lotr: yeah, ok, i'd lety my dad read this, i'd only be banned FOREVER

me-ladie: i'm so glad you liked how i did that...

jokarynn: you love raoul so much, no? geez...don't worry, the phantom will yell...the first time at least

Jamy: well...this isn't soon persay...but at least it's being updated

Kytten: you see, i had his motives in when i wote this as a short page long one-shot... i guess it didn't work as well in here, oh well, i shall try to get them in more

luisadeza: yay! my metaphor was noticed!

ok, i decided just to contuine the story on this file, instead of creating a new story, but this is book two, persay, of it. it won't all be from raoul's point of veiw any more, and you'll tell this by seeing 'roual' 'erik' or 'third'. ok then, on to the long in coming next chapter

CHAPTER ONE (of part two)

(raoul)

Several months have passed, the Opera House lies in ruins, and I finally thought I'd gotten over my hopeless obsession. I had, really, I had, that is until she left. Really, I should've expected this, I mean, she left him at a glance, why not me? Yes, we had something going, but it was the love of brother and sister, not the passion of lovers.

Damn sailor.

I stood before the old burned opera house, staring at it sadly. It suddenly looked so old and breakable. Of course, it was only a burned out husk that'd been abondoned but really...

Was I going insane?

Most likely.

What other reason wouldI possibly have to be standing here, about to enter that place I'd told myself I'd never return to? Yup, I'm going crazy.

Stalling for a few more minutes, I contuined to look at the old opera. If I was going to go through withthis stupid plan, I might as well.

(erik)

I heard something moving, and I doubted it was a rat. But that was odd, no one'd been in here since... Since then. I'd rather not think about that. So, why was there someone here?

Sighing, I really didn't want to be distracted, I rose and headed up to the empty house.

Of all the people, I hadn't thought to see HIM here. Wasn't he off gloating? Or had he come here to gloat in my face? I wish I had my lasso. But,I might as well see why he was here. I could always kill him later.

(third)

Raoul nearly jumped through the roof when he heard the voice. "What are you doing?"

He came here hoping to see him again, but he didn't think he actully would. "Is that you?"

"Is this who?"

"Phantom?"

Erik nearly feel off the roff beam he was on.

"I repeat," he snarled. "What are you doing here? Come to gloat?"

Silence drifted up from below. He would never have heard the faint "No," if he hadn't been listening closely.

"Then what are you here for?"

"I... She... She left."

"... " Erik was at a loss for words, for once. "What do you mean, left?"

"She ran away with someone else."

"So you come running to me for comfort? Brillant plan, boy."

Erik turned to leave, still on the rafters above the boy's head, until Raoul called out, "What is your name?" He whirled, and promtly fell off the thin beam. He rightened himself before hitting the ground, but a breath away from Raoul.

"What?" he asked, disbeliefing.

"I ...I ... I was ...Wondering...If... you had a ... name..." Raoul hadn't been prepared to suddenly find the phantom so close. It did nothing for his nerves...

"What is it to you?"

"I ...was just...wondering..." Erik's eyebrows shot up at the choked tone the boy was using.

"...Erik. Now, go away and never come back," he turned to leave again, and again, Raouls' question stopped him.

(raoul)

"What are you doing here?" Damnit, don't I know when to keep my mouth shut? Seeing The Phan- Erik, whirl on my with a look of pure rage was enough to tell me I'd overstepped some boundry.

"What does it matter to you?" Also, when someone's voice had lowered to something barely above a growl, that wasn't a good sign. I am such an idiot when it comesto him.

"I... I thought you'd left... After..." Great. Remind him of that. He is going to kill me. Though, would that really be so bad? I didn't have anything worth living for, exept him, and that was not going to ever happen, no matter how many times I wished.

The Phan- Erik, was looking at me oddly. "There was no where else to go."

(erik)

There was something wrong with this whole picture. First, he was still alive. Secondly, I was actully talking to him and-lord forbid, what am I thinking?- telling him something that he doesn't need to know.

I turned, again, this time really meaning to leave, when he grabbed me arm, once again stopping me from leaving. I could easliy break his arm, but for some reason that was low on my list of things to do.

What was wrong with me?

(third)

The two stood there, bathed in silence, for a long time. Raoul began to shiver under Erik's cold gaze. "I..."

"You what?" the Pahntom hissed.

Suddenly, as if realizing what he'd done, Raoul dropped Erik's arm as if it was on fire. "Uh...I ... Didn't... Uh..."

Blushing, the boy turned his face awya from Erik's eyes. "Right," he muttered. "I am insane..."

Erik frowned. "Why did you come here?"

"Because... I..." He's hadn't meant to stammer again, but when he turned his head back to look at the Phantom, he couldn't remember what it was he'd meant to say. Both men where standing there, froozen, very close. Silence streched to the breaking point, and pasted it, without either moving or saying a word. "I..."

What was there for him to say? He loved Erik beyound anything he ever had loved before, or that he wanted the man so much it hurt seeing him?

Besides that, there was nothing he could say or do. Why had he come here? Because he wanted him still, months later, and was sick of waking up in the middle of the night dreaming about him. Damnit, he'd had enough.

So, when the silence streched again, when it looked like Erik was aobut to turn and leave, forever, he couldn't let him. "Love is just hate with it's back turned."

For the fourth time, Erik stoped and turned around again. "What is THAT suposed to mea-"

He was cut off by Raoul kissing him.

Spurr of the moment thing, really.

finally. jesus i am so lazy... but, it's done. who knows when the next chapter will be up... yeah, that thing raoul said, love is just hate with it's back turned, is from the Terry Pratchett book, Maskerade. go read it. it's phantom of the opera satire. and he's a great athur.