DISCLAIMER: I do not own the 'Naruto' or 'Naruto: Shippuden' series or characters.
ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING!
"Kiba! It's your turn!" shouted Tenten. Kiba got to his feet and made his way over to the stage, as his back was tapped and slapped for luck by his friends on his way through.
"Awesome!" Kiba skimmed through the song choices on the karaoke machine and selected 'Drops of Jupiter' by Train. He slammed his finger on the button and waited for the first few chords to belt their way through to the surface as Kiba posed patiently in front of his audience. Ino stared up at him from directly in front of him with bright sparkling eyes. I looked at Sakura and we both resisted the urge to violently vomit.
Typical adoring fan pose! Activate! I thought sardonically.
Thank god I don't to that to Naruto...
There were cheers and whoops from everybody, the loudest cheers from Ino who looked like she was about to wet herself she was so estastic, the moment Kiba finished his song.
"Woah! Settle down, Ino!" shouted Temari, from where she was sitting on Shikamaru's lap.
"Yeah. It's kinda embarrassing." added Kiba, who stepped off the 'stage' and handed back the mike to Tenten who took it and bounded onto the stage in one fell swoop.
"Well, at least I showed my boyfriend some appreciation for his performance. Unlike some people." Ino said, snobbishly.
Everybody knew who the comment was directed towards and each and every person turned and looked at me apprehensively as the room suddenly went icy cold. By now, everybody knew that I was related to a notorious 'missing nin' that they all knew had a bad temper and from what Naruto, Sakura and I had told them, a particularly sadistic way of punishing people.
I'm not a sadistic person.
But Ino needed to be taught not to fuck with certain, powerful people who had the power to inflict pain on others with a simple narrowing of the eyes. Kiba took Ino's hand and walked back to the chair he had been seated in and pulled Ino onto his lap where upon he was immediately smothered in kisses. Tenten and everyone else (except Kiba who was busy) stared at Ino with the look of the condemned as Ino suddenly jumped like she had been shot.
"OW! That hurt!" she yelled. Gaara spoke up then, grinning from ear to ear as Ino was receiving her just desserts.
"You've brought that on yourself, Ino. You offended someone who has the power to inflict pain on others by a simple look." Ino looked around for the person (me) to attack back, but was distracted by Tenten who handed her the microphone, telling her it was her turn.
"Finally! Prepare to be wowed, people!" said Ino and posed with her hand on her hip as she chose her song: 'You Know I'm No Good' by Amy Winehouse and waited for it to begin.
By the time Ino had finished her song, everyone was looking at her strangely, because we all believed that she was going to pick some lovey-dovey song that would totally gross us out about Kiba. So we were seriously wondering why she had chosen that particular song.
"What's with the song, Ino? Are you the cheating type?" asked Kankuro, confused. His comment earned him a sharp look from Kiba who had bared his teeth at Kankuro and actually looked like a wolf for a split second.
"No! That song wasn't directed towards my sweetie!" replied Ino, snappishly. She then winked at Kiba and waved flirtatiously at him before continuing.
"That song was directed towards my last boyfriend. He was way too possessive." She shuddered openly, tossing her long, blonde ponytail over her shoulder and shoved the microphone to Tenten, who glared resentfully at Ino as she sat down and started devouring Kiba's face again.
"Good to know. Who's next?" Tenten asked, wasting no time and not particularly wanting to dwell on Ino's complicated love life that usually consisted her unrequited love for Sasuke – and battling for that love with her then (and still now) rival, Sakura (who has Sasuke's heart, even though he REFUSES to admit it). Tenten then looked at her boyfriend who was staring disapprovingly at Sai who was having a quiet conversation with Hinata who was mildly interested in what he had to say.
"Neji! It's your turn, babe!" Tenten called. Neji looked up and nodded and approached his girlfriend to take the microphone from her hand.
Then it was Tenten's turn. And throughout the song, her eyes never left Neji's. The intense glances made everybody feel awkward but when the realised all the attention they were getting they immediately stopped giving each other soppy glances. But I was happy for them because they were complete opposites, and opposites sometimes do attract. The moment the song finished, we all got a better understanding of how much Tenten truly loved Neji.
There were cheers and appreciative clapping, and even an affectionate kiss shared between Tenten and Neji before it was time for Shikamaru's song. Everybody groaned because Shikamaru was notorious for being the most laziest ninja in the village, and almost matched Sasuke and I in intelligence. So we naturally assumed that the song he was likely pick was going to be boring and or complicated to work out. So naturally, we were surprised when Shikamaru chose this: 'Check Yes, Juliet' by We the Kings.
"Wow! Great song choice, Shikamaru!" I said, giving him the thumbs up. Shikamaru smiled his typical bored smile and returned the gesture.
"Thanks, Akima!" then once again disappeared into Temari's arms. What happened next shocked every body, especially Hinata, whom the song was directed towards.
"Uh? Can I go next?" asked Sai, who stood up and smiled genuinely at Hinata, nothing fake about it, and came over to a speechless Tenten who simply released the microphone and stepped down from the stage and went to park herself on Neji's lap.
"I'd just like to dedicate this song to a new friend of mine. I think she's charming and very sweet. And she has a beautiful soul that I'd like to protect if I can." Sai turns and looks down the list of songs for him to choose and stabs one of the buttons with his index finger. The guitar chords were plucked as everybody cheered enthusiastically, when Jesse McCartney started singing the introduction to his song: "Beautiful Soul."
Hinata was surprised, but happy that Sai liked her more than she originally realised. While her friends were singing songs, Sai struck up a conversation with her to get to know her a little better. Sai had asked her questions such as how long her family had lived in Konoha, what her signature ninja move was, her favourite things and things that she didn't like, and her friends. Hinata answered all of them as best as she could without giving away too much information, as she still didn't know him very well.
When she had finished, Hinata told me later that she repeated his questions back to her and when he got to her question about his friends, Sai had mentioned Naruto, Sakura and me (which was a surprise considering we practically gave him the flick the moment he started creeping me out and when he almost betrayed us back when we thought he was going to assassinate Sasuke).
He also told Hinata his story about his 'brother' and their bond. I had smiled at this and told Hinata that Naruto, Sakura and I knew about that story too, and that if Sai had chose to tell her that story, it meant that he trusted her and liked her enough to reveal something that personal to her, knowing that she'd understand him a little better. Hinata smiled brightly at this and beamed at Sai who smiled back but looked very confused.
"Hinata? It's your turn now!" said Tenten and pulled a very shy Hinata to the stage and passed her the microphone.
"I think this song will be good for you to sing." I said and came up to the stage and pressed a button with my index finger. When the first few bars of the song: "Butterfly"by DDR started playing Hinata smiled at me.
"How did you know that I liked this song too?" I smiled and pointed towards my head.
"Psychic. It's a pain in the ass, but what can you do?" I replied. Hinata grinned at me and we watched as Hinata started dancing along to the song and pulled me up to dance next to her and sing back up.
Everybody was dancing and singing along with Hinata as she sang her song to us. Albeit, she was singing somewhat timidly at first, but when she realised that we were showing her our support by singing along with her and encouraging her to 'sing out, Louise!' , her confidence grew bit by bit. Sakura and I helped her out by getting up and dancing with her, trying to make her awkward experience a little more fun and less scary.
"That was excellent, Hinata! Great song!" complimented Temari, coming over to Hinata and engulfing her in a bear hug that pulled Hinata off her feet completely.
"Thanks, everyone." replied Hinata, smiling shyly and sits down next to Sai, wrapping her hair around her ear. Gaara stood up and came over to Tenten and stuck out his hand for the microphone.
"I'd like my turn, please." he said, gruffly. Tenten raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sure, Gaara. But I didn't think you were a karaoke type." she passed the mike to him and stepped down from the stage just as Gaara responded to her observation.
"Well, it's kinda a song I'd like to sing to somebody in particular. A kind of best wishes song." He turned to the karaoke machine and stabbed a button and then turned back to his audience, resting his eyes on me, unblinkingly. Naruto noticed this and tensed up, feeling uncomfortable. I noticed this and face palmed myself, despairing.
Great, Gaara! Just what we need. A fist fight to break out between you and Naruto! He already feels threatened by you because of our past relationship as it is...
"Akima? Could you sing with me, please?" asked Gaara, a small smile on his face. Naruto's eyes widened at the same time as me as I got up from where I was sitting and came over to Gaara.
Or I could be mistaken...
Gaara smiled slightly at me as he handed the second microphone to me. I leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"Depends on the song..." I replied and when Gaara whispered his song choice which was 'Somebody That I Used to Know' by Gotye, I realised why he had chosen the song and nodded. The song started playing.
"Now and then I think of when we were together." sang Gaara with the sweetest voice I had ever heard. I instantly remembered our relationship like it was a movie replaying in my head.
"Like when you said 'you felt so happy you could die.'"
Exaggeration, but I was happier when I was around him, after Sasuke split.
"Told myself that you were right for me. But felt so lonely in your company." I felt as though the floor had disappeared from beneath my feet and got that sinking feeling.
"But that was love and it's an ache I still remember." Gaara smiled at me and gently stroked my face with the back of his hand. Everyone looked at Gaara and then at Naruto.
"What's going on? I thought Naruto was going out with Akima?" said Ino, frowning at me - thinking I was cheating on Naruto.
The song forced me to remember the unfortunate reason why Gaara chose this particular song. It was because I had confessed that I loved Naruto more than him, and it explained why he was civil but still very resentful of an uncomfortable, guilty Naruto. I sighed unhappily and looked away from Gaara.
As he started singing the second verse:
"You could be addicted to a certain kind of sadness."
Preaching to the choir, dude.
"Like resignation to the end, always the end."
Gaara started to pace the stage as he sang the next few lines of the song.
"So when we found that we could not make sense. Well, you said that we would still be friends. But I'll admit that I was glad it was over."
Hearing Gaara singing that line was like feeling him stick a knife into my heart and twisting. But then the pleasant smile on Gaara's face that was directed towards me, suddenly turned into a hurt sneer that took me aback as he sang the chorus:
"But you didn't have to cut me off! Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing. And I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough!"
I started feeling like I was being backed into the corner. I looked up at Gaara with mortification.
"No, you didn't have to stoop so low! Have your friends collect your records and then change your number!"
Sakura looked at me with widened eyes are she remembered me telling her about ending my relationship with Gaara.
"I guess that I don't need that though."
I was horrified by the angry tears that suddenly blossomed in Gaara's eyes.
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know!"
I looked at the accusing eyes that I could suddenly feel burning into me. Except for Naruto's. He was looking disapprovingly at Gaara who was making me feel like crap.
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know."
I burned with anger.
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know."
My turn.
Alright then, if Gaara's gonna play hard ball. Then I'm game! Bring it on, because I hadn't forgotten all the times I've witnessed him being a jackass before we got together – starting with the way he was acting when he was battling Sasuke for the chunnin examinations – and even after we had gotten together. Sometimes our relationship wasn't shit hot and I wonder if he actually considered this. I turned and glared stonily at Gaara, who was smirking at me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Naruto frowning, disturbed.
"Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over. Part of me believing it was always something that I'd done."
Yes, I'm a bitch. So is everybody else Gaara!
"Well, I don't wanna live that way. Reading in to every word you say. You said that you could let it go..." Obviously not.
"And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know!"
And then it became a showdown.
"But you didn't have to cut me off! Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing. And I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough! No, you didn't have to stoop so low! Have your friends collect your records and then change your number! I guess that I don't need that though. Now you're just somebody that I used to know!"
I shook my head, feeling upset. Gaara finished the last few verses of the song, tears streaming down his face.
When the song was over, basically everybody felt extremely awkward. Which was typical, considering it was Gaara who caused this to happen. But the song had also made me realise how much of a bitch I was to lead Gaara on like I did. So I did the only nice thing I knew I could do. I walked over to Gaara and pulled him into a hug, where upon I could feel his tears dropping onto my neck.
"I'm sorry, Gaara. I really am like Sasuke at times." I whispered so only he could hear.
Naruto came up on stage and placed a concerned hand on his friend's shoulder. Gaara looked up at Naruto in surprise.
"Hey man. Are you okay?" asked Naruto, kindly. Gaara dropped the microphone into my hand and grabbed Naruto by his shirt and pulled him close enough for only him and I to hear.
"You better treat her right, Naruto. Or you and I will have a problem." Gaara threatened and released Naruto's shirt as he stormed from the room with a worried Temari close behind.
I came over to see if Naruto was okay. Naruto wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me off the stage, staring at where Gaara had stormed off and had an alarmed expression on his face.
"You don't have to tell me twice, Gaara." Naruto muttered as Kankuro stepped up on stage and chose a song to lighten the now tense mood.
"Gaara will be back in a moment, guys. He's just a little moody at the moment." explained Kankuro.
A low growl was heard from the other room.
"Okay, back to the fun! Here's my song!" continued Kankuro and stabbed a button on the karaoke machine. Everybody politely applauded Kankuro's song, then stared expectantly at me and waited to see what song I was going to sing. I gulped loudly and stood up taking the microphone from Kankuro, who patted my shoulder in what I supposed was a comforting gesture. I suddenly got an idea.
"For my song. I'm gonna require all couples to get up and start dancing to this."
Everybody except Naruto and Sakura exhaled and followed my instructions.
"But, how are we going to dance? You're gonna be singing." asked Naruto as Sakura's smile suddenly dropped because she had nobody to dance with.
"I can multitask, Naruto. Just don't spin me around too much." I replied. But then I looked over at Sakura's forelorn expression and looked back at Naruto.
"Just dance with Sakura for the first verse. She doesn't have a honey to dance with." Naruto turned and extended a hand towards Sakura who shook her head and backed away from Naruto.
"It's fine, Akima. Don't worry about me."
But Sakura really didn't look fine. To everyone's surprise however, Gaara suddenly reappeared in the room and approached Sakura with his hand outstretched. It was clear he had heard everything I had just said.
"Would you like to dance with me, Sakura?" Gaara asked, pleasantly. Sakura blinked at him in astonishment.
"Gaara, that's really sweet. But you don't have to dance with me just because I don't have a boyfriend to dance with." Sakura tried to say but Gaara shook his head and looked over at where Kankuro was sitting, watching the commotion.
"I would be sitting with my brother and I really don't want to. If it makes you feel better, you can pretend I'm Sasuke. I don't really care." replied Gaara, getting a bit more insistent with his hand. Sakura smiled, charmed by the young Kazekage's gallantry and accepted his hand. Gaara led Sakura out to an open space in the middle of the Rec Room and wrapped his arms around Sakura's waist.
I smiled at this and then got one more idea. Slyly, I cast a simple but effective jutsu on an unsuspecting Gaara to give Sakura the illusion that he was in fact dancing with Sasuke, not Gaara. I hoped that for the duration of the song, she would notice this and relax into the slow dance. I turned and stabbed a button on the machine and then returned to Naruto's arms as the flute started playing a familiar melody. I laid my head on Naruto's shoulder as I started to sing: "It is you (I have loved)"by Dana Glover.
"There is something that I see, in the way you look at me. There's a smile, there's a truth in your eyes."
One by one, I saw each couple start swaying on the spot. But I focused most especially on Sakura and her reaction to the jutsu.
"But an unexpected way, on this unexpected day. Could it be this is where I belonged?"
"It is you I have loved all along."
Suddenly, Sakura gasped and looked directly into a confused Gaara's eyes and saw Sasuke, like I expected her to and wrapped her arms around Gaara's neck and pressed her ear against his chest, listening to Gaara's rapidly beating heartbeat.