A Song in which We Sing

Don't own any Naruto characters, but I do own my own.

A few words from your author:

Konnichi-wa!

This would actually be my first time writing for Naruto (which is a great anime, I may say). Of course I'm going to try my best to keep you, the readers entertained. And I hope you as readers will give me your opinions upon my creativity. It would help me a lot! I know I don't have the best grammar in the world, but I try to keep it to a small limit. So bear with me please and send me reviews. Arigatou! Ja ne!

Eriunei O. ~ *Chu*


(P.S. I just realized that I didn't like how I written the first chapter. I knew I could have done a lot better and some would agree of course. So hopefully the revised one would make up for my lack of creativity. Sorry T-T.)

Chapter One: Forget About Me


~*Seven years ago*~

His footsteps were slow, uneasiness settle behind them. Azure eyes glisten with unforgivable tears, knowing what he had to do. His heart grew heavy within his chest, lungs tighten basically suffocating him. He couldn't get his ravenous father's voice out of his head. It just made his blood freeze at that thought. So much hatred behind his words, so much despite when he mentioned Uchiha Sasuke to him. Why? He didn't understand how he could despise such a name. What happened in the past to cause his father so much grief? How he changed from that loving father he use to look up to, to some cruel man who only thinks about his business before his own son. The business, he thought as a tear slid down his face. All because of that, his father's legacy. It destroyed his family, leaving him to suffer more than he should. Sending away his mother, ending everything in a divorce. Causing his wonderful childhood to become hell, to cover the pain with false hopes and dreams.

A pawn in his father's plan, upon the chess board of Economy and Enterprise. Brushing off the shame from his eyes, he looked up at the night sky. How he wish he could be free like the darken clouds that danced along the starry sky. Or how the stars would twinkle in a harmony only he could figure out, showing off their beauty to him. Even the moon was in his view, so large and luminous. Bright light guided down to earth, covering him with an aura of protection. He wished he could be just like the moon and the stars, to just watch that pain from up there instead of experiencing it down here. Turning the corner, he was almost there to his final destination. He could see the street lights along the large brick bridge. Underneath the massive construction was the lake that he would often come to and think. Not too far was another trail that lead through the lit forest, observing the beautiful Liquid Amber trees. That's what he would miss most about Konoha, the trees. How their leaves would turn into a picturesque shade of red and orange all mixed. His steps changed when he saw a black haired boy, leaning against the railing of the bridge. He notice how distant he was as the large poncho covered his petite boy. Feeling bad, he knew he should have waited till the morning, but he wasn't sure if he would be able to see him.

Onyx eyes stared down into the lake, watching the waves reflect the moon's light. Slight irritated, he wonder why Naruto called him in the middle of the night for? He was sleep when his brother coming rushing in his room, telling him something was wrong. Wondering what happened, all he received was the phone and a twisted laugh from Itachi. That pissed him off more, knowing that he was woken up from his slumber to have a trick played on him. When he brought the receiver to his ear, he heard Naruto apologizing dramatically for waking him up. Ignoring it, he wanted to know why he called so late and all he got from the usuratonkachi was 'Can you meet me by the bridge in the park'. He noticed the sudden change within his voice, it wasn't joking, more disturbing. Agreeing, he had a feeling something wasn't right, this wasn't like him. Now, he's standing there, waiting for him to arrive. Licking his lips, he heard faint footsteps approach him then stopped. Not even looking at him, he waited for Naruto to start. Besides, what was so important he couldn't wait till school in the morning to tell him? Naruto turn his back and leaned against the rail as he stared at the other side. As the waves danced along the water, he felt a lot calmer than he did at home. Taking a deep breath, he knew he had to apologize to Sasuke at least a thousand times for waking him up so they could talk.

"Sumanai...Itachi told me you were up, so I didn't know." he whispered softly, not looking at him.

Sasuke sighed deeply, just nodding. There was no need to get upset; he's up now, might as well listening to what he has to say. "Yeah, whatever just don't do it again. What did you call me here for? Apparently it must be important if you didn't want to talk about it over the phone." He got straight to the point, eyes glancing at him. A gentle wind blew, blowing both of their hair in a disoriented pattern.

Mustering a fake smile, he knew that it wasn't really a genuine one, but he it was good enough. Watching blond strands enter his view, he pulled them back behind his ear. "Again, Sumanai. I didn't want anyone to listen, so I thought this was the best place, Sasuke." Naruto let his voice trail off, leaving behind a melancholy tone.

A brow rose on Sasuke's head, confused at his words. Normal he would be calling him 'Sasu-chan' but this time it was just his name. Something wasn't right with this, what happened to Naruto. "What happened, you don't seem like yourself all of a sudden. You didn't call me that annoying 'Sasu-chan' crap."

Knowing that was true, he chuckled softly. "Yeah, I realized that it irritated you. I guess I'm not the same person you see before you, I'm changing from the childish Naruto to a more mature Naruto. What, you don't like the idea?" He was being sarcastic, which was the first also.

"Uzumaki, what the hell is going on. What's with the sudden change? You’re more serious, being sarcastic, what's going on?"

Taking another deep breath, he closed his eyes letting the breeze grace his skin. 'It's time for change, change will do you good', he heard his father's voice once again, hating himself for thinking that. Not beating around the bush anymore, he answered him, his tone solemn, "I'm moving, my father brought another business and we're leaving to go run it. In two days, I'm moving to America, I won't be able to see you or anyone anymore."

Letting it register in his head, did he hear him right. Remaining silent, he couldn't believe that he was losing his best friend, even though he wouldn't admit it. "You're joking right? Tell me that you're not moving all the way over there. Why?"

Naruto reopened his eyes, letting them stay slightly closed. He didn't want to look at him right now, he knew the expression on Sasuke's face. Unforgivable, something he seen too much in his life time. "Father said I'm his successor, I have to go. Besides, I don't have a choice, now do it? I owe that man too much to disobey him. Hell, I'm already out passed my curfew and I bet he's looking for me right now. Bodyguards searching all over Konoha to find me. Heh, they're not too smart to look here..." he let out a pathetic chuckle, finding half of it amusing.

This wasn't Naruto, what happened to the real one? This person wasn't afraid, hiding behind others to keep from hurting. He knew the truth that went on in Naruto's home, why does he continue to hide it? "Naruto, you baka! Why did you go against your father's orders again! You know what he would do to you once he finds you! Why do you have to be such a-"

"A dumbass? Masochist? Which one is it Sasuke cause I'm thinking all. You don't know why we're leaving here don't you? Can't you see it, my father hates you and your family! He won't tell me why, he told me not to even have any association with you or your family. What did the Uchiha clan done to piss my father off so bad? We will never know because we're children. That's right, children placed within the family to just be their fucking pawns. We cannot escape our destinies, only suffer with it. In two days we're leaving Konoha, we're leaving so we can forget. I don't want to leave, but I don't have a choice. I'm forced to go, even if I fight. So before you start bring up things that don't need to be said, think about it first."

All he could do was stare at him, shock to hear him speak like that. This wasn't Naruto, he kept thinking. Naruto would never act like this. He could see the emotions written on his scarred face, he was afraid. A mixture between fear and pain was afflicted, he couldn't do anything about it. Worried, he had to know. "Naruto...did he hit you again? Did your father hit you again, answer me."

He didn't say anything, avoiding the question and talked once more. "I remember when I was only five years old, the first time I met you and Sakura in school. I was so happy to finally have someone to play with, I ran home and told my father. When I got there, my mother and he was fighting. My mother was pregnant with my little sister and she's been getting sick. They we're fighting about my father's greed, how he pay more attention to the business than his own family. My father stuck her out of anger, telling her that she was wrong, he's doing this for us. I felt my mother's pain that day, her hurt. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she looked back to see me. She hated fighting when I'm around, it only made her cry more. All I could remember my father saying 'this is what you will learn, business will always be first in your life. Family second'." It was filled with hatred, just that memory made him clench his hands.

Sasuke didn't say anything, knowing why he avoided his question. He wanted him to understand, to see what he had to go through in order to live, in order to be himself. Hearing him continue, Naruto told him another story, even more hate within this one. "Then things was different after my mom left. He became brutal, aggressive, and often possessive. It was around the time I was nine years old, he brought me into his studies and began lecturing me. This time was on the meaning of friendship, how ironic when he mention that to me. He said 'What's the point of having friends, in a few years they would be your slaves, doing everything you want. Enterprise, my dear boy will be your only friend, your lover, and your life. You will eat, sleep, and think business, nothing more. Then, I objected to his words, telling him that he's wrong. That friendship had a bigger value than money, and that I didn't care about the business, I only cared about singing. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut, it only made it worst. So as punishment-hand automatically touched his cheek-he burned me. He took the pitchfork for the fireplace and burned both of my cheeks. I could still feel them stinging when I think about it. A permanent punishment, he said so I would never go against him again." Tears misted within his hurt filled eyes, just thinking about it.

He could hear how he tried to cover up the hurt, even though it was pointless. He knew about the years of abuse, the lies Naruto used to keep the truth from being known. As long as he could remember, he would see new bruises and cuts on Naruto's body once or twice a week. Naruto would always deny that it was abuse to the teachers, saying he was clumsy. Even their friends asked what happened, all he would do was laugh and tell another lie to cover it up. He didn't understand why he continued to let the hurt happen. He could see how much it affected him, even though he conceal it. Only he and Sakura knows about his family and how rich they were, especially his father, Uzumaki Hiro. The richest man within the music business, he was on front page of the newspaper or magazine. Naruto didn't even look like his father, he got all his looks from his mother, Nadeshiko. He only seen her twice, in person and in a magazine with him and his father. Now his mother was diagnosis with Cancer and there was nothing he could really do.

Even his little sister Ayame, she never seen her brother or her father. How a family could be so messed up like that. He's not saying his family was perfect, they had some unwanted flaws but not like Naruto's. He remember Naruto telling him his hopes and dreams, to become a singer so he could pay for his mother's chemotherapy. So everyday for years he would come over to his house and practice. He gotten so good that he made some songs and sung it in front of their friends. Yet his father disagree with him singing, deciding to crush that little dream of his. Looking at Naruto's scars on his cheeks, he felt so bad that he couldn't be there for him. He was out of town when that happened. Sakura called him, telling him that Naruto was in the hospital with third degree burns on his face. As the result, it left whisker like scars there, a reminder. A reminder he hated seeing himself, the regret of not being there.

"You know, I wish just once I could go back in time and change everything, to make everything perfect once again. Then I open my eyes and realize that I can't. Welcome to reality, Naruto...a place that is a living nightmare."

"Naruto, you still haven't answered my last question. Did your father hit you again?"

Naruto finally decided to look at him, eyes giving him the answer. Grabbing the sleeve of his sweater, he pulled it up, showing a large bandage going from his shoulder to his elbow. Peeling back the medical tape, he showed Sasuke that large cut that was deep. Looking at it himself, he just let out a weak chuckle. "It was a letter opener that turned into my worst nightmare. Once again I crossed the line and this is what I get, huh? I really pissed him off, he send me to my room without any dinner. Hell today he banded me from eating breakfast or lunch. One whole day without food, kind of sad isn't it?"

"What the hell, Naruto you need to stop letting him do this! Why won't you report him to the police or tell someone. They can help you, they can put him behind bars for abuse." Sasuke tried to reason with him once more, staring at the wound. He felt his stomach turn as Naruto recovered it.

Sighing, how could he explain to him why he couldn't do that? He didn't need anyone else getting angry with him. He came here to just say goodbye and that's it. He should have been back home, sulking in a dark corner. "I cannot do that, please understand why." Was all he said, wanting to end this conversation before it got out of hand.

Angered, he was tired of hearing the same excuses. He knew he could do it, but why won't he? What is he hiding that he cannot tell him? He thought they were suppose to be friends. "Why the hell not, Naruto? What are you so afraid of? You know my family can protect you, we have the best police force in all of Konoha, and we can relocate you. Why won't you report it, I'm tired of you lying to me!"

He had enough. His eyes crossed as he snapped. Why couldn't he be just an understanding friend and leave it at that. Why go beyond the broader and provoke him. "You want to know why, fine! I asked him to pay for my mother and sister's chemotherapy. Not only does my mom have it, now my little sister does also! Meaning in order for me to see them, I have to do what he wants me to do, without any word. He said he'll help them, even though he won't admit that Ayame's his. He promise that he would as long as I continue doing what he wants me to do. This means I cannot follow my dreams until I know they are alright. There, now you know."

"I-I didn't know, why didn't you tell me what was going on? Why keep something like this from me?"

"What could you have done? Nothing because you don't understand how it feels to lose your mother, to watch her suffer thousands miles away along with your little sister. I had no choice, she was dying and I couldn't let her. This is what I get, a fair trade and in return I'm paying him back with my life." Turning away from him, he stared into the abyss, feeling that protection disappear. Nothing but an emptiness remained in his body now.

"Kuso! Naruto, please you can't keep doing this to yourself. Look at you, you can't even hold yourself up any longer. He will end up killing you one day, can't you see that."

"He won't kill me, I'm his heir after all. All he could do is beat me until I'm submissive. Now, can we place change the subject, I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"You can't continue to live like this anymore...it's killing you."

Holding back the tears, he closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms. "The last time I checked, I was already dead. Broken into shards of little me's, falling into the void. There's no hope for me, I don't know if I could even run the business, but I don't have a choice."

"Naruto..."

"Look, let's not get all sad and start having sympathy for me, alright. I'm tired of having sympathy upon myself, let's just forget this conversation all together alright. Forget that we even met, you might as well just forget about me. I came here to tell you goodbye and that's what I'm going to do. Sayonara, Sasuke..." "

"Please, listen to me. I'm trying to help you. I don't care if you ignore me, but you need to stop letting this happen. I know you don't want this, but you continue to be his bitch."

Throwing him a side glance, he smirked. "That's what I am, Sasuke. My father's bitch, his doormat. I don't want your help cause I don't need you getting involve. You may have the best police force, but as ruthless as my father, he would find a way to have you dead. Listen to me, you cannot tell anyone about this, even after I leave. Not to Sakura, to Kakashi-sensei, or even Iruka-sensei, alright. Bad enough they are worried about me, but I don't need to knowing either. Promise you will take this secret with you to your grave."

Unsure if he should, he knew what was going on was wrong, but he didn't want Naruto to get hurt more. Nodding, he felt his heart break by doing it. "I promise...I won't tell anyone."

He gave him a gentle smile, as he inhaled deeply. "Arigatou...Sasu-chan. Before I go home...how about I sing you a song. I know I'm not all that good, but at least I can give you something to remember me by."

"Alright...you can sing anything that comes to mind. I don't care, whatever."

Smiling once more, he closed his eyes feeling the words just flow out of his body. Being to sing, his voice was smooth and soft, but hollow. Sasuke leaned once more on the rail, listening to him. He knew Naruto was crying, he could smell the salt from his tears. Inside he was crying too, but he didn't need to do it physically.

Can you forgive me again?
I don't know what I said
But I didn't mean to hurt you

I heard the words come out
I felt that I would die
It hurt so much to hurt you

Then you look at me
You're not shouting anymore
You're silently broken

I'd give anything now
to kill those words for you

TBC
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Author’s Note: Once again, I had the change it. So hopefully you like this one, it’s a lot better I think and it has tons of emotions between Sasuke and Naruto. Next chapter will be a lot better, so hope you enjoyed my writing. Let me know, send me your opinions in your reviews. Ja ne!! Arigatou!