Disclaimer: The characters in this story are all owned by Kubo Tite. I make no profit of writing this.
A/N: This fic has a two set of lyrics. A first set is from Almost Easy by Avenged Sevenfold. Actually, it's a bit misheard version, the bracketed parts say 'Mother' and 'said it all' in the original song. From the first time I listened the song I heard it the way it is put here, and I like it better that way.
The second set is completely mine. Remember: a masterpiece.
"I'm telling you, this man is crazy", Kurosaki Ichigo said while waving a piece of paper in front of Urahara's face. "Batshit crazy."
The blond man was hiding his mouth behind his fan, trying his very best to hide his obvious amusement. "Ah, how cruel of you, Kurosaki-san! Mind you, Zenbonzakura-san is my old friend. You shouldn't insult him in such a crude manner."
The young man was a vocalist of a rising band, Shinigami. His handsome, angular face had a scowl that was apparently permanent. He was sitting on a small cheap plastic chair in a recording studio, and was once more disappointed by the lyrics the anonymous source had written for him to sing.
"Yeah yeah, you have told me that before. " He scoffed, and rubbed his knuckles against his forehead, as in futile attempt to smooth away the lines that looked so strange on his young face. "I just think you should do something for the fact he has gone nuts, being his friend and all."
Urahara, sitting opposite of his young client on a similar chair, looked at him curiously. "His circumstances are quite... unique, Kurosaki-san. As you said, we have had this discussion before. To be honest, I can't see your problem. Zenbonzakura-san's lyrics are quite popular, and they are without a doubt one of the reasons to quick success of your band."
"Don't I know. That's not the point." The younger man waved the paper again, almost hitting Urahara with it. "I know he is good, but that's not the point either. I'm talking about what these lyrics are saying."
Urahara looked a bit cautious, and even more curious. "What do you mean? I have to admit I don't understand, Kurosaki-san."
"Seems like no one does. Geez, makes me thing I'm imagining things." Ichgo opened up the paper he was holding, revealing the words inside it. "Have you ever read these, Urahara-san? Or listened Shinigami's albums?"
The older man nodded, sulking behind the fan still hiding half of his face."Yes, I have done both."
"All the others seem to think it is just a song, as songs were fucking fairytales you just come up with. Most of them probably are just that, but these are real stuff. I can tell." For a moment Ichigo looked sorrowful, the scowl on his face softened a bit by genuine worry and sympathy. "I have lost some stuff too, and I have been batshit crazy as well. Schizophrenic, actually. I know how it feels, and it's like this."
"That's... interesting to hear." Urahara looked thoughtful. He had closed his fan, and was no tapping it against the side of his nose. "You seem to be confident in your ability to read his thoughts and mood. So, how is his inner world like?"
The possible sarcasm in the words went completely unnoticed. "He is lonely. He is tired, lost and bitter about everything that has happened to him, whatever that is. And possibly..." Ichigo shook his head, and ruffled his hear. "Nah. Probably just my imagination."
"What could that be, Kurosaki-san?"
Ichigo, looked past him, trying to find right words to describe the nameless feeling of dread. "It's like he would be dying soon, I think. Not being suicidal, but just knowing it will happen."
"Why would that be?" For some reason, Urahara's eyes behind the fan were sparkling with wonder, as if the news was positive for him.
Ichigo shrugged his shoulder. "Beats me. He either has some disease, or he has done what he has to do." He looked at Urahara, suspicious. "What are you up to? I don't trust those eyes, you know. You are planning something evil."
"Ah, nothing evil at all, Kurosaki-san! I just know someone who would be extremely interested in your speculations... a fan, I guess. But not yours, Zenbonzakura's. If you have nothing against it, I would like for you to to meet up and discuss."
"Whatever man, whatever." Ichigo tried his very best to look as bored as possible, but he couldn't hide the fact that he was interested. Urahara smiled behind his fan. He was bound by a promise he had made to Byakuya and wasn't going to break the man's trust by telling on his secrets. This, of course, wouldn't keep him from tying the two end of the rope together and let the information spread another rout.
Things were getting amusing.
Ichigo eyes at the man before him critically. "You don't look like a type that would be interested in literature."
The red haired man glared back at him. "And you don't look like an idol. You are ugly as fuck."
It was only a day before when Urahara had suggested their meeting, and here the man was already, looking puzzled and somewhat anxious. He had introduced himself as Renji. What the punk had to do with Zenbonzakura (or literature) was beyond Ichigo's understanding.
He raised both of his hands in a desperate gesture. "Fine, be that way. I have no idea why Urahara wanted me to meet you, anyway. I was under the impression he is not interested in helping Zenbonzakura's fans."
The tattooed seemed to force himself to calm down. "Yeah, about that. What is your connection to Zenbonzakura?"
Ichigo's ever present scowl deepened even more at the question. "You make it sound like an interrogation..." he muttered under his breath while grabbing a paper from nearby table, where many others were lying in hazard heaps.
"He writes songs for me", he explained to Renji. "Song that I don't want to sing, to be honest."
The red haired man arched his brow. "Why not? He is good, one of the best."
Ichigo snorted. "Yeah. Yeah. Don't even start about that." He gave the paper to Renji. "Read that and maybe you will understand."
Renji took the piece of lyrics from the singer, curious about what it might say.
I feel insane every single time I'm asked to compromise
'Cause I'm afraid and stuck in my ways and that's the way it stays
So how long did I expect love to outweigh ignorance?
By that look on your face I may have forced the scale to tip
I'm not insane, I'm not... not insane
(I'm not)
Come back to me it's almost easy
(Sad at all)
Come back again it's almost easy
"Starting to get what I mean?" Ichigo asked with a low, annoyed voice. "It's just that I think he is for real. You said he is good? He is, dammit. He translates the loss in these lyrics so well that I don't want to hear of it, any of it, even without mentioning that I should be the one singing it."
He paused. The tattooed man wasn't listening at all, he was still staring at the paper in his hand like it was a coded message. "Hey.. you still with me?"
Renji resisted the urge to close his eyes and open then again, to check if he had really gotten it right. He read them again, carefully analyzing each word. Was this really written by Byakuya? What the hell was happening to him?
Ichigo was getting more and more suspicious. This man wasn't just any random Zenbonzakura fan, he was way too... anxious somehow, and seemed to be more personally than artistically involved. "What's your relationship with him, anyway?"
Renji was forced back to reality with a rude, personal question. He eyed the other angrily, trying to scare him off his back with a scary aura. "Non of your business, idol boy."
Unfortunately, his glare was only returned with similar intensity. "Tough luck, gangster, but I won't help you to get your shit together until I hear what the fuck is this all about."
Some plans are born dead.
"He was my boss. Kinda long ago. Shit happened. I quit. He disappeared. Unhappy end. Something more you want to hear?" Renji growled, gripping the handles of his chair and getting ready to leave. Why was he wasting his time with this boy? He was just a curious brat who had gotten too much too fast and didn't know when to shut up.
Ichigo seemed to get interested about the new facts. "So you knew him? Had he any other friends?"
"No really." Renji wasn't going to start an argument whether Byakuya was his friend or not. He didn't know that himself. "He was the loner type. Worked and ate, occasionally slept. Your point?"
Ichigo reached for a heap of lyrics again, bringing out another paper, a bit newer this time. "Urahara brought me this just yesterday. But it maybe addressed to you."
The originally odd visit was getting more and more confusing. Renji received the new set of lyrics and started reading.
There is turning point before the dead end
If you just have the courage, you can change
If you haven't, it's the end of the game
Will you be waiting for me, at the turning point?
I drove past the place we lived together as friends
I'm going to the place where we can live together as more
It's decided, week from this day
It's decided, new course or the end
I'm not strong enough to make a difference
But I know you are, so please catch me
I'll run no more, so please come and catch me
In the place you once promised to take me
to taste a life so different from mine
You promised, do you remember?
To take us to the turning point.
"Do you have any idea what it is?" The orange haired singer yawned and leaned back on his chair. "That is the first one he says something like that, like he hopes something would change. I wonder what will happen..."
Renji seemed thoughtful. "Can I have these lyrics?" He asked, obviously not keen on speculating what might happen.
"Sure, I have copies. This place is full of copies, about every damn thing." Ichigo looked at the other again, a curious vibe colouring his scowl. "You know where that place is? The turning point thing?"
Renji didn't answer.
A/N: Think, Renji, think! Byakuya is gonna be sad (not even mentioning pissed) if you have forgotten!