Phantom of the Opera chapter 12 by blackdragonflower

masquerade... paper faces on parade~

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The Opera Populaire was cleaned up gorgeously. The statues shined, the floors sparkled under their fresh coat of wax, and the lights glittered festively encouraging those outside to come join the gaiety of the masked ball inside. Aizawa escorted his wife on one arm, his daughter on the other. His wife looked around amazed, "This place is so spectacular... I can imagine why you would want to stay so late after work."

"Ooo! Daddy it's pretty! Mom why don't we come here more?"

"Aizawa!" Matsuda ran over holding his mask (which was in the shape of a monkey). "Oh, you brought your wife and daughter. It's a pleasure." The silly manager grinned and bowed.

"It's also a pleasure Mr. Matsuda." Aizawa's daughter giggled quietly.

"Shall we join the party?"

"I don't see why not." The cooler of the two males replied. The music was bright and cheerful, but surprisingly the usual conductor wasn't there and someone else was filling in for him. The greasy haired L noticed this right away as he watched from the shadows. If you would have thought L would dress for this occasion you'd be dead wrong. L was clothed in his normal faded jeans, white shirt, and shoes with no socks what-so-ever. He did however decide to wear a mask, the face in the shape of a fox, how fitting to his personality.

The detective spotted Aizawa dancing with his daughter patiently teaching her the steps. Matsuda was trying to coax Sayu, who was dressed as an angel, to dance with him. From the looks of it she was turning him down again and again. People crowded together voices singing a song mostly all knew.

'Masquerade! Paper faces on parade, masquerade, hide your face so the world will never find you...'

As much as L was enjoying himself he would rather be with the everyday workers backstage where they were surely throwing their own party. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw two people take bottles of wine and make off with it. It was probably much more lively where they were going, full of many more interesting people to study and observe. But he had to wait for a certain Misa Misa and her beloved Light-kun. He spotted Takada and made a mental note of her location. A little part of him couldn't help but wonder though, how was Near holding up?

The albino bit the inside of his cheek dark eyes watching those around him. He saw a familiar head of red hair dart by with what seemed to be a blond as well. Maybe he was mistaken but Near didn't want to think like that. He was pretty sure that blond hair matched a certain ex-Wammy's House occupant.

Unlike 'upstairs' the occupants here wore their everyday clothes: jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, whatever was comfortable. Near went to follow the blond and redhead but didn't get very far because a girl about his age grabbed his hands and dragged him onto the dance floor. Near frowned not liking the situation he'd been forced into at all. The music from upstairs drifted down and Near was desperately looking for a way to get out of the dance floor. This was just his great streak of luck today.

Back upstairs in the grand entrance the managers and Miss Takada sang the joys of the phantom's mysterious disappearance. Misa clasped her hands in excitement and admired the ring that dangled from a gold chain around her neck. "Think of it Light-kun... A secret engagement! Misa Misa will be your future bride!" The blond young woman smiled with a child-like energy. Light held her hands his expression calm and cool.

"Why must it remain secret?"

"Misa Misa doesn't want Light to have to deal with paparazzi!" Misa whispered.

"But Misa what have we to hide you promised me." Light leaned in to kiss her but Misa became very flushed and pulled slightly away.

"Light-kun they'll see!"

"Then let them see. It's an engagement, not a crime... What are you afraid of?"

Misa knew the answer very well. She was afraid her angel would see and be displeased. Though she was very happy with Light she often found herself thinking about the scarred man she knew nothing about that only asked her obedience and for her to sing. She missed him very much these past few months. He had been silent and did not visit her any longer. It was getting to the point she would attempt the damp dark dungeons of the opera house to find him. Misa would never tell Light about those feelings though, she had the feeling he wouldn't like to hear those words so much.

So instead of answering she replied, "Let's not argue."

The brunette growled in thought. Why wasn't the blond just doing whatever he wanted of her? He was so close to succeeding and then he'd disappear taking her money with him.

"You will understand in time."

Not if he wasn't there.

With a gloved hand on her waist Light drew her to the marbled dance floor, the green and tan tiles waxed to shine under the light. The blond soprano's heart flutter as the music flirted with the guests, and Light's persistent advances continued. In the small orchestra pit Matt smiled taking over from his replacement conductor never missing a single beat of time.

Time was running out.

The song was coming to an end.

Confetti rained down from the ceiling along with fragrant smelling pink and red flower petals. The guests looked up in awe and amusement of the surprising delight. Unfortunately their flights of joyous pleasure were cut short when a certain uninvited guest dared to show his face at the festivities.

What perfect timing that Matt should come back at the moments right before, L noticed off hand.

The guests turned their eyes to the 'Phantom of the Opera,' some mouths hanging open, others clinging to another terrified. Rumors flew about the so called Phantom often. Mello took casual, but clearly dominating, steps. His arms sailed through the air in arcs elbows remaining tucked fairly close to his sides. "My good people... why do you stop your dancing? Oh... you must all be shocked." A little sneer of sorts graced the face that could be seen. "You all believed me gone for good, but I assure you... I'm very much alive and I'm not leaving any time soon."

Someone opened their mouth to try and speak, but Mello cut them quickly off. "Don't worry my fair people. I'm not here to hurt you..." The blond reached into his suit chuckling as people cringed waiting for him to pull something like a gun from the jacket. They were shocked when instead he threw a folder onto the floor. A folder filled with musical scores that could only be composed by a complete and utter mad genius. "I have written you an opera... an opera which shall be performed on the date for which I have set."

Light let his hand slide down Misa's back and then stepped out of the room. He wasn't going to let this violent hooligan destroy the plans he'd worked so hard to weave and craft.

"My conditions are this. One, Takada must be taught to act, not a simple trick of strutting around the stage like a peacock." With this the snotty woman's lips pursed together in a face of utter disbelief, but when the Phantom drew a beautiful revolver with a cross dangling from a simple chain, it turned terrified. L smiled behind his fox mask. Mello could create quite a show. The raven haired detective was left to ponder a little offhandedly however, where was Near? The gun twirled around Mello's finger and his grin was mischievous and delighted. "As for our managers... you are to run the office for which you were appointed." Piercing blue eyes burned and Aizawa had his arms closed around his daughter's shoulders. She was afraid and whimpering quietly. "Then we have... Miss Amane." Mello bowed, showing her utmost respect. "You shall be the lead... you will do your best, but if you wish to excel, you have much to learn. Will your pride let you return to me?"

The space between the soprano and the phantom grew smaller. The blond female's breath quickened. How she'd longed to see him again. His voice was sending chills down her spine. His icy blues locked on the engagement ring that dangled from around her neck. With gloved hand he grabbed it fiercely and violently ripped it away. "You belong to no man but me."

"Misa!"

Mello's eyes glared daggers at Light who was armed now with a small pistol, and only God knew where he'd gotten the thing from. Feeling a bit daring (if not a bit possessive) the phantom genius pressed his lips against his love's before turning tail and jumping down into a trap door. L's grin grew wider. What a tricky young man Mello had become over the years. Light was about to jump into the hole after Mello, but Takada caught his arm. This gave the trap door just enough time to close, hiding the phantom for a while longer.

Light growled under his breath, brown eyes darkening to black in displeasure of what Takada had stopped him from. L casually walked through the crowds of shocked masquerade participants and to Light's side. "Shame he got away so easily. We were all careless."

"We could have caught him."

"Yes, the Phantom stole more than tonight's spotlight Light-kun."

Light turned to Misa. She was standing there, fingertips pressed ever so lightly to her lips, a lost, but pleasantly dazed expression on her face.

Did the soprano have feelings for that nut job?

The disguised detective picked up the decent sized folder from the floor and handed it to Matsuda. "I think it would be in your best interests to perform this opera sir." Hands in his pockets L removed himself from the scene, but not before casting a glance up at Matt. The videogame playing conductor met his dark rimmed eyes, but could not hold the stare and had to look away.

Mello had to be stopped, or at least convinced not to kill anymore.

And L was going to use Matt to get to the blond ex-mafioso.

This had become a matter of life and death, and would probably become the deciding factor on whether his tough case would finally be cracked and solved.

Convincing someone to stop killing is not as easy as it sounds. Especially if that someone is Mihael Keehl, a stubborn blond with a vicious vendetta to settle.