All characters property of Tite Kubo…
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Chapter 3
This was how Byakuya found himself in his current situation. Namely, spending an evening with his sister and her friends.
Somehow, Rukia had cajoled him into it on the basis of "you never go out to have fun!" and "they're really great people and I want you to spend some time with them!", and now here he was with a passel of people he didn't know squeezed into a booth at a restaurant of a decidedly lower quality. Certainly lower than he was accustomed to, at least. Really, The Seireitei was a restaurant far superior to this Mexican place, but apparently Las Noches (or whatever it was called) was a regular hangout for Rukia and her friends.
According to Rukia, most of the gang was here tonight. There were the ones Byakuya had already met: Orhime, Tatsuki, Ichigo, Renji, and Grimmjow, as well as some new faces. Among these were two speed skaters - Ulquiorra and Sui Feng - and another snowboarder named Nel. Or Nelliel. It seemed to depend upon who was addressing her. Perhaps he should ask her about it. Later.
For now, he felt no need to take part in the inane conversations these people seemed to enjoy. Instead Byakuya would entertain himself by observing the relational dynamics within the group. It would ensure that this wasn't a complete waste of an evening.
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In case anyone is wondering – for the purposes of this fic, Rukia is Byakuya's biological sister.