Diclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or it's characters. They belong to Tite Kubo. OC characters are mine and I just let them play in this field.

AN: This is my first AU story, and fisr attempt of Fem!Renji character. They also might be OOC, but hey this is fanfiction so I think there are allowed some liberties. Also I am sorry for any grammatical or spelling errors. English is not my native language.

Chapter 1

The CEO of the Kuchiki International was staring out from his large office windows that showed a large portion of the scenery in Karakura. Kuchiki Byakuya, who was the current leader of this fastidious company, was rather annoyed. In his hand he held an invitation to a grand ball held by Shihoin-Urahara family. The ball was created for charity purpose but everyone who was anyone should attend there. The ball was held annually, but for the past eight years Byakuya had declined the personal invitation as politely as he could. Instead of himself, his sister-in-law attended in his behalf to represent the company. This year it was not going to work, as Shihoin Yoruichi, a very close friend of his family had put a threat in to the invitation. If Byakuya was not to show up with company that night to the ball, the Shihoin-Urahara clan would spend their next New Year at the Kuchiki Mansion. Byakuya preferred only closest family at New Years and not the whole hullabaloo with Urahara Kisuke. He barely could stand the sing-songing man.

Byakuya knew that Yoruichi would gain a heartily invitation to his house from his grand father, so he had to do something. When Byakuya had called to his old time friend to yet again decline the offer he had been denied. Yoruichi had simply told him that everyone was expecting him to show up to the ball with an avec. And this could not be Rukia as she had been given an invitation of her own. This was what irritated Byakuya the most it, would have been easier to take Rukia with him, killing two flies at once, but no. He had to have a date of his own and Rukia was probably going to bring that scowling idiot who was still at medical school, Kurosaki. He could have bothered to show up for a moment to this ridiculous event, but now he would have to drag some poor woman with him, and who on earth he would want to take there with him. He did not have many female friends around him.

Byakuya had been married, eight years ago precisely. He had been young had hopelessly in love. His marriage with Rukia's sister Hisana had not lasted even a year. She had gone and found herself another man, wealthier that he had been at the time. They had divorced and Hisana had moved to the States with her new hubby leaving her sister behind. Byakuya had taken the responsibility of Rukia, had given her roof, family and opportunity to do what she wanted. And Rukia had been very nice and thankful, she had finished high school, had gone to college and currently she was working under him as an AD on advertisement department of Kuchiki International. Byakuya was very proud of her. Rukia was more of a sister to him, than she had ever been a sister to Hisana. He did occasionally speak with Hisana, but his feeling of love for her had disappeared thru the years, turned to disappointment, but the short marriage with her had left a scar inside him. It had not scarred him completely and lately he had been pondering if there were someone out there for him to share his life. He had started to think about this since Rukia had started dating Kurosaki Ichigo and his closest cousin Hidehiro was chasing after some mysterious skirt.

But now he had to find someone for the damn ball. Maybe he should find someone who could zap the boring people who were probably present there. Being boring was actually boring and Byakuya wanted to have something different in his life.

There was a knock at the door and Byakuya ordered the person to enter. He kept his back to the door and still held the irritating invitation.

"Sir, these came from the fax. The documents you needed about the Aizen & Ichimaru contract. Will you look at them now so I can file them immediately or shall I leave them on your table to be look at later?"

Byakuya turned around to look at his secretary. She smiled politely and held a binder that obviously contained the papers that was mentioned. The woman before him was dressed in black trousers and light green blouse. Her hair that was bright red was combed nicely and it was held in high ponytail where the hair would reach still to her mid back. On her fore head there was a piece of cloth to hide the tattoos she had obtained in her rather havoc youth. She was a polite woman and well educated, witch was quite rare to believe from a person who had lived most of her life in the Rukon slums just outside Karakura. Abarai Renka, she had been a close friend of Rukia in college and she had taken economics major. After graduating Rukia had managed to get her to apply to work in Kuchiki International and just in few years she had obtained the position of second-in-command in Byakuya's side. And in Byakuya's opinion she did her work with excellent accuracy, just like he wanted. There was still something about the woman that did not add up. It was like the woman was suffocating inside, and she was doing her best not to slip. Byakuya took another look at the woman and an idea came to his mind. And for the first time in years he decided to act upon his instinct rather than to ponder options for days.

"Leave the papers; I will look in to them. And, then Abarai-san, are you doing anything this evening?"

"Sir? No I am not sir. Is there a meeting that you need me for? I am sorry but I must have misplaced the memo then. If you need me I will be free for the evening."

"No, there is no meeting precise. I am asking it only because I need to have someone beside me at the Shihoin Grad ball. I am to attend there and I was simply told not go and attend alone. I am asking if you would join with me. I would rather have someone whom I know there with me than get an escort services it for me. Think it as a meeting outside Kuchiki Offices. Would you be able to assist me with this?"

"Aa, umm... I am not very good with dances and such sir, but if you really need help sit, then I will come."

"Good, thank you, you have helped me quite a lot. Now the ball starts at 7 pm. If you need time then, you may leave and go home to prepare. I will come and pick you up at 6.30 pm. Your address if probably still the same as it is in you personal info is it correct."

"Yes sir. I guess I'll be going then. Thank you, sir."

"No, thank you Abarai, you may have saved me from many things by doing this."

Byakuya nodded once more to his secretary and turned back to look out of the windows. He heard her saying goodbye and leaving the office. A shiver went thru Byakuya's spine. His instincts were saying that this was a turning point in his boring life and he was glad of his decision. His lips turned to a small smile.

Renka or Ren as she preferred everyone to call her practically ran to her home as fast as she could. She was having an evening with her boss. The person she had completely fallen in love with from the first sight. Three years ago when she had applied to Kuchiki International she had been surprised when she had met Rukia's brother the first time. She had thought the man very handsome, dark and mysterious. The very treats that would make any woman sway. He had cultured and smooth voice that made Ren knees wobble. First she had thought that it would be impossible for to even have a chance to even work with him, but she had been determined to show everyone that she was a hardworking employee. When she had worked long enough at the Kuchiki International a position as CEO's secretary had become open and Ren had applied. For her surprise she had gotten the position and for the past year she had been working side by side with the stoic raven head. But day by day it was becoming more difficult; the more time she spends with the Kuchiki the more she liked him. Few weeks before she had began to think that she might need to change jobs as it was becoming more difficult. Never before she had let any personal emotions like this to affect of her goals in life.

When she entered to her house she shared with her roommate she started to rummage thru her closets. She would need to be dressed well, probably in a gown or a dress. Most of her clothing was for work and some were casual attires. None of them looked like she could possibly wear for a grand ball. She could go and buy one, but it would eat most of her finances to be able to buy a dress for everyone likes. She wanted to scream. She kicked the closet door and cursed. She had only four hours to be dressed and ready.

She heard the front door open and she guessed that her housemate had shoved up from work. Maybe she could help. He roommate was a seamstress among other things. Lucky!

Ren went back downstairs and confronted her fiend. Her friend was removing her shoes and pulling her coat off when Ren started to explain what occurred to her at the office, she got the whole explanation in out of her in just few sentences.

"Let's go to ta living room Ren and ya sit down. Ya so exited that ya barely stay at yer feet. So chill a little and let me take a breather. Had a bad morning shift at the bar coz that damn Zaraki was let in, got the man barely out with Ikkaku's help. And the there was that weird guy who just sits there, drinks coffee and well dunno. "

Ren smiled. She could imagine her friend howling and barking orders to Ikkaku Madarame the current usher at the "Bony Grasshopper", a bar that Takako had purchased together with one of their college friends Jigura Nnoitra. Kuwahara Takako, once Rukon origin, now expert seamstress and a bar owner, was Renka's childhood friend. They had survived the streets together. Takako only grinned in respond and fanned her hand waving it in front of the red head.

"Maa, don't ya worry Ren-chan. Imma making magic, and ya know since ya been talking about yer fancy pants boss, Imma been prepared. Those kinda men know only fast moves. So go now and bathe, put yer nice make-up and such. Come back to Taka-Chan and Imma make ya a princess of fire so yer man's pants will burn. "

Ren grinned and well to her task of preparing for the evening. She bathed, washed her hair with care and applied make up that would look nice on her. She his her tattoos in her fore head with make up so there would be no trace of them with out making it look too heavy. Then she went back to her friends. Takako was waiting her at the living room and with her there was a doll that she used when she needed to make new costumes. On the doll there was a dress that made Ren's mouth open in awe.

"Takako, when did ya start this one? It's beautiful."

"About a year ago. It's been ready fer ya for a while. Just in case ya get yer boss ta ask ya out. Imma know this is no date. But whatta hell. Imma make ya a new one if ya actually get into a real date. So get in ta this now so Imma can make sure it fits fer ya. Ya don't have much time anyway. Didn't ya say he's gonna come pick ya up soon?"

Ren did what was told and after some agonizing moment with pins and needles she was ready to go. All she had to do was waiting for her boss to come.

At 6.30 pm sharp the door bell rang and Takako went to the door and opened it. Kuchiki Byakuya stood at the door dressed in a black tuxedo. Takako introduced herself and let the man in. Byakuya introduced himself in kind and came inside. He was ushered to the living room where Ren would be waiting him. Takako only smiled and vanished to upstairs.

When Byakuya had come to the neighborhood he was surprised. Few years before this area of Karakura had been known of rather suspicions one, but after the police had started a campaign of cleaning the neighborhoods this one had become a prosperous site. The houses were now bought with rather big prices and those ho had bought the houses before could consider them lucky. He was rather sure that with current markets Renka would not be able to purchase the house herself let alone with someone. He was aware that the woman was not living alone as Rukia had once mentioned her having a housemate. He did not know about the person whom his secretary was living with, only that they were old friends and same gender. When he parked in front of the house he had taken a good look at the exterior. The house was mediums size, two stores building with a nice front yard. It was cream colored with a white picked fence. It looked nice and made a homey feeling. On the front gate there were two names imprinted on the tag. Abarai, Kuwahara. He rang a doorbell and a woman answered the door. The woman was short, delicate, long brown hair and green mischievous eyes. This was not his secretary so he could only assume that this was Renka's housemate and when she invited him inside she introduced herself as Kuwahara Takako. She beckoned him politely inside and guided him to the living room where Abarai Renka would be waiting for him. Then the short woman disappeared.

When he entered to the living room he stopped completely and looked at the woman who worked for him. He was probably staring at the woman with his mouth open, something he was not known to do. But the sight in front of him was so tantalizing that his eyes were glued to the sight. The woman before him was now dressed in long fiery red gown with long sleeves that covered the normally visible tattoos on her forearms. Her cleavage was not too low to show anything but the way the upper part of the gown was cut gave a good implication that this woman had rather developed bosom. The material of the dress was satin and silk. Byakuya was stunned. He had imagined that Ren would appear in skimpy dress and he had another dress in his car for just incase emergency if his secretary did not know how to dress for the occasion. But he was wrong and the mere idea for other socialites gawking at his personal assistant made Byakuya's blood boil for reasons unknown.

The evening would definitely be interesting. Byakuya smiled. Oh what fire was in front of him.

AN2: Please, be so kind ant let me know by reviewing what you think of this. Should I continue my attempt at entertaining you :).