Chapter 1: Sakura and Ino
Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. The story is based on the fairytale Cap O' Rushes by Joseph Jacobs.
"Sakura! Another pile of dirty dishes coming up!"
A groan was heard.
"Come on Sakura, we haven't got all day!"
"I've already washed about 200 dishes today. Give me a break Ino. I am human too, you know."
"Well, you were the one who said that you were willing to do any job. Consider yourself lucky that I've even decided to take you in."
"But Ino," Sakura wined, she and Ino had become good friends over the last 3 days that she had been there, "Can I at least go at a slower pace? It's not like you guys are going to run out of plates or cups or bowls. I mean, just look around!" Sure enough, the shelves were full of everything a cook could every need, and much, much more. Plates and bowls were stacked so high, they looked like they could fall any second, and there was a whole shelf dedicated to a variety of cups for all different occasions. In the drawers, you will find all types of silverware and utensils—forks, spoons, knives, spatulas, colander, cleaver and a thousand others that Sakura either did not know the name of or couldn't be bothered to list.
"Fine, fine," Ino dismissed with a wave of her hand, "But only because you are a good friend."
At that, Sakura huffed.
After a moment of silence, Sakura suddenly piped up, "Why are you working here at such a young age?"
Surprised, Ino turned to look at Sakura with widened eyes. After her question was finally processed in Ino's brain, she replied, "Ever since my father died, my mother and I had been struggling to support ourselves with just the money she earns from her job, so I came here to ask for a job too, and Queen Mikoto was kind enough to take me in. I've been here for two years, and her majesty liked my cooking so much that she decided to promote me to head cook."
"At the age of eighteen?" Sakura raised a brow. "That's impressive."
"Yeah, yeah, that's what everyone keep telling me, but personally, as long as my mother and I can survive, I don't really care about all this reputation stuff."
"Hmm…" Sakura hummed, deep in thought. After a while, she said, "I guess the same goes for me."
"And you, Sakura," Ino said, turning the topic around, "haven't told me why you are out here and homeless in the first place. And why are you still wearing that cape?"
"You already know that I won't say anything about the cape," Sakura murmured. "And as for my homelessness, it is because my mother died while giving birth to me, and my father hated me for it. So, as soon as I was old enough to fend for myself, he threw me out."
Ino gasped in pure horror, "What kind of parent will do that to their child?"
"Mine." Sakura said quietly.
Ino, sensing that her friend no longer wanted to say anymore on the topic, quickly changed the subject.
"Say, there are three balls next week on three consecutive nights, to celebrate Prince Sasuke's eighteenth birthday. Everyone is allowed to attend. Are you going?"
Sakura hesitated, "Well, I don't really know…"
Her blonde friend interrupted, "You absolutely have to go. Have you seen the prince? He's so handsome!" Ino's expression suddenly turned dreamy as she oohed and aahed.
"Three balls, huh?"
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