Naruto was so happy that he almost felt like fainting. The gala night had been a triumph beyond his wildest beliefs.
He stumbled to his dressing room on a natural high, anxious to hear his angel's praise.
But when he opened the door he was surprised to find a young man standing inside the room holding a bouquet of red roses.
As he looked into the pale eyes set in the handsome face a sudden feeling of recognition hit him.
"Neji!" He gasped.
Neji smiled at him and set the flowers aside so that he could hold out his arms to Naruto who rushed forward to embrace him.
"I thought I'd never see again!" Naruto said.
"Neither did I," Neji said. "It only makes me that much happier that I deiced to invest in this place."
"Your our new patron?" Naruto gasped.
"Indeed," Neji chuckled. "And being that new patron I humbly request that you allow me to take you out to dinner to celebrate your amazing performance."
The sincerity in Neji's eyes made Naruto's face flush with heat but his heart shrank back.
His angel has sternly forbidden all earthly pleasures. No late nights, no admirers.
He opened his mouth to tell Neji that he had to refuse but then Neji took his hand to his lips and kissed it softly causing all rational thought to flee from Naruto's mind.
"I would love to go with you," Naruto said before he could stop himself.
And well Neji's face glowed with happiness, another man, hidden away behind the mirror, scowled darkly.
The restaurant Neji took Naruto to was a high end one that the boy had never even dreamed of entering and he made sure that their table was secluded from everyone else.
Neji took care of ordering the meals and soon Naruto and him were dining together and talking like the old friends they were.
"Oh, tonight has been so wonderful," Naruto sighed. "Its like a dream. Tonight, I didn't sing with my voice—I don't know. It just came out. It was a feeling. A passion."
"But it had to come from somewhere," Neji said. "Is it such a secret that you can't share it with me?"
Naruto bit his lip, wondering if it was safe to confide his secret in Neji or not. He remembered the days of their childhood when they had confided in each other the darkest of secrets and his confidence rose.
"My father sends an angel," He whispered, "who teaches me."
Neji's brow furrowed and then his eyes sparked with amusement. "Who is this angel?" He said. "Introduce us."
"I've never seen him, really," Naruto admitted, "but I feel him and I hear him. He instructs me."
Neji broke out in laughter now and Naruto stared at him in confusion.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
"I'm sorry Naruto," Neji chuckled. "Someone is clearly playing with you."
"What do you mean?" Naruto frowned.
"Come now," Neji said. "You don't really believe that an 'angel' is teaching you do you?"
"Of course I do," Naruto said. "Who else could it be?"
"I don't know," Neji said, his smile almost teasing now. "Perhaps you have a secret lover you haven't told me about."
Naruto gaped at him for a few seconds and then he was on his feet as anger rushed through him.
"Despite what you may think Neji," He snapped, "I am not that kind of man!"
And with that he stormed out the restaurant ignoring Neji's frantic calls after him.
