So then here comes chapter 3 (finally). I've been soo lazy and soo tired that I've been like 'meh'. Just like now.
So I'm taking all of my brain waves to type this.
Endless Path
Chapter 3
RECAP
"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."
END RECAP
"Tsuki…' Shiina whispered, stopping midway from advancing. Tsuki glared at all of them before throwing the paper ball into a corner and stalking off to slam her bedroom door. Shiro stood up and turned to his mother who nodded at him.
"I'll talk to her," the black haired boy turned into the corridor and opened the dark green door. He went in uninvited and watched as Tsuki rearranged the papers on her desk. The shuffling of papers filled the room; an occasional sniff entered but apart from the sounds, the two of them made no indication to talk.
"Tsuki. What was all those dramatics for?" The girl turned around and gazed at her cousin. They were just around three to four months apart but the vast similarities between them were countless. Tsuki ignored him and plopped onto her bed, digging her face into a silk pillow. Her muffled voice answered him.
"Go away." Shiro sighed and sat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She slapped it away angrily. The boy sighed once again; she was one to be stubborn.
"Tsuki, what the hell was that all about? Is that what you've been researching all these weeks? Where did you get the information from?"
"My friend. I bribed her parents; they're investigators. I gave them my blood and they tested my DNA." Tsuki sat up, wiping her nose; her eyes were puffy and dry tears marked her pale cheeks. "Gaara and Shiinatani aren't my real parents." She pointed at her eyes as if he was an idiot. "Adui (A/N: It's just like saying 'Duh!')! That's why I have dark green eyes and black hair!" Tsuki rolled her eyes and lay down on the bed, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall down from her face once more.
"Tsuki, why did you do it?" Shiro asked quietly, fiddling with the end of the blanket.
"Because … I want the truth."
---
"How's Tsuki? Is she feeling much better after you talked to her?" Shiro gazed out of the car window, bored as he rolled it down.
"Yeah. She is."
"Aa. I see. We'll support her all the way, won't we Shiro-chan?" Shiro turned to look at his mother sarcastically. She grinned at him and gave a thumb up. "Ne? Why won't you show any enthusiasm?"
"It's because you're acting so immature, Sa-ku-ra-san. And the light's red!" Sakura squeaked and slammed her foot on the pedal, forcing them flying forward. Shiro was pulled to the back of the seat until she slowed down.
"Woops! Sorry!" They began driving carefully again, twisting and turning through the streets and roads.
"Yeah. We will."
---
"Ino! Come in!" Tenten invited her old friend in, ushering the blonde woman into her household. It was silent, as Masahiko was off at preschool and Hinata, Naruto and Neji had gone to work.
"Thanks Tenten; I ain't gonna be here for long; I just gotta pick up those orders Jinura-san gave." She stepped in and looked down at the large lump her highschool friend had achieved. "Yuki's growing big, eh?" She patted it lightly and picked up the pile of papers on the coffee table. "Thanks! How many more months?" She asked. Tenten grinned sheepishly.
"Only two more weeks, Ino! Make sure you're there! I want you to be the godmother!"
---
"So we'll be handing in our assignments in by the end of the week, and Sabaku no Tsuki, is that gum!?" Everyone in the class turned to the girl sitting by the window, her mouth opened widely to show the green blob on her tongue. Her bottle green eyes were diverted to the outside world where the sun shone brightly. Shiro, who sat beside her, nudged Tsuki roughly, but she didn't snap of her reverie.
"Tsuki. Tsuki. Tsuki!" He hissed angrily as the teacher advanced. The woman held out her hand forward. Tsuki glared at her before shooting the ball of gum into the teacher's hair. The class roared with laughter as their sensei shrieked, slapping the gum out of her hair.
"Sabaku no Tsuki! To the principle's office!" The girl stood up in rage and shouted.
"I AM NOT SABAKU NO TSUKI! My parents are fakes!" Silence echoed through the room. Suddenly, hushed whispers came from all their classmates.
"She's adopted? No wonder she's such a bitch."
"I betcha she told Shiro that so she can be close to him; I wonder if he actually sits with her because he pities her or if they're really friends." Shiro glared at the two girls in front of them before turning to Tsuki who had resumed her daydreaming out the window.
"Don't mind them Tsuki; they're just liars who need attention."
"I don't care Shiro; let them say what they want." She sadly looked at him. "Go hang out with your friends; you don't have to be with me, even if you're not my real cousin." He placed his hand on her head and ruffled it messily.
"No matter what, you're always going to be the best cousin in the world." Tsuki grinned at him and her eyes darted back to the window. Her dark green orbs darted straight to the school entrance. A man stood in a suit, a red tie and a white shirt covered with his vest jacket. His black hair stood up at the back and his black eyes interestingly examined the front school gate. Tsuki stood up in her seat, knocking over her chair. She ran out, despite her sensei's strict commands to stay back. Shiro chased after her.
They weaved through the school's corridors, running past students who stared past them perplexedly.
"Tsuki! What the hell are you doing?!" Shiro shouted as his cousin slammed open the door that led to the stairs. They climbed down it hurriedly, until they reached the front gate.
"Tsuki! Get back her-" The two of them stopped in front of the man as he was about to head in. The girl looked up at him expectedly, gazing at him with adoring eyes. "Tsuki…" The man pointed at Shiro and whispered.
"You. You were with Sakura…weren't you?"
---
The last thing Sasuke expected to run into was the boy Sakura was with on the night they met unpredictably, with her at the wheel and him on the road. What pure coincidence that he met the very same boy who sat on the passenger seat at the school the Uchiha Company supported and funded for scholarships and fees.
When he had just exited his car and approached the gate, two children ran out. One was a girl with short black hair that strongly reminded him of Sakura's and big dark green eyes. Her face only showed admiration and fondness. He half-expected her to leap into his arms and call him 'daddy' but she didn't. The girl just stood there, doped up and excited at just gazing at him.
The other one, however, was the boy. Rough, messy black hair and eyes the same as the girl. They looked so much like each other, with their hair and eye colours but the girl's high cheek bones and open mouth showed completely different personalities. Sasuke pointed at the boy, turned his gaze away from the girl's gape.
"You. You were with Sakura…weren't you?" The boy flinched at hearing that name but he composed himself and straightened his shoulders.
"Yes I was."
"Your name?"
"Shiro. And that's-"
"Tsuki's my name." Sasuke's eyebrow rose at the simplicity in her voice. Her face was now lined seriously and her gaze now pierced through him like a knife.
"You don't have a surname?"
"I don't need it; my parents are fakes." Tsuki accentuated the last word, hoping Sasuke would notice it. The older man's mouth formed an 'o'.
"I see. So, why are you skipping class and coming out to greet me? I can tell you aren't my tour guides and I suggest you go back to class." He ushered them back, hoping he was acting like a nice, responsible adult.
"Are you a father?" Sasuke halted entirely. Tsuki had raised the question, her face lit up in hope. The shock evaporated and he shook it off, shaking his head.
"No, I'm not."
---
Neji sat on the bench, watching as his son gobbled up the remains of his sandwich.
"Masa, I don't understand why you don't eat it when they tell you to." The boy pouted, licking his fingers before taking out the juice box his mother packed for him.
"I don't like eating in front of other people; only otou-san, okaa-san, Hinata-baa, Naruto-jii and Yuki." Neji grinned at the mention of his unborn son.
"Why don't you like eating with the people at your preschool?"
"They're strangers."
"You have to get used to it Masa. When you grow up, you'll be working with these strangers." Neji sighed, turning out of his seat. He turned his pearl eyes to watch a woman walking on the park-footpath. In her hands was a slim silver cell-phone and she wore a black jacket that reached her knees; her boots reached her ankles and black stockings covered her legs. Large diamond earrings hung from her ears and her green eyes darted around nervously. Slowly, she slid her hand underneath her brown hair and lifted it all away. Neji gasped. Long strands of pink hair fell out, cascading down her shoulders. She flicked it, before placing her wig into her handbag.
She looked around once more, before breaking into a run down to the normal walkpath. Neji turned back to his son, who had finished his lunch. Neji grabbed his son's hand and ran. "Come on Masahiko! Come with me!" The little boy was pulled forward into his father's arms as the two of them raced down the street.
"Otou-san!" Masahiko was frightened of his father's sudden movements. His face displayed seriousness as they dodged all the people who went pass them. "Otou-san what's wrong?!" The boy screeched as they ran past a green light. Cars beeped at them but Neji didn't care; the only thought in his mind was his missing friend that he had caught a glimpse of.
"Sakura…"
---
Sakura walked around in the park. She had taken her contacts out to relieve her eyes but the wig was really making her itch. She was tempted to take it off, but the danger of being caught because of her vibrant pink hair was most likely.
She looked around cautiously, taking her cellphone out, using its surface as a mirror to check if anyone who was from her past was behind her. Confirming their absence, she looked around once more before lifting it away. She placed the bronze wig into her bag and looked around.
"Shit." She turned and ran. She had made a major mistake. Hyuuga Neji sat on the bench, with his son Masahiko who was drinking from a juice box. He was watching her with a dazed look, with disbelief plastered all over his face. Sakura could hear him call at his son. She darted across the walkway, taking the wig back out and stuffing it on her head. She cursed once more and weaved into a corner, covering her face with the high collar of her coat. He passed by with Masahiko in his arms. As he passed, she could hear him mutter her name.
She stayed in there for a moment before slipping out and walking in the opposite direction. Sakura hastily put her contacts back on, her boots clicking rhythmically against the concrete. Slowly, her jade eyes turned into purple ones and her pace quickened. She could sense someone following her, but she ignored it with all her patience. When she turned a corner, they did as well. Soon, Sakura was forming a path without even knowing her destination. Halting, she went into the coffee shop Hinata owned and sat down on the table in the corner.
Sakura placed her handbag on the floor and looked up, her collar preventing anyone from seeing her face. She gasped. The person who was following her was Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto went up to the woman dressed in the maid costume and placed a kiss on her cheek gently. Sakura chuckled gently, watching Hinata's blush grow. Sakura picked up the menu, pretending to examine the menu but actually eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Neji called me; he saw Sakura." She could hear Hinata gasp. A tray clattered to the floor and Hinata bent down to pick it up.
"Sakura? Haruno Sakura? But maybe Neji-niisan was hallucinatin-"
"No, he confirmed it. He knew it was Sakura from the single glance. He was slowed down because he had Masahiko with him. Neji had to bring Masa home." A maid came and took Sakura's order.
"A blueberry cheesecake and cappuccino. No need to rush today Saya; I can wait." The waitress nodded and slipped the order onto the waiting line.
"That means Sakura-chan's still in Tokyo! Hinata-chan! That means she's still alive!" Naruto jumped and embraced his girlfriend, causing her to drop the tray once more. Sakura grinned before standing up once more. She called over to Saya.
"Saya, cancel that order; I'm leaving. I have to go now."
---
"Shiro, how was school today?" The boy shrugged and continued with his homework. The light that shone on the dining table barely brought any light and his eyes begged for sleep but his mind told him to stay awake,
"It was alright. A person who supported the school came and Tsuki spat gum into the teacher's hair." Sakura burst out laughing, chopping the onions. The sweet aroma of spaghetti filled the room and soon the two of them sat and ate.
"Spat it eh? Reminds me of the old days; my teacher was a slack-ass pervert." Shiro grinned and chuckled, wrapping the spaghetti around his fork. "So who was the person who supported the school?"
"Uchiha Sasuke. He was the one we almost hit last time." The clatter of a fork echoed throughout the apartment. Shiro stared at his mother who had dropped her fork. Strands of noodles stuck to the table and sauce was splattered all over the floor.
"Uchiha…Sasuke?" Sakura snapped out of her reverie. "Ah, sorry, Shiro-chan. I'm getting clumsier by the day. Hehehe…" She laughed half-heartedly, bending over to pick the mess she made. The doorbell suddenly rang and Shiro went to go get it.
"Tsuki? What are you doing here?" Sakura sat up at the girl's name being called. Shiro returned with Tsuki by his side, a pillow and a bag of luggage in both of her hands.
"Tsuki? Why are you here?" Sakura asked, standing up and dumping the mess into her empty bowl. Tsuki looked around before answering.
"I'm staying here until I find my real parents. Gaara-san and Shiintani-san allowed me to leave. Do you mind me…staying here?" Shiro looked at her in disbelief. Sakura, however, broke into a grin.
"Really? That'll be great!"
"Sorry, but there's only two rooms! I'll be working until three in mine and I don't want to disturb you while you sleep. Is it alright if you sleep in Shiro's?" Tsuki shook her head and carried her belongings into Shiro's room. Shiro advanced on his mother and hissed.
"Okaa-san. Are. You. Insane? Why are we letting her stay?!"
"Shiro, we promised we'd always be there to support her, right? Well, now's the time!"
"Shiro, do you mind me staying in your room? 'Cause I can always move to the-"
"It's ok Tsuki; okaa-san and I are always going to be here for you. Make yourself comfortable." The girl nodded and snuggled into her futon. Shiro, on the other hand, slept on the bed, watching as his cousin's breathing slowed down. How similar they were, the eyes, the hair and their personalities. More than once, people had mistaken them for twins.
'It's impossible.' Shiro thought, rolling around in his bed. He faced the wall, tracing his name on it invisibly. Almost unconsciously, he drew Tsuki's name as well. 'Haruno Tsuki. Haruno Shiro. Possibility of being twins; impossible.'
"Shiro." The boy shot up out of his dream, almost hitting Tsuki on the forehead with his own.
"Sorry Tsuki!" He noticed her worried look. "What's wrong?" She muttered something incoherent. "Huh?"
"Can I… sleep in your bed…as well…tonight?" Shiro blinked absently before answering.
"Aa." Tsuki slipped in. Shiro allowed her to sleep on the inside, being afraid that she might fall out in the middle of the night. He pulled the blanket over the both of them. "Night Tsuki."
"Night, Shiro."
Sakura stood at the doorway, a small smile on her face as she watched the two of them fall asleep.
"Goodnight, my two darlings..."
WOW
I can't believe I typed all of that. I am simply amazed.
JunsuiFushichou