When the Curtain Goes Down

By: Angel Kisses a.k.a Fayray

Rated: PG-13

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used in my fics. I am merely borrowing them for your pleasure. - Please read Authors notes on bottom before reviewing. Thanks!


"Relax Usa, you'll get the part. I'm sure of it. You've only been practicing this part for what, the last three years?"

"I know Ames, but I'm nervous as all hell. What if I choke and crack a note? I'd never be able to live with myself," she said into the phone. She was standing in the middle of her one bedroom apartment, tugging on the ends of her hair with her free hand.

"You'll be fine! You always did fine in high school, so why are you so worried and nervous now?"

"That was high school. We're talking the big leagues now Ames! I heard that Duo Maxwell would be performing! And that Rei Hino is trying for the lead role! Rei Hino! Have you ever heard her voice?"

"Yes, but can she act? You know you can't just give up because you think she's better then you Usa. Face it, you're a shoe in. Tell me again why I need to talk you up?"

"Rei Hino."

"Not good enough. You don't need me to tell you how good you are when you already know it. Listen, go take a hot bath or something. Relax and don't worry so much over it. I would hate it if you had a heart attack over all this stress."

"Alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, I'll be there bright and early."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, bye."

Usagi slumped back into her chair after hanging up the phone. Relax? How could she possibly do that? She'd been dying to have this part ever since her parents had first taken her to see the play. And tomorrow she was going to make it happen. To be in Phantom of the Opera was her dream.

She picked the script up off of the table and began reading through it again. Not that she needed to. She knew every line by heart. Every emotion, body movement, the lyrics, and pitches were all burned into her mind.

She soon sighed and stood up. Making her way to her bedroom she paused by a mirror in the hallway.

"Usagi," she said out loud, looking herself in the eye, "Tomorrow you will make it. You will be Christine."


"Did you look at that turn out?" Mina asked, while taking her place among the other nine people sitting at a long table located on a huge black stage.

"This is why we waited until today to audition the role for Christine. It always has the biggest turn out." the fair haired man said.

"No offense sir, but can we hurry up and bring out the babes?"

"Patience Duo please," the man said. He then motioned for one of the stagehands to open the door and allow the applicants in.

"Ladies, welcome," he said after they had filed in and found seats, "My name is Quatre Winner and I am the director. Your audition will consist of one scene acted out with the other cast members and a few bars of any song of your choice. I regret to inform you that you will not be singing or acting with the other main character today. So you must choose scenes without him."

A series of groans arose from the applicants.

"Now if you'll look behind you, you'll see two doors. You will be exiting through the right door where one of the members of the stage crew will direct you to the warm up area. We will be working in alphabetical order by last name and in groups of five. We will be calling the first group of ladies in twenty minutes. Thank you and good luck."

After the ladies left, he instructed the on-lookers to sit in the last few rows and asked them to remain quiet.

"Did anyone catch the groaners?" he asked, walking back to the table. Several of them nodded.

"Good, if they are going to be upset, then they are not dedicated."

"Then how did Duo get his part?" Mina asked.

"Yeah! The only thing he's dedicated to is girls!" Lita added. The rest of the table cracked up laughing.

"Hey! I happen to love my part!" he pouted.

"Alright everyone, you know the routine," Quatre said, signaling for the first group to be showed in.

Ami looked at her watch again for what seemed the millionth time that day. 'How can these people do this all day?' she questioned herself, giving a sympathic glance toward the stage. 'It must drive them crazy. I wonder who's who? They keep changing characters each time. I guess that's so no one will discover which role they are playing until opening night. Each one of the guys sound wonderful, it's hard to decide who's the Phantom.'


"Thank you Miss Hammond. That's all we need. Next? Ah Miss Hino, which scene would you like to perform for us?"

The ebony haired beauty smiled and replied, "I will be performing the scene before Think of Me, and I'd like to precede right into the song if I may?"

"Of course Miss Hino, whenever you're ready."

Several of the cast members got up to join her on the stage. Ami put down the book she was reading and paid the stage her full attention.

Meg (as played by Mina): "Christine Daae could sing it, sir."

Firmin (as played by Wufei): "The chorus girl?"

Mina: "She's been taking lessons from a great teacher."

Andre (as played by Trowa): "From who?"

Christine (as played by Rei): "I don't know, sir..."

Wufei: "Oh, not you as well. (To Trowa) Can you believe it? A house full - and we have to cancel!"

Madame Giry (as played by Lita): "Let her sing for you."

Reyer (as played by Heero): "From the beginning of the aria then, mademoiselle."

Rei begins to sing softly at first as if she's unsure of herself.

Think of me,

Think of me fondly,

When we've said good-bye.

Remember me, once in a while,

Please promise me you'll try.

Wufei: "Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves."

Trowa: "Don't fret, Firmin." Rei continues,

When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free,

If you ever find a moment,

Spare a thought for me.

She turns away from the table and faces the audience as the music grows stronger, her voice no longer unsure but strong and determined.

We never said our love was evergreen,

Or as unchanging as the sea,

But if you can still remember,

Stop and think of me.

Think of all the things we've said and seen,

Don't think about the things which might have been.

Think of me,

Think of me waking, silent and resigned.

Imagine me, trying to hard to put you from my mind.

Recall the days,

Look back on all those times,

Think of the things we'll never do,

There will never be a day where I won't think of you.

"Thank you Miss Hino, that's all we need." Quatre said.

"Thank you sir."

'Oh man, she was good,' Ami thought, 'I hope Usa will be better. This is going to be a tough one.'


"Miss Tsukino, thank you for auditioning. Which will you be performing first for us?"

"I would like to sing All I Ask of You and act the dialogue after it sir." She stood tall and calm, looking Quatre in the eyes. But inside she was shaking like a leaf. 'Please,' she thought to herself, 'Please let me do good.'

"Sure thing Miss Tsukino. Mr. Yuy, if you would please?"

'Oh my gosh, he's hot!' she thought, watching him rise from the table to join her by her side. 'Okay calm down. You've sung this thousands of times. Relax Usa.' She closed her eyes for a few moments, thinking of the emotions the song carried, took a deep breath and looked to Heero as he began.

Raoul (as played by Heero):

No more talk of darkness

Forget these wide-eyed fears

I'm here, with you, besides you

My words will warm and calm you

Let me be your freedom

Let daylight dry your tears I'm here - With you, besides you To guard you and to guide you.

Christine (as played by Usagi):

Then say you'll love me every winter morning

Turn my head with talk of summertime

Say you need me with you now and always

Promise me that all you say is true

That's all I ask of you

Heero: Let me be your shelter

Let me be your light

Your safe, no one will find you

Your fears are far behind you

Usa: All I want is freedom

A world with no more night

And you, always beside me

To hold me and to hide me

Heero: Say you'll share with me One love, one lifetime

Let me lead you from your solitude

Say you need me with you here beside you

Anywhere you go let me go too

Christine, that's all I ask of you

Usa: Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Say the word and I will follow you

Share each day with me each night, each morning

Say you love me

Heero: You know I do

Together: Love me, that's all I ask of you

Anywhere you go let me go too

Love me that's all I ask of you

Usa: "I must go. They'll wonder where I am. Wait for me Raoul!"

Heero: "Christine, I love you!"

Usa: "Order your fine horses! Be with them at the door!"

Heero: "And soon you'll be beside me!"

Usa: "You'll guard me, and you'll guide me."

"Thank you Miss Tsukino. That's all we need." Quatre said.

"Tha-Thank you, Mr. Winner."

Ami had to sit on her hands to keep from clapping. She couldn't believe how beautiful Usagi had sung. And the way she interacted with the actor was amazing. 'I almost thought they were really in love or something,' she thought, wiping a tear from her eye. She was so proud of her best friend.


"Thank you Miss Zurbreck. That's all we need," Quatre sighed.

Duo looked at his watch. "Dang! It's been all day! I missed lunch!"

"And guess what? It's not over yet. Let's go."

They all left the table, taking their notes with them to compare in a room behind the stage.

"Well, what did you all think?" Quatre asked.

"Look at my notes! Scratches through all the names but two!" Mina said.

"Mine too," Lita added in.

"There were a lot of groaners out there," Trowa pointed out.

"I too, have only two choices," Wufei agreed.

"It's hard to choose, they were all so pretty! Ok, except that guy who tried out," Duo babbled.

"Duo, who did you pick?" Relena asked.

"Oh, um, yeah I have two I believe," he went looking through the mess which were his notes.

Relena nodded, "Me too."

Darrien nodded in agreement.

"So then," Quatre nodded his agreement, "Rei Hino or Usagi Tuskino?"

"Rei sang better," Wufei shrugged.

"Ah, but Usagi poured more emotion into everything. She's the better actress," Lita said.

"Who's for Rei?" Quatre asked. Half of the group raised their hands.

"And for Usagi?" The rest of the group all put their hands in the air. Which then caused a verbal war over who was the better choice.

Quatre sighed, "This is what I get when I let the cast help choose huh?" He turned to the only quiet person in the room. "Well Heero, you have to sing and act with Christine the most, who do you choose?"


A.N. Look familar to anyone? That's cause it was a fic named Curtain Call. That's right, I'm digging up my old fan fics and rewriting them. I can hear you all groaning now. lol Thing is, I reread this last night and decided I can actually make it sound better and finish it! I know, I know...I need to be working on the ball scene for TGFF. I have something written, I just don't like it yet. But I am working on it, I swear!

I had a reviewer write me when I first posted this fic a couple years ago and give me a run down about "Rei bashing." Well I'm letting you all know that it will seem that way in the coming chapters, but it's not a bashing fic. (I happen to love all the characters.) There is suppose to be envy portrade here, not bashing. And you all are going "huh?" You will see when I mesh together the next two chapters like I did with the first two here.

Off to work on doing just that! Leave some love! Fayray