"Ulterior Motives"

Author's note: Oh. My. GOD. Okay, thank the reviewer "Emmy6" for giving me inspiration to write this chapter. I read her review of my fic, fell to the ground laughing, stayed there rolling around for about an hour, then decided I'd get my ass working on this chapter to put more of my "gross, disgusting homosexual fics" on display. Hahahaha. Deary, when one reviews a fic, it's common courtesy to READ THE GODDAMN FIC FIRST. Did you even bother to read my author's note in chapter 1? Obviously not. But thanks for the entertainment, laughter is always a great way to start off the morning.

Few notes to my reviewers:

StuntChini: Yes, the note was made to not sound completely like Erik. It's mainly, though, because Erik wrote that letter very awkwardly. Hadn't written anything quite like that before, you know?

Crimson Desire: Glad to see that my fic is believable. That's the main thing I was going for here.

BroadwayStar77: Shhh. XD Hey, what the hell else was I supposed to do in our free period.

Now, for the dedication. I dedicate this chapter to all the Erik/Raoul fans out there, for we are a very unique, very brave bunch. You don't know how much heat I get merely because of the fact I support this pairing, but damn, it's worth it. ^_^ So a hug to all of you.

And an FYI for this chapter: It takes place on the rooftop after the whole Carlotta-croaking-Buquet-hanging bits of Il Muto.

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Chapter 7 – Truths Revealed

Raoul was holding Christine's hand tightly, just..shocked, confused...a feeling that wasn't very new to him. What was going on, who was this Phantom, why did he sound like…He shook his head. 'No, I must be going crazy.' He turned to Christine.

"Christine, why have you brought us here to the roof? It's dangerous..."

"I... Raoul, I need to talk to you... there is something you must know..." She moved a little closer to him, looking into his eyes, frightened. "I can't…I can't tell you down there…he'll hear…I wasn't supposed to tell, but oh gods, Raoul…what he's doing…"

"Who, Christine? Who are you talking about?"

"I... Raoul... my vocal teacher is... is..." She was shaking, and grasped onto Raoul's hands.

"…What…about him, Christine…?" Raoul asked, almost in a whisper. 'What…Why is she…Erik…? What's going on…?'

She looked down, her voice dropping to a murmur. "He…is the Phantom…I didn't…realize it fully until now…but that was him…his voice, his voice…Oh, Raoul…"

Raoul wrapped his arms around her, his eyes widening. His heart had frozen at the statement. "...N-no...it can't...he can't be...Christine..are you...are you sure...?" he asked, just...not believing that Erik could have ever done such a thing...could have ever killed someone...

"I'm sure, Raoul…"

"How…how do you…it can't BE…"

"I know, Raoul…I just know…you have to believe me…"

"But how, Christine?!" Raoul was frantic now, worried about himself, worrying about Christine. "How can he be a murderer, a…oh god…"

Christine looked back up at him, now confused at his behavior. "What…Raoul, why are you panicking…?"

The statement snapped Raoul back to his senses. No…no use panicking like this, especially in front of Christine. "…Christine…tell me more about this vocal teacher of yours…" he said in a gentle tone.

"I…he…his name…is Erik."

Raoul's grip on her shoulders tightened.

"…He…he has been giving me vocal lessons for months…but I had never seen his face until about a week ago. He would…stay behind my mirror…but one day, he…he appeared to me, took me down to his lair…"

Raoul cut her off with that. "His, his lair? What are you talking about?"

"…he lives underneath the Opera House, Raoul."

'So…that…is where I was…' he thought, half bitterly.

"He sang for me…and his voice, Raoul, his voice…was like an angel's…I stayed there for a day, as he continued to teach me to sing…and then…he…no," she cut herself off. "He took me back."

"But why…why, Christine, did he choose you…? Why did he give you vocal lessons, why did he bring you down to his lair…?"

Christine once again cast her gaze down. "If you…will promise not to get upset…I will tell you."

"…You have my word."

"…I…believe he is in love with me."

Raoul's hands began shaking. 'No, no. This isn't…'

"The way he acts…" she continued. "The way he speaks to me…he says that I am all that he has…that I am his angel, as he was mine…there is no other reason I could think of…"

Trying to get his thoughts collected, Raoul pulled Christine into a tighter embrace. 'How could…he lie to me? Was everything just a lie? He was just using me…but for what purpose? To get at Christine? Or what…? How could he…how could I have been so foolish, how could I have not seen…'

"Raoul…please. I need you to be here, with me…to protect me from everything…I'm afraid, Raoul…" Christine murmured.

Raoul brought his hand through her hair lightly, realizing that everything Erik had said about Christine were indeed, more lies. "I'll always be here for you, Christine. No matter what may happen, I won't leave your side. I…love you. I always have. And that won't change."

A small smile appeared on Christine's face as she turned her head up, placing a soft kiss upon Raoul's lips. "…Thank you, Raoul. Thank you. This means the world to me…"

"As it does to me, Christine. Now…perhaps we should go. The show will be starting soon."

"Afterwards, Raoul…may you bring me back to your home with you…? I don't…want to be alone…"

"…Yes. Now. Come," he said, taking her hand and leading her down the stairs back into the Opera House.

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Erik hid, overlooking all of this. And he was annoyed. Extremely annoyed. Christine shouldn't have done this. She had revealed his identity, and taken Raoul. This was becoming too much. Now what was he going to do? His plan was all but ruined. He would have to work hard to get Raoul to trust him again, if he even ever would. He let out a sigh, resisting the urge to slam his fist into the statue he was hiding behind. Seeing the two kiss had brought up feelings of jealousy, unlike any time he had felt it before.

But as he continued to think about the matter, he was beginning to realize something. Something that was brought up by the warm touches, kisses, caresses he had felt so recently…the only time in his entire life he had felt such affection…

Who was he more upset with? Was he jealous that Christine was now Raoul's…or that Raoul was now Christine's?