Author's Note:
Hello readers. I'd like to welcome you to 'To Dawn' This story was inspired by Twilight(I finally got around to read it!) in many ways but will not completely follow it's plot or structure. I've done a lot of research on these subjects so I'm hoping it'll turn out well.
Dedication:
To Emily Rogal(Tohru02) for letting me borrow Twilight.
Disclaimer:
I don't own Naruto. Or anyting else for that matter.
It's funny how things can change in the blink of an eye. It can be the sunniest day of the year, then instantly change to the storm of the century. Your best friend may be your BFF today...and your worst enemy next week. For me, change was a novelty...until my dad died.
The day had been perfectly normal. Dad ate his usual greasy bacon and eggs that my step-mom had mechanically made for him. The morning routine had sauntered through without any trace of mistake or irregularity. It was normal, boring almost.
Nothing had changed throughout my school day either. I chatted and laughed with my friends, I ate my normal lunch, and I paid attention in class. There was nothing different about the day at all.
And then I came home to an empty house. Yuki, my step-mom, didn't work so I suspected she had stepped out to run errands or chat with our nosy neighbors. Oblivious to the chaos that was about to ensue around me, I started on my mountains of homework.
The phone rang.
Throughout the talk with my step-mom, I thought I was having a nightmare. When she used my dad's name, 'car accident,' and 'dead' in the same sentence I thought I had died as well. All though my heart did not stop, like I had thought, I felt like it had.
But moving on was inevitable, and I was the last one present at the small funeral. We weren't loaded with cash, nor very poor, and we couldn't afford an extravagant 'celebration.' I didn't see a need to celebrate either way.
But the reason I'm siting in a yellow cab right now is the most puzzling.
You see, I've never known my real mother. Yuki was more of a mother than she had been. In fact, I don't even know her name and I've never seen her since my birth. But apparently she has the nerve to start a million dollar law-suit over custody of me. There was no way Yuki could recover from this financial blow, we were about to get evicted from our apartment after Dad died, and it angered me. Who said I wanted to know my mother? How did she know that I wasn't happy enough without her?
Somehow, though, I thought she was doing this for some sort of benefaction.
The taxi slowed to a stop. During the drive to Konoha, I had been too consumed with spite towards this woman that called herself my mother to even pay attention. I looked out the window, we must have gotten the wrong address.
"Excuse me, I think we have the wrong-"
"No Miss Haruno, this is Ms. Tsuki Haruno's estate." the cab driver thwarted my attempts at correction.
He must have the wrong address. The house was three times larger than the whole apartment complex that I had taken residence at before. I found myself being torn from the seat of the beat up taxi. The pair of arms that hoisted me up were much to delicate to be a man's, a woman's I assumed. And then I saw a flash of pink, identical to my hair.
"Sakura, oh my goodness! It's soooo good to see you, I've missed you sooooo much." I couldn't tell if this woman hugging me was my mom or a long-lost-sister I hadn't known about.
"Mom?" I guessed. She held me arm's length away from her body, examining me. At my inquiry, she burst into tears.
"Oh my baby!" She exclaimed, attacking me with another hug.
I'd realized something, she looked exactly like me. We shared the same bright pink hair, the same shaped face—hers was slightly older-looking than mine—and the same nose. The only differing features were height, she was taller, and eye color. Her eyes blazed a bright, contrasting blue while I possessed my father's emerald eyes. Still, she looked much, much, much too young to be my mother. Twenty-three was pushing it...and I was already sixteen.
"Sakura, Sakura, Sakura!" She seemed so overwhelmingly happy to see me. I wondered if she really did do this because she loved me. I watched from somewhere else as she dragged me into the elaborate mansion.
It was a complete turnaround from what I've been used to. We were greeted by a huge foyer, large, glass windows opposed us across the open sitting room—past the winding staircases, of course—and were draped over by lush, red, hand-sewn curtains. Marble floors paved themselves around the staircases and into the over sized kitchen that was occupied by two cooks, from what I could see. I looked on in awe as a maid scurried by.
"Welcome home Sakura!" my mother squealed and thrust me through the foyer. We passed expensively decorated walls and dressed windows as she pushed me up one of the spiraling staircases. The wood boards that made up the stairs were unsurprisingly shiny and clean, I almost slipped while looking at my reflection. Before I knew it, Tsuki had pushed me past the top stair and pulled me by the hand down an intimidating hallway. I could only guess that we were heading for my room. Tsuki seemed completely unpredictable, though.
We eventually stopped at a mahogany door, not really my taste, but it would do.
"..Is this?"
She read my mind.
"Yes, it's your room!"
With a lurch, I was situated in the room on an irresistibly comfy couch.
"What do you think?"
I couldn't think, everything was spinning violently. What the hell was going on? And then there was the small feeling of happiness. I mentally stabbed myself for thinking positively of my situation. I wasn't happy that Dad died, and I wasn't about to be happy about the result—no matter how tempting.
"It's..." I looked around. The room definitely was an upgrade from my old one. It could be described as large and open. The walls were painted an soft green and lighter green curtains surrounded the light cascading in large amounts from the windows. My bed, which was a king, I think, was located in the little, or large, alcove a few feet from the door. The covers matched the room's color. A beige couch, that was wonderfully comfy I might add, was located in the middle of the room, parallel from the large, flat-screen TV that was protruding from the wall. "..breathtaking."
Tsuki squealed with delight. I could already tell she was extremely excited about me staying with her.
"The maids will bring your bags up here, I'll show you the rest of the house later." she explained. I nodded, "Great!" she exclaimed once more, "Now all we have to do is get to know each other!" she said as she joined me on the couch, looking me in the eye.
I almost winced. People skills lead to much trouble for me, I wasn't much of a...social butterfly. Getting close to someone wasn't really a familiarity for me.
"Okay." I attempted to sound as eager as she.
"Yay!" I watched her jump up and down, "What's your favorite color?"
"Pink." I automatically replied.
"Me too!"
I sighed, wasn't she supposed to be the mother?
"Okay...favorite food?"
"Hmmm...I'd have to say syrup-coated anko dumplings or umeboshi, I hate spicy things." I replied in a conversational way for her sake.
"Really? I love things that are spicy but your fa-"
She must have noticed me stiffen because she didn't finish her word.
"Oh." I merely peeped.
"Well!" she shouted a little bit too loudly after a moment, "Let's eat! I'm famished!"
Her constant, bubbly, enthusiastic, happy, er... yelling was beginning to irk me 'till no end.
"Er..sure?"
After being dragged down into the lavish kitchen and having food stuffed down my throat, I was left alone in my room. With a breath of relief, I shut the door tightly behind my entrance. I felt so strange in this alien home. I was homesick. For many things besides my home. I missed Yuki. I missed the smell of my house. I missed the sense of protection. I missed it all.
And most of all, I missed my dad.
--
That night, I sobbed myself to sleep. In the morning, as a result, I awoke groggily to the sound of Tsuki's voice from outside my door, "Sakura, I'm soooooo sorry but I have to go to a book signing. I'll be back later today!"
I hadn't even known she was an author. I learn something everyday.
"It's okay, I'll just explore the house." I replied from bed.
"Thanks for understanding honey, when I get back I'll have a gift for you!"
Before I could object, the sound of her receding footsteps resonated through my room. I groaned and fell back into unconsciousness.
--
When I awoke again I felt much better. Sometime during the night I had decided to make the best of my time with my mother. I should show the utmost hospitality, I was lucky that she allowed me to stay. Besides, it wasn't her fault that Dad died, and she loved me enough to take me in. I should love her, she's my mother!
As I got up and preformed my normal routine, I practiced calling Tsuki 'Mom' instead. It was foreign, but I could acclimate. It was a little sacrifice for all she was doing for me.
Breakfast was overwhelming, the cooks were going overboard. Everyone was exceptionally pleasant as I made my way through the kitchen. I'd discovered that only the cooks lived in our guest house, the maids came weekly to spruce the place up—as if it was needed. After my breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs, the two cooks retreated to their own home, which was visible from the deck adjoined to the kitchen. Slowly, I sauntered my way through the kitchen. I made a mental note of where the phone was—on the counter by the cookbooks—and made my way to it. Perched under the receiver was a note card that Tsu-sorry, Mom had scrawled out phone numbers on, including the local police force and animal control. I laughed at her motherly instincts, they were probably just kicking in now.
I headed into the family room. There were two black couches, positioned so that the TV bolted to the wall was visible from each. The antique-looking coffee table in the middle was piled with fashion magazines. Casually, I grabbed one off the top and continued my adventuring. The formal dining room was next to the beautiful foyer. Ten mahogany chairs were arranged around the spectacular rectangle table. I strayed away from the room, knowing that I'd probably break something with my luck.
I'd ventured the three bathrooms and the sitting room on the first floor. There was only one room left, the library. I suspected that there were only more sitting rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms upstairs so there was no need to explore anymore. Reading, being one of my passions, was one of my favorite things to do so I happily made my trek to the intimidating glass doors that served as an entrance to the personal museum of literature. I found myself consumed with excitement as I pushed through the doors. The walls were lined with more books than I had imagined. I squealed with delight like a little girl in a candy shop. This was definitely better than a candy shop, though.
In two hours, I had accomplished the feat of scouring every book-lined shelf except for the one by the large desk in the corner. I was happy-no grateful-that there was such a large selection of reading in my own house. It only fueled my ridiculous excitement. As I approached the last section, a rise of anticipation formed in my gut. I skipped-not literally-around the heavy desk and pounced on the collection. Quickly, I noticed one similarity that these books shared, they were all written by Mom. Eagerly, I randomly picked a novel. Some light reading before school would provide some enlightenment.
I settled myself in a comfy armchair and plunged into the book. I sat there for the majority of the day, following the plot line of an engaging horror/romance. The title was 'To Dawn.' The setting was the 19th century. There was a murderer, he killed the King. No one knew because he was so high up in position. Then, by fate's hands, he fell in love with the King's daughter, the Princess. Love blinded him so much that he told the Princess. Appalled by his revelation, the Princess wished to cleanse herself for loving her father's killer. In the end, one night she tricked him and killed him, then proceeded to commit suicide at dawn.
I was so consumed with musing over the story that I didn't notice Mom sneak up behind me.
"Did you like it?" hope was etched deeply into her voice.
I jumped, then recovered. "Yes, it was amazing. The Princess's dedication to her father was incredible."
A look of pure pleasure crossed Mom's features. "I'm glad you liked it."
Her smile was so contagious that I had to giggle.
"Well young lady, what did you do while I was gone?" She asked me as she took the opposing armchair.
"I explored the first floor. Thank you for letting you live with me, this home is amazing." It was becoming easier to talk to her.
"Nonsense, you are my daughter, this is your home." She replied, flicking her wrist in a nonchalant way.
"Thanks." I smiled.
"Well, I guess it's time to reveal my gift."
I inwardly frowned.
"You didn't have-"
"Ah, ah, ah, I'm the parental authority, you're getting the present whether you like it or not." She paused for a moment, "Well, if you don't like it I can get another one."
This time I outwardly frowned.
"Don't just sit there, let's go!"
Mom grabbed my arm and yanked me to the driveway. There, in all it's glory, was the most amazing gift I've ever seen. The shiny, silver Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible had it's own personal license plate inscribed, SAKURA H. I jumped in excitement and Mom followed suit.
"I know, isn't it cool!" She exclaimed like a child.
"Yeah, oh my gosh, thank you!" I replied, attacking her with a bear hug.
"I knew that you'd need a way to get to school, limos are probably too conspicuous for you...so I got you a car!"
I was still in daze.
"Go ahead, take it for a spin." Mother encouraged.
I jumped in desirously.
--
That night, I found it hard to sleep. Realization that I would be attending a new school tomorrow had finally struck. Worry overcame my subconscious and and struggled to regain control. Eventually, I slipped into unconsciousness, though worry must have been etched into my facial expression.
I had a dream about 'To Dawn.' Somehow, I was the Princess. In the morning, I couldn't remember my lover. All I knew was that I didn't kill him either. And I didn't kill myself. In fact, I did something else, but it was too hazy to remember. My thoughts gave up and transfixed on the test ahead of me.
My first day.
I hope you enjoyed it. It would be nice to hear some feedback. If I get 5 positive reviews I will continue, sorry for my demanding-ness :).
Review if you enjoyed, but refrain from posting flames. ;)
