Tempest

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Chapter Seven

Record Deal?!

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You took my hand, you showed me how

You promised me you'd be around

It was the most amazing thing she's ever seen.

As she followed Itachi and Kakashi-san outside and towards the stage, she could not believe how many people showed up to watch them play.

Sasuke looked amazing. His outfit, like all of theirs, was plain. They were a rock band, thus, they had dark colored clothes. Black and another color, different for each of them.

Sasuke had a stool set up for him in the middle of the stage right in the front. He sat down and positioned his guitar on his left leg, putting his fingers on the string before waiting for the rest of the band to settle down.

"Hello." He said into the mic in front of him. Sakura winced as hundreds of girls screamed, reaching up on stage, trying to touch him. Sasuke seemed unfazed by this.

And then he began playing.

It was a guitar solo.

"This song is called 'Never Too Late (1)'. Enjoy." He said. Sakura felt as though she was in another world as she listened to his voice.

He opened that deliciously sweet mouth of his and she felt like she was flying. She never knew he could sing so well!

And the song began.

"This world will never be

What I expected

And if I don't belong

Who would have guessed it?"

He was amazing. His eyes were closed as he strummed away on his guitar, the other band members were waiting for their entrances.

Itachi glanced at her from the corner of his eye, watching her as she stared at Sasuke. And only Sasuke.

"I will not leave alone

Everything that I owned

To make you feel like

It's not too late, it's never too late"

Neji and Kiba entered with their guitar parts as Sasuke halted his part. He grabbed the mic and pulled it closer to him.

Naruto drummed away in the back, setting up an even rhythm for them.

"Even if I say

It'll be alright

Still I hear you say

You want to end your life

And if again we try to just stay alive

Maybe we'll turn it around

Cause it's not too late, it's never too late"

His voice was amazing as he reached for that high note. Sakura's eyes were glued on him, watching his face as he sang the words that only he knew the meaning to.

Kakashi, on Itachi's other side, smiled under his mask. They were pretty good. If he wasn't here, watching them with his own two eyes, he would not have believed it.

When Itachi first asked him to come listen to the band, he thought that Sasuke was just a spoiled little brother who got everything he wanted and had absolutely no talent whatsoever.

Kakashi, for once, thought it was okay to be wrong. If only this once.

This group was amazing.

"No one will ever see

The side reflected

And if there's something wrong

Who would have guessed it

And I have left alone

Everything that I own

To make you feel like

It's not too late, it's never too late"

Blue, red, white and gold light flashed everywhere, making the crowd go even more insane as the girls screamed and the boys sang along.

Naruto's drums were driving everyone crazy.

The guitars were amazing.

Every chord and every beat was in its place.

This group played perfection.

The words entrancing everyone and anyone who heard them.

"Even if I say

It'll be alright

Still I hear you say

You want to end your life

And if again we try

To just stay alive

Baby we'll turn it around

Cause it's not too late, it's never too late"

Sasuke stood up, taking the mic with him as he walked down the stage, close to the edge, but still not enough for the girls to touch him.

"The world we knew won't come back

The time we've lost can't get back

The life we had won't be yours again"

He took a deep breath, as though to steady himself. His bangs fell against his face, making him look even more irresistable.

He put his right hand on his guitar as he slowly made his way back to the stool. Once again, he started playing those quiet notes.

"The world will never be

What I expected

And if there's something wrong..."

He stood up, the mic stand falling in front of him.

"Even if I say

It'll be alright

Still I hear you say

You want to end your life

And when again we try to just stay alive

Baby we'll turn it around

Cause it's not too late

It's never too late

Baby we'll turn it around

Cause it's not too late

It's never too late

Never too late

It's not too late, it's never too late..."

The final time, he played each note before slowing down and finally, all was silent.

No one moved for a second before the crowd sprang into life and began screaming at the top of their lungs, chanting the band's name, Sasuke's name and the song's name.

Sasuke raised his hand in gratitude and turned to the band.

"Another one?" He said, smirking.

"Hell yeah!" Naruto shouted, hitting the drumsticks together energetically.

"Alright, then, let's do 'Time of Dying (2)'." He said.

He turned back to the crowd and smirked.

After those two songs, Sasuke thanked the crowd, put his mic back and was the first back into the dressing room.

Sakura, Itachi and Kakashi were there waiting for them. Sakura was biting her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot.

As soon as he walked in, Sakura practically glomped him.

"Oh my god you guys were amazing!!" She squealed, jumping up and down from the excitement. Sasuke smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you like it, Sakura-chan?!" Naruto shouted as he started jumping with her. She nodded as she continued to jump. This gave her a headache and she stopped jumping.

"You guys were awesome!" She said, looking at each of them, blushing slightly as they smirked at her. Kakashi walked up from behind her a put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"Well, I think you've proved that you're worth a record deal." He said, winking at them.

"Really?!" Naruto shouted. "Sweet!"

"That's right." Kakashi said, grinning. "I'll be expecting you at Hatake Records on Saturday for your first Album production."

Naruto and Kiba cheered as Neji and Shino gave each other their 'hand shake'. Sasuke watched Sakura as she watched the rest of the group. The way she looked absolutely proud of them made him feel...accomplished? Satisfied? Happy?

There wasn't a word that could describe what he was feeling.

"I need you guys to practice all the songs you know and get ready to perform them." Kakashi continued as he made his way outside. "Oh, and Sasuke? Write some new one, eh?" Sasuke shrugged and moved to get a bottle of water. "Alright then, ja!"

An idea suddenly popped in Sakura's head and she couldn't help but follow the man.

"Kakashi-san?!" She shouted, running after him. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. "Um, well, you see..." She blushed. "I really want to get into the music business." He raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I know that I have to audition and everything, but what exactly do I have to do?" She looked so desperate, he couldn't help but answer her question.

"Alright. Get me a CD by Saturday. If you can do that, then I'll listen to it after the guys' record session and I'll tell you if I like it." He said. Her eyes brightened.

"Oh thank you Kakashi-san!" She said. She couldn't resist. The urge to hug him was too strong. The man froze as she wound her arms around him. With a last thank you and a blush, she turned around and ran back to the guys. He stood there and watched her go.

"Hmm...cute kid." He said, turning around, pulling out his book and walking out with his guards.

The actual problem did not occur to Sakura until the next day.

She had no song.

She had no instrument.

She had no band.

She had no recording equipment.

She had absolutely nothing.

What she had was a project that she had to do with Ino. And it was due in like two days. Shit.

Sakura cursed herself as she picked up a phonebook. She looked through the names until she found Inoichi Yamanaka, who she knew to be Ino's father.

She bit her lip as she waited for someone to pick up.

She was nervous, scared that her relationship with Ino has been destroyed forever. She missed Ino when she left, but there was nothing she could do. She never planned on returning and thought it would be best if she forgot all of them.

"Hello?" It was a man's voice. Mr. Yamanaka, no doubt.

"H-hello, is, um, is Ino here?" Sakura said, unsure why she was nervous. She hadn't heard his voice in a while and she couldn't help but remember some of the times she went to Ino's house when they were younger.

"Who is this?" He asked.

"This is Sakura Haruno. We have a project to do together for school, sir." She said, hoping, for some reason, that he did not remember her.

"Sakura, huh? Where have I heard that name before?" He muttered. She waited patiently. After a few seconds, he gave up and called Ino's name.

"Hello?" Ino's voice sounded through the phone.

"Uh, hi, Ino..." Sakura said. "It's Sakura."

"..." No one spoke for a while. Sakura waited. She frowned.

"Hello?"

"Yeah. What do you want?" Ino said, not as harshly, but still coldly.

"I was just calling to see if we could work on the project today?" Sakura said, glad that Ino didn't hang up on her.

"Uh, sure, whatever." Ino said. "Your house?"

"No!" Sakura said, too quickly. Ino was quiet on the other line. Sakura bit her lip. Her father was home today, his usual supply of beer and wine formed into a castle on top of the dining room table. It was a beautiful caslte, but she hated the beer.

"Why?" Ino said.

"I-I just can't. Can we please do it at your house?"

"Whatever." Ino said. "You know where it is?"

"Um...did you move?"

"Yeah. Tell you what. Meet me at the bus stop in front of the public library in fifteen minutes." Ino said.

"Okay."

"Don't forget the poster and information."

"Right."

"Bye."

"Bye." Sakura smiled slightly as she hung up the phone. She was glad that INo wasn't as cold with her anymore. It wasn't like they were friends again, but it was better like this than Ino hating her. She really missed the blond and wished that somehow they could fix their friendship.

Sakura changed into some jean shorts and a t-shirt before gathering everything she needed for the project. She opened her room door and snuck towards the stairwell. He wasn't in the living room. Where was he? She knew she heard him come into the house. Where-

"Sakura." Her eyes snapped open, fear and horror were etched on her face as she turned around and looked at her father.

"H-hai?" She said, discreetly stepping away from him. He had a dazed look in his eyes, his face was flushed, his clothes were messy. He was a mess.

Sakura stepped on the first step and started moving down.

"Where are you going?" Her father said, reaching for her.

"I'm going to Ino's." She said. "We have a project."

"No you're not." He said. "You're lying to me!" He lunged at her, anger written all over his face. She gasped and made a break for it. She could hear him stumbling down the stairs after her.

She was almost at the front door! She could make it!

His hand suddenly made contact with her arm and she winced when she felt his nails digging into her skin.

"You're leaving me! Just like her!" Sakura's eyes widened. He was insane! He'll kill her!

She let out a pained cry as she wrenched her arm from his grip and kicked him in the shins. She opened the door and slammed it shut behind her before running towards the bus stop, her heart beating fast, her eyes watering from the pain of her arm.

Ino tapped her foot impatiently as she checked her watch again. Sakura was late! She told her to be here in fifteen minutes and it's already twenty past.

"Ino!" Sakura shouted as she ran towards the bus stop. Ino flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder and glared at the pink haired girl.

"You're late." She snapped.

"Sorry I-" Sakura said, panting. "...something happened, that's all." Ino watched her for a second. Her blue eyes suddenly landed on Sakura's arm. Her eyes narrowed. The marks looked like red fingerprints on her pale skin. There was some hint of bleeding, too.

Sakura noticed Ino's stare and instantly hid her arm behind her back. She gave an uneasy smile and said:

"Let's go?" Ino's eyes landed on hers again before turning around and leading the way back to her house. Something was up...Sakura was hiding something. And she was intent on finding out.

Sakura let out a yawn as she stretched. They've been working for four hours straight and they were just about done.

"All we need to do now..." Ino said as she finished pasting the last picture onto the poster board. "...is make it...different." Her eyes were sparkling.

"What do you mean, different?" Sakura asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She just wanted this project to be over so she could start working on her music. She looked down at the paper in her lap. She's already got half of the verses done, but she just needs to actually write the music.

"Let's put some more sparkle." Ino said as she got up and got something out of her desk drawer. Glitter, a lot of glitter. "If we keep it like this, it won't be special. It'll just be like any other project Kurenai-san will see. We have to stand out."

Sakura nodded and looked back at her lyrics.

This is harder than I though. She thought as she tried to think of rhyming words. Ino sat back down and commenced putting glue all over the board and sprinkling the glitter everywhere. Sakura looked at her ex-best friend and couldn't help but smile as she saw the serene smile on her face. She really enjoyed spending time with Ino. It was almost like old times, though a little bit awkward at times.

"Done." Ino said, smiling. She looked up at Sakura and they smiled at each other. Ino's eyes suddenly widened as she blushed and looked away. She cleared her throat and picked up the poster. She put it against the wall and stood awkwardly in the room.

"So...what now?" Sakura said. Ino shrugged and walked out of the room. Sakura sat there, on the bed, staring sadly at the door. Her eyes brightened and her heart gave a little jump when she heard Ino's voice.

"Are you coming?" Sakura gave a grin, set her paper down and ran out. She found Ino walking down the hallway of the large house.

Ino grabbed her purse before they walked out. Sakura felt something vibrating in her jeans pocket and jumped. Ino raised her eyebrow as she watched Sakura pull out a crappy looking Nokia cell phone. She had to stop herself from laughing her head off.

Sakura looked at her cell phone and her face paled. It was her father. She immideately shut it off and turned to Ino.

"My dad. I'll call later." She said. Ino shrugged and they continued walking. Sakura put her cell phone back in her pocket and caught up to Ino. She knew it wasn't the best cell phone ever, but it served its purpose. She bought it with her very first paycheck from the cafe.

She looked at Ino. The girl was kicking a few stones as they walked, glaring at the ground. She glanced quickly at Sakura before turning back to the ground.

"Ino..." Sakura said. Ino looked up and pointed to the park.

"Let's go there." She said, picking up her pace. Sakura sighed and followed the blond quietly, wondering what she was up to.

They sat on the swings and looked at the setting sun. It was a beautiful place. The park was on a hill, over looking the city. The schools were a bit behind the park. They swung weakly in content silence, neither knowing what to say.

Ino spoke first.

"Why did you leave?" Her tone was accusing. Sakura's wide green eyes stared at her. What was she supposed to say to that? Oh yeah, my dad is an abusive alcoholic who almost raped me and killed my mom that's why we had to leave!

She glared at her shoes.

"My parents broke up." She replied simply, as though it was the simplest thing in the world.

"You could have told me." Ino said again. "You left me, Naruto and Sasuke thinking that you were dead."

"..."

"We looked for you for weeks." She said. "Even when my parents told me you weren't here, I still waited for you to show up with that grin on your face."

"...Ino..."

Ino stood up and took a few steps forward.

"You weren't there when I needed you." She said, looking up at the sky. Sakura watched her back silently, guilt welling up inside of her. Suddenly, Ino turned around and glared at her, blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "You weren't there when I needed you!" She snapped.

"Ino, I had no choice-" Sakura said, standing up, wanting to comfort her friend. Ino shook her head and took a step back.

"You weren't there when it happened." She said, her hands shaking. Sakura furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Ino..."

With a heart wrenching sob, Ino turned around and ran away. Sakura stared after her, not sure whether she should follow or not.

She looked sadly at the ground.

Whatever connection the two had earlier that day was destroyed. She hated herself for leaving them. She hated her 'father' for being the cause of everything that went wrong in her life. She hated herself for not being there for Ino. She hated herself for not running after her...

Oh, yes. She hated herself.

Tempest.

A/N: I know, sucky chapter. Next one will be better, though!