AN: Ok, here is the update for this story. I hope that we can have the happy ending here soon. Ichigo is here to mess things up or something. I said that I am planning to update all my stories this week, but it looks like it's going to the bleach stories only. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope to see you reviewing this chapter as well.

Chapter 10

Another week had passed since Takao had given Rukia the introductions how to fold origamis. Rukia had managed to fold all of them and she was tired of seeing even such papers, but she was happy. There was hope for her cousin and Takao in the future. It was obvious that the men liked each other, but Takao's insecurities needed to be lifted away before their own courting could begin. Now all she had to make sure that Takao's defensive walls would collapse. Hidehiro had managed to infiltrate to Takao's inner life already in some way and it was a positive sign. Hidehiro had gently and politely suggested that he could tutor the smaller man in their free time from being a chaperone. There was such time few hours at a day when their charges were having their own leisure time on their own separated rooms or in areas of the house that had more people in.

Hidehiro had been patient with the smaller man and he had begun to teach him the reading and writing skills. Takao was able to write his name, but that was it. Now after a week of small lessons the man could produce more words to paper and he was able to read some words from the documents Rukia had once given to him about the courting. Previously Renji had red them to him. What was also interesting to Hidehiro was that the small man had reiatsu strong enough to survive among them. Both Byakuya and Renji had strong reiatsu's that could suffocate any lesser officer in Seireitei. When questioning it Takako had admitted that he knew some stuff such as preserving kido to make food and he could have probably had the opportunity to attend the Academy himself as well, but had decided that it was better for Renji and Rukia to go there instead of him. Hidehiro had promised to help the man also with some kido spells.

Hidehiro was very happy to be able to have this chance with the smaller man. Actually he was happy to have any private time with the man. The smaller man was warming up to him which meant that Hidehiro really might have a chance with him. He hoped that nothing would come and disturb the now calm atmosphere that was allowing his cousin's courting to proceed with a flow. It would be only six more days when the courting would be officially over and the wedding would happen the day after. He hoped the best for is cousin and his red haired future lover. They seemed rather cute together.

The calm atmosphere that the Kuchiki's were so fond of was somewhat changed when Ichigo had arrived to Soul Society to meet the currently busy Kuchiki Rukia. When the teen had arrived to the Kuchiki mansion he had wondered what the hell was going on. The house staff was bustling around the mansion organizing things to the liking of their master. There was going to be some sort of fancy dinner in the evening. The grand dinner room was decorated in flowers and had their own color scheme. The cook was screaming orders to the staff as well, yelling that there needed to be the ingredients to make Taiyaki for the liking of their important guest. This had surprised Ichigo as he knew that the head of the house was fonder of solitude than having feast in his house and was rarely doing anything out of his routine. The only reason there would be anything special was New Year celebration or something like that, and the Hanami had already been celebrated. So there should not be anything special going on. When he had asked about it from Rukia she had looked at him like he had an extra head and she had questioned if Ichigo was not aware what was going on. She did not really give an explanation either.

When he had spotted Renji at the Kuchiki premises he had not questioned it. Renji had been a frequent visitor for Rukia at the Kuchiki hall. But what surprised him was how the staff had greeted the sixth division fukutaicho and the unknown male behind him. They were greeted as important guests of the master of the house and they were allowed to go in and roam the house like they belonged there.

So right now the irritated Kurosaki Ichigo and cheery Kuchiki Rukia were sitting on a veranda in front of Rukia's bedroom. They were eating manju's and drinking tea. Rukia chatted about Seireitei in generally praising the fact that it was peaceful and how the time of spring was for love. Even before he had arrived here and gone to Urahara's candy shop the blond scientist and the cat woman had been squealing with happiness and told him to make sure that Rukia would receive their congratulations for her wonderful work she had done for the Kuchiki house. Ichigo had told Rukia this and she had been extremely happy for the support. There was definitely something weird going on here.

When the red head had emerged back from the rooms dressed in simple but decorative yukata, which was different from the ridiculous pink one he usually loved to wear in free time Ichigo had blurted out his question.

"Renji, what the hell are you doing here dressed like that. It's like you live here."

"Baka! Renji is here to court Nii-sama; they are going to get married in seven days! Of course Renji is living here, how else the courting could happen."

Renji had blushed, nodded and sat next to Rukia and looked at Ichigo. Ichigo could not form a single word at first, but then he burst to a mocking laughter.

"Hahahha, seriously. You want to marry Byakuya? Are you nuts? He's so fucking cold towards everyone, how could you even like him?" Ichigo kept laughing until he got several bunches from both of his companions on his head. First Rukia had smacked him for being impolite toward her brother and then Renji had punched his face for mocking Byakuya.

"I am serious. I am courting Kuchiki-Taichou, uum, Byakuya I mean. I love him, got a problem with it?"

"Yeah, what ever. What makes you think he likes you back? Maybe he is humiliating you? And really marry the guy?"

"No, Taichou is an honest man so he would not do this to humiliate me. He told me that he likes me too and he told me so when I proposed to him. And I really hope he really wants to marry me. If this really happens I'm gonna be a really happy man in seven days, so keep your trap closed."

Ichigo kept staring. Nah, this was a one good joke. So he kept laughing and making fun of the situation. Renji became angry and stood up. Ichigo realized that he should take a run for it and he took off to the garden. When Ichigo was halfway in the garden he pumped in to a smaller person in front of him when he was not looking. He apologized and ran again having Renji follow him with an angry reiatsu flaring.

Neither stopped to help the poor person they had stomped upon on. The person stood up with the help of his companion and straightened his clothes. Then he thanked his helper and looked at the arguing men. Renji had managed to capture Ichigo and now kept the teen on a tight hold and banged his head and told him to apologize for being an ass.

Takao was pissed being imagining. He had been practicing the simple kido spell with the help of Hidehiro and the two men had disturbed his lessons and his alone time with the archivist of the Kuchiki. How the hell was he going to figure out the taller man if he was being disturbed?

"Hado no 4, Byakurai." Takao pointed his finger towards the men. The white lighting emerged from his finger and zapped the two fighting men effectively.

"Marvelous, Takao-san. You are learning fast." Hidehiro praised, touching Takao's shoulder gently and walked next with Takao towards the men whom were now surprised as hell.

Renji saw Takao's face flaring with anger and he knew that he could be in trouble. No more that few seconds later Renji was tackled on the grass and Ichigo being kicked on the ground by a pissed green eyed man. Hidehiro was laughing behind them.

This entire ruckus was being watched by Byakuya and Rukia. The leader of the Kuchiki house had arrived to the veranda only few minutes earlier. He smiled, it was so much livelier here than it had ever been before and it warmed Byakuya's heart even more. He was not pleased of Ichigo's arrival as the man usually indicated chaos but seeing Renji, Takao and Hidehiro like this was amusing. Byakuya sat next to Rukia and smiled to her.

Rukia was smiling back. After Renji had begun this ordeal with her help Byakuya had become more open to her and the adoptive siblings were now able to express their emotions to each other better as well. They took time to discuss things with each other and Rukia was no longer so intimidated by her brooding big brother. And seeing him smile made her very happy. She knew that Byakuya would have Hisana always in his heart, but it was time for him to move on. And what was the best thing was that he could do it with a person Rukia also considered as her brother. It would only be seven more days until her Nii-sama and Renji would be bound to each other.

Things were looking good as long as Ichigo would keep himself from bringing any more trouble.

AN2: Sorry for the short chapter. Next time might be more time skip. I do need an idea for the next step at the courting. I think there needs to be something more before they tie the knot. And do please review!