Forever Resentful

LavaLova

Chapter 7

A/N: She's ALIVE!!! Bwahahahahahahaha-- :choke: … hairball n.n; Anyway, yes, we are alive… or, at least, I am… It would seem that, as diplomas are coming up, CandyLava is devoting her time to studying and her future and stuff like that. Actually, I would be doing the same thing, but, as we all know, I'm a genius and I don't need to study.

So, though it is kind of sucky, I will be continuing the rest of this story on my own, which explains why it took so long for me to update, because we'd been procrastinating and all that wonderful stuff.

However! CandyLava has graciously agreed to continue posting up the chapters I write as I email them… because the internet (that my dad broke) has not been replaced yet. So, let's all give good ol' CandyLava a huge round of applause! :huge, random, happy applause:

Well, without any further adieu, here's chapter seven!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sitting at one of the coffee shop's tables uninvited, Itachi propped his chin on the back of one hand as his eyes bored holes into Naruto's and Kakashi's heads and all Sakura could do was sip her Iced Capp Supreme, watching and feeling very, very uncomfortable. The way her two band-mates' attitudes had changed the moment the ex-F.o.R singer had invited himself over baffled her, made her wonder just what the hidden story was behind this band.

The sound of Naruto grinding his teeth broke the tense silence, his cerulean eyes matching the Uchiha's challengingly. He seemed to be making up for Kakashi who was looking everywhere but the Uchiha's way, as though hoping that, if he didn't see Itachi, he wasn't there.

Then, the singer turned his intense gaze over to Sakura, his unnaturally red eyes dark and suddenly unreadable. "It's good to see that you're going to live corrupt our children with your 'heathen music'."

Was that sincere or sarcastic? she wondered briefly before she bit her lip, suddenly self-conscious under the man's powerful gaze, and murmured, "Um… thanks."

"Do you have a reason for bothering us," Naruto asked icily, sneering at the black-haired vocalist, "Or are you only here to flaunt your B-grade wit?"

"Actually," Itachi answered, returning his attention to the blond, "I do have a reason for joining you. My colleague and I were merely curious as to what your plans are pertaining to this whole Battle-of-the-Bands business."

"What business is that of yours?" Kakashi queried, obviously overcoming his denial with curiosity and indignity. "Shouldn't you and your colleague be more concerned with your own plans for the contest?"

Itachi shrugged. "Perhaps, but all of us in Sub-Zero Solution and any of the other bands involved are experienced musicians while you are recruiting amateurs whom only joined your band on a very misfortunate whim. Compared to you, we all have a leg up." Sakura was easily able to notice that he was watching her from the corner of his eye.

Naruto stood so abruptly his chair nearly toppled over, his hands balled into fists, his lips pulled back into a hateful snarl that showed all his teeth and his nostrils flared. His blue eyes blazed furiously and it was obvious that, unless somebody intervened, the man was going to attack Itachi right there in the middle of the restaurant.

Fortunately, Kakashi managed to grab Naruto by an arm and tug him back into his chair before a commotion was stirred. He whispered something in the blond's ear and he nodded, looking a little more relaxed.

Nonetheless, while any other patrons of the coffee shop were oblivious to it, the four musicians could feel the electricity in the air; could hear the faint humming of the silence in their ears; could taste the harsh, unspoken words like venom on their tongues. The air was suddenly unbearably tense.

Finally, as though on cue, the large, pale man who had accompanied Itachi into the restaurant earlier approached the table to break the silence, the two extra large paper cups he was holding seeming lost in his bulky hands.

"Friends," the Uchiha said sardonically, an artificial smile on his pale face while the man placed one of the coffees before him, "Meet Sub-Zero Solution's drummer, Hoshigaki Kisame. Kisame, these are my--" he paused to chuckle only for the benefit of setting Naruto off, "These are my former band-mates."

Kisame grunted a curt greeting and told Itachi, "We have to go meet the guys at the studio in twenty minutes."

"Mmm, that's right," the Uchiha agreed with a nod of recollection, "Alright, well, I guess I'll be seeing you around." Although the statement had probably been meant for the whole, he had directed his words to Sakura as he stood, taking his coffee with him. "So long."

And with that, the two were gone as quickly and unexpectedly as they had appeared, leaving the three left behind in a very uncomfortable, very volatile silence.

Well, Sakura thought dryly, I think that went rather well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Though I hate to admit it," Kakashi said later on that same day, "Itachi had a point: Sakura is inexperienced. Besides the press conference today, she has no idea about the crowds, the fans, or the pressure. She'd probably just end up wiping out in the middle of a song when she gets spooked by the crowds… no offense."

"None taken," Sakura replied, only half-listening to her band-mates over F.o.R's latest CD Naruto and Kakashi had given her to get a feel for the band's songs. Ever since leaving the coffee shop, she had focused on dedicating her time to making herself the best damn singer she could be. She would show Itachi who was an amateur.

"And what do you propose we do about it?" Sasuke asked tersely, in a particularly bad mood because of the news of Itachi's reappearance in the shop and the thing he'd had to say.

"We can have her practice in a few mini performances," the bass player and manager answered, "Start her off small, a couple cafes, restaurants, little places like that. Work her up to the screaming fans, the endless crowds and whatnot."

"But the contest is in a month," Naruto stated, "Do we have time to work her up to full-blown concerts?"

"I can call in a few favors," Kakashi answered, "I have a few friends with contacts that can pull a few strings. In the least, we can book ourselves for all of next weeks and, if we're lucky, maybe even the week after that."

"Will she know the songs well enough by then to be able to perform next week?" the blond drummer queried.

"That's what covers are for," Sasuke answered with a weary sigh before turning to Kakashi to say, "Do it."

Kakashi nodded. "I'll make some calls first thing in the morning. Until we have a gig, though, Sakura, practice these songs so that we can at least do a few, but also make a list of covers that you'd like to do."

"I hate covers," Naruto grumbled.

"Too bad," Sasuke replied impatiently.

"I can do that," Sakura replied on a yawn.

"Well, then," Naruto concluded, still not looking very happy at the idea of ripping off somebody else's songs, "You must be exhausted, Saku-chan, I'll have a car drop you off at home."

"Uh… actually, I was kind of thinking that I need to make a couple stops before I go home, so the ride isn't necessary."

"My driver could take you wherever you need to go."

Sakura sighed tiredly and clarified, "It's been a long day, I would really like to just have some time to be alone and think. Have some fresh air and just… well, think."

"Well…" Naruto said uncertainly, "I guess, if you're sure, you could go alone."

"I am," she said firmly and stood, stretching her tired muscles. She took the copy of F.o.R's CD and gave Naruto a quick hug, shook hands with Kakashi, nodded at Sasuke and took her leave.

Although the unseasonal snow that had fallen only a couple of weeks earlier had long since melted, the air was still oddly crisp when she left the hotel and, being that it was nighttime, it was cooler still. But Sakura enjoyed it.

She had rarely been left alone the past few days, Kakashi wanting to go over the never-ending terms of her contract and Naruto wanting to introduce her to all of his superstar friends (she had so far chatted over the phone with any famous person from BoA Kwon and Gackt Camui). So, at that moment, she really needed some time to relax and enjoy the silence.

Not long after, she was out of the rich neighborhood and was entering her own average, middle-class part of town and she decided that she really did need to make a quick pit stop. She took a quick turn and headed into a 24-hour convenience store for a few things she knew she might need.

The door opened almost immediately after it had closed behind her, but she paid no attention to whoever had come in here. The person was most likely only there to shop, also, she figured as she made a beeline straight for the junk food aisle.

She grabbed a few of her favorite brand of chocolate bar and a bottle of pop before making her way to the essentials aisle to take a look at their tampon selection.

Observing the prices, she felt lucky that she had bought all those shares of her family's company as that, if worst came to worst (which it had), she definitely wouldn't be well-off until she started getting regular paychecks again, but she would at least have some money.

She grabbed a couple boxes of the cheapest ones and placed them in the basket she had grabbed. Then, she turned to make her way to the check-out counter, but wound up running into a male chest instead. She squeaked in surprise, losing her balance momentarily, the man she'd run into grabbing her arms to keep her steady.

Unfortunately, the basket fell from its perch in the crook of her arm and all its contents spilled onto the floor for all to see. Sakura didn't notice, however. She was far too busy looking into the cold, unreadable and very familiar eyes of Uchiha Itachi.

"Haruno Sakura… what a coincidence."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: In case some of you don't know, yes, BoA Kwon and Gackt Camui are real Japanese singers and two of my favorites… though I have lots more faves beside them. Anyway, luvvles and huggles! And, the next chapter is written out, so all I have to do is type it, email it and get CandyLava to post it and it'll be posted! Bai-bai!

_______________________________________________________________