It's different living in a city compared to a small town like Karakura Town. The busybodies and the traffic is the same and the unsleeping nights are exactly like Naruki City's. But, the buildings are taller and cramped even closer together. There's always something happening, whether it be a party or a shooting, and everyone is a stranger to each other.
Ichigo doesn't know if it's good or bad yet. It's still a fresh start, whether the change becomes good or bad.
He'd like to still be in the background rather than something the tabloids are constantly talking about. Unfortunately, it seems people like his music too much. Or people hate it too much.
"Corazón Gritando. Means Screaming Heart. Though they definitely make my ears scream for them to stop." The audience behind the cameras laugh loudly at the talk show host's statement.
"Now, now. They aren't that bad. They certainly know how to reach the newer generation!" The other talk show host says as the scripted advocate.
The first host shrugs with a good-natured laugh. "And they know how to annoy the more experienced artists. But, they do look nice."
The audience laughs again, scripted like everything else. A picture shows up on the screen behind the hosts.
The two members of Corazón Gritando stood back to back, the taller of the two holding a guitar and the other leaning their head back against their shoulder.
The taller one seemingly glowed beneath the low blue lighting of the music venue, their brown skin contrasting with the black jeans and black sleeveless top and their eyes covered by a white blindfold. The other, with their long orange hair pulled up into a ponytail to show off their shaved sides, their bangs framing their face, and the white mask covering their entire neck and mouth with black teeth stitched in the front, appeared like a neon god beneath the blue light.
The photo was taken at just the right moment for the clothing to glimmer iridescent. The audience awed at the sight.
"They can certainly make a fashion statement! I can't wait to see what they'll wear for the Kyōraku party," The host continues, receiving a round of applause and cheers.
"And I can't wait to see how this mistake on Kyōraku's part will be seen." Laughter follows the host's barb.
FAST FAME OR A NEW LEGEND? A town duo takes the music rankings with a radical twist!
What's with the mask? What is Zangetsu hiding?
Foreigners steal a top 20 spot in Seireitei's Weekly Album Chart. For the fourth week in a row.
The phone is dropped onto its face and a heavy sigh fills the dark room. Ichigo buries his face into his pillow and closes his eyes.
"Stupid stuff again?" Yasutora speaks up from the other side of the bed, playing one of his farming sim games.
Ichigo pulls the blanket over his head with a groan. "Can we skip tomorrow's party?"
"It's really stupid then." Yasutora pauses his game before lowering it. He turns and pulls the blanket off of Ichigo's face. "And we can skip it... but they'll call us worse things than foreigners. No one skips a Kyōraku party unless they're dying."
Ichigo opens his eyes with a pout, glaring up at his partner. Yasutora smiles softly and lays down to face Ichigo.
"If we go, can we get ice cream afterwards?" Ichigo asks quietly.
"If you feel like running away from the paparazzi, then okay."
"Ugh." Ichigo plants his face into the pillow at the reminder.
Why did they have to get so fucking popular? He just wants to do music for a living!
Ichigo sighs again before lifting his head to rest his chin on his pillow. He grabs his phone and swipes out of the news. He hasn't checked his emails since they left the recording studio.
"Ichigo," Yasutora says without looking away from his video game.
Ichigo groans and gives the bigger man another glare. "I'm just checking my emails!"
"Which will lead to emailing people back. And then you're going to want to start planning more of our tour again."
Ichigo harrumphs, pretending he didn't hear his partner's correct assumption. He clicks on his email app and starts to look through them. Yasutora sighs quietly with a small smile before he leans over, kissing Ichigo's temple.
"I'll be taking your phone away once I'm finished with this game," Yasutora speaks against Ichigo's temple before leaning back. Ichigo rolls his eyes with a huff and rolls over twice to wedge himself against Yasutora's side.
"Whatever..." He mumbles petulantly. It's only a couple of emails anyway.
Kyōraku is a well-known family with connections in everything. Legal and... ambiguous—if rumors are to be believed. Either way, being invited to a Kyōraku hosted party is THE gateway ticket to go to higher places—the current head of the family, Kyōraku Shunsui is the ultimate partygoer and the best party host in all of Seireitei, and as long as someone is a good time during a party, he'll invite anyone; how to use the gateway ticket is the hard part.
Unlike with the Kuchiki or Shihōin where simply being involved with their name will bring someone to a pedestal, being involved with the Kyōraku usually has a bit more scrutinization to it.
Ichigo stares out of the tinted window. The streets fly past, getting a bit more crowded with each passing block. They're almost at the party venue. Fantastic.
He messes with the black bell sleeves of his blouse, keeping his thoughts on the scenery around them. His chest feels tight, but he blames white corset with the black lacework cinched tight around his torso.
There's a quiet sigh next to him and a large hand covers his own before he could tear a hole in the bell sleeve. Ichigo blinks and turns his head. Yasutora had his head turned towards Ichigo, the corners of his lips slightly down turned in a quiet frown.
Ichigo smiles softly and rests his other hand on Yasutora's. "I'll be okay. It's just one party."
He rolls his eyes, already knowing Yasutora is giving him a look through his sheer blindfold. He smiles a bit wider and brings his hand up to grab Yasutora's cheek. He leans up and kisses the corner of his mouth, still smiling.
"I'm okay, you overprotective idiot," Ichigo murmurs quietly, making Yasutora chuckle. He wraps an arm around Ichigo's waist and pulls him closer, placing a kiss to his temple.
"Say the word and we'll leave to get that ice cream, okay?" He speaks quietly against the ginger's temple. Ichigo hums with an unbidden smile, pressing against the body next to his.
"Got it," Ichigo hums before glancing out of the window. The limo is stopping.
His stomach lurches and he swallows quietly. He can see a dozen camera flashes and he can hear the clamoring of the paparazzi even if the limo walls muffled it.
Ichigo breathes in deeply, holding the breath for a few seconds, and slowly releases it. He pulls up his white mask he had loosened around his neck before nodding towards Yasutora.
Yasutora nods back, fidgeting with the gold buttons of his white suit jacket. He takes a deep breath himself before he opens the door.
The clamoring turns into shouts and Ichigo could barely see through the flashes. Yasutora exits first, keeping a hand on the door as he holds out the other for Ichigo. Ichigo rolls his eyes with a soft huff and takes the hand, slinking out of the limo.
His black skirt falls like water down his legs, only stopping before it could touch the ground because of his platform boots. Ichigo glances around with sharp eyes, passing over the paparazzi.
The party is taking place at one of the fancy businesses Kyōraku owns. Somewhere on the upper floors, but Ichigo didn't bother to read the invitation. There was a barrier blocking the paparazzi from bombarding the guests, but Ichigo could see some journalists through the windows.
Yasutora steps forward first and Ichigo immediately follows after, giving a peace sign and a wave towards the cameras. Might as well give them something.
"Zangetsu! Zangetsu! Look over here!"
"Zangetsu, why did you sleep withGinjō-san's girlfriend?!"
"Chad, will you ever go back to Mexico?"
"Chad! Give us a smile!"
"I think this is the worst we've dealt with," Ichigo states quietly, making Yasutora hum.
"Excluding the Aodan House?"
"Of course, excluding the Aodan House." Ichigo rolls his eyes. "I got a fucking scar from that night."
"A lovely scar," Yasutora adds with a smile.
He chuckles quietly at his partner's loud huff and red ears. They both ignore the questions bombarding them as the front doors are opened for them. Yasutora steps to the side and lets Ichigo enter first, making him roll his eyes again.
"Stop being such a gentleman. You can't be any more perfect," Ichigo huffs out. Yasutora only smiles softly before he walks up to the ginger's side, grabbing his fingers. Ichigo gives him a small look, but curls his fingers over Yasutora's and squeezes.
He faces forward and walks further into the building, leaving the paparazzi and their questions behind them.
"Zangetsu-san, Chad-san," A young woman steps forward, dressed in a black jumpsuit and her black hair pulled back into a twisted bun, and bows towards the two, "I thank you for attending this special occasion. I am Ise Nanao,Kyōraku-sama's assistant."
"We're grateful we were even given an invitation in the first place. Nice to meet you, Ise-san." Ichigo speaks while giving a polite bow towards the young woman, Yasutora following with a slightly deeper bow.
Nanao nods once before waving a hand towards a hallway behind her. "Please follow me. The party is on the 8th floor."
She leads the way with assured steps and a straight posture. Ichigo quickly glances around the lobby as he follows the young woman.
Chic silver and black with hints of dark pink. A minimalist lobby, but with an undertone of expert design to make it feel casual. It didn't hurt that the strelitzia flowers scattered around brought a fun touch.
"Kyōraku-sama is quite excited to meet the two of you. He finds that you two becoming popular so fast is quite astounding," Nanao speaks directly despite not even glancing back at the two young men.
She stops before an elevator and presses the button before she spins around. "He's never invited someone to a party so soon in their career. He finds you two promising."
Ichigo raises an eyebrow at the spoken words. He stays silent, but inclines his head.
"We're thankful for the investment." Yasutora doesn't add anything more. There wasn't any need.
Don't fuck up. They both could hear it loud and clear.
A twitch crosses the woman's lips before she nods once and spins back around. Ichigo glances through his peripherals with a slight smirk, making Yasutora huff silently.
The nerves quickly die away and Ichigo's stubbornness starts to come forth. He can't really do parties well, but he can ace nearly all tests that come his way.
"This is going to be more fun than I thought." Ichigo schools his expression as the elevator dings. He walks in after Nanao, keeping his posture straight.
He stares at Yasutora when he turns to face the doors. Yasutora nods his head with an eye roll. Definitely. Ichigo can tell even though his partner has that blindfold on.
Enabling idiot. Ichigo loves him so much. They're going to cause so much chaos.
At 17 years old, Kurosaki Ichigo and Sado Yasutora form a band. Three months later, they sold out any time they booked a club or a bar in Karakura Town or Naruki City. Six months after that, they sold out in Yokohama and Tokyo and were even recognized in public.
Two and a half years after the formation of Corazón Gritando, they were a musical wonder and disaster, depending on who's asked. Consistently in the top 10 on music charts and already gaining the hearts of hundreds of thousands—and counting—in Japan alone.
Ichigo didn't care about the fame or the money. He just cared about the music—one of the many loves he and his late mother shared. Music was in their blood, and Ichigo refuses to let anything get in the way of what he loves.
Unknowingly, this causes a chain reaction in the world of fame and status. Lives are changed and the entire system might just end up destroyed.
Ichigo only ever cared about his love for music. And Yasutora only ever cared about Ichigo. So what if they're the cause of a possible revolution, an attempted assassination, and a complete overhaul of celebrity standards? Not exactly in that order.
Hey! I hope you all like the first chapter! Much, much shorter than most of my other first chapters in my other stories, but I think it'll fit this story more than my long ass chapters.
I haven't decided on how I want this story to go; if it's going to be more like a whole bunch of connected one-shots, or an actual linear story. Eh. I'll figure it out, though... I do like that first idea...
This was more of a cozy, mostly, lighthearted idea I had—with the help of one my of coworkers (thank you so much)—so I really don't know where I'm going to go with this story, but we're all on the ride together! You have no choice!
On a side note, I have been pumping out chapters recently! Yay! For both new stories and my already posted ones! Woo! I have no idea how long this writing spree is going to last, so I am going to try and update as much as I can!
Anyways, I hope you all will enjoy the story! Bye!
WhovianWhoudini