A/N: Hello all!

Had a story idea regarding Sakura and decided to write it. I also wanted to practice writing in 1st person POV.

Happy Reading! ¯\_( ͡❛ ▿ ͡❛)_/¯

Dumpster Flower

Chapter 1

Walking down the dusty streets of Konoha was never pleasant in the evenings. Dirt always caked my sandaled feet more than usual and creeps revealed themselves. But today it felt like I was walking down a blessed road. It happened, it really happened! The first step to a better life finally came!

"Cha!" I screamed with excitement, jumping three feet into the air.

A few people turned their heads at my outburst, but it was hard to care on a day like this. I just made my way home with a skip in my step, passing those nosy people looking out their windows.

I knew that my outburst was a bit much for a high class lady like me, but how could I not celebrate and let loose a little? I can be as refined as I need to when I get the boylove. I, Sakura Haruno, will be Sasuke Uchiha's wife any day now with how things were going.

Nothing was going to get in my way. Nothing! Not the drunk men that whistled at me when I passed their pesky pub nor the red lights that blared shamelessly in the entrance of the Red Light District.

I simply let them go and headed toward my apartment building. It might be a little run down with its rusty tin roof littered with pipes and creaky wooden frame, but it was home. The rotten wood gave it a... vintage appearance.

I quickly walked up the stairs to my apartment floor, sometimes taking long strides to avoid the missing steps. When I got to my door, I got my key and began my usual fight with the lock. I was victorious, of course, and fiddled it open.

"I'm home!" I cheered.

Only familiar silence greeted me, but my usual sullen did not occupy my heart.

It was a simple two room apartment filled with plants that Dad collected, all cluttering the living room and the windows. But my usual disdain for the overgrowth was nonexistent, only Sasuke cluttered my mind.

"He actually looked at me! Even talked to me!" I squealed as loud as I could, trying to fill the silence.

"I sat right next to him in class and was even his partner for a school assignment! My life will soon be perfect~"

I was sadly interrupted by my old neighbor pounding on the other side of the wall, making me flinch.

"Quiet you!" the old lady screeched along with obscenities a girl like me should never dare repeat.

That vulgar hag. She would never understand the importance of what happened to me today. So, I stuck my tongue out at the wall as I walked further into my apartment and continued with my thoughts.

Images of how Sasuke and I worked so well together filled my mind and I couldn't help but squeal, louder this time. We were going to be on the same Genin Team at this rate.

But my wonderful daydream was interrupted by my stomach growling. Now that bummed me a little. So, I walked into the kitchen and to the fridge. The assortment of positive notes Mom stuck to the front of it caught my eye.

'Don't give up!'

'We believe in you!'

'We will have full bellies one day!'

I smiled a little at the notes and made sure to open the fridge gently, so none of the notes fell onto the floor like last time.

"Let's see. Condiments, stale bread, miso," I said to myself with a frown. "Looks like another day of fasting,"

I sighed, closing the fridge, and went to the sink to grab a dry glass from the full drying rack and started filling my glass up with tap water. I took a sip and it tasted weirder than usual. I shrugged my shoulders and held my nose to down the rest. My stomach hurt a little as I chugged it down, but I knew that that pain would go away in a bit. A part of me still regretted it though.

I was about to lay down on the couch to lessen the pain, but there was an unwelcome knock on the door. Such a loud knock too, a constant banging. I hoped it was not that drunk guy mistaking my place for his again, but I wasn't worried. I was going to be a genin in two weeks, so I could definitely take on a guy like him.

I opened the door to see that it was not the drunken guy but someone worse, the landlady. My parents and everyone else in the apartment building talked badly about her behind her back and nicknamed her the Gilded Rat. Looking at her up close, I could understand why.

The middle-aged woman combed her light blue hair tightly into an oily bun and powdered her face with makeup to cover the wrinkles forming on her face. I wanted to shield my eyes from the shiny costume jewelry she adorned, but that would be rude. The only thing on her that looked to be of any value was her two front teeth made of gold, dangling with pride outside her mouth as she smiled.

"Well, if it isn't little Sakura. Are your parents home?" she asked, squeaking like a mouse.

I shook my head and returned the smile. "Not at the moment, Gi— Mrs. Nezumi. Sorry,"

I covered my mouth to make myself look modest and shield the lip of my tongue. Mrs. Nezumi tilted her head and smiled wider, making her expression look more like a sneer.

"That's fine. I can just tell you," She replied, barging into the apartment. "How old are you, 9?"

"12 and a half," I quickly interjected.

"Perfect! Basically, Genin age," she said.

I frowned as she sniffed around the place, cringing as she ran her crinkly fingers across the walls, fondling Dad's plants and Mom's knickknacks.

"Looks like the place is in good condition. Not much maintenance needs to be done," Mrs. Nezumi said under her breath, situating herself on the couch like she owned the place.

My mind was running a mile a minute with thoughts of basic etiquette mixed with ways to kill her. Would stabbing her with my kunai do?

"Uh, want anything to drink?" I asked, standing in front of her, trying my best to hide the tremble in my voice.

"Water is fine," Mrs. Nezumi said as she ran her hand across the coffee table and tutting at the dirt that accumulated on her fingers.

I walked to the kitchen to get a cup and fill it with tap water. I made sure it was an icky lukewarm before giving it to her. She took a sip and placed the water on the table, appearing to not take notice of the unsavory temperature.

"What do you want to tell me?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Do you have any relatives or friends?" she asked, seemingly out of the blue.

I furrowed my brow at the question. "Not that I... know of. Why?"

"Well, you will have to find some then. You are getting evicted in two days, after all," Mrs. Nezumi deadpanned.

"Evicted?!" I shouted, my mouth hanging open.

"I told your parents a week ago that this would happen if they were late on their rent again and look where we are now," she continued, reaching for my mouth, and promptly closing it. "No avoiding it. Can't reverse it. I already reserved this apartment for a new, wealthier tenant,"

"B-but two days is not enough time! Please, Mrs. Nezumi!" I begged, my eyes watering as I put my hands together.

"Save me the water works. Think of this as a learning experience. Pay on time and you'll be fine!" she laughed as she walked to the door.

"You cruel—"

"Cruel? I am just taking out the trash. Call it, gentrification. Ta-ta!" Mrs. Nezumi cheered before walking out the door, not bothering to close it behind her.

My legs grew heavy as I stared out my front door and leaned against the wall.

"Taking out the trash?!" I shouted before dropping to the floor.

My breath hitched and tears started to fall. "I always wanted to leave this rat's den, but here is better than being homeless!"

I slammed my fist against the wall and let out a sob.

What are we going to do?!

I don't know how long I laid there crying. It wasn't until I saw my mom rush into the apartment that I came back to reality.

"Sakura, my baby!" She screamed, grabbing my shoulders. "Who attacked you?"

She lifted my arms to inspect me and let out a sigh of relief.

"No cuts and bruises," she said before cupping my cheek. "Please tell me!"

I leaned into her calloused hand, her fingers chipped and wrinkled from them being in water all day from working as a laundress. She was in her work uniform, her blond hair tied up in a green bandana that matched her eyes and wore a red dress with a white apron wrapped around her waist.

"Th-the landlady came by…" I began with a sniff. "We are too behind on rent and she's kicking us out in two days! I hate gentrif— Genferfic! Gah!"

My mom gasped, covering her mouth.

"How dare that rat waltz right in here?!" she seethed, shaking her fists. "The next time I see her—"

She took a deep breath and hugged me tightly.

"Don't you worry about a thing, Sakura. Leave this to the Mommy and Daddy," Mom said gently.

"Okay," I said with a small smile. "I'll just… go to bed,"

Mom returned the smile and helped me up. I went to my room and closed the door behind me. I flopped onto my bed and buried my face into my pillow, its softness not a comfort due to the pit in my stomach. I looked around my closet sized room. The only other things in it was a dresser and a scratched up desk.

"What are we going to do?" I repeated into the evening, wiping my already dried tears.

If only I had Sasuke.

That thought made me perk up and go to my chipped dresser. I kneeled before it and shuffled through my clothes, digging for my notebook.

It was an old pink thing that I ripped the used pages out of. I put my hand on the side of it and pushed some chakra into it. The seal revealed itself and I carefully peeled the notebook open, turning the pages to all the plans I had on getting Sasuke. I picked up the pencil and crossed out step one which was 'to talk to him' and 'be his partner on a school assignment'.

Staring at the crossed-out words, a new hope welled in my heart. He was my miracle.

"If I can make Sasuke love me, all worries will disappear," I said as I traced a heart over his name. "I just need to be in the same Genin Team as him and then we will be bonded for life,"

A soft knock on my door broke me from my thoughts. I could tell that it was Dad knocking based on its unique rhythm. I quickly closed my notebook and put it back into its hiding place.

"Come in," I said as I hopped onto my bed.

The door opened and revealed Dad in all his goofy glory. His dull pink hair spiked in the form of a cherry blossom and his sideburns connected to his mustache. He was holding two bento boxes, eating from one of them. Some of the rice was stuck to the stubble on his chin.

"Your mom told me what happened," he said as he kneeled next to my bed.

The lightness that I was feeling for Sasuke quickly vanished. I frowned and turned myself over in bed.

"It's fine," I mumbled.

"Have dinner," he said as he put the box close to me. "It was on sale! Look, it even has a pickled plum in the center of the rice. Your favorite~"

Pickled plum sounded good, but the sickness in my stomach hadn't ceased, so I continued to lay on my stomach.

"Come on, my little Dumpster Flower—"

"Dad, I told you not to call me that!" I whined, lifting myself up to face him.

Before I could go on my tirade, Dad popped the plum into my mouth, the comforting sourness filling it.

"Suck on the pit. It will relieve any stomach pains," he said, patting his stomach.

I did as instructed and the incessant pain I was having slowly dulled.

"You know that I don't like that name," I huffed as I sat up. "Dumpster Flower,"

"But you used to love that name," he pouted, his blue eyes watery like a puppy's.

"That was before I knew what a dumpster meant!" I said. "I am not trash,"

"Of course, you're not!" he interjected. "Not everything in the dumpster is trash, my Dumpster Flower," he said, running his hand through my pink hair. "There's treasure,"

"I still hate the name," I said.

Dad chuckled and handed me the bento box under his. I stared down at it. It looked expensive despite its big yellow 'Sale' sticker.

"We'll be okay, right?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"How can you be so calm?!" I shouted, picking at the yellow sticker.

He put his hand back on my head and ruffled my hair.

"Focus on small mercies. We still have electricity, and the water is still on. You have food in your hands and will soon have a full stomach. What more can I ask?" Dad replied.

"Not being in this situation," I grumbled, opening the bento box.

The box was neatly arranged and filled with more food that I thought something for sale would have. It had marinated beef, cabbage, and rice with a pickled plum on it. I took a bite and slowly chewed the savory beef.

"It's good," I said before taking another bite.

"See? No worries. Let's eat this with your mom. You know how she is with eating in bed,"

"It's unladylike!" she called from the other room.

"Sorry Mebuki!" Dad called back. "If you ground her for this, I'll unground her,"

Mom laughed, "Wanna bet, Kizashi?"

Dad laughed as well and put his arms around my shoulders. I chucked awkwardly as I was led out of my room, hoping they were not serious, but I knew they were.