CHAPTER FOUR
"Ma'am, may I please have another?"
"Hey you're a pretty little thing."
"When's the band start?"
Kiba sighed, taking notice of all the people crowding into the bar, making such a ruckus. The drummer looked down at his watch rubbing his eyes, '7:43'. "Tch-" The boy sucked on his teeth, "Fifteen minuets before we have to be up and seventeen before we have to start, Naruto where the hell are you?" Kiba tapped his foot sinking slightly into the big couch that sat at the rear of the stage, back against the wall; he started scanning the bar, annoyed. The atmosphere was nice as it held that old speakeasy feel to it, every table had a light dangling above them looking like flying saucers, and the bar was long and crowded with people leaving Tsunade swamped. "How she manages to handle running this place and tending to the bar is a miracle." He thinks as a coffee was suddenly thrust into his face. "Huh?"
"Well are you gonna take it, or not?" Kiba smiled as he took the drink from the smiling blonde.
"Yeah, thanks- Ino." He pressed the mug to his lips and took a sip; Sweet, too sweet- "Ino how much sugar did you put in this coffee?"
"Hey, be grateful I even got you some!" She said, flopping down dramatically next to him on the leather couch, "After all the hard work I did to get you that cup of coffee." She placed her hand over her chest and letting out a forced sigh. "So where's Naruto?"
"I honestly have no Idea."
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SPLASH!
"Well shit-" Naruto frowned as he picked himself up from the wet cement, "Damn it, my suit." He said punching the grimy ally wall. He shook his head, "Kiba's going to kill me." The blond's frown deepened at that thought as he looked up at the sky, rain falling on his face. "Why is it always raining in this stupid city."
The young musician picked up his black saxophone case and sighed as he glanced at his watch, "7:57- SHIT!" Naruto sprinted down the alleyway the blinking sign for the bar just up ahead. His feet crashing against the puddles cascading muddy water to stain his pants, his hair sticking to his brow and his blazer was absolutely drenched from the deluge of water pouring from above. The neon sign flickered in and out, 'Katsuya Bar and Lounge' glowed with red, blue and orange, a large arrow comprised of little lights was pointing downward to the bar's entrance. The blond saxophonist slid, only barely catching himself on the entrance door frame, "I'm here!" He yelled in a panicked tone.
"You fucking moron!"
Naruto smiled sheepishly as he walked in chuckling, every single eye in the bar was cast down at him, worst of all Kiba looked ready to kill him. The drummer was standing on stage with his drum sticks gripped firmly in his hand. "Hurry up Naruto, we have a show to put on." The brunet said, tapping his foot.
"R-right! Lets do it!" He said, bounding up to the stage.
As he pulled out his saxophone from within his leather case, Naruto laughed at Kiba's comment as the brown haired boy made his way to his drum-set, "You look like shit- you better play ten times better after that stunt you pulled." Naruto nodded.
Kiba was mad, but he knew that the drummer would forgive and forget all about it by tomorrow; Kiba always did. Naruto grinned as he looked out to the crowd, just like Tsunade said everyone was here. The smell of alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee reached his nose and it was like old times again, he almost expected to see Jiraiya in the gathering of people, talking obnoxiously about a new novel. His thoughts were promptly cut off as the loud kick of the drums indicated that he was expected to start playing soon.
Kiba stared at his band-mate's back, as the blond began to play his tenor sax, its polished brass shimmering in the stage lights contrasting it's clean sleek visage from it's owner's own begrimed appearance. Kiba closed his eyes as he let the sound of his snare and hi-hat wash through him, the smooth sultry sounds of Naruto's saxophone intermingling with his percussion was better than ever, "That klutz has been practicing." Kiba thought to himself. It wasn't long before the vocals would have to come in, "Naruto's always been more of a sax player than a singer, please just make this work." Kiba internally prayed.
"This is where it all ends,
the bottles empty embrace,
where the Jazz always plays,
and where the cigarette stains."
Kiba smiled, "Not bad Naruto, a little rough but passable." Naruto's voice barely wavered, it wasn't perfect, but then again Naruto never aspired to be a singer, simply a master saxophonist and composer.
"The old scotch on the rocks,
makes all the broads into dames,
The guitar starts to rock,
Dresses and Skirts start to lift,
as the dames start to spin."
Naruto smiled as he grasped the microphone and pushed it away before bringing it in close with a little flare, his saxophone strapped over his shoulders and sitting against his hip as he closed his eyes and leaned down with the mic-stand dramatically as if dancing with it.
"Wife caught you taken a glance
at those skirts as they dance
A well deserved slap,
Sends you back-
to where it-"
Naruto pauses and smiles as he prepares for the final belt of the song allowing for he called 'Letting it sizzle'.
"all ends!"
Naruto lets go of the microphone and promptly returns to his saxophone, playing out the elision to the next piece. During this point the bar's walls filled with the sound of applause. Some of his friends cheering out and making whooping noises. Naruto couldn't restrain the massive smile that graced his face, he glanced back to his band-mate and breaks from his sax to let Kiba take the limelight and perform his solo. The blond saxophonist looks at his friend playing the drums and gives him a thumbs up, in return he sees Kiba smile.
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"Wait! What!?"
"Ugh Naruto, please stop yelling." Sakura chastised, waving her hand dismissing Naruto's look of annoyance. The pink haired girl wiped off some stray lint that was sitting on the shoulder of her red dress. "That guy was a creep anyway."
"You're serious he just up and left?" The blond frowned, taking a quick glance over at Kiba who was currently on the other side of the bar looking something over on his drum-set. "No note or anything?" Naruto placed his head into his hands using his fingers to massage his temples, "Kiba's not gonna be happy, he's the one that got all this set up."
"Naruto, I'm sure you'll be fine, so will Kiba." Ino said reassuringly after taking a sip from her coffee. "There are other scouts and record companies." She glanced at Kiba and back to the blond musician who currently was groaning and looking up at the ceiling as if hoping he would find the answer to all his problems written above him.
"Y-Yeah! How about we go out and grab some barbecue, you know, to take your mind off it?" Naruto glanced at the larger boy who was sporting a red tee-shirt with a purple butterfly pattern on his chest, Naruto let out a small laugh at the boy, as said boy was currently patting his stomach with a big smile. Naruto nodded at Choji's comment. He placed his hand on Choji's shoulder and just as he was going to accept the offer he caught sight of Kiba slowly heading over as he was being stopped by random people, this quickly causing Naruto's smile to falter.
"What a drag-" Naruto tilted his head as he looked over at Shikamaru who was currently leaning back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, a toothpick hanging from his lips. He suddenly leaned forward, bringing his chair back to its upright position after a blonde girl with four short ponytails slapped the back of his head with a frown. "Jeez Temari, give me a break."
The young blond woman glared and slapped him again, "You're so unhelpful, isn't he your friend?"
"What am I supposed to do, the creepy bum left. Besides can't you do something? You and your brothers are in need of new members right?" Shikamaru stated with a frown.
"Tsk, yeah I mean I was planning on talking to them- I didn't want to get these guy's hopes up. Shika' you've met Gaara, he can be kinda particular about who he works with; also he can be- what's the word- 'Bloodthirsty', when it comes to criticizing other musicians." Temari frowned looking at the blond boy.
"Temari, I don't have a single clue as to what the crap matters when it comes to music let alone jazz, but at least try to talk him into considering these two idiots." The usually lethargic boy said, scratching his head.
"You don't have to convince me Shika, I told you to send that text to them remember? I just wanted them to know that I was interested, but I'll have to run it through the band first."
Naruto glanced between the two lovers and smiled, "Wait! You're saying that you're part of a band!?" the blond musician sputtered out, "I can handle criticism and so can Kiba, I'm sure we can convince this 'Gaara' that we can play just as well as anyone else!" The blond saxophonist eyes lit up with excitement, "Who else is in the band? What's the band's name? Are you already signed!?" Temari sighed as Naruto asked each question like he was an assault rifle in a firefight, she looked between the hyperactive blond and her fiance shaking her head in disbelief.
"Is who's signed?" Kiba stated as he walked into the circle of friends glancing at everyone, "Did we get signed, Naruto?" Kiba stated smiling brightly showing off his long canines. He looked over at his blond friend and noticed his sudden change of mood when he made eye contact with him. "Naruto- we- did get signed, right?" frown slowly creeping onto his face.
"Nope, Dickless and you got ditched by that snaky Orochimaru looking dude." Kiba flinched at the monotone voice, a pale hand came from behind to rest on Kiba's shoulder, "I overheard him, saying to his silver haired boy-toy something about dirty, off beat, gutter rats." The pale artist stated with a small, almost uneasy smile, "Don't worry though, Shikamaru's girl is looking for members for her band."
"Che- Shikamaru's girl- why I outta..." Temari hissed out, clenching her fist, "Who you calling girl, you pasty little piece of shi-" Temari growled as Shikamaru's hand lightly gripped her shoulder. Temari murmured something unintelligible letting out an annoyed groan and looking over at Kiba and Naruto, "Yeah, I'm looking for some new band-mates, honestly I guess this is kind of like fate that we met- we've been looking for a new woodwind and drummer."
Kiba frowned, and glanced at Naruto, "Orochimaru just left?" receiving a short nod from the saxophonist. "Dammit." he scratched his scalp disappointment evident on his face and looked over at Temari and groaned, "Are you really looking for new talent?"
Temari sighed, "Yeah, what about new woodwind and drummer didn't you understand?" Shikamaru rolling his eyes next to her, "You two are hopeless." He said almost mumbling it out, then gracing everyone with a view of his open mouth, yawning.
"Alright, alright- are there auditions?"
Temari raised her cell phone and waved it around a bit, "I recorded you guys somewhere during your second song. Thought it was impressive enough to share with the others in the band." She paused as she pocketed her phone, "We already have two vocalists, a pianist, guitarist, horns, bass, and we even have a violinist all covered.
Naruto smiled, "Kiba, this is great! A whole Jazz group!"
Kiba nodded, the brown haired boy looked at Temari and scratched his cheek and began to direct his vision to the empty space just to his left of his feet, "What do you call yourselves? I doubt you guys call yourselves 'The Band'."
"Ai." The blonde haired girl said flatly as she glanced at her watch. "I'm unfortunately running late, look I'll send this to my brother and see what he thinks, however I think you'll both be fine so you might as well meet me and the rest of the band here and at this time." She said grabbing a card and pen from her purse and scribbling on it. "Just make sure you show this to the front desk and they'll let you through." Kiba and Naruto both nodded as the Temari handed the brunet boy the business card before she walked off, leaving the bar with Shikamaru trailing behind her mumbling something about the whole situation being 'troublesome'.
"Huh, well this wasn't how I expected the night to go." Kiba said as he looked over at Naruto who was grinning from ear to ear. He sighed as the rest of the group was now chatting on about grabbing dinner somewhere tonight, the most evident voice being Choji's exclamation of his vote for Yakiniku Q. Kiba chuckled as he looked down at the card that Temari had left him:
"Sabaku Luxury Hotel - Suite 001
8:45pm, wear something nice."
"A suite at a luxury hotel?" Kiba said, squinting at the card, "Jeez what kind of money does this girl have?" He mumbled as he flipped the card over to its front, his eyes expanding in shock, "Wait, what?!" He shouted, "No fucking way!"
"What is it Kiba?" Naruto asked, leaning over to look at the card in his friend's hand, "Whoa!"
Sabaku no Temari
of Sabaku Global
Hotels/Resorts , Automotive, Electronics and Engineering.
Kiba and Naruto looked at each other in disbelief their eyes locking as Kiba laughed, shaking his head, "This definitely wasn't the way I expected the night to go."
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Authors Note:
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