Serena- I recently finished writing Boundless, I just need to type it up…. I like how it ends…

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

Boundless

By: Serena

Chapter 17

Unsaid Goodbyes

May 16th

As the man approached the bed slowly, I screamed, hoping for someone to come find me. I was in a hospital for goodness sake! Someone was bound to be up and about. Someone was sure to help me. Right?

My screams only grew louder as he reached out a hand to silence me again. Right before he touched me, his hand melted away like shadows. I quickly sat up and pushed myself against the headboard as I watched as the rest of my world melted into shadows.

"Rui… Rui…" I felt a groan escape my lips. "Wake up, Rui…"

I cracked an eyelid. The smiling face of Tsunade hovered over me, slight concern and obvious joy evident in her golden eyes. I opened my other eye and gazed around the room. Sakura and Hinata stood to the left of the bed I was laying in.

Naruto and Tenten stood to the right of the bed. As I smiled up at them, something else caught my eye- a vase filled with flowers. Attached at the neck was a note:

"Get well soon, Rui! From: Sakura (my idea) Tenten (was not) Hinata (Please excuse them)"

I gasped, rememberance eating at my mind. I didn't even have time to wonder where Sasuke was before Shatto Umou floaded my brain.

"I'm so sorry I can't be of more help, Tsunade…" The Hokage looked at me and a smile tugged at her lips.

After waking up a second time, things were explained to me. The man that had attacked me was Sasuke's older brother, the one he was bent on killing. Sasuke had come to find me after I didn't come home. It seemed he had arrived right after I had passed out. His brother had left and Sasuke had taken me to the hospital before disappearing.

My condition had been critical- since my mind had been under so much stress, my heart had stopped as well. Even though it had been for only a moment, the after-effects had been disastrous. They said I was lucky to be up and about.

I had told Tsunade about when Itachi appeared again. She had told me it was a just genjutsu and that I didn't have to worry about it anymore. I was grateful for that.

"Oh," I stopped right before the door and turned around. "Do you know where Sasuke went?"

Tsunade looked down at the ground, obviously contemplating whether or not to tell me. Sighing, she answered, "At first he went after Itachi." She paused and I wasn't sure if she was going to continue.

"Do you know where he is now?" I persisted and Tsunade pursed her lips.

"Sasuke lost track of Itachi, so he came back… only to leave once again. Naruto followed him…." She paused again.

I took a breath. "Where did he follow him to?"

"Naruto followed him back to Orochimaru's lair." I gasped. No. This wasn't happening. Sasuke said he was never going back there. He said he was going to stay here. He said… he said…he-

Even though I could feel the soft bedding underneath me, when I opened my eyes I was standing. The last thing I remembered was being in Tsunades office, but now I was in my room- my room at Sasuke's house.

Sasuke was there too. He was brushing away a tear from the face of someone- me. I looked at myself. My face was red and blotchy and tears made their way down my cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" Sasuke asked. His eyes held uncharacteristic concern. Concern for what? I didn't know.

I watched as my dream self bowed her head and sniffed. "I don't know!"

Then I watched as Sasuke guided her face up using his index finger before capturing her lips in a kiss. When his lips made contact with those of my dream self, I- the real self- felt the warmth. It radiated through my body, spreading until it reached my fingertips and my toes.

Then, all at once my dream self sagged. Sasuke caught her and gently put her into the bed. He looked down at her with-

"Three times in one day…" Tentens voice pulled me from my dream. "Man…"

I didn't care that she was insulting me. I didn't care if anyone was insulting me. I didn't care about anything. Sasuke had kissed me. Sasuke had kissed me and had caused me to go into Shatto Umou.

And then he was gone. I felt tears leak from my closed eyes.

May 18th

I was finally discharged from the hospital, but I wasn't at all in the mood to return to Sasukes house. He wouldn't be there and it would be like a new knife in my heart. Hinata seemed to sense my discomfort so she took it upon herself to walk me home. We walked in silence before-

"It will be okay, Rui." I didn't even look at her. I knew she was lying, and I knew she knew she was lying. Her kindness warmed my heart, but not enough to make me return to my old self. I suppose, in a way, that was the beginning of my inevitable change.

"Yeah. Whatever." I sounded like Kirinonai. The indifference scared even me, but I really didn't care. I didn't care about anything. I was not being me, I was changing.

"Are you okay?" I spared a glance at her. Her eyes were focused straight ahead, but the concern was evident in both her eyes and her voice. Was I okay? No. Was I going to tell her that? No. Was I ever going to get over this feeling of abandonment? Maybe. I hoped so…

"Yeah. Whatever."

We continued in silence, but something nagged at the back of my mind. He left you because you were weak. You held him back.

I shook my head and Hinata seemed startled, though she said nothing. No. No, that's not why he left! He wouldn't do that… he didn't care that I was weak!

How do you know? It answered. Can you read minds? Its very easy to trick people, little Rui. You're too naïve. That'll only get you hurt again some day…

Shut up! I mentally cried, Just shut up! You know nothing! YOU KNOW NOTHING!

The fuzzy feeling came. I knew what was going to happen. I knew Shatto Umou was coming, but I wouldn't let it take me. No, it wouldn't take me anymore! I summoned as much mental energy as I could muster and banished the fuzzy feeling away.

You can't control me anymore. This is my mind and my body. You can't have me. You can't take me. I will no longer be weak!

Being fueled by my mental resolution, I quickly turned to Hinata. "Teach me to fight."

Her face was etched was surprise and confusion. "What?"

"I don't want to be weak anymore. Please, teach me to use kunai knives and shuriken, and hand-to-hand combat. Please," I knelt on the dirt path, forehead lightly touching the ground. "I beg of you. Teach me to be strong."