So much for that
Ichigo was sweating bullets. He was wringing his hands, and every time he heard a shifting noise or footfalls, his head snapped at the front door. He'd been acting like this for half an hour now, and it was driving Rukia insane.
"Ichigo, if you don't relax, I'll show you how relaxed a dead body can be."
Ichigo scowled at her, "Can you blame me? I'm the one who's staking my life to kiss your brother's ass so he can approve of our relationship!"
"Exactly!" Rukia exclaimed, raising her arms, "you're gonna be kissing his ass, not fighting him to the death. Sheesh! What's the problem with putting your best foot forward every once in a while?"
"I know! I know! I'm just…" Ichigo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I'm just really, really nervous."
Rukia smiled and gripped his shoulder gently, "He's my brother, Ichigo. Not your enemy. Relax."
Ichigo chuckled. "Well, just so you know, I'd rather take on Grimmjow any day than to sit on the same table with Byakuya for dinner."
"Is that so, Kurosaki?"
Rukia and Ichigo stood up immediately, their postures rigid as if they were soldiers called into arms by their commander. At that moment, Ichigo would have preferred to go to war rather than face Byakuya. The Captain of the 6th division was dressed in human clothing, which shocked Ichigo, who had the good sense not to show it.
"Brother." Rukia bowed her head politely. Byakuya nodded at her.
Ichigo and Byakuya looked at each other in awkward silence – well, for Ichigo, at least – before the orange-haired teenager held out his hand and greeted the Kuchiki noble, "How are you doing, Byakuya?"
Byakuya looked at Ichigo's hand disdainfully – as disdainful as his emotionless face would allow – before shaking it. "I am fine, Kurosaki. Thank you," he said, taking out a handkerchief and wiping his hand. Ichigo squinted his eyes at Byakuya. Rukia, sensing Ichigo's reiatsu gradually flaring up, gripped his arm and chirped, "Ichigo, why don't you inform your family that my brother has arrived?"
"Yeah, sure." Ichigo muttered. He controlled his reiatsu, for Rukia's sake. He was pretty sure that kissing up to her brother didn't entail hitting him square on the face. Although, with Byakuya's speed, he doubted he could do that while he was still in his human body. Maybe if he was in his soul form...
No! Calm down, Ichigo. This is for Rukia. No Byakuya, no Rukia.
Ichigo knew getting Byakuya's approval was important to Rukia. And as if he hasn't already shown it countless of times before, he'd do literally anything for Rukia.
"Hey, dad, Bya – "
Isshin's foot landed on Ichigo's face before he could finish his sentence.
"Tsk tsk, you're getting careless, my son," he pulled Ichigo up by his collar and dusted him off, "you must never be caught unawares. BE VIGILANT!"
Ichigo slapped Isshin and tried in vain keep the blood oozing from his nose from getting unto his shirt. Too late. "Ah, great! Look at what you did, you big old dolt! I've got blood on my shirt, and before I even got to sit down for dinner with Rukia's brother."
"Oooooh, is he here? Is Byakuya finally here?" Isshin asked, his eyes sparkling mischievously.
Ichigo gripped him by the shoulders tightly and said in a low and serious voice, "Yes, he's here. And I need to send this out, so listen very carefully and get it into that thick noggin of yours, okay?" Ichigo closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before he continued, "Getting Byakuya's approval means a lot to Rukia, and Rukia means a lot to me. This is my only chance to convince Byakuya that I really do love his sister. So, please, just help me out here."
Isshin's eyes became gentle, and he smiled as he clasped his son by the shoulder as well.
"I understand. Trust me, we'll help you."