a/n: Hey everyone! I apologize about the wait—there have been a lot of computer snafus at my house since my sister just returned from college. But anyways, here's a short little piece with our two Naruto bishies ;) I'm finding myself really liking this couple, but I can't say why.
Anyways, I'm not sure how good of a classical music education all of you have, but you should definitely look this piece up on youtube—it's gorgeous. One of my classmates also recently performed this solo at a big hall, and so this is a shout out to her. Her solo was really beautiful and amazing!
Warnings: None, disclaimer on my profile…enjoy!
Drabble 053: Le Cygne Hakuneji.
Neji shifted nervously and surreptitiously wiped his palms on the edge of his tuxedo while someone stepped up to the microphone and began reading a little ditty about the nobility of the swan. His stand partner, Haku, picked up his stand and courteously turned it towards the audience. Neji stiffly rotated in his chair and tried to relax the muscles in his back. He could do this—he'd practiced the solo a thousand times. Haku patted his shoulder, and then sat back down again.
Neji felt butterflies rising in his stomach as the narrator drew towards the end of the poem. His school symphony had been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York; his conductor had chosen to play the piece The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. Of course, what was Carnival of the Animals without the most famous cello solo in the world, Le Cygne (the swan)? So, Neji, being the principal cellist of the symphony, was starring as a soloist in Carnegie Hall. He swallowed hard, and tried to take deep breaths through his nose as the piano accompaniment rippled across the auditorium.
He lifted his bow to the strings, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he was gone. There was no longer a crowd of stern faces judging him in their seats; instead, he was alone at a small pond at the zoo. A white swan glided elegantly across the surface of the water as Neji sat spellbound at the pool's edge.
His bow began to move across the strings, and the entire hall was transfixed. When the piece ended, Neji opened his eyes, and was startled to see that many of the audience members had tears in their eyes, and he became embarrassed as he realized that tears were running down his face as well. The hall exploded in to thunderous applause, and Haku moved to pick up the stand again while Neji scrubbed his face, stood up, and smiled his best smile.
After the performance, the entire symphony dogpiled him (after he'd put his cello away, of course).
"You were fucking awesome!" His conductor shouted. "That was the best it's ever been—congratulations Neji!"
Neji grinned, and hugged his conductor as hard as he could.
Later, he and Haku found a quiet corner backstage. Haku immediately gave a warm congratulatory kiss. "You were amazing."
"Thanks." Neji wound his arms around Haku's neck and sighed softly. The solo had put him on an emotional roller coaster, and he was exhausted.
"Well done," Haku whispered in his ear. "I'm so proud of you, Neji."
Neji nodded tiredly against Haku's neck.
"Were you thinking about your father when you were playing?"
"How'd you guess?"
"You cried," Haku said simply. "You only cry when you think about your father."
Neji smiled blearily. "I was thinking…once a long time ago, I had this dream. I was in a park, sitting att he edge of a small pond. Then, an eneormous white swan comes out of nowhere, and starts swimming across the surface of the pond; by the end of the dream, I realize that the swan is my father. That's what I think about every time I play Le Cygne."
Haku smiled. "He would be proud of you."
"You think so?'
"We'll undoubtedly find rave reviews in every New York paper with an arts section tomorrow."
Neji blushed. "It wasn't that good."
"It was amazing, honey."
Both boys flinched when they heard their conductor shout "Alright kids—everyone line up over here!"
Haku sighed regretfully as he slid his hands down to rest on Neji's hips. "He sure does know how to ruin a moment."
Neji avoided Haku's piercing gaze. "We should go."
"Alright."
The two boys walked hand in hand out to the orchestra. Haaku eyed his lover appraisingly while Neji slept in the audience. Now, thanks to the piece, he had a deeper understanding of Neji than ever before.
a/n: Daw, wasn't that cute? It's amazing how much music touches our lives and deepens the bonds between us. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading, and don't forget to review on your way out!
Also, I've just published a new itaneji story based on Rapunzel, so you should check that out on my profile!
