A/N: I apologize for the funny symbols in last chapter, by the time this is up, it should be fixed- hopefully it was pretty easy to see when I switched between Hojo-kun, Inuyasha and Kagome. The reason it was like that was because originally I had it in hiragana and kanji, where kanji applied. Gomen nasai!
Well now, enough of my insane ramblings, and on to the chapter!
In this chapter, Kagome's dress is completely new. Why? Because we can't expect the poor girl to gander out in Emmy Rossum's collapsible wear, now can we? And hardly anyone knows what Broadway-verse looks like.
A/N 2: (whisper) Hey minna! I'm sneaking to write more because I'm really supposed to be doing summer school work' aka internet writing course of DOOM! This is also the most humorous chapter in the whole thing, for some reason...
:Kagome:
It was the first night of Don Juan Triumphant. I found myself hoping in spite of myself that it wouldn't run for more than one night. One night was bad enough.
This opera was...well, in a word, erotic. I had no idea why Inuyasha would write something this amorous, and worse yet, cast me in the sluttiest part.
Oh, right.
Never mind.
Lovely. Hundreds of people were lining up to buy last minute tickets for a brand new opera , not having the least idea how feverish the damn thing was, and I was going to have to stand up in front of them and play the oh-so-slutty gypsy Amanita. Joy, joy joy.
I was really starting to regret not turning this down. Really.
And it wasn't just that the opera embarrassed the life out of me. There was also the fact that Hojo-kun's family was watching this. If I were to go up there and do this tonight, I would never, ever be able to live it down. If I ended up going through the engagement with Hojo-kun, the conversation would likely run like this: Oh look, it's dear Hojo-kun. Ugh, will you look at his prostitute wife? At least she bothered to cover up today. Oh, but not much- look, her feet are showing!
If.
I heard a noise behind me, and turned. It was Hojo-kun, dressed for some strange reason in a trench coat.
I said, What the hell are you wearing?
My not-so-beloved fiancé looked shocked at my choice of language. It was true I rarely swore out loud, but I felt the circumstance called for it.
Despite what he and those dimwits, Kaitou-sama and Fushigi-sama, thought, I knew exactly what his plan was.
They were going to use me as Inuyasha-bait.
And, now that I'd thought about it, damned if I was going to participate.
The idiot in the trench coat (Gods, I sounded like Inuyasha!) looked at me with some measure of concern. Kagome-chan, what's wrong? You're not yourself tonight.
What isn't wrong? I shot back angrily. You want me to perform in the sluttiest opera ever written, in front of the entire civilized world, I might add, also in front of your brother and family, not to mention you and some police officers who are probably too drunk to shoot straight, and all in order to capture my best friend, besides, I don't love you!
I took a deep breath after this enormously long speech. Ugh, had I just nearly spilled my guts to Hojo-kun, of all people? Well, at least I hadn't mentioned my feelings for said best friend...(and no, I most certainly did not mean Sango-chan)
He looked at me with a great measure of confusion. Dear gods, he couldn't possibly have misunderstood that, could he? You're not well, Kagome-chan.
I mentally banged my head repeatedly against the wall. Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!
It occurred to me that, while Hojo-kun was a moron, he was also a sexist moron. Which gave me an idea of a different way to plead my case.
I stood up and opened my eyes really wide and began to sing. Hojo-kun, I'm frightened, don't make me do this, Hojo-kun it scares me, don't put me through this- ordeal by fire...
I pretended to be choked up (you learn a lot of useful things in an opera house). Well? Did he fall for the damsel in distress act?
He gently put a hand on my shoulder, automatically going into brave-savior act. You said yourself, he was nothing but a man.
I did? Hmm, funny, I don't seem to remember that.
Yet while he lives, he will haunt us till we're dead...
Oh for the love of...Jerking away, I launched into my own bitter soliloquy.
Twisted ever way, what answer can I give? Am I to risk my dignity to win the chance to live? Can I betray the man who once inspired my voice? Do I become your bait? Do I have any choice- you'll make me do it, I know, I'll be embarrassed pointlessly, I know you won't let me refuse, and yes, I wish you would! Oh gods, when I agree, what horrors wait for me on that- my Phantom's stage...
Hojo-kun looked even more baffled. Hey, if you can't keep up with me now, imagine how bad it'll be when you marry me!
I raised my eyebrows at my idiotic fiancé. Are you sure you aren't just making me do this because you're a sexually repressed aristocrat?
He laughed, obviously not getting that it was a serious question. Kagome-chan, Kagome-chan, don't think that I don't care, but every hope, and every prayer rests on you now!
I glared at him. Oh, that really makes me feel better! No pressure, right? I stalked out.
Was I the only one here who didn't have raging hormones?
:Inuyasha:
Mwahahahaha! Tonight they put on my risque opera of DOOM!
I really shouldn't have eaten all of Kikyo's cakes.
First of all, she's going to kill me when she finds out. Second of all, now I've gone into hyper-crazy mode.
Which gives me a brilliant idea- why bother watching Kagome be seduced by that fat oaf on stage...when nobody will even notice if I step in instead?
Much better...
Hey, I think I'll go and annoy the watchmen the idiot viscount hired...
:Shippo:
Okay, men! Now listen, you're only to fire when given the signal. When I blow the whistle, that's the signal! I said grumpily. I had specifically requested non-annoying, non-fainting, non-stupid men this time.
Last time half of the men fainted when the victim started bleeding.
The time before that they kept asking me where the refreshments were.
The time before that they accidentally shot the client.
Fortunantly, they both nodded, seeming to understand.
All right, secure the doors. I gestured to the back.
A slam from the left.
A slam from the right.
A slam from the center.
I nodded. Finally, some competent men.
I jolted. What the heck was that? I asked the viscount angrily.
The ballet girls answered with a chant of He's here, the Phantom of the Opera!
Sorry, Hojo-sama, but I was under the impression that this ghost wasn't the type that said I said dryly.
The viscount shrugged. Perhaps he has had sugar...?
Look, I'm over here!
Look around, you idiots! If he's talking, he has to be in here somewhere! I shouted angrily. A ballet girl with eyeshadow was snickering, and I was determined to prove her wrong...for once.
No, over here! The voice came from a different direction this time.
That way! I yelled, pointing in the new direction.
Now I'm over here! This time from the back...
Try over there. I said miserably. Either this phantom' was incredibly fast, or using tricks.
Try Box Five! Hojo-sama shouted.
I deadpanned him. And which one is Box Five, sir? They aren't exactly numbered.
He coughed. Er, sorry. That one over there.
Please be careful, Kitsune-san. We do not want anyone else to be harmed by accident. A smooth voice interjected.
I turned. And who might you be, sir?
I am Hojo's older brother, the Count de Chagny. he said calmly.
I sighed. I hope you are more reasonable that your brother, sir Count.
He smiled. Please, call me Miroku.
Well, Miroku-sama, we cannot catch a man who will not show his face! I said irritably.
Then simply wait for him to appear. Miroku-sama said calmly.
There was a chorus of sighs from the ballet girls, except for the one with the eyeshadow. She rolled her eyes.
I'm over here! Suddenly there was a cloaked man in black sitting in Box Five.
I screamed, and one of the men shot at him, but he was gone by the time the bullet reached the Box.
I groaned. Oh, this is useless...
The voice echoed again over the theater. Seal my fate tonight, I hate to have to cut the fun short- but the joke's wearing thin. Let the audience in, let my opera begin!
:Inuyasha:
That was fun! Well, at least until Kikyo found out about the cakes and dragged me back down to my lair by my ears. Ow. That made me lose my sugar rush.
However, my opera is starting soon, and I think it is certainly going to be a lot of fun.
Especially when Kagome realizes that I've taken over for Manten-san...
Tonight I didn't bother keeping half my face normal looking like I had all the other times I went to see her. Tonight I will cover all my face, so no one suspects...until too late.
Heheheheheheheh...
:Kagome:
I gulped nervously. Somehow I had been duped into doing this opera. Why on earth couldn't Inuyasha write something nice and normal, like Beauty and the Beast? It would even make sense! But no, of course the bloody show off has to write Don bloody Juan.
And what's worse, Manten is the one playing Don Juan.
I cannot believe I'm supposed to be seduced by that fat tub of lard.
This is disgusting.
Oh, damn, the overture is beginning. Well, at least I do not have to go onstage until Passarino and Don Juan finish plotting.
I covered my ears as Tsubaki and her chorus began singing. It wasn't so much that their singing was horrible, but mostly that the lyrics scared me. I mean, really scared me. Something about maids getting laid and winding sheets, and that's enough for me.
Now Don Juan and were on stage, singing about how they were going to deceive me by switching places, and so on.
To put it bluntly, since I still do not understand it if I listen to the entire piece, Don Juan was wearing a long black robe, and covering his face with it.
If I do not forget myself and laugh! Ahahahahaha! Manten finished, stepping behind the door of the little set constructed for that purpose.
I reluctantly recognized my cue, and walked onto the stage, at least relieved that my costume was somewhat modest. It had a floor length black skirt, and a red bodice that was irritatingly tight-fitting, and embroidered with black and gold thread. The sleeves didn't quite reach my elbows. No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy, I sang, No dreams within her mind but dreams of love!
I then wandered over to the table on the stage and proceeded to pretend to eat a shiny wooden apple. Maybe if I focused on the apple the whole time I was singing, I wouldn't retch like I had at the dress rehearsal.
I heard sing.
I stiffened at the all-too familiar voice. That was not Manten.
Away for the trap, it is set, and waits for it's prey...
I slowly turned around, trying to conceal my panic. What was he doing here? Didn't he realize that Hojo-kun meant to kill him! Because of the costume I could not see his face...was he wearing his mask?
You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge. In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silenced. Silenced! He raised a finger to where I supposed his lips would have been, if his face wasn't covered by the cloth.
I understood. Hojo-kun would never realize who was in the costume if I kept my silence. But why he would ever dare to appear on stage, I was still none the wiser.
I have come here, that our passions may fuse and merge! I felt a blush coming on. This wasvery different with Inuyasha as Don Juan.
In your mind, you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me! Now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided. Decided!
I swallowed hard. This had gone beyond humiliating. Now my reputation was stained, and I was torn between being Inuyasha-bait and Inuyasha-shield. Though come to think of it, I was Inuyasha-bait either way, though currently in a more innuendo sense.
I decided I was probably thinking too much.
Past the point of no return, no backward glances! Oh, I just knew he was smirking under there. Our games of make believe, are at an end!
I was going to shut up now, and listen to him sing.
Past- all thought of if or when! No use resisting- abandon thought and let the dream descend! He stepped forward. What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us?
He was now standing directly behind me.
Past the point of no return, the final threshold! What warm unspoken secrets shall we learn...beyond the point of no return?
Crap, my turn. I sang my introduction very quickly, as in my opinion, I got the worst lines. Damn you, Inuyasha!
Past the point of no return! I sang, deciding to forget we were on stage, and the lyrics were in serious need of censoring. No going back now, our passion-play has now, at last, begun!
I made sure to stay near him. If they were going to shoot, they'd have to risk hitting me. Past all thought of right or wrong! One final question, how long should we to wait, before we're one? Not thinking about it... When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last, consume us? Putting my hands where his face would be beneath the hood, as I thought, I felt a mask.
Not stopping to think, I threw his hood off as we completed the song in unison. There was a great gasp from the audience as we shouted: Past the point of no return! The final threshold- the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn! We're past the point of no re-turn! This mask covered all of his face except his mouth.
His claws (he had claws? How had I not noticed before?) were wrapped firmly around my wrists. I knew he was trying to keep me from running away, but I had no reason to.
Around us, the watchmen were running up with their guns pointed at him.
I heard Captain Kitsune hiss. If you fire now, you might hit the girl!
In that case, I was definintly staying as close to him as possible.
To my suprise he began to sing softly, so softly that only I could hear him clearly. Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude! Say you want me with you here, beside you.
I felt awful. He had heard Hojo-kun singing before. Now it all made sense! He thought I loved that silly viscount, and so he was trying to win me over in his own insane way.
And he also had raging hormones.
Anywhere you go, let me go too!
I didn't care why he wore a mask. Whatever was under it, it made no difference to me.
Kagome, that's all I ask of-
I loved him!
:Inuyasha:
She ripped off my mask.
I never thought she would.
My poor mask skittered across the stage, stopping when it hit a table leg.
I screamed, throwing my hands up to cover my face, and throwing down a smokescreen ball.
As the smoke covered us, I kicked open a trapdoor, and we fell through. Quickly pushing it up, I glared at her.
:Kagome:
I wonder why he did not tell me he was youkai. I would have understood, then.
His face was terrible, and yet beautiful to me. A long wide blood-red scar covered almost all of one cheek, and an identical mark was on the opposite side. His teeth were sharper and longer than they had been before.
When I removed his mask, he let out an inhuman cry of grief and anger, before we fell through the trapdoor. When he looked back up at me, I jumped.
His eyes, his beautiful eyes, had changed! The whites of his eyes had gone red as the scars, and his pupils were a piercing blue.
He grabbed my arm, pulling me away towards a dark tunnel down. You will pay for that, Kagome!
A/N: Blood, gore, horror, yipee!
This chapter is weird. I have no clue whether I like it or not, but it's the longest one yet.
Guess what? Rose has the most words of all my fanfictions!
So, there's maybe two chapters left, plus an epilogue I'm planning out even now.
Soundtrack for this chapter (AKA what I listened to while writing it): La Belle et Le Bete (Opera by Phillip Glass), specifically The Beast's Anguish, The Point of No Return, sung by Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, and some other J-pop songs I know not the names of.
I KNOW I went overboard with Inuyasha's face, okay? It'll be explained in the next chapter, because we're all a little confused as to what's up with the multiple masks and different faces.
Review Responses:
KIgirls: Yay, insane laughter! I would change the category, but Mystery/Humor sounds too light, and Horror/Humor sounds like I'm making fun of horror.
sheenachi: Thanks! Well...I'm sworn to secrecy on that but...methinks you shall be somewhat happy by the end of the story.
firevixen73: Thanks! I certainly shall.
Cara: I know now, but thanks anyway, your help is greaty appriciated.
HazelEyed Freak: Thank you! Everyone is so nice (tears up). The thing with Hojo-kun's sleeve is quite obviously a poke at the movie, which I love to bits so I can't help making fun of movie Raoul (almost as funny as Broadway Raoul!).
TsukiOhkami: About the Miroku and Hojo sibling thingy...let's just say that Miroku got ALL the smart genes except one and Hojo got ALL the stupif genes except one. That one is the groping-woman gene, which Miroku got and Hojo didn't.
I always wished that Christine hadn't been overcurious too- although, I must admit I have way too much fun singing it in my own version with my friends (I play the Phantom, which is really fun).
The Queen of Randomness: Thank you! Thanks for pointing it out- if I'd been re-reading recently as I should have been, I probably would have noticed since that's part of me lines I have to memorize (er, that is to say, with Miss Daae'). I'll see whether I get around to changing it or not.
Yana5: You're not kidding XD
Ashlee: I've been trying to decrease his stupidity level, but the guy keeps running away from me. ;( Thank you so much! No, I wouldn't mind if you killed him, and neither would anyone else, I think. The Phantom on Broadway is AWESOME! You should definintly see it. Hugh Panaro (he plays the Phantom) has got to be the most talented singer who ever lived.
E.J.A. Roberts: I hope you liked! Actually, Box seats are suprisingly cheaper than orchestra...but are so much awesomer! I swear, Hugh Panaro looked right at me! (Hugh Panaro plays the Phantom on Broadway right now)
Kagz0122: Thank you! I don't even have a computer...I use my mom's.
Random somewhat fangirlish plug for Hugh Panaro: HUGH PANARO ROCKS!
Okay, now please review and tell me what you think of my new huge chapter!