Probably the last chapter until after band camp! Well, here it is!
Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera or Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.
He was going to die. Lovely. And his last thoughts had been wasted on that stupid book he was being forced to read! Attempting to pull himself away from the grip on his shoulder, he gasped as it tightened, and, as he prepared to pull back his fist, another hand caught his wrist.
"What're you doing walking home alone?"
His thrashing suddenly stopped, and he blinked up at the towering man before him. Unsure what to say at first, he felt a blush beginning to creep up his neck, clutching onto his bag.
"A-ano... Takano-san..."
"I asked you why you were walking home alone."
At his commanding, annoyed tone, Ritsu's shame slowly faded. "Why are you sneaking up on me?!"
"I asked you a question first."
Ritsu set his shoulders back, "That doesn't matter! You have no right to be following me like this!" he said, before turning on his heel, beginning to walk again. Hearing Takano's footsteps following after him, he narrowed his eyes though didn't bother speaking.
"Haven't you seen the news lately?" inquired Takano, now beside Ritsu, "About that murderer?"
"Which is exactly who I thought you were." replied Ritsu, turning another corner, casting Takano an annoyed look when he followed. "Can you at least walk on the other side of the road?"
Takano blinked down at the brunette beside him, "Why would I do that?"
Ritsu didn't reply, noticing their apartment complex looming in the distance, a few lights illuminating windows. His feet itched to speed up, to try to beat Takano to the elevator, though forced himself to calm down.
"I'd been following you for about ten minutes back there. You should start paying attention. What were you doing?"
"Thinking."
Takano glanced at Ritsu, "About what?"
"Nothing." he stated, though, knowing Takano would continue questioning, continued, "About the party Yoshikawa-sensei is throwing."
Takano gave a nod, appearing to of lost his interest after that as they entered their building, heading to the elevator together. Getting in, Ritsu allowed Takano to hit a button, silence surrounding them, uncomfortable only for Ritsu.
"Have you been reading that book?"
Ritsu hesitated at the sudden question, looking over at his boss, before nodding his head. "Yes... but I'm not too far in it." he replied, before turning back away to look at his reflection in the elevator doors.
Takano only replied with a nod as the doors opened, both men walking out to their hall, stopping at their designated rooms.
"I want that book back when you're done."
Ritsu sputtered, glancing over to the door beside his, "You can have it back now!"
Beginning to dig his way through his bag, he looked back up as Takano's door shut behind him. Grumbling under his breath, Ritsu dropped the book back into his bag before turning, unlocking his own door before heading inside. Stepping out of his shoes, he dropped down on his couch, pulling his bag up beside him and rummaging through it. After a moment, he let out a defeated sighed, pulling Phantom of the Opera out from underneath his belongings, opening to his bookmarked page.
Holding his glass of champagne high, Ryuichiro grinned, clapping Kaoru on his back. "What a great idea, with Onodera-san! There wasn't a single refund!" he beamed, his hand still on his subordinate's back as they walked down the hall.
Kaoru gave a sigh, "That sounds really greedy." he murmured.
"But we've made such a discovery in Onodera-san, Kaoru!" he said in response, stopping in front of a door, holding out his hand, "Here we are, Madame de Vicomtesse! Onodera-san's dressing room."
The brunette girl gave a slight smile, curtseying to the two men, her heavy necklaces creating a metallic noise. "Thank you, messieurs. Though, gentlemen, if you don't mind, I would prefer to go in alone?"
Excepting Kaoru's untouched glass of champagne, the two men bowed to the girl before stepping away, allowing her to knock before entering.
"Onodera Ritsu, where is your scarf?"
The boy sitting at his vanity blinked at his reflection, before glancing back to the girl, standing in her doorway. "... Madame?"
"You can't have lost it, Ricchan! After all the work I went through to make it!"
Ritsu gave a smile, standing from her vanity and going over to her, "You kept pricking yourself. An-chan, it is you!"
"Ricchan!"
The two wrapped their arms round each other, laughing. As Ritsu pulled away, heading back to sit at his vanity, An's voice followed him.
"Little Lotte let her mind wander..."
Ritsu hesitated, before looking over his shoulder at her and laughing again. "You remember that, too?"
An smiled back, "Little Lotte thought: Am I fonder of dolls?"
Ritsu joined in, sitting down at his vanity, "... Or of goblins, of shoes... Of riddles, of frocks?"
"... Or of chocolates?" An gave another laugh, going to stand beside Ritsu, "Remember, when we used to have picnics in the attic?"
Ritsu smiled at their reflection, "Watching Father write his plays, Mother playing her violin..."
"We used to read each other those scary stories, from the North..."
Ritsu ran a hand along what was left of his bouquet, "No, what I love best, Lotte said, is when I'm asleep in my bed, and the angel of music sings songs in my head..."
Ritsu turned in his chair to look at An, clutching onto a rose still left, "Father told me, that, when he's in heaven, he'd send the Angel of Music to me... Father is gone, An-chan, and I've - I've been visited by the Angel...!"
"I don't doubt it, Ricchan!" said An, taking hold of Ritsu's hands, "But, come on, let's go eat!"
Ritsu blinked at An, before gently pulling his hands back, folding them in his lap, "No, An-chan, I can't. The Angel, he's very strict..."
An paid him no mind, shaking her head, "I won't keep you late!"
"No, An-chan, really-"
"I'll go get my shawl, Ricchan, and I'm sure you'll want to change! Two minutes, Little Lotte?" Not waiting for a reply, An pinched her dress up, walking out.
"No, wait, An-chan!" Realizing the girl was already gone, Ritsu slouched, giving a sigh as he turned to look back at his reflection. "You don't understand, things have changed..."
Giving another sigh, the boy reached forward to grab a brush, inwardly trying to decide what to wear. Looking up at himself, he hesitated at the voice that rose up.
"What an insolent girl! Such a slave, basking in your glory! She seems a very ignorant bachelorette, demanding such, sharing my triumph!"
Dropping his brush, Ritsu placed a hand to his mirror, "Angel! I can hear you! Speak, I will listen! Please, stay by my side, guide me! Please, forgive me, my soul is weak... Enter, Master!"
"What a flattering child. You shall see me, and see why I hide in the shadows. Look at your face in the mirror- I am inside there."
And, with that, a figure of a certain broad, noirette became prominent in the mirror.
Ritsu threw his book up in the air, his fingers digging through his hair. The book landed somewhere beside his couch, though he didn't bother with worrying about, vigorously shaking his head, muttering, 'Nopenopenopenopenope.'
How did he get in this?! How could Ritsu imagine him as the Phantom! Him of all people! Ritsu pulled at his brown locks in frustration, standing up from his couch and collecting the book, inspecting its binding to see if any damage was done in his episode.
Still... Why him of all people?!
Why was he even dreaming about this book? He was being forced to read it, it shouldn't catch his attention that much!
Giving a groan, Ritsu returned the book to his bag, before trudging away to his shower.
Hope this didn't seem that rushed! D:
nekocandy4life: Haha, I'm not going to ruin it and say what's going to happen (most likely because I haven't figured it out myself xD)! Thanks for everything, I wasn't too sure on this to begin with so everyone hsa really helped. :3
NinjaSheik: I love Kisa, and I imagine him and Ritsu being really close, so I tried xD Thanks for the reviews, it really helps me! :3
See everyone in a week! :3
Review?