To Lead And Follow
Hey this took way to long to post, but I had to think of who else I wanted. It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to my few readers who they are. The song this time is (Notes From The Trial Of) La Curandera, Ship Of Gold, and Power Player all by Clutch, I highly recommend checking it out, it may be hard to find though.
Rukia ran as fast as she could down the street towards the Urahara Shop. For once she was late. Though she kept telling herself it wasn't her fault. After all she had gotten caught up at the carnival. One game in particular had her attention. It was one where she had to knock over milk bottles placed in a pyramid formation. Normally she would have walked by, but this game had a prize that caught her eye. It was a large stuffed chappy the rabbit. She must have spent all the money she had "borrowed" from Ichigo. Oh well what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
All that was besides the point she had won her prize. And she was only thirty minutes late. Ichigo had once been an hour and a half late. Though fending off Aizen might be a little better than winning a prize, it was virtually the same thing at heart. After all she had, had to fight through crowds, how was that any different? She knew it was getting bad when even she was thinking her excuses were lame.
Finally she could see the door. It was open and a note was attached, with R-U-K-I-A! written on it. She skidded to a halt and yanked the note off the door. As she read her flustered face went from worn out, to more of an anger and irritated mixture. The note read : Dear Rukia, we have gathered down in the lower training facility, and are eagerly awaiting your arrival as you will be playing lead instead of the normal order,
P.S. please enjoy your chappy prize.
They expected her to play lead, she had only been playing for a few months. She messed up on simple chord progressions. She starred at the note expecting it to burst into flames. After a minute she tore the page into shreds. "Damn you Urahara," she said under her breathe.
"Jeez what the hell's got you in such a mood?" came the voice of her tattooed friend Renji as he emerged from the darkness.
She jumped at the sound of her friend's voice. She noted that on his back was a guitar case. "Damn it Renji I don't need you sneaking up on me today," she said as she reached for the case on his back only to have him take a step back. "What the hell Renji give me my guitar," she demanded.
He grinned and said slyly, "One condition."
Rukia was getting mad all Renji was doing was making her latter and that would just mean she would have to play longer on lead. "Fine what is it?"
His grin grew into a smile of triumphant victory, "Let me see you practice."
Her jaw dropped. She hatted having people watch her screw up. Especially if it was someone she knew well. And to make things worse she wasn't sure how Ichigo would take Renji surprise visit. She knew the teen was hatted getting recognition, and Reji wouldn't let it go especially if he screwed up. But the was things were looking at the moment she had no other choice. "All right fine just let me have my guitar back," she reached for it again, and Renji took another step back, "RENJI WHAT THE HELL?!"
He smiled at her, "This is my bass, your guitar is by the door behind you."
Rukia's jaw dropped. Renji had just managed to get into practice without actually having a negotiation tool. She grumbled to herself as she angrily slung her case onto her shoulders.
The two climbed down the ladder leading to the training grounds underneath the shop. The sounds of swift guitar riffs and high squeals filled the air. As they reached the ground the mad hatter Urahara stood waiting for the two. "Ah freeloader, Rukia welcome," he beckoned the to, to come forward.
As Rukia passed Urahara, he was about to open his mouth to speak when he felt his fan go into his mouth. "Can it Urahara I've had a long day," she said.
Soon the licks, riffs, slides, and squeals came to an abrupt stop. The orange haired teen stood high on a rock holding a black guitar with a blood red face plate. Coming off the base of the guitar was a long black chain. He held his guitar still, fingers still on the frets where he had stopped. "Rukia, you're late," he said calmly as he turned to face his friend, "Looks like you get to have some fun with this session."
Rukia sighed as she walked over to her friend. When she got next to him she began to unzip her case. She pulled out a light purple guitar with a vibrant yellow lightning bolt cutting through the dull color. Across the back neck of her guitar she had written "CHAPPY". "Yeah, yeah I know how many songs do I have to do?" she asked.
Ichigo looked at her for a moment. He then looked at Renji. "I'm guessin' you had somethin to do with making her late right Renji?" he gave Renji a stare saying something along the lines of lie and I kill you.
"What? I show up and you automatically think that I made her late?" Renji asked outraged.
"Yeah I thought so," Ichigo said with a grin. He then turned to Rukia and said, "Two songs Rukia and you have to sing."
"HEY ARE YOU IGNORING ME?" Renji asked.
"All right fine Ichigo two songs it is," Rukia said and let out a sigh of relief she had expected at least four.
"ICHIGO YOU BASTARD LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Renji yelled in attempts to get the two's attention.
Rukia lifted her guitar and began to roughly play the intro to "Power Player". Everything went smooth until she got to the words. "Diplomatically and fatically denied any prime knowledge shape or kind..." she trailed off as her fingers slipped. She had the urge to stop playing, but Ichigo had taught her that it was rude to stop during the middle of the show. She played the first verse and through the chorus without a word from her mouth. On the second verse she had planned to make up for it, but instead she was greeted by the sound of Ichigo's voice, "You can always tell the terrorist by his cologne and the watch on his wrist. It says I'm the type of man that can kick off anywhere, kick off anywhere," he continued through the song until the last line. Where Rukia came back in singing the last line, "In This Game You've Got To Lose A Couple Of Your Pawns."
When she finished she smiled up at Ichigo. Their eyes met and locked for a moment. "Ichigo," she said
"Yeah Rukia," he returned.
"Stick to guitar," she said and broke into laughter.
He glared at her for a moment. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" he asked.
Rukia continued to laugh while Ichigo continued to defend his singing. Renji was sitting on the ground shocked at Ichigo's talent. And Rukia's decent skill. He had no idea that Ichigo played guitar, he had seen the guitar in his room, but he figured it was just for show. He began to think about what he and Matsumoto had discussed.
"Renji I'm serious we can pull this off," Matsumoto kept insisting and Renji kept laughing.
"Right me, you, and your pint sized captain are gonna win this Battle Of The Bands," he said wiping away a tear and holding up the flyer that was on their table.
"Yeah exactly we can do it all we need is a guitarist and maybe a rhythm to," Matsumoto was determined to win him over. "Come on Renji you saw what happened earlier you played I drummed and Hitsugaya-taicho sang it worked perfectly."
He had to admit, that was pretty cool. "Even if that was good who do we know that plays guitar?" he asked
She sat up in her seat feeling like she had won him over, but there was on small problem. "Well there's...and then there's...uhm what about...no," she sunk back into her seat she had no ideas.
"Listen Rangiku, I'm goin to check up on Rukia and Ichigo I'll think about doing it," he said as he left.
At the bar he had made up his mind that he wouldn't go through with it. But after seeing that he had to admit it seemed like it could work. He sat up from his dusty spot and started walking over to the two arguing guitarists. If this was going to work, then he would need to have them both.
Upon noticing Renji's serious expression and approach the two stopped arguing. He walked over and began to get out his bass. Once it was out his set the base down and placed his hands down on the head. "Listen cause I'm only sayin this once," he said keeping a serious face. He waited for the two to nod before continuing, "Back at Soul Society there is a Battle Of The Bands going on, and we need a lead and rhythm guitarist to compete, so are you to in or out?" he asked
The two looked at him, neither had expected or even would have guessed that it could have been something like that. Ichigo was the first to speak up, "Who's we?" he asked.
"I thought you might ask that," Renji said, "Matsumoto is playing drums and Hitsugaya-taicho is our lead singer."
Hearing who the singer was made both Ichigo and Rukia's jaw drop. "D...Di...Did you just say Hitsugaya-taicho would be out lead singer?" Rukia asked and Renji nodded.
"That little shrimp can sing?" Ichigo asked, and again Renji nodded.
"So will you to do it?" Renji asked hiding his anticipation.
Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other. The weren't bad and they knew that, but playing in a band would be a whole lot different. Then again the though of being on stage had something to offer both of them. Both of them said, "Yes" at the same time.
Renji grinned and lifted his bass. "Sooo, Ichigo do you know (Notes From The Trial Of) La Curandera?" as he began to pluck the bass line.
Ichigo smiled and began to play the intro, with Rukia filling in the blanks. When it came to the singing Ichigo and Rukia swapped up. Alone they weren't that great but swapping up like that gave them a much better sound.
Renji began to think to himself that Matsumoto was right they did have a shot at this. One thing still puzzled him: What the hell was the damn prize for winning?
Whoooooooooooooooo done at last. It took forever, but I hate my own writing so I winged it. I don't know how but I think I swapped main characters in this chapter. Hitsugaya will be back with fury. I'll get to the romance eventually don't worry love birds. And from the looks of things there is more than one pairing gasp who will it be I really don't know. If you have a song that you want me to use send it to me and I just might do it. Oh and I don't own bleach that might be important right?
TUNE IN NEXT TIME!!
