Chapter 3:
"It's the end of the century!!!!" Keiichi cried from
where he was sitting on top of the roof, rather pantless and
waving a bottle of absinthe. "The Bohemian Revolution is
heeeere!" He threw his bottle of toxin and his pants down to
the people dancing and partying below, all terribly drunk.
Seiichirou sat in his room under the party, trying to block out the sound of drunken idiots. He was trying to write some of the script for the play, but his thoughts kept straying to a curly-red-haired vixen with enticing gold eyes... He glanced out his window at the main doors of the Flower, then at the dragon in the middle of the courtyard. It was dark and he couldn't see anything in it. Sighing, he sang softly to himself. "How wonderful life is now you're in the world..." he turned back to his typewriter.
In the shadows of the red room in the dragon, Karen stared at the man illuminated in blue light. He touched a part of her that no one had touched before, filling her with a feeling that perhaps she could be loved and wanted. She thought back to what he said earlier. /"I'm not a Duke... I'm a writer - He wasn't trying to trick her or anything. It's about Love!"/
She stepped closer the light, singing softly to herself. "I follow.. the night... can't stand the light.." As she watched him, singing at the same time, his head lifted up and he looked in her direction. "When will I began to live again?" She stepped fully into the light and sang to the drunkards in the buildings nearby.
"One day I'll fly away! Leave all of this to yesterday... what more could your love do for me?" Seiichirou stood up from his desk and crept to his window. "When will love be through with me?" She kept singing, leaning her head against the frame of the doorway. "Why live life from dream to dream... and dread the day.. when dreaming ends...?"
Seiichirou leaned out his window slightly, the breeze ruffling his hair. "How wonderful life is now you're in the world..." he sang back to her.
Turning around, she walked back in the dragon. He looked at her for a moment before going from his window to the door. She began to walk up the stairs leading from the room to the top of the dragon, singing all the while. "One day I'll fly away... leave this all to yesterday..." Seiichirou looked up at from the ground and began to climb up the side of the dragon. "Why live life from dream to dream.. and dread the day when dreaming... ends..." He had climbed up the dragon and was now standing behind her as she sat on a small bench under the pavilion on top of the dragon. "One day I'll fly away... fly, fly away..." She turned around and screamed at the sight of the man standing behind her.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean... I saw your light and I... I climbed up the..." he stammered.
"What?" she asked, staring at him in surprise.
"I couldn't sleep... and I... I wanted to thank you for getting me the job." He blushed a little.
She smiled and nodded at him. "Yes, yes of course... Keiichi was right... you're very talented. It will be a wonderful show." She began to turn around, bowing politely. "I had better go.. we both have a big day tomorrow."
"No, wait please!" He started toward her. "Earlier... when you thought I was the Duke... what you said about loving me? I was wondering if it was a..." His blush got deeper.
"If it was an act?"
He nodded.
"Of course..." She sighed at his hurt look.
"Oh... it felt real..."
"Seiichirou... I'm a courtesan. I'm paid to make men believe what they want to believe.
"I see..." He smiled weakly. "Silly me, to think you would fall in love with someone like me.."
"I can't love anyone," she said to him, sounding apologetic.
His eyes widened. "Can't love anyone? But.. but a life without love? That's terrible!"
"No, being on the streets is terrible." She frowned at him.
"No! Love is like oxygen."
"What?!"
"Love is a many splendored thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love."
She sighed and glared at him. "Don't start that again."
"All you need is love." He began to sing, leaning toward her.
"A girl has got to eat."
"All you need is love," he repeated, his voice strong and steady as he gazed at her.
"Or she'll end up the street."
"All you need is looooove." He grinned at her. She looked back, unamused.
"Love is just a game."
"I was made for loving you baby, you were made for loving me."
She smirked at him, hanging around a pillar as he danced closer. "The only way of loving me baby, is to pay a lovely fee."
"Just one night, give me just one night..." His melody switched to another one, his eyes becoming big and longing behind his spectacles.
"There's no way, cause you can't pay," she sang back at him.
"In the name of love, one night in the name of love!" He swung around the pole, facing her with wide eyes.
"You crazy fool, I won't give into you." She turned around and began to leave.
Sighing at the plaintive tone in his voice, Karen stopped and looked back at him. Gazing at her soulfully, he continued the song. ... leave me this way... I can't survive without your sweet love... Oh baby, don't leave me this way.
She blinked, realizing she was being pulled in by the adorable longing expression on his face, and turned away. You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs, she murmured.
I look around me and I see it isn't so, oh no, he responded with a smile.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs... She looked pointedly at him as he hovered above her, putting his face close to hers.
Well what's wrong with that, I'd like to know, Seiichirou sang softly, cupping her cheek and leaning in for a kiss. She stood frozen, and moved away at the last second.
Cause here I go again... he finished, a little disappointed, and followed her. When they reached the top of the dragon, he was struck by a whim, and jumped onto the dome at the very top of the dragon's head, balancing himself with his arms. Love lifts us up where we belong... he sang with a grin, staring out at the city below them.
Get down, get down! Karen yelled, gesturing at him.
Where eagles fly on a mountain high... He held his hands out dramatically, and Karen took the opportunity to grab his hand and drag him down from the dangerous spot.
Love makes us act like we are fools, she insisted, looking into his eyes for a brief moment before shaking her head and turning away. Throw our lives away for one happy day... She began to leave again.
We can be heroes! he belted out, and she stopped on the stairs. Just for one day...
Karen shook her head. You... You will be mean.
No, I won't! Seiichirou said with a laugh, coming down the stairs to join her.
And I... I'll drink all the time! she added, throwing her hands up.
We should be lovers, he insisted, following her down into the red room and standing in the doorway.
We can't do that, Karen responded softly, refusing to meet his eye and looking none too convinced.
We should be lovers, he repeated, and that's a fact...
Karen looked up at him, tilting her head to the side. There was something different about her expression, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
Though nothing will keep us together... she sang hesitantly.
We could steal time just for one night! he called triumphantly, seeing that she had weakened and beginning to walk toward her.
We could be heroes, forever and ever, they sang together, meeting in the center of the room. We could be heroes, forever and ever...
Just because I... will always love you... Seiichirou sang softly, staring into her eyes. She smiled at him, and he knew he'd won this battle.
I... can't help... Karen chimed in reluctantly, and they finished the song together. ...loving you...
How wonderful life is... she murmured. They were so close that their noses were nearly touching.
... now you're in the world, he finished with her.
She smiled. From the way he was looking at her, she knew he was about to kiss her, and this time she wasn't going to pull away. You're going to be bad for business, I can tell, she breathed, just before their lips met for the first time. Kissing him hard, she wrapped her arms around his neck and they sank back onto the bed together.
And a few feet away, standing at the window of his apartment,
Keiichi was on his third glass of absinthe and getting drunker
all the while. How wonderful life is... he sang
slowly, and a little off-key. ... now you're in the
world... There were tears in his eyes.
* * * * *
The next morning, Sorata sat with Yuuto in his office. Yuuto
looked rather nervous, playing with his hat. "Turning the
Flower into a theatre will... will cost a substantial amount of
money. So... in return..." he fumbled with his hat, stroking
the top nervously. "I shall require a contract that binds...
um... uh... Karen-san... to me... exclusively." He cleared
his throat. "And naturally, I need some security. I require
the deeds to the Flower."
Sorata stared. "My dear Yuuto-sama..."
Yuuto glared. "Don't think that I'm naive, Arisugawa. I will hold the deeds to the Flower... and if there are... shenanigans, my manservant Seishirou..." he looked over his shoulder at the tall man behind him. "...will deal with it in the only language you underworld folk know." He grasped his hat tightly on his lap. "Karen-san will be... mine. It's not that I'm a jealous man." His face contorted with emotion and Sorata fought to keep his gaze even. "But I... just don't like PEOPLE TOUCHING MY THINGS!" Breathing heavily, he crushed the hat under his hands.
Sorata took a breath. "I understand... completely."
Yuuto smiled thinly. "Now that we have a deal, it seems
you have the resources to turn your beloved... Flower..."
"Into a theatre!" Sorata cried later as he spoke to the
dancers and the bohemians who were gathered around the platform.
Earlier, the Duke had said those same words, adding, "I will woo Karen-san over supper tonight."
"We will have created the world's first completely modern, entirely electric, totally bohemian, all singing, all dancing, STAGE SPECTACULAR!" As she listened to her boss say those words, Karen looked over her shoulder at Seiichirou and smiled slightly. Yuuto noticed and caught her attention, thinking that it was he she was smiling at. Inwardly she rolled her eyes, but she gave him her best grin.
Suddenly, the wall behind Sorata crashed open as a wrecking ball came through, showering dust and drywall all over him. The people on the floor cried out in shock and began to leave the building as remodeling began to take place. "The show must go on!" Sorata cried, covered in gray dust.
Later that day, Seiichirou, Karen and Keiichi were planning for the play at Seiichirou's apartment. Wrapping himself in a curtain to imitate the maharajah, Seiichirou explained the new bits of the play that he'd written the night before. Mad with jealousy, the evil maharajah forces the courtesan to make the penniless sitar player believe that she doesn't love him!
Oh, yes, perfect! Keiichi exclaimed, clapping his hands in delight.
/Thank you for curing me of my ridiculous obsession with love!/ Seiichirou quoted from the script, imitating Kusanagi's voice. He says that, and then he throws money at her feet and leaves the kingdom forever! He ran over to the balcony and balanced on it, pretending he was about to jump.
No, no! Karen cried, giggling at her love's actions.
Keiichi praised, as Seiichirou, laughing, got down from the balcony to join his friends.
Oh, but a life without love... that's terrible! Karen teased.
Yes... /but/... Smiling, Seiichirou held up a finger. The sitar player... with his magical sitar...
Keiichi interrupted shrilly, as Seiichirou crossed the room and sat on the arm of Karen's chair, sliding his arms around her waist and nuzzling her cheek. That's my part, Seiichirou, that's my part! The magical sitar says...
Seiichirou stared down into Karen's eyes. The
greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be
loved in return, he finished softly.
* * * * *
Preparations for the play progressed as the days went on, as did
Seiichirou and Karen's secret affair. They tried to be
together whenever possible, sneaking off to empty rooms and
unoccupied corners to kiss and talk privately, and trying to make
their affection for each other as subtle and inconspicuous as
possible when Yuuto was around. Yuuto always seemed a bit
bothered by Seiichirou's constant presence around Karen, but
as long as they could use the excuse of working on the play, he
couldn't do anything about it.
A few days later, when Karen and Yuuto were sitting together watching the construction of the sets, Seiichirou approached them nervously. Ah... Karen-san, he began, careful to keep his tone as formal as he could. I haven't... quite finished writing the new scene... you know, the /will the lovers be meeting at the sitar player's humble abode/ scene... He looked plaintively at Karen, hoping she would get the hint, even as Yuuto breathed suspiciously down his neck. And I wondered if I could work on it with you... later tonight?
But, my dear, Yuuto interrupted, before Karen could respond, I've prepared a lovely dinner for us tonight in the tower.
Oh... it's not that important, Seiichirou said, backing off. I'm sure we could do it another day--
How dare you? Karen snapped, pretending for Yuuto's sake to glare angrily at Seiichirou. It cannot wait! /The lovers WILL be meeting in the sitar player's humble abode/ scene is the most important in the production! We will work on it tonight until I am... completely satisfied. She struggled to keep from smirking and looked at Seiichirou, whose face had broken into a wide smile.
But, my dear-- Yuuto attempted again, pathetically.
My dear Duke, Karen interrupted coolly. Please excuse me. With that, she walked off, effectively ending the conversation.
Seiichirou stared at the back of Yuuto's head, his lips twitching in a satisfied little smile. When Yuuto turned around, he immediately attempted to look contrite and bowed a little. I'm sorry, he murmured, and quickly headed in the opposite direction from Karen.
As he turned the corner into a sheet covered hallway still under renovation, he could see Karen sneaking into the hall. They both giggled silently at having gotten away and began to kiss passionately, him pushing her against the wall.
Yuuto fumed and stared at Sorata as he talked with some actors. Sorata turned around and grinned broadly. "Yuuto-sama! I've got everything prepared for dinner tonight in the tower."
Yuuto snapped, "You may as well eat it yourself, Arisugawa! Her affections are waning."
"That.. that's impossible!" Sorata said weakly.
"I know her job is important to her, but she's always at it with that damn writer." Yuuto looked angrier, spitting out his words. A movement in the corner of Sorata's eye caught his attention and he looked up at the balcony at the edge of the stage where the lead actress and writer were just barely seen, still kissing passionately. His eyes widened and Yuuto, noticing, began to turn his head.
"No!" Sorata cried and spoke quickly to divert the Duke's attention. "I will... insist... that she take the night off."
Yuuto nodded his head briskly and walked off, still seething
with anger. Sorata glared at the two lovers on the balcony, his
eyes dark.
Seiichirou pulled away from Karen, nuzzling her cheek and whispering. "So, you'll be there? Tonight?"
"Yes." She giggled and kissed his forehead. His face was already covered in her lipstick.
"At eight?" he asked again, beginning to walk away from her with a big smile on his face.
"Yesyes... go!" She laughed at him and turned around. As she walked down the hall, she began to wipe the smeared lipstick off the top of her lips. She was still laughing when Sorata stepped up from the staircase, glaring at her. "Sorata..."
"What do you think you are DOING?" He asked, his eyes wide in disbelief. "The Duke holds the deeds to the Flower. He's spending a fortune on you! He's giving you a brand new dressing room, he wants to make you a star... and you're dallying with the WRITER!"
"Don't be.. ridicu--"
"I saw you!"
"... It... It's just an infatuation... it's nothing." She laughed weakly, turning away.
"This infatuation will end today," Sorata said, and began to leave.
Karen watched him go, saddened. Sighing to herself, she turned around began to walk to her dressing room. She began to sing, barely above a whisper. "If I should die this very moment... I wouldn't fear. For I've never known completeness like being here... wrapped in the warmth of you, loving every breath of you. Why live life from dream to dream? And dread the day..." She had made it to her dressing room and suddenly was short of breath, coughing and gasping.
No one could have known, in those last fatal days, that something had begun to take over Karen. Something darker than jealousy and stronger than love.
Karen gasped again loudly, her eyes rolling up as she
collapsed onto the floor.
* * * * *
Do you think she'll be all right by tonight?
Hinoto asked worriedly, as the doctor examined the unconscious
Karen.
Tomorrow morning, at the earliest, the doctor replied, shaking his head. In a shadowed corner of the room, Nataku, who had found Karen and brought her back to the room, stood watching the woman on the bed with concern.
Meanwhile, in the tower, Yuuto was pacing back and forth and getting more and more irritated about the delay. He was sure that Karen was off with that damned writer again... How dare they take him for such a fool? Setting his mouth in an angry line, he made up his mind to leave. If Karen didn't show up within five minutes, he was going to walk out of Flower and never return.
When Sorata reached the tower, he was met by a very nervous Daisuke. The Duke is leaving! the manager told his boss in a hushed whisper.
Panicking, Sorata watched as Yuuto turned away and began to walk out the door. She's... she's... An idea came to him, and he shouted his next words at the top of his lungs. SHE'S CONFESSING!
Yuuto hissed, turning around and fixing Sorata with a fierce glare. His face was beginning to turn red with anger. What kind of imbecile do you think I am, Arisugawa?
She suddenly had a... terrible desire to see a priest... and confess her sins, Sorata went on, in the most sincere voice he could manage.
Yuuto spat.
She wanted to be cleansed of her former life, Sorata continued, beginning to walk toward Yuuto. She looks upon tonight as... as her wedding night!
"Her wedding night? Yuuto didn't appear to be buying any of this. Sorata thought fast and decided to switch tactics, appealing to the other man's perverted side.
She's like a blushing bride, Sorata said with a small smirk. Yuuto frowned at him, but he seemed to be seriously considering the idea. She... she says you make her feel like... Sorata leaned forward conspiratorially and went in for the kill. ... like a /virgin/.
A... virgin? Yuuto still looked a little irritated, but at the same time Sorata could tell he wanted to hear more about this new development.
You know... Sorata's smirk widened. Touched for the very first time.
Yuuto began to smile a little-- albeit, a very creepy smile. The first?
She says... it feels so good... /inside/... when you hold her, and you touch her...
Like a virgin, Yuuto mused, looking rather pleased with himself.
She's made it through the wilderness somehow, Sorata continued. She's made it through. She didn't know how lost she was... until she found you! She was beat... incomplete... She'd been had! She was sad and blue... As he sang, four identical spiky-haired men in identical waiter's outfits surrounded them. But you made her feel... Yes you maaaaaade her feel... shiny and new!
Sorata's voice rose, the lights came on, and the four men began to dance around them in a circle. Like a virgin! Touched for the very first time! Four other men pulled a sheet from the bed and began to dance across the room with it. Like a viiiiiirgin... With your heartbeat close in time!
More dancers appeared, and the ones holding the sheet wrapped it around Sorata's head and shoulders like a bridal veil. She's going to give you all her love! Sorata sang, obviously perfectly willing to make a fool out of himself for the sake of not losing Yuuto's considerable funds. Her fear is fading fast! She's saved it all for you! Only love can last! He sat down on a cart, and one of the waiters began to push him around in a circle, while all the others followed behind him singing backup. She's so fine! And she's thine! She'll be yours until the end of time!
Yuuto just stared at the entire spectacle. These underworld folk were so... odd.
Because you made her feel... Yes you maaaaade her feeeeel... she had nothing to hide! Sorata hopped off the cart and rolled over the piano that Yuuto was sitting on, landing on the other side. Like a virgin!
Yuuto screamed as two men came up behind him and pushed him off the piano towards Sorata.
Touched for the very first time! Grinning, Sorata
grabbed Yuuto's hand and dragged him under the arch that the
waiters had formed with their arms. Like a viiiiiirgin...
With your heartbeat close in time! He dragged Yuuto out
onto
the balcony, and the waiters followed.
Like a virgin! Feels so good inside! Sorata leaned very close to Yuuto, and when the other man tried to pull away, Sorata pulled him in close. When you hold her! And you touch her! He draped himself across Yuuto's arm, grabbed Yuuto's hand, and pressed it against his chest. The waiters whistled.
Still singing, Sorata chased Yuuto back into the tower. When Yuuto reached the bed in the middle of the room, he tripped and fell onto it. The waiters immediately began to spin the bed, and a disoriented Yuuto looked up to see Sorata making kissy faces at him.
The bed finally stopped, and Yuuto, looking around, realized it was time for him to take control of the situation. She's so fine... and she's mine, he purred in his off-key and rather slimy voice. She makes me strong... yes she makes me burn... The waiters helped him off the bed, and he began to advance slowly upon Sorata. Her love thawed out... yes her looooove thawed out what was scared and cold...
Like a virgin! Sorata screamed out, running away from Yuuto.
Touched for the very first time, Yuuto responded, leering and bouncing along after Sorata.
Like a virgin! Sorata cried in a terrified voice that was not completely faked, as Yuuto came closer and held his hands up in a groping motion.
When your hearts beat close in time!
Like a virgin! Sorata managed to get away.
Feels so good inside, Yuuto sang with a nasty smirk. When you hold her, and you touch her...
The waiters had Sorata cornered, and they forced him up onto the balcony just as Yuuto came around the corner. When you hold her, and you touch her...
Yuuto came closer and closer, leaning menacingly over Sorata. When their faces were just inches apart, he stopped. Like.... a.... viiiiiiirgin! they both sang triumphantly.
end chapter 3
