Chapter 2: Opera Plays Behind Paris
Sakaki walked downstairs dressed in his usual apparel. He had his orbo gun tucked in a holster in his jacket. Robin looked at Sakaki and shook her head.
" Sakaki you look aggravated," Robin said
" No, just ready to take action, let's go," Sakaki said
He was leading them out and Doujima shook her head as she watched Sakaki take action. A black car waited for them and a man stepped out and took off his hat.
" Are you the ones from the STN-J?" he asked
" Yes, we are," Doujima answered, " You must be Monsieur Dubois."
" Yes, I am Mademoiselle," he said, " You are?"
" Yurika, Doujima and these two are Haruto Sakaki, and Robin Sena," Doujima said
" Pleasure," Monsieur Dubois said, " Come, I'll take you to the opera house where the victims were found."
" Opera house?" Sakaki questioned, " We were told they were found in an alley near the cathedral."
" Monsieur Sakaki, I assure you that they were found in the opera house, the papers wished to turn the publics attention away from the opera house so there would be no scares," Monsieur Dubois said
Sakaki nodded and they got into the car and were taken to the opera house. They arrived and met some co-workers. Doujima, Sakaki, and Robin got out and were greeted by them.
" Madame Lori, Mademoiselle Curie and Monsieur Bois," Monsieur Dubois said
" Pleasure," Doujima said
" We have found that we have a murderer that has a certain ability to strangle their victims," Madame Lori said
" How so?" Sakaki asked
" There are no marks that lead us to believe that the murderer has used their hands. And all four victims were women between the ages of 19-24," Madame Lori answered
Sakaki looked at Doujima and said, " Any suspects."
" Monsieur Sakaki, we don't have any suspects just ideas," Monsieur Dubois said, " You see by popular suspicions, people believe there is a phantom."
" A phantom, you've read to many stories," Sakaki said, " Are we able to go into the house?"
" Yes, come this way," Mademoiselle Curie said
Sakaki followed her and Sakaki looked around, then entered the auditorium. He looked at the large chandelier and sighed. He could only feel the unpleasantness coming from inside the opera house.
" I don't like this," he thought
Sakaki looked around and Mademoiselle Curie followed him.
" A woman was kidnapped from Japan just yesterday," Sakaki said, " My partner in fact. Do you think this 'phantom' of yours has something to do with it?"
" I don't know," Curie said
" I guess, we'll find out," Sakaki said
Doujima and Robin wandered about and waited to hear something from Sakaki.
" Sakaki said, Karasuma was kidnapped, and he thinks it's Amon, but why would Amon do such a thing?" Robin asked
" I don't know," Doujima replied
Doujima looked around and then stopped to see a picture hung on the wall. The man held half a mask and he wore a tux and cape on.
" He's kind of cute," Doujima said
Robin looked at the man and studied his face and then looked at Doujima.
" Doesn't he look a little like…" Robin started to say
" Are you two allowed to be here?" a voice questioned
Doujima and Robin looked at the young man, and both raised an eyebrow.
" Yes, we're from the STN-J," Doujima said, " We have permission."
" Ha, I don't see how they let you freaks in this opera house," the man said
" Who are you?" Robin asked
" I am the great actor Eric De Van," the man said
" Can you tell us who this young man is?" Doujima asked
The young man walked over and stood in front of the picture.
" He's an actor from the early 18 hundreds," Eric said
The young man sighed and looked at the picture. He could not say much cause he didn't not know.
" Please, continue on your inspection. Just be careful ladies of the Phantom," Eric said
He walked off and Doujima rolled her eyes.
" What an asshole," Doujima said
Karasuma opened her eyes and moaned a little. There was music in the background and the smells of fresh breakfast filled the air. Karasuma sat up and looked around, she was somewhere in the city, but didn't know where.
" Do you like Paris?" a voice inquired
" Show yourself," Karasuma said
" No, you will see me soon," he said
Karasuma got out of bed and slipped a robe on and walked to the window.
" Why did you bring me here?" she asked
" I believe you might already know what this is about," the voice said
Karasuma turned around and saw her kidnapper's shadow standing there.
" You are not to leave this estate, it is for your own well being," the voice said
Karasuma saw the shadow flee and Karasuma fell to her knees. She felt tears fall from he face, but it wasn't for sadness it was for fear.
" Help me someone," she whispered
Karasuma dressed in clothing proved for her. She walked downstairs and found breakfast prepared for her. She saw two servants standing there waiting for her approval over their meal.
" Who is your master?" she asked
" He's a man that keeps to himself," a maid said
" I didn't say what he does. I asked who he was," Karasuma said
" Mademoiselle Karasuma please," the maid said, " We can not speak of him because we've never seen him."
" How long have you worked here?" Karasuma asked
" Two months Mademoiselle," the maid answered
" Two months," Karasuma said
She looked down at her plate and sighed. She ate a bite or two and then sent it away.
" Mademoiselle should we pick something out for the show tonight," the maid said
" The show?" Karasuma said
" Yes, the master wishes for you to join him for the opera tonight," the maid said
" Why not," Karasuma said
Karasuma knew that the others were in Paris and once they knew she was kidnapped they would look in places that would be most obvious. Karasuma looked at the maid and rose from where she stood.
" The dress you're wearing is beautiful, but it's not made for an opera," the maid said
Karasuma's dress, was a casual dress, that she would never wear to work. It was more like a sundress that came over her knees, with no sleeves. Karasuma was giving choices and the one she chose was a dress that was made for her figure. It was a navy blue, long evening gown, straight cut and no sleeves. A vale like material attached just at the waist and flowed behind the dress like a long scarf. She would were a beautiful diamond necklace and white gloves.
" Why does he want me?" she asked
" I don't know Mademoiselle," the maid said, " But the master wishes to please his women."
" Have they seen him before?" Karasuma asked
" No, afraid not," the maid said
Karasuma nodded and soon explored on her own around the large two story estate. She found a library and walked into it, and looked around. She saw books on science, history and great literature. She saw one that caught her attention that just seemed to good to be true.
" The Phantom of the Opera," Karasuma said
Karasuma sat down and began to read the book and found it quite interesting. She heard footsteps coming down the hall and she placed the book down. Karasuma got up and went to find away out.
" I need to get out of here," she thought
Karasuma hid under the desk and saw the door open. She saw feet and that was it, they walked around and then saw them stop by the desk. Karasuma held her breath as she then saw heard a door open. She saw from underneath the bookshelf open and Karasuma's eyes widen. Once the door was shut Karasuma came from under the desk and walked to the bookshelf. She stared at it and tried to figure out what book made it open, but then just gave up and leaned against the bookshelf. It swung open and she back when it opened to a hidden passage way.
" I have to be dreaming," she thought
Karasuma took a lit torch and followed the wall of the dark passageway. She was slightly scared, but had become brave for a little while. She stopped and saw a room filled with glorious decorations. Karasuma stared at the room and then saw a shadow come from another room. She watched the man kneel down somewhere and saw candles light up, a picture hung from the wall of a beautiful young woman.
" Who is she?" she thought
Suddenly a shadow came from behind her and gagged her. She saw only a masked face before falling faint.
" She's becoming nosey master," the butler said
" I know she is," the man said
" What do you attend to do with her?" the butler said
" Make her fall in love with me, so I may have my bride," the man said
" Of course sir," the butler said, " Will you reveal yourself to her tonight?"
" Maybe, or I will have him accompany her," the man said
" Him sir?" the butler questioned
" Yes, him, the one that is her boss, or is he her boss?" the man said
" Ah, her beloved, very good sir, she will be ready for 9 o'clock," the butler said
Robin brushed away some cob webs.
" Spiders, I hate spiders," Doujima said
" Sakaki, where are you?" Robin radioed
" I'm behind the stage, I think you girls better take a look at this," Sakaki said
" Alright we're on our way," Robin said
She looked at Doujima and Doujima raised an eyebrow.
" I heard him, let's go, Detective Sakaki has something," Doujima said
Both the girls took off and went behind the stage. Sakaki stood by a lever and looked at the girls when they came.
" What do you need us to see?" Robin asked
" Hold on tight," Sakaki said
They looked at him and Sakaki pulled the lever, all three were taken down feet from where they stood. Then they walked a little ways and found an underground river.
" A river in the cellar," Robin said, " How bizarre."
" It gets more bizarre than that," Sakaki said, " I found sheet music for organ under here, but I think this place is more than just an opera house."
Doujima looked at the music and then looked at Sakaki.
" So, perhaps there is no phantom," Doujima said
" And maybe we're just looking for a witch, like Amon said," Sakaki said
" But what about Miho?" Doujima asked, " What does she have to do with this?"
" I don't know," Sakaki said, " I beginning to feel like someone doesn't want us to find them."
By evening Sakaki went back to the hotel and dressed in his tux and walked out. He carried two orbo guns and a hi-tech hand held computer. He wanted to see if there was witch activity tonight at the opera. He would find away to find Karasuma and find out if Amon was behind it all.
Karasuma dressed in the evening gown and then was taken downstairs and a carriage took her to the opera house. She entered alone and was then escorted to the balcony and left there. She stopped and looked at the door and reached out her hand to touch the door knob, when it opened. She jumped a little and entered then walked in and stood there, she saw a man sitting.
" Who are you?" she asked, " Tell me."
" Miho, you are a very beautiful woman, but your voice will shatter my impression of you," the voice said, " Come and sit down beside me."
Karasuma walked towards the figure and sat beside him. His face did not show, for it was covered by the shadows, but the rest of his body did. Karasuma looked at him and he did not acknowledge her stare.
" Why are you holding me captive?" Karasuma asked
A smile curled up the stranger's lips and then reached out his hand and Karasuma looked at him.
" I'm sorry Miho, but I do not hold you captive, I only hold you under surveillance," the man said
" Can I at least have a name," Karasuma questioned
" A name, what good is a name when you can not call me by it," he said
" So, I may not call you kidnapper," she said, " After all that is what you did."
" I'm Leon Gaston De Van," the man said
" Leon," she said, " Now I know your name and you know mine."
The curtains rose and Karasuma watched as the singer walked on stage.
Sakaki walked around and looked at Doujima across the way.
" Check the balconies, all of them," Sakaki said
" Why are you given off orders?" Doujima asked
" Because I want to find our missing comrade," Sakaki replied
" Comrades, Amon is missing too," Robin said
" I don't care about that traitor," Sakaki said
Sakaki walked on to the back of the stage and found that this job was no longer a job, but a rescue mission. He looked around and saw the crew back stage, and then saw someone in the shadows. He went after them pulling out his gun and then a set of lights came on and blinded him.
" Why have you come?" a voice questioned, " You will destroy everything."
" Who are you?" Sakaki growled
" I am who they all fear," the voice said
Sakaki smirked and said, " The Phantom of the Opera, we meet."
He laughed and pulled out his gun. Sakaki picked up an a large amount of power come from the presence.
" Are you human?" Sakaki asked
" Human, I beyond human," the voice said
" Then you are a witch," Sakaki said, " And like all witches they must fall."
Sakaki was about to shoot when someone hit him on the back of the head. Sakaki's eyes rolled back as everything went black.
" You were a fool to disobey orders," someone said
Minuets later Sakaki came too and moaned.
" Sakaki, come in," Robin's voice said
" Sakaki, here," he moaned
" What happened?" Robin asked
" I got hit by prop," Sakaki moaned
" Sakaki where the hell are you, you bastard," Doujima said
Sakaki sat up and he saw a note beside him. He picked it up and looked at it seeing the letter was in French. He sighed and walked back, his guns followed him and his computer as well. He met Doujima and Robin in the front of the opera house.
" What happen to you?" Doujima exclaimed
" I met our phantom," Sakaki said, " And I got him recorded."
" Sakaki, you maniac," Doujima said
They headed back to the hotel and Sakaki played the tape. Doujima listened to it and then cut out the sound, hearing calls for help.
" It sounds like Amon," Robin said
" What, it's just someone in the back ground," Sakaki said
" No, I know it, has to be him," she said
" Why would Amon be captured?" Sakaki said, " He betrayed us."
" Sakaki, he's here," Doujima said
Karasuma looked at her companion and then stood up. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down.
" Where are you going?" he asked
" I want to leave," Karasuma said
She suddenly picked up strange feelings from the man and breathed deep. She pulled her hand from his and looked at him.
" Leon, I want to leave, I don't feel good," she said
" You feel ill do you?" he questions, " What makes you feel so ill?"
" I don't know," she said
" The lack of food in your body," he said
Karasuma looked at him and felt her eyes become heavy. She walked towards the door and her companion followed her. Karasuma fell back and to tried to catch herself, she grabbed the limp curtains. Her companion grabbed her and lifted her up into his arms. She saw a glimpse of her companion's face. He wore half a mask on one side and he had a suave look on the uncovered side. She blacked out and he vanished with her out of the opera house.
Sakaki and the girls went back once the show was over. Robin searched around and Sakaki showed her where he was hit. Robin ran towards the back of the stage and saw a black door. There was an empty closet and Sakaki looked at Robin.
" You heard voices," Sakaki said, " Come on let's go back."
Sakaki headed out and looked at the city and walked off.
" Where are you going?" Doujima asked
" To find her," Sakaki said
" Who?" Doujima asked
" Miho, my partner, I can't let anything happen to her," Sakaki said
" Your in love aren't you, jealous that someone may have your woman?" Doujima questioned
" Shut up Doujima, I'm sick of hearing your babbling," Sakaki said, " Miho is gone and I want to find her cause she would do the same for me."
Sakaki took off and Doujima watched him and then took off to the hotel.
" Miho," Sakaki said, " Where are you?"