"I'm telling you!" Orihime continued explaining overjoyed. "They both seem incredible! I don't know if I'll be able to compare... I don't have the same presence they do."
"Is that so?" Ichigo whom sat behind her in class asked while trying to figure out a way to polite opt out of the one-sided conversation.
"Mhm!" Orihime nodded far too caught up in talking about the two amazing pianist she met the previous night. She didn't even realize how out of character it was for her to be gushing over two other boys in front of her crush. Of course she felt nothing romantic for Grimmjow or Ulquiorra, she just saw outstanding musical potential.
With an unfiltered personality like Grimmjow's she was sure he'd make for an interesting performance. Well, more than just interesting. Ulquiorra on the other hand was another case entirely. She could tell by just the way he played the phantom piano he was something special. On top of that she sensed unbelievable focus from him. Ulquiorra didn't lack in personality either, he was mysterious.
Still all this coming from a girl who was hesitant to even call a television idol handsome in front of Ichigo. After a bit more of this Orihime realized what she was doing. Finally the young former pianist shut her mouth turning away from Ichigo with some half-ass excuse.
With that Orihime buried her face into some history notes for the rest of the free period.
How embarrassing.
.oO1Oo.
She tried to practice for the preliminaries everyday after school.
It would always start the same, with her hands hovering above the piano's keys. Orihime would begin her piece of choice for the competition, Nocturne Op.9 No.2 composed by Chopin obviously. It was very difficult piece, one that didn't need to be played for a preliminary round. Something easier would be just as suitable.
However, it was Sosuke Aizen's suggestion. On top of that meeting Grimmjow Jeagerjaques gave her drive, meeting Ulquiorra Cifer gave her focus. She wanted to play her best for them. Her best now might not even scratch the surface of the worst of her younger self but it didn't matter, she would try.
When she tried to play the piano at home it usually started alright, actually it started perfectly. A minute or two in she would begin to feel sick. In another minute her fingers would be shaking so bad that she could hardly play. The sounds her piano made would sour until it was almost like nails on a chalkboard.
She usually would just quit or cry, Orihime didn't allow that to happen this time. She endured the horrible sound each day continuing to play until her fingers were sore and legs had fallen asleep from sitting motionless for hours.
Despite her grueling practice she didn't seem to be making any progress. The date of the preliminaries just kept creeping closer. This continued day after day until Orihime was climbing into bed the day before the preliminaries.
She just stared up at her ceiling for most of the night unable to sleep.
.oO2Oo.
"Let's go!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!" Orihime cried out behind her pair of athletic friends.
"I can't believe you slept in!" Tatsuki scolded the girl before rounding on Ichigo. "And you! Dammit Ichigo, you slept in too you moron! You know this is an important day for Orihime!"
It was true they were running late. Orihime couldn't get a wink of sleep though at one point in the very early morning she managed to catch some. The only problem with that was she was so exhausted she slept right through her alarm. It was such a clumsy thing to do on the day of the preliminaries no less!
She only hoped that she didn't miss those boys performances. She was more concerned about watching them play than missing her own performance. Orihime was now making a dash for the Karakura Concert Hall with her friends to prevent that from happening.
Unfortunately she didn't have as much stamina as the other two. She had to keep stopping to catch her breath which only made Tatsuki yell more about the time. At some point Tatsuki decided to take matters into her own hands and carried Orihime on her back.
Despite this method of rushing toward the building being humiliating the three of them made in there quickly. Once they got to the door Orihime begged the girl carrying her to stop. She still had a little pride as a musician, she could at least walk in on her own free will. Thankfully Tatsuki granted that request.
Just inside the door were programs for today's event, Ichigo was quick to grab one. Tatsuki followed suit snatching one right out of a stranger's hands. Naturally, Orihime apologized for her friend before grabbing a sheet for herself.
"Thank goodness," Ichigo sighed closing the program sheet. "You are scheduled to play after intermission."
"You should head backstage. We'll find our seats." Tatsuki added with a nod and a thumbs up.
Orihime agreed absentmindedly as she looked over the sheet more closely. She wasn't looking for her own name, rather two others. She sighed relieved herself seeing the name Ulquiorra Cifer was scheduled to play after intermission. That left one more... Grimmjow Jeagerjaques was scheduled to play...
"I have to hurry up!" Orihime exclaimed out loud. Her friends jumped a bit startled by the volume of her voice.
"What's the rush?"
"I-I'll explain later!" Orihime promised, she thanked them both for coming once more before rushing off. She was moving much quicker now than she had before. Orihime reached the backstage area after one spurt though she was thoroughly out of breath by the time she got there. Orihime started looking around the hallways then looking for those strange pianist.
"You're late." An emotionless voice interrupted her search. It seemed Ulquiorra found her first, his green gaze watched her blankly. "The staff was beginning to worry that you weren't going to show up."
"Huh?" She turned smiling politely at the expressionless boy. "Oh, sorry about that. I slept in."
"Careless."
"I said I was sorry." Orihime whined rubbing the nape of her neck. "So I didn't miss the last performance before intermission did I?"
"He's going on now-... He should be that is." Ulquiorra's green eyes shifted over Orihime's shoulder. She could hear someone calling Grimmjow's name... Orihime turned just in time to see him close the gap between them.
Grimmjow grabbed a fist full of Orihime's shirt pushing her back into the wall next to Ulquiorra. She yelped surprised by his sudden forcefulness, her grey eyes met his blue ones. Sure, he looked angry but Orihime didn't really see that as much as she saw frustration.
"What the hell? Were you chickening out? Or were you just scared to watch me play?" Grimmjow growled threateningly. Orihime didn't flinch nor did she lower her gaze from him. "Well, are you just going to stand there?" Grimmjow added when she was silent. The whole time a staff member was desperately trying to get Grimmjow to go out on stage.
"Oops." Orihime knocked her knuckles against her head while she stuck her tongue out. The look on Grimmjow's face changed completely, easing into one of confusion. He wasn't sure what to say to that. Could he really take her seriously when she made that funny face?
"Sorry," She raised her hand to ghost over the skin of his cheek. "Grimmjow."
That left the crude pianist speechless. His iron grip on her top slackened before he let his hand fall limply back at his side. Grimmjow scoffed after a long moment of silence turning away from the girl.
"Whatever. Like I would've cared either way." He began walking away from Orihime and Ulquiorra, in a minute he would be out on the stage.
"I'll be watching."
Grimmjow stopped hearing Orihime's voice one more time. He continued walking without looking back at her. After all there was no more time for him to look back, not now. He was bound for the stage, he had to keep looking ahead.
.oO3Oo.
The lights were dimmed down as Tatsuki and Ichigo finally managed to find their way to their seats. The two of them had just sat down when a very interesting pianist was taking the stage. He had electric blue hair and matching blue eyes, dressed in a fancy white suit. It took her a moment but Tatsuki recognized him, it was hard to forget a guy like him.
"That guy..."
"You know him?" Ichigo whispered back.
"He yelled at Orihime." Tatsuki answered looking at Grimmjow closely. "I don't think he'll do well. He doesn't seem like a real pianist."
.oO4Oo.
The chatter in the crowd died down when a new pianist took the stage. The way he carried himself was different from the rest that much was obvious. After all he was yawning and scratching his crotch. He wasn't your typical pianist.
But that was what made his music phenomenal.
Sosuke Aizen knew that all too well. He was sitting in a private box with a bunch of investors and judges a like. And already they were dismissing Grimmjow... Unrefined, crude, juvenile, immature, childish, violent. While they were not wrong about these things... They were writing him off far too soon. A hidden smirk found its way onto Aizen's face.
Grimmjow loved making people eat their words more than anything.
.oO5Oo.
Grimmjow had taken the stage like Ulquiorra had seen before... The person next to him however was seeing this for the very first time. They were standing in front of the monitors back stage waiting for the last performance before intermission to begin. Green eyes glanced over at the girl.
She was standing straight, grey hues focused on the monitor alone.
Her hands were folded as if in prayer.
Ulquiorra swore he could hear her say something under her breath...
.oO6Oo.
"Good luck..."
.oO To Be Continued Oo.
