A/N: Here's another update, sorry bout the wait! I'm glad you're still sticking with me on this fic =)
Dedicated to: Babiip . kally-kal . DancerGrl16 . jamminmarie65 . hitomi . BlackRoseInc . Amuto-Nya . bloodyrose1294 . Emuri . Enelya87 . Hibari08 . zodius . princess-myu . Raye Lynne . OTG (off the grid) . junjou-yume . Bullet2tm . Cupcake-Monster .
Disclaimer: I own Bleach Not.
Chapter 8
Scene 1
He couldn't help himself. His pride swelled to hear her playing the piece with so much passion. It had been forever since she played anything composed by himself.
"This is improvised! I really like it Renji-kun"
He was happy that she liked his improvised version. However, he hated the way the name of another man rolled of her tongue.
But when he heard her giggled, his jealous tension was quickly soothed. Her sweet laughter, giggle and mere voice always had that effect on him.
That is, until he heard her request to touch that red-haired's face. Well, that Renji better say 'no'!
Even in the dark, it was obvious that his lips were pressed into a thin straight line and his brows deeply furrowed; his fist clenched firmly, ready to destroy something.
Yet he keep telling himself to stay calm and not make a sound; he would not be discovered. When he saw her fingers lingering on his face, that broke the camel's back.
He couldn't help himself as he reached across for the large object beside him. The loud thump sounded as the large old lamp made contact with the centre of the opera house, causing the sound of shattering glass to echo through.
Scene 2
"Ouch." The raven haired girl cut herself when she tried to pick up some of the glass pieces.
"Rukia? What happened?" Orihime asked in concern. Feeling useless that she was sitting by the piano doing nothing while the other two cleared the mess on the ground.
"It's nothing, don't worry Orihime."
Renji immediately appeared beside her and took her fingers. He examined closely to see there were no remaining glass in her wound, then Rukia's eyes widened in shock as he put the finger in his mouth.
Renji's eyes lifted to meet hers as his face as well as other parts of his body began to heat up through their small body contact.
"Uh, t-hat should stop the bleeding," His cheeks stained a dark pink. "Uh, I'll put a plaster on for you when we get back."
"Uh, Th-thanks." Rukia was glad Orihime couldn't see her madly blushing face. Though the perceptive auburn haired could guess what happened from the stuttering duo.
After the mess was cleared, the trio headed back to Inoue mansion.
"I wonder how did that lamp fall off?" Rukia asked.
"Beats me." Renji shrugged uneasily, he had a gut feeling but he sure damn hope his gut feeling was wrong.
Rukia half-expected Orihime to say 'it must have been the little blue men', but that was the old Orihime. The current Orihime no longer said such things since that fateful day she lost her loved ones. She became solemn and serious.
A weird feeling washed through Rukia when she glanced over at the auburn girl, no doubt she was in another world of her daydreams but... what worried and shocked Rukia was that way-too-happy smile that tugged on Orihime's lips.
Scene 3
"Long Black coffee please."
"One long black coming right up for this gentlem-" her voice trailed off, causing her blonde husband to look up from his work.
"Yare Yare... It's you!"
"Kisuke-san. Yoruichi-san." the tall dark man nodded.
"What brings you back to Sereitei valley? I heard you've made it big." Kisuke wiggled his eyebrows with his hands clapped together.
"I miss this place. And your coffee."
This place, he grew up with his best friend. He was a guitarist and had formed his own band. Years ago he became of the country's most popular musician and traveled around to perform. But it was partially thanks to his best friend.
"This place has changed quite a fair bit after all these years."
"Indeed. How long will you be here for? Are you going to perform in your hometown?"
"Maybe a month. I might actually."
"Well... La Palais is still abandoned," for some reason Kisuke leaned closer to whisper.
"Good to have you back Chad!" the tanned beauty crossed her arms and turned to her husband. "And what are you trying to suggest, hmm?"
"Arh, Yoruichi my love... Nothing at all... Heh heh!"
Chad laughed - some things just don't change.
Scene 4
Renji stepped into his home and shut the door, his right hand reaching for the buttons on the wall. He cursed when he turned the lights on but stared into darkness.
Damn bastards cut off the lights already? Thank goodness he was moving to Inoue mansion within the next two days.
Then, he sensed someone else in the living room.
"Who's there?"
The hooded figure stepped into the light shining in through the glass window. Immediately Renji reached for the nearest object in his reach, which happened to be an umbrella, and pointed it at the intruder.
"How did you get in here? I ain't got a penny, they cut my lights cos I can't pay the bills so you better leave."
The intruder chuckled hysterically.
"Is that how you repay me for improvising your piece of music? Have you forgotten our deal?"
That day, Renji tore open the letter once he reached his house and locked the door behind him.
'To save mankind from having to hear your unpolished music, I have kindly done them a favor. You will see that your music is different while I kept the original melody to it. I will continue to supply my services if you just leave your scores behind each time. But in return, you are to take care of Miss Inoue Orihime. I'll be watching you.'
"It's you!"
"I asked you to take care of her! How dare you take advantage of her?!"
"What? I wa-wasn't!! I didn't!!"
"I saw you with my own eyes! Or are you calling me a liar?"
"No Sir, I'm just a friend! She just wanted to know how I look like."
"You could have said no! Nobody touches my princess!"
"I didn't touch her. She touched me!" Renji immediately regret saying this as it seemed to make matters worse.
The hooded figure cursed and banged his hands on the table, causing his hood to fall off his head. Renji saw the scar across his face under the moonlight.
"Wait... You… are you Kurosaki Ichigo?"
The man pulled the hood over his head and glared at Renji.
"I knew it! You are him, right?"
The man quickly lowered his head and turned his back to Renji.
"The scores... Rukia said you were quite a talented composer... but... HOW?"
"You won't understand." the man said quietly.
"So explain to me!" Renji dropped the umbrella.
"Explain to me because I'm not smart enough to understand why you survived the fire but hide for a good ten years. Everyone thinks you're dead. Orihime thinks you're dead!"
"Orihime, eh?" The man clenched his fist.
"What? Now you're jealous I use her name? Should I call her Inoue-san instead, would that make you happy?" Feeling a surge of boldness as he found his insecurity, Renji took a step forward.
"You're a selfish bastard you know that? You think you're doing this all for her sake?"
Renji was caught offguard when the hooded figure roughly pushed him against the wall and pulled him up by the collar. He was very strong although he seemed skinnier than the red-head.
"I don't need to explain anything to you!" he hissed.
Then the man stormed out of the little house, leaving a choking Renji, too stunned for words.
.
.
.
.
End.
Love,
Blitch out
P.S. Ichihime moments is NEAR!
