Destined To Meet Or Fated Crossings? Chapter 5 Masquerade

Raoul couldn't avoid the Opera House forever, especially because the Masquerade was being thrown soon, and he really wanted to go. Besides, Erik wouldn't be somewhere with so many people, right? Well he didn't know, but still just because he might be there is not a reason for Raoul not to go. He decided he'd risk it and go he dressed in a prince like outfit, with white breeches, a white ruffled sleeved shirt with a green sparkly over coat, and he wore a green mask and painted the rest of his face that was showing golden. He pulled his hair back neatly wearing an overly big orange hat that hid his hair.

He smiled at his appearance and head in his coach to the Opera House. He stepped out smiling at the wonderful look of it and all the people. He walked inside, greeting people, bowing at them. He began to dance with women who giggled, and told him stories about themselves and how they heard rumors how the mysterious Ghost had not stricken sense Carlotta was fired. Though Raoul did not want to hear about the Ghost so, he was glad when the dances with those girls were over.

Soon the managers came up to introduce a dance.

"Alright, everyone we have a new dance to try! Everyone form two even lines alternating between male and female. Raoul joined some others in a line.

"Now this line forms the inside circle, and the other the outside circle. Now you will dance like so, weaving in and out of the circles. When the music stops you should find your dance partner for the unmasking, it does not have to be the opposite gender you aren't required to touch just dance and unmask each other, at the end of the song we call Random Partner. Now start the music, have fun!"

Soon Raoul was laughing as everyone started to weave through each other. It was rather amusing with all the bright colors. He didn't see anything everything was moving so fast! Then the music slowed and he came to a halt. He looked at his unmasking partner face to face. Something about him was very familiar but he couldn't place his finger on it. He wore long black slacks and a fighting black ruffled shirt under a yellow over coat, a big hat like Raoul's covered his hair. His face was covered by a full porcelain mask, though half was decorated with gold and silver the other was simply white, the decorated portion going a bit further on his face then the white…strange. Though his build, height and eyes…all seemed familiar oh well, he thought.

They both took a bow and stood there awkwardly as the music began, though they weren't the only ones doing so. Raoul smiled a little and began to dance a little, even in his predicament the music was beginning to take him away. He could see the other man was also beginning to move a little, having the same look of passion Raoul had when ever music was being played. Soon both were taken away into the song, not noticing they were getting closer and closer to each other. Soon he could feel the heat radiating form the other body, and his heart was pounding in his chest.

He looked up at him, it was so hard to breathe, the other man, lifted a hand hesitating a moment, before cupping Raoul's cheek. Raoul wondered why he was blushing, as he leaned into the touch, the gloved hand tracing his jaw line to his chin, tilting his chin up gently. Raoul realized exactly how close their mouths were, he wanted to say something…but couldn't the other man's free hand took Roaul's hand, bringing it up to the edge of his mask, as his own hand also went up to the man's mask edge, Raoul heard the music slowing and he understood. The other man leaned in closer as they swayed with the music, Raoul held his breath as his eyes closed, and so did the space between their faces. Raoul felt a strong mouth resting gently on his soft one, his breath catching as their lips danced for the last few seconds of the song, though he was very confused about why he was doing this; they pulled away so they could see each other.

The song stopped, and he felt his mask being removed and he as well peeled off the others….though he realized only the decorated side fell, and the man dropped his hat. He heard screams as he stood starring open mouthed. His eyes were bugging out their sockets. Erik. I kissed a man…and that man is Erik! Raoul couldn't believe it as he looked into Erik's eyes.

"It's the Phantom of the Opera! Run!"

Said a voice and he was grabbed by Madame Giry, still starring as he was dragged out of the Opera House. Oh God, what have I done? He thought pressing his hand against his own mouth. He thanked Madame Giry and walked thunderstruck to his coach. He could not believe that he had kissed Erik. What had he been thinking? He hadn't…he hadn't been thinking at all. But this didn't mean he felt anything towards Erik. Right?

Erik smirked as he got ready for the Masquerade. He at first didn't want to go because he didn't know if he wanted to chance running into Raoul. But he decided the Phantom needed to show up. He put on black slacks and a black fitting ruffled shirt covered by a yellow overcoat. He put on gold and silver decorated mask that looked like it completed his trademark mask. He then put on a big hat that covered his hair before he went upstairs slipping in to the crowd of people.

He watched as everyone danced not realizing their Ghost was among them. Soon the managers walked up to the stage in the room to introduce a dance.

"Alright, everyone we have a new dance to try! Everyone form two even lines alternating between male and female."

Erik went into a line as they asked. This would be amusing.

"Now this line forms the inside circle, and the other forms the outside circle. Now you will dance like so, weaving in and out of circles. When the music stops you should find your dance partner for the unmasking, it does not have to be the opposite gender you aren't required to touch just dance and unmask each other, at the end of the song we call Random Partner. Now start the music, have fun!"

Erik was rather enjoying himself as everyone started to weave through each other. Everything was spinning and moving fast. Then the music slowed and he came to a halt. He looked at his unmasking partner face to face. Something about him was very familiar…Erik thought taking a look at the man in fitting white breeches and white ruffled shirt and a green sparkling overcoat, he had a green mask covering his face and what was left revealed was painted gold. He had a big hat like Erik's own. It was almost like this man was Yin and he was Yang, interesting he thought.

They both took a bow and stood there awkwardly as the music began, though they weren't the only ones doing so. He saw the man give him a small smile, and soon began to dance, letting the music take him away. Erik too began to dance admiring the passion of his face, knowing he had the same look. Soon both were taken away into the song, not noticing they were getting closer and closer to each other. Soon he could feel the heat radiating form the other body, and his heart was pounding in his chest, unwillingly.

They looked at each other and Erik lifted a hand hesitating a moment, before cupping the man's cheek. Erik felt him lean into the touch, tracing his hand along his jaw line to his chin, tilting his chin up gently. Erik noticed their mouths were rather close, and saw the man's mouth open to saw something but nothing came out. Erik's free hand took the other man's hand, bringing it up to the edge of his mask, as his hand also went to the other's mask edge, the music was slowing down meaning the unmasking would occur. Erik leaned in closer as they swayed with the music, Erik's eyes closed and so did the space between their faces, Erik felt his mouth come in contact with a soft one, hearing the man's breath catching as their lips danced for the last few seconds of the song, they pulled away so they could see each other.

The song stopped, and he pulled the man's mask away, and his own as well was being taken off….Erik dropped his hat starring at Raoul. Of course it's him, Erik thought. He heard screams as they stood staring at each other, both of them had open mouths, and Roaul's eyes were bugging out their sockets.

"It's the Phantom of the Opera! Run!"

Said a voice and Raoul was grabbed by Madame Giry, still starring as he was dragged out of the Opera House. Oh God, what have I done? He thought pressing his hand against his own mouth. He had kissed Raoul, and as he retreated he was sure Madame Giry had seen him kiss Raoul, and he was right because as he wondered down a tunnel there she was, her arms crossed waiting for an answer. But Erik didn't have answer.

"Erik…I saw you…I knew you kissed him…why?"

Erik frowned.

"It-it didn't mean anything."

He said also crossing his arms.

"Of course not…"

Though she didn't look very convinced and she sounded rather sarcastic.

"It was a mistake…it won't happen again. It meant nothing, he means nothing to me."

Erik said firmly, more trying to convince him self then her, because he knew that she was not convinced. She knew better, she gave a small laugh.

"Alright, Erik what ever you say."

She moved aside so Erik could pass. He means nothing! That kiss meant nothing! I don't have feelings for him. Do I?

Fin

An: Blah another chapter that sucks. Oh well, I really just was going for retelling Raoul's part only through Erik's eyes.