Cindersoot

Summary: Sakura is the heiress to one of the richest noble families in all of Japan. However, her stepmother takes away all of that when her father dies. What happens when she meets the Prince by accident? AU. R&R!

A/N: Hee hee, I should really be working on two other fics right now, but I couldn't resist! So, bear with me. I hope you enjoy this. XD

Naruto and other characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Eight year old Sakura Haruno sat on the dresser table, swinging her legs. Her pink hair was messed as her maid tried to work out all the burrs and tangles that were in it. "Lady Sakura, how on earth did you get your hair so messed up?" she asked in exasperation. Sakura simply shrugged and continued to swing her legs enthusiastically.

She had every right to be happy today, for today was her father's wedding day. Sakura smiled into the large mirror, showing all her white teeth. "Daddy's getting married today!" she announced to the impatient maid.

"Don't call your father that, Lady Sakura." she admonished. "Now, please pass me that red ribbon will you? Lady Yamanaka will be pleased that you are wearing her gift at last." Sakura wrinkled her nose as she handed the maid her ribbon that was sitting on her desk. Images of Ino-pig as she had nicknamed her floated to the front of her mind. How she wished she could get rid of that snivelling blonde out of her mind! Her father, Lord Haruno, had forced her to spend some 'bonding' time with her as he had put it. It was anything but that. Ino couldn't help but tease the pink-haired girl about her larger than average forehead and despite giving her a ribbon, seemed to hate her.

The maid had finished her work and smiled. "There you are, we're finished. You're looking wonderful. I'm sure that everybody will be pleased to see you like this." Sakura scowled at the reflection. She had been stuffed against her will into a puffy pink kimono that looked hideous with all the accessories dripping out of it. That coupled with the stupid frilly red ribbon did not make a good combination. Sakura could tell from the fake smile that the maid was wearing that she looked awful. Tugging at the dress, she turned to the maid.

"Do I really need to wear this?" she asked. "I don't see why I have to be dripping lace and frills for a short ceremony."

"Your soon-to-be mother requested this especially. I'm sure that she simply wants you to look your best for today." the maid replied. "Now, please hurry. Your father wishes you to meet the wedding guests with your prescence." Sakura's eyes lit up at the prospect of spending more time with her father. However, her face fell the next instant. Akatarou Haruno would be leaving for business soon after the wedding, which meant that she had to spend all her time with her hated stepfamily.

Sakura rushed out the door of her bedroom and into the long hallway, taking care not to bump into any servants. There were many milling about, moving things for her stepfamily, tidying things or merely just perfecting something incorrect. They wouldn't take kindly to a clumsy young girl, like herself, messing anything up.

Slowing herself down to avoid any collisions, she went down the grand stairs and out the door to the backyard. The ceremony was to be held in the Haruno property, by the cherry blossom trees that Akatarou had planted for his first wife and named his daughter after. They were his last, lingering memories of her and he wanted his wife to be present for this day in his life.

I am not marrying for love, but for the prosperity of both my daughter and Lady Oharu, he told himself silently. Akatarou would never, and will never love anybody like he had loved his first wife. This marriage was purely for the benefit of Oharu Yamanaka and his daughter. Sakura needs a mother. I am doing this for her.

"Daddy!" a cry interupted his thoughts. He looked down to find Sakura running towards him. It was early spring, during that precious time that the sakura blossoms on the trees bloomed. He smiled at his daughter, who had fallen down upon the ground which was covered in petals. He wished that he was a painter, for the scene that followed was precious.

"Hn, you have quite a daughter there, Lord Haruno." the deep voice of Hiashi Hyuuga, from the prominent Hyuuga clan was heard close to his ear. "She is brave and spirited. My only wish was that Hinata were like her." There was a sadness in those pearly eyes. Akatarou glanced sideways at Hiashi.

"Your daughter has her strengths. There is none anywhere that has a kinder heart than her." he told Hiashi. "You must be proud of your children, regardless of who they are. You need to believe that they will have the potential to grow strong and good. Only then will they live up to your hopes and dreams and have the courage to follow their own."

Hiashi nodded respectfully at Akatarou. "The guests are arriving." he said, pointing towards the distant stream of wedding guests. "You must be itching to meet them." Akatarou groaned and beckoned towards his daughter to stand beside him. It would be much more bearable if he had her with him.

Oharu Yamanaka smiled vivaciously at the mirror. She looked as pretty as she could in her age, and that was something to be greatly admired. Her milky skin was the lightest shade, showing that she did little work. The alluring blue eyes glinted mischeavously behind heavy eyelids. Her cheeks were painted a light pink to give it some colour, and her hair had been washed and combed to be a silky blonde. She settled herself in the seat and gazed at her reflection.

Yes, today was going as planned. She looked out the window at the sakura blossom trees to find her fianceé standing with his daughter, greeting the guests. She frowned slightly.

The only thing standing between her and the happiness she so desperately wanted was that little girl. The flower of Akatarou's eye. Sakura Haruno.

Oharu had many secrets. Some were petty, some were dark and some were hardly known as secrets. However, she had one that was buried deep within her soul. One that she couldn't get rid of easily, or even get rid of at all.

Sighing, she fixed a curl in her hair as she reminisced the old days. Days before any kind of politics took over her life, and the only concern became to be pretty, or be eaten by the other power-hungry nobles.

Oharu had always been taken with Akatarou Haruno. He was the richest noble, the handsomest by far, and only slightly below the King of Japan. To win his heart, would mean to win a healthy inheritance and a comfortable life. She had strived to do so, always trying to catch his attention everytime they met. However, he had only had eyes for one person. And that was Aemi Harada.

Aemi was everything that Oharu wasn't. Everything that she strived to be. She wasn't pretty, but something about those long curls and dark jade eyes had caputred Akatarou. They had wed almost as soon as they were of age, leaving Oharu in the dust. Useless, and nothing but a doll to decorate another man's house. Oh, she had married of course. It was expected of her. She had wed another man and had Ino. And then, her husband had died, leaving her with a considerable sum of money. But that wasn't enough. Time had changed Oharu. All she wanted now was riches, and wealth and status. And nothing would stop her from achieving any of it.

When she heard that Aemi had died, she had been shocked, but a small part of her rejoiced. This was the opening, the chance she was waiting for. Now, she would make her move and all that she desired would pile in her lap. It had taken a while, but it was better than nothing. Akatarou was getting married to her. She and Ino would then live a comfortable life.

The only problem was Sakura.

Oh well, she would have to deal with that later. She smiled at herself, but unlike before, it was cold and heartless. Nothing would stop her, nothing could stop her. She was no longer the naive Oharu Yamanaka that had been lovesick. No. She was Lady Oharu Haruno, second highest lady of the court.

She was unstoppable.

A/N: Reviews will be excellent. I hope I got some of Oharu's character in that. Hopefully by now, you've figured out who everybody is in this fic.

As for our favorite, knuckle-headed hyper active ninja, he will make an appearance in the next chapter! Never fear, my dear readers. Now, if you would be so kindly as to review, that will be wonderful.

BookWyrrm