Collab: TalaPadme and SweetStealer

Cast:

Christine: Hinata.

Meg: Ino.

Phantom: Itachi.

Raoul: Sasuke.

Madame Giry: Tsunade.

Andre: Jiriya.

Fermin: Kakashi.

Senora G:Sakura

Conductor: Iruka

Eric Boucle: Naruto.

New Characters:

Neji plays her protective cousin. Duh.

TenTen is a friend of Hinata. Another dancer.

The Akatsuki plays a band on miscreants that hang out with Itachi.

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Prologue: The Slackened Grip

The crimson curtain was crowned with a gold lining, intricate and decorative in design. It fell to the wooden stage and billowed outwards gracefully as shadows whisked around behind it, preparing for the show. It was a high class show where only the Clan heads would go to discuss 'private' problems and where the famous would go to escape reality.

Hinata figited as she shifted uncomfortably in her dress: the latest fashion that was quickly kicking out traditional kimonos. Her father was disgusted by the style. And Hinata knew her father pretty well. Regardless if she was eight, Hiashi would not have her or Hanabi seen in anything but the latest fashions.

Pride ran strongly in her family.

As the poor girl looked at the golden bar and was tempted to put her feet up, she switched her gaze to her father, who was staring at the curtain with such intensity that it was sure to burst into flames any second. On his other side was her young sister, Hanabi, who was curled up next to his arm, already asleep. Hinata wished she was once again three years old...she could use some sleep.

On the other hand, her father had taken the time to make sure she saw this opera.

Hinata knew Hiashi had always appreciated the arts, at that love had been passed on in herself. Hanabi, in her young self, downright loathed them and showed it by crying and/or sleeping at every show.

The eldest girl watched her father carefully. He loved to take her to shows, even if it was a little relutantly. People whispered that he was forcing his motherless daughters to take after him, in hopes of forcing in a little music. Not many knew Hiashi well enough to know that he was a very talented muscian; he'd never let anyone get close enough to him.

But Hinata knew...she had listened to him play, during the deepest hours of the night. She'd sigh, and fall asleep, listening to his music float through her head. To snuggle under her blankets and hear her father play while the whole house was silent was magic to her.

"Hinata. The show's starting." Neji nudged her, quietly.

The eight year old girl blinked in surprise, and turned her attention to the stage. Her older cousin had his long mane of brow hair tied up, and was focused on the beginning show. Hinata's fingers searched for her father's hand and she grasped it. She was surprised to have him accept her touch, and hold her hand.

The curtain rose and Hinata was immediately greeted with such a loud spectacle that she gasped in child like delight.

How lithe were the ballerina's bodies! How graceful they were!

For the first fifteen minutes or so, Hinata watched, a little bored. She was awestruck by the dancers, but what she really anticipated...what she really wanted to see was coming up in just a few minutes.

Finally, the moment was here! Hinata nearly shot up out of her seat, excited. She smiled broadly and bit her lip in happiness. Neji raised his nine year old eyebrow and shook his head. He hated the opera.

A women, with heavy makeup and a glittering elaborate costume, strode onto the stage and bowed. She began to sing, her high soprano voice filling the whole theater.

Hinata sunk down into her seat, and let the music float over her tiny sedated body. The song was smooth and passionate, filled with longing and love. The girl sighed in happiness. This was what she came for: true music.

Suddenly, she felt her father's grip on her hand grow slack. She looked over and to her surprise and fear, Hiashi kneeled over, rigid, his eyes wide in shock. Hinata let his hand fall.

"Father...?" she whispered, kneeling down beside him.

She shook him a little, but the man would not move. She grabbed Neji's hand and pointed to her father, all words failing her. Hanabi was roused and mumbled out sleepily,

"Daddy sleeping?"

Neji was next to her in a flash, his pale hands searching for a pulse. When he froze, Hinata knew her worse thoughts had been confirmed. She began to cry.

The show went on.

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