'There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own. But I know better, our fate lives within us. You only have to be brave enough to see it.'- Merida
Ichigo was bouncing up and down in his seat, he'd changed his mind within the last week to change his Disney song from One Jump Ahead to The Love Song from Pirates of the Caribbean. Grimmjow was driving the orange haired teens car through the streets of Tokyo, one day before Ichigo's audition day, his smirk eating his face as he thought of all the nice clubs and shit he could take Ichigo to for at least that night and one day.
"Hey Berry, ya are gonna let me take ya out, right?" Ichigo shrugged his shoulders.
"Not until after my audition for sure. I need to practice until then. I've already talked to the hotel that I stayed at for my last audition- well another in the chain -and they said that me practicing my violin wouldn't be a problem. And as for our room I've just got us one with a queen bed for us to share." Ichigo decided to ignore Grimmjow's smirk, he knew fully well what happened the last time they'd shared a bed and was positive to keep Grimmjow on his own side this time. The pillow barrier should work well enough.
"Awe, fine. But then I'm taking you out to have some real nineteen rated fun." Ichigo rolled his eyes as Grimmjow turned another corner, trying to not think about what Grimmjow might have planned.
"I'm not going to lie Grimmjow, I really appreciate you doing all of this for me. But until my audition you cant bother me. I need my entire mind just focused on this. I'm going to be playing for the Phil Harmonic orchestra on a previous performance high, I have to try and bring my mind back to reality enough to get through three songs- five in total and two of them are fifteen minutes long."
"Alright, I'll do whatever until you're done then."
"You're not just saying that, are you? Hisagi ended up showing up and just screwing everything-"
"I'm not that fucking kink-monger-fucker Ichigo. He probably only liked you for his damn fucking kink as is."
"What? Kink, wait how would you-"
"We screwed around a bit last year. He's got a kink for your mom, honestly cant fucking get it up unless violin music is playing. Just, don't make me go into more detail." Ichigo didn't know if he should be pissed or not, if he should feel less possessive of Grimmjow then he was suddenly feeling.
"Oh, alright then." Dejected was more of the feeling though, his heart feeling like it had fallen out from his chest. 'I shouldn't be feeling possessive, it's not like I've bought him or anything. And he didn't do it after we started dating, this was probably before he even knew me. This is just what's Grimm's done in his past, I can deal with it I guess. So he screwed around with Hisagi before I knew him, that doesn't change much.' Ichigo took a deep breath and let it out as a deep sigh, tilting his head back as Grimmjow head for the hotel.
"Alright, we're here Berry. Wake up." Ichigo felt the few taps to his cheek and opened his eyes. Grimmjow was standing outside Ichigo's door in the underground parking, reaching to Ichigo's lap and petting a dozing Ritz. "Put the monster into his carrier and lets head up to our room, yeah?" Ichigo nod his head groggily, scooping Ritz into his lap and getting out of the car while rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand.
Ichigo followed Grimmjow like a zombie, he hadn't slept much in a long time and he just couldn't stay awake much longer. Grimmjow opened up the suit door and followed Ichigo inside, his bag packed with enough ramen to last them each a week and enough spare t-shirts to be comfortable while Ichigo's bag was filled with black dress clothes. "I'm going to bed, um… yeah. Night Grimm."
"Alright, I guess I'll get set up. What time are you planning on being up in the morning?" Ichigo just shrugged as he walked towards the bed and fell down on it, curling into a loose ball as Grimmjow moved about the suit getting his things set up so he could be more comfortable in the morning when he woke up.
By the time Grimmjow was ready to crawl into bed he was just in his boxers and Ichigo had ended up pulling his shirt off at some point, laying above the covers, sure to freeze to death. Grimmjow let out a heavy sigh and climbed onto the bed behind Ichigo, tugging the blanket out from under the other before pulling it up to his chin. He slipped into the bed behind Ichigo and gave the other enough room so they weren't spooning and so he wasn't falling off the bed.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ichigo woke up with a smile, feeling warm and relaxed as he snuggled further into the blankets and the warm chest he wasn't unwelcome to. Grimmjow tightened his grip a little as Ichigo snuggled further into his embrace, neither wanting to wake but knowing Ichigo was going to have to get up and start practicing.
"I don't suppose you'd be up for cuddling for a while, would you Grimm?"
"I've got to start writing more letters, you need to practice." Grimmjow wasn't planning on getting out of the bed until the last possible moment though, no matter what he wasn't leaving it's warmth until he could no longer sit still with his laptop.
"Fine, I suppose I could always practice a little more. I need to work on that love song for Disney."
"You know if I can come in and listen?"
"I'd rather you didn't Grimm. I'd start getting flustered thinking too many things."
"Well I'm going to have to watch you perform on stage at some point, wont I?" Ichigo shrugged still not opening his eyes.
"You get to hear me practice, but I'll find out for you Grimm. If it's really that big of a deal to you." Grimmjow nod his head, his chin rubbing on the top of Ichigo's head. "I don't think it's all that special really. Just a series of notes and rhythms that repeat themselves at times." Ichigo moved away from Grimmjow slightly, raising himself up onto his elbow and blinking down at the blue haired teen. "I could teach you ya know."
"Nah, I've got mechanics hands." Grimmjow opened his eyes slightly and watched as Ichigo got out of the bed and started moving around the room, grabbing up his violin case and opening it up right away. "Really? Not even gonna take a piss?"
"I didn't drink much yesterday I do this lots when I get close to a deadline for something." Ichigo did a quick tune before raising the violin and doing a quick scale to warm up.
Grimmjow groaned and rolled over, rummaging around in his bag for his laptop so he could get to work, giving up for a five minute break to go to the washroom and get a pot of coffee in the provided pot started to give them both the energy for the upcoming day. He had five letters to write, edit, and email to Ulquiorra to edit again to get done he knew he was in for a long day and probably night. Ichigo was going to have an even worse day. He had five songs to practice over and over again.
The suit was filled with music for the entire day, Ichigo only stopping long enough to cuddle into Grimmjow's side and get a small nap in before waking again and freaking out about his audition the next day. The blue haired teen had stopped writing long enough to make them both a bowl of ramen, forcing Ichigo to eat the chicken flavored noodles before he passed out. "Alright Berry, have another nap before going at it again."
"I'm not really tired Grimm."
"You're going to be tomorrow, and I've heard you play the songs enough. You've got them both down pact. Now have a half hour nap. I'll wake you up, promise." Ichigo gave up arguing, knowing that Grimmjow was speaking with some sort of sense as he curled up by the others hip again, his back pressed firmly against Grimmjow's thigh. Ichigo folded his arms to use them as a pillow, forcing his mind to relax for a while. He never achieved sleep before Grimmjow had him up and practicing again, Grimmjow putting his headphones into his ears and giving himself a break from all the classical with some metal and rock.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ichigo stopped at eleven o'clock, set his violin down and let out a sigh as he flopped onto the bed. He knew he needed a shower, he was going to spend the entire night tossing and turning, or surfing the internet for random anime to watch or manga to read. "You tired?"
"Yeah, still need to shower and shit though." Ichigo knew that Grimmjow had taken a shower around four, but that there was nothing really stopping the other from doing that unlike Ichigo. "I'm thinking about a quick one before trying to go to sleep."
"That'd be good. You'll need the sleep." Ichigo nod his head and got up off the bed, still completely shirtless from the night before. "I'm turning in, night Ichi."
"Night Grimm." Ichigo slipped into the bathroom with his clothes and towel, determined to get nice and clean before having a restless night of tossing and turning.
As he got out of the bathroom Ichigo ran the towel through his hair a couple more times, drying it off the last little bit as Grimmjow lay on the bed, facing Ichigo's side of the bed with his eyes closed. Ichigo got himself into the bed in my pajama bottoms and no top, the rooms temperature being turned up too high to worry about more then bottoms. "You still awake Grimm?" There was no answer so Ichigo let out a sigh. "Sorry for later then, I doubt I'll sleep well." he leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to Grimmjow's forehead before turning his back to the other, listening as Ritz moved about in his carrier that he'd replaced him in before his shower around ten.
Every five minutes Ichigo moved, waking Grimmjow from his doze as he tried to get as much sleep as possible. It finally got too annoying at one in the morning Grimmjow pushed himself up onto his elbow, leaning over Ichigo slightly and pulling the others back against him. His chest was healing fine, the new scar just slightly darker then the rest of the scar from ten years prior.
"Ichi, you okay?"
"No. Ugh, I'm just going to read some manga or something." Ichigo moved to get up but Grimmjow stopped him and pulled him back against his chest taking a deep breath as he set his hand on Ichigo's side and started to massage circles there. The orange haired teen let out a deep breath as Grimmjow's hand wandered to his shoulder blades in a soothing pattern.
"Just relax and try to sleep."
"It's no use Grimm, I'm just not tired enough to sleep right now." Ichigo held the last sound for a moment as Grimmjow lowered his head and started to kiss Ichigo's neck, pressing open mouthed kisses and nips to the shoulder where it wouldn't be visible the next day.
Ichigo could feel his body heating up as Grimmjow's hand moved back to his side, running up to his ribs and down to his hip. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Grimmjow's fingers dipped into his pants no more then an inch before withdrawing again to continue massaging. "Grimm." Ichigo pulled his bottom lip into his mouth as Grimmjow's fingers dipped into his pants again. "I don't want-"
"It's a proven fact that climaxing helps you sleep. I'm not asking for anything Berry." Ichigo's face was a bright strawberry red as Grimmjow's hand crept into his boxers and found his length, his teeth clamping down on his lip as he tried not to groan loudly. 'Holly fucking hell. What's going on? Grimmjow needs to-to stop, oh god.'
"Grimm-j-jow, wh-what, fuck." Ichigo grabbed his pillow and held it tightly to his face, biting his lip again as he spread his legs, pressing his hips into Grimmjows stroking hand.
"Just go with it." Grimmjow reattached his lips to Ichigo's shoulder, nipping and licking a hickey there that should've stay for a while as Ichigo mewled and keened at his touch.
Ichigo's brain was quickly turning into mush as he forgot if he should be saying no or yes, thrusting forwards or grinding back. His entire body felt like it was alight with fire that was so intense he wanted the blankets gone and for some cold air to be hitting his body to cool him off. Grimmjows mouth on his shoulder was smoldering and his hand was just tight enough, the presence of having the other behind him was welcome to Ichigo.
"F-faster, pl-please."
"Fucking hell Berry." Grimmjow sped up his hand, running his thumb over the slit and making the other keen once again. "Say my name."
"W-wha?"
"Just do it." Grimmjow bit down on the others shoulder again, working against not doing more to the other while he was likely to say yes.
"G-Grimmjow. Oh god, Grimmjow." Said teens hand sped up more as he nipped at the offered shoulder again, forcing his growing problem to the back of his mind as Ichigo whimpered and groaned under his ministrations. Ichigo leaned his head back, feeling as Grimmjow sucked and nipped his earlobe for a minute, rubbing the tip once more with his slightly roughened thumb thanks to work. "Grimm!"
"Common Berry, go ahead and cum, I wanna see that face o' yours. All twisted and mangled in pure pleasure. Mmm, how'd you look if I were ta suck ya off? Want me ta do that next time?" Ichigo's face couldn't go more red, there was no way he could be more embarrassed or turned on then that moment when Grimmjow just started whispering in his ear.
"F-faster." Grimmjow sped his hand up again and Ichigo lost all his thoughts as he started grinding back into the other, wanting to feel something behind him. He let out a loud groan as the fist around him tightened a little more and Grimmjow bit down on his shoulder, sending him over the edge. "F-fuck!" Ichigo bit down into his pillow, his body trembling as Grimmjow's hand slowed, stopping only when Ichigo was done before the blue haired teen pulled his hand back.
"Night Berry. Get some sleep."
"Fuck Grimm I-"
"Just shut up and get to sleep, yeah?" Ichigo's eyelids felt like they'd turned into lead and he let out a sigh, dropping his head. Not caring about the mess in his pants as Grimmjow got up and head in the bathroom, leaving a panting and dozing Ichigo on the bed. All of Ichigo's muscles were relaxed and loose as the teen fell asleep, his mind running over and over what'd just happened.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ichigo woke up once again snuggling up to Grimmjow's chest, his boyfriend just draping his arm over Ichigo's waist, their legs twisted together as they both started to wake up. Ichigo could feel the gross mess in his pants and shivered, the worst feeling in the world was waking up with dried cum in your pants in his opinion.
"You get some sleep?"
"Uh, yeah." Ichigo's face flushed bright red, he didn't know how to act after what happened the night before. Was he supposed to let Grimmjow do whatever he wanted to now? Was he supposed to thank him and return the favor. He ducked his head down so Grimmjow couldn't have seen his face. "Listen Grimm I-"
"You should go have a shower and get ready for your auditions. I'll be here to talk when they're all over and done with." realization hit Ichigo and he shot up in the bed, looking across the room to the hanging clock on the wall and swore, it was nine o'clock, that gave him one hour to get ready, one to practice and then the rest of the time had to be used driving to the Disney audition.
"Shit-shit-shit-shit! I overslept! There's no way I can practice all my song before we have to leave!" Ichigo got out of the bed and rushed into the bathroom, completely forgetting his change of clothes in the process.
Grimmjow let out a somewhat relieved sigh as Ichigo got into the shower "He didn't slap me or rip off my dick, so I'm guessing I'm not in serious trouble for last night." he ran his hand through his hair, pulling his laptop onto his lap again to see if Ulquiorra had emailed him back the edited copies of his letters.
Every nerve in his body was tightly strung as Ichigo came back out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his hips and water still dripping off of his chest. Grimmjow's eyes followed the other as he walked over to Ritz' carrier and opened it up, dropping the kitten onto the bed and then moved to his bag and started rummaging through it to find his dress clothes.
Lapis lazuli eyes followed Ichigo around the room, watching as the towel started slipping and hoping it would let go until Ichigo fixed the damned terrycloth. Ichigo looked over and his face turned bright red again before he ran back into the bathroom, hiding from the other in there with the mirror and hair gel. Grimmjow knew that he should straighten things out with the other; at lest inform him that he wasn't looking for the same kind of treatment anytime that the other didn't want to give it. He didn't think Ichigo was really going to listen to him on the matter though, Ichigo had said he didn't want something the night before so he very easily could have done it against the others will.
'Fucking hell, now I'm actually caring about jacking him off. God-fucking, what is wrong with me?!' Grimmjow ran his hands through his hair as Ritz hopped onto his laptop and started batting at his fingers, playing his favorite game. "You little shit cat, leave me alone." Grimmjow tried to draw the kitten away from his keyboard but it didn't work in the slightest so he gave up, closing his laptop again and playing with the kitten on the bed beside him.
Ichigo came back into the main room, buttoning his shirt up so there were four buttons open on the top so it was still breathable. His hair was gelled back as much as it could be and it looked to Grimmjow like he'd spent most of the time scrubbing at his face with a wire brush because it was so red. His slacks were on his waist perfectly right to hug the few curves he liked to accent with the bottom of the shirt tucked neatly into the bottoms.
"Sexy."
"Grimm, I need you to ignore me for right now. Otherwise I might loose it." He felt horrible about pushing Grimmjow away, but he just couldn't think of the other without his face turning bright red and having to fight back the urge to kiss the other. He had to stay focused on his songs, he couldn't let his mind wander to those few glances he snuck in the showers of the blue haired teen, hating how he mostly saw the others ass under the waters spray.
"Alright." Grimmjow raised Ritz to his shoulder and went back to his laptop, wanting to see what kind of suggestions Ulquiorra would have made for him. Every so often Grimmjow would look up to watch Ichigo applying more resin to his bow, treating the horse hair gently while applying the cube of golden resin. There were a couple points where Ichigo would run his thumb nail over the horse hairs near the frog of the bow, watching as the dust billowed upwards before tightening the strings again and applying more. He wasn't aware of what the other was doing so he just watched, waiting for the other to play to see the sound quality of that much resin.
When Ichigo did play the sound was rich, but it seemed slightly catchy, the horse hairs sticking much more then they were supposed to as he moved his arm back and forth. When his arm was going faster there was no noticeable difference, but as he slowed down the difference became huge and he could hear the few hiccups every couple seconds. Ichigo removed the bow from the violin and sandwiched the instrument between his jaw and shoulder, loosening the hairs again and shaking the bow a few times, watching as a light powdering came off and gently float down. With a couple twists he raised the bow again and smiled as it slid gently over the strings without any huge hiccups.
Grimmjow turned back down to the screen in front of him and started going over his letters again, having to check over the areas that had been marked red. Ulquiorra was one of those students who could pick anything apart and fix any grammar mistake. He had perfect grammar and the only thing he lacked with language was learning more then five. His fingers flew over the keyboard, trying to make as little sound as possible as Ichigo walked back and forth, or bent over the end of the bed to read the sheet music for his Disney song.
"Alright, we should get going. I don't want to be late for this audition, they were being horrible enough by changing the date and the time." Ichigo put his violin into it's case and tucked the bow inside as well. "I don't have to stay through the auditions because it's all closed." Ichigo shuffled around the room again and grabbed up his extra clothes just to be safe and stuffed them into a satchel.
"You all set? All the music you need and everything?" Ichigo nod his head as Grimmjow looked up, searching around for his tea tin. "I think it's in the bottom of your bag." Grimmjow had a good idea of what Ichigo was talking about, the other had spent much of the trip into Tokyo talking about his previous performances and auditions and how Yuzu's tea was one of the only things that could calm him down.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
As Ichigo head out onto the stage he took a deep breath, the lingering taste of Yuzu's tea on his tongue relaxing him still as he thought of it's warming effect in his stomach. There was nothing this woman could do that would upset him at that moment, her hard glare and crossed arms completely blowing past him like a cool breeze over a flat sheet of ice. His smile was relaxed and calm as he stopped in the middle of the stage. There was no recording equipment out, nothing that would allow the stuffy raven haired woman to be able to listen to his playing more then once.
"This is how it's going to work Mr.… Kurosaki. You're going to play your original piece and then you're going to play the piece that you've chosen from our Disney selection. I'm going to listen to both and you get one opportunity to impress me. You have no more then forty-five minutes on that stage and your time starts now."
Ichigo nod his head and gave her a slight bow. "Hello, my name is Ichigo Kurosaki and Today I'll be playing two pieces. The first being The Love Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, the second being my own composition entitled 'Heavens Falling Light'. I hope you enjoy." Ichigo could see the flare in the woman's eyes as he announced that he'd be playing the Disney composition first, but said nothing as he set out his sheet music and raised his bow.
The song moved so smoothly, everything in the large auditorium was filled with sound, soaking it up like a sponge. His eyes were lidded as he concentrated on the music, his upper body swaying slightly as he pushed the song to move. He had changed the song only enough to keep the different melodies flowing throughout the thirteen minute period it took for him to play, using his foot to stomp on the stage floor for thunder when it was necessary.
As the song came to a close though, the spectacular swimming and clashing of the large ship on the storm ridden seas finally relaxing inside the eye of the storm he let his eyes move up to the woman. Her arms still crossed over her chest and her eyes focused on him piercingly, she looked softer though. Ichigo's arm moved slightly faster, forcing the sound to fill every millimeter of the large room completely. He felt like the song was swelling inside of him, ready to let loose the last few notes of the ship vanishing into the green flash, notable only by the lighter placement of his foot on the polished wood stage.
Ichigo lowered his bow and stepped out from behind the stand, giving the woman sitting there a bow before standing up again and grabbing his next piece, something she had a perfect replica of. He could see her move slightly out of the corner of his eyes and did his best to ignore it.
"This is 'Heaven's Fallen Light'." Ichigo raised his violin again, starting his piece the way he always did; with a deep breath and soft hum.
His song inspired the same sad tones it had before, the raw fight between the small little light and the ever looming darkness. The woman sitting in the plush seat allowed her eyes to drift down to her notes page, it was completely blank under his name. so many other names had many scribbles under them like 'Brilliantly performed' 'Needs stylistic help' 'not worth the time' 'I want them' 'get at all costs' 'used cheap tricks and had poor sound quality'.
Soi-Fon was the hardest musical critic in the world, it was insanely hard to get a position in her orchestra and if she gave you a good review you could play anywhere. If she actually thought you were good enough to play as she conducted you were being paid enough money to be set for life.
Ichigo's song ended and he watched as the woman set out her book on the corner of the table Ichigo would have to pass to leave the auditorium. He tucked his violin under his arm and gave the woman a bow, stepping out from behind his sheet music as he did so before gathering it up and waiting for further instructions.
"Are you going to leave or just stand there?"
"Well I-uh-"
"I suppose your used to people telling you how brilliant you are when you're done playing? Expecting them to stand up and clap for you? Well I don't know why they would bother. Your skills are simple at best and adding in that foot tapping and breathing was just over the top. You chose songs too far out of your level and it sounded like I was listening to any ordinary musician who's been 'playing their whole life'. I'm sure you've used your mothers name to get things before, and even your current teachers name. But to be frank I don't know why your on my stage. So either get off it, or I'll have security throw you off of it."
Ichigo was frozen, paralyzed completely and he didn't know if it was by fear or sheer astonishment that she'd said that. He'd never once used his mothers name to get farther, and Yuroichi had nothing to do with his audition. He got the audition because of the preliminary auditions he'd done throughout his entire playing career.
With stiff legs Ichigo made his way off the stage, passing by the raven with a stoic face, not bothering to look her in the eyes but looking down at the booklet and wincing at his name being crossed out. His nerves were shot, every step he took made him shiver with fear and the feeling like he'd utterly let himself and his family down. He didn't even get out into the lobby before he was leaning against the wall crying, his violin back in it's case on his shoulder with his bow as he leaned against his arm and his tears staining the black fabric.
"Ichi?" Ichigo didn't bother looking up as he heard Grimmjow, he could feel the other stop a foot away from him, hesitating to touch him. "W-what happened?"
Without any words Ichigo turned his body and slipped his arms around Grimmjow's waist, settling his face in the others shoulder as he cried silently. He tried so many times to open his mouth and speak, to lie and say he was fine and that it was just really emotional to have played for such an important person. Grimmjow wouldn't have believed the bullshit though. Ichigo was sobbing, no trace of nerves or joy or pride in him as he gripped the back of Grimmjow's shirt.
Grimmjow wrapped his arms around Ichigo, resting his cheek down on top of his head and hushing the other. He felt like he was back in his house as a child again, trying to silence a scared Nemu from a bad dream. Ichigo seemed so frail and breakable in that moment, just like his little sister had been before she'd turned into a puppet.
"Sh-she- I-it wa- oh god Grimm." Ichigo sniffled and sucked his lip into his mouth so it wouldn't tremble like the rest of him. Grimmjow's arms offered little protection from his internal fears and the wracking emotions inside him, but they calmed him down much more then if he'd been alone.
'I don't understand, I was doing so good. I played them just the way they were supposed to be. Nothing was wrong, there was no way I could have faked that! Half an hour of straight fucking playing for this shit! Telling me I'm not good enough, that I only got as far as I did because of my mother? This couldn't have really happened.'
"Hey Berry. You still going to go to your other audition?" He had to think, before it would have been a no brainier and he already would have been inside the car and on their way. But with this last blow he didn't know if he could do it, if he could face the complete annihilation that woman had just put him through.
"I-I don't know. Sh-she was- oh god Grimm. Sh-she r-ripp-pped me limb f-from l-limb." Ichigo kept his face hidden, the tears were slowly dying but he still felt like his hopes and dreams had been shattered.
"And you think that should stop you? You think this person saying a couple bullshit things about you should stop you from playing that violin. You've clung to that violin, Ichigo, are you going to let this one fucking bitch shatter you after all this shit?"
"What the fuck is the point Grimm? There is none anymore. She said nothing good about me, if she says nothing good your career in the music industry is over. Even if it hasn't started yet." Ichigo's hands clenched tighter in Grimmjow's shirt as he took a deep breath, fighting back the negative emotions. 'Ichi, you need this next audition more then ever now. There is no way you can play it horribly, you just need to calm down. You've still got two hours, take that time to relax and just breathe. Don't think of this horrible audition anymore. Put it out of your mind. It's in the past and it can only hurt. Do what Rafiki says; you can either run from it, or learn from it.'
"I-I have to go. There is no way I can afford to miss it Grimm."
"Alright, get yer ass into the car and I'll make some more of that tea for you in the waiting room, yeah?" Ichigo nod his head, grabbing up Grimmjow's bags and moving down into the underground parking lot. Headed for his car and hopefully a better audition.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The man sitting in the first row had a deep scowl on his face, sitting in a large almost throne-like chair, a scar running through his left eye that permanently blinded him long ago. His white hair looked like a crown on top of his head, slightly choppy and a bright white, his mustache covered his mouth completely.
Ichigo could already feel his heart beating in his throat, the hard pulses making his breaths slow and shallow. He could feel his pulse in his toes as the man looked over his information and clicked a button on a recording device, this time with a camera as well to catch the whole audition on film.
"State your name and your three pieces in order that you'll be playing them." The tanned man sat back in his seat with a bit of a groan, muttering about his aching limbs which the audio equipment caught perfectly. His voice was gruff and hoarse, Ichigo noticed, and he realized that he'd rather never hear it again.
It usually took the orange haired teen longer to come up with a single word to describe people; he was still trying to find the word for Grimmjow, but he had the one word that would describe this man perfectly.
Venerable.
He may have been brash and somewhat annoying to even look at, Ichigo could only guess by the way he was sitting that his personality wasn't one he'd want to clash with. But at the same time he felt like the man deserved respect, he had obviously been chosen to listen to auditions of young and aspiring musicians all day and he held future lives in his hands. He had to know how important it was that he be there and that demanded respect in itself.
"Hello, my name is Ichigo Kurosaki. Today I'll be playing three pieces for you; one will be of my own composition and the others will be songs I've gathered in my repertoire over the years. My fist song is 'Hikari' originally written for a video game it's been adapted to an orchestral version." Ichigo nod his head slightly and raised his violin, taking a calm breath in before gently pulling his bow across the string in a slow triplet.
The song felt like it traveled, reaching places that ones mind could only imagine. Intrepid moments won over the song, lifting ones spirits, it would have made anyone smile. Anyone but the man sitting in the almost throne in front of Ichigo of course.
He felt like he was trying to take this old man on a beautiful journey through many new and magical places but got nothing out of it. The man was showing no sign that he was even hearing Ichigo, the more he put into the song the more he felt like the man was ignoring him out of principal to look at the ceiling or the floor.
As the song ended Ichigo caught the man straightening himself up, mumbling something that he couldn't hear. He felt so done, first that stupid bitch at Disney rips him to shreds and now this old buffoon isn't even listening to him! He wasn't selfish, but his future relied on this, the last thing he wanted was to have to work at a fucking coffee shop for the rest of his life because no one was listening to the one thing he knew how to do right!
Ichigo flipped his sheet music over, keeping his eyes on the page and ignoring the camera, trying his best to keep his face calm and relaxed as he played his next song. He just wanted to finish off the auditions for the day so he could sleep, sleep felt really good.