Howdy all! Thank you again for reading my story and giving me such great reviews. It makes me happy beyond belief that you're enjoying a bando story :]
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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any other character from the series.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
RECAP:
Sakura leaned against the drum major podium and started into the dark sky, "Ugh, someone carry me."
"With pleasure squirt," Kisame remarked as he pulled her onto his back.
She just groaned and lay her head against is broad shoulder, "I would so punch you if I wasn't so tired."
He turned his head and gave her a sharky smile, "And I would still love you in the morning."
"Sakura."
The pink haired drum major turned to look down at Sasori, "Hm?"
"What time is practice in the morning?" he asked smoothly.
At this thought the pinkette's face fell, "Six in the fucking morning."
'Whoop-di fucking do.'
Ch.3 Bandos just want to have fun
The horrid beeping, it wouldn't stop.
As much as Sakura tried to ignore it, that damn alarm kept ringing, telling her it was 5:30 and she had to get ready for morning practice.
"Temari make it stop," she complained covering her head with a pillow, hoping to drown out the obnoxious sound.
Finally the blonde trudged out of her bed and repeatedly hit the alarm.
She sighed, "Come on drum major, you're the one who really has to be on time here."
Sakura walked out to the field in her little plaid pajama shorts and tight black t-shirt that showed a bit of her stomach if she even slightly lifted her arms.
Her pink hair was thrown up into a high bun with her bangs hanging down on her face.
She sprawled herself on the grassy sideline of the field and waited for the rest of the band to make their way to practice.
The rustling of grass was heard as some one stood next to her.
Sakura peeked open an eye to see Kakashi standing over her with a smile.
"Well it's nice to see you on time this morning," Sakura joked with a yawn as she sat up with hunched shoulders, "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I want to talk to you about the Sound high school band," he began talking a seat on the grass next to her. "It seems that their director has been sending students to watch over our practice. I have a feeling he plans to use some of our ideas."
"Just means we have no competition," Sakura huffed as she turned to him, "I'll find the kids from there band so don't worry about it."
"Glad to hear it," he commented as he gave her a smile and made his way over to the other instructors.
Sakura gave an exasperated sigh as the band piled their way onto the field.
"Tired of your job already?" asked a smooth voice approaching her spot.
"No, just tired of your face," she snapped back to the percussion section leader as he gave her a sweet smirk.
He walked right next to her still sitting form and placed a hand in her pink locks, "So snippy in the morning aren't we?"
She smacked his hand away and stood, brushing herself off in the process as she made her way to the front of the tired bandos and next to her fellow drum majors.
"Gooooooooood morning band!" Kakashi greeted with his all too cheery persona, "This morning we will be working on the first section of our drill. Section leaders find your squad spots on the field and stand at attention when you're ready."
"That's our cue to leave, yeah," Deidara whispered in Sakura's ear.
The drum majors moved over to their usual tree and sat down.
Sakura told them about the rival band and how they had to keep their eyes peeled.
"Bastards," Deidara cursed as he watched the sunrise.
"There isn't much we can do until we find them," Itachi mentioned as he leaned against the tree, "When we do, we'll make sure they don't bother us anymore."
Sakura replied with a nod as she also watched the sun rise, "You guys do know there is a mixer tonight with their band, right?"
"I do now, yeah."
Itachi smirked then looked to Sakura who wasn't paying attention, "We can use this to our advantage."
Once practice ended it seemed people were rushing to get in line for breakfast.
"Why are they running?" Sakura questioned. "It's dorm food. It's not like it's that great."
Tenten laughed, "Well as you can see it's mostly boys and when they're hungry, nothing can stop them."
"It's kind of sad," Ino sighed as she brushed a hand through her hair.
"And you know what's worse, Ino?" Sakura asked with a small smirk, "Your boyfriend is leading the pack."
Ino rolled her eyes and snorted, "I've never seen him run so fast in my life."
The girls responded with a laugh as they made their way to breakfast.
Once they were in line outside the cafeteria, Sakura was pulled away from her girls towards the front of the line.
The pink haired drum major glared at her new group, "Can't you guys, I donno, possibly find someone else to torture?"
"But Tobi loves Sakura-Chan!" the masked boy cried as he waved his food tray franticly in the air.
Sakura rolled her eyes as Kakuzu handed her a tray.
"So what are you doing during your breaks today squirt?" Kisame asked as he made his way down the line, filling his plate with food.
"I was thinking about going swimming since its so hot out," she replied as she pilled food on to her own plate.
"Will you be wearing a bikini, yeah?" Deidara asked wiggling his eyebrows.
Sakura snorted, "Well yeah. I wear a bikini every year, but it's not like you guys were really looking at me before."
"Tobi was! Tobi always thought Sakura-Chan was pretty!" the childish boy declared.
Sakura smiled at the boy, "Tobi you're a good boy."
Tobi excitedly hugged her, "Tobi knows."
"Tobi you're such a kiss ass," Hidan added.
Once everyone had their food, they made their way to a table.
"Along with swimming, I have to go to the Konoha and Sound mixer tonight," the emerald eyed girl muttered with evident annoyance.
"Why the fuck do you have to go?" Hidan asked as he stuffed his face with food.
"Hello, Drum major here," she replied as she pointed to herself dumbly.
Kisame snorted, "I'm going to teach those sound punks that they can't steal anything from our band."
Sakura, Deidara, and Hidan started laughing.
"That's like, the dorkiest thing you've ever said, yeah," Deidara said with a laugh as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
The pinkette held a cheeky smile on her face as she nodded at the blonde's statement.
The shark man glared at his friends, "Shut up."
"Kisame has a point," the head drum major spoke.
"And what point would that be?" Sakura asked as she took a bite, "Sharing is bad?"
"Sharing is good Sakura-Chan," Tobi corrected as he picked up his chocolate milk.
Kisame and Hidan snickered while Kakuzu rolled his eyes.
"He means that our routines aren't the only thing that sound is after," Sasori spoke as if it were the simplest thing to figure out.
"Like what, yeah? Tobi's cookies?" Deidara asked with a smirk.
"No!" Tobi cried, "Not Tobi's cookies!"
Sakura couldn't help but giggle.
"We can't be sure at this point in time," the drummer added, "But I'm sure we'll figure out soon enough."
"Right, well I'm going to go up to my room," Sakura told them, "I'll see you guys at practice."
She stood from her seat and grabbed her tray, giving the boys one last look, "Don't follow me."
Kisame chuckled and nudged Itachi's arm, "You are so damn lucky to have her around all the time."
"Hn."
The old mattress of the assistant drum major's bed made a creaking noise as she landed on it.
"You know, why do colleges keep these crappy mattresses when they have the money for better?" Sakura asked Temari as she continued to bounce on the noisy mattress.
The blonde smirked, "Because they know Karin will be…using them and buying new ones would be a waste of money for that reason."
Sakura laughed as she grabbed her set of drill charts.
"So have you guys thought about your drum major salute yet?" Temari asked, taking a seat next to her.
"Shit, not really," Sakura groaned as she got up to change out of her pajamas, "I guess we'll be working on that today."
Temari snorted at the undressing girl, "For your sake, let's hope they keep their hand to themselves."
Drum major salute. Definition: A salute all drum majors perform before conducting the songs and drills. It symbols the band being ready to perform once the drum majors salute.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The time for the next practice had come rather quickly and while the band was perfecting the first drill, the drum majors decided to come up with ideas for their salute.
"Sadly I'm not," the head drum major replied with his cool facade.
"There is no way in hell I'll wear this as my summer performance uniform," the pinkette remarked as she held the newly purchased uniform in her hands.
Deidara laughed, "It's that or go naked. I wouldn't mind that either, yeah."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "This shouldn't even be considered a uniform!" she declared, "I mean come on, it's so skimpy!"
"That's because we've never had a female drum major before," Deidara retorted with a smirk, "And Kakashi picked it out."
"Pervert," she mumbled angrily.
"You should see your winter uniform," Itachi added with a smirk.
The pinkette sighed and tossed her new uniform in her bag, "I'm guessing it's not much better. Let's just try to work on this routine while I think of ways to kill you in my head."
"As long as I'm on your mind, yeah," Deidara replied with a smile as he walked away from their tree to a more open area.
Sakura and Itachi followed the blonde and made a triangle formation with Itachi in front.
"We've got to do something else besides just spinning these atrocious maces," Sakura suggested as she examined her practice mace. (A/N: Maces are like batons but bigger and one end is much larger than the other. They are more for show when it comes to drum majors.)
"Like pyrotechnics, yeah?" Deidara questioned, with a hint of devious intent.
"That would be highly dangerous and it's against the rules," Itachi shot down as he turned to his assistants.
Deidara's face fell but then immediately lit up with another idea, "How bout some flips or something, yeah?"
Sakura snorted, "If I'm going to be wearing that slutty excuse for a uniform, then there is no way I'll be doing any flips or what not."
"We'll just do tricks with the maces then add some sort of creative bow," Itachi decided since he knew there was no way of convincing a stubborn Sakura.
Sakura, who was currently thinking over the situation, snapped her finger and gave them a smile, "I've got an idea. What if we added a little dance or something in one of the songs the band is playing?"
"I don't dance," Itachi stated blandly.
"Well that's a shocker," she muttered sarcastically, "But really. You know the song 'Sing Sing Sing' we're playing?"
They nodded.
"Since one of you guys will be conducting it, the other could dance with me. Like a swing dance or something," she told them.
Itachi's eyes fell onto his pink haired assistant and let a small smirk form, "Interesting."
"That's actually not a half bad idea, yeah," Deidara remarked with crossed arms.
Sakura put her hands on her hips with a smile, "Yeah, I'm so pro."
"You do realize that you just volunteered the idea to dance with one of us," Itachi added, amused at her since of triumph.
The girl shrugged, "It's a little better than doing flips."
"And this way we can actually hold you, yeah," the blonde spoke up with a mischievous smirk.
"On second thought, scratch that idea," she muttered as she noticed the band finishing up their drill.
"We'll work on the salute at sectionals tomorrow," Itachi told them as they walked over to the field, "Sakura, it's your job to inform the band about the mixer tonight in your announcements."
Sakura nodded as she crossed her arms behind her head.
"Welcome back drum majors," Kakashi greeted as he turned back to the band, "Once announcements are finished, you may leave for lunch then be back at your respected spots for sectionals."
"We will be coming around to every sectional today to ask you to play us part of a selected song," Itachi explained as he carelessly leaned on the podium, "We expect you to be practicing or there will be consequences."
"Just a reminder, yeah," Deidara added, "After lunch you will have another break in which the shuttle over to the university pool will be available. It will also be available on your night break."
"But during your break time tonight there is going to be a mixer with…other bands," Sakura explained hesitantly, "The drum majors, including myself, will be attending."
Itachi spared a glance at the pinkette then turned back to the band, "You're dismissed."
Once everyone had their lunch trays, and a spot at their table they began to make small talk.
"Please tell me that some of you are going to the mixer tonight," Sakura pleaded as she gave her friends her best puppy dog face.
"I'll be there!" Naruto declared with a smile, "Believe it!"
"Temari and I were going to go to scope out the competition," Tenten explained as she took a bite of her lunch.
The blonde nodded in agreement.
"The rest of us will try to stop by for a little while at least," Kiba told her, signaling to the rest of the group.
"How troublesome…"
At sectionals the drum majors divided up the sections for their evaluations.
Sakura got stuck with the trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. Both alto and tenor.
'Oh goody.'
The trumpets were fairly easy.
They all had practiced and there were only minor problems in some of the member's playing.
Naruto was so proud.
The trombones, not so much.
Kiba was hanging from a tree while Kankuro was using his lame pick-up lines.
"Sakura," Kankuro purred, "If you were words on a page, you'd be what they call fine print."
"That's nice Kankuro," Sakura replied as she continued to listen to one of the other sectionlings.
Sakura turned to Shikamaru with a raised eyebrow and shot him a 'Why-aren't-you-doing-shit?' look.
He sighed, "Kiba stop being so troublesome and remove yourself from that tree."
"Fine," he replied as he jumped down, "But Sakura listen to this joke."
She placed her hand on her hips and waited fro him to continue.
"Ok ok. How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?" he asked.
Sakura shrugged.
"Five. One to handle the light bulb and four to tell him how much better they could have done it."
The pinkette giggled, "That makes perfect sense."
She waved off the trombonists and made her way over to the saxophones, hoping for the best.
Altos: played everything perfectly.
Tenors: in their dreams.
Although Temari was the only one to play the piece correctly, she was the only one to play when asked. Minus the few freshmen that were intimidated by the drum major, who didn't need to be told twice.
Sakura twitched in annoyance and glared at the silver haired section leader, "And why doesn't it surprise me, that even after a threat, you won't do as you're told?"
Hidan gave her a handsome smirk, "Because it's fucking hilarious to see you so damn riled up, and to know I was the fucking cause."
"You're such an ass," Temari retorted to Hidan.
'If what the girls said is true, maybe I can use his crush on me against him.'
The pinkette sighed and glanced over to Kakuzu who was currently playing for Deidara.
"This is why I like Kakuzu better," she began noticing Hidan twitch in annoyance, "He is always respectful and does what I ask."
She turned her head back to face him, "Pity."
"Shit, Fuck him!" he yelled as he picked up his sax and music, "I'm way fucking better than him."
'Perfect.'
Once she was finished with evaluations she met up with Itachi over at the percussion section.
"I'm all finished and so is Deidara," she told him as he gazed down at her, "Whenever you're ready we can dismiss them."
Itachi looked over to the front of the field and gave Kakashi a nod.
"Bring it in!" the masked director announced.
As everyone gathered at the podium Kakashi reminded them of their break options and the time for the last practice.
"Band dismissed," Itachi commanded.
Sakura laughed, "I remember when we had to do a pelvic thrust when we were dismissed."
"Yeah, why don't we don't that anymore?" Deidara questioned as he watched the band exit the field.
"Because it is juvenile and immature," Itachi replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But we're bandos, that's how we are," stated Kisame as he joined the group.
"Well that's how you are at least," Sakura snickered.
Kisame's lips tugged up showing his pointed smile, "Oh really?"
A lopsided grin played on Deidara's face, "You might want to run, yeah."
Sakura's expression turned into one of fake worry as the shark man began to run towards her.
A laugh escaped her lips as she fled from the shark man.
"Some one help!" she shouted with a laugh, "Jaws is trying to eat me!"
Tobi ran over to join the group of seniors and looked at Sakura in horror, "Oh no! There is a giant shark after Sakura-Chan!"
The group smirked and watched as Kisame gained on the pinkette.
Sakura noticed and started running faster to find a safe place.
Her options: Catch up to Sai not to far ahead or hide behind Sasuke who was also close by.
'Both options suck!'
But it was too late to go further as she was picked up by the waist and thrown over Kisame's broad shoulder.
"Damn you Kisame," she muttered in defeat as the shark man carried her over to the seniors.
"I think I like you in this position better," Sasori remarked with an amused smirk as the group walked behind Kisame.
Sakura glared, "Why? So you can look at my ass, or down my shirt?"
Hidan looked the two places she mentioned and smirked, "Shit, both."
Using her arms to cover her chest, she continued to glare, "Perverts."
"It's just like you said," Kisame began with a smile, "It's how I am."
The pinkette groaned and propped her elbows on Kisame's back, placing her head in her hands, as he continued to walk.
Deidara chuckled, "I'm surprised you're not trying to break free, yeah."
Sakura felt Kisame's laugh rippled through his back and chest, "She knows she can't, that's why she's so cooperative."
"Exactly," she replied with a sigh, "Where are we going anyway?"
"To get changed, then the pool," Itachi told her.
'Great.'
Once she was changed and ready to go, she hid from the seniors and arrived at the university pool with Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Chouji, Ino, Neji, Naruto, and Gaara.
She looked over at Gaara as they dropped off their towels and shoes by some chairs.
"I didn't know you liked to swim Gaara."
"Hn."
Sakura removed her swimsuit cover-up to reveal a light green bikini with small white polka dots.
"Look at that body!" Ino announced looking at Sakura's bathing suit body.
"Ino!" she yelled, "Shut up!"
"I'll shut up if you jump off the high drive," Ino suggested with a laugh.
"Fine," she answered, "Anyone going with me?"
"I will," Neji told her.
"Sakura-Chan, wait!" Naruto's voice called, "I want to go too!"
The three made their way up the tall ladder and waited in line for the leap of faith.
Naruto went first deciding to take up an offer from Kiba; ten bucks for doing a belly flop.
'That's gonna leave a mark.'
In fact it did. A nice red patch across his torso.
Neji went next with a regular dive landing in the water in all of his graceful perfection.
Once Sakura made her way to the end of the platform she looked down to see all of her friends waving at her.
"I'm loving this view, yeah!" Deidara yelled up at her form the water with a smirk.
"It'd be fucking better if her top came off when she jumped in!" Hidan declared with a laugh.
"I'm going to love kicking your asses when I come down from here!" she yelled as she front flipped off the platform into the water.
When she resurfaced, she smoothed out her hair and swam over to her friends.
But before she reached them she flipped Hidan and Deidara the bird, who only laughed in reply.
"Nice form Sakura," Kiba complimented, "I give you a nine."
"Well I give you a ten!" Naruto told her, "Even though my belly flop was awesome."
"I still can't believe you did that," Ino retorted giving him a weird look.
"There goes ten bucks," Kiba muttered in defeat.
Dinner passed by quickly as did the last practice.
Itachi had his first chance to conduct the band as they played and marched the first drill for 'Any way you want it'.
"Remember everyone!" Kakashi announced, "The mixer is tonight in the indoor rehearsal room. Hope to see you all there!"
"Band dismissed."
The girls scurried over to Sakura and made their way up to the dorms.
"What are you going to wear?" Ino asked as she pushed the pinkette to move faster into her room.
"Um, this?" she asked meekly pointing to her outfit.
"No way in hell," the blonde replied as she pulled out an outfit for her.
The pinkette ended up in cut-off jean shorts and a tight white tank top with matching white flip-flops.
"Well, for going to a dance at band camp, you look good," Temari told her as they made their way down to the rehearsal room.
"I call it 'Band camp chic'," Ino announced with a smile.
Sakura snorted, "Seriously, this mixer is a pure waste of my time. I'd rather be sleeping."
As they entered the large practice room they notice many members of the band there and many unfamiliar faces of other band members.
"We're going to go," Kiba told her as he looked around.
"This looks like a total drag," Shikamaru mumbled as most of the boys left as quickly as they arrived.
"I'm g-going to go f-find Shino," Hinata told them as she made her way through the crowd.
"I'm going to go interrogate people," Temari said with an evil smirk.
"I'll second that statement!" Tenten told her as they disappeared into a crowd of unsuspecting freshmen.
"I'm going to go pull Chouji away from the snack bar," Ino told her as she began to walk away, "Have fun!"
'Shoot me now...'
"I thought I'd see you here," a voice spoke from behind her, breaking her from her thoughts.
She turned only to find the boy that came up to her in the cafeteria the other day, Kimimaro.
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Yes, now that you've seen me you can watch me walk away."
The drum major began to depart from the white haired male but he quickly grasped her wrist, keeping her in place.
Her head whipped around and she sent him a glare, "You might want to let go if you want to keep your pride intact."
A small smirk played on his features, "Just let me ask you one question, why do you dislike me so much?"
With an eyebrow raised she looked at him, "I have one of my own questions to answer your question, are you spying on our practices?"
His smirk widened, "If I answer, will you?"
"I suppose."
Forrest green met emerald in a gaze, "Then yes, we have."
Sakura wretched her wrist form his grip and glared, then smirked, "That should be an answer to your first question."
Before walking away completely she turned back to him, "I really hope I don't need to spell it out for you. But with your level of stupidity and lack of common sense, I might have to."
Kimimaro's smirk returned as he watched her retreating form, "I'll wait for that chance."
"Who was that gorgeous thing?" a white haired male with pointed teeth asked as he looked over the girl.
"That, Suigetsu, is our beautiful competition."
The peeved pinkette noticed Kakashi flagging her down so she made her way over to him.
"Sakura, I'd like you to meet the director of bands at Sound high school, Orochimaru."
She looked over at the man standing next to Kakashi. He had sickly pale skin and long black locks. The scariest thing though, was his snake like eyes in a bright shade of yellow.
"Orochimaru, this is Sakura Haruno," Kakashi introduced, "One of our assistant drum majors this year."
The snake-like man smirked and held out a hand, which Sakura took hesitantly.
"Pleasure to meet you Sakura," he greeted in his sickly-sweet voice.
"Same to you," she replied blandly as she held herself back from kicking him in the shin.
'Snake bastard.'
"Well I do hope you enjoy yourself Miss Haruno," Orochimaru told her with his all too creepy smile. "I look forward to seeing your band perform."
"We look forward to performing for you," she told him with a confident tone as she took her leave.
The rival director smirked at the pinkette as she walked away.
Sakura was so busy thinking of ways to make Orochimaru and Kimimaro suffer in her head that she didn't notice Deidara come up behind her until he place a hand around her waist.
"Lost in your thoughts about me, yeah?" he asked with a smile, sensing her unhappy mood.
She snorted and looked up at him, not caring about the limb around her waist, "In your dreams."
"You know what else happens in my dreams, yeah?" he asked as he pulled her over to the dance floor
"Hm?"
The blonde smiled, "You dance with me, yeah."
'Maybe I'll let is charm work just this once.'
"That happens in Tobi's dreams to Sakura-chan!" the masked boy announced.
"Tobi," Sasori stated, "Stop talking."
"Hn."
'Or not…'
Dang, I wrote a lot! Hope you enjoy it! If you have any questions about anything bando related that you don't understand, feel free to ask! :D
Now you guys should READ and REVIEW.