The Music of Angels and Demons: Part 1

Ah, this was literally music to his ears. The paltry solo his muse had been given was now, at long last, being rehearsed. The melancholy melody floating up from the orchestra pit and swirling together with her angelic voice made his spirit soar more than any other part of Mozart’s comedic opera so far. And it was all because she was singing.

So far, no one else had figured out just how much potential this young and untried soprano held within her because she was so shy and content to stay hidden within the shadows of the chorus and only occasionally taking the spotlight. He was different. From the moment he had heard her voice and seen her face, he had known. She had the voice that would take the melodies he had written out and give them an unearthly or heavenly quality.

All he had to do now was wait for the right time to approach her and help her to realize her full potential. With his help, she would shine brighter than the spotlight used to illuminate her figure on that stage. It was only a matter of time.

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“Miss Orihime! Would you please put some more despair into your tone?! Your character is dejected for having lost that pin! The more sorrow in your voice, the more the audience will enjoy the absolute absurdity of the situation!”

Cheeks flushing in embarrassment at the chastisement, Orihime ducked her head apologetically and stammered, “I’m very sorry, Maestro Rose! It won’t happen again!”

Despite his harsh tone, Rose Otoribashi, the world renowned pianist and now conductor of the Royal Opera House, was not that upset at the young Orihime Inoue’s performance. For a girl of her age, she was quite talented and taking into consideration how she came from a family of well-known musicians it really wasn’t that surprising that she would find her way into the music industry.

Unlike most girls at the opera house, Orihime Inoue was not one who deliberately tried to ‘steal the limelight’ from others. She never tried to force her singing, acting or dancing abilities. Everything she did was completely natural, which was good in its own way since her performance was never fake. However, when it came time for her to have a solo such as this one, Orihime’s naturally shy personality would hold her back.

On the other hand, Rose could see the determined light enter the young woman’s eyes as she asked politely, “May I try it once more from the beginning, please?”

It was difficult to keep himself from smiling indulgently as Rose turned to the orchestra in front of him and said in a business-like tone, “From the top then,” and then waited a few seconds for the orchestra to get ready before he gave the downbeat.

They had not gotten thirty measures into the short aria before Rose heard a commotion from backstage. Quickly signaling the orchestra and Orihime to stop, Rose turned his gaze to see a group of people making their way onstage. It was a few seconds before Rose trusted himself to speak because if there was one thing the singers, orchestra members, backstage crew and everyone else on the opera house staff knew it was that you never, ever interrupted a rehearsal for any reason whatsoever. However, as Rose’s gaze swept the group making their way onto the stage and decided that it might not be a good idea to start lecturing his bosses and a wealthy looking man with another equally well-dressed young man who was probably his son about proper conduct during a rehearsal.

Instead, Rose settled for saying in a polite but slightly frosty tone, “Welcome gentlemen. As you can see we are rehearsing at the moment.”

Shunsui Kyoraku, one of the Royal Opera House founders and managers, let out a booming laugh and said jovially, “I apologize, Maestro, for this untimely interruption, but the news we have to convey is of the highest importance.”

Throwing an arm around the shoulders of the older gentleman, Shunsui said officially, “Attention everyone! May I have your attention, please! My partner, Jyuushiro Ukitake, and I are immensely pleased to have made the acquaintance of Monsieur Isshin Kurosaki about a week ago at the Royal Opera House Gala where we celebrated the beginning of a new opera season. Today, Count Kurosaki came in to our office today to tell us that he would be honored to become our newest patron.”

Stepping forward, Jyuushiro Ukitake said in a quieter, but no less enthusiastic tone, “As a result of this generous contribution, we will now be able to add the opera Otello by Giuseppe Verdi onto this season’s program.”

For a moment, there was a hush over the gathering of people before a loud cheer went up from cast and crew alike. As for Rose, while he didn’t outwardly show much emotion, inside his heart felt like it was flying in ecstasy. Long had he desired to conduct a Verdi opera and now here was his chance.

When the clamor died down, Rose inclined his head politely and said, “On behalf of the Royal Opera House, I would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks for your generosity, Count Kurosaki, sir.”

Isshin Kurosaki let out a hearty laugh and said kindly, “Ah, but it was my pleasure, Maestro Otoribashi! My wife was a great lover of all the art forms, God rest her soul, and it seems my son and daughters have begun to show the same inclinations as my dear Masaki. Being a music lover myself, this contribution to the opera house is a pleasure to give.”

Turning to the young man on his right, Isshin threw an arm around the young man’s shoulders and said, “Now, if only my son would find a nice young woman to escort to the opera house, I should want for nothing!”

As the young man’s face burned and he lurched away from his father’s arm, Shunsui laughed heartily along with Isshin for a moment before he said to the group at large, “Now, we will leave so that you may continue rehearsing,” and then he and Jyuushiro led the Kurosaki’s off stage.

The moment they had left the stage, Rose picked up his baton and said briskly, “All right everyone. From the beginning of the aria, if you please. Miss Orihime, are you ready? Miss Orihime? Miss Orihime?”

The young woman on stage suddenly jumped and wrenched her gaze away from where the group of men had left and to the conductor and stammered, “What? Oh yes! I’m ready!”

Fifteen minutes later, Orihime was finally told that she was free to go. As she left, Maestro Rose gave her a few more pointers and things he wanted her to fix before the next rehearsal and she promised that she would work hard on those parts of her aria.

The moment Orihime stepped foot backstage, her long-time friend and fellow chorus member, Rukia Kuchiki, ran up to her, clasped her hand and all but dragged Orihime to a secluded corner. People were milling about everywhere, working on costumes, painting sets and carrying props, but while the two girls could be seen quite easily and overheard, no one paid them any attention.

Before Orihime had a chance to open her mouth, Rukia leaned forward and demanded, “All right. Start talking.”

Orihime opened and closed her mouth in confusion a few times before she managed to ask, “What are you talking about?”

Rukia rolled her eyes and said in an exasperated tone, “Don’t give me that. I saw the way you were looking at the Kurosaki boy. From the moment he stepped onstage, you only had eyes for him. I could see from your expression that you knew him from somewhere, so start talking.”

As Rukia had been talking, a blush had overtaken Orihime’s whole face and she stammered, “Did I really stare at him? And it was that obvious? Oh, what if he noticed! What will he think of me?”

Waving her hand in front of Orihime’s face, Rukia stated, “It’s too late to worry about that now. What’s done is done. Now, tell me how you know him.”

“How she knows who?”

Both girls jumped in surprise and whirled around to see their three friends who worked backstage: Renji, Uryu and Chad. Renji and Chad both worked with sets and props, while Uryu helped out with costumes.

Glaring at Renji, Rukia said, “Don’t sneak up on us like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

Crossing his arms and trying to suppress a grin, Renji retorted, “You just need to pay better attention to your surroundings. Anyone could have sneaked up on you.”

Cutting Rukia off before she could start bickering with Renji, Uryu said smoothly, “That aside, I am also curious to hear just how our young friend seems to know our new patron’s son. Just what social circles were you a part of before you came to be with us, Miss Orihime?”

Shaking her head vigorously, Orihime said, “Back then, I didn’t even know he was from a wealthy and influential family. We met when I was eleven and Sora was a part of the Royal Orchestra and they were doing an international tour. One day, I was playing outside in the streets while the orchestra rehearsed and a strange man approached me.”

Looking down at her hands, Orihime said quietly, “I was so young then and the man seemed very kind, so when he offered to walk me across the street to see a beautiful new toy in a shop window I decided to go along with him.”

A small smile brightened up her face as she went on, “However, before I could reach out and take the man’s hand, a hand a little bigger than my own reached out and clasped mine. I turned to see a boy about my age, with bright orange hair, brown eyes and the fiercest scowl I had ever seen. He looked at me reproachfully for a moment before he scowled at the tall man and said firmly that our carriage was leaving and that we needed to go. Then without waiting for the man to respond, the boy started dragging me away from the man.

“Once we could no longer be seen by the man, the boy turned around to make sure he hadn’t followed us and then frowned at me.

“‘What were you thinking?’ he demanded.

“I stared at him for a moment before I whispered, ‘He was just going to show me a toy in the window.’

“The boy scoffed and said fiercely, ‘He could have snatched you up and made off with you if I hadn’t come along.’

“It suddenly occurred to me what this boy was trying to imply and I said in surprise, ‘You mean he wasn’t a nice man?’

“’Of course not,’ said the boy, ‘Didn’t your mom and dad tell you to keep away from strangers?’

“I shook my head and said, ‘I don’t have any parents,’ and the boy looked stunned for a moment before I continued, ‘But my older brother said that if any strange people try to talk to me that I should politely excuse myself from them and find him right away.’

“’Where’s your older brother then?’ asked the boy, ‘Older brothers are supposed to look after their younger siblings.’

“’He’s busy practicing with the orchestra right now,’ I said, ‘He doesn’t mind if I sit in on the rehearsals, but the weather was so nice today that I decided to play outside.’

“The boy looked thoughtful for a moment before he said, ‘So your brother plays in the orchestra. How long are they going to be in this city?’

“’I think for the rest of the month.’

“The boy then looked at me seriously, took my hand, made a bow and said formally, ‘My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. For the next month, I’ll keep you company and make sure you’re safe while your brother is in rehearsals.’”

At this point in Orihime’s story, she paused which gave Rukia a chance to ask, “So what happened?”

Orihime smiled at her friend and said, “For the next month, he was as good as his word. Every day Sora rehearsed, Ichigo was there to keep me company. He told me that his family lived just down the street from the opera house. A few times, he even brought his younger sisters, Karin and Yuzu, with their companion, Misato Ochi.”

Once again, Orihime paused and this time Renji asked, “What happened after the month was up?”

Taking a deep breath, Orihime said, “Well, the orchestra moved on to the next city, so Sora and I went with them. The day before we left, Ichigo and I said good-bye to one another. He made me promise that I would never go off with strangers no matter what. And I made him promise that he would practice smiling at least once a month. That’s the last I saw of him until today, but barely a day goes by that I don’t think of Ichigo and Sora.”

When she was finished, no one said anything for a time and then Uryu said, “An interesting story. I don’t think our patron’s son got a good look at you, otherwise he might have said something.”

Renji quirked a skeptical brow at Uryu and said, “Or maybe he did recognize Orihime, but was too full of himself and his high status to-OW!”

Scowling up at Renji as he bent down to rub his shin, Rukia said fiercely, “Don’t you dare say that! If that’s the way he thinks, then he’s no good for Orihime and she could do better!”

Holding up her hands, Orihime said hastily, “I only knew him for a short time, but I don’t think Ichigo and his family thinks like that. He was a very good friend and very kind to me.”

Chad spoke up in his low, slow voice, “And you love him.”

Orihime’s cheeks burned as she stuttered, “Well…I wouldn’t put it quite like that…”

Taking her friend’s hands, Rukia said with a big smile, “But just imagine if he did fall in love with you. It would almost be like a Cinderella story!”

Orihime’s eyes became slightly unfocused as she said, “Yes. Imagine that…”

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After the rehearsal, Sosuke Aizen carefully packed away his cello and music and made his way backstage. In the corner, he saw Orihime Inoue surrounded by her friends and talking animatedly with them.

“And just what are you staring at, Aizen?” came a cheerful voice from behind him.

Aizen didn’t have to turn around to know that the voice was coming from the principal clarinet player and old acquaintance, Gin Ichimaru. He also didn’t have to turn around to know that Gin was grinning.

Coming around to stand next to Aizen, Gin asked, “Or maybe it would be more accurate to ask whom you are so interested in?”

Not bothering to reply, Aizen turned his head slightly at the sound of a particular set of footsteps and said, “Ah, there you are Kaname. I was just getting ready to leave.”

Holding his hat in one hand and a cane in the other, the sightless eyes of Kaname looked past Aizen as he replied, “My apologies. The maestro detained me so that he could talk about how Nell would like to have a little more rubato during her recitative section that we were just rehearsing.”

Aizen did not reply and began making his way out of the opera house with his two companions in his wake. As he walked, Aizen looked over at Orihime one last time before he opened a back door and stepped out onto the street.

Very soon, his very first musical masterpiece would be completed. He just had to put the finishing touches on it. Then he would take it to the publishers and he would begin his career as a successful and brilliant composer. After all this, Aizen could then use his immense talents for both music and persuasion to help the young and promising Orihime Inoue become a star. With his music and her voice, they would be the musical highlight of the century.

Just a little longer and then his plan would come to fruition. Like the saying said, good things come to those who wait and if nothing else, Aizen was a man who didn’t mind waiting in the least.