School drives me absolutely nuts. Even with finals coming up next week, I swear this chapter is keeping my sanity. Mind you, you'll see with who I have more fun doing the karaoke bits with . I had more fun writing this one than the last one.
Hope you like it. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: you know this by now.
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Interlude 2 part 2
It was a while later that Orihime turned to Ishida. "Ishida-kun should go up there?" she chirped happily.
"W-what?" Ishida gaped, pushing his glasses up nervously.
"C'mon, Ishida-kun, do it for Orihime-chan!" Rukia exclaimed excitedly, knowing those were the exact words needed to convince Ishida.
"If that's what she wants," Ishida said, making his way forward.
"He's so easy," Ichigo mused with a sweatdrop.
As Ishida headed up, his clothes changed to the strange outfit he'd had when he'd been fighting Kurotsuchi back when they'd tried to save Rukia from execution.
"Is he wearing a dress?" Ron asked dumbly.
"It's not a dress, it's a hakama," Chad corrected, leaving it at that. Poor Ron was left confused.
"Shh, he's singing!" Orihime cried in excitement.
"Despite
the lies that you're making, Despite
the lies that you're making, I will
be the one that's gonna hold you,
Your love is mine for the taking.
My
love is, just waiting,
To turn your tears to roses!
Your love is mine for the taking.
My
love is, just waiting,
To turn your tears to roses
I will be the one that you run
to,
My love is a burning, consuming fire!
"It's definitely about Orihime," Renji blurted out, causing the red-haired girl to blush prettily.
"No,
you'll never be alone! You feel so
lonely and ragged, I will be the
one that's gonna find you,
When darkness comes I'll light the night
with stars!
Hear my whispers in the dark.
No, you'll never be
alone!
When darkness comes you know I'm never far!
Hear the
whispers in the dark,
Whispers in the dark.
You lay there broken and naked.
My love is,
just waiting,
To clothe you in crimson roses!
I will be the one that's gonna guide
you,
My love is a burning, consuming fire!
"If a guy sang that to me, I'd be head over heals," Hermione sighed, catching Ron's attention.
"No,
you'll never be alone! No, you'll never be alone!
When darkness comes I'll light the night
with stars!
Hear my whispers in the dark.
No, you'll never be
alone!
When darkness comes you know I'm never far!
Hear the
whispers in the dark.
When
darkness comes I'll light the night with stars!
Hear the whispers
in the dark.
No, you'll never be alone!
When darkness comes you
know I'm never far!
Hear the whispers in the dark,
Whispers in
the dark,
Whispers in the dark,
Whispers in the dark
"Your boyfriend's completely in love with you," Ginny remarked, nudging Orihime. "You're very lucky."
"T-thank you," Orihime said, still blushing. When Ishida returned, she rewarded him with a deep kiss, leaving him speechless but happy.
"Not bad, Ishida," Ichigo complimented. The Quincy just gave a goofy smile, still affected by Orihime.
"My turn," Ginny decided, feeling compelled to go up after Ishida's performance. She was going to show Harry just what he was being blind to.
When she got onto the stage, her outfit changed to a pair of white pants that flared at the bottom and a pink halter top shirt that showed off her midriff.
"That's too revealing!" Ron cried out in outrage. "She needs more clothes!"
"Ginny's a grown girl, Ron, she can decide what to wear by herself," Hermione told Ron, trying to put a stop to his overprotective nature.
Ginny caught Harry's eye and winked, causing the Boy-Who-Lived to flush as she began to sing.
"I
got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. Do what you want, but you're
never gonna break me. Take me away: A secret place. Take me away to better days.
I got a love, and I
know that it's all mine.
Oh.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake
me.
No.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.
Take me away: A
higher place.
"Is it just me or is she looking at Harry?" Matsumoto asked her Captain, smirking at the blushing Harry.
"She's looking at him." He confirmed, an identical smirk on his face.
"I
got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. Do what you want, but you're
never gonna break me. I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine. Wish that
you could, but you ain't gonna own me. Take me away: A secret place. Take me away to better days.
I got a love, and I
know that it's all mine.
Oh.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake
me.
No.
I
got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh.
Do anything you can to
control me.
Oh, no.
A
sweet escape: Take me away.
Take
me away: A higher place.
"She's teasing him," Rukia whispered to Renji. "The poor boy looks like he's going to overheat?"
"And her brother is giving him death glares," Renji responded, looking ready to crack up.
"There's
a place that I go, But nobody knows. And there's no more lies. Take me away: A secret place. Take me away to better days. Take me away: A secret place. Take me away to better days. Take me away: A secret place. Take me away to better days. The sun is on my side. The sun is
on my side.
Where the rivers
flow,
And I call it home.
In
the darkness, there's light.
And nobody cries.
There's only
butterflies.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.
Take me away: A
higher place.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.
Take me away: A
higher place.
To better days
take me away.
Take me away: A
higher place.
Take me for a ride.
I
smile up to the sky.
I know I'll be all right.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I
know I'll be all right.
Ginny came back to see Harry gaping at her and Ron sulking. "So how did I do?"
"You did great, Ginny. You really stirred the crowd," Hermione complimented, looking at her two best friends in amusement.
"It's my turn," Matsumoto chirped, blowing a kiss to Hitsugaya. "Watch me, Captain." He merely nodded in acquiescence.
She headed for the stage amongst a loud group of cheers and catcalls, which instantly stopped the moment they felt the strange chill fill the air. They'd long since associated it to any unwanted attention being centered on the busty woman.
Her outfit changed to a skimpy periwinkle blue strapless dress with parts of her midsection bared to the public eye. A silvery serpentine dragon design was wrapped around the blue cloth, making Hitsugaya's eyes glow with hidden pride as he saw it.
She winked at him as the music started and she tapped her foot to the beat.
"Do
it, do it Here's the
thing
You know you doin' it well.
I was minding my business doin' what I do
I wasn't
trying to look for anything
All of a sudden I couldn't take my
eyes off you
I didn't even know if you could tell
That you
had me in a daze saying what the hell
Here's my name number baby
just hit my cell
Loving everything you do 'cause you do it
well
Don't know what you got me thinkin'.
Hitsugaya's eyebrow twitched as he watched his Vice-Captain sing the song seductively while looking at him alone.
"She's putting all the other girls to shame with just her enthusiasm," Neville remarked in a bemused manner.
"You
ain't even tryin' to play me boy I
ain't never met a man like that I ain't never met
a man like that
Think you're so good and
you're so fine
Got me sayin' crazy things
Listen
I ain't never fell so far so
fast
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do
it
You do it do it You doin' it well
I ain't never fell so far so fast
You can
turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it
do it You doin' it well!
"How much do you want to bet she's got half these guys wishing she was singing to them?" Harry asked the group, shutting up the moment he saw a vein twitch in Hitsugaya's forehead.
"Let
me tell you how it's gonna go You
ain't even tryin' to play me boy I
ain't never met a man like that I ain't never met
a man like that Baby no need for false
pretenses I know what you're thinking I ain't never met a man like that I ain't never met a man like that I
ain't never met a man like that
You and me gonna need a little
privacy
I don't wanna do the dance, no dos-e-do
I need a one
woman man seven days a week
Quit tryin' to play it cool boy make
your move
I told you how it is, nothin' to lose
You've been
staring over here all night for free
And I ain't taken cash or
credit just to guarantee
There ain't nobody else for me boy
Think you're so good and
you're so fine
Got me sayin' crazy things
Listen
I ain't never fell so far so
fast
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do
it
You do it do it You doin' it well
I ain't never fell so far so fast
You can
turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it
do it You doin' it well
Baby just shock me to my senses
Everything that you
do feels right
Cause I'm
thinking it too
I ain't
never fell so far so fast
You can turn me on, throw me off
track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it do it You doin' it
well
I ain't never
fell so far so fast
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy
you do it, do it
You do it do it You doin' it well
I ain't never fell so far so
fast
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do
it
You do it do it You doin' it well!
The moment Matsumoto returned to Hitsugaya's side, the diminutive-sized Captain pulled her down and kissed her possessively. Cat calls filled the air, and for once, Hitsugaya didn't freeze the culprits.
"You're mine," he whispered in her ears, with all the possessiveness of the dragon he coveted so much. Matsumoto's cheeks reddened with pleasure.
"Always," she responded flirtatiously, kissing his cheek.
"It's about time you guys actually acted upon those feelings. It was getting obvious," Renji said before backing off at Hitsugaya's cold look.
"Ichigo, you still haven't gone!" Rukia realized, turning to her orange-haired friend.
"No," Ichigo said flatly, crossing his arms and looking away.
"Come on, Ichigo, we've all gone!" Harry exclaimed. "If we have to suffer, so do you!"
"Not a chance," Ichigo said stubbornly.
"Don't make us force you," Renji threatened. Ichigo fixed him with a glare.
"I'd like to see you try," the Vizard threatened. Renji had to silently concede that Ichigo could overpower him, especially if he decided to let Shiro have reign.
The impish Ron, however, made it hard for Ichigo to keep denying as he started up a chant.
"ICHIGO! ICHIGO! ICHIGO!..." people all around them began to cheer until it became deafening. A vein threatened to pop out of Ichigo's forehead.
"Alright already! I'll go if you all shut up!" he screamed and loud triumphant cheers filled the air as the annoyed 5th Division Captain headed towards the stage.
As he climbed on, his outfit changed. He now wore a nearly completely white ensemble: a Chinese-style sleeveless shirt that buttoned up in the front, a pair of slightly loose fitting pants and a pair of slippers. The only contrast was the pair of skin tight black leather gloves that went halfway up his forearm.
"I didn't know Ichigo was that fit," Hermione remarked, eyeing his muscular physique appreciatively. Ron glowered.
Ichigo smirked arrogantly as the music began. He might as well get into it.
"This
ain't a song for It's my life,
the broken-hearted…
A silent prayer for
faith-departed…
I ain't gonna be just a
face in the
crowd,
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out aloud!
If it's now or never,
And I ain't
gonna live forever!
I just want to live while I'm alive.
(It's
my life)
My heart is like an open highway,
Like Frankie said,
I did it my way!
I just wanna live while I'm alive.
It's
my life!
The loud cheers became thunderous with as the song took them over.
"Ichigo's working his magic again," Chad said with a small smirk as he observed his best friend.
"Is there any reason to be surprised?" Rukia asked with a smile.
"This
is for the ones who It's my life!
stood their ground!
For Tommy and Gina
who
never backed down!
Tomorrow's getting
harder, make no
mistake
Luck ain't even lucky,
Got to make your own breaks!
And it's now or never.
I ain't gonna
live forever,
I just want to live while I'm alive !
(It's my
life)!
My heart is like an open highway,
Like Frankie said,
I did it my way!
I just want to live while I'm alive.
'Cause
it's my life!
"Your charges are something else," Remus mused when he turned to look at Orion. "They've definitely brightened this place up and I don't even know how."
"That's their special ability, it seems," Orion smirked. The Shinigami and their friends were surely the way to turn the tide in these dark times.
"Better
stand tall when It's my life! It's my life!
they're calling you out.
Don't bend, don't
break,
baby, don't back down...
And
it's now or never,
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever!
I just
want to live while I'm alive!
(It's my life)
My heart is like
an open highway,
Like Frankie said,
I did it my way!
I
just want to live while I'm alive!
(It's my
life)!
And it's now or never,
I ain't gonna live forever!
I
just want to live while I'm alive !
(It's my life)!
My heart
is like an open highway,
Like Frankie said,
I did it my way!
I just want to live while I'm alive!
'Cause it's my life!
Aizen smirked as he stared at Ichigo. This boy… was only making himself more appealing as his future warrior. It was a pity he would have to wait to make his move until the snake interference was out of the way… He couldn't deny the fact that Ichigo's presence would surely speed up Voldemort's downfall, and that was why Ichigo still remained free for now.
Suddenly black smoke covered the area and loud shouts of alarm filled the air. Were Death Eaters attacking so soon?
As the Professors rose to investigate the matter, Dumbledore quickly raised his hand to calm the mass panic. "Wait," he told them, his blue eyes twinkling.
The air was filled with a loud cackle of glee… a sound Umbridge seemed to recognize because she turned the ugliest color of green.
The sound was soon followed by Ichigo's cry of outrage and the moment the smoke cleared, everyone could see why.
Ichigo was now seated on the shoulders of a boy who looked shockingly like Ichigo, save for his white hair and pale skin. He was wearing an identical outfit to Ichigo, save for the fact that it was all black, save for the white gloves and the pair of sunglasses that covered his eyes. He had a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Look, King! You're finally ridin' yer horse!" the boy cackled in a watery sort of voice. He grinned even more when he heard Umbridge let out a shriek of fear in the background.
"He did not just crash this thing…" Hitsugaya groaned, smacking his face with his hand.
"He did," Matsumoto remarked, looking distinctly more amused than her bewildered and frustrated companions.
"Who is he? Where'd he come from?" Neville asked out of curiosity.
"We'll tell you later," Renji promised while his eyes for focused on the mischievous Hollow. "He must have been waiting for the moment that Ichigo would take the stage…"
"We played right into his hands didn't we?" Rukia inquired, looking a little annoyed.
"Unfortunately," Ishida bit out.
"Shiro, you ass! Let me down!" Ichigo exclaimed angrily, flushed in embarrassment. Shiro grinned.
"Have it yer way," Shiro shrugged and he pushed Ichigo over his shoulders, making the poor Shinigami land disgracefully on his back behind the Hollow.
"Teme…" Ichigo growled, groaning in pain. Shiro forcefully brought Ichigo to his feet and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Relax, King… I only want some fun. Just sit back and enjoy," Shiro grinned as the music began.
"This is going to be messy…" Orion groaned, holding his head in his hands. Remus gave him a curious look. He then turned to see that Snape had a curiously murderous look on his face, his eyes set on the "twins."
"He
wears his heart safety pinned to his backpack,
His backpack is all
that he knows…
Shot down by strangers
Whose glances can
cripple
The heart and devour the soul!"
Shiro proceeded to pull Ichigo up to him, a crazy smile on his face. Ichigo could clearly see that Shiro was having way too much fun with this.
"All
alone he turns to stone,
While holding his breath half to
death!
Terrified of what's inside,
To save his life,
He
crawls like a worm from a bird!
(ALL ALONE)
Crawls like a worm
from a bird!"
To Ichigo's horror, Shiro proceeded to force Ichigo to dance with him. Ichigo howled in anger as Shiro twirled him around the stage gleefully.
"Out of his
mind,
The weight pushes him whispering,
Must have been out of
his mind!
Mid-day delusions
of pushing this out of his
head
Maybe out of his mind!
(Out of his mind)!"
Shiro finally left Ichigo, who dropped to the ground, happy to be not moving anymore. He glared at his Hollow as he proceeded to leap over so he was now perched in front of Snape.
"All
alone he turns to stone,
While holding his breath half to
death!
Terrified of whats inside,
To save his life,
He
crawls like a worm!
Crawls like a worm from a bird!
(ALL
ALONE)
(ALL ALONE)
(Crawls like a worm from a bird)
(Crawls
like a worm)
(Crawls like a worm from a bird)!"
"He's got guts," Ron gaped openly as he saw Shiro drag Snape from his seat and proceed to whirl him around ungracefully.
Shiro dropped Snape disgracefully before holding out a hand to Dumbledore, a mocking grin on his face. To everyone's surprise, Dumbledore just smiled and then proceeded to whisper something in Shiro's ear. The Hollow just grinned even more evilly and then proceeded to his next target: McGonagall.
"All
he knows…
If he can't relieve it it grows,
And so it goes,
He crawls like a worm!
Crawls like a worm from a bird!"
He left a ruffled McGonagall and then proceeded to torment the other teachers, from a bewildered Flitwick who was flung around in the air, to a blushing Professor Sinestra being waltzed around.
"Out
of his mind, All alone he turns to stone,
The weight pushes him whispering,
Must have been
out of his mind!
While holding
his breath half to death!
Terrified of what's inside,
To save
his life,
He crawls like a worm from a bird!
When he got to Umbridge, Shiro didn't dance with her, he merely kicked her bowl of pudding into her face before moving to a bewildered Remus, who got dragged up and twirled around before he was tossed back, blushing, to Orion, who was roaring with laughter.
"All
alone
He's holding his breath half to death!
(Holding his
breath half to death)
Terrified,
To save his life,
He
crawls like a worm,
(CRAWLS LIKE A WORM)
Crawls like a worm
from a bird!
(ALL ALONE)
Crawls like a worm from a bird!
(ALL
ALONE)
Crawls like a worm from a bird!
(ALL ALONE)
Crawls
like a worm,
Crawls like a worm,
Crawls like a worm from a
bird!"
Shiro hopped upon the heads of the Slytherins, being especially mindful to put all of his weight onto jumping on Malfoy before leaping back onto the stage where he grabbed Ichigo, who had been attempting to flee, and then proceeded to force him into a dip.
As the music faded and the stunned audience stared, Ichigo wrenched himself away from his Hollow.
"I'm going to kill you!" he screamed, lunging for his Hollow, who dodged.
"Now, now, Mr. Kurosaki, he was only having fun," Dumbledore remarked, amused.
"He didn't make you dance now did he?" Ichigo grumbled, still chasing Shiro around the stage.
"I think some explanations are in order," Umbridge said, almost purple in the face.
"The name's Kurosaki Hichigo, I'm Ichigo's twin brother," Shiro lied smoothly. "Everyone calls me Shiro, though considerin' my hair and skin."
"And what are you doing here, Mr. Kurosaki?" Umbridge pressed.
"I came to see Ichigo, of course!" Shiro chirped, wrapping his arm around his chagrined King's shoulders.
"You never told us you had a twin brother, Mr. Kurosaki," McGonagall told Ichigo with a frown.
"I didn't see how it was anybody's business," Ichigo glowered, crossing his arms. "He wasn't supposed to be here in the first place."
"Ya wound me, King…" Shiro said, feigning hurt. "If that's how ya really feel, I'll just leave!" Shiro made a great show of crying that his 'big brother' didn't love him. Ichigo vowed to keep his father from influencing his Hollow anymore.
"Just leave," Ichigo grounded out and Shiro popped back into him, making it look like he'd apparated.
"You could have been nicer to him," Hermione said when Ichigo returned.
"He didn't deserve it," Ichigo grouched. "Now let's go. This thing's over."
They all agreed. They were all kind of tired now that all of the excitement was done with.
Poor Ichigo didn't know that something else would arrive to torment him just the next day…
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For Ichigo's outfit, I had been trying to describe the outfit Ichigo had worn in one picture that had been on the back of the volume 21 or 23.
Songs in this chapter:
Whisper in the Dark by Skillet
Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield (credit goes to rose-of-alabaster)
Do It Well by J Lo
It's My Life by Bon Jovi
The Bird and the Worm by The Used