Chapter 6 – Moonlit Melody

"Uchiha's been sulking all night long."

"Huh?" Naruto looked at the boy, who jerked his head in Sasuke's direction. Naruto sighed. "Yeah. You know how he is." Naruto's been trying to get him to do things to enjoy the party instead of just brooding in his corner. As usual, he failed.

"Well, even I'm bored," said the boy with the ponytail.

"You're always bored, Shikamaru," said the fat one, munching on a lot of food he just got from the buffet table. Shikamaru just looked at him lazily.

"And you're always hungry," said the boy who spoke first. "Honestly, you've been eating non-stop since the party started, Chouji." Chouji ignored him.

"Leave him alone, Kiba," Naruto said, digging in his own plate. "Where's Shino anyway?"

Kiba shrugged. "His parents called for him a while ago and he still hasn't come back." Naruto looked at him in question. "Don't look at me, I have no idea." He leaned closer to Naruto. "Though there can only be one reason, right?"

"What is it?" Naruto asked. But before Kiba can answer, a girl came to their table. She was wearing a white halter top dress, the strap studded with crystals. The straps extend to the back, criss-crossing, exposing her back. Her blond hair was tied up in a ponytail behind her, with little curls near the bottom.

"Hey, guys. Hey, Chouji. Sorry to interrupt." She looked beside her. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" Naruto and Kiba realized she was talking to Shikamaru. Chouji just kept on eating.

"Okay. Sit down." Shikamru offered her a seat.

The girl frowned. "In private, please. If it's not too troublesome for you."

"Tsk. Fine." Shikamaru got up and followed her somewhere after she waved goodbye to them.

Naruto looked confused. "What was that about?" His eyes followed them until they disappeared in a crowd. "Who's the girl?"

"Ino," Chouji said. He was about to go to the buffet table again. "She's Shikamaru's fiancée."

"What?" Naruto exclaimed but Chouji was gone. He looked at Kiba. "Did you know that?"

"No."

"Then why are you so calm?"

"Because it's normal. We're all heading there," Kiba said, starting with his food. Naruto sat there, clueless. "You really have no idea, do you?" Naruto shook his head. "They say this Gala is for making connections, right? Finding prospects for your children usually seals the deal." Naruto still looked confused. "Arranged marriage, Naruto. I'm talking about arranged marriages. And I'm pretty sure it's making Shino uncomfortable right now." Kiba grinned while Naruto just stared at his food.


Sasuke decided to just sit here and ignore everyone else. However, it seems like people just can't leave him alone. He could feel a group of girls looking at him. They would murmur among themselves and giggle. He was starting to think having Naruto around was better. At least he was distracted enough not to notice things like this.

"Should we ask for his name?" he heard one of them say. "Okay, I'll go." Sasuke scowled. No, he didn't want to talk to whoever it was - assuming they were talking about him. He was pretty sure they were.

He stood up and went away from the open grounds. 'Did they think nobody can hear them?' He was completely unaware of the fact that they wanted him to hear them. 'Tsk.' He was pissed. Where would he go now? As he rounded the corner he saw the Quarters. 'I'll just come back when it's almost over.' He went inside.

As he made his way to the right wing, he heard music coming from the function room. Before he realized it, he was in front of the door of the room, curious. He slowly and silently opened the door and peeked inside. There, he saw the annoying girl playing the piano, eyes closed with a smile on her face.


Shino didn't come back at all, as well as Shikamaru. Kiba's sister came and told him their parents are calling for him. Kiba winked at Naruto and whispered, "Let's hope she's a hot chick." Then, he disappeared with his sister. Chouji just kept eating and he didn't want to be left alone with him - he isn't good company when eating. Or worse, wait for him to be called by his parents, too.

Naruto finished his food and was now finding his way to Sasuke's table. He still couldn't believe what Kiba told him. He had no idea something like that went on in the school. After a while, he grinned. He couldn't wait to tell Sasuke and see the look on his face. Maybe he could stick around and wait for his parents to call for him. Naruto laughed. Sasuke isn't interested in girls, he finds them too talkative and capricious. 'He'd go ballistic!' Naruto laughed harder. 'Imagine if she's hideous!' Distracted by his imagination he didn't notice someone in front of him until they collided and fell on the ground.

"Ow!" He said, massaging his butt. He looked up and saw pale eyes staring back at him. He was looking at a girl also sitting on the ground. People were starting to stare and the girl looked embarrassed. Naruto stood up, tidied himself and went to her. "Sorry. You okay?" He offered his hand.

"Yes. Thank you." The girl hesitated but took his hand after a while. Naruto helped her up. She straightened her dress and tidied it. She was wearing a white tube dress with a black ribbon on her waist. Her heels were full of straps and her long purplish black hair was braided. "U-um…" Naruto looked back at her. "I'm sorry, too. Are you alright?"

Naruto beamed. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I'm worried about you, though. Sure you're okay?" The girl blushed and nodded. "Okay. Then, I'll go now. Sorry. Bye." Naruto continued looking for Sasuke.

The girl smiled as her eyes trailed behind him, her cheeks still pink. Unaware of the people looking at her.


Sakura was done with her third mock invention that afternoon. Realizing there's nothing else to do. She slept to kill time. When she woke up, the moon was out and she can faintly hear music playing and people talking in the open grounds from her window. She got up and ate most of her take-out from the cafeteria. After eating, she grabbed her jacket and went downstairs.

As expected, nobody was here. Even the chambermaids and butlers were at the party. Sakura sighed. "Now what?" She was bored as she walked around the central room. She stopped in front of the function room and decided to explore. She opened the door and saw a grand piano sitting elegantly in the far corner of the room, faintly illuminated by the moonlight. She grinned. "Why not? Nobody's gonna hear anyway." She went to it, opened it and sat. 'What should I play?' She placed her fingers on the keys and let them choose a piece.

When she started playing, the room was filled with her music. The acoustics of the room was superb. She closed her eyes to listen closely. This piece was something she often hummed so it must be her favorite. She asked Hinata but she said she's never heard of it before. Knowing Hinata, she must know almost all the pieces out there by heart. Sakura was amused at how bothered she looked and slightly disappointed not knowing this one.

"Do you have a music sheet I could borrow?" Hinata just couldn't let it go.

"No. I just heard it somewhere. I've been looking for one, too. I can only hum until a certain part and I can't remember the rest." Her brows furrowed.

Hinata sighed. "It sounds really good, though. I'd like to play it."

Sakura smiled at the memory. She didn't know how she could play it now. It was like her fingers were playing it for her on their own. Then, she neared the end. Even her fingers couldn't complete it. Her fingers stopped playing and she opened her eyes and saw someone in the room with her. She jumped up in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded. She saw his eyes focus like he just woke up from a trance and he looked as confused as she was.


"Hn." Sasuke looked away and place his hands in his pockets. "I heard someone playing so I looked. Turns out, it was just you." He didn't know what he was doing here. He was just looking through the door so why was he standing in this room in front of the piano?

"Huh," the girl said, relaxing a bit. "So what do you think?"

Sasuke looked at her. "About what?"

"About my playing, of course," she said like it was the most obvious thing. "Was I good?"

Sasuke frowned. "No." He didn't know much about music but he thought she played well - not that he's gonna say it. She didn't look offended, though.

"Then, do you know the piece? I mean, have you heard it before?" She pressed on. "Do you know what it's called?"

He didn't get it. One moment she looks at him like she's ready to tear him to pieces, now, she's talking to him like they've known each other for a long time. "Don't ask me," he snapped. "You're the one playing it."

"I was just asking." She went and carefully closed the piano. Sasuke noticed she was still wearing the clothes from this afternoon - capri shorts, shirt and sneakers. She was also wearing a hooded jacket now. Her pink hair let down to her waist.

"Hey." Sasuke focused back. "Are you checking me out?" Sakura raised her eyebrows and grinned.

"No." Sasuke scowled. Did he look like he was?

"Just kidding," she shrugged. "By the way, shouldn't you be at the party?" He didn't answer. "Right. Well, guess I should go. Bye." She walked past him and disappeared behind the door.

Sasuke was left standing there, confused. 'What just happened?'