A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm so sorry this took forever. I got a brand new computer and well the new one doesn't have a floppy drive and all my stories were on floppies so gotta transfer by hand then retype on the new one. So it may take a bit for some of my other stuff to come out (Yeah FSL I know you're waiting for BV to come back but I gotta hand write out four to five pages typed but I haven't forgot!) THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!
Chapter 5
Phantom of The Opera II
"Remember you are representing the school, please act intelligent or I will be required to pursue punishment for all here now!" Mrs. Oberlin said as she was going over the rules for the Kyoto University trip.
"She always got something to say!" Tea bickered. Tea, unlike Joey, had a good shot at getting into Kyoto University of Dance and Theater. Tea sat in her nicely pressed black skirt with her red sweater. Joey had his traditional dark blue dress slacks with a white shirt and a blue tie. They soon arrived at Kyoto University and received their visitors passes from the main office. Then Mrs. Oberlin allowed them to form groups of five for individual tours. Joey went with Tea and a few of her buddies. They stood in the plaza waiting for their tour guide. Then Joey saw a tall Arabic girl walking down the stairs to them. She wore her long black hair in loose pony tail and wore a thick Kyoto University sweatshirt with jeans.
"Hi, you must be my group! I am Arideen Fairbanks." Arideen said. A chorus of Hi's followed. "Okay, so to make this tour somewhat interesting where do you guys want to go?"
"The Theater!" Kara Janqui said.
"You too?" Arideen asked looking at Joey.
Joey replied, "That's cool, I was just after an overall look at the campus!"
"Alright, to the theater we go!" Arideen said as she opened the doors to the campus. She started to talk as they walked along, "The theater I am taking you to is not our home theater it only seats 250 people. Our home theater is Hijori theater downtown Tokyo." They arrived and Arideen said, "Hold on they might be brushing up on Phantom today." She opened the door and stared in, "They're about to start act five, be quiet and we can go watch in the back." They went in and were seated in the back.
There was a boy and he said, "Christine, ANGEL!" Then the all so familiar organ music of the phantom began to play. Joey focused solely on Mai.
"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came, that voice which calls to me and speaks my name, and do I dream again? For now I find, the phantom of the opera is there inside my mind."
"SOFTER NEXT TIME MAI!" The director called out. The song progressed and finished with a duet with the phantom. The song ended and the curtain closed. The director stood up and stretched turning around to see Arideen.
"Ari, nice to see you! Taking a tour around are you?"
"Yes, Mrs. Frau, a bunch of possible theater arts majors." Arideen said.
Frau raised her eye, "Really? That's so great, especially nice when you got to see Phantom."
Tea spoke up, "Yes, I saw it in its entirety the other night."
"You liked it then?" Frau asked.
Tea responded, "Loved it! Every one is so talented!"
"Yes," Frau responded, "Well we take theater very seriously. Auditions for leads are in July and Chorus and Ensemble are in August."
"Wow! That's dedication!" Kara stated, "Mrs. Frau, can you tell me about some of Kyoto's past presentations?"
Frau scratched her head, "I'm not the person to ask, I've only been here for two years, but I know who you can ask! MAI VALENTINE, CENTER STAGE! NOW!"
Mai bickered from backstage, "COMING, COMING!" Joey saw her emerge from behind the curtain and he continued to stare. Mai noticed Joey staring at her and kind of gasped but didn't say anything except to Frau. "Yes Frau?"
"We got a question about past productions… and well, you've been here longer than I have!" Frau said.
"Thanks, hate to admit it, but she's right, I'm Mai Valentine and I have been in the last five Kyoto University musicals, basically since my freshman year. Let's see here… First was Aspects of Love."
Kara spoke up, "How did that do at the College Tony's?"
"Inquisitive are we?" Mai taunted, "Well Lucille Sparta won best lead actress. And we were nominated for Best featured ensemble, and Best musical."
"Good leads are characteristic of Kyoto, a signature if you will." Frau said.
Mai chimed back in, "Yes, After Aspects was Jesus Christ Superstar."
Kara cleared her throat, "Tony's?"
"You wanna get into a good theater school don't you?" Mai asked slightly annoyed.
"Yes, I do, I want to make sure Kyoto lives up to its reputation." Kara said defiantly.
"Good decision, For Jesus Christ Superstar we had Jason Anderson win best lead actor, Lucille won best supporting actress and best Ensemble." Mai stated, "We were nominated for best costumes, best scenery, and Michael Barret was nominated for best supporting actor."
"Lots of Andrew Lloyd Webber." Kara noted.
Frau replied, "Yes, his work is difficult but beautiful if done properly! It gives a certain depth to university level performances. Mai, wasn't Sound of Music next? "
"Yes, we did a good job at this one." Mai stated, "For starters, Sara Miller won best lead actress, Derrick Sparta won best lead actor. I personally took home best supporting actress. We were nominated for best scenery, best costume, best featured ensemble, best ensemble, and best musical."
Kara noted again, "No lie, good show, leads take the Tony's!"
"After that was Cats, this didn't take a lot of Tony's but a lot of nominations." Mai said, "We won, best scenery, and best featured ensemble."
"Really Mai?" Frau exclaimed, "I thought we did better than that!"
Mai responded, "Nope, but Shawn Millstone was nominated for best supporting actor. Best song: Memory, Best costumes, Best chorus, and Best featured chorus."
"AND MY FAVORITE!" Frau exclaimed.
"Mine too," Mai said, "Frau, what are we nominated for in Phantom of the Opera , I know everything, but what exactly is everything!"
Frau sighed, "Best lead actress, Mai Valentine, Best lead actor, Shawn Millstone, Best supporting actor, Hiroki Mitsumi. Best supporting actress, Jessica Narks. Let's see." Frau broke off, "Songs…. Best song Think of Me, Angel Of Music, Music Of The Night, and Wishing You Were Here. Best Choreography, Masquerade. Best featured ensemble, best ensemble, best scenery, best costume and best Musical."
"WOW!" Kara said, "Definitely have to see that one!"
Frau nodded, "I highly suggest you do! We still have 20 shows left plus whatever popular demanded performances we're asked to do."
"But those aren't open to the public are they?" Mai asked.
"No, only for the school children whose school requested the performance." Frau said.
Mai shrieked, "OH! Frau, if they're going to be joining us, shouldn't they meet the "family"?"
"Good idea Mai!" Frau said.
Mai gestured, "Come follow me!" She walked towards the wings of the stage as everyone followed.
"For not being your home theater it sure is big!" Kara stated.
Mai smiled, "It's really nice, okay hold those thoughts for one second! SHAWN!"
All of a sudden they heard some one trying to sing the Phantom theme, "DA DA DA DA DA, DAH! DAH DAH DA DA DA DA DA!"
"Come on Shawn!" Mai smiled, "Shawn is our phantom wherever he is!" Then Joey and the group watched as a tall boy came up behind Mai and put his hands over Mai's eyes.
"Christine, Christine! What do you want?" Then he sang, "That's all I ask of you!"
"Oh PHANTOM!" Mai overdramatically stated as she turned and pretended to kiss him passionately.
Shawn broke laughing, "Good morning, Mai, what's up?"
"Theater Arts wannabes whenever they come here, hopefully!" Mai stated, "Wanna introduce them to the family?"
"SURE!" Shawn said as he turned and began to walk Mai stood behind. Then as Joey began to move she grabbed his arm and motioned for him to be quiet.
"You sure are mysterious this morning, Mai." Joey said as she led him to her dressing room. Joey looked around and smiled Mai's dresses lay all over the floor and make up was everywhere. "At least you're normal in some sense." Joey teased as he looked around.
"So we're still on tomorrow night, right?" Mai asked nervously glancing at Joey as she hung up one of her dresses.
Joey raised an eyebrow, "Why wouldn't we… wait! I get it, you think I'm going to chicken out!"
"No, I just wasn't sure you felt the same way as you did the other night." Mai said softly as she produced a bag and began to place makeup in it.
"Well, Mai, we are still on tomorrow same place, same time." Joey said, "Now I do not want to turn into Roule and almost die at the hand of the Phantom, shouldn't we get back to them?" Joey asked.
Mai smiled, "Yeah." She closed her dressing room door as they exited then she heard something and looked up on the scaffolding above. She quickly spotted Hiroki and saw him run off. Joey looked up.
"Whatcha looking at Mai?" He asked.
"Nothing, thought I saw something." Mai said.
That evening Mai Valentine stormed into House Artisan with a grand furry in her glare. "HEY HIROKI!"
"I'm in here!" He replied.
Mai stormed into the one small study where Hiroki sat reading the New York Times, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!"
"What are you talking about, Mai?" Hiroki asked calmly and genuinely confused.
Mai glared, "TODAY, TOUR, JOEY!"
"Looking out for you, Mai." Hiroki said very, almost creepily, calm.
"JUST QUIT STALKING ME!" Mai screamed as she ran up to her dorm and slammed the door shut.