Whoo! Last chapter! I'm very sorry, but my skills in writing songs suck, which is why I'll always remain a fan of pop music and a classical amateur musician. Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine
WARNING: AU, OOC
PAIRINGS: well, I don't know if you'd consider this pairings
Song 14- Mangetsu"So, Haku, how did it go?" Tenten asked. The vocalist looked up from practicing his keyboard part with a confused look. "Did you see Sakura again?"
Yes, I did. However, Haku didn't want to tell them that Sakura might be attending the concert, so he said, "I saw her, but I missed her in the crowd." Not a lie, but not the truth either.
"Oh."
"So Haku…"
As the conversation between the band members of Mangetsu continued, little did they know that a pair of dark eyes was watching them.
-X-
Sasuke looked up from his paperwork at the sound of the door opening. Haku was standing in the doorway an inquisitive look on his feminine face.
"You wanted to see me, Uchiha-san?" he asked.
Sasuke put down his pen and said, "Why did you lie to the rest of the band?" Haku's brown eyes widened in horror upon hearing those words. Assuming that he wouldn't get a straight answer, Sasuke continued, "I can tell that you did run into Sakura, but you didn't miss her as you let the others believe. I'm disappointed; I'd thought you wouldn't have tried to lie after we had lied to you."
Haku suddenly found the ground interesting. After getting his thoughts together, he spoke, "Yes, I did run into Haruno-san. She was at the bar as Tenten and Naruto knew."
"How come you lied to the band?" Sasuke asked again. "You told me that you never took me as a liar before. Well, the same goes here for you."
"I didn't lie, I just didn't tell them the whole truth-"
"-Which is the same thing as lying. Momochi-san, you might as well tell them if there's something that they should know. Didn't you go find Sakura in order to find out the reason why she left the band? If you figured it out, please tell them."
Haku didn't want to tell Sasuke or Mangetsu, not when Sakura could come and tell them herself. He also didn't want them to worry about Sakura possibly being there. Still…
He took a deep breath and said, "I invited Haruno-san to the next concert. Whether she wants to tell you the truth and make up or not is now up to her."
Sasuke was shocked at Haku's actions. The Mangetsu vocalist had invited the person that had made everyone's lives, especially Haku's, miserable for months? Not to mention… he didn't know if he could ever face the former Asahi vocalist again.
As the boy headed for the door, Sasuke asked, "Why did you invite her? She might cause more trouble."
"I thought that you all should get a chance to catch and for you two to make up. You, after all, love her."
"No, I don't, not anymore," said Sasuke in a quiet voice. "But, yes, I'd like to catch up."
"Then, can you do me a favor?" Haku asked.
-X-
The concert and the release of the two singles were fast approaching and Mangetsu's schedule was packed. After recording the third single, Vacation, the band was rushed off from photo shoots to practicing in the theater they were going to be performing with little time to rest. This time, though, Sasuke managed to get the more persistent reporters away from asking any more questions saying that if they want to know about the songs and the concert, they should come and see it for themselves.
In the midst of all that, Haku was hoping that Sakura would attend the concert. After hearing Sakura's reason, he knew that she was lying because of reasons unknown. Still, he shouldn't get his hopes up too high. When he saw the way she was glaring at him, there was a near impossibility that she won't come.
-X-
Mangetsu couldn't hide their nervousness as they waited backstage in their costumes for the performance to begin. The tension was building up as the four members prayed that their new style was going to work. Everything they had worked on was coming down to this, and they were going to make sure that they weren't skipping a single beat.
This was their moment to shine as Mangetsu, and they were going to take it.
-X-
Sakura nervously adjusted her hood as she sat in her seat in the auditorium. After going through a bunch of second thoughts, she decided to take Haku's offer and come to the concert. What harm could that cause? To keep her out of eye's range, she had dressed in clothes that would normally make her uncomfortable, but she knew that the whole band would be able to catch her in a crowd if she dressed the way she normally did.
Besides, she owed them, all of them, the favor. Even though she didn't care much for Momochi Haku, she cared for everyone else that used to make up Asahi. Maybe, if she had the courage, she'll put her backstage pass to use and go see the others, catch up on their lives, and maybe… no, I won't.
The crowd began to cheer as the lights began to dim. Sakura remained quiet waiting for the band to come out. As the stage lights began to light up, she noticed that there were four microphones instead of only one. There was also an electric keyboard next to the drum set.
Wait, that's not right. Only Momochi Haku is supposed to be singing, right? And what's with the keyboard?
The crowd began to scream as Mangetsu came onstage dressed in street clothes. Sakura giggled as she saw Naruto put on a goofy grin and wave to the crowd. Her green eyes turned as Tenten sat at the drum set. Neji didn't even try to crack a smile as he strapped on his bass. Then there was Haku putting on a soft smile before sitting down next to the keyboard.
The first song, Vacation, won many hearts in the audience, Sakura included. It sounded like a free tune, something that she could have once in a while. The melody sounded like going to a relaxing place like Hawaii or a day at the beach in Okinawa. Maybe that's why Sasuke wrote it; Sakura always knew that he rarely took days off.
"Minna-san! We're going to show you our new style as Mangetsu!" Naruto called into the microphone.
New style?
To Sakura's surprise, Haku started playing a moderate melody on the keyboard. Tenten joined in with a soft beat to give the rhythm followed by Neji on bass. Naruto tapped his foot to the beat to make sure he knew when his cue was. Then, a voice that Sakura had never heard before began to sing.
I remember whenYou took me out on my birthday
Posing for the camera
As the light went off
Sakura gasped as the Uchiha Sasuke stepped onstage dressed in all black attire and holding a microphone. She wasn't the only one; millions of fans knew about the good-looking music producer, but never that he could actually sing. Mangetsu gave the audience no time for recovery as Sasuke continued to sing.
As the Chrysanthemums burst in bloom
We walked home hand in hand
Hoping for something to appear
On the last line, Haku joined in. Sakura almost felt a pang of jealousy. Wait, that couldn't be, she had gotten over Sasuke a long time ago. The song left no time for her to pull her thoughts together as Haku started singing.
Gold petals surrounded us as we kissed
I felt that they were raining gold coins
Falling from heaven as a gift from God
I remember when
We sang together
In a dark room
The others singing along
The moon lighted the sky as we left
Walking home hand in hand
The stars twinkling above us giving light
Overlapping a dark night sky
In the last line, Naruto joined in. Sakura was surprised at how well the blonde guitarist could sing despite his annoying voice that he spoke with. She had always thought that he was never cut to be a singer no matter how hard he tried, but then again, Naruto always sets his mind to things that he wants to do.
The snowflakes drifted by as we left
Going to sing for everyone we loved
Many fell on the ground
One, however, landed between our hands
In a set of strong voices, all five of them began to sing the chorus.
These memories bring back
Smiles and tears to my face
I wish that we could relive them
Together, as we were before
If Sakura was astound to see Naruto and Sasuke actually singing, she was even more shocked when everyone started singing. This was something that she had never done with Asahi before, why with Mangetsu? Then again, there were many rumors about the band, especially when it leaked out that Haku's first single was actually written for her. Sasuke probably changed the style, so that it showed that Mangetsu was not Asahi.
Neji started the second verse with a voice that seems to make the audience scream. He had always been one of the most popular members in both Asahi and Mangetsu by looks alone, and now, by voice.
I remember when
You told me that day
You wanted us to be
Only friends
The pink petals fell as I heard it
Understanding your words
Knowing that nothing will change
Between the two of us
Tenten joined in on the last line. She was using a head speaker because she still was at the drum set, but she managed to sing perfectly with Neji. The drummer took over.
Life went on like the seasons
Despite that, I still loved you
However, you didn't that way
So I left it alone, like a memory
Sakura was starting to the feeling that this was familiar to her despite the fact that she had never heard the song before. Come on, Sakura! Think! Why does this sound so familiar? What was Sasuke thinking when he wrote the song?
These memories bring back
Laughter and joy to my face
I wish that we could relive them
Together, as we were before
The pink-haired vocalist still didn't get why Haku invited her to this concert, but whatever it was, it was getting her nowhere. However, the music slowed down, and the third verse sung by Sasuke pulled all the pieces together.
I remember when
You told me that
That I'll never understand you
And left me forever
So that's what they were trying to tell her! Haku had already told it to her face, but it was another story when the former members of Asahi said so, in a song! Everyone was trying to say that they missed her, especially for what she did to them. Sakura gripped onto to the backstage pass that Haku gave him. Maybe she'll put it to good use after all.
These memories bring back
Smiles and tears to my face
I wish that we could relive them
Together, as we were before
-X-
Sasuke finished the last note as the audience screamed and clapped. Next to him, Mangetsu was waving madly to the crowd. They had done it; Mangetsu was no longer in the shadows of Asahi! The fans had accepted the new style as awesome and the concert became a hit.
So she didn't come after all…
The whole time he was singing, his black eyes were searching the audience hoping to find Sakura, but he couldn't find the pink-haired vocalist. His hopes of everyone talking everything over with her dropped away.
Sasuke followed Mangetsu off stage and to the dressing rooms where Naruto loudly proclaimed that they had rocked the house and that they should all go out for ramen to celebrate. Tenten, for once, agreed, and Neji even nodded his head. Haku said that it sounded like fun.
At that moment, the door was pushed open and in stepped a familiar face. Sasuke's black eyes widened at the girl holding a backstage pass and wearing dark clothes.
"Sakura…"
The pink-haired vocalist nodded her head. "That was beautiful, Mangetsu, Uchiha-san. Momochi-san, I'm sorry for causing you trouble. It won't happen again in the near future."
Sasuke couldn't believe that he was hearing these things. Haruno Sakura was actually apologizing to the one person who replaced her?
Sakura to Sasuke and said, "I'm sorry that I don't love you anymore."
"That's all right, Sakura, I don't either," was all the music producer said his face calm.
Mangetsu watched as the former couple sort things out. This was surprisingly going well. Haku allowed a small smile grace his face. I'm glad that they finally get to make up at least.
"You were right, Momochi-san," Sakura said. "I think I relied on everyone too much. Bands do rely on each other, and they help each other in return."
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto said softly.
"Maybe I will come back someday, but for now, I'll go and see where Momochi-san learned such a thing. I think that it might be valuable in anything."
With that, the pink-haired vocalist walked out of her old life, maybe for good this time.
-X-
Sasuke strangely felt as though a boulder had been lifted off his shoulders. He couldn't believe that Haku had set it all up for him and Mangetsu. The question was, why? Why had Haku done that? The question had been nagging him several days after the concert. He was relieved that the new style had taken the fans by storm, but it was still nagging him.
The question wasn't only nagging him; it was nagging the rest of Mangetsu. While they had been happy to make up with Sakura after all this time, they still couldn't process a logical answer to the question. Haku sure had this knack of surprising them when they least expected.
Finally, they plucked up the courage to ask, "Haku, why did you want Sakura make up with everyone?"
Haku looked at him with a soft, but confident look. It was something that the vocalist didn't have in the beginning of Mangetsu. Had being with Naruto and the other have changed him so much that he became attached to them?
"Because, Uchiha-san, you're all my family, and I think that you all should have let go before moving on," was the only reply he got.
No one spoke a word to the reply, but Haku understood what they were trying to say.
Haku, thank you.
Owari.
Phew, I'm finally done! This was the longest chapter fic that I ever made! Whoo! I hope you all enjoyed this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now, I will go curl up in a corner and brainstorm. Until then, ja ne!