Chapter 6. Well, I seem to get a lot of reviews asking for Haku x Sasuke, but I don't know if I'll have any romance. If there's going to be any pairings, it'll probably be on a friendship level. Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine
WARNING: AU
PAIRINGS: Don't know, should I?
Song 6- Victory"Really Naruto, I'm okay."
"As if! You get threatened, choked, cut, and almost killed, and you say you're all right? You can't even cover up your forehead for heaven's sake!"
"Oh, Naruto, give it a rest already!"
The four band members were once again in the studio, but this time, Haku was trying to keep his newly acquired bruise and cut hidden, while Naruto was fawning over him as if he was run over by a car instead of choked.
"Haku, you can just wear a turtleneck sweater or something with a high collar," Tenten suggested. Neji breathed a small sigh of relief. Leave it to Tenten to come up with something.
"Hontou?"
"Yeah, it's low enough to be covered up." Well, that was easy. Now, about the cut; Haku's side locks were too long for him to cover it up without hair in his face.
"What about the cut?"
"Leave it to me. I know something that'll work." With that, the drummer dragged Haku out of her living room to her bedroom.
Sasuke had also come over. After getting the phone call from Tenten, he agreed that their attacker was the one threatening the band. He had only lingered to make sure Haku was all right. Even though Haku kept insisting he was fine, he had his doubts. Still, knowing the drummer, there wouldn't be much more to worry about.
"We have an interview with a TV station soon. Be ready in 15 minutes." With that, the music producer turned and left.
Naruto frowned at Sasuke's lack of concern. Then again, he had been giving Haku cold stares ever since he joined the band. This was going to be another battle Mangetsu had to win.
-X-
"Here, try these," Tenten said throwing a pair of jeans, an olive green turtleneck sweater, and a blue vest. "They're the biggest I have."
"Okay," Haku replied going to the side bathroom to change.
Surprisingly, the clothes fitted him well. The sweater fitted him perfectly, and the vest was nice. Haku frowned at his reflection in the mirror. There was still the problem of covering up his cut. He couldn't leave his hair down without it getting in his face, but that cut stuck out like a sore thumb.
After looking at his reflection for a moment, Haku left the bathroom to see Tenten sitting on her bed. She stood up and took a good look at him.
"Well, it certainly suits you," she said looking him over. "Now, about the cut…"
The drummer scrounged her face in concentration before suddenly brightening up and started rummaging through her closet. She pulled out several solid colored head wraps and threw them at Haku.
"Here, pick one and try it on." Haku only stared in confusion. The drummer turned around and said, "Tie one around your forehead."
"But-"
"Do it."
-X-
The interview seemed more like a commentary than an interview. The reporter seemed more interested in performing a long speech about anything but the newly released song. Haku, Tenten, and Neji sat through the speech politely, while Naruto was falling asleep, which ended in Tenten poking him under the desk.
Unhappy about the lack of attention she was getting from Haku, she decided to poke at his newly acquired head wrap. "So, Haku, what's that wrapped around your head? A new fashion statement, or are you hiding something?"
The other three members turned to look at their vocalist hoping that Haku could maneuver his way out of this. However, Haku only smiled and said innocently, "Oh this? I don't know how it got there. Do you want to have a look?"
The presenter was taken aback at Haku's response. Pleased about Haku's combat, Naruto decided to go with the flow, and started teasing the vocalist about the black head wrap. Soon, Tenten joined in. Even Neji gave Haku's head wrap a tug. The four and their cheerful banters stole the show.
The live performance was also a hit. Haku won over many hearts with his gentle voice and delivery. Strangely enough, Haku's head wrap was a discussion no one had an answer to. It became the talk of many magazines. Reporters speculated about the reason why Haku wore it. Whether it was a stunt or not, no one could tell, which created more interest. It created publicity that not even Haku intended.
Mangetsu had won the battle.
-X-
Sasuke smiled as he heard the voice he loved so much. After a hectic week, he could finally rest and hear Asahi again. The CD wasn't an official recording, but the voice on it brought a happy atmosphere, never the less.
"Sasuke." The music producer abruptly halted the music and turned to stare at Haku. "I want to thank you for releasing the single. I never dreamed that I would be where I am now."
Upon hearing this, Sasuke suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Should he tell him? Should he say that he still sounded wrong? Then he shook it off. That single was Haku's and the vocalist had earned it. There was no point in dreading over the past.
"Aa, doitashimashite," he replied. Taking out the CD, he placed it in a transparent case. Closing it, he took a deep breath and said, "I… apologize for the way I've been treating you all this time. I was so upset when Sakura left that I let my prejudices blind my judgment. You sang well, and that's the kind of voice that Mangetsu needs. I'm proud of your efforts."
Haku was taken aback by the sudden apology. After months of cold stares and remarks, Uchiha Sasuke was suddenly apologizing for his behavior? The feminine boy took a closer look at the music producer. This time, a sincere look graced his features. Haku smiled.
"Arigatou," he said before turning and leaving the office a new hope in his heart. Perhaps there was some possibility in the impossible.
-X-
Sasuke watched as Haku left. He stared at the spot where the vocalist once was. The boy showed tremendous effort in his singing and took things seriously, in a cheerful way. Perhaps it was luck that he was the new vocalist of Mangetsu. Then…
He stared at the CD in its transparent case. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't let go of the past. The single still sounded wrong to him. He saw talent, feelings, and peace in the song, but not the kind of carefree feeling he felt when he wrote it.
"Should I tell him that it wasn't written for him?"
TBC… Well, hoped you enjoy. Review kudasai!Preview: An old friend returns to see Sasuke, and what is the secret behind the single?