Serena- Hello people! Thanks for reading thethird chapter of Boundless!

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

A/N- Shatto Umou (based on an online japanese dictionary) roughly translates to "Shut Down".

Boundless

By: Serena

Chapter 3

Explanations

August 2nd Afternoon

I moaned as the warm afternoon sun beat down on my face. Afternoon? Wait…The last time I checked, it was morning and I was talking to Uchiha-sama about the picture of me and Kirinonai…Darn, it happened again, didn't it?

I opened my eyes slowly and realized I was in the infantry. I was curled up in a fetal position, so I slowly spread my legs outward and propped my body up with my elbow.

I really hate this…Why me? What ever did I do? Damn it, lets face it, I'm weak and defenseless and Shatto Umou only adds to the underlining problem. I guess he was right to name me 'Rui'…I've finally reached his expectations…I've finally expected that I'm a failure.

I was knocked out of my self-degrading thoughts as footsteps made their way down the hall. I pulled my elbow out from underneath me and mimicked the position I had woken up in.

"Okay Sasuke, what exactly were you discussing before she passed out?" I recognized the voice to be Kabuto's, and he was obviously talking to Uchiha-sama.

"First tell me why she fainted." Someone sighed, and I assumed it was Kabuto.

"Rui has this mental illness called, 'Shatto Umou'… No one knows why it happens, but it's obvious what triggers it. Whenever Rui gets upset or mentally stressed, her mind literally shuts down, and occasionally her whole body will shut down as well. Though it lasts only a moment, it's taken a toll on her. The heart and organs are not meant to stop and start on a person's whim.

"At first, her old sensei thought it was a physical illness, but after recklessly inducing it several times, he found there was no link whatsoever. That only meant that it was a mental illness. Her sensei tried to find cures, but nothing seemed to work… Now it's your turn."

Someone sighed and this time I assumed it was Uchiha-sama. "We were talking about her sister."

I could just picture Kabuto's eyebrows being knitted together in confusion. "Who brought it up?"

"She did. I was just looking at a picture of her and her sister and she said, "That was my sister,"." Uchiha-sama stated.

"Try not to mention her sister or anyone in her family again. Don't even ask her about her past, if you try, after the first sentence she'll go into Shatto Umou."

"Why?"

Kabuto sighed again and I could feel his gaze on me. I tried to make my breathing as even as possible. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out……

"Rui's father left after her sister was born. Rui once mentioned that her father saw her as a failure because the village healer said that she would never be able to use her chakra. She also mentioned once that her village had a tradition… the parents of a new born would wait to name it until they are sure it will survive. On average, they waited only about two to three weeks. Rui's father waited a whole nine months, and that was only after Rui's sister was born.

"Rui's surname, Meisatsu, means Insight. 'Rui' means weak. Therefore, her full name literally means Weak Insight. However, her sister's name is Meisatsu Kirinonai which means Boundless Insight. If that doesn't scream favoritism, I don't know what does…" Kabuto paused and Uchiha-sama took that chance to ask,

"She can't use her chakra?"

I could envision Kabuto shaking his head lightly. "No." He sighed. "Her sister could though…its bad enough living in a sibling's shadow, but it must be horrible living in your younger sister's shadow…"

"And no one came looking for her after she came here?"

Once again the mental image of Kabuto shaking his head entered my mind. "There was a raid; about a year ago… she lost everything she had left… her mother… her grandfather … her sensei… everyone except her sister."

"And Orochimaru kidnapped her sister?"

Silence followed for a few moments before Kabuto asked, "Would you watch over her, I have to go back to my laboratory."

"Hn."

"I'll take that as a 'yes'." The receding footsteps chimed down the hall as Kabuto made his exit.

There was slight shuffling and then Uchiha-sama said, "You can stop pretending to sleep now."

I cracked open one eye and found myself staring into his black orbs. Realizing what I was doing, I quickly sat up saying, "I'm so sorry, Uchiha-sama…" I bowed my head.

"Why do you call me that?" I bowed my head even father downward and a slight blush graced my spotted cheeks.

"You are above me in rank. I am forced to respect you." I spared a glance upward at the child prodigy. One eyebrow was raised.

"Do you respect me?" My gaze lowered again and I whispered,

"Of course, Uchiha-sama!"

"Hmph." He sat down in the chair seated beside the bed, arms crossed and head down, causing his bangs to fall forward, covering parts of his face. For a few moments I sat there before Uchiha-sama gave a small, annoyed sigh, saying, "You should probably rest."

"Yes, Uchiha-sama." I instantly laid back down and turned on my side, away from Uchiha-sama. I really didn't want to sleep… who would care for the greenhouse? I couldn't just let my plants die! Besides, I was fine… it wasn't like I was ready to keel over at any moment… I was filled with energy, and sleeping would only add to the extreme mood.

I rolled back over, and looked at Uchiha-sama. He hadn't moved and my eyes wandered over the exposed parts of his face.

He is handsome…a very nice catch indeed, little Rui… A part of my mind whispered.

He's not my catch! I shouted back. He doesn't even think me worthy of his time.

Little Rui, It spoke with annoyance lacing its voice. If he is not yet your man, then make him your man…

Hmph. And how do you expect me to do that? I asked. Seduce him?

You are catching on…

I looked back at Uchiha-sama. No, seducing wouldn't work if I hadn't even learned proper conversation skills. Kirinonai was good at that stuff… even when we were young, she would be flirting with all the guys on the playground and she was always so popular… She had offered to teach me once… she said she could make me popular too.

So she put some make up on my dull face, and did up my hair. Finding most of my clothes unsuitable, she lent me something of hers. Looking in the mirror, it was like looking back at someone completely different.

And then, we got to the town square where all the children over ten would hang out at. One boy gave me a look-over and asked who I was. Kirinonai told them that I was her sister, Rui. The boy who had asked about me looked me over again and told Kirinonai that I looked pretty.

Then, Shatto Umou promptly took a hold of me, and that was the last time Kirinonai tried to make me something I was not. I didn't entirely mind… I liked my plants, and Ureshii-sensai was all the company I could ask for. What did I need popularity for?

"I said you should rest, not stare at me, gaping like an idiot." My cheeks started flaming and I opened my mouth for an excuse. The most truthful one flew right from my lips-

"I can't sleep, Uchiha-sama! Someone needs to take care of my plants…" He sighed and got up.

"As long as you don't die while I'm gone, I'll take care of your stupid plants." I opened my mouth to thank him, but the door closed behind him before any sound could come from my mouth.