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Disclaimer: To all my DOA brethren, those who enjoy DOA, and anyone else coming across this I'm going to do my best to flesh out the DOA story, fill in discrepancies, and enumerate exactly what happened when. Keep in mind however this is fiction and due to lack of details in the DOA world I may get things wrong, change things as necessary, etc. Please don't let that distract you from the story, and thanks for reading. DOA is licensed to Team Ninja, a division of Tecmo.
Dead or Alive
Chapter 1: The Prima Donna and Mr. Right
"Brava! Brava! Bella Diva! Brava! You were simply perfect!" The tiny man slid into the large dressing room doing his best to hold the door shut behind him. Locking the door to keep the fanatical pounding crowd outside he turned to the woman he was addressing. "Miss Maria," he sighed in admiration, "I am at a loss for words."
"That is unusual for you, Pierre."
"Never have I heard such a beautiful soprano mademoiselle." Pierre placed a hand to his chest to keep from swooning. He quickly adjusted his black beret and pranced across to the woman's chair. "Der Hölle Rache has never been performed so well. Oh the beautiful aria still resounds in my heart.
"You flatter me Pierre." The woman turned to the short Frenchman who stood in admiration, twiddling his handlebar mustache. She stared at him with her penetrating emerald eyes as she began to comb her long golden hair. "Do you really think it was enough to convince the new patron to fund the opera house?"
Pierre squirmed on his toes, "I had been hoping you'd ask that. I can't keep the secret in anymore! He wants to meet you in person." Pierre flashed two thumbs up grinning broadly. Maria stood in shock. Before she could speak there was a sharp rap at the door. "Oh it must be him now." Pierre pranced to the door, unlocked, and opened it.
The man stood dressed in the finest white suit money could buy, a bouquet of roses held firmly in his hand. His handsome face was framed in long hair, his sharp eyes darting from Pierre to where Maria stood. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"
"Of course not," Pierre bowed as he spoke, "May I introduce you to-"
"Miss Maria. You are even more beautiful than I've been told." The man strode across the room, grasped her hand and kissed it. Maria blushed crimson. Seeing his moment to escape Pierre crept from the room. Neither one noticed his exit.
"And you are?" Thinking it wise to play dumb she asked the question. Maria didn't need anyone to tell her who he was though. He was known throughout the greater part of Europe as the inheritor of Invision industries. A conglomerate of corporations that had made him one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.
"Fame, Fame Douglas mademoiselle." He kissed her hand again.
"What brings you to our little opera house Monsieur?"
"France has long been known for its beautiful art, and I have always been one to appreciate the beauty of theater. Having lost your last patron, you are need of one correct?" Fame placed the bouquet upon a small table, beside rows and rows of other flowers.
"Well, yes in fact." She tried to hide the desperate tones of her voice.
"I haven't heard a voice like yours in some time. Dare I say ever." Fame looked her up and down. She was beautiful. Petite, golden hair flowing down her back, and a voice like a nightingale. He wanted her, needed her. "Are you free tonight?"
"What?" Maria looked bewildered at the question that seemingly came out of nowhere. "I, well, I have no prior engagements."
"Good. I am having a private party tonight on my Yacht. I would be honored if you would attend as my personal guest. Perhaps we can talk about...funding."
"Don't you think you'd be better off talking to the manager of theater?" Maria inquired.
"No, I much think I'd rather talk to the beautiful little soubrette before me."
"Are you always this forward Mr. Douglas?"
Fame smiled and strode toward the door. "Perhaps. I will send a limo to pick you up tonight, at nine. Don't be late."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good. Now try not to miss it for me." With a final wink the handsome man exited the room. Maria sat down once again and looked herself over in the mirror. Was saving her beloved opera house up to her? Would Mr. Douglas really be the one to save them from bankruptcy? Or would he turn out just like all the others, making promises and then bailing out at the last second. He was suave, and handsome she had to admit. Straightening her gown out she knew this would either be a night to remember, or like so many other false hopes, a night to forget.
As Fame led Maria down the stairs into the galley of his yacht he made frequent glances at her beautiful frame. Her glittering white dress and heels made her even more beautiful than he had remembered from only a few hours previous. Her thigh teasing him from behind the slit of her long skirt made his insides burn with a flame he couldn't put out. He smiled, glad he had made the trip to the tiny opera house.
The floor was sunken in the middle, a black leather couch faced an enormous plasma television on the wall, a marble bar lining the length of the adjacent wall. "Sit." He motioned to the couch as he moved behind the bar. "Can I offer you something to drink?"
"Sure." Maria sat, running her hand along the soft leather of the couch. The rumble of the crowd of party goers could be heard on the deck above. She watched Fame behind the bar rummaging through bottles of wine, most of which she knew were way out of her price range.
After a few minutes Fame finally pulled a bottle from beneath the bar, along with two tall glasses of the most fashionable design."The finest Moët et Chandon money can buy." Fame popped the cork and poured the two glasses full of the sparkling wine.
"You really are as rich as they say aren't you?" Maria was still watching him, entranced by his rugged handsomeness.
"So you have heard of me after all."
"Hasn't everyone? You're the owner of Invision Industries. I can't believe I'm here."
"I," he lifted the glasses and began to walk around the bar, "am simply a man who inherited a great deal too much from his father." He lowered one of the glasses to her as he reached the couch.
"Thank you." Maria took the glass from him, examining it. Unable to think of anything to say, and still in awe of his power she sipped from the glass.
"Invision is my father's work. I have new plans, things in the workings."
"Like?"
"Medicine. I want to allocate our resources to developing new cures, better technologies, expert care for the sick."
For the first time Maria turned to him and saw the boy within the man. Rarely was there a man with power that possessed such a desire to help people. Such ambition, like a boy building a fort. It warmed her heart. "That's very noble."
"It will be all mine too, my own work, not my fathers. Invision can be run by the old chairmen. They'll like it better that way, most of them weren't too happy when I inherited the company."
"Does that mean you won't be keeping Invision?" Maria crossed her long legs. Fame gulped a little.
"I'll still require its resources, so it will back my new worldwide organization."
"Which is?"
"I don't know what to call it yet. Details though really." He turned to the object of his affection. "I really hate talking business during pleasure."
"Pleasure?" Maria raised an eyebrow.
"Oh just being in your presence is a pleasure Miss Maria." Fame took her hand, making her jump a little. "I'm going to be straight forward with you. I have never seen someone with so much talent in all my life. I not only want to fund your opera house, I want to make you a star."
"What?" Maria stared open mouthed at him.
"Have you listened to yourself sing? You sing like an angel. You'll be the most famous Prima Donna in all of Europe." Fame stared at her, devouring her every inch with his eyes.
"You're joking me right?"
"Oh no, not at all."
"How do I know you won't back out like all our other investors? I'm sure you have good intentions but..." she trailed off still aghast.
"No need, I wired a good deal of money to your managers already. I've known ever since I heard you sing this is what I wanted." Fame crawled toward her ever so slightly.
"I,I,I" Maria fumbled to place her glass down on the small table. Leaning back under his advances. "You're not joking are you?" She smiled, relieved.
"I told you I wasn't." He crawled over her. She looked up at him. "There's something else I've wanted ever since I heard you sing."
"What is that?" Maria smiled up at him. Without saying another word he leaned down to kiss her, the wine glass falling from his hand and shattering upon the floor.