Silver strings and Eggshell hearts
"Can you tell me, Hina-chan, who is singing this song?"
"Naruto, of course" Hinata smiled with fondness "Now, let me finish the song"
He stands tall against a mirror he does not bother looking at, buttoning his mediocre shirt. It has been years and it is still the same, a sense of hurt, of betrayal still looms over whenever the memories are brought … and today is a day of reminiscence, livewire memories.
He could almost hear him, his voice .. deep as an ocean they crossed when they were younger, strong as the timbre they left home … he could hear him above the roars, roars he could quench with his voice, turn them to whispers of awe with a single note he utters.
'Sasuke, there is something I have to tell you, after this concert ends'
Yet, he never showed up to the concert, nor did he show up afterwards
He should not care about him, anymore.
But what pains him is that he simply cannot.
"You are ready?" Kakashi alerts him, snapping him of the dark thoughts.
He nods
"And now, the final act … the one you have been waiting for so long .. ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to present our Quasi band mate .."
"And resident Emo" Naruto lazily added to Neji's statement, causing the audience to erupt in laughter
"Ladies and gentlemen, Sasuke Uchiha"
He walks up the stage in heavy echoing steps
'Itachi, I will never forgive you'
"What did you want to say?"
It was Hanabi's turn to shush her sister
"I want to listen to him, he is debuting a new song"
"Really?" She mock-asked
"I can't believe you don't listen to the guy"
"I do ... he is fine"
"Fine?" Hanabi said incredulously 'He is beyond fine by vast distance, he is a genius only matched by his own brother and occasionally cousin Neji, or is it just that you don't appreciate anyone's voice except Naruto's?!"
"Naruto is exceptional, his voice is sweet and cheerful …"
"You know, Neji is singing the harmonics' Hanabi cut her short, she knew if she left her, she would keep waxing poetics about the ray of sunshine … the exceptional vocalist, Naruto Uzumaki the great and honestly, she had no gall for it, she has heard it all before.
"I know, I can tell it is Neji's, with my eyes closed" She casually smiled "Not that it matters anyway"
They were moments, like this one which left Hanabi at loss for proper words.
"You have a knack for knowing stuff Hinata, whether you see them or don't"
"I don't see .. anything for what matters"