WEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! *Cheers*
I got lots of reviews last time^^ *grins happily*
I'm seriously tired right now so I won't say much^_____^
I LUV U koganei!!!!!! Even tho u couldn't beta my story____
I sent it to you twice but you didn't answer back!! WAH!!! I hope you'll reply soon just for me to be sure you're alive or something!!
Beta my next chapter!! *orders u*
Sloth!! UR KOOL!! I hope u solved ur problem^^ Ppl!! Please take a look at his beautiful breath-taking Naruto fanart!!! ---------
And thanks to Ko-chan for dedicating her chapter to me, that was REALLy unexpected^____^
Also to everyone else who reviewed me^^
The story should be coming to a wrap soon enough! Thanks for being patient with me and ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!
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Naruto played with his drink, twirling the little red straw around the liquid in boredom. Yawning for a moment, he found himself glancing to the entrance to see if Sasuke had arrived again. Catching himself, he inwardly cursed and set his cup on the table.
There was no way Uchiha was going to come anyways, he told himself firmly for at least the tenth time that night.
He trailed his fingers along the side of his face, fingering the cloth that had been concealing the wound from the day before. It stings more than it should, Naruto realized. Sasuke had thrown the book with such brutal strength that it cut the side of his face a little. He felt saddened by the fact that Sasuke had actually been that angry.
Prying his eyes away from the doors, he studied his surroundings and couldn't help but be impressed at the effort that was put into making this night. The auditorium was transformed into a beautiful party room.
Long richly coloured drapes flowed fluidly from the ceiling to the floor, and large coloured lights were set on the ceiling to swirl around in liquid shapes. At the center of the ceiling was placed a large disco ball, shining thousands of twinkling lights around the room, a good piece to the dimly lit room.
But most of all… A happy grin formed on Naruto's face as he caught sight of a huge table at the back, laden with plates carrying hot steaming delicious foods and snacks… The refreshment table!!
Stalking his way over, past the large groups of chattering people in beautiful gowns and suits, Naruto's bright blue eyes quickly darted over the wide table, devouring the mere sight of all that heavenly food. Quickly grabbing a long fork and leaning over a savory-looking piece of dark meet, Naruto was prepared to attack it when a tap on his shoulders made him turn around in frustration.
Bidding a sad farewell to the food and vowing to visit once again. Naruto turned around with a heavy scowl on his face, which quickly diminished when he saw Sakura standing there.
" S-Sakura-chan…" Naruto gaped at her, the slender girl was dressed in a beautiful filmy pink gown that made her look like a princess, her pink hair was pulled back in a jewelled clip and her eyes sparkled happily.
" Naruto! Don't I look nice?" Sakura smiled brightly, stepping back and twirling a bit to show off, her dress swooshed around her feet. Naruto blushed, unable to take his eyes off the pretty girl, the dress has done a good job of showing her nice curves and body to its full potential.
" Y-You look really pretty Sakura…" Naruto said breathlessly. Catching the eyes of a couple other young men who stared at Sakura as well, he glared at them angrily as though promising death to them if they should dare to touch her.
Immediately, his over-protectiveness that had formed throughout the years of their friendship came up full force.
" You can't wear that!!" Naruto said loudly, his eyes squinted. He began to jump around her, prodding at her with his fingers and clicking his teeth in displeasure.
" It's too tight and there's so little of it!!" Naruto exclaimed, much to Sakura's embarrassed dismay. He pointed accusingly at her low neckline and frowned.
" And look at that!!" He screeched. " How can ANYONE wear that so low, you can practically see EVERYTHING!!" Sakura tried to hide her madly blushing face behind her hands, aware of the stares Naruto had gathered.
" Naruto!" She hissed out of the corner of her mouth in panic. " Shut up!! You're embarrassing me!" Naruto ignored her comment and continued to look at her disapprovingly.
" You're going to attract a lot of unwelcome attention wearing that you know." Naruto remarked wisely, his chin resting on his hand. Sakura glared at him coldly, promising a death that would be soon to come. Naruto shivered from the glare and decided to back off. In a huff, Sakura practically fled away from the fussing boy.
" I can't wait to tell you I TOLD YOU SO!!" Naruto called after her, hands on his waist. He chuckled to himself, when he saw Sakura turn around swiftly in the distance to make a rude finger gesture at him.
Grinning to himself, he ventured around a bit more, food miraculously off his mind. Without knowing, his mind began to wander to the subject of Sasuke again. He could help but worry about the boy, but decided to ignore the overwhelming hope that he would be able to see him that night. His head was REALLY messed up these past few days! Geez? Was he actually starting to enjoy Sasuke's company??
Suddenly, the loud up-beat music melted dramatically into a slow-tempo-ed song and automatically, the students began to pair up themselves.
Naruto decided to back off at the corner and try hard to blend in with the wall. Just relax, he looked behind him at the dark blue wall and cursed under his breath. Damn, he HAD to wear bright colours that night. Forcing himself to breath normally, he hoped to god no one would notice him.
Think dark blue… Think dark blue and become the blue…
Suddenly, he noticed a pretty brown-haired girl approaching him, someone that he didn't recognize. He decided that someone most likely invited her.
Bracing himself for some kind of snide remark or cruel joke, he was mortified when the girl fluttered her long eyelashes flirtatiously and moved to stand beside him.
" I really love this song." The girl started cheerfully, still batting her eyelashes like it was out of control. " It would be nice to dance to it wouldn't it?" Naruto nodded, not really paying attention to her words but rather to her eyelashes… they were fluttering REALLY quickly and didn't look like they were going to stop.
The girl pouted, obviously, she had expected a different answer. She decided to go for a more direct approach.
" Would you like to dance?" She asked innocently, keeping her voice light and sweet.
" Huh?" Naruto stared at her dumbfounded. Weren't all the girls disgusted by him? Didn't they all hate him? Save for Sakura of course, he hadn't really expected anyone- especially a pretty girl like her- to try and talk to him… much less ask to dance.
" Would you?" Her voice raised several pitches higher, impatience seeping into it.
Naruto hesitated, his mind still jumbled and confused. If it were merely two weeks before, he would have jumped at the chance to dance with someone like her. But now… why the hell did he feel like dancing with someone else right now…?
/Like Sasuke?/ He jumped up according to his thoughts, startling the girl beside him. What the fuck?? NO WAY!!! Would he want to dance with that bastard! Especially after he blew up on him and everything…
Naruto frowned deeply, but why in God's name did his words sound fake even in his own damn ears?!
Still very confused, he refused the girl (Much to her shock) and decided that he needed to go somewhere quiet to think. Naruto began to make his way to the entrance, but was halted by Iruka, looking very menacing guarding the doors.
" Umm… Can I go now?"
" Nope, no one leaves until I tell you guys you can leave." Iruka answered stubbornly, his dark eyes fiercely telling Naruto that there were no exceptions.
" But I need to use the can!!" Naruto whined, waving his arms in desperation. Iruka shook his head.
" There's one at the back of the auditorium, beside the stage." He answered sternly.
Naruto sighed in defeat and made his way back to where he had been previously standing. His eyes caught sight of the stage, of which the curtains had been pulled closed since it was not in use. Brightening up exceptionally, he deciding to go behind onto the stage. He was sure there would be no one there, and the drapes should be enough to muffle most of the loud music.
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" Sakura!! Naruto is getting cute ne?" A girl with black hair tied in a ponytail squealed, her eyes flickered towards the blond boy standing at a dark corner.
Sakura swung around in mad disbelief, nearly fainting with shock.
" WHAT??? Naruto?? Cute?? NO WAY!!!!" Sakura yelled out in surprised, before she clapped her hand over his traitorous mouth in embarrassment. She fought to keep her voice at a reasonable level.
" Naruto is not cute Miyako!! Have you gone out of your mind!! Wasn't it only a while ago when you complained to me about how annoying he was and how much you wished he was dead or something!!" Sakura said quickly, her eyes wide. Miyako pouted, tilting her head to a side so that her ponytail fell against the side of her face.
" Sakuraaaaaaa~" She whined, twirling her dark hair on her finger. " That was years ago, ages ago. Naruto is actually really good-looking! I wonder why I never noticed that until now." She sighed dreamily, eyes not leaving Naruto.
Sakura exhaled and turned around to see whatever amazing quality her friend saw in Naruto. Squinting her eyes, she looked long and hard at her team-mate, waiting for those familiar features she had known for half her life to magically turn into one of some movie star's.
" I don't see anything, he look like he does always Miyako." Sakura said wearily.
" Oh Sakura!! Stop humbling yourself, you know how lucky you are to be so close to Sasuke AND Naruto." Miyako whined half-heartedly.
" Humbling myself!!" Sakura did a double face-fault, this was NOT happening.
Her other friend Chihiro stepped into the conversation as well with a large smile.
" I agree with Miyako, Naruto's really grown up to be quite the looker." She said with the same breathless voice. Sakura stared at her friends in barely concealed shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.
" No way!!"
" Of course Sakura!! Don't you know?? Naruto's gotten quite popular these past few months. Everyone's been saying how lucky you are to be on the same team as the two best looking guys in our year."
" WHAT???" Sakura shrieked, mortified at the fact that 'everyone' actually classified two completely different people as Sasuke and Naruto in the same category.
" Those dreamy blue eyes and blond hair that is so adorably unruly all the time, and he's fit too!! Look at the lean wiry muscles under that willowy body!! I'm so jealous, how does he keep so fit eating all that ramen!!" Miyako said happily, clapping her hands together in glee. Chihiro nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
" Oh my GOD!!" Sakura held her hand against her forehead in an overly dramatized gesture.
*THUMP*
" Eh? Sakura?"
A pause.
" WAAA~H!! Get help! I think Sakura fainted!!"
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Naruto quietly made his way to the concealed stage, hoping he was going unnoticed. Easily slipping behind the curtains, he sighed in relief when he made it there. He was right; the music hardly passes through the thick velvet curtains, silence and relief finally!
Taking a look around at his surroundings, he found that he had to walk through a short passageway before he could actually make it to the stage-ground. Walking carefully because he was almost blinded with the surrounding darkness, he hoped that he wouldn't do something like crash into the wall or something.
When he finally got to the dimly lit large expanse of space, he grinned happily. Finally alone!! Turning around to taking a look at his new dwelling for at least the next few hours, he gasped in shock at the sight.
Shit shit SHIT!!!
" Sasuke??" He yelled before realizing he did.
" Naruto?" Sasuke sounded bewildered as well as he quickly looked up from the keyboard, his eyes grew so wide Naruto had to laugh in spite of himself.
He quickly stopped though when he saw Sasuke's serious expression. Seeing the boy sitting in front of the large glossy grand piano under the lights brought him an eerie sense of déjà vu. Sasuke's eyes narrowed in confusion.
" What are you doing here?" He asked icily. Naruto frowned.
" Shouldn't I ask the exact same question?"
Sasuke's eyes softened and he looked down onto the piano, his fingers were still on the surface of the keys.
" I don't like those kind of things… with all those people…" Sasuke said softly. Naruto nodded in understanding. Sasuke stared at him sharply; both shifted uncomfortably.
" I didn't expect you to come Naruto… since…" Sasuke trailed off.
" I know! I was tricked into coming here by Iruka. No- more like black-mailed!" Naruto cut off.
" To say the truth, I didn't expect you to come either. I know you well enough to know that you hate this boring reunion crap."
Sasuke tilted his head to a side, his dark hair spilling over; His mouth quirked up in a smirk.
" Would you not assume as always that I love all the attention given to me, so much that my head is probably bloated to the size of God knows what."
Naruto glared darkly at him, though his eyes didn't carry the venom it did usually.
" Well DUH! But it wouldn't be polite to say that!" Naruto remarked, rolling his eyes. Sasuke snorted.
" As if you've ever been polite in your life baka." He ended easily.
Naruto couldn't think of anything to say, so there was a short tense silence. He realized that, they both had their own issues and if Sasuke had been considerate enough to not bring up what happened before, then he probably shouldn't mention yesterday's incident as well. Naruto rubbed the back of his head, trying in vain to find a way to strike up a conversation. His eyes caught sight of the piano, sparking up his interest once more.
" You play the piano?" Naruto asked curiously. Sasuke's eyes widened a bit at his question before he looked down at the instrument fondly, though Naruto noticed a trace of sadness that had crossed his face.
" No… I don't. I know a bit though." Sasuke said lightly. Naruto's eyes perked up in interest, his eyes twinkled with excitement as he leaped over to push Sasuke to the side on the small piano seat and take place himself. Ignoring the slight rush that ran over him when he realized just how 'close' they were sitting, of course, the seat was meant for one only. But somehow, the thighs that were touching Sasuke's seemed much more heated and sensitive than ever.
Naruto tried hard not to blush and stared down at the piano instead, lips unravelling up in obvious interest.
" Play something Sasuke." Naruto demanded suddenly, and turned around to have two intense dark eyes bearing down on him. He forced down the urge to shiver and flashed the other boy a bright grin. Sasuke stared at him for a moment before he peered down at the keys as well and snatched his hands away quickly.
" No." He said quickly. Naruto's mouth fell open at the unfairness of it.
" What? I bet you were playing before and you decided not to just because I was here." Naruto remarked crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke gave him a look that clearly said "Are you stupid?"
" Well Duu~h" Sasuke made a crude impression of Naruto's earlier expression. Naruto was slightly mollified at him. Sasuke shook his head.
" Don't carry yourself around so highly dumbass. I don't play the piano for much more personal reasons for that."
" Why then?"
" I shouldn't have to tell you. Uh, because I don't know how." Sasuke ended hastily, obviously wanting to get over this quickly. Naruto raised a brow at him.
" You told me like a minute ago you know a little."
" A bit." Sasuke replied immediately out of impulse. Afterwards, he looked like he wanted to slap his hand over his mouth. Naruto jabbed at finger at him, grinning triumphantly.
" There! Now play!" Naruto ordered happily, not thinking at all that there was most likely a more personal reason to why Sasuke would not want to. Sasuke glared angrily at him.
" No, I don't want to." He said stubbornly.
" Plee~ase?? Just play a short song!! Anything! I love to see a person play an instrument!" Naruto whined. Sasuke's lips tightened, as though suppressing anger.
" Fuck Naruto. If I don't want to, then I won't. This is not of your damn business, why the hell are you so god damn annoying sometimes." Sasuke said harshly.
Naruto suddenly went silent, feeling hurt like he had been the day before when Sasuke exploded at him. Sasuke probably tells him he's annoying at least 5 times a week, but this time, it sounded a little too sincere. Damn! When the hell was he so sensitive about how Sasuke feels about him!
Sasuke must have seen the hurt expression on Naruto's face because his angry face softened immediately, but not that much.
" I'm sorry." Sasuke said stiffly. Naruto's tense shoulders relaxed a bit, but he was too curious for his own good.
" You know what just happened now…" Naruto started softly, afraid of how Sasuke would react to his words. " Does it have anything to do with yesterday??"
Sasuke stiffened visibly. Before he let out a breath as though he had been keeping it in for a long time.
" Oni-sa- I mean Itachi used to play the piano." He said wearily, sadly sounding too old for a boy his age. Naruto halfly expected the answer, so he didn't say much. But he couldn't help but wonder just how close the siblings were.
There was a long pause, before Sasuke surprised Naruto by speaking again.
" He was amazing at it, brilliant. Like in everything else he did. I used to love to watch him play, watch those hands skilfully dance across ivory and ebony like it was meant to be. He would play and he would sit on a chair beside him, wondering how exactly he could hardly practice but still play so beautifully." Sasuke said softly, his eyes glazing over in memory. It must have been a sweet memory of his, because Naruto noticed that Sasuke's lips touched up unconsciously.
Sasuke's eyes suddenly hardened.
" But you don't understand… no one really understands my pain." Sasuke said miserably. Naruto flew his arms out in annoyance.
" Godammit Sasuke!! Clear out your dense mind for a moment and listen to me!! Stop going through all that "no one understands me" crap. It's not like I had the most ideal life in the world. Do you think it's all easy? Naruto's life? I may have no gone through the pain of betrayal, nor have I seen my parents die in front of my or something! But you have to know… that it's hard for me too." Naruto said angrily.
" I mean… do you realize… can you imagine? How it feels to have so much hatred and hostility be directed at you? To be treated with an animosity so intense as to be annihilating? To have around you many who would deny even the right to exist?" Naruto said difficultly, his throat seemed to be closing up on him and making it hard to speak.
" I'm a human being too! I have feelings and emotions, and do you not think it hurts? To have everyone treat me like I'm a piece of garbage?' Naruto's eyes hardened with determination. " But it makes sense because that's what shapes me as what I am today? It's what keeps me going, the goal of finally having people acknowledge me. I admit, maybe being Hokage is going overboard, but I want people to recognize me as a person. As Naruto…" Naruto finished tiredly.
Sasuke looked down to his hands ashamedly. He never knew Naruto had to endure so much before, it's given him a newfound respect for the boy.
" I'm sorry… to burden you with all this… I didn't know what I was saying."
Naruto smiled at him.
" It's awright, it's nice to let it out sometimes. And it might as well be me."
" But why did he leave me? Why was everything a lie? I mean… if he hated me, why did he have to deceive me from the start." Sasuke painfully started again, even though he didn't expect an answer. Naruto thought for a moment, his brows bunching up because Sasuke seemed like he was never going to give up on this.
" Because he's a bastard Sasuke. A sick cold-hearted bastard, and he should be dead than anything else. And you can do so much better than him." Naruto said slowly and sincerely. " But… he probably isn't all that I said he is… because no one could hold such a special place in your heart without having some good in him in the first place."
At these words, Sasuke turned around and two eyes met in mutual understanding. Understanding the pain the other as gone through and knowing of the hardships and emotions they must conquer.
Perhaps that was why Sasuke felt these puzzling feelings towards the clumsy blond-haired boy, because there was a deeper meaning between the two. And perhaps that why for the second time in his entire life, he was able to pour out all the emotions he had kept bottled up inside for so long. So he looked at Naruto, and simply took off the mask he had been wearing for so long.
Then a single tear slipped down his cheek, but it wasn't for the self-pity, but because he knew he was finally able to let go of what he's been carrying around for so long. Even if it has shaped what he was today, he knew he couldn't live like how he lived for so long forever.
He finally realized… that he was in love.
He was in love with the boy who was able to set him free from the cage of his past. He was in love with Naruto, and in some weird queer way, he knew he would probably love him forever.
" God Naruto… I miss his so much…" Sasuke finally cried out in anguish. In that cry came out all the pain and suffering he had indured but was able to let go. And somehow, he felt lighter than ever, but it still hurt. Because a wound so large would always leave a scar, but even with that scar would be the healing. He's been salting his wound for so long, but the love for the boy he had kept down finally rose to heal it.
Because that's what it's supposed to do.
Naruto stared at him in a confused understanding, and Sasuke felt like his heart would burst just at the glimpse of him.
" It's okay to miss him Sasuke… and it's okay to remember him. Just don't let your memories take full control of your life." Naruto said simply as though it was the easiest answer in the world.
With that, Naruto gave a large Naruto smile, so bright and heart-warming that Sasuke turned around, reached out and grabbed the boy tightly against his chest.
" S-Sasuke!!" Naruto cried out in shock, his body stiffening up at the unexpected contact. " What are you doing??"
Sasuke continued to embrace him, unable to believe what he has done. But he closed his eyes and relished in the sheer closeness of the other boy. For a few minutes, they sat like that and Naruto slowly relaxed, realizing that Sasuke would have a reasonable reason for his actions.
He wanted to tell Naruto so much that he loved him… but…
" Naruto…?" He said quietly.
" Ya?" Naruto jumped slightly.
" I- I…" Sasuke tried hard to get the words out of his mouth, but he couldn't. Because he was a coward and he was too afraid going through all that pain and suffering again just after he had been released from it. What if… what if Naruto refused him, it would hurt so much more than the pain Itachi could ever inflict on him.
" I-… Thanks Naruto… Thank you so much." Sasuke ended quickly, his eyes still closed.
Even though he couldn't see it; he knew Naruto was smiling.
Finally, because he sensed Naruto's discomfort, Sasuke leaned back reluctantly. And he stared down at the keys again, but this time in embarrassment. Naruto smirked at him, knowing he had the upper hand this time.
" Play." He demanded.
Sasuke sighed in defeat, was he not expecting this?
" What do you want me to play?"
" Anything. Your favourite." Naruto said quickly, eager to have the other boy play.
Sasuke pondered for a while, before his lips melted to a smile. Then he placed his fingers on the keys and steadied them in their right positions. He knew it all from memory so well.
" It's the only
song I know… Itachi taught it to me when I was younger. It was his favourite
song." He said quietly before he started.
Then he began to play, a serene tranquil song, dreamlike and alluring. It was beautiful even though Sasuke played only a few tinkling notes.
The song was all too familiar to Naruto.
It was the song- the song of his dreams.
"T-That song…"
*THUMP*
" Naruto?"
Naruto stumbled up from the seat and began to run, began to run from Sasuke and the stage. Then he ran out of the party, ignoring Sakura's cries and Iruka's barks of order.
Why did he feel like everything was coming together yet he did not know what?
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*YAY* Sasuke finally realizes his feelings~! Too bad Naruto's still innocently clueless!! But what exactly is happening now?? Why did Naruto run away?? Did he finally realize something?? What's happening??
Please find out in my next chapter, which will come soon if I get lots of reviews!! WEE!!!!
Mwah^^
*falls asleep*
