Mid-day rush hour was always hell in the streets of downtown Tokyo. Horns blowing and brakes screeching were pretty much the only sound you would hear from 12:00 to about 1:30. And if the raging headache of trying get on work on time doesn't split your skull, than the pep talk you'd get from your boss when you arrive late would surely do it. Luckily for Abarai Renji, he was co president of his work.
He parked his car on the side of the road and walked up to the Kuromai theatre sitting between a Abercrombie and Fitch store and hair Salon. The building was absolutely huge, and it looked more like a Cathedral than a theatre. It had a rich and creamy exterior with elegant carvings of dancing angels and naked gods winding around every wall. There was a deck with dinner tables covered with plastic to protect them from the dust and weather. Pearl pillars with gold veins and silver bases held up the deck, and under it…the rather large entrance.
Renji didn't bother to go through the entrance doors. Instead, he walked behind the theatre to a back stage door where only staff was permitted. He opened the door carefully; trying to juggle three boxes filled with nothing but resumes and his drink at the same time.
Inside, it was an office- the boss's office. The room was lit with a single lamp on a large polished desk sitting against the far wall. All the furniture was very expensive looking; rich red leather to mach the rose wood that covered the floors and most of the walls. And they had very rich colored pillows to go along with them. The walls were covered with draped red curtains with golden tassels on the ends, and they were set in such a way, the room looked more like the Maharaja's palace room than a theatre office.
Renji walked up to a man sitting at the desk and dropped the three boxes on the top with a grunt. He startled the man sitting there, for he was more concentrated on signing some papers than on anything else around him, and he jumped when the boxes landed just inches from his bowed head.
His name was Kuchiki Byakuya, owner of the theatre and big brother to Kuchiki Rukia. You see, not only does Tsushima Studios Co. own every dance studio in Japan, but they also won their fair share of performing theatres. It was to boost money production that they not only forced their employee's to pay a hefty fee to even join Tsushima, but to make the public pay over the top prices to see their over the top performances in their over the top theatres. It was more of a scandal than an actually profit, but since Mr. Ryuu had almost half the artistic population's jobs, no one stood up to him.
Byakuya stared at the boxes, "What are these?"
Renji walked over to a couch and flopped down on it, sighing heavily. "Resumes," he answered. "What else? Don't forget, we work for the biggest performing arts company in the world. People from all over the place will want a job here, even if it's janitor. "
Byakuya rolled his eyes and turned back to his papers, "Don't remind me."
Byakuya is what tango dancers would call a Milonguero or someone whose life revolves around Tango and the philosophy of Tango. To put it simply…Byakuya is a work-a-holic. Not to mention he was emotionless about everything. Renji could hardly remember the first time he saw Byakuya smile about something, and even then it was too small to even be considered as a facial expression. Byakuya also looked foreboding physical aspects; hair jet black and about shoulder length. Dark, ice-cold gray eyes and white skin. He always wore black, hardly liked the light. If there was such a thing as vampire, Byakuya was one.
"So.." Renji began, tapping his long fingers on the sofa arm. He never liked long silences between people. He always had to break them.
"Mr. Ryuu called," Byakuya began, face down at the papers on his desk.
Renji raised a un-amused eyebrow, "Did he now? What did he say?"
"He wants you and Shuuhei to go scouting around for a replacement for my sister…" he said that with such venom. Renji had to laugh; he sympathized with Byakuya because Rukia was like a sister to him too, but he always laughed when Byakuya showed just a little emotion in his tone of voice. He did well to hide his smirk behind his hand before Byakuya glanced up at him.
"You won't find what you're looking for," Byakuya stated bluntly, his eyes letting Renji know just how hurt he was over the loss of his sister's job. Renji shrugged.
"I know that. But I'm not getting paid for voicing my opinion about Rukia. I'm just a talent scout…and an occasional choreographer," he added proudly, smirking to himself. Byakuya paid no attention to his arrogance, and leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
"I can't believe this happened to her," he said to himself. "She didn't deserve it."
Renji chuckled. "Since when do we deserve anything in this cruel world, Byakuya? Besides, Shuuhei and I are taking her with us to talent show at Mashiba High school. We need her insight about possible talent, and hopefully it will cheer her up."
Byakuya arched an eyebrow and cocked his head, "Perhaps."
That's when the door opened, silencing both men when they saw Rukia step into the room.
She wasn't looking too happy. But Renji was used to seeing Rukia like that. She looked as if the very world was on her shoulders, and her eyes looked empty, almost hallow. She didn't smile- didn't even blink. She looked like something out of a zombie movie.
Renji pulled on the happiest face he could muster and greeted the withering Rukia with a wide armed hug., stopping her before she could disappear behind a corner.
"Hey, Rukia, how are you today?" he asked sweetly. He felt her stiffen when his arms wrapped around her, as if she was no longer comfortable in his presence. Of course, she was like that with everyone. Human contact now, was like a spider's touch to a woman. She didn't know why she suddenly detested human contact, especially that of male. But ever since Kaine…. no man's touch could satisfy her need for physical contact.
Renji sighed at her ridged reaction, but dismissed it quickly when she looked up at him. The warm smile was back on his face.
"So um…Shuuhei and I were going off for some talent scouting tonight at a high school. Would you like to join us?"
"What ever," she replied, her tone deep, dark and empty. She didn't even so much as glance at Renji when she replied. Renji reacted to her monotone voice with a sad frown and bite on his lower lip.
Lunch was over by now and Rukia had set off for her house, leaving Byakuya and Renji to their work. Shuuhei had popped into the picture just when Rukia walked out the door. He didn't see her pass by on account his hands were full of dance costumes.
He glided into the back dressing rooms where Renji was cleaning up the make-up tables, and flopped the pile of clothed on a near by fold up chair.
Renji double-took over his shoulder at the stack of clothes and his jaw gaped. "Are all those costumes for this year's production?"
Shuuhei let his tired body flop in the chair set aside beside the make-up desk and nodded.
"And there's more in the car I still need to bring in."
Renji nearly fell backwards, catching himself fast by grabbing a hold of the underside of the desk he was dusting off.
Threw all the years that Renji had been in the dancing business, never had he seen such an array of costumes for just one play. But the concert they were putting on this year was said to the 'encore for the encore' the 'top of the top' the grand finally was what was to begin the dawn of a new age and year.
"So did you invite Rukia yet?" Shuuhei asked, scratching under his chin casually. Renji nodded.
"Yeah. Though she didn't seem exited to go."
Shuuhei chuckled- a contagious sound from the depths of his stomach, "Since when is Rukia exited about anything, Renji? I thought you, of all people, would have realized that by now."
He was right. Renji was probably the only one that was remotely close to the all so distant Rukia. Besides her brother Byakuya, of course. He knew Rukia like that back of his hand. But lately…. she's been throwing everyone for a loop.
"So what time are we do to pick her up?" Shuuhei asked, standing from his chair.
"I told her five o'clock. The talent show starts at six, so that will give us an hour to drive across town, park, and get tickets." Renji answered, spraying a desk mirror with some Windex than scrubbed it. Shuuhei just nodded once than turn to leave.