Think Of Me

I've decided not to hand the story over to someone else. Please feel free to read...and review if you wnt.


Chapter 4 Once in a While, Please Promise Me You'll Try

The next morning as Naruto slept, events happened that he yet had no knowledge of.

Naruto had of course been a sensation, the night before, the appearance of hundreds of dandies and notorious womanizers who didn't normally even attend the Opera, affirmed this.

It also confirmed the stupidity of several of the 'elite', who had yet to discover that Naruto was a male.

Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin, meanwhile, were reveling in the scandal that was ensuing.

Rumors had started swirling at Carlotta's disappearance. When it had been discovered that Naruto, too, was missing the rumors had gone from whispers here and there to full blown gossip. Speculation filled the air in what could have possible happened to the two sopranos.

The next morning the two new Opera Owners met at the entrance of Opera Popular. The room was beautiful consisting of two opposing staircases made of marble, the railing made of oak. The staircases themselves were in the style of traditional Opera Houses: dramatic, spiraling, and overdone.

“Monsieur Andre!”

Monsieur Firmin!”

Both men shouted at the same time.

Eyes meeting they withdrew the letters they had received simultaneously as if engaged in a comical dance, it was so perfectly choreographed.

Wordlessly each handed the other their letter, silence filled the near-empty stairway as they read.

“Appalling.” Firmin exclaimed as he read the elegant script.

“Ridiculous!” Andre agreed, snatching Firmin's letter out of his hand, tearing both letters up.

Both read essentially the same thing. The Opera that was to be performed that very night had two parts. The Countess which was the lead role designed for a female, and the pageboy, whose entire role was silent and could be either gender.

The notes demanded that Carlotta play the pageboy, and that Naruto be given the role of Countess. The letters had explained the outrage that a Soprano who was past her prime be continued to be cast in leading roles. It had also gone on to explain that the writer was anxious that Naruto's career should progress. Also that his salary was past due, and was signed O.G.

“Opera Ghost.” The men disgustedly uttered.

Before another word could be uttered, Sasuke Uchiha, the Vicomte de Chagny, burst through one of the two heavy oak doors that were the entryway.

“Which one of you sent me this?!” he demanded, throwing the missive he'd been sent, at them.

Quickly both men read the contents.

“We didn't write this!” Firmin defended.

“Why would we?” Andre pointed out. “Why would we warn you to stay away from one of our cast when you are our Patron, and the survival of this Opera House almost solely depends on you?”

Sasuke couldn't argue with this, but he was so irritated that logic hadn't really occurred to him. After all, he'd been told to stay away from something he wanted. And when Sasuke Uchiha wanted something he would get it one way or another.

Carlotta chose that moment to also storm in, in a flurry of excitement, her feathers very obviously ruffled.

“Where is he?!” she demanded in that haughty, over dramatic way that she had. “Where is your precious little Patron?! I receive a letter from him that I take issue with!”

Sasuke's brow started to twitch, a sure sign that he was irritated. As if he would write a letter to an old washed-up Soprano who still thought she was at the first blush of youth.

“What is it that you are under the delusion that I wrote?” he asked dryly, giving Carlotta a haughty glare that said 'how dare you condescend to think I would ever willingly write anything to you.'

Carlotta visibly shrank under that glare, hesitation in her posture now, but still she handed him the letter.

Reading it, Sasuke rolled his eyes, and handed the letter back at her.

“I didn't write this.” he dismissed.

Madame Giry arrived unannounced, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, as she always did.

“Naruto has returned.” She declared.

Everyone looked at her questioningly, the subject that was on everyone's mind remained unasked.

Would he sing?

Silently Madame Giry, after handing her missive over to Firmin, walked off as stealthily as she'd arrived.

The letter was falsely courteous, masking the hidden dictation it contained rather nicely. It proclaimed that the other 'amiable' notes he sent out were to be followed. If not, a 'disaster beyond their imagination' would happen.

“I know who sent this!” Carlotta cried in false outrage. “The Vicomte and his lover!”

Surprise that Carlotta had seen through his intention, Sasuke arched a brow and tonelessly said.

“Indeed. Can you believe it?”

“Do not not worry,” Firmin cooed at Carlotta, soothing her ruffled feathers, “you are our star. Naruto will be playing the part of the pageboy, the silent role.”

“You will be playing the lead.” Andre agreed. “We cannot have someone who was just yesterday, a dancer, thinking he can take the star's place.”

Carlotta sobbed in injured pride, but agreed it best not to deprive her adoring audience of her magnanimous presence.

Sasuke just observed the three in amused disdain. Idiots, the lot of them. Still there had to be something to this whole 'opera ghost' scheme. He knew it wasn't Naruto. The little blond didn't have it in him. He hadn't liked the tone of that letter one bit. Someone was attempting to claim Naruto for their own. Someone whose name was not Sasuke Uchiha. That was not acceptable. Period. End of story.

I will find this person, Sasuke vowed, and I will crush them.


Naruto awoke later in the afternoon and was briefed by Madame Giry as to what role he would be playing.

He wasn't displeased at all. In fact the role he was to play was a part that would have taken him years to obtain if he had remained as a simple dancer.

In the shadows, someone who had demanded that events take place in a certain order was not pleased, in the least bit.

All right, he thought observing Naruto as he contemplated the change of plans. It appears I will have to take matters into my own hands. We can't have people thinking that the 'Phantom' is losing his touch.

What are you going to do about Naruto? His annoying conscience nagged at him. The way you treated him is intolerable, even for you. He knew that, and was appropriately ashamed. It was this whole affair with Sasuke Uchiha had him on edge. Not just that brat, but everyone and their mom now wanted Naruto. It had been so much easier to deal with, when Naruto had been an unknown. Now look at how he was behaving. Like an irrational schoolboy just out of the schoolroom.

He would deal with Sasuke Uchiha first for attempting to claim what had been his for years. The others he would deal with later.

In the meantime he would come up with a repercussion so horrible that no one would think of defying his demands ever again.


That night the production went on as planned with the modifications that the two new owners had made to the roles.

As the second scene was ending, and Carlotta trilled in her horribly high pitched soprano a loud booming voice thankfully interrupted her, just as she was about to go even higher.

“Did I not instruct that Box 5 was to be left empty for me?!”

There were exclamations of surprise, even some screams of terror coming from 'men.'

Naruto heard and whispered.

“It's him.”

“Your part is silent, little toad!”

Carlotta sneered at him, having overheard him speak.

Kakashi just smirked at Carlotta under his head coverings She would get hers soon enough.

After the initial shock had worn off, the orchestra started the music again, and the production continued where it had left off.

Suddenly, much to everyone's horror, Carlotta's dress, somehow, tore apart. Seeming to literally split in half. Not just the dress but everything that she was wearing underneath as well, leaving her as naked as the day she was born.

The screams were coming from every direction now. Carlotta was not exactly in the best of health. One too many bonbons had left her with more than a few rolls of flesh. She'd also obviously had children, because there were also multiple stretch marks that were more than evident in her torso region.

Despite everyone's horror and guarantee of ensuing nightmares, they all inwardly agreed that it was amazing what secrets corsets could hide. Carlotta had originally been thought to have a flawless body. Indeed her figure had been the envy of Paris by many women.

Carlotta stood there, frozen in shock, not having made a single sound, which was highly unlike her.

Eventually a cast member took pity on her and covered her with a dusty old blanket he'd found laying on the ground nearby.

As she slunk off stage, she coughed several times as clouds of dust came out of the blanket whenever she moved.

Luckily someone had also had the foresight to quickly close the curtains.

Andre and Firmin got on stage, apologizing to everyone profusely. They announced that the ballet from Act V of the Opera would be performed and Naruto would be performing the role of countess.

They emphasized this by grabbing Naruto as he was passing by, and then shoved Naruto backstage to get changed.

Enough was enough.

Naruto bypassed where he should have gone, and instead ran blindly up a flight of stairs that led to the roof.

Seeing Naruto run off, Sasuke followed him, desperate to manipulate Naruto's obvious distress for his own machinations.

Naruto was blankly stared into the view that the Opera Popular offered from the roof. It was truly one of the best views in Paris.

Not that Naruto noticed, he was too busy thinking of a way to get out this situation. It wouldn't for him to play directly into Kakashi's hands, yet again. He laughed at himself. And I thought he actually cared about me. That will show me. He started to think about the decision that he and “Kyuubi” had discussed. Honestly the option of an immortal name was beginning to sound like a great option.

While he wasn't paying attention, two hands came over his shoulders, pulling Naruto into their owner's embrace.

“What the hell?!” Naruto swore, prepared to struggle, especially when he saw that it was Sasuke. Irritation filled him, he was so not in the mood for this right now.

Scowling in displeasure, he growled.

“What do you want, Sasuke?!”

“I just wanted to comfort you.” Sasuke purred, inwardly congratulating himself on being so smooth.

“You looked troubled.”

“Sasuke?” Naruto gritted his teeth praying inwardly for patience.

“Yes Naruto?”

“You have five seconds to release me, before I do something you won't like.” Naruto's voice was deceptively sweet, but the content of his words could only be mistaken by a fool.

Which evidently Sasuke was, because he tightened his hold on Naruto.

“Now now, Naruto.” his lips were less than an inch away from Naruto's ear. “I know you don't me---.”

Naruto walked away from Sasuke leaving his body curled into a ball.

Evidently getting kicked in the balls doesn't feel too good.

Sasuke didn't dare move for about a full minute.

Damn that Naruto for playing hard to get! He swore. I will make him pay for this. I don't care if he is going to be mine, you don't kick a Uchiha there!

Gradually Sasuke sat up slowly, groaning as he inched to his feet. Limping towards the entrance, Sasuke suddenly found himself slammed into one of the statues of a gargoyle that were scattered tastefully throughout the different nooks and crannies of the roof.

It was amazingly detailed, Sasuke noted in his stupor, until a voice that could only be described as menacing spoke.

“I thought I told you to stay away from Naruto!”

“Naruto is mine.” Sasuke slurred. “You can't 'ave him.”

The person whose features Sasuke couldn't make out in the least, slammed him into the sharp, abrasive surface again, he groaned as more pain joined his body.

“You will leave him alone!” Insisted the owner of the voice. “That prank tonight is nothing compared to the humiliation and physical abuse you will receive at my hands, if you don't leave him alone.”

His warning declared, the unidentified individual slammed Sasuke into the statue one last time for good measure, and had started to walk away when Sasuke mumbled.

“What gives you the right?”

“Naruto gave me the right when he willingly put himself into my hands.” Was all that was said, before the steps completely disappeared into nothingness.

Sasuke was eventually able to get up again, albeit, very painfully. Sitting down on a bench he stumbled upon, he thought. This has just gotten most decidedly more complicated.


End of Chapter

Hello all, I thought I'd give you a nice little surprise. No action this chapter, but don't worry. Grins Manically This chapter was needed to move things along. As you can no doubt tell from the content this is where things will take a nice “Fuck you” from the story line. Like I said before, loosely based on Phantom of the Opera. So strap in and maybe you will see another chapter soon, maybe not, depends on my mood.