Well, I don't know how long I'm going to make this fic, but I can't believe I've already hit double digits now! Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine
WARNING: AU
PAIRINGS: don't know
Song 10- IdentityHaku went over everything he had learned that morning from Neji as Mangetsu, and even Sasuke, sat in front of flashing cameras and a video crew. This interview, Sasuke was going to join in to help the band sort out all the commotion. The interview was a critical one and everyone was getting nervous.
This was the first time Mangetsu had accepted any interviews and the entire news crews were here. Even the normally calm and collected Neji was uncomfortably trying to move his fingers in the glove he was given to hide his cut fingers.
Immediately, when everyone was ready, the presenter went straight to the point after previewing a short clip of Mangetsu's music video. "We are fortunate here, today, to have worldwide-acclaimed music producer, Uchiha Sasuke. So tell us, what's the reason behind using an old single for a new band?"
"No reason."
"Is it true that the song was written for Haruno Sakura?"
"Yes."
Haku glanced nervously at Sasuke, who remained calm. He had remembered what Tenten had warned the rest of the band about this particular reporter.
"We have to be careful when talking to this lady. She's very crafty in getting information out of anyone. We all have to be on our guard when talking to her."
"How does she manipulate the people she interviews?" Haku asked.
"Yeah, unless she can control minds," Naruto added with a mocking haunting tone in his voice and with some weird gestures.
Tenten ignored the guitarist's comment and continued, "She uses a technique where she asks a bunch of short questions that you agree or disagree with and then trips you with a different question."
"That means she's dangerous to our reputation," Neji figured out.
"I agree," Sasuke added. Then glancing at the rest of the band, he said, "All of you should keep quiet. I'll do the talking."
"Eh?" All the members stared at Sasuke in disbelief. "You're actually going to this interview?"
"I arranged it, so I'm going. Besides, I know how to counter people like this."
No one could argue with that statement.
"Is Mangetsu a continuation of Asahi?"
"No."
"Is Momochi Haku Haruno Sakura's replacement?"
The said vocalist had to fight to keep his anger under control, or he might do something drastic. However, others have had enough of all the stupid questions being thrown.
Sasuke slammed his hand on the table and said in a dangerous tone, "No, Momochi-san is not Sakura's replacement and never will be. I gave him an old single to sing because I believe that there was no problem releasing a perfectly good song. I wasn't going to let prejudices get in the way. I believe that Momochi-san did a good job and that's all that matters. I may have intended the song for Sakura, but Momochi-san sung it well enough to convince me that the single was his alone."
No one, not even Haku, had saw that coming. Sasuke had never shown his opinions out in public before, and yet, here he was telling one of the craftiest presenters in news history exactly what he was thinking. Needless to say, Mangetsu was glad for the cold music producer's words.
The reporter had caught her balance and said, "Uchiha-san, you've been producing music for Asahi as well as Mangetsu, right?"
"Yes," Sasuke replied icily and with a dangerous aura surrounding him.
"Then that must mean the fans are going to be expecting similar music from Asahi, perhaps more unreleased singles…"
That did it. Haku jumped out of his seat his beautiful face now scrounged up in anger. He never enjoyed reporters much, but this lady has made him reach the end of his patience.
"What do you know?" he yelled startling everyone. "You're not working for Sasuke or any of us! Sasuke knows this song better than anyone present in this room and he already stated the facts, so quit playing games around here! Mangetsu and Sasuke works hard to give the fans good music and that's that! Cut all the crap you've been doing with other music artists!"
The reporter was taken aback. She had expected for anyone but Momochi Haku to make such an outburst. What was even more surprising, Haku had said "Sasuke" instead of "Uchiha-san", as how he did in other interviews. Still, the vocalist was right; Sasuke had stated not opinions or excuses, but facts. She had to admit, the song was incredible.
As Haku sat down in a mad huff, Naruto was grinning cheekily with pride and amusement, Tenten was shaking from forcing herself not to giggle, and Neji cocked a smirk at the reporter.
Mangetsu had won another battle.
-X-
Outside of the building, Mangetsu and Sasuke were met by more reporters and fans. Many of the fans, who had saw the interview on TV, was cheering Haku for his outburst. As the five made their way to the waiting car, Haku and Sasuke were blocked by two reports, while Neji, Tenten, and Naruto made it to the car. As Sasuke began answering their questions, Haku looked around nervously.
"Something's not right," Haku thought to himself as he got closer to the car. As his brown eyes scanned the crowd, he caught sight of the mysterious attacker. The flash of light reflecting off something metal told Haku that this time, the attacker wasn't going to be playing games anymore. Haku looked around frantically as how to warn Sasuke of the approaching danger. As the knife got closer, Haku could only brace himself.
-X-
Sasuke only had half a second to react when a knife came near him. He grabbed the attacker's wrist and pulled him forward knocking him off balance. Regaining his balance, the attacker started going for Haku. The vocalist dodged the first stab and grabbed the wrist the second time. He pried the knife out of the attacker's hands and after closing it, threw it aside. Remembering the tutorial Neji gave him this morning, Haku grabbed his attacker's right arm and using his weight against his opponent, performed his best judo flip on the attacker.
"Haku!"
The said vocalist looked up from staring down at the mysterious attacker to see the rest of Mangetsu running towards him. Upon hearing the commotion, the three had fought their way through the crowd to help their fellow member.
"Daijoubu ka?" Tenten asked.
"Hai, daijoubu," Haku replied dusting himself off.
As people in the crowd held the perpetrator down, Sasuke grabbed the black mask the mysterious attacker was wearing, and with one tug, pulled it off. What all five of them saw was the biggest surprise ever. Pink hair framed a pretty face that now had a bruise with green eyes shut from the pain.
"Sakura…"
The said pink-haired vocalist only glared at Sasuke, and said, "I knew it would be better if I left, and after this, I think I was right. All of you really don't care for me, do you?"
With that, Sakura turned around and fought her way through the crowd to escape, leaving the band staring in surprise.
TBC…Phew! I wonder how many more chapters I should do. Review kudasai!
Preview: After the mishap, Haku suddenly turns up with something new for Mangetsu…