Hey all! Thanks for the warm reception- lots of new subscriptions and favorites, merci!

Special thanks to:

Neko the kawatta cat : Why thank you my dear! Just you wait, the next chapter is when things heat up! Dattebayo!

maxridelover : :) I'm blushing! Thanks!

dazynl8 I feel you, it's super cute!

Alright, here's your chapter for the weekend- not sure if I'll be able to update or not this weekend, but your reviews can help to goad me into it:)

Chapter 10

The Blue Guitar

"Raise reddest columns. Toll a bell
And clap the hollows full of tin.

Throw papers in the streets, the wills
Of the dead, majestic in their seals.

And the beautiful trombones-behold
The approach of him whom none believes,

Whom all believe that all believe,
A pagan in a varnished car.

Roll a drum upon the blue guitar.
Lean from the steeple. Cry aloud,

"'Here am I, my adversary, that
Confront you, hoo-ing the slick trombones,

Yet with a petty misery
At heart, a petty misery,

Ever the prelude to your end,
The touch that topples men and rock.'"

~Blue Guitar, Stanza X

"Sa-ku-ra-chaaaaaaan?"

"Murfle shhhhsmufl..." Sakura pulled the covers up over her head.

"Sakura-chan, I brought you coffee."

"Mmmmmm."

"Sakura-chan, I brought made you peanut butter and jelly toast, your faaaaaavorite."

"Shhhhmmmmm..."

"Sakura-chan, it's four o'clock already..."

"Uggggghhh, I don't feel so good Naruto-kun..." Sakura peeked out from underneath the covers.

"Coffee?"

Sakura shook her head. "Naruto-kun? Close your eyes, k?"

After Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, Sakura ran at top ninja speed, slammed the bathroom door behind her, and puked.

"Sakura-chan, you ok?"

Sakura coughed a few times. "Yeah...just...hold on...I sleep in the buff...when I'm...drunk...oh Kami-"

Naruto blushed profusely, backing away from her bedroom slowly, as he heard her retching. "I'll just wait for you in the living room then, Sakura-chan...heh...heh"

He closed the door behind him quietly and was about to throw himself down on the couch when he noticed the guitar was lying there. Reverently, he took it out of the case and started to mess around. He'd never played guitar before, and he had no idea what he was doing, but he thought it sounded good. He didn't even notice the time passing, and when Sakura stepped out of her bedroom showered and clothed, her chuckle startled him.

"Did I hear you mention something about coffee?" Sakura mumbled sheepishly. Naruto put the guitar back in the case ever-so-gently, and went to retrieve the refreshments from the kitchen. Sakura smiled gratefully and put the cup to her nose. "Mmmm, you got the light roast with honey and extra cream, my favorite hangover cure. Bless you, Naruto-kun." She took a sip and sunk down in an arm chair.

"We should probably get going soon..." Naruto ventured.

Sakura nodded. "I know, but it hurts to be alive. Let me finish my coffee and then we'll walk there, very, very slowly. Ok?" Naruto laughed and nodded his consent, while Sakura took another glorious sip of coffee. "Ah, my headache is receding now. Hey Naruto, how did the rest of your night go with Hinata-chan?" Sakura asked, trying to sound casual.

"Heh, it was good. We hung out for a while, managed to drink most of that third bottle of sake... it was really fun. Hinata loosens up a lot when she's had a little to drink, and she's hilarious!"

Sakura gave a genuine smile. "That's great! You didn't...you know...heehee..." Sakura laughed girlishly and hid her blush in her coffee cup. Naruto turned bright crimson.

"So you did hook up with Hinata-chan!"

Naruto rubbed his forehead, "You're pure evil Sakura-chan!"

"Nani, you weren't going to tell me?"

"Wah, you're such a busy body!"

Sakura chuckled and finished her coffee, setting the empty cup down on an end table with a satisfied sigh. "I'm happy for you, Naruto-kuuuuuuun!" She cooed.

Naruto giggled, "Thanks Sakura-chan. You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'll eat this on the way." She said, gesturing with her PB&J. Just as she opened the door, her mouth full of delicious sandwich, Naruto chimed, "Hold on- let's bring your guitar! I'm sure Sasuke would love to hear you play!"

"Oi, Naruto, I suck at guitar!"

"Just bring it, it'll be cool! Please? Come on, who brought your favorite hangover cure?"

Sakura shook her head as she went to fetch said guitar, "Fine, I guess you can blackmail me into making a fool of myself."

"YOSH!" Naruto fisted the air in excitement.

It was 5:00 by the time they left the apartment, and since they had to walk at a snail's pace in order to accommodate Sakura's hangover, they made it to the prison an hour later. As they entered the cell, Sakura was unable to stifle her hiccups, causing Naruto to titter. "Heya Sasuke -hik-."

"Hey Sasuke."

"What's with the hiccups Sakura?" Sasuke asked dryly.

"Sorry we're a little late -hik- Sasuke, I, um, overslept." Sakura replied brightly, blatantly ignoring the question.

"So you were hung over?" Sasuke intoned.

"Hn." Sakura replied mockingly.

Naruto broke in, "I took the liberty of brining over some chairs. One gets tired of sitting on a cold-ass floor..."

Sasuke grunted. "Don't you mean the floor just makes your ass cold?"

"Yeah, guess you have me there..." Naruto replied dryly.

Sasuke muttered, "Kami, wish I could get drunk sometime..."

"I could brink sake-" Sakura began, but Naruto cut her off.

"Absolutely not Sakura! Alcohol is forbidden here!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, "And so are visitors." But Sakura decided not to push the issue and changed the subject, "So, you said you had a book you wanted to read, Naruto?"

Naruto beamed, "Yosh! I brought my favorite book by Jiraiya-Sensei-"

"Oh Kami, tell me you didn't bring Icha Icha!" Sakura gasped, appalled. If Sakura wasn't mistaken, Sasuke was smiling as he said, "First you want to get me drunk, then you want to read me porn...something's wrong with you two."

Sakura started laughing, but Naruto cried indignantly, "No-no-no-no! It's his first book, 'Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'- I swear, there's no smut in it!"

"Aw, I was kind of looking forward to the smut." Sasuke replied evenly.

"You guys are killing me!" Sakura bellowed, shaking from laughter.

Naruto sat down in his chair glumly, and opened the book, "Come on guys! You're going to love it, I promise!"

Sakura grinned, "Ok, ok, I've actually been wanting to read it myself anyway."

Sasuke just said his classic "Hn", which could have referred to anything, so Naruto just began reading. His recital was way too theatrical for Sakura's taste, but she couldn't help laughing at the funny bits- it was a surprisingly well written book.

"Hn," Sasuke broke in, "The main character is named Naruto?"

"Yeah...that's actually where my parents got my name from..." Naruto grinned and continued reading.

Sakura drew her knees into her chest and perched on her chair, enjoying the story. This is nice... she mused. Listening to the story definitely beat making small talk with the laconic Uchiha. She observed said Uchiha over the tops of her knees; he had a slightly bored expression on his face, but Sakura could tell by the way he swung his legs slightly at the foot of his bed that he was enjoying himself. Suddenly Sasuke turned her way, and Sakura blushed as she realized she had been staring. Even though his unseeing eyes were covered by a white scarf, it seemed he knew she had been studying him.

"Well, that's the end of the first chapter- not bad, right? I'll save the rest for another day, leave you in suspense, ha!" Naruto said breezily as he replaced the volume in his pocket. "How'd you like it Sasuke?"

"Hn. It was ok."

"Wow Sasuke, coming from you, that's a huge compliment!" Sakura chimed insipidly.

"Hn."

But Naruto seemed to agree with Sakura, and wore a shit-eating grin on his face as he said, "Awesome! Oh hey, Sakura, you should play that song for Sasuke!"

"Oh... I don't know..." Sakura replied shyly.

"Song?" Sasuke asked succinctly.

"Yeah! Sakura found her dad's old guitar and she knows a really nice song! Come on Sakura-chan, you've gotta! Right Sasuke?"

"Hn. Sure."

"See Sakura, he gave an answer that was a whole two words long- that means he really wants to hear it!"

"Sheesh, alright, alright. Don't say I didn't warn ya though." Sakura unlatched the guitar case gingerly and took out her prized possession. Tentatively strumming a chord and thinking it sounded reasonably in tune, she closed her eyes and played the cherry blossom lullaby. Sure, she missed a chord change or two, but she thought it sounded decent, considering.

When she finished, Naruto burst out, "Didn't she sound great!"

Sasuke nodded. "I used to know that song...can I see your guitar?" Flushed at the praise, albeit faint, Sakura muttered, "Sure!", and carefully handed her guitar over.

Sasuke held the instrument in his lap and ran a hand over the body, then traced his fingertips over the fret board. Oh to be the strings on that guitar...Sakura thought idly. Then, shut up! Shut up! Ack!, was thought a moment later. Sakura just shook her head, Stay cool girl! Stay cool!

"This guitar isn't...blue, is it?" Sasuke asked slowly.

"Yeah, actually..." Sakura replied. "How'd you know?"

"Back in our parent's day, there was a really famous luthier from the Water country, well known for his exquisitely crafted instruments...every piece he made was sea blue, the national color of the Water country folk. If this is one of his, it must of cost your father a small fortune..."

"He did mention he bought it from a craftsman from the Water country..."

Sasuke let out a small whistle. "Mind if I play?"

"Oh of course not, go right ahead!" Sakura smiled.

"Thanks." He plucked the strings quietly and adjusted the tuning pegs for a few moments. Finally satisfied, he played a simple "C" chord.

"Amazing. Even with these ancient strings, she still sounds good..." Lost in his own thoughts, he slowly began picking out a melody. Sakura watched, entranced, as his nimble fingers sauntered up and down the neck of the guitar- then suddenly, he began plucking the strings quickly, his fingers dancing merrily at the frenetic tune.

"I didn't know you could play..." Naruto ventured.

Sasuke snorted. "That bastard Orochimaru made me learn a lot of instruments; I was in charge of training new Sound Ninja recruits, but nothing he had sounded as nice as this. Mostly because his instruments were all made to kill." Sasuke's fingers froze on the strings at the distasteful memory.

Sakura broke in, wanting to lighten the mood, "You mentioned you knew the song I was playing..."

"Hn. Yeah, I learned a different version from some...prisoners...I think they said they were from the land of Iron..." Sasuke trailed off and plucked a few experimental strings, then dived into the song. Sakura's mouth parted in a small gasp- he was amazing. She couldn't believe one single instrument could fill up the room with so much sound. He wasn't just strumming, he was accentuating every movement with a trilling of different notes, sometimes syncopating the rhythm with the slap of his hand, or with the drone of the base string. When he finished, the two friends remained silent.

"Here." Sasuke held the guitar out to her.

She stood up and gently handed it back to him. "You keep it."

Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "Something this valuable? No, it was your father's."

Sakura shook her head. "I want you to have it."

"I don't deserve-"

"I like hearing you play. It makes me happy. I want you to play for me sometimes- it'll be like a trade.", she replied brightly. Before he could argue, she continued briskly, "Would you mind playing another song?"

Sasuke exhaled slowly. "Sure...I learned this song in the Earth country..." He strummed a few chords and added, "It was a popular folk dance in one of the villages near the southern boarder." A delicate, yet spicy melody flowed out of his hands, and Sakura couldn't help but clap her hands. She looked over at Naruto who grinned sleepily as he tapped his feet. All too soon the music faded.

"Man, you're good!" Naruto smiled broadly.

"Hn. Of course. I'm an Uchiha."

"Pah-shaw! It was a lovely song, Sasuke-kun."

"Thanks. Sakura. Chan. For lending me your guitar." Sasuke replied, speaking slowly.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Of course. It's not like I have time to play it anyway...If it were up to me, it'd just be gathering dust in my living room."

"Oh shit, it got late!" Naruto moaned, looking at his watch. "I've got to meet someone- fifteen minutes ago! Is it ok if I hiraishin out of here Sakura-chan?"

"Sure, I've got legs. No way in hell you're taking me with you." Sakura replied, nauseous just at the thought of the hiraishin.

"Arigato! It was nice to see you Sasuke-kun! I'll try to make it back in a day or two!"

"Later." Sasuke replied in his usual, laconic way.

There was a yellow flash, and Naruto disappeared.

"I-I should probably get going too...I've got some papers to organize...and stuff..." She managed, lamely. "But I'll be back soon. I'd love to hear some more tunes...if you wouldn't mind playing."

Sasuke nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Sakura whispered softly. "I'll see you soon..."

"Hey Sakura? Maybe some time you could sneak me some sake...hn?"

Sakura laughed. "We'll see, Sasuke-kun."

Believe me folks, this chapter is the quiet before the storm:) Can't wait to see what happens next? Then review my pretties!