Moonless Sky
-o-
the devil's voice is sweet to hear
Stephen King
-o-
Kuchiki Rukia was livid. Her violet eyes were ablaze with fury, strands of her midnight hair falling into her eyes from her lose bun, the long-chained necklace was heavy with its solid pendant in the shape of a heart, the messy bracelets on her right wrist clanging with every angry step she took in her black stilettos, tight jeans clinging to her legs like a second skin, her purple sleeveless shirt just as tight.
The show's producer turned around with a smile when he heard the clicking of her heels. "Ah, Rukia, I hadn't expected you to-" He was cut off when her manicured, lilac-painted nails as sharp as razor blades got a grip on his shirt, dragging him down to her height. "This is unacceptable, Renji."
The red-head sweated bullets. "What is?"
-o-
Ni: First Impression PAWNS
-o-
A smile that could be called homicidal crossed the Kuchiki's face as she dragged him closer so her lips were right next to his ear. "THE FACT KUROSAKI ICHIGO IS THE MALE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE SHOW YOU FUCKING RETARD! I WILL NOT MAKE OUT WITH HIM IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS YOU DUMBFUCK!" Renji cringed when her screeching voice penetrated his ear drums and stole his hearing for a good 15 minutes.
"Come on, Rukia, he's not that bad-"
"HE IS WORSE! I'D RATHER MAKE OUT WITH THAT UGLY PUNK ROBERT PATTINSON THAN HIM!"
"Now, why don't you calm down and-"
"JUSTIN BIEBER IS PREFERABLE OVER THAT IDIOT!"
Abarai's face fell. "Now you're exaggerating. And I met him, he's a nice guy. Just give him a chance."
Rukia's eyes became slits. "Never."
He sighed. "At least meet him before the first take, okay?"
The midnight-haired actress huffed. "Alright..."
-o-
Fast, heavy guitar notes wafted through the ear, making the air vibrate as actor and producer neared the door of the large storage room that was used for individual rehearsals of actors as well as musicians of the shows as well.
The singing started right when Renji opened the door for the Kuchiki.
-o-
"I will pursue this dream, 'cause I know it's expected
That I be serene
Upon this winding road, in the face of the crowds that bustle all around..."
Her mouth dropped open, literally. His voice was gorgeous, husky, and deep and just plain sexy. As soon as that thought crossed her mind she wanted to wash her brain out. So what if the guy had a good voice, didn't make him a nice guy at all.
"Although it seems like I am chasing after the past, what I want is a place where the sky is alive and like home to me
Please try to understand the truth
That this is no choice
And I wish you'd stop with that look
Of despair
You're giving me!"
As if he had felt her thoughts did his eyes snap over towards her, honey-tinted irises locking on her own purple ones, glinting with mirth as he focused his whole attention on her, and Rukia couldn't help but compare him to a little school boy meeting his idol, and, even though she didn't know it, he was exactly that.
All he wanted was to make a good first impression on her.
"Tears are nothing but the shape of our own weakness
And they won't bring any absolution
I do not see an end to this labyrinth
Who am I waiting for-
And
I write it down in the pages of my notebook
'Cause I'm looking for the me that is still honest
I am running but I don't even know why
From this reality-"
How did he not slip on his own words? The midnight-haired actress didn't know a single living person who was able to speak so quickly – let alone sing and still hit every tone.
"To chase my wishes I'll carry on living
And I will always remember the depths of the darkness
I'll face my demons and I'll no longer run away
There isn't a place to go
I'll lose this feeling of being so helpless
'Cause my whole life is ahead of me
I'll quash the numbness
'Cause pain's better than the emptiness!"
His voice slowed down, echoing melancholy through the room as the Kuchiki did nothing but blatantly stare at the orange-haired singer, who himself only had eyes for her and didn't even grasp the fact that Renji was with them – Rukia herself had forgotten her annoying companion entirely.
"I must apologize, I've really messed up and
I am so ashamed
I may not say it much,
But I know that I make you worry all the time..."
He let his voice drag some, letting the words resound heavily in the medium-sized room as his golden eyes stared unwaveringly into her amethyst pools that he had dreamed of for nights on end.
She was even more beautiful in the flesh, he decided.
"Back then you always could accept the things I'd done
And you're still the same today so I'll try not to burden you
But try to realize that I have closed my eyes
Just because the world is too harsh
And I'm willing to blind myself!"
The singing picked up speed again as it gained volume and strength, his fingers playing the guitar more vigorously, the amplifier behind him letting the sound of his play carry on through the walls and the building.
"Rumors that they have spread about us
I do not know which was the first one
"We were friends from the second that we met,"
Just stop with the lies already
And my heart turned red with this passion
And it almost consumed my very being
'Cause in truth I'd held onto hope
From this reality
To chase my wishes I'll carry on living
And I really want to scream out, but can you even hear me?
I'll face my demons, and I'll no longer run away
There isn't a place to go
I still am grateful for the care you've shown me
So I'll find the strength to make it count
I'll always move onward
Facing my friends and foes alike
How do you unlock this door that has no key?
Can you think of a way?
We can't go back to the beginning
The story's set, and our destinies, too
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes..."
Rukia couldn't believe he was singing this so easily. The music was so loud that it was close to hurting the ears, but his voice flowed perfectly fine with it without sounding strained or turning into yelling.
She was positively stunned.
And Ichigo loved every second of it.
"I'll lose this feeling of being so helpless
'Cause my whole life is ahead of me
And the things I once abandoned
I want to try and find again
Come on, just one more time
To chase my wishes, I'll carry on living
And I really want to scream out, but can you even hear me?
I'll face my demons, and I'll no longer run away
There isn't a place to go
I still am grateful for the care you've shown me
So I'll find the strength to make it count
I'll quash the numbness
'Cause pain's better than the emptiness!"
The last few tones of the song strummed by. Slowly and carefully he put the guitar aside and turned the amplifier out, strolling towards them casually with a smirk plastered over his face. "Sorry, I hope I didn't bore you. But I wanted to practice the song one last time before going to record it later."
A tanned hand appeared in front of Rukia's still stunned features. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm a big fan, Ms. Kuchiki."
As the whole act finally registered in Rukia's mind she did the very first thing that came to mind to cover her mesmerized state.
And, just like that, she slapped him across the face, stomping off and out of the room.
Ichigo slowly turned his head back around, the red imprint of the actress' hand beginning to glow on his skin. He raised an eyebrow, slightly hurt. "Did I do something wrong?"
Renji patted him on the shoulder comfortingly. "No, she's just angry with herself. Let's hope she's calmed down till the first take."
The singer nodded numbly. "Y-yeah..."
-o-
Rukia slammed the door closed, startling the tanned blonde on the couch. Returning her attention back to the cell by her ear she bid her companion farewell before she snapped the device shut and focused on the steaming actress. "What's the matter, dear?"
The Kuchiki turned her gaze towards her agent that was sprawled on her stomach, elbows propped up on the armrest of the couch, her chin resting in her hands, emerald orbs boring into hers. She sighed. "That wannabe of a popstar actually dared to say to my face that he was a big fan, as if I believe that. He was just trying to get in my pants, I tell you."
Halibel looked amused. "How do you tell?"
Rukia glared, at a loss for words." I... I just know, okay!" She spluttered out in the end, crimson marring her features.
"Oh, admit it, you're just embarrassed that you couldn't say a word to him after you heard him sing."
The actress spluttered indignantly again. "What! Who says that?"
"Renji. On Twitter."
With wide eyes the raven-head took out her iPhone. And right there the stupid tattoo-head's message glared at her in large black letters.
Rukia just met Ichigo.
Seriously, paparazzi are never near when you need 'em!
After he finished singing she just gaped at him like a little 12-year-old face-to-face with Pattinson.
And at a loss for words she slapped him across the face before running off.
I swear he looked like a heartbroken puppy!
-lies on the floor laughing his ass off-
I'll kill him!
Across the city a furious tangerine-head threw his cell out of the window after checking his twitter account.
And Ulquiorra only shook his head as Ichigo screamed. "I'm not a fucking heartbroken puppy you asshole!" Before stomping off into his bedroom.
-o-
His heart thumped madly in his chest, nearly escaping its cage as he stood backstage, anxious to go out there and face the crowd. "I-I'm not sure about this, Ulquiorra..."
The pale man glared at his client. "What did you say?" His voice was cold as ice and hostile, making the younger man shiver, clutching onto his guitar tightly. "I-I said I'd love to go out there and sing, Ulquiorra-sama..."
"Better, boy."
-o-
His heart was beating manically in his throat as he stared at the assembled crowd, unable to blink. Maybe this hadn't been that good of an idea, after all...
Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Ulquiorra glaring at him, appearing to have a little plushie of himself in his hands, choking its neck. Ichigo gulped. That was clear.
Turning his head back towards the crowd he took a deep breath, signaling the band behind him to start playing, as his own fingers started playing his guitar.
The music was hard, heavy and cold, his voice deep and husky as he sung the lyrics into the microphone in front of him, sending the crowd into hushed silence.
"The sky
Is dyed with crimson red
That comes out of the darkness
Of what needs to be said
The stars we used to know
No longer glow
Obscured by all the ash that falls like snow..."
As the teenager continued to sing, his voice gaining strength and confidence, he never noticed the black-haired man standing at the farthest end from the hall, cross-armed leaning against the wall, scrutinizing him from dark brown eyes.
-o-
The teenager feel on the couch, completely exhausted and ridiculously happy.
That had been awesome.
Completely terrifying, but awesome.
He was already hooked to this.
A knock on the door caught his attention. "Yes?" Ulquiorra's face popped in through a crack, his face uneasy, confusing the orange-head. "You have... a visitor, Ichigo."
The teen frowned, but signaled the emerald-eyed man to let them in.
He soon regretted his decision.
-o-
"... Dad..."
The older man glared silently at him as he closed the door behind him while Ichigo sat up on the couch, eyes wide. "What... are you doing here?"
Did he want him to come home? To apologize? To-
"I came to give you a last chance to stop with this ridiculous stunt of yours, Ichigo."
So much for apologizing.
He didn't want to admit it, but the teen was honestly hurt by his father's actions. Why couldn't he understand how much this meant to him? Didn't he want to fucking understand it?
"Ho to hell, dad. Just... leave, I don't want to hear the same shit from you again."
It would be the last time he'd see his father for years.
-o-
The room was dark, save for the weak light emitting from the tiny desk lamp next to the hunched over form of a dark-haired man, a framed photograph clutched tightly in his hands, the glass surface wet with small droplets of salty liquid as brown eyes stared at the picture.
Isshin was holding the twins in his arms, they had still been small enough to allow him so much, at that time. His wife next to him was smiling down at their son reassuringly as he hid from the camera behind her long legs, looking scared like hell.
He missed the time when they were still happy.
And he missed his son, of all things.
He knew it was his fault that he didn't want anything to do with them anymore, but he couldn't help it at that time.
He was just so scared. To lose another dear person, and had to carry them to the grave.
The thought was just too hard to bear.
So he decided to threaten him, force him to cease his foolish dream.
He believed that his devotion for his family was stronger than his desire to sing.
But he had been wrong, and all his threats did was deepen and worsen the cleft that had build between father and son.
And he wasn't sure whether he would ever be able to fetch it again.
-o-
The song Ichigo sung was 'Again' by, who guessed right? YUI. I used the fandub by geekyfandubs, and it's worth listening, both versions^^ The second one was her version of 'Ash Like Snow'.
Well, I think Isshin's remorse is a little late, don't you agree? XD
Yes, I know it has been a while, sry for that. First I didn't have internet for, like, 3 weeks, and then my friends pestered me to update stories I told them about, but were only a vague idea in my head.
So, here I am, once again with 4 stories, all with one Chapter, and all with readers asking me to update.
But! I shall manage! You'll just have to wait for updates a little, since I really try to make good and believable plots for this (save for my Neko fic, that is just humor and crack XD)
And, I am of the believe that one shouldn't bother an author to update. It's their choice and their choice alone. If I was mean enough I could just drop this story altogether if people pester me too much. Not saying I will, but maybe you should keep that in mind. I have a life, it's not my job to write fanfics. It's a hobby.
