Wow, I'm always having fun doing a new story, anything with something in my life I love - and this is no exception. :D A great way to start the new year, huh?

Chapter Two

New Assistant

At an ungodly hour of the night - only the beginning of the evening - some girl had to come onto his grounds and convince him to not speak to her father's boss because that job was what they depended on. He scoffed and did his best to brush that little girl away if she knew what was good for her. With that repairing position, how on earth did they even support each other?

What, a working girl with a part-time job and college work unable to help her father? She could have just quit school and worked full-time if she cared about her old man that much. Sasuke pondered this the moment he was inside the warm abode of his family home, and some hot tea to soothe his nerves that Kabuto freshened for him. The guy was nowhere around, probably retired the night. No problem, I don't need you tonight anyway. But in the morning, he would have to tell his butler and childhood playmate that he had a new assistant coming whenever she had a day off.

If she had a second life, he would do his best to not get his hopes up if he didn't always need her. As long as it was going to be until he said so, that the debt was paid off until he could find a replacement for that piece left down by Madara Uchiha, then he was happy.

Not only was it her nerve that riled his, but the looks of her. It was not a sight you saw every day, himself included, with that pink hair short enough to belong to a pixie, those wide green eyes, and that attitude that put Karin's to shame. Was that hair natural or dyed? It wouldn't surprise him if she was a punk rocker in her teenage years. Sasuke had to wonder why she chose to work in the orthodontic field, out of anything else.

Why am I wanting to know so much about her, anyway? Her father wrecked something that's been in my family for ages; how competent can she really be compared to him? She could always change her mind, up and quit like Karin...no, I could fire her as I did to Karin. That'd highlight my day.

On day one, he would just wait and see. The best thing he could do was ask her to do the smallest of errands for him. It was going to be fun to rattle her as she sure as hell frazzled him already.

That night as he fell asleep, a pair of verdant eyes framed with petal hair continued to haunt his thoughts.

~o~

It just happened that the first day of working for Sasuke "The Beast" Uchiha was when she was finishing her shift in the early afternoon of the next day, and she was going to head home to change from her navy scrubs before going straight back to the Uchiha place. She turned off the lights to the examination rooms then and there, only to be startled by Ino's voice. "Kiba should be here soon."

"Wh-what?" Ino raised an eyebrow, suddenly sparking her memory. Damn it, she forgot about meeting her cousin! She exhaled. "Oh, no, I'm sorry. I can't." Now her friend looked disappointed and confused. "It's a long story." Sakura wasn't sure how she could explain to her that she got a second part-time job and that it involved the infamous Beast himself, as well as settling something that was an accidental mistake on her dad's behalf.

"Kiba's been asking about you ever since you guys met."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just have...another commitment. Ino, I promise I'm not trying to blow this all off..." She jumped a little at the voice she hadn't heard in a while, and there stood Kiba grinning like a canine. The red markings he wore in his younger days that he painted himself enhanced his features. Plus, she was glad he wasn't wearing that hood over his short, spiked brunette hair like last time, but his appearance wasn't a problem.

Sakura liked to think that she didn't have time for boys because she worked so much. She wanted an identity of her own so she could take care of her father and herself, not some guy who wanted her to give it up like in the old days. Was Kiba that kind?

"Hey," she said, managing an awkward grin when she tried to slip past him. Behind her, she heard Ino say that the pinkette would be with them another day, and Kiba sounded worried if it was something he said. If only he knew.

Her dad was still at work when she arrived home, and in a flash, she was out of her scrubs and in a striped light blue blouse with faded jeans, and her favorite earrings which were delicate, ceramic cherry blossoms. She never wore makeup in her life, being told she was naturally pretty enough. The one issue she always had was her wide forehead, which earned her the nickname "Billboard Brow" from bullies, but Ino came to her rescue and boosted her self-confidence. She even adopted the name because it suited who and what she was. If she had it, she would own it.

She now stood outside the front door of the Uchiha Estate and rang the doorbell. It didn't surprise her that the man of the house didn't answer himself, but she was surprised to see another young man do the job. He must have been a few years older than her, wearing glasses, and his silver hair held back in a half-high ponytail. He was kind of...cute. But not ethereal like the Uchiha...

Don't think about that, Sakura. Yes, he's sex on legs, but he's a bastard. This man threatened your father's job, and you're here just to work for him until it's settled. That's all.

"Oh, you must be the new assistant," he said, his voice soft and kind. "I'm Kabuto. Please come in." Now as soon as she was inside, her breath was taken away by the classical staircase, the suspending chandelier which had a painting of a Japanese scenery over it, and the polished floors. She had never seen anything so timeless and sparkling with her own two eyes in her life.

It also turned out that Kabuto was the only one here besides the master, confirming he was indeed a loner. Sakura almost actually felt sorry for him - but only a little.

Kabuto led her up the staircase, showing her a little around and then stopping outside a room where a familiar voice was talking on the phone with someone. But before she went in, Kabuto put his hand on her shoulder and whispered, "Now, don't let him frighten you." Thanks for the reassurance.

"Thank you."

She rounded and knocked on the side of the open office just as he was putting the phone back. While she watched him, she noted how he wore a stormy blue collared shirt beneath a black vest. He had a good fashion sense, she would give him that. "Oh, you're here," he said simply. "Do you...have a name?" Oh, yes, they never were properly introduced last night, were they? He already knew her father's last name, so no need for that.

"Sakura."

Only his eyes raised from whatever he was writing down in front of him. No flicker at her name, which he seemed to think suited her appearance. "Cherry blossom," he said with a little snort. "Figures." Last night he was rude enough, so she was willing to let this little thing regarding her name meaning slide. He then put down his pen and arose. "Follow me."

He led her into another room across his office, which showed a guest bedroom with a nice four-postered bed for one person, absent of drapings, and covered with a shimmering silvery white quilt, and on the other side was a personal writing desk. "You work here when you are not running errands," Uchiha explained when he handed her a yellow sticky paper. It had down a list of things for her to do for him, and she couldn't almost believe what the hell was there. First was the shirts he heard were ready for pick-up from the dry cleaners.

Sakura wanted to sigh with exasperation, but she held it in, just in case he heard her and fired her when she didn't even begin. She forced herself to relax and not let him get to her, as Kabuto advised her.

The dry cleaners had his pressed shirts ready for him, and when she got back that day, she marched right for his office to ask him where he wanted them, hearing a bit of him on the phone again, mentioning "mid-level managers", and she had to bite her tongue. Was yapping about how his workers and others' weren't up to his standards what he did all day?

Someone needed to start teaching him some manners. She was more than qualified. She could only be nice a little at a time with people like him.

She'd had to hold the shirts in plastic with one hand when she put down the paperwork for him, and as a consequence, it slid off the desk and onto the floor. He glared at her, putting a hand on the bottom of the phone. "Do you mind?" Sakura awkwardly grinned as an apology as she fixed the little mess. She had to put it on the other table, and the shirts were to go into his closet.

That meant looking for his bedroom. Suddenly, Sakura felt a little self-conscious about that. The only man's room she'd been in was her father's, which had been his and his wife's until she passed. For a sec, she halted and wanted to ask him, but he was still on the phone and spitting that the managers ought to either be retrained or replaced because time was of the essence.

In her hunt, Sakura found herself seeing the expanse of classic Western filled with ancient Japanese paintings and pottery. It was a unique combination if you asked her. And then, it was there among the bookcase that she glimpsed a familiar title that she loved so much that it amused her to know was even present amongst his selection...

"What do you think you are doing?"

He was so quiet she never heard him come in! She jumped, holding the plastic-covered fabrics close, taking care to not wrinkle them. "I - I'm sorry. I was a bit lost. I was looking for your closet," Sakura answered quickly.

"Well, does this look like the bedroom?" Uchiha snapped. "You know, Sakura -" She hated how he said her name like it was something sour. "- I have no problem going back on our deal. I got your father's work number right on my desk."

"Then, you can show me which is the right room." She had to force herself to be sweet and smiling, but surprise, surprise, he didn't return it. Although he did do what she asked, and the job was done.

Back in his office, while he was typing out letters, she was forced to be in his company and licking the envelopes the letters would go in. She was trying her hardest to not look at him, but she did notice he would occasionally glance in her direction. Could this get any more awkward? She could have sworn she was blushing since she felt it.

You know, as much as I can only go so far, he's really not that bad to look at.

"Sasuke," Kabuto said, announcing himself happily - or was that just because she was here? "I have my mother's fresh pie ready. Do you feel like it?"

"...sure. I'll be right in." Okay, maybe he could draw his line somewhere and be calm and composed - just like the calm before the storm. And Sakura didn't expect to be asked to join; she was also surprised Uchiha-san said nothing like he didn't care. He doesn't care about anything.

She had her back to him when she left the room after the last few on her lap, so she didn't see him look up one more time to watch her retreat from the room.

~o~

One of the few things that Sasuke Uchiha really liked was spinach pie. He hated sweets and couldn't understand why many people - his brother included - liked them so much. This recipe was Kabuto's mother's that she traded with Mikoto Uchiha when she was alive.

Sasuke and Itachi's mother was a rare woman; she was independent and took care of the house while helping her husband manage the business. That had been how she met Fugaku Uchiha; she had been his secretary, but when they announced they were in love a few years later, she had to quit her job and become a housewife, but still managed to aid him at home. The big desk job would have been his brother's had Itachi not chosen to snap and murder Fugaku and Mikoto in their home - just as their youngest son was coming home from study hall late.

To this day, he could never understand why his big brother whom he used to love so much, and worship like a god, could just up and kill their parents, claiming it was a matter of "great importance". He could still hear the cold, cruel words, especially foolish little brother...

He kept only a few things of their parents, that book amongst the collection that Sakura found notable. To see that she was snooping amongst his mother's treasure - one that she said was true to be with the one you love - made his blood simmer, especially that glitter in her eye. Was she familiar with that story?

Sakura Haruno was something else. She got under his skin in a way Karin never did.

He had to bring with him a piece of the newspaper that he'd read before, but it was interesting enough it was worth a reread. From the corner of his eye, she was smiling and thanked Kabuto when he offered her a portion. "When you're finished," Sasuke told her, "I want you to alphabetize the books." He was referring to every one on the case that she had to rest her eyes on. She could be thinking about Mother's novel, but if she so much as pauses to peek inside...

She dared to question him and with that damned sweet smile! "Are you sure? I can -" She was trying to say she could do more than that, but when he gave an order, he expected her to listen.

"I want you to alphabetize the books." That shut her up then and there. He heard her huff and return to the pie. Kabuto glowered at him but said nothing.

"Fine. But I can also do more than just filing and alphabetizing."

"Then it shouldn't be a problem."

Kabuto looked between them, unsure of what to do, but then he had to engage in small talk with the assistant. "Where do you live, Sakura?" He'd done this when Karin first came in, so Sasuke just let him. It annoyed him, but if his butler and the new girl wanted to get to know each other, what did he care?

She answered that she lived a few blocks from here, where it was just her and her father. She even mentioned she loved her job, and no boyfriends present. But then added there never had been a guy in her life. Sasuke didn't know why this bothered him so much, but in a sense, he was also relieved. She had studied and struggled all her life, but somehow she managed to retain that sunny smile and positive outlook on life...something Sasuke Uchiha could not remember since that night his life changed forever.

Sakura also said her mother died years ago, so when Kabuto asked her this, she simply said that it was something she didn't share every day, so he ceased his questions. "Can't learn everything about someone in a day," he once told Sasuke with an awkward smile.

Sasuke didn't bother asking her anything personal on his behalf, but everything he learned back and forth between her and Kabuto was good enough.

~o~

What a day it was to work for the Beast. But the highlight was that Kabuto really was nice to her, asked her questions about her life, but not being too prying - and with HIM listening in but saying nothing. That made her wonder why he didn't tell her to be quiet while he was reading that paper or something.

Maybe...there is more to him than what everyone says about him. And more than what he showed me.

This also brought to light what her mother Mebuki used to say. She mentioned that Sasuke Uchiha, as a teenager, got into trouble a lot, been with a bad crowd before being committed for rehabilitation, seeing many psychiatrists, and the only people who raised him after his parents' murders and his brother's disappearance were the maid and her husband, along with their son who turned out to be Kabuto. Now, he told her this information about himself just today.

Some people might still be saying that the Uchiha was no better than he was as a teen. His attitude, she knew for sure.

When she got home to her father and helped him make spaghetti, which included a special sauce recipe that had been her mother's, he asked her how the "Beast" was. "Bearable," Sakura answered easily, and they both shared a laugh.

A few days later, she was back with the Beast again. When she drove up to the gate, answered by Kabuto, she was blown away by the better view of the estate, particularly the brick sections. They glinted like spring roses in the sunlight. Warm, sweet spring within the cold, unforgiving winter. Huh...irony.

She was bringing him his orange juice that morning, while he was sitting on his sleek sage couch, and without thanking her, he accepted it - before barking the orders. Like a master doing so to the dog; in her case, she was the female dog, get it? "There's a phone number on my desk. I need it right away."

"Yes, sir." Sakura turned on her heel then and there, making her way into his office, only to find several sticky notes down there, and she was so stuck on which one it was. She settled on grabbing the one she thought was the best - but then he called her back and said it was the wrong one. Maybe on his bedroom desk.

She was starting to think maybe he worked too much, too hard. But that was also why she was here, wasn't it?

Later that day when she was typing up a list he asked her to make - and no, it had nothing to do with his business - she heard the noise outside, and turned to look out the window and see Sasuke Uchiha, of all people, in the basketball court. His face was devoid of emotion, but his eyes expressed everything. They burned with such fire that no person could restrain. Could this be his way of getting his anger out in a healthy, productive way? Shaking her head, she went back to work.

Of course, each day she would head home and do her homework, but that was basically what she'd do these days. Work, school, Uchiha, and then homework, but not in that exact order. The last one, however, was always final.

When the doorbell rang, Sakura didn't think they would get a visitor at this time. She assumed maybe her father was receiving, but when Kizashi poked his head in, he told her a guy named Kiba was here.

Kiba...Kiba is HERE?!

Ino must have given him her address if he wanted to see her that bad. And by the looks of it, her dad was giddy as he'd wanted his daughter to go out and find a guy since she put too much of herself on hold just for him and everyone else. There he stood by the door, unable to stop grinning when he saw her. "Hi, Sakura."

"Hey, Kiba," she answered, unsure of what to say. He didn't seem to know what he was doing, either, when he asked her if she wanted to go get some ice cream - and she said yes only because her father answered for her. God, Dad. Without an objection, Sakura grabbed her coat and followed him out.

They found themselves outside the house on the porch instead, and he'd procured two hand-held cartons of strawberry ice cream. "To save us the trip," he told her, laughing. She let herself relax around him.

She decided that she preferred Kiba's company over that arrogant, prideful Uchiha. Being around him wasn't half bad, she decided, when that night they spent the next hour chilling out and him asking her why she didn't want to spend time with him and Ino before. Her answer: she had to work. "A second job," she said. "That, this job, and school."

"Wow, I'm not sure I would have been able to handle that," he told her with a guffaw, then calmed down. "Maybe it's time you...settled down, Sakura. Someone to take care of you as you've always taken care of others."

Sakura never needed anyone's help. She could take care of herself pretty well. But Kiba hinted at something else besides what she was thinking. They hadn't known each other for that long, and she tried not to feel uncomfortable. He wasn't anything like Sasuke Uchiha, and she hadn't had good experiences with guys before them. She never needed a boyfriend or a husband - not yet, anyway. She just hadn't found the right guy. And she didn't even know Kiba Inuzuka that well to know he was that right one.

"Sometimes you have to trust your feelings. If not, you can trust mine."

Okay, this was going too far. The only way to end this quickly and relieve herself of the suffocation was to announce she had an exam coming, which was true, and that made him disappointed. But he understood and let her go back into the house.

But not before he asked her where her second job was, and she blurted it out with haste: the Uchiha Mansion. She closed the door before she could listen to his reaction. If he could visit her there, then she could live with seeing more of him. Plus, she needed more time to think about what he said regarding "feelings".

"That was fast, kumquat," Kizashi called to her, concerned. "Is everything okay?"

"Y-yeah," she said, kissing his cheek. "We had a great time talking, but I got to finish studying for my exam, Dad."

Yyyeah, Sakura's patience can only go so far with the Uchiha Beast. XD If I was in her position, my tolerance could only be so much.