Love Stays
by Heartaker
THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE READ-YOU ROCK!
Chapter Five
The door to the bathroom swung open, and Sakura walked out running a towel threw her long locks of vibrant pink hair. She paused, and then as if she knew Ino had been waiting for her, looked up and directly at her.
"Ino, is something wrong?"
Ino stood staring at Sakura for a second, then as if she couldn't quite find the words, thrust the paper out and waved it around a little. Sakura's eyes widened. "Your snooping threw my stuff now!" She said as she snatched the song from Ino's nerveless fingers. "NO!" Ino shouted going slightly red in the face. "Sakura-I want you to sing that song to me"
Sakura dropped the towel she had been using to dry her hair on the ground, dropping the song with it. She walked pass Ino and to her dresser where she got out her blow dryer and then proceeded to blow dry her hair. Ino walked over and picked the song back up. She opened her mouth to speak, but was drowned out by the whirring of the blow dryer. Ino stalked over and pulled the cord out the wall, then fixed Sakura with a serious and broken look.
Sakura found herself unable to form words at the look in Ino's eyes, and decided to listen instead. "Sakura-I know what it is that your going threw, and I hate how instead of being there for each other, we spend all our time arguing, and competing with each other," She then held up Sakura's song. "I understand Sakura, but I'll understand better if you show it to me, show me and I'll meet you halfway. Your my best-friend Sakura, nothing will ever change that"
She held the song out, and Sakura stared at it for a moment.
Then she nodded her head.
"Alright Ino-I'll show it to you" She took the song, and tried to calm the butterfly's in her stomach. This was Ino, this was her best-friend, her other half. If she couldn't express her pain to Ino, she couldn't express it to anyone. She closed her eyes and started to hum the beat, Ino smiled at her. Then crossed her arms and listened.
I'm facing the air climbing invisible stairs
I'm alone and shaking like a rope dancer
Her voice was soft, and very pretty-Ino could hear a slight tremble in her voice-but it only enhanced it.
It's calm and warm
Feels like before the storm
But I'm scared deep down like a rope dancer
Ino's eyes widened slightly, when Sakura's voice rose-as if she was finally getting into the song, using it to express her pain. Threw the chorus Sakura's hand had come up to grip her heart-
If you say you can catch me when
I fall from above
I'd try to make it with the mystery of love
This game is so hard to win
But I'll stay to the bitter end
Baby I'll make it if you give me a chance …
'BANDS'
Sasuke frowned, and he wasn't the only one frowning either-Kakashi was frowning, Shikamaru was frowning, and Neji was frowning-although it looked sort a like pain...
"I can't believe Chouji would think that I would like a 'skinnier him' I just don't understand why he thought that-it troubles me..." He was tuning his guitar with a very troubled look on his face.
Neji pulled his hair back and tied it up. He then breezed his fingers over the keys on his keyboard. "Gaara left before I left, and I asked him where he was going, and he wouldn't tell me" He then started to tap random keys. "Gaara never goes anywhere without me-he's not really an outgoing person, and it almost seemed like he was anxious to go...if it's possible for Gaara to anxious about anything"
"Same with Naruto" Sasuke added his frown deepening. "He yelled 'Shit I'll be late!" and I said, 'Late for what?' then he froze, mumbled something I couldn't catch and was gone" He flicked his mic, and that loud ear screeching noise could be heard making them all shrink back in irritation.
"Chouji too"
Shikamaru observed looking thoughtful, as he brushed his fingers lovingly over the strings.
Kakashi who had been leaning casually against the wall listening to the boys talk began to ponder to himself. Things didn't seem right, and he was sure Iruka wasn't the only one keeping his fair share of secrets-especially considering how fast he breezed out of the house, without even kissing him good-bye. It seemed to consume Kakashi's very mind, that something was going on right underneath his nose and couldn't for the life of him begin to grasp it-He moved his fingers over his half face mask, and then turned his attention toward the three boys.
"Your concert is only a day away, we have a lot of practicing to do and absolutely no time to be worrying about anything else-I say we focus on this first and then worry about that later-they deserve there privacy just as much as we do-got it"
They nodded, and then got into there positions.
They managed to tune it out while Sasuke started singing the first verse of 'Go To The West'-he had to wait awhile for the beat to start up, Shikamaru and Neji seemed to be taking longer than what was necessary-he passed the time by swaying slightly-He listened to Neji play his keyboard-and then his head snapped up-
He imagined them on stage, thousands, upon thousands of fans jumping up to listen to them sing, 'The Leaf' this was his, no, they're dream...
if lies and love were to blend together,
it'll change into one truth
what makes the world revolve isn't fate
Wake up; Don't overlook it!
Move Away; Look at the now(present)
Begin to run the way you are
Is your destination Heaven or Hell?
No matter where it is Feel so good!
'BANDS'
"Come on Sakura, we'll be late for our audition if you don't hurry up!" Ino shouted from her spot at the bottom of the stairwell-Mrs. Haruno looked up, she had been previously rearranging her pink china dishes.
"What audition?" Ino paused for a second, and then turned around slowly. "The girls and myself are going to audition to see who is the better singer because you know 'The Leaf's' concert is tomorrow"
Mrs. Haruno seemed to think it over-it didn't make sense, but she decided to let it pass anyways. "Alright, you girls have fun"
She disappeared into the kitchen. Ino sighed, then turned to see Sakura bounding down the steps, pulling a pink jacket on and over her shoulders. Her hair was down in done up into soft pink curls. Ino's was down also, except she had pressed her hair, and it fell down and over her shoulders in silken lines. "Great we look perfect!"
They then looked toward the door, where a soft knocking could be heard. A vein popped out of the side of Ino's head, and she stalked over to open it.
Ino swung the door open, opening her mouth to yell at the unfortunate person on the other side, but stopped when she realized it was the ultra shy Hinata Hyuuga-
She looked around to see if she could spot Kiba, when she didn't she moved back to let Hinata enter. "Hey Hinata, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked as she walked forward, Ino was just staring at Hinata, making Hinata feel even more uncomfortable. Sakura didn't seem to notice, but if she had, she would have noticed that the gears were spinning wildly in Ino's head.
Hinata held out a shaky hand, "A letter...for me?" Sakura asked unsurely, as she took the letter.
"Yes...yes..." Hinata stammered, as she turned to leave. Ino shoved out her arm blocking Hinata's escape.
"Ino what are you doing? Let Hinata leave!" Ino held up a hand to silence Sakura. "Hinata you wouldn't mind standing right here while me and Sakura go and have a talk would you?" Hinata shook her head.
"Uh...no...not at all..." Ino nodded smartly, grabbed Sakura's elbow and dragged her off and around into the space that led to the basement.
"What!" Sakura hissed, snatching her elbow away from Ino.
"I want us to put Hinata in the group" Sakura stared at her for a second, then slowly she said,
"Are you kidding me, the shyest most timid person in all of Konoha, while we're at it, let's go sign up Temari-no wait Ten-Ten!" Ino seemed to be thinking this over. "Ino, I thought it was just going to be me and you"
"It is, but I think that we would be even more of a success if it were three of us-I mean the three of us use to always hang together when we were little, we'd have so much fun together"
Sakura looked away, and seemed to think-then she turned back to Ino. "Fine-but how are we going to convince Hinata?"
"Leave it to me!" then as an afterthought, "We need a name, too"
'BANDS'
Ino had her arm draped around Hinata's shoulder, it took some time but they had finally convinced Hinata to join there group.
Ino smashed her face up against the side of a blushing Hinata's.
"Gosh, you are so cool Hinata-I never thought you would agree to this, but I am so glad that you did!" Hinata twiddled her fingers and stared at the ground. "Well...I thought it would be fun...plus you looked like you would be disappointed if I didn't agree...so-"
"And your absolutely right! I would have been devastated! Heartbroken!" Hinata blushed even more-
Sakura lingered in the back-and stared at the letter in her hand.
Rock Lee
Sakura was unsure on whether or not she wanted to open it, but in the long run decided to, yes, open it.
The paper was a vine colored green, and smelled strongly of...lime... Sakura blinked her aqua eyes, and then read-
Dearest Sakura,
It is I Rock Lee who has written this letter to you wanting to confess my profound and unmatched feelings for you
I think you are the most beautifulest creature to ever grace this earth, and I find my heart pounding erratically in my chest when you are near
Sometimes I wish that just once you would look my way, because to me, one look from you would be enough to soothe this painful ache in my heart
I wish upon wishes that you felt the same for me as I feel for you-but alas you cannot force love, and if you ever love me I want it to be a true kind of love because there is no other
You do not have to write back, beautiful Angel-this was just something I had to get off my chest
Love so true (only for you)
Rock Lee
"...Artificial Sweetner!" Sakura looked up from the letter clenched between her fingers, and at the back of Ino's head. Her heart was pounding like a drum in her chest. Rock Lee felt this strongly for her? She'd never noticed before, he always seemed to remind her of Naruto, when Naruto use to like her once upon a time-so she never paid any attention to him-our his random expressions of his undying love for her. She folded up the letter and put it in her pocket.
She would have to take it into consideration.
"What did you say Ino?" Ino turned around, Hinata had no choice but to turn with her since Ino still had her arm draped across her shoulders.
"I thought of a name for our group" Sakura nodded, "Artificial Sweetner"
"Artificial Sweetner! What kind of a name is that!"
"A good one, I mean Artificial means fake, and we pretend to be sweet, but we're not-I mean I don't even think Hinata is that sweet-" she threw Hinata a look. "Nobody can be that sweet!"
Hinata nodded with a small smile on her face. "Plus it sounds rocky you know, real cute, but with a edge to it-plus it's original and new-and all the Japanese J-pop or rock bands have weird names, so we'd blend right in"
Sakura thought it over, Ino did have a point. And Artificial Sweetner did sound nice, it just rolled off the tongue in a nice way. She smiled. "Alright, let's get one good practice in, then hurry down to do the audition"
'BANDS'
Naruto was shaking bad, and Chouji had to put both of his hands on Naruto's shoulders just to still him.
"Calm down Naruto, your going to do fine-we all have faith in you" Iruka said with a smile, placing a hand on Naruto's soft blonde hair. "I know, it's just that Tsunade woman is scary"
Gaara sneered.
Then walked into the room, Chouji and Naruto had no choice but to follow. They had preformed the song to Iruka yesterday night, when the guys had left to go get in some practicing for there concert tomorrow. Iruka had loved it, and he too agreed that that would be the perfect song to perform at there audition.
Tsunade sat behind a long thin black table, she was very pretty in the face, and had hard calculating blue eyes. She was a woman not to be crossed, and she knew good music when she heard it, and she would not take anything less. She was wearing a silk blood red blouse, that opened at the top-spilling out an unhealthy amount of cleavage. The boys distracted themselves from it, by setting up there equipment.
"Your all very good-looking, I'll give you that-but do have the talent to match?" She inquired, raising one fine brow, a cruel smirk twisting her pretty features. Gaara's brow creased, "I mean do you have what it takes to be better than 'The Leaf' our will you just fade into the background?" She taunted again, Naruto's jaw clenched.
Tsunade noticed this, because she noticed a lot about Naruto. He just seemed to stand out, whether it was the bright orange jacket, his rough sounding voice, or the fact that his blonde hair and blue eyes made you think of sunny skies-whatever it was, she was just drawn to the boy, and she wanted to make sure that this interest would not be a disappointing one.
"I mean being the lovers of the most famous J-rock band in all of Asia has to be intimidating, are you sure you have what it takes?"
"We have what it takes old woman" Naruto seethed in a low voice, Iruka let out a choked gasp, Chouji stared at Naruto wide eyed, and Gaara smirked. "And then some, so stop yapping and just listen-I guarantee you won't be disappointed"
Tsunade's smirk grew, and she leaned back, crossing her arms over her ample bosom, and giving them her full attention.
"Blow me away" She said, then snapped her fingers. Chouji started the song off, he was sweating a little behind his neck but paid no heed to it. Then Gaara started with it, Naruto kept his eyes closed, just letting the melody wash over him, and take him to another place.
A place where he was loved, and acknowledged...
He started:
Cultivate your hunger before you idealize.
Motivate your anger to make them all realize.
Climbing the mountain, never coming down,
Break into the contents, never falling down,
Don't try to live so wise,
Don't cry 'cause your so right,
Don't' dry with fakes or fears,
'Cause you will hate yourself in the end
...when the song was over, Naruto stood breathing heavily. He had put his heart and his soul into that song, moments of his parentless life flashing before his eyes, of everyone taunting him, and making fun of him-and telling him he would die a nothing just like his father, and then Sasuke...it always ended with Sasuke...
Tsunade studied Naruto with her piercing blue eyes, while Gaara and Chouji waited expectantly. Naruto got himself under control and then he lifted his head meeting the blue eyes of the 'Gondaime'
"Well..." He growled, still miffed at her. -I don't know what it is about this boy, but I like him-and I believe that we all should expect great things from him- She smiled, a genuine smile, making Naruto blink his eyes. "I like you Naruto, so I'm going to give you and your band a chance-I want you to open for 'The Leaf' tomorrow-the earlier group had to drop-out, lead singer lost his voice-so I want you all to take they're place"
There was a deafening pause...
"Alright." Came the confidant voice of Iruka, the three whipped there heads around and looked at him. "Alright, excellent I'm going to need your name" She said pulling out a pen and a contract-at the silence, she looked up. "Well...your name..." Naruto opened his mouth to inform her of the fact that they didn't have a name, but Gaara beat him to it- "'Hidden Village', our name is 'Hidden Village'" She smiled.
"Alright 'Hidden Village', just sign your name on the dotted line, and be ready for your first big gig-you have to be there early, for set-up and everything...you know..."
'BANDS'
"This is bad, this is oh-so-bad" Naruto whined. "How are we going to tell them, that we're the band that's going to be opening for them tomorrow-this is just a disaster waiting to happen!" Chouji shook his shoulder. "It's fine. We don't have to tell them, they'll just have to find out for themselves tomorrow-plus we can't back out now, we're officially a band, so Naruto you're just going to have to deal with it" Chouji ended firmly, giving Naruto's shoulder a light squeeze.
Naruto nodded.
-We wanted this…- Iruka thought, a distressed but determined look on his face. -So we're going to have to deal with the consequences-
"Iruka-sensei? Naruto? Gaara? Chouji? What are you four doing here?"
The four males in question looked forward to see Ino, Sakura, and Hinata giving them all confused looks-Gaara cocked his head to the side and looked them over. "We should be asking you three the same thing"
To Be Continued...
'Go To The West'-Saiyuki (I thought it would be the perfect opening song)
Yes, Hinata is in the group-She's my favorite female character in Naruto, and I couldn't leave her out
The Rock Lee letter, I couldn't resist, I think Rock Lee is adorable, and him and Sakura make such a cute couple
'Artificial Sweetner' came to me when I was reading this comic called 'Artificial Lover' which got me thinking of Artificial Intelligence-and then I thought of the Artificial Sweetner, you know the 'Wannabe' sugar, that 'supposedly' gives you cancer, and I thought that that would be a sweet name for there group-
I think 'Hidden Village' opening for 'The Leaf' is a good way to have Kakashi and the gang find out about them-now how to execute it...
Next Chapter- Continuation of 'Hidden Village' and 'Artificial Sweetner' confrontation, Naruto, Gaara, Chouji, and Iruka talk over some things-and the calm before the storm...
