If you were to ask me, what my favorite kind of music was. I'd probably tell you the flute.

Its nature, very pure and free spirited. It's intention of either wooing or calming you always made sincere. The very second the notes erupt from the thin piece of iron with holes on perfectly measured intervals, I'm lost in a cloud like haze. The aria of music that follows always calming me more then words could describe.

"If Only"

I always told myself. If only I was lucky enough to become a famed flute musician, One who was able to soothe even the most prudent and stubborn of fools. Even the most troublesome ones around.

If only, I had more practice at it. More time to place the instrument to the opening between my lips, and practice making the same music that could soothe me so.

If only, I had more luck. Luck to be a flute player, As opposed to winding up playing the boorish and complex instrument like the piano. Despite my love for the flute, I had more talent playing the piano then it. Which just sucks.

And finally, when the mangled operatic notes found themselves at the front of my ears, and boring their way into the back of my skull, to haunt me later, I wished. If only the person I could turn to too even hear the flute, didn't suck as bad as this.

"Ino...stop playing."

My name is Nara Shikamaru

Son of Nara Shikaku, one of the most famous men to ever pick up a flute. Who was son to Nara Shikata, another famous man to create masterpieces with a flute, and a trumpet. As did his father, and his father after that.

I on the other hand, got stuck with the Piano. A big clunky, heavy, piece of wood and other components that would play nice notes if you smash your fingers into the ivory keys underneath them. Only to repeat that process over and over again. It's painful, it was always precise, demanded attention, accuracy, And above all else...

It's really boring.

Sometimes I would sit down and ask myself, why wasn't I lucky? Why didn't I get a chance to play something beautiful and free like the flute. Instead of getting stuck playing a good 250 pound instrument that gave out hernia's every time you wanted to move it. Free of charge, might I add.

It seems unfair.

Inside our little music room, of which we'd rented for the two of us to practice, Ino pried the flute from her lips. Just keeping it away long enough to form a stern frown at me. Almost as if I was the one playing terribly and mangled every other note on the sheet of paper in front of me.

She placed it back to her lips to try and play again, starting out with another quick measure. One that fluttered around like a hungry cat chasing a mouse, or butterfly darting around a backyard.

"Too fast." The whole damn thing was off! She wasn't able to move her fingers fast even after the Prestissimo, so in oppose to actually doing a good job, she skipped over some notes selectively, and then replaced them with more normal sounding ones to try and mask her unaware that the only thing she accomplished by doing this, is making the notes stand out even more. The whole thing sounded like a jumpy, quick paced, piece of shit.

"Stop playing, and try it again!"

This time, she threw her flute away from her mouth.

"Goddamn it Shikamaru!" she barked at me. "Every time I start it's like you purposefully try to find something wrong with my playing."

That's kind of the point.

"I'm starting to wonder if you even want to pass this examination. I know you hate working with other people, but I'm the only person who was willing to work with the "genius" of this university."

That's not exactly true either. You were just the first person to ask, and I didn't feel like asking the other students.

"Ah... This is too frustrating!" she grumbled to herself glancing at my reaction out of the corner of her eyes. "I've got to meet with my fraternity today, so it's better if I just leave this alone. We've got time till the examination anyways."

Ino rose from her seat without taking a full glance backward at me. She monitored my reaction the entire time since she'd started to complain about my complaining. Though I'd done little more then yawn, and glare at her. I suppose she wanted to think that maybe I'd get annoyed with her, or something.

I don't really know, she almost never makes sense anyways. Though I suppose it might have been my fault in some way shape or form. Even though she was obviously the one who was playing terribly, it's my fault for reminding her and being honest about it.

Or something likes that. I quickly realized that the situation was going to get out of hand, so I made a comment to this blonde haired woman as she collected her coat, and placed it on her shoulders.

"Will I see you tonight?"

Ino shrugged as she slid the gloves over her long white fingers.

"I don't know Shikamaru…maybe" She said as she hurried out the door. "Maybe."

And without more then the hum of the AC and the sizzle of a hot cup of tea, prepared for such a cold morning. I found myself alone in the wooden practice room, with nothing more then a piano to play.

With the room to myself, things seemed to be more less pressuring, but even more pressing. I realized that though I no longer had to push Ino into playing better, it doesn't change the fact that she wasn't trying at all now. So my exam seemed more and more close.

"Only two weeks left, I need to get something going fast."

It made sense after all. Just simply telling myself that I needed to work would suffice enough for now. So, I made my way at the seat of the piano its top frame down, so I could rest a cup of tea on top of it. With Ino's perfume still filling the air after she left, I stared at the bleached white keys of a fine ivory craft. But, I didn't work. Alas, in oppose to actually working on something productive I found myself passing the time with just a simple song like chopsticks.

I couldn't focus.

Even after racking my brain over the examination. I couldn't get serious. The exam wasn't a joke though, as it meant the same thing for my freshman year here, I'm not surprised things are to be more serious now. The exam meant the same thing to everyone though, with the coming of the fall season, it mow meant that those of us who were here on scholarship alone would have to quickly find a partner, prepare a piece of music for the two of us, and then collectively play that piece well enough to cover our asses for another semester.

Ino just happened to be the partner who I chose. She was also my girlfriend. But such a thing would hold very little weight in most other relationships. I liked to think that it wasn't relative to what was going on anyways…

She had it a lot easier then me though, as her parents were able to cover her tuition, which also compensated for the fact that she sucked when it came to playing the mandatory one instrument required to enroll here.

Ino was an actor, or a singer. She was magnificent in all things that combined the use of her voice and drama. So much so that one could say that the opera was her playground. The flute on the other hand, was not.

To the normal ear, she wasn't all that terrible. But average at best. Such a thing didn't matter if in all actuality, she sucked when placed on a higher level and compared to others who are experts with it.

Ino was no more special than any of the other nameless students who come here to graduate with a degree in music, and art. With her talents, she'd probably do better to forget about the flute, and focus on her acting. Maybe in a few years or so she could end up playing the thing for one of her children's birthday parties.

I on the other hand, didn't have the luxury.

I was one of the rare occasional students that were able to come day in and day out to this academy for free, because of a full ride scholarship. With the piano as my major, I was unwillingly put on a higher level because I didn't have to pay.

But more contributed to this double-standard. The Nara's before me also paved the way for this pain in my ass. With my father being the famous musician that he was and my family name being known for their expertise in the Woodwind section.

I, the only piano major, was even more at odds with this whole damn thing. Either I could help my families name by being the oddball, or show its musical prowess by being a genius. Either way, the fun of the music was slowly evaporating every time I had to sign up for a competition, and enlist in an examination. All of which required the most superfluous blend of instruments, or solo's.

Bastards.

Before I knew it, my thoughts had caused playing chopsticks over and over again to lose its initial luster. The room got even colder and murky as the Tea Kettle succumbed to the nipping temperature. The tea's sharp and rich taste growing blander by the second. The cup falling from my hand, to rest upon the top of the wooden piano.

It all grew quieter, and docile. My still eyes glancing at the cold wooden doorway that my partner had just left, without more then a grumble, I laid head against the top of my instrument. Sliding my bare hands across the ivory keys, eventually I placed them down at my sides, and closed my eyes shut. I truly didn't feel like playing for right now, not like it mattered. I'd be better off just forgetting about the damn thing and taking a nap. So in silence, I sat.

How did things get to be like this?

A good question, in all honesty. A reasonable query upon which the answer could be summed up to simple frustration, and pressure. Or something else that I wished not to remind myself of at this moment. I chose to reminisce instead.

Back when I was a lad, I used to love sneaking into the back stage of my father concerts. I'd find a good chair which was proportional to his flute and allow myself to gently become entranced by the sound of his music. Though it wasn't hard to imagine that I often fell asleep.

But now...Now things seemed to get more mundane and blander as the days went by. Everyone had an audition, application, test or opinion. Instead of shutting up and letting me enjoy the music, they did their best to turn it into something more troublesome then arguing with my mother.

As long as that's what I had to look forward too, it's not hard to believe why I nap would trump practice every time. Maybe if I just let Ino suck when we take the test, some of this weight would be lifted off my back. It isn't like I wanted it to be there. I just felt like playing, not putting on a show. Once again, I sat still, listening to the hum of the air conditioning unit as it blew hot air into the frigid practice room. Listened to the ticking and tocking of the clock on the side of the wall, as it counted down the minutes and seconds until it'd be a good time to leave. And then:

"A Violin?"

It was, with a flute to accompany it. Accentato! Right from the start musicians were able to captivate the emphasis, and power necessary to play Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.
Even the sound of the notes was different; their usage of the increasing tempo was pulled off masterfully. Not a single beat or measure was missed, and was played to its full extent. It was nearly perfect. The music caused me to move about, rising from the piano and up towards the doorway. I was caught, captivated by the vivacity of each Allegro to Crescendo. My hands opened the door without my knowledge, caught in the sea of music I headed towards it on pure instinct alone.

"Who's playing this song?"

Each reverberation of the song shook me, painting a vivid picture in my mind. My mind pictured soldiers of days of old. Dressed from head to two in revolutionary equipment, as the flute animated their assault on either side. The ring of the Timpani (of which I presumed was a recording) was dead on, drawing canons to fire upon the battlefield. The violin giving scenery and action to the whole cadence. Lush green grass and fresh brown dirt being spilt upon the ground, as soldiers rushed at one another with battalions in the hundreds.

It was amazing that the Violinist could control so much of the song. Though the flute player was remarkable, the Violinist was the one who made this piece sound as if Beethoven himself had risen from the grave and conducted their session.

I rushed to the room at the end of the hallway, listening to the piece at its midway point, before barging into a room titled "P15." Stopping the music as I rushed the door, I erupted inside without wasting any time. Still caught in the powerful music which rung throughout my head, without saying a word, I glanced upon the two inside the room.

Although… I quickly realized, that was not one of my better ideas.

Upon my intrusion, I was met with an immediate cease of all music apart from the Timpani that resounded from a small radio. I also found myself with an angry glare from a perturbed looking blonde, and a bright looking girl with glasses and pink hair who glanced my way as well. They both stood a good inch or two shorter then myself, holding onto their instruments in very curvy, women like bodies. This was to be expected.

What was not expected was the reaction I got. Immediately upon entering the room, it became noticeable that the blonde was not taking this intrusion very lightly.

"What the hell do you think your doing?" she barked. "The room said do not disturb for a reason, so do you have trouble reading, or are you just an idiot?"

I was at a loss for words. I got so caught up in the music that I completely forgot that I had tossed the sign off the doorknob and barged in anyways. Still, trying to swallow my pride, I responded to her. "I apologize. But I was surprised that anyone at this school could play as good as you two."

"Obviously, you were wrong about that. So now that you know, do you mind getting the hell out?"

I tried my best to keep my smile despite how rude the blonde had seemed. Before I had a chance to respond any further, the woman behind the piano spoke. "Now, now Temari. You know you need work on playing in front of people anyways, and who better then Shikamaru Nara." She said. Of who I now recognized as Sakura Haruno, another one of this school's more fine scholarship students.

But this Temari… I'd never heard of her before.

"This lazy looking man is Shikamaru?" she asked with a raise of her eyebrow.

Yeah it looks that way to me.

"He doesn't look like much at all. I'm surprised they say such uproarious things about him, nothing special looking about him at all."

You don't even know me, yet you're insulting me? You're a friendly kind of woman aren't you?

"Oh well" she snickered. "I suppose if you want to hear Sakura and I play some more, then I've got no choice but to abide by the request." Temari turned from me to look at Sakura. "Go ahead and start the tape over, we'll give him what he wants." Sakura rose from where she'd been sitting to reset the CD player, which presumably had been designed to break down various parts of the song with different instruments. In this case, it was the Timpani.

"You don't have to play the whole thing over, you know. I only wanted to hear the third measure, if that's all right with you." Sakura and Temari both took an uneasy glance at one another, before looking back to me. "The third measure?" asked Sakura with a smile. "Are you sure you just don't want to hear the whole thing all over again?" I shook my head. "There's no point in that. I was impressed the most about how you all made such a quick transition from one part to the other. So I'd like to hear it again."

Temari crossed her arms, with Violin in hand. "Well, we'd like to start over so you can…"

Sakura stopped her before she could continue. "All right. We'll start from there, Temari get ready for it."

"But Sakura!" she pleaded almost immediately.

"You need to work on this too, so it couldn't hurt. Just follow my lead." She said confidently. Turning the pages of her music to accommodate my request, switching the CD player to start upon her command, she rose the flute to her lips, and began. Much like before, it was flawless. She started to increase her tempo at the same rate at the CD player did. Showing her prowess towards the instruments, her fame around the school was apparent to me now.

However, Temari didn't do anything. She simply stared at Sakura, ready to begin playing, but just stood still with an uneasy look on her face. I also noticed that she didn't have any music beside her.

"Why aren't you playing?"

I asked. It made no sense that she was playing so well before, so if she was going to go as far as to act as if he abilities were so superior to the common persons, then why is it that she refrained from playing now. "Shut the hell up!" she barked while staring at Sakura. "I'll play in a second."

But the seconds passed onward, and the song moved further into its measure, and Temari still didn't do anything. She looked apprehensive about starting at all. It wasn't long before Sakura turned around and stopped the machine, and stopped playing as well. A displeased look now turned toward her partner. "Come on Temari, just remember your part and play like you know how." She said, giving her friend a nod. Sakura smiled towards me in a polite manner, "Sorry, we're going to restart one more time."

I nodded, expecting to hear the same harmonious music as before. Sakura once again started playing, alongside the CD player, just as accurate as before. Temari on the other hand, gave us both apprehensive looks. She then frowned, closed her eyes, and started playing. Vigorously attempting the third measure of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.

What resulted from her effort was something I had wished I had never had the chance to hear.

The whole thing sucked more then anything else I'd had the chance to hear in my life. The notes were rushed, and out of place. The tempo was ridiculously off, the beats were out of place, and in areas that required the most delicate of decrescendo's she decided to respond with an allegretto, with unstable playing left in light.

I'd rather have my head drilled through with a nail then listen to that whiny, rushed piece of crap which emanated from her violin. Without another word, I raised my hand, and pointed my finger directly at Temari. Drawing her attention off the music and back onto me. As proud and annoyed as I could, and in the least degrading way possible, I spoke my mind to this pushy looking blonde.

"Temari, you really suck."