Uncontrollable voice

It may have been two months, but to Sakura it felt like only days had gone by.

Yet that particular practice run seemed to last forever.

"Cut! Cut!" Shikamaru groaned as everyone stopped what they were doing. "Karin, how many times do I have to tell you? Do NOT walk in front of the dancers, the audience needs to see them!"

"What for? As long as they can see me then it's fine! What else matters?" Karin yelled back with just as much venom in her voice. Everyone in the set held back a sigh.

"This is too troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled. "Everyone, take a break!"

Karin crossed her arms in front of her chest and blew the hair form her wig out of her face. "Fine! I need to fix my costume anyway!" Sakura didn't like the sound of that. It was the day of their first performance since Sakura had arrived and in the morning Iruka had thought it would be a good idea to get everyone to practice once more. In theory it was a good idea.

But when it was the first day for your main actress, there was a problem.

Said redhead- or at the moment, blonde since she was wearing a wig- stomped over to Sakura while grumbling to herself. "Stupid guy, he just wants to see pretty girls dancing all the time I bet. Who does he think he is?" Um…the director? Sakura wasn't in the mood to get into a fight with Karin at the moment however, so she kept her mouth shut. Besides, after accidentally finding Temari and Shikamaru sneaking out to spend lunch together, she could have been right. "And you!" She pointed to Hinata who jumped in surprise. "Get me my tea! I need something to soothe my voice!"

"R-right away," Hinata trembled, uncomfortable with someone as loud and abrasive as her. Sakura watched with pity as Hinata hurried away to get her something to drink.

After she had left Karin turned to Sakura. "And you, fix my wig! It's covering my face and I can't see a thing!" Sakura resisted the urge to growl at her.

"Whatever you say your highness," She grumbled low so Karin couldn't hear. The glasses wearing women turned so her back was facing Sakura and Sakura got to work. Once Sakura had made the mistake of telling Karin that she was actually new compared to the rest of the crew. Ever since whenever something went wrong with a costume she would blame it on Sakura and yell at her. Often in front of a lot of people. It didn't matter that Sakura had actually come the same day as Karin. She was upset that the one who fixed her dress during rehearsal wasn't a professional. Despite the fact that Karin had only ever come to ONE rehearsal. According to her she didn't need the practice.

"Do, re, me…do, re, me…" Sakura wished she had two sets of hands at the moment so she could do her job as well as cover her ears.

In general she supposed Karin wasn't a bad singer. If she was singing with friends or with a local choir no one would notice. Her singing level was average. But she was singing with professionals, people who had trained to sing for years. And for them, someone who was average was just a pain in the neck. Even then they could have dealt with that if she made the effort to work harder to be a better singer. But despite the wincing of those who listened to her sing, Karin was convinced she was the best singer since the angel choir. Sakura didn't know how she could have possibly convinced herself something like that, but Karin believed her voice could bring the dead back to life.

Maybe, if the point was to scare them out of their graves.

Sakura couldn't finish fast enough, in bother her opinion and the actors. "Move, move, I need to get back on set!" Sakura pulled away and the girl ran over to her spot on set next to Naruto.

By the time Hinata returned with her tea she was already talking to him about how he wanted him to twirl her during the next scene. "Yeesh. You think she'd at least say thank you." Turning back to Hinata she frowned when she saw the drink. "Ugh. Is that tea? It smells awful."

"K-Karin insists it helps soothe her throat," Hinata explained, setting the forgotten tea to the side as they started acting the next scene. "Poor Naruto…He's been working so hard…"

"Yeah, I know," Sakura agreed, oblivious to Hinata's true meaning. "I mean, everyone has been working themselves to death and she just comes in to practice for one day. The play is going to go horrible of the main character refuses to follow the script! Everything is going to," Sakura cut herself off when she noticed Hinata trembling with fear. "Uh…I mean, I guess it can't turn out that bad. Since e-everyone else has been working so hard…"

She was interrupted by the sound of a scream. A very familiar scream.

"KYAHH!" All eyes turned towards Karin who was hiding behind Jugo while pointing at the ground. "A rat! A rat!" Sure enough, a rather large rat had crawled onto stage. Sakura's mouth dropped open, not sure how one could even get on stage. Then, to their surprise, the rat braved Jugo and chased after Karin. "EEEK! Get it away from me!" She screamed as she ran around the stage, the little rat following her the whole way round. A few workers shrieked when she got close to them and tried to move away, but the rat always followed Karin. Some people let out a laugh, but they were silenced by others. No one knew where the rat had come from, much less gotten on stage and started chasing Karin.

Finally someone had gotten Kiba who trapped the rat in a cage. By the time it was caught Karin was panting, her face as red as her hair, dress pulled out of place and wig fitting only half of her head. "That-that rodent! How dare you let that thing in here!" He pointed Kiba accusing him of the whole thing.

Kiba stared back at her in shock. "You're blaming me for this?"

"Who else would be able to train a rat to chase just one person and get it into the opera house?"

"The only animals we have are ones for the play! Any kind of rodent would be too small for the audience to see, so we don't have any! I don't know where this thing came from!" But Karin had already turned away, cooing over her state.

"Oh, my beautiful dress. What did I ever do to deserve this treatment? Is someone jealous of me?" She stomped her foot on the ground so hard anyone around her jumped. "I demand to know who is responsible for this!"

"Miss Karin, I'm sure this was just a mistake," Iruka tried to appease her, calm her down before she could start a scene. Most of the crew however went over to Kiba to examine the rat that was trapped safely in a cage.

"Ew, that's so gross!" Ino squealed. Most of the crew agreed with her, though few actually said that out loud. Others were just curious about how it had gotten in, and how it had only chased after Karin. She was right, a rat shouldn't have acted that way unless it was trained.

Naruto was one of the few who didn't mind getting close to the creature to get a better look at the thing. Taking a closer look his eyes widened. "Hey, I think it's got a note tied onto its back."

"What? That's ridiculous, why would," Kiba cut himself off when he took a closer look at the creature. "…oh."

Everyone waited impatiently as Kiba slipped the note off the creatures back before setting it carefully back in the cage, careful not to let it bite him. They doubted it was infected, but they still had no idea where it had come from. Once Kiba had left to take the rat to animal control however, everyone forgot about the rodent and paid attention to the letter Kiba had given to Tsunade. "So? What does it say?"

"Who would sent a letter through a rat?" Sakura asked as Tsunade worked through the envelope.

"Sometimes the phantom sends us tips or advise for the play," Naruto explained as the letter was rolled open. "Wonder why this one is so late into production…"

Everyone knew the minute the message was read aloud.

'Replace the actor for Maria with anyone else.'

Everyone could feel the dark air that loomed over the opera stage. "Who knew ghosts could be so sassy?" Ino whispered in Sakura's ear.

Karin, the one who was playing Maria, was less than pleased.

"UNCLE!" Danzo turned to be engulfed in a hug by his only niece. He barely recognized her under the wig, costume and makeup she wore. She'd even pulled out the contacts she hated for the special day. "You promise to watch every minute of the show? You can't leave in the middle!"

Danzo forced himself to put on a smile. "Of course my dear. I wouldn't miss your singing for the world." she jumped up and down for joy before rushing back down to the stage with the rest of the actors. Danzo breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she was still playing in the performance considering the scene form earlier. One second she had been crying on the ground saying she didn't want to do the play anymore. The next second after piles of encouragements from various workers and unnecessary flattery she was convinced that everything was up to her and she was the only one who could save the play. "I mean, how could I let them down? I'm the star after all! You should have seen the plans they had for the show before I got there!" Danzo made a habit of never going to interrupt the crew or any actors during the play so he whenever he saw the act it was when it was during opening night.

At the moment, Danzo was busy welcoming the guests of the opera to the performance. Many wealthy patrons and people on the board of directors bowed politely to him as he passed. He knew each and every one of them by name. In the past he found it was a good habit to keep powerful friends close to you. However, he frowned when he found a group of them waiting at the front, looking very confused. Danzo recognized their usher, Gai, looking very confused. "Gai, why have these lovely guests not been brought to their seats?"

Gai looked up at his director immediately. "Ah, Mr. Danzo! Good to see you are well! Brimming with youth, that is,"

"Gai," he interrupted, unamused. "The guests?"

"Ah, well, you see…" he scratched his head, holding one of their tickets out to him. "Their tickets say they are supposed to be in box five."

The usher in front of him spoke as if that was the best, most obvious explanation in the world. Danzo however narrowed his eyes at him. "And?"

Gai blinked back his surprise. "Ah…Well, box five is,"

"This is my opera house," he whispered to him in a hushed tone. "And I say box five is always left open." Gai's eyes widened. Danzo could see the disapproval and hesitation in his eyes, but it only took a second for Gai to do as he asked. Danzo watched, almost feeling smug as his Usher led the group to their seats. The night would be more than just the opening act, the first performance of his niece. This would be the night he proved to the rest of his crew that he did not believe in any silly rumours they tried to spread and that he would not tolerate being pushed around by anyone. He was in charge. And nothing would stand in his way.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the only one who saw the performance as a new beginning.

Koharu Utatane took her seat in box five with a smile on her face. She always made sure to come to the opening performance of a new play. However that one she was especially excited for. It was the first play with Danzo as manager.

She knew it was for the best when she and the board of directors relieved Kakashi and put Danzo in charge. Danzo was a very wealthy man with many successful companies. He would be the best for the opera house. Yes, Kakashi had done well, but he was very young and inexperienced. Danzo had operations all over and she knew he would do a fantastic job. So when she took a sip of her drink and pulled out her opera glasses, she didn't feel a hint of worry. She knew the opening debut would be spectacular. Besides, who could go wrong with the sound of music?

The lights dimmed, signaling the beginning of the performance. Slowly the red curtains were pulled back and the audience fell into silence. The set revealed a beautiful scenery with blue skies, false grass on the stage and what looked like a cathedral painted so it was in the background. For a moment the scene was empty as everyone waited for the actors to appear.

Then a women wearing a simple blue dress skipped onto the stage. While her hair was blonde Koharu knew it was a wig, since she recognized the actor immediately. It was Karin, Danzo's niece. She had never heard her sing before, but she must have been good to be the main actor. When she started singing the opening song for sound of music however, Koharu frowned slightly. She'd been to the opera many times, but she had never heard a voice so…unprofessional? But when she glanced around, the audience seemed to think her voice was lovely enough. Most of them had likely never been to the opera before. As long as the audience is convinced, then what else matters? Koharu decided to lay back and just enjoy the performance.

"And the hills are alive with the sound of," She drove down with one had to pick up a small basket waiting for her. When she picked up her basket however, the girl let out a scream. One Koharu was certain was not a part of the performance.

The basket which was supposed to be full of loaves of bread, was instead filled with-snakes! Many snakes, white and purple slithered their way out from under the blanket and through the fake grass. Karin screamed once again, alerting the audience that it was not an act. A few near the stage jumped to their feet as the snakes began slithering through the false grass towards them. Karin let out another ear-piercing scream before rushing off stage. Already members of the crew had started rushing back and forth, trying to catch the snakes that had apparently appeared out of nowhere.

"What is happening?" Homura, the man at her side, questioned furiously. No one could give him an answer. The audience was all laughing as if the play were a comedy, not a drama! The opera was not a place for laughs! Koharu had never heard something so ridiculous!

"Did I not instruct that box five were to be left empty?"

The voice echoed through the box, sending chills up her spine. It was too quiet for anyone outside of their box to hear, but for those who did it felt like they had just been splashed with a bucket of ice. A few turned around, trying to find the source of the voice. But no one was there except for the few already seated. Most turned back to the play, horrified as the audience began stumbling out of their seats to get away from the snakes. How did a group of snakes get into the basket? Where did they even come from? And why,

"I said," The voice roared, refusing to be ignored. "That box five is supposed to be left empty! GET OUT!"

No one could ignore the voice the second time. In an instant everyone in box five was on their feet and rushed towards the exit. Koharu was slower than others in her old age, but her heart was racing as if she was a young girl again. The voice seemed to come out of a nightmare and manifest as a monster, unable to be seen and controlled however, big and in plain sight. She wanted to get away from it. Run away as fast as possible.

As she rushed out, she thought she caught the sight of a pair of red eyes in the darkness.

Sakura knew it was a bad idea to stay late cleaning up that night, but she didn't have anywhere else to go anyway.

"Uncle, it had to be the phantom! That stupid, stupid phantom ruined my first act!" Sakura kept her head low while sweeping up the set as Karin screamed in anguish at her Uncle on stage. Sakura had no idea how he was able to keep that impassive expression on his face but he seemed to be the only one not bothered by her voice.

The performance, as they had all guessed, did not turn out well. After a large number of snakes had appeared out of nowhere they had to pause the play momentarily to clean them all up. Luckily none of them were poisonous but a few members of the crew were trembling the entire night afterwards. Karin had immediately blamed Kiba since he was in charge of animals, but Shino and Hinata had stood up for him, saying one or the other had been with him the whole day and he'd never been near any snakes. Karin had been too horrified to continue so they had to get the girl who had been her understudy to take the role. Not a bad actor, but she wasn't memorable. The play was able to go on, but they knew it was not the play everyone would remember. As the audience had left there was still laughing and jokes about the opening act. They may say any publicity was good publicity, but for the crew that had worked so hard they could not agree.

"Karin, you know there is no such thing as a phantom."

"Well SOMEONE ruined my opening act, and I want to know who!" Karin stomped her feet down like a child having a tantrum. "Now! I want to know now! And I want them to suffer, I want them to pay for humiliating me like this!"

"They will, I assure you," Danzo told her, his voice firm with conviction. Even though Sakura was not the guilty party she felt shivers go down her spine at the unspoken threat. "For now, let's get you home. You must be exhausted." Karin continued to complain as Danzo assured her out the door. Sakura heard the sound of the doors sliding shut, but the silence that replaced it was even louder. She was finally alone in the theatre.

It wasn't the first time she had been alone. Since Iruka had found her a small room to stay at she replayed him by being the last one there and making sure everything was clean and ready for the next day. It wasn't the position she had wanted, but eventually she decided she was just glad to be a part of the whole process. Of course, if she did get to sing someday, she wouldn't complain…

With a sigh she returned to the front of the stage to pick up the costume pieces Karin had thrown to the floor in her rage. Taking the necklace she hurried to the side to put on the shelves and properly manage later. After the days act, she was too exhausted to really do much cleaning.

While shifting through the materials, a few papers fell to the ground. At first she let out a groan before getting on her knees to pick them up. It wasn't till her eyes caught on the title that her heart spiked a bit with excitement. The lyrics, however, were for a different play. Footloose, she thought. She knew the song very well, since her mother had used to love watching it when she was a kid. Of course the one that they played in the theatre was a slower version than the movie she'd seen, one made to be more emotional and dramatic. (I need a Hero by Elle Mae Bowen from newer adaption)

Sing the song for goodness sake! You haven't' sung in ages and no one's here to bother you! Her inner screamed at her in desperation.

Sakura was tempted to agree, but she knew she shouldn't. The theatre echoed, and if there happened to be anyone outside they would hear her. She hadn't sung since she'd arrived, partly out of sadness because she knew she wouldn't be able to improve. But because of that Sakura had become very tense, and a tense Sakura was an unhappy Sakura. She needed some kind of release, especially after the disaster that had happened in the play.

Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it…

"Okay, okay!" Sakura exclaimed, jumping to her feet. She pretended to be exasperated, but deep down she could feel her excitement brewing. Her feet felt airless as she hurried to the front of the stage. There was no band, however the theatre had the music recorded for each actor to practice. They never put on the performance with it. For live performances they always insisted on live music. But even a recording of music was enough for Sakura to practice. She used a little CD player to get the music ready before grabbing a chair that she brought to the stage she sat down gingerly before setting the papers down in her lap.

Before it was her turn to sing, she glanced up at where the audience would sit if there was any. Even the empty chairs seemed to loom over her, expecting a performance that would take their breath away. Sakura hadn't expected the shot of nerves that went through her even at an empty stage. Her heart hammered and her hands curled on the pages as she imagined actual people there, watching and judging her. Sakura never wanted to come to the theatre for the audience.

Because when the notes were played, when it was her turn to sing, there was never anyone there. It was just her and the music.

"…Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods…"

As soon as the first few words had slipped out of her mouth it was as if she was in a trance.

The words formed around her, shielding her from the world like armour. She felt the song guiding her, not the other way around. Music rolled out of her mouth with Sakura as the mouthpiece but not the true power behind the magic.

"…I need a hero…holding out for a hero till the morning light…"

She could feel everything so delicately. The way her heart pounded in her chest. The vibrations in her throat when she strove to hit the high notes. How her nerves trembled, aching to move, to dance to the words. She felt like a foolish human who had been trapped in a fairy ring, forced to dance forever under the guidance of the Frey folk. But if she was their prisoner she would be a willing one.

"…Up where the mountains meet the heavens above…Out where the lightening splits the sea!...I can swear there is someone, somewhere, watching me…"

Her emotions went into overdrive as she allowed herself to be used as a vessel for the message the music had to speak. Sometime during her performance she had gotten to her feet, and she found herself dancing to the music. She spun where the song ordered, her hands were captured by the waves of emotions the music coursed through her. Sakura could not keep still. She had to move, for the emotions behind the words were just too powerful for one human to bear.

"…Oh his approach is like a fire in my blood…"

Because one thing Sakura specialised with? She was emotional. She knew emotions, she knew feelings, and she had a very high emotional quota. Music was, in her opinion, the finest way to express those feelings she valued so much. And she wanted to at least spend some of her life letting others feel the joy she did when the music took control.

"I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light! He's gotta be sure, he's gotta be soon, and he's gotta be larger than life. Larger than life!"

It wasn't her song anymore. She was just given the blessing of being able to hear the serenity and peace the lyrics gave.

She was just honoured with the ability to show others the feelings that a few words could give her.

"Oh baby, maybe tonight!"

Song. It was her strength. Her weakness. Her power behind the throne. She didn't care who saw her, she didn't care if she was any good. She would continue to sing.

And she would absolutely love it.

"…I need a hero."

All too quickly Sakura was woken from her trance as the music faded away. When she forced herself to open her eyes it was a slow, tiring process. She'd become so focused on the song everything else had faded, yet by opening her eyes she was torn from the fantasy and back to reality. She found in her dancing she had turned and was facing the back of the stage where all of her work lay. There was disappointment when the sigh that came out was not filled with music and the joy she specialized in. "A hero really wouldn't be so bad right now…"

"You're loud."

Sakura clapped her hands over her mouth to force the scream down. Her eyes flicked around when she turned to find the one who had answered her call.

Leaning against the side wall of the stage stood a man. A stranger, Sakura was sure of it. She knew she would have recognized someone like him. He wore dark pants and a white shirt, with a long dark cape that hung on him like wings. His arms were crossed in front of his chest as he leaned one shoulder against the wall, head tilted to the side slightly as if to look at her from a better angle. He had dark hair, unkempt but in an attractive way. His face was smooth, Sakura was tempted to say like porcelain. However one half of his face was actually visible. On one side of his face he wore a large, white mask that even hid some of his other side as well. But what really caught her was his eyes. Dark eyes the colour of shadows that seemed to stare through her and take her soul as his own with only one look. There was curiosity, longing and a number of complicated emotions in those eyes that seemed too much for one man to bear.

And to her surprise, something that could be matched with triumph. As if he'd found something he hadn't know he was looking for…

"I-I'm so sorry!" Sakura's hands clamped down on her sides as her cheeks blushed a bright red. "I didn't know anyone else was here, I thought everyone had left."

The man hesitated for a moment before replying. "Well, you were wrong." Sakura blushed again, but not before peaking at his figure once again. She wasn't sure who he was. She'd hoped she would figure it out after she heard him speak one more time, but she couldn't recognize the voice. She knew a majority of the crew, but it was true she didn't know many people who did work outside of the theatre itself. Perhaps he was part of the board of directors? One of the managers? A business partner?

Either way, she decided standing their blushing red was not the best introduction. "M-my name is Sakura Haruno. I was sent here by,"

"I don't care."

Eh?

The stranger tilted his head upwards, eyes scanning the opening arch of the theatres. Sakura's eyes trailed his, watching him with wonder. He'd appeared out of nowhere, a stranger with frightening eyes that she could not ignore. She wanted to know where he'd come from. She wanted to know what he was doing there. But when he glanced back at her and she stared straight into his eyes, it was like all her questions were just washed away. And she could only stare at him and wait obediently for his words.

Gesturing to the area he answered one question without waiting for her to speak. "The air vents carry voices through the entire theatre. I could hear your singing from where I was working. It was annoying."

Sakura deflated instantly, feeling the red on her cheeks get hotter. "O-oh…I'm sorry." The strangers frown narrowed deeper at her reaction. She wasn't sure what else he was expecting from her. She'd just met the man, had he been hoping she would have fought back like she normally did?

"Your control is sloppy, your back is slouched, your pitches are either too high or too low and you sing the words to fast so they are a beat before the music." She thought her heart couldn't break anymore but she felt her spirits plummet. Great. The first time she'd gotten to sing in months, after feeling such joy at the music she was crushed like a snowflake that had been set free and melted the minute it touched the ground.

Any energy that she had which would have given her strength to yell at the stranger only gave her the strength to hang her head in shame. "I see…I'm sorry I bothered you,"

"I didn't say you bothered me," he interrupted. "Don't jump to conclusions."

Her head lifted, startled by the change. "You…You said I was annoying…"

Through his mask Sakura could see he blinked a few times when he caught sight of her emerald eyes. Had he not noticed before? With a cough he crossed his arms in front of his chest and his frown deepened, making him look more distant than before. If that was possible. "The interruption was annoying. But your voice…That was not."

Sakura knew she was staring. She didn't bother hiding the fact. What he said was not a compliment, it was barely anything beyond an acknowledgment. But when he didn't meet her gaze…when he struggled to maintain his cool…Slowly, with some force, he made his eyes meet hers and catch them so she had no choice but to look into his. "While your voice is untrained…It is still the most beautiful voice I have heard in a long time. Ever, in all honesty."

It wasn't that she hadn't been complimented on her voice before. Of course, usually the compliments came from family or one or two close friends…But For some reason, it felt like his words held more value than anything she had ever heard. For unlike other compliments, she knew it was genuine. She knew he was being honest, that he meant it from the heart. And given his distant looking expressions, she doubted he gave out compliments like that very often.

She found herself blushing again, but for different reasons the second time, when her hands clasped in front of her. "Y-you're to kind."

"No I'm not. I never give out compliments that aren't deserved." That just made the red in her cheeks deepen. "…I want to hear you sing properly."

"E-excuse me?" Sakura asked, the confusion written on her face.

He frowned as if what he was saying was supposed to be obvious. "I want to hear you sing. Properly, however. You may have a beautiful voice now but it could be better. You shouldn't settle for less. I want to hear you singing on the stage not that," He snarled in exasperation. "-that women with the voice of a toad!"

Sakura almost gasped, afraid Karin would somehow appear out of nowhere and reprimand the two of them. "Y-you shouldn't speak that way about Karin!"

The stranger raised an-well, she couldn't see the other one, but she assumed he only raised one-eyebrow. "Who?"

"K-Karin. The one who was singing?" Recognition lit his face. He must have heard the name before if he was in the opera. Had he forgotten it?

"All I care about is the fact that she sings worse than a man on the inch of death with needles through his throat," he spat in detest. Sakura got the impression very quickly that he was not a man who was easily impressed. That just made his compliments feel all the better. "Do you have a teacher?" He interrupted her thoughts. When she shook her head he frowned. "A way to practice?" Again, she shook her head. "How are you in the choir and not able to practice?"

"I am not in the choir," she admitted with a bit of bite in her words. "I'm the costume girl."

"…costume girl." It sounded like he didn't believe her. When she nodded his eyes widened as if he couldn't believe just how far the world was falling. Annoyance clustered over his features as he shook his head. "That won't do. I'll have to teach you."

In another situation Sakura may have jumped for joy. But in her situation all she could do was blink. "Y-you'll teach me? How?"

"I'll figure it out," The man gave as his only answer, refusing to admit he may be lost on the subject. "Before I heard your voice I never had any desire to teach anyone."

It wasn't that Sakura wasn't grateful for the chance of finally getting singing lessons. And the man in front of her was…well, intriguing. Okay, so he was handsome. Of what she saw of him at least. Not to mention mysterious and cool. Gosh how she felt like a silly kid when she thought that. However, she was an adult who knew better than to judge someone on only that. Sakura knew she couldn't forget that she knew nothing of him. She did not know where he came from, what he was doing there…She hadn't even seen his face. Trusting anyone under those circumstances sounded like a dangerous idea.

Heck, how was she supposed to know he could even sing?

"I-I…" Sakura hesitated, surprised that her courage had left her once again when she met his questioning eyes. "I…I don't know anything about you. I don't even know your name…"

"My name." He paused, as if he had never been asked such a thing. "Hn. My name…call me teacher."

"You don't look much older than me…"

He tilted his head to the side. "So?"

"So teacher makes you sound…old…"

The man frowned again when Sakura let out a giggle. At least one of them could laugh once in a while. "Fine. Maestro then." Sakura wanted to complain that that was just another way to say music teacher but decided one complaint was enough.

"Why can't know your name?" She questioned instead. "Why can't I see your face? I don't even know what you are, or what you are doing here, so how can I,"

"I do not want to be known," The man interrupted her questions, silencing her in an instant. "I…well, my reputation around here is…quite famous. Either you've heard of me already or you haven't but either way it does not matter. I just don't want anyone to discover that I am giving lessons. To anyone. If I am going to teach you that is one of my conditions. That I remain completely anonymous so you cannot reveal to others who I am." Sakura neglected to mention whether she was even going to accept his offer before he started spouting off rules. She wasn't sure what he meant by someone she may or may not have heard of. Was he on the board of directors? Or a singer who had left the opera? A previous music director?

"…whether you choose to accept my lessons is up to you." The man turned away from her, and in one leap he jumped off the stage. Sakura was about to rush over, but he held up one hand and she froze. "Stay where you are. You…you have one week to decide whether you accept my offer or not. However remember that this is a onetime offer and if you do not accept I will not give you this chance again." When he hesitated she could tell it really was his first time doing something like this. That just made her all the more curious about who he was.

Again he started off towards the edge of the stage. "W-wait! How will I find you?" the man paused briefly, considering her question.

"Ah…Don't worry about that. I'll find you."

"What?"

She never got an answer to that question. Instead he turned a corner, out of her line of view. When she ran over to find him again, there was nothing to keep her company but the darkness. If she deluded herself she could have believed it was all just a dream.

A dream that one week later, held an offer that she accepted.

Play that was talked about was Sound of Music, not owned by me. Song 'need a hero' by footloose also not owned by me. And for those who may have been confused, it was the slow version from the readaption that came out a few years ago.