40 Kinds of Sadness - a NejiSaku fic.
Yay! Another chapter!
Hmm.. Looks like things are getting better.. What do you guys think? Will Neji accept Naruto's offer?
Damn it! Sure, he will! Why? Because I said so! Gyahahahah!
Disclaimer: NARUTO © Masashi Kishimoto. Studio Pierrot. All characters belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 4
Ocean Avenue
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"Uzumaki.."
"This is the least I can do for you. We both know how much you love Sakura, so we have to do this. Come on, do it." Naruto grinned.
"Alright. I'm doing this because I love Sakura. Uzumaki, thanks." Neji felt something pumping hardly in his chest.
"That's Naruto to you, or maybe Rokudaime.." Again, Naruto grinned.
Neji smiled back.
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The next day..
"Oh my gosh! I gotta get Ino!" Sakura said while preparing her dress for the prom.
She took the phone and called Ino.
PHONE CONVERSATION
"Hello? Inoink!" (A.N.: Got it? Inoink? Ino-oink?)
"Huh? Oh, Forehead-chan! Getting ready for the prom?"
"Hell yeah! Look, I really need you here. I'm having trouble with the hair clips. I kinda lost some. Can I borrow some of yours?"
"Sure thing. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Oh thanks! Bye!"
"Bye!"
END PHONE CONVERSATION
Sakura walked towards the door. She'll prepare some cookies for Ino.
Minutes later..
Someone knocked at the door.
"Forehead-chan! Open up!"
Sakura opened the door. "Ino-pig, you're early! Err.. What are those bags?"
Ino dropped the bags. She opened one and smiled. "I thought you might like these, so I brought them." She slid a purple kimono out.
Sakura's eyes widened. "It's pretty! Why don't you come in and have a seat?"
Ino sat down on the couch. "Aah.. Hey, forehead."
"Hn?"
"Are you baking again? I smell chocolate cookies."
"Oh my god!" Sakura ran to the kitchen.
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"Dakara aaaaaaaaaaaahh! Haruka kanata!"
The band played hard.
"Let's try that again." Neji said. "Naruto, I think you need more yelling."
"Do I? Gawd. I don't wanna wreck this warehouse."
"Ah. Just get on with it. Mendokusai.." Shikamaru raised his arms in a lazy manner.
"Alright, alright! Let's start again."
And the music started again.
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Sakura looked happily at the mirror.
"Ino-pig! This looks good on me!" She made cute faces at the mirror.
"Yeah. So, wanna keep it?" Ino tucked at the edges of the dress.
"Hell yeah!"
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"Ah. It's already 11 a.m. Are you sure you don't wanna rest?" Shikamaru plugged in the bass again.
"Hey, Mr. Mendokuse whatever, we'll be performing live on stage 10 hours from now!" Naruto yelled at the boy. "For your info, we need to rehearse that one last SONG! Speaking of that song.."
"Can't you just tell us NOW! So we can freaking practice it already!" Kiba had always waited for that.
"Alright already! The last song is.."
Everyone gulped.
"..reserved."
Shikamaru hit Naruto with the bass guitar, while Kiba threw the drum sticks at him. "Baka-mono!" They said in unison.
"Hey--! What was that for!" Naruto massaged his head.
"You..you dobe! You said that shiznit yesterday!" Kiba hit him again.
"That's the second!"
"Just get on with it!" Shikamaru rubbed impatiently at the bass.
"Okay, okay! Sheesh.." Naruto walked close to Neji. "We will be playing a song for Sakura."
"For Sakura-chan? Why?" Kiba tried to think. "Oh.. I get it.." He grinned widely.
"What is it, Kiba?" Chouji finally threw the candy wrapper.
"You don't know! Gawd, Chouji! Don't you know that Neji's in love with Sakura?"
"N-nani!" Chouji's eyes widened. "I..I never knew that! They were childhood friends, right?"
"Yeah, they were.." Naruto eyed Neji, who was standing next to him perspiring.
"A-ano.. I think we should practice now.." Neji was nervous. Damn it..
"Ah-aah.. Let's continue practicing." Shikamaru sat lazily on the couch. "Mendokusai.."
Naruto snatched the microphone. "Ok, Neji. Let's practice that song of yours."
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11:45 P.M. Ninja Academy
"Iruka! Have you seen my Icha Icha Paradise!" Kakashi was angered.
"Hn..? N-no! I-I haven't s-seen it!" Iruka replied, while slipping an orange pocketbook in his sleeve.
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8:00 P.M. An hour before the Prom Night
(A/N: Too fast, ne? So sorry for that. I just came home from volleyball practice, and I feel so wasted now.. -- Anyway, please continue reading!)
Shino knocked at the door of Sakura's house.
"Uhh.. Sakura-chan..?" Shino held the bouquet tightly. For the first time in his life, he was going to do something he wasn't supposed to do.
"Oh, Shino! You're early!" Sakura smiled as she opened the door.
"Well, I don't want us to be late. Are you ready?" Shino peeked closer at the ajar door. Sakura was only showing her face.
"You bet I am!" Sakura finally showed herself to him. Shino's eyes widened at the view.
Sakura was wearing a short pink gown with matching frills at the bottom part of the dress. She had a transparent pink cloth covering her shoulder area. Her hair was tied in a bun, just like what she had during the festival. Her bangs fell loosely on her face in a tidy manner.
Shino couldn't believe what he just felt when he saw her. Must control..
"You're beautiful.." A small murmur escaped from his lips.
"Th-thanks.." Sakura blushed.
"So.. Shall we go now?" Shino offered his arm to her.
"Yeah.. Sure.." Sakura held his arm.
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"5, 6, 7, go."
The band played the first song they were about to play. After about 3 minutes, they got it right.
"Ah yeah! We're ready!" Naruto shouted in glee.
"Uzumaki, I think we should be heading there now." Neji pulled nervously at his guitar.
"Feh.. It's already 8! Aaaahhh.."
"Hn.. Yea. We should go now."
"Heheh.. Neji-chan is excited.. Gyahahahhhh..."
"Uzumaki, stop it!" Neji's face turned red. "I'm not..excited.."
"Hah! Say that in front of Sakura-chan!"
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8:45 P.M. All the students of Ninja Academy were busy at the venue. Some were making compliments about their partners' outfits, some were chatting, and some were playing pranks and such.
Naruto and the rest of Shinobi no Go were at the backstage, preparing all the instruments they'll use.
"Shikamaru, I think that goes to the left." Chouji pointed at the drum set.
"No, Chouji. This should be at the center."
"Ok. Whatever." The stout boy opened a new fresh pack of chips.
After 15 minutes, Sakura and Shino were spotted talking to each other at the nearby tree. Neji saw them as Sakura giggled at Shino.
There they are.. Having fun..
"Sakura-chan.." Shino stared at Sakura straight to the eye, which made her blush.
"N-nani, Shino..?" Sakura's heart was pounding.
Shino suddenly held her hand and lowered his head. Now their faces were just an inch apart from each other.
Neji tried not to look, but his body just won't let him to. His heart ached as he watched his object of affection being with another guy.
"Sakura-chan.." Shino murmured her name again, sending shivers down to her spine. She didn't know what to do, as Shino leaned in closer. He was about to kiss her when suddenly..
The lights went dim. Iruka-sensei was standing at the stage.
"Good evening students. Welcome to the annual Promenade Night. Before we start, let us hear some words from our Great Godaime Hokage."
Sakura looked at the stage. She turned her head to get away from Shino's face. Shino was disappointed.
Neji, who was standing at the back stage, saw what happened. Since then, he started to breathe evenly again.
After Godaime's speech, Iruka-sensei gladly announced that the Prom Night had officially begun.
There were short dances, but Sakura participated neither of those. She just sat next to Shino.
After about an hour, Iruka-sensei introduced the newest band of the Ninja Academy, the Shinobi no Go.
"They'll be playing for you all night!" Iruka said gladly.
The boys finally revealed themselves. There were random screaming, of course, from some fangirls. Sakura was surprised to see Neji holding an electric guitar.
"He will..be playing..?"
Sakura couldn't believe this. Wasn't he supposed to be with his partners..?
Shino stood up. "It is because he didn't wanna be with his fangirls."
Sakura's eyes widened. She had always thought wrong about Neji! What a fool she was!
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"Okay, minna! Are you ready!" Naruto cheered the audience.
"HELL YEAH!" The students yelled with him.
"This one's called Ocean Avenue. Alright! Boys, let's do it!"
And the music started to occupy the ears of the audience.
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
Sakura watched as Neji played his guitar. She felt something funny in her belly. She wanted to scream something, but the words just won't come out.
She knew right then that one thing's for sure. She's falling in love again..with him.
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our bare feet
We were both eighteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
She didn't know wat to do, or what to say. She looked at Shino, who was listening at the music. He smiled at her and let go of her hand.
Neji looked at Sakura. Finally..tonight.. I'll tell the whole village how much you mean to me..
If I could find you now, things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
Neji's eyes closed. He never felt anything like this before. At last.. At long last.. He was given the opportunity to tell his object of affection how he felt.
There's a piece of you that's here with me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep, I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight
That you're here tonight
Sakura listened to every line of the song. Oh, I get it..
Why..? You ask why..? Because I always feel this way too..
If I could find you now, things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
Yes.. We could leave everything behind together.. Neji told himself.
If acquiring your love would cost me everything I have, I'd gladly give it all..
I remember the look in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
You were begging me not tonight
Not here, not now
We're looking up at the same night sky
Keep pretending the sun will not rise
Be together for one more night
Somewhere, somehow
I never told you goodbye.. Sakura closed her eyes.
I never told you goodbye.. Neji continued playing the music.
If I could find you now, things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
Everybody was unaware that, in the middle of the crowd, two people were busy reminiscing precious memories from the past.
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A/N: Ah! There you have it! Sorry if this chappie is crappy! (wooh..I'm a poet!) .;
Well, thanks to the reviewers! I love you all!
low-ponytail
arubadiamond
Gaara's Desert Blossom
mentally unstable X3
al2010
Xinoria
Neji'sgurl
teentitansrockmysock
There! Sorry if I didn't post your names on the previous chappies! Well, anyway, thanks for reading!
The song is from Yellowcard. That was the song we played last year during our prom night.. LOL Anyway, please review! Wanna talk? E-mail me at
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Arigato!