Disclaimer: I don't own neither X or The Phantom Of The Opera (although I really would have wanted to, If that means meaning Gerard Butler face to face ;) ).
Well, thanks for the reviews, I hope you are going to approve this chapter, even though it has it's several madness points (which reflect the author's personality)… anyway, here it goes… have fun!
Chapter 2: Angel of Music
Kotori closed the door and leaned against it with a lout breath of relief. Her head was still spinning from all the applauses and from her sudden success. If someone would have told her only a few days ago, that she will be standing on the big stage, singing Arashi's part (with the thought of the young and wounded Diva, Kotori's eyes turned sad, and she decided to visit the Diva as soon as she'll have time), in front of hundreds of men- and that they'll cheer her, she would have surly thought that the man is crazy.
But despite all, there she was, singing and being loved for that.
After returning her heart paces to their normal speed, the young woman moved forward into her room, reaching a desk. Then she stopped again, looking at an object that she didn't recall seeing there earlier. It was a beautiful red rose, with black ribbon attached to it by a small silver pin. She kept on staring at this precious gift, for this flower meant more to her, than any other bucket she'd received up until now. This was a gift from her teacher- from her angel.
Without any further thought, Kotori placed back the rose on her desk, taking a white candle instead, leaving quickly but quietly her room. She headed a small room at the farther side of the opera house, a room that was abandoned for many years. This room was practically Kotori's sanctuary- she'd come there every time things were too difficult, or when the memories of her father were to hard too bare.
One day, a couple of years after madam Karen had brought her to this place, when Kotori was praying above a single light of a white candle, she'd suddenly heard voice. At first she was scared, but then she realized that the voice won't harm her- on the contrary, he was kind and lonely, just like her. Not much time passed until Kotori learned to trust the voice, talk to him friendly and even share with him all her thoughts, desires and dreams.
It was a few moths after, when he had first heard her sing. It was an untrained singing, with awful sounds here and there, but she had the talent. So the voice began teaching her how to tune her voice, how to reach the highest levels without breaking the windows. Kotori was eager to learn, truly believing that this voice belonged to the angel of music that her father promised would visit her, after he's dead.
Kotori reached that small room after a few minutes. She came in and approached to the emphasized altar she had in there, placing her candle and lighting it carefully. She then sat on the floor before the altar, closed her eyes and prayed.
After a few long minuets she suddenly heard a known voice:
"Bravo…bravo…bravissimo…"
This was the voice of her angel. Kotori lifter her head up, smiling shyly to her unseen fried. But then she'd heard a second voice, coming from the hallway behind the door.
"Kotori…Kotori…" this was the soft voice of Yuzuriha, who must have been looking for her.
"Kotori…" she had one again heard her angel's voice, but this time it seemed more distant, as if it was leaving but promising to come and visit her later.
The a bit disappointed Kotori turned her head at the direction of the door, and watched as it has being opened from the other side, and as Yuzuriha came in.
"Where in the world
have you been hiding?
Really, you were perfect!"
Yuzuriha sang a few lines in her ever-young voice, making Kotori's smile return to her face. She liked Yuzuriha, so she gestured her to come and sit next to her.
"I only wish
I knew your secret!
Who is your great tutor?"
The daughter of the ballet mistress kept on singing softly, and Kotori realized that there would be no wrong in telling her best friend about the angel. So she continued her friend's melody, answering to Yuzuriha's question also in a song.
"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.
Here in this room,
he calls me softly,
somewhere inside hiding…
Somehow I know
he's always with me,
he - the unseen genius"
Her voice turned back to its speaking rate, and she told the story to Yuzuriha. "Yuzu, after your mother brought me here to live, when I come here alone to light a candle for my father, a voice from above- and in my dreams- he's always there. You know, when my father was dying, he said that I'd be protected be an angel of music"
Yuzuriha thought deeply about what her friend said. She was that type of person who believed in ghosts, phantoms and fallen angels, but this story just didn't seemed right to her, so she sang:
"Kotori, you must have been dreaming,
Stories like this can't come true.
Kotori, you're talking in riddles
And it's not like you"
But Kotori insisted, her voice returning to sing:
"Angel of Music!
Guide and guardian!
Grant to me your glory!"
"Who is this angel? This…" Yuzuriha asked herself, and joined to Kotori's singing.
"Angel of Music!
Hide no longer!
Secret and strange angel"
The two young women stopped singing, and exited the little room.
"He's with me even now…" quietly said Kotori.
"Your hands are cold…" mentioned Yuzuriha in worry.
"All around me…" kept on Kotori.
"Your face, my friend, it's white…" now Yuzuriha was really worried.
"He frightens me…" confessed Kotori.
"Don't be frightened…" Yuzuriha calmed her down.
They made their way back toward Kotori's room; most of their walk is silent. Suddenly they heard a voice calling them from behind. When they turned around they saw Kusanagi and Nataku, his apprentice.
"Good evening, you two" aid Yuzuriha, her eyes glitter a bit at Kusanagi's sight.
"Why hello there, Yuzuriha, Kotori" Kusanagi smiled back at her.
"If you excuse me, I feel a bit tired" said Kotori shyly and left them, entering her room.
"I'll check the stage again, now that the show is over" said Nataku, understanding that his teacher will prefer to be left alone with the young ballet dance.
"You do that, Nataku," agreed Kusanagi, making a really hard effort to look serious "and don't forget to check to roof entrance again".
"Got it, boss" said Nataku and left them.
"You look a bit tired…" mentioned Yuzuriha, coming closer to him with a soft little smile, "are you ok?"
"Yes, I am, don't worry about me, mademoiselle," he replied, "This was a very tough production tonight. That's all"
"Well, maybe you would like to go and drink something, just to calibrate its success".
Kusanagi looked at the ballet dancer's expression, making sure she is serious. When he was sure, he smiled warmly to her. "This sounds like a great idea. Shall we, mademoiselle?" he asked, offering her his right arm.
Yuzuriha leaned on his arm, and they both walked gracefully out of the opera house.
At the meantime, madam Karen was in Kotori's room, helping the young woman to prepare for bed. They talked about this and that, until all talking issues were over, and a small silence spread in the room.
"You know, he is very pleased with you, my child", Karen mentioned after a few silent moments.
Kotori knew of whom Karen was talking about. Her teacher. She also knew that he was pleased with her- the beautiful red rose laid on her desk was a proof. But still she wasn't sure of how she felt about the whole situation, so she just kept her silence, doesn't really have what to say.
"Don't worry, Kotori," said Karen "it'll be all right. Good night, my dear".
Kotori watched the ballet mistress exiting her room. She sat then with her hairbrush, in front of the large mirror in her room, at started to brush her curly light-brown hair, trying to clean her mind from any thoughts.
"Ahh, viscount!" called Yuto as he saw Kamui heading toward the cast's dormitories.
"What did you think of our new star?" asked Aoki. It seemed that he and Yuto were unrepeatable.
"I found her most amazing, dear Aoki" answered Kamui honestly.
"Would you like us to introduce her to you?" asked Yuto.
"Thank you, monsieur, but this is one visit I wish to make unaccompanied", declared Kamui, taking the bucket of flowers- that was meant for miss Kotori- from Aoki's hands and heading rapidly toward Kotori's room.
"It would appear they've met before", mentioned Aoki.
"Yes", agreed Yuto.
When Kamui finally reached Kotori's room, he knocked the door, but for some reason he didn't find it important to wait for the woman's answer. He simple opened the door, bursting in the room, finding Kotori sitting in front of her mirror, brushing her hair.
"Kotori!" he called her name loudly, a big stupid smile covering his face.
"Kamui…" Kotori was quite frightened by the fact that somebody ran into her room. She was astonished to find out that the man was no other than Kamui himself.
"Oh, you sang like an angel tonight" he said as he approached her, putting down his bucket on her desk, on some little red rose. He bowed in front of her on one knee, and hugged her friendly.
"You know, Kamui, father once said that when he's in heaven, he will send me the angel of music. My father is dead, Kamui, and I have been visited by the angel of music" Kotori told him.
"Oh, no doubt of it!" declared the viscount, rising up on his feet "and now- we go to super!"
"No, Kamui, the angel of music is very strict…" tried Kotori to protest.
"Well I shan't keep you up late" he replied in a small all-knowing smile, laughing to himself as if it was a great joke.
His laughter made Kotori smile and laugh as well. But then she remembered that she was meant to persuade him- not the other way around. "Kamui, no!" she said.
"You must change," Kamui continued, as if he didn't hear her at all "I'll order my carriage. Two minuets, dear Kotori" he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Kamui, wait!" Kotori called, but it was to late.
In the empty corridor leading to Kotori's room, stood a tall female fragment. She waited for the viscount to leave, and then she took out a long metal key, pushed it quietly inside Kotori's door lock, and turned it around, locking the young and unaware woman inside her room. The woman leaned on her black walking stick, and left the corridor.
Inside the room, Kotori felt very unpleasant. She did not know what to do, so she stood up and was about to walk to the door, to call Kamui and tell him to stop his nonsense, when all candles in her room suddenly turned off. At this point, the young woman cursed in her mind, for she understood what this could mean.
"Insolent boy,
This slave of fashion,
Basking in your glory.
Ignorant fool,
This brave young suitor,
Sharing in my triumph"
Kotori recognized the voice as her angel of music. His voice was strong and confident, and she felt happiness when she heard him. She wished that she could see his face- if only for once.
"Angel I hear you,
Speak- I listen
Stay by my side- guide me.
Angel my soul was weak,
Forgive me,
Enter at last master"
There was a small pause, as if the angel was hesitating. Kotori was flashed by a wave of fear- she was afraid that she said something wrong. She was about to apologize, when she had heard the angel's voice again, singing to her.
"Flattering child you shall know me,
See why in shadow I hide.
Look at your face in the mirror-
I am there inside"
Kotori turned around quickly, facing the big mirror in her room, and as she kept on singing, she saw clearer and clearer the image of her angel.
"Angel of music,
Guide and guardian,
Grant to me your glory.
Angel of music,
Hide no longer,
Come to me strange angel"
Before her, inside the mirror, there was standing a tall man, dressed in black suit and black robe. He had a black hair and a pure white mask covered the right side of his face. When she'd seen him, hearing his voice, she knew who her angel was- the phantom of the opera.
"I am your angel of musicCome to me angel of music..." the phantom spoke to her, his voice enchanting.
A sudden knock of the door sounded behind them. "Who's that voice? Who's in there? Kotori!" Kamui's voice was weak and fading in Kotori's head. All she cared about was right in front of her.
"I am your angel of music
Come to me angel of music…" the phantom spoke again, lifting his right hand, offering it to Kotori.
Kotori looked at his hand, then looked into his dark eyes, and again at his hand. She knew that she already decided what she is going to do.
Me: that's all for this time. What did you think? I know that Kamui is out of character, so I'll try to make up for that. Well, I did find a role for Nataku, as promised, so all that's left now is to find a role for Kakyo. Any suggestions?
Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter. I'm going to expend the plot, and it will include stories about all other characters.
X rocks: Well, I do plan some things that weren't at the original story, but we'll wait for them to happen, won't we? ;) I hope you liked the meeting of Kamui and Kotori- let me know what you think, please.
neferseba: another X and PotO fan! Yay! I'm so happy that you liked it! I'll try not to disappoint you.
Sakurazuka-chan: after so many e-mails, I hope you aren't disappointed with the update. Please let me know what did you think of it.