Serena- Wow it's been a while….. Well, just this, the next chapter, and then the epilogue left! Wow, it feels so long since I posted the first chapter! Just to let you know, there will not be a sequel to this… I might, MIGHT do a short one-shot about Rui and Kirinonai's relationship, and/or a longer one-shot (possibly two-shot) about what really happened to Kirinonai and how she ended up…. Well, where she ended up…:), me no tell.
A/N- Yes, I know, this chapter has some Sakura- bashing… I'm sorry! And it's not because I don't like her, it's just that Rui needed someone to compare herself to in regards to her loyality to Sasuke and Sakura is someone that is both extremely devoted to Sasuke, and someone that Rui would feel… inadequate to when comparing things like beauty, strength and brains. Just because I don't particularly like Sakura, doesn't mean I don't think she isn't strong (especially after she cuts her hair and then after the time-skip) or pretty (not too many people can pull off pink hair (I can't…)) or smart.
So, yeah. I don't mean to character bash, it's just something that happened. Besides, if ever I write a story about a girl coming to Konoha, I'd probably have her pick on Hinata because she would think that the heiress is weak… just to be different for once :). But the next story I plan on posting won't have Sasuke returning… actually the only Naruto characters featured in that one are Sasuke (obviously), Kabuto and Orochimaru!
Disclaimer- I own nothing except my Original Characters, but even then- they have a mind of their own.
Boundless
By: Serena
Chapter 21
More Questions Than Answers
October 28th
Honestly I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do if or when I found Sasuke. And at that point in time my chances of laying eyes on him were slimming by the second as I stumbled through the undergrowth of Konoha's forest. Yup, I wouldn't be seeing him any time soon.
The branches clawed at my dress but I paid them no mind, focusing solely on my goal- seeing Sasuke again. If but one glance would quench my thirst- or perhaps make my longing simply grow until I would have to physically restrain myself from leaping into his arms or killing him on the spot.
As I reached a main clearing the hair on my arms stood on end, as did those on the back of my neck. Something was amiss but I couldn't quite place it, increasing my frustration farther. Crunch. Spinning to face the sound my breath caught and my heart seemed to pause mid-beat.
Sasuke.
I suppose, had my anger been more passionate, I would have yelled at him, screamed my throat raw. However, instead, I rushed to his side and knelt beside him. Exhaustion weathered Sasuke's face. His clothes were tattered to the point that I should have been blushing, but I restrained the flush because his body was also in tatters- blood pouring everywhere. Clutching his right arm to his chest, Sasukes breath came in uneven gasps.
Meeting my concerned gaze, the Uchiha gave a small smile that seemed to light up his whole face and with some of his remaining energy he pressed his dried, chapped lips to mine. As he pulled back, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a slumber.
Quickly, as not to lose something so soon gained, I pressed my fingers to his limp wrist, looking for the weak, thready pulse that vibrated through him. My breath quickly becoming a pain in my chest, I closed my eyes to think. I had to get him to the hospital. I had to get him somewhere that people could help him- people could save him.
And all too suddenly my need to see him was replaced by the need to keep him alive. A buzzing started in the back of my racing mind and I flinched. No- not this, not now. I needed to help him, and I couldn't do that while I was unconscious.
But alas, the retched illness won, and my last thoughts before sinking into the dark of my mind were, Someone, please save Sasuke…
October 29th
The afternoon sun blazed down on my face, tearing up my eyes. Realization hit hard and I bolted up, coming face to face with the pewter irises I had come to know so well. The heiress stood shyly over me, watching my every move with wary eyes. Perhaps she still feared me, perhaps she was worried. I didn't know….
Suddenly however, her eyes gained a darker shade. "Welcome back Rui." My response consisted of me grunting and trying and failing to sit up. As my head hit the pillow, the mild blow seemed to jog something in my memory and the nights visions flooded back into my brain.
Flowers-Tenten- Forest- Sasuke- Fainting. I bolted up again and succeeded in making my whole world spin. As everything came back into focus I pushed the blankets away and stood up. Hinata's face showed the fact that she wanted to protest, but I didn't care. "Where is he?"
She looked down, averting her eyes before staring back up at me defiantly. "Why, Rui?" Mild anger seeped into her voice, and had the time called for it, I might have been taken aback. "What are you going to do to him? Beat him near death like that other man?"
I flinched at her words, not from the harshness and pure bitterness that they stunk of, but at the memory of the horrible deed. I was ashamed, and denying it would do no good. "I…" Tears formed in my eyes as I realized the pure reality. When I found Sasuke, I still had no idea what I would do to him. Hinata's gaze softened at my watering eyes.
"I…" Beginning again didn't help as much as I had originally thought it would have… And then finally I said it. "I… I loved him, Hinata." The tears spilled over, but I quickly brushed them away. "I… I loved him so much… and I… I don't know what I'll do… I just want to know that he's okay."
Hinata nodded, tears beginning in her eyes as well. She looked down guiltily. "152," she whispered. Taking a step forward she briefly embraced me and then, she let me go.
The hallway seemed to swallow me up as I walked down it. The walls were too white, the floor too clean. It was like a dream, one in which I was constantly looking for something that couldn't be found. A large maze surrounded me and I was the mouse looking for the raven haired cheese.
The room he was staying in was completely devoid of any form of anything. No flowers, no nothing. Too clean, too tidy, too everything and anything and nothing, and that bothered me. Sasuke slept in a too clean, too tidy, too everything and anything and nothing bed- paler than the corpse he might have been had destiny not intervened. It took me a few moments to realize there were other people in the room.
Tsunade, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura all stood together, all of them occasionally stealing glances at the sleeping boy. Tsunade gave the air of power, Kakashi seemed indifferent in the whole matter, but his body language said otherwise, Naruto was obviously torn between two emotions, which two I can not begin to describe and Sakura had tears running down her cheeks.
"Rui!" Sakura exclaimed, striding over to embrace me. Once, the Old Rui would have fallen into her arms and sobbed, trying to find comfort in anyone that would have offered it. Once, the New Rui would have punched her, hating the fact that she was crying over Sasuke. Instead, this… Rui- niether Old nor New- backed away, recoiling from her touch.
Trying to ignore the hurt expression on her face, I turned to the Hokage. "Will he be alright?"
She scoffed, glaring at the sleeping figure. "He'll be just fine… just peachy in fact. He should be completely healed by his trial."
"Trial?" I echoed. I knew this would happen, everyone knew this would happen. Sasuke had gotten off extremely light the first time he came back, but he betrayed the village a second time and that was the finally straw in many peoples opinions.
"Yes, Sasuke will be tried for his crimes against Konoha." Kakashi explained. "It won't be anything too severe, Rui, don't worry." He gave a reassuring smile from under his mask. "Probably only probation or something of the sort."
"Constant survalance and probation for three years." Tsunade scoffed again. "He should be given a harsher punishment."
"He killed two missing nins that were enemies and very large threats to Konoha! That should count for something!" Sakura shouted, the obvious distress was etched into her face. She didn't seem to mind however that she was arguing with her teacher. Apparently, the girl cared more for the boy that rejected her at every turn than her faithful mentor.
The Hokage shrugged, indifferently. "It did. This is the lowest punishment a missing nin can get if they return willingly to Konoha."
Something tugged at my brain, something important… something- "Then why wasn't he put on it before?" I asked, realization dawning inside.
"He was." Kakashi answered.
"What?"
Tsunaded sighed, irriated. "He was put on probation last time. Normally someone who betrays Konoha twice would be killed before passing through that gate."
"But-"
"Shut up Sakura." I said, letting the harshness ring through. I spoke knowing I would hurt her. I spoke only to silence those around me. "Can I be with him alone?"
"No." Tsunade and Sakura answered in unison, one voice filled with authority, the other distraught.
"Why not?"
Tsunade opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Sakura. Her tear-filled voice gnawed at me heart. "No! You can't! He's mine! All mine! You-you-" Her voice cracked but she continued on. "You come here, so suddenly. I-I couldn't bring Sasuke back but- you- you could- why? Why you? You're not even pretty! You always have dirt under your fingernails-" I instinctively hid my hands behind my back. "I tried- I tried to be your friend- to be- nice to you, even though I knew- I knew you were trying to take Sasuke away!"
I opened my mouth to reply but she put a hand up to signal silence. "No- No! You listen to me now! I love Sasuke! I love him and you have no idea how much! I would die for him- die for him- but you- you didn't even bother to look for him!"
I stared her straight in the eye and then- I realized what she had said was true. My eyes found the floor, the way they did long ago, before I glanced back up at Sasuke's sleeping figure.
Would I die for him? I thought to myself.
Yes you would, Rui… My other half whispered. I do think that you would give your life and your afterlife if only for his happiness.
I nodded both physically and mentally before walking to the door. In the most coldest voice I could muster, despite my sudden change in emotion, I whispered, "You know nothing Sakura. Nothing at all." I opened that door and made my way home.