A/N: Well nothing much to say on here. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I managed to bribe my sister (with lots of chocolate) to let me use the laptop today so I could edit this chapter and upload. :] So read on dear readers.
Chapter 2: A day with the Prince.
Today, arriving at the Palace me feel uneasy. I guess some could say, the cause of my uneasiness was the fact I had defied royalty. I really should learn to keep my mouth shut, but it was too late anyways. I expected the head maid to call upon me and fire me on the spot.
I could already imagine how her eyes would fill with glee as she handed me my death sentence. With my mum, losing my job would mean death. Last night was awkward enough when dear mother asked how my work was going. Pah. I was lucky she was to busy cooking dinner for us, to notice my stutter as I answered her.
I sighed, better get this over and done with.`
The door to enter the kitchen, for servants was just a simple oak door at the side of the castle. The cobbled path leading to it was partly hidden from the green foliage surrounding it on either side,
I pulled my shoulders back as I opened the door to the palace, which led into the warm kitchen. The heat hit me in the face like a blast of cold air, except it was hot.
And there stood; arms crossed, mouth pulled into a permanent scowl, was the head maid. She spotted me as soon as I entered the kitchen and came marching towards me.
I gulped and waited for my demise.
"I've been waiting for you Sakura." She said as she stood in front of me. She didn't wait for a response before she started to talk again. "I've been told that you are to be relieved of your duties." I closed my eyes, hanging my head. "As you are to become the personal maid of Prince Sasuke. Starting from today."
My eyes flew in surprise. Now that was something I hadn't been expecting. "Wh-wh-what?" I spluttered.
"Exactly what I was thinking. I don't know what you did yesterday when I asked you to clean the Princes chambers, but you're asked for." She replied narrowing her eyes at me, suspiciously.
"Wait. What if I refuse?"
"At the least, You'll lose your job."
I swear I saw a glint of happiness in her eye when she said that. But I still couldn't get my head around the fact that I was to be the jerk Prince's new personal maid. Why couldn't he have asked some other mindless bimbo to do it.
Someone out there must hate me.
"Now stop standing there, loitering. You are to give the Prince his breakfast, remaining with him all day, listening to his every order." She paused, narrowing her eyes at me. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Ma'am."
She turned on her heel and left without another word. I clenched my fists trying not to scream. I bet this was payback for what I did yesterday. Hmph I'll show that mummy's boy that I was made of tougher stuff.
Now breakfast for the Prince.
I located the large red faced women, whom ran the kitchens. I made my way gingerly towards her.
"Umm." I said timidly to the woman who was currently making some pastries. I hoped I hadn't caught her in one of her moods.
"Speak up girl. I haven't got all day." She said shortly.
"Breakfast for Prince Sasuke."
"Hrrmph. You're not the usual one who comes and delivers his breakfast. Wait there." She said before walking to the other end of the kitchen moving and grabbing random ingredients.
I made sure I wasn't in anyone's way as I waited patiently for the chef to finish. Not long afterward's, the woman came back handing me a large tray in which there were different sized dishes, were a very delicious looking breakfast was placed. I balanced the heavy tray on my hands willing myself not to drop anything.
My mouth watered as the aroma wafted on my face.
"Mind how you go now girl." Huffed the head chef before turning back to what she was doing before. She was one fast woman.
"Thank you Ma'am." I said before making my way out of the kitchens, through different hallways. This time I walked up the servants staircase which was located in the armour room behind one of the drapes. I had managed to put the tray carefully on the table that held many painful looking weapons.
Yeah what a random place to have a staircase but like many other grand buildings in Konoha, this too had many hidden passage ways.
I carefully made my way up three flights of stairs, legs aching and arms strained from holding the tray for such a long time. Finally I had reached the door, and opened it using my back. I was glad to find my assumption correct. My memory was getting better. Woot to me.
Nothing had changed since I came to the royal chambers yesterday.
I was feeling quite nervous, seeing Sasuke again after what happened yesterday. I just hoped he wasn't the type to seek revenge.
I would have made my way towards his chambers slower but with the breakfast tray weighing me down, I figured it wasn't worth it. Sheesh, how much could one person eat.
As I stood in front of the double doors, I was struck with a dilemma.
How could I open the door with my hands full?
I didn't trust myself with placing the tray on the floor without dropping everything.
My question was answered a second later, by a very sleepy looking Uchiha who was all set with ruffled hair.
Aww his morning face was adorable.
Pause.
Did I just call the devil himself adorable? Yeah, I think I'm finally losing it. Urgh.
Being near Sasuke really wasn't good for my health.
I must have been staring at his face a lot longer to what was deemed normal as he raised a single elegant eyebrow at me.
I quickly snapped out of my daze and raised the tray higher, trying to hide the fact that I had been caught staring. "Breakfast."
The only answer I got was an "Hn." before he turned back into his room, leaving the door open.
Hmph, no manners at all. I followed him into his chambers and quickly relieved my burden, by placing the tray on a large table which was bare of any objects.
Without a word, Sasuke sat down at one end of the table and began eating his breakfast, rather gracefully I must say. So he did have manners, just didn't tend to use them, where they were needed to.
I stood awkwardly beside the table. What was a maid supposed to do, aside following orders?
I could have sliced through the silence that hung in the air. I glanced at Sasuke. It was clear he wasn't affected by the silence in any way.
The quietness was suddenly disrupted by loud voices coming from the hallway outside; getting louder by the second. The voices were getting clearer as they were getting closer.
"What do you mean, I can't see teme?"
"You must address prince Sasuke appropriately. The royal highness may be asleep." Spoke a second slightly strained voice.
"Well then I'll just wake him up!"
The doors to Sasuke's chambers burst open to reveal a familiar; blonde haired, blue eyed person, closely followed by a guard. A very red faced one at that.
"Hey teme!" Greeted the cheerful voice of Uzumaki Naruto himself.
"Hn dobe. It's to early in the morning for me to see your face." Sasuke said, turning away from his breakfast to face the guard. "Leave."
Bowing hastily, the guard closed the doors as he left.
The sea blue eyes landed on me, widening in surprise. "Sakura? I'd recognize that pink hair from anywhere."
A smile that had been placed on my face since I first laid eyes on Naruto widened. I was well aware of Sasuke's narrowed gaze on me and Naruto. "Long time no see Naruto kun."
He walked to where I was standing and wrapped me in a big bear hug, which I returned gladly. "So good to see you again." I said into his shoulder.
"Hn."
We both broke apart to find Sasuke glaring at us. "Oh, me and Sakura chan are childhood friends." Grinned Naruto.
"Like I care." Replied Sasuke coldly.
Ignoring what Sasuke said, Naruto turned to me. "What are you doing at the palace? I never knew you and teme were close."
As lovable as Naruto was, he could be dense at times. "We aren't close. I work here as a maid." I said as I pointed to my uniform which consisted of a plain navy dress with a apron tied on it. It came complete with a headpiece all maids were made to wear.
"Oh I see." Laughed Naruto.
"Why did you come dobe?" Asked Sasuke, seemingly annoyed with us for talking in his presence.
Naruto faced Sasuke. "Oh right." Dropping his smile, Naruto turned serious. "I want a sword fight."
"No." Answered Sasuke, not missing a beat.
"You always say that! I'll beat you this time teme. I know it!"
I really didn't know, how he could get away calling Sasuke a teme. They must be very close.
Sasuke stood up, pushing his chair back. "I'm busy."
"Eh? Fine. I'll be back though." Grinned Naruto, before he turned to me. "It's good to see you again. We should catch up some time."
I nodded my head, smiling. "I'd like that."
"Till we meet again." Naruto bowed to me, before he left only to have him bob his head back in the doorway a second later. "Teme, You'd better be nice to Sakura chan."
"Whatever."
I giggled quietly, waving at Naruto. It had been ages since I saw his smiling face. He hadn't really changed at all. I wondered how and Sasuke came to know each other at such familiar terms.
A few moments of silence followed before Sasuke without a word -no surprise there- walked out of his chambers, without sparing a glance at my direction.
I stood there for a second, before sighing and following him out. I walked a couple of steps behind him. It seemed like I was going to Sasuke's shadow for the day. Whoop-e-doo. Note the sarcasm.
Only silence followed us. We passed other servants, maids, butlers, lords and ladies who either bowed or curtsied to him.
Being the ass he was, he simply ignored them. Some of the people we passed...no scratch that, everybody we passed gave me weird looks. Mainly because of the unnatural hair colour I seemed to be cursed with. It wouldn't even dye any other colour.
I tried my best to ignore their stares and kept my eyes on the tall, godlike body of Sasuke. The way he walked clearly stated the fact that he knew he was extremely good looking.
I tried to keep my mind from wandering too far, as I began to look at the unfamiliar surroundings. Heck, more than half the Palace was unfamiliar territory to me.
"Where are we going?" I asked, having finally found the courage to talk to him.
Surprise surprise. Guess what met my answer?... More silence. I bit my bottom lip, trying to resist the temptation of shoving his royal highness into a wall, where he's pretty, good- for- nothing face could kiss it.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that were full of ways in which to get a certain Uchiha back, that I didn't realize he had stopped until I had slammed into his back.
"Ow!" I couldn't help but say loudly, stepping back and rubbing my face.
"Watch where you're going." Said the ice cold voice of Sasuke.
I glared at him, emerald clashing with onyx. "A little warning may have helped." I quickly realized my mistake, but before Sasuke could reply, the door he seemed to be standing in front of, opened, revealing the silvered haired, glasses wearing Kabuto. He was the right hand man of the main adviser and medic of the King and Queen.
Like the medic, Kabuto freaked me out. Like many of the maids, I had heard rumors and stories about him and the adviser. I thought back to what I heard as I entered the room after Sasuke.
"Good morning Sire." Said Kabuto, bowing his head. Straightening up, he looked at me. His gaze calculating. I quickly looked away, letting my gaze drift around the room which was full of scrolls and books on every surface, neatly arranged.
A large desk sat in front of a large window; which was draped with heavy navy curtains, leaving the room dim. And sitting at the desk was the medic and adviser; A person freakier than Kabuto.
Orochimaru.
It was rumored, both Orochimaru and Kabuto were kidnappers. People who had been seen with them after the night had fell, were never to be seen again. There wasn't enough evidence of them being the ones behind the disappearance plus they held a lot of power.
Orochimaru who looked like his father may have been a snake; with pasty, light skin, long black hair and eyes with slits, it was hard not to think so.
The Palace sure liked employing funny looking staff.
Orochimaru stopped writing, and looked up at Sasuke but made no move to stand. "Sire, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
I inwardly shivered at his voice. It wasn't the 'Oh my god he has a smooth like honey, sweet like syrup voice' more like a 'Oh wow, his voice sounds like it belongs to a rapist, the kind that creep up behind you and breathe down your neck'.
"Hn. Any news from the sound?"
The sound were the sworn enemies of Konoha and had many times tried to destroy Konoha but had failed each time. A truly despicable bunch.
Orochimaru opened his mouth to speak, before his eyes fell on me. "It would be wise, If I spoke to you in private."
Sasuke's eyes flickered to my own. "Wait outside."
I would have slapped his good for nothing face, If Kabuto hadn't opened the door and ushered me outside. The door closed in my face as I stuck my tongue out childishly at it.
It was that frustrating.
I shuffled across the corridor and leant on the wall opposite the door. No point on eves-dropping on the conversation as the door was made out of thick oak.
What was so important, that Orochimaru wanted me outside?
This was one big nightmare.
I wanted my old duty back. Even if it meant facing the head maid, not to mention how much I missed talking to Ino at breaks.
I looked down at the floor, trying not to scream all my frustrations out. Anything would be better than this.
Not long after, the door opened, revealing Sasuke with a frown etched on his sculptured features. I stood up straighter wondering what had been said.
Without another word, the door closed as Sasuke turned to me.
"Go fetch me a quill, ink and some parchment." He turned around, walking away. "I'll be in the library."
"Yes your highness." I said through gritted teeth. Pfft Highness? The words pain-ass suited him better.
My mother would have thrown a fit, if she found out I knew such curse words.
I myself set out the journey of finding each of the items Sasuke had ordered me to get him.
And that's how the day went; Sasuke ordering me to fetch various items and documents, then insulting me when I got lost and came late -which happened every time he sent me to do something for him- and when he wasn't insulting me, there would be a very long silence.
When he wouldn't be ordering me about, I would stand somewhere near him. It wasn't a wonder that I was tired and my feet ached.
I currently stood behind Sasuke; who was eating alone, in a large dining area as he read over various letters.
I yawned every five minutes, which I could tell started to irk him as he continued to send me glares. After a few minutes, with my constant yawning, Sasuke sighed deeply, I bet, wondering were he went wrong with having a maid like me near him.
"You can go now." He said, glaring at me yet again. My eyes widened slightly as I expected him to insult my pride again or order me about a, not to mention it was expected of me to wait hand and foot on him until he went to bed.
"Well?" He raised an eyebrow waiting. Not wanting to look like an idiot again, I quickly curtsied and left. I guess he had enough of seeing me for today and let me off
If today was going to be like this, how would I survive the whole week with him?
