"Are you ready for the battle of the bands tonight?" an excited boy who wore an extremely long blue scarf and had short spiky hair and deep midnight eyes asked the blond.
"Wait, that was tonight?" Teases the blond, trying to act like he had forgotten.
A girl with chestnut hair that is stuck straight up in two cone-like pigtails and indigo eyes whines "don't joke like that!"
The blond chuckles, he always found it amusing to tease his band mates, they were too adorable for their own good. "I have no Idea what you're talking about."
A boy with short mocha hair and dark obsidian eyes covered by glasses sniffled through his runny nose "Come on, you said you wouldn't tease us anymore."
"Okay, okay, but in my defense it's so much fun teasing you guys!" The blond cheerfully remarked.
All three of them groaned at the blond. "Can't you be a little bit excited?" the boy with the scarf huffs.
"Of course I'm excited! It's just now that I'm about to turn fifteen. I started filling out job applications and I have an interview before the competition." The blond cautiously says, not wanting to feel the wrath from his cute little violent band mates.
"You better not be late!" they all yelled simultaneously at him.
"Yeah yeah, guys I'll be there don't worry about it!" The blond exclaims flashing them a dazzling smile while placing his hands behind his head and walking away.
"It's your fault!" The girl with pigtails growls at the blonde. Her once pale skin is now stained crimson, her deep indigo eyes no longer held colour but were replaced with clouding.
The blond drops to his knees and whispers through tears "I'm so sorry."
"You're sorry? You just had to be there on time! If you were there we would all be alive and you would be the one dead. You know what, Minato is right, you really are a monster!" Screamed the boy with the blue scarf who now had a very noticeable entry wound to his right eye. Blood cascaded down his face, there was so much blood.
In agony the blond screams as if he's being eaten alive "I'm so fucking sorry! I should be dead! You guys should be here, not me! I'm so fucking sorry!"
"Why us? Why all of them? You killed us all, and you get to live, how is that fair?" The boy with the glasses who was laying in a pool of so much blood, too much blood for one person says looking off to the side.
Glancing over the blond sees a room full of bloodied corpses lying twisted in their own blood. Their dead face held the pain and terror they felt as they died.
"NO! Take me, anything but them, please! Please!" The blond sobs as he cradles himself on the ground in the fetal position.
"They may have been after you because of me, I only wish you had been there so they could have finished you off for me!" Minato growled in a menacingly low voice.
"Just stop! Just stop! Take me! Please...please..." the blond begs.
A loud beeping startles Naruto causing him to shoot up. The agony he feels makes him immediately forget both about his alarm and the nightmare he'd had. After swearing a few strings of very colourful curses Naruto swipes his phone successfully shutting off his alarm.
'It's been so long since I've had that nightmare' he sighs to himself trying not to dwell on it for longer.
Naruto's back was fucking painful. He must have been thrashing in his sleep from the nightmare. Mixing in the sweat that he's now drenched in his back feels like he's slowly being blow torched. Making an executive decision he once again takes his pain meds on an empty stomach. He knew shower was going to be a bitch without being numbed, he dared not try without the help of his medication.
Waiting to remove his bandages for his shower he decides to scroll through his news feed. The first thing he sees makes his stomach drop. The article's title was "Konoha Highschool to hold a tribute ceremony for those lost during the tragic battle of the bands incident almost one year ago."
"Fuck this shit, id rather the pain." Naruto grumbles to himself and with that he sets about his morning routine trying his hardest to act like his back wasn't run through a meat grinder. The excruciating process was finally over, he was tempted to just wear an extra shirt instead of dealing with wrapping the gauze, but in the end ended up wrapping the bandages around his back.
While in the mirror brushing his teeth he caught a glimpse of his new ear modification. 'Thanks Minato, now I have a huge gash missing out of my ear' he sighs.
Deciding he would wear an extra large beanie today to try and cover his ears so he doesn't have to answer his lazy genius friends questions yet. Clothes were a problem, his lower half wasn't too bad, but the stretching and rubbing that came with wearing shirts and sweaters were unbearable. What normally takes five minutes took him nearly forty, most of which was finding ways of putting on his tops.
Incase of an incident and his backs fresh scabs rip open he opted to go with all black today. That way if any blood seeps through nobody would notice. At least that was one good thing about being hated, no one really ever got close to him.
Gathering all his belongings he heads downstairs making his way out of the house. Still needing to get groceries for himself he decided to head to this quaint little café just down the road. He orders himself a large black coffee and a toasted everything bagel with butter and cheddar cheese. This place had the best bagels he's ever tasted. He was quite fond of their danishes too, but found it was too early for anything that sweet. Paying for his order he continued making his way to school.
Once he gets to school he realises the bell is about to ring so he heads to class rather than going to Shikamaru's maple tree on the off chance that his lazy friend actually is in class. Completely skipping his locker, he wasn't going to bother grabbing books today he made his way to English he immediately saw his two friends plus a stoic looking raven who was reading. Seeing Sasuke was in class he just sent his two friends a slight nod and made his way to his desk trying his best to show no sign of pain as he sat down with his coffee and bagel.
"I can't explain it, but It's like I can't leave you alone" confesses a confused raven.
"So you feel it too?" a lost looking blond asks.
"The strange pull between us?" asks the raven haired teen.
The blond looks the raven in the eyes before responding "Yes."
Meeting the blonds gaze he asks " What do you think it means?"
"I think we might be sou-"
Before the blond could finish Sasuke gets woken up by his alarm.
Shutting off his alarm Sasuke throws his pillow over his head and groans to himself "What the fuck was that?"
This is now the second time he's dreamt about Naruto, he was glad he didn't wake up with a mess to clean up this time, but still 'What the hell was that about?' he found himself wondering.
He was just coming to terms with the possibility of wanting to be that dobes friend, he didn't need weird dreams like this. Making quick work of his morning routine he rushes through breakfast and gets Kotetsu to take him to school seeing as Itachi must have left early today. 'I should really get a car, ' he finds himself thinking. Being an Uchiha he had the luxury of getting his license earlier then most, he was just so used to being driven around that he hadn't thought about getting a car. He was staying here now though, so he was thinking maybe it was time he actually started driving himself around.
Making sure he arrives early like always he heads to his locker to grab his things. Making his way to English he sees the Nara and his pudgy friend. They both pay him no mind which he's fine with, though he'd be lying if he said he wasn't the littlest bit upset that there was yet again no blond in the seat next to him. He had made up his mind that he was going to text the dobe tonight if he was a no show again.
Pulling out one of his books he begins to read. All of a sudden he gets a waft of something toasted only to realise a presence taking a seat next to him. At first expecting it to be one of the two annoying girls in his class he desperately tries to avoid. He turns with the beginnings of a glare only to be met with an even more bruised ace of the blond dobe.
His gaze immediately softens before saying "Morning dobe." with a smirk on his face.
Feigning grumpiness, Naruto smirked back and said "Morning teme."
Naruto begins to sip his coffee and munch on his bagel. The bagels from the café are rather large and with the effects of the pills on an empty stomach he really couldn't finish it. He had managed to eat the bottom half because he always saves the top, the best part for last. Noticing the raven constantly looking over at his food, he decided to test the waters. "You want the rest?" he asks, trying not to show his curiosity.
"Hn, like I'd want anything from a dobe like you, you probably drugged it or something." he attempts to joke not realising who he just said that too.
Narutos eyes turned dead right away 'I knew it, always the same' he thinks to himself.
Not getting a snarky comment from the blond he looks over with a smirk and that's when it clicks, what he had said to the blond had crossed a huge line, and the great Sasuke Uchiha felt...guilty.
"Hey, i didn't-" but before he could say anything Naruto had made his way over to the pudgy boy and handed him the bagel before lurching back to his seat and turning to look out the window. Not a single word was responded.
'Fuck, I'm an ass' Sasuke scolded himself.
"Naruto, look I didn't mean it like that, I was just trying to tease you." Sasukes gently tries to explain.
He gets a response he never expected, "hn" is all Naruto says.
"That's my line." he tries teasing the blond again.
Letting out a quiet snort, Naruto says " Didn't realise you'd trademarked it."
"Trademarked and all rights reserved, thank you very much." he jokes back only to be interrupted by the bell.
Both teens groan as two gnats come buzzing in. "Good morning Sasuke-Kun" they both say before sending each other their usual insults.
"Whispering to Sasuke, Naruto says "you know what, you can keep your "hn" I think you need it more than me."
Sasuke smiles, not outwardly, but inwardly so no one can see 'he definitely forgives me.' For some reason this gave him some profound surge of pride.
"Ladies I'm not going to tell you everyday, please take your seats!" an abnormally early Kakashi says.
Naruto looks at the teacher with an eyebrow raised "What do we owe this honour Kakshi sensei?"
"Naruto! Where were you?" A concerned Kakashi pesters the blond.
"I mean I have a doctor's note for Gai Sensei, but can I take it to the office and get an approved absence slip if it will make you feel better?" Naruto asks his concerned teacher.
"No, no, it's alright. Wait, a doctor's note, are you okay?" Kakashi begins to slightly panic again while looking Naruto up and down like he was searching for clues.
Naruto sighs, "yes I'm fine Kakashi sensei, promise."
This conversation caused the majority of the class to whisper even louder than normal about the blond. You could tell they were doing it on purpose so Naruto would know they were talking about him. Seemed like they didn't understand why the aloof teacher should even care for the teen.
Sasuke could tell Kakashi truly cared about Naruto. Out of all the classes it seemed only him and Gai sensei treated Naruto with any sense of kindness. The others were either odd or acted as if he were a nuisance, which Sasuke couldn't understand, he had to be the quietest out of the whole class, minus the Nara who was always sleeping.
Class continued and Kakashi went into depth explaining how essays should be properly structured. The whole lesson made him mentally scoff. If they didn't understand something as basic as the outlines of an essay by now they never would. Lookin over he released Naruto look equally as thrilled as him.
He wasn't sure if it was because Naruto was absent yesterday or not but today he had an overwhelming urge to tease the blond. So with a smirk that's exactly what he did. "Shouldn't a dobe like you be taking notes on this like the rest of them?"
Scoffing at the raven, Naruto whispers back to him, "Don't lump me into the same category as them teme, if these idiots don't know how to write an essay by now there's no hope for them."
Sasuke found himself wanting to chuckle at the response. He found it amusing that Naruto thought the same thing he did. "Well I guess I can agree with you there." he says.
Naruto was a little shocked when he heard the tone Sasuke responded to him in. It wasn't his normal cold flat, I'm an Uchiha tone, it was a lighter more amused tone.
As soon as Kakashi finished his lecture he let his class ensue into chaos. As long as they finished their individual work and didn't kill each other he didn't really care what they did. With both Sasuke and Naruto done all their work Sasuke pulls back out the book he started reading this morning and Naruto sat there going through the book Sasuke came to realise as his book of songs.
Sasuke could feel himself anxious thinking about the possibility of hearing Narutos music and without realising he asked, "are you going to play again at lunch?"
Furrowing his brow and side eyeing Sasuke, Naruto stops to think about how he should respond before asking "why?"
Mentally slapping himself for actually blurting the question out, Sasuke frantically searches his mind for an acceptable answer. "Ah, no reason."
Realising the raven is trying to show interest in his music but doesn't know how too, he turns his head so he's full looking at the raven and says "Sasuke, if you want to come listen at lunch I have no problem with it, just make sure your friends don't find out. I'm sure they want you no where near me."
The fact that Naruto knew what he was trying to say without belittling him for not being able to get the words out brought Sasuke a sense of comfort. He was thankful Naruto wasn't teasing him about having a hard time asking a simple question.
'How hard is that just asking "can I listen to you play?" Six simple words!' Sasuke berates himself for being so awkward with social interactions.
It never bothered him before, but he never really wanted to talk to anyone before either. Slowly he's coming to realise he wants to get to know this kid. He wants to uncover the mystery that is Naruto Uzumaki.
Just as the bell rings everyone begins to stampede out the door. Just as Sasuke gets up and begins to walk out he says "I'll be there." Then proceeds to his locker to get his textbooks for Science.
Naruto has a slight smile on his face, he finds it odd how he's so accepting of the raven listening to him play. Even before he stopped playing, it was only a few he'd allow to listen to his works in progress. Lost in thought Naruto begins to slowly get up trying his best not to agitate his back. Apparently Kakashi noticed. "Naruto, are you sure you're okay? You seem to be in pain."
Quickly lifting his head up to meet his teacher's one eyed gaze he quickly responds "Sensei, I'm fine, you know me."
Noticing Naruto didn't rub the back of his neck like he normally does when he is anxious he decides to let it go and nods at his student signifying he was free to go. Little did Kakashi know that, that simple movement would be almost impossible for Naruto to pull off right now if he tried.
Knowing for a fact that Orochimaru was going to pull some smug crap on him, Naruto made his way to the office to get an approved absence slip. Showing his note to Beatrice he gets a slip that excused his absences for all day yesterday.
Getting to class before the bell he is immediately greeted by Orochimaru "Oh Naruto, we missed you yesterday, hope everything is...alright." he chuckles darkly.
Naruto sends a quick glare towards his perverted sensei before gently taking a seat. As soon as he sits down Orochimaru beckons him to the front "you didn't have permission for being absent Mr. Uzumaki, I'm going to need proof as to why you weren't here."
Rolling his eyes at the nerve of his teacher he gets up rather stiffly, as his back was starting to throb, and makes his way towards Orochimaru's desk. "Here" Naruto says flashing the teacher his approved absence slip.
"Will that be all?" Naruto sneers at him in a dangerously low voice. The nerve he has, if it weren't for him he wouldn't feel like his back was run through a thickness planer right now.
Standing before the blond Orochimaru grasps the boy's shoulder making sure to add plenty of pressure, seething that Naruto actually managed to get his absence approved "You may take your seat."
The pain from the hash squeeze sends a blizzard of molten heat searing through Naruto and he lets out a slight hiss from the pain. This went unnoticed by everyone in class, well everyone except a very observant raven haired teen.
Naruto made his way to his seat and Sasuke noticed what he had somehow managed to miss in English, Naruto was moving rather stiffly. He seemed rather pensive, and he was definitely in pain.
'But why is he in pain? And why did it feel like Orochimaru sensei was trying to hurt him?' These questions wouldn't stop harassing Sasukes mind.
"Yoo-hoo, Sasuke" The obnoxious brunette waves a hand in front of his face trying to gain his attention.
"Hn?" he responds irritably, he was mentally exhausted, the most he's used to worrying about is avoiding mobs of fan girls.
"Take your worksheet so I can pass the stack back. You sure are in your own world today." Kiba snorts. He found the raven's absent-mindedness amusing.
Without a word he takes the paper and effortlessly completes his work. He noticed that Kiba had an obnoxious scent to go with his annoying personality. He had the repugnant odour of a wet dog. Now that he had noticed it he couldn't focus on anything but the odour. "Do you live in a kennel or something?"
"E-excuse me?" Kiba stutters, turning a slight tint of pink. He was clearly embarrassed.
"All I can smell is a wet dog." Sasuke responds flatly with a shoulder shrug. He felt no need to sugar coat it, the teen smelt.
With his superb hearing, Naruto happened to hear this whole conversation and unconsciously let out a snort. No one other than himself had ever called the brunette out on his terrible smell. Kiba and Sasuke looked over at the blond Sasuke with his own smirk, he took pride in causing the blonds amusement. Kiba on the other hand was glaring daggers at him. "I'd shut your trap if you knew what's good for you, Uzumaki!" he spat at him.
Naruto simply shakes his head before resting it back down against his folded arms.
Third and fourth period came and went without a hitch. Sasuke debated on head straight towards the Music auditorium but he knew Neji would question his absence. So this led to him sitting at the exact same table with the same group of annoying teens he's deemed his friends.
"Did you guys hear about next week's assembly?" Ino asks the groups, eyeing them curiously.
"Yeah I read an article about it this morning, can you believe they're going to let him play?" Sakura responded with an annoyed look.
Sasuke couldn't help wondering what they were talking about.
"He was their band mate wasn't he?" ask the ever clueless Sai.
"Still, everyone says it was his fault the whole thing happened, why would they even want him to be a part of it?" Sakura spat back, clearly showing her detest for the situation.
"What are you guys talking about?" Sasukes finally ask, his curiosity reeling.
"Did you ever hear about the Battle of the band massacre last year?" Neji's calmy asks.
Sasuke took a moment to think about it. He did remember hearing something along those lines, though he couldn't remember the details off the top of his head. "I vaguely remember something, why, what happened exactly?"
Giving his full attention to Sasuke, Neji's begins to explain. "Well last year there was a band competition held in the next town over. One of the bands came from this school. Principle Hiruzen's grandson was in this band. That night someone shot up the building and everybody ended up dying, well except for one teen. They say that he's the reason they were there in the first place, he was their only target, and because he was late getting there everybody paid the price."
Sasuke sat there shocked, he definitely remembered hearing about this.
"Since that day that teen stopped playing music all together and refused to even step foot in the music auditorium." Hinata uncharacteristically spoke up causing everyone to glance at her bemused.
"Hinata, stop talking about that thing, he doesn't deserve your or anybody's sympathy. How dare they even let him be part of the tribute!" Spat Kiba, looking rather angry that his new love interest was paying so much attention to their enemy.
"Wait you're not talking about-" Before Sasuke could confirm his suspicions a voice behind his interrupts. "Yeah, that would be me." says a deep voice filled with emptiness.
Naruto had been walking by with his cup of instant ramen when he heard what they were talking about. After confirming what he knew Sasuke was going to ask, he obviously lost his appetite so he tossed his cup of instant ramen and walked out of the cafeteria ignoring the whispers and shouts directed towards him.
This weeks events flooded through Sasukes mind, the words from Hinata, the sad music Naruto played, the song he was trying to finish, his own fucking question about being in a band. 'How much shit is this guy going through?' Sasuke could help but wonder.
Naruto had returned to the music Auditorium empty handed which didn't go unnoticed by the Nara. "Where's your food?"
"I suddenly lost my appetite," Naruto mumbled truthfully.
Letting out a heavy sigh the lazy teens asked "what happened?"
"It would appear that news of me playing a tribute has already gotten out." Naruto solemnly says.
"You knew agreeing to do this wouldn't be easy" Shikamaru cautiously reminds him.
"I know, you don't think I know that? It's just I lived through the damn thing. I was just hoping that I could go under the radar until the day of. But it seems that plan had been foiled." groans Naruto as he anxiously runs his hands over his face.
Getting up from his seat he walks over to where the blond is standing and looks him straight in the eye "I will always be here for you, just please never forget that."
"Thanks Shika, but I think I just need some time alone for now, you mind going to find Choji for a bit? I promise I'll be alright." Naruto hesitantly asks. He just needed some time with his thoughts, he hated anyone seeing him like this.
"Yeah, but text me if you need anything alright?" Shikamaru asks him, concerned with his friend's well being. He may be lazy, but there was nothing he wouldn't do for his friends because he knows Naruto would do the same for him.
With a nod from the bond Shikamaru makes his way out of the room in search of his other friend. Naruto decided to take a seat on the edge of the stage like he normally does. He was so consumed by his own thoughts that even with his heightened senses he didn't see or hear Sasuke walk in.
Sasuke noticed Naruto seemed to be deep in thought and was unsure if he should even be here. Something had told him that he needed to check on the blond. He was already committed to listening to him play today, so after Naruto tossed his untouched food Sasuke quickly made an excuse about needing to speak with his guidance counsellor so he could go search for Naruto.
He quickly found the blond in the Music auditorium like every other lunch period, he was unsure what to say now that he was here so he decided to give a simple "hey."
Being startled back to the now, Naruto whips his head over to see a slightly concerned looking Sasuke. "Hey." he says back. Every cell in his body was telling him to turn the teen away, telling him to leave him alone, but his brain wouldn't allow it.
After greeting Sasuke, Naruto turns his head back down so he's once again staring at the floor. He should be angry for being bothered, he had even turned Shikamaru away, but he felt somewhat relieved that Sasuke was here, and it confused the hell out of him.
Noticing Naruto wasn't making a move, or saying anything else to him he took it upon himself to walk over to the lost looking teen. "Are you um...oka-" Before he could finish asking Naruto cuts him off.
"If you're going to be here can we please just be...silent? I just really need some silence now." Naruto pleads in a solemnly low mumble.
The sound of the boy's plea shook something inside Sasuke and he didn't like it, he didn't like feeling this way one bit. For some reason he felt like he needed to comfort the blond, but had a feeling that both Naruto and himself were too proud for that. Instead he assured the teen with a simple "sure" before hopping up and taking a seat next to Naruto on the stage.
Naruto gave Sasuke a rather perplexed look but let the teen stay sitting there. He was overcome with a strong scent of lilacs which he rightfully assumed was Sasuke. He found the scent oddly comforting and wasn't in a rush for the raven to move. Little did Naruto know, Sasuke was struggling with the same thoughts, the vanilla almond scent that drifted from Naruto was giving Sasuke an odd sense of peace, and he kept finding himself comparing this feeling to everyone else he's been around. He quickly realised no one had made him feel this calm.
"I'm positive you've heard the stories, why do you keep coming around me?" Naruto finally breaks the silence. The question has been bothering him.
Sasuke looks over at Naruto before reply "I really don't know."
Naruto furrowed his brows at Sasuke "What do you mean you don't know?"
Letting out a sigh, Sasuke wasn't sure how to explain, he wasn't used to having to explain his actions. "I just, I don't know how to explain it at all."
Naruto bites his lower lip debating on just coming out and saying it before he does just that. "The calmness?"
Sasukes eyes visibly widened, he didn't even try to hide that fact. "You feel it too?"
Naruto hesitantly nods "I thought I was crazy, and with the rumours about me, the last thing I wanted was to make you feel weirded out by such an odd comment."
Before he realised it Sasuke blurted it out "Did you do it?"
A wave of sorrow washes over Naruto. "You know, you're the first person who's actually asked me."
"Shit sorry, I didn't mean to fucking spew that out." Sasuke mumbles while covering his face with his hands. He couldn't believe he just came out and asked such a question.
"In all honesty, as shitty as it feels to have someone ask me about something so atrocious, I'm kind of glad you asked, it means you have the brains to question others and not just follow them blindly. No one has cared enough to ask, they all just assume. After all, I'm just a nobody compared to others at this school. Naruto honestly answers. He was glad that Sasuke knew how to question others' opinions.
"Then did you do it?" Sasuke hesitantly asks once again. He really wanted to hear Narutos answer. In Sasukes mind he couldn't see him doing the thing they've blamed him for.
"No, I'd never force myself onto someone. No one deserves that hell..." Naruto whispers softly, his voice trailing off near the end like he was remembering something he'd rather forget.
"Hn." Sasuke decided to just accept the answer for now, he didn't want to step over any lines and upset Naruto more. He could clearly see that the teen was going through a hard time right now.
"You sure are talking a lot, you know that?" Naruto raises an eyebrow at Sasuke, not sure of what to make of the chattiness of the usual stoic teen. Taking note that his pain meds may have contributed to his own uncharacteristically chatty nature.
"Honestly, I'm not used to it either, nor can I explain it." Sasuke sighs.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm in the same boat." Naruto answers honestly. He wanted Sasuke to know that he doesn't make a habit of chatting people up.
"I sort of figured that, It's rare for people to ignore my presence." Sasuke smirks at Naruto.
Snorting at Sasuke, Naruto teases "Yeah, yeah, the great Sasuke Uchiha please let me have your babies."
Sasuke snorts back and does something he never would have in a million year, he engages in banter "Well alright, but you have to say please."
Naruto burst out into full blown laughter "Oh man, no offence but I never would have pegged you for one to joke around."
Shocking himself momentarily due to the fact he couldn't believe it himself he answers honestly. "Yeah, you and me both. I guess there really is a first time for everything." On the inside though Sasuke was elated at the sight and sound of Narutos laugh. It was so hearty and warm, and he wanted nothing more than to hear the marvelous sound forever.
Calming himself down, Naruto lets out a deep alleviating breath. "Thanks for that, I don't remember the last time, if at all, I've laughed like that."
Sasuke lets Naruto see his true smile, he couldn't help it after being treated to such a pleasant sight. "Sure thing. Now where's this music you promised me?"
"Funny, I don't remember promising you." Naruto teases. He wouldn't be enjoying the teasing had it been anybody else, but with Sasuke it felt natural.
"Inviting me here is the same as promising me music in my books." Sasuke defends his previous statement while crossing his arm over his chest.
Naruto just chuckles at him "whatever you say."
Sasuke hops down and takes a seat so that he can observe Naruto. Naruto had walked over towards the large black piano that sat centre stage. "Alright, this is going to be rather rough because I'm still working a few kinks out." Narutos informs the raven.
"Just play dobe." Sasuke smirks. He was just excited to hear whatever melody was going to come from the skillful blond.
Even though an insult should rile him up, Naruto just shakes his head in amusement and replies, "sure thing teme."
Neither of the two teens were aware of the presence listening to their conversation from the hall. The lazy teen stood there shaking his head and smiling to himself.
Inside Naruto begins to play, like always Sasuke was amazed, it was like he could feel all the sorrow and anger seeping through the music. He was sure if Naruto had been from a well known family, someone would have picked up on the teens skill by now.
The music Naruto could play, teamed with his captivating voice were enough to send anyone into a euphoric spiral. This song was different from the other songs Narutos played. This one felt like he was trying to piece himself together but the world was too busy ripping the fragile pieces apart. It was a song that made you feel raw emotions, nothing coated with false security, just honest soul wrenching emotion.
As the song comes to an end Naruto stares at the keys of the piano. Mentally taking in how they are black and white, they have no middle ground, no grey zone. He figures that even though something that consists of no physical middle ground, the black comes together with the white, the light and the dark, to create the song that ends up being the grey, the middle zone.
His thoughts once again got away from him only to be brought back when Sasuke asked "How do you do it?"
Confused, Naruto looks at Sasuke "Do what?" He really wasn't sure what he was being asked.
"Your music makes me feel...things" Sasuke reluctantly admits. He had already opened up more to Naruto than anyone, so maybe that's what kept his mouth going?
"Isn't that what music's supposed to do?" Naruto questions slightly confused as to how his music made Sasuke feel different from other music.
"I suppose, but it's different somehow." Sasuke confesses.
Resting his elbow on his knee, he props his head on his hand in a contemplative fashion. "Well what kind of music do you usually listen to?" Naruto finally decided on asking.
Without hesitation Sasuke says "Usually rock and metal, but I can appreciate just about all types and genres."
"That's pretty much the same as me except fuck techno." Naruto chuckles at his own statement.
Sasuke lets out a snort, "agreed."
"Aside from making you feel things as you so eloquently put it, what did you think of the song?" Naruto asks, avoiding eye contact. He was curious what the raven thought, it had been so long since he wanted anyone's opinion, he felt a little trepidatious.
"I'm not sure what force is making me say this, because never in a million years will I ever admit to saying this, but it was...beautiful." Sasuke says timidly, averting his own gaze from the blond.
Naruto couldn't believe the words he just heard Sasuke say, whipping his head around so he can see the teen he asks bewildered "Really? It wasn't too...meh?"
Looking at Naruto now making full eye contact, for some reason he wanted to convey the depth of his honesty "I wouldn't give a compliment if I didn't mean it."
Before Naruto and Sasuke had time to process the exchange of words between the two of them the bell rang.
"Uh, I guess we should get to class?" Naruto asks sheepishly.
Sasuke nods and gives a quick "hn" before the two head across the hall to the locker room.
Once in there he notices Naruto walk right through and make his way to the Gym door without changing. "Not changing?" he asks not masking his curiosity seeing as it's just the two of them still.
"Nah, I hurt my back so I'm not allowed to partake in strenuous activity for the next several days." Naruto bitterly responds.
"Well that sucks, guess it will give me time to kick your ass dobe." Sasuke smirks at Naruto.
Naruto sends a wicked grin Sasukes way "in your dreams teme."
They both let out a light chuckle, they were coming to terms with their weird feeling of peace they were finding in one another.
Sasuke was at home finishing up his History homework, but he kept thinking back to the band massacre. He wanted to find out more about it, but he felt that he had pressured Naruto enough for today. If he was being honest he couldn't believe he had the balls to flat out ask Naruto if he did what they accused him of. Something inside him truly believed Naruto now, but that only made him feel guilty for disbelieving Neji's beliefs. The rest of the group he could care less about. Sure they were people to hang out with that lived similar lifestyles, but they were acquaintances at best.
Sasuke has known Neji for what feels like forever, 'so what makes him so blind to the stories that Kibas feeding him? Did he change so drastically over the years that he can't see past anything but one's status?'
Sasuke wasn't sure, but if he were honest, until recently he wouldn't even care to bat an eyelash at whether the stories were true or not. He would remain distant from everyone equally.
Finishing his homework he decides to search up the battle of the band massacre to find out anything that was left out from Neji's version of the story. He was greeted by images of not only all of the victims, but the shooter as well. Among all of the pictures and stories was one that stuck out "Battle of the Bands Lone Survivor."
Clicking the link he is greeted with images of Naruto with his chest and abdomen bound in bandages, he was hooked up to a breathing respirator and had countless other wires connecting to what Sasuke assumed was a heart rate monitor.
Reading the article it sounded like no one really knew what happened. According to doctors Naruto should have been dead like all the others, but he somehow survived and stayed somewhat conscious until he made it to the hospital, where he finally started to crash. The doctors were able to get him to surgery quickly and stabilise him. He was in a coma for five days and released two weeks after the massacre.
The officers and paramedic on the scene commented on Naruto screaming it was all his fault, and wouldn't stop clutching the body of a boy who went by the name Konohamaru Sarutobi. The boy along with Moegi Kazamatsuri and Udon Ise were later identified as his band members.
Officers had arrived on scene and shot the perpetrator killing him instantly. The man went by the name Sasori and was apparently in a dangerous underground gang called the Akatsuki. No where in any articles did it mention why Naruto said it was his fault. It also appeared that Naruto had never done any follow up interview to let anyone know what happened.
Sasuke sat there unable to identify what he was feeling. He felt nauseous, he felt like his skin wanted to crawl away from itself, his body was frozen, unable to move or look away from his laptop. He couldn't even begin to comprehend the horrors that must still haunt Naruto, it hadn't even been a year since the incident. Adding this on top of the treatment at school. "How the hell does he get up in the morning?' Sasuke wondered, he was finding a whole new admiration for the blond.
Realising he had successfully spent two hours reading articles, Sasuke decided it was time for bed. He hadn't realised how much time had gotten away from him. Already in his pyjamas, he gets up and runs through his bedtime routine before climbing into bed making sure to set his alarm.
Bundling himself in his blanket he rolls over and has one last thought before sleep takes over 'What the hell happened that day Naruto?'