Song of a Cherry Blossom
by Diana-san

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 6

"Sakura is Saki. Saki is Sakura," he said in a daze. Standing before Sakura was a dazed looking blond Naruto with confusion written all over his face.

"No I'm not," Sakura said in a rushed voice.

"Yes you are!" He grabbed Sakura's chin and looked around at her features. "Without your sunglasses and blonde hair, you look exactly like her."

Sakura pushed him away. "I look like a lot of people. My grandpa once thought I was my mother."

"You're Saki," he stated.

Sakura sighed as she let the silence and the news sink in.

"So now you know," she finally said.

"Why are you keeping such a big secret from everyone?"

Sakura bit her lower lip. She jumped off the stage. She placed her guitar gently on the stage and smoothed out her hair. "Because, I don't want to be treated differently because I can sing a few songs and play a guitar."

Naruto gave a confused look. "Why not?"

Sakura stared up at the bright lights on stage. "My dream is to become a well renowned singer. But, I have to complete school first. I don't want to be treated better than anyone else. I want to be left alone when I'm at school so that I could concentrate on school and my music. I have no time for boys, no time for popularity, and no time for friends."

Sakura touched her guitar and felt the smooth surface of the shiny guitar underneath her hand. "Nothing in this world matters to me except for my music. It's the only thing that is keeping me alive. Boys can break your heart, popularity can crush you, and friends can betray you."

"But-"

Sakura turned around and her piercing green eyes stared into the cerulean blue eyes of the blond in front of her.

"I once had a best friend in elementary school. We would do everything together. She was my closest friend. But when we got placed in different classrooms, she became popular and we grew apart. She would ignore me in school and not even acknowledged my existence. It was like we were never friends." Sakura scoffed. "With friends like those, who needs enemies?"

"But not everyone is like that," the blond exclaimed.

Sakura gazed at Naruto sadly. "But aren't they? After all, we are all imperfect and capable of doing something to hurt someone. How can anyone trust anyone?"

"Do you really believe that?"

Sakura sighed. "I don't know what I believe in anymore."

"Sakura-chan…"

"Naruto," Sakura interjected. "Please promise me that you won't tell anyone at school about me."

"But, Sakura-chan, I'm not good at keeping secrets and-"

Sakura grabbed Naruto by the wrist. She pleaded with her green eyes. "Please, Naruto. It's the only thing I'll ever ask of you. Please don't let this secret of mine get out."

Naruto began to smile. "I won't."

Sakura smiled in relief.

"I won't…" Naruto said again. "…because you are my friend."

Sakura frozed.

"Ne, Saku-chan, let's be friends."

A young pink-headed girl glanced up through her tears as someone offered a hand out.

"Friends?" she said between hiccups as she dried her eyes.

"Ah, friends forever."

"Friend?" Sakura echoed.

Naruto smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "We're friends right? And I don't betray any of my friends."

Sakura looked down at her feet. Friends? With him?

The pink-haired girl looked up at smiled.

Naruto glanced at his watch. "I have to go now so I'll see you tomorrow at school, alright?"

The blond turned around to leave but Sakura grabbed him by his arm. Naruto turned around in surprise. Sakura stared down at her shoes. "Um, on Friday, I perform on stage again… I would like it if you would come and watch me."

Naruto grinned. "Sure!"

Sakura looked up and grinned. "Okay then." Sakura released her hand from Naruto's arm. "I'll see you there then," she said.

A noise came from the back and Sakura whirled around. "Looks like everyone back there is starting to wake up," she said. A questioning look came from Naruto's face and Sakura turned back to him and smiled. "I got to go practice with my band now," Sakura explained.

Naruto gave a nod. "Then I guess I'll leave you to your practice." He gave a wave and jogged out the door.

Jiraiya stumbled up to Sakura. "What happened?" he asked drowsily.

"You got drunk that's what!" Sakura exclaimed.

Jiraiya chuckled and slumped down on a chair. Sakura sighed. It was going to be a long night. She glanced out the window and smiled. Maybe not such a long night after all.

Friday night

Sakura adjusted her blonde wig until it completely covered her pink hair. She checked her reflection in the mirror and made sure that her contacts were on. After what happened with Naruto, she had decided that she needed to do a better job in hiding her identity. Tsunade had gotten her a pair of blue eye contacts which changed Sakura's jade green eyes into a cerulean color. Sakura picked up her sunglasses and pondered over whether she should wear them or not.

Might as well. Can't hurt to be on the safe side.

Sakura placed the shades on and smoothed out the sky blue dress that Tsunade had made her wear half an hour ago. The light blue dress went down to just above her knees and it was paired with a pair of heels, another thing that Sakura was also forced to wear to her dismay. Sakura had to admit though, when she looked in the mirror, that the dress went well with her blonde wig and fake blue eyes. A knock came at the door.

"Who is it?" Sakura called out.

"It's me," a familiar female voice replied. The door opened and Anko stuck her head in. "It's time," she said.

Sakura nodded and picked up microphone. "Let's rock and roll," Sakura said with a grin before heading out the door.

The lights in the club dimmed as the stage lights changed to a dark blue color. Everyone began to quiet down and it seemed as silent as night. Sakura walked out on stage carefully as she watched her step in the darkness.

In the crowd, Naruto could see the dark silhouette of Sakura or what everyone else thought was Saki. He grinned as he listened to the music starting to play.

The music started out softly like rain pattering against car windows. Then it began to get louder and the dark blue stage lights started to change colors to a vibrant light blue and then the usual white. The sudden brightness made the crowd excited and a few started to cheer. The music continued on slowly and then a single spotlight shone on Sakura.

She raised the microphone to her lips and started to sing. Sakura took the microphone out of its holder as the music changed to a faster pace. The lights started to shine all around the place as it illuminated the area.

The last song of the night ended as Sakura lowered her microphone. The crowd was still cheering and screaming along to the song. Sakura couldn't help but smile. She gave a wave to the crowd and walked off the stage and behind the black stage curtains.

Sakura hummed as she walked to her dressing room. She saw many familiar faces from her school and was surprised that the people who never paid any attention to her at school now noticed her as Saki.

Goes to show how my secret needs to remain a secret.

Sakura sat down in her chair and yawned. She was dead tired and was glad that she didn't have school the next day. Sakura took off her sunglasses and they revealed her fake cerulean blue eyes. Sakura was then about to remove her wig when she heard a sudden noise at the door. Feeling cautious, Sakura went to the door and listened for any noise outside. When she didn't hear anything anymore, she slowly opened the door and peeked out. It was empty in the hallway and she could still see the lights from the stage and the crowd still dancing the night away.

Strange, she thought.

Sakura began to close the door when a hand stopped the door. Sakura froze in place. Her eyes traveled up the man's arm and into the face of Uchiha Sasuke. She gave a quiet squeak of a gasp.

"W-wha-what are you doing?" she stuttered out.

"I came to see you," he replied like they were old time friends.

"M-me?" she squeaked out.

"Yeah."

"Well, you saw me. Now it's time for you to go," Sakura said as she tried to close the door.

"Not so fast," Sasuke said as he placed his foot in front of the door. Sasuke smirked and stroked Sakura's cheek. "How about a date between you and me?" he said in a low voice.

Sakura's eyes stared blankly at him. A date? You got to be kidding me.

Sakura wasn't sure what to say. She was completely surprised and dumbfounded. She was at a loss for words. To think that the Uchiha Sasuke would ask her out for a date was completely mind blowing. Of course, he didn't know who she really was but it still came as a great shock for the pink-haired or rather blonde girl.

Sakura opened her mouth as she begged for words to come out and say something that will drive Sasuke away. All that came out an inaudible sound that closely resembled a mouse squeaking. Sasuke stared at Sakura or who he thought was Saki with an amused look on his handsome face.

Then, suddenly, Sasuke leaned in and kissed Sakura lightly on the lips. Sakura blinked a second before Sasuke's lips met her own and she kept them wide opened as the thought of him kissing her processed through her brain.

Oh. My. God.

Sakura raised her arms as she clenched her fists. She couldn't believe what was happening. She closed her eyes and could still feel Sasuke's lips pressing softly against her own cheery colored lips. Summoning the strength inside her, Sakura pushed Sasuke off. Sakura instantly raised her hands to her mouth as she still felt the kiss on her lips. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink and she stared awkwardly at Sasuke who was staring right back at her.

Sakura grabbed the doorknob of her dressing room door. "I'm sorry, but you have to leave," she said in a shaky voice. She quickly closed the door in front of Sasuke's face which surprised the Uchiha. He smirked at the closed door. Interesting, Sasuke thought as he walked away. He was satisfied with the night's ending.

Meanwhile, Sakura was leaning against the door and taking deep breaths to control her thoughts and emotions. What the hell was that?

That thought kept on running through her mind. Sakura removed her blonde wig and tossed it near the sunglasses that were resting on her vanity table. She also took off her contact lenses as she walked over to her chair and collapsed on it as she looked at her reflection.

Sakura quickly gave herself a few slaps to keep her sanity in check. Why? Why? Why? The repeated thought came back to Sakura. She was completely confused why she was just a standing doll awhile ago. Damn it Sakura. You should have things under your control. How could you have let him kiss you so easily? Damn it!

Sakura groaned. Her first kiss was stolen by an arrogant jerk. And it wasn't a kiss for her either. It was meant for Saki and not even for her.

Wait a minute. Does he like Saki then?

Sakura slapped her forehead. She was starting to get a major headache. "I hate him," she muttered. Great. Just when I had forgotten the whole incident with his stupid car running me over, he goes and do something like this. DAMN THAT UCHIHA!

The pink-haired singer let out a frustrated groan. "He might still be outside," she muttered. Sakura got up from the chair and listened at the door. It was quiet but Sakura knew better.

He might try another sneak attack. Better find another way.

Sakura looked around her room. Should I call someone? Crap, left my phone outside. Suddenly, she glanced up to see a small window in the corner. She walked up to the window and stared up at it. It wasn't a very big window and it was high up so she couldn't see outside but Sakura figured that it would be able to fit her through. Sakura jumped up and down as she tried to grabbed onto the windowsill. Her fingers barely touched it as she fell back down and landed on the floor. She blew a piece of her hair out of her face as she sighed in frustration.

Seeing her chair, she pulled it over as she dragged it to the spot underneath the window. Sakura climbed on and was now able to peer outside the window. It was dark and she could tell that it was probably the alleyway outside where the dumpster was.

Perfect!

Sakura jumped off the chair and grabbed her apartment keys before getting back on the chair. The pink-haired girl then hoisted herself up and crawled out of the window. Sakura looked down and estimated that it was about a few feet drop. Sakura sighed. She wouldn't be able to land on the ground safely wearing heels. Sakura quickly took off her shoes and dropped them on the ground below her. Sakura jumped down and landed on the soles of her feet. She grabbed her shoes and placed them on quickly. The alleyway was cold and dark and Sakura shivered in her light blue dress.

I just had to wear a dress that had no sleeves. Tsunade-sama couldn't have picked something else. It just had to be this one, Sakura thought as she grumbled inaudible words.

The pink-headed girl marched out of the alleyway with her shoulders hunched up as she made curses towards Sasuke and the rest of the world.

"Making me have to do all this just so I could avoid that pervert," Sakura mumbled.

Sakura reached the end of the alleyway and stuck her head out to make sure that Sasuke wasn't around. When she saw that no one was outside the club and that everyone seemed to be still inside the club listening to music playing over the sound system, Sakura stepped out of the dark shadows of the alley and into the streetlights that shone down on the deserted sidewalk.

Sakura hugged herself to keep warm as she began to walk towards her apartment.

"Eh, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura whirled around in surprise. Naruto stood in front of her with a surprised expression.

"N-Naruto," Sakura stammered out. "W-what are you doing here?"

Naruto looked at the pink-headed girl with an amused expression on his face. "You invited me to come, remember?"

"I did?" Sakura said confused. Suddenly, she remembered. "Oh right, I did."

Sakura smiled at Naruto. "I'm glad you came."

Naruto grinned. "Wouldn't have missed it for the world. You were awesome tonight."

Sakura laughed. "Thanks." She rubbed her shoulders as a cold wind blew past her.

"Are you cold?" Naruto asked concerned.

"N-no," she lied. There was a brief moment of silence. I'm such a bad liar, Sakura thought.

Naruto took off his black coat and handed it to Sakura. "Here," he said.

Sakura stared at the coat. "Naruto..." Sakura waved her hands and shook her head. "No, I'm fine, really. Once I get home, I'll be okay. You really don't have to offer me your jacket," Sakura said.

Naruto cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure?"

Sakura nodded. "Really, I'm fine."

"Okay then." Naruto tossed the jacket over his shoulder as he carried it with one hand. "Well, I just came out here to find that Sasuke-teme." Naruto glanced over his shoulder to the opened door of the nightclub. "He might be looking for me right now."

Sakura gasped. The gasp was a bit too loud and Naruto stared at her with a confused look on his face. "U-uh," Sakura began to stammer. "I just realized that I really have to go home now."

"Okay then. I'll walk you home," the blond offered.

"No, it's alright. I'll be fine. I walk home by myself all the time."

"But it's night out and it's not safe to go home by yourself."

"No, really-" Sakura began but she stopped when she heard a familiar voice.

Sasuke.

"Naruto!" Sasuke's voice called out.

Sakura looked around her. People were starting to come out of the club and spilling out onto the streets. Sakura clutched onto her dress. Okay, it's alright. If I see him, then I'll just act natural. Just act natural, Sakura thought as she gave herself a pep talk. She glanced down at her dress. Oh my god! If he sees me then he'll know! I forgot to change my outfit when I kissed-correction, when he stole my first kiss, Sakura thought as she panicked.

Sakura looked at Naruto who was scanning the crowd. She gazed at the black coat over his shoulder. Without thinking, she grabbed the coat from Naruto's hand.

"You know what? I think I'll take up on that offer on your jacket," Sakura said as she slipped her arms into the coat. She hugged the jacket tight around her and was satisfied that the coat almost completely covered up her dress.

Naruto stood looking at Sakura with a dumbfounded expression. "Uh, okay…" Naruto said awkwardly.

"Hey," a voice came up from behind Naruto. Naruto turned around and saw Sasuke standing in front of him with a smug expression.

"Why do you have such a stupid look on your face?" Naruto asked with a smirk.

Sasuke smirked back at the blond. "How would I know? Probably from looking at your stupid face all the time."

Naruto scowled at the Uchiha. "Bastard," he muttered.

"Hn. Idiot." Sasuke glanced at the girl that was hidden behind Naruto. Sasuke tilted his head and took a closer look.

He noticed a lock of pink hair and smirked. "So what are you doing out here, Pinky?"

Sakura glowered at Sasuke with her piercing green eyes. Then, she turned around and stormed off in the other direction.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto called out after the pink-headed girl. When all he got in response was the retreating figure of the girl, Naruto turned to glare at Sasuke.

"Damn you! You still didn't apologize to her when you tried to run her over with your stupid car, didn't you?" Naruto yelled at the raven-head.

Sasuke stared stoically at the back of the pink-headed girl. "She seemed to have forgotten about it when I saw her in school."

Naruto frowned. "THAT was the reason that you decided to NOT apologize? Hell, she could just be good at hiding things and not showing her emotions when she's at school-" Naruto exclaimed. "-or when around you," he added darkly.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto. "Hn. What's that suppose to mean?"

"You're really dumb when it comes to girls," Naruto stated.

"Speak for yourself," Sasuke said before shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants. "C'mon, we still have some details to work out for tomorrow," he said as he turned around and headed toward the other direction where his car was parked.

Naruto sighed. He glanced back in the direction to where Sakura stormed off. It was dark and deserted. Naruto stared worriedly at the darkness in front of him. Sakura-chan. Please get home safely.

With that last thought in mind, he turned and walked the other way where Sasuke was waiting by his car.