The violinist and the conductor

2. Ungrateful

Tobirama had tried hiding his violin in his closet. That way, he hoped he wouldn't think about him that much. 

But as soon as he put it away, he started sweating. Within the minute, his entire white skin, covering his bones and the little substance he had, was drenched and shivering with cold as the sweat evaporated, leaving nothing but salt on his skin.

He went to bed. He had hoped, stupidly enough, that he would be able to fall asleep from the anxiety. He obviously couldn't. 

He threw away his duvet, that had absorbed his evaporated sweat and was now useless in its function, and went to the closet into which he had put the violin away. Or rather, he stumbled there, weakened by the anxiety and fluid- and salt loss.

When he opened the closet, he saw it standing there, alone, lonely, yearning. He took it into his embrace and hugged it in a way he would never have if Izuna was there seeing how much money it was worth. Now, he didn't care. He would've crushed his violin to pieces if only he would come back.

He brought the violin with him back to his bed, where he pulled the duvet over them both as if his violin was his lover, hugged it close, and fell asleep with the closest thing to the man he loved he had in his embrace.

2 years earlier

When I conducted my orchestra, I went entirely into my own mind.

It craved such a huge amount of focus, I wouldn't allow myself even a small glimpse of reality that could risk messing any little detail up, even if I worked with the world's best classical musicians and they would be fine anyway. But I hadn't become the best for nothing.

Now, however, I wasn't entirely focussed. Mr Uchiha wasn't here yet. I had started on time, anyway, and as we warmed up together by playing slow scales, his chair stood empty.

Five minutes into the warmup, however, I heard the door open, and then, heads turned as we heard rushing steps; the other musicians were also curious about by this new addition.

"Sorry! So sorry I'm late! I- Oh..."

A figure as tiny and curvy as I had seen on television four years ago stood at the side aisle of the audience and had stopped dead when he saw he'd caused quite the scene. Well, what did you except, running in and screaming like that? He was probably a snobbish brat used to people waiting for him. Just look how surprised he was we had started without him. Despite my irritation, I couldn't help but notice he had a thick, Russian accent that was surprising with his sweet voice.

"We don't wait for late members, Mr Uchiha", I said coldly, keen on letting him know his place immediately. "Sit down, please."

And I continued our warmup before he had time to take another step. But inside, I was burning.

I hadn't seen him since I saw him on television all those years ago. I had not even looked him up upon finding out he would join my orchestra. But he had definitely not cut his hair since, because it was so long it reached his waist, and incredibly shiny in the theatre lights as it billowed behind him as he ran to take his place.

I swallowed.

It irritated me that he was late. He should be much more grateful. Or, come to think of it, why would he be? My boss had probably begged him on her bare knees for Izuna to join us.

As he took his seat and opened the lid of his violin case, I couldn't help but notice other members cast curious glances his way, and no wonder. His violin was the most expensive one in the world. It had been bought to him by a fan that probably wanted his favours. Whether he had given them or not, I didn't know. And I didn't care either way if it meant I had the most valuable violin in the world in my orchestra.

At least, that was what I tried to tell myself.

He sat down with the others, put the violin underneath his chin as if it was a lost body part that had finally been re-attached...

And changed my life forever.