Chapter Seven

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They were all at Gaara's house this time in front of the TV. Yet another week had gone by, and true to his word, Naruto had gotten all of the music done. He's given the printed, yes, printed copies, to Gaara through email so he could look through them. The red head was immensely pleased with the final products. He didn't have a thing to complain about. Even though it had been slow going, it was beginning to look like the past few weeks of hard work had panned out.

They watched a few final videos of the people who'd tried out for the play and were on the last one. So far, every part had been picked. Everyone who'd been chosen was perfect for the role they were in, or so Gaara said. At this point they were going back over the video to try and get some inspiration for the next two males to ask who hadn't been chosen for a part.

It was upsetting though. No one, not a single person, wanted the two lead roles. Not even a girl. They'd actually thought of that at one point. Using a guy and a girl dressed up as one for the opposite role just to get people to try out for the parts. But no one had. Everyone they'd asked refused. They all said the same thing.

The roles were too touchy. Too real.

Imagine that. Gaara finally wrote something... real. Something that might get people wow'ed enough to resee Joshua and he got told it was too real to play. For anyone to play. He couldn't blame them though. There were some pretty emotional scenes awaiting whoever took the roles. He sighed, frustrated and turned off the TV.

"'Ey! I was watching that. We were about to get to the part where the blue haired kid goes on a tangent about Shakespeare!" It had been funny. At least until someone tried to tell him that he was at the wrong audition. Poor guy.

"It's hopeless." Gaara muttered, sinking back into the couch.

"Aw, love, don't say that." Naruto frowned and got up off the floor to join him on the couch.

"It is though. Even you, the never ending blob of joy that you are, have to admit it."

"I admit nothing." He grinned.

"Naruto. Gaara." Sasuke addressed them as he came into the room. He was flipping his cell phone shut. He grabbed a chair, flipped it around, and sat down in it, facing them as his chest and arms leaned into the back of it. The man was too sexy for his own good.

"Yeah, what?" Naruto squinted at him.

"I've got some bad news, dumbass."

He shrugged. "Can't be any worse than that time you told me you killed the family dog, Fenway."

"You hated that dog."

"I did not."

"Yes you did. He ate your favorite pair of shoes."

"So what--"

"Guys!"

They both blinked and looked at Gaara.

"Quit it both of you. Sasuke, finish what you were saying." Gaara frowned irritably.

Sasuke continued. "Alright, like I saying. I've got a bit of bad news. Turns out the freshmen have enlisted the help of the chorus in their grade level. I don't have to tell you how good they are. You'll see it when they perform in their play."

"Great." Naruto muttered. "Tell me you have good news."

Sasuke smirked. "But of course. Never underestimate my ability to come out of a sticky situation prepared."

"And?" Inquired Gaara as he leaned forward.

Naruto wrinkled his nose. "That sounded waaaaaaaay too sexual."

"Feh, that's 'cause you're a pervert." He chuckled. "The good news." He cracked his knuckles. "You now how I've been seeing that girl Sakura?"

"The one who's playing the role of Joshua's sister?"

"That'd be the one." He nodded. "You know what she does in her free time for a hobby?"

"Not a clue," answered Gaara.

"You're going to tell us, so get on with it, asshole."

He smirked once more. "She's a dancer. A very good dancer. I've seen her. She's been to several competitions outside of school and won most of them."

"I'm the pervert? You're the one shacking up with a dancer." Naruto quirked his lips. "But, whatever. What does that have to do with our play?"

"Have you seen those new American flicks? From Disney? The Highschool Musical shit?"

"I happened to pass it by once while searching for the history channel, why?" Gaara eyed him with curious cool blues.

"Don't you guys get it? Nobody just sings in musicals anymore. Not the good ones. They dance too. Dance. If we can get her to come up with some dance moves and teach it to our actors, we'll be a shoe in. I know it. Right, dumbass?"

Gaara scratched his chin and Naruto 'hmmmed' for a moment.

"It's not a bad idea. But, do we have time? This wasn't in the script originally. Do you think our actors will go for it?" Gaara's eyes seemed worried.

"Not only do I think they'll go for it, but I think we'll get more people in on the play. This could very well turn into a full on Broadway style production." He looked over at Naruto. "All you have to do is talk to them. All of them at once."

"Me?" Naruto squeaked.

"No the other dumb blond in the room. Yes, you. You can get them to do it, Naruto. You've always been good at talking to people when you put your heart into it. Always. I'll be the first to admit that to your face, even if it's ugly as all hell."

He was unfazed by his name calling. He sighed and looked over at Gaara. He was staring right at him. His face was as stoic as ever... but his eyes... his eyes seemed to plead with him. Like he was his only chance. It sent a rush through Naruto. He was surprised to find he was worried. Worried if he did this he might fail and it'd blow up in their faces.

"Gaara... "

He shook his head, turning away. "It's alright. You don't have to do it."

Somewhere along the line this whole thing had went from being something to pass the time with and have fun... to a friend's hope. A hope and a dream. Naruto understood those feelings and he didn't want to see Gaara fail. It would crush him.

"I'll do it. But, if I screw it up..." He sighed and looked down. He felt a bop on his head and blinked at his brother.

"Idiot. You won't screw up. Trust me. I know you. Now," he shifted in his seat. "that's settled. But, we still have one final problem."

They both knew what he was talking about. It was the same thing they had both been discussing earlier. The two roles that needed to be filled. Gaara's and Joshua's. The names had been changed, just to avoid issue with the school... but... who was going to play those parts?

"So, almighty knower of all," started Naruto, "do you have a solution to that problem? Where are these actors I know you have in mind? Eh?"

He grinned, knowingly... evilly... Naruto hated that look. It was same one he'd given him before making Naruto put that note in Gaara's locker. The very same damn one. That hadn't turned out bad. But still...

"I'm looking at them, you moron."

Realization dawn on Gaara and Naruto. They looked at each other at the same time and then back at Sasuke. Naruto was the first to speak.

"Oh, no. No, no, no, no no,... Not gonna happen. That's way too much, even for me."

"Why? You afraid to kiss your best friend or something?"

Yes! He wanted to shout at the top of his lungs. It was bad enough that he and red head were ridding such a thin line as it was, if they did this play... it could completely ruin their friendship. Naruto didn't want that. Not in a million damned years. He loved him like he loved Sasuke. They were close. Close enough that they could joke about the thin line they walked and they both knew it. Playing those roles would just.. oh god...

"I'm not sure that's a good idea either," Gaara admitted, the same thoughts rushing through his mind.

Sasuke sighed, feeling defeated. "C'mon, people. Get with the program and face facts. We have a few weeks. Weeks. In that time we have to train an entire group of inexperienced kids to act, dance and sing. Do we really have time to waste finding two people to play those parts? We've gone through the whole shitlist of those who tried out already." He was scowling, hard. "If you two don't do it, no one will. I know it, and you both know it as well."

There was a long, long silence in the room. Neither knew what to say. It had been asked all rather suddenly and neither knew if it was a good idea.

Naruto looked over at Gaara. He really didn't want this whole thing to come to an end just because they couldn't find two people to play the lead roles. It would be a horrible reason for it to fail. Especially after they'd all put so much work into it. He hated failing. Hated it. And the only thing he hated worse was watching a friend's dream go down the drain for such a stupid reason. Especially because of him. Because he was too scared to buckle down and make out with his best friend in front of hundreds of people.

It was just a play after all. It's not like they were going to go out or date after the whole ordeal. It could be perfectly platonic if he made it that way. Plenty of actors made out with people on screeen and on stage every day without a problem. If they could do it so could he.

He smiled at Gaara. "I'll do it if you will. I look like the guy anyway, right? And it'd be better if you played yourself essentially. You couldn't find a better actor for the part. Hm?"

He stared at him, eyes slightly widened. He would do that? For him? He would essentially make out with a guy in front of the whole school, not giving a damn who watched? He swallowed, blushed lightly for the first time in probably ten years and smiled softly at Naruto. "You're a good friend, Namikaze Naruto. Placing the dreams of your friends before your own pride; over your honor." He close his eyes and hung his head, overwhelmed to the point of using his father's last name has a small form of respect.

Naruto blushed as well. "Yeah, well, just who told you I was actually a Namikaze, love?"

Sasuke smiled knowingly. "That'd be me, dumbass."

"I haven't earned that name yet." He smiled softly, still a hint of red over his nose.

"You have. To me." Gaara placed a hand on his shoulder and looked over at Naruto, smiling widely. As widely as Naruto had seen him smile in that photo Temari had shown him. It floored him. The compliment, the name and the smile. A long happy moment seemed to pass between the two as Naruto returned the smile with one of equal measure.

And, it wasn't until Sasuke said something that they were both jarred from it. "Alright, girls, we need to get a hold of everyone. I'm going to call Ino and have her send out a massive phone call chain. We'll get everyone together tonight and go over all the changes and final arrangements. You're done with the music, right? You guys put the songs in all the right places in the play so we could have a final copy?" He was standing and they looked up at him. Gaara was still so overwhelmed by how well the black haired man so easily got things organized and taken care of. He didn't know, at this point, what he would have done without him.

"Yes, we finished it today. We have to pick up the final copies at the school office after their done printing the thing off. Iruka is suppose to call me when it's finished." Naruto began to stand as well.

"Good, I'll let her know. What time is good for you guys? Seven?"

Gaara nodded. "Yeah, my sister and bother won't be home until after nine anyway. If this thing falls through I'd like to celebrate."

"Sounds good." And then he left the room, cell phone in hand, number dialed and placed against his ear.

Naruto smiled over at Gaara, hands on his hips. "So, it's really going to happen. You worried, love?"

Gaara stood up then too, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he cocked his head to the side at Naruto. "Me worried? Yeah, I am. This has been a three year dream in the works. Almost four. I thought getting the job was the hard part. No, actually making it happen was the hard part. If it weren't your stubborn tenacity and your brother's need to organize... everything..."

"Yeah, you noticed too, huh? It's kind of annoying." He chuckled.

He smiled faintly, trying to finish. "As I was saying... and yes it is a tad annoying however endearing and impressive... if it weren't for either of you I don't know how it ever would have gotten this far. I told myself I could do it on my own. I believed I could it by myself. And then you got assigned to the gig with me. And I thought, great, another jackass to make my life hell and ruin this thing I called my dream.

Thinking you were a drummer didn't make matters any easier." He chuckled, recalling that moment weeks ago in the band room. "But, you wormed your way into my life, Namikaze. You wormed your way in, you and your brother both. You made this whole thing possible. I admit I'll be unhappy if we don't win... but even if we don't... I'll be happy just knowing it came together. That it came together because I had two people, no, friends help me with it. Help me make Joshua's story known. Thank you, Namikaze-bushi(1), thank you."

"You really know how to choke a guy up, Gaara... geeze, I'm gonna fuckin' cry. Idiot." He indeed did draw his hand over his eyes, smiling and laughing slightly. "No wonder people want in on your play. Who wouldn't want to part of such a power poet's dream?"

Not his dream. He smiled again, finding the action nice.

Joshua's.

ooo

"Oi! Everyone!" His brow twitched slightly and he was about the yell when...

"SHUT UP!" This came from Naruto.

Sasuke blinked, coughed and then smirked when everyone took their seats and indeed shut up. All three of them sat behind a table on the stage. Well, Sasuke stood, but was taking his seat as Naruto took the floor and grabbed the mic. Heh... the mic... er... duh? No matter, they all hushed up anyway.

He sighed long and prepared himself for the speech of a lifetime. Oh, this wasn't going to be easy. He heard a few soft murmers and decided now was better than never. He coughed. And tested the mic, tapping it a few times before starting. "First, I want to thank you all for meeting us here on such short notice. I want you to know we appreciate it. It's taken a lot of time for us to get this far. A lot of blood and tears. I'm glad you've all agreed to be apart of that." He paused, and smiled back as people in the audience did. "As you all know this play is based on an actual event in this high school. One very dear to my friend Gaara, the writer and director of this play. It's going to be a retelling of the actual events from the view points of him and another student. Names really don't need to be said, but, you all understand, I'm sure. There had been some speculation for all while, from all of and you as well, as to whether this production was actually going to happen because we were missing two key actors for our lead roles.

Well, after some deliberation and deep thoughts on my part, the part of my bother and Gaara, we've found our two people. The roles of Anderson Drew and Saito Haruka will be played by myself and Gaara." He paused, letting this new information settle over the crowd before moving on. There were some murmers, some unhead conversation going about, but nothing terrible. Good, then, the hard part was over, now for the bomb.

"We've been notified that the freshman class is trying to one up us by enlisting the school choir of their grade level to act in the play. I'm sure you know how much we all hate to loose. Or at least I do, if you didn't know." He grinned a few chuckles roamed the crowd. "We've come up with a solution to this. I'm not going to lie to you, it's going to take hard work, a lot of hard work. If you thought singing and acting was going to hard, well, trying adding dancing to the mix. Haruno Sakura has agreed to teach you, or whoever will be chosen for such things, how to dance for this play. We're trying for something big here. Very big. Broadway style big." He sighed, looking pleading to the crowd. "I know some of you must be thinking this is insane. Two months, two measly months to learn all the lines and pull this off perfectly. It's going to take guts. It's going to take balls. It's going to take you working your asses off to make it happen. We can't half do it, people." He looked at them all, all worried, some shocked, some confused, some looked ready to bolt for the door. Oh, gods, it this was gonna work, if he was going to get them to do it, all of them, he'd have to more earnest, put more heart into it.

"Someone dear to me entrusted me with this dream. The dream to make sure this play happened. Someone also asked me if she could place her hopes in me. Her hopes that one person might come out better because all of this. Someone placed their hopes and dreams in me. Me! Uzumaki Naruto. A nobody dropout orphan who hasn't even earned the right to use his father's name. The honor of doing so. I ask you, all of you, will you allow me to place my hopes and my dreams, the dreams of my dear friend in you? Will you make this play possible?"

There was a long silence that didn't bode well for Naruto. He didn't know what to do, what to say anymore. He just stood there, heart in his hands, praying, praying they didn't all just walk out that door because this whole thing might fail.

And then... then... a Miracle happened.

Someone stood up.

Sakura.

"I'll carry your dream, Naruto!"

And then another. And another. And yet another. Until finally, everyone. Ever bloody last damned one of them stood up, shouting, that they would carry his faith and his hope; the dreams he had and Gaara had. He bit his lip, and for the second time that day wanted to cry. But instead, all he said was...

"Thank you, everyone. Thank you."

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Author's Note: o.o Wow, just wow. Did I do that? Pshaw! I did. Woot! I love it. I almost have to take back what I said about that one chapter. This one really touched my heart. I know, I know! It was so corny and 'gay'. -snickers- But, I loved it. I really did. This chapter came to me so easily. I'm almost wondering if I can top this one with the next one. -smiles- And again, thank you for the reviews. It moves me.

Miskie, I won't be writing any play or songs. -blush- Sorry to disappoint. Truely. But, I had to quite a bit of research for this play to begin with. And if you're wondering, my inspiration for the violin came from Hilary Duff's Raise Your Voice. There's a black girl in the school who just jams out with a violin twice in the movie. Once at the end and once in a large hall with Hilary. I thought it only made sense for Naruto.

..Spoiler Warning..

Bit of extra information for you though, in case any of you are wondering or didn't know... or wanted to. -smile- Namikaze Minato is the 4th Hokage in the manga and Naruto's real father. I wanted to give Naruto that same sense of need for achieving something as grand as the title Hokage. So, I gave him his father's name and violin instead. I personally enjoyed the fact that it was Sasuke and not someone like Kakashi or Jiraiya who explained this to Gaara because I feel like in the anime Sasuke really understands Naruto due to his past and that he has no parents.

Like the Rasengan, his father's technique, in my story Naruto made the violin achieve his own unique sound. He made it his own. He was as good as his father, or rather IS, but is making his own name, his own path to that high title and recognition in the music community that he so prizes.

I hope that help everyone a little, for those of you who read this bit.