Chapter 2
Kanda was proud of his performance; it was great with tons of cheers and applause from the enthusiastic crowd. After his performance, he returned to his dressing room to find it crowded by numerous bouquets of beautiful flowers. He began to think that maybe the audience thought he was female, but disregarded the thought.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" Kanda answered.
Miranda entered the room carrying a flower, which she gave to him.
The flower was a lotus, Kanda's favorite, and tied around its stem was a black ribbon.
"He is pleased with your performance."
Kanda smelled the lotus's beautiful scent.
"I'll leave you now, you must be tired. You get a good night's rest." Miranda placed a motherly kiss on Kanda's cheek and ruffled his hair.
Kanda raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yes ma'am."
"Night," Miranda repeated and closed the door behind her.
Kanda looked down at the beautiful flower and sat down at the desk in the room.
"Insolent boy,
This slave of fashion,
Basking in your glory.
Ignorant fool,
This brave young suitor,
Sharing in my triumph!" A voice sang, which echoed through the room.
"Angel, I hear, you
Speak, I listen.
Stay by my side, guide me.
Angel, my soul was weak
forgive me
Enter at last, master." Kanda sang in reply.
"Flattering child, you shall know me.
See why in shadow I hide.
Look at your face in the mirror,
I am there inside!"
Kanda looked into the body-length mirror to see a teen decked in black with hair as white as snow and the left side of his face obscured by a mask.
"Angel of music
Guide and guardian,
Grant to me your glory.
Angel of music,
Hide no longer
Come to me, strange angel." Kanda sang as he walked toward the mirror.
"I am your angel of music.
Come to me, angel of music." The Phantom smiled.
"Hello?" Lavi was at the door knocking. "Kanda?" There was a pause. "Why is the door locked? Kanda! Who's in there with you? Kanda!"
"I am your angel of music.
Come to me, angel of music" The Phantom sang extending his right hand to Kanda.
The mirror opened like a door and Kanda walked through to the white-haired stranger. Kanda accepted the Phantom's outstretched hand. Closer up, Kanda noticed the teen's silver eyes as he was led through the twisted halls of the catacombs by the white-haired stranger.
"In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again?
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside my mind." Kanda sang as the two continued to walk.
"Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me
to glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind." The Phantom sang as the catacombs hallway ended and the sewers began. He helped Kanda into a nearby gondola, and the Phantom took the oar and began to navigate the sewers perfectly.
"Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear," Kanda sang.
"It's me they hear." Added the Phantom.
"My/Your spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
inside my/your mind" The two sang together.
"In all your fantasy you always knew
That man and mystery," the Phantom sang.
"Were both in you." Kanda finished for the Phantom.
"And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is here/there
Inside my/your mind." The two sang together again as the sewers opened up to a wider chamber where the sewer water stopped and what looked like a bedroom with a cluttered desk, dresser, mirrors, bed, and numerous book shelves decorated the dank room that was illuminated by millions of candles.
The Phantom steered the gondola up to the water's edge and helped Kanda up and out.
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation.
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.
Silently the senses abandon their defenses.
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 you 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 caress you.
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you.
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind.
In this darkness that 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 life 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.
You alone can make my song take flight,
Help me make the music of the night." The Phantom sang as he showed guided Kanda through his room.
The room was unique, to say the least. The bookshelves contained numerous journals, books, papers, and scrolls. The desk was littered with drawings of what looked like a girl with long hair. On the dresser were multiple different masks and designs for new ones. Kanda notice a piano in the corner of the room with sheet music spread out across the keys.
"You live here?" Kanda asked the stranger.
The Phantom nodded.
"By yourself?"
The Phantom nodded again.
Kanda glanced around the room again, "What's your name?"
"I go by many names; The Phantom Ghost, The Phantom of the Order, The Phantom, the Order Ghost, … Allen Walker."
"Allen Walker?"
Allen nodded in confirmation.
Kanda walked around the room looking through the Phantom's possessions. Kanda stopped at the piano and shifted through the sheet music on the keyboard. "Do you play?"
Allen nodded.
Kanda skimmed through the sheet music, "What's this?" Kanda watched as Allen's cheek redden in embarrassment.
Allen politely took the sheet music from Kanda's hands. "It's nothing… just something I've been working on."
"You wrote that?"
Allen nodded.
"Can you play a piece?" Kanda asked.
Allen nodded and began to clear the piano bench stool. He sat down and looked at Kanda.
Kanda caught the hint and sat beside the Phantom on the bench stool.
Allen propped the sheet music up so he could see it. He then began to play.
The soft, sweet music of the piano filled the room with its calming melody.
Kanda leaned against the Phantom as he played, "You must get lonely down here; all by yourself."
"Yes…," Allen's melody slowly dwindled to a stop. "That's as far as I've got." Allen said to Kanda.
"It's beautiful."
"Umm… thank you." Allen's cheek flushed red again.
Kanda traced the Phantom's face with his finger; he then leaned in and graced the Phantom's lips with a tender kiss.
The Phantom wrapped his arms around Kanda and kissed him back. The Phantom stood up holding Kanda's hand; he led Kanda to a simple bed in the corner of the room.
Allen unbuttoned Kanda's shirt as the two continued to kiss each other. Kanda reached for the buttons on Allen's shirt, but was pushed away. "Please, don't."
Kanda followed Allen's request but looked at the Phantom's hands, "Are you not even going to remove your gloves?"
Allen slipped the right hand glove off, but the left hand one remained. Allen kissed Kanda, together the two fell down onto the bed.