Phase 2: Killing a Man…
Christine: (happily sitting sown on the river bank, waiting patiently for Erik) Let's see, I've read The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Phantom by Susan Kay, and now I'm reading yet another version by David Bischoff. It will probably be as wonderful as the others! (Opens book to a random page and starts reading.) … … … (Eyes widen) BOOK OF EVIL! (Flings it into Miroku)
Miroku: (catches book) What is it, Mikomi-sama?
Christine: You! (Stomps over to Miroku) You influenced this author! Damn you, Miroku!
Miroku: W-what did I do?
Christine: This David Bischoff made Erik perverted! It was like my darling was only after Christine's body, and he was downright heartless! Are you happy, monk? You have ruined my romantic visions and fantasies! (runs away, sobbing) GO TO YOUR ERIK LESSONS! Be less of a hentai! Fight the urge!
Erik: (tapping foot) Miroku! What have you done now? Come here at once and practice how to properly kill a man! (Pulls out a Punjab lasso) Now you either come to me, or I shall through your body in the Torture Chamber. Does that sound intriguing to you?
Miroku: (Sighs) This just isn't my day…
Strange Duet
Chapter III: The Opera Ghost
Kagome Higarashi pressed her ear up against the door, listening for the sound of a silent gliding across the corridor. Rin and Shippou trembled in her arms, waiting for an answer. The other ballet girls scrambled around Kagome as if they were a flock of sleep.
"Is the coast clear, Kagome? Is the Opera Ghost gone?" Shippou lowered his hands from in front of his face, Rin cuddling into him for protection.
"Don't be such a baby, Shippou!" Inuyasha Taisho smirked, taking a place next to him. He bent down to eye level, and made it so their nose's brushed the tips of each other. "Why do you see for yourself?"
"Kagome! Inuyasha's being mean!" The kitsune squealed, running up onto her shoulder, where he hid himself between her long raven-black strands of hair.
"Inuyasha! Don't scare the children!" She argued, hearing the hanyou burst into a loud, pleasing laughter. "You're not even supposed to be here! This is the ballet girls' dressing room, go back to stage crew!" Taking hold of a mop, a smooth white hand forced the handle into Taisho's clawed one.
Inuyasha clasped it with a snort. "I was just having fun with him! It's not like the Opera Ghost will personally kill him. I mean, just looking at the specter makes people want to keel over and die! They say that his skin stretches over him, like yellow parchment. And-and he has a big gaping black hole, served as the nose that never grew! As for the ghost's eyes, people say that they're the only ones able to see gleaming at you in the dark." He lowered his voice, "A true death's head." Then Inuyasha leapt onto his feet and turned the knob to the hallway. "Of course, those are only rumors…"
"Oh yeah, wonderful bedtime story, Inuyasha!" Kagome folded her arms, turning herself from him. "Shippou and Rin will be scared stiff! They won't fall asleep for nights!"
"Too bad for them…" Inuyasha sung, kicking his feet and the air and whistling a happy tune.
"Just go back to stage crew!" The young woman yelled, pointing an index finger towards the exit.
"I'm going, I'm going!" The demon said, sticking his head out to check if anyone was in fact, there. "Hey, guys! Look at this!"
xxxxxx
Sango kept her head down as she entered the Opera House. She felt shy and alone, which was very unlike her ever since…well, she didn't like to discuss he father's death. She hadn't spoken much since her father died; now it seemed like only a distant memory, when she used to be that cheerful, talkative girl. Sango clutched at the few belongings she had left. Among them were her clothing, some memorabilia from her father, a few gold coins for money, and, of course, her father's violin.
As she entered, a kind, old looking woman dressed all in black walked up to meet her. The lady had grey hair (from age) that was pulled back into a neat low ponytail, tied with a white cloth.
She was shortly followed by a gaggle of girls. They were all various ages, and were all dressed in tights and tutus. Several other ballet girls…
They began to whisper and mutter when they saw her, and Sango flinched as if being picked on.
The lady in black, without even turning to face the girls, bellowed a loud sound, sounding through the populaire. "Silence!"
The girls froze and stood up straight.
The lady smiled at Sango. "Hello, you must be our new arrival, Sango Youkaitashi. I am Lady Kaede."
Sango gave a faint smile and shook Lady Kaede's hand politely.
"Pleased to meet you Madame." She said softly, blushing a bit.
xxxxxx
"What are they talking about?" Kagome hurried to the door.
"How am I supposed to know?" Inuyasha said, his eyes glued to the newcomer.
Kagome yanked a white dog ear. "Hello! Use these!"
"Don't treat me like a dog!" Growling, he took Kagome's chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"Please?" She cooed.
'Damn her and her cute face!' "Fine!"
Inuyasha sat at the door, his furry ears twitching.
"Well?" said the ballet girls' eagerly.
"She's a new chorus girl…" Inuyasha reported.
"Anything else?"
"And Kagome has to show her to her room!"
Kagome instantly fled.
xxxxxxx
"I'm so sorry that your father died. That must've felt horrible!" Grey eyes escorted Sango to her room, filled with sympathy. "But you probably didn't want me to bring it up, did you? Oh, I feel so dumb-"
Sango shook her head, "It's okay."
Kagome sighed in relief. "I'm glad you forgive me. Sometimes I say things before I think about them first. It's really a bad habit." She decided to change subjects as Sango glued her eyes to the floor. "You know…we could be friends! Would you like that?"
Sango smiled a little bit. "Yes, I would." It was nice to have someone to talk to that was her age, for once. Well, listen to, anyway. Kagome Higarashi promised to tell her all of the best gossip, and her opinions on what was fact or fiction.
When they had almost reached Sango's new room, Kagome added, "And then, of course, there's our resident ghost."
She looked proud of this fact.
"Ghost?" Sango asked.
"Yup… He takes the form of a man all in evening dress. Sometimes, when he's pleased with a performance, he leaves people a single red rose. You can always tell when it's from him, though.
"And how is that?" Sango brightened, playing along.
"He ties the rose with a deep purple ribbon. Lady Kaede said it was purple, I think it's black."
Sango tried not to laugh. This was obviously some kind of trick! Who really believes in ghosts, after all? "And have you ever seen this ghost?"
"Of course! I was the first one to ever see him."
For some reason, this didn't surprise Sango in the least.
"At every opening performance, he sits in Box Five. It's reserved for him. My mother helps him, too."
Sango turned to Kagome, shocked. "Your mother believes-"
"Oh, yes! She's even talked to him. She says he's actually very kind and gentlemen like. He leaves her payment services in Box Five. Guess what? He also gets a salary. The managers leave him one—20,000 francs a month! Wow! That's a lot, don't ya think? I've never even seen that much money in my entire existence!"
Sango was going to point out that Kagome was only 15, and still had plenty of time to live her life, so her entire existence wasn't really that long, but Sango thought the better of it and decided not to be rude with a potential friend.
"I heard he lives under the Opera House, in the cellars down there. Maybe he was buried there!"
Sango wanted to laugh at this, but didn't. She didn't want to offend Kagome, who seemed to believe so strongly in this ghost, as if she would die for her beliefs…
They finally reached Sango's new room, and Kagome unlocked the door for her, placing the key in her hand.
"Meet us downstairs, okay? You have ten minutes before rehearsals start… do you think you can find the way back by yourself?"
Sango nodded and Kagome left with a smile.
The new chorus girl turned to her new bed and placed her belongings on it, carefully setting the violin on top.
"Angel of music, guide and guardian…grant to me your glory…" she sang softly to herself, almost not realizing she was singing. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh, Father! I miss you so much!"
Suddenly Sango shivered, feeling as though she was being watched. She turned and quickly walked out after Kagome.
Unseen, a pair of violet eyes followed her progress, the owner still thinking of her heavenly voice.
xxxxxxxxx
Phase 3: Singing Lessons…
Erik: (puts an arm around Miroku's shoulder) Miroku, there comes a time in every man's life when-
Miroku: Yes, yes, I had this talk all ready!
Erik: No, not that talk…
Miroku: What talk then?
Erik: You must sing, my friend! Look beyond, there's a whole world waiting to hear your voice! You must breathe music, live music, be the music! You are the Angel of Music! Sing it with me: I am your Angel… Come to me: Angel of Music!
Miroku: (trying to duplicate) I am your Angel… Come to me: Angel of Music!
Erik: That was good, try to be more…hypnotizing…
Miroku: (low, seductive yearning voice) I am your Angel… Come to me: Angel of Music!
Erik: Good, good! Now let's test!
(Goes to get Sango)
Miroku:I am your Angel… Come to me: Angel of Music!
Sango:(walks up to Miroku in a trance-like state, longing for him)
Erik: (crying) I'm… so…PROUD! BRAVI BRAVI BRAVISSMI! … … … Wait, Miroku, don't you dare defy me-!
(Slap!)
Erik: (deep sigh) Unworthy fool with a filthy hand…