AN: Have fun. HCTB is updated for the day, might be able continue later this weekend. Few more chappies and we're done. Thank you for eading again. Let me know what ya think.

Chapter 11

It was again the time for the formal courting dinner at the Kuchiki Hall. Even this time the majority of the Kuchiki family had arrived to gawk at the scene. Byakuya sat his back straight right in front of his family, a smiling Hidehiro behind him. Renji on his behalf was sitting few meters before the head of the House and behind the red head sat Takao who was silently laughing to himself and extremely scowling Kurosaki Ichigo. The teen from the Real World had not wanted to attend to this event, but after Rukia had hit him once again on the head several times while explaining that it would be important that Ichigo would see with his own eyes that Renji and her Nii-sama were serious. And after Takao had been using the young man as a practice target when learning the hado spells the teen had finally agreed on Rukia's rather demanding order.

As usual Renji had surprised Byakuya by appearing to the dining room dressed in a fine silk kimono for men that made the red head look even more attractive. Byakuya was certain that he smaller Inuzuri man was doing this on purpose. It was now obvious that Takao did everything to make his friend more alluring to Byakuya and it was hard for the head of the Kuchiki to keep his fingers in tact. It felt like the torture that Takao had created for him would never end. He hoped that the dinner would be over before it would even start so he could have the opportunity to spend a quiet and lovely walk with his fiery haired second in command.

Actually he was beginning to feel that this whole ridiculous courting could just end already, he felt that the next six or seven days would be torment for him. He should do something about the ridiculous rules that had led to this current situation. As the head of the Kuchiki he should do something to end these rules and regulations of courting or atleast he should do modifications to them. He deisited that the first things he should do the next morning was to rewrite the rules or make a proposition to change them and address it to the counsil of elders. He was now the Head of hil Clan and he had the right to make things to more to his liking. Usually the elders did not go against him and he was rather certain that they would nt oppose him even in this matter. It would give Hidehiro the chase to court the small spitfire. It was so obvious that those two were head over heels of each other.

The thing that disturbed Byakuya the most was the scowling orange haired Ryoka boy who worked as a substitute shinigami creating a portal between Soul Society and the Real World. And if that stupid look didn't disappear on the teen face sometime during this dinner Byakuya was certain that he would call Senbonzakura and make Kurosaki chopped liver one way or another. Or then he could al least give the teen the reminder of Takao's hado lessons and show how Hado no 4 was really incantated. Maybe he should suggest that Hidehiro should teach Hado no 31, Shakkaho to Takao as well. It was the rather painful blast of red energy, the very simple spell that even his beloved fukutaicho could not usually control. It had been rather amusing to watch young Kurosaki run around his garden while the very irritated Takao had been frying his bottom with Byakurai. He really should give the smaller man a reward for making such a spectacular and humorous show for their entertainment. Even Renji had been laughing and Rukia had politely hidden her hysterical laugh on her sleeve.

Byakuya shook his head and came back to the matter at hand. He was here in the dining room and he was determined to enjoy this evening even though the scowling Ryoka was present. Rukia had wanted the man there so he should allow it. A small and rather scary thought went through Byakuya's mind. Kami, please hear my pray and don't let Rukia fall for that man. To even think of him as a part of my family would irritate me beyond anything.

The food was again delicious, grilled shrimps, fresh and steamed vegetables with rice and assorted sauces among with other delicious foods were put for everyone to enjoy. They all ate in silence and Byakuya watched Renji eat his food slowly and politely. There was something new in the way the red head ate his food. It was subtle, but sensuous and Byakuya felt himself become hotter. It was like the red head was seducing him while eating a piece of asparagus. How on earth was it even possible? Before Renji had almost none existent manners in the table, only to be taught to eat politely. In just few weeks the red heads table manners had changed radically and now this. Byakuya swallowed hard. Byakuya's mind was suddenly flooded with images completely different and it was hard for him to gain a rigid feeling to his posture. All he wanted right now to have this courting ending then take the damn teasing red head to his bed and make another usage of those luscious lips that were currently licking the sauce from the steamed vegetable. On the corner of his eye he could see a mischievous smirk on Takao's eyes and Byakuya was now certain that the green eyed man had taught all the dirty tricks he had in his books. Byakuya begin to wonder what else the man might have taught to his fukutaicho and when the stoic man looked at Renji's eyes he saw a promise in there. He would see it in the near future, probably precisely in the night of the seventh day to come. Byakuya swallowed and tried to hide the blush that was definitely formed on his cheeks.

Ichigo on the other hand was staring the scene. It was like the whole world he had previously known had gone mad. He saw Byakuya staring at his red haired friend like the man was the best meat on the market and if not getting it fast enough others might go and grab it. Ichigo could not see from his point of view what was Renji doing but it had to be something strange to make Byakuya look like that. And then there was that blush. Whatta hell was going on here? Ok, he could see that they were actually doing this courting thing and it was now obvious that the officers of the sixth division were serious about it. He looked at Rukia whom had this awe look in her face. She tried very hard to contain herself from squealing, that was obvious. Then the guy next to Byakuya was looking at the smaller man like he was a part of the cuisine, the very guy who had zapped him several times. Ichigo had always thought that people on Soul Society were strange, but now he was certain that the Kuchiki's were at the top of the list. Whom else could get it hard from the stuffy shit like this. Ichigo hoped that he would never have to go thru this himself. He ate fast and prayed all gods that he could get out of here as fast as he could.

AN2: Here it is when you review thank you :)