Author's Note: I'm just guessing Gareki was ten or eleven, when he left Tsubame and Yotika, so he had at least 2-3 good years before left home, I don't believe the anime or manga ever mentioned how old he was when he started as a thief, but he had to have had at least 2 years worth of experience under his belt to be as good as he was by the first episode. I originally wanted to avoid musicals, with Gareki's previously stated, "Ravens don't sing," in VTR, but I'm afraid I'm weak. KONCT_Chizza_Picken, ,thank you for your suggestion for this chapter, but as I feared, "Hamlet" isn't going to work. Thankfully, I don't have to resort to "Romeo and Juliet" or " Wuthering Heights " either. Instead, we're going with one of my favorite musicals, "The Phantom of the Opera". I hope you guys enjoy.

This is the scene they're acting out: m. youtube watch?v=Z y1lWiHHHFY

Synopsis:

Karneval: Pyromancy

Chapter 21: Phantom

"I feel ridiculous," Gareki sighed.

"Now, Gareki-Kun," the stage director started, "Acting is a big part of being in Circus, we have shows after every mission, to apologize for the inconvenience we caused the townspeople. And if you're going into espionage, learning how to disguise yourself and pretend to be someone else is just as important."

" I get that, " Gareki said, "I'm use to pretending," he admitted. "The conman makes the better actor than the actor does the conman, so they say," he thought. "And I get that disguised and costumes will be beneficial, but that's not the issue."

"Is there something wrong with the role? I can find someone else to play the lead and give you a bit role, if you're not ready for the spotlight, yet?" the director offered.

"It's not really the role either," Gareki said, his face flushing a slight shade of pink.

The director blinked curiously at him. "Then what's wrong," she asked.

"I just feel so awkward with the idea of this scene," Gareki answered, "I've never even made a face-to-face, sincere declaration of love to anyone, but now, I'm expected to act like I'm making one to my sister?" He whispered this last word, pointing to Tsubame standing behind him, her own face flushed red as she'd already realized she was what was really making him uncomfortable. "How am I supposed to make this scene convincing?"

"Oh, I think I see your point," the director acknowledged.

"What's more, I realize I can't back out of this class, nor this play, but you expect me to sing?" Gareki asked.

"What's wrong with that?" Tsubame asked.

Gareki looked at his adopted sister for a moment and shook his head, "When have you ever heard me even try to sing?" he asked, point blank.

"You don't necessarily have to sing," the director said, "Viscount Raoul de Chagny's lines can be spoken dialog. This play is based off a book, and there have been nonmusical renditions of the play. The bigger issue is finding a way to make you comfortable with your co-star."

"Sensei, may we be excused for a moment?" Tsubame asked, catching Gareki's wrist in her hand.

The director sighed and nodded. "Ok, maybe you two can figure something out," she agreed.

Tsubame smiled, "Thank you," she said, quietly pulling Gareki along, out into the hallway, behind her.

"Tsubame?" Gareki asked.

"You keep acting like that, and people are going to come to the same conclusion Yogi did," Tsubame teased, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, why?" Gareki asked.

"That was a pretty big admission just now," she said, "So you mean, you never even told Yogi?"

"What is this, an interrogation?" Gareki asked , "I said 'Face-to-face' and 'Sincere', didn't I?" He bit back a laugh, "I said it, for the first time in my life, last night, over the phone. But, between you and me, I'm so afraid of what might happen that I chickened out at the last minute and don't even think I was loud enough he could hear me. Tsubame, when I left home, five years ago, I started doing some pretty shady things. Things, I'm not proud of and didn't want you and Yotika to get involved, because I didn't want you guys to get hurt. But in all that time, I kept myself distanced from everyone else, I've never had a romantic relationship with anyone before; no girlfriends, no boyfriends, no friends, no pets, nothing. That day in Karasuna, when you ran into me with Nai and Yogi both in tow, I barely knew either of them yet. So, why do you think I would have already said something like that to Yogi?"

Tsubame gasped and blushed, "He just seemed so smitten with you, he even almost sounded jealous when he first thought I was maybe your ex. I-I just assumed. I mean, after what he went out of his way to try and do for Yotika, even at the risk of his own life..."

Gareki clicked his tongue and looked away. "Well, I can't fault your logic," he said with a smile, tucking his hands into his pockets and leaning against the wall. "He was interested in me from the start, but I needed time to warm up to it." Gareki sighed and pushed his head back against the wall. He wasn't sure why he felt so comfortable talking to Tsubame of all people about this, but at the same time, he didn't feel he'd known Hirato and Koroku long enough to talk with them about it. He smiled, and decided not to go into detail as he admitted, "Yogi's pretty much been my first everything."

"Maybe you should call him?" Tsubame suggested, "Maybe a video call; you could ask him to rehearse the scene with you? Perhaps he could coach you how to sing the lines, so you can decide which way you want to go with it."

"No, that's a nice idea, but it's not possible," Gareki answered.

"Why not? This is one play the school does all the time, surely, he..." she started.

"He said the ship would be out of phone range for a few days," Gareki interrupted her. He looked back to her, "Besides, his memory's so messed up, he can't remember his days at Kuronomie. If he ever had any part in this play, it was years ago, and his memory of it doesn't exist."

"You told me he had amnesia, but I didn't realize it was that bad," Tsubame said, a hand over her mouth.

"Even if I could do that, it doesn't change the fact that come opening night, it would still be you standing across from me on the stage," he added.

"Then, would you like me to step aside as the lead actress? I can play Meg and give the role of Christine to Sesirie instead," she offered.

"And let you walk away from the lead role in one of your favorite books?" he scoffed, "Tsubame, I remember we went to the library with Tsubaki once a month, because we couldn't afford books. You always B-Lined to this book, and only if it wasn't there, you went for that book about the unicorn. I can't ask you to give up this role. If anyone should be walking away, it's me." He looked at her for a moment, "But you're not going to let me, are you?"

"My, how well you know me, little brother," she giggled, "At least with you, playing the role of Raul, I don't have to worry about some random guy who's not quite all there trying to take his role off the stage," she said. "Then don't look at it as a declaration of love."

"How else would you look at it? " Gareki asked.

"Look at it like a brother, promising to protect his sister," Tsubame suggested, "Raul and Christine were childhood friends, before they were lovers. His family disapproved of them because he was a Viscount, while she was the daughter of a violinist with an unstable source of income," she pointed.

Gareki smiled, "And it's because you notice and remember little things like that that I'm not letting you give up this role." He took her hand in his, "Alright, Sis, let's try it your way."

The two of them entered back into the auditorium. "Ok, I think we've figured something out," Gareki said, "We're going to try it without singing."

The director nodded, "Ok, let's start with Raul's denial that the phantom exists, and run to Christine excusing herself, lest someone notices she's gone. We'll skip over the Phantom's part for now."

"Yes ma'am," they both said with a nod.

GAREKI (As Raul): There is no Phantom

TSUBAME(As Christine): *Sounding distressed* Raul, I've seen him! I've been to his home, his world of darkness and never-ending night. *She sits on the stone bench, wrongs her hands and shakes her head.* He's real, I tell you. Oh, can I ever forget? Can I escape that face? So distorted, deformed. Hardly a face at all, but just darkness... Darkness. *She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She allowed her eyes to lull into a trancelike state.* But his voice... His voice filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound. And I'm that night, there was music in my mind. And I'm that music, my soul began to soar, and I heard like I'd never heard before.

GAREKI: *Shakes his head and takes her hand in his.* What you heard was a dream, and nothing more.

The tears in Tsubame's eyes were so sincere, Gareki felt a paign of sorrow for her. He wondered if I'm that moment, she were remembering her final moments with Yotika. He'd never really had the chance to properly console her before Tsukitachi had worked her away to Kuronomie. Even if it were just acting, maybe deep down, she really needed him to do this.

TSUBAME: *Her voice unsteady, her eyes staring off in the distance* Yet, in his eyes, all the world's sadness. Those eyes... That both threaten and adore.

GAREKI: *Cups a hand to her cheek and kneels before her, gently pressing his forehead to hers, speaking in a comforting tone.* Christine, Christine...

TSUBAME: *Pauses and looks around, as if she heard something off in the distance, the skipped over line where the Phantom would have called Christine's name.* What was that?

Tsubame and Gareki let their eyes meet. In the play, this was a cue for a mood shift. But before they continued, they seemed to silently communicate with one another; Gareki 's eyes quietly asking if she were ok, his hands gently squeezing hers in concern, Tsubame's eyes quietly assuring him she was fine and thanking him, as she gave his hands a strong, confident squeeze in return.

GAREKI: *Smiles softly at her. Stands, but keeps her hands in his.* No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you. My words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom. Let daylight dry your eyes. I'm here, with you, beside you. To guard you, and to guide you.

TSUBAME : *Rises back to her feet, but doesn't release her hold on Gareki's hands.* Say you love me with every waking moment, turn my thoughts to 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.

GAREKI: *Smiles and wraps a comforting arm around her.* Let me be your shelter, let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you.

TSUBAME: All I want is freedom, a world with no more night. And you, always beside me. *She lightly squeezes his hand* To hold me and to hide me.

GAREKI: Then 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.

TSUBAME: Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word, and I will follow you.

BOTH: Share each day with me, each night, each morning.

TSUBAME: Say you love me.

GAREKI: *Smiles and shakes his head* You know I do.

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

The script called for the lovers to kiss. Instead, Gareki brought Tsubame's left hand to his lips, and placed a gentle, caring peck on the back of it, just behind her knuckles. Tsubame smiled at him, seemingly approving of his improvisation.

BOTH : Anywhere you go, let me go too. Love me, that's all I ask of you.

TSUBAME: *Starts and looks up to the clock tower prop. She looks back to Gareki and begins to back away.* I must go. They'll wonder where I am. *Gently cups a hand around his face.* Wait for me, Raul!