A Twisted Fairy Tale
Chapter Three
… The story goes that a prince named Farhad was love struck by a maiden named Shirin. When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse over the edge of a cliff. It's said that a scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood…
-Unknown
Sakura mentally chided herself as she was confronted by the heavy drops that angrily came from the sky. Today turned out to be as bad as she though it to be. Always, the first day of school seemed to be the worst. Actually it was good compared to last year when she managed to forget her summer reading at home along with some US History vocabulary along with a mishap with her knuckle head best friend Naruto in the science lab in chemistry. Chemicals and Naruto don't mix. He was in the clinic for the whole first day... Nope, this year she made sure to double check to avoid that.
She laughed at the memory, gripping the bag over her head as she ran to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. It was a good few blocks away from the school and took about five minutes if you ran, ten if you walked. The pinkette was just glad that the Mrs. Yamanaka had given her about an hour after school to herself, so if Sakura ran faster than she usually did, then she would make it just in time not to be late. The only thing she did not look forward to was the berating she was surly going to get from the Shrew because of Ino's mostly likely over exaggerated summary of their argument.
Her story most like ended in her feigning an injury, blaming it all on Sakura. The pink haired girl would not be able to give her side because it really didn't matter. Ino's word was always taken over hers', a fact she hated, as the blonds' accusations were always false ninety-nine percent of the time.
The small brass bell rang over her head, as the pink haired girl was assaulted with the overwhelming scents of fresh flowers. It was something she could never get used to, even if she has been working here for the six months she had stayed at the Yamanaka's. She wrung out her black t-shirt, shaking her shoes a bit, while fluffing her cotton candy locks. Jade eyes lifted from the flood to see an older version of Ino rushing at Sakura with a frightening glare. She wagged her finger, brows furrowing, showing deep wrinkles.
"Just where have you been?" Mrs. Yamanaka crossed her dainty arms over her fake chest.
"School," muttered Sakura, roughly yanking a green apron off the brass hooks by the door.
"And look at you," she chided, ice blue orbs looking over Sakura's rain soaked appearance, "You're dripping all over my clean floors. Go get a mop and clean this up. And throw that bag of yours in the corner. It's soaked."
"Yeah, whatever," Sakura mumbled, brushing past the taller woman to the back where the mop was located. Mrs. Yamanaka followed in suit.
"You're being docked your pay for two weeks. No television. No hospital…" Mrs. Yamanaka was taking away the things that would hurt Sakura the most. The rosette curled her first, pressing her lips together when she stopped at no hospital. That was Sakura's safe haven, the place she felt completely at ease, in her element. There was no way the Shrew could just take it away.
"You can't stop me from going to the hospital. I have patients that I'm doing special therapy with. And it's once over internship. If I drop out for even three days I'll be kicked out of the program!" Sakura argued, gripping the wooden handle of the mop 'till her knuckles were white.
Mrs. Yamanaka smiled smugly leaning against the dark wall of the storage closet, "Oh, but I can," She paused when Sakura flinched from pent up anger, "Keep in mind that Mr. Yamanaka is Head Surgeon. He can sway Shizune…"
"No, you can't do that!" Sakura shouted, stepping forward.
"All you're ever going to be is a lowly maintenance girl for my flower shop, Sakura. You're awfully good at cleaning up messes," She whistled, stepping back of the small room, leaving behind the frustrated rosette. The internship was all she had left of her father…
Sakura felt her eyes sting as she moped out of the closet,, mopping up the soaked yellow tiled floors of the small flower shop.
The bell rang as Ino's mother walked briskly past Sakura, as she mopped up the last bit of rainwater. "Lock-up at nine. I'm going out."
Sakura numbly nodded, snatching the keys from Mrs. Yamanaka, watching as she let her hips sway provocatively, and heading towards her black Mercedes. The headlights flickered on and she disappeared into the rainy evening, leaving behind the broken pink haired girl. All the while she had a smug smile on her lips, knowing that she had just hurt the rosette just like she did her precious Ino.
"Yeah, I wonder how your husband would feel about that other guy…" Sakura thought out loud, wringing out the mop, and then resting it against the cream colored walls.
The rest of the night was boring, as Sakura sat behind the counter reading, The Awakening, while listening to her iPod at full blast, not noticing the female customer that had unwittingly made it in the shop. She would do anything to get rid of the thoughts plaguing her mind. As the rosette flipped the page, her eyes looked up for the briefest second, widening when she noticed a pale girl in the corner of the room. She quickly put her song on pause, marking her page in her book, yanking the white earphones from her ears.
"May I help you?" She asked the girl with grape colored hair, who was timidly pocking at a rose.
She looked up locking topaz eyes with jade, letting her frail hand tug at the choker on her long neck. "I am looking for red tulips?"
Sakura noticed the confused inflection in her voice. She smiled softly, taking in the shy appearance of the girl, which could be no older than her. "Those are pretty rare flowers. I'll go check the freezers. We should have at least one," Sakura explained, amused as the girl nodded enthusiastically.
In no time Sakura came back with a beautiful red tulip that was splashed in pink. The girl had taken to Sakura's iPod, which only made the pinkette smiled in contentment. Music brings people together.
"You have some really good songs on here," said the girl, who was twirling her thumb on the music player, biting her lip.
"I like a lot of hair bands from the eighties. Not many kids my age do, though," Sakura replied, watching as the girl's face lit up when her topaz eyes traveled to the flower that was gripped in her hand.
"No, they sure don't," replied the purpled haired girl, squinting at Sakura's name tag, "Sakura. That's a fitting name for someone who works in a flower shop."
Sakura pressed her lips together, nodding.
"I'm sorry. It must be a soft spot," the girl replied, noticing the immediate change in the rosette's mood. Sakura's eyes softened when she knew the girl was speaking the truth.
"So what's your name?" Sakura asked, as she rang up the total.
"Rin," she answered, fingering the long sleeve of her fitted black top.
"You have a good taste in flowers. Not many people no about red tulips and their symbolism for undying love," Sakura explained, taking the bills from Rin's frail hand. The purple haired girl shut her purse, smiling as Sakura handed her the delicate flower.
"Yes, I know. I sure hope Obito likes it," She said, sheepishly scratching the back of her head.
"He will," The rosette replied, waving as the girl turned towards the exit.
"Nice meeting you," She waved.
"You too," Sakura smiled, watching as the pale Rin made her exit.
-
Sakura relished the fact that it had stopped raining, and she was able to make it back to the Yamanaka's dry. She shifted uncomfortablely in her stiff clothes, not liking how the humid air made them stick to her skin. The weather really was not on her side today.
As soon as she made it to her room she stripped herself, grabbing her robe, twisting the knobs of the shower.
She stepped into the scalding hot water, letting it wash away the numbness that was starting to find her, as it did every night. Sakura hated this part of the day, the part where she was forced to think as she laid her head on her pillow, trying to let a dreamless sleep claim her.
And several hours later when she woke from her nightmare, the wounds still too fresh, she turned on her lamp, grabbing her iPod, and switching to the most hardcore song she had on there. And when that did not stop the trembling, she grabbed her literature book and started doing homework that wasn't due until next week.
And as the days passed, she did this every night, not wanting to face the reoccurring nightmare that plagued her.
On Friday she found herself sitting in Fourth Block, stifling a yawn as Mr. Hatake, lectured on taking a derivative. She tried to take notes, but her hand didn't want to move. All she wanted to do was sleep, but every time her jade eyes drifted shut that nightmare would come to life. The sounds of screeching tires and the terrified yells of her mother would fill her ears, jerking her eyes open in terror, finding that she was breathing hard, breaking out in a cold sweat. It was just too much.
School had been going on for a week and a half, enough time for students to get their internal alarm clocks working, wiping away the days of sleeping in, which summer vacation had allowed them to do. Kakashi noticed that this didn't pertain to his pink haired student. She still did her work amazingly fast, acing the first test, still taking notes. But she was always late and always nodding off in his class. He didn't know if it was right or not, but he was becoming increasingly concerned. When he walked into the lunch room his attention would be drawn to her table where she sat with the always excited Naruto Uzumaki, Hinata Hyuga, and Tenten, who always tried for her to eat something. And to ease their worries Sakura would nibble on an apple.
Sakura had served her three day detention gracefully, always listening to her iPod or reading a book. She wouldn't do anything that would betray sadness, unless you count smiles that did not reach her eyes, or the slow way she walked out of the room with her head hung, or having nightmares when she dozed off for a few seconds. Sakura seemed to be the good little actress, but not good enough to fool Kakashi.
He took it in stride, saying nothing of the decline of the bright girl he met on the first day, who had an attitude. He missed her snappish comments, her annoyed glares. Now she just seemed so different, not herself. Kakashi was even surprised when she never said anything about his Icha Icha novel that he read every day, when they both knew that she knew just what was under that Shakespearian cover.
The teacher didn't know whether it was his place to worry or not, but she was his student. He was allowed to be concerned for her well being.
But it wasn't until the next week, on Wednesday, that he finally decided that enough was enough, asking for the rosette to stay after. And once all the girls had left to go home, he softly clicked the door shut, sitting upon a desk nearby, watching as the tired Sakura, rocked on her heals, annoyed.
"What is it? I have to be at work soon," She snapped.
Kakashi raised a silver brow. Sakura watched as the navy material of the mask crinkled around his lips when he spoke, "Why are you always sleeping in my class? Did I not tell you to not ever do that again?"
Sakura mimicked Kakashi as she propped herself on the desk diagonal to him, facing the white board. "I'm bored, I guess," She smirked.
Kakashi smirked back. 'She'll never change…'
"Is there a problem with you and listening to authority figures?" He inquired, watching as she shifted under his scrutinizing gaze. She coughed a bit, jade orbs locked on the complex equations that littered the white board.
"Nope. Just you," She mumbled, hopping off the desk, grabbing a marker off the ledge of the white board. She used the black sleeve of her jacket to wipe away part of the last problem, he was explaining before the bell rang. Kakashi watched her in mild amusement, wondering if anyone had caught that purposeful mistake, ready to hand out bonus points to the student that corrected him.
"You divided wrong," she said in a tired voice, quickly writing out the equation the correct way, before dropping the marker, swaying a bit on her feet. A wave of dizziness claimed the rosette, who slumped forward to grab onto a desk.
Kakashi was at her side a in a moment, knowing all to well the signs of exhaustion. The girl was pushing herself to the brink. He grabbed her shoulder steadying her.
His hands were warm to her, and she just wanted to melt into the touch. His coal orbs watched her worriedly, staring into her hazy jade eyes. It took a moment before she stopped the swirling motion of the room.
As soon as the spell left, her she swatted his hands away regretfully, missing the warmth his hands brought to her cold body.
"Are you alright?" He paused as she nodded, "Maybe you should go to the clinic."
"Yeah," she mumbled, grabbing her books and calculator.
-
A cup of coffee later, Sakura found herself, hanging her jacket and bag on a brass hook, taking down her green apron, tying it in a sloppy way behind her back. Ino watched her with mild irritation, manicured nails tapping on the counter, where she sat in front of a bunch of richly colored flowers.
"Why are you so slow?" She paused, when Sakura let her tired gaze drift towards the platinum blond, "Gosh, You look horrible, Forehead. Go home. I'll take care of your shift."
And in that moment Sakura felt her eyes widen at the blonds' kindness.
"Go before I change my mind. Besides you look horrible, and we can't have you making this place ugly. It's my mom's pride and joy," She said, getting up, flattening the wrinkles in her denim mini skirt. Not even refusing, Sakura quickly untied her apron, grabbing her jacket and bag.
"Thanks," She mumbled before leaving the shop and Ino. Sakura was shocked, but not completely surprised. Even if the two girls were bitter rivals, they did have an odd friendship that shone through at the most random moments. And that was one of those moments. Ino was different than her mother in that at times she really did like Sakura, worrying for her when her parents wouldn't.
-
Sakura lay on her plush bed, thinking about the hospital. She wondered about her various patients in the rehabilitation ward, wondering if she'd ever see them again. Yesterday Mrs. Yamanaka had presented her with the letter that had declared her barred from the program. When Shizune had caught wind, she called Sakura, seeing what was wrong. After, Sakura had explained her situation, Shizune said that she would get the girl back her internship, to just give her some time because she knew people in high places.
Thankfully in the midst of her thoughts, a dreamless sleep had finally claimed her exhausted body. She slept through the next day, missing school. And on Friday Naruto called her cell phone. She grumbled as she walked to her cherry wood desk, flipping open the black device.
"Yes," She yawned.
"Oi, Sakura, where were you? I was worried?" Naruto's loud voice said into the speaker.
"Sleeping," She mumbled, smiling when Naruto laughed.
"Oh, that's good, then. You need the rest," He stated.
"Yeah. I'll be there tomorrow, though. I'm going to have so much make-up work," She said, stretching out her stiff body.
"I know our computer teacher gave us three pages today," Naruto groaned, going into a long story about his day, eliciting small giggles or gasps from the rosette.
An hour later they hung up, letting Sakura roll over on her bed, with a smile, thankful that the Yamanaka's had not bothered her.
-
"Haruno Sakura," His velvety voice, interrupted the best part of her song. She mumbled a 'here', squirming a bit when his gaze stayed on her for just a little longer than it usually did. Sakura knew he was worried. She knew he had a right to be. But she didn't know why he felt it was so important that he would need to keep her after class, like he had the other day.
Maybe he was always like that. She barely knew anything about the masked enigma, only that his name was Kakashi, and he was good at math. The rosette found she wanted to know more, but thinking it was a bit weird she pushed down the thoughts, burying her nose in her book, turning her iPod up a little louder.
Kakashi noticed that he constantly kept wondering about her. He didn't know why. Maybe he was just protective of his students. Maybe he just found the pink haired girl compelling. She was different. She was different than all of his other female students. Sakura didn't fawn over him. Sakura did not find his every word interest. Actually it seemed quite the opposite. She was annoyed by him.
But when he felt her stare linger, he smiled.
Then he mentally scolded himself, but the smile stayed.
-
When first block ended, Sakura found herself being asked to stay behind by her busty Anatomy teacher. She walked timidly to her desk, something that was unusual for the rosette, but Tsunade's presence just demanded that reaction.
"I heard that your internship at the hospital was taken away," She stated, tapping her red nails on her wooden desk.
Sakura nodded, "Yes. I really enjoyed working there. It was my favorite place to go."
Tsunade smiled knowingly, "I know just how you feel. I was just the same when I was your age."
Sakura's eyes widened at her teacher's interest.
"I think I may be able to get your internship back. You have promise in the nursing field, and I will not let my best student be denied an opportunity?" Tsunade stated.
"Seriously?" Sakura asked, mouth in the shape of an 'O'.
"Yes," Tsunade then waved the beaming girl out of her room, smiling a bit herself.
Words could not explain how happy Sakura was. At lunch Sakura told the news to her three best friends, and when they cheered their congratulations, Sakura squirmed with happiness. She hadn't felt like this in such a long time.
"That's just great," Tenten shouted.
"Yes, congratulations," Hinata said.
"Serves that old bat right," Gushed Naruto.
"Thanks guys," Sakura beamed. And the moment wasn't even ruined by Ino, who came over, attempting to ruin the cheeriness that came from the table, secretly happy for Sakura as well. Her mother had no right to take away what Sakura loved.
The rosette left the table, a bounce evident in her step. Naruto watched with bright eyes, glad that the old Sakura wasn't completely lost from them. Tenten was excited; glad to see Sakura the happiest she'd been in such a long time. Hinata wished the best for her, loving that her old friend was returning from the cold place she'd been for the past six months.
Maybe time really was healing the wounds. Maybe she would let people back in. Maybe she would let her heart be open again.
-
Kakashi couldn't help, but to smile when Sakura came into his Calculus class with a true smile on her face. This time he didn't ask her to stay after. She just did, pretending to take longer on her work.
"So you're feeling better, I see," Kakashi observed when the students, all but the pink haired one, left.
"Yes! I got my internship back at the hospital, thanks to Tsunade. I had no idea she owned the place," She gushed.
'So I'm finally getting to unravel this mystery of a student.' Kakashi thought, running a hand though his hair when he noticed that she was eyeing the book in his hand. She snickered a bit when he put it in his desk drawer.
"You know those books are bad for you," She smiled. Kakashi turned a shade pink. "Busted, Mr. Hatake."
"Now, I have no idea what you're talking about," He said, waving her out of the room. She stood at the door for a moment, before smirking at him, then quickly bounding down the hall. He just shook his head, a small smile making his eyes crinkle.
Oh boy! That was fun to write. I think I'm kinda lost in how to write humor.... But this chapter was a blast to write. I'm liking how this story is turning out. I hope you guys enjoyed reading. Leave your thoughts and such. Thanks! XD
