'All are constantly aspires towards the condition of music, because, in its ideal, consummate moments, the end is not distinct from the means, the form from the matter, the subject from the expression; and to it therefore, to the condition of its perf.'- Walter H. Pater
Ichigo looked down at the letter in his hand that Yuroichi had handed him with shaking fingers. He'd read over the paper twice already and still the words didn't seem to make much sense. "Ichigo, this is great!" Ichigo pushed his back against the wall of the music room, reading over the letter once more as I'm Not a Vampire by Falling in Reverse still blasted in his one ear. "Do you know what this means? They don't offer this unless you have promise!"
"Y-yeah, but it doesn't mean I'm going to be accepted by any of the people there." The Imperial Music Academy sent out invitations every year to students in grade twelve who had the promise for the large companies Ichigo had applied for scholarships from. Hundreds of students from all over Japan would be there to accept scholarships or cheer on those who won.
"You've got three days until the gala Ichigo, two until you have to respond with who you're bringing." Ichigo nod his head as Yuroichi turned back towards her personal office as Ichigo thought over everything that had happened and how he knew it was unlikely that he'd get a scholarship from any of the places he auditioned.
Wish a heavy sigh Ichigo head out of the music room for the roof where he knew his friends were all enjoying their lunch. Both his group of friends and Grimmjow's group of friends had begun integrating more with the relationships between he and Grimmjow and Toshiro being with Ulquiorra, so the group waiting for him on the roof was fairly large. Grimmjow was sitting with his back against one of the heating vents, keeping his body warm as everyone joked about the movie he and Ichigo had missed that previous Saturday.
"Hey Berry, why the long face?" Ichigo sat himself down beside Grimmjow and hand over the letter, resting his head against Grimmjow's shoulder as the blue haired teen read over the paper and hand it off to Toshiro who was eyeing the page with a glare. "What's wrong with that?"
"No one accepted me for a scholarship. I'm going to be sitting there having to watch peoples dreams come true while mine are crushed. I just screwed up, I don't know where and I don't really know how, but I must have." Ichigo grabbed the apple Grimmjow was offering a took a bike as he quieted while the rest of the group read over the letter.
"Ichigo, with how well you play I'm sure you'll get one of the scholarships. Why the fuck are you worrying?" Renji stood up and brought the letter back to Ichigo, before sitting a foot or two away. "You've been playing that damn violin since I met you, there's no way you're not gonna get one of those big shiny scholarships to pay for all the post education you want." Ichigo nod his head and sunk into Grimmjow's shoulder as lunch carried on.
Grimmjow spent the rest of his day plotting and planning, a scowl on his face and his smirk almost gone by the end of the school day. Ichigo had to go to work that night and Grimmjow knew that the teen would be off in time to make it to his building to play the violin. He'd probably use the twenty one minutes to relax himself and calm down just a little bit.
Grimmjow spent the rest of the night online and plotting, his scowl still on his face as he used extra paper and too much pencil led as he decided to go and pick up a few people in Tokyo the next night.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Hey Grimm, can I come over tonight after I play?" Grimmjow coughed a little in his car as Ichigo called on his break. "I'm really bored and want to watch a movie."
"Uh, I'm actually going to be out late tonight Berry. Can I take a reign check for tomorrow?"
"What in the world could you be doing at eleven on a school night Grimm? I know you don't study."
"Last minute applications to a martial arts contest in Hong Kong next month. I need to send emails and shit saying what accommodations I need." The lie was said easily enough, though he really wanted to be with Ichigo he knew he'd have to drive back to Tokyo before the night was out. "Hey, you've still got me down for going with you to that party thing, right?"
"Yeah, I just sent the email back tonight. They're going to reserve us a table and everything."
"Okay, I'll call you tonight if I'm done soon enough. If not I'll drive you to school tomorrow, does that sound like an idea?"
"Okay Grimm. I have to get playing soon. Bye."
"Yeah, I'll talk later." Grimmjow pushed his foot down harder on the pedal, the people in the back seat of the limo he'd hijacked with both the Disney representative and Phil Harmonic representative.
"You dare answer a phone while kidnapping us?" Grimmjow just scoffed as he turned a corner.
"If I was fucking kidnapping you, I'm pretty sure both of you would have used your phones and called the cops. Please, as soon as I told you there was a musician with real skills that you'd be fighting over you decided to be here." Grimmjow took the off ramp onto the highway, pushing his foot down a little more so they could make it to downtown Karakura by the time Ichigo started playing.
In the back seat the two representatives moved away from each other, glaring over the length of the limo that they were allotted. Grimmjow had hijacked the limo as Soi-Fon had been climbing in and getting Barragan Louisenbairn into the back seat had been fairly easy, he just pulled up in front of the limousine that was supposed to pick him up and he drove away before the other was even seated.
"I demand to know who you are taking us to see. Who is it that's so great that he couldn't get an audition time? I've already heard all those worth hearing and a few more who didn't meet the standards." Grimmjow's smile grew as he wove in and out of vehicles to make it to Karakura, not really enjoying driving a limo because of the size difference but being able to do it nonetheless.
"Ever heard of the Weeping Angel?" Both adults looked at him with glares, he could tell they didn't even want to hear it and smirked, deciding to tell them the living legend that everyone in Karakura had at least heard of.
It took the majority of the drive to explain everything to the two people in the back seat, answering all their questions aside from who it was that played the violin. Grimmjow looked up at the clock to see that the music should be starting in three minutes. He parked his car across from the building and turned around, he didn't see Ichigo's car or the teen anywhere near, indicating he must have taken his skateboard and was already in the building.
As he turned in his seat and turned the car off Grimmjow flipped the switch so the moon roof opened before he rolled down all the windows and cut the radio. "In three- two minutes. You two are going to be amazed."
"I'll believe that after it's astonished me, and it better impress me, or I will be filing charged."
"Sure thing woman. The name's Grimmjow, now shut up." Grimmjow climbed out of the limo after taking the keys out and leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest as Ichigo's playing started. It took them a minute but the two people from the back of the limo got out and stood in the street with Grimmjow and twenty other people as they slowed their pace or stopped.
The twenty-one minutes Ichigo played for always seemed to slow down time. People suddenly didn't have homes to get back to or groceries to finish up, they seemed to realize that they could relax and slow down their lives just enough to enjoy something. Time stopped mattering and however long it took you to walk until you could no longer hear the music wasn't wasted in the slightest. Grimmjow closed his eyes as he listened to the music, hearing the silence of the world hiding just under the surface that the music beat the world into. No one dared make a sound as the music was carried over the downtown area on the wind.
As the song came to an end the eleven o'clock chimes started ringing and he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his toque so Ichigo wouldn't see his hair and realize what he'd done.
"Hey Grimjack, what the was that? That sound, who made it?" Grimmjow looked over at Soi-Fon and raised an eyebrow with his smirk still in place as both people looked expectantly at him.
"It's Grimmjow, and I want you both to know this right now. I brought you here so you made the right choice tomorrow at that damn party. The guy who just played, he's been working to impress you his whole life and when he was given the opportunity about a month ago the two of you stepped on him, one of you ripped him limb from fucking limb. His name is Ichigo Kurosaki." Grimmjow cut them both off as Soi-Fon looked like she was about to scream her head off that she didn't believe it. "He'll be coming out of the building in a minute if you don't think I'm being serious and you can see him for yourselves."
"I honestly don't believe this. The Kurosaki boy played nothing like that at the audition."
"Of course not, but he was probably still the best fucking person ya heard that day, isn't he? But no, you ripped him apart because of his family name. You didn't even give him a chance because of his family name. His playing has nothing to do with his mother and if you knew anything about his mother you'd know that she died when he was only nine, long enough to give him a love for the instrument and teach him how to hold the damn thing. Now look at him and tell me that isn't the same kid who played for you on Valentines Day." Grimmjow pointed into the alley just as Ichigo was emerging, tossing his skateboard down on the ground and righting his violin on his back before he hopped on and started making his way home, bopping his head to the music playing in his headphones.
"Th-that kid-"
"Tomorrow at the ceremony, while he's sitting there in the audience. Just make sure you know who you're giving your money to. I know there's lots of kids who want it and think they deserve it, but no one had spent more time transposing a song or listening to a recording over and over again to create a score for himself then Ichigo Kurosaki. Now get back in the vehicle so I can drive you both back to Tokyo."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Grimmjow, you look like a zombie, are you sure you're alright with coming tonight? You don't have to." Grimmjow shook his head, sure he was tired but he wanted to see how effective his scheme had proven itself as he tightened his tie around his neck. It was the only thing about the party he didn't like, it was a black tie event and he was required to wear a tuxedo, meaning he had to borrow one from Starrk and promise to be the others archery practice target for a few days. "Thank you so much for coming Grimm." Ichigo stretched up on his tip toes and pressed a kiss to the others lips as Grimmjow's fingers once again got caught in his blasted tie.
"Che, sure thing Berry. Just help me out with the tie, will ya?" Ichigo nod his head and lowered him again, reaching for the undone button on the white shirt and struggling to do it up.
"This shirt is too tight for you Grimm, at least in the neck."
"I know, it's Starrks and his neck is a twig."
"Relax your damn throat will you?" Grimmjow did as he was asked, closing his eyes to help him concentrate on relaxing his neck despite Ichigo's fingers persistently pushing against his atoms apple. Ichigo got the button done up and quickly did the tie, pushing it up to meet the button before performing a trick of undoing the top button again so the much looser tie was the main fastener and it didn't look horrible. "Better?"
"Much thanks Berry." Ichigo nod his head and stretched up onto his toes to give Grimmjows lips another quick kiss. He didn't want to be in his car for hours, on yet another trip to Tokyo, but Grimmjow wanted to know that Ichigo would get something out of his daring and possibly stupid move.
The car ride was filled with music and both teens shouting along to their favorite songs as they came on the radio, deciding to be as child-like as possible on their way to the gala being held at the Patricia Grande in Tokyo.
"Welcome, may I see your invitation?" Ichigo hand over the letter he'd received and the man at the door nod his head, giving them an odd look as Ichigo grabbed Grimmjow's hand and pulled him into the hotel with a slight scowl on his face. Inside there was nothing but mingling men and women, investors and students' cow-towing to the investors about their promising careers on the piano, string or woodwind instrument.
"Wow, I remember coming to this before. I think I was five or something." Ichigo looked around at the much older people then he remembered, though he could still tell who some of them were. "I think she was here to give an award or something." Ichigo looked up at the large chandelier on the roof and moved with Grimmjow through the mingling people.
"You should go mingle Ichi, see if you can talk any of these people into paying for your education." Grimmjow motioned to a rich looking man wearing a suit over in the corner of the room. Ichigo caught sight of the orange haired man Grimmjow was referring to, at least who he thought Grimmjow was referring to. The man was wearing a grey business suit with a red tie, half of his hair was pushed back flat against his head and the other half was a messy mop as he sipped at some wine.
"Grimm, I have no idea how to mingle with these people. At least when I was little I could just run up and say hi. Now I'm supposed to ask them for their money?"
"Well then find the ones you remember from when you were a kid and mooch off them. Show them how much you've grown." Ichigo rolled his eyes at Grimmjow's choice of words, "Being a sponsor is not being mooched off of. They'd be letting a young adult broaden their horizons by getting a higher education and more learning chances in life."
"See? You've got this Ichi. Go find a sponsor to broaden your horizons." Grimmjow let Ichigo go and head over to a table, being directed to one of the waiters to his reserved spot beside Ichigo so he could have a drink and pretend he wasn't there for only a few minutes before joining Ichigo in the throng of being sponsored. It was a game Grimmjow was good at and knew how to play; he just had to catch the drift of getting sponsored for music since all he really had to do was flash his muscles and skills to get people throwing money at him.
Ichigo was half way to the man he'd seem and decided to speak to when a hand came down on his shoulder and he was pulled into a tight hug, seeing nothing but blonde curls. "Ichigo! It's so good to see you again; I haven't seen you in so long!" Ichigo's eyes went wide and he pushed away from the slightly taller man that had grabbed him in a death grip. He held the man at arms length as he looked at him and realized he knew the blonde curls just past his shoulders and the bright smile on his face.
"A-Aikawa-san?" The man's smile brightened and he brushed off Ichigo's shoulders a little.
"Yes yes Ichigo, but we've been over this- albeit when you were much younger- but call me Love." the man grabbed Ichigo's shoulders and pulled him over towards a waiter and grabbed two glasses. "You're nineteen now, right?" Ichigo nod his head and accepted the offered glass.
"Love, I didn't know you still worked for the Imperial. Why weren't you doing the auditions? Is anyone else from those days still around?"
"Alas, most of them have retired or moved on to lower places, I hear that Shiba-san is teaching music now, much like Mrs. Yuroichi." Love flipped his hair and lead Ichigo over to a group of people, sipping his drink as the group looked at them. "Everyone, this is young Ichigo Kurosaki-san. Don't you just remember when he was running around practically biting our ankles?"
"Aikawa-san, please. I'm not a child anymore."
"Right, right, sorry. You just look so much the same. As soon as I saw you I felt like time had turned backwards." Ichigo looked around the group and indeed remembered many of the faces as people he saw in this very building yearly and on that horrible day he'd buried his mother. Her closest friends in the Imperial had played at the funeral, saying it was the last gift to her from them.
"It's nice to see you all again." Ichigo extended his hand to the few people he remembered and the new people he had yet to meet.
"So Ichigo, you were invited tonight then?" Ichigo looked to the side and saw one of the men he thought he'd never see again after the funeral; Kon. At the time he'd been a young man in his early twenties who'd chased anything in a skirt, including Ichigo's mom at points.
"Yeah. It's good to see you Kon." Seeing the other standing before him, shorter by almost a head and almost forty was off, his brown hair was still spiked in all directions and his eyes were still black pools, but his build had thickened out and Ichigo could tell he was a strong person rather then the old lanky thing he remembered chasing his mother around with love-sick eyes.
"Ichigo, this is Shizuku and Homura, good friends of mine. Guy's this is Misaki's little boy; Ichigo Kurosaki."
"He's the legends kid? Please, he just looks like her because of his eyes and hair color." Ichigo's brow furrowed slightly, he didn't want to be using his moms name to get anything, but if someone dared say he was just posing he would have no problems with putting them on their asses right that-"
"Shizuku! Don't be so mean, of course this is Misaki's son, look at his nose and jaw and what about those cheekbones?" Love pointed to Ichigo's face as he spoke, putting his finger in the others face long enough until Ichigo pushed the offending digit away.
"Aikawa-san, please stop."
"Yeah 'Aikawa-san' leave the kids face alone." Ichigo's eyes went wide as the other voice sounded. It had been ten years but he recognized the mocking tone the second he heard it.
Turning around Ichigo looked into Shinji's eyes and felt his jaw clench. The blonde haired man was about ten years older then Ichigo; he'd always bugged Ichigo as children when coming to events like this where the whole Imperial orchestra was supposed to show up. His father had been a bass clarinetist and had gotten Shinji into music at a much older age then Ichigo had been introduced, but Shinji had natural talent with wind instruments and was now known for the clarinet, flute, oboe, and bassoon.
"Sh-Shinji?"
"Awe, not going to call me by my last name Ichigo?" The blonde man's smile widened and he flicked Ichigo's forehead with a bored expression coming onto his face. "What the heck happened to the snot-nosed brat I had fun bothering? Huh?"
"Hey, knock it off Shinji! If I wanted you hitting my head I would have bugged you after what happened!" Ichigo started rubbing his aching forehead, noticing that Shinji still flicked him as hard as possible.
"Oh yeah, now; was I supposed to be mad at you, or were you supposed to be mad at me?" Ichigo's scowl deepened slightly at the fact he couldn't actually remember how the fight had broken out at his mom's funeral.
"I think it was mutual, actually."
"Sure thing Ichigo. So. How's life been treating you? Your dad and sisters around tonight?"
Ichigo felt like his blood had turned into ice in his veins as the people he remembered from his childhood looked at him expectantly for the answer. "Uh, no. They- they're with mom now. Car accident last summer." Shinji's smile left and he moved his hand from Ichigo's shoulder, the smiles leaving the faces of the people around Ichigo who remembered the happy family they'd seen for several years and the couple they had seen grow into love with each other over the course of years before Ichigo came along.
"Sorry Ichigo. I didn't know."
"It's alright; I didn't know how to do anything with the funeral so it was really small. I'm sure there's a bunch of people who don't know still. I'm always getting occasional phone calls asking." Ichigo gave a bright smile and rubbed the back of his head, watching as the people around him smiled slightly awkwardly. "But yeah, how've you guys been?"
"Pretty good. Shilling out lots of money and getting even more." Shinji gave Ichigo a smile and handed him his card just as Grimmjow came up beside the other. "Give me a call after tonight and we can set up a session, yeah Ichigo?"
"Hey Ichigo." Grimmjow gave Ichigo a huge smile and nod his head to the group of people.
"Who'd this be Ichigo? Friend of yours?"
"Yes, this is Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. My plus one." Shinji couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"Please Ichigo, I saw him kiss you before he went to sit down. Trust me; half the people here won't give a shit once they know who you are who the heck you brought. Nice to meet you Grimmy. I'm Shinji Hirako, an old friend of Ichi's." The two shook hands and Grimmjow just put his arm around Ichigo's waist, pulling him slightly away from the man with the creepy smile.
"Yeah, the pleasure's all yours."
"Hmm, not too friendly. Might want to keep your voice down if Ichigo talks to anyone outside this circle, Grimmy."
"Whatever."
"Anyhow Ichigo, I'll see you later. Here's my card as well. I'm free on weekends after five until midnight and Wednesdays all day. Give me a call before you want to stop by and play for me. Bring whatever you want, sheet music or not."
"Oh, okay Aikawa. Thanks." Ichigo said his goodbyes to the remaining members of the group and finished off his wine, wishing it was something a little stronger.
"Hello Mr. Kurosaki, remember me? Mabashi." Ichigo stopped as the orange haired man from before stood in front of him with a bright smile on his face and his hand extended. "Awe, you don't do you?"
"Sorry I don't. It's nice to meet you though."
"Heh, wouldn't be saying that if you remembered me. I'm the shiter that through the snowball at your face when we were four and gave you a bloody nose at the Christmas party."
"Uh, I don't really remember that. Sorry." Mabashi shrugged his shoulders anyhow as they shook hands. "Have you been with the Imperial long?"
"Nope, still not with them. I work in the fashion industry, hence the fact I'm the only splash of color here aside from Blue's hair. My old man is still the conductor though, I'm pretty sure he's gonna keel over and die in a year or two. Anyhow, everyone here wants to give everyone else money, so I'm going to give some to you." Mabashi pulled Ichigo's hand towards himself and wrote his number on the inside of his wrist in permanent pen. "Give me a call and we can set up a date where I can ask you some questions and give you something for life, yeah?" Ichigo nod his head numbly as his hand was released and Mabashi walked towards the dining room as the main part of the party began; giving scholarships.
Ichigo followed Grimmjow into the main hall where he found their seats and sat down, casually throwing one leg over his other and leaning back in his seat. It took Ichigo a moment to find a comfortable place for his hands, fidgeting until Grimmjow grabbed his right hand and he rested his left on his top knee. He gave the other a smile as the head curator for the night got up on stage.
The dark skinned man with the white glasses and black dreadlocks pulled into a ponytail moved up to the front of the stage and stood before the microphone, his hands clasped behind his back as he wore a white tuxedo with a deep purple undershirt, accenting his skin tone and offsetting the eyes that could not see and could not be seen.
"Hello one and all my name is Kaname Tousen, and I am pleased to welcome you to the fiftieth annual Imperial Scholarship Gala. As I am sure you all know, the people in this room are some of the most promising musical protégée's in the country and once a year we gather those graduating, to offer our help to them for their futures. Several large welcome donors, offering scholarships have heard each of our young minds play and have each complied a list of only so many students that they wish to give scholarships to." As he spoke Tousen moved his hands in slight gestures, making sure to only accent his words by gesturing in one direction or the other. "Without further adieu, I present Ms. Soi Fong, here tonight representing Disney animated studios."
The room gave light claps as Tousen stepped off the stage and the woman stepped up, wearing a halter black dress that relaxed around her waist and went to touch the floor. Ichigo wasn't able to clap because of his death grip on Grimmjow's hand, tapping his hands against his knee to show his respect for the woman like everyone else in the room despite his loathing of her.
"Hello, and thank you for having me here again this year to represent the Disney Company and our continued support of your talent." Ichigo wanted to scoff but quickly bit his inner cheek to quell the urge. "I would like to present the following award of a full scholarship of enough money to receive a Master in Music from the university of their choice and a five year exclusive contract with Disney Studios. This offer goes to the following young minds of; Jinta Hanakari, for the clarinet. Francheska Mila Rose, for the Piano. And Ichigo Kurosaki, for the violin. Will you three please join me on the stage." Ichigo remained sitting for a moment until Grimmjow let his hand go and nudged his shoulder.
He felt like he was stumbling towards the stage before he felt a small statue being pushed into his arms. "I will send other representatives to each of your graduations to offer you the actual paper copy. These are you're to keep for passing the auditions with Golden class performances. Soi Fong grabbed his hand and gave it a firm shake before she nod her head to all three students and they left the stage; Ichigo stumbling in shock more then the other two.
"Wow, isn't she the bitch who ripped you limb from limb? Congrats." Grimmjow leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Ichigo's ear, setting the crystal Disney 'D' on the table so Ichigo didn't drop and break it.
"Y-yeah, she did. That's why I don't understand." Ichigo looked down at the trophy as the next person went up on stage, this person for the Phil Harmonic; Barragan.
"Hello. I would like to invite Ganju Shiba, Di Roy Linker, Ciruicci Sanderwicci, Chizuru Honsho, Charlotte Cuhlhourne, Ichigo Kurosaki, and Cain Nao to the stage." Ichigo once again head up to the stage and grabbed the gold painted music note on the small plaque. "Each of you has won the opportunity to play with the Royal Phil Harmonic orchestra and be taught at any of our institutions around the world on three quarter scholarships for each year. Congratulations." Ichigo gave the old, gruff man a handshake before going back down and taking a seat beside Grimmjow once again, even more perplexed then before that his second bad audition had given him anything.
"Alright, not I'm just confused. Exceedingly so." Ichigo went through the rest of the night, getting minor scholarship opportunities in comparison and shaking more hands and receiving more paper then he did during his first day in History class.
As the night came to a close the room melted back into mingling. Ichigo hopped up, determined to find Soi Fong and ask her what happened and why he was suddenly receiving one of the highest scholarship opportunities of his life. Grimmjow walked behind Ichigo, glaring at the orange haired man from before as he got closer.
"Excuse me." Ichigo reached out and tapped Soi Fong's shoulder before taking a step back to look down at the small women.
"Yes? Oh, Kurosaki. What is it?"
"Well ma'am. To be honest I'm confused. I thought my audition went horribly. I mean, you crossed my name out of your book and everything before practically yelling at me to get off your stage. I'd just- I'd like to know what happened."
"Well, First off Mr. Kurosaki I was so short with you because your time was just about up and to be frank I didn't really like how it seemed that you were just floating through on your mothers name. Plus, last night I was taken against my will by a certain blue haired idiot who brought me to down town Karakura last night. There I actually heard you playing, not something that was written down. It seemed more like you had a soul when you were playing last night instead of that robot you were when you were in the audition. And as for the rest of your audition you really were one of the top auditions of my time in Tokyo. I do hope you at least consider it, the program is really nice." Ichigo raised his eyebrow as he looked at the woman who had only a month prior ripped his playing apart, both style and skills.
"To be frank, Ms. Fong, but I just don't believe you."
"Well, you don't have to. You can either accept the scholarship and all its perks, or not. That's completely up to you."
AN: Before any of you get mad, Soi Fong is still a bitch, she only changed her perspective of Ichigo because of what Grimmjow did. She does have a new respect for him, but she's still screwed but pretty badly.
And now: welcome to the second to last chapter. I really hope that you've liked this fic so far. This is pretty much the end, the next chapter is my epilogue. And Well, I just hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing this incredibly plotless spectacularly beautiful mess of a story.
I hope to hear from you, and I hope to see you in the next chapter! Bye guys!