Thank you to Dancing Coconuts, the only person to review this so far! Whooo!! Not sure if anyone else has read this, but if you have: REVIEW!! (Thank you)

Chapter 1: The Approach

Erik watched through the rafters as Carlotta butchered the song that should have been Christine's: "Serrraphimo yourrra deesguize eez pehrfecta!"

"Grrrr..." He felt like killing her with a noose from above every time she screeched the high notes, but he restrained himself; it was for the better. He had only to wait a while more, then she would croak in a different sense… "Hm heh heh," he muttered to himself imagining the glory to come. He wouldn't let a wart-ridden woman like her sing Christine's part.

He looked around the theater, wondering what to use as a distraction; he needed only to interrupt the performance, and Carlotta would fall into his trap. As he glanced around, he noticed an immediate violation of his instructions: someone was sitting in box five. Wishing to find out who, he began to travel above the theater, grasping ropes and hurrying across catwalks. Joseph Buquet was about, and he had to move along stealthily, or else he might have to kill the man sooner than he would like. On a catwalk above, he slipped right past Buquet, who looked around frantically after hearing the noise. Erik was well past him before he actually looked up.

Once he was finally close enough to get a good view of the box five intruder, he looked through a miniscule crack just large enough to see through. In his box, he saw Raoul de Chagny. His stomach tightened suddenly, and he felt disoriented. His dizziness threw him off balance, his left foot slid out from under him, and he fell backwards off the platform. He felt his sense of cat-like balance return to him in an instant, and caught hold of a rope just in time before plummeting to his death. He pulled himself back up onto the platform, trying to process what had just happened.

He had felt a sudden dizziness and his stomach tightened. Could it be that his hatred for Raoul de Chagny was that powerful? Or maybe…

He stood up again confidently. He had a sudden impulse that he was determined to act upon. Whether it was by his will or the will of a demon that controlled his mind, he didn't care; he was going to do what his heart told him.

(Raoul's POV)

He sat in the surprisingly comfortable seat, laughing at the comedy on the stage. "Maybe this is why that Opera Ghost refuses to give up box five," he thought, smirking. He wondered what could possibly happen because he was sitting here. The whole "O.G." routine was getting very old, and the sooner that Phantom showed himself, the better. Christine didn't want to talk to anyone after her abduction, and he was hurt that she didn't even want him at her side. He shrugged it off, for he knew Christine would greet him with a brilliant smile after the performance.

"Serraphimo, away with this pretense! You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!"

Raoul laughed wholehrtedly as their faces disappeared behind the fan, where Carlotta most likely glared at Christine. Just as he saw Monsieur Piangi enter the stage, he heard someone behind him:

"Vicomte..." Raoul looked behind him, but saw no one. Perhaps they were outside the door. "Yes?" he responded.

No answer. Raoul waited for a moment, perplexed, then shook his head. Just as he settled his eyes back upon the stage, he heard again:

"Vicomte..."

He spun around, agitated. "What is it?!" There was what sounded like a sigh before he heard the voice answer.

"Christine is beautiful, isn't she?"

Raoul's patience became thinner. "Who are you? I'll open the door!" The voice paid no heed to his threats and continued with its eerie sound.

"We have something in common, you and I. Maybe we should... be friends." Suddenly, it became clear in Raoul's mind.

"Opera Ghost!"

"That's right..." Before the Phantom could finish speaking, Raoul rose quickly from his seat, grasped the knob, and threw the door open. "Where are you?!"

There was no one there. Raoul looked to both sides down the hall frantically, wanting to catch the ghost, but he had disappeared. Raoul sighed, shaking his head, thinking about how much time that ghost had just wasted toying with him. He turned to go back to his seat thinking, "Now the Phantom will slither back into the shadows, coming out every now and again to pest-" Raoul was paralyzed in mid-thought by the sensation of someone touching him.

He felt two hands grasp his waist, and felt the warm body of someone press against his back. "Raoul... why do you hate me? Have I really been that bad?" Raoul felt a strange feeling overcome him as he felt the warmth of the man behind him, the soft breath whispering across his skin.

"Don't worry... I'm really not so horrible if you let me try." Raoul succumbed to the voice as it ensnared him, pulling him into a trance. He felt so at peace in the Phantom's arms in that moment.

"Give me a chance..." the Phantom lulled as his hands moved up across Raoul's chest. "Just one chance..."

Raoul was suddenly ripped from his trance as he become aware of the situation. He pulled the Phantom's hands off his chest, spun around and threw his fist at whatever he happened to hit.

The Phantom easily dodged such a random attack, smiling a savy grin. Raoul was overcome with a wave of passion as he saw the man before him, looking into his emerald eyes.. He stared at the Phantom like a deer caught in headlights.

The Phantom approached Raoul, took hold of his arms, and slowly lowered his fists. He leaned forward, his face only a few inches from Raoul's. "We will meet again," he said softly, "And I'll be eagerly awaiting that time... Raoul."

Raoul made a cry of disgust, pushing the Phantom away from him. He didn't know what to think anymore but knew he couldn't let any man, let alone a man like that "ghost," approach him like that.

"Maybe you can make more sense of what you're feeling than I can!" The Phantom said, raising his voice for the first time; and with that turned and ran like a wraith from Hell, disappearing in an instant.

All Raoul could do was stand in the hallway, in confused silence... spellbound.

(Erik's POV)

He ran back to his position above the theatre, barely even thinking about what he was doing. All he could think of was that feeling... the feeling of being close to the Vicomte- no, Raoul. He didn't know what had possessed him to do it, but he knew it was the right choice when he looked into Raoul's deep blue eyes.

Erik was confused, wondering what he should do, and if his feelings were true. He knew it was not acceptable by any means to... be attracted to another man. He knew that normally there would be serious repurcussions if he attempted to engage Raoul in romance, but he was already an outcast. "I'll do whatever my soul tells me," he decided. "I'll make him mine."

(Raoul's POV)

Raoul couldn't focus on what was happening for the rest of the night. Carlotta croaking and Joseph Buquet's death seemed insignificant, and passed through his mind like water through a net. As he took the long route to Christine's dressing room, all he could think of was that man's face... his deep green eyes, his smooth skin, and the mask.

All the ghost stories about him were far from true. He was not like a corpse, and he did have a nose, as well as perfect skin. If anything, he was beautiful and sexy...

"No, I can't think like this!" Raoul screamed at himself angrily, thoroughly upset with himself. He had never felt things like this before, and he had never considered it even possible. Of course he had heard of many nobles who had secret affairs with male lovers, but he had considered those stories far out, even absurd. He had never considered that he was... a fairie; he finally articulated the word in his mind. Why else would he be taking the long way around? Secretly, he hoped to meet with the Phantom once again. Raoul suddenly felt something "click" in his heart, something that made everything make sense, and he suddenly remembered all the memories he had blocked from his mind... happy memories of an old friend whom he had loved. He had loved a boy... he had made love to a boy... his teenage sweetheart. Finally, all the memories come rushing back to him.

"Maybe I am a fairie. Maybe I should pursue this Phantom."

End of chappie uno! More to be coming soon! Please review... I'll be happy!

Btw, when Raoul refers to the boy he loved, it would be good if you read my backstory fic about that: "All the Grass of the Field."