"Why, it is so simple, I feel ashamed that I did not immediately think of such a thing; a chance to ensnare our crafty friend..."
Sai had said it so smoothly, with such surprise in the haunting silence, that it caught the immediate attention of his two bosses. All three of them had been walking ...well, more like pacing, down the hallways, thinking deeply about their predicament with the phantom. Something had to be done soon, or else there was no turning back.
Apparently the boy had an idea, though, and so they were going to listen intently, giving him permission with a 'yes' and a 'go on'.
The accountant flicked his hand in a gesture, glancing over at Tsunade with bright eyes. "We go along with his little games, and preform this opera he was written for us" a small smile was put on his lips, and he followed it with a lone finger. "...but, it is us with the Ace in our hand, for if Naruto is the star, the phantom will surely attend."
A wide grin broke out upon the blonde's face, immediately catching on to what was being said. "Ah, I see. We make certain that all the doors are sealed shut..."
"...and that the authorities are part of the audience," Jiraiya followed, catching up and looking more relieved than ever before. It seemed like they had finally came to a solid conclusion to their problem. With police armed and ready, there was no escape for anyone.
When the curtain fell that night...the phantom's reign will come to an end.
They finally stopped their mindless waltz, not seeming to care if they were taking up the space of the small pathway. They all were nodding in agreement at the flawless plan, already feeling confident and cheerful. Then the silver haired man glanced over at the younger one, a sudden frown on his lips. "Do you plan on telling Naruto about this?"
Sai hesitated. Yes, there was that little problem...Naruto, for some inexplicable reason, defended the phantom with such fervor, it was almost believed that the blond had something to do with everything that was going on...even though the accountant knew that it was some form of enchantment. It had to be.
Breaking away from thoughts quickly, he murmured to them. "Well...some of it. The boy seems to have a strange affection for the creature; if I told him everything it would only put a damper on the progress."
The blonde female nodded, face pulled in to a strange look...most likely thinking about how anyone could feel sympathy for a killer. "I see. Well, now that's settled, let's get to work; there will be plenty for us to do. Sai, why don't you go take a trip down to the local authorities and....explain the situation."
----
Everything was prepared for what would occur in a mere half hour. While others were celebrating and jovial, a concerned Naruto could only hold a frown on his delicate features. He was currently in his room, applying large whte bows in to the locks of his curly blonde wig. The elegant white dress that adorned his small frame hardly corresponding with the dark, heavy makeup that Hinata had helped apply to his face.
'The eye shadow makes my eyes so sunken,' he observed lightly feeling almost like the living dead. All around his eyes, a black smoky shade underlined a smudge of blue. His lips were decorated in heavy red as well, making them look almost plastic and fake. What the hell was Sasuke thinking when he described such make-up to be worn with this outfit...
A quiet knock broke the silent room. Naruto could already sense who was on the other side, so he murmured a confirmation to come in. He was right; Sai was beyond the doorway as it was pushed open, face more sullen than usual...although it hardly concerned the shorter man.
Still, to be polite was to be human."Is everything alright?" the blond asked softly, seeming to break the other out of some sort of trance. The accountant shook his head in response, a grim smile on his lips as he moved himself in to the room. "You...look lovely," he commented. The suave voice that used to be so alluring and confident was now broken and awkward.
"Thank you." This was the miracle of how things could change so much, in so little time.
"You do realize that we have to take him in to custody." It wasn't a question; wasn't a suggestion.
Naruto was still gazing at the mirror, but now he was using it to stare at the man behind him. Sai could see in the reflection that the face was instantly a veil of pain...something he pale man would probably never understand.
"....Yes," was finally murmured, those darkened blue eyes shifting away once more. "But, please, promise me that you won't hurt him."
"I..." the accountant huffed out angrily, getting annoyed at how that thing could be getting such concern. "The man is a killer, Naruto. I can't exactly tell the police not to..."
"Please."
That was the end of the argument, for Sai would never...ever make the other beg. So he sighed quietly, bending forward to press a kiss to the back of the head before him, lips brushing against golden locks.
"Let's go now. The show will be starting soon," was given instead of a straight answer. That only made
Naruto's stomach clench tighter, but what could he do? Give a slight not and get finish getting ready. That's all he could do now. That's all he could to do help Sasuke now.
'How useless am I...?' was wondered as the two finally left the small room, heading towards the stage and the performance of the century.
-
"Here the sire may serve the dam,
Here the master takes his meat!
Here the sacrificial lamb butters one despairing bleat!"
Many of those in the audience were probably a bit unnerved at the sight before them. Usually the area was lit up bright, the themes of what was going on always light-hearted and merry. However, this was an entirely different play in itself. The lyrics weren't the only thing dark about it; the set, the costumes, even the make-up seemed to scream torment at them. The entire stage was set in red light, a makeshift fire in the center as some of the side singers were there, leering out and singing. Sakura, one of these roles, held what was probably a frown of distaste, but it suited the play rather nicely. The pink haired girl moved up, voice a hushed, harsh sound.
"Poor young maiden! For the thrill on your tongue of stolen sweets
You will have to pay the bill, tangled in the winding sheets!"
She turned that harsh gaze unto the crowd now, a wry smile upon her lips.
"Serve the meal and serve the maid! Serve the master so that,
When tables, plans and maids are laid, Don Juan triumphs once again!"
With her small part finished, the diva moved off stage, as did the rest of the small crowd. The audience, slightly baffled yet entranced, watched two new men walk on stage, dressed in identical outfits. One of them moved to stand front stage, giving the crowd a better view. The other moved slightly behind him, face tilted to the side. "Passarino, faithful friend, once again recite the plan.."
The black haired man known in real life as Shikimaru (but now was Passarino), sighed irritably, gesturing his hand as if it were obvious."Your young guest believes I'm you. I, the master, you, the man."
The heavier figure of Don Juan, or Chouji, nodded, mouth curved in a smile of acknowledgement. "When you met you wore my cloak. She could not have seen your face..." He ran a finger over the fake moustache he adorned, seeming to think deeply as he paced the stage, still shouting to the audience. "She believes she dines with me, in her master's borrowed place! Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff, stealing what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty starts to mellow, with the wine....." He trailed off. Suggestively.
With a nod and smirk, the other leaned closer excited. "You," he emphasized sarcastically, "come home! I use your voice, slam the door like crack of doom!"
"I shall say, 'come hide with me! Where, oh, where? Of course, my room!'" There was a crazed look on the face, enhancing the unspoken, but morbidly implied act.
Passarino nodded gleefully in agreement, clicking his tongue in shame. "Poor thing hasn't got a chance!"
The heavier man laughed, swishing off the cape he wore that the other did not adorn already. He also removed a filled sheath from his belt. "Here's my hat, my cloak and sword," he muttered, barely containing his excitement as he helped his doppelganger fix the garment. "Conquest is assured, if I do not forget myself and laugh!" A heavy cackle was executed, the figure moving to disappear backstage in to the curtains. As son as he was out of sight, Chouji sighed irritably, running his hands through the wig he wore.
He never would have even been able to avoid the blow to the back of the head from Sasuke, rendering him unconscious.
Meanwhile, Naruto had slipped slowly on stage from the side, walking in small stride with head held high. The purity of his role was obvious from the fact that he was nearly blinding to look at compared to everything around him. The young man smiled gently, tilting his head up softly to sing.
"No thoughts within her head, but thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!"
The phantom slipped out in place for Chouji backstage after the lines were sung. The cloak over his shoulder was pulled to hide most of his body and his mouth, eyes behind the mask staring down the blond, even as Shikimaru spoke from next to him. "Master....?"
The Angel of Music shook his head, gaxe never moving away. "Passarino, go away, for the trap is set and waits for its prey!" He ordered harshly, not caring if the other actually left or not. He didn't even care if there was an audience watching his every move. This was his time to shine and to be able to stand with Naruto as an equal; the feeling in his chest was indescribable.
With careful, leisurely footsteps, the man moved his way towards the front of the stage where his beloved was currently tuned away, pleased to see that the tan body was trembling ever so slightly if you looked close enough.
"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge,
In pursuit of that wish, which till now has been silent, silent..."
Sasuke trailed off, now facing over a smaller shoulder and slightly staring down at the prize of his eye. He could practically feel the vibrations now, and briefly wondered if the tremors were from fear, or anticipation.
Probably both.
"I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge, in your mind you've already succumbed to me..." Pale fingers reached up to run down the boy's thin neck, erupting more shivers. From here, his sweet, masculine scent was overpowering. "Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me...now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided, decided..."
"Past the point of no return, no backward glances, our games of make believe are at an end...
Past all thought of "if" and "when," no use resisting; abandon thoughts, and let the dream descend."
He was pressing up tightly against the young actor now, arms moving to hold him closely and never seeming to want to let go.
"What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlock its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us? Past the point of no return, the final threshold,
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return..."
Naruto knew that his line was next, but a lump had formed in his throat. Not only from the close proximity of the phantom, but also because that he knew that the man was not acting any more. Still, he pushed himself to start singing.
"You have brought me to that moment where words run dry,
To that moment where speech disappears into silence, silence...
"I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining,
Defenceless and silent, and now I am here with you
No second thoughts, I've decided, decided..."
He trailed off, not sure if he could continue. One might think it was because of the confusion he still hld about his feelings, but that was not the case. For his mind was made up, and it was perfectly clear the choices he would have to make in order to gain what he wanted.
So swallowing the emotions down and taking comfort in the face that the Uchiha was starting to sway both of them back and forth slightly along with the music, he joined the other voice.
"Past the point of no return, no going back now
Our passion play has now, at last, begun
Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question
How long should we two wait, before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race, the sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us?
They were pressing even closer to each other, as if hoping to rid themselves of any space that could possibly separate them.
Past the point of no return, the final threshold
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return..."
Strong, warm hands were suddenly gripping on to Naruto's shoulder, gently but firmly urging them to turn so that they were face to face, sides turned towards the audience. Their heads were still directed towards the crowd to help enhance the music, even though that did not really matter at the moment. In their minds, it was only between the two of them.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime...lead me, save me from my solitude; say you want me with you, here beside you.." The deeper voices breath of from singing was ghosting across the space to dance across the other's face, causing him to shiver. And suddenly the voice instantly dropped down to a whisper, the phantom was no longer needing to express this to anyone but Naruto.
"Anywhere you go let me go too," A hand gently reached to cup a tan cheek, stroking the skin there gently as their eyes met for the first time that night. "Amoure...that's, all I ask of-"
The sweet voice was suddenly cut off, as a loud noise rang through the air, a queer sound that left everyone startled and confused. It had been a brief, cracking sound, one that sounded familiar but didn't seem to fit in this environment...but at the sight of the phantom on stage, mask now lying cracked in two at his feet and blood running between his complimentary eyes, the realization that what they heard really was a gunshot.
Sasuke growled at this, pulling the blond closer and moving his now exposed eyes over the audience, now seeing some of the men getting up and heading towards the stage, suddenly having an air of acknowledgement of what was really going on here. Policemen, he mused bitterly, glancing down at the younger boy, who was currently running warm hands across his naked face and asking if he were injured.
As weak in the heart as the kind gesture made him, the raven knew this was not the time. Another growl erupted, and he suddenly moved to grab one of the ropes behind him, pulling on it and causing a veil of smoke to explode out and cover the stage. Suddenly, a trap door beneath the two opened, causing them to fall in to the floor and away from the gathering mob who was starting to come to their senses.
"After the demon, before he kills anyone else!"
They were running for their lives now, they just knew it. The sounds of heavy footsteps and shouting were muffled from the floorboards, and it was hard to navigate down in the darkness. And they were running still, down deep in to the catacombs of the Uchiha's forgotten world where hopefully time would be given.
"Well, this isn't really what I had in mind," Sasuke spoke out in a sour tone, arm gripping tightly around the thin frame and leading him further in. They were now at the edge of the water, not bothering with the boat and rather walking along the edge. Naruto was not trying to resist at all, but a frown still played on his lips. It was a frown that was worn from the worry of everything that was going on. Not only would they have to escape, they would also have to find somewhere to live where they would be safe from society. Although it was probably better to share these concerns than keep it to himself, but...one at a time.
"What now, Sasuke?"
That was the real concerning question at the moment, and they both knew it very well. As they wound up one of the large pockets inside the deep catacombs, they stopped for a minute, catching a breath from running around so much. From there it was only a short ways until they reached the tunnel that led out to the river, where it would be easy to run. The raven sighed, pacing slightly with a frown on his face. Running a hand through sweaty hair, he knew that this was the moment of truth...the moment that everything would change. For better or worse, well...that would be how well his partner responded to what he was about to say.
"Naru..." Sasuke paused, deep eyes already starting to fill with anger and sorrow. "I know that this place is yours as it is mine. But...I must flee this place." The orbs of crimson met sky. "This is the point of no return. I will not force you to abandon your home. You must make the choice..." he finished, turning away and trying not to let the tears flow. Because he knew for a fact that this place was the blond' entire world, and the chances of him leaving it all behind..were slim.
The higher powers, however, were finally giving him mercy for all his hardships, for a warm hand touched his jaw, turning his head back to face a smiling actor, tears also falling down his scarred cheek. His response was hummed out softly in words that were very familiar to the raven.
"Anywhere you go let me go too..Angel, that's all I ask of you..."
A shot echoed through the air, one that broke through the peaceful environment and turned it in to something horrifying. Sasuke immediately was slumping to the ground with a groan, body unmoving. Widened blue eyes turned from his lover to see the culprit; ironically, it was his old one, gun pointed at the crumpled phantom and a bitter frown pulled over his face.
"Sai, no!" the blond shouted, immediately moving to stand as a barrier between the injured and the weapon. It did not matter if he was shot...it did not matter. The accountant growled, approaching them. "What spell has he put upon you?" The pale man muttered, shoving the blond roughly out of the way without second thought and moving the gun to point down again. Muttering something darkly under his breath, the gun was cocked again, ready to deal the final blow. "I will release you from his grip, and that way you'll be in peace."
"No. You won't." Naruto was already up and behind him, having quickly examined the area around and grabbing one of the pieces of old furniture in hand to arm himself with. A firm swing was all it took, cracking over the back of the pale man and causing him to immediately slump to the ground, unconscious and no longer a threat to anyone. The blond let out a breath of relief, instantly dropping the makeshift weapon and feeling slightly disgusted for having to resort to violence. With a frown, he was pushing the body out of the way quickly, thinking to himself about Sai and not quite believing on how much of an ass-hole the man really was. After moving him a good distance away and relinquishing him of the deadly gun, he stared down at the body and muttered softly to the man he once loved."You won't, because I never want to be removed from his grip. Ever."
With sudden realization from mentioning it, he snapped out of stupor and immediately lost focused of the accountant. That was in the past now, and now he was moving towards his future, towards the person that really needed him right now.
Sasuke lay there in a puddle, coughing up the evidence of the damage that was done. He was crying out, even whimpering in pain, the sound of it too heartbreaking. It was just another reminder that this was not a demon or an apparition. He was mortal and human just like everyone else. Naruto knelt down, pressing a hand to the wound tightly in an attempt to stop the blood flow. "Ssshh..." he cooed gently to the shaken phantom, tears flowing freely down on to the pale face as the boy leaned over and pressed a shaky kiss to the blood stained lips. He only cried more when the gesture was returned, so very weakly.
"It's alright," he forced out, placing the broken man on to his lap. It was all he could do for the raven. Hugging the slumped head close to his heart, the tan face buried itself into the thick, dark hair greased in sweat and filth. "I'll take care of you," was murmured softly. "I'll take care of you..." the sentenced repeated like a mantra over and over again.
Even as the thunder of footsteps echoed in their ears; it didn't matter at that moment.
---à suivre---
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Next Chapter: Au Revoir
