Ready...Set...Oh!
The next week allowed for very little celebrating. The entire crew – lighting, sound, stagehands, and the band members - were busy staging the show. They had less than three weeks before the dress rehearsals and the concert. The rehearsals were intense, as they now practiced the show in sequence. The choreography was practiced over and over again, making sure they were in sync.
They shifted a few songs and cut some altogether so that the concert would come in at just under the at two-and-a-half hour limit. Time needed to be allotted for talking to the audience, timing between songs, instrument changes, stage changes, introductions, and costume changes. The stage hands were trying to work out the instrument schedules and avoid bumping into the band and each other. Yori and the sound crew were having the band play parts over and over to make sure the sound was just right – knowing they would have time to make only minimal adjustments the week of the dress rehearsals.
The band and crew had taken to wearing earpieces to ensure they could hear the communication back and forth amongst the groups and to protect their hearing. It took time for the band to get used to singing and hearing someone in their ears at the same time, but they all became accustomed to it. The use of the protective ear gear was something Yori insisted upon; she was not going to have a hearing-damaged band or crew.
The lighting crew was working to illuminate the stage and band members to determine the right amount light, shadow, and color. The crew was also working lighting sequences into each song and inputting the light timing into the computer, which would synchronize the intervals and the beat. There was so much sensory overload that first week, everyone was exhausted.
Despite the grueling practices, spirits were still high. During one session, Rukia, Orihime, and Karin were rehearsing the choreography for the shared 'chick song', as Kon labeled it, trying to avoid breathing heavily into the headset microphones. Renji backed into Karin during the staging of the dance, which knocked her over.
"Hope you have better timing when we do our routine," Karin said, rolling her eyes as Renji offered his hand to help her up.
"Sorry about that Karin; I guess I have too much stage presence." Renji grinned.
The band and crew sniggered a bit.
"Rein it in, Pineapple," she dead-panned, "or you'll knock us all off the stage."
She broke into a grin and dusted off her backside.
"They don't call me twinkle-toes for nothing," Renji retorted.
"Yea, twinkle something, but not toes," mumbled Kon.
At this, Uryuu, who was taking a drink of water, nearly choked, mid snort. Ichigo, seeing Uryuu choke, broke out with a barely concealed laugh. It was late, and they were getting punch-happy. Sensing that the one-liners would continue to escalate, Yori decided to end the practice.
"Okay, that is a wrap for tonight everyone! Great job! Get a good night's sleep, and I will see you all tomorrow at six in the evening."
Rukia and Orihime walked down the side steps as Karin hopped off the stage. The three women began talking as they left Urahara's basement.
Karin stretched. "Man, I thought the training my coach put us through was tough. This is much tougher. Every muscle in my body aches from all the choreography."
"Now I know why Yori had us run and sing for weeks. It was to prepare us for this," Rukia followed Karin's lead, stretched, then yawned.
"Really? When was that?" Karin was curious.
"Oh, right after she recruited us for the band," Orihime said. "She made everyone do it—even Kon."
"How come she didn't ask me to do it?"
"Because Karin, you were already training and competing. You were in good shape." Ichigo, standing in back of Karin, put his hands on his sister's shoulders. "Your soccer coach had you singing while you did your calisthenics, right?"
"More like counting very loudly."
"Same thing," said Kon as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "It builds lung capacity and endurance. Since your season just ended, you will be running with us in the mornings."
"Talking about the morning runs?" asked Ganju as he caught the bottle of water Kon had thrown to him.
"Yea, 'Mary had a Little Lamb' will never be the same for me again," chuckled the normally quiet Chad.
"I will never be the same again," Renji said.
"Why is that?" asked Karin.
"Kenpachi caught him singing one morning as we were running," said Yori smiling.
They all looked at her for more information, but Renji answered instead. "Captain Zaraki decided that I would make a great babysitter for Yachiru, since I was familiar with nursery rhymes."
The band chuckled.
"But I don't get it, what's the big deal about that?" asked Karin.
"Zaraki thought it was a game, and started to chase me on my morning runs after that. If he caught me, I would have to babysit." Renji shuddered.
The group chuckled again.
"So, how many times did he catch you?" asked Ichigo.
"Once."
"It wasn't that bad, was it?"
"Yori had to save me."
The other members of the group stopped what they were doing. They were genuinely curious, as they had not heard about this before.
"What happened?"
"I would rather NOT talk about it." His face quickly turned the same shade of crimson as his hair.
Rukia was stunned. Renji told her everything. This was new.
"Renji..."
"NO!"
Renji looked at Yori. "NO!"
Yori smiled.
"I assure you, he is being overly dramatic. Yachiru and her need for sugar...well, let's just say that she had a bit too much, and was hyperactive for some time before getting to bed."
"That's it? Only Yachiru pumped up on candy? You are such a wuss, Renji," Karin said, rolling her eyes.
Rukia and Ichigo were familiar with the Eleventh Division Lieutenant's penchant for sweets. They sensed there was much more to the whole story, but let it drop.
The rest of the group just rolled their eyes, knowing it had been a long day, then made their way back to their respective accommodations for the evening.
As Renji and Yori were walking out of the Senkaimon gate, Renji turned to Yori. "Thanks, but I don't think they bought the story."
"It will be our little secret, Renji. Unless, of course, you blurt it out during one of your drinking sessions," she looked at him slyly, "then all bets are off."
"Okay, okay, I get it, no going out with Ikkaku and the gang for an all-night bender," Renji laughed. "Let me walk you back to your barracks."
He draped his arm casually around Yori's shoulders, and started to walk in the direction of the First Division. They chatted about this and that as they walked. When the pair arrived at her office, Renji was a bit perturbed. "Why are we here instead of the barracks? You should go to bed. You've been working as hard on this as we have, if not harder. You need your sleep."
"I just have a few things to clear up before bed, Dad," Yori said smirking at Renji.
"Hey, who fell asleep in front of the amp last week? Little Miss thirty-six hours-dead-on-her-feet?" Renji chuckled, then became serious. "You know, you plunging into this concert and the Rukon, you don't have to do it..."
"Renji, we've had this conversation before. I am not using this work to forget. I like doing it."
"Yeah, I've had this conversation before, but you weren't listening." Renji paused. "You can take a day off from going into Inuzuri. You need your rest."
"Absolutely not. Set up is needed in Inuzuri, and I don't have the volunteers yet. They are depending on me to have this organized."
Renji leaned closer into Yori. "You've been looking very tired lately."
"Once, only once I took an impromptu nap, and you are holding it over my head."
"It was more than just a nap, and it wasn't the first time." Yori looked at him, surprised. "Souta told me the same thing happened the week before. Luckily it was at the end of your shift, so no one was the wiser." Renji paused again. "I will tell 'Mama'."
"No! Don't tell 'Mama'. She has enough on her plate," Yori said, looking hard into Renji's eyes.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Are you trying to use your Shikai on me? It won't work. You won't persuade me otherwise. I am just as determined as you are, you stubborn woman," Renji said, chuckling.
"Come on, Renji, I'll be fine, I promise! I'll only do and hour's worth of work, then I'll go straight to bed."
"Do you need me to come back in an hour and tuck you in?"
Yori rolled her eyes. "Good night, Renji." She shooed him way.
He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, little one."
Yori smiled and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Renji." She went into her office.
Before she shut the door, she asked, "Morning run?"
Renji snorted. "Wouldn't miss it. See you bright 'n early."
The door shut, Renji smiled, shook his head, made his way back to the Sixth Division.
Byakuya had been out for a walk looking over the Division gardens. He saw his lieutenant and the Rukongai project organizer come thorough the gateway. It never ceased to surprised him how much the two of them touched each other and how comfortable and easy their communication was. Byakuya's planned path allowed him to observe the couple. Leaning into each other, laughing about things he could not quite hear, softly talking.
Renji had his arm around Yori's shoulders, and when they stopped by her door, Byakuya was able to hear their interaction. He smiled, curious and amused by the conversation. Truth be told, at that moment, he was a bit envious of the relationship--they had something even he could not achieve with Hisana—what could be best described as an equal partnership. Though he had believed he and Hisana were equals, she had never felt that way, which had been heartbreaking for him.
Hisana had never quite been comfortable as Lady Hisana. In her eyes, she was a nobody, and some of the Kuchiki staff and family had made damn sure she continued to feel that way. After Hisana died, Byakuya sought out and dismissed the staff that had caused his wife so much heartache while she was alive. He admired Renji for maintaining a relationship in which both parties were equal, regardless of their station.
Byakuya noticed Renji walking towards him. Byakuya made his way to the main walkway and slowed down, waiting for Renji to catch up.
"Captain Kuchiki," called Renji, as Renji began a light jog to catch up with his captain.
"Abarai."
"Out walking the Seireitei, again I see," noted Renji. "Paperwork stressin' you out?"
"Gardening committee duties. I was asked to view the gardens at different times of the day and night and provide my input."
"A walk with a purpose," nodded Renji. "Found anything needing improvement?"
"Yes, some need more work than others. The common gardens have taken quite a bit of abuse."
"Still, it's a good night to walk to clear the head." Renji smiled fondly about something that crossed his mind.
"Practice?"
"Yeah, it was tough. My fingers have lost all feeling and I nearly knocked Ichigo's sister off stage."
"Macawi-san assured me that you would still be able to perform your lieutenant's duties. I hope she is not wrong."
Renji snorted then chuckled. "No, she's not wrong. Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure."
The Captain and Lieutenant continued to walk in a companionable silence.
Renji began to wonder when their relationship changed, how he and his captain felt at ease in each other's presence. Renji was beginning to learn to appreciate the silence instead of trying to fill it. It was an art in which the Kuchiki heir was adept. This was not a skill that would help him surpass his captain; it was a skill to find understanding of both himself and Byakuya Kuchiki. Renji liked that thought—understanding instead of surpassing.
Byakuya pondered when it was that he and his lieutenant fell into an easiness in their relationship. Was it after Yori spoke to him about Rukia and Renji's passion about helping their old home? That he, the Kuchiki Clan leader could now see beyond Abarai's origins, or was it that Renji was now more confident with his place in the Seireitei?
"Good night, Captain. See you in the morning." Renji had stopped in front of the Sixth Division's living quarters. Byakuya was surprised they had made it here as quickly as they did.
"Good night, Lieutenant." Having finished his task for the evening, Byakuya made his way back to the Kuchiki estate to complete his findings for the committee.
It was just about a half hour after dawn in the Seireitei, and most of the early morning shifts were coming to quiet end. Byakuya enjoyed this time of the morning. It was peaceful and the growing colors on the horizon as the sun rose higher to light the new day, provided a sense of calm. The Sixth Division Captain was making his way to his office. He needed to get away from the manor. The clan members were in for a meeting, and he did not want to spend any more time around them than absolutely necessary. A sound came drifting from his lieutenant's office, broke his early morning reverie, stopping him dead in his tracks.
"Ooohhhh...mmmmm...yes..."
There was a female moaning, pleasurably, just beyond the door. He recognized that voice.
"Renji...mmmmm...that feels so good...mmmm."
"Pressure okay?"
"A bit deeper...oh yea...mmmmm."
"Shhh. You will get us in trouble with all your moaning."
Byakuya heard Renji chuckle a bit.
"It feels so good. You have magic fingers—you hit the right spot every ti-hi-hi-hi-me...mmm..."
"Like right here?"
"mmmm....oooohh...yes...yes...more..."
"You are so easy, you know that?" Renji said in a low voice, and chuckled again.
Byakuya was shocked that his lieutenant and Macawi were in the office this early doing something so lewd in the division offices—HIS Division offices. Had they no shame?
"Here, lie down on the couch and lift your leg up so I can get a better angle."
Byakuya heard a rustle of clothing.
"How about here?" Byakuya heard Renji ask.
"Oh! Ow, ow, ow, ooooohhhhh....mmmmm...yessssss..."
For one of the first times in his adult life, Byakuya did not know what to do. He felt like he was listening to something so private, so intimate, that he was a voyeur. He stood, rooted to the spot, with his outstretched hand frozen in mid-air to slide the door open. He needed to get to his office, but he needed to go through Renji's office to get to his office.
"Bring up the other leg."
"Mmmmm, you have no idea how good that feels, tsssssshh, ahhh..."
He could feel the heat rise in his face. He decided to flare his aura to warn the office occupants of his presence, giving the lust-filled couple pause in their activity and to get decent before he entered.
A voice from behind roused him from his thoughts.
"Good morning, Captain Kuchiki."
Rikichi bowed. The unseated shinigami then moved past his captain, and slide the door open before Byakuya could stop him.
"Lieutenant Abarai, here are the drill results from yesterday. Hello, Macawi-san."
"Thanks, Rikichi, leave them in my in box."
"Morning, Rikichi."
Rikichi placed the folder on the desk and bowed to the couple and left.
Byakuya could see from the doorway that both his lieutenant and Yori Macawi were fully dressed in their running clothes. She was on the couch with Renji holding her leg, massaging it.
"Morn'n Captain," greeted Renji. "You're in early today."
"Morning Captain," said a smiling Yori. Renji tapped her leg indicating he was finished. She got up from the couch and stretched.
"Thanks Renji. I think I can feel the blood circulating again."
Yori gave Renji a quick hug. "Got to run. I have to meet the rest of the gang for a run in the Living World. See you tonight at practice."
As she turned to leave, Renji smacked her on the rear. "Get going you."
She laughed. Turning to bow to Captain Kuchiki, she left.
"Hey, are you okay Captain?" asked Renji when he noticed there was something off about his Captain's aura.
"I would appreciate if you keep your antics to a more private area than in the Sixth Division office, Abarai."
"Captain?" Renji quirking an eyebrow. "Antics? I was massaging Yori's shoulders and calves after our run," Renji answered innocently, then paused. "What did you think we were doing?"
Byakuya just looked at his lieutenant. He was not about to reveal that he was listening at the door, like some Peeping Tom, thinking that something else was going on in the office. He moved into his office and closed the double shoji doors.
Renji caught on, and he chuckled just a bit.
"I have to tell her to not to moan like a porn star when I massage her shoulders. She will get us in trouble for sure."
Renji left to take a quick shower and get dressed for the day.
Practices continued to be intense. The team noticed the rehearsals became easier as they got used to running though each segment. The choreography was down, and the instrument changes were timed perfectly. Time really flew for everyone, as it was five days before the first dress rehearsal.
Mayuri was listening to the music with a determined look on his face. Yori, Akon, and Rin were standing close by. Akon and Rin were working the sound boards, trying to pinpoint a problem with the sound system.
"You are correct. There is a small but distinct distortion vibration from the bass through the speakers. The sound is not as clean as it should be."
"It can be heard through the headsets as a buzz. It sets my teeth on edge," cringed Akon.
"We checked the sound equipment three times already, and we still cannot find the cause," stated Rin.
"Nemu!" called the Twelfth Division Captain. Nemu appeared quickly with her findings.
"The distortion was coming from Chad's bass."
"Reasons?" asked Mayuri.
"Possible impact to the instrument."
"What kind of impact?"
"It seems to have been dropped. I have adjusted the instrument. Listen again."
"Chad, play the last piece again," Mayuri requested over the ear piece. The distortion had ceased.
Yori asked the band to start the song from the top, as Mayuri interrogated Nemu and the lead stagehand/instrument tech about the abused bass.
"Well?" Mayuri looked menacingly at the stagehand.
"Mayuri, remember—accidents happen. We found and solved the problem." Yori had a tone that was easy, yet conveyed that the hostilities cease. Akon readjusted the the sound coming from the stage microphones.
"With less than a week to go before dress rehearsal, we do not need to add incompetence as a band member." Mayuri continued to glare at the shaking stagehand.
"Enough, Mayuri. We treat everyone with respect. No shoot-first-then-ask-questions-later."
Yori looked over to the stagehand, Akihito.
"We are always careful with the instruments. I cannot explain how this happened. I have asked all the instrument techs, and they have not a clue as how it happened."
"Did that come across okay?" Chad was curious.
"Yes. We found the source of the distortion, Chad," answered Rin from the sound booth.
"Good. I thought that when the bass slipped from my fingers earlier, it would have been damaged," said Chad.
Yori turned her eyes that were slowly changing a different color to Mayuri.
Mayuri looked at Akihito. "Fine. You are not the one that did the damage," he said hastily.
Yori continued to look at the Twelfth Division Captain, urging him to formulate a better apology.
"I did not incapacitate him," retorted Mayuri, answering her glare.
"Apology accepted, Mayuri-san," Akihito gushed, then looked at Yori. "Really Yori-san, that is the best anyone can expect."
She crossed her arms and continued to look at Mayuri.
Nothing really intimidated him. Except, perhaps, for Yori's infernal eyes. Damn. "I am sorry you were not the one to damage the bass..."
"Let's re-phrase that please."
"I am sorry for thinking you damaged the instrument," Mayuri ground out.
"Apology accepted!" the instrument technician squeaked out and quickly went into another direction.
"See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?"
"Humpfh."
Yori called to the group, "Lunch!" and they all stopped what they were doing and headed for the food table, piled high with bento boxes.
The fare today a bit more elaborate, and very delicious. The entire crew sat together—Yori had insisted upon it from the beginning. This enabled everyone to get to know each other, building a better bond. No one sat out and no one was excluded. They all sat at the tables which were placed into a square so everyone could be seen. The jokes, the ribbing, and the shared stories brought them all together—much like a family. This easiness helped each member to feel comfortable to share ideas and make suggestions as it pertained to the show. Yori smiled at the sight.
Yori stood up. "May I have your attention? This is the last rehearsal here in the Living World. Tomorrow the crew will transport the equipment and set up in the Seireitei. The day after tomorrow, practice will be held in the arena."
Everyone smiled and a few whooped.
"Before we vacate the underground training area, which has been our home for nearly four months, I thank our most gracious hosts, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi, who have nourished us with their delicious food and their wisdom." Yori bowed to the two men seated at the table. The rest of the crew all stood, bowing respectfully, with "Thank you very much honored friends, colleagues, and teachers."
Kisuke and Tessai were genuinely touched by the gesture. Both men bowed in return. "It was a pleasure. Thank you for allowing us into your fold."
Yori looked over to the men, and asked with a gleam in her eye, "Is there anything we can give to you before we part today?"
Kisuke and Tessai both smiled back. "Why yes, there is something. We would like to play a song with the band."
That evening, the two former captains jammed with their newest and most favorite band, living out their dreams of being rock stars.
AN: FF was a bit hesitant about uploading this installment on Saturday, but persistence pays off!
Many thanks to my overworked beta, Rukilex, for laughing in the right places and tweaking where needed.
Once again, Tite Kubo owns his original characters and the Bleach Universe; I am responsible for the wild imagination of one captain, and the Rock 'n Roll fantasies of two others.
