OK, sorry for the late update, but I've been busy with Kitties Cosplay Club Crisis! And Battle of The Sexes!

"Ok, right this way, Ichigo-chan!" Ichiro's mother, Lora, could be seen, pulling a defenseless and totally confused Ichigo down the large corridor, and into the dinning hall, which was probably almost as large as the corridor.

"Ichigo, you can sit here, between me and Ichiro! We can't wait to hear about all the wonderful things our son says you've done!" Ichiro's mother was the giggling type, which meant that she was very cheery. The total opposite of her son.

His father, on the other hand, reached the mark a bit more. "Yes, I need to know weather you're worthy of conversing with my son." Mendel, Ichiro's father, was very stern, and didn't often approve of his son's actions.

"Well, I really don't know where to start…I met Ichiro in the courtyard, because I'd lost my pet bat and needed to find it. Then, that night, I met him again, at the royal ball. Just a while back I met up with him again." she explained, watching as Lora went nuts with joy over her son's potential suitor.

Yet, his father STILL didn't seem too enthusiastic towards his 'companion' for dinner that evening. "I see, so you own a bat? Interesting…well, have you ever learned to fight, any archery, any dragon battling? My son's suitor needs to be trained in such aspects, in order to succeed. Also, she MUST have a good mind about her, gotta be smart, witty, quick as lightning! She has to have common sense!" his father explained, very heatedly, standing up from the table.

"Actually, father, Ichigo is the one who told me to study this hard. I've watched her study her books, I've watched her negotiate a business deal. I've seen her fend off fierce creatures," seeing that he couldn't persuade his father this way, he added the sure fire phrase, " ,and she knows how to bake."

Upon hearing this phrase, his father took an immediate liking to the girl. "Welcome to the family!"

"Um, well…I don't really think marriage-" she was cut off by Ichiro.

"What she means is; she and I are going to hold off on marriage, until we both are finished studying. Till then, Ichigo has offered, very graciously, to tutor me." the next thing he spoke, he spoke so only she could hear. "Every day, two and a half hours! If that doesn't work, I could always use a live in 'personal maid' to assist me through the day."

Knowing that if she didn't agree to tutor him, he'd somehow, legally, blackmail her into staying, full-time.

"Sure, I'd love to." she spoke between gritted teeth, yet it still sounded polite and sincere, due to years of manners study.

"There, was THAT so hard?" he asked, leaning over so that she could feel the warmth of his body. "Also, if you don't do a good job, I'm sure that live-in 'personal maid' job is still gonna be open."

"Ichigo, you're such a skinny girl, we'll need to find a smaller dress for you. One with a C-cup maybe?" Lora whispered into her ear.

"Forty two C. something in black silk maybe? Yeah, low cut, fitted, short! Something light, something she can wear as an evening gown." Ichiro suggested, sketching out what he wanted it to look like on a napkin.

"Oh my, you're right! She would look drop dead GORGIOUS in this! But, I want grandkids, so make the dress a bit shorter." Lora chuckled as the two watched Ichigo's face turn beet red, yet she stayed polite and quiet. "What's the problem, honey?! …Oh, are you EMBARRESSED maybe?! Aw, so cute!" she cooed, patting Ichigo's cheek.

"Dessert, milord? Specially imported, specially prepared, chocolate dipped fruit from overseas." the skinny butler guy walked off, after setting down the tray of assorted chocolate dipped fruits.

"Ichiro!" Ichigo groaned, glaring beside her, to where the boy sat, innocent as could be. (Now, if that really were the case, then this would be quite a boring story!)

"But, I didn't order it!…MOM!" Ichiro leaned over Ichigo's chair, whispering now to his mother. "I thought I told you ONLY strawberries!"

"Oh, these aren't FOR you two. These are for your father and I. I ordered yours to be sent up to your room. All strawberries and chocolate!" Lora giggled, watching as Ichigo's face grow darker red.

"Shall we, milady?" he offered, standing to offer her his hand as she stood.

"Thank you, Ichiro-san." she spoke softly, taking her hand as she rose from her seat at the table.

"You're quite welcome. Now, follow me." he commanded. Wrapping his arm around her as he led her from the room.

Once they were out in the hall, Ichigo finally sighed in relief.

"Ichiro, I thought you said this was ONLY a banquet! I thought we agreed to NO talk of a relationship-"

"Ichigo, you're technically NOT my girlfriend, you're my TUTOR! Besides, I could always make it so you get the job as my servant." he threatened, stepping closer to her. "What, you don't like me?"

"I-it's not that. It's just that, I wasn't expecting you to say that. I mean, I don't know anything about tutoring, or the study of manners or whatever!" she went on, trying to argue her case.

"I only wanted a study partner, so you really don't need to tutor me. But, you ARE staying for all of the time I've announced."

"Fine, how hard could it be to hang around him for a while each day?" she whispered to herself, walking out of the door.

"Oh, Ichigo-Chan, why didn't you stay for the strawberries and chocolate? Did Ichiro say something mean?" Lora prodded, following Ichigo out the doors of the castle.

"Oh, it's nothing like that, it's just that I'm full on your delicious chicken dinner. I must say, you are quite a wonderful cook! Besides, the tutoring thing is so sudden, I wasn't expecting it. So, I have to go to sleep early tonight, and need to wake up early to put the material together." she explained, shaking hands with Mendel, then turned around and hugged Lora. "It was lovely meeting the both of you! I'll see you tomorrow then, alright?" as her carriage drove away, she waved to the trio that stood on the steps, waving in return.

"So, are you alright?! He didn't rape you or threaten you or anything, did he?!" Ryou questioned, grabbing his shoulders.

"No, we just sat and had dinner, I met with his family, toured his home. Nothing out of the ordinary though." she explained.

Although, she 'forgot' to mention the part where she went up to get changed into her normal clothes, only to be bombarded by the two maids, who were trying to put her in the silky black evening dress and have her sleep over that night. Or, the fact that she was pretty much forced to tutor him every day.