Hello again! This chapter is kinda random but whatever. Also Gaara's Plaything, thank you for being the first to review and no I don't plan to make Sakura miserable like that but that's actually a good idea, I honestly never thought of that.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters


Chapter Two: Red strings of fate

I sat there, inhaling the light smell of my cappuccino. Nothing could be more relaxing than sitting at a quiet café in the morning, sipping your hot cup of coffee while listening to classical music. Not to mention staring at the morning sky through the glass windowed ceiling. How many years had it been since I had returned to Japan? I think it was round about a fair ten years. I left when I was ten and now I'm twenty. I smiled when remembering the memories I shared with Gaara. He was so adorable back then. I wonder what he's like now… It's become my habit to let my mind wander off to Gaara when I'm not occupied by anything.

A sudden call of my name broke my train of thought. "Emily!" I turned around to see, Ino Yamanaka holding her breakfast striding towards me.

"Ino!" I greeted her with a hug.

"What's wrong Emily? You seem kind of zoned out."

"Mm, nothing, just thinking of Gaara."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Gaara, again?"

I didn't answer but instead continued to drink my cappuccino.

"What's so great about him? What got you into thinking about him for the past ten years?"

"He's just so adorable…"

"When he was a kid, you don't know what he's like now."

"Oh, come on, he was so nice when he was young, he can't be that bad now."

"Just to let you know, that's not a valid reason for loving him so much."

"I do love him but just as a brother okay?"

Ino, picked up her sandwich and started munching on it. "Go on, I'm listening."

"He was just so cute back then. I always liked to tease him. I remember once, I tripped over and he tried to catch me and then I accidently kissed him on the cheek as I fell on top of him. When we both got up, he was blushing like mad. Then I decided to do it again when we were inside the house and he blushed red like a tomato! It was so fun seeing his reactions!"

"That's torture for a guy, Emily."

"Stop calling me Emily when we're in Japan. Besides Emily is only the middle name my parents gave me."

"Okay then, Sakura."

"But, he did get back at me… Once, we were playing in the sand pit, Gaara suddenly, pointed to the sky and said "Look Sakura-chan! A flying cow!" I really got tricked and looked up. Just when I turned back to face him to tell him I didn't see anything, he gave me a peck on the lips. My head nearly exploded from embarrassment but Gaara stuck his tongue out at me and said "Payback.""

Ino snorted. "Serves you right. But, you know, kisses aren't exactly what 'brother and sister' are meant to do" She emphasised the words brother and sister.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Ino, we were just kids, why can't you remember that?" I looked at my wristwatch which read ten o'clock.

"Ino-pig! We're going to be late for rehearsal!" I picked up my handbag and quickly turned around ready to go.

"Wait!" She screamed, taking the last bite of her sandwich.

We both rushed to the auditorium, fearing that practice had already started.

"Sorry we're late…" Ino and I panted.

"Emily, Ino, go and take your seats now. We can't start without the pianist when we're playing a piano concerto… Or the oboe." Shino mumbled softly though you could hear the hint of irritation in his voice for us being late. Shino was our conductor for the upcoming concert and well we don't know much about him except for his unexplainable liking for bugs.

I took my seat in front of the grand piano. The grand piano looked new; the wood had a shiny gleam to it that only new pianos had. I looked at Shino, he nodded his head, signalling for me to start. I pressed my fingers lightly to the keys of the piano.

We were playing Beethoven's piano concerto no.5, commonly known as the Emperor concerto. This piece was the last piano concerto Beethoven composed. Apparently this piece was composed for his pupil. This composition was quite fitting for the event actually, since we were performing for the birthday of the president some enterprise and the performance was organised by our sponsor who was supposedly his teacher. Rich people these days, we were invited all the way from Vienna just to perform for one night at a birthday party. I don't even get why we're practicing, I bet we can pull it off without practicing since we're all professional. Even Ino was a master at the oboe.


Ino gave a soft sigh of relief. "Ah… practice is finally over!"

"Yeah, but we still have a party to attend today." Ino gave me a sideways glance, clearly showing confusion. The members of the orchestra had to attend a party today, to meet the sponsors of this concert.

"We do? I mean wasn't that tomorrow?"

"Nope, it's today."

"NO! I haven't prepared anything!"

I laughed at Ino, she was always careless and just loved parties, meaning a chance to catch a hot, rich guy.

"Oh, I hope I can fish a hot guy this time!"

"What happened to the rich part?"

"Sakura, we're attending a party held by THE Sabaku enterprise!"

"So?"

"Well, for a fact, the Sabaku enterprise is the richest in Japan, so do you think any poor bimbos would be invited to this party?"

"I see… What does the Sabaku enterprise sell?"

"Do you live under a rock or something? The Sabaku enterprise is Japan's biggest oil company. They aim to achieve cheaper prices for people and at the same time develop renewable energy sources as an alternative."

"That is so awesome, every time I watch the news, they always talk about how companies try to make more money by raising the oil prices. They must have a good president leading them."

"You know, I heard that the new president of the enterprise is the same age as us and is really hot! Apparently he also has a unique hair colour. I think it was red or something."

"Whatever, let's hurry up or else we'll be late to the party too!"


Here we were, in a super large mansion, holding champagne glasses, talking to the 'upper-class'. I don't even know why we're here. Actually, I do know, Shino said that the sponsor who wants us to play is a big fan of our orchestra and regularly donates to us so he wants to see us and talk about the upcoming performance. But I still think that's a weird reason, in the 21st century there are things called mobile phones.

I turned around to talk to Ino as I remembered she ditched me as soon as she saw a supposedly hot guy. I went to the tables in the middle of the floor for more food. There was so much food. I didn't even know some of them existed.

I picked up a plate and was about to take a bite into the truffle I was holding when I saw someone I thought I would never see again. Right here, right now, Gaara was standing in front of me. He still had the same red hair, pale skin and the jade eyes. But somehow, he seemed harsher, his eyes no longer glowed with happiness instead they were now dead and hollow. My heart started beating faster when Gaara caught me gaping at him. In return, his eyes seemed to turn a little happier and softer. He slowly walked towards me before he finally stopped half a metre before me. We stared into each other's eyes, as though we were searching for the young child we once knew.

Our moment of silence was disrupted when Shino cleared his throat. "Emily!" He directed his attention to 'Gaara'. "President." He said in a respectful way, slightly bowing his head.

Wait… did Shino just call him president?

My heart slowed and disappointment washed through me. It can't be then… It isn't Gaara…


Why did we have to hold a party? It was just a stupid birthday. It comes every year so why make a big deal out of it? What was worst was I didn't even have a say in this event even though it was my birthday. I sighed and turned around to get some more drinks. I froze when I saw a girl with rose pink hair and emerald eyes. …Sakura… I unconsciously started walking closer to her and stepped right in front of her; enough for me to see her face clearly. It was her. It was unmistakable.

"Emily!" someone called out.

The 'Sakura' in front of me responded to that name. My excitement diminished. So it wasn't her after all…

Thanks to those who have pressed on to read my second chapter! =] Also please excuse my bad spelling or grammar!