Disclaimer: No own the fantastic world of Naruto...
Sakura: Did I ever tell you how much I do not like that woman?
Me: Almost every single day.
Sakura: Oh...(giggles lightly) On with the story!
2) Hell on Earth: Sakura's Living Nightmare
The next day she woke up in the darkest corner of the attic that was walled off from the rest of the space. The sun was shining through a small square window barely giving light to the room. Shivering she wrapped her blanket around her weary figure, but the covering didn't do a very good job of keeping her warm. The thin rag was brown, scratchy, with holes and tears all over it. The mattress smelled of mildew, was stained, had rips exposing the inside, and springs sticking out of the sides. Her pillow felt like a brick, not a comfortable place to lay your head. Her whole body ached as she sat up to take a look at her surroundings.
The walls were grey spotted with white patches where cracks had been covered up. The hard wood floor was littered with dust balls the size of quarters. A small two drawer dresser was placed next to the door. Glancing up she noticed the light bulb was broken showing off its wire interior, and the corners of the ceiling were decorated with huge cobwebs. A sudden knock at the door made her jump.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves she answered; "Come in." The door creaked open revealing her Step-Mother. She stood there with a smug expression on her face; she had one perfectly manicured hand perched on her hip while the other held up an apple green/white maids uniform complete with white non-slip shoes and a plain white bandana. Taking a step in to the "jail cell" Megumi's cold emerald gaze seemed as if she was peering in Sakura's soul. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke; "My darling Step-Daughter," her shrill voice was sarcastic dripping with cruel humor, "as of today all of the house servants are fired. But no need to fret because I am hiring you to take their place." The crude woman's announcement left the less than surprised pink head fuming. How could she do such a thing? The nerve of this lady! Now all those who had faithfully worked in the mansion for years were jobless and homeless.
Cruella DeVille continued on without skipping a beat; "Promptly at 6:30 you are to wake up. I want a steaming cup of tea in my hands by 7:00 no later. The house is to be cleaned daily. I want the surfaces so shinny that I can see my flawless reflection off of them. The laundry is to be done twice a week, having clean cloths is a necessity you know. A trip to the market once a week, Karin and I like to have guests over and we will not be letting them starve or eating old food. So make triple sure that everything is fresh. Now this is your new bedchamber, you shall not stay in any other suit of the mansion. The computer is off limits, and when you are old enough a car will be provided for you. Don't even dream about your father's Mustang, I'm going to have it repaired to give to my fabulous ray of sunshine on her sixteenth birthday. Also all of your belongings are now hers, as well as all of your money. It will be added to her bank account. She will be moving into your room today since it is bigger than her old one. And don't expect to get paid for any of your labor, technically I don't have to pay you strictly because your "family". Now get dressed you're already late." With her speech finally finished the overbearing dictator threw the uniform at Sakura.
The girl was beyond furious, every ounce of her being wanted to tackle Megumi to the ground ripping all the silky strands of strawberry red hair out of her thick head while screaming at the demon from Hell that she had absolutely not right to do what she did. But of course she just sat there listening to the extensive list of things she could and couldn't do remembering the promise she made for her Father to stay together as a family. Oh how she wished she never agreed to such a thing.
So for seven long years she slaved away doing every miniscule thing that monster in human form wanted her to do to its exact specifications. And though she didn't sleep in any other room than the one given her, she fixed it up real nice. The walls she painted rose pink with white trimming. White curtains with pink roses were hung around the window. A new mattress was bought, well two were bought, since she didn't have room for a bed frame. She purchased rose pink sheets and a comforter along with a cover pillow that matched the curtains. Last and not least she got a new little white dresser with a vanity mirror to replace the old. Her Step-Mother told her she had to rest there; she did not say she couldn't make any changes. Also she bought herself a hot pink laptop, just because she wasn't allowed to use the one downstairs didn't mean she couldn't buy her own. Her warden did not make that part of her rules. She simply thought that taking away "all" her cash meant she had none to spend. Unbeknownst to Ursula her amazing Father had set up another account that only the two of them knew about just in case something like this were to happen. Besides having a nicer bed helped her sleep better so she could get up in the morning, and the computer was her only link to the outside world.
Along with all those changes, she cleaned the attic in her free time, the small amount she had, so she could set it up as a work out area. When they were both kids Sakura and Karin were signed up in a karate class. Since she was pulled out when she was ten she practiced in private to keep up with the red headed step-sibling who was presently a couple of belts away from a black belt. She worked out so if there was ever a reason she could defend herself. So now is was still in class she would be just as close as that annoying "know it all". As the days and months rolled by she longed for the day she would be free.
What a nightmare huh? Soon to come Ino, Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto! Also you'll get to meet Sakura's cute little mouse friends. :)
