(Lin)- Martin, Luella and Madoka, It's been a while since we last wrote to you, How's Martin's research, and your latest case? Everything's fine here. This case was just last week and I thought you'd find it particularly... entertaining. Mai and Masako are currently not speaking.

(Yasuhara)- At all! I think the footage on my phone, computer, YouTube account and camera will entertain you enormously! I have to say, your son has a marvellous stage presence!

It was a cold grey day when the van pulled up outside the auditorium. Mai got out and sighed heavily. "It looks dead."

"It's haunted, Mai, and abandoned. Of course it looks dead." Masako smirked behind her sleeve.

"Just get inside. The owner said that we can stay the night but he's in Hokkaido on holiday." Naru sighed, pulling his coat out. "We'll set out the futons on the stage."

Bou-san frowned. "You mean we'll set the futons out... while you stand around with a clipboard looking all important."

Naru blinked. "Of course." And strode past... with his clipboard... and a smirk.

"Ugh. Bastard." Mai cussed, pouting adorably as Masako trotted after the dark haired boy. "Hey! Wait!"

Yasuhara put out a hand and stopped her. Guy's... I have something really important to say..."

"Sure..." Bou-san said warily.

Lin rolled his eyes (behind his fringe so no one could see.) "My Shiki are-"

"Go on then."

"I said my Shiki..."

"Ok! Ok... it's something I've never said before so don't rush me!"

Lin sighed and put his hand to his face as Yasuhara opened his mouth with a grin.

"I'm not wearing underwear today,
No I'm not wearing underwear today
Not that you probably care
Much about my underwear
Still none the less I gotta say
that I'm not wearing underwear today!"

Mai shouted "Get a Job!"

"Thank you honey!"

There was a silence. "...What was that?" Ayako asked, hand on hip.

"Don't ask me."

"Did anyone else hear the music in the background?"

"Is anyone actually working out here?" Naru asked, leaning against the doorframe in that I'm-too-sexy-for-you way. Lin smirked- finally someone with some –some- sense!

Bou-san scowled. "Just you wait Naru. When my band hits the big time I won't need to bother with all of this, I'm writing one great song before I..." He paused.
"One song
Glory
One song
Before I go
Glory
One song to leave behind
Find one song
One last refrain
Glory
From the pretty boy front man
Who wasted opportunity
One song
He had the world at his feet
Glory
In the eyes of a young girl
A young girl
Find glory
Beyond the cheap coloured lights
One song
Before the sun sets
Glory - on another empty life
Time flies - time dies
Glory - One blaze of glory
One blaze of glory - glory
Find
Glory
In a song that rings true
Truth like a blazing fire
An eternal flame
Find
One song
A song about love
Glory
From the soul of a young man
A young man
Find
The one song
Before the virus takes hold
Glory
Like a sunset
One song
To redeem this empty life
Time flies
And then - no need to endure anymore
Time dies
(A knock on the door)
The door."

Naru raised one eyebrow. "Eloquently put." He shut his eyes. "Let's go in then." And was gone into the dark recesses of the opera house.

Of course, once they were inside things just got funner. Yes, funner. It's the only word that accurately describes just how fantastic filming the various members of SPR randomly bursting into song and prancing (Yes, prancing) around the stage.

After the futons were laid out and the computers set up, Naru instructed that Mai and Masako share one of the larger futons since 'they were the smallest' after all, though Lin suspected that after seeing the two fangirls getting it on at the onsen, Naru's hormones were beginning to peek though. But Mai and Masako latched onto Naru's arms and pulled him in two different directions whilst singing "What is this feeling?" from Wicked the musical, featuring a very epic backing chorus provided by Bou-san and Ayako supporting Mai's plight to win the fair*cough* Naru's heart.

Lin sighed and tried to tell them what his Shiki were doing but was ignored, again. (Cue sweatdrop- hidden perfectly by emo-hair)

A short while after Mai and Masako's dramatic musical argument extravaganza Ayako sat down at a grand piano (which no one had noticed earlier) in the centre of the stage and began to sing in a heartbreaking alto.

"Sometimes I wonder where I've been, who I am, Do I fit it in
Make believing is hard alone
Out here on my own

We're always proving who we are, always reaching for that rising star
To guide me far and shine me home
Out here on my own

WHEN I'M DOWN AND FEELING BLUE
I CLOSE MY EYES SO I CAN BE WITH YOU
OH BABY BE SRONG FOR MEBABY BELONG TO ME
HELP ME THROUGH HELP ME NEED YOU

Until the morning
Sun appears
Making light of all my tear I dry the tears I've never shown
Out here on my own

BUT WHEN I'M DOWN AND FEELING BLUEI CLOSE MY EYES...

Sometimes I wonder where I've been
who I am, do I fit it in
I may not win but I can't be thrown
Out here on my own
Out here on my own"

Bou-san scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "Was she wearing that dress before?"

"It's very nice." Yasuhara pointed out.

"Sparkly." Mai agreed.

"But..." Bou-san smirked. "Didn't the girl who sang that in Fame... wasn't she meant to be very young?"

WHAM

The mood was ruined as Ayako's stiletto heel collided with Bou-san's temple.

"Right people, we have a job to do." Naru snapped, and Lin sighed.

"Naru, really... My Shiki say that..."

"Hara-san, take the basement with John, and Mai go round with Yasuhara, Ayako and Bou-san."

"Yes sir." They chorused, saluting.

As the group dispersed, Lin muttered darkly. "Might as well be invisible."

Cue. Spotlight. Musical score.

"If someone stood up in a crowd
And raised his voice up way out loud
And waved his arm and shook his leg
You'd notice him

If someone in the movie show
Yelled "Fire in the second row
This whole place is a powder keg!"
You'd notice him

And even without clucking like a hen
Everyone gets noticed, now and then,
Unless, of course, that personage should be
Invisible, inconsequential me!

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...

I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...

Suppose you was a little cat
residin' in a person's flat
who fed you fish and scratched your ears?
You'd notice him

Suppose you was a woman, wed
And sleepin' in a double bed
Beside one man, for seven years
You'd notice him

A human being's made of more than air
With all that bulk, you're bound to see him there
Unless that human bein' next to you
Is unimpressive, undistinguished
You know who...

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...
I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there
Never even know I'm there."

He bowed to Naru as the spotlight dimmed.

"Hope I didn't take up too much of your time."

"What?" Naru looked up and Lin shook his head. "Oh, Lin. Watch the monitors."

Silently, Lin tended to his post. Silently, other than the MASSIVLEY evil glare he sent to Naru (hidden by that freaking emo fringe) and muttered curses for pompous brats who don't know how to say please.

Obviously Mai.

The mood didn't improve when John started singing something from Godspell and ended up tripping over his priest robes in embarrassment, after which Naru and Lin watched an amusingly choreographed duet between Ayako and Bou-San which Lin noted was actually "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.

"Well isn't that an interesting turn of events?" Naru smirked. "Everyone seems to be quite caught up in their own little musical numbers."

"Hmm. My Shiki are..."

"You were once my one companion..." Naru sang softly, seemingly distracted by his reflection in one of the blank monitor screens. "You were all that mattered..."

"Phantom of the Opera, Naru? Really?"

"You were once a friend and father... then my world was shattered . . ."

"Is this about Gene? Do you want me to go or..."

"Wishing you were somehow here again . . ." Naru started the chorus and Lin angled a camera towards him. "Wishing you were somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would
be here . . ."

At this point Mai walked in with Yasuhara, since the two had obviously given up on being with the new couple(?) Ayako and Bou-San. Yasuhara grinned and Mai put a hand to her heart as Naru stood up, somehow finding a framed photograph of he and Gene and holding it out in front of him.

"Wishing I could hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I never would . . .
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
all that you dreamed I could . . .
Passing bells
and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you,
the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years
fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past
just die . . .?
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
knowing we must
say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive . . .
teach me to live . . .
give me the strength
to try . . .
No more memories,
no more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
the wasted years . . .
Help me say
goodbye..."

Lin cringed in anticipation as Naru began to sing the final line, which went higher than any male voice should reasonably go.

"Help me say goodbye!"

There was an awkward silence as Naru turned to see his spectators staring at him. Glaring at them all, he crossed his arms. "This haunting has gone too far." He stated, and Mai giggled.

"Naru! You're wearing a dress!"

Naru's face darkened impossibly further. "Too... far..."

___

(Lin-) By the end of the case everyone had sung something, and I think Masako and Mai confessed through song about eight times apiece. Obviously, the two's relationship has worsened considerably as a result, and after the ghost was exorcised (apparently it was an old Theatre owner with a sense of humour) no one mentioned singing again.

(Yasuhara-) Thing is... I think Naru kept that dress.

(Lin-) Yes. Yes he did.

(Yasuhara-) See you next summer Martin, Luella, and Madoka! I've enclosed the recordings for your own personal amusement!

(Lin-) Japan out.