Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

My Prince Charming

Chapter 31

In the Wind Country

"Hey you, with the Pink Hair!"

Sakura turned around at the voice and rolled her eyes when she saw the set of girls approaching. Ever since the banquet a couple weeks back, whenever she passed this dark-haired duo, she would hear them snickering. True… they had never once yet called out to her before, but she could only assume that they did not have anything good to say.

Still, trying to stay on decent terms with the maids in this castle had become a sort of goal for the girl. She'd much rather not have a repeat performance of any of the encounters she had with the fire maids.

Plastering on as real of a smile as she could she replied, "May I help you?"

"You're the Fire Prince's Maid, right?"

"Yes?" she was pretty sure that these girls knew the answer to that already.

"I heard you slapped him." One stated blatantly.

"Then you confessed your feelings to him." The other girl finished.

Sakura almost chuckled, "Confessed? I don't think so."

"But you did say you would do anything to protect him didn't you?" the second girl asked.

"Well yes…"

"And he kissed you before that right?" the other interjected.

"Well yeah, but…"

"Well that's basically a confession then, am I wrong?" It was back to the second girl speaking. Sakura could barely keep up with their speed. Before she could give a reply back the other one spoke.

"I'd say so. Then rumor has it you were totally dumped."

"Thrown away"

"Tossed aside"

Okay, now these girls were starting to annoy her, "Like I stated earlier, is there anything I can help you with?"

The girls stopped taking turns insulting Sakura and just stared for a moment before composing themselves. Their fake smiles were long gone and replaced with cold glares.

Finally, one of them broke the silence. Sakura could no longer decipher which one. These girls were practically identical. They had to be sisters, if not twins.

"What made you think that you could get away with confessing like that?"

"I told you… I wasn't…"

"Well," the other interrupted, "I wouldn't exactly call it getting away with it. He did totally reject her and threw her out of her own country."

"I wasn't thrown out of the country!" Sakura had it with these girls. She could tell they were harmless. All bark and no bite. Within the couple of weeks that she had been here, she came to realize how much this place differed from the Fire Country. Here, they seemed to be much stricter with the rules, and much like Sakura found this prince to be, she came to realize that quite a few in this castle were cold with their words, but proper in action. Being rude to someone, besides the prince of course, didn't seem to have such drastic repercussions, but acting out in any way seemed punishable by death. That of course was a little bit of an exaggeration; but Sakura could definitely see why Tenten had a few problems here.

"You can say you weren't kicked out, but then how did you end up in a different country? Huh?"

Sakura smirked back at the pair before replying, "If I was kicked out of my own country for doing something so horrible as I'm sure you must be thinking, then how is it that I am now the personal maid of yet another prince?"

One girl sputtered for an answer while the other just glared. After a moment the silent one spoke up, "Well, just because you're his maid now, you won't always be… Prince Neji is probably just intrigued by your exotic looks… Like an exotic animal he's never seen before or a stray dog who looks so pitiful at first, that you mistake it for cute. The Fire Prince figured it out eventually. Our prince will too… and I bet it won't even take half the time."

Sakura looked away and nodded, thinking to herself. She had to give these girls some props. They were at least loyal to their prince. Surely, they had gotten at least a glimpse of Sasuke on his short stay here. Maybe she was being biased and all, but of all the princes, Sakura would have to admit, she found Sasuke the most fond-worthy… at least for looks… and even if Neji would be a close second, she couldn't imagine most girls would insult Sasuke after seeing him.

'It's actually quite sad… If these girls hadn't had been so sorely mistaken, I could've seen myself actually starting to form a friendship with them… possibly…'

One of the voices broke the ex-fire maid out of her thoughts.

"Of course, when that happens, don't feel too bad. I mean it's not like you'll be the first." She giggled and the other girl laughed beside her.

"Yeah, that other maid was awful, wasn't she?"

'And then again… Probably not.'

"Have you two ever wondered that maybe the reason Neji hasn't tossed me aside yet is because he knows his other options in maids are people like you?"

"Excuse me?!" One girl barked out, insulted.

"Well, if you look at it logically. I should've been replaced by now. I haven't done a single chore in the two weeks since I got here…" Sakura explained, "I found out where the library is and I take a daily trip down there to grab a new book, but it's never a book for the prince. It's a book for me to keep my boredom down since he never asks me to do anything. So logically, if I'm so useless, he should've let me go by now… but since he hasn't, the reason that would make the most sense, would be that he doesn't like his other options in maids to pick from."

"Why you!" One girl finally lunged at her, but the Pinkette was easily able to side step out of the way.

Perhaps she might've miscalculated her thoughts on that 'acting out' rule.

"What's going on here?"

The two girls froze at the Hyuga's cold voice.

"N-Nothing Prince Neji!"

The Wind Prince stared back uncaringly, but obviously still assessing the situation, "Then leave."

He needn't say anything else as the girls briskly walked away. Sakura rolled her eyes in annoyance before turning to face the stoic teen.

"You decide to come in only now? How long were you watching?"

"From the very beginning."

Sakura growled, "Of course you were. Don't you have anything better to do than stalk me every day. I make very few trips as you know. Food hall, bathhouse, library, my assigned room… I pretty much have stuck to the same routine since I've learned my way around the place."

"I know," Neji finally spoke, "It's usually around the same times too, which makes you quite easy to stalk if that were to be my intention."

There was a pause before Sakura sighed in frustration, "If stalking isn't your intention, then what is?"

"I'm observing" was the prince's blatant reply.

"Observing what?"

The Hyuga paused, figuring out how to put it, "From what I have heard about you, your personality seems to be somewhat similar to Tentens… and by that I am mostly talking about your snarky retorts and resistance in complying with demands."

Sakura smirked back at the male teen, "Well how would you know anything of my willingness to comply… It's not like you have asked me to do a single damn thing around here."

Neji ignored the girls rude reply, "I am just observing to make sure you don't fall into too much trouble… Tenten made a couple of lifelong enemies during her stay here."

"So, have I!" Sakura said, faking enthusiasm, "You just met them. I wasn't able to catch their names before you frightened them off with your ghost stare, but I'm sure that they'll be thrilled to tell you while they are hanging me out to dry!"

Neji couldn't help but smirk. There were definitely some similarities between the two maids, but this wasn't the time for joking around, "I'm being serious Sakura. Those girls won't give you much more than mental abuse, but if you get on the wrong persons nerves, you could get seriously hurt… Especially if I'm not there to stop it."

'What an odd thing to say?'

Sakura sighed in acquiescence, "Okay, fine… Who do I need to watch out for exactly?"

The prince stared back, not expecting the compliance she was showing.

"Well?" she pressured.

"No one"

Sakura bit her lip in contemplation, "Okay then? I will certainly watch out for this nobody…"

"Sakura" Neji warned

"What!" she snapped, "If there is somebody I truly have to watch out for, then tell me already."

The Wind prince went back and forth on what to say before settling with, "It should be no one. They shouldn't be here."

That got the Fire Maid's attention, "Well then why are they still here?"

"Huh?"

Sakura rolled her eyes before continuing, "If they shouldn't be here, then why are they?"

"Because"

"Because?"

"Because I couldn't fire him."

"Him? Why not?"

"Because…"

"Seriously!"

"Because the only way to get him fired would be to have proof that he did something wrong and the only person who had proof wouldn't cooperate."

"And I'm going to take an educated guess and say that person was Tenten?" Sakura waited for an answer but the Hyuga stayed silent. She waited a few moments more before stating, "Well, maybe I can help?"

Neji scoffed, "No offense, but I did just say that I need proof, which is something I am positive you have nothing of."

"Then let's get some."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said let us get some." The girl answered, spacing out the words.

The male took a millisecond to think about it before replying, "No, it's too dangerous."

"Dangerous how? Did he try to harm her?"

Neji narrowed his eyes in slight annoyance, "This isn't something she would want us discussing."

'So, he does still care what Tenten thinks' the Fire Maid assessed. Perhaps the Wind Maid had told them so. It seemed that the only person this mystery man actually wronged was the maid that Neji himself had supposedly thrown out. 'Even though she's no longer here, this is still something that is bothering him.'

The Pinkette was dying to get all the answers to the questions that were now swarming her head, but that would have to wait for another day. Right now, they had a guy who needed fired, and even if she didn't have a clue what he did, she did know that it pertained to her friend, and that Neji found it to be something so rude, he could not tell her… and that was a good enough excuse for her… She had a brain. She was smart. She could piece together a rough idea of what had happened with what she already knew.

"So, are we going to do this thing or what?"

"I said no!"

"Do you really want to fire this guy or not?"

"Of course I do!" the prince snapped, appalled.

"Then what is the problem? If he acts out, you'll be nearby, I'm sure I can handle it if he roughs me up a little bit."

"You don't know what you'd be getting yourself into! You don't get it!"

"What don't I get?!"

"This guy isn't just physically violent! I mean, he can be, but it's the emotional abuse that I'd be worried about. He could break you from the inside! Are you up for that? I've seen it happen before… and I wasn't able to stop it."

Sakura studied Neji and his fuming persona before stating, "You don't know women that well do you?"

"What?"

"She isn't broken, you know."

Neji sneered back, "You wouldn't know! You didn't see the way she acts around guys!"

"Excuse me?" Sakura huffed, "Are you saying I'm blind and deaf, or just dumb? I too, went to the banquet. I was there, right next to her side as we had to take turns distracting the men away from your cousin. You don't think I got a feel of what she was like around strangers of the male form? I may not know her as well as you do, but I'm far from oblivious. Why do you think her and I took turns? I asked her if she wanted to take turns with me. I even told her the other one should be talking with the princess to make it seem like she was busy and it would be rude to interrupt their conversation. I let her call the shots. I would start out and she could switch when ready. I also happened to mention that if she felt any of it were to get to be too much during her turn, she would just have to come and get me and I would switch… I didn't lead on that I suspected anything and you know how many times she asked for my assistance?" Sakura paused before answering, "Not once. I always had to go up to her to get my turn back. If she were truly 'broken' as you put it; she would have asked for my assistance at least once that evening."

"She probably just didn't want you catching on."

"Or perhaps there wasn't enough there to catch onto." Sakura corrected, "Was she skeptical of the men? Yes. Was she like that when she first arrived at this castle? I don't know, but by your reaction, I would say not. But was she broken? No."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because if she were, you wouldn't be an exception." Sakura assured, "After something like… this happens to a girl. They don't get to pick and choose who they feel comfortable with… and if guys really did bother Tenten, then she wouldn't have held up so well that night, with how many guys were present. No one could pretend that well if they were truly afraid."

"You didn't see her though. Whenever this guy is in the vicinity…"

"Oh no!" the girl interrupted, "I'm not saying that her fears don't exist. I'm just simply saying that you must've stopped it before she was broken. Maybe I am wrong in assuming this, but what could have happened never did right? You were able to stop it before things were taken that far, yes?"

"…Yeah"

"You see, to you that might not matter, because you feel nothing should've happened in the first place, but to her it mattered. It's because you were able to stop it, that she will be able to heal. Girls that get put through ordeals like that, usually can't ever fully recover from it again. It leaves too big of a scar on the soul… one that won't ever heal, but since you were able to stop it from going that far, it probably only left a little scar. When someone gets a smaller scar, it doesn't take as long to heal, but like all scars, it never goes away. Eventually it no longer hurts but it still stays visible… and when you notice it, sometimes you can still recall the pain it once brought. So, let me ask you again," the Fire Maid paused a moment, "are we going to fire this guy or what?"

The Wind Princes first response was to once again immediately decline the offer, but something stopped him.

According to Sakura, Tenten was not permanently damaged by what this guard had done… but she could've easily been. Although her scar would supposedly heal, she'll never forget and once in a while she would still be reminded of it.

'That made sense.'

That was what was happening to her now. But she was no longer here. He couldn't reach her from where she was. So, did it matter anymore?

'Of course it did!' the thought only passed through his mind momentarily, but it was as if the girl beside him had heard.

Sakura sighed before replying, "I'll give you a few days to think it over… And while you're pondering it, think about this. You might be furious, because this happened to someone you knew… and possibly cared for, but when it all comes down to it, do you think you'd be okay if this happened to anyone else? Knowing it could scar them for life? Knowing the pain that this could cause, I don't think I'd wish this on my worst enemy."

With that said, the maid carried on down the hall with her book in hand. Leaving the Wind Prince alone to stew in his own thoughts.

In the Earth Country

"Prince Shikamaru!"

The lazy teen groaned, sitting up from his spot on the hill.

"What is it Yuriko?"

"Thank goodness I found you! I'm extremely sorry to bother you, but it's about your new maid."

'Tenten?'

"What about her?"

Yuriko suddenly turned coy, "Well, it's actually more or a question… or… or a request! Yes, that's what it is! A request from the entire maid department…"

"And…" the prince drawled, trying to move the girl's ramblings on.

"Well, you see…. The maids would never think to ever give you a command, but as head maid, it is my duty to address this issue before it gets even more out of hand than…"

"Just get on with it!" Shikamaru groaned in annoyance.

"Please give your maid something to do!"

The girl spoke so fast that the Earth teen wasn't sure that he had heard correctly, "What?"

In the Water Country

"I said no!"

"Oh, come on!"

"I can't swim."

There was a pause from the blonde male before he started screeching, "You can't what?! This is the Water Country! If you can't swim what are we going to do during the days?"

"There's got to be more to this country than just swimming! Do you think that the Fire Prince bakes in the Sun all day because he's from the Fire Country, or that he dances around campfires singing Koon-bay-yah?"

Yet another pause to fully visualize it before replying, "You never know!"

Now it was Ino's turn to scream out, "Oh come on! You know as well as I do that bats catch more rays of sun than that pasty prince does and even if I hardly know him, I'm sure Hell would have to freeze over for anyone to ever catch that guy singing."

"…" another pause, "Well Sasuke's already weird as it is… I hardly find him to be a good example for your argument."

"Fine then!" Ino encountered, "Take Neji then… Do you just think he goes outside just to watch his hair flow in the wind?"

Naruto didn't know if he'd ever be able to look at Neji the same way again, "That was another terrible example. Not to mention terrifying image. What if you take Shikamaru…? All he does is lay on the ground and look at the sky all day. He surrounds himself with earth."

Ino huffed, "Well I'm still not going swimming."

"Well, I'm not that into cloud gazing," Naruto said, jumping right back into their previous topic, that the girl just subtly tried veering away from.

"I'm not a cloud gazer!" she shouted back in defense.

"Then what do you like to do?"

"…Star gaze…"

"Well there's no stars out right now!"

"Yes, there are!"

"Not ones that you can see!"

"The sun is a star stupid." She bit out.

'That did it!'

"Oh brilliant," the prince grumbled, "then why don't you and I just lay down and stare at the sun. Maybe we should use telescopes to blind us quicker!"

"Now you're just being ridiculous."

"No, you're being annoying."

"Oh, you're one to talk!"

"Ugh! How could Shikamaru stand to be around you!" The moment the words had left his mouth, the young prince regretted it. Things got eerily silent before she finally spoke… softly.

"Well that's just it, isn't it? He couldn't stand it… that's why I am here."

Naruto watched as a silent tear escaped the other blonde's eye, "Ino, I didn't…"

"I get why he got rid of me…" the blonde continued, "It makes perfect sense when I really sit back and think about it… but why did you get rid of her?"

"What?"

"I'm loud and obnoxious," the girl replied, "but Hinata is the opposite, so why did you get rid of her? Was it really so hard to take? That she was a runaway princess?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why?"

Silence covered the moment as the blonde prince thought of his answer, "I didn't see any other way."

"…"

"You're really cruel, you know that right?"

"What?" the Water Prince questioned quietly.

"Out of all the prince's we figured your excuse would be the easiest to take. Even if Hinata had somehow managed to drive you up a wall, you would still find the nicest words for letting her go… but you didn't even give her that… You just left her, not even bothering to waste your words on her." Ino's voice was now barely above a whisper now.

"I just didn't want to disappoint her." The Water Prince stated solemnly.

"Well, you did…" Naruto looked up at the girl as Ino continued, "The Wind and Fire Princes are known for being cold and cruel and Shikamaru is too lazy to care when it comes to feelings, but we all expected you to be different… You're known for your compassion for others and we would've thought that your excuse would have offered words of healing…She really could've used it you know."

With that said Ino walked off, leaving Naruto standing there processing.

In the Earth Country

Tenten could not believe how bored she was! Two weeks had passed and she still had yet to even hear from the Earth Prince. She was sure that he wasn't ignoring her… just not bothering with her. He did absolutely nothing during the days and so, in return, he had nothing that he needed her to do… After the first ten days, she just couldn't take it anymore and decided to do something about it. She found the head maid and asked if there was anything she could do. The maid had told her that Ino had spent much of her time, tending to the gardens… So, Tenten decided to give it a go.

After many dead and dried-up plants later, the other maids had kindly asked her to leave, assuring the former Wind Maid that they would ask Yuriko to find a better suited position for her.

Next, was the kitchens… then the laundry room.

Tenten sighed as she walked around the castle grounds. 'Had she always been this useless?! Man, those Wind Maids back at the Neji's castle must've been saints!'

The few days of doing chores before becoming Neji's personal maid, she hadn't been kicked off of any of her duties.

'Perhaps rumors had already spread of my weapons display with the guards and they were just too afraid to critique me?... Yeah… That must've been it, cause according to the maids here I can't do a single thing right!'

In the Fire Country

Hinata sighed as she looked out the balcony. It had been two weeks since she had arrived and she had yet to leave this room. She thought back to the night of the banquet, when Sasuke finally decided to pull over for the night.

Sasuke had handed the Hyuga Heiress a key to a separate room while explaining, "Your room is across from mine and the guards are on either side of you. If you have any trouble, you just need to call and someone will hear you."

The girl nodded at this.

"Tonight, you may be in a separate room, but once we arrive at the palace, you will be staying with me."

"W-what?!" the girl squeaked.

The prince blandly responded, "Sakura may no longer be my maid, but my rules still stand the same. It'd be too dangerous to risk you running into any harm."

"I-I'm sure I'd be fine if you don't mind. I'd p-prefer staying with the other mai…" the Uchiha strode forward forcefully, backing her away from the guards and up against a far wall.

His tone was hushed as he spoke, "I don't think you get it princess." His eyes narrowed and his voice had turned dangerous, "You may be gallivanting around as a maid, but we both know what and who you really are, so you will do as I say. I will not risk anything happening to you. Unlike Naruto, I understand what a danger it is keeping you in my castle, and I know the consequences if anything were to happen to you or if we are by any chance found out that you have been hiding here. Naruto may have been willing to risk the potential war outbreak between the countries, but I am not. Your father is still in command in the end, since he has joined the elders who control us at the moment, so if you want to stay away from Home Sweet Home, then you need to stay hidden in the shadows until your cousin comes to full reign of his country. Until then, you will stay quiet and unnoticeable. As long as you're at the Fire Palace, you will do as I say. You will stay in my room and you won't leave unless I am accompanying you, understood?"

Hinata only nodded to confirm.

The prince turned around and marched down a hall to his room. Hinata swiftly followed and entered her own, before sinking to the floor at the foot of the closed door.

Her heart was beating fast. Naruto was so, gentle, and sweet, and kind. This prince was rough, cold, and intimidating. How did Sakura put up with him? Sadness overtook her once more, as her time in the Water Country seemed more and more like a dream. Naruto was trying to treat her normally and had planned on trying his best to ignore her social status in respect for her, but this prince was going to have none of that… And what was worse, she'd have to share a room with him!"

Had she only known, she wouldn't have freaked out so much on the rooming arrangement, and she could've stressed out on what really mattered… Her complete loss of freedom.

The first night at the Fire Castle, Sasuke had told her that she would be sleeping in the bed and he would take the floor. As soon as she tried insisting otherwise, he had informed her that sleeping on the floor was not uncommon as one might think.

Being that she had been away from palace life for two years before arriving back on royal grounds, she was already well informed on that, but thinking back to when she had just run away and found out that information for herself, she let him have his moment. Besides, seeing the slight smirk on his face gave way to all she needed to know. He was still pondering the thought of it himself, but still wanted to try it at least once.

She was sure that by the next morning he was probably regretting his surprising generosity, but the Hyuga Heiress said nothing. She actually had found his bed quite comfortable and until he let go of his pride enough to ask for it back, she was not so keen on offering it up.

'Besides,' she decided, 'if he was going to keep her locked up here like a caged bird, then she might as well have one perk.'

True to his word, the Wind Princess was not allowed to leave the room, and just like her previous life back in Wind, she had guards stationed outside the door. Unlike her first home, where guards would only follow her wherever she went, these guards were instructed not to let her leave. She was even more a prisoner here than she ever was in Wind. However, at least here, she wasn't up for auction. No matter how miserable it was, it had to be better than being sold off to the highest bidder in sake of strengthening ties between countries.

Sasuke at least tried to make up for her forced captivity by sending a sweet, elderly maid up to bring her delicious meals and books from the library.

For some odd reason in every stack of books sent up, there happened to always be a book of medical origins. Being that she was trapped in a room, she would probably resort to reading anything if push came to shove, but it struck her as odd that anyone's top 'fun read' choices would be medical text books.

After finishing yet another book this morning, she decided tonight was the night.

She'd ask if she could leave the room. If he had to go with her, then so be it. She just couldn't be stuck in here another day.

In the Earth Country

"She's destroyed the gardens, almost burnt all the food in the kitchen AND discolored loads of laundry! She's a walking disaster zone! At first, we thought that she was just asking out of the kindness of her heart, but it was more of a strategic plan to destroy everything we have worked for! Please! Prince Shikamaru! If you can't find something for her to do, then at the very least, order her to quit helping! We would be forever grateful!"

'Had this girl really caused such commotion already? I knew I should've checked up on her sooner… but I figured she just might need some time to herself for a while first.'

"What a pain…" he mumbled, before standing up from his sitting position, "I'll talk to her tomorrow."

"Thank you, my Prince!" Yuriko bowed generously as Shikamaru walked off, "Thank you!"

In the Fire Country

"When are you going to tell me more news on Itachi?"

"Patience my prince. You will get the news you deserve, when you deserve it."

Sasuke growled in response. Perhaps Sakura had been right as much as he hated to admit it, but he refused to give in so easily. Sakura was no longer here to get herself in trouble, and Hinata was tucked away safely in his room. He'd give himself a little more time to hope, before kicking this man out.

"If I find out you had anything to do with the attempted murder on Sakura…" he didn't realize that he was speaking aloud at first.

"You mean the attack on that personal slave of yours?" Orochimaru replied in a low voice, "I see you are still questioning her words; as you are also with mine. Obviously, your trust in me still has a way to go. She may have become a dear friend to you my liege, but I should be your most trusted advisor. Only then will I be able to spill out my secrets in return."

Sasuke grit his teeth in frustration.

"Don't question where my loyalties lie!" he hissed, "You better be careful with what you say or I might just kick you out for the fun of it."

Orochimaru chuckled, "It would not be that easy to get me fired. I was picked by the elders to guide you from your already misguided ways."

The two males had a few moments, just staring the other down, before Orochimaru decided to take his leave, "Good day, my dear boy."

That's it for Chapter 31! I just couldn't take that there was only Neji/Tenten in the last chapter! I wanted to update on some of the other maids as well this time!

Read, Enjoy! Review Please! Until later!