So, after a week, I'm back! Sorry about that! :D
We'll do reviews first today!
nekocandy4life: I do that too! xD Except for reading out loud, lol. I don't think I've ever done that, hmm... But yeah! Thanks! :D I know, I want to watch the movie too! D:
NinjaSheik: I know, sorry! I was trying to get it out really fast, haha, so I didn't end up waiting till the last minute! I hope this chapter makes up for it! :D
starflower3300: Thanks for the really long reply, haha. I'm really glad you said something, because while I was writing it I thought maybe it seemed just too much like the actual script, though I wasn't sure if I should change it or not. I had a few future plans, but it is kind of a long way off, haha, and I do plan on doing some things differently. I'm still really happy that you said something though, thanks. :D
hiyokocchi: Thanks! :D I hope you stick around for more! :D
By the time Ritsu's alarm rang at five o'clock A.M exactly, he'd already been up pacing in his kitchen for the past hour and a half. Even though he'd taken a shower the previous night, he'd taken a bath this morning around three, to attempt to clear his head, and had attempted to fall back asleep on the couch, only to have the same reoccurring, opera-centric dream of Takano appearing in front of him in the vanity mirror. He was used to having these unwanted dreams involving his editor-in-chief, though not one had been as hard to get rid of, persisting him to finish it to where he'd been this deprived of sleep.
Hearing his second alarm go off at 5:10, he gave a yawn mixed with a groan, heading to his bedroom to retrieve his phone. Turning off his blaring alarm clock before heading back to the kitchen, he opened the door to his refrigerator and searched through rows of energy drinks, attempting to find something that could pass as his breakfast. Unable too, he pulled back with a growl from both his mouth and stomach, attempting to settle himself down with a promise of stopping before he had to get on the train. Closing the door to his fridge reluctantly, he headed back to the dent he had made on his couch from the morning's restless attempt at sleep, snuggling back down into in, not bothering with the thought of the wrinkles forming in his blazer. Yanking a fleece blanket from the back of his couch, he shivered at the static crackling from it as he wrapped it around his body, curling up into as good of a ball as he could manage, trying to get comfortable. Finally managing to accomplish this, he leaned his head back, allowing his eyes to drift shut finally, wishing himself a Takano-free dream.
"I am your Angel of Music...
Come to me: Angel of Music..."
Ritsu's eyes shot open, giving a shriek of, "Hell no!" as fists pounded against his door. Giving another groan, he allowed himself to lean forward and ungracefully tumble from the couch to the floor, keeping the blanket wrapped around his shoulders as he stood and walked over to the door, opening it.
He considered slamming it shut at the worried hazel eyes that stared down at him.
"I've heard you pacing since three o'clock this morning. What were you doing up so early?" asked Takano, looking down at the glaring Ritsu.
"I don't believe that's any of your business." replied the shorter, tightening his grip on the blanket. When Takano didn't reply for a moment, Ritsu stepped back, about to shut the door when Takano invited himself in.
"What're you doing?! Get out!" snapped Ritsu, dropping the blanket as he stared at Takano, who was walking around the apartment, as if to inspect if anyone else was there.
His search apparently over with, Takano looked back over at the brunette, "You know," he said, stepping towards Ritsu, "you'd look a lot more intimidating if you didn't have those bags underneath your eyes."
Ritsu's eyes narrowed, ignoring his comment aside from that. "Why are you in my apartment?" snapped Ritsu as he collected his blanket, pulling it back round his shoulders as he headed back to his couch, as if to make it clear Ritsu was going to attempt to take yet another nap, and that it was about time Takano took his leave.
In stead, however, Takano plopped down on the opposite end of the couch from Ritsu, as if he were oblivious to his indignant look. "I figured I'd make sure you were awake this morning, so you weren't late." he replied, leaning his head back against Ritsu's couch.
"How kind." Ritsu grumbled, though inside he was kicking and screaming to get rid of his Angel- err, editor-in-chief.
"So get up."
Ritsu's head snapped to the side, back to look at Takano, "... Excuse me?"
"I said get up. We still have to get something to eat before we head to the train. So get up."
Ritsu sat, shell shocked for a moment before standing, still with his mouth agape. Once more, for good measure, he hissed, "... Excuse me?"
Takano hesitated, standing as well, beginning to walk to the door, "Come on." he ushered, and Ritsu gave an aggravated scoff, dropping his blanket before gathering his bag and heading out after Takano.
Taking the last bite from his bagel, Ritsu kept his eyes glued to the middle of Takano's broad back as they weaved through the crowd at the train station; partly so he wouldn't lose him, and partly because Ritsu was convinced it was one of the few things he could do to keep his eyes open. He kept at his heel as they slid into the train, Takano allowing the yawning Ritsu to take the open seat while Takano stood, eyes staring down at the groggy Ritsu.
Takano rolled his eyes, giving an annoyed hmph. "Why didn't you sleep last night?" he asked, though Ritsu still didn't look up at him, keeping his eyes glued to the bag he had clutched in his lap.
"I'm an insomniac." Though Ritsu had intended for those words to have a heavy dose of sarcasm to them, he was surprised at how normal they sounded coming from his lips. Unsure whether Takano took him seriously or not, he decided after a moment he no longer cared, leaning his head against his own shoulder.
He barely heard Takano's voice attempt to wake him back up, though he shook it off.
Takano smiled at the confused opera star, reaching forward and claiming his wrist, yanking him inside the opened mirror. Shoving the brunette further into the corridor, he pulled the mirror shut, just as An got the door unlocked, stumbling over the hem of her dress as she entered the room.
"Whose voice was that...? Ricchan! Ricchan! Angel?!"
In the labyrinth below, Ritsu sat in the farthest end of the boat, away from the Phantom, whose brown eyes glared forward at the boy who was attempting to fake an annoyed face to cover the fear he felt. Candles cast a shadow across the pale mask the Phantom wore, giving him an even more mysterious appearance.
After a moment, the Phantom opened his mouth when it became obvious Ritsu wasn't.
"... Sing once again with me, our strange duet-"
"I'm not singing with you."
The Phantom hesitated at the boy's blunt statement, his eyebrows drawing together in aggregation before he continued.
"My power of you grows stronger yet..." Ritsu gave an annoyed snort at the Phantom's attempts, turning his head to look down at the dark waters, imagining what kind of strange beasts could be lurking down in the depths.
"... And though you turn from me, to glance behind - The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind!"
Ritsu however kept ignoring him, his eyes trained to the lake, occasionally flicking up to the light the candles provided. The Phantom, becoming more and more annoyed, allowed his voice to crescendo.
"Sing, my Angel of Music!"
Ritsu hesitated, eyes blinking up from the water, his fingertips going to the tiny bump of an Adam's apple he barely had. Glossy eyes finally stared up at the looming Phantom, who gave another smile down at the kneeling boy.
"Sing, my Angel of Music!"he repeated, holding his palm out to Ritsu, and, against his own will, a high note escaped Ritsu's throat, long and with a crescendo resembling the Phantom's.
The boat bumped to the shore of the Phantom's lair, candelabrum illuminating a pipe organ, set off to the side of the lair. Ritsu jumped from the boat when he sense the Phantom's presence looming behind him, and as the Phantom elegantly stepped off he walked over to the pipe organ, taking a seat.
"Here you are, at the throne of sweet music's... This kingdom, where all must pay homage to music... I have brought you here for one purpose, and one alone... Since the moment I first heard you sing, I've wanted you with me; To serve, to sing, my music..."
After a moment of watching the Phantom's hands move along the organ keys, Ritsu took wary steps towards the organ as the tone changed.
"Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation... Darkness stirs and wakes imagination... Silently the senses, abandon their defenses!"
Finally able to steel himself, Ritsu walked forward, each step bringing him closer and closer to the Phantom's form at the organ.
"Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendor . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to
the music of the night . . .
Close your eyes
and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit
start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never
lived before . . .
Softly, deftly,
music shall surround you . . .
Feel it, hear it,
closing in around you . . .
Open up your mind,
let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of
the music of the night . . .
Let your mind
start a journey through a
strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
of the world
you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you
long to be !
Only then
can you belong
to me . . .
Floating, falling,
sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
savor each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night . . ."
Stopping beside the Phantom, Ritsu reached out a wary hand, placing it against the Phantom's cold skin before finally settling on his mask, fingers moving slowly along. After a moment, the Phantom's fingers slowing down along the keys, he stood, taking Ritsu's hand and pulling him deeper into his lair. Stopping in front of a mirror, their figures distorted from the dust, the Phantom reached out a gloved hand to the cloaked figure in front of the mirror, grabbing at the cover and swooping it up.
Ritsu gasped at the sight of himself in a wedding gown, tool and lace swallowing up the figure of himself. After a few shaky breaths, he took two steps towards himself, jumping back when a hand suddenly reached out for him. Falling back against the Phantom, feeling his arms surround him as he collapsed.
"You alone can make my song take flight - help me make the music of the night..."
Ritsu awoke to the sound of the train conductor's voice sounding above, announcing his stop nearing close. Blinking groggy eyes open, he sat up straight, mentally cursing at himself for allowing the Phantom of the Opera dreams to continue. He sighed at his eyes adjusted to the light around him, being half blocked out by the still standing Takano. He supposed they hadn't gotten too bad...
Brushing off Takano's outstretched hand when the train stopped and its door opened, he stood by himself, though still kept close to his editor-in-chief's coattails as the exited.
Woot! Hope you guys liked the new chapter. :3 I'm pretty sure it was longer than the ones before? But that's okay, I was gone for a week, and the chapters before weren't really that long! :3
Also, I have a new idea for a Sekaiichi Hatsukoi fanfic, though this one would be strictly parody! A Mean Girls parody? I'm really embarrassed about the idea, but it's my favorite movie and I can imagine Kisa as Janis and Yukina as Damian. :3