Notes: Time to answer a few questions.
-Yeah, Neji really is turning into a major bastard, isn't he? Sorry Neji-fans! Never liked him—he creeped me out.
-I am a major Kiba/Hina fan. I think it's one of the cutest pairings I've ever seen. But I don't see enough stories on it, which kind of drove me to fill Part I with a lot of Kiba/Hina angst-love stuffage. Because of this, there has been a slight lack of Naru/Sasu love. Hooray for more chapters! XP (damned fillers!)
-There WILL be a happy ending! No worries! hearts happy endings
-I love surprising you people, but trust me, when I start to write it, I'm usually surprising myself too. I usually can't stop writing because I myself want to know how the story ends, you know? Besides, I know what it is to be waiting forever for someone to update a chapter story. So, yay fast updates!
-Every song/poem in here was indeed written by me. I'm glad you like them! My favorite thus far is "For You" because it's the only one I can sing in my head. The beat sounds like…like a Newfound Glory song; not hardcore, but a good, fast-paced beat that you can jump around and have fun to. And, don't worry. They will be jumping around and having fun. XD
Part 1: Chapter 9
"A what…?" Ino was the first to break the silence at the table.
"A live rehearsal," he repeated, his eyes glinting with a hint of crazy pride. "In the middle of the West Lawn, during class time!"
"You want us to cut class?" Kiba looked impressed.
"Hell yes," Naruto nodded back. "And I want you all to be prepared to face consequences."
"The school shouldn't be too hard on is," Haku spoke up from my left. "We are planning on having it two weeks before final exams."
"Still, they may put us on probation or at the least, give us a good tongue-lashing in the dean's office," the blond pointed out. "So, if anyone has any problems right now about it, you can take your shit and leave the band." His face became less soft as his eyebrows drew together in a frown. "This band is your life. They are your family, and that's how I want you guys to start treating it. Of course I know school is important," he cut off the protests that were starting up. "And if for some reason Sharingan does not hold together, we all need something to fall back on. But it kills me to see Kiba walking around in a daze because he is unable to talk to the girl he loves, as I'm sure it bothers you all. So, it's either this, or we abandon our two friends and eventually fall apart. It all starts here," he added as a final note and stood, picking up his tray and leaving the table. The others watched him go with wide eyes, frozen in their chairs from the lecture they had just received. Sakura was the first to break the silence.
"He's really serious about this band, isn't he?" she turned to me.
"Aren't you?" I lifted an eyebrow. "Or did you think we were going in for the short run? Why do you think I registered us for Battle of the Bands? You knew it was serious, from the day you were officially part of it—you're not doubting that now, are you?"
"I just…" she looked ashamed, "I didn't think this would be my career."
"Then just do what Naruto said," I stood as well, lifting my tray into my hands. "Take your instrument and go. You're talented, but we can find someone more dedicated if this is going to be the case." I left the table; Naruto's mood had rubbed off on me, and now I was going to go and find him. I discarded my tray and put my hands in my pockets, heading for the exit.
"Sasuke!" I stopped and looked back. Sakura was standing, her hands flat on the table as she leaned forward to holler across the dining hall. "What time do we have to be there?" I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself from smiling and lifted two fingers. She nodded. I nodded back, then left to search for my boyfriend.
The sun was already gone—night was coming faster and faster everyday, a sure sign of the approaching winter. I hunched into my jacket and jammed my hands deeper into my pockets, glancing around the breezeway for him. To my right, the parking lot and the exit to the main street; to my left, the West Lawn and a single figure sitting in the middle of the grass. I started over, convinced it was my crazy partner that would be sitting out in the cold away from the light. But as I drew closer I realized the jacket wasn't orange, it was gray. And the hair wasn't spiky blond, it was short, smooth, and blended in with the shadows. And when I stopped walking, standing beside them, I knew exactly what spot of the West Lawn it was.
"I haven't seen you in a while," I sat beside her. Hinata lifted her head to me, her white eyes slicing through the distance and dark and piercing into my own. I felt like she could read my soul with those eyes.
"Sasuke?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah," I wrapped my arms around my knees. "What's up?"
"I thought you weren't talking to me anymore…" she said, her voice sounding hurt.
I blinked. "What? I honestly haven't seen you in nearly two weeks!"
"But… Neji says that you guys just walk by, without saying a word…" she mumbled, turning her face down. I felt my eye twitching—That bastard!
"Hinata," I said in a soft voice, "do you think that maybe Neji's saying that to prevent you from talking to us?"
She was silent for a minute. "I…always like to believe that there's some good in everyone."
"I'm sure he does have some good in him." Somewhere. "But, I'm speaking honestly when I tell you this: Neji is purposely making you avoid us. Have you talked to Kiba?"
"Not since Akamaru…" she touched the patch of dirt by her feet gingerly, as if checking to make sure it was where she and her best friend had left it.
"Do you know that Neji has always been jealous of Kiba?"
"…yes."
I sat back against the tree and looked up. The sky was blue-black, and only three stars were visible between the lack of moon and overpowering street lamps. Hinata's hand reached out toward me tentatively, and I let her find my arm on her own.
"Help me?" she asked and I rose, lifting her to her feet as well. She clung to me and I led her back to the breezeway, where Naruto was leaning against one of the walls, his arms crossed over his chest.
"They said you left a while ago," he called to me as I entered the well-lit walkway. "I've been waiting here for five minutes!" And then he saw the woman beside me. "Oh my god! HINATA!" She jumped and her hand gripped my arm tighter. Naruto ran forward and scooped her into his arms for a hug, lifting her feet off the ground. She laughed abruptly, and the sound was almost like small bells in the winter-chilled air. "How are you? Where the hell have you been? I'm sorry, but your cousin's an ass!" he rattled on, setting her down. "You've missed like, five rehearsals!"
"I have…?" she tilted her head to one side. "I mean, I… Neji never said any…and it's not like I can find you all…"
"How did you get way out here, then?" he blinked.
"I…" she blinked too. "I just…walked out here."
"By yourself?" Naruto yelped. "Don't you know how dangerous that is? The girl's dorms are across the street and down a block, aren't they?"
"Yeah," she nodded.
"And you did that all by yourself?" I pressed.
She nodded again, this time with a little hesitation. "Yes, I did." And the rest of the walk was in silence. We parted at the entrance to the inner halls of the girl's dorm building and called goodbye as a security guard led her to her room. I was smiling to myself as we walked out of the heated building and into the cold night again.
"Was everyone mad at me?" Naruto asked, and I heard the worry in his voice. Gently, I reached for his hand and squeezed it reassuringly, slowing our walk back to the main building slightly.
"No, they weren't," I told him. "In fact, they even asked what time we had in mind."
"You said two?" he glanced at me and I nodded. He fell into silence as we rounded the corner and began walking back up the block. Halfway to the main street, he spoke up again: "Sasuke… It's almost Christmas break."
"You're right," I counted the days left—four weeks of classes, then finals week (which was actually just four days): eighteen. "What are your plans?"
"I…" his cheeks reddened, and I know it wasn't because of the cold. I lifted his un-gloved hand to my face and kissed the knuckles softly, then let it rest against my neck. His skin was like ice but I didn't flinch.
"Naruto, you're alone for Christmas, just like me, right?" I smiled in the dark. I know he saw it, or at least heard it in my voice.
"Mm-hmm," his fingers brushed against the line of my neck and I closed my eyes slightly. "Are you going home?"
"…this is my home," I admitted, looking up at the school building across the street. "This is where my family is."
"Sharingan is your family too, huh?" he chuckled. "That's really why I take this so seriously. They're my brothers and sisters."
"And what am I?" I inquired with a grin.
"Sexy," he said without missing a beat and I nudged him with my shoulder. "My partner," he answered after a quiet laugh. "In every aspect of my life."
"Would you like to come home with me?" I spoke as we walked through the main gates. His grip on my hand instantly tightened at my words.
"Can I…?" he asked breathlessly.
I nodded. "As long as you promise me something."
"What?" he lifted an eyebrow.
"You won't drink—I can't stand drinking," I admitted. I felt his eyes on me and I knew he was recalling my own words: "A car crash. They were coming home from an office party… Someone from another party swerved into their lane and forced them off the road…" I shuddered. He pulled our hands away from my neck and held them up between us, clutching tightly.
"I promise."
I'm awake. Why? Beside me, Naruto breathes softly as he sleeps on, heedless to the fact that I have suddenly and for no apparent reason, woken up. I sit up slightly and the covers slip off my shoulders. I instantly regret it: Shit, it's cold! But despite that I find myself climbing out of his small bed, trying my hardest not to disturb him. And I shuffle over the two piles of clothes on the floor, searching. I find the red and white paper fan staring up at me from beneath his orange jacket. I smile and lean down to pick up the notebook. It falls open to the last song I wrote—"For You". I like the way it sounds and I love the way it came out. And at the live rehearsal two weeks from now, I had no doubt it was going to sound any less than amazing. I flipped to the next page. Blank. And now I know why I was awake. I sit at his desk, switching on the lamp andfind a pen among the papers and books. It's not even a song that comes out but tangents and blurbs that I suddenly think will turn into songs one day when I'm inspired by him. I'm always inspired by him; I've found my new reason to write lyrics.
In a single instant,
The fire consumes me,
Burning me to the core.
Like a wildfire
It's out of control;
I don't want to control it.
I let the flames take me.
Over and over, like a phoenix,
I am reborn from the ashes
Each time the fire tears me apart.
Holding me still at the point between
Zero and infinity
Where both extremes are nothing.
I can't heal the scars of my past
And you can't escape yours.
Your blue eyes stand out strikingly
From the sunset glow of your face
Your aura speaks in fierce silence
Of fire and anger and pain
But the cool, sweet blue of your gaze
Contradicts your raging emotions
A passage of time
That keeps on repeating
Waltzing in circles
Of cobalt infinity
An endless song
One theme resounding
Through the night
And into our hearts
I'm no angel
But you take me to heaven
In ways I've never known.
Hold me in your arms
Take me far away and
Let me die beside you.
As different as night and day;
You're the yin to my yang.
Turning to each other,
We've got nowhere left to go.