Serena- Here's the second chapter!

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

Boundless

By: Serena

Chapter 2

Morning Meetings

August 2nd

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of someone opening my door. I glanced briefly at the clock beside to table. The red lights stared back at me, saying, "4:30 a.m.". Grabbing the small tube that resided on my night stand, I watched the door be cracked open silently and I said loudly, "If you come any closer, you'll get a face full of knock-out powder!"

The door stopped opening-it didn't close however- and a deep, rich voice answered, "Kabuto said to make sure you weren't late again."

My eyebrows knitted in confusion. If he was sent by Kabuto, who was he? I voiced the silent question, "W-who are you?"

"Sasuke," The voice grunted from behind the door. "Are you up?"

I let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, Uchiha-sama, I'm awake…..Uh…."

"What?" I could hear the frustration in his voice; it was blended evenly with agitation and annoyance.

"Could you close door all the way, I need to get dressed, Uchiha-sama?" My face warmed and I knew a faint blush was probably appearing on my cheeks.

I received no answer, but instead the door closed. I quickly got up, not wanting to keep Uchiha-sama from his training.

After coming home yesterday, I caught my reflection in the long, floor length mirror. My hair was a total mess, and the clothes clashed horribly. I've noticed my first impressions often lack class and fashion sense.

Anyway, not wanting to repeat the mistake, I grabbed a simple purple sun-dress from the dresser and flung it on my bed. I took time in braiding my waist-length, dull red hair. Tying the end with a simple purple ribbon, I quickly put on the sun-dress.

Normally I'm not a dress person; I prefer skirts and tops, but that dress happened to be my favorite. I greatly resembled a broom-or at least, that's what Kirinonai would say. And that's why I loved that dress so much- it accented my non-existent curves, making it look like I actually had some.

I smiled at my appearance and decided I would postpone that bath once again so that I wouldn't keep Uchiha-sama waiting. I threw my satchel over my shoulder and timidly opened my door to find Uchiha-sama standing against a tree, arms crossed, head down. Did I really take that long?

I took a step outside and a cold blast of air hit me head on. I started shivering, wondering, When did it get so cold?

Uchiha-sama didn't look up as I went back into my hut and grabbed a pair of black pants. Sliding them on, I looked in the mirror again and sighed. I was nothing compared to Kirinonai.

Let's not keep Uchiha-sama waiting…… I sighed once again, and pulled myself away from my reflection.

When I went outside again, I found that Uchiha-sama had yet to move. "Um…"

He still did not so much as twitch as he asked in a sharp tone, "What?"

"You can go back to Master Orochimaru's lair now…. I still need to go to the greenhouse, but it'll only take about fifteen minutes for me to do the inspection and morning watering, and it's still an hour till breakfast."

"Hmph." He stood erect and finally looked at me with those piercing black eyes. "Kabuto said to personally see to it that you were not late. Who knows what an incompetent person like you could get herself into in an hour, forcing her to be late?"

I bowed my head, the insult still ringing in my head. "Okay……well, the greenhouse is just this way….." I turned to the right and began walking down the dirt path. I could hear Uchiha-sama's footfalls, telling me he was following.

We reached the greenhouse in silence and I opened the glass door with my key. "Make yourself at home!" I said, removing my satchel from my shoulder and grabbing my clipboard.

I begun the first row, and murmured each plants name as I went. Finally I reached the end and went back to my cutting board/work area where Uchiha-sama was standing near. As I made my way towards him, I noticed his penetrating gaze locked on a certain picture I kept on my table.

Of course he would be looking at her. Every male that walked through the greenhouse's doors always paused to look at her beauty.

"She was my sister." I said, grabbing the water pail and pouring part of its contents into a small flower pot. He finally seemed to notice I was there. His emotionless eyes stayed the same as he echoed,

"'Was'?" I looked back at him with a small, sad smile.

"Was, Is, I really don't know…." I put the pail down, even though I wasn't done, and walked around to look at the picture myself. Long ago, I had memorized all of its details, even now, if I close my eyes, I can still see it, clear as day.

The picture in the frame was of two girls that looked about the same age. One was taller than the other, and curvier. Both had large, dark green eyes, though the taller one's held a twinkle in them, and thirst for adventure. Both had long red hair, though the taller ones was more vibrant and looked silkier. The taller one was also completely free of any blemishes, while the shorter one's face was littered with an abundance of freckles.

The picture was of me at twelve years old and my younger sister, Kirinonai at eleven years old. Both of us were smiling because the annual fair had finally come to our village. Both of us looked so carefree……

Uchiha-sama brought me out of my thoughts when he asked in an emotionless voice, "Why don't you know?"

"Master Orochimaru won't tell me." Picking up the pail again, I walked over to the nearest plant. Tears came to my eyes and I shut them quickly. I would not cry, not here, not in front of Uchiha-sama.

"Why won't he?" Twin waterfalls made their way down my cheeks and I shook my head.

"I don't want to talk about it." Suddenly a familiar fuzzy feeling vibrated through my head and I quickly put the water pail down, knowing what would happen.

Before I even had the chance to grab anything, my eyes involuntarily shut and my body collapsed as my mind surrendered to the darkness of Shatto Umou.