Disclaimer:I do NOT own 'Naruto'
Pairings:SasuSaku,slight SaiIno
World:(Catholic) High School AU. So a little bit of religious theme.
Sakura silently watched the blue sky from the balcony. During break time,she loved relaxing peacefully like this, even having a minute for prayers. But now her mind was filled with thoughts. Because a big event would take place in her school,the Catholic School of Konoha city. The school planned to produce a Christmas play; to be precise,the play would range from the Nativity toward the Early Church's foundation. Many people from all over the city shall attend the performance. Sakura was astonished to find out she was in the cast, along with her classmates from 11B7. The casting even included her friends from class 11B8,11B10,12A9. Only by tomorrow everyone would know each other's role. But students could reveal their role right today if they wanted.
Sakura's character was St. Mary Magdalene, which made her feel proud and nervous at the same time. St. Mary Magdalene was the head of the female apostles of Christ and one of the Three Great Apostles. She followed the Lord during the Crucifixion and was the first to witness His Resurrection. Therefore,Sakura's role must be played with great success. While Sakura felt pressured,Kakashi-sensei just laughed it off and said she was well fit for this character. She was annoyed as she understood what he meant. But surely anyone else would joke like that.
The reason was,Sakura had always viewed Magdalene as her patron. Also,this role required a lot of crying. Sakura would probably have to cry during the long journey to Golgotha and one more time before Christ's tomb. When she was studying at Sorin Elementary School,Sakura was bullied for her broad forehead. Yet just for that reason, she had cried. And just for that occasion, she was remembered as a crybaby. Sakura was still so embarrassed when she thought of it!
The one who defended Sakura that day was Yamanaka Ino,currently from class B10. Thanks to Ino,Sakura had become confident in her forehead. Ino had a crush on Sai in her class. Sakura found him unfriendly but a good student. He was especially interested in studying the history of the Roman Empire. Sakura was glad for Ino,as Sai would play as the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. At the same time, Ino's character was Pilate's wife,Claudia Procula.
"Sakura-chan!" The shout startled Sakura. She turned back and saw Naruto with his usual happy-go-lucky face. Naruto was the son of pastor couple Minato and Kushina. He and Sakura had known each other for a long time as they were members of the same church. Only this year,they had become classmates. At first, Sakura found him lousy and unthoughtful, but over time they became friends. Naruto's parents were currently preaching in America. Sakura didn't understand why they asked her to keep an eye on him,making sure he attended classes, and his score was above 80%. Despite his personality, Naruto really inherited his parents' religiosity. Such spirit,Sakura admitted,she had to learn much from.
"Look at my role!" Naruto showed Sakura the paper in his hand. She was amazed that his character was St. Peter. Everyone knows St. Peter: He is the chief among male apostles,or rather, all apostles of Christ. His ecclesiastical achievements were abundant. Like her Mary, he is one of the Three Great Apostles; and he was the Catholic Church's first Pope. Not only did Naruto consider his patron, but he was excited about everything related to the Papacy. He always watched Vatican news on TV. His eyes stared at the Pope. He even loudly claimed that one day he would sit on the Pope's throne. Sakura was shocked at such disrespect, but fortunately, he never did it twice. Naruto seemed so relaxed, even knowing his big role.
Watching Sakura's paper, Naruto grinned. "So it means we will have a lot of stage time together!" Sakura sighed. She only hoped he would not cause anyone troubles during practice.
"Why don't we try a scene?" "Huh?" Sakura didn't know what Naruto meant. But to imagine some dialogues would be fine.
Suddenly, Naruto stepped closer to her. His voice was so sweet, as if talking to a lover. "Don't cry, Mary! I shall find where they have taken our Lord's body!"
Sakura's face reddened like a tomato. She even noted he was grabbing her shoulders. Sakura repulsively raised her hand.
"Bam!"
Naruto fell on the floor with five fingerprints on his left cheek. "Ouch! Sakura,why?"
Sakura scoffed. "If you act like that, you'll immediately be excommunicated!" What an idiot! He should be grateful that she didn't hit his right cheek yet! Seriously...the only reason he can't be a holy man was his flirty and lecherous attitude!
Sakura overheard someone behind her, at the stairway. She realized three students from class 12A5: Zaku, Kin, and Dosu. They usually gathered at hidden corners and would pick a bone with juniors. Sakura was about to leave to avoid troubles until she heard.
"You know what? That Uchiha Sasuke is an actor of the upcoming play!"
Sakura's footsteps came to a halt, feeling uncomfortable as they mentioned Sasuke. She and Sasuke have been classmates since they were ten. His family had been Catholic for three generations. The first time Sakura approached him just because...she was attracted by his good look. Sakura knew such a reason wasn't so right...but maybe she wasn't so different from Naruto after all. Sakura was disheartened to know Sasuke barely practiced the faith. He never seemed to care when she mentioned prayers and going to church.
"What did the teachers think when they let him be in the cast?"
Sakura was a bit curious about Sasuke's role. Who would he play as?
"To think that brat, fighting all day like a beast, take part in such an event…"
Sakura's heart constricted. While such statements were exaggerated, they were not entirely wrong. They must know Sasuke's record of delinquent activities outside the school. Sakura was terrified when he was reported to the teachers. She implored him to give up his violent way for the faith in an urgent whisper, and again, he ignored her. Sakura couldn't remember how many nights she had prayed for him. Until one day…
Sakura was horrified as Sasuke delivered a kick on his opponent. That guy collapsed to the ground, filled with injuries. Sasuke clenched his fist and Sakura hurried to him and held him from behind. "Stop it!"
But Sasuke pushed her with his elbow and left her pleading out, then carried on his attack. Sakura threw herself between two boys…
Sasuke halted as his fist was only an inch away from her face.
Her emerald eyes were drowned in tears, likely to shatter, and were prepared for the heart-broken tears to overflow like waterfalls and rapids. The cross she was wearing gently swung. "Please...please stop!"
Sasuke immediately withdrew his arm. The other guy saw the opportunity and ran away. Sasuke averted his eyes as Sakura slowly came near him. He didn't seem to be angry about her stupid interference but was indeed...feeling guilty.
Sakura wrapped her arms around him. This time he didn't push her away.
Sakura buried her head in his chest and burst into a convulsive sob. Feeling Sasuke's warmth, she wanted to give countless thanks to Kami-sama.
Ever since that day, Sakura had never heard of any violent incident about him. He was still unchurched. But according to Naruto, he had answered Sasuke's questions regarding home prayers. Sakura even witnessed Sasuke's charity activities. Although Sasuke's demeanor remained cold, she knew for sure he had become a pious man.
"What can he do on the stage, except getting high?"
Sakura got extremely furious after hearing them talk about Sasuke like that. It was true that Sasuke was reported of violent conduct, but there was no record of him using drugs! Who spread such vicious rumors?
"Ahh, I know! He'll be Judas! Someone like him is only worthy of being Judas!"
Sakura clenched her fist. Never had she been so angry. She knew it didn't matter who would play as Judas; It was just a play after all! But she couldn't take it when they were slandering Sasuke like that.
Naruto slowly got up from the ground and realized Sakura was heading toward the three students of 12A5. He knew those guys, and if Sakura wanted to face them then it was something very serious. Still, he didn't want his friend to get in trouble. Naruto followed her. "Leave them, Sakura!"
Sakura shouted. "Hey! How dare you talk about Sasuke-kun like that?"
Kin jerked up her chin. "Because we like to! You swine got a problem with it?"
Naruto started to understand the situation and narrowed his eyes, looking at the three seniors. If this was about Sasuke, he couldn't ignore either.
Zaku smirked. "Why defend him? You're after him already? Ha! You two will make a sweet demon couple!"
Sakura was trying her best to keep calm. She knew she would be reviled for confronting them. She just wanted to tell them all the good things Sasuke had done. She was willing to bear even more affronts, as long as the truth could be said…
Zaku abruptly felt a strong presence behind him. He turned back and was frightened to see Sasuke. In a flash, Sasuke pushed him toward Dosu. The raven-haired boy's voice was full of threats to the seniors. "Sakura...did they just insult you?"
Sakura was amazed to see Sasuke here. Yet it soon turned to concern whether a fight would break out.
Naruto let out a laugh out of the blue. Sakura and the 12A5 students didn't understand what was so funny. The boy with eyes like a mighty sea pulled an iron rosary out of his pocket. "Guys,guys...let's resolve this issue in peace, okay? Or all of us will be reported to the teachers. You don't want to be sent to detention...with me!"
Sakura knew what he meant. It was a story passed down orally: Naruto had beaten two bullies for attempting to take his lunch and disrupting his prayer time. It was said that he had used this rosary to whip them.
Naruto felt his rosary, as if waiting for the 12-grade students' answer. Sakura understood that because of her, Naruto and Sasuke were threatening force on others. For Kami-sama, her group should withdraw…
Eventually, Kin, Zaku, and Dosu fled. Sakura gently bowed her head. "Sorry for bothering you guys!"
Naruto happily replied. "No problem! I totally understand!" He looked at Sasuke. "We'll always be there for our little pink lamb! Right, teme?"
"Hn" Sasuke turned his back. "Sasuke-kun!" Sakura called. She hesitated for a moment, then uttered. "Well...let's make the best play together!" "Umm" Sasuke quietly went downstairs.
She intended to ask what his role was. But it did not matter anymore, for she was sure it would be a saint.