To save time, I'll give you this spoiler. Well, it's more of a hint. Anyway, here it is: Flaws are subtle. They're small, but they are there. (Notice how my spoilers are like riddles—allusions actually. Weird…)
The songs are Britney Spears' Lucky and Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On. (Yes. Again. Deal.)
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Ch.13: Tryouts
Sakura sat at her desk and stared at the words scrawled in bold permanent marker. SAKURA HARUNO IS A SLUT! STUPID BITCH. SHE HAS STDS!
Sakura just sighed, ignoring the words as she dropped her things beside her chair. She was used to it since it's been happening for a week now.
'It was an accident! I didn't mean to kiss him!'
"Maybe I can ask Kakashi-sensei for some rubbing alcohol when he comes in," she told herself.
Sasuke dropped his school bag on his desk and furrowed his brow at Sakura's desk. He was pissed.
'She just kept quiet about it. Kakashi's the only one who really knows about it and her friends can't do anything about it because we can't prove who did it. Not only that, she's been getting death threats and getting shoved in the halls. I'm sick of it!'
A sharp intake of air made him turn in her direction. He looked over at her to see her book open and blood dripping from her finger to stain the white page. Noticing a small blade peeking out of the book, he frowned.
'I'm going to put a stop to this right now.'
Sasuke walked to the front of the class and stood. Suddenly, the students all became quiet and focused on him.
"Look, stop abusing Haruno Sakura. It was an accident we kissed. We both tripped and she landed on top of me and we kissed. She didn't seduce me! It was an accident and whoever wants to say otherwise is getting kicked out of this school and they have to deal with me," he glared.
"And me," said Neji.
"Don't forget me!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Troublesome. Me too."
"And us," said Temari, Tenten, and Megumi, all cracking their knuckles. Gaara just glared menacingly. The girls immediately paled and nodded because he knew they could hurt them and that Sasuke's parents funded the school and could do whatever he wanted. Sasuke nodded in approval and sat back down when Kakashi came in. "Assembly today. Line up and follow me."
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The girls were all stunned at the size of the auditorium. "Wow. It's like half the size of a stadium," said Sakura in awe.
"It's bigger than my old high school auditorium in America," gasped Megumi.
"I thought you went to school in Japan?" said Naruto.
"I was supposed to be transferred here in 6th grade, but my parents decided that I shouldn't jump into Japanese schooling if I was only going to be in elementary school for one year. So it was decided that I would go to American schools for middle and part of high until Japanese middle school ended," she explained.
"Oh. What part?" asked Kiba.
"9th. We went on tour in 10th grade," she replied. "She moved in with me cuz her family decided not to move afterall and she was enrolled in Japan," said Temari and the others nodded, not noticing how her smile was slightly forced.
"It's starting!" exclaimed Sakura.
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Tsunade stood on the middle of a large stage, the red curtains were closed and a spotlight focused on her. "Hello everyone," she said into the microphone. "There are some announcements today that I need everyone's attention for, so shut it and focus!" she barked. "First, the Halloween dance will be held on the actual day. All school events are mandatory! Second, the talent show will be in December. It'll be held the Friday before winter break," she said, the students breaking out into a loud cheer. She waited for silence and continued.
"Third and most important, we will have our annual play this year. As some of you all know, we had a little accident and the play was cancelled last year," she said looking in the crowd. Naruto shrank into his seat.
"How was I supposed to know that those curtains were flammable?" he shrugged.
"What happened?" asked Tenten.
"He was in charge of special effects and put one of the lit candles for the play near the curtain. Set the entire place on fire. Everyone got out okay. Well, almost," explained Neji.
"Huh?" she asked.
"Ebisu-san will be teaching again, now that he's out of the hospital," continued Tsunade.
"Oh."
"The play this year is Beauty and the Beast. We will have a small musical accompaniment along with the actual roles. Students and teachers are encouraged to try out. Also, tryouts are today after school. See you then!" she exclaimed, before dropping the mic on the stage and walking off. The students got up and started to walk back to class.
"Granny Tsunade was in a good mood. Musta got a new bottle of sake," Naruto snickered before disappearing through the auditorium doors.
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"Hey, forehead."
"Yeah, pig?" she replied, popping an rolled egg slice into her mouth.
"We need to go to the mall and get our costumes. Wanna go next, next week?"
Sakura looked around. "What do you think?" she asked.
The girls all nodded. "Sure."
All the guys except Naruto shook their heads. "We have family things," said Kiba and Shino.
"I'm training for a competition," said Lee.
"Going to attempt sleep," said Gaara.
"Attempt?" asked Ino.
"Insomnia," explained Temari.
Ino put her hands on her hips. "What about you guys?" she said, referring to the others.
"No way in hell," they said.
Ino looked desperately at Sasuke. "Please, Sasu-kun?" she pouted.
"Get away from me," he spat.
"Please, Sasuke-kun? For me?" Sakura whispered in his ear.
Sasuke felt nervous. "Fine," he said blushing. 'Damn hormones.'
Tenten sidled to Neji. "Please?" asked Tenten as she leaned her head on his shoulder and walked her fingers on his thigh.
"Fine," grumbled a blushing Neji, desperately trying to ignore the pleased smile on her face.
Shikamaru sighed. "I'm not going."
Temari glared at him. "You will or I'll drag your lazy-ass there myself."
"Troublesome. Fine."
The girls all grinned madly and congratulated each other while the boys hung their heads in shame. 'What did we just agree to?'
Ino looked up at Megumi who was reading another manga. "Are you guys going to try out?" she asked.
"Which one? The talent show or the play?"
"Both," said Temari.
"Both?" asked Megumi.
Sakura glomped Megumi. "Of course we are!" she smiled.
RING!
"Better get inside!" said Tenten.
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Afterschool…The group fidgeted nervously outside the stage door. Sakura fiddled with the script copy she was given when she noticed a mop of black hair. 'Uchiha?'
"Dammit teme!"
"Uchiha," she agreed with herself. "Hey guys! Up here!" she called out.
The boys walked up to her.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Tenten.
"Kakashi got voted to be the father. He said that they needed someone old and they thought he was perfect," said Naruto.
"I thought he was like, 30," said Megumi.
"He is 30, birthday was a few weeks ago. Anyway, it was supposed to be Jiraiya, but he was immediately thrown out as a choice cuz he might do something and since Kakashi is a sadist, he made us sign up to tryout," replied Naruto.
"What are you guys going for?" asked Temari.
"Candle," said Naruto.
"Main role," said Sasuke.
"Tree #1," said Shikamaru.
"Clock," said Neji,
"And you?"
"F-f-f-feather duster," stuttered Hinata.
"Teapot," said Tenten.
"The sorceress," said Temari.
"Music," said Megumi.
"Belle," said Ino.
"Belle," said Sakura.
"Fat chance. I was born to be Belle," screeched Minami.
"Funny, I thought you'd be the old hag," Megumi sneered.
"You probably sound like one," said Mayu. "I'm so in if you're my competition," she said sneering at Megumi who glared back.
"Next!"
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One after another, people were sent back crying. "I-I-I-I'm not s-s-so sure about t-t-this," stuttered Hinata nervously.
"You'll do fine, now get out there!" reassured Tenten as she shoved Hinata through the door..
Hinata skidded onto the stage. The panel consisted of Shizune, Tsunade, and a man dressed in dark colors and sunglasses, who she assumed was Ebisu. He looked up from his clipboard
"The last person trying out for the feather duster. Go!"
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Hinata came back shaking like a leaf. "It's okay Hinata, you did your best," said Sakura.
"I GOT THE PART!" she exclaimed.
All of them were stunned. "You were loud," said Neji.
"And you didn't stutter!" exclaimed Tenten.
"And you got the part! I'm so happy for you!" exclaimed Naruto, hugging her.
"N-n-Naruto-kun," she stuttered, blushing and before promptly fainting.
"Hinata-chan!"
Megumi clucked her tongue. "She fainted again? Just leave her out here for a minute and she'll be fine. Naruto, your turn."
Naruto nodded and looked at Hinata worriedly. "Don't worry, this used to happen a lot. Still does," said Temari. Naruto nodded and disappeared behind the door. A few minutes later, he came back ecstatic.
"I got the part. Ebisu doesn't like me for what I did to him last year, but he said I acted the best he's seen for that part! Wahoo!"
One by one, the group came back happy until only Megumi, Sasuke, Mayu, and Sakura were left. Minami stomped through the door. "Ebisu doesn't know talent when he sees it," she said snootily.
"You have talent?!" exclaimed Megumi in mock-surprise, placing her hands on her face for added effect. Minami flushed furiously and stomped down the hall.
Soon, Sakura and Sasuke disappeared and reappeared. "I got the part!" squealed Sakura happily.
"What about you, Sasuke?" asked Megumi.
"I got it. Naturally," he smirked.
"Lee and Kiba were so disappointed though. Ino said she didn't mind, but I think she was crushed," said Sakura.
"We'll cheer them up later," suggested Megumi.
"K. Come on Sasuke, let's get seats for the music tryouts. I think Gaara's next," she said, dragging the Uchiha away and as if on cue, Gaara stepped out of the stage door. "How was it?" asked Megumi.
"Kakashi got it. Doesn't matter to me really. I'm going home. Later," he replied.
Mayu's eyes lit up. "If I get this part, I'll sing with my Kakashi-kun," she whispered to herself.
They both went in through the door. "Break a leg," whispered Megumi. Mayu turned her nose up and sauntered onto the stage.
"I'm singing Britney Spears' Lucky."
'One of her few good songs,' thought Megumi off-handedly as she watched Mayu flip her hair. The judges nodded and the CD played; Mayu took a deep breath and started.
This is a story about a girl named Lucky…
Early morning, she wakes up Lost in an image, in a dream "Best actress, and the winner is…Lucky!" Isn't she lucky, this Hollywood girl? She's so lucky
Knock, knock, knock on the door
It's time for makeup, perfect smile
It's you they're all waiting for
They go…
"Isn't she lovely, this Hollywood girl?"
And they say…She's so lucky, she's a star
But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking
If there's nothing missing in my life
Then why do these tears come at night
But there's no one there to wake her up
And the world is spinning, and she keeps on winning
But tell me what happens when it stops?
They go…
"Isn't she lovely, this Hollywood girl?"
And they say…She's so lucky, she's a star
But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking
If there's nothing missing in my life
Then why do these tears come at night
"I'm Roger Johnson for Pop News standing outside the arena waiting for Lucky"
"Oh my god…here she comes!"
She is so lucky, but why does she cry?
If there's nothing missing in her life
Why do tears come at night?She's so lucky, she's a star
But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking
If there's nothing missing in my life
Then why do these tears come at night
But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking
If there's nothing missing in my life
Then why do these tears come at night
The panel scribbled some notes. "She might just be our female singer," said Ebisu.
"We still have one more girl, Ebisu. Keep your pants on," chided Tsunade.
"Megumi, you can come up now," said Shizune.
The girl looked up and nodded. She came up to the stage. Mayu smirked and threw the mic at her. Megumi fumbled to catch it, only to have it screech in her hands. Ebisu's brows furrowed. "G-g-gomen," she said.
Naruto looked worriedly at the stage. "She's nervous and Mayu was really good! Megumi's doomed!" he cried.
"Shut up, Naruto. She may be nervous, but she isn't our lead singer for nothing. Once she starts singing it's like nothing else in the world matters to her but singing," Temari smirked.
"I'm singing My Heart Will Go On." The panel nodded and Megumi heard the music start. She took a calming breath and smiled at the people watching her.
Every night in my dreams Near, far, wherever you are Love can touch us one time Near, far, wherever you are You're here, there's nothing I fear
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on
Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone
Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
'That's the song that Sakura sang that night. I thought she was good, but Megumi is better. Wow,' thought Sasuke as his friends erupted into applause. Shizune and Tsunade stood up to clap also. Ebisu pushed up his glasses and smirked. "Congratulations, you're our female singer," he said. Mayu fumed red and stomped out while Megumi's friends cheered.
"She did it!" exclaimed Sakura as she swung her arms around the Uchiha. Sasuke froze and Sakura realized what she had just done and released him, blushing hotly. "Gomen."
"Hn."
They ran out to meet up with her. "Yay! We all did it!" the girls cheered.
"And we get out of class!" screamed Naruto.
"We do?" asked Hinata.
"Yeah, for rehearsals," said Shikamaru.
"I have to grow out my hair and stop gelling it for the part though," Sasuke said holding out a strand to prove his point.
"You gel your hair?" asked Sakura.
"Sometimes. Only when my hair becomes flat from sleeping on it all night; otherwise, it's naturally like this."
"Two months should be enough time to grow it out though," said Temari.
"Aa."
"Hi guys!" a new voice chimed.
"Whoa!" said Megumi as she put a hand to her heart to steady it.
"Where'd you come from?" asked Sakura.
"Just passing through the halls." He turned to Megumi. "I guess we'll be working together now, ne?"
"H-Hai," she stuttered.
Kakashi looked at his watch. "Well, it's getting late. You better get going if you're going to bike."
"Nope, we're getting a ride from Sakura," said Megumi.
"Soon, it'll be you," prodded Temari.
"Mou," Megumi sighed.
"Why?" asked Naruto.
"She's getting her license soon. It's her birthday in next month," said Tenten.
"When?" asked Neji.
"Two days before Halloween, why?" said Megumi.
"Presents, duh!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Well, we're leaving now. Bye guys," said Sakura.
"See you tomorrow!" Hinata waved excitedly.
'Seems like getting the role helped boost her confidence,' noted Neji.
"Let's go guys," said Kakashi.
Naruto grinned. "I call shotgun!"