Calm before the Storm (Complete)

As Ruby's finger presses produced the peaceful, upbeat serenade, the candle's flaring light seemed to grow. It seemed to have absorbed the light and joy emanating from the sounds of the piano chords. This gave the previously pitch black room a hint of tranquility. If inspecting, one would now be able to discern a letter with red seal sitting atop her otherwise empty desk. Inscribed on it was the recipient Rubianca Oukami and the sender...

Ruby's previous heartfelt disposition changes abruptly once more. Now, instead, her heart begins to beat faster...really fast. Blood rushes through her veins into every inch of her body. Her eyes still closed and posture impeccable, Rubianca's mind is filled with the countless battles she has trialed and survived.

And once again, the tune transforms.

OOC: (New song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIlBrx3GXI)

Xarath's head was still tilted backwards, free stands of his pitch-black hair softly brushing his shoulders, his left one once more bare as the sleeve of his rope pooled on his elbow. He still had not noticed, hadn't noticed anything at all. His eyes were still closed, hiding the green orbs from the world, long, black lashes barely touching the milky white skin of his face. His lips were parted slightly, while his chest rose and fell with the calm breathes he took.
For once not a single tongue click could be heard.

Then, suddenly the melody changed once more, setting his own blood boiling, making his fingers twitch and eyebrows knitting together.
Fighting, fighting, fighting - fighting and surviving.
She was telling him about it.
And once more his whole posture calmed again, still listening intensely to the stories she created with her piano.

During this last, violent melody, Ruby's movements and posture had become more intense. Her fingers pressed down on the keys with more force, with more fierceness. Her heightened cardiovascular state caused her firm tendrils to move with previously unseen speed and determination. At times, one could say her hands themselves had mastered Flash Step. Her expression had transformed slightly. Her brows were slightly furrowed and her lips frowned. Not surprisingly, her eyes were still closed.

At every press, Ruby's entire body tenses. Her arm muscles tighten with abnormal levels of contraction. The battles had led her to visions of death, of destruction. The loss of her loved ones began to plague her sight. Gen, Ikki...and god forbid Xarath.

Her lips part, displaying her now clenched white teeth. Her cigarette tumbles down to the floor, its ashes flickering and then descending in suit. And once again, Ruby abruptly changes tone. The candle light dies.

OOC: (Final song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be-loLSUWT0)

[OOC: lol Xarath's fighting theme. xD win <3]

As the last melody started Xarath swallowed heavily, knowing just too well which song was being played right now. Still dazed by the wonderful melodies, be they joyful or sorrowful, his eyes behind his closed lids started to dance as imagination started to wave its own story.

His blood pumped even faster, he could feel his pulse quicken, felt the urge to... to break free. Let it out.

Xarath's arms loosened around his knees - the fingers now clawing into the pants of his uniform, slighting tearing on them. Yes, break free. Move, fight, do something, do it, do it, do it.

And then, in the moment the candle went out Xarath's head fell forwards - connecting with his knees, though he did not feel the impact, did not feel how his loose hair formed a curtain around his face.

His blood calmed down, though he was panting breathlessly.
He felt exhausted, as if he'd been running for ages.

During her final melody, the darkness of the sounds had subsequently darkened her Office. It was now pitch black. Her back was now slightly hunched and her movements had become more unorthodox. Her teeth were still tightened, pushing against each other in uncontrollable rage.

Ever since her last tune, a small crowd of 5th Division Shinigami had amassed within the single hallway that led to her Office. The stood, some with eyes closed and others with eyes open as they soak in the sounds of their Captain's emotions. Well, no one knew of her true sentimental state. Each key press echoed through the Tribunal. The Head Quarters itself had lost its way, had lost its light during the serenade.

And then came the final act. Her ten fingers swiftly hover over the second set of alphabetical notes and begin to pound furiously in rhythmic succession. Her head cocks back and forth, her triceps and biceps convulse and her breasts bounce apologetically as her figure jerks back and forth. Her brown bangs lunge forward and then return to strike her cheeks with furious charge. Her ponytail strikes her back repeatedly due to her bodily swing.

The millisecond after Ruby strikes the final key, her arms retract as if of their own fearful desire. Of their fear of the instruments possessive maw. They land on either side of her, palms face down on the bench. Her back was still hunched slightly and her head tilted down. Her brows were furrowed and her gape was now closed within a frown. She opens her eyes.

And then her Office's steel door slams shut.

The loud bang of the office door, as it connected once more with the doorframe, made Xarath's head snap backwards and eyes open wide in shock.
Then his head bowed again.

She had kicked him out.

Not only out of her office, no, to him this action seemed like she regretted ever showing him this part of her.
He clicked his tongue twice.
He should not have stayed here, should just have left for his own office.

Slowly Xarath rose back to his feet, the palm of his left hand brushing the wall for support as he stood up, once more clicking his tongue. As he finally was straight he slowly tilted his head upwards, his loose hair tickling once more his cheeks and bare shoulder. Xarath growled in annoyance as he quickly lifted his right arm, his hand loosing his hair tie skillfully - freeing all of his hair, which immediately framed his slim figure, the tips of it just ending at his bottom. Then, just as quickly, did he push the sleeve of his left arm back up where it was supposed to be.

Then he turned and for the first time he noticed the small crowd.
Once more he could not suppress a low growl as a glimmer of anger lit up his eyes. He had shamed her with staying in front of her door, listening to her secrets and on their faces he could not see any regret at all. If he was kicked out, how could they just stand here peacefully?

"You." he breathed out coldly, the members of 5th immediately turning their attention on him. "Idiotic mongrels. Do you have no work at all?" Tongue click as he took a step forward. "Do we pay you for standing around in the hallway twiddling your thumbs?" Some of those fools dared to shake their heads. Backtalking? Together they had shamed their captain and then they were backtalking him? Did they really place him that low?

He could not suppress the sneer that touched his face, showed with his expression just how angry he was. At least now some of them had the brain to take a fearful step backwards.

"We are here to collect information. If you do not do it you are useless. If you are useless I have no need for you." Tongue click. "If I have no need for you then I will cut of your brainless heads." he said harshly, still slowly stepping closer to the members, who by now looked everything but comfortable.

"So... get to work."

Immediately the small crowd turned on their heels and hurried down the hallway. Xarath waited until they were gone out of his eyesight before he stopped down and turned his head over his shoulder - glancing at the steel door. He snorted, clicked his tongue and glanced forward again before starting to walk once more.

Miscalculated. Mistaken. Snooping.
No, he could never be angry at Oukami-taichou for kicking him out like that - the woman had every right to do so after his pompous behavior. He was also not angry at those fools, he was angry at himself.
It was not like him to behave like this.
It was not like him to try and bond.
He would not make that mistake again.

Xarath hurried his steps even more, his free hair tailing behind him like a dark cloud as he vanished down the hallway.

He'd head to his office.
He had work to do.