AN: Firstly, this is not an official chapter of "The New Me" but I still put it here for those who got confused with the songfic part of chapter 3... Secondly, there's a lot of Author's notes here... and that I changed some of the words an sentences because Word is really annoying me with those squiggly underlines...
Third, you can skip this part if you like and you think that you understand the chapter 3. But (The unformidable "BUT") there are some things here that you can only see here... it's kinda like a filler... hahahaha.. so it's your choice... The next chapter won't mention anything that is in here and there's no clarification there anymore...
Next, I won't mention the identities of the mysterious people, give me your best guess... ^_-
And lastly, Thank you Happyhelper83! You are awesome and so do the others who read, followed, put this in their favorites and reviewed this story! I love you guys! Kyaaahhhh! Another kiss and hug from me!
Actually there is more!
sinshu: thank you! er,,... what do you mean by totally not my second choice? and who were you talking about? Sorry.. I don't really understand it that much... and I have thought of it over and over again... I don't really mean to sound rude... really, I just want to know...
Jamfangirl: Thank you for reading and reviewing! I'll try my best to update often..
Shay14: I hope this one enlightens you... Thank you!
deidara-chan's lover: Thank you! hehehehe Thank you very much!
Bonus Chapter: Chapter 3 Clarification
AN: Ok guys… I can't really sleep well because I'm thinking "Maybe the songfic part is too confusing". So I made this bonus chapter… to clarify things up… but I still won't reveal the mysterious people and events here… everything will unfold in the right time…
So here's what I'm trying to do… I want to connect everything up… yes… that's it… I want to connect things… and actually… to confuse you… hahahaha (why am I doing a clarification when I was trying to confuse you ehh? Actually I don't know too! Hahaha). And it's a kind of style. Yeah pretty much it is a style I used for creative purposes and not really for understanding. So this chap is basically the one for understanding.
Think of them as one person, ok?
I removed the song lyrics and the people who said it and to whom they said it to make things clearer…
The singer looked for someone in the room but couldn't find him. She started to sing.
Everyone started to dance in a slow pace. Some couples danced quite intimately.
(Omniscience of the writer is visible since I know what's happening to everyone; let's skip to the conversations, shall we?)
"Are you ok?"
"Yes of course I am"
But tears are visible in her eyes, he saw it and asked, (Yeah I changed it because basically everyone's conversation is the same, well not much but still the same. And the girls (AND the mysterious guy) cried
"Why are you crying?"
She does not want him to see her cry, to see her weak so she answered; "Why do we fall for the wrong person?"
"I don't know."
She wiped her tears away and smiled kindly at him.
"Thank you… but I think we should stop dancing." then she turned around, turned away from him.
He saw it; more tears in her eyes. He couldn't bear it.
He doesn't know what came into him. He pulled her arm and wrapped his arms around her.
She was shocked. 'Does he pity on me?' she thought. She pushed him.
She stared at him. Then she turned around, this time she ran away from him. He can't stop her anymore.
The dancers kept dancing. No one noticed her running away. No one noticed he was alone in the middle of the dance floor. No one noticed except…
Him. (Uhh.. he's a different guy.) He was there. He has been there ever since the singer started singing. He has been watching her.
He wiped his tears. He does not have any emotions; he isn't supposed to feel this way. Besides she needs him right now. Helping her is more important than comforting himself.
AN: Ok, is it much clearer? No? Ok then I'll try to separate their stories. But I'll make the important ones bold and italic the things to connect them together. Keep in mind that these events happened at the same time.
Let's start with Naruto and Hinata
The singer sang. Everyone started to dance in a slow pace. Some couples danced quite intimately.
Hinata glances up to Naruto. She was surprised to see him staring at her. She quickly bowed her head in which Naruto gave a low chuckle. She blushed furiously.
Eversince she and Naruto started to dance, her partner has not taken his eyes off her. She, in the other hand, has not taken her eyes off the floor, except for occasional glances with her partner.
She glanced up to him again and to her dismay she had not met his eyes. He's looking elsewhere. She shifted her gaze to what Naruto is looking at.
And it wasn't a what. It's actually a who. Take a guess who… right. Sakura.
'I thought for a moment there that-' Hinata trailed her thoughts. 'Who was I kidding? You have known Naruto likes her and not you ever since you were little. And haven't you heard him this morning?
Tears began to fall out fron Hinata's eyes as she remembered what Naruto said this morning.
'Who are the real you, the Naruto I heard this twilight or the Naruto I am dancing with right now?'
She bowed her head to avoid being caught crying by Naruto. But it was too late. Naruto already saw her tears, and asked "Why are you crying Hinata-chan?"
She answered in a low voice, "Nothing."
They danced in silence. Then she couldn't bear it anymore.
"Thank you…" Hinata started, "But I think we need to stop dancing Naruto." Hinata said then she turned around; turned away from him.
He saw it; more tears in her eyes. Naruto couldn't just bear it.
He doesn't know what came into him. He pulled her arm and wrapped his arms around her.
She was shocked. 'Does he pity on me?' Hinata thought. She pushed him.
Hinata stared at him. Then she turned around, this time she ran away from him. Naruto can't stop her anymore.
The dancers kept dancing. No one noticed Hinata running away. No one noticed Naruto was alone in the middle of the dance floor.
Naruto's shoulders sagged. He went to where the seats are and sat in one of the isolated vacant seat. He waited for the dance to stop.
He was thinking what is happening to him. He doesn't know why but his heart sank in an unexplainble melancholy.
AN: Is it clearer now? Then shall I continue with Sakura and Lee?
The singer sang. Everyone started to dance in a slow pace. Some couples danced quite intimately.
Sakura looked around her. She sighed in relief. Then she looked at Lee.
Lee has been conversing with her since they started to dance but she wasn't really listening attentively. He must have noticed she was a bit nervous today and was clearly trying to cheer her up.
Sakura smiled at Lee. Lee is very sweet and kind. Any girl who has known Lee would surely fall for him. But her heart already belongs to someone else. She then caught a glimpse of her love.
She again shifted her gaze to Lee and ignored the eyes staring intently at her (Her Love's eyes). But Lee saw it. Sakura's emerald eyes bear pain. He knows why and he also felt the pain. All those years of pursuing Sakura, still no fruit has been bore. Her eyes still bear pain.
He twirled her around and they changed positions. He thought it was best and it would lessen the pain if Sakura won't see the one who was hurting her. But it has no effect. She started to sob.
Sakura started to snivel because of all the memories that haunted her. One particular memory was fresh and new for it only happened today.
Lee hugged her and she let him so. They hugged while swaying still to the rhythm of the music. Then she asked,
"Why do you still love me even if I never reciprocated your feelings?"
"I don't know, Sakura-chan." Lee answered honestly. Truthfully, Lee doesn't know. He asked it to his self sometimes and there is still no answer.
"Thank you." She muttered after a long silence.
"For what Sakura-chan?"
"For everything." Then the music stopped. They parted from the hug and Sakura smiled kindly at him.
AN: Ok we covered Lee and Sakura. Next are Kiba and Shiho.
The singer sang. Everyone started to dance in a slow pace. Some couples danced quite intimately.
Kiba and Shiho were quiet. They don't know much about each other and were one the unlucky ones who got no choice but to be partnered up because their former partners found other partners.
Kiba stared at his dance mate. It was a known fact that this girl he was dancing with has a crush on a certain pineapple head that posses a very large brain.
'Tch.' He sneered, 'why does everyone fall for someone who is in love with someone else. It just hurts them.'Kiba thought to himself. Then pictures of those with unrequited, one sided love came to his mind.
Lee, Naruto, Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, this girl he was dancing with, Hinata and him. 'Yeah I did have a crush with Hinata-chan but I have stopped it because it only hurts me. Besides even if Hinata-chan falls for me, I don't think we'd be happy. We will just end up like Kurenai-sensei."
Then he noticed it. Kiba saw Shiho's eyes have been locked at Ino and Shikamaru's way. He can't bear the pain in her eyes. He has known that pain for he too experienced it but she doesn't need to feel it too. If only he can stop it.
"Shiho…are you ok?" Kiba asked.
"Yes, yes I am Kiba-san. Thank you." she smiled fake smile.
"You know, you shouldn't watch them if it hurts you." Kiba said offering an awkward smile.
'What?' Shiho thought, 'Does he know?'
As if reading her mind he answered, "I do know you have feelings for Shikamaru."
She let a small squeal and blushed furiously. He laughed.
"It's quite obvious." He said as he laughed even more. Then silence.
"Have you experienced this Kiba-san?" Shiho asked breaking the silence.
"I don't know Shiho. I really don't know." He sighed as he caught a glimpse of Naruto and Hinata. He sighed even more.
Shiho saw it. The pain his eyes, he bear the same agony in his eyes. She knew, she understands but she kept quiet.
"So Shiho, what are your interests?" Kiba started a friendly chatter, in which Shiho shy and timid as she was gladly answered. They talked for the whole dance. They laughed too. Tears started to fall from Shiho's face for laughing so hard. She didn't know Kiba was this fun to be with. She had let out her true self without realising it. Shiho wiped her tears away and smiled kindly at Kiba.
"Thank you Kiba-san." She said
"What for? I had fun myself." He said with a grin, "and please stop calling me Kiba-san. Just call me Kiba or Kiba-kun. We're friends now after all, aren't we?
Shiho blushed, "Alright, K-Kiba-kun!"
He grinned wider, "That's more like it."
Then the music stopped. Shiho and Kiba smiled to each other.
'I know Kiba-kun is feeling lonely just like me but he still cheered me up. I wonder how I could repay him.' She thought, and she smiled to herself, 'Kiba-kun. Hihihi I'm happy to make a new friend this night.'
AN: So that's Kiba and Shiho. Hehehe… And does anyone notice they are the only pair that had a happy night?
Ok enough of AN, on with the next pair… here's Shikamaru and Ino
The singer sang. Everyone started to dance in a slow pace. Some couples danced quite intimately.
Ino smiled widely at Shikamaru before she stepped closer to him. Shikamaru felt really hot that he started sweating. His heart began pumping real fast.
'What the hell Shikamaru? Why are you so nervous? It is only Ino he silently castigated his self, 'Stupid Shikamaru. Stupid heart, will you quit pumping real fast and be steady as you usually are?'
"Tch. Troublesome." He muttered.
Ino's eyes bulged, "What?"
"Nothing." Then he saw it. She was teary-eyed. Shikamaru mentally panicked. He doesn't know what to do. But he can't also keep his mind out of a teary-eyed Ino. He did what the first thing that ran in his mind. He gave his handkerchief to him which surprised her. She gave him a questioning look.
Those eyes, he doesn't know how to respond with those eyes. So he just kept quiet. But after a brief silence he spoke, since Ino just kept staring at him and did not accept the hankie he was offering.
"Uhhh… Ino I think you should wipe those." He said, but she still did not bulge. He was getting annoyed. And since he felt embarrassed because Ino did not accept his handkerchief and sic he was worried of her, he wiped Ino's tears away himself.
Ino shuddered. She heard him but she did not know what to do. She would have answered if she would know what Shikamaru would do.
'He's warm.' She thought as Shikamaru grew frighteningly close. She can even feel his breath as he sighed, 'His breath is warm. I wonder…' she trailed and shakes her head.
Shikamaru, thinking it was because Ino does not like him wiping her tears, back off. "Troublesome." He mumbled.
Just then, Ino buried her face in Shikamaru's chest. She does not want him to see her cry, to see her weak. He was taken aback.
"Why do we fall for the wrong person Shika-kun?"
Shikamaru sighed, "I don't know Ino. I do not have answer to everything."
'I have been asking myself the same question.' He thought to himself.
"It hurts Shika. It hurts so badly." Ino said a little muffled for she was sobbing in his chest.
'I know Ino, I know. If only I could do something to ease that pain I would.' He thought, 'If only you would notice me, how I feel, and then I promised you, you won't be hurt again and I won't be hurt again either.' But those words were left unsaid; all he could do was to hug her tight.
They didn't even notice they have stopped dancing since they started talking. Not until the music stopped. They moved away from each other, realizing they have been hugging from the very start of the dance. They both flushed. After thanking each other, Shikamaru headed to Choji while Ino went to Sakura.
"Man, you and Ino looked so sweet while you were dancing. You hugged each other the whole time." Choji said which made Shikamaru even redder. "I just hope Inoichi-san didn't see that." Choji continued. Shikamaru mentally slapped his forehead.
AN: Hahahaha… I wonder what Inoichi will do with Shikamaru. Well, I leave that to you… you are free to imagine the consequences of the dance to Shikamaru.
Now for the last pair, yeah.,.. the mysterious pair… I will start this one ahead of time than the others.
She was looking at him. He seems happy. Her heart stung. She sat at one of the vacant seat. But because she was too preoccupied she did not hear what Kurenai said. Then the spotlight blinded her and she heard her name being called up to the stage to sing. She lost him from her view.
He was listening to her new partner's chatter. Then he heard a familiar name being called to the stage. He needs to get out of there. He excused himself.
She walked up to the stage, still searching for him. But she couldn't find him. She heard someone whisper, "Ready in 3, 2,.." she have no choice but to prepare herself as she heard the go from the guitarist.
Everyone was ready. Melody arises. The singer looked around but she failed to see what she was looking for. It was no use, she can't see anything with the spotlight on her. She just continued to sing.
She poured out all her feelings. She thought of him and the other person he thinks she likes. They were different. How could she not see it? She loved him but what did she do? She wasted all the love he had for her thinking she was in love with that other person. Now, she's trying her best to win his heart again, but he had already moved on. He was happy with that other girl.
She reminisce their last conversation, when he was still in Suna and she was trying to win her back.
"Come back to me please, we will start anew." She begged. But his eyes were emotionless.
"Are you really sure it is me you love? Maybe you should think it over."
"I'm sure."
"That was what you said before but look at what happened." He mockingly said.
"I have thought of it over and over again and I know, I am sure, I love you. Please come back to me."
"No. Whatever between is over. I would never come back to you" he said then he left her crying. The rain started to pour.
She was crying. She did not realize it, but she was really crying. Thankfully, she hadn't croaked while she was singing. She stopped her song. She can't still see with the spotlight directed on her but she heard a loud round of applause. She wonders if he hears her son and knows that it was for him.
He was there. He has been there ever since the singer started singing. He has been watching her.
He wiped his tears. He does not have any emotions; he isn't supposed to feel this way. Besides Hinata need him right now. Helping her is more important than comforting his self.
AN: Thank you for reading! I hope it cleared things because if it did not then I don't know how to explain anymore...
Hahahaha Told yah there's a lot of author's note... this one beats Chapter 3 in terms of lenght... hahaha it has more words too...
I also notice Shikamaru is being all gushy! Hahahaha Still I like it like that.. that is what I think Shikamaru has inside of him... he seems uncool and detached on the outside but is really touchy in the inside.. hahaha I know not all of you would agree... speaking of seeing through a person, deidara-chan's lover214 is really good in reading people! IT IS AWESOME! yeahh.. I just have to say that because it's really cool when someone can tell your personality through your writing...
Anyway... I'm still challenging everyone to give their best guess to who are the mysterious people... I think it is easier considering I drop off hints from the last chapter up to this chap...
