-1Even as Urahara was extensively impressed by her fingers sailing over the strings tension, Yoruichi remained hatefully ignorant as she sat by them still unable to stand. The doctors suggested she not move from her home at all but considering she still hadn't settled down, she just continued to change her residence every time she wanted to go somewhere else.
"You're pretty good, how long did you say you've been playing?"
"Around six years" She glanced at Yoruichi, remembering the exact moment that her ex-idol had held her hands against the smooth wooden neck of an acoustic guitar and taught her how to express herself.
Yoruichi's face showed no sign of this allusion. Urahara could've left it at that but something that Soi guessed to be an attempt at manipulation got in his way of terminating the conversation. "If I remember correctly that's a little after the time Yoruichi-chan started living in Tokyo?" It was a statement and a question at the exact same time, Soi Fong sneered, "Is it now, I hadn't noticed." Yoruichi finally reacted with some kind of secret smile.
"Ara, a coincidence if I ever saw one," Urahara apparently had decided to end his manipulation there and go on to a different subject. "So what are you doing for Christmas Soi-kun?" Yoruichi answered for her as if exercising her knowledge of Soi's past and present, "Her family's strict Chinese Buddhist she usually doesn't celebrate it." Urahara held the rim of his hat and glanced between to two. "Ah, yes that's correct I was informed that you're from a Chinese family correct? Still Soi-kun should celebrate!"
Soi nodded, "Ninth generation, royal guard family." She ignored that last part.
Yoruichi was trying to look detached from the communication but couldn't manage to ignore the tone of Soi's voice when she said, "I'm the last one."
Urahara's eyes peered out from beneath his hat, "Really now?"
"Yes, I'm not having children and all of my brothers are dead so I'm committing genetic suicide and ending my family's name."
Urahara looked at her hard, seriousness in his eyes, "No wonder they kicked you out."
Soi gritted her teeth and was ready to strike him with her guitar in a very uncomfortable place when Yoruichi said, "It was her choice to come here."
In a very anticlimactic many Kuukaku burst through the door of the studio she had all but bought for them, grinning from ear to ear. "Mornin', I've gotten you three a gift"
Her smile didn't even leave when she saw the grave faces of her companions, following into the room was a boy with spiked silver hair and cold eyes, his button down shirt and pressed slacks betraying his youth.
"This is Hitsugaya Toushiro; he has an offer for you."
Yoruichi grinned, looking dignified despite her inability to stand. "Hitsugaya Toushiro, name sounds familiar, now where have I heard it? Hmm." She cupped her chin in mock contemplation.
The visitor stuffed his hands in his pockets and closed his eyes annoyed, "You should remember me, and you almost ruined my father's career."
Yoruichi snapped her fingers as if suddenly figuring it out, "That's right! You've grown, still short I see."
Hitsugaya smirked, "Don't expect to be all buddy buddy with me; abandoning people usually makes them less than amiable." Yoruichi smiled and rubbed her jaw where the recently vanished bruise had been, "You don't have to tell me twice."
Hitsugaya's demeanor changed to pure business, "Let's get down too it then, we want to get Soul Cutter back on stage."
Yoruichi copied his sudden change of pace, "I'm sorry, Soul Cutter broke up." Hitsugaya looked at Soi, his face disbelieving, until he realized it and changed to a stoic scowl. "Does it matter, everyone's already heard about your return and Soi Fong-sin's involvement. You can call yourself whatever you want."
Soi was obviously disdained by her being lumped together with Yoruichi, and muttered, "Yeah it was a tearful reunion; the second she saw me she just jumped right of stage and gave me a big hug."
The joke was apparently lost on Hitsugaya though Kisuke and Shiba stifled laughs. Yoruichi decided to add to it. "Oh, Soi-chan's just embarrassed, I pulled her back stage and we just fucked right there."
Soi glared daggers at her as Hitsugaya apparently got the message.
"So this offer, what does it entail?"
Urahara took the helm; he seemed the type that would be good at such things.
"One-oh, my father's label, is hosting a concert as a New Years celebration; we want you guys to headline." Kuukaku smacked the boy hard on his back and he stumbled forward a few feet. "So guys whadya think? Sound worth it?"
Before they were all ready to happily jump around, Urahara smirked and said, "And the pay?"
Hitsugaya regained himself from Kuukaku's friendly assault and adjusted his tie.
"Unfortunately we can't enter you directly under the label but I'll give you fifty percent of the proceeds."
Soi's eyes widened but Urahara was the one who spoke, "Very generous Toushiro-kun."
Hitsugaya sneered, "With the profits you guys will rake in fifty is enough for me, but there is one condition." The room went quiet, waiting for the catch.
"My father requested a special agent for you guys." The door to the studio opened and the man standing there could've been a permanent fixture inside the wooden doorframe. He had dark skin with dread locks and loomed over everyone in the room. His clothes were neat but in an almost mafia-esque fashion and he carried with him an air of confidence and mysteriousness that only succeeded in losing Soi's trust. His darkened glasses weren't helping
Hitsugaya closed his eyes and cleared his throat, "This is Tousen Kaname, and he's been assigned to you as an agent for advertising and booking. If there are any problems he will tell me."
The stone like man raised his hand and pulled the glasses from his face in one quick motion, revealing white eyes. No one but Soi seemed to notice this little detail. He muttered in a deep voice, "It is nice to meet you all."
Urahara smiled, "Nice to meet you Tousen-san."
Yoruichi simply eyes him up and down looking slightly suspicious.
"Thank you Hitsugaya-kun, we'll be in touch. Meanwhile, mind letting us continue with our practice?"
Hitsugaya nodded and motioned for Tousen to leave, as he turned Yoruichi muttered, "I see your daddy's keeping a short leash on me."
Hitsugaya spoke with his back to the group, "Wouldn't want you skipping town again." He turned revealing half of his youthful face as he glanced at Soi, "Of course, I personally think it's covered already."
He left without a word and Kuukaku started saying things about going to celebrate, all Soi could do was think about the boy's cold eyes and how they knew something she didn't.
