Chapter Nine: I Remember…/Notes
Yugi POV
As I watched the door swinging before me emptily, I clutched at the table's edge. On the floor before me, trunks were toppled about, their contents skewed all over the carpet. The draperies were ripped, and several lamps were broken on the floor.
Trembling, I sank to my knees, my legs shaking too much to support me. Upon my chest, the Millennium Puzzle glowed with concern.
/Yugi/ the pharaoh asked, his voice deep with concern. /Yugi? Are you alright? If only I knew how to protect you…/
/It…it's okay…Y-Yami…/ I whimpered back. /I…I've never seen…I've never seen Ryou-kun…act like that before…/
/I'm sure it was not your friend/ Yami whispered, his voice low with worry. /But Yugi…are you alright? We will deal with your friend's circumstance later, but I must make sure you're alright../
/He told me tell you something/ I interrupted, my heart in my throat with fright. /He—he said..that the games started three thousand years ago will start again…th-that he will have his revenge…/ Unable to help myself, I burst into tears. /Yami/
From deep inside my mind, I felt the Pharaoh----Yami, as I nicknamed him…---give a soft sigh of helplessness. It must have been so frustrating to see me so upset and still be unable to help…
/Oh, aibou…/ he whispered tenderly. Even though he could not wrap his arms around me in comfort, somehow his voice and his tone managed to soothe me, as like the many times before when Ryou was not there. /…Don't be afraid, aibou…we will get to the bottom of this, don't worry…I am so sorry, aibou…it must've been my fault. Although I have hardly any recollection of your young friend, he did look slightly familiar…I'm so sorry if I brought this burden upon you, Yugi. I had no idea…I'm not even sure what games he was inferring…/
I shook my head, sniffling. /N-No…it's not your fault/ I swallowed. /You…you wanted to protect me, you didn't know how to protect me…I never…I never knew that Ryou could act so mean…/
/Do not blame it on your friend/ Yami whispered firmly. /I doubt that he was in any control at all when this happened. I have seen your friend, aibou. Ryou is a kindhearted soul…he would never do this to you willingly. No…the message he asked you to give me…Ryou has no comprehension that I live within you. No…it must be someone…that someone that he so strinkingly reminds me of…/
/Y-you mean…/ Here, I hiccupped. /Like…the Spirit of the Millennium Ring? Ryou used to tell me stories…he told me that there used to be a thief who's soul was put there by you…but I don't know if that's true…/
Yami gave another sigh, and although I couldn't see him, I knew he was closing his eyes in fret, in worry.
/Neither do I, aibou…/
Ryou had always left me with a kind and warm aura. No matter where he was, his presence always gave me a soft, warm feeling, such was his nature. But….
When that white-haired stranger had left my room, his narrowed eyes matching his carnal grin, the only feeling I was left with was the cold feeling of dread.
For a while, Yami continued to comfort me, as we watched the door swing by in the wind. It swung slowly, creaking, as though possessed.
Bakura POV
I had never imagined that host-taking was so simple, but apparently it was. The Pharaoh's brat was easy to scare. If everything went smoothly, I would have everything. My revenge, my power, and most of all…
…My Ryou.
Beware, Pharaoh. Our games will begin again, just you wait and see.
Ryou POV
White…white clouds…curling white clouds that wafted me perfumes of incense to my breaths…
White…white silk…white hair…yes…white hair…short…croppy white hair. Long, narrow white hair, soft and silken and smooth to the touch…my Angel's hair…
White…his mask…his white mask…
Weakly, I tried to reach out with my fingers, desperately wishing to smooth the mask away. I just had to see…I had to see…oh, my beloved Angel, I had to see…!
But the moment my fingers brushed against smooth satin, the whiteness disappeared. The mask disappeared, the hair disappeared, the clouds disappeared.
My Angel disappeared.
And all that was left…
…was night.
Groaning softly, I opened my eyes. The scent of roses wafted to my nose.
Inhaling deeply in content, I stretched out a bit, relishing what little sleep I had left. Soft pillows cushioned my head and a deep velvet cover was draped over my being, keeping me warm in my slumber. Moaning softly, I shifted back into a sleepy, comfortable position, weakly blinking my eyes.
It pleased me more than anything to realize I was still in the study of my Angel's chambers. Because of my frequent lessons and companionship, the room bore a sense of familiarity and security…something I hadn't felt since my father left.
The only thing missing was my Angel.
Suddenly, memories of the past night swirled through my mind. Vague, blurry memories of passion and pleasure and love…of us singing together, something we had only rarely down before…us dancing, him holding me so protectively, so securely…
I had to thank him. After all that he had done for me, I had to thank him.
If only I knew what was behind the mask…
Deciding impulsively at random, I threw off the velvet cover and threw myself onto my knees. The floor threatened to meet my eyes, swaggering precariously beneath my feet, and groaning, I put a hand to my head. I was still in a trance…a deep, vague, fuzzy trance.
Weakly, I stumbled myself to the door, creaking it open. Beyond the door was the empty maze that I had danced in with my Angel…still surrounded by mist and clouds. This time, however, a vast organ stood in the very center where, with his back towards me, sat my Angel.
He was playing, and oh, how beautifully he was playing! How his fingers danced with such passion along the keys…it was as though he was pouring his soul into his very fingers, the fervor of the notes so overwhelming I stumbled back. Slowly regaining my wits, I straightened, eager to sit next to my Angel once more.
But, I was still heavily induced within the recess of his spell, feeling awfully tired and dazed. I could not think properly, merely staring dumbly before me. A drunken surge of recklessness and passion rushed through me, and for that one moment, I wished nothing more but to see my Angel's face.
As I stared at him, playing at the organ, my eyes blank, I took a step forward. He seemed not to have noticed me…
I took another step forward.
"I remember there was mist…Swirling mist against a dark, nightly sky…
There were candles all around
And in the night there was a cloud…"
And in the cloud…"
I paused for a moment, staring at my Angel. A slow look of comprehension dawned upon me. White hair…white hair…not like mine, not like Fathers…
…Tozouku-ou….
"… there was a man…"
Warily, I took another step forward. My Angel did not look back at me as I approached him. Somewhere far away, a violin sang its song, the tune of my Angel in the chapel. Much like my father's violin…
A sudden curiosity gripped me, its claws so strong I could no longer bear it. Squaring my shoulders, I walked numbly forward, my soul still in a limp trance.
"Who was that shape in the Shadows?" I sang to the heavens, to my father. "Whose is the face in the mask?"
By now, I was behind my Angel, and as the violins struck their tones and beckoned my fingers to his face, I took a deep breath…my fingers smoothing along his white mask…hooking it discreetly…
The mask fell away. He whirled upon me.
I gasped.
His deep brown eyes had widened in utter shock, and behind them, a roar of fire reared in rage. Their inhuman rage was not enough, however, to counter the wicked scar that coursed the right side of his cheek. It was glowing…glowing blood red against his pale skin, which I realized was slowly turning a dusky, Egyptian color…
In my horror, I had not the wits to grab his mask, and before either of us could do anything, it fell to the floor, and like porcelain…
…shattered at my feet.
…Angel!
Bakura POV
With a scream of terrible fury, I grasped my Angel's wrist. NO! This was NOT what I wanted! Damn the gods for cursing me with this fate once more! BUT NO! I was not going to lose Ryou…not again…not like when I lost Malik and when I lost to the Pharaoh!
"DAMN YOU!" I roared at him. He cowered before me, his eyes wide and flashing with fear. Behind me, Darkness reared and conquered the maze that I had kept so hard to keep empty…the hidden doors snapped open, and out shrieked creatures of night and shadow and insanity that were my only three-millennia-companions. "You little prying Pandora! You little viper! Is this what you wanted to see!"
I swept my hand out behind me, gripping his wrist so hard that I could no longer feel the circulation. Behind me, sharp, swinging blades began to sway dangerously back and forth, threatening to behead anyone in my way. Little traps poked through the white mist, which had transformed into nothing but shadows of the Night.
"Curse you! You little lying Delilah! You little viper, now you cannot ever be free!"
I sobbed, my skeleton fingers digging deeply into his veins. With every fervor of anger and fury I had, I slammed him against the wall, gripping his robe hard and tearing it within my grasp. My Angel…HOW COULD HE HAVE BETRAYED ME!
"DAMN YOU!"
Unable to hold back another sob, I gave a shudder. With everything I had, I released him, striking him across his face. The Shadows around me cackled, and as my fury slowly progressed to insane madness, I threw my chest to the sky, screaming, DAMNING the gods for their curse upon my bloody fate!
"CURSE YOU!"
With another sob, I fell to my knees, turning away from him. My fingers immediately gripped the right side of my cheek, feeling the scar beneath them tingle and burn. Slowly, my madness ebbed away, and slowly, gradually at first, I began to laugh. It was a deranged laugh, a cold laugh…no….no…not a warm one, not the one my Angel knew of…no no…hardly…
Suddenly, I burst out in laughter, throwing my head back. Me? Angel? NEVER! Hardly! I was the Darkness, and ONLY the darkness!
With an evil smirk across my lips, I whirled upon him. My eyes were narrowed, and for once, they were not hidden with my mask, or the shadows of my top hat, or my bangs. No…no…he could now see my eyes…my true eyes…blood red and deep with fire and passion and lust and vengeance…all within its terrifying glory, like my deformity!
With a wicked smirk, I advanced upon him, beginning to sing softly. However, this time my voice was mocking, was cruel, and bitter. Twisted. I raised a hand out towards him, leering at him mockingly.
"My my, little Ryou," I whispered. "Damnable, inquisitive host…you hosts are all the same…aren't you…?"
I gripped his silken locks, and threw my head back, starting to circle him. Again, I let my voice trail into the night, so mockingly, so cruel.
"Stranger than you dreamt it, can you even dare to look?
OR bear to think of me, this loathsome gargoyle who
burns in hell
but secretly
yearns for heaven
secretly, secretly…"
For a moment, I stopped, smirking at the fear behind his eyes. With deceiving gentleness, I cupped his chin, raising his face to meet mine.
"But Ryou…"
Smirking once more, I cupped both hands onto his cheeks, capturing them within my grasp and having no intention to release them. I leaned in, close, my lips in such a leeringly sick smile that it frightened him…yes…frightened my Little Ryou…my lips were so close to his that they were merely touching, but no…I wanted to prolong his fear, wanted him to suffer for at least that one moment…so I continued to sing, comforting him in my sickly glory.
"Fear can turn to love,
you'll learn to see to find
the man behind the monstrous beast, repulsive carcass
who seems a beast but secretly… dreams of beauty…"
My voice slowly grew more bitter, my fingers gripping hard against his silken locks so hard it was painful. With an agonizing note, I bowed my head, unable to keep the hatred and anger that threatened to rip through my voice and spear him through the heart.
"… secretly, secretly, secretly…"
I fell to my knees, my adrenaline abandoning me, leaving me with bitterness and regret.
"Oh, Ryou…"
Although I was not watching, I had feeling that Ryou had slowly sunk beside me as well. However, before I could give him any gratification, I abruptly stood up and turned away, my fists clenching hard. Behind me, he gave a soft whimper, a soft, helpless, fearful sound.
"A-Angel…"
"Don't call me that," I snapped harshly. "If you do, it will all be a lie. You have finally seen me, Ryou, even though I told you not to. Even though I had begged you to not look at my face, to never inquire about my mask…no…you just had to betray me, you inquisitive little host." Smirking bitterly, I looked up into the sky, my scar glowing brightly against the darkness. "This is me, my Little Ryou. I am not your Angel. I am not your Guardian. I am the Darkness, I am your Yami. I am the thief that plaqued the land of Egypt and died in the hands of your Sennen Ring." Laughing, I turned back towards him, my smirk once again in place, deranged and cold.
"I am Bakura."
Yugi POV
It's been a while since I've seen Ryou, and it frightens me. The man that I had seen that night was certainly not Ryou, but I could not imagine who else it could have been. All I hoped was that perhaps Ryou was happily spending time with Marik, and that whoever scared me that night was an imposter.
Meanwhile, because of Ryou's disappearance, our school's play was severely declining in income. Seto Kaiba, who was one of the main patrons and managers for our play, was pulling as many strings as possible to keep the play above water. The first few times we had Ryou's substitute play Phantom…the one that Ayato had mentioned…Mano…but shortly after I had my encounter with Ryou, Mano had disappeared. No one was sure where he went, and many of Serenity's giggly friends had spread a rumor that there truly was a Phantom of the Opera.
"Oh, Madmoiselle Giry, is there really true there was a Phantom?"
"His name was Erik, wasn't it? Oh, Erik…!"
"Maybe he'll come and take one of us away…"
I shook my head in my soul room. If any of them really knew the depth behind the myth of the Opera Ghost, they wouldn't have been to pleased that indeed, if the Phantom had taken Mano away…Mano was as good as likely dead.
After Kaiba could not find Ryou, nor could he spare any more time wasting on trying to improve the play with a lack of Phantom, a recasting occurred. I went to watch, but not one of them was even remotely good as Mano, much less as good as Ryou. Even Weevil Underwood tried out, but he mutilated the Phantom's role so badly that I had to wince. After that, he returned to his role as Joseph Buqeut, and even flirted with some of the girls with a noose around his neck.
"Like yellow parchment is his skin…
A great black hole serves as the nose that never grew,
You must be always on your guard,
Or he will catch you with his magical lasso!"
He even managed to hook a ballet girl with his lasso. I hid my face in my hands. I nearly
wanted to cry. If Ryou were here, they wouldn't have been mutilating his favorite play so!
It seemed as I was not the only one that found his enactments immature and stupid. In fact, Isis and her apprentice, Shaadi, were not quite happy either. In fact, Isis had grabbed that noose from his hand, and glared at him with her usually friendly blue eyes.
"Those who speak of what they know," she whispered softly, "find to late that prudent silence is wise."
She flicked her wrist; the noose wrapped around Weevil's neck. He whimpered in fear.
"Weevil Underwood, hold your tongue!" She even slapped him across the face. She glared at him, pointing a finger at him warningly. "If you're wise, Weevil…"
"Then you will keep your hand at the level of your eyes," Shaadi finished.
Yami POV
I am now named 'Yami'. It sounds very foreign on my tongue, but whatever 'floats his boat', as Yugi says a lot. But no matter. I had other matters to attend to, and one of them was to meet with the blue-eyed, black-haired Egyptian woman named Isis.
By Egyptian mythology, Isis was the mother goddess. It struck me too much of a coincidence for her to be named after that, especially since she owned so many of the treasures that resembled my Puzzle and Ryou's Ring. Also, her apprentice, Shaadi, also seemed very suspicious. The man never blinked, never smiled, and literally, passed through walls. It seemed as I was the only one who ever noticed these things, because when I first brought up the subject, Yugi thought I was insane.
I was in the museum, observing the many Egyptian treasures with curiosity when Isis's adoptive brother, Rishid, came in. I only knew that they were adoptive siblings because I had overheard Ryou talking with them. Unfortunately, he had no idea who I was, and apted for showing me around the exhibit.
I asked him many questions about the Nameless Pharaoh, but he gave me little answers. But apparently, by myth, I once defeated the great King of Thieves. I dare not imagine how closely the picture of him resembled a much darker version of Ryou himself. Perhaps if I did not try to remember, perhaps nothing would happen.
He said he knew me. He said that we had started a game three thousand years before. Why could I not remember?
Frustrated that I knew nothing about my past, I headed for the door, and without saying goodbye or thank you to Rishid, I burst through it.
Seto Kaiba POV
I was walking down the stairs near the exhibit, muttering to myself. Bakura missing, Mano missing, and our Carlotta had left without her precious Mano. Half the cast disappeared for fear that this ridiculous 'Phantom' had returned, and I had less than a day to pull as many strings as possible to keep this prestigious musical from sinking at this boarding school.
Isis and Shaadi were of course, no help. Madam Giry had mysteriously disappeared, but in a more metaphorical sense. She had been seen secluding herself from everyone, perhaps at shock that her favorite student had suddenly abandoned his most passionate play. I hadn't cared either way. I needed to pull this musical up once more, with or without the help of that blasted patron, Marik Ishtal.
I was shifting through the many letters I had received while I was walking downstairs. I needed a word with Isis and Shaadi. Bill, bill, bill, complaint, bill, bill, letter of recognition, bill, bill, letter from Mokuba, bill, bill…
I stopped abruptly.
Firmin.
I arched an eyebrow. Was this someone's idea of a crude joke? Perhaps there was someone pretending to be "Phantom" to scare the students away, but this was getting ridiculous. I had no penchant to deal with these dismal attempts at a practical joke, and was about to throw it away when I noticed the scrawled lettering on the back. They were written in effective Egyptian hieroglyphics, but for the life of me, I could not fathom as to how I could read them.
Seth.
I scowled and stuffed the rest of the papers in my inner pocket except the one note. I continued my journey now the stairs, muttering all the way darkly.
"Mystery after gala night!
It says mystery of Soprano's flight!
'Mystified' all the papers say!
'We are mystified, we suspect foul play!'"
I groaned silently to myself and ripped open the envelope.
"Bad news on soprano's scene," I muttered lowly to myself. "First 'Carlotta', now Ryou. Still, at least, the seats get sold." I stopped, closing my eyes and fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "Gossip's worth its weight in gold…"
I was suddenly struck with an idea. Why not? If they believed that Phantom truly haunted this place, why not encourage it? It certainly brought enough publicity as it is…
Energy regained, I continued down the flight of stairs, much more anticipated than before.
"What a way to run a business! Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers!"
I threw my hands in the air.
"Opera!
To hell with Gluch and Handel
Have a scandal and you can pack them in the aisles!"
Suddenly, I heard a door bang open. I looked towards my side coolly and saw who was known as Yugi stomp out of the room. He was muttering erratically beneath his breath and looking extremely upset.
"Damnable! Will they all walk out?" he muttered angrily to himself. "This is damnable!"
I cut him off. "Yugi, please don't shout! It's publicity and the take is vast! Free publicity…!"
He looked at my with a deadened expression as I finished the last few steps of the
staircase.
"But you have no cast," he said flatly.
I shook my head and ushered him to the side, waving the notes and envelopes in my hand.
"Yugi, have you seen the queue?" With a practiced finger, I flicked out another note from my pocket. "Ah! It seems you got one too…"
Eyes widening, Yugi impatiently snatched the letter from my fingers. He glared at me as he opened it, and for once, I noticed the ruby glaze in the normally violet eyes.
"For the record," he said shortly, "call me Yami." He opened the letter and read it out loud, his eyes widening, if possible, even more.
"Dear Pharaoh what a charming gala,
My host was, in a word, sublime.
Seth was hardly bereft when 'Carlotta' left…
On that note, the diva's a disaster, you must cast her to the Shadows when she seasons past her prime!"
Yugi---Yami---looked bewildered. He looked at me for answers, although unfortunately, I had none. I merely gave him a flat look and held up mine.
"It must be a joke," I said crudely. "I got the same one. But does it matter? Tell your French teacher that all this gossip should be encouraged! Who needs a musical when the gossip itself is so worthwhile?"
"What does yours say?" asked 'Yami' seriously, clearly ignoring what I had just said. I shot him a cold look, then shook out the letter and held it out in front of me.
"Dear Seto
Just a brief reminder:
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost by return of post,
T.K.B
No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
I shook myself gracefully and smoothly replaced the pathetic letter back into my coat jacket. Yami gave me an incredulous look, and I knew that both of us were pondering the same thing. Ironically, we both voiced it simultaneously as well.
"Who will have the gall to send this?"
"Someone with a puerile brain," I said flatly. Yami ignored me and continued staring at the letter in confusion.
"These are both signed T.B…"
"Who the hell is he!" I demanded imperiously.
Yami's eyes widened, and he stopped abruptly.
"Opera ghost?" I suggested dryly. Yami shook his head and stared at the letter.
"This is nothing short of shocking…"
"He is mocking my position!' I protested, infuriated. "In addition he wants money…"
"He's a funny apparition…" Yami trailed thoughtfully. I rolled my eyes in disgust.
"To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer…he is clearly quite insane!"
I was about to continue on about how ridiculous these letters were when I was rudely interrupted. The good-for-nothing chaperone Ishtal had finally shown his appearance. He burst in through one of the doors behind us, looking not one bit pleased, and was holding a crinkled letter in his vice grip.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
I gave him a cold look. "You mean Carlotta?"
"I mean our Phantom, where IS he?"
"And how should we know?" interrupted Yami, who clearly understood the Ishtal's meaning of "Phantom" as our missing actor. The Ishtal still did not look pleased at all though. In fact, with a rather dangerous flourish, he thrust the letter in his hand into Yami's face.
"I want an answer!" he demanded, amethyst eyes flashing. "I take it that you sent me this note!"
"What's all this nonsense?" I demanded.
"Of course not!" Yami exclaimed.
"He's not with you then?" Marik asked.
"Of course not!"
"We're in the dark!"
"Pharaoh, don't argue!" Marik snapped angrily. "Is this the letter you wrote?"
"And what is it that I have meant to have wrote?" asked Yami impatiently. He bristled and huffed impatiently. "Written."
He grabbed Marik's note, and with a flourish, uncurled it. He read it out loud, looking more and more confused as he read through each line.
"Do not fear for Little Ryou.
The Angel of Music has taken him under his wing.
Make no attempt to see him…again…"
With that suspenseful note, Yami raised his ruby eyes. They were glowing deep crimson, shining with bewilderment and wonder. Slowly, he lowered his head, thinking deeply as he stared intently at the floor.
"I most certainly did not send this, Marik."
"If you didn't send it," Marik snapped impatiently, "then who did?"
Again someone interrupted us.
"WHERE IS HE?"
I turned and was surprised to see Mai Kujuyaki flying at me. Her corset-clad-breasts shook very obviously as she angrily waved a note in my face. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and turned away from her angry gestures.
"Ah, Carlotta, welcome back," I greeted without much emotion. She, however, had the exact opposite.
"Your precious patron, where IS HE?"
"What is now?" Marik spoke up impatiently.
Mai immediately rounded on him and glared at him dangerously. "I have you letter- A letter which I rather resent!"
"Did you send it?" I demanded of Ishtal. He gave me an astounded, frustrated look.
"Of course not!"
"As if he would!" Yami spoke up.
I bristled. "What is going on?"
But Mai did not stop. "You mean to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?"
"And what is it I've meant to have sent?" demanded Marik angrily. He snatched the note away from Carlotta and began to read it.
"You days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Ryou Bakura…"
"Oh, that little wench!"
Marik shot Carlotta a fiery look but otherwise said nothing. "…will be singing on your Mano's behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune should you dare to attempt to take her place."
Everyone paused for a moment, drinking these words in. Finally I spoke up and depicted my opinion on the matter.
"Far too many notes for my taste!
And most of them are about Ryou!
All we've heard since I've came is Little Ryou's name…!"
Suddenly, Shaadi and Isis floated out from the museum doors. Isis's caramel face was pale.
"Little Ryou has returned."
I bristled shortly, quite annoyed that our main star had disappeared and then returned. The incompetence! "I hope no worse for wear as far as we're concerned."
"Where precisely is he now?" Yami asked, obviously concerned.
Isis curtsied hesitantly. "I thought it best, if he was alone…"
"He needed rest," Shaadi explained.
Marik pushed his way through. "May I see him?"
Shaadi shook his head. "No, Master, he will see no one."
"Will he sing? Will he sing?" Mai demanded.
Isis raised her fingers, which entrapped an envelope. "Here, I have a note."
"Let me see it!" Yami, Mai and Marik all demanded at once.
I quickly snatched it out of Isis's hands. Bristling irritatedly, I glared at them for all being their immature selves, before ripping open the letter sufficiently.
"Please!" I flickered open the letter and began to read.
"Gentlemen,
I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature
Detailing… how my theatre is to be run
You have not... "
-Fade in, Bakura POV-
"…followed my instructions.
I shall give you one last chance." I laid down my pen and went to seal the letter.
"Ryou Bakura has returned to you
And I am anxious his career should progress
In your new production of Ll Muto
You will therefore cast Valentine as the pageboy
And put Little Ryou in the role of Countess
The role which Little Ryou plays calls for charm and appeal
The role of the pageboy is silent, which makes my casting, in a word…" I pressed the letter against its wet lock firmly. "… ideal."
With an ominous silent, I reached for my own personal seal. As I stamped its wooden block into the ink, I watched as the letter was scrawled in ink on its own. I smirked. I didn't need my own mortal hands to do mortal things.
"I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box five
Which will be kept empty for me.
Should these commands be ignored…
A disaster beyond your imagination will occur." I slipped the wooden block from the red ink pad, and aimed it over the letter carefully.
"I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant…"
I slammed the wooden stamp onto the letter. When I released the stamp, a bloodied skull looked back up at me.
"…T.K.B."
-Fade out, Seto POV-
I looked at the letter in silence and distain. With all heart, I was ready to discard the thing right to where it belonged…the garbage…and continue reprimanding Ryou for teetering the state of my company. However, Mai's outburst prevented me from doing that.
"Ryou!" she cried in disgust. "It's all a ploy to help Ryou!"
"Whatever next?" Yami breathed, although I was certain he wasn't talking about Ryou. "Whatever will happen next…?"
I huffed impatiently. "This is insane…"
"I know who sent this!" Mai cried, grabbing the letter. She crushed it in her hands and pointed at Marik. "The Vicomte! His lover!"
Marik looked hardly fazed. "Indeed? Can you believe this?"
"You traitor!" she cried at me. "You traitor!"
"Signora, please," I ushered. "This changes nothing!"
"This changes everything!" Yami argued. I silenced him.
"Regardless. Ryou has not done his part and he will be punished. He will be playing the silent role, while Mai will be playing the Countess. End of story."
"Seto, you don't know what you're doing!" Yami hissed urgently. "Seto…!"
I silenced him and buttoned up my shirt, my voice with a tinge of finality to it. "Stop! I am in charge of this play. I am in charge of this fundraising. We will be playing Il Muto and Ryou will play the pageboy!"
"Mr. Kaiba, please…" Isis breathed, reaching out towards me. I shook her off and turned towards the door.
"I am Seto Kaiba. My word here is final!" I turned back to face them. "Our Carlotta will be playing the lead!"
Yeah, I know that ending was pretty lame, but it was either continue with Joey and Tirstan sucking up to Mai and singing Primma Donna, or going to bed. I chose the bed. XD
Anyways, sorry for ditching this chapter for so long. This chapter was pretty hard to write with all the different people, which is why I sort of stopped it before Prima Donna. Next chapter will be some enlightment of Bakura's past, and the show of Il Muto. And perhaps even some rooftop romance…though I doubt that will be in the next chapter. Probably the one after that.
Next chapter: Il Muto/Why Have You Brought Us Here?
The chapter after that: Apollo's Lyre / All I Ask of You.
Sorry for this delay, thank you for 102 reviews! Keep on reviewing please! Phantom of the Ring is just about to get a little hotter!