Chapter 7, let's begin :)
This chapter is a bit of a filler and more about the HitsuMomo connection rather than the IchiRuki (Sorry) but I promise to get the story back on track soon :)
There will be some musical terms in this chapter and I'll try to explain them all, briefly but my explanational skills are horrible :(
C clef - is a symbol used in music, that is used to indicate which the pitch of the music. There are three clefs, the Treble (G) clef, the bass (F) clef and the middle C clef. The one I refer to as Euterpe's symbol is the C clef indicator which kind of looks like l3 but flipped to look more like El.
Most wind musical instruments require assembly of some sort (and I don't mean the factory kind). Most of them just have one piece that needs to be attached before playing (usually the mouth piece) while others have parts that go together to form the instrument of the body (like flute, clarinet, oboe).
Mouthpiece does not mean the kind used in football, that looks like a retainer, it's the part of the instrument that is blown into :)
Crescendo - Basically means to get louder, in volume.
Scales - to be really brief on this one, there are 8 major scales, each with their own different sharps and flats. They are made up of seven different notes. Kind of think of Do Re Mi Fa So Ti La Do. C flat major scale, all the notes are flat, C major scale, none are flat.
Ack sorry about being bad at explaining things :( for the instruments it's helpful to do some image searches and for the musical terminology, search engines are helpful. I really don't know much about the saxophone (I don't play one) so if there is a sax player and you're thinking, what the heck this is so wrong! It probably is...
BLEACHISAWESOMEANDIMAWESOMEXP - Yay, from your review, it seems you're into the story :) Answers will be coming eventually (on the Hitsugaya/Momo thing) and thanks for the review!
Lady Auzie - Hitsugaya's critical role will mainly be in the first part of the story but towards the later chapters, he'll drop off to being mainly support. Thank you much for the review.
Thornspike - ? Hmmm am I misunderstanding or ... I'm not sure but thanks for the review :)
star133 - Ok, I was worried that some people would hate me for making Senna the antagonist type in this story but glad to see that it isn't a horribly idea on my part :) I just felt bad throwing Orihime to the crows all the time. Still working on my idea for the whole, Ichigo turns down Senna for Rukia things :) but I'll try not to make to too brutal for Senna (I'll feel bad even if this is only a fanfic). Thanks for your great review!
Jimmy the book lover - Thanks much :)
ashezo - Ah I know during the movie I kept thinking in my head "Seriously? I mean COME ON! Really?" and things along those lines. And no worries, it may not be for a bit, but there will be a SennaXIchigoXRukia dramatic moment. Thank you for your review :)
Fire311 - Hitsugaya Hinamori will be the first matter of business sorted out in this story, before the whole Ichigo Rukia things so don't worry, answers will be on the way *fanfare :) And yeah decided to go with Senna for the meanie in this story, I like to switch it up every once in a while. Not really sure what to do with Orihime .. but she'll probably be support for Rukia :) thanks for your review!
forever-will-love2112 - Yay! Thanks for favoriting :) makes me all happy and stuff :) Thanks for the review too!
Juveniliare - Yep, yep you are correct with your hunch on Rukia and Hitsugaya having a past together but that's all I'll give away for now *wink wink :) Thanks for your review!
Llyssa-maiden - Thanks for the wonderful happy holidays wish, my own friends didn't even wish me good holidays :( but your review was wonderful as always and both of Rukia's "bosses" will be creating some drama in her life for sure. Don't worry, it won't be too harsh (at least not on Ichigo's part). Thanks once again for reviewing :)
Alyssa - Sorry for keeping you in suspense *bows head but I hope the suspense pays off as the story progresses and secrets are revealed. And thanks for reading my other stories :) and for the reviews! You're super :)
Hatake Tsughi - Yay! I'm glad you got the emotion, I always try to convey emotion and not just make it actiony with no insight into what the character is feeling. Glad you approve of Senna as the antagonist and thank you for the review :)
Shrilaraune - Your review deserves a big smile on my part :D and I'm still not quite sure how to reveal Rukia to Ichigo but I'll make sure it's good! Thanks for reviewing :)
ohsnapinsomnia - Thank you, thank you and I'll keep working hard on keeping the story interesting, I have some ideas I've been mulling over and am planning to add into the story somehow. Thanks for the review :)
Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach (or the Characters), waffles, musical instruments, musical major scales/terminology in any way.
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Rukia
There it was again, that annoying sound. What was it? It almost sounded like a … cell phone ringing.
"Rukia," Renji's voice could be heard. Rukia lay in bed, a pillow pressed over her head and her blankets pulled over that, as she slept, or tried to stay asleep. "Rukia," Renji prompted again, "This your phone? It keeps ringing."
"That's not my ring tone," Rukia mumbled, her bed-mussed hair appearing from beneath her comforter.
"Are you sure? This phone was in your stuff," Renji looked down at the cell phone again, "The caller says boss man."
Rukia yawned, rubbing her bleary eyes to make out the shape of the black phone held in Renji's hand. An understanding of sorts caused her eyes to widen as she jumped from bed and swiped the phone from Renji's hand, pressing the talk button, "What?" she snapped.
"Uhuhuh Itsuwari," a singsong voice responded. "Is that anyway to talk to your boss for the week?"
"Kurosaki," Rukia turned to face the wall, trying to keep Renji from listening in on the conversation. "Can it and tell me what your reason is for calling me so early in the freaking morning."
"Tch, you're so rude but despite that, I still want you to join me for breakfast this morning before practice."
"I don't eat breakfa-"
"I'll see you in ten minutes, down in the banquet hall."
There was a beep and silence and Rukia finally realized that he had hung up on her. "That pain in my … freakin … dang him," Rukia clambered out of bed, groping about for clothes and haphazardly throwing them on.
"Rukia, who was that?" Renji rather predictably asked.
"One of my," Rukia pondered her next choice of words. Friend? Enemy? Annoying acquaintances? "fellow students from Karakura."
"Oh yeah, what did he want?"
"To eat breakfast together," Rukia brushed past Renji, rushing into the bathroom to change.
"But you're not a morning person," Renji called loud enough for her to hear him through the closed door. "You never eat breakfast unless your brother makes you."
Rukia, dressed in record time pushed open the door, "I felt like a change."
"Wait," Renji shoved something onto her head, "wig."
"Right," Rukia straightened the mess of black hair on her head, matching up the front of the wig with her forehead, "Thanks."
"Why was your friend called boss man?" Renji said, following after Rukia as she pulled her grey, v-neck sweater over her head, straightening her undershirt underneath.
She really didn't fell like sharing her little deal with Ichigo with Renji, who could potentially tell her brother, who would most likely be displeased with the whole idea of a Kuchiki being indebted to anyone and would then in his displeasure, most likely make Rukia return home with him.
"It's a joke," Rukia said, trying to sound convincing. "But I'm going, I'll see you at practice." She was going to kill him later for the whole boss man thing, but that's what she gets for telling him to program his own damn number into the phone.
"Wait, wait, wait," Renji said, grabbing a silver ribbon off his dresser and following Rukia out the door. "I'll come eat with you."
Rukia didn't particularly like the idea, but didn't have a legitimate lie to tell him off the top of her head. "Fine."
Renji fumbled with the ribbon about his neck as he walked beside Rukia down the hall. "I hate this stupid thing," he said, using a black-colored fastening to hold the silver ribbon in place about his neck. He wore a pair of black slacks, a white button down shirt and today, on top of his shirt, was a dark green colored vest. The silver buttons of the vest bore the sign of Euterpe, a reversed C clef pitch indicator. The clef had been reversed so instead of resembling a three, the picture now resembled that of the letter "E."
Rukia reached out a hand, tugging lightly on the bottom of Renji's vest, "When did Urahara have you start wearing these? I thought they were only part of performances."
Renji shrugged, continuing to fumbled about with his ribbon, "He wants us to wear them for this seminar thing. It's like he thinks you Karakura students are too stupid to tell who's from Euterpe and who's not without full uniform."
Rukia let out an annoyed huff of air, the breath causing the stubborn hair of her bangs to blow upwards. "I'm just glad I don't have to wear those dumb uniforms anymore. That vest was such a pain."
Rukia strolled into the banquet hall, careful to avoid running into the students that had managed to straggle out of bed for breakfast. It didn't take her long to spot Ichigo, or rather Ichigo's hair. He sat alone, plates of steaming food spread before him on the table. His t-shirt, blue jean attire almost seemed out of place in Euterpe's grand hall.
"Tamako," Ichigo waved her down and Rukia rolled her eyes, going over to sit in the chair across from him at the table.
"Kurosaki, overindulging a bit today are we?"
Renji pulled out the chair next to Rukia, sitting down and crossing his arms in a rather intimidating manner.
"Shut up Tamako." Ichigo jerked his head in Renji's direction, "Who's this?"
"Room mate."
Renji and Ichigo continued to stare at each other, neither willing to divert his gaze first as they assessed how they sized up in relation to the other. "Tamako," Ichigo said, rather abruptly turning from Renji with a slight snort of annoyance, "You better eat soon or else we'll run out of time."
Rukia shook her head, suppressing a yawn, "I don't do breakfast."
Ichigo's spoon paused midway to his oatmeal, "That's why you're so puny I bet cause you don't start your day out with balanced breakfast," he wagged the spoon in front of her face in a scolding manner.
Rukia reached across the table, swiping the spoon by the handle from his grasp and using it to thump him on the top of the head. "I am not puny."
"Don't make me force feed you."
"I'd like to see you try."
Renji watched their verbal rally, opening his mouth occasionally as if he was about to intervene but then thought better of it. Finally as both of the idiots before him got to their feet, each wielding a utensil he decided it was time to step in, "Um R-, I mean Tamako how about we just sit back-"
There was the slam of the cafeteria door being kick open and Rangiku, out of nowhere, came into the hall in a whirlwind of activity, grabbing Renji as she practically sprinted between the tables and was out the doors once again, a gust of wind seemingly trailing in her wake.
Not that Ichigo and Rukia even noticed, as they both slowly sat down at the mention of the words, 'slave for a week.'
"Here," Ichigo leaned forward, setting a plate before her. Rukia looked down at the plate of waffles with strawberry topping before her and felt the unmistakable growl of her stomach. She was glad that Ichigo couldn't hear it; she could almost imagine the smirk his face would get. Ichigo grabbed the spoon from her hand, reaching over to the place setting next to him and grabbing a clean fork from the napkin, holding it out to Rukia. "Eat," he said as she took the fork.
"I'm not going to eat this."
"I promise I didn't touch it."
"That's not the problem, I told you I don't do breakfast."
"Just eat you stubborn fool, just think of it as an order since this is your week as my servant."
"That's a stupid order," Rukia muttered, stabbing a waffle anyway. She didn't admit it, but as soon as she took her first bite of the wonderful strawberry topped breakfast, she felt that giddy feeling you get when eating something tasty. You know that one that happens when you eat ice cream on a hot day, or chicken noodle soup during winter.
"Good?" Ichigo asked, clearly not fooled by the front of forced consumption she was putting up.
"Eh," Rukia shrugged.
"Well hurry it up, we need to get going in a few minutes to practice hall."
"Alright, alright," Rukia started to wolf down her waffles, finally turning to offer to share the food with Renji. "Where'd he go?"
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Ichigo
Urahara was lazing across the floor in the front of the class, his hat pulled down over his eyes and his conductor's baton clasped in his hand.
"Is he asleep?" Chizuru asked her fellow Karakura student Mashiro. "Or is he dead?"
Mashiro, her face as innocent as always inched forward to stand near Urahara. She crouched down, reaching out a hand to poke Urahara in the head. "I think he's dead," she said simply.
"Um he's just sleeping," a girl in an Euterpe uniform offered to Chizuru and Mashiro.
Mashiro tilted her green haired head sideways in confusion, "Sleeping? But he's the one that wanted to have practice at seven in the morning."
"Don't worry, once seven o'clock hits he'll be up and practically beating music into us," the girl said. Mashiro and Chizuru didn't seem too reassured by the news and all three of the girls inched away from Urahara as he grunted loudly in his sleep.
The Euterpe girl chuckled and turning back to face the other two girls, "By the way, my name is Hinamori Momo, it's nice to meet both of you."
"Hinamori, the student here on scholarship, correct?" Chizuru asked, clapping her hands together.
Momo nodded, to the girls but her eyes moved from them, following after a boy as he walked past. Hitsugaya pointedly looked away from Momo, the only indication that he had noticed her gaze being the tightening of his hand about the handle of his instrument case. He walked up to his seat and dropping down into his chair, and pulling his case onto his lap.
A pink haired boy, sporting a pair of rectangular, white glasses flounced his way over to Hitsugaya, "Oh Toshiro, how are you little bean?"
"Shut up Szayelaporro," Hitsugaya said, opening the top of case, pulling his reed case from within the compartment on the inner side of the container.
Szayelaporro Grantz, junior of Euterpe, first chair cello player and heir to a rather extensive financial business was plain and simple, an obsessive compulsive type nerd. Once he had a question, he wouldn't stop until he reached answer. His current question, why was Hitsugaya so talented? His progress was almost zero as was Hitsugaya's level of patience with the whole matter.
Hitsugaya really wished that he could go back in time, to when he was in grade school and beg his parents not to send him to summer camp where he ended up meeting Szayelporro. Unfortunately Hitsugaya, he didn't have this ability and thus was stuck with a rather unfortunate acquaintance who went about calling himself 'Hitsugaya's childhood friend.'
"Oh bean, you're so hurtful but maybe that has something to do with your genius," Szayelporro pulled a small notepad from his pocket, making a note of sorts on the paper.
"Don't call me bean," Hitsugaya said, his speech slightly muddled by the reed sticking in his mouth. "And go sit back down, your section isn't even near here."
"So bitter," Szayelaporro continued to scribble away, "But does that affect your music I wonder. Although I'd still like to know what caused this bitterness." He turned with a rather knowing grin to follow Momo as she talked to one of her friends. "But I think I have a pretty good guess."
"Shut up idiot," Hitsugaya snapped the buckles of his instrument case closed, got to his feet and smacked Szayelaporro over the head with it, causing him to fall forward into the laps of the people sitting in front of them.
"Hey watch it," Senna yelled, shoving Szayelaporro to the ground. "Grantz you creep."
Szayelaporro ignored Senna, jumping to his feet, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and walked away, scribbling in his notebook and mumbling, "Temper is the only thing about him that is big."
"He's so weird," Senna said.
"Senna, are you okay?"
Senna sat back down next to her companion she had been talking to earlier, "No Kenryuu, I think he may have injured my wrist."
Kenryuu frowned, taking her arm gently between his hands and rubbing her wrist. "Will you be able to play?"
"I think so," Senna said, a slight whine in her voice, "but it might not be as great as always."
"I'm sure you'll be fine," Kenryuu smiled, "you're very talented after all."
"I know," Senna agreed. Her attentions were distracted as Ichigo loudly arguing with Rukia entered the room. "I see Tamako is here," she said under her breath, getting to her feet.
"Senna," Kenryuu looked to see where she was staring, "Where are you going?"
"Just going to go chat with the Karakura students."
"Really, that's nice of you."
"I know."
Rukia dropped her own instrument case, reaching out to grab Ichigo's and shove it into his shin. "Stupid, I already told you I am not gay."
"Then why are you and your room mate so chummy already?" Ichigo glared up at her from his crouched over position as he rubbed his shin.
"Just because he's friendly and decided to accompany me to breakfast does not mean we are gay!"
"Oh my," Senna walked up to the pair, "seems as if you two are having quite an interesting conversation."
Ichigo and Rukia both turned to look at the purple haired girl who stood before them. "Hi there," she took a step closer, getting near Ichigo's face to look him in the eye. "Oh my, you are very handsome."
For some reason, this caused Rukia's anger to rise, her hands itching to wrap themselves about Senna's neck.
"Uh," Ichigo scooted back, "Well that's nice," he ruffled his hair with his free hand.
Rukia picked up her case again, turning her nose up in the air and beginning to walk back to find a seat. "Wait Tamako, where are you going?" Ichigo sounded as if he didn't want her to leave him alone with Senna.
"Didn't you hear yesterday during your group meeting?" Rukia stopped to turn around and look at him. "Today we are to sit next to our partners, so I'm going to sit next to my partner. You're free to do as you please, I'm not your keeper." She added in an undertone, "idiot."
Ichigo didn't seem too care too much about not having listened to his partner. "Oh right, yeah my partner might have mentioned something about that."
"But I bet your stupid, simpleton mind was too busy reminding you to breath that you weren't able to remember it."
"And you were probably too busy being short to notice that you dressed like a dork again today."
"How does that joke even work right now?"
"I don't know stupid."
"St-stupid? I'm not the one that just made a joke that makes absolutely no sense."
Senna audibly cleared her throat, causing Rukia and Ichigo to look back at her. "Yes?" Ichigo asked, still riled up by Rukia.
"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you name?" Senna said smoothly.
"Kurosaki Ichigo," he said, clearly wondering what the heck was up with the girl.
"Oh my name is Abe Senna," she held out her hand to him.
"Pleasure," Ichigo shook her hand. Senna held onto his hand, grasping it between both of hers. "So now that we've been introduced, want to spend some time together?"
"Uh, I'm not sure how my schedule is looking," Ichigo tried to cast Rukia a look for help that wouldn't be noticed by Senna. "I'll have to let you know, but why don't you let me introduce you to my friend Tamako for now?"
Senna slowly released his hand, turning with a fake smile on her face to gaze at Rukia, "Oh we've already met," she said. "Itsuwari Tamako right?"
Rukia nodded and Ichigo scratched his head, "You two already met?" he asked. "When?"
"Oh just sometime yesterday," she waved her hand about. "Tamako here came up to me and told me he wanted to talk to me because he's my biggest fan."
Rukia thanked the heavens that she had great control over her gag reflex. "I what?"
"Silly Tamako, remember yesterday, you came up to tell me that you enjoyed my music so much that it moved you to tears? You said I was the best musician you'd ever heard, even better than Kuchiki Rukia. That is unless you were lying and that would be just horrible wouldn't it? After all, lying is unacceptable."
Rukia swallowed her disgust, catching on to what Senna was really saying. "Oh yes, sorry I was just embarrassed that you would remember a humble fan such as myself."
"No problem Tamako," Senna gave Rukia a look of approval. "I could never be mad at such a dedicated admirer."
"Hey Tamako," Ichigo said, noting that Rukia's hands were shaking quite noticeably.
"Tamako," another voice called. "Get up here."
Rukia glanced up, her eyes meeting those of the person that had shouted at her. "Hitsugaya," she said. She bowed her head slightly to Ichigo and Senna, "Sorry I have to go now."
She kept her head down and with quick steps made her way to the chair beside Hitsugaya. "Thanks," she mumbled, setting down her case and taking her seat.
Hitsugaya was busy tightening the ring that held his reed in place on his mouth piece and merely raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about? I was merely tired of saving your seat."
And here she had thought that Hitsugaya had been helping her by giving her an excuse to end her conversation with Senna. Grabbing her own case, Rukia pulled out her saxophone, "Oh, then never mind what I said."
"I didn't even really hear what you said in the first place," Hitsugaya said, pulling his neck strap about his neck. "But Tamako you should know," he clipped his saxophone onto the black strap about his neck. "You need to learn to better control your emotions. I could see you shaking all the way from here."
Rukia's hands stilled on her own saxophone, so he had really intended to help her. "I understand."
A lack of answer from Hitsugaya and Rukia turned sideways to look at him. His eyes were riveted elsewhere and his mouth was turned down into a frown. Rukia's eyes darted sideways to where he was staring. There she was again, Hinamori Momo, sitting a row before them, a flute clutched in her lap.
"Hitsugaya," Rukia timidly said, "What's your relationship with Hinamori Momo?"
He quickly jerked his head towards her, his face inches from hers, "Why are you asking?"
"I-I-I was just wondering, cause I thought it seemed like you may have known her or something like that, but I can see I was mistaken, very mistaken sorry," she finished off frantically, leaning back and away from Hitsugaya.
With realization that he had lost his cool, Hitsugaya smoothed his expression over once again, sitting back to original brooding posture. "It's fine," he said.
At the front of the room, Urahara had finally gotten to his feet, rubbing his back as he went to stand behind his podium. The students that were still standing quickly found a seat, Ichigo with a grateful look on his face making his way to sit by Rukia.
"What are you doing?" Rukia hissed, "Go sit by your partner."
"I don't see him anywhere," Ichigo said, sticking his reed into his mouth and assembling his saxophone.
"Who is your partner?"
"I don't remember. I'm not very good with names but I think it may have been Ryuskei, or Ryusei or something like that," he muttered.
Rukia slowly blinked, "You mean Kenzaki Ryusei?"
"Yeah that was it," Ichigo said.
Urahara tapped his conductor's baton on the podium. The music stands rose from the ground, the screens lighting up as they reached full height.
"Let us begin," Urahara said calmly. Rukia fastened her reed into place and pushed her mouthpiece into place in her saxophone. She snapped her case shut and set it beneath her seat. "How about we warm up," Urahara rubbed his chin in thought. "Let's use the c flat major scale for warm up." He raised his arms as the students slowly raised their instruments up into playing position, flutes up, paralleled to the ground, violins brought to rest at the crook of the neck and trumpets held aloft.
"Wait, wait," Urahara dropped his arms, indication to lower the instruments. "Why the confused looks from the Karakura students."
No one seemingly wanted to answer him so Urahara raised a hand, pointing at Rukia, "You there, Karakura student, care to explain?"
Rukia shot him a dirty look, "Usually Ukitake has us warm up with the b flat major scale, or c major."
"Well you should all know the c flat major scale right? I mean I would expect you to know all eight major scales."
"We do sir," Ishida said, a look of annoyance that Urahara doubted the musical abilities of the Karakura students. "It's just that I have to wonder if the c flat scale is quite to best one to warm up to. I mean all the notes are flat."
Urahara smiled, "Ah but that shouldn't matter." He raised his arms again, "Now, ready?"
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Ichigo had never before felt so unsure about his own musical ability. Even during the warm up he had begun to wonder if he was as talented as he thought. They had completed the first scale and then in rapid succession went through the other six major scales and the chromatic scale. Urahara then tuned the band and orchestra separately, all his tuning done by ear.
Ukitake had arrived after the warm up was complete and had been merely content with sitting back and watching as Urahara worked. Ichigo wasn't sure if Urahara exactly had a method to his madness, but he pulled up several different scores of music before finally picking one. He seemed fond of solos, all the pieces he picked having included at least one sectional solo.
As the practice had continued, Ichigo had become more and more aware of the seemingly flawless abilities of the Euterpe students. Their music was calm when needed, crescendoed when indicated and perfectly under the control of Urahara. He indicated an increase in tempo and it occurred almost instantaneously. Sure Karakura was good but Euterpe made them sound like tone-deaf monkeys trying to make music with a rubber band.
Beside him Tamako seemed totally unperturbed by the Euterpe students. The guy even sighed in annoyance when Urahara would stop the band due to the Karakura students getting lost while sight-reading. Like he was totally comfortable at the level or skill they were expected to be able to play at.
Ichigo's partner had shown up a few minutes after warm up, muttering something about the nurse being crazy. He walked by Senna, dropping a cold compress into her lap before hurrying to his seat and pulling out his saxophone.
Ichigo didn't know why, but for some reason Tamako had nearly jumped out of his seat at the sight of this Kenzaki person. Tamako's face turned bright red and the poor kid became rather fidgety as Kenzaki sat down in the chair on Ichigo's other side.
During the rest of the practice Tamako had tried to secretly look sideways at Kenzaki, not that he succeeded. Ichigo and Hitsugaya both noticed, Kenzaki seemed to be the only one that didn't.
"Now before we go to lunch," Urahara said, "I would like to introduce some people to the Karakura students." He motioned with his hand, "Could I please get all the sectional leaders to do a little introduction?"
There was a slight grumble from the band and restless shifting about but Urahara tapped his baton on the podium again, quieting the noise.
"Okay let's start with woodwinds, front row. Yoshino please, tell us your grade, where you're from and what section you're in charge of."
A tall, brown haired girl got to her feet, "My name is Yoshino Soma. I am a junior, I was born in Germany and I am the leader of the clarinet section and that also includes the bass clarinet."
After Yoshino sat, the girl sitting on her left side stood. She pushed her glasses back up her nose, "My name is Ise Nanao," she said, her crisp pronunciation matching her very well put together appearance. "I am a senior of Euterpe. I am from Korea and the section I am in charge of is the oboe section."
She sat down and there was applause from the group. "Uh," Momo got timorously to her feet, "My name is Hinamori Momo and I'm a junior. I am from China and the section I'm in charge of is the flute section, that also includes the piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute."
Ichigo almost fell out of her seat in shock as Hitsugaya rose from his seat. The little brat was his section leader.
His hands in his pockets and slight scowl on his face Hitsugaya said, "My name is Hitsugaya Toshiro, I am a freshman and yes I did skip up a few grades. I was born in Sweden and grew up in China. I am the sectional leader of the saxophones, which includes the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone."
The rest of the introductions continued, and Ichigo found his attentions wavering. As the lead of the percussion section, a bald and rather loud guy by the name of Madarame Ikakku took his seat, Urahara said, "Now for our last introduction, we have our piano player."
All eyes turned to the back of the room as Senna got to her feet. "Hi there everyone," she said sweetly. "My name is Abe Senna. I am born and raised Japanese. I am a sophomore and I am the lead piano player. That includes the grand piano, the organ and multiple types of keyboards."
Ichigo studied her. This girl was weird (stating it simply) to know end. She seemed rather clingy, even though they had just met, although Ichigo had a pretty good idea why and he didn't like it one bit. He was amused sure but she was turning out to be more of a nuisance that he had originally thought possible.
He glanced sideways at Tamako who had tensed up during Senna's introduction. The boy's eyes were narrowed in dislike of sorts and there was a note of incredulity on his face. Was Tamako really a fan of this girl?
"And that's a wrap," Urahara walked over to stand by the door, motioning to Ukitake to follow him. "Now we break for lunch," Urahara called, shoving Ukitake out the door before him.
There was a collective silence, before everyone got to their feet, a rush made to the doors. "Urahara that jerk, he made sure he would get out first," Ichigo muttered as he hastily put away his saxophone. Beside him Tamako's sax was already in its case and the case was set upon his chair. He waved his hand at Ichigo in a taunting manner, "See ya slow poke."
"Hey, hey Tamako you have to wait for me," Ichigo scrambled after the smaller boy. "Let's eat together shall we."
"No." Not even a slight pause in his answer.
Ichigo and Tamako made their way down the hall, following the rest of the students to the banquet hall. The food in Euterpe was set up in a buffet style, the breakfast foods having been switched out for lunch cuisine.
Ichigo watched with amazement as Tamako practically made a mountain of food on his plate. Sure the kid didn't do breakfast but when it came to lunch, it seemed like he was planning on cleaning the kitchen out. When he pointed this out, Ichigo received an elbow to his gut.
Tamako found an empty table and started to shove food into his mouth even before he was fully seated.
Ichigo eating with less fervor, sat down across from him, wondering whether or not Tamako was even tasting his food.
A tray was set down beside Tamako and he finally paused in his eating long enough to ask, "Hitsugaya, what are you doing?"
"Eating here, what does it look like?" Hitsugaya said, bowing his head slightly as he did a short blessing before eating.
"Hey Hitsugaya," Ichigo looked to the smaller boy, "How long have you played the saxophone?"
Hitsugaya shrugged, his mouth too full of rice to answer. "I'd have to say for around five years."
"That's not very long," Ichigo started to say but was cut off as Senna plopped herself right down next to him. Kenzaki stood behind her, momentarily pausing before seating himself next to Senna.
"Can I eat with you?" Senna asked, directing her question to Ichigo.
"Sure," Ichigo answered after a long pause. It didn't seem like Hitsugaya or Tamako were going to answer, and Ichigo felt bad leaving the poor girl unanswered.
Tamako in fact had clamped his mouth firmly shut as soon as Senna had appeared. He became overly absorbed in his food, only looking up to quickly glance at Kenzaki.
Ichigo looked up as he heard a slight commotion and Abarai Renji appeared, shoving his way between people to make his way to Tamako.
He leaned down next to the black haired boy, whispering something so hurriedly Ichigo couldn't make out what was said. Tamako waved his hand about in an annoyed manner, indicating that he was busy eating and Renji, out of irritation, thumped him on the head lightly, which proved to be a bad move on his part. Although Ichigo didn't see it, he had a feeling that Tamako had kicked Renji in the shins seeing as how the red head limped his way to the seat beside Hitsugaya and sat down, a slight pained expression on his face.
Ichigo looked between Hitsugaya, Renji and Senna. "Hey Abarai or Kenzaki, what's up with your ties?"
"What?" both indicated guys looked down to their ties.
Ichigo pointed to Renji's tie then to Hitsugaya's. "Why is your tie a different color?"
All four had a look of comprehension cross their faces. Hitsugaya sighed, returning to his food. Senna smiled sweetly at Ichigo, "Hitsugaya and I both have gold colored ties because we are section leaders. Abarai's tie is just silver because he's not first chair."
"What instrument do you even play?" Ichigo looked at Renji.
"Bassoon, but I'm only second chair."
Ichigo nodded, indicating that he understood but tilted his head sideways as he looked about the room, surveying the ties of the other students. "So section leaders have gold ties and everyone else has silver ties," he said and Senna nodded. Ichigo continued, "And it looks like most girls wear theirs in their hair and the guys have theirs clipped about their necks, but why is it that some people have ties or bow ties. Or is it just up to personal style?"
Hitsugaya rolled his eyes in annoyance and Senna giggled. "The ties are a way to tell if people are dating," she said.
"Excuse me?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow in skepticism, wondering if he had heard her correctly.
"Usually guys have theirs fastened with the clip," Kenzaki said, "and girls wear their in their hair as a head band or hair tie or something. But when they start dating the girls wear their ribbons about their necks tied in a bowtie and the boys knot the ribbon into a tie."
"Eh?" Ichigo looked about again, "Why?"
All four Euterpe students at his table shrugged, "It was just some tradition started long ago," Senna said. "It's not like you have to follow it though, but most people choose to. Urahara doesn't really care too much how we wear our ribbons anyway. But I think he actually encourages the practice."
"Why?"
"It gives him something to gossip about," Kenzaki said, "That's the only way he can tell who's dating and who's not, makes him feel like he's somehow involved and not merely an old man with no social life of his own."
Ichigo nodded, "So Hitsugaya, your ribbon is tied into a tie," he waited momentarily for Hitsugaya to say something but the white haired boy merely gave him a nod as if saying 'so?'
Ichigo cleared his throat, "So does that mean you're dating someone."
"No."
All eyes of the people assembled at the table were on Hitsugaya as he continued to eat with indifference. "Then what does it mean?" Tamako finally asked.
"I'm not dating anyone, but I'm not single."
"Meaning?" Ichigo prompted.
Hitsugaya finished eating, leaning back and crossing his arms, "I'm engaged."
Ichigo loudly snorted, "Engaged? What are you like ten years old and you expect me to believe you're already engaged?"
"Shut up," Hitsugaya muttered. "I am not ten years old."
"If you really are engaged, who are you engaged to?" Senna asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"To prove that what you say is true," Senna said, Kenzaki adding a "Yeah," in support.
Hitsugaya remained obstinately silent. "Come on, tell us," Ichigo egged him on.
"Half of you I've just met, the other half of you I don't particularly know very well," Hitsugaya said, pointing to each person in turn, "So I don't know why I should tell you. Besides you most likely won't even believe me if I do tell you."
"Come on."
"You won't know unless you try."
"You won't tell us cause you're not actually engaged right?"
"Fine," Hitsugaya snapped, "I'll tell you, freakin pack of Hyenas." His turquoise eyes swept over the eyes glued onto him, "I'm engaged to Kuchiki Rukia."
Ichigo experienced, what felt like, a deflating of his heart quickly replaced by shock as Tamako shot to his feet, slamming his hands to the table top and shouting "ME?"
oOo
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oOo
Ah ha ha hope that last part was imaginable :)
Er, sorry about this chapter being a bit of a filler chapter but I wanted to get out some info on who's who, what's what and who knows who. Plus I wanted to remember to include the musical aspect in the story and not just turn it into some high school drama fic (although it might have been easier on my part to just have the story like that, oh well)
Ack, didn't intend to make this chapter sooo long
Still to come: Why Rangiku "kidnapped Renji" Kenryuu's thoughts on Senna Why Hitsugaya is mean to Momo The whole engagement issue More IchiRuki What Renji has to say to Rukia And why Hitsugaya chose to eat lunch with Rukia and co. in the first place
:) Questioooons? Thoughts? Did this chapter stir up any emotions? (I'm hoping for humor here, not hate)
