Spotlight

Sakura is a dancer. It was something in the way she was able to glide seamlessly across the floor, transitioning from move to move with the beat of the music that gave freedom to her body and soul. The melody mesmerized Sakura's mind, guiding her limbs like a puppeteer’s marionette. From the age of 13, she knew exactly what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, dedicating herself to the craft she so loved and respected. Despite the blood, sweat and bruises it produced, and despite the disappointment expressed by her family, she stayed committed.

After many long years, today was the day.

Sakura awoke to sun shining brightly above her headboard. As she came to consciousness, she was overjoyed to see the plain white walls of the room just recently stripped of posters, color, and other belongings. It was a welcomed reminder of renewal, starting afresh. The day when she starts a life of her own and the beginning of her journey to becoming professional a dancer and choreographer. Excitement oozed out of every pore.

Sakura flipped out of bed and onto the white carpeted floor, sprawling out her limbs as if to hug it, whispering sweet goodbyes to the ground she'd fallen onto every morning. The adrenaline pumping throughout her body was hard to tame when a milestone as big as this approached. It was going to be her first time living alone and the fall would mark the beginning of her first year of college at Konoha University of Performing Arts.

She slowly returned upright and rested herself on her haunches and took one last look around her room, reminiscing some of good memories within each object.

Her window sill: That one time Ino threw rocks at her window and convinced her to sneak out. Even if it meant almost breaking her ankle dropping from the second story she did to prove a point to her best friend and maybe for the rush of it.

The desk: Where during Sakura’s late night study sessions she did more sleeping than work. Whenever she woke up, an energy drink and snack waited in front of her face, next to a little card: “Sakura, you got this! ~Mom" Which never failed to make her smile. Even when she fell asleep from exhaustion, her work ethic and brains never failed her hence her straight A’s.

And of course, her favorite of them all: A high-quality mattress sitting atop a mahogany bed frame soon-to-be-traded for a springy, low quality mattress in the corner of a room on the floor of Ino’s apartment.

She thought for a moment of her best friend and how she missed her so. The long haired blonde had graduated one year ahead of Sakura and was already residing in the city of Konoha waiting for Sakura to catch up. Every single damned day, Sakura prayed for it to be a short one. She needed out. She needed some freedom and her best friend.

Sakura met Ino when they were in grade school. Ino was a spitfire; Defending Sakura against bullies with just the venomous words she spat and yet never once needed to lay a finger on another. She was the one who lit a flame beneath Sakura and encouraged her to stand up and pave a path for herself. A kindred spirit, a sister.

The woman’s mind drifted, portraying a distant memory.

When Sakura was a freshman in high school, her unusual pink hair and slender features garnished unwanted attention from senior jocks. Some “friends” of hers invited the clueless young pinkette to the school side-yard for a “conversation."

“But I-“ Sakura started to explain when one of the girls shoved her. Sure, she was a bit popular with the boys but she never begged, or literally did anything, to deserve their attention. Every morning she washed her face, combed her hair and brushed her teeth but never put on makeup or wore anything flashy. She never went out of her way to talk to any boys unless it was for a class project. She would rather be alone studying or hanging out with Ino when possible.

Minutes later after the upperclass girls inflicted their damage, Sakura unfurled her lithe limbs from the fetal position, feeling the dull ache of her rib cage and pounding in her head. Allowing herself to cast away the resiliency she held onto so tightly, she released a guttural sob unknowing if it was the result of physical pain or the pain of betrayal.

Ino heard her sobs and came running to Sakura's side. "Sakura! What happened, are you okay? Can you get up?" Ino’s fingers gently tilted Sakura's head up to face her, earning a groan as the pinkette’s tears trailed down her neck.

"Oh babe- We need to get you home." She said with urgency.

Half an hour later Sakura sat in a chair in the middle of Ino’s kitchen where the latter then aided her best friend in all of her injuries. The physical ones were easy, but the mental injuries Ino knew were difficult to rehabilitate.

Trauma does many things which includes forcing the host to forget parts of life that are too painful to relive in memory. The events, admittedly a bit fuzzy, still carry nauseating power.

Sakura was thankful for Ino and all that she had done for her.

She recalled a series of events leading up to the moment she felt lowest in her life. The moment all she could remember thinking was that she would be better off with her biological mom. Dead.

With the thought in the forefront of her mind she steadily started for the kitchen. A surge of unease through Sakura's small and changing body as her trembling fingers frantically searched through drawers until she found what she was looking for. A knife.

"This will do.”

Standing alone in her room, she wiped the tears from her eyes as the afternoon light flittered through the blinds of her window, the air solemn. She stood thinking for a moment about the next steps; She needed to write her last goodbyes. 
Sakura couldn't recall what she had written, but she remembered the pain she felt scrawling those words with tears flowing down her rosy cheeks.

Sakura extended her hand and wrapped her slender fingers around the wooden handle of the sharp blade, the acute tip of the utensil positioned in front of her abdomen.

“Wait for me, mom.” Hesitantly, she withdrew the object forward for leverage.

One. (I don't have anything to live for)

Two. (I'm useless)

Thr-

A vibration against Sakura's thigh caught her attention. The phone rang with a low hum. The pink haired girl viewed the screen through her watery eyes and found Ino’s name plastered across indicating she received an audio file. Shakily, Sakura put the knife down out of curiosity. Out of all people, she owed it to Ino to at least respond to her for the last time.

And well, she was still here today because of it.

Trembling, Sakura unlocked her phone; The text message read,
"Today is your mother's death anniversary right? Here's a song that might cheer you up if you're feeling bad today. ^^ ~Your best friend, Ino"

A melody and soothing vocals soon followed the message, the harmony sweet and smooth like honey. Every word, every note, performed with meticulous care. The singer’s emotion washing over Sakura like a wave at the shore’s edge. The lyrics and notes left Sakura without words as she crumpled to the floor in a ball of anguish, or possibly relief.

For the first time in a long time she felt seen.

This man- whoever he was- just saved a life and will never know this fact. One single, precious life.

Uchiha Sasuke meant more to her than anything.

A loud boom at her door jolted Sakura out of a daze. Her step-mother knocked again with a questioning look.

"I'm sorry. I'm just a tiny bit attached to my room," she said gliding her hand over the soft fabric of the floor. "But I'm ready now. Let's get out of here."

Sakura watched her disappear from under the doorway and counted each step she took, knowing how many strides it takes for a person to round the corner and head downstairs. Twelve shuffles later, Sakura lifted the bottom left corner of her mattress and carefully slid out a photo of hes mother, pieced together like a puzzle held together by tape.

I can't forget you. Folding it neatly into her pocket, Sakura's hands took purchase on the handles of her suitcases and wheeled them out of her room with a gentle smile on her face.

____________________

"Damn it Teme! I don't care if you're an idol, you cannot do what you please around here! You have a reputation to uphold." Naruto followed the idol from the front door, through the threshold, and up the seemingly never-ending staircase. "It's late; What would your fans and mother think you would be doing out at this time of night?”

"Drinking, smoking, and fucking girls,” he replied simply. Naruto, horrified by this answer, let out an audible gasp, and froze in his steps. Sasuke stopped too and looked back at his manager's disgusted face.

"I'm kidding. And my mom isn't even here so it doesn't matter how late I stay out. As for fans, nobody notices me with my disguise. Don't get your panties in a twist." Sasuke walked up to large double doors and pushed them open to find that it was exactly how it was before he left earlier this evening: unorganized and unsightly.

Bed covers and blankets were over turned and thrown onto the floor. Pillows from couches joined the bedding on the ground, along with scattered shoes and trousers. Food wrappers from granola bars, fast food joints and tomato vines (fresh is best, Sasuke always says) littered the vicinity of a trash can, yet none collected inside of it. What could this man possibly be doing every day to make his room look like this. Every. Day.

Sasuke stood in the doorway examining the room with his eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. ”Dobe…” He said in a deep voice.
Here we go, Naruto thought. “Yes,"

He answered knowing what was coming next. "It was supposed to be Ayame today. I will send her right up."

Naruto grabbed the walkie-talkie fastened on his belt and pressed the "talk" button which produced short beep sound. "Ayame to Sasuke's room please." He said into the receiver. In response, taunting "Oohs~" came from different areas of the house and through the receiver. Everyone knew what that meant.

A couple of seconds pass and in the silence of the manor, heels clicked against the marble floor at a steady pace echoing throughout the halls. Each step was hesitant and before reaching the top flight of stairs, the maid stopped and took a deep breath. Ayame peeked down the hallway before gaining the courage to step out onto the red rug adorning the white marble floor. With her head tipped down in shame, Inc stood next to Naruto and bowed to her master who was still standing away from her and into his room. Slowly, he turned toward her with bloodshot eyes.

“You. What the fuck have you been doing all day?" He pointed to the mess he created of his room. The girl stuttered the first part of her answer before being cut off.

”You're fired. Get the fuck out if you can't do your job right." He yelled coldly. Ayame bowed and silently choked on her tears as she fled downstairs to where her co-workers were secretly gathered and waiting.

"Sasuke, do you know how many people you've fired this week?”

Naruto attempted to follow Sasuke into his room, but the only reply he got in return was a rush of wind in his face as the man's door shut with so much force that it rattled the chandelier in the main foyer. With a tiny click from the lock, the manager only sighed at his idol's impertinent behavior. He rolled his eyes and dug into his back pocket for a master key that only he, the head butler/Sasuke’s personal assistant/manager, and Mrs. Uchiha carried. Naruto shoved the key inside the keyhole and twisted the door handle open.

"Yah! Get out-"

"No, you have been through six maids and two butlers this whole week and your mother won't appreciate coming back and finding that she has no wait staff." Naruto said as he kicked himself a path to walk through the underwear and shirts sprawled across the floor.
Sasuke stripped the black bomber jacket from his broad shoulders and threw it in front of Naruto’s feet- another road block. "She isn't here, and won't be for a couple months. Besides, you said there were a lot of people waiting in line to get this job! Just replace the delinquent peasants in this place with better people."

Naruto rolled his eyes and placed his hand to his forehead, attempting to rub out an impending headache brought on by Sasuke’s shenanigans.

”I think you're the delinquent here. That line was there a week and a half ago, now there are absolutely no more applications on file.” Naruto made his way to a desk located on the opposite wall and took a seat on a comfortable accent chair. “Sasuke, you need to stop firing people for small mistakes."

"I don't think so, if people can't do their job right, I'm going to let them go."

"Don't make me call your mother about this."

"You wouldn't."

"I have her on speed dial." Naruto held up his smart phone with a smirk.

"But you realize you're going to get yourself in trouble too right?" Sasuke said with a hand on his hip.

"As long as it will stop you from your tyranny, then fine. Besides, she'll chew you out more than she will me." For dramatic effect, or maybe to save their asses, he blonde man slowly dragged his finger toward the “call” button, giving Sasuke a second chance to change his mind. Sasuke bit his lip and glared at his manager menacingly.

"Okay, okay! I won't fire anybody else unless it is absolutely warranted! Just don't call her." Sasuke held his hands up in defeat while the other man only chuckled and relished in his victory. They both breathed a relieved sigh. The demon taking form as Sasuke’s petite middle aged mother was not one to be roused and riled up. But other than that, she was a kind and gentle person.

"But if I totally hate the person then I'm going to fire them anyways. No promises."

"I don't know about that. If you're thinking about firing somebody then you need to ask me first." Naruto said seriously.

Sasuke caught the tone in his voice and scoffed, "I'm not a child anymore."

"I'm technically your babysitter, Sasuke."

The raven haired idol walked up to Naruto and flung his slightly smaller physique body over his shoulder and walked towards the door.

"Put me down Teme!"

"Just get out of my room, and stay out." Sasuke said as he set Naruto out into the hall. And within a moment, the door was shut once again with a click of the lock.

Wow, he really is an idiot. The manager thought while he patted down his pants pockets.

“Oh… shit,” His master key was missing. That bastard. From inside the room, Sasuke snickered and Naruto knew that his key had fallen into the wrong hands. Evil hands.

"Hey! Remember, no more firing people you pampered little shit!”

"I wish I could fire you!" Sasuke yelled back only half kidding. Naruto sighed and made way to his office downstairs.

Walking down the marble steps, Naruto could catch only a few words drifting up from Ayame’s farewell party in the foyer.

"Sasuke is so stupid, he wouldn't even let you talk!” One said. ”He’s such an asshole, I wish I never applied for this job.” Said another. The staff aired out their grievances unrelentlessly, forgetful or maybe even unaware of how well the manor projects sound.

Naruto’s eyebrow knitted with anger at the disrespect. Yes, Sasuke was a dick, he can agree with that. But Naruto is his head butler, manager, and most importantly his friend.
"

Yah! What do you think you're saying about your master?" He glared at the group of six huddled together in a circle by the front entrance. Naruto’s authoritative demeanor startled the maids, jumping out of their skin and scattering into different rooms to resume their duties. "If I catch you all saying those things again, you'll all be leaving too!" Naruto yelled for all of the workers to hear. After a huff he once again started for his personal office.

As soon as the door shut behind Naruto, Sasuke emerged from the shadows at the top of the staircase. He heard everything. For a moment, Sasuke felt heavy pressure in his chest and a dropping feeling in the pit of his stomach. Sasuke’s fist tightens at his side and the pain of his nails digging into his palm awakens him from his somatic anxiety, bringing some clarity to his muddled mind.

From this clarity he reminds himself of who he is. He is Sasuke Uchiha, famed multitalented idol. Hated by some, but loved by many, many more. He shouldn’t give a damn about what other people think. He will never show weakness.

To be a better man or a bitter man? Sasuke can’t tell which is best, so he’ll choose latter.