Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Retrospective

The brisk autumn wind tossed my bangs into my face, temporarily obscuring my view of the soft grey sky. I sat pensively on the rooftop of my apartment building, feeling the weight of the object in my hands, familiar despite all this time. I pressed down on the keys, making sure that everything was moving correctly, but maybe I was actually just trying to stall.

I was ecstatic to receive an oboe, but that joy had been tempered by the fear that it was entirely possible that the thing might not even function. I took the reed out of my mouth and placed it in the instrument. Taking a deep breath, I thought over what note I should start on. Middle G should do, very safe and rarely ever off key.

To my utter shock, a clear, in tune note rang out of the oboe. Holy shit she'd actually found a working one! Excitedly, I began doing a few scales, impressed by the quality of the instrument and reed. The warm up exercises went better than I could have hoped, although my fingers were out of practice. I noticed in my peripheral vision some confused passersby casting searching eyes to the sky to find the source of what must have been an entirely unfamiliar sound. I laughed inwardly at what a unique skill set I had for a world like this one. Sakura and I shared a musical knowledge of our own, and while it was isolating it was also quite cool.

Knowing that Hinata's mouth wouldn't have the proper strength to play for very long, I decided that I would get one song to play. Searching my mental catalogue, I decided on one of my favorite classical solos: Sarabande.

It was very peaceful, sitting up on that roof under an overcast sky, light wind bringing the smell of rain and carrying away the soothing sounds of the instrument in my hands. I finished the song, letting the last note ring out before lowering the instrument.

"Holy shit! You're actually playing it!"

My moment was shattered by a familiar voice. Glancing down, I made eye contact with a beaming pinkett who was waving up at me frantically.

"Did you think I just stare at it?" I chuckled, "It's an instrument. You play them."

"But I haven't heard you play it yet!" she defended, the smile still not leaving her face.

She was correct though. I hadn't picked up the instrument before because, since receiving it I had a constant feeling of pressure building in my chest that made it hard to breathe even normally. I was both fearful of the condition of the instrument as well as myself; today just happened to be the day where I felt I could breathe.

"Yeah, well, I was worried it might be broken." I called back down, starting to pack the instrument up.

"You're done already!?" She cried.

"Yep." I jumped down, case in hand, "Hinata's embouchure isn't developed enough to sustain a lot of playing." I shrugged.

Sakura blinked at me owlishly.

"Mouth not strong enough. Sound not good." I rolled my eyes. Sakura huffed in response.

"It's not my fault you have a great vocabulary." she pouted.

"But it is your fault that you have a poor one." I laughed, leading her to my apartment and ignoring her offended gasp.

"What song was that anyways?" she changed the subject as she flopped down onto my couch.

"You wouldn't know it." I sighed.

"Try me." she said confidently.

"Sarabande." I raised an eyebrow. There was a moment of silence as she resigned herself.

"You remembered it after all this time?" she asked with an impressed air.

"Yeah, I remember a lot of the songs I used to play. I should compose some familiar ones that you'd know. You'd like that right?"