Disclaimer: Dis-claiming since goodness-knows-when
:Kagomé:
I woke to the soft tinkle of a music box. I sleepily lifted my head.
I was not in my bed!
My eyes flew open, as I panicked, and tried to remember what was going on. I reached out to quiet the music box, and as I did so, the black curtain around me lifted.
Black, how eerie, almost like a shroud…
I got out of the unfamiliar bed, and began to pace back and forth and I mused quietly over what had happened. "Now, let me think…I sang in Tsubaki's place at the gala, and it was a success. I saw Hojo, he was being idiotic, and then…." I frowned. "I walked through the mirror?" I paused to collect my thoughts. "Suppose I did walk through the mirror. Then what? I saw a man…" My eyes darted down to my clothing, to my relief, I was still clad in my undergarments….wait! Eeek! I turned scarlet.
I tip-toed away from the bed. If there was a man, then I had not been dreaming. However, if there was a man…well, he was not getting away with kidnapping me in this attire, that was for sure!
I peeked around a corner. Sure enough, there was a man, well at least someone, sitting at a harpsichord, scribbling away at something. As I approached, I recognised it as sheet music.
I tip-toed forward with big strides, until I was standing directly behind him.
I lifted the heavy book I had found, and whacked him solidly over the head with it.
I suppose he really did not expect that, since he was knocked clear onto the floor. Either that, or I am stronger than I thought….
He whipped his head around and glared at me, proving he was still wearing his mask. "What the hell was that for?"
"For kidnapping me while I was indecently clad!" I snapped.
His face (what I could see of it) turned momentarily pink, before returning to its previous pallor. "Out of curiousity, which part did you hit me for, the kidnapping, or your attire?"
I paused to consider. I had actually hit him about my clothing, but come to think of it, the kidnapping was a bit of a problem. "Um….both, I guess."
He snorted. "Two things. Firstly, I did not kidnap you. I seem to recall you came with me. Secondly, how is it my fault you were dressed like that?"
"Well, I was in my dressing room, hello!" I snarled, momentarily forgetting to speak the old fashioned dialect.
"You could have just as easily grabbed an overcoat or something." He pointed out.
"I give up." I said wearily. "What's your name? I really do not want to have to constantly refer to you as 'Hey you'."
He blinked, apparently in surprise. "Um, Inu-Yasha."
I titled my head. "Inu-Yasha? Interesting name. Does it have anything to do with those ears?"
Said ears quickly flatted to his skull, as if in embarrassment.
"You saw? You saw all this time?"
"Well, no." I admitted. "They kind of popped up after you fell out of the chair."
"Was knocked over." Inu-Yasha-san corrected. "Personally, I think it's an extremely inconsiderate thing to do, Kagome."
My temper flared. "Who on earth do you think you are to address me in such an informal manner?"
"The Phantom of the Opera!" he snapped, then looked as if he regretted it.
"Obviously! And I'm Tsubaki-dono!" I said sarcastically.
"You certainly are not, but I am!" Inu-Yasha-san retorted. "Think about it! How many people live underneath the Opera House?"
"You may have a point there…" I mused.
:Inu-Yasha:
To my relief, she seemed to have forgotten my slip about her name. She also had not noticed the strangeness of thefact that I knew it at all…
:Naraku:
I threw my hands up in the air. The queue was ridiculously long!
"All this publicity from Miss Higurashi's disappearance! The really silly part is, there's no way to use it because she's gone and disappeared!" I groaned as I stepped into the Opera House.
I sighed. "Scandal is amazingly profitable, it seems. Ugh, Opera…what a drama!"
"Oh, Naraku-san!"
I turned to see Onigumo-san, my partner. "Well, Onigumo-san?"
"What ever are we going to do about this?"
I shrugged. "The show must go on, clearly."
"But we have no cast!"
"But we have a lot of profit!" I countered.
"Who are we going to cast as the lead? Tsubaki-dono is gone, Higurashi-san disappeared, and did you hear about the horse?"
"What horse?"
Onigumo-san rolled his eyes. "Believe it or not, we have a stable-"
"A stable!" I said incredulously.
"Yes, a stable, and the groom claims that the white horse from the 'Propheté'went missing last week, and apparently still hasn't show up."
I blinked. "Well…er…a pity about the horse. At any rate, we aren't putting on the 'Propheté', we're doing 'Il Muto', tonight, anyway."
"Well who do you suggest we cast as the Countess?"
I shrugged. "I don't have a bloody clue. Izumari Nazuna-san, Fukuru Sango-san, anyone who can sing and wears dresses. And isn't utterly hideous." I added as an afterthought.
"The Phantom decided to send me a note, today!" Onigumo-san said in exasperation. 'Dear Onigumo, Kagome was quite lovely tonight, don't you think? Perhaps you should feature her more often?'
I held out my own note. 'Dear Naraku, What a great amount of publicity! Really, you must be pleased. All I ask is that in return you give me a mere two thousand yen, as my salary is due."
"'O.G.'!" we chorused.
"Where is she!"
I blinked. "Who?"
The young Viscount stumbled up the excessive stairs. "Miss Higurashi-san! Where is she?"
"How should we know?" I pointed out.
"Sir, we're in the dark!" Onigumo-san added.
He reached the top and strode towards us. "I take it that you sent me this note?"
"And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?" I responded, grabbing it from him.
"Written…" Onigumo-san mumbled. He hated rhymes.
I frowned, scanning the letter. "'Don't fear for Miss Higurashi, the Angel of Music has taken her away…'"
Onigumo-san blinked. I frowned. "I do not even understand that!"
"Where is he?"
"Who?" Onigumo-san groaned.
I turned, and beamed. "Tsubaki-dono! You're back!"
"That little Viscount! Where is he!" Tsubaki-dono snarled, stomping up the stairs. "How dare you have written this note?"
"And what is it I'm meant to have wrote?" He asked wearily, extending his hand to read the note. Tsubaki-dono shoved it at him.
The Viscount de Chagny examined the note, reading it out. "'Your days at the Opera are numbered. You are far past your prime, and ought to be in a museum by all rights.'"
"A museum!" Tsubaki-dono shrieked.
"Miss Higurashi has returned."
We turned. Fukuru-san stood at the bottom of the steps, composed as usual.
"Oh, good…" Onigumo-san sighed. "May we see her?"
"Wait. I have a note."
We all groaned in unison.
I closed my eyes and held out my hand. "Here. Just- just give it to me."
I opened it and read.
Dear Sirs,
I have now sent you several notes of a most amiable nature. Kagome Higurashi has returned to you, and I am anxious that her career should progress. In the new production of 'Il Muto', you will therefore cast Tsubaki in the role of the pageboy and put Kagome in the role of the Countess. The role which Miss Higurashi plays calls for charm and allure, whereas the role of the pageboy is silent – which makes my casting, in a word…ideal.
:Inu-Yasha:
As it happened, in a fit of boredom one night, I had made myself little 'Il Muto' figurines out of plastic, with removable heads. While completing my letter, I unceremoniously plucked off Tsubaki's head and Kagome's, switching them so Kagome's head was on the body of the Countess, and Tsubaki's head was sitting ridiculously on the costume of the page boy. Heheh…..I do love voodoo dolls…
If these commands are not obeyed, then Tsubaki must bet prepared for a fate worse than death.
Believe me to be, despite these words,
Your most humble and obedient servant,
O.G.
:Naraku:
"HIGURASHI!" Tsubaki-dono snapped. "This is all a plot to help her! And I know exactly who did it. Her lover, the Viscount!"
"That's not true!" the Viscount retorted. "I'm not her lover, and I'm most certainly not the Phantom of the Opera!"
"I don't believe this! Gentlemen! I shall leave again if you insist on stifling me in such an abhorrent means! If you dislike my singing, then say so!"
"Of course not!" Onigumo-san pleaded.
"You are our star!" I protested, desperate to have a star.
"Higurashi-san will be playing the pageboy!" Onigumo interjected.
"Tsubaki will be playing the lead!" I added.
"Would you rather not have your precious little tenshi?" Tsubaki snapped.
"Of course not!" We said in unison.
A/N: What fools….
Credits, credits! A lot of my dialogue, mostly towards the beginning of the story at this point, was taken from the book 'The Phantom of the Opera' by Gaston Leroux. As well, I referenced Kates' "The Phantom of the Opera, Retold" for the Phantom's second letter (although admittedly, I did use the opening from Leroux).
Tenshi- Angel
I can now actually guess how many chapters this is going to be. My current estimate is 12/13 chapters. I know, it sounds short, but that is my rough estimate. Believe me, it's a new thing for me to actually HAVE an estimate.
I know, I made Inu-Yasha uncharacteristically witty in this chapter. But seriously, if we give him credit for 'Music of the Night', we have to give him at least a little wit. Besides, I adore witty discourse…
Review Responses:
SilverShadowKitsune: bows—I have now truly revealed him. When you get a chance, do see the movie! I have watched all the other versions, and I must say I like the 2004 version SO much better than Claude Rains or even Lon Chaney. (Lon Chaney has a real scary mask, and Claude Rains seems to have developed allergies rather than disfiguration from acid). And yes, you were right!
Kagome1514: sighs—Yes, I botched some of the lyrics. I fully intend to steal the written-out song book of the lyrics from Thatz, who stole it from Flying-Cesia, though I'm pretty sure it actually belongs to her parents, and fix them. I already know it's really 'night unfurls it's splendor'. You want to play Christine someday? That's an awesome goal! One of my friends (an non-ffnetter) is suspiciously like Christine. She looks freakishly like a younger Emmy Rossum in some lights, is really kind and 100 against the death penalty, half-Swedish, and her name rhymes with Christine. It's so eerie…
HazelEyedFreak: applauds—Hmm…5-6 years? Sounds good, if I don't commit suicide from overloads of hw first.
mweph: Thank you! Actually, it's kinda refreshing to have somebody who knows nothing about POTO. Makes what happens next more of a mystery, you know?
kinokokichigai: I think my friend Flying-Cesia may have the original cast soundtrack. To be honest, whatever she has, I spend far too much of lunch doing silly impressions of the singers (i.e: fLeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeSh!). But, it's fine if you like the original cast soundtrack better. –snorts—I can just imagine Miroku…
Miroku: Ah! Kagome! It has been too long! –gropes—
Kagome: Eeeek! Lecher! Get out of my dressing room!
Just a general question, has anyone actually seen a real opera? Me, I've seen Gilbert and Sullivan, (The Mikado and Pirates of Penzance) but do they count?
I'm trying to get tickets to an opera, thinking Carmen, Ariane, Don Giovanni, or maybe Madame Butterfly.
And I WILL be seeing Faust.
Please review! (bows) Reviews kudasai! (gimme reviews)