The schedule for the dancers Madame Yoruichi made was a well thought out, no nonsense plan from morning to night. Waking up at the crack of dawn to be ready to do whatever Yoruichi had planned for them, be it working in groups on a routine for the many stages in between scenes or individual work to audition to be in the main scenes.
Those days were Momo's favorite; she loved the thrill of showing her skills, especially when she knew her mentorwas watching.
Everything was normal, well as normal as it can be in an opera house.
Her mentor would help her sing; he'd help her learn every note and to perfect them all. Her ability to compose was shaky but he was proud of her growth nonetheless and for that she was grateful.
Although she was awfully close to two other dancers she did not mention her mentor to anyone in fear of being locked up in the madhouse. Who would believe she was being trained by the Angel of Music?
The sound of giggling brings her back to the present, she really needs to focus if she wanted to be in this production of Hannibal. Momo collects herself and joins the dancers in their practice, hoping Yoruichi hasn't noticed her tardiness.
Yoruichi walks to her dancers and watches them stretch, making a mental note to speak with Momo after this session. The actors and actresses walk onto the stage and get into their positions and the composer, Omaeda, waits for the female soprano to get into position before leading the orchestra.
The prima donna, Rangiku Matsumoto, takes centre stage, holding red and orange pieces of fabric that are sewn to a white sack with drawn on eyes and mouth. Her costume sparkling brightly in the stage light, her strawberry blonde hair is pulled back into a brilliant crown.
Rangiku nods, telling Omaeda she's ready to begin. Omaeda moves his baton and the orchestra begins to play. Rangiku begins to sing, but in a heavy accent and really really loud. The cleaning staff as well as a majority of the dancers cringe at the volume of her voice as she sings the opening number. The music picks up and rehearsal begins with the actors walking in and doing their bit before the dancers take center stage.
Yumichika, the primo uomo, walks into the center of the stage after his introduction and begins to sing only to be cut off by three men walking onto the stage "As you can see, rehearsals are being held for Chalumeau Hannibal." the leader says to the men. Omaeda huffs and taps his baton onto the music stand, catching the men's attention. "Mister Ukitake! I am rehearsing!"
Ukitake stops and looks at everyone apologetically "Maestro Omaeda, Madame Yoruichi… Everyone….." he says, getting everyone's attention "I apologize but as you know, there has been rumors about me retiring… It's all true" he says, surprising everyone with the revelation.
Ukitake continues once again "Now now," his words quiet down the cast, "It is my pleasure to introduce the two new owners of this fantastic opera house, Très Belle Salle, Mister Ichigo and Mister Shiro Kurosaki."
The Kurosaki brother's wave and smile at the applauding crowd. Ukitake smiles gently "I'm pretty sure you've read about their recent fortune in the medical business."
"They must be filthy rich!" Myra,one third of the trio, whispers to Momo "I should try to marry one of them!" she says, eyes shining in awe. Rukia and Momo roll their eyes in amusement.
"We are happy to introduce our new investor, Sosuke Aizen" Ichigo says motioning to the side of the stage where a handsome man walks out from. Momo let's out a gasp "It's him!" "You know him from somewhere Momo?" Rukia whispers, Myra leans in to listen. "Before my grandmother died we went to the sea, I had this gorgeous red scarf that had blown away with the wind and he was the kind boy who retrieved it for me. We spent every day of the summer together until I had to go home. I would never forget his name." Momo says thinking of the past.
"Oh Momo he's so handsome!" Myra says completely awestruck by the story. "My friends I am honored and humbled to support a place with a reputation the Tres Belle Salle owns." Sosuke says with a small bow.
Ukitake smiles and holds a hand out towards Rangiku "Gentlemen I would like you to meet Rangiku Matsumoto, our favorite and only Prima Donna for the past five seasons." Rangiku gently grabs his hand and bobs a curtsy to the men. Shiro's eyes follow her bust as Ichigo and Sosuke bow in return.
Yumichika clears his throat to gain their attention, "Our primo uomo, Yumichika Ayasegawa" At the sound of his name Yumichika gives a short bow "An honor, really, but I believe my presence here is disrupting your rehearsal, I'll be around until the day of the show. Good luck to you all." And with that Sosuke nods and leaves the stage with the two new managers passing Momo and her friends.
Momo's face falls as he passes her without a second glance, Rukia wraps an arm around her shoulders "He doesn't recognize you, it has been a few years." She reassured "Yes, I mean you had a lot of baby fat and now you're stunning so it's not wonder he didn't recognise you." Myra says, comforting Momo in her own way.
With the intruders off the stage the maestro waved his baton and the rehearsal continued where it left off. "We take great pride with our ballet." Yoruichi informs the men standing on the side of the stage "I can see why, they're absolutely stunning" Ichigo appraises. "Especially her," Shiro points "She's absolutely stunning." "Myra, my daughter." Yoruichi informs him as Momo gracefully dances into view "And her? No relation I hope." Yoruichi smiles slightly "Momo Hinamori, promising talent. Very promising."
"Hinamori? The Author?" Ichigo inquires "Her father, his only child. She was orphaned at twelve, and I took her under my wing." Yoruichi responds. Shiro and Ichigo share a look and continue to watch the dancers, completely ignoring Rangiku and her attempts to get their attention.
The scene cuts to a close and Rangiku loses it "All you want to see is these girls dance!" She charges at the twins "Fine! If all you want is dancing then that is all you're going to get! Because I will not be singing!" Rangiku shouts before storming off. Ichigo and Shiro look to Ukitake in terror "What do we do?!" "Go beg for forgiveness!" Ukitake says hurriedly, pushing the men towards her.
"No no no no" Ichigo repeats while his brother sings praises to stroke Rangiku's VERY large ego. Rangiku rolls her eyes and stops, the men catching up "Don't we have a solo in Act 3?" Ichigo asks. "Yes but my outfit is not done because someone hasn't finished it!" Rangiku snarks, glaring at the seamstress who ducks her head in fear "Well maybe you can give us a little taste of what we can expect." Shiro coaxes.
Rangiku smiles "I can definitely do that, maestro?" "If our diva commands" Omaeda says sarcastically; Rangiku's eyes narrow "Yes, I do." she walks to the side of the stage and gets her throat coated with a relaxant. She makes her way to the center of the stage and gets into position.
"Mister Ukitake, why exactly are you retiring?" Ichigo asks, "My health." Ukitake says before walking away. The music starts and Rangiku begins to sing, her high notes cause Ichigo's head to spin and Shiro to cringe. The sound of something falling takes their attention from the Diva to a falling background heading straight for them. Screams and curses fill the air as the background falls onto Rangiku, knocking the wind out of her and sending dancers running to the back.
The remaining cast as well as the managers lift and pull Rangiku out from under the background. "Renji, what's going on up there?!" Omaeda yells to the man in the catwalks "I don't know, I wasn't at my post!" Renji yells back.
"It has to be one of you idiots!" Omaeda fires back. "No sir, it wasn't us!" Izuru chimes in "Maybe it was a ghost." Renji jokes as he and Izuru pull the ropes to lift the background back up to where it belongs.
Seeing movement towards the back of the stage Yoruichi makes her way cautiously as everyone is distracted. She walks to the darkest side and smiles at the figure standing there, "You didn't have to do that to her, it's rude."
"I did not drop the background this time, but I am pleased with the outcome." The stranger replies, "If you didn't drop it, then who did?" Yoruichi questions. "I do not know but I will find out."
Before she could respond he was gone. Shaking her head Yoruichi returns to the madness.
A Fuming Rangiku stands up and points an accusing finger at the twins "That's it! I've had enough of this mess, that's the third time this month this happened to me!" "These things tend to happen-" Ichigo tries to placate the woman before being interrupted, "These things do happen" Rangiku mocks "That's the same bull Ukitake pulled and I won't listen to anymore of it. This is the last straw, until you find out what is going on I will not be singing!" Rangiku turns, yells at her entourage and barges off the stage with them in tow, Yumichika smirks at the dumbfounded men and walks out behind them.
"Great, just great our first day and we managed to lose the only person keeping this opera house open!" Ichigo rages "What will we do now?!" "Momo Hinamori can sing for you." Yoruichi answers, the men turn and look at her in annoyance "A dancing girl? That's our best bet?" Shiro scoffs.
Yoruichi gently grabs Momo's arm and brings her to the front "She's been taking lessons from a great teacher." "Who?" Ichigo asks with a scowl "I do not know his name." Momo responds in a quiet voice.
Shiro rolls his eyes "Might as well give it a shot." Momo turns her head to Yoruichi who gives her an encouraging smile. Gaining a bit of courage Momo steps up and takes a deep, calming breath. "Don't fret Momo, He has taught you for this moment, you can't mess this up." she mutters to herself.
"All this silence does nothing for my nerves" Momo hears Ichigo say to his brother who nods in response. The music starts and Momo takes another deep breath before she starts to sing. To say everyone was surprised is an understatement, they didn't know that the quiet background dancer had such a beautiful voice!
Ichigo and Shiro smile wide, the show is back on!
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