disturb Master Orochimaru, but a quiet hum. Now however, the whole room was dead silent, adding the dooms-day setting of the place.

"You're late." I only saw the back of his head, but the tone of his voice told me everything- I had made Master Orochimaru mad.

"I- I'm s-s-orry….." I bowed my head and cringed waiting for him to lash out, either verbally or physically. When neither assault came, I lifted my head.

I opened my mouth slightly but any question I was about to ask was cut off as Master Orochimaru commanded, "Sit down."

Master always sat at the head of the table, and today was no exception, however Kabuto always sat to his right, and I to his left. Kabuto was sitting in his rightful seat, but someone new was sitting where I should have been.

It was then that I finally realized there was a third person in the room. I squinted, taking a better look at him. Black eyes sized me up, and his black hair blended evenly into the background. So this must be the infamous Uchiha Sasuke……That explains why Master isn't punishing me for being late…

"Did you even hear me?" My mind refocused and my dark green eyes shot back to Master Orochimaru.

"Y-yes, Master." My head was once again bowed, awaiting my punishment for disobeying.

"Then do so!" I cringed at the mild anger in his voice.

"Y-y-yes, M-master." I stuttered, my feet taking my body to the seat besides the Uchiha.

As I sat down, I could still feel the Uchiha's dark eyes on me. I felt myself shrink under his gaze as I filled my plate up. Part of me whispered, He is handsome; you have to admit that……

I blushed, realizing that to be true. We continued the meal in silence until Master Orochimaru abruptly stood up and turned to Kabuto.

"Finish eating and then give Sasuke a tour of his new home." Kabuto bowed his head, saying,

"Yes, Master."

After the mess hall doors closed behind Master, Kabuto turned to me was a scowl. "Do I want to know what kept you up so late last night that you slept in?"

I opened my mouth to tell him the news, but he put a hand up to silence me. I tried again, but this time he folded his hand so that it became like a mouth.

I started, "I-" The hand/mouth closed.

"I-" It closed again.

"Kabu-" And again.

"Break-" And again.

"Thro-" And then it stopped. He swallowed his mouthful and looked at me in surprise.

"A breakthrough?" He asked.

I looked down at my plate, a smile tugging at my lips. "You obviously don't want to hear it…..so……"

"Rui." He scolded. My gaze lifted and I gave a small sigh.

"Yes, a breakthrough- though I wouldn't call it a big breakthrough. I think of it as a break through because I've been stuck in the same spot for a whole two weeks now, and I've finally made progress." My gaze returned to my plate as I swallowed the last bit of food.

"Let me guess; was it the kowakuteki-ningen-kuchini plant again?" My small smile widened as I nodded. "What did you do?"

"Well, that last seed didn't take, but the seed before that resembled the Ningen-kuchini plant more then anything else-" Kabuto cut me off, turning to the Uchiha.

"Rui works with plants." He explained. "Currently, she's focusing on hybrids that look like normal flowers, but are actually man-eating-" It was my turn to cut the sound ninja off.

"Hence the name." I turned back to Kabuto. "Anyway- I figured out that the conditions were screwed up. The Ningen-kuchini needs warm, moist climates, while most pretty and harmless flowers haven't adapted to rainforest-like climates. I was growing them in the warm, moist climates, but then, this last seed I decided to try something different! I put it among the other flowers and while it still looks like the ningen-kuchini, it gave off a lavender smell!"

My smile widened as though it was the greatest thing in the world, but Kabuto's face showed no excitement. I turned to the Uchiha and he, too, wore the same expression. My smile disappeared and I blushed, realizing my stupidity and then said, "I told you it wasn't a big breakthrough…. But now I'm one step closer, right?"

"Yeah." Kabuto said, nodding in attempt to humor me. I stood up.

"Well, I need to get back to my garden." I made my way to the door and then right before opening it, I turned around and respectfully bowed, saying, "It was nice meeting you, Uchiha-sama." I didn't look back or wait for a reply, because I knew I was madly blushing.