Title: Overture
Summary: October of the year 1899 and only two months left before the end and the beginning of the new century, Heiwajima Shizuo was an Imperial Viscount invited to Eastern's famous Opera House in Tokyo, where he found himself entangled with the strange affairs by the rumored 'Opera Ghost' – trapped between fantasy and reality, as a new kind of revolution was slowly taking place…
Shizaya. Phantom of the Opera AU. Historical Fiction. Meiji Era. Disfigured Izaya. Rating May Change from T to M.
Many thanks to katBelle for the beta.
Overture
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"Recall all those days, look back on all those times,
Think of the things we'll never do,
There will never be a day when I won't think of you."
-Think Of Me, Phantom of the Opera
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Prologue
October 1956
The chilly evening air bit his aging old skin as he stepped out from his black transport. The idea of riding a fuel-powered four-wheeled vehicle was still new to him despite how times had changed over the years. He gripped the curved handle of his cane as he strolled down the familiar sidewalk. The lampposts lighting his way were all new but the bricked path was still the same. A feeling of nostalgia washed over him as he reminisced how he used to run and chase after that black shadow and swoop him up in his arms and ravish him with kisses. He briefly closed his eyes and a smile appeared on his worn saggy face. Ten years had already passed since the passing of his beloved and eleven years of newly acquired peace since the devastating second World War.
The old Opera House stood before him. It had suffered a great damage during the war and unfortunately had never been repaired since the disbandment of the Imperial hereditary peerage, which occurred two years later after the defeat of their nation. The imperial reign had come to its end and a new type of government was formed to ensure the long lasting peace. He strode inside, arriving right on time as they began to auction a pristine white porcelain mask. The mask of the rumored Opera Ghost that had lived under the cellars and haunted this old Opera House. Tiny cracks already decorated the cheekbones and the shape was molded from an actual human face, a subject of interest for a very long time, the person behind the mask even more so.
The mysterious existence of the phantom of the opera cost him quite a fortune as he successfully won the bid for the mask. He lightly stroked the brittle texture with his shaking fingers before he held it up in the air and stared lovingly at the two boring holes, imagining a beautiful pair of ruby-red eyes flaring up with passion. A familiar figure caught his peripheral vision as he lowered the mask, hugging it protectively to his chest. The other man bowed his head in greeting, and he returned the gesture in acknowledgement. Was it Ryuugasaki? He was really bad at memorizing names, especially in his old age when he was having a hard time even remembering where he'd placed certain objects. Unconsciously he gripped the mask in his hold.
Memories were sometimes unreliable and he wanted at least some proof that his beloved had existed as he stared down again at the mask on his lap. He could still hear him singing his deadly siren song in his head and how he wished to see or catch a glimpse of his Angel of Music again and that 'terrifying beauty' that perhaps no one but him would appreciate. He had noticed the broken grand chandelier from the accident that caused an uproar decades ago, still lying on the floor. The former shishaku, or Viscount, slowly walked towards the shattered fragments as his mind veered back to the past and began the story about truth, freedom, hope, but above all, love…a very twisted love.
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Act I
May 1876
The cruise passengers disembarked as soon as they arrived at one of the trading ports on the outskirts of town. The doctor and newly appointed hakushaku, or Count, stretched up his arms in relief as he sauntered down towards the carriage waiting for him. The trip back home was truly exhausting. He saw a group of blind biwa-hoshi, lute priests, dressed in their typical Buddhist monk robes performing on the corner of the street with their shamisen despite the continuing decline in popularity of the traditional heike music since the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the abolition of the Todoza. Many musicians had lost their status and social privileges, including the availability of avenues for performance. His country had drastically changed ever since it opened its borders to western modernization and left behind its state as an isolated feudal society.
The fall of Edo eight years ago had marked the end of the feudal military dictatorship and had restored the practical imperial rule under His Highness, the emperor Meiji. The city of Edo was renamed as Tokyo and became the new official capital of their country. As he drove around the city, the western influence was very prominent from infrastructure to clothing. The small confectionery shop where he used to buy traditional Japanese sweets like his favorite dango were now selling foreign goods like madelaines, eclairs, and crepes, favoring the new era and western trend. It'd been three years since he left and as his carriage stopped in front of the newly constructed Raira Opera House, a replica of the Garnier Opera in Paris, France, it was as if he found himself again in the streets of Europe.
A middle-aged man dressed in an expensive western suit greeted him as he dismounted from his carriage. "Welcome back, Count Kishitani Shingen."
Shingen returned the gesture, and immediately recognized his new host. "I apologize for my lateness, Duke Yodogiri Jinnai." He shook his hand, a common gesture from the westerns that indicated friendliness and mutual agreement, though they weren't really on friendly terms. In fact, the two were rivals in the science field but they did both agree on one thing. The research group dedicated to finding supernatural existence was founded by the two top geniuses of Nebula, and Shingen had known him for a long enough time to recognize the hidden smile on Yodogiri's face. It could only mean one thing, and he instantly knew that his rival had succeeded in capturing the legendary demon sword. Shingen also brought good news with him about his expedition in Ireland.
A loud wail suddenly pierced the quiet night. Hearing it both men curiously approached the tattered cardboard box lying on the white marble steps of the newly erected Opera House. "What in the world…?"
Inside was a small bundle of life crying desperately for attention, wrapped in filthy rags that covered up to the poor angel's face. Shingen removed the damn cloth that was blocking the little one's breathing, and dropped his hand in terror at the sight. Cases of infants being abandoned on the streets were nothing new, but he had never encountered a case like 'this' before, as he slowly recovered from his shock and gently took the neonate in his arms. "What in Buddha's name is that thing?" He heard Yodogiri say behind him, his voice laced with pure disgust. Shingen could see his face cringing in repulsion when he turned around to expose the disfigured infant to his appreciative view. Perhaps it was the look on Shingen's face that made the other man drew back in horror. "No. No, Kishitani. This is an Opera House, my Opera House; not an orphanage for poor abandoned souls."
"Don't you feel any mercy for this poor abandoned soul?" the Count asked in a sympathetic tone. But if there was one thing about Kishitani Shingen, it was that the doctor had no heart. Things like sympathy and compassion were unimportant to him and the man could dissect a living, still breathing human being without flinching and holding a big smile on his face. Yodogiri narrowed his eyes as Shingen slowly approached him carrying that 'object of nightmare' and stopped just two feet away from him. "It's not like you're going to take care of him." So apparently, the vile thing had a gender. "Don't you think it's too cruel to leave a completely defenseless newborn child here out in the cold?"
Cruel? Yodogiri almost scoffed. If there was someone cruel between them, it was definitely not him. "Has it ever crossed your mind that perhaps it's parents purposefully left it here alone to die?" Yodogiri retorted. The Duke could tell just by looking at its state that it would not survive. It was too tiny for healthy, normal human infant, skinny like a skeleton, and the face…oh the face! The man felt the bile threatening to rise in the back of his throat and he looked away. But Shingen remained rooted in his spot and stared at him expectantly. Yodogiri clicked his tongue in irritation, before he finally gave in. "Fine, do whatever you want. I don't want that vile creature near me." He sharply turned on his heels, his coat swishing along with him as he made his way back to his Opera House.
Shingen smiled at his little victory. Admittedly, it was rather fun teasing the other man but Shingen shortly found himself at lost for what to do next. He stared at the little bundle of life in his arms. The poor little angel had finally hushed down, though there was nothing angelic about his appearance. If there was one thing to describe him, he looked like the incarnation of the demon himself – a devil's child, with his bloody red eyes staring back at Shingen. The Count considered his decision of taking in the child. Perhaps Yodogiri was right, maybe he should leave 'it' here outside. Shingen didn't care either way if 'it' would live or die, but the little one suddenly graced him a twisted smile with his small, deformed lips. And his bloody red eyes that spoke of death, shone for a moment with life.
Shingen had been in many places, had seen many things, and had encountered a lot of people and 'human-alike', as he smiled back at the neonate in his arms. This poor child wanted to live. His instinct told him so, and the Count would grant him that opportunity. "I shall give you a name, but a native Japanese name wouldn't suit you…" Something glinted underneath the infant's thin clothes that had immediately caught his attention. Interestingly it was a silver cross hanging around his neck. A silver cross in a Shinto and Buddhism country. "Izaya…you will be the prophet of this Opera House."
Notes:
Meiji Period – October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
Biwa hōshi – were travelling performers in the era of Japanese history preceding the Meiji period. They were often blind and had adopted the shaved heads and robes common to Buddhist monks.
The Fall of Edo – took place between May and July 1868, when the Japanese capital of Edo (modern Tokyo), controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate fell to forces favorable to the restoration of the Emperor Meiji during the Boshin War.
Tokugawa Shogunate – was the last feudal Japanese military government which existed between 1603 and 1867.
Kazoku (華族 literally "Magnificent/Exalted lineage") – was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They were divided into five ranks based on the British peerage, but with titles derived from the ancient Chinese nobility:
1. Prince or Duke (公爵 kōshaku)
2. Marquis (侯爵 kōshaku)
3. Count or Earl (伯爵 hakushaku)
4. Viscount (子爵 shishaku)
5. Baron (男爵 danshaku)