Author's Note: Thank you Kurosunanokazuo, OG, NARUHINA-ADDICTEDYELLOWLUVER, lotus2490, sunarose, SleeplessCrayon, stephen and Rose Tiger for your reviews! Yes, I know, another chapter so soon, because I know this is the story you're all dying to read more of. You hate me, I know, but I have no idea where Golden is going. I'm sorry. Apparently I gave you guys too many choices, cause every single person who responded gave a different answer. Thus, I'm picking!
Chapter 2: A Music Lesson
Sakura kissed Ino's cheek goodbye, squared her shoulders, and headed to the music room.
This was no ordinary music class though, this was one unique to Konoha High. It was called Musical Talent, and it consisted of anyone who was good enough to get in, no matter what they played. You had to audition just to take the class, an act which had been recommended to Sakura by last year's chorus teacher, and one she now regretted as she surveyed the enormous classroom. There were about a hundred chairs, each with a metal music stand in front of it, all arranged in front of a teacher's space, which consisted of a desk, a conductor's stand and a grand piano. A steady stream of students filed in and chose a seat, but what made Sakura' s eyes flick nervously about was that every single one of them seemed to be carrying an instrument. Sakura didn't play an instrument, she sang, and as she look around with increasing panic it began to seem rather like she was the only one.
"Move!" snapped a voice behind her.
Sakura whirled around to stare straight into the eyes of Neji Hyuuga. "Huh?" she asked nervously.
Neji rolled his eyes. "You're blocking the door!" he told her exasperatedly, all but shoving her out of the way as he entered. Sakura stepped quickly aside, watching him as he strode quickly to the front of the room and took a seat next to a girl with her brown hair in two large buns and a flute case. Sakura's heart skipped a beat as she realized Neji wasn't carrying an instrument, then she noticed how he eyed the grand piano hungrily and sighed. That explained it, you really couldn't carry a piano to and from school.
Sakura took a seat, careful to stay close to the back but not close enough to get her ears blown out by the bigger instruments. Behind her sat a boy in a green T-shirt and shorts, with a shining black bowl haircut and very bushy eyebrows. He was carrying a bright green guitar on his back, which struck Sakura as odd, as every other student was carefully unpacking a classical instrument.
"Good morning my musical young students!" came a loud, booming voice from the front of the room. Out of nowhere bounded a man in a green suit, a shining black bowl haircut, and quite the most exuberant attitude she could imagine. He held a conductor's baton in one hand, and a class list in the other.
"I see we have a new student this year!" he continued, no less enthusiastically than before, "Sakura Haruno, please stand!"
Sakura stood, nervously but straight-backed.
"You may call me Gai-sensei! Now, tell us what you play and give a small demonstration of the talent that put you here among your musical peers!"
Sakura swallowed hard. "Well, I don't actually play an instrument, I . . ." a few snickers interrupted, but she continued, "I sing, sensei."
The snickering continued and Gai frowned. "Now now, the voice is just as beautiful an instrument as any! We should all respect Sakura's abilities and give her our full attention!"
All eyes turned to Sakura. She gulped. She was grateful the teacher had stood up for her, but she still wished he hadn't said that. She shut her eyes tight and forced herself to inhale deeply.
"This is real
this is me
I'm exactly where I'm
supposed to be
I'm gonna let the light
shine on me!
Now I found
who I am
there's no way
to hold it in!
No more hiding
who I wanna be!
This is me!"
Gai, and the boy with the guitar behind her, both applauded wildly as Sakura sank back into her seat. The girl with her hair in buns, who Sakura now remembered to be an upperclassmen named Tenten, tapped two fingers on the heel of her palm and smiled encouragingly. When she noticed that Neji wasn't clamping she nudged him gently with her elbow, but her only slapped his hands together reluctantly a few times before folding his arms over his chest again.
Nobody else clapped.
"Well, now . . ." chimed in Gai, as though trying to cover up for the lack of applause, "how about a demonstration from two of our star students! A duet, from Neji and Tenten!"
Everyone applauded.
As Neji arranged himself on the piano stool and Tenten got out her flute and put two sheets of music on the stand, Sakura tried to sink through the bottom of her chair and into the floor. That had to have been the most embarrassing moment of her life. She hadn't slipped in her performance; her voice hadn't broken, she'd been on key, but it had impressed no one. She groaned inwardly. This class was going to be a tough crowd.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she noticed the boy with the guitar leaning forward, smiling warmly.
"My name is Rock Lee," he said softly, "and I thought your performance was beautiful, Sakura-san."
"Apparently not by this class's standards," Sakura replied dully, but smiled just the same.
Lee shook his head. "Do not mind them, they are just a bit stuck up. We have never had a singer before. They treat me the same way, because I do not play a classical instrument. I sing a little, also, but mostly I play the guitar."
Sakura's smile turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry. This place really sucks, huh?"
Lee grinned broadly and shook his head again. "Not at all! Gai-sensei is a brilliant teacher! He makes up for everyone else!"
Lee and Sakura both giggled quietly to each other. Suddenly Lee pressed a finger to his lips and made a small shushing noise. "Sh, they are starting!"
Tenten began, sending out the first clean, pure, penetrating note. Neji followed her. Sakura had to admit, it certainly wasn't difficult to see, or rather hear, why they were stars. They were brilliant, both of them, and they sounded brilliant together. It was Beethoven, or some such composer, and for a moment Sakura closed her eyes and let it wash over her. However, as she listened, she began to notice something odd. About halfway through the song she opened her eyes to see Tenten's chocolate ones searching the sheet music desperately, as though looking for her place. Somewhere near the beginning of the song three notes had been played, first by flute and then piano, and then the process had been repeated twice more. Now, as Tenten played that same sequence it was Neji who led. Sakura frowned. She didn't know a great deal about instruments. But she knew that was unusual.
When the performance was over there was a smattering of polite applause. The rest of the class was uneventful; Gai led them all through scales and series of warm-ups, all of which he had to make subtle adjustments to for Sakura and which made her very uncomfortable. Lee kept putting his hand on her shoulder and whispering encouragements supportively. Sakura didn't think she'd ever been so grateful for someone sitting next to her.
"Sakura, Lee, please wait a moment!" called Gai when the bell rang.
"Yes Gai-sensei!" replied Lee enthusiastically, coming to stand at attention before their teacher. Sakura came up behind him, fidgeting nervously.
"Neji, you too!" he beckoned the Hyuuga from where he'd just been about to escape out the classroom door. Neji rolled his eyes but came, Tenten lingering in the back unnoticed to watch.
"Neji," said Gai, clapping the boy on the shoulder, "if you would be so kind as to play the sheet music on my desk, I would like to try a small experiment. Sakura, Lee, how would the two of you like to try . . . a duet!?"
"Yes Gai-sensei!" cried Lee, practically bursting with enthusiasm. Sakura laughed hesitantly, but then nodded after a moment's thought. What harm could it do.
Sakura and Lee went to stand by the piano, Gai placing a copy of the sheet music on the piano for them both to read. Neji looked up at Sakura expectantly. She blinked, confused.
Neji rolled his eyes. "What key?" he demanded impatiently.
"Uh . . ."
"It doesn't matter," Gai saved, motioning to Neji to start playing.
Heads bent over the music so they could both see, so close they were almost nose to nose, the two of them sang.
"It's hard to believe,
that I couldn't see,
that you were always
there beside me.
Thought I was alone,
with no one to hold,
but you were always
right beside me.
This feeling's
like no other.
I want you to know,
that I've never had someone,
that knows me like you do.
The way you do.
And I've never had someone,
as good for me as you.
No one like you.
So lonely before,
I finally found,
What I've been looking for."
Sakura glanced up at Lee. His voice was wonderful. But she didn't think she could tell him so.
"Very nice, both of you!" praised Gai, giving them the thumbs up, "We will work on it more next class, but for now run along!"
Sakura and Lee both nodded and turned to go, Neji standing to follow them.
"Just a moment, Neji," Gai motioned for the other boy to stay where he was.
"Have I done something wrong, sensei?" Neji asked, something like barely suppressed malice in his tone.
Gai looked at Neji for a long moment. "Your part follows Tenten's throughout that piece," Gai told him evenly, "but by the end you were leading. Why?"
Neji closed his eyes as though utterly unconcerned. "She was slowing down. I kept tempo, that's all."
"Is that so?" Gai asked, "Then why couldn't you keep tempo with her?"
Neji gave his teacher a look. "I followed the music."
"Yes, but you compromised the performance and forced your partner to improvise to your playing. It would have been easier for you to slow down than for her to adjust herself to your speed. When you play a duet, or with any other performer, you will consider their performance as you give your own. Two instruments are better than one, but only if they compliment each other. When you have a solo you can play as fast or as slow as you want, but while performing with others you will bear them in mind. Understood?"
Neji gritted his teeth, "Understood, sensei." He turned on his heel and walked out.
***
Lee stood by the door to the music room, watching Sakura walk away.
"You like her, don't you?" asked Tenten, coming up behind him and leaning tomboy style on his shoulder.
"Yeah," Lee sighed.
"You like performing with her."
"Yeah."
"You want to sing with her again."
"Yeah."
"You really wish she wasn't leaving."
"Yeah."
Tenten grinned. "Well, look on the bright side."
Lee glanced at her.
"She's coming back tomorrow."
Lee grinned. "Yes. She is coming back tomorrow."
