A/N Wow. This chapter was quick. Thank you to all your wonderful reviews! (Not that I'm doing this for reviews or anything, but I appreciate the time you took into reviewing, even if it's just a quick 'love your story')

I won't be updating (well, I don't update anyways :P) much during the summer, since I'm going to LA and I'm moving. I hope to do at least an update every 3 months, but I'm not sure. I appreciate your patience!

Many thanks to my beta, who has been beta-ing this story in-between her busy schedule.

Breaking

Through

The

Sakura

Sakura stops at the traffic lights.

"Concert?"

Naruto nods, a smile lighting up his features. "Yeah! We have one before every break, which is tomorrow. "

Sakura shakes her head. "I know that, but..."

"What else is there to know?" Naruto shrugs and throws his arms into the air lazily, letting them drop to his side with a thump. " Though, for some reason, the high school has to play with the middle school. So that means the concert is only in the evenings. Too bad Gaara isn't coming... He was really excited." Seeing Sakura's questioning look, Naruto adds, "I mean, for him. I've heard him play; he's not bad."

Not bad. An understatement, at the best.

She thinks that everyone is a victim of multiple personality disorder. Really. And what's even worse; she can actually back up this statement with evidence.

But enough of that.

"How do you know he's not coming?"

"Saw him yesterday with the orchestra director-or-whatever-it-was-called. That's why I'm not going to the concert today," Naruto pauses, making way for a loud yawn. "It doesn't seem as good without him."

"Really?" Sakura asks in what she hopes is a uninterested tone.

"Yeah. Two years ago, he didn't show up and the whole orchestra completely fell apart. I mean, it just felt that way, to me at least. The light or something." Sakura does that questioning look at him again, and he stutters, "H-Hey! I'm not a musician! I don't know that kind of stuff!"

Not knowing that much about music herself, she can't retort back. Instead, she focuses on the road ahead.

"Don't you have to take a turn to get to your house?"

"I'm going somewhere else." Because there's nothing waiting for her at home anyways.

Naruto shrugs. He slows down a bit and starts kicking at decaying leaves left astray on the road. "I think I'll visit Kiba. He asked me to come over, so."

Then he starts talking to her (himself), talking about little details in his life that she doesn't really care for. But, trying to be a good friend, she tries to listen attentively. However, most of her attention is focused on the stars that drift by, light and floaty. Smaller and blurrier than she remembered; she hasn't paid much attention them either.

"Hey, that's the way to Gaara's house."

Naruto's sharp tone snaps her out of her daydream. "Sorry, what?"

"Why are you going to Gaara's house?" Naruto asks, eyes wide and innocent. (Not really because it's Naruto and he's never innocent)

"Just...Temari gave me a note."

You haven't even opened it.

Naruto waves to her dismissively. "Well, if you have things to do...See ya Sakura!"

Bye.

Of course, I don't say.

If I'm lucky...

I'll go to a little concert of my own today.

So happy.

I really can't tell.

But, to go to a special concert,

You have to enter in a special way.

No, not the door.

Well, yes, the door, but not that door.

I'd rather save the trouble.

As expected (pureluck) the door is open.

"Temari?"

Hushed silence.

Careful, don't trip and fall.

No one there, it seems.

"Hello? Anyone?"

Wait. There's something off.

Turn.

"Kya!"

Jade stares blankly. Comforting? Maybe.

Not really, no.

"Have you been watching me the whole time?"

Blink.

"Weird."

Did I say that out loud?

Eyes narrowed, on the defensive. Standing up slowly, analyzing situation.

"Temari's not home."

Stating the obvious.

"I thought you didn't want to see me?"

"I never avoided you-"

"If you don't want to be here, leave."

I hate that he's right.

"Is this about the letter?"

"Concert."

Stupidstupidstupid.

Ismyfacegoingrednoitisn'tcan'tbeno.

It isn't.

"Con...cert? When did you hear about that?"

"Tenten."

Cat eye slits. "I see."

I should say something more. I know it.

But what?

"Um...I heard you were good."

His eyes inspect me again.

"What are you implying?"

Does that mean,

'What are you planning'

Or

'What are you trying to do'

Or

'What do you mean'.

I can't, don't, understand.

Nobody really does, though.

"That I want to hear you play. Naruto said-"

I can hear him hissing under his breath.

Eyes foggy.

"I'll go, if you don't want to be bothered."

My voice, a bit too loud, probably.

Eyes clear.

"Were you planning to go to the concert?"

Shrug. "Naruto said it wouldn't be the same without you."

(All about him, I see)

Not about him. No.

HA.

That's what he says.

"Naruto."

Bitter. Uncomfortable.

Violin lying on bare ground.

Just noticed?

More silence. Eyes shift to the instrument. It feels smooth and cold. He doesn't object.

Twang.

The sound is rough and scratchy. Hurts my ears, and his as well, judging from his expression.

A flare in his jade pools. Flare of hope in my heart.

Twing, twang, twling, twack

"You're horrible."

It's more of a statement than him trying to be rude.

I hand him the violin and

He grabs it

And

Starts to play.

It's a flowing river

Almost

Better than one, I say.

It's honey to my ears.

He blinks at my awed expression

And the corners

Of his mouth

Twitch up.

"Jealous?"

"Hardly."

I can't help

Bursting into giggles

Out of pure joy

Of hearing that sweet melody.

Short,

But amazing.

Fog in his eyes

Clear

A bit.

Maybe I can venture

Into further territory?

"It would have been great if you could've made it to the concert."

The light

Is gone.

One

Flat

Word

"Maybe."

(Can you hear it?)

Hear the wall shatter?

Gaara

He's heard of miracles of having to do with music, the rumors that say that a person's heart is healed if they hear true music.

He can't help but wonder, does laughter count as music?

In his world, it might(does).

She made all those years of isolation and silence... break?

It scares him.

This is the reason he drops his violin onto the floor, not caring about the crack it makes, nor the damage it has taken. He just wants her out out out

(So scared; what's the matter?)

She takes a step back, her eyes reflecting the exact fear he is feeling right in his face, and that only makes him more afraid. His chest expands and contracts as he does his best to calm himself. Now every word she had said, every action she had done jumbles around in his mind, trying to rearrange themselves in a way so he can understand whywhywhy

But for a boy that has never known compassion, that is trying to achieve the impossible.

ScaredAfraidFearhelphelpehelp

'You'll never be loved.'

He pushes the confusion, fear, anger away; wipes it clean as he had always done. Sakura relaxes when she sees the visible tension fade.

But it doesn't last when she sees the tight clench of his fists.

"Why..." A deep breath. "Are you here?"

I want to hear you play.

It's like a knife in the soul.

"I wanted to hear you...I'm glad I did."

A sharp intake of breath he manages to pass off as a flinch. And he knows it was never about Naruto.

"...Is Sasuke okay?"

Shukaku roars (no surprise) and Sakura stares at him as if he's grown cat ears.

'SOFTYSOFTYSOFTSOFTSOFT'

"He's fine, he'll be back in school soon. Why?"

Instead of giving her an answer, he slumps to the ground to inspect his violin, and almost sighs in relief when there's not even a scratch on it.

Sakura looks at the skylight, where pale light is streaming through, indicating the falling of the sun. "I'd better go."

He only replies with a tiny tip of his head.

There's silence, and not the hurried footsteps he was expecting.

"Thank you."

His head jerks up, his jade eyes scanning. But she's already gone.

It might have been the wind.

?