Author Notes: I was dying to finally write this part. Ya know, depressing parts surely doesn't fit with this fic, I couldn't wait until I could get rid of it. Ah…sigh.
REWRITTEN THIS CHAPTER! PLEEEEASSE GO THERE AND READ!
Lesson 25 – First Droplets falling in the Sky – Sub-title: Wind (1)
"Good Morning, Uzumaki-san." The young man said in a neutral tone.
"Good Morning, Sabaku-san." Naruto replied in equally courteous voice, already moving towards the piano.
"Is something wrong with your wrist?" Gaara asked while he pointed to the tanned arm.
"Oh." The symbol of all that horrible memories. "Just sprained a little, but I can play piano already. Don't worry about it."
The violinist just nodded mutely while he tuned his instrument and shuffled the score papers. Naruto also prepared himself to train while he revised the measures and each Dynamics. It took one week for him to restart practicing, so he hoped he didn't lag too much behind.
Contrary to the popular belief, in the end, Naruto did take to heart Sasuke's advices and paused his training according to the medical procedure and waited until his wrist could be totally healed. Luckily, they medicated to suspend all kinds of heavy exercises for one week, where such span of time wouldn't prove too harmful to piano performance. If he waited for two weeks or more, his fingers would start to get rusty and sluggish.
Being in an out of practice condition surely wouldn't please the red-haired boy, as he could see that Gaara was a demanding and strict musician. He already has been rejected once. He wasn't in the mood to be fouled twice.
They played the same piece through this month, the Chopin Nocturne since they started the partnership. The pianist has always done the introduction and then the violinist followed behind.
Somehow…when Naruto started playing, Gaara felt that something was off. That the blond's spirit wasn't poured in the music. Though they didn't make any mistakes or the instruments were coordinated, the harmony couldn't replay as beautiful like the first time they started training.
"Okay. Let's stop now." The young violinist interrupted in the middle of their practice and glanced at his partner.
"Huh? Did I…make any mistake?" Naruto asked fearfully.
"No. We're not encountering ourselves today. So let's forget it for now. We'll train more for the next week." His green eyes widened when he saw fiery blue eyes violently slamming the book shut.
Naruto's clenched hand started to shiver slightly from the wince. His sandy colored eyebrows brought together with repudiation and another hand quickly covered the balled one and scratched forceful it's back until he brought them back to rest on his lap.
"I'm sorry…maybe I'm not myself today." He picked the scrunched score softly and placed on his backpack. "I'll try my best tomorrow."
Ah fuck…and this is all the Teme's fault. Moron.
"You…shouldn't be so affected for just this unsuccessful day." Gaara shifted, putting the violin in his case. It was the cerulean eyes time to enlarge baffled. "Though I can see that your frustration had burst out from previous bottomed feelings."
"…" His sapphire eyes settled to gaze intently at the white and black keys, stifling a sigh that was bubbling up.
"You will continue to train with me. It's…" The other teen mused about. "It's the first time that I've met someone as equal as mine. The same style and heart."
Naruto momentarily was taken back from Gaara's statement "Yeah…I can see too. We have the same feeling…of not wanting to have it but we can't live without it in the end."
"Hopelessness…" A green whisper.
"Then, who's the one who drive this feeling from you?" The blond asked.
At this moment, the mint eyes chilled, his face scrunched, recoiling away. Gaara just murmured in silent contemplation:
"Maybe for later." Naruto nodded while he closed the upper lid of the piano.
"But…you're better off."
His dark-colored eyelids blinked a few times. "Huh…really?"
"Yes. There's someone who truly cares about you, even with the meet circumstances."
"Well…there's a lot of someone's' who truly cares about me." That was the most abstract conversation Naruto ever had in his life, in his sincere opinion.
"But somehow…you've must have fought with him, since you're looking so depressed now."
His hand stilled and trembled again.
"No…I…"
Stop…
"…" Naruto slightly bowed towards his partner and exited the room.
"Naruto-kun, I had enough."
Both of the young men froze from the usual soothing voice that declared now with poisoning rage.
"I've waited until you would feel better, or you could talk to us about what was happening to you, but you keep swallowing to yourself for all this week!" Hinata's face was filled with uncontained determination but betrayal. There were some pearly tears at the side of her light colored eyes. "Why…why do you keep suffering for yourself? Tell me. What happened?"
However, her friend tried to brush off. "Hahahaha…Hinata-chan, what are talking about? Nothing bad happened, I mean, my wrist is wounded and I can't play piano so that sucks, but that's all!"
"Alright, stop that too." Shikamaru intervened annoyed. "I also can't bear anymore your act, either you confess to us right now or we'll force it out."
"I'm fine." Though his blue eyes no longer could sustain their gaze.
"How long are you going to keep on repeating the same words?" The young beauty grabbed nervously the sides of her skirt and stuttered. "I…we…y-you know that you've said those horrible words all week and we've endured…until now."
"Say anything Naruto. Guarding to yourself won't do anything good to you." Shikamaru supplied. Hinata whispered afterwards:
"I-it's…U-Uchiha-san, r-right?"
In an instant, his apprehensive state crumbled, Naruto guarded himself by bringing his arms to his chest, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"It is, isn't it?" The Hyuuga heiress continued. "Last week, Neji-niisan came over my house after Uchiha-san's training and he kept frowning. When I asked about it, he said that Uchiha-san is an…idiot…" She paused to contemplate. "But he also said that we should keep an eye on you this week."
The blond teen cringed. He had forgotten about the sarcastic little world and the strange connections inbetween. Nevertheless, to let them uncover another feeling without his permission, was something that Naruto couldn't forgive himself to let them know.
"Well? What did Uchiha had done this time?" Shikamaru asked.
"We…fought. Badly." Naruto added when he felt that they wanted to question even further.
"And…?" Hinata murmured.
"He…said some very bad things."
"What kind of bad things?" The brunet distinctively felt that he was practically extracting letter by letter his friend's confession.
"Just…bad thi—"
"Naruto!" A blunt sound snapped all of his dismissal words. The kind girl no longer could force her control down. "Naruto-kun…p-please, stop avoiding us!"
"I'm…I'm not avoiding!" Naruto retorted back.
"Then why won't you say anything up till now?!" Shikamaru also voiced impatiently.
"It's nothing!"
"What's so bad on showing what's wrong with you to us?! Why can't you just answer such simple question?!" Hinata pressured on.
"BECAUSE! EVEN I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME RIGHT NOW!" The blond finally screamed, breaking his self-control.
"Then what…! What did Uchiha-san had done to make you feel so bad?!" The young woman pushed further.
"THE FUCKER SAID THAT I USED JIJI'S CONNECTION TO CONVINCE KAKASHI-SENSEI TO GIVE ME PIANO CLASSES, THE FUCKING ASSHOLE!"
They silenced for a few seconds to let the information sink in.
"WHAT?!" They didn't bother to hide their shock.
"Then forget about his stupid words! I lost my respect to Uchiha. Naruto, you should know that you'll meet those kinds of moronic opinions from a lot of people." Shikamaru declared
"Yes! What Uchiha-san said wasn't true! You shouldn't feel so moved by this insincere view!" Hinata helped along.
"I KNOW! I—" His hands unconsciously covered his wounded face. "I SHOULDN'T BOTHER MYSELF TO DRAG MYSELF DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT—"
How his mind hated to recall that event. How his heart hated to remind the emotion that boiled his veins at the present state.
"BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY MAKES ME MAD?!" In his state of vulnerability, his throat knotted painfully, his voice hoarse. "EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE MISTAKE, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT HE IS ONE BIG SON OF A BITCH, I—"
The unwanted emotion had already invaded.
"I'M ALREADY MISSING THE BASTARD RIGHT NOW! I DON'T EVEN WANT TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE HIM ANYMORE! IT'S SO PATHETIC THAT I WANT TO APOLOGIZE INSTEAD, JUST TO RETURN TO OUR USUAL DAYS AGAIN!"
His friends gaped stunned from his confession. They couldn't come up with any soothing word.
"THEN TELL ME, WHY! WHY AM I FEELING THIS RIGHT NOW! WHY—"
When I vowed to myself that I wouldn't depend on anyone anymore…?
Argh. Another Saturday. Sasuke never dreaded so much the upcoming day in his life.
He understood that Naruto deserved an answer, a clarification, anything to soothe and erase the unintended hurtful words. However, whenever Sasuke brought up any kind of excuse or explanation, all the sentences died on his throat whenever he remembered the broken sapphire hue.
And then, he realized that whatever he could come up with to fill the void, all the bland pretexts wouldn't be enough to appease Naruto. He deserved more.
Although that means that when he restores the impaired friendship, the obnoxious color would invade his life again, making him forget his purposes and his goal. This fact, Sasuke didn't want to resurface again.
He was blocked. Utterly still, all his surroundings suffocated his being. He was trapped.
To where he'd be able to restart to motion then…?
Sasuke heard the soft sound of piano. Well, since nobody else but he and Naruto could play in this house, it was obvious who was performing now. The brunet was relieved that, even though he spoke those words last time, his classmate resumed on his training.
It was Chopin's Prelude, called "Raindrop" (2). The music sighed nostalgically earnest. His slim body moved towards the echoes unbeknownst to himself. (Sadness, Happiness)
Don. Don. Don. Don.
There was a constant rhythm tapping in the black key while the melody sang in a bittersweet way, a quiet spiral circling inside. (Nostalgia, Ache)The same strange sensation that tapped closely inside his heart, like the first time when he truly heard Naruto's music. (Sweet longing) Fingers touched through the cold keys, keys vibrated through the cords that echoed a sound, melting in the air and penetrating each fiber of his soul. (Bitter Joy)
Don. Don. Don. Don.
The music keeps playing a note in the same tone to remind the same continuous drops in the rain, lulling to sleep…no, lulling to…awake. (Red Loneliness) Each warm note was dripping inside his dehydrated throat, his dried heart quickly sucked the imaginative moisture, the lost yearning finally liberated from his own claimed chains.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
It soaked, spread through his veins feeling the blood circulating and reviving each lost feelings. His heart throbbed harmonized together with the song, but it was the first time, after many years, that his mind joined in unison. It flowed…creating fissures and crumbled his fortress. (Each forgotten patch of his soul had at last claimed back his entire being…the time has come…)
The unwanted emotion had already invaded.
Remember!
The fact that you were once…
Human…
"Sasuke! Ah! Are you alright?" A familiar voice broke his stupor.
"Wha…" Warm trails of damp contents marred his flawless face. Sasuke stroked with his fingers to examine it. Tears. It was tears.
"Anything wrong with you…? Huh, I'll go to the bathroom and pick some tissues, is that alright for you?" Naruto asked worried. His friend just nodded wordlessly back, scooping the brimming liquid with the back of his hand.
The blond quickly returned with huge rolls of paper and kindly offered to the brunet. While he dried his graphite eyes, his guilt burbled his stomach once again, for not deserving such attention.
Naruto asked hesitantly:
"What happe—"
"I'm sorry."
They could swear that both of their heartbeats were drumming so loudly that it was rebounding throughout the room.
"I…" Sasuke continued. "I shouldn't have said that words last week. I apologize. You didn't deserve to hear such things."
Naruto's mouth opened and closed indefinitely, hesitant on how he should resume the conversation. Then, finally…
"Don't worry about it." He turned his head away from the ivory face and mumbled. "It was probably tru—"
"Don't even continue it." Sasuke interrupted. "It's not true. You…" An uncertain hand cupped the whiskered cheek and brought the blue gaze back to his. "You are a talented pianist. Your gift…there's something in your music that touches the heart. Something that consumes all of our feelings. The sentiments. You can make simple notes…turn into emotions."
He remembered Naruto's Mozart Rondo then. The touch that he kept refusing to accept, this time, turned his artificial heart into flesh.
"But…you said…" The blond teen tried to reply.
"What I've said that time…I was getting frustrated about all this and chose the wrong option. I've never wanted to say that."
I was getting frustrated that you could reach inside where no one had succeeded before.
"But maybe that was what you truly wanted to—"
"No. I've never considered that before. I just wanted…to hurt you, at that time, but I regret it now." Sasuke lightly nudged the upside of the golden spiky head. "Usuratonkachi. What you contain is a talent that few people are blessed to have it. Learn to treasure it a little bit more."
"But…what if Kakashi-sensei really did—"
"If it was really true, which I hardly believe that it would be, it will be his loss. Whatever and however you entered, I don't care, you're capable pianist. Then, show to him that his choice wasn't misplaced." Sasuke breathed deeply in and concluded. "You play well. Don't underestimate your own skills…dobe."
Suddenly, his chilled alabaster body felt warm arms enveloping his chest into a tight hug. Another couple of tears also dampened his back though Sasuke couldn't move from sheer astonishment.
"Thank you…I." Naruto released few sheepish chuckles and muttered. "I've waited so much for those words…you don't have any idea on how much this is important for me…thanks…"
But more important then recognition…Naruto reflected, was the fact that he finally could accept at last, the concern and care by someone close to him. Someone, like Sasuke. Who'd have thought…?
The Uchiha kept his stunned stance from the close contact, his jaw closed shut tensed. The shocking splashes still dazed inside his system, and the touch of a body next to him rushed more blood inside.
"Warm…" Sasuke sighed happily, timid arms trying to reach and return the hug.
However, the young blond finally released his friend when realization dawned at him.
"And…I think I should say sorry to you too."
The brunet regained some of his motors functions to quirk a bewildered eyebrow to the dobe.
"You were worried about my wellbeing since I strained my wrist…but I brushed you off. So I'm sorry too. Teme." The cerulean eyes wrinkled again with relieved mirth, attaining their old relationship again.
Though, it was Sasuke's time to pause over the facts. What should he do…? To choose…
Itachi's years of hatred…or Naruto's fresh acceptance?
Then, he remembered the surging feelings when he heard Chopin's Raindrop. Hatred was getting putrid and tiring…his soul came to a conclusion.
His hands stretched the fluffy cheeks in response. And his Uchiha smirk curled full on his lips.
"Just don't do such a dumbass decision next time, usuratonkachi."
Naruto just wrinkled his nose in light defiance and pouted childishly back. However, his mouth stretched wide to his usual sunny beam and the tanned forehead cocked forward to the alabaster one. There were still some spare tears, though both of the young men let them run through, touch each cheek and mingle together, just like they interlaced their fingers, shared their body warmth, exchanged their gazes…
Brushed their lips.
However, the stroke was so barely scarce that maybe none of the boys realized it that day.
Yet.
He quietly closed the door from behind and prepared to reach to his bedroom as soon as he could. He admitted to himself that it was rare that he could maintain such good humor, he wasn't in the mood to meet his brother and ruin his previous temper.
However, when the youngest Uchiha reached to the corridor again, he could hear dry coughs from Itachi's room and a pained sigh followed afterwards. His feet were already pointed at his door, ready to escape from the dreadful foresight.
However, before his eyes could register, he was looking at his infirmed older brother and he was standing next to Itachi's door. How the hell…?
The eldest man wheezed with difficulty while his equally pallid face was wet with sweat. Sasuke could feel the fever radiating from the ill body even though he was meters away from Itachi.
His older brother…in the end, was human. He had his flaws, he got sick too. In his pursue to hate Itachi, Sasuke had forgotten a small detail like that.
Anyone who had half of a heart would settle to aid anyone who showed weakness and needed his help. Itachi, with his high fever and all, obviously proved that he needed help.
And again, he couldn't settle on what actions he should take upon it. Like his brain was still processing the information that his sole family was feeling unwell and he should help on something about it.
It's not like he could vanish all the grudges into thin air, of course. But he decided that, since he chose Naruto's strange way of healing, all the bitterness will, in the end, lose its meanings. Still, he didn't know how to act, years of seeing his own brother as a foe and this was the first day that he looked at him…with neutral stance.
Oh well…
Itachi opened his eyelids when the first rays from the sun awoke him in this morning, his limbs sore and his entire body exhausted from his sickness. However, he knew that he couldn't stay too long resting since the company called for his administration. He removed himself from the blanket and prepared himself to take a shower.
However, there was a single item in his desk that staggered his onyx eyes.
It was a cup of peach pudding.
Explanations:
(1) Wind: This is the title of the First ending of Naruto (normal, pre-teen years). I originally had thought that the title would be "Boys no cry", which would perfectly fit in this chapter, but alas, I was wrong. (Curse my bad memory about it!) Though, the lyrics fit perfectly with today's content! :D Especially this part:
Don't try to look so wise.
Don't cry 'cause you're so right.
Don't dry with fakes or fears,
'Cause you will hate yourself in the end.
(2) Chopin Prelude op. 28 no. 15: It's really knowingly called as "Raindrop" and Chopin composed when he was in his deathbed. It's an extremely sad piece. And it also fits perfectly in this chapter! XD Remove the spaces peoples.
http : / / www . Youtube . com / watch?v(insert the symbol of 'equal')825Ekk1u3mQ
Author notes: FLUFFY ENOUGH?! Aaaaand…as a poor comparison to the Naruto manga, this part is roughly the "Valley of the end" part, where Sasuke was deciding between avenging and forgetting. THIS TIME, I've made him choose in forgetting! :D (insert confetti and happy cheers)
Whoa! Short chapter!