Author's Note/s;

HI everyone! Here is the second chapter of 'Endless Path'! Hope you enjoy it:D

The weather here has been horrible (it's Melbourne people, MELBOURNE!!) where the most sh!ttest weather forms. I'm freezing the first minute and then boiling the next. And no, it's not a fever.

Love JunsuiFushichou

Endless Path

Chapter 2

RECAP

Instant news, coming in by the minute. This minute's report, it seems that the Uchiha heir, Uchiha Sasuke, has returned from the United States after his long disappearance. He will regain control of the corporation after his older brother's absence. The Uchiha Corporation shall now return back to normal.

Sakura paused, halting completely. Shiro was thrown forwards, but luckily his seatbelt held him in place. He stared in confusion at his mother.

"Okaa-san! What's wrong?" Her jade eyes gazed directly in front of her. The only thing that escaped her lips was one single word.

"Sasuke."

The man that had stopped abruptly in front of their car stood in front, with wide eyes, as though he had been struck by lightning. His onyx eyes could not be mistaken, and the spiky raven hair was now strangely neat. Shiro gazed at the man, watching his lips move. Soon, he could tell what the man was whispering;

"Haruno…Sakura."

END RECAP

Sakura stared at Sasuke in disbelief. What… what is this? Déjà vu? Or just simply a coincidence? Her green orbs widened before her mouth opened.

"Sasuke? No no no, I'm just hallucinating… just hallucinating…" Shiro watched in confusion as his mother began slapping her forehead with her palm. He began edging away from her slowly, turning his gaze back to the man outside.

Sasuke gazed at Sakura strangely. She was just sitting in the seat, banging her head with her hands. She was muttering to herself constantly, casting her eyes down to the floor. She looked up at him again before screaming.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!" Shiro was thrown forwards once more when his mother slammed her foot down on the accelerator. They sped off into the distance, leaving Sasuke sprawled on the floor.

"Okaa-san calm down!" Shiro bellowed over the rushing noise as they weaved through the cars on one of the main roads. Sakura's pupils hid her fear and dread of the one person she had not longed to meet. She couldn't keep the pain inside. Once again, they screeched to a stop, Shiro's mother's hands gripping the steering wheel harshly. "…Okaa-san?" Sakura broke down in the car, her sobs echoing throughout the car sadly.

---

"No way… that couldn't have been her…could it?" Sasuke thought, picking himself from the floor. He dusted his suit and grabbed his fallen suitcase as well. He stared off in the distance of the disappearing car. Passer-bys were perplexed and confused, discussing the issue amongst them.

"That lady really needs a psychiatrist…"

"Driving erratically with a boy right next. Not a very good role model…"

"Do you think she was his older sister? She would be too young to be his mother or maybe she was one of those girls…" Sasuke's ear perked up at the last remark. Who was that boy beside her? Could it be…his son? It couldn't be. That boy couldn't be her son. But then again, who was he? His mind reeled before it snapped back into reality.

Sasuke shook his head dismissively before walking off into the Uchiha building. All the lights were turned off and all that were left inside the building was the janitor. The elderly man bowed down instantly after recognizing the heir to the corporation. Sasuke made a beeline for the elevator and briskly pressed the 12th level button. He waited patiently and got off at his stop, heading off to the main office. All the computers were on, buzzing quietly and the room was pitch black. He unlocked the room using one of the many keys in his palm and examined the room. It was the same as his brother has left it; the pictures of him and Tsukemi were posted along the wall and on the desk were the picture of their family. He picked up the frame and held it lovingly.

Their mother, with her kind and gentle smile that could wipe away any dilemma, was grinning sheepishly, holding her youngest son, Sasuke's, shoulder. He himself was beaming happily and his older brother, Itachi was beside him, his arm around his mother. Their father was in the background, standing stiffly in his black suit and grey tie. Compared to his sons and his wife, he was the most stoic, a slight smile underneath his nose. Sasuke would rarely see his father smile or kiss his mother, but yet she still endured like a brave woman.

He placed the picture down again and opened the drawer from the desk. Inside it was another bundle of keys. Sasuke grinned and tucked them into his pocket. Typical Itachi… you're so predictable…

---

"Okaa-san…" Shiro couldn't finish his sentence, because his mother had already flung herself over him. He sighed and grimaced, patting her head. Her salty tears soaked his dojo clothes and her grip was like iron. "Okaa-san, what's wrong? Don't cry, Tokyo police are pathetic anyway…"

Sakura buried her face into her son's shoulder. Even though he was only 12, he was so mature for his age. She was glad, because at least, she had a shoulder to cry on, and a son that was so grown up. She sniffed; she knew she was acting childish but this emotion would leave her. It was like a black cloud over her head. She wiped her nose with her sleeve and grinned weakly.

"Sorry Shiro. I…couldn't help myself…" Shiro smiled back at her gently.

"It's alright okaa-san. I promise I'll always be here for you." Sakura smiled back at him and took the steering wheel once more. She exhaled deeply, her eyes focused on the long road ahead of them.

"I can't believe you're almost 13! It seemed like just yesterday you were in my arms, sucking on your thumb." Shiro rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"Every parent says that." Sakura smiled at him once more.

"Well Shiro. How about we go to your uncle's house then?" Shiro grinned widely and nodded.

"Yeah!"

---

Masahiko stared out at the dim street. He blinked a couple of times; he swore he could see the faint outline of a little girl walking along the road. She looked up at him, her golden eyes piercing the darkness. Her white summer dress contrasted with her crimson hair that was spread across her shoulders. Masa's orbs widened when her gaze turned away and she ran off, her feet silently sliding against the concrete. The young boy was tempted to run after her but was stopped when he heard a knock at his door.

"Come in!" Hinata came in with a towel and smirked devilishly. Masahiko stared at her in horror. "No Hinata-baa! Please!!! I don't like having my hair…ARGGH!" Masahiko's voice faltered when the towel came into contact with his soaking wet hair. Hinata ruffled it up messily, making it dry and tangled in assorted knots. She grinned at her handiwork and let go of Masahiko's head.

"There you go! Masa-chan, if you always go out of the bath like that, you'll get a cold!" She scolded, placing the towel on the drying rack in his room. Masahiko began combing his hair with his fingers, attempting to at least put some control in it. He huffed, pouting his face out. Hinata grinned and nudged his face playfully, resulting in a wrestle game between aunty and nephew.

---

Sasuke sighed in relief as he managed to open the front door of the Uchiha mansion. It now lay abandoned, with all the furniture and objects in the same area when he came back 10 years ago (JF'sNote; He's currently 30, turning 31).

It seemed Itachi was too lazy to clean the place out… Sasuke chuckled at the thought of his older brother as he went to the kitchen. None of the lights worked and the electricity bill hadn't been paid for over the past year. He knelt down and opened one of the cupboards.

Sasuke screwed his face up as he pulled out a rotten tomato. It let out a disgusting smell of what was like dead fish and a week old cheese. As he continued rummaging, he altogether found (and got caught in) five mouse-traps and an uncountable number of moth balls. He finally found what he was looking for.

He pulled the white box out and opened the lid carefully. And, as he left it, was the other half of the necklace.

---

Ran looked up at the boy staring back at her. His pearl eyes were glowing faintly from the lamp he had on his beside table and his hair was dripping wet. She would always see him there, sitting, sometimes reading or talking to someone inside his room. And every day, she would pass by, watching him, like an obsessive stalker. But she wasn't one. She hoped so; she only turned four a week ago. Ran cast her eyes down again and ran. After turning around 3 streets, she stopped and gazed at the black car parked outside her house. A grin tugged at her lips and she entered the white house.

"Shiro-nii!" Ran jumped onto the older boy's back, latching her arms around his neck. "Shiro-nii!" She hugged him harder, almost crushing the life out of him.

"Gaahh Ran-imouto! I'm going to diiieee!!" Shiro gasped, attempting to loosen her grip on him. She let go immediately, grabbing onto Sakura's waist instead.

"Sakura-baa! Good-af-ter-noon!" She said bubbly. Sakura smiled back and hugged her niece.

"Hello Ran-chan! What were you doing outside by yourself? What if someone comes to kidnap you?" Sakura gently flicked the little girl's nose and beamed.

"Sakura-san! Come come, have you had dinner yet?" Shiinatani appeared at the doorway, her green hair tied up in a messy bun. Sakura shook her head and put Ran down. "Well then come eat! You must be hungry! You too Shiro-kun." Shiro blinked before murmuring an 'aa'.

"Eat some more Sakura! All you look like is skin and bones!" Gaara exclaimed, taking a seat next to his cousin. She glared at him.

"I'm perfectly fine! No need to worry Gaara." Sakura spat out, placing her bowl and chopsticks on the table in finality. "By the way, where's Tsuki-chan?" She asked curiously, looking around. "I haven't seen her." Shiinatani answered her question.

"She went to the library for some homework. She'll be home soon." She briskly glanced at the clock nailed on the kitchen wall. "I told her the curfew was 8. Seems like she's enjoying herself then." At that moment, the door slammed open, the night breeze blowing into the room. At the door stood a girl with striking black hair, a bag clutched in her left hand. She walked calmly into the kitchen and stared at the party sitting down for dinner. She gazed at Shiro first and then at Sakura.

"Hello Sakura-san. Shiro." The boy nodded back at his female cousin who then revolved and pulled a pile of papers out of her bag. Tsuki threw them into the air, sending a cascade of white paper flying down on them.

"Tsuki! What do you think -" The girl glared at her mother. Her bottle green eyes seemed to pierce through Shiina's mind like a knife.

"If you have time to be feeding relatives," she indicated to Shiro who was halfway through advancing and Sakura who had picked up one of the sheets. "Then you should have time to really tell me," Tsuki grabbed one of the floating sheets and scrunched it in her palm.

"Who my true parents are."

Author's Note/s;

Yeah I know I ended it lamely but PLEEASSSE don't blame me! -hides away from flying rotten tomatoes and week old cheese-

I hopefully expect that this story spans longer than 'Cherished' but I cannot guarantee it. My novel is going along smoothly (for the time being) as I just had an EPIPHANY! Very surprising, seeing as my brain seems to be dead flat this year.

And I watched PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3! Orlando Bloom was so hot (I'm a rabid OB fan) and I cried during scenes of the movie. Out of my friends and me, I was crying the most. A world record.

Well that's all. Hope to update this soon!

Love JunsuiFushichou