Title: Broken Cadence
Author/Artist: HarmonyRose
Claim: Sakura Haruno and Neji Hyuga
Theme: # 27-Violin
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Naruto.
Summary: The end of all things should have come to a close under the prevailence of peace. However, history will forever repeat itself, and the ceaseless threat of war is continuously just over the horizon.

A special thanks to my betas Popping Fresh and Kinky-Nami-Lass for putting up with my terrible grammar. Also, a thanks to Lady Kaliska for suggesting this little plot bunny and putting up with me while I figure everything.

Chapter six: Minor Disagreements

Sakura awoke with protesting muscles and a racing mind. It felt as if she hadn't even slept at all. Her stomach was nauseous, she felt terrible, and was unable to sleep because of the anxiety. She should have been at home to help her mother and father when Sasuke had attacked. She should have been there to do something, anything at all. Instead, she had gone off and gotten herself worked up enough to rashly go to a place far from her family. The heavy pit of guilt weighed in her stomach and on her mind; she felt that if she had just been there she would have been able to diffuse the situation, or at the very least defend her parents.

Why was she never there when her important people needed her? Her guilt told her it was always her fault. No matter what she did it always ended badly. Her mind wouldn't allow her body to recuperate. She hadn't gotten to sleep till just and hour or two before what sunrise would be on the top soil and it was only just after eight o'clock. Sluggishly getting to her feet, Sakura nearly toppled over from the wave of darkness and dizziness that threatened to bring her to her knees. Stabilizing herself while she waited for her head rush to pass, Sakura closed her dazed-looking sea foam eyes tightly.

Opening her clenched eyes one at a time, her gaze shifted around the room for a spare set of clothing, that she vaguely remembered Hyuga-san saying he would provide for her, in her exhausted trek to a guest bedroom. Then she spotted it. That it happened to be a very stylish pink dress. She growled her displeasure in a low, throaty, morning tone. That was not what she wanted to see. Sure she expected a dress—after all she was a woman, and therefore it was only proper that she be provided with one. She didn't like them, but she would have been fine with one of a simple and plain design. However, some idiot saw the need for it to be lavish, with a long trailing skirt, a thin waistline with a simple satin sash, and an ordinate bodice decorated heavily with pastel pink ribbon. Pink was a color she disliked to wear, frankly it was too girly for Sakura and she much preferred the color red. Also, the pastel pink people seemed to adore trying to dress her up in became stained rather quickly. Maybe it was with the grey-brown dirt so often found in the forest surrounding her home that was kicked up from her riding, or crimson blood from her occasional training sessions with Naruto, which regrettably where becoming fewer and farther in between than either she or her blond friend would have liked.

Sakura contemplated just wearing her light saffron nightgown (also provided for her courtesy of Hyuuga-san) instead of the frilly dress she thought was a waste of time. However, Sakura's pride won out, she didn't want to be seen as childish, and so she stripped herself of the simple yellow nightgown. She scrunched up her face into a grimace as she took the beautiful garment off the hanger. Making sure all her bindings were in place and intact, she untied the satin sash and sighed emphatically as viridian eyes disappeared from view when the pink creation was slipped over her head.

The half-nymph looked at her reflection in the looking glass. This would have been just the type of dress in which her mother would have adored to don her only child in. Sakura banished the thought of her mother and father; those would only serve as distractions right now. She needed to focus on that egotistical jerk and training, so that she could do more to help in the future. Determined, she blinked away the thoughts and set about trying to reach around to tie the sash, unfortunately with the bodice so tight and the drooping sleeves she couldn't get a fixed grip on the slippery satin. Trying repeatedly, she began to become frustrated and glared at the vision in the mirror. The musician would most definitely be having a chat with the Lord of this house about this dress. Giving up, Sakura left the soft pink ribbon untied and turned to head out of the dark, stained-wood door. Absently, she thought that the whole house could use a much lighter coat of stain and most certainly some lighter painted rooms. The entire house was depressingly dark and had a morbid funeral-like feel to it.

Shutting the door tightly behind her Sakura turned left toward the kitchen and dining room area, hoping to come across some delicious food. Walking down a few long corridors with the creeping suspicion that she was going to get lost Sakura amazingly made her way to the dining area without incident. Of course she was hoping to find a servant first when she walked into the kitchen to help tie the sash that she still couldn't tie by herself. However, because Haruno Sakura happened to be fate's favorite chew toy, the only other living soul in the room was none other than Lord Hyuga Neji, who raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her less than polished appearance.

Sakura, who really didn't feel the need to be civil shot a dark glare at the man telling him, "There wasn't anyone to help and because of the style of the dress there is simply no way I could tie this stupid sash."

Amusement filtered into Neji's hard gaze as he stood from his seated position at the head of the table and smoothly walked over to the small woman. Said woman tensed slightly as he came to stand behind her, obviously uncomfortable with his presence. He was amused by her trepidation, this musician in front of him wasn't afraid to sass him but she was unsettled by his nearness. Neji in his amusement decided to play with the girl a bit, if only as retribution for the few times she had made a fool out of him already in their short time of acquaintance. The male delicately trailed his fingers along Sakura's waist as he grasped the two ends of the sash to begin tying them. He deftly tied it ever so tantalizingly slow. Sakura on her end held her breath at the soft contact, only barely restraining a reflexive shiver. Bending down to right above her ear he sensually breathed out, "This dress suits you very well, but I think you look better in those pants of yours."

Heat rushed to Sakura's face in anger and embarrassment and emerald eyes turned dark malachite; a little light teasing? She could take that, but full out indecency, forget it! "Mind your manners Hyuga-sama," the last part came out in a dangerous hiss as Sakura stomped painfully hard on his right foot.

Neji inhaled quickly as the sharp pain resounded through his extremity. The woman held a lot more strength in her feet than he would have guessed.

"Master, as your chief advisor, it is my humblest recommendation that you don't purposefully antagonize your influential guests," Shikamaru smirked slightly from his relaxed slouch against the gloomy doorframe, where he had watched the entire scene play out. Truthfully he had thought his friend had gotten what was coming to him and that this particular female was rather amusing to observe. Perhaps she would knock some sense into his Lord; he pondered the thought briefly before dismissing the vaguely foolish idea. Shikamaru bowed minutely to Sakura and diplomatically rectified the problem, "Sakura-san tomorrow a maid shall attend to you, please forgive our oversight."

Still red-faced, she flounced over to the table, sat erect in her chair and turned her gaze away from the two infuriating men, not bothering to give a reply. Shikamaru and Neji exchanged an amused look, before heading to the table to eat.

Turning serious again the Hyuga addressed his guest, "I contacted your parents last night, and it seems that the initial report that Lord and Lady Haruno were in critical condition was grossly exaggerated. They are fine. They were a little roughed up, but otherwise are in good condition."

Sakura visibly relaxed, glad they were alright and that she wouldn't have to worry about them while she was away. However just as the relief came a sudden thought popped into her head, with her parents in full capacity she was going to have come up with a good excuse to be gone for several weeks, if not months. She was twenty-one and could take care of herself but, she didn't want to worry her parents or have them send out a search for her, especially when she didn't want them to know exactly what she was doing.

Neji continued not noticing his guest's faraway look, "I sent a request offering to keep you as a guest here until the city settled down and things were in order; which should buy us some time to think up an excuse for later, while you're away." Neji thought it ironic that just the other day he had banished women altogether from his presence and now he'd invited one of those awful creatures to stay for an extended amount of time.

Snapping out of her daze Sakura took a moment to process the information and then nodded that was acceptable. Taking a careful bite of her food Sakura categorized the risks of staying here without her mother's full knowledge of the situation. First off, her parents could completely misinterpret the situation and the gods above knew that both had been on her tail to settle down as she was now approaching her twenty-second year. But, as long as they didn't act in desperation by playing matchmaker she would be alright. Secondly, she could gain her freedom, but in a short time have to relinquish it; becoming once again a trapped bird. She did not count her nightly outings as freedom, because she always had to return to her cage afterward. Sakura believed freedom would be wonderful and as sorry as she would be to leave it, it would also be alright. She would rather have her freedom once then never at all. Her freedom would be relative and most of all transient.

Speaking up and breaking the silence Sakura spoke, "What will my schedule be while I am here?"

"I would like you to begin playing today after breakfast and training can begin tonight as that is when Iruka should be arriving from his latest mission," Neji answered immediately as he had planned everything in advance already.

Sakura furrowed her brow, he was severely underestimating her. "I do not think Iruka would be the best trainer for me," Sakura answered back quietly a small frown evident on her feminine face.

Neji didn't bother to reply in words instead he merely raised a chestnut brow.

Sakura sighed out a response, frustrated he didn't understand, "In order for me to truly make progress I need to be up against someone who I could not beat in a serious spar after a few weeks of training."

"You won't beat Iruka, you said yourself that it was only a tie because of the rain," Neji's smooth voice countered arrogantly, effectively cutting off any form of argument.

Sakura's eyes sparked green fire, but she would let it go for now and take this issue up later.

Shikamaru gave a lazy unnoticed grin from his side of the table; Neji really had no idea how to deal with this type of woman. She was the kind of woman who didn't care about riches, reputation, chipping a nail, or vain beauty at all, and Shikamaru could tell from the stiff posture of Sakura's shoulders and back that his friend and master, Neji, would be paying for his lack of knowledge later.

After breakfast Sakura dismissed herself, softly saying she would be retrieving her violin and would meet the lord of the Underworld in his study.

Walking back to her room Sakura let her anger ignite and flare in her mind. The arrogant prick hadn't even let her lay out her argument nor had he even seen her skills. He just wrote her off as below a genin level fighter with no intelligence or adaptability. Course he didn't know who she had trained with previously so it made sense. The musician grinned deviously; perhaps it was time to put some of her less used skills Naruto had taught her into action. Naruto wasn't too often sly as a fox, but when he was, it was truly something to behold, and he had passed that trait along to her.

Absent-mindedly making her way toward the study with violin in hand, Sakura watched her simple but, effective plan take shape in her head. Upon reaching the office space Sakura wiped all traces of her mischievousness from her face and knocked softly on the ornate door. A muted male voice floated through the oak door, "Come in."

Demurely, Sakura walked in and saw Hyuga-san sitting at the desk with piles of neat papers stacked all around the horizontal surface. He had put a sturdy backed chair in the corner of the room recently and she took that to be her spot. Moving toward the corner Sakura set her violin case down and unlatched it. Carefully, she removed the wooden instrument and tuned the A string first, tightening and plucking the string until it matched with the pitch in her head. She had heard the pitch often enough that she had it memorized. Her fingers moved to the next string and she continued tuning in the same manner to the remaining two strings. With delicate fingers she pulled her bow from the case, mindful of the dark horse hair that could easily break if she didn't handle it with caution. Picking up the violin from the chair, Sakura got up from her squat and sat with grace on the chair. Looking up to find silver eyes with hidden curiosity on her, Sakura cocked her head to the side and asked sedately, "What would you like to hear—something easy?"

Neji had watched her, mildly interested in the loving manner she had handled her violin and how in tune she seemed to be with her instrument. It appeared that maybe there was more to this woman than her fast temper and abrasive attitude. At her question, Neji merely nodded. Something light and easy would surely be appreciated; he hadn't slept last night. He had been busily taking care of arrangements for his guest and sending out his fastest horseman to the Haruno's Province to ascertain the situation and speak to the Lord and Lady if possible. Now he had a splitting headache and was hoping that some soft music would help soothe his pain.

Fighting to keep a grin from emerging on her face, Sakura played a simple rhythm. The first song she, and every other musician, learned to play. As the extremely simple melody of Hot Cross Buns floated through the room, an incredulous expression played out on Neji's face. Settling a scathing look on the musician he stopped her, asking in a dangerously low voice, "What is that?"

"It's Hot Cross Buns. It's the easiest song I know. You did say you wanted an easy song right?" she answered back calmly.

"That's not what I meant," he said with a hard edge to his tenor voice. Comprehension dawned on him and he asked with a heavy sigh, "What is this really about?"

"No training, no music. Until you get a proper trainer for me, I will not play anything but the simplest music. I am still keeping within the deal, so there isn't anything you can do about it," Sakura answered evenly.

"Fine, I will get you a hard trainer, I have an old acquaintance coming this afternoon and though he doesn't teach anymore I will see if he will cooperate," Neji spoke quietly and firmly. He was tired of battling this woman today, and he didn't have the energy to anymore. He hated losing—especially to some small woman—but he would make sure he won the next match. Later, with her training, Sakura Haruno would pay. This one trainer he was hoping to recruit was amazing but had some tendencies that Neji knew would grate on Sakura's nerves. Yes, enlisting Hatake Kakashi's help would be the perfect revenge.

Immediately following his statement, Sakura trusted that he would take care of his end of the deal and begin the violin part of Praeludium and Allegro. Though the song had a series of unresolved sixteenth note runs throughout its five-minute duration, it was composed in the soothing medium range and ended with a low string of quarter notes and a vibrato end tone.

As Sakura played, Neji could feel the tension seep out of his muscles. He closed his eyes while he wasn't working and leaned back in his chair, enjoying the sound that was calming his raging headache. He slowly drifted into unconsciousness, falling into one of the deepest and most relaxing sleeps that he had had since before the war that torn his family and kingdom apart. Sakura, lost in the motions of playing through her piece repeated the piece after she was finished the first time, not noticing that Neji had fallen asleep.

Finishing the piece a second time, Sakura glanced over at the male, only to realize he was fast asleep, leaning all the way back in his chair with his hair spread about him in messy but childlike disarray. Sakura smiled at the innocent vision he made sleeping and gently, but quickly put her violin away. She walked back to her room to leave her instrument there and to grab the extra pillow and blanket that had been left at the end of the bed last night in case she had needed another set.

A/N Okay I have a few things to say. First off so sorry it took so long to update. I didn't mean for that to happen, but I was working off very little inspiration. Which leads me to my second point; where have all the reviews gone? I've definitely noticed a decline in number since school started, but sheesh it's been really bad lately! It only takes about a minute to review. Just say whether you liked it or not and why or why not. It's not too hard and really I encourage you to give that kind of feedback to every story you read.

Also I want to thank Popping Fresh for giving me some violin pieces to incorporate. It was extremely helpful!

I keep meaning to mention that my other beta, Kinky-Nami-Lass drew a picture and the link is posted on my profile page. I was very excited about it, since this is the first time someone has drawn something from a story of mine.

Now that all that's done! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Please remember to review!

HarmonyRose