Author's Note: For anyone interested, I drew the Religion and Music cover. It's at my DeviantART, and the link to my gallery is in my profile.
Title: Religion and Music
Chapter 6: When I Heard Her
For once in my life as a third year high school student, I got up on time. That morning, I rushed right to my bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and straighten up my hair without even thinking. I threw my uniform on without so much as a muttered curse and left my room quickly, locking the door behind me. Once I got down to the apartment building's parking lot, I threw my bag over my shoulder, put my helmet on, started the engine, and sped down the street.
Don't go thinking I wanted to be early though. I simply did all this right away so I could get something to eat before I walked through the school doors. I stopped at a convenience store and bought two rice balls along with a can of chilled coffee. Ah, the breakfast of a poor student...there's nothing like it.
I quickly chomped on the rice balls and guzzled down the coffee before putting my helmet on and getting on my way to school. When I saw the clock tower at the center of the building, I knew I was close. I could see some other students walking around the front courtyard and slowed my speed when I was near.
When I made it to the school parking lot, I noticed a sleek, black car pulling in and immediately recognized it as Itachi's. Damn, I have no idea where that guy got all his money. Well, actually, maybe I don't want to know. All I'm sure of was that his parents died a long time ago, leaving him and Sasuke with not much. Rumor had it that they had gone to live with their uncle, some guy named Madara, right after the deaths, but it had to have been for a short time because they hardly left school. Plus, Madara was the type of guy who didn't stay around one place for too long. It's not like he was some gypsy or vagabond or something, but I had heard that the guy was constantly on the move. I even heard rumors that he always left a town before anyone could get to know him to protect his identity.
For now though, let's say that Itachi got all his money from the inheritance his parents had left. The Uchihas were famous for being a pretty ritzy family, so I wouldn't be surprised if the parents had left their son one hell of a fortune.
I was about to park my bike and greet the Uchihas when I saw the front of the car pulling into a space...and not stopping. "Itachi!!" I shouted. "You idiot! Stop! You're going to hit the other cars!" It was too late though. Itachi's car slammed right into a silver car.
Honestly, that was the first time I had ever seen someone hit a parked car.
I waited and watched Sasuke jump out of the car in a rage. "STUPID!!" he cried. "You dumbass! You hit the car in front of you! Damn it, Itachi, it was a PARKED CAR for crying out loud!!" He slammed the passenger door and walked around to the driver's side, where Itachi was getting out. "First you nearly get us killed in the wrong lane, then you almost hit some old lady on the freakin' SIDEWALK, and now THIS!!" He growled as he yanked his older brother from the car. "What THE HELL is wrong with you lately?!"
Itachi just shook his head. "I don't know," he murmured. Quietly, he lowered his head and walked towards the front doors of the school. "I'll go tell Tsunade and pay for the damages."
I could see the hate in Sasuke's eyes as he kicked the side of the car. "Idiot!" he choked out. "Idiot!"
I swallowed. "Sasuke--"
"Shut THE FUCK up, Hidan," the little Uchiha hissed, turning towards me, his eyes flashing red. I took a step back and narrowed my eyes.
"Watch your mouth, you little shit.
"Right back at you."
"Sasuke-kun!!"
Oh, great. The Sasuke Fan Club. I got out of there before those girls could even take a step onto the lot's pavement.
Once I was inside the school, I saw some of the other Akatsuki members there. Zetsu was standing in one of the hallway's corners, mumbling to himself while Tobi was trying to talk to him. The boy in the orange mask looked up and saw me, and I could tell I was his next target.
"Good morning, Hidan-san!" he greeted, waving enthusiastically. "I haven't seen you in a long time! How was your summer? Did you do anything fun? Are you ready to tackle the next part of senior year?" I could tell he was grinning under that mask, the little idiot. How could this guy be beating me in academics?!
"I'm fine, Tobi," I managed to reply. "I had an...interesting summer." I nodded and continued down the hallway so I wouldn't have to listen to his blabber anymore. Besides, he could keep himself occupied just by trying to get Zetsu to talk to him. Now, Tobi was the only person Zetsu talked to, but the happening itself was rare. Still, Tobi was like some over-energetic child. If he was occupied with some seemingly-impossible task, he'd leave me alone, which was the important part.
I groaned when I saw Konan and Pein walking down the hallway with their hands folded together. They were probably on their way to history, their first subject on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I remembered that I was still scheduled to go to English that Monday morning. Damn. I didn't want to hear about some shitty novel from that gray-haired pervert.
And the morning only got worse when I walked into the bathroom.
"SASORI-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
Fuck.
Literally.
Why THE FUCKING HELL had I been so damn excited to come to school today? I had even woken up on time! I hadn't spent a crazy amount of time on my hair! I hadn't even complained about anything before I had had my coffee! I mentally confirmed at that moment, standing in the bathroom's doorway, that happiness kills.
"Wow," I muttered as I walked towards one of the sinks. "Just...wow."
The art brothers looked up. "Well," Sasori panted, "at least you didn't see what we were doing ten minutes ago." He ran his fingers through the blond hair falling in front of Deidara's pink, sweaty face. "I'm sure you would have found that WAY more traumatizing."
"No more toys for a while, okay, Sasori-sama, un?" the blonde gasped. "I want to be able to sit through class without doubling over in pain, okay?" He released his legs from around Sasori's waist and zipped his uniform pants up. "We'll do the toys over the weekend, un."
"I hate waiting for the weekend," Sasori groaned, zipping his pants up and wetting a washcloth from his pocket. He quickly went to work cleaning up the white stains on the floor and wall.
I shook my head. I was friends with such freaks.
I quickly rinsed my hands, dried them off, and walked out of the bathroom. Jashin, where was all the SANITY in this school?! Even the founder was a total psycho! Then there were all my freakish friends and the shitty teachers. All the insanity...
And that was when it hit me. Where was Tayuya?
"Attenion, all students, staff, and faculty!" I heard Tsunade announce over the loudspeaker. "Everyone must come to the auditorium for a special assembly. This assembly will last all throughout first period and end half-way through second. That is all."
The voice ended and I shrugged. Hey, it was enough to get me out of that book whore's class for a day.
I walked down the hallway to the auditorium and found a seat in the middle of the room. I sat my ass down and watched as the other students and teachers found their own seats. The room filled quickly, and the lights soon dimmed. A single light shined down on the center of the stage, where Tsunade walked out from behind the curtains.
"Thank you all for coming," she said. "I hope you enjoy the performance we've set up for you today. In an agreement between the school and a local business organization, Shinobi High is proud to present one of its own students in a fantastic musical performance. Everyone, please welcome first-year student, Miss Tayuya Sound, to the stage. Enjoy the show!"
The audience clapped as Tsuande walked off the stage. I just sat there, shocked. Tayuya was willingly putting on a show for the school? No, no way, there was no way in hell she'd ever do that. Tsunade had mentioned a business an agreement...There must have been a lot of money or something involved behind the scenes with Orochimaru and the yakuza. Why he'd go to such great lengths, I didn't know, but I couldn't be bothered with that. I was about to hear Tayuya play her flute!
When she walked out on the stage. Tayuya looked as she normally did. Her bright pink hair wasn't done up in some fancy style, she didn't have any stage make-up on, and she was wearing her school uniform. She didn't look like she was about to play for an audience. She had the same old "I'm-going-to-kill-you-all" expression on her bitter face, and the way she brought the flute up to her mouth was quick and harsh.
The auditorium was silent for a good ten seconds. All eyes were on her.
And then...I heard a note.
Before I knew it, the entire room was full of beautiful notes, one after another. I couldn't believe my ears. This music was amazing! Like I mentioned earlier, I don't know shit about music, but it didn't take a musical genius to realize that what was being played was gorgeous. It was as if a million little bells were playing together in perfect harmony. It was just...beautiful.
I looked around the auditorium to see that everyone was enjoying the music. I could see my friends watching Tayuya with steady, fascinated eyes. The first-years, I could see, were blown away. Their eyes were the size of ramen bowls and barely blinked. Even the teachers were stunned. I could see them keeping their eyes on the girl as she kept playing. I wished she wouldn't stop.
Eventually, I settled down in watching everyone else and turned my attention back to Tayuya. I couldn't think of a better way for her to present herself, the more I thought about it. It was so raw, so real that this was the only way she could show off her talent.
I leaned back in my chair and gently closed my eyes. I didn't need to watch her. I knew that she would just have the same angry expression on her face and wouldn't stop to notice me. Hell, she wouldn't stop for anyone, and that was exactly what I wanted. She just kept playing that flute, never stopping to care if anyone was even paying attention.
The assembly ended all too soon. When Tayuya finally stopped playing, I looked at my watch and saw that first period and half of second period really had gone by. Wow. It honestly felt as though we had all just gathered together in the room a few moments ago. I was upset to get up and leave, but I was happy because I could finally clap for Tayuya, as I did. Everyone soon began clapping like crazy, not giving a damn if the group looked like a bunch of idiots. Everyone was cheering for her, and she didn't even bow when she was done. She simply turned and walked back behind the curtain, leaving the audience without any words of thanks or appreciation.
I figured that that was just the typical Tayuya.
I made it through the rest of the school day in a quiet daze. For the most part, my mind was still focused on the amazing performance I had witnessed earlier in the day. My last period on Monday was home economics, which passed with little trouble. Kurenai-sensei rambled on about some pastry. It wasn't strawberry ice cream, so I didn't care.
When the last bell of the day rang, I hauled my bag over my shoulder and made my way out of the school, slowly dragging my feet as I walked. I heard some teachers and students discussing the performance but didn't bother to listen in on any conversations. Besides, they didn't even know Tayuya. Who gave them the damn right to talk about her anyway?
I stopped. Did I know her?
...Or did I just want her...all to myself?
A flash of pink snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up and saw a pink spot running through the crowds of people and enter the music room. I blinked. It was Tayuya! I ran down the hallways and opened the door to the classroom. Sure enough, she was there.
"Tayuya..." I breathed quietly. She looked up and gave me a hard expression.
"What do you want, jackass?" she asked. "I'm busy. I want to get out of here now, damn it."
Only one sentence came to my mind. "You weren't kidding when you said the stuff on those papers was trash." I grinned. "You were amazing up on that stage. You play your flute so fucking well. I can't get over it! The music has been stuck in my head all day!"
I was expecting, you know, a TINY bit of appreciation, but the bitch just narrowed her eyes and frowned. "You really don't know shit about music, do you?" she snapped. "What I played on that stage was pure garbage. My father bribed the school into making me play today. Tsunade loves money, that cash whore, so she blackmailed me into playing for the entire school."
I stared at Tayuya. Fuck, I knew that the performance had had SOMETHING to do with Orochimaru, that bastard! Just what was UP with this father who did such sneaky, unfair things to his only daughter?! What was his PROBLEM?!
"That...sucks," I managed to squeak out. "Your father...he sucks."
"NO FUCKING SHIT!!" Tayuya screamed, throwing her flute into its case and throwing the case against the wall. She glared at me. "So you finally get it, huh?! You understand what a jerk he is? What a dick he is?! I hate him! I FUCKING HATE HIM!!"
"Hey, calm down!" I ordered, walking over to the angry girl. "Calm down, damn it!" I placed my hands on her shoulders. "What would make you feel better, huh? Tell me, bitch. Tell me what I can do to make you feel better!"
...Wait...what had I just said?
Tayuya's eyes were wide for a moment, but her face quickly softened, and a smirk appeared on her lips. "Take me back to your place and let me play for you the way I really play. I'm sure that even a dumbass like you can learn to appreciate what real music is if you hear it." She shrugged my hands away. "And then you can take me home."
Oh...my...JASHIN.
My mind flashed back to the night with Deidara. HOLY CRAP. Tayuya was coming over to my apartment to give me a personal show with her flute!
HOLY SHIT.
Literally.
My apartment was full of crap.
Regardless, I nodded and led Tayuya out of the school towards the parking lot. Once there, I saw Tsunade talking with Itachi about the car incident from this morning. Sasuke was there along with his three friends, only one of which I recognized as a first-year named Suigetsu, a guy who was once friends with a two guys named Zabuza and Haku, who were ex-best friends with Kisame. Rumor had it that those two got tangled in the wrong street fight and died. The other two were strangers to me, but I think I had seen the redhead chick in Sasuke's little fan club. Ew.
I glanced back at Itachi and looked at the damage. Damn, he was in for it.
Once we were at my bike, I put my helmet on and sat on the front of the seat. I pat the small portion I had left. "Sit here," I said. Tayuya glanced at the seat and cocked an eyebrow.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Hey, my bike wasn't meant for two people. Just get on."
Tayuya sighed boarded the bike. As I turned the engine on, she wrapped her arms around my middle and leaned against my back for support. Oh, Jashin, she might have lacked boobs, but she was so soft and light. Her fingers were small, and her arms were rather skinny for such a tough girl. Her cheek rested against the junction where my neck met my back, and I could feel her breath through the material of my uniform shirt. For once in my life, I was so happy that I hadn't worn my leather jacket.
The ride was all too short, as we soon made it to my apartment building. I parked my bike in the lot and led Tayuya inside the building. We climbed a few sets of stairs until I stopped at my door and unlocked it. "I'm just warning you," I muttered, "this place is filthy."
Tayuya gasped when I opened the door. "No shit," I heard her murmur. We made our way through the epic piles of crap and sat down on my bed. I didn't even bother taking my shoes off, and I'm sure Tayuya didn't want to for risk of touching the trash on the floor. She sat on my bed rather uncomfortably and took her flute out of its case. She quickly put it together and stood.
"Good afternoon," she greeted. My eyes were wide. She had said something so...polite! It was something so simple that a NORMAL HUMAN BEING would say! "I'm Tayuya Sound and I'll be performing for you today. The song does not have a title. I hope you enjoy it."
My brain was absolutely dead.
But then I heard a note come from the flute.
And before I knew it, time had stopped. The only thing that mattered in the world was the music coming from the flute. Wow. Tayuya was right. What she had played on the stage at school today was pure garbage compared to THIS!
She suddenly stopped and pulled the flute away from her mouth. My heart sank.
"Thank you," she said, bowing. "I hope you enjoyed the performance."
I started clapping like a damn idiot. Tayuya lifted her head and smirked. I could tell that she was impressed with herself, but I didn't care. Oh, Jashin, thank you, THANK YOU, for letting me hear that music. I WAS NOT WORTHY!!
"You can stop now," Tayuya snickered. I quickly stopped clapping.
"That was..." I gasped, "...amazing."
"Heh, I know."
I just stared at her. "Would you like me to take you home?" GAH!! IDIOT!! FUCKING IDIOT!! DON'T ASK HER TO GO!!
Tayuya shook her head. "I feel like walking," she sighed. "Do you have anything to eat though? I'm hungry."
I bolted up. "Sure! I can't say I have the best stuff, but I do have some food." I opened the mini fridge and freezer at the end of my room. "Do you like ice cream?"
"Yeah."
"Great! I have some strawberry ice cream bars in here."
"Those are my favorite."
I thought I heard angels sing...if I believed in angels, that is. We had something in common!
I pulled out the bar (which happened to be the last one) and handed it to her. "Here."
"Thanks." She took it and smirked. "By the way," she told me as she headed for the door, "you're the only person I've ever played like that for. That's how I play, how I really play, and you're the only person who's ever heard it." She opened the door. "Can I come by over the weekend and play for you again? It was fun."
I slowly nodded. "You're always...welcome here."
Tayuya tore off the wrapper and bit into the ice cream. She grinned as she let it melt in her mouth and swallowed. "Thanks. See you later, fucker." With another bite, she closed the door.
I ran to my window and looked down at the streets. I watched as she left the apartment building and walked down the sidewalk for home. I looked up towards the ceiling and fell to my knees. I lifted my hands up.
"OH, JASHIN, THANK YOU SO FUCKING MUCH!! I AM NOT WORTHY OF YOUR KINDNESS!!"
My mind flashed back to Deidara again. I smiled so damn wide like a total moron. I knew what it was now.
I was in love.
I WAS SO MUCH IN FUCKING LOVE.
TO BE CONTINUED
