Brief: After being dragged to a nightclub in downtown Karakura, Rukia Kuchiki never considered that she might find someone she liked there... Or that he would be part of the band playing there! Includes my OC. AU.

Pairings: IchiRuki, KaiHime (OCxOrihime), possible RenTats, YoruKis and ByaHis

Warnings: Contains scenes of language some may find offensive, others will be added as needed.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, it belongs to Tite Kubo. However, Kai is my OC and anyone caught stealing him or his attributes/powers will be mangled by Rertyan (I'm kidding about that, but don't test me!).

Language of the Heart: Overhauled

Chapter 1: The Rukon Club Incident

The busy club bustled as the crowd of people clamoured and danced, but a certain woman lost in the crowd of the Rukon Club in downtown Karakura City frowned, obviously not liking her time there. She wore a simple purple-black dress and her dark hair fell scruffily to her shoulders, a single bang hanging between her indigo eyes, and she had an irritated look on her face. This petite woman was Rukia Kuchiki.

The crowd bumping into her and crushing her against the other people around annoyed her. The fact that she had been dragged here annoyed her. The poor choice of music the DJ was putting on annoyed her more than anything. And yet the woman had no choice but to hang around in the club. The problem was that Rukia had been dragged out by her so-called friends and had been made the designated driver, meaning she could not leave until her friends were ready to. And knowing her friends, who were, for lack of a better word, flirtatious at the best of times, Rukia felt that she would not be able to leave for some time. She sighed to herself as another immature man pushed passed her and almost knocked her onto her back.

What's the hype all about? she wondered, but her thoughts were interrupted when a pair of arms wrapped around her and two large, soft objects pressed against her head.

"What's the matter, kid?" Yoruichi asked, grinning. "Anyone would think we dragged you kicking and screaming here."

"That's only half true," Rukia replied levelly. "I didn't kick or scream."

"Aw, lighten up, chat up one of the barmen or something." Yoruichi stopped as a man in green attire with a hat low over his eyes walked passed. "Speaking of which, I've just found my next candidate." And with that, she was off after him, leaving Rukia rolling her eyes indignantly.

"More like victim," she muttered, but she knew she could do with a drink, so she set about the near impossible task of navigating the crowded room to the bar, people dancing and bumping carelessly into her as she went. When the woman made it to the bar, she attempted to get the barman's attention, but he did not even look her way, much to her annoyance.

And then it happened; someone heavily fell into her and squashed her modest chest into the hard worktop, winding her. When they let off, Rukia whirled round to hit them or scream abuse into their face, having had enough of being pushed about like this, when she saw the person, and her glare softened, her mouth open slightly.

Stood there was a tall man who was staring back at her. He wore a strange black hakama and a torn black shihaksho, the coat parted in places to reveal a dark red trim, and his muscular physique showed through in places. His gentle brown eyes sparkled with life as he smiled at her, baring a set of perfect teeth to her, but that was no what had caught her attention; his vibrant orange hair had done that.

"Uh, I'm really sorry about that," he said, his strong voice melting her heart further. "I should have been watching where I was going. Are you alright?"

Rukia was speechless and could barely manage nodding, bringing another smile to the man's lips.

"Quite the talker, aren't you?" he laughed, causing Rukia to blush and part her gaze from him guiltily. "Here, let me buy you a drink to say sorry."

As the man called the barman over, Rukia's mind snapped into overdrive. Is he flirting with me? she thought to herself. I don't even know who he is but he's suddenly buying me a drink; that seems like flirting.

"You really don't have to," she said suddenly. He looked surprised to the petite woman, and Rukia worried she had hurt his feelings by declining, but he smiled again.

"It's no trouble," he replied simply. "And I wouldn't feel right if I didn't get you something." The barman finally reached them. "Can I get a bottle of water and whatever drink this woman would like please?"

"And what would you like, miss?" the barman asked.

"Cranberry juice, please."

With the barman gone to get their drinks, the man spoke to Rukia again.

"You should speak more often," he commented abruptly.

"Huh?" Rukia asked, confused by the outburst. "What do you mean by that?"

"You have a nice voice, you should use it more," he replied bluntly, causing Rukia to turn as red as the drink which had just appeared before her.

"So," Rukia started, sipping her drink. "What's your name?"

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. And you are?"

"Rukia Kuchiki." Rukia stuck out her hand to him. Ichigo smiled and took it, shaking her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise." There was a pause, then. "So, are you gonna be here long?"

"Probably; my friends have me as their driver, so I have to stay as long as they do. Why?"

"Well, I've got to go do something, but maybe we could talk afterwards?" His tone was hopeful and Rukia found herself smiling and nodding, unable to resist his appealing charm. "Cool. Later, Rukia."

And with that, the man slunk off through the sea of bodies and dissappeared. Rukia blinked as her brain transferred her actions to its recollection centre. Why did I do that? I barely know the guy and I'm making promises to meet up with him? What the hell's wrong with me?

Her train of thought was abruptly derailed as the tan-skinned woman that was Yoruichi came over, grinning all the while.

"So, found anyone?" she asked coyly, but Rukia looked away.

"Nope," she replied softly, but the taller woman ruffled her hair, much to Rukia's annoyance, and laughed raucously.

"Come on, you look like someone's just been talking to you or bought you a drink or something."

"Have you been spying on me?" Rukia cried in outrage while she put her hair back into its usual style.

"Not much, just for a little bit."

"Yoruichi!"

"Come on, Kid, what do you expect when I was on my way here and I could see carrot-top from a mile off?" The comment angered Yoruichi a little; she was naming someone from their outer appearance, and that was one of Rukia's most hated things. Regardless, the purple-haired woman continued. "Anyway, did you at least get a name?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"Well, I got lucky with that guy Kisuke I saw earlier, so I'm wondering if you did too," the woman reasoned.

"Yes, I did get his name; Ichigo."

Yoruichi laughed harder than before at this, howling over the loud music.

"Ichigo?" she manged through hysterics. "He's... He... He's called... STRAWBERRY?" The laughter continued, drawing much attention to the pair of friends. "That's freakin' hilarious!"

"Shut up, would you!" Rukia hissed. "You're making a scene!"

"I can't help it! I..." The laughs died and were replaced with a look of bewilderment. "I... Oh my God. What the hell is Kisuke doing on the stage?"

Rukia turned around and, sure enough, the man in the green attire with the low-slung hat and wooden clogs was stood on the stage set up for the band who were to play that evening. He cleared his throat as he began to speak.

"Ahem," he coughed. "Hello there! The band would like to say that it is an honour that they are playing here tonight. So, without further adieu, I am pleased to present to you tonight the up-and-coming band from here in Karakura; 'Soul of the Reaper'!"

Kisuke walked away sharply as the band came out, and Rukia watched on in shock as they did;

The five band members came out one by one. The first was a tall man with well-kept, shoulder length black hair and a pair of spectacles pushed up his nose, giving him a serious look about him, despite his thin smile showing some warmth. He wore a white uniform with a short cape draped over his shoulders and a pentacle hanging around his neck by a black thread, sort of like a sign of his religion, Rukia thought to herself. The man was lean but definitely strong, hoisting a rhythm guitar of a blue hue into place on his shoulders, the axe taking a strange eight-point cross with the neck taking the longest arm. He waved to the crowd as he took position at the right side of the stage, away from the front edge.

The next man was also tall, a giant compared to most, baring a dark skin-tone as if he were from Mexico or a place of similar climate. His height was balanced by his hulking muscular form, further emphasized by his arms, on which were a pair of long sleeves going from shoulder to fingertips; the right bore a black and red design with a large plate mounted on top of the shoulder, the left bearing a contrasting white base with dark red markings up its length, particularly on the fingertips, where it looked like fingernails, and a spine on top. These stood out to his otherwise tame attire of a dark blue-purple shirt and cream trousers, but it worked in combination. He also waved at the crowd as he took his place behind the drum set, only his left eye visible under the mass of dark brown hair which hung messily on his cranium.

After the giant came a more normal-sized man, though his vibrant red hair in its pineapple-styling removed any doubt that he was normal compared to the others. As did the tattoos which ran over his exposed arms, neck and face, though it gave him a tribal look as if he were a member of a cult. His clothes hung loosely off of his body; a simple shirt with 'Red Pineapple' plastered over its front and black hakama trousers forming his attire. He raised a pair of strange sunglasses from his eyes to wink at the crowd before taking his place in front of the rhythmist, his bass guitar slung over his shoulders already, and its strange shape also evident; a baboon skull for the body with a snake weaving up the neck from the skulls mouth, its head forming the guitar's head.

There was a pause, then an animalistic roar echoed in split-tone over the speakers, startling everyone and making those in the front cower a little. Then the owner of the voice stepped out, his face shrouded by the mask on his face; a large, white skull-like mask with three short horns on top of the head and two curled rams horns on the sides, the red markings over it the only colour visible other than the black and red eyes. He wore a tattered black hakama with the top torn, his left sleeve all that remained on the front and even that ended at his elbow. The man's body was chalk-white with red markings all over, clearly painted on by someone with a decent skill with brushwork, but the black hole at the centre of his chest looked almost real. His right hand had a series of claws on the fingertips and a dark grey manacle hanging on his wrist, the broken chain clatering lightly. He gripped a custom guitar in this hand like a sword and when he dropped the axe into its place by the chain sash on the end, the weapon became clear; a dragons head body with the near-side horn turned into a whammy bar, a sword grip extending from the neck of the beast while a black and silver blade-like neck extended from its maw. The man plugged in his jack and gave a power-chord, thrashing his head as he roared again, black hair swaying behind him like smoke billowing from a fire.

Finally came the frontman, and Rukia felt herself gasp as he took centre stage, gripping the microphone. He had a similar hakama to his lead guitarist, though it was intact, and a black shihaksho which held a distinct polar opposite to his orange hair. The man grinned as he spoke.

"Hello, everybody," he announced clearly. "Well, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. Over there on drums is the giant that is Sado Yasutora, but you can call him Chad. We have Uryu Ishida, the last Quincy, on rhythm. The 'Red Pineapple' on bass is Renji Abarai. And finally, on lead guitar, all the way from England, we have Kai Friel. And together, we are 'Soul of the Reaper'. We're going to start you off with a little something you'll probably all know; this is After Dark by Asian Kung Fu Generator!"

Almost instantly, Kai started to strum out the leading chords and started the song, everyone listening intently as Ichigo started to sing;

"Senaka no kage ga, nobikiru sono aima ni nigeru,

Hagare ochita hane ni mo kizukazuni tobu,

Machikado amainioi ryuusenn touku mukou kara,

Dokoka de kita you na nakigoe."

Wow, Rukia found herself thinking as one of her favourite songs was played. They're really good! And Ichigo has such a nice voice... She snapped out of her daze at this. Wait, am I falling for him?

She didn't get a chance to answer as the song caught her attention again.

"Yokaze ga hakobu awai kibou wo nosete,

Dokomade yukeru ka,

Sore wo kobamuyou ni sekai wa yurete,

Subete wo ubaisaru,

Yume nara sameta,

Dakedo bokura wa mada nanimo shiteinai~,

Susumu!"

These feelings I have, I've never felt them like this before, Rukia thought.

"Oh, my God," she murmured. "I think I'm in love with him."

To be continued...

I'm sorry that this took so long, caravan trip and a week away from this does that I suppose.

Still, this is the revamped Language of the Heart, and this one will see completion.

I'm off again in 2 weeks and I have homework to do over summer (damn it), so my posts may become few and far between, but I'll keep up my work as best I can.

Anyway, tell me what you like, what you don't, or whatever, but please read and review.

Thanks and goodnight!