Disclaimer: No own the world of Naruto.
Here's a little spin on the fairy tale Cinderella where the girl fights back instead of just waiting for her "Prince Charming" to arrive...
Cinderella: A Cherry Blossom's Tale
1) The Haruno Family
Once Upon a time there was a beautiful young girl named Sakura with gleaming bubble gum pink hair and glistening emerald green eyes. She lived in a marvelous white Japanese mansion with black shingled rooftops located in the lush countryside of the Konoha kingdom. She had a graceful caring mother who married the most wonderful father a daughter could ever ask for. Everyone that knew them would say they had never met a kinder family. Everything was perfect until the child's eighth year.
Two weeks after the celebration of their beloved Cherry Blossom's eight year old birthday party Mrs. Haruno became greatly ill. Mr. Haruno, being a doctor himself, spent many long hours for three months in his study trying desperately to find a cure to save his darling wife. But much to is dismay he could not. A soft knock resounded at the door; "Daddy may I come in?...I'm scared," Sakura's small voice called from the other side. A sad smile crept on his worn features. Pushing back his black leather computer rolling chair, he trudged in socked feet across the hard mahogany wood floor. Sliding open the door he looked down meeting the forlorn watery gaze of his innocent baby girl.
There she stood in her short sleeve light green cotton night gown that came down to her ankles, clutching her fluffy pink bunny in her tiny porcelain white arms. He got down on one knee before this image of perfection. "What's the matter sweetheart?" The tired man asked gently. His petite angel's pouty lips started quivering as a crystal tear escaped her eyes; "M-Mommy s-said that s-s-she is going to h-h-heaven s-soon," she barely managed between sobs. The tears were flowing freely now as if the flood gates had been opened no longer able to contain them. Lifting her dainty left hand she wiped her moist cheeks. Wrapping his long arms around her fragile body he hoisted the shaken little one into a warm embrace.
"Come on let's go see Mommy," Mr. Haruno's calm voice soothed her but she was still trembling. They walked up the dimly lit tough creaky stairway to the master bedroom on the second floor. The door was already open so that the attendants could have easy access, and as to not disturb the sick mistress. The moon illuminated her disease stricken form. Her cotton candy pink hair was slick and greasy, sweat beads formed on her forehead, the color in her cheeks was fading, and her once shimmering jade green eyes showed life was slipping away. Hearing the sound of someone entering the much loved woman turned her aching head toward the entrance.
A frown was evident on her once plump rose colored lips. Before her stood the two most important people in her life with a look in their grieving orbs that could crack a thick stone. She knew her time was coming all too soon, her heart was broken into a million pieces with the knowledge that she had to leave them behind. Her now grey-green eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Come here," she called out to them in a low raspy tone. She held out her skeleton like hand to clasp the hands of those she longed to touch. They slowly made their way over to her to sit in the cherry wood chair that was placed at the side of the bed. Together they held her bony flesh. There was a moment of silence before she spoke, "My dear ones the coming of my great sleep is here, please don't be sad for me I'm going to a much better place. My amazing husband," with all the strength she could muster she rolled over to place her other hand on his unshaven face, "thank you so much for all the years of unwavering love and affection. And Sakura my sweet angel, be strong help your Daddy he's going to need you now more than ever. I love you both so much." With that she moved onto her back; "Goodbye my beloveds," she whispered closing her eyes never to open them again. "I may never love again," Mr. Haruno sighed as he started to shake gripping his cold wife's hand as the water in his swollen red eyes began to flow like a stream.
That statement did not remain true, a couple years later he met a gorgeous red head with dazzling green eyes. Shortly after they begun dating he announced he was going to marry her. This not only shocked his now ten year old daughter, it angered her. How could he go and plan on marrying someone he only dated for a month, when only two years ago he said he would "never love again." When the estranged father tried to explain himself it only made matters worse. Knocking on her door he nearly begged to enter, she refused him. She did not want to hear his explanation or how much he thought he liked her. Though she protested a marriage still took place, and along with a new step-mother came an "adorable" step-daughter who just so happened to be the exact same age as her. As she witnessed the progression take place there was no doubt in her mind that these people would never be family, that woman would not be her "mother", and that red headed step child most certainly was NOT her sister.
The act they put on was very clever and convincing, seeming to be kind and caring but when the audience left the pair showed their true colors; they were evil conniving vixens. They even had her Father convinced, this fact annoyed her more than anything. How could he not see the mask his new wife had constantly plastered on her Barbie doll face? She tried multiple times to tell him Megumi was playing him for a fool, but he just brushed her off saying she was imagining things.
So the game played on with every excruciating day that passed by. One evening Mr. Haruno asked her to come to his office. Sitting in the oversized black leather chair opposite his desk the short pink haired maiden stared at her tall dad who was leaning forward resting his chin on propped up folded hands. He glared at her with piercing blue eyes for only a second before he spoke; "Sakura, honey I called you in here because I am concerned about you. I understand me marrying Megumi has been a hard transition for you, but just in case some thing should happen to me..." He didn't get a chance to finish that sentence before she interrupted him.
"Daddy don't say such a thing!" She shot up out of her chair like a cannonball being shot from a canon.
"Sweetheart please sit down," the older man's husky voice was low and steady.
"Ok," she dramatically sighed slumping down into the seat of the arm chair.
Shaking his head he chuckled before continuing; "Sweetie I'm not saying it's going to happen, if it does I want you to treat Megumi as well as Karin like family. I would like that to start now actually."
"But..."
"No buts, promise me you'll stay together as a family," his voice held a more serious tone.
"Yes sir," she relented to her great disliking. The game was now over, the evil lady and her horrid offspring had won. At that point in time Sakura didn't have an inkling of how that agreement would be used against her in the near future.
Tuesday of the next week there was a hurricane type thunderstorm that hit the countryside. In the city grey clouds had settled over the area yet there was not a single drop of rain that fell. So an unexpecting Mr. Haruno got in his silver 2005 Mustang GT to drive home. On his way there he got caught in the eye of the storm. Going a little too fast he hit a slick spot while going around a curve, he swerved crashing into a tree on the side of the road killing him on impact. When the news reached the pint-sized ears of his awaiting daughter she was devastated; she barricaded herself in her room not coming out for anyone or anything. The day she finally emerged was the scheduled date of her Father's burial.
The funeral was grey, cloudy, with a slight drizzle; it reflected the way she felt on the inside...cold and gloomy. She had to force herself to take her eyes off the shinny capsule that held her lifeless Father who once shielded her from all the bad things of the world; now he no longer had to capability of doing so. As she moved her puffy red orbs away she noticed how many people came to mourn his death. It was as if half the Kingdom had shown up to mourn over the "brilliant Dr. Haruno", the adolescent Cherry Blossom was amazed at how many lives he had touched during his short existence. Even the King along with his Queen made a presence to pay respects; their two young sons were not in attendance, their parents did not want to subject them to the news reporters.
One couldn't blame them of course, being a royal was like that of a celebrity in Holly Wood. Every chance the media got to take a picture or get a story they would eat up the opportunity. Of course that is exactly what Megumi and Karin were doing; they were soaking up all the attention as if it was all about them. They were putting on this big show as if their universe was coming to an end. The of sight of the pair made Sakura sick to her stomach, not able to handle the scene a moment longer she fled to the limo to wait until time to go. Three hours later her step-Mother and step-Sister joined her to leave; she was fast asleep stretched out on the backseat. She was tired from waiting so she just fell asleep. The next day was when all of her nightmares would truly begin.
I know this chapter was really sad, but it gets better I promise.
