Chapter 3: A Man's Secret
Karasuma opened her eyes and saw someone resting at her bedside. Karasuma sat up and looked out the window. She slid out of bed and looked out into the lit city of Paris. Music played on the street corners and the cool air touched her face.
" Paris," Karasuma whispered, " The city of love, but there is no love here, only criminals."
She sat down on the window seat and let the cool air circle her. Karasuma looked at the nightgown she wore and took a breath of the fresh air.
" I want to go home," she whispered
Karasuma looked at the person who rested at her beside. She couldn't help, but to notice his features were most like Amon's. Her watcher's eyes opened and sat up in one quickly motion. Karasuma looked at him and just stared at him, she could not stop staring.
" Amon," she whispered
Amon stood up and walked to Karasuma and she stood up.
" Amon, how could you?" she whispered
" I can explain," Amon said
Karasuma shook her head and said, " Don't, Sakaki, was right."
" Sakaki, didn't obey orders," Amon said
" Why Amon?" Karasuma said
He reached out his hand and Karasuma backed off and slapped his hand away. He continued to advance and grabbed her hand.
" Don't touch me Amon!" she screamed, " Don't come near me!"
" Miho, let me explain," Amon said
" Don't call me that, you have no right too call me that," Karasuma growled
Karasuma bumped into a wall and she reached for something to throw at Amon.
" How could you?" Karasuma whispered, " How could you do such a horrible thing."
" Listen to me now," Amon growled
He grabbed her hands and penned them to the wall. She breathed deep and stared at Amon.
" I did this to get close to the murderer," Amon whispered
" I don't believe you," Karasuma growled, " Betraying your people."
" I'm not," Amon stated
Karasuma avoided his eyes and Amon let her go. He backed off seeing she was scared and confused. She was ready to attack if needed too and Amon was her first target.
" He wants me," Karasuma whispered, " Why are you putting yourself in the line of fire?"
" Because that's my job," Amon replied
Karasuma looked at Amon and stared at him.
" Amon, get me out of here," Karasuma said wrapping her arms around
Amon wrapped his arms around Karasuma and kissed her head.
" I can't," Amon said, " If you escape other's will die, but I promise the others will find away."
" What does he want from me?" she asked
Amon turned away and looked at the door. He shook his head and Karasuma ran to Amon. She grabbed his arm and Amon looked at her.
" Tell me what he wants?" she said, " He's a witch is he not? Just shoot him."
" If I shoot him I can't assure your safety Miho," Amon said, " And if your safety is not met than life will cease to exist for two men who care about you."
Amon slipped his coat on and placed his hand on Karasuma's face.
" Sleep well," Amon whispered, " Mademoiselle Karasuma."
He turned away and Karasuma watched him leave, she felt her heart break and shatter. She walked out the room and saw Amon talk to the maid.
" Is she well Monsieur?" the maid asked
" She suffers from nothing more than homesickness," Amon said, " Tell Monsieur De Van I will be back in the morning to check on her."
Amon walked out the door and Karasuma breathed deep and fell to her knees watching him leave. It was then that Karasuma had figured that Amon had only did this because he cared about her. She sighed and got up then walked to her room. She saw Amon look at her and gave a little nod.
" Homesick," she said, " Am I to believe Amon or not?"
Sakaki pushed opened the windows of his room and stared out.
" Let me find you," Sakaki said, " Let me see what I am going to face."
" Where are you!" he shouted
The doors opened and Sakaki turned around grabbed his gun from his jacket holster. He pulled it and the lights failed and Sakaki pulled a flash light out.
" Sakaki, I warned you," the voice said, " If you came to Paris that misfortunes would happen. And you disobeyed me."
" You son of a bitch," Sakaki said, " Where is she?"
" Miho is safe," the voice said
Sakaki fired a shot and it was blocked and with great force Sakaki was thrown to the ground.
" When will you learn?" the voice said
The moonlight captured the intruder's form. Sakaki looked up and saw he wore a mask.
" You will have your chance to save her, the ball is tomorrow, I assure you that her safety will not be assured if you do not think out your plans," the figure said, " Par le clair de lune les stands de fantôme (By the moonlight the phantom stands.)."
The lights came on and Sakaki saw an envelope lying on the ground. He picked it up and opened the envelope which read: Masquerade ball at the opera house. 20h-24h. Sakaki sighed and shut the door and walked to his bed. He fell flat on top of it and sighed.
" Why?" he thought
Karasuma opened her eyes after dozing off again, she slipped her robe on and headed to the library. She made sure no one followed her and she pushed against the bookshelf. She walked down the damp passageway and Karasuma found herself where she had seen the picture and her kidnapper kneeling. She didn't see him and walked downstairs and saw the picture. She then heard an organ playing and she continued through another door, where the music got louder. Karasuma held the torch out as though it was going to protect her. Karasuma opened a door and saw a beautiful pipe organ and a man playing on it. She looked at the room that seemed to be filled with musical instruments of all kinds. Century old music framed on the wall and plays that had been performed in the opera house. She advance further into the room and then the music stopped.
" So, you have become braver in this day to seek out a man," the man said
" Who are you?" she asked
" I am who I told you I was Miho," he answered
" I don't believe I meant your name, I meant the person you are," Karasuma said
A chuckle escaped Leon's lips and he flipped the long black cape behind him.
" I am a lonely man, that seeks the comfort of a fine young woman like yourself," he said
" Why did you kill them?" she asked, " Why did you kill those people?"
" I killed them because they were not you, they wanted to be you," Leon said
" Me, why me?" Karasuma said
" Because you are just like my beloved Christine," Leon said
Karasuma looked at him and said, " I don't believe you."
Leon stood up and Karasuma looked at him as he stood there. His shadow appeared larger than his true form, and Karasuma felt fear strike her.
" I have seen many women as beautiful as you, but none struck me in away you have," Leon said
" Please, I beg of you," she said, " I want to go home."
" To whom, Miho. Your beloved slave job. To your precious Amon and Haruto?" Leon said, " They don't care about you. If they did they would have already come for you."
" You don't know that, Amon and Haruto would do anything, but unlike you they think with their hearts," Karasuma said
" Silence!" he shouted
" No, you monster. You horrible, heartless bastard. If you had a heart you would understand that I was happy with them," Karasuma said, " Amon is my boss and Haruto is my partner."
" Silence!" he shouted
Everything shook around them and Karasuma stepped back. She looked at him and he balled up his fist.
" You have not seen my face to say such a thing," Leon said
" I don't give a damn about your face, you killed four people all to get to me," Karasuma said, " I won't ever look into your eyes like, I have looked into Amon's eyes. The way I look into Sakaki's eyes. You don't deserve that kind of look."
Leon lifted up his hand and Karasuma looked at him.
" I don't, living in hiding for the last 3 years of my life, because I'm called a monster," Leon said, " You haven't given me a chance to hold you or the chance to live in your world."
Karasuma looked at him and waited for him to make a move. He turned around slowly, with his suave face, Karasuma waited to see the other half. He turned around fully revealing the half masked face.
" Why do you wear a mask?" she asked
" I wear a mask, because this is a reminder of how cursed I am, to be a witch, as you STN's classify me and the sins I carry," Leon said
Karasuma breathed and walked towards him slowly. Her breaths became deep and she reached to take the mask off. He grabbed her hand and pushed her away from him.
" I don't remove this mask," he said
" Your afraid, that I will be afraid and run away, I have seen worse," Karasuma said
Karasuma looked at him and he turned away.
" I don't understand what you fear," Karasuma said
" You fear that people will not judge you?" Leon said
" It's the 21st century everyone judges you," Karasuma said, " Why wouldn't you be judge? I'm sure deep down inside you have a good heart."
Karasuma looked at him and reached for the mask again. She reached to reveal her kidnapper's face. She slid his hand underneath the mask and gently removed it. She could feel a rough feeling under his mask Karasuma slipped it off and revealed the disfigured half. She was scared at first, but what she saw was nothing more than a man who feared himself.
" Your not afraid?" he asked
" Should I be?" she asked
" Most women are, that is why I wear a mask," Leon replied
Karasuma shook her head and walked away from him.
" I'm a woman who sees life differently," she said, " Good night Monsieur De Van."
" Good night Mademoiselle," he whispered
He placed his mask back on and she played the organ. Karasuma made it to her room and shut the door. She walked to her window and sat down by it.
" Are you really going to come with me?" Karasuma whispered