Act 1: Scene 6-8
Considering that the whole theatre business was falling apart and her own pupil had suddenly been abducted into the unknown Tsunade was hardly in the mood for Jiraiya's playfulness. She had just ventured backstage to gather her ballet troupe when she found her former teammate entertaining the girls with what appeared to be a ghost story. His fingers crinkled into the form of claws and he crept upon the girls in a creepy nature as he spoke in a low, mischievous tone.
"..and if you're not careful… He may come and steal YOU all away," he cackled and a few of the girls squealed as his 'claws' tickled at them. "And that would be very sad for me. You aught to stay very close so I can protect you from such a dire fate!" His eager fingers were just attempting to tug a girl or two closer as Tsunade's harder than hard fist slammed into his head, knocking him to the ground.
"Knock it off, idiot!" she said, agitated. "This is no laughing matter – and FAR from something you aught to be taking advantage of!"
"Aw, Tsunade…. The company just seemed so gloomy. I figured a good ghost story might lighten 'em up…," he said as he rubbed his head, his expression and tone reflecting a sincere intent that Tsunade hardly believed.
"How is scaring them worse going to make things any better? Before you know it my dancers are going to get so distracted looking for ghosts that they'll be unable to do anything but quake in their shoes on stage!"
"You're more serious than normal today." Tsunade fumed inwardly but kept her composure on the outside.
"Of course I am! If you hadn't noticed Sakura – my student, Sakura – has been abducted to god only knows where."
"Oh, that's right..," he murmured and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know this wouldn't have happened if you'd let me spend more time with the girls. I could be their bodyguard…" A grin spread over his lips and he laughed in enjoyment of the thought.
"Ugh. You're utterly hopeless," she sighed.
Meanwhile, in the managers' office, Kakashi was regarding what may have been their first clue to this phantom of the theater. It was a letter addressed to him that he had yet to open. His one eye was settled lazily on the envelope, as if he was trying to figure out whether or not it was beneficial to open it now or return to reaching Icha Icha Paradise for a bit first. Over the desk there were scattered news scrolls and papers from the village sporting headlines of the scandals going on at the theater. Never mind the art, it was genuine excitement that pulled people to the performances now. They hoped to see something amazing and unexpected. For the last couple of days, however, they had been disappointed. Ever since Sakura disappeared the menacing activity, it seemed, had been put on hold.
Kakashi was eventually stirred from his stare-down with the envelope when Iruka came in to the office appearing just slightly agitated.
"This is getting ridiculous. They get all upset when there's strange phenomena going on but now that it's stopped they're getting even more crazy!"
"Who?" Kakashi asked, lifting his head.
"The actors!" Iruka said with a frustrated gesture to the door. "I can handle missing-nins and traitors and everything but I don't know how much more of this complaining I can take. These kids think the world revolves around them."
Kakashi chuckled and rested his head on a hand. "Well, they ARE in the middle of the biggest scandal we've had for awhile. They should feel lucky. They're getting a bigger audience than before because of all this."
"Yeah, but some of them are threatening to leave. I know that's no real concern of ours…but what was the point of saving the theater if it's just going to go to ruins anyway?" Iruka said, leaning against the edge of the desk and crossing his arms. "It's like one minute they're begging for us to come so it won't close down and then…" He trained off and sighed, scratching his head.
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. Iruka always got a little more involved in things than he meant to. Despite the fact they were just there to keep an eye on things he had actually gotten into this whole manager thing. He was in over his head as far as that went. It was then that Kakashi's well-trained eye caught a glimpse of white poking out of a pocket in Iruka's vest.
"You got a letter too?" he asked, pointing. Iruka blinked for a moment, confused, but then realized what he was referring to. Reaching in he pulled out the already opened envelope and unfolded the letter.
"Uh, yes. I got it this morning actually.
Umuino Iruka,
I applaud your encouragement concerning Haruno Sakura's performance. Obviously, you have an ear for decent music. The blonde kunoichi's departure was a blessing – one could hardly stand how she screeched out her songs without so much as a tinge of passion. As one of the new managers of the theatre I suggest you keep the ladies where they currently are – it would be a wise decision. As their former sensei you should know best what I mean."
Iruka glanced up to ask Kakashi what he meant when he had said "too" when the other Jounin finally opened his letter and read it aloud for the first time.
"Hatake Kakashi,
I realize you are a rather laid back man but can be a considerable threat when you want to be. The disturbances I am responsible for in the theatre are more than necessary. The presence of Umuino-san and yourself riles my concern very little but I believe that is because you both seem like rational men. As a manager of the theatre, however, your appeal has dramatically dropped. I suggest you keep your nose out of other people's affairs and plant it back in that book you seem excessively involved with."
"This is crazy," Iruka sighed, rubbing his forehead a little.
"These are clues," Kakashi corrected him, waving the letter a little in his hand. "Our ghost is taking a risk sending us letters. Ghosts do not write letters."
"Well, perhaps, SOME of them do. We shouldn't be stereotypical."
"Yes, well. I don't believe this is from a ghost any more than I believe Gai is this year's fashion trendsetter."
"Kakashi that was very mean of you! But how you said it was UTTERLY hip!" Gai suddenly declared, throwing open the door to the managers' office.
"Where is she?" Sasuke asked, pushing himself past Gai at the doorway and marching into the office.
"Who? Ino?" Iruka asked.
"Sakura. Where is she?" he asked again, brandishing a folded paper in his hand. His eyes narrowed in that famous Uchiha seriousness.
"We have no idea, Sasuke. She hasn't returned since last night," Kakashi replied.
"I want an answer," he said lowly. "Particularly after you sent me this." He slapped the letter on the desk.
"Nonsense," Kakashi murmured.
"We didn't send you anything," Iruka said, regarding the letter.
"This is hardly the time to play innocent. You're telling me you didn't write this?" Sasuke insisted and picked up the letter, thrusting it at his former teacher. He knew his instructors were always trying to get in the way of things, deterring him from everything he attempted to do. He was getting quite fed up with their meddling in his life. Iruka took the letter from him and looked over it, confused.
"'Don't fear for Haruno-san. I will care for her more than you ever would. She will not wilt in your grasp, Uchiha. Make no attempt to see her again.'"
"Straight to the point, that one," Kakashi chuckled.
"If you didn't write it, who did?" Sasuke demanded again.
"Where IS HE?" came a shrill voice from the door as Ino burst in.
"Welcome back!" Iruka immediately greeted, actually pleased at seeing one of his missing students return.
"That Uchiha, where IS he?"
"What do you want, Ino?" Sasuke replied blandly, turning to look at her. Upon seeing he was actually present her demeanor softened just a little, but the vein in her forehead was still quite visible. She approached him, waving a letter similar to all the others.
"I understand that you are not interested in me after all, Sasuke, but this is going just too far! I don't care how cute you are you have no right to write such things!" she declared.
"Did you write that?" Iruka asked, indicating the letter. Sasuke was beginning to look thoroughly annoyed.
"Of course not!"
"As if he would. Sasuke doesn't write letters," Kakashi added. "He just broods." Sasuke felt his eye twitch at this remark.
"So you're telling me you didn't send this?" Ino probed onward, bringing the raven-haired boy's attention back to her.
"And what EXACTLY am I supposed to have sent?" he huffed, snatching the letter from her and reading it. "'Your days in the theatre are numbered. Sakura will be singing your part in the upcoming performance. Be prepared for great misfortune should you attempt to take her place.'"
"This is WAY too many letters for my taste," Iruka said, plopping into a chair by the wall now as he felt a headache coming on.
"Yes, and there's a common thread among them all. …..Sakura," Kakashi concluded, resting his head on his palm absently.
"She certainly seems popular, that's for sure," Ino added indignantly.
"Sakura's come back," came yet another voice from the door. When everyone looked over Tsunade was standing there with her arms crossed, looking equally annoyed as all the rest.
"Sounds like she's been busy," Ino said icily with a twitch of her eyebrow.
"Where is she now?" Iruka asked, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees.
"I sent her home. She looked awful and exhausted."
"Oh, that's it. I'm going to see her and get this whole mess--," Sasuke began, turning for the door. Tsunade's hand grasped his shoulder and held him at bay.
"She won't see anyone right now. My orders," she stated. Sasuke looked up at her, irritated, and smacked her hand away. Tsunade regarded him with indifference. She wasn't about to get all huffy over the Uchiha's tantrums.
"Is she going to perform or not?" Ino demanded to know.
"I have a note," Tsunade replied, pulling a letter from the inside of her robe.
"Let me see it!" Ino, Sasuke, and Iruka perked up all at once.
"Oh, settle down!" Tsunade declared, lifting the letter away from everyone so she could open it and read it herself. "Sakura has returned to you all unharmed and I wish that her career should progress in the new production of 'Il Muto'. You will therefore cast Yamanaka as the pageboy and put Haruno-san in the role of countess. The role that Haruno-san plays calls for charm, appeal, and passion. The role of the pageboy is silent which makes my casting quite ideal. You may not see me, but I assure you I will be watching your every move during this production. If my demands are not met a disaster beyond your imagination will occur."
"AGHHH! Sakura!" Ino screamed.
"What next?" Iruka asked, flabbergasted.
"This is all a ploy to help that big-fore headed Sakura!" Ino continued to wail.
"This is just getting insane," Kakashi hummed.
"I know who sent this!" the blonde kunoichi claimed, pointing a finger directly at Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke! Ever since he got back---!"
"What?" Sasuke said dangerously.
"Ino, please," Iruka said, trying to calm his former student.
"Oh, come on! He hasn't done anything since he got back besides follow Sakura around! 'Where's Sakura? Where's Sakura?' He was even in her room the night she disappeared!" Ino continued. Sasuke promptly began to give her the death glare.
"Oh, it's not that way," Kakashi interjected. Although Sasuke was a little bit shady sometimes he was hardly the type to kidnap a girl and develop a con around her disappearance. Ino's imagination and paranoia was running away with her.
"Really, this doesn't change anything," Iruka assured Ino.
"Sakura isn't in any shape to be exerting herself in such a role," Tsunade pointed out. "She shouldn't be performing at all."
"Then it's settled. Ino will do it," Kakashi decided.
"Right," she said, crossing her arms. "I see how it is. Sakura is all sickly and THEN you say I have the part. HA!" Tsunade slapped a hand over her face at where this was going. Sasuke rolled his eyes, fed up, and stormed out of the room entirely.
"Yamanaka-san, I would request that you be a little more mature about this. We are giving you the part because you can do it. You were assigned the role in the first place, weren't you?" Kakashi said, rising from the desk finally.
"…Yes," Ino said warily, keeping her arms crossed.
"So we are not giving you the part because Sakura is ill. We're simply making sure you keep the part you earned."
Ino stood a moment, shrugging up her shoulders with an air of prima donna arrogance. Her former teacher, Kakashi, and Tsunade watched her waiting to see what she would decide. They really didn't need a sensitive performer on their hands right now – they had to find out what was going on. At the moment they were just relieved that Sakura had returned in one piece, exhausted or not.
Then of course there was the sudden appearance of all these letters…..
Gaara knew he was walking on thin ice now. He'd stepped out onto it the moment he had abducted Sakura and his identity had been revealed. Now he was determined to get things back under his immediate control. In order for that to happen this entire foolish troupe had to understand their place in his plans. Even now, as they bantered and accused he was listening from somewhere unseen.
He wasn't pleased with what he was hearing.
"Fine. I'll do it," Ino finally said, resting her hands on her hips with a toss of her head. A breath of relief escaped everyone's lips. From the shadows in which he was hidden, Gaara let out a breath through his clenched teeth. So they were going to be difficult about it, were they?
Well…. It was not as if he had not warned them…….