Hello all! Back with another chapter. I was actually dissapointed in the number of reviews I had for the first chapter...I know plnety of people read it, but I cant help but feel all this hard effort was just in vain when people dont give me feedback.

But, choosers can't be beggars I suppose. I hope all of you who do read enjoy this nontheless. Here you go.

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November 14th, 7:22 PM

Naruto stood there quietly, a brilliant poker face displayed as his obvious discomfort was subdued, those eyes focused on him now. The atmosphere in the room was tense. It wasn't just a simply layer of uneasy, a light settling of a suspicious feeling. No, try a heavy blanket thick with little faith and doubt, making all things seem uncomfortable. Anyone who would have stepped into the area would most likely turn around and leave again because of the sheer power of it.

Every single one of them had a concerned mask plastered on. Their quiet chatter and stares at the blond was a clear enough signal to indicate they were suspicious about what their conductor had just suggested. And he didn't blame them for worrying, it was all so sudden and strange. The complications that were present were clear enough as well.

"But...he's a male," Jiraiya voiced the major problem, glancing around, as if trying to find support to help him. "We need a female to play the part. I'm sure Naruto is talented, but-"

Kakashi cut him off briskly. "Males have played females before, and visa versa. Naruto will undoubtedly fit the role perfectly. He's had very special tutoring." The man smiled slightly, apparently not missing a beat. No detail probably ever slipped by him. But then again, he was the conductor.

Tsunade turned her gaze onto the boy once more, finding this new piece of information quite interesting. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly to him. "Tutoring? From who?"

Naruto would never disgrace his managers for anything...but for the first time, he hesitated in answering. Though it was a simple question, he was honestly unsure of how to reply...mostly because he did not know the answer himself. But how could he explain that he had never met his secret teacher, the man who gave him lessons countless times and refined his voice, in person?

Taking a deep breath, he decided lying would not help his situation. Perhaps the truth could be stretched out into a safety net, though. So, he made his answer as vague as possible. At the very least he could avoid coming off as an insane person, which would definitely happen it he would try to explain the situation in full detail. "I...don't know him by name...I'm sorry."

The answer was completely wishy washy, anyone could probably admit. But apparently they didn't bother for details, since his response was well enough to satisfy the woman. She turned towards Jiraiya once more, and for that he was grateful. But the worry was evident on her face, and she was chewing on her lip in deep thought. It was clear that she was turning the difficult predicament over in her head, going over any and every option they had up their sleeves. Everyone seemed to be holding their breaths, wondering what the female was going to decide.

With a last glance over at the blond, she voiced her opinion to everyone. "I...don't think it'd hurt to try. Kakashi has a unwavering faith in the boy's skills, we should too. Let's give it a shot." She ignored the surprised faces and noises about her, and tilted her head towards her partner, as if asking him to move on.

"Well..." Jiraiya sighed, nodding and seeing no point in trying to say anything otherwise. "Alright. Alright...Well then, Naruto, would you...oh yes, mind singing the solo for us, please?"

Sing a solo? The words seemed to echo in his mind like a foreign cry trying to translate itself into something intelligible. He had never taken a solo project...on anything before. He had always been a minor character, that was his role and that was his fate. Always working in a group or building on teamwork, he was used to that. When your whole life revolved around such roles, the habit of following the lead and using cues by others; that was simply second nature to the blond.

But this time, there would be no teamwork or partners to back him up. And this time, he had to rely on no one but himself.

To say he was nervous was a bit of an understatement.

But...the show had to go on, nervousness aside. The whole crew, and the newcomers were depending on him. If not, then who else? With a nod and firm steps forward, his body moved across stage from the back of the room, where he was a forgotten face in the crowd. But now as he stood front and center in front of the empty seats of the audience, there was nowhere to hide himself. He decided focusing on the ghostly audience filling the vacant seats in front of him would help. Soon his mind drifted away from the fact that there were others watching, and a deep breath stelled his nerves and helped him gather himself. His mind had flown away from the chains of the others gazes staring at him, about the new managers secretly evaluating his performance. All boundaries of the obstacles in front of him could no longer reach their hands out. Even the theater melted away around him, and instead a dark place of solitude and sanctuary was his opera house. And in this opera house, there was only his secret tutor there, him and no one else.

With that image firmly in mind, Naruto started to sing.

"Think of me, think of me fondly...when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while, please promise me you'll try..."

November 14th, 8:41 PM

And there Naruto was singing again, his heart and passion poured into the words just as before. But no longer was he in simple practice garbs. Elisia's costume adorned his frame now, taking the dancer and turning him into a star. It was hard to tell he was even male with his soft features if one did not pay close attention or never knew him.

And no longer were the aisles of seats empty in front of him with whispers at his feet. Instead, rows of people filled the audience, watching the figure on the stage with silent compassion and awe. And though he knew all those eyes were on him, he only dreamt of the dark abyss and the man hiding deep within. So he was not nervous, he smiled and let the music out with everything he had.

"When you find that, once again, you long to take your heart back and be free...if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me... "

The voice, was nothing anyone in that room could have expected from a male. It was a soft, quiet tone that could rival any woman that dared to follow such an act. Yet it still held clear masculinity deep below if one listened closely. It was quite the combination, but it didn't matter if it was male or female or had qualities of both. The sheer beauty of it, the richness and the power behind the words and even behind the meaning of the words, held everyone's attention in a powerful grip.

The trance even held Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were sitting in their own privately reserved booth. They were smiling at the young boy as his voice raised to hit even the highest notes with perfection. Such a voice...it was a blessing, an amazing art of itself. They had been worried at first, yes. Very worried in fact. But then they first heard note of the symphony that was pouring from from the blond's lips during rehearsal, and all doubts died immediately.

And even Sai, sitting next to his employers, could not take his eyes away from his old friend on-stage, even for a second.

"We never said our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea...but if you can still remember, stop and think of me..."

Away from the bright lights of the stage, far below the lively amphitheater and down in the darkness, deep in the forgotten catacombs below the opera house, a figure made his way down the hall. A crack in the floor above shed some luminescence on the silhouette. The cloak hung about his shoulders, the rest pooling behind him and ruffling with his steps. His long legs were covered by black slacks, and a white ruffled shirt was tucked in a bit to the belt line, his sleeves coming down to his elbow and ending in cuffs and elaborate cuff links, showing off his pale, lean forearms. His hair was raven black, with bangs framing his face and tufts sticking out in the back. But both his eyes and nose were covered, hidden behind a porcelain mask of half a face, only his thin mouth showing.

The phantom, what they called him, in all his glory, was ready to depart down to his chambers in the belly of the beast, where pure light would never be able to touch.

Despite his infamous profile to be wicked and haunting, this figure seemed to betray that scenario. There was no malice in his movements, and he seemed very normal at a glance, although the dark, brooding appearance betrayed him. He even walked at a leisurely pace. There was no rush to go anywhere. He had no friends to visit, or people to chat to. No one dared welcome him anywhere, and so his mind was the only place he felt relaxed. Those eyes revealed how secret thoughts wound tightly in his head, reflecting deep thinking. What were these thoughts? It varied for whatever mood suited him. As for the moment, they were about the future of his opera house, certain people trying to take over the business, and the object of his affections..the last thought was always on his mind, coincidentally.

Suddenly, a voice roused him from his thoughts. Tilting his head up, he listened as sweet, muffled words drifted down through the rafters, even shifting the dust between them and causing it to rain slightly. Although it was hard to decipher from these depths, he knew that voice all too well. It always echoed in his mind, filled with emotion and talent. One could say, in an ironic sense, the phantom was haunted by it. Just the sound of it made his knees tremble, and his usually mute throat opened to utter a single word.

"Naruto..."

"Recall those days, look back on all those times...think of the things, we'll never do. There will never be a day, when I won't think of you..."

This was it, the finale, where he had to give it his all, slowly raising the last note until he could not go any higher. The blond held it out as long as he could, hearing the orchestra play from the pit with him and holding for the right moment to stop. And he finally did, it came with a rush of air, breath trying to regenerate his lungs, and suddenly every person was off their seats and applauding with such vigor. The sheer energy that they were giving, it left him even more breathless than his performance. He smiled gently at the crowd, bowing and very aware of the roses they threw in his direction. The blond had always stood from the sidelines and watched as Sakura was thrown the beautiful flowers, and now that he was experiencing it, he could see why she flushed so heavily every time. From the corner of his eye, offstage, he saw the rest of the cast, adding to the loud applause. But Hinata had the biggest smile on her face, looking positively overjoyed, and he couldn't help but grin, just for her.

The play had been a success.

With a last bow and wave of the hand, Naruto made his way off the stage, suddenly feeling the weight he had to are all night crashing down on to his shoulders, simple things that had been blocked out as he was acting. Such as the way the dress was starting to stick to his skin uncomfortably, or the wig itched at his scalp. But he was greeted by the onslaught of his fellow co-workers, slowing his escape route. The cheers and cries rang loudly in his ears, and it made his head feel stuffy and warm. Their loud words of congratulations followed him even as he made his way through the crowd, desperate for some form of sanctuary. But he chatted with him, and celebrated with them, and gave them attention when they wanted it. He would never be rude and turn away from the people he lived with. But as bottles of champagne were opened and their focus slowly left him for the overall satisfaction of a play well done, he finally was able to slip around the crowd, happy that he was finally being left alone, though he loved them all dearly. Finally he felt like there was some space to breathe. With a sigh of relief, he led down one of the hallways, where the loud ruckus of the crew started to fade, towards a little set of stairs that he knew very well.

Quietly, he slipped down the steps, letting the lit fires of the torches on the wall guide his pathway. The journey didn't last very long, and he found himself in a room heavy with dust and age. With the candles set up and the decorations, it was obvious to see this was a place to come and pray. Sighing and letting his feet approach the middle of the room, he reached for the shining chain of gold threaded around his neck, pulling it and revealing a locket hidden beneath the clothes. His only personal possession that meant a great deal to him, and the key to his past. Opening it revealed his fondest memories, a portrait of his father on the right, and his mother on the at their faces and the soothing effect they had on his aching body, he knelt down by the small alter with practiced ease, clasping the memory bound pictures tightly between his two hands, holding them close to his heart and murmuring quiet words of prayer and thanks.

The candlelight flickered, and his eyes observed it as a sudden air gust. But then he knew it was no ordinary occurrence, for a familiar velvet voice seemed to whisper into his ear, "Bravo...my star..."

"Naruto?"

The blond jumped with a sudden realization to the fact he was no longer alone. Whipping around, his blue eyes glanced over at the dancer in the doorway. "Hinata...you startled me."

She smiled with earnest embarrassment, bowing in a sincere apology as she made her way in. "I'm sorry...I thought you'd be down here though..." She slowly made her way over, setting herself down next to the other. Her eyes sparkled with energy as she looked up at him. "Naruto...I never knew you could sing like that. Tell me...who is this secret tutor of yours?"

The boy's fingers slowly returned the necklace to its home around the tan neck, holding it in place. "Hinata...do you remember when I first came here, so long ago?" His eyes glanced off towards the wall as he reminisced, smiling fondly. "Even when I was young, I would come down here to pray for my parents. And every time, I could hear a voice, from above, calling to me. And in my dreams he was there, too."

"A voice?"

The blond nodded, his gaze returning to her. His face held such peace, a look hardly worn by him in front of anyone. "You see...when my father lay in his death bed, his last words to me were that I would always be protected...guarded by an angel...he called it, my Angel of Music."

The words gave Hinata some final understanding to the situation. With a gentle look, her hand was placed over his own. "Do you believe that...it is your father's spirit watching over you?" She asked softly, already expecting the answer, but wanting to hear it from his lips.

To her surprise, there was a hesitant shake of the head at this. "I used to..." he murmured, with eyes cast up at the ceiling. "But the voice is not that of my fathers...or of anyone I have known in the past...I am not sure of who my Angel of Music is, but all I know...is that my father sent him to watch over me."

November 14th, 11:05 PM

Naruto was surprised to see his room filled with the rainbow of flowers.

Most were from the other cast, but there were so many littered in every inch of his space, it seemed. Roses mostly, but others as well. Though no one was there to witness, his face flushed a bit with the elaborate extent of his gifts. He had done nothing but sing, and yet he received such praise. It seemed too grand for such a task he did.

But they certainly did brighten up the room.

With content, he moved his way towards his writing desk, resting himself on the lavish material of the chair and sighing quietly. He had finally rid himself of that stuffy dress that had made his movements sluggish. Though he dared not to agree with Sakura on most things, it was certainly true that it left you feeling humid. Now he was in a simple night shirt and pants and could breathe properly, he could actually focus on something besides the feeling of nearly passing out. He glanced down at a distinctive object on his desk, single red rose upon the smooth wood, a black ribbon tied around the seemed a strange sight to see, one lone rose amongst the bouquets. A note was attached to it, and a simple word read, "Bellissimo"

He had no time to ponder over this strange gift, for there was a polite knock on the door. "Come in."

The door opened at the call, and a familiar face walked in, one Naruto wasn't sure if he wanted to see. The man was holding a bouquet of roses in his pale hands, although it may have really been a peace offering instead of a gift. His suit was the same black that the man always wore, and it matched his hair quite well. With the door closed and sealing them both inside, the figure approached the blond and smiled a bit too tightly for anyone's tastes. "Naru."

"Sai..." he had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from crying at the sight of the man.

"You did wonderfully tonight, Naru." The roses were placed nearby the others, though their vivid red would seem to catch most attention. Approaching and kneeling down, a gentle kiss was placed on the back of a tan hand. "It's hard for me to believe that after all these years, we would be destined to meet again."

The singer didn't doubt that, for a minute. After all that happened between them, after all the love and heartbreak, there was no doubt that the other man wasn't expecting this at all. The way he had abandoned him at such a time was proof that Sai had no qualms about ever seeing him again. But even Naruto himself had been shocked as well over all of this. And though it may have been a bit too cold, he decided to be frank. "Where is your girlfriend?"

A cold bite of reality, and it made the black haired man flinch. "She...is no longer in my life," he murmured, standing up fully and staring at those questioning blue orbs. "And I think it was a mistake for me to leave you."

"You left me without even bothering to admit you were cheating on me, leaving without the courage to face me personally, and you call that a mistake? I doubt it can be called that anymore, but yes, it was."

"Well, then..." he was getting uncomfortable. Good, let him squirm a bit. It's the least he gets for putting me in such a position. "if you can forgive me for my past actions and hopefully we can start from the beginning, as friends, perhaps you will accompany me for dinner...?"

He had to ponder this, although part of him saw no reason to even consider the idea. He hated Sai. More than any feeling he felt, whether it was real emotion, or a fake illusion he conjured for the audience. What the man had done to him in the past was despicable, and left him a bitter shell for a long time. But then again...he hated the man as a lover. But the raven was ,without a doubt, a good partner and acquaintance. So as a friend, he could work with that. Although he wasn't sure if he wanted this relationship to get past friendship. But...starting from the beginning would be best, grudges weren't very healthy for anyone.

It wouldn't hurt much, he decided quietly, feeling it best to just bury the hatchet and try to start over. If this was how fate wanted to play, he'd allow it to run its course. So he voiced his final answer to the man with a confident voice."Yes, I shall join you."

"Thank you.." relief evident in his voice, he slowly turned away, eyes downcast. "I shall go prep a carriage, please wait here." With another bow, he walked in stride towards the door, not bothering to look back as he clicked the door softly behind him, leaving the room silent once more. But the wave of uneasiness did not leave with him.

Sighing, the young male prodigy slumped a bit in his seat, staring dejected at that one single rose once more, feeling more exhausted than ever. Yes, he hated that man. So much. But still somewhere in his being, deep down underneath the hurt and the betrayal, there was still a love that he had hoped died long ago. Was it wrong of him, after all this time, to still be in love with the man who broke his heart? Even now it was fluttering in chest, the thought riling old emotions, along with old wounds long since healed but still bore a scar. Was it...so wrong...

Suddenly, the candles in the room flickered, and went out, leaving the room to be cast in a blue light thrown from the moon outside the window. Naruto could hear the walls whispering to him, words of inaudibility caressing his form. Why was the air so thick..?

The voice seemed to get louder, the whispers more urgent. And then that velvet voice once more, the one he heard in his dreams, his prayers, his mind. "Naruto..." And suddenly, he knew.

The Angel of Music was calling him.

---à suivre---

Next Chapter: Monday, December 22nd

When Naruto's eyes fluttered open, it almost felt like he was awakening from a deep sleep, feeling heavy and a bit the feeling went away, the first thing he noticed was that they were in a long, dark hallway of sorts, a few torches their only means of guidance. The hand around his waist was guiding him along, their footsteps the only sounds that could be a over to the side, his angel was in view again, much closer now and seeming so much more real than ever before. The way his stride was long and smooth, or how the pinky around his wrist was raised ever so slightly, the small mannerisms convinced the blond that this couldn't be some illusion that his mind had painted for him. This was his Angel of Music, in the flesh. But even so, he knew of the man's second identity immediately when he saw that reflection in the mirror.

The Phantom of the Opera.