Letting Go

Inside her room, Michiko opened the box and gasped in surprise at the gift Byakuya gave her. It's a floor length, one-shoulder draped silvery white dress with silver accent keyhole that holds the dress together. With the package is a pair of high heeled open toe sandals and a light cerulean shawl. She was touched by the gesture and decided she would wear it to the dinner party tonight. She placed the clothes on her bed and started to prepare for the dinner party.

In his room, he was holding a picture frame of a young woman, whose features closely resembled his adopted sister, Rukia. It is the picture of his late wife, Hisana and he was staring at it, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Hisana… I have loved you for so long, and you will always have a special place in my heart. This… lady, Michiko, she came into my life like a breeze; I know it's so sudden but I'm beginning to have feelings for her… "

Then he felt an approaching familiar reiatsu and seconds later saw his adopted sister, Rukia, in shinigami form, standing beside the window. "Nii-sama, my deepest apologies, I was passing by and felt you feeling restless, I hope you're alright…" she softly said.

"Ne Rukia, I'm fine…"

Rukia smiled, seeing her sister's picture in his hands. She walked to him and hugged her brother, to which Byakuya was caught off guard.

"Nii-sama, I know she would want you to move on" Rukia suddenly said.

"Do you think so Rukia?" he solemnly asked, stroking his sister's head.

"Yes, Nii-sama… it's been 50 years… it's time to let go and let your heart feel love again. I know onee-san would want you to be happy" she looked up to her brother, smiling shyly at her unsolicited advice.

"For someone so petite, sometimes you sound like my grandmother" Byakuya teased her.

"Aww Nii-sama, that's being rude of you, you hurt my feelings!" Rukia teased back.

Bykuaya smiled, and letting go of his sister he said "better go back to your gigai Rukia, we'll meet you at dinner later" to which Rukia smiled, quickly hugged and brother and left.

After his sister left, Byakuya still holding the portrait of his late wife, smiled thoughtfully and kept it in his bedside drawer.

Later that evening, Byakuya who was all set for the dinner party, was waiting for Michiko at the living room. He turned when he felt her reiatsu and once again he realized that he would be forever enthralled with just the sight of her. She's wearing the gift I gave her, he gladly thought, and this time, a smile played on his handsome features.

He's smiling at me, oh heavens he is actually smiling at me! Thought Michiko as she smiled back shyly. "Konbanwa Taichou" was all she could say, mesmerized in seeing him smiling at her.

"You're all set then?" he asked gently.

Oh heavens help me, help me, I think I might swoon… Michiko was muttering to herself, he looks so handsome, she mused. This time he was wearing a black Armani suit with a shirt underneath that matches the color of her shawl.

He held out his hand and she took it, together they left his apartment.

Later at the restaurant, all shinigamis were already present. At the arrival of Byakuya and Michiko, they all fell silent as they were in awe of the new arrivals' entrance.

"Woww… " was all Ichigo could say, Rukia smiled at the gorgeous pair and noted how her brother kept on gazing at his companion.

Rangiku stood up and hugged Michiko, as if the 2 didn't spend the whole afternoon together and guided her to seat beside her, Byakuya ended up seated between Hitsugaya and Urahara. The party was a happy one, the food was excellent. With the exception of the minors (Ichigo, Rukia, Ishida, Chad and Inoue and HItsugaya Taichou), cocktail drinks were served, and Ikkaku being the birthday boy, ending up a little tipsy.

A dance club is located at the other side of the restaurant with live band playing, and after dinner the group proceeded there. As they have settled in their booth, fast music was being played and the group decided to dance. Birthday boy Ikkaku was dancing with Rangiku, Urahara with Yoruichi (who arrived late during dinner), Ichigo was group dancing with Rukia, Renjie, and Chad, while Ishida and Inoue decided to dance as a couple, Yumichika was having the time of his life dancing all by himself, leaving Byakuya, Hitsugaya and Michiko in the booth. Michiko felt giddy, for it was her first time to party in the real world and she wanted to try dancing but she was too shy to ask Byakuya…so the next person she asked was…

"Hitsugaya Taichou, would you like to dance?" the child prodigy's face turned beet red being asked by one of the loveliest shinigamis in Seireitei, not to mention the head of the noble Sayomi clan.

"I ahhh…of course Sayomi-san" Hitsugaya replied, and standing up he smiled shyly at the 6th Division captain who merely nodded in acknowledgement.

Michiko and Toushiro went to the dance floor and since it was their first time to dance to music in the real world, they were both nervous at first, observing how the other humans do it, such as Ichigo who was dancing gracefully. Yoruichi and Urahara were dancing in sync; since they have stayed in the real world for so long they are already familiar with these things. Renji was an amusing sight, dancing like a hooligan, though it's a wonder that women were looking adoringly on him, his flaming red hair tossing around wildly.

Michiko just let the rhythm guide her and swayed to the music's beat. Moments later, she and Toushiro were dancing like they were doing it for ages. Both were having fun dancing to the beat and there are times they would imitate Urahara and Yoruichi, dancing in sync. Yumichika would join them every now and then and would join Ikkaku and Rangiku who were dancing nearby.

"Oh look!" Rukia tapped both Ichigo and Renji's shoulders, "Hitsugaya Taichou is dancing with Sayomi-sama! They look sooo cute!"

"Yeah?" Ichigo replied, turning his head to the dancing duo since Toushiro and Michiko are behind him…"hey, they look like… SHIT!!!" Ichigo cussed instead of completing what he was supposed to say as Renji accidentally stomped on his foot.

"Baka!!! Can't you see me, you moron?!!!" yelled Ichigo at Renji, who was also grimacing in pain since Rukia accidentally stepped on him as the crowd was getting thicker on the dance floor.

"Gomen!!!" Renji irately replied, the friends were glaring at each other, nostrils flaring that made Rukia laugh so hard she was almost sitting on the floor, clutching her tummy.

After the song ended they were still on the dance floor, waiting for the next song. The lead singer of the band announced that the next song would be a slow one, a love song dedicated to the lovers who are on the dance floor. Renjie and Chad left Ichigo and Rukia, in which the orange-haired substitute shinigami shyly held Rukia by the waistline and lead her to slow dance. Ishida and Inoue followed suit… Michiko and Hitsugaya were left too and both were grinning at each other, the young 10th Division captain was blushing this time.

"I guess you have no choice but to dance with me again Taichou …" Michiko smilingly teased the young captain.

"It's my pleasure Sayomi-san" he shyly replied.

Michiko guided Toushiro's left hand on her waist, while holding his right hand. The band started playing and before the pair could start, Toushiro felt a hand tap his shoulder and a familiar deep voice saying, "May I cut in?"