Recappy From the Last Chappy: "I . . . missed you, too . . . ." She understood, now. Everything, and felt foolish for her actions earlier, nervous and unsure. Her face turned red from embarrassment. She had broken down in front of Sasuke . . . for a misunderstanding. Acted tense and paranoid in front of Sasuke . . . for a misunderstanding. Revealed most of what she really thought of Sasuke . . . for a misunderstanding.

Oh well, she thought. Maybe I would've ended up telling him later, anyway . . . . I'm just glad that I have my dad back. Grinning, she held Yuuta tighter. "Dad."

Chapter Twenty-Two: Heartstrings

"Your manager sure knows how to hire total idiots," Krystal commented bluntly to Yuuta the next day as the two of them walked down one of the streets. Down this street, there was a planter that she balanced on with her arms spread wide, keeping up best she could with him. "'Cause seriously . . . . That one guy first knocks you unconscious . . . and then he totally destroys your guitar in a matter of three seconds."

"Accidents happen," he said simply. In order to avoid being recognized, he was in a disguise that included a beanie to cover his hair and slightly larger than normal square sunglasses to hide his eyes. A grey jacket and faded jeans completed the ensemble, allowing him to look like an every day, normal pedestrian. "The only problem is that now we're losing preparation time."

"That's true." What's with the nonchalant tone?! You were totally pissed back there! Like releasing evil spirits . . . . She stumbled and Yuuta grabbed hold of her hand, aiding her in keeping balance. They continued walking. "By the way, how come no one else was sent to get you a new guitar? Or, why couldn't you use one of the spares?"

"Thought you'd ask that," he smiled. "Bryan knows I have a certain pet peeve about it, so he doesn't bother dissuading me, despite that it annoys him. I can't perform with someone else's guitar or one chosen by someone else. Doesn't feel right."

"Oh, I see." At the end of the planter, she hopped down, but did not let go of his hand. She was grinning from ear-to-ear. This was, after all, the first father-daughter time she had been a part of in a long had been missed. "You know, you look really shady in that outfit," she added.

He shrugged. "It's a small price to pay to avoid being jumped by fans or flamers. I love my fans, but there are times when they can be a little inconvenient." They reached the shop. Yuuta opened the door and allowed her in first. "Especially when we're pressed for time."

Inside, guitars of many shapes, sizes and type lined the walls. Krystal looked around in amazement, as she could see the other instruments and musical equipment everywhere. The cashier woman—a young adolescent with dark-colored hair and eyes dressed in a blue kimono and a green shop apron—greeted them and told them about the sale on accessories they were having as she read a manga. Yuuta thanked her and then headed to the guitars. Krystal began roaming.

The first one Yuuta considered was acoustic, made of dark woods and polished with a mahogany finish. He tested the strings and then tuned it, using his own set of standards in order to see if it was the right one for him. Five minutes was all it took until he decided not.

Next, he sidled along carefully, eyeing each one. Some looked to have potential, but ultimately, did not work for him. Then, he came to the end. Not having found one to his liking, he scanned the store again, and saw that there was one more inside a glass casing at the center of the room.

She was beautiful, standing proudly in her casing. The six strings glistened against the dark brown, almost black, stem and the umber at the top. The body of it had slender curves and was partially colored the same as the stem but had highlights near the center. Written in deep rosette, similar almost to a magenta shade, was "Honor" at the bottom right curve. He grinned, having a strong feeling about this one, and asked the girl to get it out of the case for him.

"Jeez, dude . . . . You're making even bigger doe eyes at it then the other people that've come here," she said, walking over to unlock the case. Gently, she took it out and handed it to Yuuta, whom lifted the strap over his head, to his shoulder, and held it in position. "Anyway, this is a special edition—pretty unique—by 'Honor,' so it's gonna be pretty pricey if you want it."

"I'll take it!" he exclaimed, ignoring the "doe eyes" comment and followed the girl to the register. Krystal followed, as well, realizing that they were finished.

"That if for you, dude?"

He nodded and within moments, he had ownership of the guitar. The cashier seemed mildly surprised. She explained that, of all people that have considered the guitar, Yuuta was the only one with enough money to buy it; it had been rather annoying, seeing the others cry.

Wow, Krystal thought. I didn't think people would actually get that upset.

As they left, she did compliment it, however. "It's a nice looking guitar."

"She sure is," he agreed.

"Speaking of 'she's . . .," the teen stopped herself. The question had started before she knew it. She was not sure if she should continue it.

He acknowledged her by looking, waiting for her to finish. "Yes?"

Her cheeks blushed pink and she looked aside. "Erm . . . . After Mom, did you . . . . Were there any . . . others? Other women?"

It seemed like someone came to mind, as he grinned bashfully and scratched an itch on his cheek. I should've expected this one more than the last. "Hehehehehe . . . . I guess that would vary on what you mean by 'other women.' As far as a girlfriend goes: nobody. As for just fooling around or someone warm to sleep next to: you don't need to know that. And, well, as for crushes . . . ."

"Annora?"

His eyebrows snapped together in alarm. "How did you know?"

"Ah! Your managers were talking about you two the other day, that's all, and you look at her the same way you used to look at Mom . . . . Are you mad?"

His expression changed. "Oh, no, sorry. I started to glare, didn't I? I hate surprises, so that's just how I gander . . . . So they were talking about us, huh?"

She nodded. "Based off of that and how she looks at you, I think she likes you, too."

He laughed. "I'm not dense Krystal-chan. I KNOW Annora's in love with me! She's so transparent . . . . Lucky for me, though, she IS dense. In a way, it's like Eyes on Me. 'Stay there as I whisper how I loved your peaceful eyes on me . . . . Did you ever know that I had mine on you?'"

"And have you whispered? Does she know that you love her, too?"

His smile was familiar. It was a rueful, wry look that would have drawn empathy from Krystal, had it not been for his answer. ". . . no." She stopped in her tracks, scowling at him. After a few steps, he stopped, too, wondering why she did.

"What are you waiting for, then? The right time?"

He hesitated. "I don't plan on telling her."

"WHAT? WHY NOT?!"

"Don't yell, Krystal-chan, it'll cause a scene—"

"SCREW THE SCENE, JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!"she yelled louder. Citizens and passerbys watched in interest, murmuring their curiosities and ideal explanations. Krystal's face was redfrom both anger and embarrassment.

Yuuta was not happy. "This isn't the time or the place," he said, grabbing her arm and dragging her off from the people. She wrestled her arm loose.

"I DON'T CARE! What's stopping you from being with her when you know she returns your feelings?" This time, she calmed herself for the latter part to speak normally, still holding poison. To aide her in keeping her voice down, she clenched her fists.

"It's . . . complicated. I wonder the same thing, every day, and I'm running out of reasons. The one's I still hold on to don't really matter as much as I make them, day by day."

"What're the reasons?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because! It's not fair!"

"Krystal-chan, you're not making much sense—"

"YOU'RE the one not making sense! How can you not try? You know she likes you back, so you know you won't be rejected, right?" Her eyes began to well up. "And you don't even know WHY?! Just makes me so mad . . . . If two people who love each other won't try at happiness, then what hope is there for us? The unrequited lovers—!" she was breathing heavily, having yelled loud and long, "—HUH?!"

For moments, Yuuta could only stare as Krystal caught her breath. The people around them voiced sympathies, gave dirty looks to Yuuta and shook their heads. He heard some people commenting on Krystal's "shameless" actions and immaturity. Embarrassed, he took Krystal's arm gently, this time, and explained to those around him, "PMS."

"It's not PMS—," Yuuta covered her mouth, still giving a passive smile to the crowd as he tried walking away, but she fought against it. That is when all hell broke loose, as the sunglasses fell from his face and to the road.

"Crap," he and Krystal chorused as people, despite the beanie, recognized him instantly. He let go of Krystal, whom searched for an escape route as they mobbed around them. Dodging elbows, she activated her byakugan.

Unfortunately, because she did not know the layout of the land that well, she could not generate an effective escape plan fast enough, and turned off her byakugan. "Come on, we have to run 'em out," she told Yuuta, grabbing his hand and taking off before they would be fully engulfed in a parade of hormone-crazed fangirls and a few fanboys. He kept up with the ninja's pace best he could, taking care in not tripping over himself.

At the same time, Krystal searched with her naked eye, for any nook or cranny they could hide themselves in, and when the crowd came too close for her liking, she took a sharp turn to the left. Crap! I think I just turned us farther from the stadium, she cursed. This was ridiculous! These people were even worse than Sasuke's fangirls in Konoha—though, the Uchiha did not have celebrity status or a career in show business.

But those girls—most of them, at least—were ninja. It was a shame that normal people were showing better skills in pursuit than shinobi.

Then, it hit her. SHE was a ninja! Why was she running around so commonly? Acting fast, she next pulled Yuuta toward an intersection as she used her other hand to search her kunai pouch, trying not to let its contents spill. At the intersection, she finally found her smoke bombs and threw them to the ground. In the confusion, four copies of both Krystal and Yuuta were made, as the fans saw then the smoke cleared and the pair looked to be running in all directions. They divided to follow.

Krystal snickered from in the shadows in an alley a few feet from the intersection. "All right, I think if we stay here a few moments, then we should be able to get back peacefully," she said, glad, for once, that she had ninja training. Then, she looked over at Yuuta, whom was not amused. She remembered what happened just before the chase, and was full of shame.

Why did she make such an outburst? Jealousy? Because his love was returned, when hers was not? Angry, because he could not see his luck? "I-I'm sorry . . . . I know that was bad for your image, it was inappropriate, it was childish . . . . You must think I'm a spoiled brat."

He was sitting on a crate, resting his head against his fists, definitely irritated. "I told you, it was complicated. I told you, I had reasons!" —he looked up, scowling— "Please, don't do that again. You're right. It was childish, it was inappropriate—If any of them were reporters or something of the like, then my image could be in jeopardy . . . . But I don't think you're a spoiled brat. Just . . . please. Don't do something like that again."

"Sorry," she apologized again. "But, please . . . I just—I have to know."

Yuuta sighed, rubbing the back of his hand against his forehead and then rested both elbows on his knees, folding his hands. "Fine, I'll tell you." Krystal gave a small smile and waited momentarily for him to begin. "It may not look like it, but there is a twelve-year age difference between Annora and me. I am thirty-six, she is twenty-four. I've known her since she was your age exactly—When I debuted as an artist and she became one of my backup singers." His eyes softened. "I remember how she called me 'Old Timer,' just because she liked exaggerating certain things and I'd return with calling her 'Jail Bait.'"

"An age difference doesn't seem all that bad . . . . After knowing her—" she did the math, "—eight years, it doesn't seem like it should be what's really stopping you. And, she's a woman, now," Krystal responded. Like a young child awaiting story time, she moved to the front of him and sat down, bringing her knees up again.

"I know that," he blushed. "Ever since she turned eighteen, I've known it. She stopped calling me Old Timer, I stopped calling her Jail Bait. A year later, she became an independent artist—THAT'S when it really hit me. I saw her a lot less, missed her like crazy . . . . A little while after her debut, I realized how I felt.

"But," he sighed, "even though I knew she was a woman, I . . . kept making excuses. I let our age stay there as a wall—and when that nearly failed, I told myself that she had only just made her debut while I was very famous. If we were to become romantically involved, she would only be known as the girl stained by my lips. At nineteen, her image was innocence—which she was, mostly.

"But now . . .," he trailed off. Implying that he should continue, she repeated his previous words in question form. "She's a woman. She's no longer just 'innocence.' She and I are on equal footing in celebrity status . . . . Do you see what I'm saying?"

Krystal nodded. That is pretty complicated . . . . And what if Annora has reasons other than fear of rejection for not pursuing Dad? Come to think of it, I only just assumed she's single . . . . But, still . . . . "It sounds like, the real reason is, you're scared. For so many years, you've been able to repress your feelings, and have become almost 'comfortable' with it, but now the rules keep changing. And I'm assuming that what happened between you and Mom affects this, too—"

"They are wounds that sometimes still burn."

"I know. But . . . you can't let another person's betrayal rule you for the rest of your life—can't let grudges rule you, either." Not like Sasuke . . . . "You're sort of making Annora pay for Mom's mistake by not trusting her. You said yourself that those reasons don't necessarily matter as much as you are making them. It's also selfish. You're not just hurting yourself, you're making her suffer with you."

"Hmph. You're only telling me things I already know," he said, making Krystal give a tiny laugh. "What?"

"I said the same thing to Mom not too long ago, that's all."

"Oh . . . . How is she?" he asked, despite himself.

Surprised by the question, Krystal blinked, hesitating. "She's . . . Mom. Even if she wasn't fine, she won't let it show. And I haven't talked to her since she told me . . . . I still can't believe she lied to me about you . . . ."

He did not say anything. Instead, he stood up and carefully walked to the opening, peeking imperceptibly around in order to see if it was safe to leave. "The coast looks clear to me. We've been gone long enough."

Back at the stadium, Annora stared blankly at the objects in Kotoba's hands. Then, they began to sparkle. Gingerly, she took the shoes from her manager, her mouth hanging open in a dumb smile. They were high-topped white boots that would cover her shins and had metallic gold trim and laces. Oh how she loved a good new pair of shoes! "Kotoba . . . I love you!" she exclaimed, grabbing her in a tight bear hug.

Most likely used to the bone-crushing, she laughed but seemed otherwise unaffected. "You should thank Hachi, she's the one doing costume and make-up—"

"Oh my GOSH those are high heels!" Only just had she looked at the back of the shoes, seeing that the heel was possibly six inches high and extremely thin. "This is supposed to be for the Kiss Kiss Kiss Me Breathless outfit, right? Hachi knows I have to dance around for that one—and she knows I'm a klutz! But they're so cute . . . . I can already feel bruises and blisters, though . . . ." She seemed to be working out the pros and cons, wanting to wear them so much but being wary of consequences.

"Yes, well, if you start wearing them now, perhaps you'll break them in soon enough to dance flawlessly. Plus, it wouldn't be the first time you've taken a spill on stage—you're a cover up expert," Kotoba decided for her.

Annora made a face in regards to the 'cover-up expert' comment, but sat with her legs over the edge fo the stage so she could slip off her sandals and put on the boots. Today, she was wearing a lavendar Chinese-style short sleeved jumpsuit sort of outfit, looking almost like a dress as the bottom flared out just a tiny bit before being pulled in by a string concealed in the fabric. It showed on the side in little bows mid-thigh. A darker shade of purple decorated the flora design and lined the sleeves. She had her hair held up in a bun by chopsticks and had large hoop earrings.

After she finished lacing the second boot, she examined how they looked with a smile. Next, she stood carefully, struggling not to fall, and struck a small pose before she attempted walking. She took one step. Two. Three. Four. Fifth, she faltered, but fought to keep balance as she swung her arms about and took other steps to try and find surer footing until she finally fell back. Unlike what she expected, however—a rather painful, unwelcome meeting between stage and bottom—she had been caught by someone.

She leaned her head back to see her savior's face and grinned, blushing. "You know, since I have you to catch me all the time, perhaps falling isn't such a bad thing."

"Yeah," Yuuta said, looking at her in a way that made her blush more noticeable. He was thoughtful, serious, intense . . . . She had never seen such an expression of deep thought on his face, before. It gave her a funny, familiar feeling in her stomach and her fingertips numbed themselves almost painfully. She swallowed, thinking of her poor, straining heartstrings.

"Y . . . Yuuta . . .?" she whispered breathlessly, snapping him from his thought so he smiled and helped her catch balance. She thanked him. "Oh, is that the guitar? She's cute!"

"Mhm, but your shoes, I have to say, are a catastrophe waiting to happen."

"Just wait, I'll be able to run marathons in these babies by tomorrow!" she assured him, attempting to back up her statement by walking a few steps without falling.

Next to Sasuke, in the audience, Krystal plopped down, sinking low to sit the same way she had the day before as she rubbed her temples, sighing. "What's with you?" asked the Uchiha.

"Fangirls," was all the explanation she needed to give. Somehow, the gaggle had found them again. "Man, I'm tired. Wake me up when we go for lunch?"

"Okay," he replied and then gasped (in an embarrassingly loud way.) She had fallen asleep instantly, leaning against him and making his face turn red. Not again . . . . He did not move her, though. Calmly, he instead faced forward and watched as Annora fell again.

End of Chapter Twenty-Two

Next time on .:Roses are Red:.!! Chapter Twenty-Three: The Old Timer and The Jailbait

His warm air hit against her lips, sending a shiver down her spine. Her top lip was in contact hair-fine with his bottom lip for the briefest of time frames before he quickly withdrew. Next, he came back again, touching his lips to her, but not quite close or long enough to be called a kiss when high-pitched squeals from the screen startled them apart. It was Yuuta's wake up call, as he then rushed into the connecting bathroom.

Oh my God . . . I almost blew it, he thought chillingly, leaning with his back against the door, head hung back. So easily, temptation had come knocking. He took in a deep breath, held it, and sighed.

Now for Aki's Author Corner!!

Aki: Hello everyone, and welcome to: -choruses with Yin and Yang- Aki's Author Corner!!

Yin: I am so pissed!!

Yang: -gasps- What's wrong, Yin!! What evil has gripped your heart?!

Yin: Some idiot bad-mouthed this story!! Only I'm allowed to do that! -frowns-

Yang: -gasps...again- Yiiiiiiiiin!! That is not nice, apologize! Everyone's opinion is appreciated, wether we agree with it, or not!

Aki: -_- I don't get why you're upset. Heck, when I read it, I laughed. I always do that with flames, cuz it happens so rarely.

Yin: Well, whatever! She was too chicken to even leave a reply link!

Aki: Yin, stop bad-mouthing "ANNA." I realize it is annoying that I could not reply to her directly, but what got to me most was that she did not quite know all that she was talking about. -turns to readers- XP I know this corner isn't really about the story, but I'd just like to make a point. Please, be kind or constructive in your reveiws---or if you are going to flame or something like that, KNOW what you're talking about and have the guts to leave it so I may reply. I won't bite your head off.

Anyway, ANNA left a review bashing my story after she read the first chapter, and so I replied to it by leaving another review after hers because there was no reply link. I am also going to add my reply in right here:

Okay, Anna, since your review was anonymous, I shall reply in this review and add it into the next chapter I post, altohugh considering how you reviewed, I guess you may not even read my story again.

First off, I would like to thank you for your input. I realize that there are flaws in this story-especially the very first chapter, but there are things you would have discovered, had you read on.

Krystal was given her name because her father had a fetish with English names, as you would have read in Chapter 5; although since there is a rewritten version starting after the four thing posted, it would TECHNICALLY be Chapter 9, I believe. She was also named after the friend of mine who requested a Sasuke story.

As for background, this is why it isn't always smart to judge after only the first chapter. I know that the very first one in the original is kinda crappy, which is why I rewrote it. But in later chapters, the background of both Krystal and Sasuke is explored, and a little spoiler for you? Sasuke doesn't realize his feelings until the twentieth chapter. In the new chapter one, I think it is more believable, personally. And I know Sasuke doesn't get crushes on anyone. the mere idea of him falling in love is OOC for him. But out of all my readers (And trust me, I have a LOT; not to be bragging, just proving my point) you're the only one to complain, so *shrugs*

As for the byakugan, I am confused as to what you mean by it being fishy. I know perfectly well that the Hyuuga are born with the byakugan, and that they need practice, but you are mistaken in believing Neji is the only one that can know it. The eight trigrams isn't necessarily a genius technique, nor is the rotation jutsu, it's a Clan-wide technique. I realize Hinata doesn't know it, but that does not mean Krystal can't.

Maybe I made a mistake with the kage bunshin no jutsu. She prolly shouldn't be able to produce shadow clones, my bad.

*sighs* It seems you are mistaken, in regards to the fireball jutsu. It is not a technique exclusive to the Uchiha clan, but rather, it is seen as a right of passage into adulthood for the clan members. Mind you, I am checking my information as I write this, for I am sure I do not know every little thing about Naruto, and I am taking your adive into consideration. I apologize for the snappy tone.

And, Krystal was not modeled after Neji or Hinata. I just created a character and made her a Hyuuga, therefore I gave her Hyuuga techniques (as well as some ninjutsu... Mix it up a little bit).

So, I shall thank you again, Anna, for your input :) Even sarcasm, flames and bad reviews are appreciated.

Thank you for reading!! May God bless you!!