Phantom of the opera, Yami no matsuei.
Summary: A mysterious phantom is haunting the most important opera in Japan. He tries to help a young singer Maria Wong, to rise in society. And he gets very interested in the young inspector, charged to arrest him, Hisoka. Hisoka's hunt for the ghost begins, but who is really the prey, and who is the predator?
Okay, just to precise, Muraki is not the ghost but the opera director. No particular reason for this, I just needed someone to be the director.
IMPORTANT: Now the story is complete, most of people didn't liked chapter 12 but READ THE EPILOGUE if you want to know how it really end.
Chapter 1
Hisoka sighed in the car. Today, his boss assigned him and his partner Watari to a very difficult investigation: find the phantom of the opera. They received this order for Watari's experience, and Hisoka's intelligence and cold-blood. It was the time for him, who was young, to make a place at the police station. If they didn't fail, he would be considered as a true member of police. But if he failed…Hisoka tried to push away the pessimistic thought. Watari who was driving looked at him and smiled.
"We will do fine, Hisoka. Even if it's going to be difficult, I don't deny it."
"Thanks, Watari. You're right; I will concentrate on this case, and won't worry."
They finally came to the building. They entered and went to the director's office. Watari knocked and heard a brief "Enter". He opened an entered the office, which was a mess. The director, Kazatuka Muraki was sitting on his desk, obviously tired. He looked at the two men and made a sign for them to take a sit.
"Good morning, sir" said Watari. "My name is Watari Yutaka."
"Good morning, I am Hisoka Kurosaki."
"Glad to see you gentlemen" began the man with a sigh. "I hope you will get me rid of this living plea. It's had been months now, and no one can catch him."
"You can rely on us, sir" began Watari. "I will just ask you some questions about this ghost. First: we had been informed that this ghost was a nuisance, and read the report, but I want to know your point of view. What's happening exactly?"
"He obliges me to give him money every month, if I didn't, he spoils the rehearsals, threatens or even aggresses peoples. Once he even destroyed our diva's room…"
"Destroy? What do you mean by destroy?" Asked Hisoka.
"Well, it's a little exaggerated to say: destroy, but I'll explain. We have given an important role to our diva, Miss Tsubaki, but the phantom asked us to give it to Miss Maria Wong, a young singer. We didn't do it, and one evening, when Miss Tsubaki entered into her lodge, the walls were full of blood. And she found her dog dead in the center of the room."
"Are you sure it was the dog blood?" Asked Watari.
"Yes, we had called the police of course. And Miss Tsubaki was so upset, that she couldn't play. Then I had received a note that said: "Now you can give the role to Miss Wong except if you want more blood". I followed his orders."
"Don't you think that's Miss Wong has something to do in this?" Asked Hisoka.
"I do. But the police interrogated her, and she was apparently innocent."
"You said that he asked you to give her the role. Have you see him already?"
"No I never do. He always sends letters and seems to know everything that happens in this theatre. He threatens me and people who did something he didn't like. For example, one of the workers had stay a little longer in the opera after work. He was knocked out by behind and when he wakes up, he was near my office, and he found a letter which said: "This opera is my territory". I simply can't stand this anymore."
Muraki sighed, obviously depressed. Hisoka narrowed his eyes. Who can be this man? It was stupid to believe that it was a ghost of course. But the director seemed really distressed, and Hisoka wanted to help him. They finally left the director, to found their next witness/suspect: Maria Wong. But while they were walking, Hisoka suddenly saw something fell from nowhere: a letter. The young man looked everywhere and saw no one and nothing. Watari stopped when he saw what Hisoka was holding.
"What is that, Hisoka?"
The young man didn't answered, astonished by the letter:
To Hisoka Kurosaki,
Welcome to my opera.
I hope that you and your partner will stay a little longer than all the other fool that tried to catch me. The game is starting, and I am sure, that a young man like you, will give me a very interesting challenge.
With all my respect,
The phantom of the opera.
Watari and Hisoka looked each other, saying nothing. This phantom had spied on them, obviously since they entered this place. They continued to search Miss Wong, saying nothing. This man wouldn't stop them. Hisoka looked up, trying to see something, with no result. But someone was looking at him, with a smirk on his lips…
