Back! :D Woot! :3
Ahh! Sorry for taking so long! I meant to get this posted Monday and I just kept getting distracted by nonsense.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, or Phantom of the Opera.
Kisa's prediction of Yoshino's party had been wrong.
In fact, Ritsu did not think he'd ever seen so many people gathered in one room, at least not for a supposed 'private party.' Senbo had laughed at the shocked look the editors had given upon seeing everyone, dressed in a feathered dress - which, if not for how short it was, it would of matched perfectly with the one she wore in Ritsu's dreams.
"You espected it to be a tiny party?" she had asked, spinning on her heel to stand in front of the men, "Chiaki-kun's smarter than you give him credit for, seriously. Yoshikawa-sensei's not making an appearance, boys. Everyone already knew that. Well... Almost everyone, I guess. He didn't tell you, Hatori?"
The brunette had appeared especially annoyed at the change of events, shaking his head. "No," he'd said, "No, he didn't. If you'd excuse, I need to go find him, actually."
Hatori had not waited for a response, walking away from them briskly, before Kisa had spoken up.
"Why are there so many people here, then, if Yoshikawa-sensei isn't going to show up for her own congratulations party?"
The girl had waved a manicured hand at her editor's question, and when she spoke it had been slow, as if she were speaking to a child, "It's a party, Shouta. If gives people an excuse to take time off of work."
Though before Kisa could reply with his own smart remark, a man walked up, placing a hand to Senbo-sensei's hip and leaning down, brushing aside her hair to mumble something in her ear - the girl had hesitated, blinking up at him.
"Ano - Ana, do me a favor and go help Keigo at the front door, please?" Senbo had asked, and Ana had nodded, weaving her way behing the editors, on her way to the hotel's lobby.
"Oh - and, Ian, do you remember Kisa-kun, my editor?" Senbo had placed a hand on the man's broad chest - he hesitated, caramel colored eyes blinking up to the group of men in front of him.
"Oh, um-" the man - Ian - had coughed awkwardly, before offering his hand with an award winning smiled, "Ano, yes, Remi, I remember him. Good to see you again, Kisa-san."
Kisa had accepted the man's pale hand, "Yeah, you too, Ian-san."
Senbo smiled, turning to the rest of them, "Ian, this is Takano-kun, Emerald's editor-in-chief. And there's Mino-kun, and Onodera-kun, and that's Yukina-kun, Kisa-kun's boyfriend." Kisa turned pink, though the girl continued before he could object, "Boys, this is my fiance, Ian Scott."
Ian had flashed another smile as he shook hands with them. "Charmed," he had said as Ana returned, standing beside Yukina.
"Ian-kun, I showed Keigo-kun where to set up. He's on his way with Toshino-kun right now."
Ian nodded to her, strands of strawberry-blonde hair falling onto his forehead, "Yeah, alright, thanks, Ana-chan." he pushed back his bangs as he had turned to look back at the editors, bowing his head, "Ano - it was nice too meet you all, and to see you again, Kisa-san."
He had leaned down, kissing Senbo-sensei on her cheek before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Ana stepped forward, standing beside the mangaka.
"Ano - Remi, maybe we should go make sure everything's alright?..."
The brunette girl had hesitated, beginning to nod as she waved a hand to the editors, "Yeah, you're right. Ano - Bye, boys! I'm sure we'll see each other again before the party's over."
And that was how Ritsu ended up being a wallflower, talking with Yuu Yanase, always fighting the urge to apologize for killing him off. Without Senbo there to speak up in her guide-like fashion, the group had dissipated, everybody going their separate ways; Yukina dragging Kisa off, while Takano and Mino had gone on a search to find Hatori.
"Hey, Prima Donna-"
Ritsu hesitated at the sudden singing that rose above the noise of the crowd - hearing 'Prima Donna,' his eyes had almost immediately and instinctively gone off in a search to find Yokozawa towering above the crowd.
"-don't you wanna-"
He heard the strumming of a guitar, and a percussion instrument that he could not place - he was unsure if it was a tambourine or something else he was not familiar with. At the melody, Yuu also went quiet, cinnamon hues glancing to the crowd, looking for the source.
"-come a little closer-"
Ritsu gave a sigh when he did indeed finally find Yokozawa, able to settle himself with that. He turned back to Yuu, about to voice the fact he was not aware of their being a live band (or, at least, that's what it sounded like to him), when there was a tug on his elbow, someone pulling him away from Yuu. He gasped, glancing back and glaring at the man's broad back, forgetting to say a farewell to the brunette.
"Why are you touching me."
"-and stay a little longer?"
Some where in the middle of the crowd stood Yukina and Kisa, who looked slightly more than over whelmed from getting pulling through the crowd. At the music that begin playing, Yukina glanced up with a smile on his face, before turning towards Kisa, pulling the tiny noirette into his chest.
"'Cause I hear your voice cut through the noise, and I wanna hear the words you say... " Yukina's smile turned down to Kisa, humming along, "I know this song."
Kisa sighed, nodding against Yukina's shoulder, "For some reason, I'm not surprised." mused the editor, receiving a chuckle in response.
"It was nice of Senbo-sensei and Scott-san to do this." Yukina said after a moment, placing his chin atop Kisa's head, "... Oh, and, Kisa-san," pulling away, he began to speak once more when the man's brown eyes were looking up at him, "Scott-san, where's he from?"
Kisa hesitated, then shrugged his shoulders, "Remi went to study abroad after high school, to America. She met Scott-san there, and he moved back to Japan with her." He allowed himself to be pulled back to Yukina, "Ano - if I'm right, they got engaged right after the first volume of Konnichiwa Kirai was published."
Yukina nodded, slowly beginning to sway in time with the music, moving Kisa with him, and he was slightly surprised when Kisa didn't object to this, "He seems nice, Kisa-san."
Kisa nodded as well, "He always was."
Yukina didn't reply however - after a moment, his hands went to Kisa's hips slowly, resting there as they swayed along with the music.
Kisa however just sighed, allowing the boy to do as he wished, listening to the music in the background.
He supposed he might as well let Yukina have his fun.
"Hey Prima Donna,
Don't you wanna talk to me?"
"But, come on, Tori, lighten up! It's a party!"
The second in charge of Emerald however did not lighten up, staying stoic from in front of Chiaki, who looked up at the brunette with a pout.
"Tori! I know you can hear me! Stop ignoring me!"
Hatori didn't even bother to look down at the noirette, who clasped onto the man's hands tightly.
"Toooorrrrriiiiiiiiiii! This is unfair! I just wanted it to be a surprise! Please! I didn't even plan the band, that was all Remi-chan!"
Hatori finally glanced down at Chiaki, who cast him a grin.
"I swear, Tori. Now, come on, pleeassseee!"
"I'm not dancing with you."
The boy's face fell, "But, Tori! This is supposed to be a party for me!"
"It's not for you, it's for Yoshikawa-sensei."
"This is just you being mean, Tori!"
"Please, just this one song!"
"No."
"Yes!"
"No."
Chiaki's forehead fell against Hatori's chest, his hands still holding on tightly. "But, Tori," whined the mangaka, "Just this one, and it's already started, so it's not that bad." His voice however faltered towards the end, slowly giving up on his plan, when Hatori sighed.
"Just one,"
Chiaki's eyes blinked, and he glanced up at Hatori with an excited gasp, "What! No, I mean, yeah, Tori! One! That's it!"
"And your manuscript needs to be done before Tuesday."
Chiaki's smile hesitated for just a second, "Yeah, alright, Tori!"
"She comes, and she goes,
she's everywhere I wanna be.
When she's high, she's low,
she's everything, everything.
I follow her like satellites,
around and 'round she goes.
She's everywhere, she's everything."
If not for the begging from Chiaki as well as the girls he worked with, Yuu would not be standing - alone - at his friend's party, watching Hatori and Yoshino out of the corners of his eyes. He wasn't one to give into peer pressure easily - he just wasn't sure how much more of their complaining he could deal with, and then Chiaki had told Senbo-sensei he hadn't planned on coming, and with that a whole new storm was caused.
Too caught up with people watching, he had not noticed the new brunette beside him until the man had obscured his line of vision, stopping to stand in front of him, outstretching a hand. Yuu started, casting the man an annoyed glance for startling him, though hesitated. Was that... one of Emerald's editors? Yes, he was sure of that.
"... Can I help you?" Even though Yuu had make sure his tone was clearly aggravated, the editor had an ever-present smile on his face, that hand still outstretched.
"There's no reason for both of us to wallflowers, is there?" When Yuu didn't reply, the taller brunette reached for his hand, taking hold of it and beginning to pull the boy along into the crowd. Yuu lost sight of Chiaki and Hatori at the man's tight hold, and he turned around with a glare at his back.
"Who are you?" he snapped, though the tall man's smile remained once more.
"Kanade Mino, though Mino's fine." he replied without turning round to look at Yuu, finally stopping - when Yuu glanced round, he saw another editor of Emerald, and there was Onodera Ritsu, "Anyway, that's not the point. I can't very well just let you stand there and look all gloomy, can I?"
Yuu's eyes blinked, though the glare quickly returned, "What are you-" he wasn't able to finish his sentence however, Mino's hands finding his hips - Yuu started with a gasp, "Don't touch me!" he snapped, attempting to pull away, though Mino's grip refused to let up.
"Just calm down~" singsonged the man, though Yuu however kept fighting, "Yoshikawa-sensei wants you to have a good time, y'know~"
At that, Yuu's thrashing calmed down slightly, until he was still, looking up at Mino, "... Excuse me?" he snapped.
Mino however just laughed once more, taking Yuu's hand and twirling the boy with the music, ignoring his curses.
"Hey Aphrodite,
don't you see me, standing in your sunrise,
soaking up your daylight?
'Cause I know your smile will last for a while,
but I need you more and more each day,
'cause I hear your voice cut through the noise..."
Kirishima's hips swayed from side to side at a beat faster than that of the music's, Yokozawa sighing at the editor-in-chief of Japun. Kirishima's hands settled on the salesman's waist, a light touch that was supposed to be used to guide Yokozawa, who in stead stayed unmoving in his spot.
"Come on, Yoko, there's no reason to be so boring. Everybody else is dancing." Kirishima objected, though Yokozawa didn't bother responding to that.
"Not to be rude, Kirishima-san, but you're not even supposed to be here." replied the man - he hadn't found it nearly as amusing as Kirishima did when the brunette had sneaked up on the noirette, hands clapping down on his shoulders.
"Yes, I was invited, same as you! Sure, maybe it was a little last minute, but-"
"And where is Hiyori?" Yokozawa interrupted.
"I got her a babysitter and everything! Even someone to look after Sorata!" Even though Kirishima was ecstatic, Yokozawa was still not impressed, huffing out a sigh.
"You should of told me you were coming." he said simply.
"I wanted it to be a surprise, though, Yoko! Come on, be a little bit happier. At least dance with me!"
Yokozawa stayed silent, and Kirishima frowned once again, "Come on, Yoko-"
"Later." replied the salesman, and Kirishima's face lit up.
"Really?" he asked, slightly surprised he'd given up so easily, "Promise?"
"No."
"She comes, and she goes,
she's everywhere I wanna be.
When she's high, she's low,
she's everything, everything.
I follow her like satellites,
around and 'round she goes.
She's everywhere, she's everything."
Ryuichiro smiled at the brunette in front of him, arms wrapped tightly around Kaoru's waist. He had been aware of Senbo's plan, though had been told to keep it under wraps in order for it to be a surprise for Chiaki - the mangaka and he were close, him being the one to recommend her to transfer to Marukawa once she'd moved back to Japan.
"Ryuichiro-sama?"
Blue eyes blinked, "Sorry, did you say something, Asahina?"
"Did you have something to do with the band, Ryuichiro-sama?"
He blinked once again, laughing, "Well, not really, I knew Remi was planning something, though."
"Either way, it was a nice thing to do for Yoshikawa-sensei, Ryuichiro-sama."
Ryuichiro hesitated, before shaking his head and laughing once more. "I really didn't have anything to do with it, Asahina..." Though that was a lie - if not for him and a call placed to Ian's workplace, the band would not of made it.
And perhaps Kaoru could tell that his lover did in fact have a role in this, for her repeated;
"Either way, it was a nice thing, Ryuichiro-sama."
"Spinning like a perfect diamond,
glowing in the light, she's shining,
just the way I like it.
And I can't fight it,
spinning like a perfect diamond.
Baby, keep it raining down on me..."
"I'm going to ask you one more time. Why. Are. You. Touching. Me."
For about the fifth time, however, Takano ignored Ritsu's question, continuing to walk, dragging Ritsu along. Without getting his response, Ritsu gave an annoyed noise at the back of his throat, attempting to yank his arm back just as his editor-in-chief stopped walking. With a pull in reply to Ritsu's, the brunette newbie fell in Takano's chest, arms wrapping around his waist.
"Why are you touching me!" repeated Ritsu, recovering and standing up straighter at the feeling of arms around him. He gave a glance around when he spotted Kisa out of the corner of his eye, and saw him and Yukina in a similar, though much more comfortable looking position. And there was Yokozawa and Japun's editor-in-chief, Kirishima; Hatori and Chiaki; Ryuichiro and Kaoru; even Mino had found a partner in Yuu. Ritsu mentally cursed Senbo-sensei for this - this had to be a plot the clarinetist had, she seemed to like the gossip, the drama-
"What are you going to do, go stand in the corner alone?" Takano asked, bringing Ritsu's attention back to him, and Ritsu cast him a glare.
"I had planned on it, yes." he replied in a snap sounding fashion, and Takano gave an annoyed sigh.
"Because that sounds like fun."
"And this is just so much better." his remark was quick and sarcastic.
"You're right, it is." Takano said, and another annoyed sound came from Ritsu's throat. He's standing way to close to me.
"Hey, Prima Donna-"
His thoughts drifted to Yokozawa at that, though only briefly, before turning back to the issue at hand.
"You're too close." Ritsu voiced his problem, and Takano's eyebrows rose.
"Don't you wanna-"
"No, I think this is about right." Takano said, and Ritsu rolled his eyes.
"This is just you being a smart ass." he snapped.
Takano too rolled his eyes, "It sounds really similar to you, doesn't it."
"Stay a little longer-"
"If this is your way of flirting, you're doing an awful job." Ritsu said simply after he was unable to think of anything better, placing his hands to Takano's chest and attempting to push the man away.
"Who said I was flirting?" replied Takano, pulling Ritsu's hands away and moving them up his chest, to wrap around his neck.
"And talk to me?"
"Whatever you're trying to do then, you're not doing a very good job at it." Ritsu amended, and when he tried to remove his arms from Takano's neck the noirette would just pull him closer to his body, until they were flush against each other.
"I'm not too sure of that."
"She comes and she goes-"
Ritsu gave an annoyed glare with Takano's chest, before looking up to turn the look on the editor-in-chief, who had suddenly become very close.
"You're too close!"
"She's everywhere I wanna be-"
Their lips touched, and Ritsu froze for a moment, unable to react - when he finally got his mobility back, he gave a start and removed his hands from the man's neck, shoving him away violently, before turning on his heel and running through the crowd.
"When she's high, she's low-"
He panicked for a second in the hotel's lobby, unsure where to go - deciding to let his feet choose for him, they turned and carried him out the hotel's great wooden doors, out and into the cold night air, which smelled of cigarette smoke and some perfume he could not place. Finally stopped, he leaned against a stone pillar, finally catching sight of the blonde girl on the pillar opposite to his.
"Oh - shit." He had not seen the girl barely talk, and her cursing was almost too much for him - Ana dropped the cigarette to the cement below, crushing it beneath her heel, "Ano - Onodera-san, don't tell Remi-chan about that, alright? I've been trying to get her to quit."
"She's everything, everything-"
Ritsu hesitated, glancing at the doors, slightly aggravated he could still hear the music, even outside."Ano - of course, Ana-san. Um.. If you don't mind me asking, why are you out here, in stead of inside for the party?"
The girl gave a sigh, leaning back against the pillar, her navy blue dress rustling in the breeze. "Just waiting, I suppose." she replied, and Ritsu spoke again before she could ask him why he'd ran out.
"Waiting for what, Ana-san?"
Ana hesitated and blinked at the boy, her eyes a turquoise color that shined in the light from a bulb above, "Oh, sorry. My boyfriend, Keigo - he's Ian's drummer. Waiting for him to get finished. Remi's busy talking, so I thought I'd use that time to smoke. And you, Onodera-san?"
The girl was not as quiet, with their less people around and without Senbo there to speak enough for the both of them, Ritsu observed. "Ano, um... Just needed some fresh air, Ana-san. It, um... was getting a little stuffy in there, with so many people."
She nodded, though her eyes were watchful, and he felt as if he were getting judged under her gaze. She showed no shame, not even thinking twice as she opened her mouth and asked, "Do you mean Takano-san has been bothering you, Onodera-san?"
His face turned so suddenly red, and he began sputtering, the girl holding up her hands.
"A-ano, sorry, Onodera-san. I didn't mean... I listen to Remi gossip too much, I apologize, Onodera-san."
"I follow her like satellites-"
The realization to what she'd said hit him two seconds later.
"Gossip, Ana-san? She gossips about me?"
Ana gave a start, shaking her head, wavy blonde locks swaying from side to side, "Oh, no - not at all, Onodera-san, not to other people. Kisa-san just keeps her up-to-date with everything in the office, so she hears a lot... I've never once heard her speak bad of you, Onodera-san..."
"Around and 'round she goes-"
This however did no good to soothe the newbie editor, who fell back against the pillar, suddenly feeling faint. Ana took this as a good opportunity to change to subject, stepping away from her pillar, walking over to the boy.
"Onodera-san, are you feeling alright? You're very pale."
"She's everywhere, she's everything-"
Ritsu gave a sigh, pushing off the stone, "I'm fine, Ana-san, just - tired. I think I'll just retire for the night, Ana-san."
The girl hesitated, and she stepped forward, taking the arm of Ritsu and helping him inside, "Ano - here, I'll help you, Onodera-san..."
"She's everywhere, she's everything..."
As the assistant helped guide Ritsu to the elevator, Takano watched from his position on a couch in the hotel's lobby, the beautiful gold stitching doing no good to soothe him. As the elevator door slid shut, he gave another sigh, about to stand and return to the party.
"Ahh, don't worry about it, Takano-kun."
"She's everything-"
The man gave a start from the sudden feminine voice from beside him, turning to see Senbo-sensei standing beside the couch with a smile on her face, turning away from the elevator doors to look down at him, "Ana's got this. She's really good with stuff like that."
She plopped down on the couch, sitting beside Takano, hands smoothing out her dress as she spoke, "Hmm, you haven't changed, Takano-kun. You always jumped the gun, didn't you?" she asked, turning and smiling up at the editor-in-chief, her eyes holding a glint behind her glasses.
Takano gave a sigh, standing from the couch with his hands going to his pockets, searching out his pack of cigarettes and a lighter. At that, Senbo too stood, reaching into her purse and retrieving her own carton and lighter; she offered a cigarette to the man, and he took it with another sigh.
"I appreciate the input, Remi-chan." he said, heading to the hotel's doors, the mangaka close behind him.
"Anytime, Masamune, anytime."
"She's everything..."
Below the opera house, Takano held on tightly to the star's arm by his elbow, pulling him down the stone stairs; in the opera house, Kisa ran wildly through its depths, searching for the conductor, the house thrown into an uproar; and, just a flight or two above the Phantom, the ballet mister and the Victomesse de Chagny ran down steps, Hatori holding his arm up, a lantern casting light.
"Madame," Hatori began, stopping finally, glancing over at the girl, "below here, is a lake. He lives across the lake, but, Madame... I'm afraid this is as far as I can take you." he gave a sigh, turning to her, passing off the lantern, "Madame, remember, keep your hand at the level of your eyes."
An bowed her head to him, nodding, holding up the lantern, "Of course. Thank you, Monsieur."
Ritsu appeared from behind a velvet curtain, looking enraged at the man who sat at the organ, hands clutching at the white fabric of the wedding gown he wore until his knuckles turning a similar color. At the sight of him, Takano stood, though he had barely rose to his full height before Ritsu began speaking.
"Have you gorged yourself, at last, in your lust for blood?" he snapped, baring fangs at the approaching man. When there was no reply, he continued, "Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"
Takano rolled his eyes, "A little over dramatic, aren't we?" he asked, and Ritsu bared his fangs at the Phantom.
"Says the one who wore a mask just because it made him look cool."
Takano chuckled, muttering something along the lines of, 'Your words, not mine,' though didn't dare speak this out loud in the state the opera star was in right now. He grabbed a veil as he walked over to Ritsu, placing it on his head, earning a snarl in response, though Ritsu was unable to protest any further, Takano looking up at the sound of splashing.
Takano laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls, "It seems we have a guest!"
An appeared at the gates of the Phantom's lair, clutching at the bars to pull herself up from the water, her skirts drowning behind her, "Ricchan!" she cried, and Ritsu gave a gasp, stepping forward, only to be pushed back by Takano, "Free him! Do what you want, just free him!"
Takano's eyes rolled once more, his arms crossing over his chest. "Your lover makes a passionate plea." he said drily.
Ritsu's eyes wrapped around himself, "An, please..."
An pulled at her dress, her hair damp and limp, "Please - just let me see him!"
"Be my guest." replied Takano, and with a snap of his fingers the gate began to rise - An gathered her skirts as she splashed through the water, the Phantom jumping down and going to meet her halfway, "Welcome, Madame! You really thought I'd hurt him, after all that work?"
The gate suddenly closed behind An - she dropped her skirts in surprise, and Takano took advantage of this, shoving the girl up against the gate.
"Keep your hands at the level of your eyes!" he mocked, and the girl gave a cry as a rope was wrapped round her neck, wound through a bar in the gate, "What are you going to do now, Victomesse? There's only only way to save you... He could come with me, and you could be set free... if he refuses me, you're dead!"
Ritsu gave another gasp, his hands clenching into fists.
"Either way, you win!" An snapped, and the Phantom gave a tug on her rope, the girl letting out another cry - surprisingly, however, she continued to glare at the man.
Ritsu shook his head, as if trying to regain his thoughts, "Angel of Music, why this torment?..."
"You've past the Point of No Return..."
Ritsu's eyes clenched shut, his nail digging further into his palm.
"Angel of Music, you deceived me..."
"Make your decision!"
His eyes opened once more, slowly, and he began to make his way through the water, towards the two at the gate. He paused only once, unsure if the feeling in the pit of his stomach was fear. "The..." he took a breath, then exhaled it as he approached them, he eyes never leaving the two, "Our engagement was a fraud... I only agreed to marry An because it was what my mother wanted, and because An loved me, and I didn't want to upset her..." he stopped in front of them, eyes glancing in-between the two, "I... I'm sorry, An-chan..."
Glancing back up at the Phantom, he steeled himself, nails once again digging into his skin as he reached up and grabbed hold of the Phantom's collar - yanking him down, their lips crashed, and the rope from around An's neck fell into the water at her feet, though she seemed to shocked to do anything. Even as the gate slowly rose behind her, she could not seem to gather herself even enough to turn and run. Voices called out, yelling for Ritsu and her, and as they got closer, Takano drew his cloak around Ritsu and the two disappeared.
As people gathered in the Phantom's lair, An fell to her knees in the water, her skirts floating around her. Kisa walked past her as someone else knelt at the Vicomtesse's side, heading up further into the lair. From behind him, Yukina yelled out for him to be careful - Kisa gave an annoyed agreement that he would, before pushing past velvet curtains as he examined further into the room, candles lighting his way. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted something pale and he jumped, wheeling around, letting out a relieved breath when he saw that the room was indeed vacant of any other life.
He hesitated, however, and his hands reached down to the table in front of him, delicately picking up the mask of the Phantom of the Opera.
This just felt really cheesy while I was typing it. Oh well.
I'm still really sorry this took so long! D: And then I had to retype the ending... I hope it's not that bad! It's really long though, so I hope that makes up for everything! :D
Only one more chapter to go... I'm not even going to try and guess when it'll be out, because we all saw what happened with that.
hiyokocchi: Sorry! D: This chapter's better for Yuu! :D
SaySaeri: Thanks! :D And I know no Prince came for her here... But the next chapter will be better for her, I promise! :D No Prince... But it might be implied! :3
loopyhutton: Thanks! :3
NinjaSheik: I really like 'Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh'. :3
nekocandy4life: I made a lot of people cry last chapter xD Sorry! :D
Guest: Thanks, here's the update! :D
starflower: Thanks! :3
Oh! And the song is Everywhere Everything by This Century :3