Easter holidays are just around the corner and i can't wait. Hopefully they'll inspire me to write more.

In the musical Raoul and Christine were going to get married but they didn't tell anyone.

Akefia is the name first name of Thief King Bakura that a lot of people use because it's so much shorter than saying 'Thief King Bakura' all the time. Or (in the case of AU fics) more appropriate.

The ending isn't going to be super-duper-extra-special-happy because there's a lot of conflict going on between the three main characters. However, I am trying to make it into a BxRxA threesome. However, if i can't find a way to do it I'll make a sequel and make them get together. Rumour has it that Andrew Llyod Webber is thinking of writing a sequel to Phantom so who knows, perhaps the Phantom really will get the girl in the end?

Chapter 10

New Years Eve; a time of celebration; a time to forget the troubles of the past year and look towards the brightness of the new one. This was one reason why Seto had arranged for the masked ball to take place that night. Another reason was to give the theatre plenty of new publicity.

Anybody who was anybody was there in the great entrance hall of the theatre dancing to merry music. Seto surveyed the scene from the top of the stairs. It looked like it was going to be a good year. No phantoms to disturb him and cause chaos. The theatre had been redone and the chandelier was a magnificent sight to behold. It seemed that things would be going smoothly from now on.

"Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to dance?"

Seto smirked as Jou waited impatiently for him to remove himself from his thoughtful state. Seto decided to remove Jou from his misery by taking his hand and leading him off to dance.

A dazzling smile spread across Ryou's face as he entered the hall. It was so bright and beautiful! To watch the others sweep across the floor in their many different costumes was breath-taking. Ryou was both shy to step out but also anxious to join in the fun.

Akefia smiled down at his excited fiancée. His fiancée. He couldn't believe that was what Ryou was now. They no longer needed to hide their love because it was official; he was aloud to shout it to the world that Ryou was his and nobody else had any claim over him.

Unfortunately, Ryou didn't want him to do this. The youth had even decided to wear the engagement ring Akefia had given him on a chain instead of on his finger. Akefia couldn't understand why he was doing this. It was Ryou's fear of the shadow in the theatre. For some reason he had been unable to forget about what had transpired here all those months ago. Hopefully those events would lose their power over Ryou as the New Year pulled in.

There was much dancing that night. There was nothing but merriment in the great entrance hall until the music stopped so they could count down to the New Year. Jou was at the top of the stairs, with a reluctant Seto at his side, leading the count. Akefia and Ryou were at the side to avoid gaining too much attention. They counted along with the rest to that final moment of the old year.

"Five, Four, Three, Two, One…"

The celebratory music that the orchestra was supposed to be playing did not happen as fireworks exploded in the sky. In its place was a foreboding tune that died almost instantly as bewildered musicians realized the music sheets had been switched. Then the lights dimmed to an eerie glow and everyone was riveted to the sight of the stranger in the skull mask and red suite that had appeared at the top of the stairs.

A chorus of gasps rang out through the nearly silent hall. The guest shied away from the figure as he made his way forward. Ryou's hand tightened its grip on Akefia's; his eyes widening in fear. "Bakura."

Bakura surveyed the room. A feral grin spread across his masked face. The fear on their faces was so delectable. They had thought him gone; had though they were safe. They had been wrong on both accounts.

"Why so silent? You all seem…surprised to see me. These past few months I have been busy and have not had time to grace you with my presence. I apologize for this but have brought a present to make it up to you. I have written you an opera which you," he pointed at Seto and Jou, "will produce for me."

Bakura threw the manuscript at Seto's feet. The manager looked at it wearily before returning his steady gaze to the Phantom. "What if I don't like your opera?" he asked boldly.

Bakura sneered. "If you do not follow my instructions then something very dear to you may get broken."

Seto stiffened when Bakura's gaze rested on Jou. The poor manager's face was ashen and his knees felt weak under the intimidating glare of the skeleton.

Akefia could see from the way Bakura moved forward that he wasn't finished giving instructions. He leaned in to Ryou and whispered, "I'll be back." Akefia pecked Ryou's cheek before running off to find his sword.

Bakura made his way down the staircase as if he were a king. Seeing his next victims he stopped. "Oh dear Otogi, you seemed to have gained some weight over the holidays." Otogi tried to pronounce his outrage at such a comment but Bakura cut him off. "Lose that extra weight; it's not healthy for you. I'm speaking in terms of what I'll do to you if you ruin my opera as well as the biological fatality."

Leaving Otogi speechless Bakura turned to Mai. "You still here? I thought you'd be long gone by now. It seems you're dumber then I thought, you tuneless toad. Learn to act or get out of my theatre!" Bakura smiled charmingly before carrying on. "Lastly, a word to our shinning star, the lovely Ryou."

Ryou felt his chest constrict in apprehension. His eyes met Bakura's; emerald green and blood red. Bakura's gaze was still as hypnotic as before and Ryou felt something stir inside that wasn't fear.

"Ryou you have amazing talent. Your voice is more magnificent than any angel's. Yet, you could still become better. You have such great potential but you will need a teacher to bring out this potential. I can make you the best if you will only come to me."

Ryou blinked in surprise when Bakura's fingers touched his cheek. Without realizing he had walked right up to him. And now those eyes bore right into his own and he was lost in a sea of blood. He didn't mind though. Even if his face was flushed it felt so nice to be this close to Bakura.

Bakura saw the dazed look in Ryou's eyes. It thrilled him that Ryou was still very much under his power. The boy was helpless without his protector and would soon come to him willingly.

Akefia skidded to a halt at the entrance to the hall. It was easy to see where Ryou was. All eyes were focused on him and the great Phantom. Akefia grit his teeth, his grip on his sword tightening. How dare the bastard touch Ryou? He no longer belonged to the phantom; he was Akefia's fiancé now and forever.

Bakura's eyes skimmed over Ryou's features, drinking them in once again. As his eyes travelled down the smooth expanse of neck he noticed something out of place. An engagement ring on a necklace? Bakura growled in anger. How dare someone else claim Ryou as their own? Ryou belonged to him alone!

Bakura grabbed hold of the ring and pulled it off the chain. He watched as Ryou took a step back, his eyes wide. "What is this?" Bakura hissed. "You think pledging yourself to another will save you? You're wrong – you're mine and anyone who thinks otherwise will die a painful death. Remember that."

It was at that moment that Akefia charged forward with his sword. Bakura sneered as the viscount approached. He took a step back and was engulfed in what appeared to be flames. The crowd let out a gasp. He was gone. There was no sign that he had ever been there. Nothing except the fear in the hearts of everyone there and the manuscript of the Phantom's new opera.

Akefia sheathed his sword with a sigh. He turned to Ryou who was staring at the spot where Bakura had last been. With a sympathetic smile Akefia embraced Ryou. He could feel the slight tremors given out by the boy and it broke his heart. Akefia swore to himself that he would make the Phantom pay for doing this to Ryou as well as to the rest of the guests. Whoever he was he would pay for the crimes he had committed.

Isis looked at the couple with sad eyes. This was only the beginning of their troubles. Bakura had a plan and it would not include the two staying together. She wished she could do something to help but this madness was out of her control. She was cursed with knowing the truth but being unable to do anything about it.

Seto picked up the manuscript. He looked at the score, humming the notes with a thrown on his face. "It seems very different to what the audience will be use to. People do not like things to be different." He continued to flick through until he found the cast list. He could tell the moment he started reading that his cast would not like this one bit. "Ryou is to take the main role."

Seto's announcement was met by excited whispers and angered tittering. Mai was definitely not happy with this announcement and had started ranting about it. Akefia was not moved by this announcement. He had expected the phantom (the one who adored Ryou's voice) to cast him as the one with the greatest role. He was surprised however when he felt Ryou's trembling increase. He looked down to see Ryou shaking his head, his face scrunched up in despair.

"I don't want to do it," Ryou whispered.

Akefia ran a soothing hand up and down Ryou's back. "I understand. If you don't want to they can't make you. In fact, I'm sure they'll all be delighted by the fact. Nobody has been exactly overjoyed by your success have they?"

Ryou knew Akefia was right. He had upset the balance within the theatre. Before he had become a star things had been alright. It would have been better if he'd never stepped forward to take Mai's place. None of this would have happened if he'd just remained in the background.

"Akefia, can we go home now?" Ryou asked softly. He didn't want to stay with all these people he hardly knew. All they would want to talk about now would be the new opera. Ryou feared what Bakura had written in this masterpiece. He could tell that Bakura had a plan and if he performed this opera then he would be walking right into the Phantom's trap. Even if he cared for Bakura he couldn't bear to return to that awful place Bakura called 'home'.

Akefia took Ryou's hand and led him away from the ruined party. They had both had enough of this place. Unfortunately, the theatre would be the stage for a decisive scene in both of their lives.

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