Chaos of the Opera
Chapter One: An Eccentric Dream, and A New Heart
As Maximillion Pegasus sat watching the news and sipping his red wine spritser, his old-fashioned French telephone rang. The voice on the other end said, "Mr. Pegasus, your Opera House id finished."
Pegasus jumped from the chair and exclaimed, "Excellent! Now to gather the players!" and he dashed off to his corporate Jet.
-Transition-
"You did what?" Seto Kaiba asked his business rival as they sat in the Kaiba Mansion, with all their friends gathered around.
"I have built Tokyo's most Exotic Opera house! And I call it Opera de Domino, which is Fench for the Domino Opera house."
"I think we got that," Inu-yasha said, picking his ear, bored already by the rantings of the loony billionaire. "Why are you bothering us with it?"
"I've gathered you all here-" Pegasus continued
"In my house," Kaiba interrupted.
"To make you all an offer I'm sure you can't refuse." Pegasus finished.
"Are we gonna wake up with horse heads in our bed if we do?" Joey asked.
"Of course not!" Pegasus assured him, "That would be silly. I want you all to help me in my first production in my new opera house."
"And that is...?" Mai asked, her arms crossed.
"The Phantom of The Opera!" Pegasus said, jumping up and throwing his arm out in a sweeping motion.As he did so, everyone jumped, and a few swore they could here an organ playing somewhere.
"You're not serious are you?" Kagome asked. "That's show's huge!"
"Precisely, that's why I know it will bring in big bucks, especially when it's performed by an Japanese cast."
"He's finally lost it," Tristan said.
"That's assuming he ever had it," Yugi snickered.
"I think it would a great idea," Bakura said. "I saw the musical in London, and it was magnificent."
"Ah, a fellow Thespian," Pegasus said.
"Come again?" Miroku asked, rubbing his own ears.
"A love of the arts! Bakura, I knew you would be on my side," Pegasus said.
"And dancing? Will there be dancing?" Tea asked excitedly.
"Tons, my dear," Pegasus said.
"Oh guys we have to do it!" Tea cried jumping up and down.
"I could help with lighting and props," Mokuba said.
"And I'll do special effects," Shippo said. He snapped his fingers and suddenly confetti came raining down from the ceiling.
"Wonderful!" Pegasus exclaimed. "Kaiba, I ask you a favor. I shall play Firmin, one of the opera owners. You be my partner Messieurs Andre?"
"You want me to play a stinking French buffoon?" Kaiba asked. "I'll do it, but I want top billing."
"Done! Seto Kaiba and Maximillion Pegasus present The Phantom of the Opera starring Yugi Motou!"
"WHAT!" Yugi cried.
"That Pharaoh of your would be the perfect Phantom," Pegasus said, kneeling before Yugi. "ASk him for me, won't you?"
"I don't know," Yugi said, "I get stage fright."
"But Yami won't," Tea said. "Yugi, wouldn't it be wonderful if I played Christine, and you the Phantom?"
"Well it wouldn't really be me, it'd be-" Yugi started, but Tea said, "He'll do it" speaking for them both.
"Marvelous. But I still want to do auditions for Christine and Raul. However, the part of Madam Giry was practically written for you, Miss Valentine." he said.
"I don't sing, hun," Mai said.
"But your name would magnificent in the papers," he said. "And a woman of your loveliness and maturity would be an inspiration to the others."
"Well when you put it that way..." Mai said.
"Marvelous!" Pegasus said. "Now follow me, auditions and rehearsals must begin at once!"
As everyone started talking about the production, Li Zshou asked, "Do you hear that, Bakura?"
"Yes, my chance to shine, and come out of my shell," Bakura answered.
"The chance for both of us," Li Zhou replied. "The part of the Phantom was practically written for us."
"But...he already gave that part to Yugi," Bakura said.
"There are ways around that," Li Zhou said.
"Alright, but I refuse to do anything to hurt Yugi." Bakura said.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to hurt your friend...He's actually more use to me alive."
-Transition-
"Think of me. Think of me fondly when we've said good bye, Think of me-"
Inu-yasha started howling, holding his ears, and shouted, "Make her stop!"
Tea put her hands on her hips and said, "I don't sound that bad! I had voice training!"
"No, but you're no Christine, either," Pegasus said. "You're more Carlotta, so that's your part. Next Kagome gave it a try, but her voice was soft-spoken Pegasus offered to let he r be a chorus girl.
"Get an amplifier installed and we'll try you again next time," Pegasus said.
"You're lucky I don't have any arrows," Kagome said, stomping offstage. Soon, Serenity wa son, pulling Sango behind her.
"Um, I don't want to play Christine, but I do want to play Meg," Serenity said.
"That's wonderful, my ears need a break. And Sango is here...?"
"We're singing 'The Angel of Music'."
"Lovely. Whenever you're ready, begin."
Serenity took a breath, and so did Sango. Then. Serenity sang...
Where in the world have you been hiding?
Really you are perfect.
I only wish I knew your secret,
Who is this new tutor?
Then, Sango looked up and sang,
Father once spoke of an angel I used to dream he'd appear.
Now as I sing, I can sense him, And I know he's here.
As the girls sang, Pegasus's face went blank, and everyone in the theatre stood shocked and amazed at the clarity, the innocence, and the sheer beauty of the voice they heard.
"I've heard enough! Serenity, thank you, you have helped me find her! I have found our Angel of Music! Sango is our Christine! He shouted out, his arms flung wide.
"Me?" Sango asked.
"You!" Pegasus said.
"When does the part of the hero get cast?" Miroku asked from the seats behind them.
"The hero? Oh, mean Raul. Those are tomorrow"
"Then put my name first!" Miroku said.
"No way," Sango said, "I will not play opposite you. Bakura, wouldn't you like the part?"
"I'd just like to be an understudy," Bakura said. Li Zhou said in their minds, 'What are you doing?"
"Making sure we get the part," Bakura answered him.
"Thank you, Ladies, this was a most interesting evening," Pegasus said.
By the next afternoon, the final casting was finished. Miroku, with his Baritone voice, ensured him the role Raul (much to Sango's disappointment). Joey was to play the rotund Ubaldo, with Mokuba providing a fake gut. Tristan was given the dual role of the Auctioneer and retiring Opera owner Lefevre, while Inu-yasha was cast as Bouquet and as a chorus boy, and per Kagome's request, Hojo, Yuka, Eri, and Aymui were also made chorus members.
By Wednesday, Pegasus was instructing dance chorography, and yelling at people missing their marks.
"No no no!" he yelled as Yugi/Yami paused in the middle of Music of the Night. "You're seducing her, not going out on first date! Look into her eyes, hold as if every touch makes your heart jump! You're madly in love with her!"
"It would help is she were not so much taller than me," Yugi/Yami said.
"Then here, wear these; platform shoes. They'll add an inche, And these inside."
"What are these?" Yugi/Yami asked.
"Lifts. And Joseph, I can see your gut poking out the curtain! If the audience sees you when you're not supposed to be on stage, you ruin everything."
"Then get me out of this thing!" Joey yelled, pulling at the suit. "I can't breath!"
"Ubaldo is overweight, like many tenors in Victorian times. You'll get used to it."
"He looks like dad," Serenity remarked.
"No reason to get insulting, sis," he said.
-Transition-
As they continued, Bakura worked backstage, waiting in the wings for his time to shine. When the day's rehearsal was over, Bakura met with Sango outside, and drove her to his house to talk.
"Bakura, is it a trial putting up with Miroku," she said as they sat in his living room on the couch. "I only hope his behavior calms on opening night."
"You want this as bad as the rest, don't you?" Bakura asked her.
"I've never sang in front of people before. And when I perform... I feel a peace I haven't felt in ages. Not since I sang for Kohaku and Father."
"Sango, you will sing at the premiere. And you will bring down the house," Bakura said lovingly. As he reached over to put an arm around her, his Millennium Ring started to grow.
'What 's happening?' Bakura said in his mind.
'I don't know... I feel something..." Li Zhou answered. "Something...alien to me..." he said. They both clutched at their chests. "My heart... it's beating!"
"But you don't have a heart," Bakura said. "You told me you were made without one!"
"Bakura?" Sango asked, concern on her face. "Ryo, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
"I..." Both said at once. In his mind, Bakura felt himself being pushed back... Pushed into the Ring! "Li Zhou, we made a deal!"
"The circumstances of our deal have changed," Li Zhou said. "I have a living, beating heart, and I don't intend to give it up. This gives me hope, Bakura. Hope that I may yet have my own body back... And all because of this girl..."
"Don't you dare lay a hand on Sango!" cried Bakura.
"I wouldn't touch her for anything...But you must let me out for a bit." and the Spirit threw Bakura into the Ring. Then, he closed his eyes, and said aloud, softly to sound like Bakura. "I'm fine Sango. You know, you're going to need some help preparing for your performance. Perhaps you could let me sing with you after rehearsals? I am Yugi's understudy after all, and I need to learn his part- just in case."
"Ryo, I would love it," she said, laying her head on his shoulder. Bakura/Li Zhou put his hand on her shoulder, with a gentleness he didn't think he possessed. And as the young singer let her mind relax, the spirit entertained thoughts of singing onstage with this beguiling beauty...
-Note from Bluerain-
I just want to say that Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius, and I can never hope to imitate the success of his great musical masterpiece. But here's a shot anyway. The songs featured and mentioned here, and in chapters to come, obviously don't belong to me, though they play on in my mind and soul. Enjoy, and review!
