Oh My Gigai!
By Uchiha Xairylle
Chapter Seven: The Finest Wine
"You just had to agree, didn't you?" Ichigo grumbled out of the side of his mouth to Byakuya. The latter only responded by looking with only eyes moving at Ichigo. The group was walking ahead of them and Byakuya was walking with Ichigo for a change.
"Kurosaki,
explain to me why I should be here." Ishida murmured who was
walking beside him, "I never had any liking to this sort of thing."
"Oh,
who does?" Ichigo rolled his eyes away, "It's not fair that I'm
the only one suffering."
"Why
did you have to say yes if you didn't want to anyway?"
"Ask
high and mighty Byakuya over here."
"Do
I affect your decisions that much, kozo?"
Byakuya said lowly.
Ouch.
"Hey, I'm a man of my word. I thought you'd decline so I staked my evening believing you wouldn't agree!" Ichigo wanted to shout but he said so grumbling, hands in his pockets as the three of them continued to walk casually behind the group.
"Well,
you learn new things everyday." Byakuya replied. Perhaps Ichigo
should let Byakuya speak with his fist now?
"And
now we are led back to the question why
do I have to suffer if you do?" Ishida cut in, "It's not like
we're wed for me to share your pain."
"So
you could learn
new things everyday." Ichigo replied, "And what's that shit
about us being wed, smart ass?"
"I
still don't understand why you had to drag me into this. I have so
much to do!"
"Shut
up, Ishida! It's not like you're gonna die tomorrow!"
"Hey,
you never know." Byakuya said half-laughingly for a change.
"Who
asked you, Lord of the Flies?" Ichigo glared roughly at Byakuya.
"Lord
of the what?" Byakuya and Ishida chorused.
"If
you're expecting to hear or see me talking about or doing foolish
things then you're gravely mistaken!" Ichigo leaned towards
Byakuya as if in a challenge.
"Okay,
let's go! Let's go!" Chizuru was saying now, "Let's go have
fun!"
"Yeah!"
The rest of the group answered before entering a building with neon
colored signs and lights.
"Ka-ra-o-ke."
Byakuya was reading to himself as he headed for the entrance.
There were doors lined up. Behind each door was a room – a sound proof room. There was a box with images and words at the bottom. There was a long couch lining the walls and a table in the middle. There were other weird things Byakuya did not want to ask Ichigo about because he did not want to look like a total idiot in front of another idiot. It was dimly lit but the room was enough to accommodate their group.
"Ah,
ah, take a seat! Have a seat!" Chizuru ushered the Ichigo, Byakuya
and Ishida over to one side.
"I'm
not singing no matter what you do." Ichigo spat out.
"Singing?"
It could have been his imagination but Ichigo thought he saw a glint of interest in Byakuya's eyes. Had he another heinous plan on torturing him like shoving a microphone from his ass to his throat perhaps? Ichigo cringed and etched the world "retaliate" in his mind.
"I'll be going first!" Keigo announced, taking one mic and standing up. It wasn't long before someone came in asking if they would like anything to eat or drink. Various responses arose from the group and when asked what they were supposed to drink, Byakuya mindlessly replied, "Two bottles of the best wine you have."
The whole group hushed down and Rukia looked like she wanted to bang her head on the table.
"Are you… old enough to drink?"
You are speaking to more than just a hundred year-old man and you're asking him if he were old enough to drink? Of course, the woman didn't woman did not know that and even if she was told of it, there'd be nothing fruitful for them. Byakuya responded with a glare, probably annoyed that he was being questioned by a "servant". A small "Eep!" escaped her lips and she trotted away with the order.
"We're
having wine?" Ishida asked.
"We're
too young to have wine." Ichigo added.
"I
thought you were drunk last time?" Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"The
punch was spiked!"
Ichigo reacted, pushing his back off the couch, "And I didn't
know it was spiked."
"Nobody's
forcing you." Tatsuki was raising an eyebrow at Ichigo, too.
"Oh,
look, it's a bunny background!" Rukia chirped, her hands clasped
together as she looked starry-eyed at the TV screen.
The music started and Keigo began to sing his lungs out. Ishida fixed his glasses uncomfortably and Byakuya wore the most disgusted expression Ichigo had ever seen. He was eyeing Keigo, probably detesting him and his voice and distracted by the gestures the young man was sporting. He was waving, swaying and trotting. If he was getting carried away then he was getting carried far, far away. Byakuya looked like he wanted to plug his ears as all the women cheered Keigo on.
If his singing was fun then fun was scary. Byakuya shook his head.
It was at this point that the food and drinks came. Byakuya immediately took a glass for himself as the "servant" took off the cork from the bottle. She poured a whole glass of wine for Byakuya and was instructed to bring two more bottles of it.
What, was it alcohol night?
"I'd
just like juice." Ichigo complained.
"What
is it with you? It's not everyday that we get to drink something
like this!" Chizuru stood up, taking the wine bottle from the lady
and poured the glasses her self.
"Let's
just say not all of us like alcohol." Ichigo said and saw Ishida
take up a glass. And then Mizuiro. And then Keigo. And then Orihime
and Tatsuki and Rukia.
"Fine! Then perhaps I don't like alcohol."
Ichigo paused. Rukia was drinking?
"Hey,
hey, are you even allowed
to drink that?" Ichigo snatched the glass away from Rukia.
"Oh,
yes, sir!"
Rukia snatched the glass back, "And unlike you, I'm not
inexperienced so I'm allowed."
Byakuya nodded.
"I've had twice the amount of Vodka you've ever had!" Ichigo glowered.
"Then
why're you so stuck-up with me drinking!" Rukia shot back
ignoring that she did not know what Vodka was in the first place, "I
bet I can have twice of what you've had!"
"Oh,
yeah?" Ichigo was serious now.
"You
bet your sorry ass, yeah!"
"Pipe
down already, the two of you." Byakuya in commander tone again.
"Stay out of this!" Ichigo turned to Byakuya whose eyes narrowed towards Ichigo.
There was a gasp from the whole group.
"It's
not Rukia's fault if you can't handle alcohol." Byakuya said
callously.
"What
did you say?" Ichigo's voice was lowering even more.
"You're
not yet drunk and yet you're already deaf."
The 6th Squad Captain said, taking an elegant sip from his glass.
"I dare you to repeat that." Ichigo had shifted to face Byakuya. The music was still going but there was no one singing any more as all eyes turned to the two men fighting over something so… manly. But Kuchiki Byakuya did not reply. Instead, he chose to ignore Ichigo and brought the glass back up to his lips. Greatly annoyed, Ichigo grabbed Byakuya's wrist and pulled it down so that the glass was withdrawn. Byakuya looked at him sharply as if he were looking at a servant insulting his master. Without taking his eyes off Byakuya, Ichigo grabbed a glass full of wine nearby and drank it straight before putting it hard on the table.
There was a sound of sharply indrawn breath from the group.
Ichigo nodded arrogantly at Byakuya in a challenge. The older Kuchiki extended his arm towards Chizuru.
"Pour to the brim." Byakuya ordered. Chizuru complied.
Eyes still fixed on Ichigo, Byakuya emptied the glass quickly – probably quicker than Ichigo. And in an act of defiance, he slammed the glass on the table just as how Ichigo did. Ichigo's eye twitched. Byakuya scowled.
"Refill!" Ichigo's turn to order. Chizuru poured both glasses full. At the same time, the two drank bottoms up and slammed their glasses on the table, eyes still angrily fixated on each other. Chizuru had no intention of being their servant for the night and told them to refill it themselves.
"Pour."
Byakuya ordered Ichigo.
"I'm
not your dog." Ichigo glared.
"You're
too drunk to do something so simple?"
"Fine,
let's take turns filling then."
It went on. Glasses to the brim, glasses empty, glasses to the brim, glasses empty… It was a contest. A contest! There were murmurs and then Chizuru began clapping. Keigo followed and continued to sing. The group began to cheer. Rukia had no idea what to do or what the hell was going on. Ishida was looking disturbed and slowly, unnoticeably placed his glass on the table and scooted away from the two before he got involved.
The fun continued. As Byakuya and Ichigo continued their little bout, the rest of the group took turns singing. It was hard trying to pry Keigo's hands from the mic until Tatsuki threatened to kick him out. They had to force Ishida to sing and by "force" they meant "blackmail" about anything and everything regardless if it were true or not. Ishida, probably getting infuriated by all the sounds that were aimed at him (he was irritable due to all the wine he eventually had), grabbed the microphone and began to sing "Suigintou No Yoru".
They were in awe. No one thought Ishida could sing. He sounded good… even with Keigo and Chizuru as second voice. He finished with everyone clapping as he sat down and fixed his glasses with a blush. Orihime, now half drunk with her active imagination, was jumping up and down, sat down on Ishida's lap and commented on how "sexy" his voice sounded. Ishida cleared his throat and uttered a short "Arigatou" as he tugged his collar. Ichigo and Byakuya were still busy drinking and muttering, eyes still fixed at each other just to check if the other wasn't cheating.
"Kuchiki-san,
what about you!" Orihime said, still sitting on Ishida's lap.
"Ah,
but I haven't chosen a song yet." Rukia pretended to look at the
song list.
"Oh, not to worry! I have one just for you!" Chizuru hopped towards the machine and punched in a song. Rukia did not know how to talk herself out of it. Chizuru handed her the microphone, which she was still hesitant on taking. The music started. The title of the song?
Silent Wish.
Even before anyone could say anything, a quick hand grabbed the mic and all eyes turned to the source.
Who else but a red-faced Kuchiki Byakuya?
"N-niisama?"
Rukia blinked.
"What,
you're giving up?" Ichigo was saying lazily.
"Shut
up and listen. This is my song." Byakuya responded not
in his usual self. Ishida looked at Ichigo but got no reaction from
the orange haired Shinigami who was holding an empty glass in his
hand, swirling it as if there were something in it.
Byakuya stood up elegantly like the clan leader he was. He gripped the microphone and lifted it and said, "Rokubantai Taichou, Kuchiki Byakuya."
Ichigo's jaw seemed to have unscrewed itself off.
"I sing."
His fingers snapped.
The group cheered and clapped. Byakuya nodded in appreciation.
Pretending to be cold, you are passionate above all others. You're not someone I can hate.
Is this real? Kuchiki Byakuya, cold, stern, high and mighty Captain of the 6th Squad as well as 28th Leader of the proud Kuchiki Clan… SINGING IN A KARAOKE BOOTH! And he was swaying even! He was already drunk! Seriously, this would have either killed Renji from humiliation or laughter. Perhaps they should take a video of this.
In these days that go by at such a fast pace and I come close to losing your smile and kindness
Ichigo checked his pockets for his phone and found it. He took it out clumsily, dropping it from his fingers trembling probably thanks to the alcohol. It fell on the carpeted floor and Ichigo cursed before bending to look for it. His hands began to wander on the floor and found the light on his phone's LCD.
The soft look of your eyes embraced the clumsy me
Ichigo reached for the phone the same time another hand did. He jolted upon the familiar feeling ensuing. Both hands were withdrawn and Ichigo looked up and saw no one else but Kuchiki Rukia. There was a moment of silence and although Byakuya continued to sing and the group continued to clap, it seemed as though nothing else was around them.
I really appreciate the miracle that I was able to meet in a corner of the world.
"I…" Ichigo's eyes moved shiftily as he stuttered. Rukia was the first to recover from the short moment. She picked up the phone and she straightened, followed by Ichigo. And with a small smile, she handed him the phone.
"What do you plan on doing with that?" Rukia asked.
Ichigo did not answer.
"You're
not yet drunk and you're already clumsy?" she teased.
"I…"
"..
Dare me to say that again?" Rukia finished. Ichigo froze. It wasn't
what he was going to say but whatever it was, he had forgotten upon
seeing her flash a brilliant smile.
Words cannot describe my feelings.
"You
trying to be a smart ass?" Ichigo leaned, pretending to do
something to his phone after snatching it.
"No,
because even if you're not drunk, you're a klutz."
"As if I were expecting a word of admiration from a midget like you!" Ichigo threw himself back on the couch. It was Rukia's turn to freeze. She watched as Ichigo brought a glass to his lips, only then realizing that there was nothing in it and decided to refill it.
Silent Wish.
Ichigo then turned his attention to his phone and set it to video. Rukia blinked and watched as Ichigo lifted the phone in line of sight with her singing brother.
But seriously, the man had some voice. He was good.
Mental note: Remember to make Byakuya sing Livin' La Vida Loca after current song is over.
"What are you doing?" Rukia crept beside Ichigo and saw everything. Her brother was singing. Everyone else was swaying, hands in the air as they cheered and laughed and danced. They looked like a cult with Byakuya as their priest chanting something. Rukia giggled.
"What?
You drunk?" Ichigo looked at Rukia.
"No.
I haven't had as much as you did." She replied, eyes still on the
phone, "Even if I did, I'd still be sane."
"As
if I don't know better! If that happened, you'd be singing beside
your brother and you'd be in this video, too." Ichigo added.
Rukia giggled again and it was at that point Ichigo realized how close she was to him. Her chin was nearly resting on her shoulder and he could feel her skin against his cheek, her hair against his neck.
I really appreciate the miracle that I was able to meet in a corner of the world
"I
see someone drunk." Rukia's turned the camera phone from Byakuya
to one side of the room where Orihime and Ishida were busy with each
other. Ichigo gave a low whistle.
"What?
You're jealous?" Rukia spat out suddenly.
"What?"
Ichigo tore his eyes from the scene and onto Rukia.
"You're
jealous?" she repeated as though it were nothing.
"No.
Are you?" Ichigo replied. Just like that.
"Hmm,
it seems as though you're used to watching sceneries like this."
She said again perhaps ignoring his reply.
"Am
not." Ichigo returned to attending to the phone. He then shifted it
to scan the room and then back at Byakuya.
Words cannot describe my feelings.
"Are
you giving them their privacy or are you jealous?" Rukia popped in
again.
"Why
are you asking such random questions all of a sudden?" the orange
haired boy replied with a raised eyebrow, "Are you drunk?"
"No."
"Well,
are you
jealous?"
"No."
At this point, Byakuya was swaying like he was a stage performer. He was red to his ears. He was snapping left and right, closing his eyes as he went on singing (even during instrumental). Rukia and Ichigo chuckled and then burst out laughing hard. Ichigo's hand weakened from the laughing and slowly lowered and stopped taking the video. Rukia was clinging to his arm, laughing as Ichigo tried saying something she could not understand.
Silent Wish
"You're
laughing so hard, midget. I'd say you're drunk." Ichigo
pointed.
"I
am fine. I can have another go." Rukia raised a bottle nearby.
"Oh?
You sure?"
"Hell,
yeah."
Ichigo grinned and took up another bottle, looked at it and then at Rukia before saying, "I'm not hauling you and your brother's sorry asses when both of you go home drunk."
"No need." Rukia tilted her head towards the bottle, "To us?"
Let's cast it to this wind.
Ichigo smiled and lifted the bottle.
"To us."
Bottoms up.
They gulped continuously, eyes both closed. Ichigo was holding the bottle in one hand and Rukia's hand in the other.
"Look at those two go!" Tatsuki pointed.
All eyes turned to Rukia and Ichigo. Orihime and Ishida had now fallen and taken over Byakuya's space on the couch but nobody seemed to care. Byakuya, somehow feeling that no one was watching him anymore, stopped singing and looked at the commotion.
"You
brat, what are you doing?" Byakuya threw the mic straight at
Ichigo's temple resulting to his lips being torn off from the
bottle and spilling the wine all over them. Rukia stopped drinking
and gasped.
"Damn
it, Byakuya, what was that for!" Ichigo howled, forgetting to
address the Captain by surname.
"You
wasted expensive wine and spilled it on my sister's clothes!"
Byakuya was speaking rather gruffly and lazily at the same time.
"Because
you threw the mic at me, smart ass!"
"Because
you were drinking all the wine without telling me!" Byakuya
squeaked like Toushiro Hitsugaya who had just realized his adam's
apple, "We're
the one with the drinking tryst, isn't that so?"
"You
were singing, damn you!"
"Exactly!
You weren't even listening to me sing!" he accused.
Okay, which of the two of them was missing the point?
"You don't even sing well!"
Byakuya stopped with wide eyes. Everyone else gasped (except for Ishida and Orihime who were still busy). The silence that covered the area turned into thick pressure. Byakuya looked as if he was deprived of all that was his, as if he was kicked out of the Gotei 13, as if Senbonzakura withered…
AND BEGAN TO SOB!
"What the hell?" Ichigo's head darted back.
The older Kuchiki suddenly shifted moods and snapped with angry eyes at Ichigo.
This was not good.
"You dare mock my singing voice!" Byakuya yelled, eyes wide again but looking homicidal as ever. In one lunge he was choking Ichigo who was still processing the whole thing, Byakuya's changing face still clear in his head.
This was going to be one heck of a night.
And Rukia smiled at the currently recording video on her phone.
- End of Chapter 7 -
Author: Writing this was both fun and challenging, as I had to figure out what a drunk Byakuya was like. I was supposed to make him go Bankai but that'd complicate things and cause too many casualties. Besides, I don't have ideas about wine since I don't drink. Is that an excuse? Erm, no… But hey, I haven't even tasted spiked punch my entire life and I have no idea how a hangover feels like. Hold it, why am I explaining like this? cringes Anyway, "Suigintou No Yoru" is Ishida Uryuu's character song (which I so love) and "Silent Wish" is taken from Rock Musical Bleach – Saien and is sung by Byakuya, Hitsugaya and Aizen. Oh, and please don't kill me for the IshixHime shipping in this chapter. I couldn't help it. Sorry. Again, thanks to all those who read. I really appreciate it you guys. Thousand thankies! Please review!
