Title: Broken Cadence
Author: HarmonyRose
Claim: Sakura Haruno and Neji Hyuga
Theme: # 27-Violin
Rating: M- for safety
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, just this plot
Summary: The end of all things should have come to a close under the prevalence of peace. However, history will forever repeat itself, and the ceaseless threat of war is continuously just over the horizon.

A word of thanks to Popping Fresh and Kinky-Nami-Lass for beta'ing and Lady Kaliska for suggesting the beginning of this plot.

Suggested listening: Little Wonders- Rob Thomas

Chapter Three: Music, Messages, and Unwanted Memories

Shikamaru sighed wearily. Simply thinking about all the work he was going to have to do to secure Lord Neji's estate from all females made him slouch even further on the centaur. There would be so much work to do. He'd have to personally escort all the currently housed females out, find them a suitable place to stay, inform the guards not to let any woman in unless specifically asked for, and lastly he'd have to put jutsus around the property for the less easily dissuaded females. It was just too troublesome. The lazy elf sighed again… perhaps he could assign another person to do the job? This might work, except that Shikamaru knew his lord wouldn't appreciate second-hand quality. He was going to have to do it himself. He sighed softly. What a drag.

The elf had known this meeting wasn't going to go well as soon as he had heard word of the summons. He'd had one of those gut-feelings, which elves were particularly prone to, indicating that something important was going to happen today. The elf was also fairly certain that the council meeting that had been held was the cause of his instinctual, dreadful knowledge. Strangely enough, even though the conference between the gods and their advisors had finished earlier in the evening and the sky's nightlights were glowing with silver light above the forest's canopy, the sensation of the premonition hadn't yet subsided.

The lazy elf wondered why the forest was exceptionally hushed this evening. Normally, there were the soft sounds of the wind weaving its way through the leaves, lonely wolves howling at the moon, and the hurried, scampering feet of animals…predators and prey alike. None of those noises were heard though, and it was starting to nag at Shikamaru's senses. The slouched man straightened his spine to sit at his full height and glanced over at his master. There was a guarded air around the noble as he glanced around the surrounding forest. It seemed that he was uneasy about the silence too.

The advisor peered down at the centaurs; they didn't seem to be alarmed. In fact, if Shikamaru didn't know better, he would have thought they were enjoying themselves. Their ears were twitching ever so slightly, and both their tails were swishing with more than their normal haphazard swatting. They usually swiped at the horseflies that hung around and annoyed them. Thinking over what the centaurs would know that he and his master wouldn't, the worried advisor couldn't come up with an answer. It wasn't as if the centaurs were even from this part of the forest, so they wouldn't be comfortable in this forest to begin with. The only sense centaurs had that was more enhanced than an elf's was hearing, so Shikamaru quickly came to the conclusion that they must be able to hear something that he couldn't yet.

Sighing in displeasure, the male informed his master of his thoughts, "There is probably something between 600 and 900 meters away emitting a sound, you should try using the Byakugan to see it."

Neji murmured softly, "Byakugan." Immediately, puffy veins appeared on the skin around his eyes, increasing the chakra and blood flow to the eyes, allowing him to see things much farther away with greater clarity. The colours shifted, and hues were now softer, muted like in an ethereal dream. The glow chakra emitted was brighter than normal, particularly when contrasted against the paleness of the surrounding materials.

Scanning the area from left to right, Neji's enhanced vision picked up a figure, made small by the distance, at the edge of his range. Squinting and straining his eyes all the harder, the noble male could make out a large horse, that surely only a man could ride, next to the figure. He also detected several tiny chakra signatures around the clearing that were standing stock still, the only muscles moving seemed to be their hearts and delicate twitches of their ears, in an effort to better hear the person who was in the field.

Lord Neji was rather puzzled at what he saw, what sound was the man making that the animals were struggling to hear so completely? Urging the centaur to sprint closer to the direction of the man with a quick command, the callous lord could make out a few more details with his superior eyes and he was beginning to be able to hear something. The noise was there, but it was indistinguishable as to what it was. With his vision sharpening as they moved closer, Neji was able to make out that the figure was cloaked in a thin summer cloak. Its right arm was moving quickly over something that looked like it might be a string instrument.

Detouring to get closer to the musician, the pair of men were able to begin to discern the melody of the piece. A fast, lively piece began to take shape, reminding both parties of happier times. Gazes turned inward as the two reminisced about times before the war when families were still mostly intact and a sense of peace pervaded their happy childhoods.

Stopping just under a hundred meters away from the musician, so as not to disturb him, the god and the elf listened to the music dramatically change. The tempo slowed and the notes slurred together creating a haunting melody. The volume dropped to piano and gradually swelled, the music reached forte with a sustained minor note, lending a sad eerie quality to the music.

It felt as if the violinist was lost in thought as well, because the music was painful to listen to, as if the musician had a woeful story to tell, one that made the violinist's heart bleed crimson sorrow. Each note caressed the silent listeners, frantically trying to weave their tragic tale and at the same time dragging the audience's unbidden memories to the surface and adding them to the woven tale.

Partway through the song, the travellers were engrossed and completely lost in the song, the melancholy harmony tugging at their hearts. Memories of betrayals, deaths, and injustices weighed heavily in the air, stifling all within hearing distance. It wasn't until an infinitesimal mistake, so small it was really nothing more than a slight pause and a tensing of the figure's body that both men felt the tiniest bit guilty. The violinist in the field seemed to be bearing its soul to the forest, and they were shamelessly listening to this figure's distress.

Nodding in agreement, the now thought-provoked travellers moved respectfully westward, toward the sole entrance to the Underworld, the woeful melody following them, till it was nothing but a memory still thoroughly tangled in their thoughts.

And odd as it was, as Shikamaru rode further away from the musician, he came to realize that the dread he felt in his stomach throughout the earlier part of the day had disappeared altogether…

Neji sighed heavily in frustration for the umpteenth time in the past two days. The constant interruptions from his guards were rapidly becoming annoying. It had been two days since he had banned women from his ornate estate, but at least once an hour a guard would come in telling him about some crazed women who was sure he wanted to see her. It hadn't helped that as the goddess of love, Ino had made an announcement all over their respected kingdoms that he was searching for a wife.

Speaking of the devil, he had a report that Ino had kept trying to get her conniving self into his estate, and was (luckily) caught each of the three times she had tried. He would have to do something to get her off his back, and killing or maiming her sounded especially pleasing right now. Thinking of all the ways he could incapacitate her was sating his anger… well not really, in reality it was just making the option look at the more pleasing.

He, however, was interrupted from his murderous thoughts when the cherry wood door burst open and two men walked through the doorway, with a large brown mutt trailing at the heals of one of the men. Growling slightly in annoyance at the two gods, Naruto and Kiba, who had walked unceremoniously into his office, without so much as knock to announce their unwanted presence, Neji addressed the two coolly, "What brings you here?"

"No time for your friends, Neji?" the blonde teasingly inquired leaning over the desk to stare at the overly-organized piles of paper on the wood stained desk, squinting his eyes at the tiny writing scribbled all over reports and paperwork.

Opal eyes narrowed and glared at his fellow lord in response.

Speaking up for the first time, Kiba addressed the glaring male in a slightly irritated tone; "Ino has been trying to get in here all day, however, certain guards keep denying her and Tenten's passage. You wouldn't happen to have something to do with that, would you?" He continued on, in his regular tone he used most often to convey messages, not bothering to wait for a response he knew he wouldn't get, "We've come in her stead, to tell you that you we have word that the Uchiha has moved forward into another city, so you have less time to find a spouse then originally thought. She also mentioned that if you fail to find one, she will find a way to intervene."

Fed up with the other god's warning, the irate man stood up to his full intimidating height. His shoulders were stiff, and with his hands clenched in restraint, he ordered the dog and his pet out.

Once the two dogs had left his office with their heads held up with of pride and their jaws clenched in anger refusing to act like they'd been cowed out of the office, Neji sighed trying to ease the tension from his shoulders. This was becoming stressful, but he would not marry for an heir. It was degrading and he didn't want a woman companion. They were too weak mentally and physically; there was no way he would tie himself down with one. They were conniving, catty creatures.

Naruto unsurprisingly broke the silence, "Ino is really adamant about getting you married. I'm not sure if it will help, but this time I will find a way to discipline Sasuke and bring him back" A pause ensued, as the sapphire eyes became glassy and unfocused remembering a time in the past where he had made a similar promise to a different person…

Unshed tears glimmered in emerald eyes, silently begging for him to bring back their shared friend, a boy she deeply loved. The desolate, abandoned appearance in her gaze twisted at his heart.

Now fifteen years old, he understood that the pretty half human would never belong to him. He was her best friend however, she would never be interested in him romantically. It was breaking his heart, but he'd bare it silently and never tell her. He'd never force her to choose; he'd break both of their hearts and loose her friendship.

The sky seemed to match his emotions, as they rapidly darkened into a saddened grey. They seemed to be ready to burst at any given time. Hiding his heartache under the pretence of his normal demeanour, he dug his own grave and did what her glistening eyes, the ones he couldn't ever refuse, pleaded with him to do. He animatedly promised to bring Sasuke back for her, acting the hopeful fool he always was, for her…always for her.

The sky broke, and fat, heavy raindrops plummeted from the heavens when emerald eyes finally released their pooling teardrops. Clothes sticking to her body and her long water-darkened rosette hair clinging to her face in long clumps of strung hair, she ran toward him.

He stood still; she was just going to run past him in anguish, because even though she wordlessly pleaded with him, she didn't believe he could. He wasn't strong enough compared to her precious Sasuke and in her eyes he would always be second to him.

He stood shocked when she flew to him and wrapped her water-chilled arms just above his waist and buried her face into his shoulder. "Not you too. Don't leave me too," she whispered into his shoulder, her warm tears mixing with the rainwater on his already drenched shirt. She began to tremble lightly, whether from the cold or her emotions, he was uncertain. He loosened his body and moved his own arms around the fragile girl, his eyes softening with understanding, as she unrelentingly clung to him in lonely desperation.

He bent his head down and let his lips rest on her hair, murmuring gently to her, "I won't."

He found his heart twisting in agony while he stood there with her wrapped in his arms shielding her from the world and the rain. She would never be his to have, but he would forever protect her and deliver her safely to whom she belonged. He would be her protector, always standing in the background, ready to support her when the world crashed down on her.

Even though by all rights he should have her, since he was the one who loved her and all her faults, she would always belong to another…

Shaking his head and dispelling the depressing memory, Naruto grinned at the other male in the room, "You look stressed; you should just stop fighting everybody and get married."

"Not happening," came the weary response. Neji was tired of keeping all those women out, it was difficult and all of his guards were beginning to complain because they were working longer and harder shifts. He needed relief.

"You really must be tired, if you can't even work up any righteous anger at me," the blonde grinned amused at his friend's situation.

The troublemaking man's cerulean eyes lit up, "You know what you need?

"No, whatever it is Naruto, I don't want to know. If it's your suggestion, it'll be trouble," the long-haired brunette said curtly, trying to shut the man in front of him up. He turned back to his report; maybe he could get some work done while the other god chatted on obliviously?

"Oi Neji, listen! As I was saying, I just found a musician to play for me while I work. She's a human, but she plays harp like an angel, even though I think she must be sick, because every time I look at her she is bright red, like she has a fever and sometimes she faints. Anyway, it's relaxing. So maybe that's what you should do. Find a musician, maybe a pianist, I've heard there are some good male ones around, and make them play for you," the blabbering god finally finished. Neji sighed, and immediately dismissed the thought. What rubbish, a musician. What good was that going to do?

"Get out, Naruto. I have work to finish," The god of the Underworld said, fatigue and stress slipping unbidden into his tone.

Naruto frowned slightly, but complied with his friend's wishes and made his way quietly out the door. He had some memories he wanted to forget about.

Looking back toward his paperwork after his blonde friend had left his office, the male was all ready to settle down and start reading and filling out the work when there was two solid knocks on the door. Neji narrowed his pearly eyes at the polished door before grumbling to himself, "This had better be good."

Shikamaru opened the door and stepped into the simple, but elegant cream and burgundy room, looking just as worn out as his master was. Taking in Neji's appearance, Shikamaru frowned, there were traces of bags under his ivory eyes, tightness in his shoulders, and an almost slouched manner to his normally dignified sitting. He was stressed. Any casual observer wouldn't have noticed these, but because the advisor was with him everyday, he could see the subtle changes in the man.

"You are stressed, perhaps you should leave this work until tomorrow," Shikamaru addressed the Lord of the Underworld for the first time since stepping into the room.

"That's the second time someone has told me I was stressed today," came the tart reply, "But I'm not leaving more work for tomorrow."

"Who else told you?" Shikamaru didn't really care, but he figured he keep the conversation up, if only to distract the other man from his work for a longer period of time.

"Naruto," there was a pause, and then Neji continued on somewhat amused, "he said I needed a musician to relieve my stress."

"A musician?" The elf turned the thought over in his mind and decided it could be just what the god needed, "What kind of musician?"

The lord gave his advisor an incredulous look before answering, "A pianist."

"What about a violinist?" comprehension dawned on Neji's face as he understood why his advisor had led the conversation in this direction.

"Alright, send out three of my best men. On the small chance the man won't come willingly, they will have to find a way to bring him back without injury," the opal-eyed man skipped directly to the point and cut the conversation short.

Shikamaru turned and grasped the swirly patterned bronze doorknob before remembering his original reason for entering the study, "Ino was caught again, this time she was dangling over the side of the fortress wall. Apparently she gave the guards quite the view." With that the elf walked in his standard slouch out of the room, so his master could be alone. Back in the room, Neji growled fiercely for the second time that day, "Stupid woman."

Chapter three is done! So as you can see there will be some glorious Neji/Sakura coming up. Yay! As for the little Naruto/Sakura moment in this chapter- I'm sorry if you're displeased in any way by it, even though I'm not really a fan of it I think that moment in my story was needed. I will begin to unravel Sakura's past to you slowly and I'm setting up a basis through the memories. It's kind of funny, because even though I'm not a fan, I managed to make myself cry writing it.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend you listen to the music I suggested with the memory, it fits amazingly and if you happen not to like that one try Rain by Breaking Benjamin. They fit the memory amazingly well!

Thanks for reading, please Review.

-HarmonyRose