Serena- Hehe…. Another late update…. Oops…. Anyway, here it is!
Disclaimer- I own nothing except my Original Characters, but even then- they have a mind of their own.
Boundless
By: Serena
Chapter 9
Arrival
February 19th
I have come to a conclusion: I was not made to live out in the woods. I was made to have meals prepared for me, have warm, comfy beds to sleep in, a porcelain toilet, and have a bath at least once a day.
All this was denied to me. I had to eat the burnt fish, and occasional small game Sasuke found. I had to sleep in my thin sleeping bag. I had to use the poor bushes to empty my bladder in. And my daily bath didn't exist.
But then again, I suppose it could have been worse…. Sasuke had to live under the same conditions and he didn't have a sleeping bag. The thought of me offering my sleeping bag to him was a fleeting one because I was slowly going mad in the wilderness.
We were headed for Konoha. Sasuke wasn't all too happy, but it was the only place we could go… My village was destroyed long ago by the raid so Konoha was the only logical answer.
"Wake up." I pushed my face farther into the plush of the sleeping back, hoping Sasuke would just give up. No such luck.
"Wake up." The tip of his shoe made contact with the back of my head.
"Go away… I want to sleep."
I heard him sigh, and I honestly thought he had given up, when my sleeping bag was pulled from under me. "Shoot!" I screamed, landing hard on the ground.
"Get up." I stuck my tongue out at him and he turned around. "We will reach Konoha by nightfall- but only if we get going." I made a face and he added, "Don't you want a nice, soft, bed?"
Use my weakness against me, why don't you?
So… a nice, romantic night in the woods… all alone… My other half said suggestively.
Shut up. I said, scowling.
Make me. Besides… you shouldn't get all excited anyway… My other half trailed off.
Why is that? I silently asked.
Who knows if he has a girl back home……
I do. I said, confidence draining.
Do you? It mocked.
Yes I do. I answered, definitely.
How?
He would have told me……
Uh huh. Of course he would have…
Just shut up. He would have… he would have…
I was pushed from my thoughts as Sasuke grabbed two of my bags and began walking away. I rushed up, grabbing the one bag left and my sleeping bag that Sasuke had rolled up.
I trailed after him like a puppy after their master. I suppose I owed Sasuke a lot. He listened to me, and he saved me… I would probably follow him off a cliff.
And that was what we did the whole day. Just walked forward, Sasuke leading, me following. Occasionally, I would grow tired and need a short break. We would eat while we walked. I knew I was holding him back- he was a ninja- he could go ten times faster, but I couldn't, so he waited for me.
Then, finally we reached the outer gates of Konoha. Sasuke continued walking forward, even as I stopped and dropped my load. Sighing, I asked, "So this is your home village?"
Sasuke stopped and I couldn't see his expression in the dark, but he replied, "Yeah." As an afterthought he added, "They might not be happy to see me…"
I kept silent not knowing how to respond to that and eventually he started walking again and we passed through the gates of Konoha.
We walked through what appeared to be the main street, and I couldn't help but notice the people's gazes. Even in the dark, I could feel their looks of surprise and I could distinctly hear the whispering. Sasuke returning to Konoha must be something really special…
"Someone said Sasuke-teme is back!" I turned to look at the speaker, though his gaze wasn't on me, it was on Sasuke. The boy obviously had a thing for orange, seeing as his whole outfit consisted of orange clothing. His blonde hair was spiked slightly and his blue orbs looked at Sasuke with anger. One finger was extended toward Sasuke's back, and said person didn't even turn around as he said,
"Didn't anyone tell you it's not nice to point, dobe?"
I smiled in spite of the situation. So this was the infamous Naruto I had heard so much about. "Come on, Rui. We'll be staying at my house." I nodded and followed him as we rounded a corner.
Naruto's yelling only grew louder as he lost slight of us. However, that was not the only obstacle in our path. A pink-haired girl stood just around the corner. Light green eyes were watering in either happiness or sadness, it was impossible to tell.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun! You're back!" She shrilled and flung her arms around him, causing his burden to fall to the ground. He noticeably tensed, but made no move to remove himself from her embrace.
It was then that I realized my other half might just be right. Maybe he did have a girl back home? I pushed aside the thoughts as Sasuke said, "Okay, could you please let go Sakura?" She immediately let go, and stepped back.
She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by, "Sasuke, can I see you in my office?"
A busty blonde stood, hands on hips, glaring at Sasuke. He returned the glare but said innocently, "Could I first show Rui to her new room? We've had a long travel."
"Now."
Sasuke sighed. "Fine."
The woman walked off and Sasuke followed her, and I followed Sasuke. I was too tired to take careful note of the surroundings, but we finally reached a building. When we came to her office, Sasuke placed the bags down and turned to me.
"Sit out here." I barely remember him leaving because I sat in one of the chairs and fell asleep sitting up.
The next thing I knew, someone was shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes to find black orbs staring back at me. "Tsunade wants to speak to you."
I nodded, rubbing my eyes. I stood up and something occurred to me, "Who is she?"
Sasuke seemed surprised by my question, but answered anyway. "She's the Hokage."
I nodded again, and gingerly opened the door. A voice said, "Please take a seat."
I obeyed and looked around the room that was piled with paperwork. The woman I had seen before laced her fingers together and looked at me. "What's your name?"
I bowed my head, replying, "Meisatsu Rui, Hokage-sama."
"Don't call me that, it makes me feel old. It's just Tsunade, got it?"
I looked up in surprise, and then nodded. "Yes, Tsunade." Just like saying Sasuke's name without formality, the word seemed bitter in my mouth.
"And you worked for Orochimaru?" I nodded. "Because he had information about your sister?" It seemed Sasuke had told her a lot already. Once again I nodded, then added,
"He said he had information… I started doubting him though…" It was her turn to nod.
"Do you have any family?" I shook my head.
"Do you have a place to stay?" I nodded.
"I'm staying at Sasuke's house." She nodded and then said,
"You're free to go." I rose from my chair and left the room. I barely remembered the walk to Sasuke's house, let alone the mass of halls within the Uchiha residence.