ALRIGHT! Next chappie! I'll tell you now, the current poll leader is Hidan with 5 votes, followed really closely by Deidara with 4 (Poll wise, they are tied, add in the reviews, Hidan is winning). In third place is Kisame with 2 (I saw this and I was like O_O! Cos I didn't expect that at all…) and Itachi, Pein, Kiba, Sai, and Naruto are all tied up with 1 vote each. Sasori, Tobi, Shikamaru, Gaara, Kankuro and Haku have none. I added Gaara, Kankuro (who I kinda forgot about entirely so far, and am really HATING myself for D:) and Haku to the poll, because I am going to work with them a little more, but I am not sure if I can make it work. Also, I have ideas for other fics on my page, please check them out and tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: Brandi doesn't own Naruto. Nor does she want to. Brandi also doesn't own Wicked or anything affiliated with it mentioned in this chapter. Though she did buy a stuffed flying monkey that she named BoBo… Brandi has fun talking in third person…. She'll probably do it more often….
Naruto and I walked down to the choir room together, and I decided it was time I got a reason for Sasuke's actions in biology earlier. Naruto seemed to know and get along with just about everyone, so I rationalized that he would be the one to ask.
"Oi, Naruto-kun, I have a question."
"What's up?" He looked at me and cocked his head to the side a bit. Kami, that made him look so CUTE with the way his big blue eyes sparkled innocently. I forced down the faint blush I felt coming on and pressed on, determined not to be distracted.
"Do you know Uchiha Sasuke personally?"
"Ah, what did the teme do now?" He asked knowingly. "Did he try to get back at you for gym class?"
"Er, no… that was sorta my way of getting back at him… See, I don't know why, but he was really hostile towards me in biology. As soon as I walked into the room, he glared at me. I don't even know him and he was a jerk… I was wondering if you knew why?"
"Sasuke doesn't really like new people very much. Heck, he doesn't like most people he knows. He just tends to be an a** to everyone, even those he does like. Plus, from what I heard, you blacklisted yourself by that little conversation you had with Pedo-sensei. Don't expect him to warm up to you anytime soon."
"Great…" I muttered.
"Oh yeah, he's in choir too by the way. He likes to excel at everything, and I mean everything, no matter how wimpy it may seem to others."
"I see… " I said as we entered the choir room. Metal folding chairs were lined up in arcs on the tiers. An older man with long white hair and a lecherous grin stood in front.
"That's our assistant principal and stand-in choir director, Jiraiya-sensei. He's a pervert who writes dirty books in his spare time." Naruto explained, and I sweatdropped.
"Ah, a lovely new student! It will be a pleasure getting to know you! And what part do you sing, alto or soprano?"
"Eh…" I was a little put-off by his… forwardness.
"You don't know? No matter, we have ways of finding out!" I was scared now…. Very scared. I didn't want to know how he planned to 'find out'. "You shall sing the melody line of a song from the musical Wicked!" Phew, I was sure it was going to involve something… worse, to put it lightly.
"Alright, what song?" I loved this musical! I was suddenly very excited.
"Well, either Popular or Defying Gravity… you choose."
"Uh, Defying Gravity is a duet…."
"True…. Alright, if you want to do that one, I shall assign you a partner. Is that okay?"
"Sure…?" This guy still wierded me out.
"OKAY! Temari, you'll be her partner!"
"Whatever…" A girl with dirty blond hair pulled back into four spiky ponytails stood up and walked towards the front. She seemed bored. She smirked at me once she was standing next to me. "Sabaku Temari, nice to meet you."
"Mitarashi Kai." I smiled. I liked her already. She was like a female Shikamaru. "Do you want to sing the part of Glinda or Elphaba?"
"I'll do Glinda. You should do Elphaba because you are the the one being placed, not me." I nodded, understanding her explanation right away. "Do you want us to do the speaking parts?" She directed this question to Jiraiya-sensei, who nodded his consent.
"Begin!" Jiraiya-sensei pressed a button on a remote, and the music began to play from the speakers in the corners of the room.
Temari started.
"Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for
once, instead of flying off the handle!"
She switched to singing. Her voice was a sweet and clear alto.
"I hope you're happy!
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever!"
Then it was my turn. Suppressing the butterflies dancing in my stomach at the thought of performing, I just sang.
"I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy, too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition!"
Her voice joined mine in a sweet harmony as we continued the song.
"So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now"
Then I had to stop again when she began to speak before switching back into song.
"Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry:
You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted"
I spoke the first two words, and then I let go of the stage fright and began the next verse, going all out, enjoying the swirling, changing notes blending perfectly to create a masterpiece.
" I know:
But I don't want it -
No - I can't want it
Anymore:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!"
Temari cut in as Glinda trying to get Elphaba to go back to being complicit with the will of the wizard.
"Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur"
I sang again, switching to speaking as I addressed Glinda, then back to singing as I tried to convince her.
"I'm through accepting limits
''cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down:
Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could
do: together.
Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been
Glinda -
Dreams, the way we planned 'em"
Then once again Temari was in as Glinda, convinced of Elphaba's beliefs, before we harmonized once again.
"If we worked in tandem."
"There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity"
Once again, I was on my own as Temari faded out.
"They'll never bring us down!
Well, are you coming?"
Glinda stayed behind, singing on her own, and Elphaba understood, and our voiced blended one last time.
"You too
I hope it brings you bliss"
"I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend:"
Temari gestured to the rest of the class, and as I started the end of the song, the rest of the class joined in as the citizens, cheering and chanting for the end of the Witch.
"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
'Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!'
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!"
"I hope you're happy!"
"Look at her, she's wicked!
Get her!"
"Bring me down!"
"No one mourns the wicked
So we've got to bring her"
"Ahhh!"
"Down!"
The rest of the choir finished, and the song was done. They all sat in silence afterwards, staring at me. Naruto's mouth was hanging open. Even Sasuke looked impressed. But I didn't notice. I was still caught in the moment, reveling in the world of song, reflecting on the words. Then, little by little, the choir members started clapping, and Temari patted me on the back and grinned as I returned to the world outside of Wicked. "You did amazing!" She told me. I flushed at the applause. Then, once again, it was silent. I stood there waiting, the quiet killing me.
Jiraiya-sensei cleared his throat. "Well, you're a soprano." And the final bell of the day rang.
A boy with brown hair and brown eyes walked up to Temari and I with Naruto.
"Kai, this is my brother, Kankuro." Temari said, introducing us.
"You've got a helluva voice, you single?" He asked, earning a glare from Naruto and a smack from Temari.
I laughed. Right now, I sure as hell felt like I was defying gravity.