MisoHime

Author's Note:

Original Note:
My god, I am the worst. How long has it been since I updated... anything? I've been having my Final Year Exams and I just finished my last paper today, around 1:34 p.m. (+8:00 GMT), meaning I'm not a free woman... at least for the next month, before my next year. So here's the next chapter, it's going to get more interesting. Anyway, I didn't get any reviews, and that's rather sad, but I guess you can't review on a story that only had one chapter posted up and a boring start, huh? Stay tuned.

Updated 2016 Note:
This chapter was read and reviewed 14th April 2016.

After editing the first chapter, I became aware that the chapters following it would definitely be weird. The writing style is all over the place right now and I've decided to put it a priority to re-write these early chapters as soon as I can to avoid new readers from getting confused. I'll also try to put up a new chapter in between my re-writing.

Disclaimer: Naruto is Masashi Kishimoto's. And the inspired book for this story isn't mine either.

◊▫ 星の十字 ▫◊

Hoshina no Kurosu

Ni

才能

Sainō

Days passed until it was finally the day of the auditions.

Sakura stood with the rest of the girls backstage, awaiting their turn. The area was filled with different people, all of them sorted into groups based on the role they requested to audition for.

The air felt stuffy and uncomfortable from the number of occupants. Seeing as it had been a while since the auditorium was used, it came to no surprise that the air was dusty and stale from neglect. The hardwood floors were clouded over with a layer of dust, feet made shuffling sounds as the movement caused more motes to float midair.

A girl standing with the other group fought a series of sneezes.

Standing to the side of her own group, Sakura looked around at the other hopefuls. Some were slightly pale in the face, rubbing their sweaty palms against their clothes. If there had been less people, Sakura suspected she would have been able to hear their racing pulses echoing in the confined space. The mood in the air held hints of agitation and nervousness. No doubt many of the girls here were struggling to regain their composure.

Her eyes ran over her competition. There was a wide variety of girls who showed up today to audition for the play, ranging from young freshmen with innocent eyes to experienced seniors with cocky grins. Short, skinny, plum or wide, the only thing these girls had in common were their unconcealed nerves. Some holding on better than others.

Breathing in, Sakura let a small smile show on her face. She was assured of herself. This was what she wanted, what she was good at.

Her palms remained dry, pulse normal and script of soliloquy she didn't need to cram with stress in her hands. The audition script she chose was one of the most hardest parts of the play - especially because it was a solo scene that required a lot of emotion and passion to convey. It was a risk to read this particular scene, but Sakura planned to nail it as if she had thought of Juliet's words herself. Excitement washed over her as she waited. Her eyes watched patiently as another girl moved on stage.

The rest of the girls in her group paused in their own private rehearsal to stare as the previous girl on stage finished her small scene, stumbling off the side, face literally soaked in cold sweat.

There was a silence that hung over the air as the panel took a moment to write their comments and thoughts on paper.

Nervous glances were exchanged among those who still remained. It was clear that there was no mercy to be spared by the judges. They were looking for something, and out of all of them, how many really had it?

The moments continued to tick by, more and more girls moving when their names were called. Some broke down in nerves and stumbled over their words - awkward and unpracticed. Few of them managed to get by with neither compliment or insult from the panel and even fewer received nods of approval.

After more than half of her group had been eliminated, Sakura heard her name.

"Sakura? Haruno Sakura?" Mrs. Kurenai called out.

The remaining girls in her group exchanged looks as they heard the name, curious to see who their competition would be next.

Sakura brushed past the others and onto the bright lights of the stage. She didn't falter in step when she felt their eyes catch her figure and whispers started to trickle behind.

The overhead light was a bright beam , but Sakura didn't bother to bat a lash or squint from the sudden exposure to the light. With her head held high and confidence buzzing, she walked straight to the middle of the stage and stood expressionless, waiting for one of the two English teachers to speak.

Other than Mrs. Kurenai, there was one other English teacher - Ms. Anko Mitarashi. Her eyes had followed Sakura during her entire journey from backstage to frontstage. When she stopped, the teacher leaned forward from the desk, clipboard in hand.

"So, Sakura, what have you prepared for us?" Ms. Anko asked patiently.

Sakura gave a small smile and walked forward, bending down to pass a copy of her script to her and Mrs. Kurenai.

"Act Three, Scene Two: Juliet's soliloquy."

Ms. Anko took the offered paper and her eyebrows shot up slightly in mild surprise. So far, all of the previous girls had settled for less tricky scenes that were scattered throughout the play. Nobody had attempted this particular one - making Sakura the first. Scanning over the paper, the two teachers exchanged a small nod and leaned back into their chairs, clipboards ready to jot down comments.

"Go ahead." Kurenai gestured.

Sakura walked backwards to position under the very centre of the stage and took a deep breath.

Somewhere, someone hidden in the darkness of the backstage whistled loudly and Sakura bit the inside of her cheek to fight back a smile. Sai always chose to do something inappropriate at the most serious moments. She shook off her amusement and focused on her scene. She only had one shot to get it right, to prove to the eyes watching her that she had the talent they were looking for. She couldn't let anything interfere now.

Releasing her deep inhale, Sakura straightened her position, her body falling into the spirit of Juliet Capulet as she allowed herself to channel the emotion of one of the most legendary martyrs for love in history.

Her green eyes glossed over with passion, her face contorting to reflect the emotion her character felt, allowing it to flow through her veins.

Leaving all else behind, Sakura started to speak.

"Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,"

Wanting and wanting the night to come faster.

"Towards Phoebus' lodging; such a waggoner, as Phaethon would whip you to the west."

Praying to the gods to help you in your lust.

"And bring in cloudy night immediately,"

Make sure he finds you in secret, making sure he is unseen.

"Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,"

So that no one knows tonight's the night you'll go all the way.

"That runaway's eyes may wink and Romeo. Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen…"

The soliloquy flowered with every word that rolled of Sakura's tongue, her voice both soft and urgent. It was as if Juliet's words had come straight out of her heart – so full of love and urgency. The sense of time paused in her mind as she pushed herself to embody Juliet, the young woman who was awaiting, yearning, for Romeo.

As Sakura continued to recite the rest of her piece, the girls who had been watching backstage – awaiting her to failure – stood with their mouths agape, staring at her with a look of combined jealousy and awe.

Oblivious to everyone's reactions, and completely involved in the passage, Sakura's voice evolved with a new sense of urgency - Juliet's urgency to convey her message across. The emotion rose to a crescendo as Sakura reached the final words.

"And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks"

And Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.

Her heart was swollen with emotion as Sakura finally released herself from the grasp of her character. She breathed out a breath and her muscles relaxed, her mind almost light from the freedom of losing herself to the character.

The world spun back into focus and her eyes took in her environment. The room was almost deathly silent. The young pinkette waited, feeling the attention of her fellow audition mates behind her, looking at Kurenai and Anko's frozen forms.

Everyone else was still as she patiently awaited for the silence to be shattered. Just as things were bordering on uncomfortable, the room erupted into a circle of appraising applause. The sudden sound of claps stunned Sakura. She was vaguely aware of Sai with in his celebratory whistle in the background over the ringing applause.

Sakura couldn't help herself from breaking into a large smile as the surrounding people broke from their surprised silence.

Slowly, Kurenai blinked awake, her face still stuck in wonderment before releasing a satisfied smile. Her clipboard was long forgotten and discarded on the table as she rose from her seat and walked onto the stage, striding over to Sakura. Her face was proud as she offered her hand to the younger girl.

Sakura took a moment to stare at the offered hand before cautiously slipping her own into it. The older woman smiled and gripped Sakura's palm in a firm grip. Kurenai leaned down, her black hair gleamed under the bright spotlight as she voiced out in a clear tone everyone could hear:

"Well done, Juliet."

End Note:

Original Note:
Yeah... I hope that was better than the first chapter. I would love to read some of your feedback.

Side notes:
The Italic sentences below the bold soliloquy of Sakura's are the modernised expression of Shakespeare's meanings.

Updated Note:
I never realised how short this chapter was before, but it really is, isn't it? I added some parts to make it seem longer, hopefully making the scene more descriptive, too.

Do review if you can, as always, I enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts on the story!