Title: chAngE
Author: mitsuki0tennyo (Mitsukino Tennyo)
Fandom: Naruto (SasuSaku_month 2011, Change Prompt)
Pairing: SasuSaku (Uchiha Sasuke x Haruno Sakura)
Rating: T (M-15)
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Word Count: 1668
Summary: No matter how much their lives changed, Kakashi mused they would always return to his karaoke bar.
… Age 13 …
Karaoke wasn’t an activity Sasuke enjoyed as much as his friends, but Naruto and Sakura loved it so he often joined his two best friends. It was better than being at home, with only the staff as company. Ever since Itachi left for collage, his home life had be so silent and lonely. So each Friday ever since they entered junior high they went to the Scarecrow karaoke parlor. The owner Hatake Kakashi was an old friend of Obito, one of Sasuke’s cousins, back from the days when the two men were part of the special forces.
Kakashi waved at them when they entered and started grabbing their usual drinks and snacks. Entering their usual room, Naruto and Sakura bickered about who could sing the first song. Sasuke grabbed the microphone, selected a song and seconds later the music of Nico Touches the Walls’ Diver was heard from the music boxes. It effectively stopped his bickering friends. The first lyrics appeared on the tv screen as Sasuke began to sing.
Ano suiheisen ga toozakatte iku
Ao sugita sora ni wa ashita sura egakenakute
Iki mo dekinai kurai yodonda hito no mure
Boku wa itsu kara koko ni mogurikonda n da?
Kanashimi nante hakidashite mae dake mitereba ii n da ke
Sore ja totemo matomo de irarenai
Subete wo boku ga teki ni mawashite mo hikari wo kasuka ni kanjiteru n da
Soko made yuke sou nara
Iki wo shitakute koko wa kurushikute
Yami wo miageru dake no yoru wa mogaku gen’atsushou no DIVER
Ikite iru n datte tashikametakute
Fukai kaitei wo mezashite mou ichido kokyuu wo shiyou
Atama no naka no chizu wo hikkuri kaeshitara
Tarinai mono darake de hitori obieta yuube
Boku wa tsuyoi n datte zutto omotteta
Dare yori mo tsuyoi tte zutto omotteta
As the last words left his lips Sasuke turned to his audience. His lips formed an elegant but arrogant smirk at the sight of clapping Sakura and grumbling Naruto.
“Your voice is as lovely as ever Sasuke,” Kakashi said was he entered the room with their drinks and snacks, Sakura quickly grabbing the package of strawberry pocky before Naruto could lay his hands on it. “have ever thought about a music career? You could make it big.”
“Hn.” Sasuke took a drink of his coke before answering the owner. “I’m interested in a different kind of spotlight.”
Before Kakashi could ask for a more elaborate reply from the Uchiha, Sakura spoke up. Chewing on a strawberry flavored biscuit stick, she answered the man. “What Sasuke-kun means Kakashi-san, is that he wants to become a famous actor.”
“And here I thought you wanted to join the family trade and go into law enforcement like your father and brother.” Kakashi gave Naruto his instant ramen, placing the other six cups on the table next to the blond. “But then again Mikoto-san is a super model, is she you role model Sasuke?”
“Ah.” Sasuke knew no one in room (well maybe the dobe would) believed he didn’t care, especially when even he could feel that his neck and ears had turned red.
Kakaski however decided to be merciful and turned his attention to the sole girl in the room. “And what about you Sakura?”
Ignoring Naruto’s cries about his dream, Sakura answered the man before popping another pocky stick in her mouth. “I want to become a pediatric surgeon.”
“That’s a nice dream Sakura-chan.” Kakashi smiled his signature smile at her.
“Don’t you want to know my dream Kakashi!?” Naruto grumbled from his spot on the couch, eating from his third cup of ramen already.
“I already know your dream, Naruto!”
The blond fell silent as he stared at the man. “Are you a psychic, Kakashi?”
Kakashi’s grew wider behind his mask “No your old man told me, Naruto and I’m sure you will be great botanist when you grow up. Same goes for Sasuke and Sakura,”
“You think so Kakashi?” Naruto’s voice sounded small and even Sasuke and Sakura looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Yeah, I’m sure you all will be great in whatever path you choose to walk.”
… Age 16 …
To Naruto, Scarecrow was still the same from back when he first entered the establishment as a thirteen year old. Even if he and his friends weren’t who they were back then. The trio had grown apart when they entered high school, they had made new friends and Naruto even had found himself a girlfriend. Hyuuga Hinata had to be the most perfect, patient and gentle girl in the world. Still he was further in the love department then his two friends who still hadn’t admitted they loved each other. Sai, Sakura’s friend and ex had told him in secret that Sakura and Sasuke were afraid to destroy the friendship they shared now should they enter a romantic relationship that could end badly.
shiranai wo riyuu ni nigete bakari de
raku na michi wo susumu no wa kantan da yo ne
demo ima dake no kono isshun wa
dare no mono demo nai yo
What’s going on, What’s going on
chiisaikoro ni egaiteta
naritai jibun ni naru tame ni
nani shite nani wo mirebaii notte
mayocchau toki mo aru yo ne
dakedo
(Anytime) kitto ima daiji na mono
(Anytime) sore wa koko ni aru kara
(Anytime) kowagaranai de sono mama
ikou shinjite
shiranai wo riyuu ni nigete bakari de
raku na michi wo susumu no wa kantan da yo ne
demo ima dake no kono isshun wa
dare no mono demo nai yo
What’s going on, What’s going on
Hey, I think U can do it!
yoku mimi wo sumasete kimi wo yobu hou e
biru no aida no aida made sagashite mite yo
mitsukaru yo kitto
jibun wo ugokasu nanika
Entering the room Kakashi watched Sasuke and Sakura stare their friend as the blond sang his heart out. It was strange, Kakashi realized how the three had changed in so little time. When they exited his karaoke parlor’s they all went different ways. The kids were in different classes, made new friends and created their own lives separated from the other two. They no longer were as close as they had been in the past.
Looking at Sasuke and Sakura, Kakashi noticed the two friends could pass for a couple to a random stranger who happened to pass by. It was a shame both teens were so stubborn and set in their ways. They would make a cute couple.
… Age 18 …
They were eighteen, in a few weeks they would graduate from high school and would go their own ways. The three of them had all chosen different professions. Naruto had found out he was an excellent cook and dreamed of becoming a chef and starting his own restaurant. While Sasuke was thinking about combining both his dream to become an actor with his modeling job. And Sakura, she still had the same dream she had as a thirteen year old.
Looking around, Sakura memorized the place. It was strange to think they wouldn’t return to the karaoke parlor next month. But with Naruto leaving for Osaka and Sasuke for Kyoto, only she would remain in their native Tokyo. Walking over to the machine, Sakura pressed shuffle and waited for the device to pick a song for her as the boys argued behind her. Soon the music began to play and Sakura started singing.
Kimi wa ima namida nagashita
Nakijakuru kodomo no you ni
Tatoe asu ga mienakunatte mo mamoru yo
Natsu no sora miagete niranda
Tsuyogatte bakari de namida wa misenai
Hontou wa kowai kuse ni
Taisetsu na mono o ushinawanu you ni
Hisshi de hashirinukete kita
Itsudatte nagai yoru o futari de norikoeta
Kono mama issho ni iru kara tsuyogattenai de iinda yo
Kimi wa ima namida nagashita
Nakijakuru kodomo no you ni
Natsu no sora miagete sakenda
Kakashi walked in with a surprise cake (a graduation gift) he had bought for the brats and his loyal customers only to witness Sakura kiss Sasuke as the song ended. The surprised Uchiha was sitting on the couch with Sakura crouched over him. As Kakashi passed the cake on to Naruto, the man couldn’t help but smile behind his mask. At least one of them had finally gathered the guts to admit her feelings. Although watching Sasuke kiss Sakura back, maybe both where finally admitting their feelings to each other.
… Age 28 …
It might seem strange to hold the reception of a wedding in a karaoke parlor. But for the newlywed couple it was just meant to be held in this very establishment. Kakashi Hatake was willing to make a onetime exception for them. Grabbing a microphone, Kakashi cleared his throat gathering the attention from the rest of the room.
“I’ve known the bride and groom as well as their best friend since they were thirteen years old and walked through this very parlor’s door for the first time.” Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. “And what brats they were. For the following five years they returned at least once a week. Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto this song is for you.”
chAngE nabikanai nagasarenai yo
ima kanjiru koto ni sunao de itai no
chAngE nando demo umare kawaru no
kanashimi mo dakishimete hashiridasu yo
TANOSHII uragiri ni atte torawarenai atashi ga koko ni iru no
tarinai tsukinai nandatte motto hizumasete yo
PATAAN kashita konna sekai ja jibun ga tare na no ka wakaranaku naru
waku ni hamaritakunai wa kimetsukenai de yo
michi naki michi wo yuku no
soko ni ittate matteitatte nani mo hajimaranai
chAngE nabikanai nagasarenai yo
ima kanjiru koto ni sunao de itai no
dareka no omoidoori ni wa sasenai wa
chAngE nando demo umare kawaru no
kanashimi mo dakishimete hashiridasu yo
anata no moto ni wa mou kaerenai wa
atashi wa atashi rashiku I wanna chAngE
nande sonna tameratte mitasarenai anata wa doko ni iru no?
kienai sabinai furikitte motto HOW rasete yo
kawatta kara kizuku sekai wa ima no atashi wo utsushite kureru desho
anata no omou mirai wa nani ga utsutteiru no?
Comments: A sweet short story about a friendship, romance, change and karaoke. Inspired by the song chAngE by Miwa, which was used as the 12th opening theme song for Bleach, starting in April 2010 and succeeded by “Ranbu no Melody” by SID on October 12, 2010. Beta-read by the halfkyuubikat
mitsuki0tennyo 