A/N: Heh, I was itching to get another writing-project started, so I turned my eyes on this lil' one – the next one of the poll-fics! (grins)
First of… WOAH! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who've voted already – almost two hundred of you have cast your vote! (beams) You've made me VERY happy, you know? (huggles)
Awkay, from rambling to the actual business… (grins sheepishly) Something about this ficcy.
INSPIRED BY: Moulin Rouge – gosh what an incredible movie! (sighs happily) This is no copy or x-cover, of course, but I think you'll find the same spirit and some similar themes. Viva Moulin Rouge! (grins, and waves flags)
WARNINGS: Some… questionable themes, language, sadness, weirdness… (smirks)
DISCLAIMER: Me, OWN?! (starts laughing hysterically) Damn, that's gotta be the best one EVER! (keeps laughing until the meds kick in)
Awkay, because I've been rambling for ages already… Let's go! I truly hope you'll enjoy this. (gulps thickly)
Tunes of the Devil
- 'Our sweetest songs are those that tell of the saddest thoughts.' (Anonymous)
Ichi (1) – Interlude
In the very heart of a Japanese village, lay a place many despised, even more were intrigued by and several brave souls became infatuated by. This place was the nest of sin, several declared, a place that corrupts 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 woman whom almost everyone knew as Urufu (2). Only a selected few knew her real name. Even fewer managed to get closer to her than that.
After all, when you get too close to the flame you're burned.
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.
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 someone to cut his existence.
It was bitterly amusing, really, that he might just end up fulfilling the man's wish.
"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 five 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."
1854
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. "Oh really?" 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 become a real musician. 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. "Gentlemen, and ladies as well… Now comes to moment you've all been waiting for – your favorite star is going to honor you with her presence", the man announced with apparent excitement. "And here she comes – 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 she appeared.
She jumped gracefully from a platform that'd appeared out of nowhere to nearby the roof, making everyone gasp. Her unnaturally pale, almost glowing skin was barely covered at all by her red garments, and while she started to move the fabric followed the commands of her body obediently, almost greedily. Her long, black hair she hadn't even tried to control billowed behind and with her like a storm cloud. His gaze was, however, stolen by her 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 her eyes flashed red while she moved her body in a way that left no room for imagination. The music – if there even was such to begin with – disappeared while he watched her spin and move like a flame out of control.
He gulped thickly and realized quite faintly that his head was spinning when she suddenly lifted her gaze, looking directly to his eyes before spinning around again – as though dancing just for him.
Holy…!
She was out of this world, he decided.
"Wow…!" was what his barely functioning brain managed to catch Kiba emit.
The woman spun around twice more – making him feel even dizzier than he had already – then locked eyes with him again, effectively wiping away his sanity.
And then, before he properly realized what was happening, she pulled an extremely sharp dagger from the covers of her 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 she 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?
1) 'one' in Japanese
2) 'wolf' in Japanese – according to my little knowledge (grins sheepishly)
A/N: So… (gulps extremely nervously) How was it – any good at all, or trash-stuff? Do you think you'd want to read nine or less chapters more of this?
PLEASE, leave a note to let me know your thoughts on this, whatever they are! It'd be fantastic to hear your opinion. (gives huge, irresistible puppy's eyes) So… Please?
Awkay, I'm gonna start tuning out now. Thank you so much for reading this start out!
'Hope I'll see you guys again with this or some other fic of mine!