And now... the answer to the last chapters riddle!

The answer is: "You were right. From sand to dust"
(Key: read the first letter of every sentence)

Hey, I said it was there, I didn't say it would make sense. XD Don't worry, it'll will later... probably...

Most everyone got it! WOOT! Congrats to those who got it! and for those who didn't, don't worry! There are plently of other things to look out for! Keep sharp! Now on to the story!

Chapter 32: Audition

And so what did they do?

Naruto and Sasuke sifted through papers all afternoon long and into the evening, Kouji persisting them with a constant guilt trip.

"If you do this for me, I'll let you stay at my place during the festival. And, as the Raikage's son, I get special privileges like a spectacular view for the fireworks. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to give poor Akane-chan a break for a change. She works sooooo hard for the two of you ungrateful slobs to stay in Suiyo-Kame, I bet just one time-"

"Okay, okay, we get it!" Sasuke grumbled, picking up a stack of papers and a pen and setting himself against the wall. "We'll do it I guess." He looked over at Naruto for mutual constent, and found the boy in tears.

"P-poor Sakura-chan!" He wailed.

Sasuke threw his pen at him.

Sakura ran with everything she was made of out of the Hidden Cloud Village and down the road to Suiyo-Kame.

I'm sorry, Naruto… Sasuke… she whispered in the back of her mind. Even after I said that friends don't lie to each other…

In truth, there was no work waiting for her at the Karaoke Bar. It was Open-Mic Night, followed by the weekly Karaoke contest. In addition, as an employee of the Bar, she was forbidden from participating in both events.

But Madoka will be, Sakura thought. She had a couple of questions for the girl; it didn't match up. Why didn't she want Kouji to know about where she went? She didn't sing badly; it didn't seem like a big deal.

But something is a big deal, Sakura cringed, and I have a general idea of what it is…

The white cobblestones clacked beneath her shoes as the beat upon them like rain. The slowly darkening trees smeared past her and the general traffic, people with dango carts and tourists, threw her daring stares. Sakura nearly bumped into a few of them in her madness and just when she thought the white trail would never end, a few iridescent lights of Suiyo-Kame burst through the horizon like lightning in a thunder-struck sky.

Sakura tripped herself around drunken merchants and regular tourists and stumbled her way off to the karaoke bar. She could here it before she saw it. The invasively loud music thudded gently against her bones like a second pulse. The bright day-glow pink sign labeled "Open Mic Night" splashed through the dim colors of the crowd. Someone singing inside wailed miserably, voice cracking over every syllable. Sakura covered her ears and winced as she pushed her into the throngs of jeering people and stumbled into the bar. She found herself mashed against someone's back, as someone mashed against hers.

"Excuse me." She muttered, pushing against her sandwich. Slowly, she wriggled her way to the wall, where she found a chair to stand on and look out over the sea over heads. Madoka's platinum blonde stood out no where, but the short little boy, Tarou, engraved an indent in the crowd of taller people. Sakura knew where her target was.

The musical abomination on stage hollered to a halt, bowed and fell over into the crowd as he was hit in the end with a beer can.

"Heh…" the announcer rubbed his cheek with his index finger. "Well, moving on! Our next performer is Madoka-chan! Back with a vengeance!"

The crowd screamed as Madoka stepped on stage. Sakura cover her ears against the din.

Madoka padded gingerly across the wooden floor and cupped the microphone in her hands. Her long, wavy hair bounced around her like a halo and Sakura braced inwardly, her face heating with her insecurities about herself. She pouted.

Madoka parted dainty, pale lips, which mere hours ago had been so thin and stern, and let the word flow like honey from her mouth.

Although, it was a different song from last time, the general message was still the same: lost love, unrequited feelings, so on and so forth. The lyrics were so sick and sappy they almost made Sakura sick, but Madoka's voice ironed them smooth and made them edible.

Sakura shook her head. Once again, it bewildered her why Madoka wanted to keep her talents from Kouji.

She sings really well, Sakura admitted to herself. I could understand her being shy about it if she sucked. She has nothing to hide.

During the song, the bar had grown quiet to listen, now erupted like someone had cranked up the volume. Madoka bowed to her fans, ignoring their pleas for an encore and exited the stage in an inhumanly composed fashion. Sakura jumped up and began to push her way through the crowd, toward the stage entrance/exit. She shoved passed Tarou on her way over, but he was too busy cheering to notice. Sakura eyed him cautiously. Wasn't he going to report this to Kouji? The young boy didn't exactly look like he was going to dash out the door at any moment.

Sakura squeezed herself through the audience and finally collapsed on the stage door. She reached for the handle and as her hand clasped the knob, the door swung open like a rampaging bull, slapping her across the face as though she'd done something offensive.

"Ow!" but she doubted the culprit could hear her cry over the noise of the bar. Sakura clutched her cheek with a chakra-laced palm. The stinging began to subside.

If this bruises, Naruto and Sasuke will worry. She reasoned and then wheeled around to give the offender a piece of her mind. She saw Madoka's back retreating into the crowd.

"Ah!" Sakura started. "Madoka!"

The door flew open again, this time catching her squarely in the forehead. Sakura cried out in pain and frustration, squatted down with the aching face cupped in her hands.

"At least think it over, Mado-! Eh?" cried the new attacker. Sakura recognized his voice as the bar's proprietor, Futotta-san. "Is that you, Akane-chan? What's wrong? You okay?"

Sakura chuckled spitefully into her hands.

"I'm good," was her muffled response.

"Well, get up. It's a good thing you're here."

Sakura stumbled drunkenly upward.

"What do you mean?" She muttered and she began to treat her forehead.

"There are a couple of people who've come here to speak with you. I was about to turn them away because I didn't expect you to come back until later."

"Well, you'll have to tell them to come back another time." Sakura dusted her hands on her denim shorts. "I only came back to back to talk to Madoka, so if you'll excuse me, Futotta-san." She began to turn away, but the burly bar owner grasped her arm.

"Madoka can wait." He urged. "She's going to be here all night; she won't leave without the karaoke contest, trust me." He began to drag her through the door way. "Don't worry; these people won't take much of your time." He pulled her down the familiar hall, past the private karaoke booths, until they reached one particular room, the one reserve for VIPs, as if any would ever come to a little karaoke bar in a one-horse town.

Futotta opened the door and pulled Sakura inside. Among the plush couches lining the narrow room, sat two formally dress people, a man and a woman, one sitting on the left, one on the right. The man rested his elbows on the central table while his partner reclined against the red sofa, both looking impatient and bored. Sakura immediately felt awkward. Her battle scarred jean shorts and the mesh top, which nowadays only dreamed of being white again, hardly seemed fitting. She suddenly became acutely aware that her hair was sticking up obscenely and tried to flatten it in a paranoid fashion.

The man jumped up as Sakura flattened her hair like a lunatic. He looked somewhat confused.

"No need to be alarmed, Fujitaka-san." Futotta chuckled politely. "This is Akane-san, who I've been telling you about. She happened to come here by chance tonight; are we lucky?"

Sakura eyed Futotta curiously, then looked back at the uptight looking agents.

"Akane-san," Futotta began, his voice syrupy. "This is Fujitaka-san," he motioned to the standing man, "and Matsumoto-san" he motioned to the woman, who hid behind black-shaded glasses. "They're both from the Summer Solstice Festival Planning Commission."

Sakura offered her hand to Fujitaka and he shook it heartily.

"It's nice to meet you." Sakura muttered, bewildered.

"I'll go get that tea I promised." Futotta rubbed the back of his neck and backed out of the doorway.

"Thank you, Futotta-san," Fujitaka called.

Sakura glanced between the door swinging in the wake of her boss and the Festival Commissioners. Nervously, she fidgeted in the awkward silence.

"Um…" She muttered. "What can I do for you both?"

Matsumoto looked up at her., showing no emotion through her dark glasses.

"Akane-san, we're here to ask a favor of you."

Sakura blinked in question.

"I know it is sort of late notice," Fujitaka continued for his partner. "However, this is a matter which cannot be thrown aside."

Just get to the point, Sakura grumbled.

"We want you to sing at the festival's opening ceremony."

"Eh?" Sakura blinked dumbly.

"Our original performer dropped out at last minute." Matsumoto explained, still emotionless, "and according to the locals, you're the best singer around, am I wrong?"

Sakura blushed.

"I doubt it." She replied modestly. "What about Madoka? She's much more talented than me."

"Madoka-san has already refused us; she was our first choice."

"Heh…"

"Of course, we will pay you for your time." Matsumoto replied matter-of-factly.

Sakura bit her lower lip. What to do..? She wished she wasn't technically deceased; this could have been a huge turning point in her career. Singing in front of that many people will, no doubt draw a lot of attention… and it's not like we came here in disguise. I'm sure Kouji-san is already suspicious because of his fight with Sasuke. Sakura rubbed her head. If only they had been there legally.

"Look," Fujitaka said after a few moments of Sakura's torturous contemplation, "We'll give you a day to decide. By this time tomorrow, have your final answer, okay?"

She nodded, which only made her head hurt more.

Sakura left the bar with so much more on her mind that she'd almost forgotten her original purpose for being there. That is until she squeezed herself out of the establishment and spotted Tarou running off in the opposite direction, carrying two trays of dango. Sakura cocked her head quizzically and followed him.

He led her down the busy streets, around drunken merchants and traders, under the boisterous crowds of tourists and, finally, into a secluded alley.

"Madoka-taichou!" Tarou called happily and he disappeared around a corner. "Here's your dango."

"Stupid-"

"-ow-"

"I told you not to call me 'taichou' while I'm off duty." Madoka's voice continued. Sakura slowed as she approached the corner that hid her quarry.

"Yes, Madoka-taichou. –ow-!"

"More importantly, it seems that you brought along a friend." Madoka's voice grew tense.

"Huh?"

Sakura rounded the corner casually and stared into the dirty alley. Madoka was sitting like a princess on a dumpster, munching benignly on her dango. Tarou had dropped his in shock and pointed horrified at Sakura.

"KYA!" He screeched. "What are you doing here?"

"That should be my question!" Sakura put her hands on her hips and glared menacingly down at the boy. "I thought you were supposed to be reporting to Kouji!"

"Th-that's none of your business!" Tarou winced. His knees shook slightly and he couldn't meet her eyes.

The other Raibara members must have told him what I did to them and that bridge, she sighed to herself.

"Fortunately, I didn't come here to check up on you; I came here to see Madoka."

Tarou turned a little red. Madoka didn't look up from her snack. She chewed for a moment and swallowed.

"What could you possibly want with me?" She muttered, sticking another skewer in her mouth.

"All I want to know is why."

"Why what?"

"Why don't you want Kouji to know where you go all the time?"

Madoka stopped chewing for a moment and through Sakura an intense glare out of the shadow of her hair.

"It's as Tarou said." She hissed, "It's none of your business."

"But you're hurting Kouji-"

"Shut up!"

"And I don't understand-"

"Go away!"

"But you lov-!"

"STOP IT!" Tarou screamed. Sakura and Madoka jumped slightly. The forgotten boy heaved with his proclaimation. He looked Sakura straight in the eye, his own burning with fury. Sakura was taken aback.

"Don't treat Madoka-taichou like that!" He yelled. Sakura blinked.

"Tarou…" Madoka whispered, holding a hand over her chest.

"You have no idea what she's been through! Don't go around talking like you know what's going on!" He pulled his arm back and punched Sakura right in the nose. There was a moment of silence as the thick sound resonated in the air. Tarou heaved with the effort. Sakura blinked from behind his still outstretched arm.

"Is that it?" She muttered. Tarou pulled his hand back in confusion.

"Sorry," Sakura continued. "You're going to have to do better than that if you want to hurt me. I know an old woman who hits harder than that."

Tarou stared at her in pure puzzlement, but didn't have time to unwrap the statement. He found Sakura's finger in his face. With all her strength, she flicked his forehead, sending the boy hurtling backward and smashing into a pile of trash.

"Listen kid," Sakura yelled at him as Tarou flailed around among paper plates and used napkins, "don't think you're justified too. Just because you keep your mouth shut for a person, no matter what the reason, doesn't make you a good friend. Trust me, I know."

Ever since Sasuke had left for Orochimaru, she'd contemplated it. If she had told Naruto about the Cursed Seal sooner, would the outcome have been different? Could she have prevented it all? As she watched Madoka help Tarou out of the trash heap, she wondered… could all this have been avoided too?

Madoka turned toward Sakura.

"You're not such a bad fight as I thought." She sneered.

"Heh, you're probably not bad yourself." Sakura cocked her head and smiled evilly. "I doubt Kouji would be appoint a weakling to the position of 'Taichou'."

"You're not as stupid as I thought either."

"Well, I'm not a boy." Sakura grinned again. "I don't need to beat you up to prove my point."

Madoka eyed her cautiously.

"Then what do you have in mind."

The smile on Sakura's face spread like a weed.

"A contest."

A flicker of interest flashed across Madoka's eyes.

"A contest?"

"Yeah, if I lose, we'll forget about this whole thing, and I'll never again bother you with why you're leaving Kouji out."

"And I lose, what?" Madoka scoffed. "You wanted me to tell you my life story?"

The smile on Sakura's face grew even more evil.

"No, if I win, you'll-" Sakura pointed dramatically at Madoka. "You'll sing at the Summer Solstice Festival opening ceremony."

Madoka blinked for a minute then look at the sky, thinking it over. After a moment she looked back at Sakura, an equally evil smile spread across her face.

"Ok," she grinned, "it's a bet. What sort of contest did you have in mind?"

"Eeeevvvvvveryoooooooone!" Futotta cried out into the crowd. "It's time for the Weekly Karaoke Contest! Are you reeeeeeeaaaadyyyyy?"

The crowd screamed over the blare of speakers.

"Alright! Let's get things started!" Futotta cried, and consulted a small piece of paper in his hand. "Our first contestant iiiiiiiiiiiiiiis…"

"Me!" A blur of pink hair zipped past him and snatched the microphone out of his hands.

"Akane-chan?"

Sakura threw her arms up in the air for the crowd. They screamed louder.

"Akane-chan!" Futotta hissed, "You're an employee! You're not allowed to participate, Akane-cha-"

"My name is not Akane-chan!" Sakura cried into the mic. Her voice rippled off her audience.

"Huh?" Futotta gave her a dumbfounded "are-you-stupid?" look.

"Tonight, I'm Haruno Sakura!"

Author's Note: Gah! Sorry this chapter took so long! It really shouldn't have... it's not like anything happened... anyway, I hope you enjoy it anyway. If everything goes as planned this arc should be over by next chapter, so the pain won't last too long. Also, sorry about all the Sakuraness. Naruto is really being shut-out, huh? We'll have to fix that, now won't we. BUWAHAHAHA!

Next Chapter: The festival finally arrives! And who will be singing! The arc finally comes to an end! (try not to be too happy)