A/N: Heh, as you can probably already tell, the YAOI version won, so here's the first chappy of the brandnew version! (grins) TONS OF THANK YOUS TO ALL THOSE WHO VOTED! (hugs)

DISCLAIMER: Me, OWN?! (starts laughing hysterically) Oh c'mon, I barely have a couple of pairs of socks.

WARNINGS: YAOI, language, blood, sadness… Eh… Awkay, I think I should stop while there are still some readers left. (grins sheepishly)

Awkay, I'm yawning pitiably here, so… Let's get going! (grins somewhat nervously) I really, REALLY hope ya'll enjoy.

Tunes of the Devil, edited

- 'Our sweetest songs are those that tell of the saddest thoughts.' (Anonymous)

Ichi – Interlude

In the very heart of a Japanese village, lay a place many resented, even more were intrigued by and several brave souls became infatuated by. This place was the nest of sin, several declared, a place that corrupted even the most innocent of hearts.

The place was a saloon called Konoha, where people were granted unforgettable, breathtaking entertainment and illusions – never anything more, said the rules. Or well, never more unless you had the appropriate amount of money to offer. For the most realistic and sweetest of all illusions were expensive.

In the middle of that place lived the most whispered and legendary one of its many entertainers, a young man whom almost everyone knew only by the many excotic names those who'd met him had given him. Only a selected few knew his real name. Even fewer managed to get closer to him than that.

But then arrived a young man who was bold, or perhaps foolish, enough to break the strange place's strict rules. For he saw what no one else could behind those hard, stormy eyes – and gladly allowed his innocent heart to be taken.

Perhaps it was a mistake.

You always pay dearly when you try to fool fate. There's no safe way to play with fire.

1859

Ibiki didn't know how to feel as he looked at the pitiable sight before him.

In a tiny, rather dark room a young man with messy blond hair had slumped like a rag doll behind a table, one hand brought to his face. It was easy to see that the man hadn't been taking care of himself lately – he was pale and had clearly lost a lot of weight recently, and signs of sleepless nights were clearly apparent. What got to the experienced interrogator, however, were those blue eyes. There was barely any life in them; it was almost like the blond had been praying for someone to cut his existence.

It was bitterly amusing, really, that he might just end up fulfilling the man's unvoiced request.

"So, Naruto…" His voice was firm and his almost faltered spirit composed. Once again he remembered his duties. His moves were confident as he took himself a chair and sat down, close enough to the blond to make the man feel uncomfortable. "You've already been here for three days, locked up with barely any food and water. Now do you feel like talking?" He truly hoped the blond would finally be sensible. Usually he didn't mind doing his job, but now…

He couldn't understand what it was about this young man that got under his skin.

Naruto took a deep breath and licked his dry lips. He could easily see that the blond trembled uncontrollably. At first he thought that this would turn out to be just another fruitless attempt, but then… "It… started almost four years ago." The voice was weak, barely audible – it was as though the man hadn't been talking to him at all. He felt somewhat uncomfortable when seeing some tears the blond didn't bother to wipe away shimmering on those pale cheeks. "It… It started when I first met Sasuke."

1855

Nineteen-years-old Naruto was brought out of his deep slumber by an elbow that hit him so hard he nearly fell from the train's narrow seat. "Wake up, will you?" Kiba's voice carried some annoyance. "We're here."

His eyes finally opened, and he stretched while yawning foxily – then groaned and rubbed his shoulder that'd just been assaulted by his friend's attack. He cast a look of accusation towards the brunet. "What was that rude awakening all about?" He then clicked as sleep started to fade away, and winced. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?" Not that he could've actually blamed his friend, really…

Kiba rolled his eyes and all but glared his way. "What do you think?" His best friend gestured wildly with his hands as they started to leave the train, earning some curious and amused looks from the people they passed by. "It was your stupid idea to try and fool Gatô. It's thanks to you I had to leave my house – which I loved very much although it was too expensive and not even close to worth the rent, by the way – and that I'll get stuck here with you. I'll never get to see Karin's secret chamber. So yes, I am still mad at you!"

By then they were already outside in a more or less fresh air. Naruto found himself grinning while readjusting his violin on his shoulder. "Oh, relax, will you? Things aren't that bad." Just then his blue eyes spotted something that made them flash a little. "Besides, I just found us a job."

Curious as always, Kiba also turned his gaze to find what he had. It was an advertisement attached to a rather huge, surprisingly fancy old building's door; it seemed they were looking for musicians. The salary was less than satisfactory, but still…

Now even Kiba was grinning. "Well how about that. Perhaps you're not completely useless, after all."

He snorted, then swatted his friend's head. "Shut up."

Without wasting another moment they walked right in bravely, never stopping to think – until their eyes adjusted to the building's dim gaslights and they realized just where they were. At first the place looked like just another bar; tables, masses of more or less drunken people, a foul smell… But then they discovered the stage, where a young woman with long, blond hair and blue eyes was grinning while dancing in a very suggestive manner. Her violet clothes barely covered the necessary. And finally realization dawned.

They fell absolutely pale. "Uh-huh…", they muttered together.

They were about to leave, until a man with rather bushy, white hair and mirth-filled black eyes appeared to the stage, managing to gain everyone's attention. "Ladies, and why not gentlemen as well… Now comes to moment you've all been waiting for – your favorite star is going to honor you with his presence. Play nicely, and you'll get your taste of this rare treat", the man announced with apparent excitement. His words earned a chorus of appreciative noises. "And with no further ado – I give you…!"

He never heard the name, because just then the audience exploded into cheers that wiped away absolutely everything else. Or perhaps it was his brain instead of his ears that tilted, because absolutely everything else stopped when he appeared.

He jumped gracefully from a platform that'd appeared out of nowhere to nearby the roof, making everyone gasp. His unnaturally pale, almost glowing skin was barely covered at all by his deep blue and black garment, and while he started to move the fabric followed the commands of his body obediently, almost greedily. His angrily spiked, black hair he hadn't even tried to control billowed with him like a carefully controlled storm cloud. His gaze was, however, stolen by the dancer's eyes. He'd never seen as much anger and disgust as he did in those onyx pools. Gaslights, heat and his imagination must've been playing tricks with him, because for a fleeting moment he was almost sure the other male's eyes flashed red while the raven moved his body in a way that left no room for imagination. The music – if there even was such to begin with – disappeared while he watched the man spin and move like a flame out of control.

He gulped thickly while several parts of him stiffened, and realized quite faintly that his head was spinning when the raven suddenly lifted his gaze, looking directly to his eyes before spinning around again – as though dancing just for him.

Holy…!

That man was out of this world, he decided.

"Wow…!" was what his barely functioning brain managed to catch Kiba emit.

The man spun around and jumped twice more – making him feel even dizzier than he had already – then locked eyes with him again, effectively stealing away his sanity.

And then, before he properly realized what was happening, the raven pulled an extremely sharp dagger from the covers of his clothing, earning some whistles from the audience. In less than a blink the blade was flying directly towards him.

1859

While sitting before Ibiki's all but stony eyes he wasn't even aware of anymore, Naruto didn't know that he was already crying openly. "It started when…" He took a deep breath, absentmindedly wiping his cheeks. "… when he threw a dagger at me." Through tears a tiny, extremely sad smile found its way to his face. "That's when I fell in love."

'The hottest love has the coldest end.' (Socrates)

TBC, or does it?

A/N: So… Whadda ya guys say – is this worth getting another chapter?

PLEASE, do leave a note – you guys gotta know how much those mean to me! Pretty pwease…?

Awkay, it's waaaaay too late around here, so I'm tuning out. (grins)

Thank you so much for reading!

'Hope I'll see ya guys around – with whichever story that may be!

Take care, un.