A smart and stylish girl you see, Belle of good society Not too strict but rather free Yet as right as right can be!
Among the cheers and conversations, one voice stood out from the crowd. "Come show me how strict you can be!" hollered a man from one of the tables, followed by the laughing of his friends.
"Yeah, if smart, stylish girls don't wear much, I think I could learn to like 'em!" came another call from the same table. His friends cackled.
Never forward, never bold Not too hot, and not too cold But the very thing, I'm told, That in your arms you'd like to hold.
"With you in my arms, I'd never be cold again!" the first man yelled.
"Shut up already, you idiot!" a man from a few tables over yelled.
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay
"I'm just showin' them how much I appreciate their show!"
"Then bring flowers, you grinning bastard!"
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay
"What was that, you red headed asshole?" the first man roared, standing suddenly, his hand going inside his jacket.
I'm not extravagantly shy And when a nice young man is nigh For his heart I have a try And faint away with tearful cry!
"Calm down, Nnoitra. The boss won't be happy if he finds out you started another fight," growled yet another man as he attempted to pull his friend down.
"Shut up, Ulquiorra! I want this spiked haired freak to apologize for what he called me," the man now known as Nnoitra sneered. "Well? I'm waiting, Renji. Where the hell is my apology?"
When the good young man in haste Will support me round the waist I don't come to while thus embraced Till of my lips he steals a taste!
"At your place, with your little girlfriend. She said you ain't as fun to be around as I am," Renji sneered back.
"Shut up, dude. I don't wanna have to explain why the cops are suddenly looking at us again."
"Butt out, Ichigo, this don't concern you," Renji muttered, glaring at Nnoitra. "And I ain't apologizing for what I said." By now the girls had stopped singing and were standing on the stage, a slightly confused look on their faces.
"Ah, now why have the girls stopped singing and dancing?" complained the club owner as he walked in.
"Sorry, Mr. Urahara, Nnoitra just got a bit over excited watching the girls perform," Ulquiorra said smoothly, standing up next to Nnoitra.
"That's because-," Nnorita began but was cut off by a warning glare from Ulquiorra.
Urahara glanced at Nnoitra before saying, "Well ya know my rules on fighting; verbally inside and physically out."
"It was only ever verbally," Nnoitra sneered.
"Then why's your hand still in your jacket…almost like you were going for your gun." A few people around them murmured as Nnoitra's sneer vanished as he slowly took his hand out of his jacket.
"We were just leaving, weren't we; Grimmjow, Szayel?" Ulquiorra asked, glancing up at Nnoitra then at the two others at their table. Ulquiorra slowly reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet. He took out a few bills and put them on the table as the two others at the table stood. Before leaving, he glanced up at stage, his eyes meeting one of the girls as he turned and followed his three companions out.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Umi walked backstage after the fight broke out with the rest of the girls. Kisuke Urahara walked in after them and sighed.
"I keep this place as neutral territory, but then fools like them come in and try to start a fight." He looked at the girls and smiled. "But it was still a good show for as long as it lasted. Tomorrow's Sunday, you four take the day off."
A chorus of thank yous quickly followed as each girl scurried off to their respective dressing zones to change. A slightly irritated Yoruichi Shihōin waved Urahara out of the room before turning to the girls, her signature Cheshire smile spreading across her face.
"Stay out of trouble out there, alright? Not all the boys are as polite as the ones here."
Rangiku laughed. "Oh, I don't know about that," she sang, waving her brush around in the air. "I found one that seems fairly polite...that is, until he closed the door~" Umi and Yoruichi both laughed.
"That's disgusting, Rangiku and completely not business-like," Rukia huffed, hiding behind her nose powder.
"That may be true, but we can all see you hiding a laugh behind all that dust," Umi said teasingly between each giggle. She glanced over at Orihime. "Where are you over there, Hime?"
"Hmm? I'm right here, silly," Orihime murmured, looking at the red rose laying on her table.
"Maybe in body, but not in mind. You're thinking about that man sitting in the front row, aren't you? Ulquiorra Cifer," Yoruichi said softly, her Cheshire smile changing to a small, gentle smile. "Although he works for Sōsuke Aizen, he seems to be more...calm than the rest."
"Gin's calmer..." Rangiku mumbled, changing out of her stage costume and into her street clothes.
"Be that as it may, they're not the type you want to get mixed in with. They're dangerous; more than the Reapers are." Yoruichi sighed.
Umi nodded. "Everyone that's gotten mixed in with them has had trouble later on."
"Considering Aizen has over half of the police force in his pocket," Rukia grumbled, pulling on her coat over her dress.
"Yeah, and your brother has the rest on his payroll," Rangiku snapped back. "The only difference is in age." Rukia turned to glare at the taller blonde.
"That's enough, both of you. It's late, we're all tired," Yoruichi said sternly, stepping between them. "Go home, rest and enjoy your day off."
Umi grabbed Orihime's hand, pulling the other girl up. "Come on, let's go before they start another cat fight."
Orihime blinked, coming back to reality, her big smile spreading over her face. "Want to come over to my place and try some of my newest creations?"
Umi blinked, looking at her friend, trying to find the best way to say no. the last time she'd eaten something Orihime had made, she'd been sick for two days. "Umm, maybe later. I'm really tired tonight."
"Oh," the orange haired girl pouted.
"But I'll come with you~!" Rangiku sang, giving Rukia one last glare before skipping over to Umi and Orihime. "You know I love trying your food."
Umi gave a silent sigh of relief. "Sounds like a perfect idea. Besides, I couldn't stay over anyway, I have a client tomorrow."
Rangiku shuddered. "What a disgusting job, rubbing some stranger's back." She made a face. "How can you put up with it?"
Umi sighed. "This job here's not enough to pay my bills. I had to take another, and it was the best one I could juggle with this one."
"You could always come and work with me in the bakery!" Orihime beamed.
Umi smiled as she hugged her friend. "Maybe I'll take you up on that, but for now, I have paying customers."
Rangiku gave a small smirk. "Has Byakuya Kuchiki ever been on your list?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows. "What? I'm sure Mr. High and Mighty Stick-in-the-Mud must get tense at times," she snickered at Rukia's glares. Umi and Yoruichi both laughed.
"I don't get it," Orihime whined, looking between everyone.
Rukia huffed. "Good, because he would never stoop to that level. No offence, Umi."
"None taken," Umi snickered. "Now then, I'm tired and would like to go home and sleep. I'll see you all later," she smiled as she walked out, walking to the main street to hail a taxi.
When she got back to her apartment, she unlocked her door and stepped in, setting her things on the small table just inside the door. She shuffled over to her bed, collapsing head first onto it before kicking off her shoes. She shifted slightly, pulling the sheets out from under her as she curled up beneath them. Before sleep fully took her, her eyes glanced at her door, noticing an envelope that had been pushed under her door before she'd come in. Grumbling, she pushed her sheets back as she stood up. Umi walked over to to the door, picking up the envelope and opening it. Inside was a single hundred dollar bill and a piece of paper with an address and a time written on it. She stared at the bill, her mouth hanging open. This could pay two months rent, she thought blinking slowly, holding the bill up. She reread the address, going through a mental map of the city. It was one of the mansions on the outskirts of town. She sighed, setting the money and paper on the table before she walked back to her bed. Umi laid back down thinking it through. I'll just go there and see if it's safe enough, she mentally compromised. If it's not, I'll just pay for the rent and go out. She yawned, closing her eyes and falling asleep.