The doorbell rang to Rukia's duplex. She walked to the door and looked out of it and saw it was Ichigo. It had been a month since his concert and the two were practically inseparable. Even both their band mates were wondering what the hell was going on between them. Rukia opened the door to see Ichigo Kurosaki with his duffel bag in hand.
"I'm back," Ichigo plainly stated at the shock and surprised Rukia, "Told you I'd be back in time for your performace." Rukia had almost forgot that he had promised her he'd be back to see her perform on stage without her band for once. Rukia had bigger dreams than being in a rock band, she actually wanted to become a star on broadway. And if all went well tonight she might just have her chance. She was the star in her school's performing arts show tonight. She had been working for the last two months for this show. She had three performances that night and the last one was the most risqué and she hoped her rock star boyfriend wouldn't lose his cool.
"You didn't stop to put your stuff up?" she asked sarcastically, "You live literally next door, I mean we do share a duplex Ichigo." In Rukia's mind she was having an array of thoughts one being that he just missed her, the other was that he wanted to fuck her brains out but that was nixed because she said she hadn't felt ready to do that sort of thing again but she felt like she was lying to herself because every time she and Ichigo kissed she felt like her whole body was on fire.
"Come on babe, you're going to be late for your call time." He said dragging her out to the car. When the two arrived at the auditorium Rukia took him to the side and plainly stated, "I know you don't like Renji or my brother but for the love of all that is dear to me please don't do anything stupid, especially make me look like the moron dating the retarded rock star with a green monster in his dick!"
"Now that just sounds like you're saying I have a genital disease, Rukia. That's disgusting." he said before giving her a deep kiss. It had been the first time in two weeks that he had kissed her. The kiss was so deep that it made Rukia weak in the knees, "Now go out there and break a leg babe."
Rukia walked towards the back stage and prepared for a run through of her performances for the night. Renji was already back stage waiting on her.
"Did he make it here like he promised," Renji asked questioning her excitedness, "Because if he's not here to support you I'll break every bone in his body." The thought of Renji breaking anything was just hilarious. When he fought he usually lost in some pathetic way and Rukia had seen the both of them fight and figured to put the two up to each other, Ichigo would win hands down.
The run-through of the show was amazing, Rukia went in back to warm up her voice and mentally prepare for tonight's show and Ichigo's reaction to her after the show.
Ichigo sat inside the auditorium and heard some of the music without the words. He watched as others began to shuffle into the auditorium. He noticed a man with long black hair sit down beside him completely oblivious to him. So this must be Rukia's brother, he thought to himself, I wonder why isn't Elizabeth with him? Ichigo thought for a second and paid no mind as the show began to start.
One of the professors came onstage to announce the show, "I am very pleased with the progress these wonderful young adults have made so far this year. I am very sad to announce that after this semester we will be losing what I feel is the most artistic of all my students, Rukia Kuchiki, who will be finished with her final year here and on to try her luck at Broadway!" the man announced continuing to give a sad face, "However, tonight we have the privilege to show off what these students can do with their acting, singing, dancing, and how they fair with a musical instrument! We hope that you enjoy the show and give these students the attention that they deserve." The man walked off stage and Ichigo and the others watched as the curtain opened.
Rukia sat in a chair with a pin stripe suit and matching fedora with her head down. Her right hand was on the fedora. Without noticing the music started and the other girls on the stage clad in real corsets and underwear or skits started moving around. Rukia began to sing.
The minute you walked in the joint. I could tell you were a man of desinction a REAL big spender. Rukia stood and started to move around with the other girls. She looked like a pimp compared to how the others were dressed.
Good lookin, so refined, say wouldn't you like to know what's goin on in my mind? Ichigo's eyes were on Rukia as she put her hands on her head and moved it along with the music. God she was like a performing muse, the way she performed made him want to get up and perform with them even though he knew nothing about the song they were performing.
So let me get right to the point, Rukia swayed her hips sharply to the right. I don't pop my cork for every guy I see. The music began to build and Rukia took off her jacket throwing it directly at Ichigo. Ichigo barely caught her jacket in time to see her in the most risqué corset of them all. Rukia ripped off the pants and threw them stage right.
Hey BIG SPENDER! all the girls sang together before the music died back down again and it went back to Rukia singing alone. Spend a little time with me. Rukia began to walk around the stage caressing some of the girls. Ichigo's mouth nearly dropped to the floor in shock when he saw her in a bright red corset with black frilly underwear and black thigh- highs . Her high heels had to be atleast four inches high.
Rukia began to dance while she was singing, it was almost like being at a tasteful strip club for the audience. do you wanna have fun? One of the other girls chimed in along with another How about a few laughs? Rukia followed by saying, "I could give you some!" she giggled a little with the other girls covering their mouths doing the same. I could show you a good time. Rukia walked away from the other girls to the front of the stage pretending to fall and did a dance like move on the floor while the other girls made a shzzz noise.
HEY BIG SPENDER! the girls all sang as Rukia began to do a chair dance making Ichigo's mouth almost water. Hey big spender! Rukia stood on the chair doing a high kick throwing her foot gracefully over her head before sitting back straddling the chair with her fedora back in her hand. The minute you walked in the joint.
I could see you were a man of distinction, good lookin, so refined. Say wouldn't you like to know whats goin on in my mind. She put the fedora back down and stood up flipping the chair so she could face the audience without straddling it.
So let me get right to the point, I don't pop my cork for every guy I see. She sang moving one leg slowly up in the air while the music built up and she quickly put it back down.
HEY BIG SPENDER! HEY BIG SPENDER! She sat down and spread her legs apart coming off of the chair. Hey big spender. Rukia got up and flipped the chair back around while the other girls were singing and dancing grabbing her fedora and slowly placing it cocked on her head. She was once again straddling the chair.
Spend alittle time with me. Some of the other girls sang as the rest got into their poses and Rukia lifted her head looking dead at Ichigo and said, "How bout it palsy." The lights dimmed to a bluish color and the girls stayed in their poses until the curtain was drawn and Renji and the other girls quickly huddled around Rukia.
"Oh my god that was amazing Rukia!" one of the girls said getting a smile on Rukia's face.
"If that didn't get that talent scouts attention, man I don't know what did!" Renji said and Rukia playfully slapped his arm.
"Renji, honestly I'm not conceded, I don't need a talent scout to tell me he thinks I'd do great on Broadway, I'll try even if he doesn't like it." Rukia replied trying to hurry up and change for the next thing which was a bit from Moulin Rouge which would make Ichigo completely nuts over if he knew she was performing it with Renji. She was the main tango dancer/ whore in the piece from Moulin Rouge called El tango de Roxanne. She quickly put on her tango dress and placed a rose on her ear before hurrying up to get to the call.
The curtain rose and Rukia was standing with her head down and the music started and Rukia began to do bends and twirls with her body and Renji walked up and slammed her against his chest and they began to move together with the music. He threw her in a twirl out of his arms and she twirled and pretended to fall on the floor. Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes. She was dancing with Renji, and the music fit the situation perfectly. Rukia was slammed back against Renji's chest and she wrapped her leg around his waist. Renji moved his hand up her thigh in a way Ichigo felt was way too sensual for him, and lowered his head almost to her chest. Ichigo couldn't watch the rest but had to, just to make sure that Renji didn't do anything more to his girlfriend other than dance the tango. This was the final performance tonight and Ichigo was glad he wouldn't have to see her scantly clad in front of other people for a while. Granted he had done photo shoots without a shirt on but this wasn't him, it was his girlfriend. The song was coming to an end and at the end of the song Rukia twirled out of Renji's arms and fell to the floor, while Renji walked away from her and stopped with his head down. The lights dimmed and the curtains closed and before Ichigo knew it the curtains opened back up and everyone was on stage bowing. One of the professors handed the microphone to Rukia.
Rukia stepped forward and took the microphone, "I would like to thank you all personally for coming out here tonight and watching my very talented peers and myself. I hope all of you enjoyed yourselfs and we all hope you have a safe trip home!" she said smiling unaware of Ichigo's beet red face. He couldn't honestly say that he didn't enjoy the performances that she and all the others had done, they were great. He didn't like the thought of Renji touching his girlfriend like that, no matter the case. There was a fine line between a platonic relationship and a romantic relationship in Ichigo Kurosaki's mind and Renji was definitely trying to cross that barrier.
Rukia and the others bowed as the audience clapped. Rukia cleared her throat and began to speak as the others walked off the stage, "I have been asked by my professors to perform a song of my own that has taken me almost a year to write. I couldn't find the right inspiration up until a few months ago. So as a surprise to one of the members of the audience I'd like to ask his bandmates to come up here and help me out." she said as all the members of Flashcry except Ichigo walked out on the stage and Rukia temporarily walked off stage to a corner made into a makeshift changing room. She threw the dress off and tossed the heels aside. If she was to do this, then damnit she would do it right.
"I'd just like to say before we start this song while Ms. Kuchiki gets a little more comfortable that we are truly sorry for surprising you like this Ichigo, but she asked us as a favor and who can resist a girl when she gives puppy dog eyes." said Keigo as Hitsugya and the others nodded almost apologetically, just in time for Rukia to walk back on stage in a pair of black pants, a sleeveless shirt and a kickin' pair of converses.
"Normally I would play the piano part and sing," Rukia began, "But the piano is really difficult to play and sing for one person as you will see. This song is called DREAMS."
The piano started fast along with the drums and a kick ass guitar rift.
Dearest do you think of me,
When you're all alone? The music must have been how she felt a few weeks ago, and the time before that, Ichigo wondered, still trying to figure out how the world she had gotten a hold of his band mates without his knowledge.
I see a picture in your hand, one of us
Always by your side, the song continued on, Rukia pooring every emotion she had all at once. This was her one chance to prove herself as more than just a chorus girl to anybody. She was Rukia Kuchiki, world class singer, dancer, and actress all in one, and she wanted them to know it. By the end of the song almost everyone in the audience and backstage was in tears. This was the first time her professors had heard her song she had been secretly been rehearsing with the guys for weeks. Her brother had even applauded that one. She bowed and thanked everyone again before the curtains closed running and hugging Keigo, Hitsuguya, Chad, and Ikkaku and thanking them.
"So how mad do you think he'll be at me?" she asked them biting her nails visualizing the worst case scenario.
"I think the bugger is more shocked than anything, I mean did you see the look on his face?" Keigo said laughing as the others began to leave with him following, "Hey Rukia, you comin' or not?"
"I think I'm gonna catch a ride with my brother," she replied sweetly, "He's staying in my duplex tonight and I haven't seen my daughter in a while. Please tell Ichigo that I'll talk to him tomorrow or when they leave." Keigo nodded and walked off leaving her to her demises. She sat in the middle of the stage and began to cry. She thought of her sister and parents and wondered if they were proud of her or mad for having a passion about something that caused their deaths. She met her brother in the auditorium and rode to the duplex in silence, walking in and kissing her little Liz before running off to bed herself.
Rukia awoke the next morning with her daughter jumping on her bed. "Mommy wake up, its time for breakfast!" the little girl exclaimed succeeding in waking her mother from her deep slumber. Rukia never got mad when her daughter woke her up like that because she hardly got to see her anyway.
"Come on Lizzie, sweetie, lets get you some breakfast." she replied grabbing her slippers and putting them on before picking her daughter up and carrying her into the kitchen. Rukia noticed that her brother was already awake and drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. It had been his morning ritual ever since Rukia was little and it was something that she believed helped him be what she considered stable.
"Rukia, is that all you're going to wear when you have a man in your house?" he asked noticing that she still had on her pajama's that she had changed into last night. She never thought of it that way but now that both of them were fully grown, she should have known better.
"I'm sorry Ni-sama, its just living by myself, I forget." she replied looking in the cabinet for cereal to feed her daughter. When she finally picked one out that she thought Liz would like she turned around and said, "Sweetie, do you want this for breakfast?"
Liz jumped up and down and smiled, "Yes, Mommy its my favorite!" the little girl exclaimed as Rukia grabbed a bowl and some milk and got it ready for her, when she finished, she placed the bowl of cereal on the table and handed the little girl a spoon before getting herself something to eat.
"So I imagine that you and that Ichigo spend a lot of time together huh Rukia?" her brother asked not turning his eyes away from the paper. He had always been like this with her, she imagined that, that was why she had become so rebellious. It was for attention, and nothing more, but instead she wound up pregnant and forced into hiding until Liz was born. The worst part for her was the fact that Liz's father was married and wanted nothing more to do with her after she had told him of her pregnancy with his child. He never offered her his help or support which was why her brother took the charge of raising Liz until Rukia finished with school, which was only less than a month away. She could hardly wait until her daughter would live with her again. In her mind it was something that she had only dreamed of.
"Yes, Ni-sama, I suppose we have spent a lot of time together lately." she said smiling. "He really likes Lizzie too." she went on to say.
"I can tell." he replied coldly seeing the vast amount of toys that now was put up in Rukia's living room. "Just keep in mind I don't trust him and I don't want you to end up like you were with Elizabeth. You are now done with school I take it?" he asked curiously.
"No I have one more month of school, then exams and my showcase." she replied, "I'll be rehearsing everyday until two weeks before May." She knew what was coming.
"Well as soon as Elizabeth is finished with breakfast she and I have to be heading home, I don't want her staying with you until you have a job." he said causing Rukia's head to hang a little disappointed. As soon as Elizabeth was finished with her breakfast Rukia got her ready and kissed and hugged her fighting tears that she always had to fight when she let her daughter leave. After they left Rukia went and took a long hot bath soaking her sore muscles from the work she had done the night before. When she finished she dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top pulling her hair up in a tight bun before walking into her studio turning on the music and starting to rehearse her dance for her upcoming showcase.
Ichigo heard the music and walked into her studio watching her intently until she fell cursing herself causing Ichigo to laugh catching her attention.
"What do you want Kurosaki?" she asked looking at him.
"Get dressed Rukia we're going out." he said not telling her where they were going. "And wear more than what you are now."
A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't posted in forever but I thought it would be a good Idea to post it and it seemed like my longest chapter for this story so far…I've just been suffering massive writers block…I don't want you to think that I've forgotten about you. I'll update soon I promise!
Until then,
Christabelle.
