Disclaimer: Shamanic Princess doesn't belong to me and neither does Phantom of the Opera.

Author's notes: Gomen nasai, minna. I wish I had a good excuse for a late update, but as it happens I have none. Anyways, Here's chapter 4. Thanks to: aznloulou: thanks so much, glad you like it!, AJ Angelique: yes, isn't it a match made in heaven? And thanks for adding my fic to your favorite list, Thorny Rose: thanks for reminding me that this story sorely needs updating. I put up two chapters just for you, how's that as my peace offering? ^_^

Chapter 4

France - ten years ago

"Papa!," cried out the orange-haired to a middle-aged man, her scarf flew around her neck as she ran up to the cliff towards him.

He pulled his gaze away from the sea and turned to give his twelve years old daughter a gentle smile.

"Tiara," he said. "I've been wondering where you've gone off to."

"Papa, look!" Tiara help up a small music box and let her father listen to the song. "It's the lullaby Mama used to sing to me. Isn't it wonderful? I met a street vendor selling trinkets and stuff. I wanted to thank Madame Valerius and her husband for allowing us to stay with them here in Perros and I thought I'd give this. Do you think Madame will like it?"

Her father chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I'm sure she'll love it."

Tiara grinned in return. She listened to the song for a few more seconds before closing the lid. The two stood in companionable silence as they watched the waves. Her father was the first one to break the silence.

"Your mother loved the sea," he said solemnly.

"I miss her terribly," she said softly. It had been six years since her mother's tragic departure, but her death was still a painful reminder to both her and her father.

"So do I, Tiara."

Trying to lighten her mood, Tiara told her father that she wanted to look for shells down by the cove. After promising to be home before sunset, she was off to begin her search.

Tiara stooped down to pick up a little pink shell. She carefully examined it before placing the shell in her pocket along with the six others she had found. She swept her eyes over the beach and spied a rock formation she can rest on. Tiara sat down and opened the music box again. Memories of her mother flooded her head as she closed her eyes and sang along with the music.

********

Kagetsu slowed down his pace and looked back to see if his governess was still behind him. He let out a sigh of relieve when he saw that he was alone.

"I can't believe Father thinks I'm still in need of a governess," Kagetsu mumbled. "This is suppose to be a vacation, he could have left her back home in Chagny. I'm fifteen years old, for crying out loud! I am capable of looking after myself."

The boy suddenly smiled as he took in his surroundings. During Kagetsu's escape from his governess, he had unknowingly ran towards the sea. With a joyful cry Kagetsu jogged to the beach. He took off his boots and sank his feet in the sand. Kagetsu closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, loving the salty smell of the sea.

'One of this days,' he thought. 'I'll have my own ship and travel the seas whenever I want to.'

He was still lost in his own fantasy when a sound caught his attention. He opened his eyes and looked around. Kagetsu realized it was someone singing and strained to hear where the music was coming from. He walked around to the other side of the cove, all the while thinking that the singer had a lovely voice. Kagetsu climbed over the huge rocks and saw a girl with bright orange hair sitting on one of the rocks below. On her lap was a music box. Her face showed her deep emotions as she sang with total concentration. Kagetsu stood transfixed at the sight before him. Aside from the amazing voice he was hearing, the girl had a delicate face. He guessed that she was no more than twelve years of age, but her posture showed a maturity beyond her years.

A strong gust of wind suddenly blew in. The girl stopped singing and gasped as the wind blew her scarf away. Kagetsu watched as she made a grab for it, but the scarf drifted off to sea. Without thinking, he jumped down from where he stood and ran out into the sea.

He heard the girl's surprised cry as he passed her, but his focus was on the scarf as it drifted farther away from the shore. He did not think about the freezing water as he swam as fast as he could. Finally his hand touched the wet material and with a satisfied grunt made his way back to shore.

Kagetsu walked up to the girl, his steps slow as his wet clothes weighed down on him. Breathing heavily, he extended the scarf towards her. He brushed wet black hair out of his eyes and offered her a tired smile.

"Here's … your … scarf."

The girl blinked her huge green eyes at him, then at the scarf. She took the fabric and held it close to her chest. Returning her gaze back at him, Kagetsu momentarily stopped breathing as he became the recipient of the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

********

Present time

Kagetsu's eyes snapped open and he turned his gaze at the rushing scenery through the train's window. He smiled as pieces of memories came back to his mind. The summer he had first met Tiara was the best vacation he ever had. It was also the one and only time he would fall in love. He reminisced about the days they spent playing together and the nights he and she listened to her father's music and stories.

Leaving Perros that summer, he knew that his heart would forever belong to a green-eyed angel with the magical voice. He was unable to return to Perros for the next two summers, but three years after their initial encounter he was finally able to revisit the cove and his angel - his longing never diminishing a bit.

Kagetsu's smile slowly faded as the memories of that summer became more unpleasant for him. Due to his teenage pride and arrogance, he lost the chance to tell the only woman he loved of how he truly felt about her.

He placed his head between his hands and said, "How could I have been so stupid?" After a while Kagetsu lifted his head and with fierce determination in his eyes promised that he will not lose the opportunity this time around.