Author's Note: This is the last chapter... sad. Oh well. I hope that you enjoy.
The Phantom left the roof silently and descended into his domain once more. He knew that the murder of the two lovers would not be blamed upon him- Carlotta and Piangi had shown up at quite a convenient time. The one who would be going to jail for her actions would be Carlotta. It was well known that the singers had an intense hatred for one another and it wouldn't be strange for one to murder one's rival in this day and age. Piangi would not wish to accept that she was the murderer, but he would be the one to provide the greatest evidence of their rivalry and that Carlotta was the last to see them alive. The Phantom thought that his scheme had went brilliantly, better than he had originally planned- mainly due to the fact that he was getting rid of Carlotta in the deal.
Avoiding the cast and crew of the opera- a feat that he was quite used to- he made his way towards Akira's room. She had promised to meet him there once it was all over. He knew that she must be worried about him by now and he picked up his pace. As he approached the door to her room, he decided to enter like a normal person- now that all of this was over, he had no desire to slip into her room like a thief in the night.
He realized that Madame Giry was watching him as he knocked softly on the dancers door- but knew that his name had been cleared by the words of the lovers before they had died. There would be no reason for her to say anything to the others- especially not when she saw what happened when the door opened. Akira had apparently fallen asleep while she was waiting for him, because it took her a moment to open the door.
Once she saw who it was, she hugged him in the hallway before allowing him into her room. Madame Giry was shocked at his choice of the mute girl, but none-the-less happy about the Phantom finding someone who would actually love him. Without another concern, Madame Giry left and allowed the two to be alone. Within the room, the Phantom had closed and locked her door.
"It is done, my dear Akira." he whispered, knowing that they might be listened to by the lady outside.
She whispered in return, "Are they dead?" He nodded and she sighed, "What happens now?"
He looked at her for a moment, before answering. "I have something to tell you, Akira." She cocked her head to the side, wondering what he might have to say to her. "Akira, over the past few weeks, I have... I feel... I think that I am in love with you. I know that you probably have no answer for me, but..." the Phantom was cut off by Akira removing his mask and kissing him- the first time she had ever done so.
"Erik, I feel the same." When he tried to take his mask back, embarrassed that she was seeing him like this, she held it out of his reach. "I don't care, Erik. Nothing can change how I see you. The real you, not what the opera sees." He pulled her close and held her tight, she could feel that he was trying not to let the tears come, but he wasn't succeeding.
"Akira..." he whispered, leading her towards the mirror. She smiled and they passed through the mirror down into his dark domain. As the mirror shut behind them, the music of the night began once again- this time, with the true players who were held by both the power of music and the power of love.
Happy ending!! Woot! I always thought the Phantom, our poor beloved Erik, deserved one.
