Coffee With A Dash Of Showbiz
Chapter 2: Bitter Coffee And A Slice Of Orange
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH. I MEAN, DON'T WE ALL NOT OWN BLEACH EXCEPT FOR KUBO OF COURSE.
Momo sat on a tasteful chair and ate on a fantastic coffee table eating great food. Though as pleasant as this sight was, the sight Momo saw was not. Her best friend happened to be pacing back and forth from behind the counter while gripping a cellphone pressed against her delicate ear.
Rukia obviously seemed to be quite frustrated because the one person she needed to speak to as of the moment was clearly not answering their phone.
"Come on... pick up the fucking phone..." Rukia seethed.
Momo massaged her temples momentarily and sighed long and hard. Even though she was a psychiatrist, she couldn't figure Rukia's tiny little problem in her lovely head. Though Momo would rather leave that job to the anger management therapists. Mental disorders was what Momo handled. Though she could probable manage to be a therapist to her best friend when needed. That's what best friends are for and that's what best friends do.
"Rukia. Stop pacing back and forth, stop trying to break the phone and stop glaring at nothing, I'm sure you have much better uses for the Kuchiki glare. Take a chill pill woman..." Momo grunted.
"Chill? You're telling me to chill? What the hell Momo, this is urgent..." Rukia snarled at her friend knowing her attitude would never actually offend Momo.
"Breath Rukia." Momo
Commanded. "Try eating your own ice cream for once, its actually quite relaxing. Perhaps you can drink that chamomile tea you love so much." she openly suggested.
Rukia glared before rolling her eyes.
"It was only a suggestion bitch..." Momo shrugged.
Then Rukia gave her the renowned Kuchiki glare. Yikes that's cold...
"Hello." a laid-back but familiar voice greeted Rukia.
"Renji..." Rukia growled into the miserable cellphone.
"W-what is it? Why do you sound angry?" the voice shook.
Rukia voice was doing the glaring for her at the moment. She was certain that it reached the person on the other end of the phone. Rukia bet he was shivering over there. "Renji Abarai. Luna Cafe. Now. No excuses. You have no plans for the afternoon." she simply stated. Simply.
"H-hey Rukia wai-"
Then Rukia cut him off by merciless slapping the phone shut.
Momo gave Rukia an amused grin from the lovely coffee table near Rukia. " Ten perhaps?"
Rukia looked out the window. "Five..."
The two girls then sat in silence for five minutes. Precisely three hundred second before the door slammed open revealing a rather large red headed man with tattoos all over who obviously enjoyed working out a lot. He was panting hard as of he ran a whole marathon in a minute.
"Told you so." Rukia scoffed at Momo.
Momo smirked back at Rukia then gave the man a good look. "I shouldn't have underestimated him Rukia."
The man looked at both women as if they were both residing in a mental institute.
"What are you both talking about?" he asked awkwardly while maintaining his breath.
"Oh nothing..." Momo giggled. "Hey Renji can you get me another cup of Chai Tea Latte and two scoops of Green Tea ice cream." Momo said jokingly.
Renji glared at Momo then glared at Rukia. "I'm gonna be payed for this right Rukia?"
Rukia chuckled causing the red head to slightly turn the same shade as his hair at the sheer cuteness. "Of course. I'll be back at around dinner time so man the cafe until then. Nothing new, same as usual. Though today is a Sunday so your wage today will be lower than the usual. Deal?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's not like I have anything to do this afternoon..." Renji lied.
"Excellent." Rukia replied sharply.
Rukia passed by Renji and Momi in a blur and said blur proceeded upstairs. Three minutes later, she came down wearing a comfy turtle neck and some designer skirt as well as boots. As simple as the attire was, the fact Rukia wore it made it look like it was worth a hundred times more than it actually was.
Renji couldn't help but gawk. Seeing Rukia in casual clothes sure was something for him. Momo just grinned at the fact that her best friend therapy succeeded.
"I'll be going now..." Rukia said as she briskly walked out of the cafe. In a prim and proper manner.
After the door was shut Momo sat there and grinned at Renji.
"Where's that Chai Tea Latte and Green Tea Ice cream Mr. Pineapple Barista man..."
"Bitch..."
―――――
A certain handsome tangerine haired actor breathed in deeply. He straightened his blazer and fixed his shirt. His amber gaze was fixed upon one lonely platform in the room. Then he began to walk getting goosebumps along the way due to the fact that the air conditioning was extremely cold. He stepped up the platform and faced the the steel table where the judges had their papers, then he looked at the judges.
"Mr. Kurosaki. What an honor to meet you..." a black haired judge with a 69 tattoo plastered on his face said.
"It's a pleasure." Ichigo replied.
"I'm Shuuhei Hisagi, I'm the director for the show. Now I am confident in your acting ability, what we need is whether you can sing or not. So let's do this quick and simple, sing for us..."
Ichigo blinked once, then twice. " Any song?"
Hisagi nodded. "Any song."
Ichigo nodded back confidently and gripped the mic tight. This was his first time singing outside the shower. He took a deep breath.
"Donna toki datte taisetsuna ima kanjiteku
Sugi yuku toki no nami ni notte
Kokoro to karada ga tsunagaru sono shunkan
Yuruginai hitomi ni sky high
Hashiru hodo ni nagareru sora yokome ni utsutte
Tashika ni naru chikazuite iru ano basho
Aseru dake ja erarenai mono kono mune ni yado shite
Koerareru sa koete iku tada massugu ni
Hidoku itamu no nara ikiteru akashi
Sukoshi taoreta no nara ue wo miage ookiku fly to fly!
Donna toki datte taisetsuna ima kanjiteku
Sugi yuku toki no nami ni notte
Kokoro to karada ga tsunagaru sono shunkan
Yuruginai hitomi ni sky high..."
Ichigo was breathing a little hard and he gave his all. He felt refreshed and he felt he could take on a bullet train anytime.
Maybe I should sing often, it feels great...
The judges were smiling at him as if he did great singing except for the third judge who seemed to be way into that book they're reading. The book was obscuring the third judges face from view unfortunately.
"That was pretty good Mr. Kurosaki." the second judge praised. She looked like a prim and proper woman with her black hair pinned up and her glasses giving her a sharp edge.
"I'm Nanao Ise by the way. I'm the musical producer for the show." she introduced herself.
"It's a pleasure..." Ichigo said smiling back at Nanao but suspiciously eyeing the third judge.
"Anyways, don't you think he can sing Ms. Kuchiki?" Nanao casually asked the third judge.
Upon hearing the name Kuchiki, Ichigo's stomach hurled like a roller coaster and he froze on the spot. He was completely stationary and he didn't bat and eyelash. His neck turned slowly towards the third judge in a motion that would suggest that his neck was very rusty.
It can't be that Kuchiki right? There are over hundreds of Kuchiki women right? Seriously, why would that midget be here anyway? She has nothing to do with this. I must be overthinking this.
Long sentenced thoughts passed through his mind like a speeding bullet, one would wonder how it registered in his now frozen brain.
The third judge slowly lowered the book, adding to the suspense, and closed it in a small scale slam. Then she met his eyes straight on.
Those purple eyes, that raven hair and that laughable height...
"Shit..." Ichigo muttered as he stared at her in shock.
Rukia simply smirked with those cold lips and visibly crossed her legs. She stared at him mockingly, something that felt slightly more horrible that the infamous Kuchiki glare. She filly leaned back on the soft leather chair before speaking.
"Is there a problem Kurosaki?" she mocked.
Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed along with his mouth forming his signature scowl. Though this scowl was far more deeper than usual. "Yes... As a matter of fact, I do have a problem. What the hell are you doing here midget!"
"Aww, that's not the right tone when speaking to people Kurosaki... So show some respect you sad and crude little man." Rukia taunted playfully as she was visibly enjoying the torment she was inflicting on him.
"Hey, Rukia... Do you two know each other?" Nanao asked using an informal manner of speech now.
Rukia smiled at Nanao. "Yeah, just had a run in with that asshole earlier. It's not much of a problem Nanao." she said sweetly.
Something glimmered on Nanao's glasses. She fixed her glasses before speaking. "I see, so that's how it is... Ok I trust you with whatever you're doing..." Nanao replied.
"If you trust that what she's doing is okay then that's okay with me..." Hisagi casually announced with a shrug.
"Hey! You can't leave me out to rot here with her!" Ichigo complained.
"Or I could just settle this now..." Hisagi mumbled. "You two!" he bellowed to Rukia and Ichigo.
"Yeah?" they asked simultaneously.
"I'll have you two do a duet..." Hisagi announced slyly.
"What!" they exclaimed.
Hisagi then looked at Nanao and gestured her to do something.
Nanao nodded but sighed. "We're going to that to Senior Rukia and Mr. Kurosaki? That's mean..." she said sadly while reluctantly handing out two copies of the same music sheet to the happy couple.
Both of them grabbed the papers with pure and utter disdain. Great... it's a love song.
Rukia stood on the platform and Ichigo followed suit thought he made sure to stay a minimum if five feet away from her. Rukia seemed content at his effort but stepped a foot away for caution.
"Don't mess this up for me midget..." Ichigo spat.
"I hope you don't drag my voice down." Rukia relied matching his tone.
"Ima ichibyou."
"Hi ga moetara."
"Sora ni tokete."
Damn she sounds good...
"Asa ga kuru."
"Nemuri kara."
I better step up my game if I want to leave that bitch in the dust.
"Koe wo agete."
"Mebuite yuku."
"Sekai."
Wow, that asshole made us sound in sync. Thats just luck.
"Ukeirerareta nara"
Take that Ichiberry.
"Mou kako dato kizuketa."
Shit, what he did wasn't a fluke.
"Daiteta kanashimi wo ikisaki wa."
"Kaze."
"Sora."
"Hoshi"
"Ame."
"Tatoeba kakenukete susundemo."
"Kaze."
"Ima."
"Sono."
"Hoho ni."
They both ended the song perfectly and completely in sync as if they have been singing together for all their life.
The two judges were grinning.
"Hey Mr. Hisagi, they're perfect." Nanao said happily.
"I know, but their perfection can go elsewhere. It's too professional to be on the show. But damn, that's some big chemistry." Hisagi commented.
The happy couple equally scowled at each other.
"Screw you, you bastard. You made my voice sound like rust out there." she snorted.
"What the hell are you talking about, you knocked the synchronicity out of a duet that was meant to sound great!" he made an equal retort.
"Synchronicity? What synchronicity! There wasn't a shred of it due to your very out of tune dry horrible voice!" she replied making a louder tone of voice than his.
"Your voice is the epitome of pure shrieking! God, you have no idea how much of a banshee you sound like!" he exclaimed matching her loud tone.
"Your voice is the epitome of a dead choir in a funeral! Might as well be an asshole of a zombie singing!"
Then the happy couple settled for a glaring contest. Yes, glare, not stare. Though naturally, the infamous Kuchiki glare won first place.
The two judges on the other hand made a loud attempt to get the happy couple's attention but to no avail. The remaining judges then settled for taking the happy couple by the ear and dragging them to the table. And both of them didn't seem to protest being dragged.
"Senior... come down..." Nanao said worriedly as she tried to ease Rukia.
Rukia glared at Nanao but eventually let it slide. "Sorry."
"No problems, even now I still know how to deal with you." Nanao reassured.
"Deal with you?" Ichigo interrupted the two women's conversation.
"Yes. Rukia here was my senior back when I was still the vice president of the Glee Club back in high school." Nanao informed.
"So that high school must be pretty good to only have vice presidents as future big shot music producers. What about the midget then." he said spatting at her pet name.
"I was the president you idiotic dolt!" Rukia retorted to his earlier statement accompanied with a straight deadly punch to the head.
"Ow! What the fuck woman!" he reacted violently.
"It's your own fault, you deserved it!" she scoffed.
Then Hisagi banged the table all of a sudden.
"Enough bickering! Now Mr. Kurosaki, Ms. Kuchiki was as excellent judge upon judging the earlier people who came to audition. Ms. Kuchiki, please control your temper. Now Mr. Kurosaki, we're afraid you are too good for this show and it appears you sing best with Ms. Kuchiki. Though we can't always have you sing with her so you don't land any roles in this show."
Ichigo grew silent for a moment. "I really couldn't care less anyhow... I just take opportunities but I never expected to land them. Though, I specifically told my manager I didn't want to sing, she still signed me up for this so I'm not holding anything against this show." he said politely but then glared at Rukia. "Though I do mind her..."
"That's good then. You may go now Mr. Kurosaki. Ms. Kuchiki you can go too, he's the last one for the day. We're sorry to take your time." Hisagi said towards Ichigo and Rukia.
"I'm off then..." Ichigo said waving the back of his hand as a goodbye. A cool exit would be the correct term.
"Don't act cool when you're a complete dork Kurosaki..." Rukia mumbled rather bitterly as she followed suit.
Both of them were walking side by side towards the exit but both maintained a distance from each other without them realizing. As if it had registered in their bodies that they loathed each other to the bone.
They went out simultaneously but walked on the sidewalk in opposite directions.
Though a certain handsome tangerine headed actor took the time to stop in his tracks and look back at the pale ice queen who was walking the other on the sidewalk.
"Shit... A bitch like her doesn't deserve that ass..."
―――――
Rukia got back at the shop at around six o' clock sharp. She walked towards the counter in a brisk manner and called the attention of a certain red head who seemed to be attracting the attention of women.
"Oh, Rukia you're back." Renji bellowed.
Rukia took another content glance around and smiled. "You should work here more often, you bring a lot of customers. Or shall I rephrase, girls in particular."
Renji evidently rolled his eyes. "It's not like enjoy this particular inborn talent of mine..." he said.
Rukia took one more glance around. "I'll go change now... Apparently my presence is clearly unwanted here..." she smirked.
Renji noticed what Rukia had been implying and slightly turned red. "Uh yeah, go before there's a homicide here..."
Then Rukia waltz upstairs and closed the door silently. She let out the sigh she had been holding back as soon a she was leaning in the door.
"Why?" she mumbled. "Why does that ass hole have to be so good looking. Why does he have that voice..."
The Rukia let herself fall on her soft bed. "Why does he look so much like you?"
"Why? Kaien..."
AN: Tadaah! Chapter 2 huzzah! I know this chapter is pretty short but I drew a complete blank
upon attempting to add an extra something. So yeah, I promise to make the next chapter longer
than this. School has been killing me, oh and Final Fantasy XIII has been stealing me away from
Fanfiction. Well, my XBOX 360 is japanese so when I tried the U.S version, it region locked me.
Now I have the International version, I might be pretty busy. And i recently bought a Master Grade
Gundam that would take me a while to finish due to time problems so I might update late.
Anyways! I was listening to DoLL by: Terra while writing this chapter. It's a DDR song I know
Ichi's song: Sky High by: Masakazu Morita
Ichirukiness: Glow by: Fumiko Orikasa and Masakazu Morita.
AkaBaka-chan signing off!