Almost this entire chapter is a song. I suggest reading it with rhythm, so it'll be funnier :) For those of you who know the story, I've changed many times the people who supposed to sing the lines at this chapter. Have time!
Chapter 5: Notes (or Total Insanity)
At that time, the opera house itself was in quite a mess. The absence of the ill Diva, and of Kotori- the understudy- was a reason for a major confusion. Combining this with the small fact that this was the night when the cast was supposed to play the new production of "Il Muto", and that they weren't even halfway ready, you could defiantly see the results; the closing of the Opera Populaire.
If we mentioned earlier that the new patron, Kamui, was pissed off, then the perfect way to describe the feelings of Yuto- one of the new two managers- would be complete panic. He arrived to the opera house in that morning, holding the morning newspaper, waving it in front of everyone he saw.
"What the hall mess is about, dear Yuto?" he heard a feminine voice behind him, and was relived to find Satsuki, the beautiful ballet dancer, smiling her special smile.
"Ah, good morning, my lady" he said in his ever-young voice, kissing slightly to her offered hand in a polite gesture.
"Let me guess," she said, looking at the newspaper "bad reviews?"
"Unfortunately, yes." he said "Is there a lead on Kotori's disappearance?"
"No" she said, cursing inside of her- for about the one million time- for letting herself make that stupid promise to Karen, about not telling Yuto what she knew about Kotori. She found the whole situation quite frustrating.
"To bad…" he said honestly "I don't know what we are going to do tonight, about this play. I mean- the seats were sold…"
Satsuki took the newspaper from his hand and started reading it. After a minute she had to rip her hands from the article, for Yuto started humming a well-known melody, adjusting it to the current situation. The ballet dancer found this rapid and rhythmic song most amusing and enjoyed it a lot.
" "Mystery after gala night,"
It says, "Mystery of soprano's flight!"
"Mystified all the papers say,
We are mystified - we suspect foul play!" "
"Bad news on soprano scene -
first Arashi, now Kotori!" continued Satsuki.
"Still, at least the seats get sold…" Yuto mentioned.
"Gossip's worth its weight in gold..." insured him Satsuki.
"What a way to run a business!
Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!" sang Yuto.
"Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel -
Have a scandal and you'll shortly have a hit!" they sang together, smiling to each other in a full understanding.
Suddenly they had heard a familiar voice joining they're little song. As they turned around, they recognized the second new manager, Aoki, approaching them with something white in his hands.
"Damnable,
Will they all walk out?
This is Damnable!" he was practically screaming.
"Aoki, please don't shout!" sang Yuto.
"It's publicity! And the take is vast!
Free publicity!" he sang with Satsuki.
"But we have no cast!" declared Aoki, this time in a much quiet voice.
"Aoki, have you seen the queue?" sang Satsuki.
"Oh, it seems you've got one too…" mentioned Yuto, pointing at Aoki's little white object. It was a small letter- like a note. They've opened it, and Aoki read it loudly, in the tune of the melody.
"Dear Aoki,
What a charming gala.
Kotori was in the word sublime!
We were hardly bereft when Arashi left!
On that note-
The diva's a disaster,
Must you cast her when she secedes?"
Yuto took out a same white note from his pocket, and read it as Aoki did.
"Dear Yuto,
Just a brief remainder:
My salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost by return of post,
P.T.O
No one likes a debtor,
So it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
The three of them looked at each other in suspicious looks, walking to the main entrance of the opera building.
"Who would have the gall to send this?" they sand together.
"Someone with a puerile brain!" declared Aoki.
"These are both signed O.G" mentioned Satsuki.
"Who the hell is he?" demanded Yuto to know.
"Opera Ghost!" they realized together.
"It is nothing short of shocking…" sang Yuto.
"He is mocking our position…" sang Aoki.
"In addition he wants money…" mentioned Satsuki.
"He's a funny sort of specter,
To expect a large retainer!
Nothing plainer -
he is clearly quite insane!" all three of them sang together, reaching the entrance hall.
Suddenly, they had heard two male voices, and as they looked to the direction of the voices, they saw the new patron, Kamui, bursting into the opera house, followed by Subaru.
"Where is she?" Kamui's loud voice continued the song.
"You mean Arashi?" asked Aoki melodically.
"He means miss Kotori…" explained Subaru, also singing.
"Where is she?" sang Kamui once again.
"Well- how should we know?" sang Yuto.
"I want an answer!
I take it that you've sent me this note?" Kamui asked.
"What's all this nonsense?" sang Satsuki.
"Of course not!" declared Yuto.
"Don't look at us!" sang Aoki.
"She's not with you then?" asked Subaru melodically.
"Of course not!" sang Yuto once again.
"We're in the dark…" explained Aoki.
"Monsieur, don't argue!
Isn't this the letter you wrote?" Kamui interrupted him, waving the white note he received earlier.
"And what is it that we've meant to have wrote?" asked Yuto, in an annoyed voice. As he realize he made a mistake he sounded a small growl and corrected himself "Oh, written!"
Satsuki took the letter from Kamui's hands and read it, stopping the song, retrieving her voice to its normal rate.
" "Do not fear for miss Kotori. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again." " She read in her mechanical voice.
"If you didn't write it, then who did?" asked Kamui the two managers.
Their thoughts were disturbed by a loud soprano voice, coming for the entrance, its tone reflects a certain rage. As all five of them turned jerked their heads, they saw the young Diva, Arashi, approaching furiously, followed by the tenor singer, Sorata.
"Where is he?" she demanded to know, singing loudly, her voice piercing the ears for her listeners.
"Oh, welcome back!" sang Aoki.
"Your precious Patron-" explained Sorata.
"Where is he?" the Diva waved her sword at Kamui's face, and for a minute there, Sorata was sure she is going to cut the viscount's head off.
"What is it now?" asked Kamui melodically, annoyed by her threat.
"I have your letter -
a letter which I rather resent!" declared Arashi.
"And did you sent it?" sang Yuto.
"Of course not!" sang Kamui.
"As if he would!" sang Subaru sarcastically.
"You didn't sent it?" sang both Arashi and Sorata.
"Of course not!" declared Kamui again.
"What's going on?" demanded Aoki to know.
"You dare to tell me,
That this is not the letter you've sent?" Asked Arashi, pressing her sword to his neck.
"And what is it that I meant to have sent?" Kamui asked, trying to avoid the blade.
Sorata took out Arashi's white note from his pocket, and read it loudly, ceasing singing.
""Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Miss Kotori will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place." " He read simply.
Yuto and Aoki looked at each other with suspicion. They continued the little song in suspicious tone, looking at all present men and women.
"Far too many notes for my taste -
And most of them about Kotori!
All we've heard since we came
Is that orphan's name…"
"Miss Kotori has returned" declared a new but familiar feminine voice behind all seven of them.
They were relived to discover that the voice belonged to madam Karen, followed by her daughter, Yuzuriha.
"Where precisely is she now?" asked Aoki.
"I thought it was the best she was alone" replied Karen.
"She needed rest" added Yuzuriha.
"May I see her?" asked Kamui, using the moment to escape raging Arashi.
"No, monsieur, she will se no one" Karen said.
Arashi and Sorata switched looks. "Will she sing? Will she sing?" they asked melodically.
"Here, I have a note…" said Yuzuriha.
"Let me see it!" yelled all other seven people, except her mother.
"Please!" added Subaru, and took the note from her, reading it loudly to everyone present.
""Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance . . ." " his voice turned lower and lower, so that all other men and women could hear imagine the phantom's voice singing to them, almost enchanting and unnatural, threatening and demanding.
"… Kotori has returned to you,
And I am anxious her career should progress.
In the new production of "Il Muto",
You will therefore cast Arashi as the Pageboy,
And put Miss Kotori in the role of Countess.
The role, which Miss Kotori plays, calls for charm and appeal.
The role of the Pageboy is silent -
Which makes my casting, in a word… ideal"
The voice returned to speaking rate, and they all felt as if they woke up from a dream.
" "I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." "
"Kotori!" Arashi said her rival's name in hatred, piercing the white note with her sword.
"Whatever next…?" Asked Satsuki, leaving the room without being noticed.
"It's all a ploy to help Kotori!" kept Arashi yelling in anger.
"This is insane…" tried Sorata to calm her down.
"I know who sent this- the viscount, her lover!" Arashi wouldn't agree to her anything. She tried to hit Kamui with her sword, but he stopped the blade before it hit him.
"Indeed?" he asked with sarcasm "Can you believe that?"
"My lady…" tried Yuto to say something, but she stopped him with a line of curses.
"This is a joke! This changes nothing!" Aoki came to his friend's side, bumping in a second line on the Diva's swears.
"Mademoiselle! You are the star, and you always will be" Subaru tried to aid them. He took one step back, though, when her sword swung near his face.
"Arashi!" called Sorata "The one who sent this is mad!" he insured her. For some reason, she didn't curse or try to hit him.
"He's right! We don't take orders!" declared Yuto.
"Kotori will be playing the Pageboy-the silent role…" said Aoki.
"Arashi will be playing the Countess!" he declared together with Yuto.
"It's useless trying to appease me!
You're only saying this to please me!" Arashi's soprano voice reached it highest levels, and was about to torn the chandeliers from their places.
"Who scorn his word,
Beware to those…
The angel sees,
The angel knows…" sang Karen quietly to herself, gaining a jerked look from her daughter.
"Why did Kotori didn't told you of the phantom?" asked Subaru the viscount, gaining a silence for an answer.
"You have reviled me!
You have rebuked me!
You have replaced me!" yelled Arashi.
"My lady, pardon us…" begged Yuto and Aoki, more for her to quit yelling and waving her sword, that for her really to forgive them.
"I must see her!" said Kamui eventually to Subaru, Karen and Yuzuriha.
"I will go with you" said the young ballet dancer.
"This hour shall see your darkest fears…
The angel knows,
The angel hears…" warned him Karen.
"Where did she go?" Kamui asked.
"Arashi, sing for us!
Don't be a martyr…" Aoki and Yuto kept begging.
"What new surprises lie in store?" Sorata asked himself and approached the Diva.
"You are our star!" said Aoki and Yuto.
"You are my star" Sorata said silently to Arashi, looking into her black eyes with his brown ones.
Arashi stopped and looked at him, not knowing- again- what to say or how to respond. He had caught her once more off guard, and she really wished he stopped doing that, and explained himself.
She could look into his eyes any longer, so she turned around and faced the two managers. 'That's better,' she thought 'these two I can handle'.
"Your public needs you" said Aoki to her, relieved to see her calming down.
"We need you too" mentioned Yuto.
"Would you not rather have your precious little ingénue?" she asked sarcastically.
"My lady, no!
The world wants you!" they replied, their voices forming a new melody.
"Prima Donna first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!" they sang together.
"Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?" sang Aoki.
"Think of how they all adore you!" sang Yuto.
"Prima Donna,
Enchant us once again!" sang Sorata.
"Think of your muse…" mentioned Aoki.
"And of the queues round the theatre!" also mentioned Yuto.
"Prima Donna,
Your song shall live again!" sang Sorata.
"Think of your public!" advised Yuto and Aoki.
"You took a snub,
But there's a public who needs you!" agreed Sorata.
"Those who hear your voice,
Liken you to an angel!" the managers sang.
"Think of their cry,
Of undying support!" helped them Sorata.
"We get our opera…" mentioned Aoki to Yuto.
"She gets her limelight!" agreed Yuto.
"Follow where the limelight leads you!" sang Sorata to her.
"Leading ladies are a trial!" the managers decided to themselves.
"You'll sing again,
and to unending ovation!" insured her the tenor singer.
"Tears . . . oaths . . .
Lunatic demands are regular occurrences!" sang Aoki and Yuto.
"Think how you'll shine in that final encore!
Sing, prima Donna, once more!" Sorata's voice reached its highest levels.
"Surely there'll be further scenes -
Worse than this!
Who'd believe a Diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,
Who's gone and slept with the patron?
Kamui and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur, he must have been with her!" the managers declared.
"You'd never get away with all this in a play,
but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue;
it's just the sort of story audiences adore,
in fact a perfect opera!" they continued.
"Prima Donna, the world is at your feet!
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!" sang the three men.
"The stress that falls upon a famous prima Donna!
Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes!
Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note,
In search of perfect opera!" sang Arashi with her beautiful voice.
"Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
Sing, prima Donna, once more!" the four of them sang loudly.
Way above them, at the balcony, was standing the phantom, hearing every word. He was not simply angry- he was outraged. "So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!" he declared in a voice full of poison.
ME: Wow! That was fun writing!
Sorry for the length, but I think that this is the chapter I enjoyed writing the most. The next chapter should be calmer, yet with much more action and less songs. Fuma is turning evil! ;)
Chenya: Not, honey, you weren't too rude. That's what the reviews are for- to review ;) You really should stop seeing Gerry and Emmy when you read this, because I change many little things… and I think that Fuma can get so upset- I think her can get even more upset. He's Fuma, after all… And thanks for the compliment! I hope you liked the 'hilarious' chapter.
Unicorn'sWhisper: Thank you so much:) Hope you liked this chapter as well.
DarkFusion: The old version is good, but the new one is much better! You should wait for it to be released and watch it- I recommend it with closed eyes. About the second matter- I don't think I'll write about Saeki (there's a girl in a movie called Forbidden Warrior with his name!) or Hinoto, basically because I simply have no more room for more characters (and also because I dislike Hinoto). So thanks for the review and let me know what you thought of this chapter :)
Applehappy: Whooho! Another POTO and X fan! Another reviewer! Thank you very very much! Hope you liked the update!
Neferseba: Fuma is good in anyway ;) He's simply hot! Hope you liked Notes and Prima Donna!
X rocks!: I'm glad that you're glad! Hope this chapter didn't disappointed you!
Sakurazuka-chan: Thanks for the e-mail! It's ok, I didn't write it anywhere that English isn't my first language, so there wasn't a reason for you to know. Hope your computer is better ;) By the way, I really liked your signature in the e-mail; it is funny… Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!