Again, thank you so much for the reviews for the past chapters and I'm really glad that you like this story.
So, I'm writing this while I'm really sleepy, so forgive me for the mistakes. And I can't wait to post this so I won't have this beta-ed. I'll just write… while I can. Before I go down anywhere.
Announcement for this story, btw. The rating may go down. Big possibility. Pondering on it. ;) Something new for me who has been writing M stuff for so long.
Hope you enjoy this chappie! :)
Act Four
Shared Interests
The casting of the most anticipated action/drama series of the TLE Channel was finally completed. The show was rumored to be star-studded, and no one from the press and the public knew who the people would be behind the huge project. The network knew how to keep secrets well.
Everyone was dying to know and they all eagerly waited for the scheduled press release and official launching of the project.
That day was today.
And today, somewhere in the backstage of the conference room prepared for the cast and crew of Hour of the Death God, a young woman was dying with nervousness.
Inoue Orihime wrung her hands repetitively, unsure of what to do. She sat still in a modest dressing room, staring at the clothes arranged for her to choose from. Because of her anxiety, she had arrived three hours too early. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and she didn't attempt to sleep anymore. She woke up, took a bracing cold shower and rushed to the conference area in a blink of an eye.
She had received a brief call from her aunt, who was shocked by the news Urahara Kisuke told her, but thankfully, she did not press on further. She just received a stern warning and a good luck.
Orihime let out another strangled breath. She had not seen Ichigo after the day of the audition, and it has been a week since. She did not know whether the plan was still to be put in motion after the lack of communication, but a knock from the door and a sudden delivery of clearly expensive white roses proved her wrong.
'Let's do our best. – KI – '
Orihime suppressed a giggle. Somehow she discovered that Kurosaki Ichigo did not know how to act like a sweet and caring boyfriend. He might be more of a brotherly boyfriend, if that type even existed.
She didn't know if this press conference was where Ichigo intended to drop the bomb. Honestly, she would prefer if they stayed quiet until someone else discovered. But she knew that wasn't possible. With the amount of media people tailing Kurosaki Ichigo everyday, it would be impossible to keep this secret. Not something this big.
And this secret was intended to be exposed in the first place.
Can I take it? Orihime wondered. The life of a celebrity. The life of living beside the most popular idol in Japan and his equally famous friends. The life of champagne, limos and limelight. She did not recall what it felt like to have everything in the world within your reach. All she remembered was her dream to be on stage, the feeling of giving pleasure and pain to the audience – to be able to share parts of her talent. Her raw, unpolished talent, as Ichigo had called it after their auditions. She was no expert or professional. She will start at the most basic level and it she had to thank her stars for having the opportunity to be under the tutelage of the best people in the business.
She stared at her phone, the screen glaring at her. There were no new messages. There were no calls. She still had no fans or supporters to wish her luck. Not yet… no one yet.
Briefly, her eyes wandered over to the seat with her surname on it. Unconsciously, she felt a tear slip down her left eye as her vision suddenly became blurry. She always dreamed of this day and now it was becoming a reality. She had no luxury to think about the means of where she got to where she stood. Although the methods were not exactly what she hoped for, she had no right to complain. Not when someone as famous as Kurosaki Ichigo offered to help her.
Orihime was by no means a malicious person. She did not harbor negative feelings towards other people if she can help it. That was why even though she knew that Ichigo was only helping her because it was convenient for him, she did not mind. She was happy that somehow, she was able to ease some part of his troubles. She knew that he, in his own little way, trusted her. It was difficult to find someone to trust in this world where the press lurked everywhere, where any scandal can ruin you, where every opportunity can make or break you. Everything was on a tight rope and Ichigo seemed to be doing an impressive balancing act. At least that was how the Japanese people see him.
Her eyes glazed over as she recalled the fine features of his face. His strong jaw, firmly set lips, his wonderful nose, his unusual but arresting hair and his eyes... Oh those eyes, she thought, not noticing a bit of drool rolling over from the corner of her lips. They looked like the warmest chocolate that she liked to sip on a cold Sunday morning. They looked like the sweet, velvety molten chocolate that she often topped with wasabi, strips of carrots and salt. I wonder, if I lick Kurosaki-sama's eyes, would they taste like chocolate?
As Orihime's imagination ran wild from licking Ichigo's eyes or trying to put some salt in them, on the other side of Japan, perched upon a private hill and encroached on the most colorful of flora, the concern of Orihime's wild thoughts was also already prepared for the day. Although he was not as overexcited as Orihime who arrived at the area of concern three hours ahead of schedule, he was already wide awake and prepared. Ichigo, who had years of experience dealing with premiers, knew better. He knew that he had to wait at least an hour before going to the bustling city and to work. He knew that he had to wait for the press to arrive before him, so he could be the center of attention when he arrived. Although he liked this part of premiers least, he had to live with it, and Urahara Kisuke taught him well to play the part.
Everything was rehearsed, everything was done automatically. But there was something about today's premier that made Ichigo tingle in anticipation. Like a child committing his first act of mischief, like a young man sneaking out in the middle of the night. Ichigo's normally upturned lips lifted slightly at the corners as he stepped on the dewy grass of the Kurosaki private estate. He made it a habit since he was young to walk along the beautiful gardens before going into the spotlight of any major project he was making. It gave his mind a sense of clarity, a sense of path, a sense of peace... he remembered the moments where his mother would walk with him and smell the roses, where she would tell her stories about acting, about her work.
Ichigo closed his eyes. This was the place where he can let loose. He tried envisioning the angelic face of his mother so that he can finally pinpoint where the sense of euphoria was coming from. But it was not the face of Kurosaki Masaki that floated into his mind's eyes. It was Inoue Orihime.
He chuckled briefly, the sound drowned by the loud chirping of early birds frolicking on the branches of the trees. Somehow, he found it hard to imagine the new Orihime. He could instantly picture her disheveled countenance – the lopsided spectacles, the unruly hair, the oversized clothing that look painful to the eyes. He gave his line of thought a few more seconds before that sore-looking image morphed into something so surprising that it could only rival the caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis.
Somehow the events of that day had imprinted itself on his mind. The way Orihime had changed her look was breathtaking. She did not look like an ordinary or even a cutesy Japanese woman. She was beautiful, and that was Ichigo saying it. He had been around extremely stunning women. But there was something pure and unusual about her appearance. There was nothing artificial. He did not know if her innocent character played a big part on how she generally looked but it did have its impact. Ichigo found himself trusting her more and more even though he did not want to. But he did not have to remind himself why there were at this position in the first place. He had offered his help to train her into becoming a great actress, and she was there to act as his girlfriend.
The ringing of his mobile phone awakened him from his trance and made him realize that he had been walking along the gardens for more than an hour and a half. It was time to go.
Abarai Renji laughed slyly as Rukia told him the whole thing that happened to their dear friend, Ichigo. He had been to Osaka for three days and had no idea of what was going on. When Rukia, filled with excited smiles and scheming giggles, told him that Ichigo hired someone to pose as his girlfriend, Renji visibly reddened. After taking the color scheme of his hair, his face showed the first signs of mirth that exploded into boisterous and loud laughter.
"Remind me to tease Ichigo some time today," Renji barked in between gulps of air. "The poor ass needed to pay someone to be his girl! What a shame!"
Rukia nudged Renji hard on the ribs. "Don't. He'll be pissed if you distract him today. You know he doesn't like to be bothered during his work time."
"I know but this is just so hard to resist!" Renji exclaimed, still attempting to lodge his fist in his mouth to avoid laughing harder as his petite girlfriend shot him a scathing look.
"But if you meet Orihime, you'll stop laughing like an idiot and would start to gloat," Rukia said seriously, her eyes twinkling with something that Renji only knew as traces of a plan brewing to form.
"Why?"
"Well, it seems Ichigo got more than he bargained for," she continued, the Kuchiki arrogance showing itself in her tone.
Renji was perplexed. "So you think Ichigo really likes her?"
"Not yet," Rukia said with emphasis.
Renji groaned. "Rukia, stop playing matchmaker. You've been matching Ichigo up with every single girl you find! You know it won't work and Ichigo is just too gay to - "
"SHUSH!" Rukia interrupted, forcefully pushing her index finger on Renji's chattering lips. "There's something about Inoue Orihime..."
Renji rolled his eyes. "Oh please, you've said that about those other girls."
"No Renji, I'm serious."
At this Renji stopped. Rukia had that fire in her eyes. Something that always arrested him. They glowed behind those deep purple orbs. It was like she was foreseeing something. Kuchiki Rukia had always been a perceptive person, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she was a bit blind. It had taken them almost their whole lives for her to see that Renji had strong feelings for her. But Renji knew that when Rukia saw something, she was sure about it. And it was almost always right.
"Are you seeing some far off ethereal chemistry between the two?" Renji said mockingly, his tattooed eyebrows rising. "Because by what you said this Orihime seemed like a plain jane to me."
"Oh you'll be so sorry you said that Renji," Rukia mused, chuckling darkly. "That girl is a butterfly. Even Ichigo's mouth dropped when he saw her. And believe me, that's the first time I saw his guard down because of a woman."
"D-do you mean...?" Renji said with a stutter, his eyes like saucers, "That our Kurosaki Ichigo finally acknowledged a member of the female species?"
Rukia nodded with a smirk. "So that's why I agreed instantly to be in on the plan. Because I have other plans."
At this Renji's smile fell. "You know Rukia, you should just let them be. Yes, we'll play the part of being Inoue-san's close friends. We'll protect their secret. Their charade. But personal and real matters should be well left alone. You know that."
Rukia grinned slightly. Abarai Renji, though he was the same as any other dope of the male species, knew what to say at the right time. Sometimes, she wondered where this knowledgeable quotes came from within that big bulk of music and raw chauvinism. She said nothing as she kissed Renji full on the lips and started making out for thirty minutes, before rushing off to the premier.
"KISUKE!" Matsumoto Rangiku barked, causing the man in question to flinch as he was about to enter a pristine white limousine to pick up his talent.
Pasting his trademark grin and lowering his hat to hide his eyes within their shadows, he cheerfully said, "Yes, Matsumoto-san?"
Rangiku simply swatted his hat off his head and looked at him with a stern expression that made him squirm. "I'm coming with you."
The seriousness of her tone made Kisuke worried. Matsumoto Rangiku went all the way down from her office floor to the bustling streets near the TLE channel just to see him. That alone told him that she was serious about dealing with him. He noticed that people from all around where staring at him and her. Everyone knew who they were. There were some civilians taking out their phones to capture the stunning beauty that was Matsumoto Rangiku, but the former supermodel took no notice of them. Her sky blue eyes were glaring down at him, like an executioner ready to lop off a criminal's head.
"He he," Kisuke laughed nervously. "Come now Matsumoto-san, I already explained to you what has happened and will be happening!"
"Get in the car."
The frozen statement had Kisuke nodding like a chastised little boy. He followed Rangiku's designer-wrapped form into the more private confines of the limo.
As the car sped off, so did Matsumoto Rangiku's infamous mouth.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, DRAGGING MY DARLING NIECE INTO THIS? HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT HER PARENTS HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH? I PROMISED TO PROTECT HER, TO TREAT HER AS MY OWN! AND THAT DAMN KUROSAKI JUST WENT AHEAD AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER! I'LL BE DAMNED URAHARA KISUKE, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY ORIHIME, I WILL PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT YOU AND THAT KUROSAKI WILL HAVE YOU HEADS IN YOUR ASSES BEFORE YOU SAY SORRY!"
Kisuke was waving his hands helplessly in front of his face to console the fiery woman, who could have scorched the earth with her gaze, but she was not a force to be stopped so easily.
"Her parents wanted her safe from this life! I always knew that Hime was a girl with big dreams and that she could achieve whatever she wanted and I had no intention of quelling those dreams, but having someone as spoiled as Kurosaki Ichigo take advantage of that and use her! That boy just annoys me! No sense of respect at all! Yes, he has a big amount of talent, I'll give it to him, but I seriously doubt he'll be so big-headed if he weren't Isshin-sama's son! Using my Orihime! Making her innocent self as his girlfriend! If Orihime hadn't agreed so soon and without my knowledge, I would have castrated that boy! I can only imagine those perverted hands sneaking up under my beloved niece's skirt and - !"
Rangiku could not continue. As soon as she realized where the track of her mind and mouth was heading to, she let out a strangled sound that was a cross between a cry and a sob, bringing her hands to physically cover the mental image forming in her eyes.
The outburst left Urahara Kisuke shaken. The manager always kept his composure at check. He was one of the coolest people, if not the coolest, you could ever meet. But Rangiku just managed to rattle him. The rumors were true. Once this woman started, there could be no way to stop her. And it seemed that dear Inoue-san inherited this person's wild imagination. Kisuke could never imagine Ichigo's hands going up someone else's skirt. The boy may be a snob, but he had high sense of morals and respect when it comes to the members of the opposite sex.
"What?" Rangiku asked, her left eyebrow raised. "And just so you know, just because I gave you hell doesn't mean I wouldn't give the same, if not worse, treatment to your talent. He's the one who started this. I swear, when I see him - "
"Please don't do any harm to his face," Kisuke half-pleaded, dusting imaginary dirt off his fallen hat.
"And why not? He deserves more then harm to his face for what he did to my niece!"
"Matsumoto-san," Kisuke said with a sigh, "I already explained to you over the phone, this agreement was mutual. Inoue-san is mature enough to handle - "
Rangiku let out a loud snort. "Believe me, I know my niece more than you do. She is indeed emotionally mature. But as for other things, I do not think she is capable enough. I trust her, yes, but she still needs guidance. Something I'm not sure a hormonally-charged young man like Kurosaki could do."
Kisuke sighed again at the misconception of his talent's character. "Matsumoto-san, I assure you, Kurosaki-san is far from hormonally-charged."
"So you expect me to believe the reports that he is celibate?" she snorted again. "I do not think so. I see the way his composure crumbles every time I walk past him. And I tried lifting my skirt once at a private function where he was also present. And believe me, he was far from the stoic prince everyone makes him out to be."
Kisuke mentally face-palmed. He knew it. Ichigo wasn't telling him something about that gala that Renji's parents hosted when they came back from after a successful world tour. He only mumbled angrily that Rangiku got drunk and started talking to him and doing insane things.
"The boy tried to cover his eyes with his hands," Rangiku said half-triumphantly and half-disgustedly. "As if I did not notice the gap he was trying to make. I may look drunk to the eyes of many but I handle my alcohol well."
I'm sure you do, Kisuke said amusedly.
"Well, any man would react that way to your stunning appearance, Matsumoto-san," Kisuke said in his usual nonchalant manner, his eyes darting from Rangiku's face then to the scene outside the window of the limo. He missed Rangiku's blushing face by a second as he ranted on about Ichigo. "And believe me, I know my talent as much as you know your niece. Ichigo would not take advantage of anyone, especially a woman as fine as Inoue-san. The two have formed a sort of professional friendship and seemed ready to take on any challenge that might cross them. Ichigo knows how to separate business from pleasure and I know for a fact that Ichigo's pleasures stem from his business successes. And he is very keen on molding Inoue-san into a great actress, which I am very sure she is. And I would very much like to be her manager, if she allows it."
Rangiku visibly seemed to deflate at Kisuke's words as she listened.
"And you will be involved in the whole process, so I'm sure that Inoue-san won't be left unguarded. You can even station your own personal assistant for her, if you think this is necessary. The families of the Golden Trio have already agreed to this, but of course they do not know that Ichigo and Inoue-san's relationship is a mere show. You alone, out of all the guardians, know of this. And I trust that you have already handled this secret professionally," he continued, studying the play of expressions on her face.
This man knows his stuff, Rangiku said, a sense of calm sweeping over her. But she could not shake the constant feeling of worry she had especially towards Orihime. She knew the ups and downs with being under the limelight and she knew that being hidden and protected would be best for Orihime. She also knew that the press would be digging up skeletons best left six feet under. They would hound her niece about her tragic past.
"I know your worries about Inoue-san's past," Kisuke said, as if reading her mind. "And that is why I am here for her. And that is why you are also there. If they are kept intrigued by her current relationship with Ichigo, they would ask no further. And I have my ways to keep things quiet."
The last statement sent chills down Rangiku's spine. Everyone knew that Urahara Kisuke, though she just shouted at him for a long time, had ways that many consider as mystical. The glint in his eyes showed a man with unsurpassed intellect. He handles the best, and Rangiku would have to trust his instincts and his praise for his own talent.
She finally nodded in agreement as they reached the Kurosaki estate. She crossed her legs and perched her left hand on her right arm, her finely-manicured nails tracing invisible lines on her smooth cheek.
Kurosaki Ichigo could still feel the reverberation of Matsumoto Rangiku's shouts, the searing feeling of her glares and the deep chill of her warnings when he stepped out of the limosine. He gave a small smile as the cameras flashed here and there, his eyes trained on the red strip of the carpet leading towards the conference area of the Kiyosaki hotel. He often wondered if the red carpet was made to guide celebrities when they are blinded by the lights that surround them. He walked purposefully, groaning slightly as he realized that Matsumoto Rangiku did not bother to be brought backstage by the car. She was walking alongside him in no time, her strides graceful and her smile playful. She kept her composure as the press shouted here and there questions about why she was there.
After a few excruciating moments, they finally reached the area where Hour of the Death God was to unveil its cast. Only the cast and crew were present, and of course, the VIPs of TLE Channel, which included, unfortunately for Ichigo, his rambunctious father.
"Ah! Ichigo!" Isshin exclaimed, calling for Ichigo to come over and join him at the middle of the room as the older man conversed with a group of people Ichigo knew since he was little.
The Abarai family and the Kuchiki family were not just Ichigo's family friends, but they were also investors and stockholders of the TLE Channel, which explains their presence at every major opening or event of the company. Kuchiki Byakuya addressed Ichigo with a nod, which could be noted as the best sign of respect this prominent man could give to anyone, except his sister, in whom he was surprisingly gentle with. The cold and haughty aura he exuded was something that no longer fazed his constant companions. Isshin even gave Byakuya a loud smack on the back, earning shocked and frightened glances from onlookers who were, as always, stunned to be in the midst of very famous and good-looking people.
Abarai Yuuki, a tall woman with flaming red hair that reached to her hips, hugged Ichigo fondly, commenting about his unruly hair and wondering why young men did not groom themselves properly. This elicited a warm smile from him. Yuuki was Masaki's best friend, and she had always acted motherly towards Ichigo, always reminding him to have a pleasant disposition and to treat everyone with respect. She was also a world-class violinist and a prima ballerina. Ichigo often wondered how someone as classy and graceful as Yuuki-san gave birth to something as rowdy and unconventional as Renji.
Abarai Genji shook Ichigo's hand, congratulating him not on getting the role of Hanazawa Ryuuki, but for keeping their son in check while they were gone for three months. Ichigo laughed, saying that Renji was more behaved than usual and that Rukia was doing a much better job. This earned him a cold look from the ever-silent Byakuya, who seemed to be in slight disapproval of her sister being in a relationship with Renji. Heck, this man would be opposed to ANY man that tries to even touch a strand of Rukia's hair, Ichigo mentally grunted. Genji noticed Byakuya's stare, but ignored him, which was one of the many things that impressed Ichigo. Genji was cool and unusual in more ways than one. No, not the loud type of strange that leaned dangerously to annoying like Kurosaki Isshin, but moreof a quiet type of oddity. Maybe this came from the fact that he was a celebrated composer, conductor, and musician. This type of genius could be excused from doing odd things.
"Where is Renji?" Ichigo asked Genji, who had taken a bar of chocolate from his pocket and was nibbling at it as if it was just as common as breathing.
"Put that away Genji," Yuuki scolded. "I swear, you don't listen to the doctor when he told you to watch your sugar intake! You can have dark chocolate, but not these really sweet ones!"
Genji rolled his eyes and tossed the bar to the bin on the far side of the room. It went in perfectly, earning admiring glances from onlookers and a groan of exasperation from his wife.
"He'll be here soon with Rukia-chan," Yuuki answered for Genji. "He picked her up a two hours ago and they should have been here by now. Maybe they did something unspeakably evil while they were alone."
The last part was said so softly so that Byakuya would not go into a furious fit and luckily, the man did not hear Yuuki, as he was busy making a phone call to someone from the Kuchiki manor.
"So, Ichigo," Isshin interrupted, slapping Ichigo's back so hard that it threatened to break, "Where's my daughter-in-law?"
Ichigo sputtered for a few moments before giving his father a death glare. "Who the hell told you that she's your daughter-in-law?"
"Now, now, Ichigo. Watch your language," Yuuki said in warning, but was said so halfheartedly. She knew that Isshin always deserved any sign of disrespect that was coming to him.
"Excuse your father's rude assumptions Ichigo," Yuuki added, but her eyes glinted in amusement. "But you must tell us how this relationship of yours came to be! You must know that we won't be contented by Kisuke's shallow explanation and his sudden request that we must pretend that this girl is part of our circle. Well, not that I have a problem with letting anyone in, especially if it's someone that evidently snagged our Ichigo's heart – "
"Shush, Yuuki," Genji interjected, making Ichigo eternally grateful to him for stopping whatever it was Yuuki was saying. "Let Ichigo tell us when he's ready. I know you'll take good care of Ms. Inoue Orihime as one of our own."
"Please do," Matsumoto Rangiku spoke up. Ichigo momentarily forgot that the woman was with him. Kisuke had to take care of some things and left them to go backstage. The young man wondered what took Rangiku so long before finally joining in on the conversation.
"Rangiku!" Yuuki said in elation. It seemed to Ichigo that the two women knew each other from back then, since they started chattering nonstop before he cleared his throat to put Rangiku back to why she originally joined the group.
"Rangiku, how very nice to see you again," Genji said pleasantly, shaking Rangiku's hand.
"So I take it that you have already met?" Isshin asked jovially.
"Yes," Yuuki answered. "You see, Rangiku has been a closet friend of mine. Literally my closet friend! She has been choosing the best sort of clothing for me on a favor for years! This woman's taste is impeccable."
"And we've also been acquainted during her fashion shows in which we fortunately attend overseas," Genji added.
"Oh, good to know that. Because Inoue Orihime is Matsumoto Rangiku's niece," Isshin explained, earning a gasp from both Yuuki and Genji.
"Wow! So this girl is a beauty, I conclude!" Genji stated, nodding his head in approval.
"Really, Genji, you must meet her yourself!" Rangiku said proudly. "But I must say that my darling Orihime is even prettier than me!"
"Really?" Yuuki said, grinning from ear to ear. "Where is she Ichigo? Why are you hiding her from us?"
Ichigo groaned inwardly. All this excitement was getting his mind muddled. "She is cast as Hanazawa Setsuna, so you'll be meeting her today," he answered in a controlled tone, bracing himself for the reactions of the small cluster of people that held him imprisoned.
"What? Hanazawa Setsuna? Isn't that your character's sister?"
"I thought she was going to play Aihara Mizuki? Isn't that the love interest?"
"Well, I personally think that she did an impeccable job in choosing the role," Ichigo said. "Setsuna has more character development than Mizuki."
This earned him surprised stares from his elders.
Yuuki giggled, "Our Ichigo is in looooove!"
Rangiku managed to muffle her grunt as she observed Ichigo's face going pink as he turned away and walked towards the backstage set to get prepared and also to meet Orihime.
When he entered the busy room, he was immediately ushered towards his personal dressing room, the make-up artist raving in Japanese and French as to why Ichigo was late and that he was compelled to rush through the whole thing. After a few minutes, he managed to wrangle himself out of the man's constrictive hands and spotted Rukia's head not far away, laughing slightly at something the redheaded man beside her said. When he finally came near enough for the two to spot him, he was frozen in his tracks when the two of them started laughing their heads off, not caring who it was who was scandalized by their behavior.
Ichigo grumbled as he barreled the two out of earshot. He whispered fiercely, "What part of being discreet don't you two understand?"
"I'm sorry mate," Renji said, still laughing. "I promised Rukia I won't tease you, but seriously, hiring someone to be your girlfriend? Are you that gay?"
Ichigo punched Renji on the arm, effectively silencing the other man.
"Shut up," Ichigo said fiercely. "You know I'm not like you Renji, who hooks up with just about anyone."
"You shut up Ichigo or I'll shut it for you," Rukia said, quick to aid her boyfriend.
Ichigo rolled his eyes and gave up on the two, "So have you seen Inoue?"
"Better start calling her Orihime, Ichi-kun," Renji said teasingly. "You will blow your cover before you even start calling her your girlfriend in front of everyone."
"Yeah, yeah whatever, love expert," Ichigo scathingly said. "Now, have you seen her?"
"Are we playing hide-and-seek, Kurosaki-sama?" a sweet voice said from behind them.
The three of them jumped in surprise. When they were over their fits of shock, Rukia let out an appreciative giggle, Renji wolf-whistled and Ichigo stared, dumbfounded.
Again, Orihime managed to shock them, especially Ichigo. She was even more beautiful today. The cocktail dress that wrapped her wonderful figure accented her curves well and complimented her beautiful skin tone. The make-up she wore was light, and there was something about the shell pink lip gloss on her lips that suddenly made Ichigo hungry. And he couldn't figure out if it was hunger for food, or for those delectable-looking lips. Her hair cascaded gracefully around her face. Everything was perfect.
"I now see what you mean Rukia," Renji said, finally breaking Ichigo from his thoughts. Rukia nodded in an 'I-told-you-so' manner that made Ichigo raise his eyebrows at her.
"Oh don't play dumb, Kurosaki," Renji added, moving forward and extending a hand towards Orihime. "An honor to finally meet the lady bold enough to play with our Ichigo."
Orihime smiled. This was Abarai Renji, a bright star of the music industry and Kuchiki Rukia's boyfriend. She could not fathom how much more of this star-studded place she could handle. And she knew this was barely the beginning of the introductions. Urahara-san informed her that she would be meeting the Golden Trio's families today after the press conference. And she was thrilled and nervous about it.
"A pleasure to meet you," she shyly said, shaking Renji's hand.
"A pure soul!" Renji said dramatically. "However did you find such a treasure?"
Ichigo glared at Renji and suddenly took Orihime's arm, leaving the giggling couple behind the curtains of their former hiding place.
"Don't mind those two," Ichigo said.
"I didn't mind. I found Abarai-san's company amusing," Orihime said. "And it's such an honor to meet him!"
"Yes but remember, you have to act as though your accustomed to this sort of company. No star-struck actions, okay?"
Orihime nodded, blushing profusely at her shameful reaction.
"No need to worry," Ichigo found himself saying. "This will be over with in no time. And I'll be here for you. We're in this together."
At this, Orihime became more relaxed. There was something about Ichigo's words that assured her that he would keep his word. There was something that stopped her worries. And his strong hand that reassuringly held her arm also made her more comfortable. Although there were some people from the backstage crew that were staring at them, Orihime paid no attention. This was part of the act after all. And even though they hadn't announced what their relationship was at the moment, they already have to start playing like lovers.
"And just so you know," Ichigo suddenly added, "your aunt is here."
Orihime gasped. Aunt Rangiku? Oh no! She must be mad! She'll scold me! I knew that talk she had with me wasn't the end of it. It was far too tolerant of her. What should I do? I already told her everything. I...
"Don't worry," Ichigo said again. "She's here to support you. She's with our families right now. They're good people. They won't expose that you aren't really a part of our circle. Though they don't know that we're just faking it. So you still have to play a convincing girlfriend."
"Okay, Kurosak-sama," she said.
Ichigo shot her a condescending look. "Stop calling me that. It's Ichigo to you. I'll even call you Orihime. That baboon was right. We should stop with the formalities."
"B-baboon?" Orihime suddenly said, her eyes watering with mirth. She suddenly laughed uncontrollably, her mind drawing a mental image of Abarai Renji as a baboon. It seemed to suit him, but she would rather not tell him straight about it.
"Hey," Ichigo said, trying to hold back the laughter that was bubbling up inside of him. He wasn't aware that he could ever say anything funny but it seemed that his snide remark about Renji made this young woman perk up. And he was somewhat happy that he made her laugh. This had him grinning like a boy.
"Oh my god, look at him!" Rukia said, pointing at Ichigo from where she and Renji stood, silently observing the exchange.
"He's smiling like an idiot!" Renji added, unaware that he was the main reason behind the good mood of the two orange-heads before them.
"I told you," Rukia chanted.
"Yep, but well this is too early to make any assumptions. But she seems okay," Renji said.
"Sure, smartypants," Rukia teased, walking over to the two. "See you after the press conference!"
"Yeah," Renji called back. "I'll be waiting with the parents!"
The cast and main crew were called, and finally, Hour of the Death God was officially introduced to the public.
The master of ceremonies for this event was Ise Nanao, the executive producer of the show. She started to introduce the power players behind the series that would make the fans tuning in to the TLE Channel for their nightly dose of prime time action.
"First off, we have the very talented director of the series, Ulquiorra Schiffer," Nanao said, her sentence ending with appreciative applause from the audience and feverish flashes of cameras.
Ulquiorra Schiffer walked to the stage first, taking the spot at the very middle. He was dressed in a semi-formal attire, his face set, ready to take the questions of the media who were clearly ravenous for more information on the series. He only nodded in acknowledgment of the introduction, as he was not a man of many facial expressions.
The other producers and the writers were introduced next, each bowing and smiling enthusiastically at their recognition.
"And now, we have the much-awaited cast of Hour of the Death God," Nanao said, adjusting her spectacles. "But of course, we will not start with the main cast to spice things up!"
The crowd could only groan and grind their teeth in anticipation.
"As you all know the supporting cast and other recurring roles would be introduced later on in the series, so we will not include them yet in the introductions," she added.
"Yamakura Asahina, the beloved human girl who acted as Hanazawa Setsuna's younger sister in the Living World, to be played by Kusajishi Yachiru!"
A little girl around the age of seven, came out from behind the curtains and waved enthusiastically at the audience. Her little steps had a skip to them as she walked forward. Yachiru was a well-known celebrity prankster, one who delighted in making a mess out of her co-workers. This made casting directors fearful of letting her join in on their projects, but she was, nevertheless, an astounding talent. Memorizing tons of script in a matter of days was a rare feat that could be accomplished by any child her age. And thus, she had become a renowned child star.
"Yamakura Kusagi, the one who acted as Setsuna's human father in the Living World, to be played by Ukitake Jyuushirou!"
Ukitake Jyuushirou, actor for 20 years and noted for his several award-winning accomplishments, walked towards the stage in a calm and cheery manner. Upon reaching the spot beside Yachiru, he playfully ruffled her hair, causing the pink-haired little girl to attempt to bite his hand off her head. This caused several panicked gasps, but was turned into a sigh of relief and claps of amazement when out of nowhere, his other hand produced a lollipop from underneath his suit and swiftly crammed it into Yachiru's biting mouth. All of this done with a serene smile on his face.
"Namikawa Yukiko, the strict general of Soul Society who ordered Setsuna's banishment and acts as Hanazawa Ryuuki's direct superior, to be played by Shaorin 'Soi' Fong!"
Again, there were many sounds of admiration from the audience. Soi Fong was a wondrous actress who was well-known for her portrayals of strong feminine roles. She also had an excellent work ethic and had been managing her own set of talents for the past two years. She smiled slightly as she walked purposefully in a simple black dress, standing beside Ukitake.
"Hayashi Michiko, the seer and priestess who foretold everything that will happen to Hanazawa Ryuuki. The person who will guide the adventures of Ryuuki and Setsuna, to be played by Kuchiki Rukia!"
Rukia proudly walked to the stage, beaming at the crowd. The audience knew that Michiko's character was a far cry from the usual villainous schoolgirl roles the Kuchiki was used to playing, but they knew that given Rukia's caliber of acting, she could definitely pull this one off. But they were still excited, and there was much applause from the critics for this unusual but powerhouse choice of actors and actresses. The petite young woman specifically directed her smile to the people seated at the front row of the crowd. Renji blew her a kiss while her elder brother gave her a small smile and an approving nod.
"Zetsubo Hayate, the ex-general of Soul Society who became the leader of the Hollows. Ryuuki's nemesis and Aihara Mizuki's captor, to be played by Aizen Sousuke!"
The crowd visibly trembled in joy. Aizen Sousuke, actor-progidy. One of the pioneer Japanese stars to break into the Hollywood scene. After ten years of making Japan proud, Sousuke came back and has been on a well-deserved and enjoyed secluded retirement in his own private island in Kyushu. No one has ever got wind of any buzz that he would be going back to the screens and let alone be in a television drama. Everyone held their breaths as Sousuke stepped into the glare of the spotlight, looking as perfect as ever, his eyes bearing the trademark look that melted his on screen enemies. His smile was gentle, however, as he regarded the cameras with reunited fascination.
"And now, we have the main cast of Hour of the Death God," Nanao said, her grin growing broader. "And now the woman who will play the part of Hanazawa Ryuuki's immortal love. The goddess who controlled Time and who was abducted for her abilities, to be played by Neliel tu Oderschvank!"
Everyone knew who Neliel tu Oderschvank was. Socialite and young actress, best known for her portrayals of childish and unusual characters. She would never be seen acting out a plain role. Writers who sought after her would sometimes twist the original characters just to suit her taste. But because of her unconventional style and the way she puts her own personality into every role she portrays, she was considered a genius by many. Her kindness overflowed through the various orphanages she had established, being an orphan herself. She moved with great poise as she gave off a megawatt smile that melted the crowd.
"Next we have the young woman who was the subject of shame and disgust by Soul Society, banished for her uncontrollable powers that left her with an unstable state of mind. She was sent to the Living World with her powers sealed, living the life as an ordinary human and forgetting the brother she had left behind, playing Hanazawa Setsuna, Ryuuki's younger sister, is Inoue Orihime!"
There was no applause from the majority of the crowd at first, but when Kurosaki Isshin and the rest of the powerful people with him clapped their hands energetically and proudly, the rest of the room followed suit. In the midst of confusion as to who the girl was, they could only stare at the beauty who emerged from the backstage and unto the limelight, her smile modest and a bit nervous, but heartwarming.
Orihime could feel her soul leaving her body when Neliel tu Oderschvank went on the stage. She knew she was next, and every cell of her being was aware of that. She was visibly trembling from her hair-polished head to her expensively stiletto-ed feet. The only thing that kept her from falling was a steady and warm hand holding her right arm, his composure calm and reassuring. When her name was called and no applause came from it, Orihime wanted to slink back to her apartment, thinking rapidly of ways to get back into Thunderwitch-sama's favor to get her old job back.
"Go," Ichigo said firmly in her ear. "They'll be rooting for you. Most importantly, I'll be rooting for you."
This gave her the push.
She pushed her numb legs forward, walking steadily on stage, looking for any familiar face that could give her comfort amidst the silence. Her eyes widened in surprise when Kurosaki Isshin, CEO of TLE Channel and one of the richest men of the country stood up and applauded her. The rest of the people with him followed. A gorgeous woman beside him that she only knew to be her very own aunt, Matsumoto Rangiku, clapping hard and blowing her a loving kiss, her eyes shining with pride. This made her smile more genuinely, finally giving off a smile that surprised the viewers. She also spotted a smiling Abarai Renji, who gave her a thumbs-up and a wink. The man and woman beside Renji, who could only be the world-famous musicians, Abarai Yuuki and Genji smiled warmly at her, applauding with the rest. Even Kuchiki Byakuya, who seemed to be coerced into doing this was clapping cordially.
This seemed to have somehow earned her instant authority. Being cheered on by the group of the most elite might mean something, so the others clapped with the VIPs. They would have their time to ask later as to who this mysterious newcomer was.
Orihime took her place beside Neliel, who gave her an encouraging smile. The auburn-haired woman was relieved that the person who grabbed the role of Mizuki was someone Ulquiorra personally selected. It seemed that Neliel was a woman who does not do auditions. Her offers were handpicked, and she reads the script carefully and adds her own revisions to the character before she agrees to any role. And having someone who does not have a rabid addiction or even the slightest attraction to Ichigo for a co-star greatly decreased their worries. Neliel seemed to be a woman in her own world, friendly but a bit distant. The smile Orihime received from her was one of the first signs that Orihime took that they would get along well. If weirdness would be the basis...
"And now we have the main role, the brave young man who will play as one of the strongest Shinigami in the history of Soul Society. The man who followed his heart and did his duties exceedingly well but was forced to choose between duty and his emotions when his love was abducted. The man who would look for his banished sister and start an adventure like no other, the lead character, Hanazawa Ryuuki, to be played by Kurosaki Ichigo!"
The crowd, even the rest of the cast, applauded. Ichigo emerged from the backstage, looking perfect and powerful. In a few long strides, he had reached the position beside Orihime, who had taken it to herself to clap happily. He smiled into the cameras and waved, finally setting her gaze on the young woman beside him, his eyes lingering longer than necessary. This action was not missed by the crowd, especially the cameras, who suddenly zoomed in at the two. More thoughts seemed to electrify the air with tension and anticipation as the long-awaited questioning portion came.
The cast and the director settled themselves on the long table. Then hands seem to fly from every corner of the room as Nanao took it upon herself to call on the lucky person who gets to ask someone from the cast.
"My question is for Kurosaki-sama and Oderschvank-sama," a man with a goatee asked. "Did you get your roles by audition or by invitation."
"By invitation," Neliel responded almost immediately, then proceeded on playing with the pen that she must have carried with her, doodling strange creature that she seemed to have marked with the name Bawabawa.
"Same here," Ichigo answered, smiling slightly.
Another.
"My question is for Director Schiffer," a young woman who seemed to be a new journalist said, her voice quivering a bit. "What is the basis for your choice for the main characters? That is, since Kurosaki-sama and Oderschvank-sama were chosen by invitation."
"Only Ichigo-san, Nel-san, and Sousuke-san were the ones chosen by invitation. The rest had to undergo auditions," Ulquiorra explained. "But everyone is highly-talented. I would never choose inferior talents."
This frank remark gained appreciative murmurs from the audience.
Orihime fiddled her hands under the table, twisting a white handkerchief that had been wrinkled so badly because she had been channeling her anxiety towards it for the better half of the hour.
She was stopped from her actions when a large, warm hand darted out from beside her and clasped both of her shaking hands into his. Orihime looked up and turned pink at what Ichigo did, smiling gently at him. He returned the smile, and it seemed more cameras had their focus on the two of them.
"My question is for Inoue Orihime-san," a young man with bleached hair and spectacles said. "How did you land the role of Hanazawa Setsuna?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes at the stupid question, but his worried eyes fell on Orihime, who seemed to be surprised. He couldn't fathom if she was nervous or not, but when she answered, with a grace and amusement that did not seem to be the Orihime he had seen hours ago, "By auditions, of course."
The VIPs laughed at this quick-witted response, along with some of the crowd.
"You seem to have misunderstood the question, Inoue-san," the nasty young man said, his smirk turning a bit evil. He wasn't going to give it up. "Because it seems as though you have very notable acquaintances in this industry. Can you elaborate that?"
"Oh," Orihime said, gracing the audience with a shy blush. "Pardon me, then. Well, I auditioned, just like the rest and I'm not sure what my acquaintances have to do with it but since you asked, I'll answer."
The energetic response from Orihime had Ichigo smiling. It seemed that Orihime had reoriented herself again. Her attitude could change on how the situation demands it, but she could still retain her genuine self.
"I can introduce you to them one by one!" Orihime added a bit childishly, her smile growing brighter. "Matsumoto Rangiku is my aunt and the rest of the people you were referring to are very close friends of my family."
This earned a louder buzz of curiosity from the audience. To be in the company of these powerful men and women Inoue Orihime was talking about meant that she was part of the Golden Trio, which meant that the trio wasn't quite a threesome...
"Another question for Inoue-san," a petite woman piped up. "Then does that mean that you're friends with Abarai-san, Kuchiki-san, and Kurosaki-san?"
"Yes," Orihime answered. This was supported by the fond grin Rukia gave her from across the table and the gentle smile Ichigo directed towards her.
"The next question is for Kuchiki-sama," a man with unruly curly hair said. "What made you choose this unusual role? And what relations do you have exactly with Inoue-san?"
Why are they asking an awful lot about me? Orihime asked herself worriedly. She listened to Rukia's confident response about how she wanted to try out new horizons and about her being a close childhood friend who had studied abroad for some time and had only recently came back.
Rangiku grinned at this. She was glad that only a few people form her department knew shy Orihime. And she had to effectively silence them about saying anything that can blow her charade.
Rukia's story further strengthened Orihime's claim and the press' suspicion that she was indeed part of the Golden Team. (Trio had to be inappropriate now that Orihime was in the picture.)
"The next question is for Kurosaki-sama," a blonde female said, her grin towards Ichigo more than what was professionally needed. "We all know how you got this role but since everyone is asking about our lovely Inoue-san, what is your relationship with her?"
This is it, Orihime said, literally holding her breath. She looked at Ichigo, trying to gauge some sort of negative reaction from him. But there wasn't.
He looked at her in a very warm way that seemed loving. This magnetized Orihime's eyes towards his as she returned such a gaze with a blush on her cheeks. He then spoke to the microphone, his voice calm.
"Orihime is my long-time girlfriend."
Done. =) Because I have let you wait for so long, I reward your patience with a 13-page chapter. I think that's long enough. Thank you so much for waiting for this chappie. Hope it's worth the wait.
Please leave a review! It'll make me very happy! =)