Miku: Wow, I'm so happy that people are reviewing! At first, I thought no one would review, but I'm glad you guys are! (hug) It helps me update sooner when you review! (hint hint)
Riku: I hate you, Miku
Miku: Aw, Riku is in a bad mood today! (cough) as usual…
Sora: Ooookay… On with the chapter!
Miku: Yes, I worked extra hard so that it would be longer.
Kairi: R&R! Make Miku happy, we know you want to know what happens next!
o o o o o
Kairi dressed in a lovely pale pink knee length skirt, and a matching pink tank top. In the musical, she actually was supposed to wear a murky brown robe, as dark as mud, and as dirty as mud too. Why was it that she always got the dirty work? Of course, Kairi didn't mind, as long as she was in the musical. Kairi went downstairs, as she looked wondrously at the richly decorated stage, and the beautiful colors and ornaments adorning the curtains on the stage. As she started to walk down the aisle, all of the girls gave Kairi disdainful looks, and some scowled. The young woman just smiled sheepishly, almost ashamed in her self for no reason.
"Hello Kairi," Said a cheerful voice out of nowhere, who just happened to be the voice of Tidus, the fine looking young man that all the girls cherished and adored.
Kairi let out a sigh of relief as she smiled kindly and said, "Hi Tidus. How are you?"
Tidus smiled back, but after looking around at the glowering girls who were staring at Kairi, he replied, "I'd be careful if I were you; all of your classmates are giving you pretty dirty looks right now."
Kairi laughed jubilantly as she waved her hand, "That's only because you're talking to me, silly."
Tidus looked surprised by her reaction, but then relaxed, "Kairi, you say such silly things, Kairi. No, they envy you because you're so pretty."
Kairi rolled her eyes, but her face was blushing slightly. Suddenly, another young man named Wakka nearly stomped to Tidus.
"Come on, Tidus!" Wakka shouted, as he pulled Tidus' muscular arm, "Practice is starting RIGHT NOW! You can't have a lead role if you don't even practice! "
Tidus smiled sheepishly as Wakka nearly dragged him to the boys' quarters. Kairi waved goodbye to him, as she turned around, only to face a glaring Selphie. Her face was red with obvious jealousy as she said angrily, "That is soo like you, Kairi!"
Kairi blinked, and looked confusedly at Selphie. She had no idea what Selphie was talking about, let alone understand what she meant.
"What do you mean, Selphie?" Kairi said curiously, her brows furrowed as she tried to find a reason for Selphie to use such an angry tone.
"You're such a double-crosser! I mean, I thought SORA was your boyfriend! Leave Tidus alone! You KNOW Tidus is my crush!" Selphie shouted angrily as she slapped Kairi in the face.
Kairi stood there, shocked that Selphie had slapped her. There was a red hand mark where Selphie had struck her, and Kairi gingerly place her fingers on her injury.
"I didn't mean to make you angry…" Kairi said softly, her eyes forming tears of sadness and pain, as she turned around and walked away. Selphie stood there, still huffing angrily as she yelled behind Kairi's back, "Do us all a favor and leave Tidus alone, won't cha?"
Kairi looked back at Selphie mournfully, as she walked toward the benches. Selphie glared at Kairi one more time, before she started walking pompously toward the magnificently decorated stage.
Kairi walked slowly and shamefacedly toward the bench in the corner of the room, where none would see her… at least almost everyone. Her hand was still placed upon the red mark across her right cheek, where Selphie had struck. Kairi suddenly heard the faint swish of a cloak, and she looked quickly up, but could not see anything among the inky blackness. Although, she could tell there was movement, and squinted up, seeing a faint silvery glow. The young woman frowned as she stood up in search of a bandage… until she heard a loud bang and a scream.
CRASH!
Kairi whipped around and ran to the stage, where she heard a shrill strident scream cry out. Her heels clacked on the ground, but were not loud enough to be heard over the angry yells of a loud, obnoxious voice, which belonged to Selphie.
"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I CANNOT WORK WITH THIS! FALLING CURTAINS? WHAT NEXT-"
Selphie stopped abruptly, her eyes fixed on the young woman in the pale pink skirt and top. Suddenly, her face erupted in a look of disgust and anger, as she pointed a manicured finger and snarled at Kairi, "It's YOU! It's all your fault and that wretched phantom that YOU brought here! I repeat, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLAY!"
And with that, Selphie stomped huffily up to the girl's dorms, her hair in a mess, and her lovely gold dress now an utter mess. Also, the tiara upon her head was askew, as most of the girls either started chuckling, or muttering about Kairi. Kairi looked around confusedly at the crowd of girls, who were walking away from the scene, until Aerieth spoke up.
"I believe Kairi will then take her place."
All of the girls stood, shocked to hear that Kairi now had the leading role. Selphie, who had stopped walking when she had heard Aerieth, stared wide eyed at Aerieth, and gave a pure hatred look to Kairi. On the other hand, Kairi's eyes lit, up, color rushing to her cheeks, blending in with the red hand mark.
"You mean it? I will take the lead role? But- but what if I am not talented enough? I'm almost sure I will not do well…" Kairi started sputtering, looking dazed at the news.
"You will do fine, dear," Aerieth said soothingly, patting Kairi on the back.
"But," said a deep voice from the doorway. "Just in the event you won't do well.. please sing the song 'Think of me',"
Kairi turned around to see the cold eyed Leon at the doorway, surprised that he had heard their conversation. Nonetheless, Kairi began to sing the song once more.
Leon listened intently, correcting Kairi whenever she made a mistake, which wasn't often. Kairi was almost sure that her teacher was singing with her, and wondered how the others could not hear his rich voice.
"She has been taught by… one who is a genius in music," Aerieth whispered softly to Leon, nodded his head, eyeing Kairi sharply.
"Very well. Kairi, you are now in the lead role for the play. Now…" Leon started off, but then was interrupted by a letter floating down from the control area near the roof. Seeing the letter. Leon looked up piercingly, but only caught a swish of a black cloak.
"It's the phantom…" Aerieth whispered, recognizing the wax seal on the paper.
Leon turned to look at Kairi penetratingly once more, but Kairi was looking up at the ceiling curiously.
"What does he want," Leon murmured, already guessing the answer.
"He… would like his dues, sir," Aerieth muttered, then whispered, "The old owner paid him 1000 munny every month,"
"1000 munny?" Cid yelped, who had been standing silently next to Leon the whole time, "That's enough to buy a powerful weapon… not to mention a handful of gummi blocks!"
Aerieth looked up stridently at Cid and said, "It is your choice whether or not to pay… but remember," Aerieth stopped for a moment and glanced at the innocent Kairi, "It will be the students who pay the price for your foolishness."
Leon glowered at Aerieth and growled, "We'll see about that. How bad can one man be? I'm sure he isn't heartless enough to kill any of the students."
Kairi the looked at Leon questioningly and said cluelessly, "Who is going to die?"
"Nobody," Aerieth said warmly, "Now don't you worry about these matters, young Kairi. I think I have some news that will please you even more."
Kairi started walking toward the girl's dormitories, following the velvet red carpet adorning the hall, and she asked, "What is it?"
Aerieth started to walk with the girl and smiled, "Guess, and if you don't get it by the third guess, I'll tell you myself."
Kairi thought about it for awhile and smiled happily, "Is it that I'm going to star in the next play too?"
Aerieth scoffed and said, "You have to audition for that dearie," Then her expression softened and said, "Perhaps, but no that isn't it."
Kairi thought about it one more time and said quickly, "Sora saved another world? He locked another Keyhole?"
Aerieth chuckled and said, "He's done that many times, I assure you, but you are very, very close."
Kairi thought once more and then had a dreamy expression on her face, "As silly as this may seem… I wish Sora would come to the academy to see the play next week… maybe he'll still remember me…"
Aerieth laughed delightedly and said merrily, "That, my dear, is exactly what is going to happen. Of course he still remembers you!"
Kairi stared dumbfounded at Aerieth, and she screamed in delight. Then, laughing and talking fast the rest of the way to the dormitories, the two females left behind all the tragedies that have occurred so far…
The phantom stared down at the two from his perch, his icy blue eyes focused on Kairi. His silvery grey hair glinted in the moonlight from the window, as the mask covering half his face looked an eerie silver.
"You will regret the day you did not do, all the phantom asked of you…"o o o o o
Miku: Squee! I had so much fun typing this chapter!
Riku: I still hate you.
Sora: Cool, so I get to see Kairi next chapter.
Miku: Yes… and everybody seems to know that Riku is the phantom! Did I make it too obvious last chapter?
Riku: DUH!
Sora:…
Miku: Uh, Sora?
Sora: Riku, were you annoyed.. because Miku made YOU the phantom?
Miku and Riku: NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!
Riku: She made me the phantom… she messed up my beautiful faced to be deformed for her own sick reasons!
Miku: you make a better phantom anyways
Sora: Are you making fun of me?
Miku: No, it would be just too strange if a goody two shoes like SORA was a bloodthirsty demon
Riku: So I am?
Miku: Well, you're closer than Sora. Anyways, on to the reviews!
Neon Signs at 2AM: Thank you very much! I love your penname! Total awesomeness. Anyways, I don't think mine is that good…. But I'm so glad someone likes it. I highly doubt it was better than yours, but thanks anyways. Well, I got 5 reviews in one chapter… is that good? How does everyone know Riku is the Phantom! It annoys me, but I guess then again I suck at trying to hide things, so go figure. Yup, Riku-kun is the Phantom! A very hot one, mind you.
smeone100001: Thank you! I'm glad you like Riku too. RIKU FANS FOREVER! Anyways, yes, he is the phantom. Is it just me, or do I suck at hiding things? Is it really that obvious? Oh well. I updated! Read and review, PLEASE!
Moondalian: Sorry, moony, but I had too. Thank you though. I'm happy you are reviewing, it makes me so happy! I still need to reply to your email… still am too lazy to do so… expect more chapters this weekend, I have Halloween off… unlike SOME people who have a whole week off! Ah well, TTFN!
Atem's Queen of the Nile: LOL, I know. It was fun, get on soon, kay? Anyways, I'm glad you like it too, makes me really happy!
Angel Stardust: Some friend YOU are, Aki-chan! Or should I say Kyjuu? Excuse my spelling, I can't spell monster in Japanese correctly. XD PAL is fun, but yes, I did make you read this, but oh well. I'm so sad from your review. Although I do deserve it, hehe. You don't have to know the characters, because they don't matter very much. TTFN, kyjuu-sama
Miku: Thank you for all you wonderful reviews.. well, except for Aki. I'm not sure if it was a flame, or Aki being cranky. Oh well. TTFN! Review so I will update! XD