Next chapter! :3

Disclaimer: I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi or Phantom of the Opera!

Arriving in the Emerald office, lagging behind Takano slightly more than their departure from the train, he clutched his bag to his chest as Kisa stood from his desk, walking over to Ritsu as if he hadn't seen him for months.

"Ricchan!" Kisa cried, grabbing the sleeve to Ritsu's blazer, yanking him straight back to the elevator, "Come with me to get coffee!"

Ritsu hesitated, stumbling to follow after Kisa's surprisingly strong hold, "But - Kisa-san, I thought you were on a diet...?"

"That's the thing, Ricchan!" said Kisa as they entered the elevator, turning and clasping his hands together in front of him, "Almost everyone in the office has heard about this stupid diet! You don't understand how bad of a headache I have right now though, Ricchan! I'm going through withdrawals, I need caffeine; it's only been four days since I've started this, and I'm already getting sick of those stupid diet waters! How do they make water diet?!" Shaking his head as if to recollect his thoughts, he pressed a hand to his temple, "Sorry, I got carried away. The point is, Ricchan - I need you to buy me a coffee so they won't know I'm cheating on my diet; normally I wouldn't mind but... Anyway! I'll give you the money, Ricchan, please?!"

Ritsu hesitated, overwhelmed by the older man's sudden pleas, excepting the money that was pushed into his hands as the elevator dinged open.

"Thanks, Ricchan!" beamed Kisa, still with a hand pressed to his pounding temple as they approached the vending machines. He notably paused a few feet away from the machines, allowing Ritsu to walk forward for himself, as if the two were about to enter a haunted house. Glancing over his shoulder at his colleague, Ritsu gave a sigh before paying for Kisa's coffee, walking back towards Kisa and waiting till they'd once again entered the elevator before handing him the can of coffee.

Kisa beamed once again at Ritsu, opening the can, "You have no idea how much I owe you, Ricchan." he said, barely done with his sentence as he began to gulp down the can, attempting to rid of it before they reached the Emerald department.

Ritsu gave a slight smile, nodding, "It's fine, Kisa-san. If you don't mind me asking, though... Why are you going on a diet?"

Kisa hesitated, sputtering into his can of coffee, brushing off the hand Ritsu patted on his back. After a moment, he pulled back with a shrug of his shoulders, before turning to smile at Ritsu. After a slight pause, as if to let Kisa decide whether he was going to answer or not, he opened his mouth. "For Yukina." he said simply, before going back to his coffee, and Ritsu was unsure if this was Kisa's way of admitting to his and Yukina's relationship.

Ritsu blinked, gripping onto the strap of his bag that he hadn't been able to deposit before Kisa pulled him away. "... Yukina-san wants you to go on a diet, Kisa-san?" Though knowing it wasn't his place to pry, Ritsu couldn't help himself but to question further. Yukina didn't seem like the kind too-

Kisa laughed, "Oh, no. He thinks the whole thing is stupid. Which, I guess it is, considering it hasn't even been a week and I've already broken." Kisa chuckled into the coffee can, before pulling back and shrugging again, "But it's something I've wanted to do for awhile, so Yukina's okay with it, as long as I don't take it overboard. But I kind of already did, didn't I?"

Ritsu hesitated, before smiling back at Kisa, briefly wondering if Kisa saved this insecure, calmed down persona for Yukina and Yukina alone. "I think it's nice that you're taking this seriously." he said, and the two boys smiled at each other again, just as the door to the elevator slid open.

Kisa panicked for a moment, trying to pass the can of coffee off to Ritsu; though he was unable too by the time their editor-in-chief stepped in-between the two, separating them. "I thought you weren't supposed to drink coffee on your diet." he said simply.

"S-shut up!" Kisa sputtered, holding the can of coffee away from him as if poison, "It's Ricchan's coffee, I just wanted a drink of it!"

Takano rolled his eyes, "I highly doubt," he said, leaning forward and pressing a button, closing the elevator's doors, "that Onodera-san would drink after you, or anybody, for that matter."

Kisa huffed, "We needed to get off at that floor." he replied, attempting to change the subject, though he continued to sip from the coffee can.

"No, you didn't. You two are coming downstairs with me to meet up with Yoshikawa-sensei." Takano said, glancing down at the two boys.

"But Hatori is in charge of Yoshino." Kisa looked over his can of coffee at his editor-in-chief, having no shame in using the mangaka's true name, "What's he doing here, anyway?"

Takano sighed, "Hatori has been stressed out ever since Yoshikawa-sensei's book has been green-lighted for a film. I called Yoshino-san and he said he was coming here before I could stop him. He needs to be working... this is just going to stress Hatori out even more..." Takano gave another sigh, running his hand through his hair, as if to think of a way to shoo Yoshino away before Hatori could get wind of his appearance at Marukawa.

"So why are we going to meet him downstairs in stead of Hatori?"

"Hatori's busy talking to another author about the party. He doesn't have time to talk to Yoshino-san at the moment." Takano said simply as the elevator door opened. All three editors walked out, glancing around the lobby for the familiar spiky brown hair that belonged to Chiaki Yoshino.

Kisa shrugged, depositing the can into a nearby garbage can before swaying back over to the two, eyes looking from side to side every so often to see if Chiaki had suddenly appeared. "Takano," he asked, glancing up to his editor-in-chief who had paused, "Chiaki - he's over there."

Takano blinked, his eyes moving to the direction Kisa's finger pointed towards, where stood a lost looking Chiaki, blue eyes looking blankly around. Takano gave a sigh before heading over to the underweight boy, and, after a moment and a shared glance, Kisa and Ritsu followed.

"Yoshino-san."

Chiaki hesitated at his name being called, panicking for a second before glancing up, letting out a breath when he saw Takano approaching him. "Oh - Takano-san," he said, offering a smile as the three editors came closer, "Kisa-san! And - um, Onodera-san... What're you three doing here?..."

Kisa smiled, weaving his way in front of Takano, much to the taller noirette's annoyance, "Chiaki, we could ask you the same thing!"

Chiaki hesitated for a moment, before smiling back at the shorter boy, "Oh - I'm here to see Hatori, Takano said he was getting stressed out about the movie... I wanted to drop by to talk to him..."

Kisa grinned, slapping a hand down on Chiaki's shoulder, "Oh, but, Chiaki, you wouldn't want-"

"Yoshino-san?"

All four men paused before turning towards the open elevator, where Hatori walked out, holding a folder of manuscripts to his side as he approached them. Takano and Kisa parted for tall man to walk towards the managaka, who hesitated when his cover from the two noirettes faded.

"... Tori! What're you doing?" Chiaki recovered a moment later, stepping forth, in-between the other men to Hatori, smiling at him.

"You should be working."

Chiaki blanched, sputtering for an answer. Takano gave a sigh before turning back towards the elevator, settling with letting Hatori deal with the mangaka. "Come on, Kisa-san, Onodera-san." he ordered, glancing back when he noticed the two weren't following, Ritsu waiting for Kisa.

"It's fine, Takano! I'm going to stay here with Yoshino, I'll walk him out to his car when he's done talking to Hatori." Kisa said, waving to Takano as if to say he were fine.

"You're just going to get another coffee, I'm not stupid." Takano said with a roll of his eyes, turning back to the elevator, "Come on, Onodera-san."

Ritsu hesitated, glancing between Kisa and Takano, "Ano - I'll go with Kisa-san, Tak-"

"No, I'll be fine, Ricchan! Go ahead and head back to the office!"

Ritsu sputtered, similar to the way Chiaki was, before excepting his loss and heading into the elevator behind Takano, watching Kisa barely wait until the elevator doors had closed before running off to the vending machines.

Chin resting in his hand as he scrolled through the document on his laptop, Ritsu yelled when he was suddenly tackled out of his chair to the plush carpeting of the Emerald office, pulled out of the daydream he was about to fall in.

"Ricchan! Ricchan! I have to talk to you!"

Ritsu gasped, able to shove Kisa off of him and stand back up before too many eyes drifted over to the two men on the floor, "Kisa-san!" Ritsu attempted to scold, though was unable too once he saw Kisa's face, eyes wide and paled.

"Ricchan!" stumbling up with the help of Ritsu, Kisa clasped onto his hand and pulled him out of the office, ignoring Takano asking just where they thought they were going.

Ritsu followed after Kisa until the two had reached the bathroom, Kisa yanking him inside after him. "K-Kisa-san! Wh-what's wrong?!"

Kisa didn't reply, taking a moment to regain himself, muttering under his breath. "And this is why I need to go on a diet..." before turning back to Ritsu, "Ricchan... You have no idea what Chiaki just asked me."

Ritsu hesitated, slightly angered by the fact Kisa had pulled him out of his work to gossip. "What, Kisa-san?"

Kisa blinked his eyes down at the tiles of the flooring, before finally turning his face back to the brunette. "... He asked me if Yukina was going to come to the party."

Ritsu stayed angry for only a second longer before curiosity got the better of him, "... What? You told him you two were dating, Kisa-san?"

Kisa shrugged, turning from Ritsu to his reflection in the mirror, brushing a hand through his hair, "No... Well, yeah, I guess... He wanted me to date one of his editors, what else was I supposed to do? He wouldn't get off my back about it. Besides, he's dating Hatori, he can't really-"

"Yoshino-san is... What?"

Kisa hesitated when he was interrupted, turning towards the shell shocked Ritsu; at his face, Kisa laughed, shoulders shaking. "R-Ricchan! You didn't know that?! Oh... You're really slow on office gossip, aren't you?!"

Ritsu blinked at Kisa's sense of humor, "Office gossip?" he briefly wondered if there was much circulating about him, though he pushed it away for a later worry, "But..."

"Oh, don't worry, only the editors in Emerald know, of course. Hatori didn't speak to Mino for a week after he told me, Ricchan, how didn't you notice?!" He continued laughing for a moment more before brushing that off with a wave of his hand, moving on to the issue at hand, "But, we can talk about that later, Ricchan! We have a bigger problem to deal with!"

Ritsu gave a sigh of defeat, agreeing with the idea of talking to Kisa later about the office gossip, "Well, do you want Yukina-san to come, Kisa-san?"

Kisa pondered for a moment, a finger going to his chin, "... Hmm, I guess I do, Ricchan. But I don't want him to feel obligated to take off time from work just to go to some party with me! Plus... I don't know how he'll deal with the idea Yoshikawa-sensei's a..."

Ritsu nodded, shrugging his shoulders, trying to seem helpful, "... So, then, what's wrong with taking Yukina-san, Kisa-san?..."

Kisa blinked, eyes turning back to Ritsu. "... I..." He opened his mouth to speak though quickly closed it, appearing to think for another moment, "... I wonder what people in the office will say." he said after a moment, his eyes darting to the side to avoid Ritsu's.

Ritsu however stayed quiet, unsure what exactly to say.

"... I mean, who do you think will be there, Ricchan? Emerald, Yoshikawa-sensei's editors, Ryuichiro, and if he comes then Kaoru, maybe Yoshikawa's family, maybe Yokozawa?... I guess that's not so bad, now that I say it out loud. It's not like it'll be that big of a party... But Yukina is really talkative, so it's not like I can expect him just to talk to the people from Emerald..." His hand moved from his chin to comb through his hair again, "I don't know - I guess I'll talk to Yukina tonight - Hey, I'll-"

Before his sentence was finished the door to the bathroom opened, Mino walking in, "Kisa, one of your author's just called." he smiled, shrugging, "She sounded really pissed. Takano's trying to calm her down right now."

Kisa gasped, shaking his head though didn't voice his disapproval at the thought that Takano was 'calming' his author down. "Do you know which one?"

Mino shook his head, walking forth and grabbing the collar of Kisa's shirt when Takano's yells became audible, "Takano answered before I could. He just sent me to get you." the man said simply, pulling Kisa from the bathroom against the older man's protests, Ritsu following suit.

Music sounding from a rabbit-shaped music bow woke up the sleeping opera star, the knob in-between its pink wings winding down the notes, its wand moving side to side with a mechanic movement. Glossed over green eyes looked round, trying to spot the object causing the music, before losing interest with his search and settling on the over sized organ where a cloaked figure sat. Occasionally, the figure broke way from the keys to jot down notes, though would quickly turn back.

"I remember," the opera star announced to no one, standing from the bed he'd been laid upon, "there was a lot of mist and... a black lake... " Glancing back up to the figure at the organ, he took a few experimental steps, though not one drew the figure's attention, "There were candles, and on the black lake, a boat... And... a man inside the boat..."

After a moment of watching the figure and a few more wary steps, he crossed to the organ, and the figure did not see the star until his hand reached for the mask upon his face. Pulling away, he turned back to his notes to write down the accidental on a note - unable to see, the opera star's hand reached out again, catching the mask and pulling it off.

The Phantom shot up, hand going to cover his face as he turned on Ritsu, "You little prying Pandora!" he snapped, "You little demon - is this what you wanted to see? Now you can't be free!" Shaking his head with his hand still to his face, he turned back to his organ, hand outstretched to Ritsu, "But, Ritsu... Fear can turn to love - you'll see." Pulling the mask from Ritsu's hands, he arranged it back onto his face before finally turning back.

"Come, we must return. The fool who runs my theatre must be missing you."

A hand clapped down upon the shoulder of a dancer, initiating a gasp that drove the rest of them into laughter; a brunette weaved his way through the dancers and back into his position in front of them, the fabric he wore as a cloak draped across his shoulders making himself seem broader than he was. Shell necklaces clacked together rhythmically as he took his spot where all the dancers could see him, pulling out a length of rope from his cloak.

Kisa stood beside a tall woman, a pale blue dress drawn tightly together at her hips in an attempt to give her underweight body some sort of shape. Glancing out from underneath her bonnet as the boy passed her, she gave an encouraging when his cinnamon eyes met her blue orbs, tucking a strand of shaggy black hair back that had flown free.

"His skin looks like yellowed parchment, a black hole as the nose that never grew..."

Placing his hand between his neck and the noose he'd created, giving a grin to the watching dancers before pulling the rope tight. All gasped, the loudest coming from the girl in the bonnet, though they all clapped at his demonstration when the boy bowed.

"You should always be on you guard - or else he'll catch you with his lasso!"

A trap door appeared center stage, a shadow of the Phantom arising from it. Kisa gave a gasp, clasping hands with the tall girl and pulling her off after the other dancers, calling for Yuu to follow. The Phantom grabbed Ritsu's shoulder, sweeping him under his cloak as they passed Yuu, hazel eyes staring before turning back when another figure made themselves seen.

"You speak too much of what 'you know.'" Yuu gasped at the sudden voice, turning to find Hatori glaring down at him. "Normally those like you find out too late that silence is wiser. I would recommend holding your tongue, Yuu Yanase, before he comes after you."

Kaoru sat, leaning over the desk with the gold name plate of Ryuichiro gleaming proudly, cast off to the side. Eyes darted over the newspaper laid out in front of him, before turning back to the headline.

"Mystery After Gala Night..." he read, holding the newspaper up, "Mystery of Soprano's Flight! They suspect foul play?..." He shook his head, dropping the newspaper back to the littered desk he had tried to clean for Ryuichiro, "We have such bad news with sopranos... First Yokozawa-sama, now Onodera-san! At least the seats sell, if only for the gossip..." He clutched his head in his hand, attempting to fight off the upcoming migraine, "What a way to run a business..."

The door slammed open, shaking on its hinges, "Kaoru! Will they walk out?!"

Kaoru gave a sigh, hands moving up to massage his temples, "Please, Ryuichiro-sama, don't shout..." He glanced up from Ryuichiro's desk, "This is free publicity, is it not?"

"But we have no cast!" Against Kaoru's pleas, Ryuichiro kept shouting, walking over and pounding his hand down on his desk for emphasis.

"But, Ryuichiro-sama, have you seen the queue? You've gotten on too..." Pulling a letter from atop Ryuichiro's stack of mail he'd organized, he handed to the angered man, who ripped apart the envelope.

"Dear Ryuichiro, what a charming gala! Onodera seemed to have a great success!

We didn't know what to do when Yokozawa left, though I have to admit, the chorus was entrancing!

Though, the dancing, a mess."

Kaoru opened a drawer of the desk he sat at, producing a gilded letter opener from its depths and opening his own envelope.

"Dear Kaoru, here is a brief reminder: My salary has yet to be paid. Send it to the ghost, by return of post!

No one likes a debtor, and it's better if my demands are meant, anyway."

Ryuichiro slammed his hand down on his desk again, "Who would send us these?! Such gall!"

Kaoru reached for the letter Ryuichiro had thrown down, examining both. "They're signed O.G..."

"And who the hell is that?!"

Kaoru gave a sigh, folding both letters up neatly as he responded, "Opera Ghost."

Ryuichiro growled, "This is no longer amusing, Kaoru!"

"I know, Ryuichiro-sama."

"He's abusing our position, and to add to that he wants money!"

Kaoru sighed, glancing down at the two letters he had folded, "He is quite a strange specter..."

"He is, to expect to receive such a large amount of money! Obviously insane!"

Ryuichiro opened his mouth, about to continue his rant when a girl rushed in, flapping her letter around in the air.

"Where is he!" she demanded, stopping beside Ryuichiro in front of his desk.

"You mean Yokozawa?"

"No, I do not mean Yokozawa! I mean Ricchan! Where is he!"

"How are we supposed to know?!"

"I do not have time for your games, gentlemen! I suppose it was you who sent me this letter?!"

Kaoru gave a sigh, standing from the desk, "What is this nonsense?"

Ryuichiro gave a nod, pointing an accusing finger to the brunette girl, "Kaoru's right! We didn't send you that letter, don't blame us!"

"He's not with you, then?"

Kaoru shook his head, "No, Madame. We are also in the dark."

She blinked round eyes, staring at the two men in front of her, "Messieurs - Do not argue! Isn't this the letter you wrote?"

Ryuichiro's shoulders went back, "And what is it that we have apparently wrote - or, is it written?"

Kaoru took the letter from An's outstretched hands, reading aloud.

"Do not fear for little Ricchan - The Angel of Music has him under his wing! Do not attempt to see him again."

The two men glanced towards each other with an unsure look, An grabbing the letter back, inspecting it, "If you do not write it, Messieurs, then who did?"

Another figure burst into the room, him as well clutching onto a letter.

"Where is he!" he spat, blazing blue eyes looking to the three others in the room.

"Wild Horse, welcome back!" Ryuichiro cheered, though was silenced when Yokozawa's glare turned to him.

"Your little patron! Where is he?! I have your letter!"

Ryuichiro glanced towards An, "And did you write this letter, Madame?" he sneered.

She hesitated, turning towards him, "Of course not!"

Kaoru grabbed Ryuichiro by his elbow, "As if she would, Ryuichiro." his voice had a warning tone to it, still clutching onto his arm.

Yokozawa whirled on An, "You did not send it?"

"Of course not!"

"You dare tell me," Yokozawa snarled, stepping towards the girl, "that you did not send this letter!"

"And what is it that I've sent!"

She grabbed for the letter in Yokozawa's hands, taking it.

"Your days at the Opera Marukawa are numbered; Onodera Ritsu will be singing on your behalf tonight!

Be prepared for a great misfortune, if you attempt to take his place."

Ryuichiro growled, shaking his head, "There has been way too many letters for my taste." he declared, "And all of them about Onodera!"

Before any could speak, a knock sounded on the open door, announcing their arrival as Hatori walked in, Kisa close at his hip. "Onodera-san has returned." he announced.

Kaoru gripped tighter onto Ryuichiro's arm before he could speak, "And where is he now, Hatori-san?"

"Home." Hatori said, pulling aside a chair from the side of the room and sitting down in it, leaving Kisa to stand.

"He needed rest." Kisa continued.

An pushed forward, making herself seen. "Can I see him?"

"He will see no one at the moment, Madame." Hatori said, leaning back in his chair.

Yokozawa shoved An to the side, "Will he sing?"

Hatori sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, pulling an envelope from his pocket and holding it up, "I have a note."

Ryuichiro, An, even Yokozawa all rushed forward to grab the letter, "Let me see it!"

Kaoru jumped in front of the three, glaring mostly at Ryuichiro, "Please, that is enough!" he snapped, grabbing the letter from Hatori's hands. Opening it, he sighed, before unfolding the letter.

"Gentlemen, I have sent several letters to you in my kindest nature, telling you how my theatre is to be run.

And you haven't followed any of them! Now, here is your last chance..."

As Kaoru spoke another voice rang up, deep and unfamiliar.

"... Onodera Ritsu has been returned to you, and I'd love to see how her career progresses.

In the new production of II Muto, Yokozawa shall be cast as the Pageboy while Onodera-san will be the Countess.

The Pageboy is a silent role, while Onodera's needs charm and appeal. I believe my casting is...

Ideal.

I will be watching from my normal seat in Box Five, kept empty for me. If these demands are ignored,

a disaster beyond your wildest imaginations will befall."

Kaoru's voice came through once again, loud and clear.

"And I will remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

O.G."

"Onodera!" Yokozawa growled, "It's all been to help him!"

"What's next?..." murmured Ryuichiro, going to stand beside Kaoru, who shook his head, muttering back, "Ryuichiro-sama, this is insane..."

Yokozawa however continued, whirling round to point a finger at An, "It has to be her, the Victomesse!"

"Oh, really?" snapped the girl before turning to the others, "Do you believe him!"

"Yokozawa-sama!" said Kaoru, breaking away from Ryuichiro, "This has to be a joke!"

Ryuichiro however stepped toward the Wild Horse with different intentions, "You are our star, Wild Horse, and you always will be! You know this!"

Kaoru hesitated, grabbing Ryuichiro's elbow, "Ryuichiro-sama..."

"That man is mad, Wild Horse! We are not taking orders from him!" Ryuichiro turned, facing them all, "Onodera will play the Pageboy, while our Wild Horse the Countess!"

"Do not try to appease me!" snapped Yokozawa.

Hatori stood from his chair, almost knocking it over in his hurry, "You scorn his word?!"

"How dare you insult me!" Yokozawa continued, ignoring Hatori, "How dare you rebuke me!"

"Monsieur, pardon us..." Kaoru attempted to amend.

"How dare you replace me!"

Ryuichiro panicked, "We beg you, Wild Horse!"

Hatori shook his head, glancing round, "You read the letter - you'll see your darkest fears this hour! The Angel knows what you are doing, Messieurs, he can hear you!"

"Please, Wild Horse, sing for us! You are our star!"

Yokozawa threw his arm to the side, "I won't sing!" he declared, all eyes turning towards him.

"But your public needs you! We need you, Wild Horse!"

Yokozawa scoffed, turning his face to the side, "Wouldn't you rather have your naive little daydreamer?"

"No, we want you! The first man of the stage! They'll shout your name, think of how they will adore you! Enchant them - enchant us! - once again! Sing, Wild Horse, once more!"

While Ryuichiro continued, Kaoru attempting to pull him back, An glanced at Hatori, glaring at the manager of the house. "Ricchan," she spoke up, "he spoke of an Angel, too..."

Hatori glanced to the girl, "He's heard the voice of the Angel of Music."

Ryuichiro clasped his hands together, brushing off Kaoru, "Those who hear your voice think of an angel!"

An gave a disapproving noise, stepping over to stand by Hatori and Kisa, "Was this his angel...?"

Ryuichiro turned towards Kaoru as he tried to pull him away again, voice hushed, "Come on, Kaoru, don't you understand? We get our opera and he gets his limelight!"

Kisa shook his head, hands clasped against Hatori's arm, "Is this ghost an angel or a madman?" he asked.

An pondered for a moment, looking over to the men, "Angel or madman...?" she repeated.

Hatori growled, shaking his head, "Heaven help those who doubt." he declared, eyes still burning holes.

"But these all have to be lunatic demands!" An declared, her voice shaking however.

Hatori shook his head, "This casting is damning."

Ryuichiro shook his head, turning back, "These orders are regular occurrences!"

Hatori stood taller, "Ignoring his warnings, you're such a fool!" he snarled back.

An glanced towards Kisa, who still held onto Hatori even as he argued, "Surely, for his sake..."

"Surely he'll strike back."

"Surely there will be much worse to come then this!" Ryuichiro snapped.

"You need to think before you reject these demands!" Hatori objected.

"Ricchan, though..." Kisa and An glanced at each other, "he has to be protected..."

An spoke up, louder than the rest, "His game must end!"

Hatori hesitated, before whirling on the girl, "This is a game you cannot expect to win!"

"Then, in Box Five, we must start a new game!" she cried.

"For, if his curse is on this opera..."

"But, if his curse is on this opera!..."

Kisa glanced up at Hatori, shaking, "I fear the outcome..."

"Should you dare too..."

"... Once again..."

Light up the stage
with that age old
rapport!
Sing, prima donna,
once more!

"This is war then! My demands are not met; prepare for your disaster!"

Phantom of the Opera was smacked off the top of Ritsu's head, allowing the evening light from the window to filter through and hit the brunette boy in his eyes.

"Ricchan, wake up! You were supposed to go home an hour ago!"

Green eyes blinked open, staring up at the small man in front of him, "... Kisa-san? What're you still doing here?..."

Kisa chuckled, leaning down to look the boy in the eye, "I asked you first, Ricchan!"

Ritsu sat up with a yawn, grabbing the book and closing it, dropping it in his bag, "... I must of fallen asleep. I was trying to finish the next chapter and..." Ritsu blinked, rubbing at the corners of his eyes.

Kisa smiled, offering his hand to help Ritsu up, "I had to run to the printers. Good for you, Ricchan! I haven't even started that book yet!"

Ritsu took his hand, pulling himself up, strapping his bag across his shoulder without replying.

"Ricchan, I'll walk you home! Your apartment's on the way to Marimo." Kisa smiled, pulling his jacket on and waiting for Ritsu to catch up before they headed to the elevators together.

"Come on, Ricchan! You move really slow." Kisa teased, linking arms with Ritsu once he'd reached the hallway and pulling him along.

"I know, Kisa-san." Was all Ritsu said, allowing Kisa to yank him into the elevators, still able to hear Yokozawa's singing in his ears.

Sorry, I had a lot of writer's block while I was writing this! I hope it doesn't feel like I droned on and on...

Because to me it kind of feels like I did. Sorry about this! I'm kind of looking forward to writing the next chapter though. :3

hiyokocchi: I actually haven't decided much about the ending yet, so even I can't say for sure! :3

SaySaeri: I had fun writing it. :3 You don't like the Phantom and Christine together? D:

starflower3300: Sorry this one didn't have that much of characters breaking the script! I kind of rushed to get it done since I won't have wifi for the next few days, and I had pretty bad writer's block for this chapter. I'm glad you liked the last one though! :3

nekocandy4life: I would probably panic in the situation xD I hope you like this chapter! :D

Oh! And does anyone know who the tall 'girl' is? :D