Answers to reviewers!
Fluffys-sidekick: Yes, indeed, I have read the book and seen the movie. Sadly, I have not seen the play, simply because the last time it was shown in my city I was …four. So….(sighs heavily) BUT I WOULD LOVE TO! Especially if it was Michael Crawford!
Oh, yes, the book. Ahh….which book? There are two: One called "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leruex (which I LOATHE, LOATHE, I say…! …bad characterization of Erik..) and there's one called "Phantom" by Susan Kay (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE! PERFECT CHARACTERIZATION! She doesn't even make Raoul sound as much of a nancy pancy hoot has in Gaston Leruex's version!). I've read both, though I ultimately prefer Phantom more. Which one have you read?
Bellebelle3: If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have updated today. Thank you so much! (And reviewers, thank her too!) (glares)
Chapter Six: Opening Night
Distinctly, the overview song was playing in the auditorium, echoing the drums and the organs through the room. Crowds of actresses and dancers and singers shuffled about like mad, some looking disheveled and others daintily running about on tip-toes. Three hours before the play was supposed to begin, and already, the entire cast was at a point of nervous breakdowns.
I found it rather amusing though. It made me smile at how, despite how disarranged everyone looked, shuffling about and whatnot, was that the entire scene before me was how the play was supposed to begin with. A chaotic mass of people getting ready for a play.
"Ah, Mai, don't put the chains on so tight!" Serenity chided from the back. "I'm supposed to move in them!"
"Oh, sorry," Mai said, a pin sticking from her mouth. "Hold on. This better?"
Serenity shook her wrists a bit, and smiled. "Yes. Thank you." Seeing me, she waved her hand, chains tinkling lightly. "Ryouu!"
I smiled back. "Yes?"
"Nervous?" she asked, rather loudly over the commotion. I gave her a grin.
"A little!"
"Heh, don't worry!" Serenity assured. "You'll do fine! Just don't blush when I kiss you in the end scene."
Ironically, I blushed right then and there.
"Er…I'll try."
"Phantom doesn't blush. He cries."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but smiled all the same. "I know, I know."
"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it," Serenity called again. "At least YOU'RE not wearing something this revealing for the opening scene!"
I had to agree readily with that.
"Monsieur Bakura?" Madame Giry asked, coming up to me. "Would you like to go out for a walk? You're all ready, anywayz."
I smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you. That'd be wonderful."
The cool, dark air calmed me.
It was opening night. My Angel had returned to me, after a week of abandonment. I could not describe the endless agony I was in that entire week. Every night I would go to sleep without the sound of his voice, and every day I would have to wake to empty air instead of his soft touch.
I hated it. I hated the loneliness he had forced upon me, but I knew it was my punishment. I had betrayed him, I had broken my vow. And yet, he had returned to me, when I should have been suffering my loneliness for all eternity. At least, that's what I felt I deserved.
After that incident, I dared not even look at Marik. Deep within me, I knew there was something drawing me to him, something that captivated me and drew him into his spellbinding arms. Perhaps it was the way his amethyst eyes grew a fond mauve when they rested upon me, or it was the way his golden hair would whip about when he would crane his neck to see me. Either way, every time I looked at him, my heart would speed up, and my breath would be cut short.
I was in love.
I was in love with two different people, and yet, I knew which one my soul belonged to. I felt as though my relationship with Marik was merely a childhood crush, or a teenage lusting, but with my Angel…no. It was something different…something truly magical. Every time my Angel looked at me, every time he raised his gloved hand to brush away my locks…my heart would find its way to my throat, and I would be excited beyond belief.
Every time his white hair brushed against my shoulder, every time his soft, gentle hands would dress my wounds, every time he touched me in any way would drive my heart into an insanity's worth of beating, thumping loudly in my ears. It was almost as though we were bonded by the soul.
After he had returned to me, I made no mistake of neglecting him ever again. Every night I would say, "I love you" to him, before I went to bed, and every time he taught me something new, I would sing for him, whether or not he had requested it. I wanted to show him my full devotion; that I'd be anything he'd wish me to be: student, friend, or anything else.
I was jostled out of my thoughts, however, when I heard a familiar voice call to me. Turning around, I saw Yugi running towards me, his miniature suit fluttering in the wind. I smiled. I couldn't help it. There were times when Yugi looked positively adorable, and judging by the fact his red bow tie was fluttering against his cheeks and his tailcoats were flapping by his ankles, this was no exception.
"Yugi," I greeted, as he came to a panting stop before me. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Yugi panted, wiping sweat off his brow. "Too hot in the auditorium. I saw you walking out, so I decided to come with you."
I smiled. "That's nice of you."
For a while, we merely stood there in silence, taking in each other's presence comfortably. Since both Yugi and I were quite quiet, we hardly ever spoke even around each other, so silence between us wasn't anything surprising.
"Where have you been lately anyways?" Yugi asked, walking a bit forwards.
Smiling, I followed.
"Studying, really."
Yugi laughed. "Really? Gee, Ryou-kun. You study too much. You need to get out a little more."
I sighed. "I know."
After looking at me a bit, Yugi cocked his head to one side thoughtfully. I gave him a curious glance in return.
"Eh? Is there something on my face?"
"Huh? Oh, no!" Yugi laughed. "No. I just…you know Marik, right? Marik Ishtal, the museum patron?"
Tensing slightly, despite my quickening heart, I nodded. "Yeah. What about him?" I asked, trying to be nonchalant. Please please please please pleeaassee…I begged in my mind. Please don't let my Angel be mad at me…
"He's been looking for you," Yugi said. "Just yesterday he came up to me, and asked where you were. I told him that you were probably studying, since you didn't come out of the dormitory, and then he got all cold and huffy with me."
"He was looking for me?" I asked weakly, as my heart swelled against my will. Yugi nodded.
"Yeah. I think he said something about getting a coffee with you." At this, Yugi paused, staring at me curiously through his large, violet eyes. "He really likes you, I think. And, despite how cold and stone he is, I think he's a real nice guy. Why aren't you talking to him?"
"I…I'm just really busy," I said weakly. "It's nothing…"
Yugi made an odd face. "Well, yeah. But Ryou…you said that he was your first friend. I really think that you ought to see him a bit more. Even though he's really busy, I've heard Isis talk about how he's taking all his free time to find you." Yugi paused, before taking a deep breath and continuing. "If you like him so much, why don't you go see him?"
I shifted uncomfortably. "You make it sound like as if I'm avoiding him on purpose!"
At this, Yugi looked sheepish. "Ah, sorry. Maybe I am, a bit. But I don't know…you used to talk about him a lot, and I was wondering why you weren't talking to him as much lately. He's a real nice guy…well…with you, anyways. He doesn't talk to anyone else."
"Yeah…" I said softly. "He is…really nice."
Seeing my defense finally faltering, Yugi smiled up at me. "Tell me another story? With you and Marik?"
Hearing that, I blushed. However, despite how vainly I attempted to stop my beating heart, I raised my head up to the sky, smiling fondly at the stars.
"Heh…you know…" I said softly, feeling strangely misty as I finally surrendered to the overwhelming lovesick daze that threatened to consume me. "…One time…I had my mother's scarf, you know? It was after Mother and Amane died…I was still crying about them, outside, when no one was looking. After a while, Marik found me, because he had heard that a sandstorm was coming soon."
Yugi looked immediately interested. "And?" he prompted.
I smiled warmly. "Well…by the time he found me…the sandstorm was already close to me. I was sitting on the sand, crying, holding my scarf, next to these wonderful desert flowers. Next thing I knew, my scarf was disappearing into the sandstorm, right when Marik found me."
"And then?" Yugi asked, wide-eyed with interest.
I laughed at his anticipation. "Well, after that, he did something really sweet. I told him that my scarf had been lost in the sandstorm, and immediately, he went right in. I was so shocked, but he told me to stay put, and that he'd get it. While he was getting it, I guess I had picked the flowers to get my mind off about how dangerous it was to go into the sandstorm.
"They were really pretty flowers, you know? Large and purple, liked jeweled amethysts. Just like his eyes. Maybe that's what got me so interested in them. Maybe just by looking at them, they reminded me of him, that he was right by my side. After a while, I guess I had stopped crying, and after the sandstorm stopped, Marik was walking towards me, holding up my scarf triumphantly with the biggest grin on his face!"
Both Yugi and I started to giggle, though I could tell Yugi was impressed by Marik's devotion and care for me. Sighing wistfully, I looked back up at the stars, my hand subconsciously coming up to my neck, where my scarf used to always hang.
"You should've seen him," I laughed quietly, feeling almost teary at the memory. "Twelve years old, coming at me, with all these scratches on his face and sand in his hair, holding up my scarf like as if he had been wrestling a bear for it, or something. He looked so cute."
Yugi giggled. "I can't imagine a guy like him cute," he admitted. "But I guess we all once were, huh?"
Playfully, I laughed and poked Yugi in the nose. "You still look like a child!"
Yugi instantly wrinkled his nose and made a disdainful face. "Hey!"
Both of us burst out laughing.
"Wow," Yugi gasped, beaming widely. "That's amazing. He must really care for you to go through a sandstorm like that just for you. I'm not huge on the entire true love thing, but I mean…who else have you got? Maybe you and Marik can really be together."
At this, I blushed terribly, turning my face away shyly. "What makes you think that?" I asked quietly.
"Well," said Yugi, his tone taking a more subdued note. "He cares a lot for you. He protects you. He went out into a sandstorm just to get your scarf. Even though he's busy like heck, he's still trying to find you, to at least say hi." Yugi paused a bit, before he rested a hand on my arm. "He really likes you, Ryou," he said seriously. "I can tell. I don't know why I can, but I can tell. Who else can do that for you?"
"My Angel," I said suddenly, turning to Yugi. "My Angel can."
Yugi gave me an odd look. "Your angel?"
"Yes," I insisted. "Yes. My guardian angel. Like the one my father told me about. My Angel can protect me. He cares for me."
At this, Yugi looked distinctly uneasy. He gave me a strange look as he shuffled upon his feet. I doubt he was even aware of himself doing it.
"Your Angel?"
'Yes," I insisted. "Yes, my Angel. You know, just like when Christine's father promised her an Angel of Music, and he came. Well, my dad promised me a Guardian Angel, and Yugi, he came! He came to me!"
"But…Ryou…your Angel isn't real," Yugi stuttered. "I mean…"
"My father told me that the Sennen Items were real," I said. "Everyone else though it was a legend. But it was true! He got me the Sennen Ring. He got you the Sennen Puzzle! For all we know, the soul of the Nameless Pharaoh can be in there, because it was true."
"He's not in there!" Yugi suddenly said, eyes wide. "He's not there at all!"
"Yugi, I know my Angel is real," I insisted adamantly. "I know he is…I just know it…come on, you have to believe me…"
"RYOU! LOOK OUT!"
It had taken me about a minute or so to finally registered what had happened. Before I could even whip around, Yugi had pushed me out of some harm's way, into a nearby alley. Groaning, both of us quickly scrambled to our feet, and instantly, in the darkness of the alleyway, froze and were terrified.
No. It couldn't be. Not now.
Six or so menacing shadows appeared from the darkest corners of the alleyway, approaching us with heavy, punctuated steps. Six more silhouettes then blocked off the alleyway entrance, before all of the dozen unrecognizable shadows began to circle about us.
"Oh no oh no oh no…" I whispered to myself. "Oh no oh no oh no…"
"Oh God…" Yugi breathed, as he backed up into me. "Oh no…Ryou…we're surrounded…"
A low, familiar chuckle echoed from the unrecognizable shadows, and, after a flicker of a lighter, the shadow's face was illuminated. Dirty blond hair, wide, rugged chin, and dazed, dead eyes.
Hirutami.
"Oh no…" I whispered, my knees trembling.
"Remember me?" the older blond smirked, flicking at his cigarette with his thumb. "You should. Then all those memoir bruises would be such a waste."
"Get…get away from us!" I yelled. "Leave us alone!"
"Why would we do that?" Hirutami asked, smirking dumbly as he cocked his head to one side in mock thought. "After all, we were paid big bucks to do this, and it'd be just such a waste."
"Why are you doing this?" Yugi demanded, backing up into me. I could almost feel him trembling against me. "Who paid you?"
"Bakura boy would know," Hirutami drawled, chuckling as he leaned back to observe us. "Does Mano ring a bell?"
My eyes widened. "M-Mano?" I repeated shakily. My eyes widened larger again, if possible, as I was hit with his last words.
"Be sick on opening night, or I will make you sick."
Now, as I stared in absolute horror at the man before me, I realized.
"Oh…oh my god…" I whispered.
Hirutami smirked. "That's right," he drawled. "Better start praying." Instantly, he clicked his fingers. "Boys?"
Knuckles cracked, and low chuckles where heard as the circle began to tighten about us. Whimpering, I pressed up hard against Yugi, feeling him shake harder and harder as the group advanced on us.
It was the end. The total total end.
"Ryou," a voice suddenly hissed in my ear. "Do not let my lessons become a waste."
My eyes shot open.
My Angel!
He was there. Somehow, he had kept his promise, and he was with me. Somehow, just the simple sound of his voice brought me strength I never knew I possessed. Somehow, just the breath of his whisper against my skin revealed my hidden courage. Somehow, I was going to make him proud.
With that in mind, I stiffened my fists, and blindly ran into battle.
Yugi POV.
I stared in dumb shock as the last cigarette was diminished; leaving only a trailing, flitter of a smoke in its wake. The wisp of gray slowly evaporated into the night air, the only thing of color in the dark alley in which I sat, and Ryou stood.
The battle was over.
And Ryou was alive.
Despite the unconscious black sacks that were strewn about me, I could not move a muscle in my frozen body. I merely sat there, my large eyes larger than ever before, utterly shocked and amazed with dumb astonishment.
/How interesting…/
I blinked, startled out of my trance. It was that voice. That wonderful, deep, regal voice that had become my friend.
/Pharaoh-sama/ I asked tentatively back, still staring at the shadow of my friend before me.
/I apologize, Yugi/ was his simple reply.
Shaking, I swallowed hard, weakly using the alley wall for my support. /No..no…it's fine…I still don't know how to give you my body. If I did, maybe you could've done something…/
/I should've, Yugi/ he said apologetically. /Forgive me. But…no. There is something else that's troubling me./
I blinked. /What is it/
There was silence at the end of the link, only broken by his soft voice, quiet and thoughtful as his words were twisted into a melody of wise judgment.
/I've seen those moves before…/
Neither of us spoke for a few moments, merely standing there as we watched Ryou pant for breath before us. I had never seen Ryou so strong before, nor so bold. Not that it scared me…no. Ryou wasn't the one who scared me. I was merely shocked that he could do everything that he did…but no. There was something else.
It felt like a dark presence, a lingering ghost from the galleys of the dead. A spirit from the underworld or a phantom of the night. I shuddered. Whatever that dark presence was, it was near Ryou. It was near us.
/Those moves…/ the voice said quietly, deep and comprehending. /Those moves…those moves that your friend performed…I have seen those before./
/Where/ I asked, curious as I slowly regained composure. /Where? From Egypt/
My answer was only a sad, resigned sigh. /I don't know./
Slowly, Ryou managed to regain his air, and gradually turned towards me. Though his hair seemed a mess, and his face was drenched with sweat, and his knuckles were scraped…on his face there was the happiest smile I had ever seen him smile…. the proudest grin I've ever seen him grin.
And that smile alone, that happy, bright and cheerful smile that I had not seen since his father died, elevated my heart and banished all my worries.
"Ryou-kun!" I cried. "Are you alright?"
Still grinning, he nodded proudly, wiping at his brow with the back of his hand. "Yeah…just fine, Yugi. Just fine."
"You…I can't believe it!" I cried out, a grin splitting from my face as well as I lunged at him. "That was amazing! How did you do that!"
Laughing, Ryou grabbed me and hugged me close. As I felt his face being buried into my neck though…I felt tears…though they were tears of joy and laughter. His happy, choked laughs were muffled against my tuxedo, but after a moment, we separated, and Ryou wiped away at his eyes.
"I…don't know," he whispered, still smiling with pride. "Practice, I guess."
"But that was amazing!" I cried again. I held up my fists. "You have to teach me some time! But did you have to hurt them?"
At this, Ryou blushed. "I didn't mean to…" he admitted softly, his blush increasing. "I just…did it. I just wanted to protect us."
Grinning still, I wrapped my arms around him, and after bending down a bit, Ryou returned my hug. We stood there in the alleyway, both of us happy beyond belief at Ryou's accomplishment to defend himself.
It was not until Ryou had checked his watch when we realized that the play had started.
Ryou POV.
Oh, for the love of… I WASLATE!
My first big production, inspired by my Angel, and I WAS LATE!
Thank goodness I was not on until the second scene. Both Yugi and I had made it by then, though he had missed the first opening overture with the other choir boys. While he was scrambling to improvise a way to perform with the others, I was shuffled to the back, where girls of every shape and size offered to redo my attire.
As soft dainty fingers swept at my wounds and brushed my hair out of my eyes, I could not help but grin all the while. I had finally proved my worth to my Angel. Because of his teachings, he had saved me from my fate. Despite how happy I was, I knew that I was forever going to be in his debt, and that thought did not bother me one bit.
I would've done anything to make my Angel happy.
"Masquerade…paper faces on parade…masquerade. Hide your face so the world would never find you…"
I sat upon the stage, black cloak and all, in a large red chair, singing melancholically as music flittered by my ears. The lights were dimmed to give the entire stage a beautiful, wondrous hue, and pale fog wisped past my feet.
Everything was so beautiful!
And, oh, how wondrous did my voice feel…as though it had grown wings and was flying towards the heavens on their own. How my chest swelled with each breath and echoed with each note, how my entire form swayed with the music and the rhythm
I was in love.
And again, like I had told Yugi-tachi once before…every time I heard that one song…at the end of the musical, I cried. And, though I was onstage…because it was this very song…this very song that my father and I used to sing in joy, the very song that Erik sang in grief…I wept.
"Christine, I loovvveed you…"
I turned to my left, as I was supposed to, watching Serenity being led away by Ootogi. Though I was supposed to be acting in terrible grief at the lost of my "love", I couldn't help but smile at them. Serenity and Ootogi had always been made for each other.
As they sang their duet, I turned away, as I was supposed to. However, as I did…
In the audience, I saw a pair of deep, amethyst eyes, staring at me from the back. Those same captivating eyes were hidden by golden, sandy bangs, ending with large, golden spikes upon waves.
Marik!
"You alone can make my song take flight…!"
Even from the back, I could see his proud smile, his bright eyes, his eyebrows in a seductive nature. Seeing him immediately made my heart soar, and I longed to run off the stage and into his arms.
But…my Angel…
"It's over now….the music of the…"
Smiling somewhat disappointedly, I turned away, returning to my role as the Phantom. However, that didn't prevent Marik from attempting to catch my attention. As I turned, he winked at me, and kissed the air, sending me one.
I blushed, but was grateful for his affection none-of-the-less.
Taking a deep breath, I swept out my arms for the audience, and my voice reared upon its talons, spread its wings, and flew into the auditorium.
"…NIIIIIIGGGGHHHTTTT!"
As the candle lit up, I gracefully flicked the stick away, sitting back upon my heels. As I did so, I placed my hands together in front of me, bowing my head towards the statue before me.
The candles danced in the darkness of the little chapel.
The school had a chapel right outside its back walls, since it was used for the younger kids before us to go as Sunday school. And yet, even though it had not been used in many years, except for the truly devoted, I had often come to this little chapel, praying and lighting candles for my father. It was almost my sanctuary.
And now, as the last of the patrons and audience whittled away into the streets and into their cars, I remained upon my knees, praying and thanking to whatever lord that was listening, that my Angel had come and my father was proud.
I remembered…sitting in the churches and singing the hymns…I remembered lighting candles for my mother and my sister. I remembered kissing Marik on the cheek before we left for home, right after we had lighted his entire temple with scented candlewicks.
Candles were beautiful.
And now, as I sat there upon my knees, still praying, still speaking to the holy spirit comfort that I had, I could not help but feel the happiest and the most tranquil than I had ever been in my life.
My Angel….
Thank you so much for my Angel…
Guide me, Father…Guide me, Angel…
As I repeated these words in my mind, a childish voice echoed behind me.
"Ryou…Ryou…"Smiling, I recognized it to be Yugi, as he popped his head in through the wooden doorway of the chapel. I smiled, and Yugi grinned as he slowly made his way towards me.
"Where in the world have you been hiding? Really you were, perfect!" Yugi sang, as he sat beside me. He smiled in a secretive way, and I knew he was referring to my incident with the bullies before the play. "I only wish I knew your secret…who is your new tutor?"
And distinctly…I heard the soft humming of the violin my father used to play, echoing in the little chapel. Soft and serene, I joined in with the invisible melody, my voice equally soft and equally dreamy.
"Father once spoke of an angel…
I used to dream he'd appear.
Now as I sing, I can sense him
And I know, he's here!"
Grinning, I stood up, sweeping my hands about the room. I was not sure why I was doing such things, but I knew that it was my heart guiding me, filling me with such a passionate dream that I could not relieve myself of.
"Here in this room, he calls me softly!
Somewhere inside, hiding!
Somehow I know, he's always with me…
He, the unseen, genius!"
And yet, despite my eager face, Yugi's fell. As his eyes grew wider with worry, he grabbed my hand, holding it tightly with his concern.
"Ryou, you must have been dreaming!
Stories like this can't come true!
Ryou, you're talking in riddles
And it's not like you!"
I merely blinked back, still stunned that Yugi would not believe me of my Guardian Angel.
"Yugi…" I breathed. "He's real. I know he is. When my father died, he promised me the Guardian Angel. I know he did!"
Recklessly, in desperate attempt to show Yugi my Angel, I cried,
"ANGEL OF MUSIC, Guide and Guardian! Grant to me your glory!
ANGEL OF MUSIC! Hide no longer! Secret and strange, Angel!"
I turned back, my voice soft and pleading, distant and dreamy.
"He's with me even now…"
"Your hands are cold…"
"All around…"
"Your face, Ryou…its white! It frightens me…"
Smiling, I turned back to Yugi, my face filled with such distant devotion and compassion that Yugi could only stare at me aimlessly. Smiling still, I laid a hand on his comfortingly, my face still distant and wistful.
"Don't be frightened…" I sang.
WEE! And it ends in a DISCONCERTING note! Yes!
Finally! Phantom of the Opera and The Mirror will be in the next chapter! AND LEMONY goodness. Not explicit though. This story is more romance than lust. (grins) YAY! Thank you, Bellebelle3!