Music to my Heart (A Bleach/Ulquihime fic)

Chapter 14

This story belongs to Cerice Belle at FanFiction.net. I am only publishing it in order to share it with more people. All credits go to her.
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"OK OK stop!" demanded Rangiku, putting down the hairbrush she was using for a microphone and glaring pointedly at her two friends. Rukia and Orihime sighed in unison and stopped playing their instruments. In Rukia's case the small school piano, in Orihime's her violin. "Orihime what is wrong with you today?" Rangiku demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

"Nothing Ran I'm just tired," Orihime replied.

Rangiku gave her a look, "You don't have the time to be tired! The assignment is due next week! And you know what's after that? Don't answer I'll tell you! The concert! The Christmas Eve concert that the entire town will be showing up to see! Maybe it'll convince my parents to take my music seriously, who knows!"

Orihime put her violin down, feeling tired, "Sorry Ran, I know it's important, I just haven't been feeling well."

"Honestly Ran, cut her some slack," said Rukia practically. "We're seniors now and we're all feeling tired. And you know how hard she works."

Rangiku's gaze softened and she rubbed her neck ruefully, "No I'm sorry. I'm just stressed and angry that's all; been having a rough week. Seriously Hime, you need to get some sleep, you've been out of it more than usual all week."

Orihime propped her violin against the piano and took a seat next to Rukia. It had been a week since the disastrous incident with Ulquiorra. Every time she'd seen him in class or when they had been given time to work on the assignment together, they had pointedly avoided each other and only spoke in one-word sentences if they had to. Every time she had wanted to apologise she couldn't form the words, everything sounded stupid in her mind, and somehow, she didn't think it would be that easy to make things right.

She caught Rangiku and Rukia staring at her witheringly and realised she must have blanked out again. She shook her head and put herself back on track.

"It's not that easy, Ran. I've gotta get at least 90% in all my exams if I want to get into medical school, and I don't know where music's going to fit into it all."

Rangiku sat down on the small table in the corner and let her long, tanned legs dangle over the edge. "Pfft study, who needs it? You can just become a world famous violinist no problems."

"Being a violinist doesn't pay all the bills," reproved Orihime.

"Besides," added Rukia in her sensible way, "you need to at least try. I mean what if you don't make it as a pop-star, Ran, what are you gonna do then?"

Rangiku waved her hand airily, "Please, if that doesn't happen, and I say if, then I'll just fall back on plan B and become a supermodel."

Rukia grinned ruefully, "Well you may have the hair and body to do that, but us mere mortals need to actually try in life. I don't know what'll happen if I don't achieve at least a final mark of 90%, I think brother will disown me."

Orihime nodded in agreement, her aunt would probably take away all expenses, and she wouldn't be able to get into the top medical school that she wanted to go to.

Rangiku humphed with a derogative air, "Well you two may be happy with boring little lives as doctors and lawyers, but I'm going to make my fortune and get out of here. And all those stupid bastards who didn't see how great I am will regret it. Every time he sees me in a magazine he'll realise what a stupid mistake he made and how much of an idiot he is! And then he'll ring me up and tell me he's sorry and I'll tell him that sorry isn't good enough. And besides, I'll be married to Taylor Lautner and have five gorgeous children. And ooohhh will he be sorry!" she finished with a deadly gleam in her eyes.