Chapter 3 coming up! I'm on fire! Well, I hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine
WARNING: AU
PAIRINGS: Still don't know, maybe some SasuSaku
Song 3- Mockery"Ohayou Haku!" Naruto called to the vocalist as he entered the studio.
"Ohayou Naruto-kun," Haku replied with a smile as he took in the view. After his first night with the band, Haku decided to move into an apartment nearby the music building. He still had to find one, though.
"Oh, ohayou Haku," Tenten said as she came in with a stack of papers. "You're just in time, Sasuke gave me these to give to you guys. Can you believe he already finished writing a song already? It's barely been a week!" Haku could hardly believe it himself; after all those cold stares, Uchiha Sasuke actually wrote a song for him that fast?
"Oh well, let's just hope he'll appreciate our efforts," Naruto said as he took his music sheet. His blue eyes widened at the musical notes written on it. He wasn't alone; Neji and Tenten were lucidly surprised also. Haku stared in confusion at the members' shocked reactions.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Anou, maybe he gave us the wrong sheets," Tenten said. "I'll go check." With that, the drummer turned and left the studio. Haku could only look at his new friends in confusion.
Presently, Tenten came back and said, "It's the right music."
"Well, then let's start practice," Neji said simply.
Haku was surprised as how familiar the three were with the song. Maybe they already had been working on it before he came around. He enjoyed singing the lyrics of the song. It didn't seem like the normal song lyrics crooning the dreams of a fan girl; it seemed to be lyrics of carefree feelings.
"I like those," he thought to himself as he hummed the melody.
-X-
"Wow! You're really are good!" Naruto said. "It's barely been a week and you already got it!" Haku smiled at the blonde.
"Yeah, let's call in Sasuke and see what he says," Tenten added. Neiji stared at her with one eye quirked. This would catch the music producer off guard. He grinned to himself. Perfect…
"I'll get him," Neji said and left the studio to get Sasuke. The bassist came back presently with him.
"You're ready already?" he asked in awe. Not even Sakura could get a song down that fast.
"Yeah, we'll play for you!" Naruto said. He gave the signal to Neiji who started the song. Sasuke could only watch as the four started playing with all their hearts. Haku, in particular, seemed to want to impress him. He was singing with a voice stronger than the soft one he used on his first day.
Sasuke didn't want to hear anymore. Haku's voice, although good, was mocking him. This wasn't meant to be, he wasn't suppose to sing this! Turning abruptly, he left in the middle of the song.
-X-
"Come in," he said. The door opened revealing a familiar feminine face.
"Uchiha-san, was there something wrong with my singing?" Haku asked. "If there was, I'm sorry." Sasuke looked up at the boy. He sent a glare to him before bending down to the paper he was staring at.
"Everything was wrong," he said. "Although your voice was stronger than last time, you went sharp on the higher notes. Not to mention the mockery you made of the lyrics."
"Mockery? But Uchiha-san, I sang with my whole heart out."
"Does sing wholeheartedly cure you of the flaws you have?" Haku was taken aback by such harsh words. True the music producer had implied hatred against him, but never said anything until now.
"Why are you saying these things? Do you hate me because I don't sing like Haruno Sakura? Is that it, Sasuke?" Sasuke's shot out of his chair at them mention of the vocalist's name and the fact that Haku actually called him by his given name. Before Haku could react, he punched the boy on the cheek.
Both were in shock about what had happened, one on the floor with a bruise and the other staring at his fist. Haku got off the floor as if the bruise didn't affect him. He bowed his head until his long hair covered the bruise and said, "I will work on my flaws, Uchiha-san." With that, he turned and left the office vowing that he will be true to his word and perfect the song.
-X-
Naruto heard a knock on the door while he was eating dinner. He put down his cup of ramen and stood up. He opened the door revealing a distressed Haku.
"Doushita no?" he asked with concern. Haku nodded silently, though his face betrayed him. His blue eyes narrowed. "It was that jerk Sasuke wasn't it?" The feminine boy's head shot up at the mention of that name. Knowing that he couldn't hide the truth, he nodded.
"Uchiha-san told me that… that there was everything wrong about my singing," he said tears welling up in his eyes. "I don't get why he's so cold to me! What did I do?" Naruto put a comforting arm around the vocalist.
"I-I am sorry if I'm troubling you, Naruto. I-I know it's really childish of me to be burdening you with my troubles…"
"No, it's not your fault," he said, "Sasuke is just particular about standards."
"It's not only that! He seems to be glaring at me at everything I do even when we're taking breaks! I don't get what his problem is, but he didn't have to hit me!" As if he had blurted out something top-secret, Haku instantly covered his mouth.
"Nani?" Spotting the discolored skin quickly, Naruto brushed away the side lock covering the bruise. The feminine boy turned away in shame of his lucid weakness state.
"Kuso! He can never get over things, can he!" the normally cheerful boy yelled in anger slamming his fist on a nearby table. "Don't believe a word he says, Haku! That jerk is too macho to admit that he's jealous!"
"Oh, I know," Haku said his voice cracking. "It's just, it hurts…"
Naruto gently placed an arm around the boy's shoulders and gently soothed him. It would seem that he was an insecure boy who wanted to please his authorities more than ever. Even Sakura, who was also a Sasuke fan, questioned the producer's motives. It would seem that Haku had more dedication than the band had presumed.
"Haku, let's work on the song, and tomorrow, you can show that jerk that you can be as good as Sakura! You can do it!" Naruto declared. Haku brightened up slightly, but he still had his doubts of ever pleasing Uchiha Sasuke.
TBC…I hope that was okay. Review kudasai!
Preview: Recording has to start soon, so Sasuke decides to give Haku a shove in the right direction