hi everyone... i missed you all so much ;)
okay so this story is starting to pick up (finally) i like where it's going and i hope you guys do to
if your ever confused or if i need to majorly edit something feel free to tell me!
Ichigo woke up to his alarm radio blaring the newest songs of the day. Ichigo grinned, perhaps he'd have a song on the radio soon. He idly looked at the time and wondered if Byakuya had already left to the music studio. He quickly jumped into the shower and got ready. He ran a hand quickly through his hair and when he finished, he grabbed his bag and headed down the stairs. Excitement coursed through his veins. Today was the day; the day where his band would finally get the start they had been working for so long.
He leapt down the stairs taking them a couple at a time. He crashed through the kitchen door to find Rukia happily munching on a chappy (chappie?) shaped waffle.
"Aren't you a bit old for that?" Ichigo asked.
Rukia giggled, "no, no one is ever too old for chappy." She held up a waffle to Ichigo who took it reluctantly.
"So has Byakuya already left for work?" Ichigo mumbled around the waffle he was eating.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Ichigo. It's GROSS!" Rukia said, "and yeah, nii-san already left. I told him to wait for you but he said that you're slowest person in the world in the morning so he wouldn't wait. Then he mumbled something about getting rid of a useless secretary."
"Che, frickin' bastard," Ichigo muttered, "whatever. It's still early. I'll be there on time."
Ichigo got up and headed out the door, calling a goodbye to Rukia. Outside, he basked in the morning glow of the sun. Today was going to be a good day.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Renji stared up at the recording studio. He was waiting outside the entryway wondering how he should get to where he needed to be. He knew he was early but anxiety had kept him up most of the night and he hadn't been able to sleep very much. Renji gave a tired yawn, wishing Hisagi, Chad, Ichigo or even Byakuya would show up soon. The girl at the front desk hadn't been very helpful and didn't understand sign language or what Renji wrote down. She had been looking at him for some time and looked like she wanted to eat him or something along those lines. Finally, he had gotten disturbed enough to wait outside. Renji checked his watch again. It was eight-thirty now; someone should have been here by now. Renji felt an unbridled panic, what if everyone was already at the meeting. He wished the girl at the front desk were a little more helpful. She was now currently painting her nails and Renji had to wonder how she landed the job. Maybe he should text Ichigo. Renji began to rummage around in his backpack for his cell phone and didn't notice a black haired beauty approach him.
Byakuya was walking up to the studio when he spotted a bright swath of red standing in front of the studio building. Byakuya could see Renji attempting to remove something from his bag and walked up to him. The poor kid was extremely early. Byakuya had expected them all to be late if watching his sister was any indication of young adults. As he neared Renji, Byakuya felt a strange sensation in his chest as he looked at Renji's frantic face. He was strongly reminded of Hisana and had the sudden urge to hold the redhead.
"Renji?" Byakuya inquired, his tone remaining monotone and stiff, "how long have you been waiting here?" However, as soon as the question left his mouth Byakuya cursed himself. Renji couldn't answer his questions; he couldn't talk. Renji, however, had found his phone and was typing quickly. He held out the phone to Byakuya who read the screen. 'Thirty minutes' the words read. Byakuya sighed, 'poor kid' he thought, 'probably couldn't relax.' Byakuya then signaled for Renji to follow him into the building. The cool air rushed over them. The studio was currently silent save for the occasional clicking of the girl at the front desk who clearly wasn't paying attention to two men who just entered. Why Yamamoto kept her was a mystery to Byakuya. She was the most useless person Byakuya had ever met.
Before reaching the elevator to go up to his office, he decided to stop at the front desk first. Byakuya decided it was high time to get some proof about how useless the girl was.
"Mizuki-san," Byakuya began in a clipped tone, "have you checked your agenda today?"
The girl looked up completely startled. "Ummm… yes, Kuchiki-san," she replied tentatively.
"Then please inform this young man here where his meeting with Yamamoto-san is." From the corner of his eye, he saw Renji's surprised look. He ignored it; he was testing this girl because he hated incompetent people and this girl was high on his list.
The girl became flustered and began to scramble looking for papers Byakuya knew she'd never find. She looked up helplessly and Byakuya only stared down coldly. Renji shivered slightly at the sight. He reminded himself never to piss Byakuya off in any way. Byakuya turned and began walking away. Renji stared between the both of them for a moment. He felt bad for the girl, wondering what she had done to deserve Byaukuya's wrath. He gave a small sympathetic smile and followed Byakuya.
Renji felt distinctly uncomfortable. The walk down the hall and up the elevator to Byakuya's office was frightening and awkward. There seemed to be no one else around and it was eerily quiet. Although Renji didn't talk, he was used to other people talking to him (except Chad) but this was terrifying. Up a head Byakuya made for an imposing figure with his sure gait and very stiff posture. Renji wondered idly how such an uptight man survived in this kind of industry.
In Byakuya's office, Renji sat down across from Byakuya looking like a very lost puppy. Byakuya tried to give him a warm smile but attempt was fruitless. So, he simply settled for pulling out files and papers from his briefcase.
"I'd like to get pertinent information about you personally for a profile for the public relations director while we wait for your other band members," Byakuya said, attempting to cover for the sudden awkwardness he felt being alone with Renji for the first time. The night before last was still high in his memory and he really hoped he would not do anything foolish. 'After all,' he thought to himself, 'the boy is clearly too young for anything to…wait...nothing should be happening between us. I cannot act upon any of these feelings. It would jeopardize the studio.'
Renji meanwhile was simply filling out papers and writing down whatever he thought would be helpful. Occasionally Byakuya would ask him a question and he'd write down the answer.
Finally, Renji set down his pen as he finished. He handed the paper over to Byakuya when his hand brushed lightly against the other man. Renji flushed darkly and he hoped Byakuya didn't notice. He didn't even understand why he had flushed. Sure Byakuya was kind of hot as hell but still…Renji shook that train of thought away. Silence reigned for awhile while Byakuya read what Renji had wrote. Renji's gaze began to wander around the office. His eyes settled on a picture of what looked to be an older version of Rukia. She looked familiar, a person from his past he could not recall. Renji wished he could remember because she felt important to him, like a memory he had lost.
Byakuya was briefly glancing through what Renji had written. Nothing was new it was simply for formality. Age: 20, occupation: student at Tokyo University and singer, etc etc.
Byakuya looked up from the papers to see Renji's gaze trained on a picture of Hisana. A look of absolute concentration was on his face. Byakuya realized Renji didn't recognize her. How could he not Byakuya wondered dazedly, she died in front of him. Byakuya wanted to ask him but the door burst open and a disgruntle Ichigo walked in along with Hisagi and Chad.
"Man, Byakuya, that girl at the front desk was useless. I had to give up on her and wander around with the guys until we found your office. Thank god all the rooms are labeled."
Renji snorted, earning him a slap on the head from Ichigo. Byakuya gave a slight cough. Each of the other band members quickly grabbed chairs and sat down. Byakuya told them the same thing he had told Renji. This time however the others could just talk as Byakuya had a recorder ready. Chad had his one word answers, Hisagi's answers came formally and Ichigo's was brash and loud as usual. Once they finished, Byakuya spoke.
"I believe there will need to be some adjustments made to your music styles, appearance and personality."
"Adjustments?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.
Byakuya nodded, "people expect certain things from bands and musicians and it will be my job as your producer/manager to create that certain image that will be accepted by the general populace."
"Wait, so what do you plan to change about us?" Ichigo asked.
"Most of the changes will be to your music," Byakuya said his voice revealing nothing. Although in his mind, he had wanted to say 'you' but refrained. He didn't need an angry Ichigo to contend with.
A stuned silence met his words. He saw Renji lean forward slightly but Ichigo was the one who spoke.
"Our MUSIC?! You must be joking. Our music is the only thing that sets apart from those other mass produced bands," Ichigo declared, his tone offended and angry.
"Yes, I must agree with Ichigo," Hisagi said politely, "our music is what defines us. Isn't it what attracted you to us in the first place?"
"It was but changes are always made especially to differentiate between music labels," Byakuya replied indifferently.
Ichigo suddenly stood up, his fists clenching tightly.
"No," he said, looking straight at Byakuya, "this is stupid. We didn't come here to get changed, adjusted and picked apart." Ichigo's voice had gotten louder.
"We are who are and our music reflects that. If you don't appreciate our music then you can just stick it up you-oof!"
Renji had punched Ichigo in the gut, much to Byakuya's surprise. Ichigo doubled over coughing.
"Renji! What the Fuck!?" he gasped.
"You were being rude," Hisagi stated, "however, I must agree with Ichigo. We got to where we are, based on our talents. I understand you're just trying to help but our music is us, we don't want to change it."
They all made to get up-Ichigo supported by Chad but Byakuya held up a hand. He had been expecting this kind of thing. After all, his sister had been dating the orange-haired boy for awhile now and Byakuya knew the kid well.
"If you would wait a moment, I have a counter-proposal then," Byakuya said, looking briefly at each of them, although his gaze lingered a little longer on Renji.
"What kind of counter-proposal?" inquired Hisagi.
"This record label must be completely confident and sure that the people we are signing will reach the top and stay there. This is why changes to musicians are always made."
"So what's the counter-proposal then?" Ichigo asked.
"It's not really a counter-proposal, more of a bet," Byakuya replied. He could already see the interest gleam in the others' eyes.
"We are willing to sign you all temporarily for a year. Within that year your music must stay in the top three on the Oricon(1) music charts the entire time. So that means once your first album hits the stands you guys must remain in the top three. If you should fail at any time the contract will become null," Byakuya concluded and he looked at each of them in turn to gauge their reactions. Each of them had varying expressions that slightly amused Byakuya. Mostly it was just shock. Ichigo abruptly stood up and for a moment Byakuya could not see the expression on his face. Suddenly he grinned and stuck out a hand.
"You got yourself a deal," he said cockily.
The rest looked at Ichigo, debate still on their faces. Then Renji got up and held out a single slender hand to Byakuya. He smiled softly and Byakuya felt a deep pressure in his chest. The man was beautiful when he smiled and the hand clasped in his was warm and Byakuya could feel slight calluses on the fingertips, most likely from playing a guitar. Given a choice, Byakuya wouldn't have let go but the others were still watching. He let go of Renji's hand quickly albeit reluctantly. The other two stood up and held out their hands too.
"We're in this together," Hisagi said simply.
Byakuya shook each of their hands in turn and stood up along with them.
"We'll discuss more tomorrow. However, I do want you guys to bring in whatever music you have. I would like to get an album together as soon as possible. If you have any questions please feel free to ask or call and I doubt that will be a problem because Rukia probably already has party plans for you all tonight," he said as they began leaving his office.
They all gave a small bow and exited but Renji lingered, his eyes once again locked on Hisana's photo. Byakuya stared after him as he left. Renji was going to be trouble Byakuya thought. This was going to be one really long year.
sooooooooo... next chapter is going to be my favorite although i'm debating on whether or not to throw some XXXX action in yet
it feels like it would to soon... so if you have any opinions plz tell me
