I've decided to try something and see if people like it: I'm going to revamp and repost a story that I wrote years ago but never finished. But before I start the story, I need to give a little backstory. About 8 years ago on another account, I wrote a story called "Pretty Kitty" and it seemed like people liked it. Unfortunately, I lost the ability to access the laptop the files were on and I could no longer log into the account the story was posted on, so I had to abandon the story. Now that I am older, I feel like I can improve it and make it better. If you ever read the original, it won't read like the original.
Warnings for this chapter: None.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I do own the original version of this story.
thoughts
"speech"
In the large, bustling town of Konoha, one could find various restaurants that catered to a variety of individuals and cuisines. There were cheap hole-in-the-wall shacks that sold greasy artery clogging foods to busy families and high-class establishments that only used the most expensive ingredients to serve their rich and powerful customers. However, there were also restaurants that catered to individuals of all income levels. The most popular restaurant that fix that description was "Cherry Blossom".
Cherry Blossom was unique because it did not focus on a single cuisine. American, Chinese, Japanese, it was all served there. On any given day, you could see someone eating a burger and the person next to them enjoying some sushi. It was a place a family of 4 could have a nice dinner and a place where businessmen could make multi-million-dollar deals over onigiri. Their staff was just as diverse as their customers. The waiters, cooks, and hosts/hostesses all ranged in age from 18 to 50 years old. With flexible working hours and a good base salary with the ability to keep all of the tips earned, it was one of the hottest jobs in the city.
This restaurant was also where a young man named Sasuke Uchiha worked 5 days a week. With his blue-black hair, pale skin and striking dark brown eyes, this young man attracted attention from both genders. If you asked Sasuke, he would wish that he looked more ordinary and didn't attract attention at all, since his looks and an unfortunate run-in with a stranger turned his ordinary and boring life into one that was neither boring or ordinary.
~0~
It was the early afternoon and the lunch rush at Cherry Blossom was just beginning. The sounds of conversations and silverware brushing against plates filled the air. A bell rang out every time the door to the restaurant opened, bringing in a new group of hungry people. Waiters moved around the dining room refilling grasses of water, taking orders or caring tray filled with food to the numerous tables that lined the main room. Sasuke was one of those waiters, although he was not running around the room trying to please customers. He was sitting down in a worn out looking booth located near the doors to the kitchen. This booth was where you could find the waiters that were waiting for new diners to be seated in their respective sections. Sasuke took this brief moment of rest to think about his life. The 20-year-old didn't live a life of wealth and glamor. In fact, Sasuke was lucky if he even had more that $2,000 in his bank account at any moment. His apartment (if you could call the "closet" he lived in an apartment), was located in a building that looked like it could crumble to the ground at any moment and was located in a part of town that was home to individuals that participated in some not so legal activities.
I think I need to start looking for a second job soon. As good as this job pays, it won't be enough to pay all of my bills and rent. Sasuke thought, remembering that his asshole of a landlord raised his rent again. The raven-haired man couldn't muse on this thought for long, as he heard his name being called from the front of the restaurant.
"Uchiha! You have a customer at table 13. Get a move on!" the voiced yelled. With a sigh, Sasuke got up from the booth and walked over to table 13, which was up against one of the walls of the dining room. Once he reached the table, the young man pulled out a pad of paper and got ready to say the usual "are you ready to order?" line he was instructed to say. But before he could get the line out, the man at the table spoke first.
"Why is a pretty boy like you working at a cheap place like this?" The man asked, his voice deep and powerful. Sasuke mentally rolled his eyes. At least once or twice a week, he was asked this exact question or some twisted variation of this question, usually by some old rich businessman or a bored housewife looking to cheat on her husband. The young man looked up to confirm his suspicions, but once he got a look at the person sitting at the table, he let out a small gasp that was drowned out by the noise in the dining room.
First of all, the man was definitely not in his 50's. He looked like he was in his late 20's, his peach colored skin free of wrinkles or major blemishes, except for three peculiar looking whisker marks on each cheek. On a normal person, these would be off-putting, but they actually suited the young man. His hair was a golden blonde, a rarity in an area where everyone had dark colored hair. But what stood out the most were the blue eyes that were the same color as a sunny sky. He was wearing an expensive looking black business suit and a crisp white button down shirt, an orange tie hanging around his neck.
He looks better than most of the creeps that hit on me in here. Sasuke thought, getting back to business.
"Can I take your order sir?" Sasuke asked. The man looked up at Sasuke and placed his elbow on the table, his chin resting in his hand.
"You never answered my question little one." The blonde said, never breaking eye contact with Sasuke. Ignoring the man, Sasuke asked again,
"Your order?" Once the blue-eyed man realized that he wasn't going to get an answer from the raven, he sighed.
"Fine. Get be a bowl of ramen." Sasuke took the menu from the table and started to walk away from the table. As he was walking away, the man spoke again.
"You know, I know a couple of places where a pretty boy like you could make a lot of money serving people. If you want, I can give you a recommendation." This caused Sasuke to stumble a tiny bit, but he still maintained his balance as he gave the man's order to the kitchen staff.
Why do the perverts always get seated in my section? Sasuke mused, waiting for the blonde's ramen to be finished.
Once the order was finished, Sasuke took the tray and started to carefully walk towards the man's table. The raven was focusing so much on not dropping the tray, he didn't notice the chair that was in the path until it was too late. Once his knees bumped into the obstruction, Sasuke fell forward, the tray in his hands flying forward and onto the lap of the blonde. The restaurant got deathly quiet, everyone turning around towards the source of the loud noise they heard.
Murphy, you asshole… Sasuke thought (1). A well dressed, heavy set man rushed towards the table, sweat pouring down his face, a "Manager" badge pinned on the front of his jacket.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The man yelled, spit flying from his mouth with each word. Before Sasuke could open his mouth, the blonde - haired man spoke, his voice calm despite having hot ramen in his lap.
"It seems like this man tripped over a chair and spilled my meal on my suit. A pity. I just bought this suit yesterday." The manager glared at Sasuke and looked back at the blonde.
"I'm terribly sorry for that. The incompetent waiter will be fired and the restaurant would be happy to pay to get your suit cleaned." The manager said, trying to mentally calculate how much money Sasuke cost the restaurant. The blonde reached into his pocket and pulled out a blank index card and a pen.
"There's no need for you to pay. I was thinking that the young man that ruined my suit could pay for the cleaning and possible replacement." The manager eagerly nodded, happy that the restaurant wouldn't be responsible for the cleaning bill.
"Yes, that's a wonderful idea!" The manager exclaimed. Sasuke, having decided that he has been silent for too long, spoke up.
"Hold on! Why should I pay?! This guy looks like he has enough money to buy another suit and still have money left over to buy a small island! Also, there's the small issue that my paycheck would never be enough money to pay for the cleaning!" Sasuke yelled. The blonde chuckled and finished writing whatever he was writing on the index card.
"Don't you think I realized that little one? That's why I've decided that you're going to work for me at my house until you pay it off." The blonde stood up from the table and handed the index card to Sasuke.
"See you tomorrow, pretty boy." The blonde whispered into Sasuke's ear as he headed towards the front of the restaurant, a cell phone placed against his ear. The raven took a look at the card in his hand.
Arrive no later than 8 AM
18274 Whirlpool Court
- Naruto Uzumaki
(1) Sasuke is talking about Murphy's Law.
Well, that's the 1st chapter of the rewrite of "Pretty Kitty". If you are interested in reading the original, it's on under the penname "Soiku_Grl". I'll warn you though, my writing wasn't the best back then.
If you want me to continue this story, please review. I don't care if your review is only "Please Continue." I love it when people comment on my stories and it gives me the motivation to continue.