SAIYUKI OF THE OPERA
Done in collaboration with LonesomeGurlAngelofDeath
Disclaimer: Ryokiku doesn't own Saiyuki and neither does Angel own Phantom of the Opera
Summary: In Tougenkyou Opera House, it's rumored that an Opera Youkai lived in its bowels. Is he real? Or just a mere imagination? Everything is not the way it seems. AU. A retelling of Phantom of the Opera, Saiyuki style. The curtain rises, tragedy plays…
Authoresses' Note:
Kiku - Yay, it's done! The first chapter!!
Angel - Yay for Phantom and Saiyuki!!
Kiku - By the way, whose idea is this bloody fic in the first place?
Angel - Yours! I wouldn't have thought of it.
Kiku - Me? I thought it was YOU! You're the Phantom lover, after all.
Angel - If it was me, I would've made it Phantom-centered. This is Saiyuki-centered, YOUR favorite.
Kiku - (sweatdrops) Oh yeah... I got the point.
Both - So everyone, HAPPY READING!!
CHAPTER ONE
Think of Me
Paris, 1871
The city was busy like any other day. People walked from every direction, chattering incoherent words to each other. Horse-drawn carriages containing high-classed people rumbled across the streets calmly. One in particular stopped at the front door of a majestic building. The carved cameo above the door bore the sign 'Tougenkyou Opera House'. Two gentlemen with coats and boots stepped off the carriage, looking pleased with themselves. They looked around with interest, admiring the magnificent architecture before them.
"Ah, Zenon-sama, Homura-sama, welcome. Kanzeon-sama is expecting you." A shy man with long beard greeted them and opened the door, allowing the two men inside the building.
"We thank you for your hospitality, Jiroushin." The man with mismatched golden-sapphire eyes said as he and his comrade stepped through the door, stepping from the rough ground to the cold floor. The other man with an eye patch just nodded as he followed his leader. Jiroushin shuddered as the patched-eyed man passed him, his uncovered eye calculating.
"This way, gentlemen." He hastily added as he guided his guests deeper to the heart of the building, where they would soon meet their destiny.
"You stupid saru!! You call that a jump?! My grandma could jump higher than THAT!!" Sanzo's irritated voice echoed within the busy hall, sending shudders over everyone. The furious choreographer was yelling at one of his acrobats, who had just failed to do one of his moves.
"Demo Sanzo… I never know that you have a grandma…" Goku, to whom Sanzo had been yelling at, winced a little as he stood carefully, massaging his bruised leg. The previous fall indeed hurt. Had it not been for Seiten's supporting him at the very last moment, he could've end up injuring himself.
Sanzo's face reddened in fury.
"URUSAAII!! The opera will be held by next month, and I want a perfect performance! Or you all DIE!!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!!
A series of gunshots followed the furious choreographer's statement. Everybody's eyes were locked on the still-smoking barrel of five-revolver Smith and Wesson Sanzo was holding. Without needing to be told, everybody scrambled over to their positions and started practicing. They didn't like the idea of having a bullet hole on their heads, especially since this psychopathic choreographer had an unbelievable acceleration.
Sanzo put his gun back into his jacket, watching the practice with a scowl.
"Geez, Goku. Your father is so scary! I wonder how can you stand living under the same roof with that psycho?" Nataku whispered in low voice to his acrobat-mate as he started walking with his hands.
Goku shrugged before following what Nataku did, feeling his muscles stretching beneath his tanned skin, his brown bangs shadowing bright golden eyes, "I dunno. Sanzo could be real nice sometimes. Remember what he did to Yaone-neechan? He's actually a kind guy."
Seiten, another acrobat boy, snorted at this statement. "Which part of that guy is nice? Oh wait, he's only nice for people who don't wanna live…"
Nataku and Goku had to suppress their laugh at Seiten's statement. The boys jumped back to their feet. Unfortunately Goku tripped and hit one of the chorus girls, immediately making her gasping in surprise and stopped singing.
"Ouch! I'm so sorry, Yaone-neechan…"
"It's alright, Goku-kun. I'm just surprised, that's all." The purple-haired girl answered kindly. Goku was about to say something when he suddenly stopped, fearful golden eyes staring at something behind Yaone. Or yet, someone. The girl turned and found Sanzo's face was an inch from her. The psycho was more than ready to kill anyone who interrupts his sweet opera.
"WHO TOLD YOU TO STOP SINGING?? YOU'RE ALL GONNA…!!"
"Cut the crap, Genjo Sanzo. We have visitors."
Everybody turned and saw Kanzeon Bosatsu, the owner of Tougenkyou Opera House, standing majestically between two big pillars. She waved lazily at the crowd of singers and dancers as she spoke with her typical arrogant tone.
"Now, now, Genjo Sanzo, I'm afraid that killing one of our chorus girls here is not a very good idea, remembering the next performance is to be held by next month. And I believe you, as well as I am, are putting much hope into the next performance."
Sanzo muttered a 'tch' under breath. How did this old hag always manage to render him speechless?
"Furthermore, I would like to announce a few more things. As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these were all true." The audience all gasped and exchanged surprised looks, but Kanzeon went on, ignoring the audience, "Jiroushin and I shall retire from this Opera business and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen, who now own the Tougenkyou Opera House."
She gestured to Jiroushin, who just entered the hall with the aforementioned two men. One had spiky orange hair with an eye-patch covering his right eye while the other had ebony-colored hair with mismatched golden-sapphire eyes. They stopped by Kanzeon's side.
"Introducing, Zenon Taishou,.." The patched-eyed man nodded, "…and Homura Taishi." The mismatched-eyed man nodded.
"These two shall be running the Opera from now on. Oh, and I'm also glad to announce our new patron. Introducing Prince Kougaiji from the Gyuumaou family."
A young man with long red fiery hair stepped into the room, stunning the audience with his elegance. Several chorus girls gasped and whispered to each other, wondering if they could get this gorgeous gentleman to a date. But none of them as surprised as Yaone. Her deep orange eyes widened as they followed the man's every move.
"Yaone-neechan, is something wrong? You look as if you're looking at a ghost." Goku asked the taller girl worriedly.
Yaone snapped back from his thoughts.
"Ah… nothing, Goku-kun. I just… seem to know him somehow." She let her gaze fell upon Kougaiji once again. Goku followed her eyes.
"That Kougaiji guy?"
Yaone didn't quick to answer the question. She held her breath as Kougaiji went pass her without even looking at her. She sighed.
"No. I guess he doesn't remember me." Sadness filled her sorrowful orange eyes.
Goku patted her softly on the back, trying to cheer her up, "He just doesn't see you, Yaone-neechan."
Meanwhile, Kougaiji had reached Kanzeon's place, and bowed elegantly before her. When he turned to face the audience, most of the girls 'ooh'-ed and 'aah'-ed at the charming and handsome prince.
"My parents and I are honored to support all the arts especially the world renowned Tougenkyou Opera House." he spoke with deep and elegant voice which immediately increased the velocity of the 'ooh' and 'aah'.
The boys, however, wasn't impressed. Nataku was suppressing laugh while Seiten made a puking gesture.
Kougaiji, oblivious to all this, turned to face Kanzeon and spoke, "It's an honor for me to be invited here, Kanzeon-sama. However I believe I'm keeping you from your practice. I shall be here this evening to share your great triumph. My apologies, ladies and gentlemen." With a flip of his cloak, the young man made his way out, followed by longing gaze from the young girls.
Nataku was practically laughing now. "I can't believe that guy! Who does he think he is? I've never seen as funny a joke!! Typical gentleman, ha! I bet he doesn't even know how to ride a horse."
Seiten made a disgusted face. "Typical fop," he snorted.
Goku was about to ask what's a fop when Jiroushin's voice took his attention back.
"Gentlemen, introducing our diva, Gyokumen Koushu-sama, who has been our leading soprano for almost five seasons."
Gyokumen Koushu, a middle-aged woman who could hardly tell as young anymore, stepped to the picture, her lips curved into what she must be hoping as a smile which made Homura and Zenon unconsciously wince.
"It's an honor to meet you, my Lady," Homura smiled nevertheless, taking Gyokumen's hand and kissed it in a very gentle manner, effectively blowing the woman's heart up.
Turning to face the audience, she spread her hands and shouted "HE LOVES ME!!" in her high-pitched shriek.
The audience sweatdropped. A man with labcoat and glasses immediately grabbed Gyokumen and started dragging her away, but not before hissing menacingly to Homura, "She's MY lady, you jack-ass."
The audience sweatdropped again. Jiroushin, in an attempt to save the awkward situation, nervously spoke, "That is Nii Jenyi, our lead male singer. Well, gentlemen, what about an introducing trip? I believe Genjo Sanzo, our magnificent choreographer, should be more than happy to show you around about this Opera House."
Murmuring a barely audible yet so obvious 'I'll so fucking kill you' under his breath, Sanzo gestured his new bosses to follow him.
"This way," he grunted, and started to walk away.
Homura and Zenon exchanged looks before following the grumpy blonde. Behind them, Kanzeon clamped her hand on her mouth in an attempt to suppress her laugh. Ooh... the two gentlemen were going to have so much fun...
Watching the three walk away, she turned to the orchestra pit. "Conductor, resume the rehearsals!" she ordered and Gojyo lazily started the music again.
A moment later Jiroushin's voice could be heard shouting, "Nii Jenyi, WHERE'S YOUR COSTUME??"
"We take a particular pride here in the excellence of our dancers and acrobats." Sanzo spoke monotonously, a clear sign of boredom. Homura and Zenon, however, were fascinated by the elegance of the dancing girls and acrobat boys.
"I see why, especially that little brunette with golden eyes." Homura commented, his mismatched eyes blazing with weird emotions as he observed the young boy jumped over his partner's back, wide and content smile upon his face.
"Son Goku, one of our best acrobats." Sanzo squinting at the way Homura stared at the young acrobat and added, "and my own son."
Homura raised his eyebrow as he stared at Sanzo's cold amethyst eyes. Sanzo stared back at those mismatched eyes, challenging.
"I see no resemblance. That brunette sure is interesting..."
Sanzo gritted his teeth, fingers aching into putting a bullet in this man's sick brain.
Homura, ignoring Sanzo's murderous glare, continued, "And that exceptional beauty? No relation, I trust."
Calming down a little, Sanzo spoke, "Yaone. Our best chorus girl. A very promising talent."
"I see..." Homura scratched his chin, "I suppose she has no relation to you, unlike that Son Goku?"
"Unfortunately, I'm her foster father." Sanzo replied coldly, glaring as Homura raised his eyebrow again.
"I see..."
"Now, move aside, you're in the way." Sanzo shoved both managers roughly to the wings.
"What the…" Homura began to protest but immediately stopped when a huge elephant replica rolled on stage, accompanied by a group of singers. Nii was supposed to climb on it, but he had a hard time due to his flailing labcoat getting stuck on the elephant's decoration again and again.
"I'm going to kill him later," Sanzo hissed from over the side. "Messing up the rehearsal, thinks he's so great."
The situation was even worse because the elephant stopped at the wrong place and Gyokumen was stomping all over the stage, glaring at the dancers. Thankfully the chorus managed to cover up for both.
The trumpeting elephants sound, her Romans now, and tremble. Hark to our step on the ground-hear the drums! Hannibal comes!
The acrobats leapt to their position, followed by the dancing girls, and ended the act.
Once the music stopped playing, hell broke loose. The mad choreographer started swearing at both Nii and the elephant operator Kami-sama, waving his gun threateningly. On the other side of the room, Gyokumen exploded.
"All day! All they want is the dancing!" she shrieked.
"The Prince is very excited about tonight's gala," Jiroushin commented airily, joining the two managers.
The Diva approached the managers with a scowl. "Ah, allora, allora, allora."
"I hope he is as excited about dancing girls as your new managers," Gyokumen snarled at them, "Because I will not be singing!" She swept her dress train up dramatically and made her way off the stage, dragging Nii along the way.
Zenon took on a panic-stricken look. "Jiroushin-what do we do?"
"Grovel. Grovel, grovel." Jiroushin nudged them toward the wake the Diva had left in her exodus.
They look at each other in disgust but hurried after her nevertheless, calling as they went. "My Lady, please!"
"See you later, because I'm going now. It is finished." Gyokumen threw her hand in the air and continued on her way.
"World renowned artist and great beauty…" Homura began. The thick praise caused Gyokumen to pause.
Zenon pounced on the opportunity; he and Homura quickly moved to block her path. "Principessa, Bella Diva..."
"Si, si, si," Gyokumen said vehemently, wagging a finger at them.
"Goddess of song!" Homura cried.
"Gaspaco!" Gyokumen declared.
Kanzeon shook her head. Gyokumen tend to speak in odd languages when she's annoyed. These managers, as inexperienced as they were at catering to the Diva, would soon make her completely unintelligible.
"Gojyo-san," Zenon began, addressing the conductor. "Isn't there a rather marvelous aria for Elissa in act three of Hannibal? Perhaps the Lady…"
Gyokumen made the connection and cut in. "Yes, yes, yes! Ma, no! Because I have not my costume for act three, because somebody not finish it!" She shot a condemning look at her seamstress. "And, I hate my hat!" she exclaimed, gesturing to the ostentatious object in question. She covered her face with her hands and started sobbing, her shoulders heaving.
Homura spoke in his most soothing tone. "But, I wonder, signora, if as a personal favor, you would oblige us with a private rendition? Unless, of course, Gojyo-san objects?"
Gojyo looked as though he objected very much, but Gyokumen knew she was the focus of the managers' attention, and was attempting to prolong the moment. She made pathetic sobbing noises and affected to gain control of herself.
With a final sniff and wipe of her eyes, she said meekly, "If my managers command. Sha Gojyo-san?"
"If my diva commands," Gojyo drawled unenthusiastically, playing his baton with his fingers.
"Yes, yes, I do!" Gyokumen shot sternly, "Everyone be quiet!!"
Gojyo sighed exaggeratedly before standing, flipping his long red hair, and started swinging his baton in a very professional way. The orchestra began. Everybody silenced, waiting to see what the new managers' reaction are upon hearing the diva sing.
Inhaling oxygen as much as she could, Gyokumen began singing.
"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye--!!"
Kanzeon was right. Gyokumen Koushu was indeed the leading soprano. Her voice was very high-pitched and she, in clear attempt to impress her new bosses, seemed to over-do it. Her voice echoed through the hall, causing Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the cleaning service, to stuff wool into their ears to block this horrible shriek. Nataku and the other acrobat boys had stopped practicing, watching the diva singing—no, shrieking—with their jaws hanging open.
"Remember me once in a while please promise me you'll try--!!"
This time, Homura and Zenon couldn't help but wincing. Most of the boys had covered their ears as well. Gojyo, on the other hand, was suffering. Being the conductor, he couldn't do anything to protect his ears from the torture. He chose to close his eyes and grit his teeth, trying his best not to hear that horrible voice.
"When you find that once again you long to take your heart and be free--"
The torture was ended, fortunately, in the most unexpected way. A huge piece of scenery fell from the ceiling, dangerously close onto the shrieking diva's head. The audience gasped and screamed as the material engulfed the screaming diva, trapping her beneath.
Sanzo immediately set his gaze to the ceiling, and noticed a dark silhouette among the wooden blocks. As Sanzo watched him, he noticed an envelope was being dropped from the ceiling; an envelope with blood-red seal. The figure then shifted back into the shadow. Sanzo picked up the envelope, casting a you-better-thank-me look to the shadows before turning back to the stage.
"He's here! The Youkai of the Opera!" Goku whispered to Yaone, his voice was a mixture of excitement and worry.
Meanwhile, Gyokumen was shrilly shrieking for help in panic. Homura and Zenon immediately rushed to her aid. Kanzeon, however, looked upright and shouted, "Chin Yisou! For God's sake, man, what's going on up there?!"
Chin Yisou, the stagehand, stared back at his mistress, "Please mistress, don't look at me. As God's my witness, I was not at my post. Please, mistress, there's no one there and if there is, well then, it must be a ghost!"
Zenon frowned, "What's the meaning of…"
"These things do happen!!" Gyokumen shrieked suddenly once she was freed from the backdrop, capturing everybody's attention.
"For the past three years, these things do happen and did you stop them from happening?? No!! And you two!" She pointed to the speechless Homura and Zenon, "You two are as bad as them. These things do happen! Until you stop these things from happening, I will not be singing!!" She turned on her heels and left the astonished gentlemen. Her lover, Nii Jenyi, followed her like a faithful dog, but not before turning and mocking "Amateurs," with a smirk to Homura and Zenon.
Kanzeon sighed, "Gentlemen, good luck. When you need me, I shall be in Australia." Before the two new managers could say retort back, Kanzeon left the place, dragging Jiroushin with her, suppressing laugh at the look on both faces.
"Gyokumen will be back," Zenon assured himself as Sanzo approached him from behind.
"You honestly think so?" Sanzo asked in a bored voice. He cocked his head, putting on an air of jaded aggravation as he held out an envelope to Zenon. "I have a message, from the Youkai of the Opera." Sanzo stated calmly, and everyone's attention immediately turned to him. He was holding a white envelope with a blood red skull seal.
"The Opera…?"
"The Youkai of the Opera." Sanzo repeated calmly, ignoring gasps from dancing girls at the mention of the name.
Homura snorted, "God grieves, there's no such thing as the opera youkai. You're all obsessed."
Ignoring him, Sanzo opened the letter and started reading it, "He welcomes you to his Opera House."
"His Opera House?" Zenon frowned in disbelief.
Sanzo went on as if he wasn't interrupted, "And commands you to continue to leave Box Five empty for his use. And reminds you that his salary is due."
"His salary?" Zenon almost shouted.
"That old hag paid him twenty thousand yen a month." Sanzo added.
"Twenty thousand yen??" Zenon looked like about to faint anytime.
"Perhaps you can afford more, with the son of Gyuumaou as your patron." Sanzo suggested, smirking evilly.
Homura's frowned deeper. "Listen Sanzo-san, we had hoped to have made that announcement public tonight when the Prince was to join us for the gala but obviously we shall now have to cancel as it appears that we have lost our star!" He exclaimed angrily, grabbing the letter and ripping it to pieces. He turned to his partner in frustration, "A full house, Zenon, we shall have to refund a full house!!"
Zenon glanced around desperately at the crowd of performers. "Surely there must be an… an understudy!"
Gojyo ruffled his crimson hair in frustration. "There is NO understudy for Gyokumen," he screamed exasperatedly, "That old crow would NEVER have an understudy; she wants everyone to depend on her!"
The crowd broke into aggravated whispers, before Sanzo's voice rang out in the hubbub.
"Yaone could sing it."
Everybody's eyes turned to see the purple-haired girl, shock clearly written on her face.
Homura raised his eyebrow. "What, a chorus girl?" he asked, unimpressed, "Don't be silly."
"Let her sing for you. She has been well taught." Sanzo spoke, with an uncharacteristic assuring tone.
Homura stared at Zenon, and realizing they didn't have any other choice, they shrugged.
"Come on then, girl, don't be shy," Zenon said, waving Yaone forward.
She glanced hesitantly at Sanzo, who nodded tersely. Slowly she stepped forward to the centre stage.
"From the beginning of the aria, then," Gojyo instructed and the orchestra played the opening tune.
"Zenon, this is doing nothing for my nerves," Homura whispered skeptically, careful not to let Sanzo hear his voice.
Zenon just shrugged. "Well, she is very pretty."
The two of them shut their mouths as soon as Yaone opened hers and began to sing.
At the sound of her voice, all incessant whispers of the backstage hushed down. Everyone crept closer, marveling the angelic sound. Ginkaku and Kinkaku had unplugged their ears and listened intently. Even Chin Yisou and his stagehand crew leaned down from the railings to hear better. There's no more to doubt, Yaone will take Gyokumen's place that night.
From LonesomeGurlAngelofDeath: Here's some list of words and meanings, in case some people don't understand.
Stagehand: the people who make the stage props, operate the curtain, operate stage effects and shifts the scenery between acts.
Aria: sung dialogue in operas.
Bowels: Underground caves.
Wings: The sides of the stage performers enter from. Not visible from audience seat.
Si is Spanish for "yes"
Gaspaco is literally "cold soup", bear with me...
Authoresses' Note:
Kiku - Hey, you haven't told me and the readers about that 'fop' thing!
Angel - Well, a fop is someone who thinks he or she is so great, so handsome or beautiful, awesome and cares too much about appearance usually.
Kiku - Ooh... do you think Kougaiji is a fop? From your description I almost think that it's Gojyo.
Angel - I dunno what exactly is the right criteria of fop, but the information above suffice. And usually a fop is noble, or tries to act noble.
Kiku - Humm... sounds a lot like Hazel... anyway what we're talking here?? What about the quiz?
Angel - Huh? What quiz? Oh yeah, that. Dear readers, can you guess who is our Youkai of the Opera? Winners receive an exclusive pic of the said youkai.
Kiku - Just drop your e-mail address and we'll send you the pic, drawn by Angel herself! If you guess right, that is.
Both - Hope to see you in the next chapter!!