Chapter 2: Meeting Cinderella's step family

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Recap:

He gazed to woman ending the conversation, "find me her file." Tonight he may end up going alone, but he would find out everything about her and use it against her. Now, he needed a cold shower to drain his mind and body.

The elderly lady knew he was too persistent and stubborn to give up, and that the girl was going to have trouble, the only thing she hoped was that this girl had a strong will.

End of Recap:

In the staff room about 8 o'clock at night…

"Stupid insufferable man," cursed Sakura taking off her uniform as her shift finally came to an end. Changing into her blue plain jeans, and white shirt that looked three sizes too big, she un-scooped everything from her locker and placed it into her bag, then took a plastic bag, and placed the uniform in it. She braided her hair, washed her face in the sink, trying to wash away her drowsiness. Shutting the tap, Sakura turned to look in the mirror, contemplating her action. "You did the right thing" she told her mirror image. "Alright" she said pointing at her mirror self, and talking to it like it could listen, "to find a new job." She put on her shoulder bag, which was one of the newest items she acquired for her self. It was brown and was an imitation of a Milan original. Her shoes not so new, but that was next on her list, they were black runners that were on sale and one size small, and it was either the fifteen dollar shoes or really expensive ones. So as you can imagine, she choose the cheaper one and it only came in a six and a half, and pinched her toes a bit. Grabbing the uniform bag, she headed to the lobby via elevator, walked to the managers' office, and gave him the uniform, and left no explanation, just a simple 'I Quit'. The manager tried to get her to reconsider, but she walked out and left.

"Freedom" she said, stretching a bit as she headed to her bus stop about three blocks down. Sakura was glad that she carried some pepper spray, it was late and there were a lot of pubs in the area. In five more minutes the bus would arrive, then drop her at the main station where she would take the next transit to her house. She stretched a bit, thanking that the weather had no rain in store for today in Osaka (to clear things up the setting is in Osaka). It was nearing summer, and she knew her plans, work, work and more work. This rosette was close to her goal only one more thousand and she was home free, she would get that apartment far away from her step-aunts, get all those pictures. Sakura so far had six thousand one more thousand and she would be free. Finally the bus came she celebrated inwardly. Stepping into the bus she placed the correct change and walked to the back of the bus finding a seat, next to a blonde girl, with blue eyes.

'She looks like a foreign model' Sakura thought, and sat next to the blonde person, paying attention to her nails, until Sakura sat next to her. The blonde began to asses her.

'Great not again' the rosette thought.

"You look familiar, do I know you?" asked the blonde.

"I don't think so" Sakura replied, "I believe this is the first encounter with…"

"Ino"

"Nice to meet you, I'm…Saku" before she could finish the bus stopped a couple kilometers and picked up some new passengers. They looked like ruffians, plenty go on the bus during the night, and usually Sakura placed her hand in her bag reaching for her spray but she was interrupted by the blonde.

"Saku, don't look at them it will mean trouble" the blonde whispered the rosette.

"Kay" she said starring at her feet no bothering to complete her name. After ten minutes of looking at her shoes the bus finally arrived at the main station, the blonde conversing on her troublesome life style. Sakura's intuition was correct, Ino was a famous model. They got off onto the platform and walked toward the restrooms a safe haven from troubling hoodlums at this hour. She watched as Ino checked herself in the mirror, adding makeup to place's she felt needed.

"So Saku what do you do for a living?"

"Um my name is Sakura, but you can call me Saku, we were interrupted so I couldn't finish my name off. I work at many part time jobs, one at the Mako's green grocers, and well I am looking for another." Sakura said placing her hand behind her head.

"Really, that's a nice name, I knew a Sakura once, and she was the successor of a major private clinical hospital in Tokyo, a good friend of mine too."

"Really, that's nice, but you said knew, what happened?"

"I'm not so sure myself, but they said she was missing in a crash" Ino stated hiding the truth.

"My other friends and I have been trying to locate her. You remind me of her?"

"How?"

"You have similar, features" the model said looking a little down.

"I'm sure you'll find her, after all, it's as the saying goes, you may not notice what's in front of you until it's missing, wait that's not it" Ino had a sweat drop go down her head as the rosette ranted, "I got it, what you seek may be in front of you the whole time, that's the one" Chirped Sakura, earning a giggle from the blonde.

"You sound a lot like her."

"Ladies and gentlemen, next bus to Yamato district is here, please proceed to the station."

"Shoot I have to go" Sakura said she took out a pepper spray, "here, take this, it's not safe at this time and I have extra" claimed Sakura showing the second bottle of pepper spray. "Hope to see you again," Sakura smiled and bowed as she left the bathroom to her station.

"Wait" shouted Ino, Sakura turned as she was close to her bus. "Take this," the blonde threw her, her card, "Call me, I have a job you can help me with."

Sakura smiled and nodded as she entered the bus. Ino smiled, this girl reminded her so much of Sakura, Haruno Sakura, her friend since pre-school, 'but it can't be her' she reminded herself, they said she died in the crash. You may be wondering why a famous model was taking the bus, it was simple, it reminded her of the days when she and Sakura took the bus, skipped school and headed to the mall. Sakura was always on top of things, so it didn't matter to her, Sakura usually missed school to help her come to model auditions held in the mall, usually during school hours.

'Sigh, I wish you were here' she thought. Ever since Ino could remember Sakura was there for her. Ino's family disowned her as soon as she became a model, Sakura's family took her in, gave her food, a roof over head, and anything she needed.

"What you seek may be in front of you, eh?" she thought. "Maybe" 'I can't wait to see what you have in store, Saku' she thought remembering the girl she met. 'Now onto getting ready for that banquet at the Sabaku hotel chain' thought the model.

On the bus

Sakura looked at the card in her hand, playing with it. She was smiling and cheerful, the new friend she made had offered her a job and she couldn't wait to see what it was.

"Here please" she called to the driver recognizing the neighborhood. She looked at the hell she was about to enter, and cleared her face. One day she'd be free yes one day she consoled her self, and till then, onwards. Unlocking the door she announced her entrance.

"Hello, anyone home." The rosette questioned changing to her indoor slippers.

"Sakura you're just in time, were hungry" shouted her step cousin. Her name was Karin, she wasn't the nicest of the three step-cousins she had, and got irritating most of the time.

"I'll get on it" Sakura said walking to her room to place her belongings before making dinner. Reaching the top of the stairs she noticed a shadow looming out of her door. 'Someone was in her room' she crept slowly to the door to get a glimpse of who it was. But the shadows accompanied form made it-self present. She was gazed upon by the dark eyes of her elder cousin, Sasori. He was nice yes, but really creepy, that is why she had installed about three locks to her room. "Hello Sasori" she said bowing, he nodded at her and she looked at him, she didn't remember leaving her room open in fact she locked it this morning as she left. She dared not accuse him or ask him what he was doing in her room, practically because she was scared of him. He walked passed her to his chamber. Shutting her door and locking it she turned went to her bed and dropped her bag. Walking over to her closet she changed her clothes, wearing her long pink skirt, and baggy yellow T-shirt. Rinsing her face in her faulty bathroom, which desperately needed a plumber, she couldn't take showers, yup she had to call the plumber herself, her aunt would not pay, that's why Sakura had to head to public baths every two days. It was cheaper to head there than call a plumber.

Anyway she completed cleaning herself, and rushed downstairs to make an edible dinner for the untalented cooking family. Putting the rice in the rice cooker, she unraveled some shrimp from the refrigerator, and placed them into a wok pot and added some other vegetables, and spices to the concoction. Setting the table quickly as the food was frying. She returned to the fridge getting a pitcher of water, and a jug of ice tea. Taking the teriyaki shrimp off the stove and onto the table she went to call the family to dinner. She headed to her step-aunts room first, "Dinner is ready ma'am". The lady came to her dressed in an outfit meant for a festive occasion. Sakura knew her place and didn't question her. "I won't be needing dinner tonight, here is a photo, do make sure the laundry is done tomorrow, the girls are in need of fresh clothing". Sakura clasped the photo, placed it in her pocket, and turned to her step-aunt, "Yes ma'am, have a good time". The lady gazed back at her with an air of superiority. Sakura went to the next room, "Karin, dinner is ready" she said as she knocked. Just as she finished, the bright pink haired girl opened the door, and pushed past Sakura, bumping into Sakura's shoulder. "'Bout time." She snarled.

Her next destination was her youngest cousin, "Tatuya, Dinner is ready."

She didn't answer, Sakura knocked on the door and called her name again. "Tatuya"

"Sakura I need your help in here,"

"Coming" Sakura entered, glancing on an undressed cousin wearing only undergarments. "What do you need help with?"

"Which looks better on me, this one or that?"

Tatuya was nicer than Karin but could be more lethal at times, she always had parties either held in the house or in clubs when her mother left, and if Tatuya was missing or was caught, Sakura was harshly punished.

"That one" Sakura said pointing to the blue halter top, and leather mini skirt. "Dinner is ready" Sakura repeated.

"I won't be needing dinner," she said, "Get out now."

"Yes" Sakura left, hoping that Tatuya would come home before her mother came home.

One person left to call; she hesitated as she stood in front of his door. "Sasori" Sakura called, tapping his door gently.

"Dinner is ready."

"Sasori" she asked again, and pushed the door slightly open when she received no answer, no one was in the room. Perhaps he was in his bathroom Sakura thought she walked into his room, this was her third time since being in this household. She looked around and found something shocking, there was a lock of her hair taped to his mirror, before she could look more the bathroom door opened, "What are you doing in here?" asked a tempered red head.

"Dinner is ready" she said backing into the dresser, as he stepped closer to her placing his hand on either side of her, trapping her.

In the Sabaku hotel

Everyone was crowding the main hall, awaiting the guest of honor, Sabaku no Gaara, the owner of these hotel chains. It was the grand opening and the red carpet was filled with media. A black limo approached, the media awaited the door to be opened to catch a glimpse of the notorious playboy and perhaps new bimbo to make the head news. As he entered in a black Milan tailored tux alone, they were shocked, even some of the guest as well. He was greeted by a familiar blonde loudmouth. "OI GAARA"

"Naruto"

The blonde looked on each side of Gaara then behind the annoyed red head, "where's your date, huh?"

"I don't have one tonight."

"The media looks disappointed wait You Got Stood Up" said the loudmouth attracting attention from the crowd for a moment.

"Making trouble aren't we Naruto" claimed a familiar voice, "Ino, you made it"

"Yeah, so what happened why isn't there a date accompanying you, playboy?"

"Not important" said the red head. He wasn't pressed with questions after that.

The banquet was decorated beautifully matching the same theme of the new hotel. Rows of tables around four hundred, wine and wine glasses on each table, with amazing flower arrangements on each table, waiters and waitresses coming in and out of the kitchen with platters of delicious expensive delights. The banquet was getting louder, more famous people entered. His sister arrived with her husband in tow. Kankuro came an hour after that.

Gaara gave his speech, "Well I hope you are enjoying this banquet as much as I am, and that the food is to your liking. This is the type of food and theme that this grand hotel has to offer as well as some other accommodations. I welcome you all, please enjoy your time, and we hope you'll chose Sabaku for your future accommodations" he said finishing it off, he no longer had to have long speeches his hotels were five stars and spoke for themselves. He headed to his main table, greeted by close family, friends, such as the loudmouth, the model.

"Good of you to make it," Gaara stated, to Shikamaru shaking his hand. After five to ten minutes of conversing about politics and jobs, the ladies got bored and headed to the bathroom, and the real conversation began.

"You're planning something, could it be due to a woman, am I right?" Shikamaru noticed.

"She dumped him" Naruto interjected. Shikamaru continued to yawn and follow into the conversation. Although he may not look like it Shikamaru was the head of the police department in Tokyo, and was part of the family since marrying Temari.

"She didn't dump me Naruto, she rejected, and third, she was out of line. I only offered her to come as a date; I even offered her a promotion, and she quit. Stupid women, she even had the nerve to back talk, and show disrespect. Someone needs to show her, her place." These were just excuses to him, the girl was not ordinary in looks at all, she was gorgeous, yet being rejected he hated it, and wanted to be the one who rejected others, make them suffer as he did, especially her, who reminded him of 'her'.

Shikamaru sighed; Gaara had no clue into persuading a woman other than with materialistic things.

"Just let it go" Shikamaru proclaimed, stifling a yawn, "it isn't worth your time." He stated to no avail, the red head was already discussing revenge.

"So what's the plan" Naruto asked.

"The usual, deceiving her to date me, have sex with her, and then toss her out."

"Hold it you can't do that, all she did was stand up to you in my perspective," Shikamaru claimed, "but I know you won't listen, remember what you do will have consequences."

"So how are you planning to do this?" Naruto asked.

"Simple, I have her address, name, and all I need is to make some coincidences" he stated with a smirk beckoning at his lips, just as his sister and Ino returned from the lady's room, puzzlement adorning their faces. Gaara stood up as a staff member, tapped his shoulder and stated the emergency. He excused himself from the table and walked ahead of the worker, a little annoyed. Tomorrow was his big day, executing his plan.

"What's going on?" asked the confused girls.

"Anyway" Temari shrugged, "Ino told me something interesting!"

"What?"

"She met a girl that looked so familiar to Sakura."

"Really" Naruto questioned.

"I took the bus, again for old time's sake, and met her, her name is Saku." Ino announced.

"She's dead though it can't be Sakura; they said she died in the hospital," replied Naruto dead cold, drinking the wine.

"Yeah you're right," Ino said joining the bright blonde in drinking their sadness away.

End of Chapter 2

Hey guys hope you like the stories so far, please review, and if possible some constructive review would help me a lot. Thanks. I have some new stories out, be on the look out.

GaaSakuforever O.o

Ja ne!