Friends?

A/N: Obsessed Dreamer, this chapter is for you and was written because of your suggestion. I didn't specifically write more about Renji's reaction because as you've mentioned before he and Rukia did not have the same bond as they did in the canon because of their shared experiences in Inuzuri. But as in the canon, he's holding a torch for Rukia despite the fact that she did not really encourage it due to the demands of her family. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Hello nazarinramzan, thank you for your compliment and I hope you'd keep reading it.

Hi YuzurihaNoRyuu, yes, he is still quite unsure but given his situation wherein he is working out whether he feels this way because Rukia reminds him of Hisana or because of Rukia herself, I think we can cut the man some slack. It's going to be quite a while for him to process how he feels.

Hello Rei Eien, I totally agree with you that Jushiro needs some love. I've already finished the draft of that branch off but it's still two or three more chapters of work before I can get to it. Sorry for the wait. Hi miemae04, will do my best! Thank you to nazarinramzan, Daniela LZ, Obsessed Dreamer, and OliveQuilt for adding my story to you favorites list. To everyone else who'd drop by to read it, thank you for reading my story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

This was not what he had in mind when he said they were eating dinner together. The lieutenant of the 10th Squad whose boobs are probably bigger than her thinking capacity was busy downing bottles upon small bottles of sake while her squad's 3rd Seat was busy glaring at some red-haired buffoon from the 11th Squad who literally swallowed pieces upon pieces of premium sushis and sashimis as if he had been starved for years, as two other male friends of Rukia were engaging in an arm wrestling competition.

Rukia smiled sweetly at him and he knew right then and there that she caught him. He returned her smile with a slight frown, which she countered with a wink. '…the audacity of that little chit!' He took a deep calming breath as he recounted how they got to this.

"Good day Kuchiki Taichou! I'm sorry we arrived late for our dinner. Matsumoto took so long in figuring out what she'd wear tonight. It's her birthday today and I've promised we'll have dinner…" He sighed but understood that from what she said the previous day that she had not been able to spend time with her friends. It was a Saturday night after all, she might have had plans before he obliged her to eat dinner with him. He thought it would stop there when what looked to be a young boy came to their table, next came what looked to be like a red pineapple with a human face and two other men he knew to be seated officers but could not place from what squads they came from. Rukia introduced them all to him but their names blurred.

"I thought I mentioned that I hoped it would only be the two of us." He whispered to Rukia who turned her head to him, a wicked glint in her eyes matched the look of faux innocence on her face. "But you didn't say in our agreement it should just be the two of us. You merely said you hoped it would just be the two of us. Besides, I'll be paying for them, Kuchiki Taichou." She replied smoothly.

Byakuya shook his head. "Money is not the issue…" He replied, annoyed at her cheekiness. Rukia knew that she won this round and gave him a triumphant grin. From across the table, Byakuya felt the weight of a gaze on him. The red pineapple was actually glaring at him. He tilted his head at one side. 'Interesting.' He thought as he lightly placed a hand on Rukia's shoulder to ask her about what food she'd like to order. The pineapple head glared harder.

A few minutes passed by. He found her friends boisterous and loud. But he noticed that she seemed happy. During the events the Kyouraku family held, ceremonies, festivals and even small social gathering, Rukia was smiling yet remained very formal and felt as if she was as stiff as the formal kimonos she wore to these events. But now, she was smiling and sharing stories as she listened with interest in whatever it is her friends are saying.

He noticed that she paid more interest to that boy, Toshiro Hitsugaya who is slightly even shorter than her if it was possible. But Matsumoto Fukotaichou assured him earlier, probably upon noticing the expression on his face, that they are just friends. But he felt his heart twinge a bit. Maybe he's just irritated because she's paying more attention to another guy, even though they are supposedly on a date. 'Yes, that's probably it.'

"What about you, Kuchiki Taichou, what do you do for fun?" Rukia asked him, the first question she's directly asked him that was not asked in anger or sarcasm. "I do calligraphy." He replied. Matsumoto gushed while he heard the other guys scoff. He honestly didn't care. "That's just so girly…" The pineapple head replied. Rukia glared at him. Kira and Shuhei did not say a word but he knew from the expression on their faces that they agree to what the pineapple head said. He couldn't be snobbish, 'she wouldn't like it'. He didn't really understand why he felt the need to seek her approval.

"I do calligraphy so I don't go rushing off to kill idiots like you." He added. Rukia and the others chuckled at this. He realized then that he liked hearing her laugh or even chuckle. It was bothering him why he feels this way.

The pineapple head fumed and stood up but Rukia stood up and glared at him. "This is supposedly an enjoyable dinner. He invited us, please be polite Renji or I'll kick you out!" Rukia told him. He sighed and offered gratitude that he reserved a private booth for them, which had been spacious enough to accommodate even her impromptu "party".

"I don't care shorty! I'm going anyway!" He replied stalking off, banging the door as he went out of the room. The others in the room continued on talking as if nothing happened.

Upon seeing the reactions, or lack thereof of the other occupants of the room, Byakuya realized something. "Does this happen often?" He asked Rukia who was already seated in her seat. She nodded.

"It wouldn't be a friendly dinner if there's no one pissed off sometime." She replied. All in all he reflected that having friends might be nice. He never really had the time (nor the social skills if he was honest) to cultivate friends but somehow he enjoys the company of her friends in a way he still can't comprehend. 'You enjoy her company more…' His traitorous thoughts offered.