Chapter 5

A/N: To all readers a super big sorry for taking so long, but my mind was kinda dead due to writers block. If any find this chapter weird it's because I really needed to write about the butler and it just kind of dragged on... An also to everyone who pointed it out yes this will be set in an alternative universe and the characters are bound to be out of character due to my bad imagination. But yep sorry for that too I'm new so I didn't know about those things. And so after all that I hope you all enjoy and if you like dropping a review to tell me if you thought this chapter was bad... All comments on my writing are always welcomed!

Disclaimer: I am and will be forever broke so I can't even own the whole set of Naruto let along the actually thing! No, everything belongs to Masashi Kishimoto-san.

Gaara's POV

I'm 18 and currently in a new job, and although it isn't my first time working, I somehow feel that this will be a completely new experience for me. At least at my other jobs I felt like a normal teenage boy working with a group of adults who would help correct my wrong doings and guide me through the busy work schedules and routines. Now I'm forced to do every thing without a script, and just follow orders thought up by a 16-year-old. Of course the whole thing's been made complicated by the fact that dear Sasuke is in no way an 'ordinary' child, since he's frickin' rich. Being 18 means I'm practically an adult as well as being two years his senior, but does he care? No, the boy hardly knows manners let along respect for elders. Another reason why I should hate his parents, not only is his father my father's life long enemy they're so wrapped up in making money they don't teach their kid about how life 'should' be. And thus has lead to the current situation at hand...dressing up games.

I had just heard the stupid request come out from Sasuke's mouth and to be quite frank I wasn't happy about it, at all. Hearing the brat pretend to 'ask' me to change clothes, which in reality was really a command since I have no other choice but to 'obey', I found myself unable to control the urge to kill him and so giving a quick shout back at him I rush towards the door and leave the room making sure my exit was a big and loud one! I stand there, outside Sasuke's door; my heart-beating god knows how many times a minute as I reflect over my last conversation with Sasuke. I stuff my hands in to my trouser pockets and hunch my back forward as I march back and forth in front of the door. Left foot then right and then repeat, my feet hitting the ground with a little more force than needed too...but who cares! If I didn't find something for my body to do I'm sure it would just automatically charge in there and punch the living daylights out of him! But of course I couldn't do that since I already said I'd 'do as I was told to' and going back in there would only mean I was too much of a child to keep my word. Damn my male pride! I pause at that thought and find myself flinching, what male pride? If I had so much male pride I wouldn't be here begging for a job and controlling myself from teaching that brat a lesson or two. If I had any pride at all I wouldn't be stuck here in this degrading dead-end job!

I'm seriously beginning to doubt whether or not I still own a backbone... I mean I'm pretty much some sort of human toy now. I have to watch over him and take care of him and pretty much substitute for a guardian/living play thingy. If I were to say this to some random person on the street I'm pretty sure the image of a nanny would pop up and form in their confused heads. Someone caring and who listens to their little master's whims and wishes...Well to hell with that! I am not a 'nanny' or a personal 'maid' and even if my job is to look after some spoiled brat with an attitude problem, I am not going to be branded as some sappy female!!!... Am I?

I have always praised myself for having a very monotone attitude. No matter what the situation I had trained myself to not care or to not show emotion, be it some bully taking his anger out on me, being looked down on or even being made into a public clown and loner. Sure I was angry and in due time I even learned to fight back and sometimes even gave my bullies a thing or two to cry about, but in none of these situations have I ever cracked down and cried or shouted back in anger. And yet here I am, in front of some stupid rich kid I've wailed like a baby and have gotten so angry he even told me that I shout too much! So all that toughing up throughout my 18 years of existence have just all gone down the drain, instead of a tough expressionless adult I've turned into hormone ridden boy who has mood swings! I might as well have taken oestrogen tablets and worn a dress before I took this job that would have made this job oh-so much easier to accept! I frown as I feel a headache attack my brain and I'm forced to abandon all my mental thoughts of what I'd actually look like in a frock... Not very appealing is what the headache seems to be telling me.

After the temporary headache stops all thoughts and ponderings going on in my mind I find that I've calmed down a lot and almost feel better if I hadn't decided to stand up and straighten my shirt. I find my own mouth curling in disgust. Damn, these clothes really did look bad compared to what I had been throwing around from Sasuke's cupboard. Before I came in here I was still a normal student and I could still pretend or turn a blind eye and just not think about the state my clothes were getting in to, but now... I give another deep sigh. Turning a blind eye now was just not going to work, I was in a totally different environment now not to mention social class too. And if I wanted to keep this job I was going to have to lock up my stupid pride and go with the flow. If Sasuke wants me to sit I'll have to sit, if he wants me to stand I'll have to stand but if he wants me to beg then I'll just have to give it to him right where it hurts! Going with the flow does not mean me giving in to things like licking his boots, so he's lucky I don't classify 'dressing up' as crossing the line.

So having set my standards for when I'd give in to temptations at hitting Sasuke, I make my way over to the stairs remembering that the butler was at the front entrance when I first met him.

Of course once I actually reached the stairs all those forgotten bad memories of last night were now flooding my head. I gulp as I realise just how steep it actually looked from way up here and the fact that my body still remembered the pain I had gone through was not at all helping me. I grab the banister next to me for support and find body almost hug it as I slowly descend the staircase taking one step at a time, better safe than sorry. It was after my feet had touched the cold solid floor did I finally feel reassured enough to let go and back away from the banister. My eyes dart around and check my surrounds and after making sure that no one had seen my abnormal behavior I give a sigh of relief, hoping that I would soon get over this little trauma and never need to be so intimate with that banister again. I look straight up and find something not right straight away. In the distance I could make out the front entrance, it was pretty far away though, I mean this is a mansion, things are bound to be way out of proportion compared to a 'normal' house. So squinting slightly I make out the figure of a person next to the door who I suppose was the butler, but the colour just doesn't seem to be right. I mean in my memory the butler was wearing a black suit right? Then why did I start to see muliticolours around him??? I shake my head, telling myself that it was probably the distance and the bright lights that was causing the colour change since I don't have perfect vision, I walk over quickly wanting to just get changed and get this whole thing over with. As I walk closer and closer towards the door the figure grew larger and my vision became clearer and then it just became crystal clear as to the cause of the sudden colour change. If in my life there was a time when I found that an even could cause me to be surprised I would say there were many, including myself accepting this job. If it was an event that brought curiosity I would certainly say that Sasuke himself is a bag that any curious cat would want to look into, since he isn't exactly an open book and only God would know what is going through his mind. But if I were to find an event or thing that would combine all these feelings and leave me speechless I'd have to say that currently, there is only one. And that would be when I finally reached the large entrance that I had just entered last night and which has forever changed my way of life.

I stand there, my eyes wide open and my mouth hanging slightly as I look at the person only a few meters infront of me, this was on no way in hell the same guy as yesterday. For a butler I had always know he would be have a full head of white as I had witnessed just yesterday, but this guy's white mane was long and bushy and looked like it had never had a proper date with a brush. And if clothes could reveal someone's personality then his must be a very bright and out going since he was sporting a shirt with a bright orange background and a floral design on top, like the ones you see people wearing when their in Hawaii or on some beach for the summer. And he was even sitting on a big comfy chair that I swear wasn't there before. And that isn't even the main part yet, clutched between his hands was a glossy magazine. Oh and not just any magazine, it had a deep black background on which a picture of a girl was printed on top of it. She was modeling what could only be described as a skimpy bikini and fish net tights with a pair of fluffy pink bunny ears adoring her head, and above her in big flashy writing were the words...PLAYBOY!

Yes a porn book in the hands of some old guy whose identity I still didn't know, was sitting in the space Sasuke had told me the butler would be. And as if that isn't enough to cause damage to my current state of mind I could start to make out drool slowly seeping out of the corner of his mouth...now I was not only very confused but also disturbed beyond belief! I was about to make a quick dash back up the stairs and find Sasuke for a logical explanation when his head bobbed up and he spotted me. I can honestly say that in that moment I understood what a deer must feel when its caught by headlights and frozen by shock before the car actually rams into them, I had yet to wait for the ramming but I was definitely frozen on the spot. This was definitely worse than when I was caught drooling on Sasuke's bed...I think? He smiles brightly and I can almost feel a shiver make its way down my spine, he folds his glossy and holds it in one hand as he gets up and walks towards me. I just gap at him as he stops infront of me and extends his free hand out towards me in a gesture I think was meant to say he wanted to shake hands, I however wasn't as thrilled with the idea as he was. from the way he was dressed and what he held in his hands who knows where his hands have been and how unhygienic his life style could be...but not wanting to seem impolite I reluctantly grab his hand and we shake for a few quick moments before letting go.

"Hi youngster, what are you here for then?" he asks his smile still on, I pause for a second and look around me. God there isn't anyone else around so he definitely means me as well as also establishing the fact that there was no one around to help save me from this creepy confrontation, guess there's no escaping now.

"Me, um...well I'm new here, and I'm in charge of looking...after Sas..I mean...um...the young master." I stutter badly as I try to speak with respect but failing as he's exterior was really putting me off. I can't help but feel the temptation of speaking casually.

"And um...he told me that the butler would be here. Do..you know...where he's gone to?" and here was my last chance to find some sanity as I prayed that he wasn't the butler but just the gardener or something, because that would be way more logical than...

"Oh why look no further, that'd be me." I feel my face tense up. How on earth is he the butler? If he is then he has got to be the most laid back butler I've ever seen, his clothes are almost as bad as mine...meaning his clothes don't have any holes in them but still not as expensive looking as yesterday's guy.

"Then who was the guy here yesterday." I ask my tension gone as I now focus on wanting to uncover the mystery of the sudden switch.

"Ah that guy was just a substitute, I was on holiday and just got back today." and what luck I seem to be having lately. Not only with yesterday and this mornings misfortunes I was now stuck with an cheerful-porn reading sub-boss who might look easy going on the outside but could be some strict twisted old man out to make everyone's lives miserable!!! Ever since I met Sasuke and his family I've learnt to never judge people by how they look on the outside. I shake my head lightly. No surely I was reading into this too much, it's probably yesterdays bump on the head that's causing me to over react. This man can't be bad right? I look up at him ready to ask a lot of question to try and work out what he was really like when I pause, and narrow my eyes. During the time I had spent scaring myself silly, he seemed to have lost interest quickly and was now currently back to reading his glossy...infront of me...

I grit my teeth, he was definitely not a psycho or strict but more like he's got this built in '3-second' shift system...meaning he has the same attention span of a gold fish, give it three seconds and it won't even remember it's a fish! I give up, I just can't win in this place. I get to have someone like Sasuke for a boss and this old guy in front of me as a superior...what is my life coming to. I must have been a serial killer or at least a cold blooded criminal in my past life and thus this is the perfect punishment for all my wrong doings...being left here to have a very slow torturous life by being left to rot slowly with a bunch of weirdoes.

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We finally stop after a long time of walking and I find myself quite tried and my feet needing a long rest, I turn to look at the pervie butler and cringe. He may have white hair and be old but he in no way looked tired, in fact he looked even more happier than ever. Although I wasn't sure if that bright smile was due to the exercise or because he had reopened his glossy and was reading it happily, telling from the drool it was probably the latter option. Due to the lack of energy I figure it would be to much hassle to tear his eyes away from the mag since I'm pretty sure he won't even notice I'm gone. So in one swift move I open the bathroom door, step in and close it quickly behind me and having felt the lock underneath the handle I also quickly lock the door, satisfied at hearing the familiar metallic click I let out a sigh. God this was like a mad house now. Not only do I have to put up with Sasuke and his request but I have someone who acts more like a child than I do as my sub-boss, I pretty much can't depend on him, guess I'm on my own now. I suddenly felt like I'm stranded on some deserted island and the only life boat left to save me had numerous holes in it...yeah that pretty much sums up my current situation. Back to surviving on my own, and now I didn't even have father to support me. I close my eyes, it won't matter I'm use to doing things by myself and having no one to cheer me on. I grit my teeth together, I depended on myself for 18 years I'm not going to start depending on other people to help me.

I flip the light switch next to me and open my eyes, the brightness almost blinding me. God when was this family going to start realising that bright lightbulbs can damage ones eyesight, especially in a room full of shiny white tiles ready to reflect it at me. I squint my eyes and look around for the stupid suit, the quicker I get out of here the less chance of me actually becoming blind. I spot it easily as the black material hangs against the white tiles. I reach the suit but find myself pounding over its appearance. No matter how long I continue to look at it, I just can't bring myself to believe that the thing hanging from the hanger is supposed to be a 'suit'. My idea of a 'suit' would be more like what those middle class businessmen had to wear. The ones you always see while riding the underground to central London or something and it's all steamy, hot and really unbearable and yet there are still people wearing what looks like a built in sauna and super uncomfortable. Instead I'm currently staring at something an old fashioned and traditional butler would wear. With a colour scheme of deep black with white, and here's the fun part, a black jacket that extends at the back to end in two long 'tails'. There was also of course the waist coat inside and the shirt and neck tie, to think I even got a pair of gloves with the set, Sasuke can be over extra sometimes. I bite my lip at the thought of Sasuke specially getting this all set up for me, that prick! I find myself very unhappy right now. To think that wearing a suit would be bad but now I was going to wear this 'suit'? I just know that I'm going to look like I just stepped out from one of those cos-play conventions, who even makes these 'things' anymore?! The guy outside doesn't have to wear one and even the temporary butler yesterday wasn't wearing something that made him look like a penguin, so why me?!

I give a grunt of displeasure, well it's pretty obvious Sasuke wants to make me look the part of 'obedient' slave boy too now. I grab at the 'suit' angrily no use crying over spilled milk, what's done is done, all I can do now is grit my teeth together and get on with the show. I pull my shabby shirt off and slip on the outfit, I pause...this suit might look all soft and comfy but in reality the difference couldn't be greater. I move my arms about and find that the material is actually quite stiff and my body's movements are restricted, I feel like a robot now, a very black robotic penguin. I sigh, well what was I expecting I wasn't going to get anything near as soft as Sasuke's suits those were the softest things I've ever felt. I move my arms again, I definitely hope that I only have to wear this for one day since Sasuke's friend's coming over, I'd rather choose my cheap shabby T-shirts over this anyday.

Having now fully changed I exit the bathroom clumsily due to the stiffness of the suit and was ready to be taken back to Sasuke, that was until I found out that the butler was gone! I look around me frantically but I was all alone in the corridor. I begin to panic, I'm not going senile am I? I mean I remember very clearly that he was there when I went in so why isn't he here when I exit, I didn't take that long did I?! I grab my head with both hands, great just what I need, to get lost even at my age! And what is up with the butler? He didn't even bothered to tell me he wasn't going to take me back. I pause and then sigh, guess he probably spotted some hot chick in some skimpy maid outfit and is currently trailing her like a dog! And so I'm stuck here knowing pretty darn well that old mans never coming back for me, why would he when it's a choice between me and walking female.

Understanding is one thing but liking is another issue altogether, I mean does he really have to just leave me here? I personally think it's rude to just dump the newbie and leave, especially in a place that took ten minutes to find! That's right, I've lost count of how many stairs we had to climb let along how many turns and corridors there were on the way up here. It's amazing how much you can walk in ten minutes. But I should have realised by now that everyone in this place isn't going to tell me anything, it's just way more fun that way! I stand angrily in the corridor for a few moments trying to clear my thoughts and think of my current options that I had left. So it was either wait here like an idiot and pray for Mr. butler or some passing servant to take me back, find my own way back through this maze or end my miserable life right here right now...

Looks like I won't be getting back to Sasuke anytime soon, no thanks to Mr. 'leave you there to die' butler/pervert! Now with my only map of this place gone I had only one option left, make my own way back. That was the only rational option I had left I mean I don't think ending my life right here would be appropriate, the thought of me having to dying outside the toilet I got lost at isn't a very dignified end to my pride. So I turn and look to my left, only a long deserted corridor, I turn and look to my right, another long deserted corridor. At that moment I realised that my luck wasn't just bad, it was terrible. To think that these people were stupid enough to build a toilet in the middle of no where, just makes me wonder about how the mind of a rich person actually works. They either had too much spare time or they were just plain stupid. Having no intention of dying anywhere next to this toilet or alone, I rummage through my pockets and flipped a coin to let God guide me. I catch it as it falls and give a quick glance at it then to my left, I make my way towards my fated corridor. I guess it's up to my feet and God to find me a way now.

I finally came to a flight of stairs and having made my way down I spotted a person. His back was facing me and his shoulders bent forwards as he folded towels into a basket. I felt tears begin to form as I stood there, happy that I wasn't going to die alone. In fact the guy in front of me was also wearing a similar outfit as mine, it had the colour scheme and design and although he didn't have those annoying tails behind him, at least I'm not the odd one out now. I grin, seeing another person going through the same pain as me filled me with relief. I make my way over and tap him on the shoulder lightly to get his attention, he turns quickly to face me and I feel my slight smile drop as I take in his appearance. His pale white skin seemed to highlight his dull dead eyes with a set of matching black eye bags underneath. It wasn't that I'd never seen a person who'd over worked themselves it's just, well...to be direct would be saying that I've never seen someone look that much like a zombie. No he didn't look dead, it was more like he was the walking dead, how can anyone over work themselves that bad?! I could only carry on staring at him in complete silence, he didn't say a single word and after a moment or two he just turned around and carried on with his work. I think that snapped me out of my weird shock. My correction he 'is' a zombie, his mind seemed to be set on the 'work till you drop' mode. Now being a bit freaked out by this guy's dedication to be a loyal hard working slave for life I backed away slowly and then turned and walked quickly away in the opposite direction, I'd rather take my chances with mister butler anyday.

I soon found a corner and turned sharply before I hit something. Forced to move backwards from the impact my back finds a nice hard door knob for me to slam against, and just when I thought I'd forgotten about the pain it comes back. I give a minute for the pain to subside, knowing damn well there'd be another bruise on my body now, before I look forward at what I had hit. I find my self looking down at yet another servant this time a young maid with some weird looking French maid outfit that reminded me of something I once saw in a manga. There was the typical short dress with short sleeves and the white apron over that, as well as the long stockings and a little frilly hairband on the head, in fact every part of the outfit seemed to have some sort of frill or another. I shudder, who ever was in charge of the work clothes design for this place is a pervert...whom I hope isn't the old butler. I'm so glad I'm not a female, her skirt is just too short to be legal...

She looks up at me and I find myself looking straight into another set of emotionless eyes, but thanks to my previous encounter I don't jump back five feet and scream, instead I give a small squeak that I guess was meant to be 'sorry'. She blinks slowly and then looks down, her arms grabbing at the fallen clothes. I somehow don't seem surprise this time as yet again my existence is ignored by a fellow college. But the bump seems to have knocked some sense in to me and I remember that there's still one place left here with a talking person...Sasuke! Of course I was gonna have to find him first so pulling myself together I give the speaking thing another try.

"Um, excuse me miss, but do you know where the young master's room is?" I try politely, but she just carries on picking and folding the fallen clothes neatly.

"Um, you know Sasuke's room? Miss?" I try again, this time louder and with my hands waving in front of me. The same thing happens and once her clothes were gathered she just picks up the basket and stands. At this point I only had two words to describe their behavior. They're either 'brainwashed' or just 'unsociable' I guess. But either way this meant no one was going to get me to Sasuke's room...so how am I going to get back now? I turn and dig in my pockets for my trusty old coin to flick, but stop when I here a voice say a small "there".

I turn quickly and find that the zombie maid was pointing down to corridor that lead to a flight of stairs. I stare and realised that I somehow recognized it and turn excitedly back to face the young maid to tell her my thanks, but as I should have already guessed, she had already retrieved all of her laundry and was walking down an opposite corridor to the stairs. I sigh, I guess I'm not going to make any friends here either. I pull my arms up and stretch, well even though I'll have no friends here I still have someone who will talk back normally with me. I look at my watch quickly and freak, it has already been half an hour, and I head towards the route she had pointed out and walk quickly towards it. I better hurry or even Sasuke won't talk to me, and he's the only sane person in this creepy place.

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A/N: Okay the back bit started to get a tad bit on the weird side but that will be of help later so forgive the madness! And thanks to all the people who sent in ideas! I will use them happily but probably not soon so keep your eyes peeled. And to others who have ideas they'd like to give me I will be very grateful, my minds kinda blank sometimes and I need ideas!