Backstage, as set pieces were being moved, Miroku rushed to where Sango lay, unconscious, as Yugi and the others walked up behind the fiendish Phantom.
"What have you done to her, Li Zou?" Miroku demanded.
"She's just becoming with her role." Li Zhou said with a smirk.
"This isn't a Game, Li Zhou," Yugi/Yami croaked, his voice slowly returning to normal.
"You're very observant, this isn't a game," Li Zhou said. "I intend to win Sango's heart tonight, and there's nothing any of you can do to stop me."
"Why now? Why tonight, and why her?" Kagome insisted, "You hate her! You were created to kill her!"
"I was created to kill all my Master's enemies. But I have not, thus far? Now that I am free of Naraku, I have a free will of my own, and a heart to go with it." At that, his chest opened up, and his live, beating red hearts exposed themselves.
"EWWWW! GROSS!" Tea cried, clenching her fists and closing her eyes. Li Zhou laughed as he reabsorbed the hearts. "One belongs to me, the other is Bakura's. So long as I inhabit his body, so does my heart. And since his is bound to Sango, so is mine."
At that moment, Sango, raised up, and rubbed her forehead. "Li Zhou… I should have known."
"Sango!" Miroku cried, relieved, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine… But he switched the dress on me. That wasn't the one Weeval designed."
"No, I made it myself. For you Sango. Now tell the truth; it does look more splendid than anything that bug could have created, doesn't it?"
"You're a sick and twisted freak," Mai said.
"And you are all late to your marks. You're scene is playing now, isn't it, Mai?" Li Zhou.
"EEP!" she gasped.
"You don't expect us to go on, do you?" Kagome insisted.
Pegasus clapped and said, "Li Zhou us right. Everyone to your marks."
"WHAT!" Joey cried. "You really expect us to go out there with this homicidal maniac as the lead?"
"I expect you to go out and act as if everything is normal. And Mai, Rex has stretching, waithing for you to get out there."
"And I intend to go on with or without you. And I know Sango agrees with me, don't you, my dear?" he said, extending his hand. Sango struggled, but her hers was draw to it like a magnet. She took his hand, and they followed their set further back stage.
"Sango! Don't go!" Miroku begged.
"I must. The show has to go on," she said, disappearing into the props.
"Mai, get out there!" Pegasus said, pushing her outside.
-Transition-
Meanwhile, in the scene on stage, many young dancers and chorus girls, including Yuka, Eri, Ayumi, and Serenity, were all in slips and partial costume, as if undressing, when Rex (Bouquet) poped in, growling, making them all scream.
"Bouquet! What on earth!" Yuka cried.
"Beware, fair ladies, for the Opera Ghost lurks!" Rex said, discarding an old cape. "He watches you all as you sleep, with his skinless skull, and he plots every night to perhaps steal one of you away with him! So keep yourselves protected in the arms of the nearest stagehand!" he said, grabbing Serenity, and she struggled to break free. They waited, for this was Mai's que. Nothing happened. Rex gulped, and said again, "I said, keep yourselves protected in the arms of the nearest stagehand!"
"Keep your hands off me, Bouquet," Serenity (Meg) said, "For my mother will be out ANY MINUTE!" she hinted loudly. Just then, Mai staggered out on stage, collected her composure, and grabbed Rex by the collar, throwing a noose around his neck.
"Bouquet, you speak of what you do not know," she said with venom. "Keep your hands to yourself, and keep them at the level of your eye!" she siad as she tightened the rope. He gagged a few times before she released him, and kicked him off stage. The audience applauded and laughed.
-Transition-
Sango lay pretending to still be asleep as the set moved around and the audience was once again taken into the Phantom's underground lair. When her costar began playing the organ, she opened her eyes, and stood up. Then she sang.
Once as he sang, I was dreaming, I followed him here to the boat.
I saw was that man in my dreams? Who is the man in the boat?
Bakura/ Li Zhou turned, still playing, and Sango walked up to him. She leaned in low, as if to kiss him, and her hand reached up, and pulled of his mask. She opened her eyes wide, covered her mouth and screamed at the hideous sight it hid. The Phantom leaped up, and threw her to the ground, souting/singing.
Damn You! You fiendish child Damn you! You had to see it?
"You had to see it to believe it, did you?" He seethed.
Look on this face, Is this what you desired?
Is this what you needed to know?
(He loomed over her as she shrank away in fear, and he said, trying to calm her)
I am a demon who seeks to be an angel.
I am a beast who secretly, secretly Aspires for beauty…
She covered her eyes, and so the Phantom arose and put his mask back on (the audiemce never seeing his disfigurement). Then, he pulled her up and sang.
Come we must return. Those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you.
-Transition-
The play was going wonderfully as far as the audience knew. Pegasus and Kaiba performed 'Prima Donna' with Tea magnificently, and soon they were all arranged on stage performing the second Opera of the musical. Girls and boys were decked out in powdered wigs and white makeup, and Weeval strutted out, sing/saying.
Mistress you're, his excellence calls soon!
Curtains lift, and Tea and Sango;s faces were hidden behind a large fan, in mock kissing. The fan flew down and the ladies looked at the laughing audience in surprise.
Then, Joey and Shippo (both dressed identically) came strutting out.
Loveliest flower, what have you been doing?
(Tea) Oh sweet husband, cleaning with the maid. (Sango grabs a duster and swipes at curtains)
(Joey)
I am off to state! Perhaps you can send her to clean with me, when I return, (and he pinches Sango's fanny, and pretends to leave, but stands right outside the door.)
Sango removed the skirt, dressed in boys clothes and her hair bound at the neck, as Tea walked around to sing an aria of love, whilst her husband and his squire shake their fists in rage.
And, above the singers, The Phantom lurked, watching in disgust and hatred as his demands were ignored. He stepped to railing of the roof, and said down to the audience and actors, "You have been warned. If you continue to mock me, you shall pay for it dearly."
"Oh no," Sango said.
"You're part is silent, you little turd!" Tea snapped in her extravagant Spanish accent. Then, she turned to the audience and said, "I mean but keep silent my love, for we have no need of words."
Meanwhile The Phantom escaped through a door. Bouquet (Rex) followed him, intent on unmasking this menace. Meanwhile, Tea had walked off to cleanse her throat with spray, but as she opened her mouth to sing, she started croaking and wheezing, for the bottle had been switched by the Phantom. Firmin (Pegasus) and Andre (Kaiba) closed the curtains and stood, smiling big fake smiles.
"Pardon us, ladies and gentlemen," Pegasus said.
"When we return," said Kaiba "Miss Daae will be playing the Countess, but until then, we give you the ballet from act five." and as the curatain opened and dancers entered, sounds of struggling and a young man's scream filled the room, and Rex's body fell from the rafters on a noose. All screamed, and Raoul (Miroku) ran behind the curtains to find his love, and follow her to the roof.
-Transition-
"Guys, get me down from here, I'm really choking!" begged the dino loving duelist as Inu-yasha cut him down.
"Can I get this stupid wig off now?" Inu-yasha asked.
"Silence!" Pegasus demanded, "I want to hear the two lovers sing!"
"This has gone on far enough," Yugi/Yami said, his voice almost normal. "One of your cast members almost died. I shudder to think… Oh no! Tea!" he said, rushing to find her.
"Where is… oh my," Pegasus said, realizing which scene was coming after the roof scene.
-Transistion-
On the roof set, real snow fell as Sango and Miroku stood, her back to him.
"He will never let me go, Raol. I am bound to the Phantom."
"Christine, there is no Phantom…" he replied, putting his hands gently on her shoulders. Then, Miroku whispered to Sango "Why are you still doing this? He's turning this show into a nightmare."
"I… I don't know," she answered. "I guess I'm afraid he may really hurt someone if I don't." Then, the music struck up, and Miroku, watching his hands to make sure they behaved, sang…
No more talk of darkness.
Forget these wide-eyed fears,
I'm here, nothing can harm you.
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your shelter,
Let daylight dry your tears, I'm here, with you beside you,
To Guard you and to guide you.
(Sango, turning around and looking at him with real tears in her eyes)
Say you'll love me every waking moment Turn my head with talk of summer time.
Say you'll need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true.
That's all I ask of you.
(Miroku, holding her arms tight, but protectively. His heart and feelings pouring out with the words)
Let me be your shellter. Let me be your light!
You're safe, no one can find you,
You're fears are far behind you.
(Sango, speaking the truth in the lyrics)
All I want is freedom.
A world with no more night,
And you, right here beside me,
To guard me and to hide me.
(Miorku, his hands sliding down to hold her hands, and smiling)
Then say you'll share with me one love, one life time.
Let me lead you from your solitude.
Say you'll need me with you, Here beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go too.
Christine (though in his heart he means Sango), that's all I ask of you.
(Sango, hearing the truth behind his words, in his gray eyes)
Say you'll share with me one love, one liftime.
Say the word and I will follow you!
Share each day with me, each night each morning.
Say you love me…
(Miroku, a hand on her cheek,) You know I do.
(Together) Love me, that's all I ask of you.
Miroku leaned in, and for the first time, they kissed, and Sango cried as she felt that long forgotten love for him that she had thought she had given up. When they're lips parted, They sang together, meaning every word they said to one another.
Anywhere you go, let me go too!
Love me… That's all I ask of you.
Sango took Miorku's hand, smiling as they entered the door that led to the false interior of the Opera Popular, and Miroku whispered, "Sango…" and sang aloud,
Christine, I love, you.
Meanwhile, The Phantom (Bakura/Li Zhou) came out from around a pillar, and looked at the door, his face twisted in grief, picking up a shawl Sango had dropped on the snow. "Did you see their faces?" Li Zhou said to Bakura. "That wasn't acting."
"But…" Bakura said. And suddenly, he was in control of their body. And Li Zhou said, "You're on." So Bakura, looking at the shawl, sang:
I gave you my music… Let your song take wing!
And now, how you've betrayed me,
Denied me and betrayed me…
He was bound to love you,
When he heard you sing….
"Christine," he wept. As the voices of the two lovers echoed, Bakura allowed his hurt and grief to rise, and Li Zhou took control again.
You will curse the day you did not do!
All that the Phantom asks of you!
He swirled his cape, ran off stage, and on the roof above the real audience, he cut Pegasus's chandelier just as the set returned to the Opera scene. And he laughed in a maniacle fit as he let go of the chandelier and yelled, "GO!" And the crystal fixture swung at full force to the stage below, where Tea and Joey now stood.
-Author's Note-
Bluerain: Sorry for the wait.
SirLarry: Will Li Zhou win Sango's heart, or will Miroku reclaim her? Is it curtains for Joey and Tea? Will Yami's voce return?
Bluerain: Review and find out!
