Serena- Yippee! Another chapter up! …. crickets chirping …… okay well….. 7 reviews away from 100!!! Make my day please! ( Normally I don't beg for reviews but…. Yeah)

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

Boundless

By: Serena

Chapter 19

Redemption

October 28th

It seemed that heeding the warning of change was much easier said than done. No longer was I shy around strangers. No longer did I recoil from the touch of other people. No longer did I stutter when I was upset or frightened. No longer was I the Rui I had been since birth. And frankly, I enjoyed the bolder traits of this new Rui.

Looking at myself in the mirror the next morning, I realized that the change that was expected from me was going to take a lot of work. And then there was the choice of where to even start this transformation….

When training became a full-time commitment, I had quit my job at the greenhouse- and none too nicely either. I had had it in my head that plants were far too weak- not to mention completely unable to defend themselves- for the new Rui. Perhaps I could ask for my old job back…. But would Yuri-sama give it back to me?

A small chiming sound signaled my entrance into the glass building. Many smiling faces looked up in my general direction before finally zoning in on me. Only then did their happy faces disappear. I really didn't blame them- I hated the person I had become.

The bobbing gray mass was easily distinguishable from the bright orange flowers in the aisle. Yuri-sama's eyes still held the twinkle of endearment and understanding. Her mouth was curved into a smile and seemed to only grow when she saw me.

"Ah! Rui, what brings you here?" She asked, her voice light and playful. A few of the workers seemed to perk-up and tilted their heads more so in my direction. Gossip was something I always liked to avoid.

"Can we talk somewhere in private?" Yuri-sama nodded and led me to the tool shed. The whole place was rusted, but no one could see or hear us.

"So, I thought plants were no longer 'worth your time'." I cringed as she quoted the words I had said when I told her of my resignation. And yet, despite the harshness of the words, a playful smile still lit up her face.

I shrugged, trying to seem indifferent. "Things change, people change. I… I have had a revelation…" I paused. That damned smile was still on her face. "I would like my job back… If it's still available of course…"

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, a sly smile replacing her playful one. "Sadly your position has been filled- but there is an extreme need for a water-person." I felt disappointment hollowing out my stomach- water-person was the lowest on the food chain. HHowever, there was the fact that they were always promoted within two to four days…

"I'll… take it." I bit my tongue to keep it from questioning my orders of not saying anything else. As I turned to leave, something gnawed at my mind. "Why did you let me have my job back? After all I said- why?"

Yuri's smile crinkled her face and she lightly grabbed my arm. Her work table was messy and disorganized, but she quickly found what she was looking for- a small potted flower. The petals were dried out and it was wilting towards the right. She stroked the thing lovely and then set it back down on a less crowded part of the table.

"The day I met you, I planted this flower. This single, beautiful flower. You may not know this, but this is my specialty- I put a part of a person's consciousness into a seed and let it bloom. When a person is happy, the flower blooms. When a person is sad, the bud closes in. When a person is angry, the thing dries out.

"However, it will never die unless the person it is connected to dies. You were so happy for the longest time… and then suddenly I came home one night about two years ago and the flower was near death. The next day I learned that Uchiha Sasuke had left again. Since then your flower has been the same way."

I looked at the wilted thing- this was my consciousness? This thing was all my anger and sadness… all the feels I had stored up for so long. Before I could sort all of it out, Yuri continued. "However, yesterday for only a few moments, it looked alive again. I was expecting you… Here-" She lifted the potted flower up and motioned towards me. "Take it, and plant it wherever you want… but never forget about it."

I took it gingerly, hoping that the mental connection didn't work both ways. "If this thing were to get kill by accident or something like that- would I die too?"

Yuri-sama laughed. "No! No! Of course not! It's only a reflection of your mental status! Ha… besides, I doubt you'd ever kill a plant- accident or otherwise."

When I got back home I was still trying to figure out where to plant the flaming flower. The apartment complex I lived in was too small to have any form of living thing (including pets) taking up space in the building.

I let my mind wander for a few moments; mentally ticking off places I knew wouldn't be able to house the plant. Any of my friends houses (the friends I hadn't scared away) would do but what was I going to say, "Oh yeah, this is a plant that reflects my conscious- if it happens to die could you tell me?" Nope, defiantly wouldn't work… and so I was back to square one.

And then it hit me- the most perfect place to plant the flower… but it would really only cause me more pain… but it was the second step to accepting everything… right?

I stood up, admiring my work. The flaming red was greatly distinguishable from the dark brown of the earth. I bent over to stroke the living thing, letting my fingertips caress each petal. It was still near death- still wilted and dried out- but soon, very soon I had a feeling it would be perfectly healthy.

Coming back to the Uchiha residence was so strange- the emptiness was unbearable and I almost left immediately after arriving. However, now the plant almost seemed to brighten it up. I had yet to plant the sunflower seeds Yuri-sama had given me years ago, but I supposed when spring came again I could plant them.

"Rui!" I turned towards the panic-stricken voice of Tenten. Her hair was dishevel and her cheeks were red from the obvious running she had been doing- why a ninja like her could be so tired out I had no idea.

She sprinted towards me before stopping right in front of me. Her hands found their way to my shoulders and she used me for support. "I've- huff -been- looking- huff- you- everywhere-" she paused to cough. Her voice was raspy and hoarse. "He- huff- been- spotted- huff- woods-" More coughing. "ANBU- hack, hack- after- him."

I felt my heart racing as I tried to think of who was so important as to call so much attention to the ANBU… And then it finally hit me- no, no!… it couldn't be him could it? He left, never to return… he left me and he was never coming back… yes, that's right… so then it must be Orochimaru… yeah, that's it… Orochimaru- not him- has come to Konoha.

With such certainty that it was Orochimaru that had come I asked, "Who is he?" Of course I really didn't have to- I knew already that it was Orochimaru.

Tenten coughed before meeting my eyes- and in that moment I knew I was wrong… I knew who had come back- even if I didn't want to accept it- "It's Sasuke."