Chapter Thirty-nine
Come Hear Our Greatest Hits…
The party continued on as people ate food, mingled and talked. Tatsuki's place was well stocked with every kind of beverage and snack. The music poured through the speakers yet none of the neighbors complained. A few neighbors did drop by but they were out of the loop in many conversations. Conversations like Renji and Ichigo's who were talking about Shinigami.
"To spend any more time thinking about things like that is pointless. It seems to me that the Soul Society knows what's going on so I am not going to spend any time wondering about why this or why that," Ichigo said.
"You really are a strange one," Renji said.
"Whatever I trust her," Ichigo said.
"That goes without saying. I just can't understand her sometimes," Renji said.
Renji hadn't given up on Rukia and Ichigo knew that. In Renji's mind Rukia would come to her sense wake up and return to the Seireitei's linear way of life. It just didn't matter what he thought of Tatsuki he was still looking out for Rukia.
"So you get all quiet on me," Renji said.
"You know why I'm not saying anything. I can't talk about you having feelings for Rukia. That conversation can't happen," Ichigo said.
"Whoa when did I say anything-
"Just drop it Renji talk about something else," Ichigo said remembering his conversation with Tatsuki. It seemed as though Renji wasn't going to talk about their relationship after all. This was fine with him he decided watching the partygoers.
"Fine," Renji said through clenched jaw.
000
Ichigo sorted through his mail and threw most of it in the recycle bin. Flyers for various restaurants or local services mingled with bills. Catalogs he threw into a drawer that Rukia would delightfully flip through hell bent on destroying any savings he managed. More junk mail.
Why this stuff is addressed to me I'll never figure out, he wondered.
One package stood out from all the rest of the junk and Ichigo sat down an opened it. It was from a record label addressed to him. Immediately he laughed as he noticed who it was from.
Huyu Mein's band was coming to town to celebrate their five-year anniversary in the place that started it all. Two tickets to a concert were part of the package along with a greatest hits cd.
Ichigo barely knew the band members but knew some of the songs were about Karakura. More importantly some of the songs were about Tatsuki who would never live down the teasing from her friends.
Huyu took the time to write a brief note in the invitation advising Ichigo that he was going to let a local band open for his band. Ichigo shrugged he didn't have a band and he would probably go just to have something to do.
His cell phone rang and he answered it.
"Chado," Ichigo greeted.
"Did you get the invite to Huyu's concert," Sado asked.
"Yeah just now I opened it. Sounds like a Karakura reunion," Ichigo said.
"My band is going to be the local band," Sado announced.
"I didn't know you guys were still playing together," Ichigo said.
"Yeah," Sado said.
"I'll come and bring Rukia it should be fun," Ichigo said.
"Thanks to Tatsuki we seem to have VIP access. I didn't even need to ask their representatives twice about playing," Sado said.
Rukia took that moment to return.
"Where are you bringing me," Rukia asked.
"Rukia's back I have to go," Ichigo said into the phone.
"Tell her I said hello and later Ichigo," Sado said and hung up.
"Chado said hello," Ichigo said setting his phone on the table charger.
"Why did you hang up before I could say anything," she asked.
He eyed her setting the shopping bags down on the kitchen table. She seemed in a bad mood and he didn't bother to say another word until she calmed down. Besides if she wanted to talk about it she would. Then again if he turned on the TV and ignored her it would upset her more.
"Well," she waited.
Shit I forgot the question…Right Chado…
"He hung up," Ichigo answered.
"No idiot where are you taking me," she asked pulling groceries out of the bags.
"I was invited to a concert and Chado's band is opening so I figured you'd want to go too," he said.
"A concert...you never want to go anywhere," Rukia said.
She busied herself in the kitchen. Because she quickly became an addict of a cooking challenge show she was determined to recreate the fancy dishes served by the chefs.
She had the designs down on what she wanted but was horrible at recreating the food for some reason. In the end she would spend a fortune on "good quality ingredients" and order Ichigo the better cook around to recreate them.
They were quite the team and the food always came out perfect with her overseeing things. Today however he didn't feel like fancy food he wanted something fast. Eyeing the flyers in the recycle bin he contemplated calling or better yet texting his order to a delivery service.
"How about we go out to this restaurant," he said holding up a flyer.
000
Their set was about to start. Sado hurried up the stairs of the old converted Movie Theater where Huyu's band famously made its debut three years ago. To get to the stage you had to walk the balcony and come down.
As Sado passed his friends he heard the soft whisper of good luck. It was the voice of his girlfriend of two and half years. He smiled at her and acknowledged his friends as he rushed to the stage.
000
The concert was over Sado said goodbye to his band and went to talk to his friends.
"That was fun," Sado said.
"You were great," Orihime said.
Renji was fiddling with the guitar on the stage where he protectively kept an eye on Tatsuki all night. It was clear to everyone that he was uncomfortable with her ex-boyfriend.
Tatsuki was center stage lip syncing to some track in her head.
Keigo stood up and climbed up on stage and set his beer down beside the mic stand. Taking the mic from her he moved away from any potential retaliation.
"You have to sing it for real," Keigo teased.
"I don't think it's wise to mess around with the equipment," Mizuiro said leaning back in the theater style chairs.
"Darling has connections she can do what she wants," Keigo joked.
"I'm not embarrassed you guys are the only ones who know I'm the girl in the songs and I've been teased so much I no longer care. Kryptonite for your stupid jokes Keigo," Tatsuki said.
"That's no fun at all. The whole point is for you to be embarrassed," Keigo said.
She'd never stop being the focus of jokes among her friends as long as this band existed. It was bad enough they were the only ones who broke into laughter when Huyu broke into an impromptu cover version of The Killers' song "Jenny was a Friend of Mine."
The real Jinni was so flattered she joined the group on stage waving to the fans clueless as Huyu announced: 'Jinni everybody but I'm sure that The Killers weren't writing about her.' This announcement only brought more laughter from her group and they teased her that she should go on stage and wave next. Nervously she prayed the rest of the concert that Huyu wouldn't be stupid enough to invite her on stage for that level of embarrassment.
"Are you thinking about going to the after party," Tatsuki asked Keigo.
"Why not," Keigo said and set the mic back on the stand, "everyone lets go party!"
"You really haven't changed at all," Tatsuki said shaking her head in disbelief.
"In all honesty I am using this night as an assignment for work," Keigo said somberly.
"Work," Tatsuki asked.
"Yes work; I am supposed to turn in my report about this concert. Ratings have slipped and they are thinking or replacing Monica at the station," Keigo replied.
"What about you," Tatsuki asked.
"It's complicated but if Monica goes…I'd rather not think about it," Keigo said.
Tatsuki didn't have an opportunity to be sympathetic because Keigo quickly switched back to excited party goer at the sight of the band.
000
The after party was just like any other forced get together. People who never spoke suddenly pretended to be best friends all in trying to move up in the world of entertainment.
There were the aging socialites desperate to hang on to the lifestyle they knew all their lives. DJ's and artist mingled with promotions and label executives. None of the people surrounding Huyu could really know him. The party was as dull as a board meeting.
Tatsuki knew how these events worked and told the others to take full advantage of all the swank party favors. If anything the party was something to do on a night when she didn't have much planned.
Huyu finally made his way towards her group after chatting it up with a few partygoers. His band was heading to a world tour in a week so this was the last he'd see of his hometown for a while. Huyu quickly thanked all of them for attending the concert and for their words of praise.
Huyu offered drinks and invited them all to a private area of the party reserved for the band, family and friends. After everyone settled in to the VIP area and started talking Huyu asked to speak to Tatsuki in private.
The look on Renji's face made it clear that he didn't approve. Tatsuki didn't know what to say so she remained seated using the excuse that it was too cold to hang outside on the patio. Huyu grinned but said nothing as he headed for the patio.
"Maybe we should have gone home," Tatsuki said spinning the ice in her green plastic cup.
"Go talk with your friend. It is clear the only reason he invited all of us is to see you," Renji said.
"You're-
"I'm having a pretty good time with these rumcola things," he replied.
Tatsuki got up taking that as approval.