Chapter Two: Leader Of The Bad Asses
Sakura woke up to the sound of her cell ringing. "Hello?" Sakura asked a little ticked that she was woken up.
"Hey Sakura!" came a quiet voice from the other end of the receiver.
"Oh hey Hinata! What's up?"
"I was just calling to make sure you got up in time to get ready for school. And by the sound of your voice I just woke you up."
"He he. . .sorry I was up late last night writing a new song for the band and I finally got the lyrics just right."
"You wrote another song?" Hinata asked incredulously.
"Yeah it just popped into my head and I needed to write it down."
"Cool, bring it to school and we'll check it out."
"K, see ya at school Hinata."
"Yeah. Oh and Sakura. . ." Hinata trailed off.
"What?"
"Get out of bed and get ready for school! I'll be waiting in the parking lot for you."
"Okay I'm getting up."
"K bye."
"Bye." Sakura hung up and placed her cell on her nightstand and hopped out of bed. Man she was lucky to have a friend like Hinata. She remembered the first day she met Hinata and her cousin Neji.
Sakura was in eighth grade when Hinata had transferred to Konoha Middle School. Sakura was sitting in science class when Hinata had walked in. The first thing she noticed was Hinata's eyes. They were white with no pupil. She was skinny, somewhat pale but did have some color to her skin. Her hair was a dark purple and was cut in a certain way that accented her eyes. Hinata was assigned to be Sakura's lab partner and they became fast friends. Neji was a year older then them, and had long chestnut brown hair that he tied at the bottom. He was skinny but muscular, Neji work out in the sun a lot so he had a light tan most of the year. He had met Sakura's friends Tenten and Lee and had become friends with them. It wasn't until lunch that they learned that Hinata and Neji were both from the Hyuuga clan. The Hyuuga's were known as one of the most feared gangs in all of Konoha. Hinata had explained that her father didn't want Neji or her to end up in the same business as him so he made sure they got a proper education so they would at least have a better chance in life.
They were both welcomed by all of Sakura's friends with open arms. Her friends included Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, Rock Lee, Tenten, Uzumaki Naruto, Hinata and Neji Hyuuga. The best thing about her friends was that all of them were in a band together.
Shino played bass, Kiba was on the drums, and Tenten was on the keyboard and back up vocals, Hinata played second guitar and back up vocals. Lee would play second bass unless it was Kiba's turn to sing then he would play the drums, Naruto was on the sound board/turntables. And Sakura was the lead guitar and main Vocals. She also wrote the songs along with Kiba. Shikamaru and Neji managed the band. Neji made sure their instruments were always ready and that they had enough money. Shikamaru set up the gigs and rehearsals, he also helped with how they spent their money.
They were known as the Tainted Cherry Blossoms. The name had been Hinata, Naruto, and Lee's idea. On their second rehearsal she went over to Kiba's garage, which was their place till they got some money. She remembered being very excited because she had just finished making the final changes to their first song.
Flashback
"Yes! Your finally here." Kiba said after opening the door.
"Huh?" Kiba grabbed her arm and dragged her into his living room where the rest of the band was.
"Hinata, Naruto, and Lee have locked me out of my own garage. They said they wouldn't let us in until you got here." Kiba explained as he walked to the door that led to his garage. "Oi! Open up Sakura's here!"
"Nice try Dog boy!" came Naruto's voice.
"Hey! Naruto you baka! Open the door we're behind schedule!" Sakura yelled.
The handle turned and Naruto's face came into view. "Oh hey Sakura-Chan!" He gave her his signature goofy smile before sticking his head back in the garage. "Are you guys done yet?" he yelled.
"Yes. You can let everyone in now." Came Hinata's voice from somewhere in the garage. Naruto led everyone out of the house to the outside entrance to the garage. Kiba entered the code to open the door. What they saw next amazed all of them. They had transformed Kiba's garage into a decked out music studio. On Kiba's drums was a picture of a cherry blossom splatter with blood. Hanging from the roof was a banner that said 'Tainted Cherry Blossoms'.
"What is this!?" Sakura and Kiba said in unison.
"Well we needed a proper place to work so my dad gave me the money to hire some people to turn your garage into a studio. We used the key you gave Naruto to gain access." Hinata explained. Kiba glared at Naruto.
"What's up with the name?" Sakura asked staring at the banner, while everyone else checked their equipment.
"We named it after you Sakura-Chan! You know how when you normally think of cherry blossoms you think of happiness but your all gothic and you love everything dark! Ow!!" Naruto exclaimed as Sakura hit him on the head with a mumble of something that sounded like "You baka."
End flashback
Everyone had loved the name especially since the band was her idea to start the band. So she went with it. Sakura hopped out of the shower and headed back to her room. Sakura put on a pair of baggy black jeans with chains hanging of the belt loops, she put on a black tank top with a silver skull in the middle and fish net sleeves. She brushed her light pink hair that reached down to her shoulders. She put on some black mascara that made her bright emerald eyes stand out, she painted her nails a sickly blood red color, put on the same color of lipstick and put black eye shadow on. She loved how the dark colors mad her pale milky smooth skin stand out more.
She grabbed her cell of the nightstand and stuffed it in her pocket. Sakura headed down stairs to the dinning room to see that her breakfast was already on the table. Sakura's parents had died when she was ten. They had owned a large medicine company so she inherited a large sum of money from them. Her mother's friend Lady Rin took her in. She worked at the Namiashi shrine that was on top of a hill at he edge of town. Sakura used some of the money her parents had left to build a small two-story house at the bottom of the hill. Rin would come down early in the morning and make Sakura breakfast then come down in the afternoon to make diner for her. To thank Rin Sakura would help out at the shrine during the weekend and during her vacations when she didn't have rehearsal or gigs. Sakura ate her breakfast and looked at the clock on the opposite wall.
"SHIT!!" Sakura yelled as she notice the time, she had to meet her friends in ten minutes. Sakura ran back up to her bathroom and brushed her teeth quickly before running into her room and grabbing the new song she had stayed up all night working on. She ran back downstairs to the front door stopping to put on her combat boots. Then grabbing her keys she left locking the door behind her. She headed to her garage door, opening it to see her midnight black motorcycle. She pulled it out of the garage and closed the door. She put on her bulky black leather bikers jacket and black helmet and pulled the visor down. She hopped on her bike and started it up. She loved her motorcycle and wouldn't trade it for the world, her father given it to her in his will. She remembered when she was young her father used to suit her up and sit her in front and take her for a spin hen ever her could. Her mother would get so mad at him. She always said the Sakura could get hurt but when she saw the giant smile on her daughters face she would just shake her head and say that they would worry her to death some day.
Sakura smiled at the memory. She then rode out of the driveway to head to school hoping she wouldn't be late. She decided to take the short cut through the neighborhood that she normally went t around to get to school. She saw her turn come up and was getting ready to make the sharp turn when out of nowhere a black jag moved into her path. Sakura turned the motorcycle so she were to crash she wouldn't co headfirst. Sakura hit the breaks when she felt herself slowing down she stuck out her foot to help her stop. She heard a clunk and noticed she had accidentally kicked the door of the jag. She let her foot fall and put her head down as in a deep sigh of relief when she lost her balance and toppled over. 'Damn that hurt. I hope I didn't scratch the car or my bike.' Sakura thought. She looked up when she heard a boy in the back seat yell at her.
"Hey are you alright?"
Sakura knew they wouldn't be able to understand her if she spoke and she didn't want to take off her helmet. So she just nodded to them before pushing the bike off her. She hopped back on and looked at the people in the car. There was a young girl driving with her blond hair in four ponytails, a young boy in the back seat that had brown spiky hair that had called out to her, but the boy in the front passenger seat that caught her attention. He had blood red hair that matched her nail polish and beautiful jade green eyes. She gave them a quick wave before speeding off. 'What a weird looking boy, but he was hot. Wait did I just think that . Wait what time did that clock say? Oh shit I'm going to be late. I hope Hinata doesn't get mad at me.' Sakura thought as she picked up speed to get to school.
Sakura finally made it to school. She parked her bike in an available spot. She toke her helmet off then her jacket placing them in the compartment on the bike. She looked around the parking lot "I'm behind you, Sakura." Came Hinata's voice. Sakura jumped a little turning around.
"What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?"
"You're late Sakura. School is about to start, now we don't have enough time to go over the new song." Hinata said irritation evident in her voice.
"Sorry Hinata. I took the short cut but-If you took the short cut then why are you late?" Hinata asked cutting in. "You see this black jaguar came out of nowhere and I almost crashed , but we didn't. I stopped before we could collide. Then my bike toppled over and I had to push it off-What ever" Hinata said cutting her off again.
"Oh here is your schedule. We all have the same except for Neji, Lee, and Tenten of course."
"Great so how are all of the other Bad Asses?" Sakura had called her friends that because everyone else did. The group was sort of gothic, always got into fights, talked back to teachers, and always acted like total Asses. So the popular kids though up the nickname for them hoping to put them in their place, but they loved the name and took it with pride. "The groups fine. Hey want to start off the year by sticking to our horrible rep?"
"You mean go to the clearing and hang out till homeroom is finished?"
"Duh!"
"Alright, I thought you would never ask especially when you said we wouldn't have enough time to go over the new song."
"We don't but we're going to make time. Come on let's go!" Hinata said as she walked off. Sakura followed behind and finally noticed how much Hinata had changed over the summer, she didn't get to see her much because Hinata left to visit her grandparents in Sato. Hinata had gotten taller. She had grown out her hair till it stopped just above her waist, she had bangs and some strands curled that framed her eyes. She had on a black dress with lace lining the bottom, collar, and making two hearts around two bows. There were also some two layers of ruffled black fabric near the bottom with lace and bows, on the back was a giant black bow made out of the same fabric as the dress, there were light purple sleeves coming out of the dress. The same fabric and design as the sleeves were made into knee-high socks with black cross strap high heel shoes. The shoes just added to her height making her seem taller and more intimidating.
They went behind the school and followed the path through the bushes to a clearing where she saw all her friends sitting in their normal circle when some one had some news or in this case a new song to go over. She saw every one in their normal outfits. Naruto had on his normal black t-shirt with a blood red 'A' with a circle around it and dark green pants with a chain hanging off his right leg, he ha two wrist bands on, he wore his normal black skater shoes. 'Naruto always was more punk than Goth.' Sakura thought. She looked next to him to see Tenten, she was wearing her normal corset shirt that was maroon and black with a forest green mini mini skirt. Under the skirt was a pair of black shorts that connected to a black pair of leggings that were the same as the shorts. Where her legs showed she wore tights that were striped light purple and black. She had the same things as gloves that went a little past her elbows and cut of the hand part so it started at her wrists on her feet were her favorite boots with a slight heel. Her hair was in its normal two-bun style with a few pieces of hair falling loose. Next to her was Neji with his long hair tied at the bottom like normal with his black top hat on his head. He had a white dress shirt on with a black blazer that he buttoned in the middle, he wore black pats that had white stitches going over the legs with a skull and cross bones belt buckle, with a pair of normal black boots on. They make a cut couple' Tenten and Neji had been going out for about a year now. Next to Neji sat his best friend Lee. He wore a top hat like Neji's, he had on a long sleeved black shirt that had a rib cage on the torso with black cargo pants with green pockets and chains. He had on the same boots as Neji and a spiked bracelet.
Next to Lee was Kiba. He was wearing a long sleeved net shirt with a black and red vest over it. Normal black cargo pants and black skater shoes with red laces. Sakura saw he still had on his Inuzuka tribal marking on his cheeks and he had on a spiked collar. Next to him was Shino with his long black trench coat that buckled till it reached his waist where it was left open the collar covered his chin and mouth. He had a pair of black pants with some black boots, and he wore his normal sunglasses. 'I don't think I've ever seen Shino's eyes.' Next to him was the lazy ass Shikamaru who wore a short sleeved net shirt and a pair of black sweats with some black skater shoes, his hair was up in it's normal up do. Sakura noticed that he had put red highlights in.
"Hey guys!" Sakura said as she sat down beside Shikamaru as Hinata sat next to her.
"Sup." They said in unison.
"Hey Sakura, Hinata said you wrote a new song. Do you have it?" asked Kiba.
"Yeah, here it is" Sakura said as she put it in the middle of the group "but I don't have a title for it so I thought one you could come up with one." Before anyone could say anything there was a loud sound signaling that the PA system had turned on. "Would Sakura Haruno please report to the Main Office. And the rest of her group would you please go to your homerooms."
"Damn!" They said together.
"Hey Sakura what did you do?" asked Shikamaru standing up. "I have no idea! I just got here, I mean how could I have done something?" Sakura said as she stood up. They headed off towards the school as they entered the building they said goodbye and went their separate ways. Neji, Lee, and Tenten headed up stairs to their homeroom. The rest went strait to theirs while Sakura turned to head to the Main Office.
Sakura reached the main office and went in. "Hey Shizune." Sakura addressed the secretary.
"Hey Sakura! What did you do this time?"
"I don't know. I was just called down here."
"Then Tsunade probably want you. Go right in."
"Okay, see you later." Sakura said as she entered the principle's office. "Hello Tsunade."
"Good morning Sakura." Tsunade said looking up. Sakura felt eyes boring into her and looked in front of Tsunade's desk to see a boy with red hair and pale jade eyes staring at her. 'That's the boy from the passenger seat!' Sakura's eyes widened a fraction, but nothing else showed her surprise. Sakura looked back to Tsunade.
"So what did I do this time, Tsunade?"
"For once nothing Sakura. I need you to do me a favor."
"Why should I?"
"Because you owe me Sakura, for the free lessons. You know lessons for-Ok!!" Sakura said cutting of Tsunade while glaring at the busty woman.
"So what do you need me to do?"
"I'm glad you see it my way, Sakura. I need you to escort a new student for me. Do you think you can do that for me?"
"Yes Tsunade, but why me?"
"Because I think he would fit right in with you guys."
"If you say so" Sakura said in disbelieving tone.
"Good. I'd like you to meet Sabaku no Gaara." She said while motioning her hand towards the red head kid in the seat. "He just moved here from Suna and I would like you to show him around the school, make sure he gets to all his classes and knows the rules and how we do things around here. He is in the same grade as you so you shouldn't have any problems."
"Ok"
"Gaara" Tsunade motioned for him to stand up "I would like you to meet Haruno Sakura, I think you two should get along. Now if you don't mind Gaara I want a private word with Sakura if you would just hang with Shizune she will hand you your schedule and gym uniform." Gaara just stood up and left the room.
"What do you want?" Sakura asked
"I just wanted to warn you Sakura. I have a report form his old school and apparently he used to get in a lot of fights and he's very strong. So I'm giving you permission to subdue him if he gets in any trouble."
"Subdue?"
"You know take him down with any means necessary. If that means hitting a pressure point or restraining him by force do it. Got it?"
"Got it. Tsunade may a I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Is that why I'm his escort, because only the Bad Asses might be able to restrain him?"
"Yes and form what I'm told he is into a lot of things your interested in."
"Ok. Oh by the way Tsunade he seems familiar don't you think?"
"I'm actually surprised you remember him Sakura. You may remember him better as the Sand Storm Demon."
"The Sand Storm Demon. That was him? He's the most powerful Shidokun fighter from Suna! I remember fighting him in the tournament there. I still have the scar on my arm from when he broke it and you expect me to be friends with him!?"
"I don't expect you to make friends with him, but please he has had a rough past and he vents his anger through fighting others. Please just give him a chance and if he happens to become friends with you Bad Assess then Hey! That's just and extra bonus for him."
"Fine I'll give him a chance but if he pisses me off I'll take him down."
"I understand. Just let a few comments and actions slide, please?"
"Fine. Wait, do we still have training scheduled for tomorrow?"
"Yes at four o'clock after school."
"Right."
"Now get to class."
"Hai." Sakura started towards the door before being stopped by Tsunade's voice.
"Sakura. . . be careful."
"Don't worry even if he remembers who I am, I've gotten stronger." Sakura left before Tsunade could say anything more. When she got out she was Gaara wasn't in the room. "Shizune, where did Gaara go?"
"Hmm. . . Oh right he should be right outside the door."
"Ok, thanks."
"Sakura homeroom's almost over. Just go to first period."
"Ok Shizune. See you later."
"Hopefully not till tomorrow." Sakura just laughed as she walked out the door. As she came out she noticed Gaara to her left as she closed the door. He was leaning against the wall, his head lowered so he was looking at the ground. Sakura moved so she was standing in front of him.
