cookiiex: It's my fault. I'm sorry. Bare with me please!

Bloody Mary: The Social Cycle
Authoress: cookiiex
Chapter One

"You guys are ridiculous, you know that right?"

The female bartender smoothed out the hem of her vest and glared at the two men in front of her. Her mouth was set in a frown and she couldn't help but wonder how she knows them. Her hair was held in two tight buns with a few rebel strands framing her heart shaped face.

"Do you actually think that it was the brightest thing to do? I mean, remember the last time you asked Genma to get or stock?"

The blond blond snorted. "Oh come on Tenten, when have we ever failed to get more booze?"

The girl, Tenten, narrowed her eyes at the blond. "Well incase you haven't noticed Naruto, " She held up her fist.

"There was that time when Lee was sick and you thought it was a great idea to get the vodka from another source. The police was up our ass for month." Up went her pinky.

"Also that time when your dumbass forgot to go to the docks to get the rum. We were out for about two weeks." Her ring finger joined her pinky.

"Also when you bought from Genma, we got that nasty sour shit instead our usual pale ale. Four people threw up all over the place!" Her middle finger went up as well.

"And there was that time-" Naruto waved his arms a shouted. "Okay, okay, I got it! I messed up!"

Tenten threw him a glare.

Naruto pouted. "Alot."

Satisfied in making the poor boy guilty, Tenten turned her attention to the other male. His furry eyebrows scrunched up in worry. Never mess with Tenten. It was an unwritten rule around the bar.

Tenten scowled. "And you! You of all people should know it was a bad idea from the start. Come on, Lee! Think about it, can you actually trust Genma?" She basically exploded on Lee, then and there.

Said boy just gave her an uneasy smile. "Tenten, relax. Maybe the first time was just a mistake. I'm sure he'll get something good this time." Naruto nodded urgently, he knew that conivining Tenten would mean they were off the hook.

But it didn't seem like she'll buy it anytime soon and if she was, she didn't want to miss this chance take her anger out on them.

Tenten huffed and Naruto could feel the temperature go down a few degrees. "You're too trusting Lee."

Lee shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. "And you don't trust enough, Tenten. Besides, Genma is a good guy."

'Not really..' Naruto gulped. 'Oh well,' he thought as he glanced at his two friends. ' It's just a little white lie, what Tenten doesn't know won't kill her.'

Tenten only gurnted and took out a glass and some wine. "Psh. Lee, we've been out here too long to fall for this shit. Besides Genma's a merchent. He can't, under any circumstances, be trusted." She poored herself half a glass.

She sipped the glass before turning her gaze at Lee. "You of all people should understand this. All people are looking for a profit. They don't care how they will get it, just as long as they do." Naruto and Lee could detect the bitterness in her voice as she spoke of the people that lived near the docks.

Naruto could see where she was coming from. And he expected Lee to too. It wasn't the first day they've been introduced to the world. In fact all three of them had lived here long enough to understand how it works around these would sell you anything. Expired cheese, fake china, you name it. But Genma made an offer neither of them could resist.

"Tenten, we're sorry. But what's done has been done."

Lee offered a reassuring smile. "It's not like we haven't gotten through this before. We'll manage."

Tenten sighed. "Well of course we'll manage. If not, neither of you would be here making excuses." Tenten smiled at them before setting her glass on the counter. "Enough of this business, what happened to you guys today? Any good things?"

Naruto smiled slighty. Oh something happened today, but not something he'll share with them now. Maybe later.

Lee grinned before pulling out today's newspaper. He pointed at the picture of a woman on the front page. The other two stared before they realized who it was. Tenten groaned.

"Ugh, it's that dumb heiress again. Another stupid story from you again and I swear to God, Lee, I'll slice you to bits."

Naruto nodded. "I second that. You're always talking about her. And it's so irrelevant, it's ridiculous. What she do today? Peel an apple? With her hands?!" Sure, the heiress was hot and he did have a crush on her when he was twelve but lets face it. There wasn't a chance they'll get together. Ever.

'But now that I think about it, I didn't have a chance with her either.' Naruto pondered. But he was brought back when Lee started to defend the 'girl of his dreams'.

"You guys are too mean. Sakura Haruno is great woman! She's given part of her riches to the poor, food for the hungry, water to the-" Tenten sneered. "Okay, okay, get to the point. What did she do this time?"

Lee gave them a ear to ear grin. "The queen might take her under her wing!" Tenten almost spit out her wine.

"What!? Queen Tsunade is going to that I-did-nothing-to-deserve-this heiress under her wing?! Ugh." Tenten took another gulp. "Shows how social class and money gets you everything."

Naruto sweatdropped. "Tenten relax. We have it pretty good now." That last line practically screamed lie.

Tenten wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Yeah well and extra something, something wouldn't hurt once in a while. I'll tell ya, those rich bastards don't know jack shit about the life we're living. Hell, I bet they've never lifted a finger to help anyone. Further more-" Naruto then tuned out both a ranting Tenten and Sakura- ranting Lee.

Great, now he was stuck with an angry and slighty intoxicated Tenten and a very passionate and enthusiastic Lee. Naruto rubbed his temple and sighed.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

Sakura grinned as she read the headline.

Queen Deciding To Coach Heiress.

Her. Queen Tsunade might coach her! This was big news that went around in the upperclass community. In fact the news spreaded like wildfire. Letters, by the loads, were getting dropped off in front of her mansion.

Within all those letters were compliments and praises. She was so proud that the queen had accepted her. And she wasn't the only one. Her family was proud.

Especially her father.

With all the bragging rights in the world, he flaunted her achievements to all the upperclassmen in the kingdom. After all, Queen Tsunade was going to take her under her wing. A little recognition won't kill anyone. And she deserved it. With all the money she poured in to those dirty civilians, it was the least they could do.

Sakura frowned and stopped brushing her hair.

Those disgusting nobodies.

All they did was wait for people to give them money. They don't do anything but complain, sucking the riches of the generous nobles. That's all they do. They wanted pity. They wanted all the benefits of life and would curse the very people that gave them it.

She hated them.

"Sakura, we have to go now." Her mother called from the other room.

Said girl sighed and straightened out her dress.

"Coming, mother."

A girl with long dark purple hair was fingering the heart locket around her neck. Her pale purple eyes gazed lovingly at the charm. She looked around 17 and was wearing her nightgown.

"Hinata." Said girl turned to face her father. She inwardly cringed, the coldness of his tone and the iciness of his glare was something she still haven't gotten used to. Afterall, she didn't see him often, give or take once a month. And it wasn't like she had any fond memories with him, he would scold her and she just wanted to escape his presence.

"Yes, father? Is there something you request?" Although she was scared of him, her politness never wavered.

Her father didn't even blink. "Yes. Tomorrow I will be leaving for the Mist Kingdom for a few months. Be up by six. You'll have a long day after my departure. Shortly after you will be attending the annual ball held by the Uchihas."

God, sometimes talking to her father was like consulting with an advisor.

"Futhermore, a few months after you will be hosting a ball to find you a suitor. After that I'll give you a lesson in -"

"Wait, please repeat that again." Her father looked displeased at her sudden interruption but let it slide. They were up at a (semi) unholy hour. No use reprimand her now.

"You will host a ball to find a suitor. Then I'll give you a lesson in politics in the Mist. Hinata, you are 16 now. In two years you would marry him. Understand? That leaves you engaged for two years. So why don't straighten yourself out before you find someone who would even look at you twice." And with that he walked out of her room without another word, closing the door behind him.

Hinata sat at the edge of her bed. Her mouth was slighty opened from the shock.

A suitor... but she already she had him. All she needed was him!

What was she supposed to do? He .. he brought her joy. She couldn't just..

NO! She can't. She's going to fight this! She needed to..

"Stop! Father stop beating him!"

His cold eyes turned to face her. His anger was apparent. He suddenly took different directions and stalked towards her, whip in one hand.

Her face was devoid of color now as she started trembling. She backed into one of the walls of the room.

"Father...?"

And with a flick of his hand, whip and all, came crashing down on her little body.

"NO!"

Hinata shook as tears fell from her porcelain colored eyes. She clenched the locket that she held close to her heart.

Why did she have to be a Hyuuga?

She set her fan down own her desk as she started to undress for the night.

She removed her bow, letting her hair loose and out of the ponytail. The blond slipped on her night gown and looked at herself in the mirror. Her dull blue eyes looked back at her.

Ino furrowed her eyebrows. When had she become so.. unhappy? Her lips, which still had the bright red lipstick, stood out against her pale skin. Ino snapped out of her trance making her shake her head.

Why was she even thinking about this?

She had read the news, and she could tell that her grandparents were dissappointed. Not in Sakura, God knows that her grandparents were saints and were completely happy for Sakura.

It was her. They were dissappointed in her.

Afterall, if Sakura had achieved it, why couldn't she have achieved it? She was in a higher class than the rose colored hair girl. And, although it was close, she was prettier than Sakura; she had been a more widely accepted type of beauty.

Ino traced her eyes in the mirror.

Why was she the failure?

TBC...

cookiiex: OKay, first chap :D Don't ask, the title doesn't make sense xD