Orochimaru: The Phantom Of The Opera. Chapter 2.
After Sakura was done with her performance, Tsunade took her back to her dressing room.
"Well? How did I do, Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked.
"You did very well, Sakura," Tsunade replied with a smile as she gave Sakura a red rose with a black ribbon on it. "He is very pleased with you." Sakura looked at the red rose and realized that it was from The Phantom.
Tsunade left Sakura alone in her dressing room and closed the door. Then, she heard a voice cry out:
"Hey! Grandma Tsunade!"
Tsunade looked to see where the voice was coming from until she realized that it was Naruto who was running up to her. Tsunade was already getting irritated with the fact that Naruto would always call her "Grandma Tsunade."
"Stop calling me that! Anyway, what do you want, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.
"I just came here to see Sakura. That is, if she wouldn't mind seeing anyone," Naruto said.
"Very well. Also, I think Sasuke wants to see her too," Tsunade voiced as she motioned her head to the left where Sasuke was leaning against the wall outside of Sakura's dressing room waiting to see her.
"Be quick," Sasuke demanded.
"Fine," Naruto groaned as he went inside Sakura's dressing room.
"Hey! Sakura!" Naruto called her name as she turned around to see him.
"Naruto! It's you! Hey. You've gotten taller than me, haven't you?" Sakura wondered. Naruto put his hand in front of his head and started comparing his height to Sakura's height.
"Oh. Yeah. I guess I have," Naruto noticed.
"So. Naruto. What do you think of my new look? Do I seem more like a woman to you now?" Sakura asked.
"Yep! You're beautiful, Sakura! You've really changed since the last time Sasuke and I saw you. Speaking of Sasuke, he wants to see you. Before I let him in, however, I want to ask you something. Who's your new singing teacher? I never knew you could sing," Naruto replied, amazed at Sakura's singing.
"Well, after the Konoha Opera House opened a year ago, my parents were suffering from a mysterious illness. So I would go to the chapel and light a candle for them hoping that they'd feel better. But then, one day, when I went to the chapel, a voice from above started calling out to me. I told Lady Tsunade about it and she said that he was known as "The Phantom Of The Opera," or "The Opera Ghost." From that point on, he's always been with me, even in my dreams. You see, Naruto, before my parents died, they said I would be protected by an Angel Of Music," Sakura explained.
"Sakura, what if this "Angel Of Music" is the spirit of one of your parents and is becoming your singing teacher?" Naruto wondered, confused.
"Who knows, Naruto? Whenever I sing on stage, I can sense him. He's an unseen musical genius. But at the same time, while I'm fond of him, I'm also scared. Naruto, what should I do?" Sakura asked, starting to get scared and was concerned on whether she should tell someone or not.
"Maybe Sasuke can answer your question. Perhaps he can help you out," Naruto answered as he opened the door to Sakura's dressing room and let Sasuke inside of the room to leave him alone with Sakura.
"Sakura," Sasuke greeted.
"Sasuke. What are you doing here back in Konoha? I thought you were going to get your revenge with Orochimaru's help," Sakura said.
"I was, but then I found out that Orochimaru was just using my body as a new host for himself which is why I killed him. So, I ended up bumping into Naruto during his two and a half year journey with Jiraiya, and together, the three of us defeated Itachi. Itachi survived the battle though. Long story short, he was explaining to me why he killed the Uchiha Clan, and we reconciled and decided to return to Konoha with Jiraiya and Naruto. So. How've you been, Sakura? You've changed since the last time I saw you," Sasuke replied.
"Funny. I could say the same thing about you. Either way, it's good to have you back, Sasuke," Sakura responded with a smile.
"Did you know that Itachi and I are the new patrons of the Konoha Opera House?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes. I overheard your conversation with Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei, and Hayate," Sakura said.
"You know, I never knew you could sing," Sasuke voiced.
"I've been singing since my parents passed away from a mysterious illness one year ago. My father was a violinist, and my mother was an opera singer. I would often travel with them all around the ninja world just to see them perform onstage. Because of that, I decided to follow in their footsteps. However, before they died, they said to me, "Sakura, when we're in Heaven, we will send the Angel Of Music to you." Well, now that my parents are gone, Sasuke, I have been visited by the Angel Of Music," Sakura said.
"Yes. Yes you have. Come on, Sakura. I'm taking you out to dinner. It'll just be the four of us – you, me, Naruto and Kakashi. Let's just say this is a dinner to celebrate the reunion of Team Seven," Sasuke replied as he was about to leave Sakura's dressing room until he heard her say:
"No. I'm sorry, Sasuke. I can't."
"Why not?" Sasuke questioned as he turned around to face Sakura.
"The Angel Of Music is very strict," Sakura panicked.
"Don't worry. We won't be out too late. After dinner, I'll take you home. I'll be back in two minutes. Wait for me, Sakura, okay?" Sasuke asked as he left Sakura alone in her dressing room and closed the door.
"Sasuke! Wait!" Sakura pleaded as she got out of her chair and sat back down.
"Sasuke. Things are different now. They haven't been the same since you and Naruto have been gone," Sakura worried to herself.
Suddenly, someone's hand locked the door to Sakura's dressing so no one would be able to get in or out. Meanwhile, Tsunade watched this person with a suspicious look on her face and left. Abruptly, the lights turned off in the Konoha Opera house.
As Sakura was about to get ready to go out to dinner with Sasuke, Kakashi, and Naruto, she noticed that the candles in her room burnt out. A voice started calling her name. The voice belonged to The Phantom.
"Sakura."
"Hello? Is someone there?" Sakura wondered.
"Yes, Sakura. It is I, your Angel Of Music. Look at your face in the mirror, for I am inside of it. Come to me," the Phantom beckoned her.
Just then, Sakura heard someone trying to open the door to her dressing room. It was Sasuke. He could sense that someone else was in the room with Sakura.
"Sakura!" Sasuke cried, repeating Sakura's name over and over, as if he was wanting to know who was in there with her. However, Sakura was entranced by the Phantom as he took her into his lair.
(Note: I know that in the original 1986 musical adaption of The Phantom Of The Opera, Meg was the one asking Christine about the "Angel Of Music," (a.k.a. The Phantom). So, orignally, in this chapter, Ino (Meg) would be the one asking Sakura (Christine) about the "Angel Of Music" (a.k.a. The Phantom (Orochimaru)), but I decided that Naruto would be the one asking Sakura about the "Angel Of Music" in this chapter. Also, as I'm working on this fanfic, I'm listening to the 1986 Original London Cast Recording of The Phantom Of The Opera (with Michael Crawford as The Phantom, Sarah Brightman as Christine, and Steve Barton as Raoul) to kind of get some ideas for the story. Well, hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please stay tuned for Chapter 3! :D)
