Blue Romance

AU There are four schools, each ruled by different students, Ino of Konohagakure, Gaara of Sunagakure, Sasuke of Otogakure and Itachi of Akatsuki. What happens when normal student, Haruno Sakura gets thrown into the mix? Chaos.

Disclaimer: Me own Naruto? Keep dreaming ;-;

Chapter One: Monster Girl

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Sakura sat at her desk, keeping her head down as Ino stepped into the room, flanked by her groupies. It was an unspoken rule at Konohagakure high--look at Ino and never look at anything again. Konohagakure was an all-female school, one noted for its high intelligence rate and the sheer size of it's campus. Without money or class, one could only rely on brains to get them in through the high brass gate.

Haruno Sakura was one of those students, better known as 'blue students', for the blue ties they were required to wear to show that they were students coming to the school on a scholarship. Blue students were the equivalent of slaves on campus, required to run any errand asked of them by a regular (or red tie) student.

Sakura had been going to this school for almost an entire year and she hadn't made any friends, nor was she happy. Including her there was a total of six blue students. And each of them had a different schedule and time scan. Sakura had only seen one in passing about a month prior.

Ino settled into her seat and the talking slowly resumed, Sakura pulled out her sketch pad. Her pencil moved over the pad in a smooth continuous motion. The teacher came in and began the lesson, though it seemed as though no one was bothering to listen. When the teacher left the room Sakura resumed her drawing. She stiffened as hot breath washed over her neck, followed by a soft chuckle. "What are you drawing, blue?"

Sakura didn't answer as she ducked her head down farther, curling up on herself. "Wow Ino, it looks like she was drawing you!"

Indeed Sakura had been -- no matter how much she hated Ino, she couldn't deny the girl was a beauty, and during the assembly the week prior Ino and her classmates had put on the routine show. The month earlier the acting squad had put on a play, but the week before Ino and her ballet class had done a performance. Sakura had always wanted to dance--holding back because of her extreme clumsiness.

So she drew instead, loving being able to recreate the beauty of dance. A hand reached forward, touching the drawing gently. "Not bad, I mean, I don't think I've ever been that ugly, but what the heck." Sakura's ears burned as she closed her eyes in shame. "What's your name, blue?"

"Haruno S-Sakura," she whispered instantly, not raising her head.

"Sakura eh?" The first voice came back in, a hand tugging at her hair. "It fits!"

"Well Sakura," Ino moved forward, tugging her drawing pad from the protective embrace of her arms and sitting on her desk. "I have an errand for you. In return I wont burn this pretty little book of yours. What do you say?"

Sakura nodded, her long bangs hiding most of her face as she titled her head up slightly. "Of c-course." She said, her voice almost silent.

"Good! Here you go, take this to Sasuke Uchiha at Otogakure."

Sakura froze, her hand beginning to shake as she held onto the letter Ino had handed her. Otogakure was a violent school -- while not nearly as violent as Sunagakure, it was well known that one mistake and you'd wind up with all your teeth needing to be replaced.

"Have a problem, blue?" The second girl, Kin, asked loudly, the hand that had been tugging softly on her hair suddenly turned harsh and Sakura clenched her teeth in pain.

"N-no."

"Wonderful, see you later Sakura!" Ino stood, leaving the room with Sakura's book tucked under one arm. Sakura watched the girls leave, tears burning in her eyes. She was going to be late for her piano lessons, not to mention that she was probably not going to escape Otogakure without a bruise or two. Hopefully she'd still have all her body parts attached.

There were a few sympathetic glances from other students as she stood, shaking hands putting her books back into her bag and closing it. The teacher didn't say anything as she left the room, touching her once gently on the shoulder as she left before resuming the lesson. Sakura stopped by her locker to get her small bottle of mace that her mother had given her.

She slipped the bottle into her pocket and took out a pen, it being the best weapon she had on hand. Taking a soft shuddering breath Sakura closed her locker, looking down the hall to the doors that lead out of the school through a fringe of light pink bangs.

Sakura had always been teased about her large forehead growing up, which was one of the reasons for her nonexistent courage and low self-esteem. It was also the reason that her 'bangs' nearly reached her chin and completely obscured her face. It made it harder to see, but after nearly eight years of such long bangs she had grown used to them.

It was a warm day, the first signs that spring was coming to a close and summer was fast approaching--it also meant that Sakura had completed a whole year. Three more and she was finished. Three more years and she could run from this place as fast and far as she wanted. And oh she wanted it.

Otogakure was a large building with a strange forbidding aura surrounding it, Sakura stood before the gate, her breathing coming in small breathy pants. She would be killed! But--if she went back without delivering it, Ino would do worse than kill her.

Sakura moved to the gate, thankful that classes were still in session, little to no students were in the large halls. Those that were eyed her with a sort of bored interest. Sakura all but ran to the office, hoping that perhaps she could leave the letter with a teacher that might pass it on to Sasuke. She never wanted to meet with him--they say normal students that met with more than one leader always seemed to have a way of disappearing.

It was bad enough Ino had taken an 'interest' in her, the last thing she needed now was Sasuke or his cronies to think she was annoying. The small woman behind the counter, who's eyes shifted and looked as though she hadn't gotten good sleep since she started this job, shook her head rapidly when asked to take the letter.

"I'm sorry, but no. You'll have to take it."

Tears filled Sakura's eyes again and she nodded, clenching a hand around her blue tie. "Could y-y-you tell me what c-class he's in?"

The woman nodded sharply, scanning through her computer and giving Sakura directions when she found it. "Good luck," the woman told her softly, and Sakura looked up briefly to flash a small fearful smile in thanks.

The halls were long but not complicated and Sakura soon found the class, standing before the door as she waited for the courage to knock. Her whole hand shook as she lifted it, and she couldn't make a fist, every muscle in her hand having long fled in terror. She let her hand fall to the door with a soft knock and then ducked out of the way.

A tall black-haired man with thick glasses opened the door, looking her over. "U-Uchiha S-Sas-Sasuke?"

He nodded and turned back to peer into the classroom. "Uchiha-sama, there's someone here for you."

Sakura was used to the teacher's respect for the student leaders--it was deadly not to be. Teachers didn't get it from them nearly as much as students, but that meant nothing if they spoke back. Sakura could hear cat calls from in the classroom and her tremors returned full force and she kept her head down staring at her worn shoes.

"What is it?" The teacher disappeared back into the classroom, door shutting softly behind him; Sakura didn't look up as she held the letter out, hearing a small chuckle at the way it shook. "Ino, eh?"

He tore the letter open and scanned it, Sakura waiting to be dismissed, longing to be in the dark seclusion of her room, or pouring her heart and soul into her piano. Sakura blinked when the letter fluttered to the ground and Sasuke began grinding his teeth so loud she could hear it. Before she had time to react his fist was twisting into her uniform and he had slammed her into the lockers.

Sakura cried out, head connecting painfully with the metal, breathing labored as she waited for the boy's next move. "You still haven't looked at me, blue." He said, voice a deadly whisper. "Is this your idea of a bad joke?" His fingers twisted tighter and he forced her into the lockers harder.

Sakura's breath hitched and she finally realized that Ino had set her up. "N-n-no! In-Ino s-said it was f-for yo-you!"

"Is that right?" Slowly his grip relaxed and Sakura slid slowly down the lockers, her stomach twisted in knots. "Look at me, idiot." She slowly looked up at the most handsome boy she'd ever seen. He smirked and leaned in closer, his breath puffing his bangs. "You look like a dog. I can't even see your face, what is this?" He tugged at her bangs and laughed lightly when she began shivering again. "I'm guessing you did something that made Ino angry?"

Sakura shrugged helplessly, not knowing what he wanted to hear. He released her hair and pulled back, moving to the classroom.

"You're lucky today. I'm feeling generous." Without another word he entered the classroom and Sakura collapsed to the floor, her legs unable to support her any longer. As soon as she had regained her bearings Sakura scooped up the crumbled letter and ran, faster than she ever had in her life, back to the school and away from Otogakure. She hoped she'd never see the building again in her life.

Once in the school she ran to her class, throwing the crumpled remains of the letter at Ino's feet and waiting for the girl's reaction. Sakura's hair was mused, her throat red where Sasuke has pushed his fist into it. The top buttons of her shirt were missing and her blue tie was torn.

"Well, well. I see you were well received," Ino said loudly, flicking her long nails across her skirt as if to clean it. "The reply?"

"He as-asked i-if it w-was my-my idea-a of a b-bad joke."

"Don't stutter." Ino snapped as she stood, picking the letter up and licking her lighter under it. The paper caught and began to burn, the flame growing stronger the more paper it ate. "Or I'll burn you hair like this paper. Kin! Bring me that stupid book."

Kin threw it to the blonde and flicked back her long hair, waiting to see what would happen. Ino caught the book, throwing the burning paper to the floor at Sakura's feet. She flipped through the pages, stopping at the drawing of herself, ripping the page slowly from the book.

"You know, Sakura, I've been studying this and I think I like it." She laughed and dropped the book to the floor once she had torn the page from it. "Do you know what that means?"

Sakura shook her head, "n-no."

"I said not to stutter didn't I?" She stepped on the drawing pad, twisting it under her foot. "That means my sweet little blossom. That I like you--and from now on, you're going to be my pet. Doesn't that sound fun? Be a good girl and I'll reward you," she set the picture down gently as if to show an example. "Disobey," she kicked the pad over to Tenten who picked it up. "And I'll destroy you." Tenten tore the pad in half, the girls shrieking with laughter. "Got it?"

Sakura took a deep breath, concentrating on not stuttering. "Yes."

"Very good, come here Sakura, sit at my feet." Sakura did so, head hanging in shame. Ino petted her hair, twisting the silky strands under her fingers. "Your hair is soft," the girl mused aloud and grabbed Sakura's face, tilting it up towards her. "You really look like a monster with all that hair." Ino snickered, "I own a monster!"

Sakura cried silently when Ino let her head fall back to her chest, her ears ringing with the mocking laughter of the girls around her.

"Well Sakura, you can walk me to my car today, and I'll teach you how to walk behind your master, tomorrow be at school by six and wait for me by the gate." Ino smiled chillingly. "I hear it's going to be cold. Don't bring a coat."

"Yes."

"Perfect, come on Sakura." Sakura stood, and Ino showed her where to walk, a little to the side and behind her, like some trailing slave. Sakura bit her lip as girls in the hall pointed, whispering in hushed tones, some laughing others sighing pityingly. Sakura wished Sasuke had killed her. Death would be a blessing in comparison to this humiliation.

"Bye Ino," the red-haired girl said loudly, waving from her car as the chauffeur bowed and helped her into the car.

"Tayuya, see you tomorrow," Ino called back in reply.

The girl grinned and winked at Sakura. "Wouldn't miss it."

"Sakura." Ino said sharply as the door to her car was opened for her. "Remember what I told you, and also what will happen if you disobey." She patted Sakura's head, anything but gentle as she came down to rub the pale head of hair. Then, in a mocking display of affection she kissed Sakura's forehead, pale eyes like steel. "Bye, monster."

Sakura watched her go, and it was like watching all her hopes and seeing her three years of being invisible fly away after the sleek black car. Sakura turned and began walking home, sighing loudly.

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Ah ha, ha! Anyway, freakish tendencies aside, this was indeed the first chapter! Who will Sakura end up with--how will she survive?! I have no idea xD

And don't tell me their out of character: AU. Means their bound to be out of character. Isn't that why you clicked?

MistedVines

Remember to review, my minions! And get me a bagel while you're at it!

Thanks: MoonVeil, for helping me write and stabbing me with a spork whenever I lost focus. And Kara-chan.a for betaing it. Please point out anything she's missed and I'll be sure to slap her :3