Reviewers: M. animaniac, Cindy Medeiros
Favoriters: mangolovingemoninja, PenanceGirl, wierdpony115, Cindy Medeiros
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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto of any of its characters. Neither do I own Pachelbel Canon.
A heart that is broken
A friendship that is destroyed
And a lonely person at the end of life.
They can only create pain.
Sakura
It was music class.
Kabuto asked everyone to guess the song as some of the students played it. Sakura, knowing no songs at all, knew she was going to fail.
Shikamaru offered to play the guitar, finally turning away from Ino, who had red eyes and makeup blurred on her face. Tenten went to play the piano. All that was left was the violin case in the corner.
Gaara stood up and silently walked to the violin. Taking it out, he tuned it with Shikamaru.
Kabuto each gave them a piece of music and set it lightly on the music stands. The sensei nodded, and they began playing in harmony.
The music spread through the air like a sweet aroma, and each note filled Sakura's heart with joy. To her, it seemed to go up and down a bit, and then fade into one strum. But that's not what surprised her the most.
Gaara's ability to play on the violin was outstanding. His bow danced across the instrument and rolled across the strings. Each note was perfect, not too high, not too flat.
The other student (having seen this many times before) mostly paid attention to the people around them, whispering and using the music as a cover. When the music ended, a few of them clapped absent-mindedly. Sakura was still frozen at the beauty of the music.
"Now, who can guess the name of this piece?"
A few hands went up, including Sasuke's.
"Pachelbel Canon in G."
His voice is so quiet. (Because he doesn't want to be heard…)
"Good Sasuke." Kaubto's eyes were gleaming.
She is still staring at the red-haired boy that has love carved into his forehead. She approaches him after class ends.
"You did a great job, you know."
He is silent. Sakura observes his pale sea foam eyes and spiky hair that looks very soft. It is the color of blood. It reminds her of blood.
"Where did you learn to play violin?"
More silence.
"Where do you live?"
There is a flash of anger and something more in his eyes. He steps toward Sakura, and even though she is taller than him (surprising, looking at the small amount of sleep and food she gets), he looks threatening.
"Go away." He growls, and walks away. (Hate devouring, love gone)
But that isn't what catches Sakura's attention.
It is that there are no stars around him. No stars at all.
She catches up to his fast pace, and stalks him until he reaches his locker. No one ever seems to notice him.
The bell has rung, and everyone is now rushing to get home. Within minutes the halls are empty and they are alone.
"Do you want help with that?"
He doesn't meet Sakura's eyes. The girl bends down and starts to pick up some of his stuff.
"Why?"
She looks at him questioningly. His voice is smooth and silky, but his face… Is so hard and expressionless.
"Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?"
To be honest, she doesn't have an answer. Gaara's voice rises. "I'm a monster. You've heard it too. Go away."
"I don't want to."
He pushes her, making her fall to the ground.
"Gaara!"
Naruto runs up, dropping all his stuff on the ground. Hinata follows, coaxing Sakura up. Her pale eyes are blazing with fear.
Naruto grabs the other boy's shoulder. "What the hell are you-"
Gaara picks up all of his stuff hurriedly and runs out. There is a girl with spiky blond pigtails talking to Shikamaru at the end of the hallway.
"Gaara!"
But he is gone. (Like always, everyone's running…)
Naruto pats Sakura on the back. "Sorry about Gaara. But I don't think… You should stay away."
Sakura looks back at the blond boy, and then Hinata, who is smiling and reaching out for her hand. She grasps the other hand, and feels the love.
Does Hinata feel love?
They walk home together, hand in hand, drinking in the scents of autumn. Birds chirp, people laugh, and for the first time since her mother died, Sakura feels truly happy.
She goes to Hinata's house and has a smoothie. Neiji is there, but he barely notices them as he spares with Tenten. His hair is flowing as he jumps and dodges, Tenten copying his moves like a reflection. But she can't confuse him.
Hinata watches in admiration, but Naruto looks bored. He explains to Sakura he's seen this plenty of times before.
"Why is Gaara so alone?"
Naruto sighed, and turned to look at her.
"He… You gotta…"
She waits patiently for his answer.
"He's different. A lot of troubles in the past, not many people really care about him. He has his own problems, and prefers to be left alone."
She thinks about the stars that avoid him and nods.
"His brother died awhile ago, and he's depressed about that too. Don't mind his attitude, Sakura. In fact, avoid him."
To Sakura, it is weird seeing Naruto so serious. It is even weirder seeing Naruto tell her to avoid his friend. (But are they true friends?) He said the same thing Kiba said.
"A…Avoid him?"
Naruto looks guilty, but he nods. "It's better for everyone. Including Gaara."
It was nice of
Naruto to walk me home
Today.
It would've been lonely
And he kept me happy with jokes
And his laughs that can spread to others.
I just wish that I could feel like this
Everyday
And just be like this
Forever.
But I can't
And everyone knows that.
(Do you mind?)
I wave goodbye to him
In front of his old, wooden house
And head to my old, wooden house
With the little well behind it
Covered with alcohol
And beer cans.
I sit down
On my mother's rocking chair
(Never coming back)
And rock
Rock
Rock
And work on homework.
It starts to rain
But I'm protected
By the roof over my head.
A boy is walking down the street
Across from my house
And he looks
Empty
Empty
Empty.
He is getting soaked
And the gourd on his back
Is turning dark
And his blood-red hair
Is turning scarlet.
But he doesn't seem to mind
And walks
And walks
Down the road
Without a care
In the world.
His expression is
Unreadable.
He stops and stares at the sky
(Does he want to go to the stars?)
And looks at the darkening clouds
(Does he want to be free?)
Suddenly his head jerks
And his pale sea foam eyes
Stare at me
And I look away.
He looks away too
And continues on his path.
(Lonely Lonely path.)
I wonder if there is something to eat
And I find nothing.
The stars surround me
But it means nothing.
Nothing.
Please. Help me. Love me.
Fill that hole in my heart.
I suddenly grow violent
A weird wave of heat coming over
And I slap the unreal stars away.
I'm not in control anymore.
(Have you ever?)
"GET THE HELL AWAY!"
Tears drip down my face
And I slam the door,
Crying.
Ino
She was the queen of all things, the master, the one who was on top. She had a boyfriend, a nice life, money, everything a girl could wish for.
Or so it seemed.
Her mother and father were always fighting, hitting each other. Money, hmph, she would rather be broke than do what she does almost every night.
Ino remembers the nights where she was happy, eating cakes with mommy and daddy, laughing and being spun around and around until it felt like she was flying, flying away from the worries of the world.
But something had snapped. Her daddy doesn't work, her mommy never comes home. So she goes out to kids behind the allyways and corners on dark nights and get drunk. Her stomach is filled with alcohol and she goes around doing crazy things.
She has killed before.
Money she gets from robbing stores and selling to black markets. She never knew Shikamaru knew about these nights.
He explained it all, after he had seen her hit Sakura. He wanted to give her a chance, and ignored it. Again and again and again. But harming others was the last straw.
She loved him for his righteousness, but hated him for being too kind.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! BASTARD! YOU STINKING LYING BASTARD! YOU SHOULD'VE STOPPED ME, DAMN IT!"
Shikamaru nods his head, accepting that it is his fault. Ino hates him even more, tears spilling over her face.
"SCREAM! SHOUT! PUNCH! WHY AREN'T YOU ANGRY? WHY DON'T YOU HATE ME?"
Shikamaru looks away.
"I could never hate you Ino."
The same day, she saw him with a blond girl, just like her. But this Temari has spiky pigtails and she is more pure than she will ever be. He has moved on, so she will too.
And she does. Her body longs for lust, so she gives in. She gets money and pleasure.
But it is not enough, isn't it?
Sakura. This is all Sakura's fault, she tells herself. She murmurs this over and over again next to her locker. The only person there is that weird kid Gaara, who barely seems to be paying attention. He is drawing something that looks strangely like a deflated heart with knives sticking out all over it.
Ino walks away. It is already 6:30, and she is late. Late late late. (Not that anyone would care.)
That's when she realizes that Gaara is Temari's brother. Drove mad by rage, she gets into his face slaps him. He trembles, but his face is emotionless as ever. She stomps her feet on the ground, and he walks away.
Stupid.
Since she has nothing better to do, Ino walks back home, dreading the screams and sounds of slapping that will await her there.
Her soft, blond hair blows in the wind, and she sighs, shivering against the cold.
I hate you!