Chapter 4
Komui walked down the grand staircase, reading the newspaper.
"'Mystery after gala night,' it says, 'mystery of sopranos flight'.
'Mystified,' all the papers say, 'We are mystified. We suspect foul play!'
Bad news on soprano scene;
First Lenalee, now Kanda is missing.
Still at least the seats get sold,
Gossip's worth its weight in gold.
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials
Half your cast disappears
But the crowd still cheers
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!" Komui walked to Reever.
"Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!" Reever yelled as he too read the newspaper.
"Reever, please don't shout!
It's publicity and the take is vast.
Free publicity," Komui tried to convince.
"But we have no cast!" Reever defended.
"Reever, have you seen the queue?
Ah, it seems you've got one too." Komui motioned to the letter in Reever's hand.
"'Dear Reever what a charming gala,
Kanda was in a word sublime.
We were hardly bereft when Lenalee left
On that note: The diva's a disaster,
Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?'" Reever read.
"'Dear Komui just a brief reminder;
My salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost
By return of post
P.T.O No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!'" Komui read.
"Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain.
These are both signed O.G
Who the h*** is he?
Opera Ghost!" The two both sang.
"It is nothing short of shocking." Komui stated.
"He is mocking our position." Reever informed.
"In addition he wants money." Komui added.
"What a funny apparition." Reever laughed.
"To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer
He is clearly quite insane!" The two sang.
"Where is he?" Lavi entered through the grand door.
"You mean Lenalee?" Reever asked earning a laugh from Komui.
"I mean Mister Kanda.
Where is he?" Lavi asked.
"Well how should we know?" Komui asked.
"I want an answer!
I take it that you sent me this note." Lavi sang extracting a letter from his pocket.
"What all this nonsense?
Of course not," Reever answered.
"Don't look at us." Komui stated.
"He's not with you then?" Lavi asked.
"Of course not!" Komui answered.
"We're in the dark." Reever stated.
"Monsieur don't argue.
Isn't this the letter you wrote?" Lavi asked holding out the letter again.
"And what is that we're meant to have wrote?
...Written!" Komui fumbled.
"'Do not fear for Mister Kanda
The Angel of Music has him under his wing
Make no attempt to see him again.'" Reever read.
"If you didn't write it then who did?" Lavi asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"Where is he?" Lenalee asked as she waltzed into the room.
"Ah, welcome back!" Reever welcomed.
"Where is he?
Your precious patron,
Where is he?" Lenalee and her costar Krory asked.
"What is it now?" Lavi sighed.
"I have your letter,
A letter that which I rather resent." Lenalee glared at Lavi.
"And did you send it?" Komui asked.
"Of course not!" Lavi defended.
"As if he would." Reever agreed.
"You didn't send it?" Lenalee and Krory asked confused.
"Of course not!" Lavi repeated.
"What going on?" Komui asked.
"You dare to tell me,
That this is not the letter you sent." Lenalee demanded.
"And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
'Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered.
Yu Kanda will be singing on your behalf tonight.
Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take his place.'" Lavi read aloud.
"Far too many notes for my taste
And most of them about Kanda.
All we've heard since we came,
Is Mister Kanda's name." Komui and Reever answered.
"Mister Kanda has returned." Miranda informed.
"No worse for wear as far as we're concerned." Komui stated.
"Where precisely is he now?" Reever answered.
"I thought it best he was alone." Miranda answered.
"He needed rest." Alma, Kanda's best friend, defended.
"May I see him?" Lavi asked.
"No monsieur he will see no one." Miranda answered truthfully.
"Will he sing?
Will he sing?" Lenalee and Krory asked.
"Here I have a note." Miranda pulled out an envelope from her pocket.
"Let me see it!" Everyone exclaimed grabbing for the letter.
"Please
'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amenable nature detailing how my Opera House is to be run. You have ignored my orders...'" Komui read.
"...I shall give you one last chance
Yu Kanda has returned to you
And I am anxious his career should progress.
In the new production of Il Muto,
You will therefore cast Lenalee as the page boy
And put Kanda in the role of Countess
The role which Kanda plays calls for charm and appeal
The role of the page boy is silent which makes my casting in a word, ideal
I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box 14 which will be kept empty for me
Should these commands be ignored a disaster beyond your imagination will occur
I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant
O.G." Komui finished reading.
"Kanda!" Lenalee and Krory cried.
"Whatever next?" Reever asked.
"It's all a ploy to help Christine!" Lenalee and Krory decided.
"This is insane!" Komui exclaimed.
"I know who sent this!
The Viscount, his lover." Lenalee pointed to Lavi.
"Indeed, can you believe this?" Lavi laughed at the accusation.
"This changes nothing!" Komui stated ripping up the letter.
"You are our star." Reever said to Lenalee and kissed her hand.
"And always will be." Added Komui as he too kissed her hand.
"We don't take orders." Reever stated.
"Mister Kanda will be playing the page boy
The silent role." Komui declared.
"Lenalee will be playing the lead." The two stated together.
"It's useless trying to appease me." Lenalee scoffed.
"Appease her!" Krory begged.
"You're only saying this to please me." Lenalee scoffed again.
"Please her!" Krory pleaded.
"You have replaced me." Lenalee whined.
"Please Signora we beseech you." The two owners begged.
"Who scorn his word beware to those,
The angel sees, the angel knows.
This hour shall see your darkest fears.
The angel sees, the angel hears." Miranda said, but no one headed her words.
"Senora sing for us." The two begged.
"Your public needs you!" Komui stated.
"We need you too." Reever added.
"Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingenue?" Lenalee sneered.
"Signora no! The World wants you
Prima Donna first lady of the stage
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you." The two tried to convince.
"Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?" Reever asked.
"Think of how they all adore you." Komui coaxed.
"Think of your public!" The two sang.
"Prima Donna the world is at your feet.
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note
Sing Prima Donna
Once more!" Everyone begged.
"Alright!" Lenalee exclaimed. "I'll do it!"