A/N- Alrighty, I had this great idea and had to turn it into a Fic, so that's where I get my motivation, it's all random. A shout out to the boy I like and my soul brother cause neither of them will ever read this. A shout out to Jordan, because she is probably the only one who will…. Thank you to anyone else who does read this you make me happy on the inside!
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto, I've said that before but what I haven't told you is one time I had a dream where I owned Naruto! HA! I checked copyright laws and if I'm mentally unstable or not in a conscious state and say I own Naruto you can do nothing! (Does anyone remember the good old days where lawyers didn't own the world and we didn't have to keep coming up with creative disclaimers?)
Chapter One- Much Closer Than You Think
Crystal and Jackie walked at their own pace (slowly) from one store to another to another, never finding what they were looking for. "This is hopeless!" cried Jackie, "We're never gonna find anything that is good enough! Grrr!"
"Calm down J-dawg we'll find something."
"No we won't! It's hopeless, we should never have come."
"It was you're idea to come find your boyfriend a birthday gift, not mine." Crystal was losing her patience.
"I fail at everything I try!" Jackie pouted sinking into a couch in some random store. Crystal sniggered. "Shut up! At least I have a boyfriend! You fail at life!"
"So? What if I do?"
"Do you insist on making it impossible for me to be mad at you?"
"Yes." More sulking from Jackie. "How about we take a break and I'll buy you lunch at Taco Bell?"
"Let's go!" Shouted Jackie as she flung herself off the ground and pulled Crystal all the way to the food court. Jackie was lazy and except swimming for their school's team, she never did anything she considered 'physically taxing', but for Taco bell, she would always make an exception.
Crystal brought them lunch and they sat chowing down in the food court. Crystal didn't care that she'd had to pay, it was always better then talking. Sadly that wouldn't last too long. "So," Jackie asked, talking a long slurp of soda, "how's your home life?"
Crystal sighed, "My parents are still getting a divorce and I'm still scared out of my mind waiting for my driving final so I can finally get out of the death house whenever I want, that's basically it. Now it was Jackie's turn to sigh. "Are you really okay?" "Yeah," her friend answered sarcastically, "never better."
TIME SKIP
Back at Jackie's house, Jackie was going through Crystal's backpack, trying to amuse herself while her friend was at soccer practice. That's when she found a piece of lined paper with music notes scratched on it, closer inspection showed that there were lyrics on the back. The top of the paper was titled 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings'.
Verse 1: I know why the caged bird sings,
I know why she cries.
She longs to be free, just like me,
You can see it in her eyes.
I look at the sky, so bright and blue,
Full of love and hope.
I look at the sky and my world is torn,
By the bars that stand in between.
Refrain: I long to fly, to soar in the sky,
But long ago they clipped my wings.
I long to fly, I just want to be free,
Set me free love, set me free.
Verse 2: Rain clouds press in around me,
Tears from heaven met.
Promises that were never kept,
Often lead to regret.
I pray to God way up high,
To set my caged heart free.
I look at the sky and my heart is torn,
By the bars that stand in between.
Refrain: I long to fly, to soar in the sky,
But long ago they clipped my wings.
I long to fly, I just want to be free,
Set me free love, set me free.
Verse 3: I know why the caged bird sings,
I know why she cries.
She sings a song to the sky, a song of hope,
A tail of passion to the sky.
Her notes soar on the breeze,
For every one to see.
A song of a cage, a trapped fate,
Because they've broken her wings.
After every thing she's been through,
They dare to wonder why.
Refrain: I long to fly, to soar in the sky,
But long ago they clipped my wings.
I long to fly, I just want to be free,
Set me free love, set me free.
Verse 4: On the sill I sit, transfixed as she sings to the sky,
I was caged by fate, just like her,
my wings were clipped, I could not fly.
Her song set me free, now I wish I could be,
Something to save her from, her pretty dreams.
I'll give her my wings, and we will fly.
My bird and I through a clear blue sky.
Refrain: I longed to fly, to soar in the sky,
But long ago they clipped my wings.
I longed to fly, I just wanted to be free,
She set me free. Her love, set me free.
Verse 5: I sang to her I set her free,
And now we soar,
Her broken wings glide on the breeze.
The caged bird sings,
Because the song will set us free,
Jackie was crying when Crystal walked in from practice. "Oh my God J, are you okay? What's wrong?"
"Your song, Jackie croaked, it's so sad. How did you manage to come up with something like that?"
"It's not sad. The song saves both the birds, and they get set free. How is that sad?"
"I don't know." Jackie sniffed, "It just is. You should sing this at the talent show, both your parents are coming right? They would really get something out of this."
"I don't know Jack, that's tomorrow isn't it?"
"So, it doesn't matter. You have to sing. In fact, sing it for me right now."
"But you just read it!"
"I want to hear it."
"Oh fine. I know why the caged bird sings…."
TIME SKIP
"…because the song will set us free." Crystal hopped down from the stage. Everyone in the auditorium was clapping their hands off. This is the third time they made her do a performance at school. Two minutes after the talent show, a man in a black suit had given her his card and told her he wanted to make her famous. Her song was now overplayed on the radio and she was Hollywood's newest charity case. Luckily, her agent had managed to keep her out of the tabloids so far, but that didn't mean a thing. Jackie ran up and gave her friend a bone crushing hug.
"How's it rock star chick?"
"Same as before," Crystal replied, "with a few more fan boys." The friends smiled demonically and snuck off to get some Taco Bell.
SPACE/TIME SKIP
Neji, Tenten and Rock Lee were walking aimlessly through Konoha, trying to amuse themselves. Lee was telling Tenten some outrageous story about horseradish and Tenten was giggling behind her hand. Lee could be funny when her wanted to be. Neji, on the other hand, was exasperated. His team had always driven him insane and this was not an exception. His day was only going to get worse.
"Hey guys! What's up?"
"Nothing much Naruto!" Tenten yelled back, waving the yellow haired boy over.
"How are you doing Naruto?" asked Lee.
"I'm great!" The hyperactive squirt yelled basically right in Neji's ear. "Sasuke is having a sleepover and we wanted to know if you guys would like to come."
"We would be honored!" Lee returned and Tenten nodded corroboratively.
Neji shook his head. Something told him Sasuke wouldn't be happy when he found out Naruto was planning major events at his house again, Neji understood that. Having a big house doesn't make you any less anti-social.
"Come on Neji." Tenten cooed, it won't be any fun without you. She made her lip pout and used her cow-eyes to their full potential, basically, she was impossible to say no to.
"Oh fine." Neji muttered.
"Come on Neji," chided Lee, "you don't have anything better to do."
Neji sighed. "You guys better go get packed!" Naruto advised before bounding off to find more innocent victims to lure to the party.
TIME SKIP
Neji sat gloomily next to the snack table with Sasuke and Shikamaru. Sasuke was glum Naruto had invaded his house (once again) and Shikamaru was glum that he had been dragged here. It was so far to walk. Everyone else was having a great time. Naruto, Lee and Kiba were dancing to the radio (turned up way too loud) with Tenten and Hinata. Sakura and Ino were spying on Sasuke from behind the snack table. Choji and Shino were playing hang-man on Sasuke's wall with colored pencils they had stolen from Hanabi, who was trying to raise a squirrel from the dead so she could start an unholy army of fuzzy woodland creatures.
The current song (Miracle by CASCADA) ended and a new one came on. "Oh," Tenten squealed, "this is that new song by the girl from Japan! Turn it up!" Naruto obeyed pumping the song louder. Neji was about to protest that and increased volume from the already pounding speaker would deafen the entire village until he heard the opening lyrics to the song.
"I know why the caged bird sings, I know why she cries. She longs to be free, just like me; you can see it in her eyes…"
Neji's head started to spin, the world tilted from side to side at weird angles and the boy's stomach heaved. The lights in the room became too bright and Neji stumbled out of his chair and made a mad break for the door. Tenten looked worried, she said something to him but he couldn't hear her words, he could only see her mouth moving.
He raced into the forest and tripped gracelessly over a root. The fall pitched him onto the ground. He threw up several times. His forehead burned and his eyes watered. He managed to crawl a few yards before passing out.
TIME SKIP
The first thing Neji did when he woke up was run home to look up the song on the internet. He steeled himself. The song sent shivers through him again and again. After listening to it twice, Neji could sing it by heart. It had echoed through his head even in his dreams and he had to find peace. After listening to the song at least fifty times more, he knew what he had to do. He raced to Sasuke's house and shook Tenten awake. "Hey Neji." She mumbled, giving a tried and confused smile. "What time is it?"
"Tenten listen, you know that song?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry; I didn't know it would upset you. You show have told me you didn't like it."
"Yeah, whatever. Listen, I have to go to Japan."
A/N- Cool, first chapter done. I think it's pretty damn good. Anyway, don't forget to review to ask questions, or give grammar or plot comments. Thanks again to whoever read it, you are what it's all about.
Next time- Neji, Shikamaru, Lee, Tenten, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura fly (first class) to Japan to meet Crystal Lira, the girl who wrote the song that gives Neji panic attacks. Jackie and the ninja get off on the wrong foot and Crystal sends Neji into anaphylactic shock. I can't wait!