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::Of Ink Splotches, Pianos and Violins::
"What do you see? I asked the group I was assigned to, I showed them a paper with an ink splotch on it, a boring, black ink blotch. Hey, don't get me wrong but I found nothing interesting in it. Ink-stained paper? We already have those at school. I'd be shocked if Naruto, Lee, Tenten or Sasuke could see anything from it. Maybe they could…a flower, a butterfly, like those things on TV.
"I see…a diamond." I heard Tenten say, my eyes widened, a diamond? How could a messy splotch of ink become a beautiful diamond? "A-a diamond?" I asked in confusion.
Tenten nodded, "Yeah a diamond. Can't you see it?" I shook my head, I found nothing but black. Tenten pointed to the center of the splotch. "That's where the diamond is, shining but something is blocking its luster." She explained.
Naruto was next to surprise me, "I see…life…tainted by darkness…but still..it's life." He whispered, barely audible.
"I see a person. Reaching out and looking for someone to be with him. To hold him and say everything would be alright." Lee said.
Then it was Sasuke's turn. I waited as he wrote down what he was about to say on a piece of paper, he handed it to Tenten and signaled for her to say it.
"I see us. The different. The strange. By the first glance we seem uninteresting and boring…but if you look hard enough…maybe you'll find something." Tenten read aloud.
Call it sappy or cliché…but it really cut me deep. Here I was, bored at those "dull" splats but look at them, they looked at them at a completely different perspective. I saw them as rejects. But Sasuke, Tenten, Naruto and Lee, the rejects of society, saw those ink splats as a symbol.
I decided to stop the ink quiz and move on, but what exactly was next? Nobody actually told me anything. Maybe I should improvise, I wonder if they would open up? I doubt it though, but I guess we'll talk about ourselves.
"Okay then." I said, folding my hands neatly on my lap, "Let's talk about ourselves…uuhm..I'm Hyuuga Hinata…I'm 16…and I like to read." I fidgeted a bit, they were staring at me and it made me uncomfortable, "A-ano..I guess I'm good at drawing and painting…I can also play the piano."
Sasuke ears seemed to perk up when I said the last part, but I quickly turned my attention to Naruto when he began to talk. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I like orange, ramen and foxes! I'm good at everything!" he said looking high and mighty.
I couldn't help but giggle at how cute he looked like that, it was even cuter when Sasuke gave him an "are-you-sure-dobe?" look which deflated Naruto.
"I'm Rock Lee, I like training and excising, I'm good at sports!" Lee exclaimed energetically, he never ceased to amaze me with his never faltering energy.
"I'm Senbon Tenten. I like pointy things as well as shiny things. I'm kind of good at drawing too." Tenten said modestly.
Like the last time, Sasuke glared a bit and wrote what he was about to say on paper but this time he gave it to Naruto, "I am the teme Uchiha Sasuke! I'm good at nothing ttebayo! I also like ponies!" he read, imitating Sasuke's voice..which failed. This earned Naruto a good smack on the head, courtesy of Uchiha Sasuke.
"Itaiii…" Naruto whined and grumbled, "I'm Uchiha Sasuke, what I like is none of your business." Naruto's voice contradicted to the harsh words he read, "I am good at…no, I excel at playing the violin."
I glanced at Sasuke, he still was nonchalant and bitter-looking, I sighed but suddenly had an idea. "Sasuke-san, do you mind if you and I play for awhile?" I asked, hoping that he'd say yes and we would finally find something as an interaction.
Lee nodded his head enthusiastically, "Yes! Yes! We would love to hear you too play!" Naruto and Tenten nodded their heads too, glee in their eyes.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes but nonetheless nodded and stood up; he went towards the corner of the room, where the door was located. He didn't even wait for us as he went out and headed towards the music room.
The others and I hurriedly followed after him.
Music Room
I sat down on the smooth, cold surface of the piano bench, Naruto, Lee and Tenten went to sit down on the chairs that were in the rooms. Sasuke stood beside the piano, violin ready. He and I had talked about which song or piece we would play, unfortunately he chose a song and I was required to sing…
I never really knew if I was good at singing, the only time I ever sing was in the shower or inside my room, where nobody could hear.
Sasuke looked at me and I took it as my cue, I began to play a soft melody, waiting for him to jump in. After a few notes, the unmistakable sound of a violin was heard. I took in a deep breath as it neared the singing part, it didn't help when Sasuke gave me a look that cleary stated "Don't-screw-up-and-remember-to-keep-playing". And finally it came, Naruto, Lee and Tenten focused their attention to me.
Once upon a broken heart
I was walking alone in the dark
Looking for a way to start again
What I wouldn't give for a friend
There was no love in my life
There was no light in my eyes
All the tears that I had cried and cried
Seemed like they'd never end
I closed my eyes and continued to play the piano, listening to the music…it picked up and got a bit livelier.
And I never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
I swayed a little way playing and singing, never missing a beat, I could already feel the music overtake me…making me do things I never thought I could.
Long ago and far away
I could never dream of the day
That your love would come my way and stay
And sweep me away and I
Never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
The music had now completely sucked me in into it's hypnotic web. All I could do was move with it and listen.
This is the way a fairytale feels
This is the way I know it's real
'Cause this is the way a broken heart heals
My fingers danced across the keys, like they had a mind of their own, I peeked at Sasuke and saw that he was just as absorbed into it as I was, he gracefully stroked the violins strings with his bow, a peaceful expression on his face.
And I never believed fairytales came true
But now I know that they really do
Now that I found you, now that I'm here with you
Just look at the sunshine, and you
Showed me a world
That I'd never seen
I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time
Once upon this broken heart of mine
As the music ended it was replaced by silence, I nervously opened my eyes and stared at my group, my uneasiness was shattered however, when Naruto, Lee and Tenten applauded us.
"That was great Hinata!" Naruto cheered, "You too teme."
Tenten went over and put a hand on my shoulder, "You have a really good voice you know!"
I did? I smiled a little and gave a small giggle, which Tenten returned.
"The flames of youth are surely within you two!" Lee whooped.
Sasuke turned to look at me, a smirk decorating his features, I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was silently saying, "Not bad Hyuuga."
I gave him a small smile and a silent, "Thank you, you were great too.". My smile grew wider as I saw the corners of his smile twitching upward, almost as if he was restraining himself from smiling.
I looked at my watch and knew I had to go, it was already 3:00pm and I needed to get home. "It was nice m-meeting you guys…but I-I need to get home. See you tomorrow!" I bade goodbye, bowed and went to get my things.
I gave a warm smile as I left Green Leaf Asylum. Looks like things won't be as boring as I thought.
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I have a few plans for A Small Voice…Definitely some more drama..drama that would make you want to kill a certain someone…(whistles innocently)