Hey! i'm back, are you happy? i tried to update these past two days while i've been sick, but my brain was so foggy i couldn't do it, now that i'm feeling a bit better, i can do it. thank you to everyone who's reviewd thus far, you guys have made this story, without you it would be a sad fragment in the back of my mind.

i'll try to update Devotion by tomorrow, i've been a bit hesitant becauseit seems short and piontless, but i'm having serious writer's block with that one..... anyway, without further adoo, the next chapter.

Thirty nine year old Byakuya Kuchki put on his black pants and a light blue oxford shirt. He checked his watch, five o'clock, only a half hour before they had to be at the restaurant, was she even done yet? As if in response to his unspoken question, Rukia came down the stairs.

She was dressed in a white knee length, strapless dress with a light pink sweater over top and white flats.

"You look very nice, Rukia."

"Arigato, Nee-sama, you do too."

Byakuya gave her a small smile, "go get in the car." She tuned to leave, but he stopped her after thinking of something. "Rukia, please try to behave yourself."

"Of course."

***

Toshiro entered the restaurant with his family. He walked behind his older brothers wearing a white polo and kaki slacks. His whole family was wearing nice outfits, his father had explained how successful his colleague was and how they wanted to make a good impression. Toshiro had rolled his eyes, with brothers like his, there was no such thing as a good impression. They sat down at the reserved table, his friend wasn't there yet so they ordered their drinks and waited patiently.

Byakuya entered the restaurant with Rukia and the two made their way over to the table as well. Mr. Hitsugaya stood up and greeted them. "Byakuya, how nice to see you again, and your lovely sister in law."

"It is a pleasure, Ikari. My sister is Rukia."

"And this is my wife, Yumiko, and my sons Makoto, Jiro, Renzo, Kane, Dai, and Toshiro." Rukia looked over at Toshiro and waved, he gave a small wave back. Ikari offered them seats and they sat down. Rukia went over and sat between Toshiro and Kane. All of Toshiro brothers shot Toshiro jealous looks before gazing at their beautiful dinner guest.

She ignored their gazes as she looked through the menu. "What are you getting?" she asked Toshiro

"I'm not sure yet." He answered, "I've never been here before."

"You've never eaten at Nakato? It's my favorite restaurant in the world!"

"Well, my family tends to eat at home."

"Oh, well I recommend the Beef Tataki, it's to die for."

"I'll take your word for it, but it's seven, dollars, and…"

"Don't worry about it, my brother is treating and have you seen the other prices on the menu, it's one of the cheapest things on it. You really shouldn't worry too much about little prices like that."

"Ok, what are you getting?"

"Probably the King Crab with Lemon butter. Mmmm mmmm!"

"So, babe," Kane cut in, "You wanna go out on a date with me?"

"Wow, you're hopelessly inconspicuous." She sighed. "Sorry, I don't go out with guys I just met."

"Well you and Shiro seem to be getting along just fine."

"Toshiro, To-shiro, not Shiro."

"Shut up, no one asked you."

"Hey boys, stop, I know Toshiro form school."

"Oh, you two are in the same, grade, Toshiro, how come you didn't tell us you had such a pretty thing in your class."

"More like smoken' hot!" Renzo joined the conversation; his smoky eyes looked Rukia up and down hungrily.

"Will you two just shut up, you sound like freakin pigs." Toshiro stated.

"What'd you call us?" Renzo glared at him.

"I called you pigs, now shut up, the waiter is coming."

"I don't take orders from a runt."

"But you'll take them from me, Renzo, be quiet, our waiter is coming." Makoto interceded, getting the younger brother to shut up.

As they ordered their food, Rukia studied Toshiro's brothers. Makoto, Rukia noted, was obviously the oldest, and she had to admit she was quite handsome, his jet black hair was at about chin length with a shaggy cut and his long bangs hung slightly in his face. He had dark brown, almost black eyes and had a strong jaw line. He quite resembled Mr. Hitsugaya, in Rukia's opinion. Jiro was close in age, but not near as handsome, his hair was in a schoolboy cut, nice and trim, except his bangs didn't seem to want to be as cooperative, they stuck out from his head slightly in a half spiked kind of way. And his light brown eyes were not nearly as enticing as Makoto's.

Rukia could say without a doubt, that Renzo and Kane were twins, they both had a longer face shape and smoky grey-blue eyes. They even had the same reddish-brown hair and shaggy haircut that came right below the ear. Dai had blonde hair that came right below his chin and in the back it was down to the collar of his shirt, his bangs came right below his eyes, which were light blue, although they lacked the greenish tint Toshiro's had.

She scanned through all the brother's again, then looked at Toshiro; he didn't resemble any of his brother's. The closest one came was Dai, but he still looked much different. Toshiro had his mother's nose and face shape; he actually looked a lot like her. Dai did resemble their mother, but, as all the other brothers, had much more of their father. When Rukia really looked, she realized Toshiro didn't look like his father at all.

Rukia was brought out of her thoughts when the dinner was served. She smiled and winked at Toshiro, "Bon appetite" she said as she began to eat her crab heartily. Byakuya shot her a glare, and she immediately slowed down and ate more "lady like".

"I take it you like your Tataki?" she asked Toshiro, who was eating his meal with gusto. He nodded his head.

"You too?" he asked after he had swallowed.

She brought her fork up in a "cheers" kind of way. "Delicious."

After a while, they had finished their meal and had come to that point where the conversation would continue for another hour after the meal was finished. "Maybe, if were lucky, Nee-sama will buy us dessert."

"I wouldn't want to…"

"Oh, stop being such a worry wart about it, honestly, if someone else was treating me; I'd take full advantage of it."

"Well that's you."

"Of course, it's would have to be somewhere else, there really isn't any dessert here."

"Oh."

"Was that disappointment? So you really do want dessert."

"I never said I didn't want it, just that I felt awkward having someone else buy it for me."

"Well, since they don't serve it here we probably won't get any tonight anyway."

"Then why'd you even bring it up?"

"It was on my mind." Rukia smiled and Toshiro rolled his eyes.

"You're crazy."

"Hey speaking of crazy," Rukia changed subjects. "There's a crazy game on Friday, last basketball game of the season. Think you can make it?"

"I don't know."

"Come on! It's our last game; the whole school will be going out to cheer our boys on. Chad's playing; he's a captain, best player on the team actually. Well in my opinion anyway. It's the big rivalry game!"

"Against who?"

"The Shinigami of course, this is the year we Ryoka finally beat those stuck up death gods. They're undefeated, and we haven't beaten them in three years, but I know this year we will, especially since the entire student body is coming out to see it."

"I'll ask, but don't expect a yes."

"Oh, we'll see, ask him when he's done talking to Byakuya."

"Umm, okay."

"So, Rukia," Kane said, leaning into her, "you sure about that date? You really won't go out with me?"

"So, you're hopelessly inconspicuous and stubborn, no I will not go out with you."

Renzo tried his luck and got the same answer. Both of the boys kept at it, annoying her by calling her hot and trying quite unsuccessfully to turn her on. Kane even went so far as to try and hold her hand. She pulled away from him and got up from the table.

"Come on, Toshiro, let's ask your father about going to the game." She thought of anyway she could get away from the twins. Toshiro got up and followed her.

"I'm sorry about my brothers." He apologized.

"It's fine, I get it sometimes, when I'm not around Rangiku anyway." Toshiro had to shake his head, why did guys have to be such pigs. They got around to Mr. Hitsugaya and waited until he noticed them and motioned for them to speak.

"I was…. Well I, er….." Toshiro began awkwardly. "May I go to a basketball game next Friday night?" Ikari looked displeased and was about to decline his offer when Rukia spoke up.

"Please, Mr. Hitsugaya, it's the last game of the season, and everyone will be there." Ikari seemed to reconsider something and looked at Toshiro.

"You may go," He said, "But I expect you to come home right after."

"Thank you." Toshiro bowed his head and left immediately to go sit back down. Rukia came back and sat back down with him.

"Are you afraid of your father?" she asked him.

"No, he just likes to be left alone when talking to a friend."

"Oh."

"Hey babe nice to have you back among us." Renzo reached over the table to stroke Rukia's hand.

"Yeah, we've been missing you while you were gone." Kane leaned into her.

"It was only for a minute."

"But we missed you awfully bad."

"Yeah, we was so lonely without you here."

"Hey, you three!" Dai blurted out, "Get a room." Not fully understanding that what he had suggested sounded great to the twins.

"What a wonderful idea!" Kane exclaimed, pulling on Rukia's arm.

"Yeah, come on, babe, ever done it in a threesome?"

"I've never done it and don't plan on doing it with two nasty butt holes like you two!" she yelled out, trying to pull herself away from the two. Byakuya noticed the predicament her sister was in, and was about to rush to her, but Toshiro was faster. He grabbed his brother's hand and yanked it away from Rukia, standing protectively in-between Kane and his friend.

"You'd better get out of my way you nasty little insect." Toshiro just stood there, glaring daggers at his brother. By now, all activity in the restaurant had stopped, and everyone was watching what was going on.

"Leave her alone." His voice was dead serious. Kane threw a punch at him, but Toshiro caught it, keeping his brother's fist at bay. The older boy threw another one; again Toshiro stopped it, his arms shaking from trying to block his brother.

"So you actually can defend yourself." Kane laughed, "How about this." He brought his leg up, and brought it up into Toshiro's stomach. The boy doubled over and fell on his hands and knees, the breath knocked out of him. Kane turned to Rukia just in time to see her bring her knee up in-between his legs. He cried out as he fell.

Byakuya rushed over to his sister. "We will be leaving now." Was all he said as he took her over to the counter, paid for the meal, and left.

Ikari turned to the boys. "Car, now." He seethed and they all did what he said.

The ride home was deathly silent, Toshiro fidgeted with the bottom of his shirt the entire way home. He knew he was going to get in big trouble, he was just happy his father wasn't drunk, he knew it would be one thousand times worse if he was.

When they entered the house, Yumiko, Makoto, Jiro, and Dai went into their rooms. Toshiro and the twins stayed out in the living room with Ikari.

"You two," he addressed the twins first. "Are under House arrest for the weekend, under no circumstances are you to leave the house, understand?"

"Yes sir." They replied in unison.

"Good, now get to bed." They hurried off as he turned to Toshiro. He grabbed the boy by the neck and pushed him against the wall. "You are never to embarrass me like that in public again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir" he answered in a strangled voice. His father put him down.

"You are also under house arrest as well as all the cleaning, cooking, and all the other chores you do. Now get to bed."

Toshiro wasted no more time, he dashed up the ladder and closed it off. Curling up in his bed he thought. I can't wait to be out of here, when I graduate, I'm leaving and never coming back.

i was going to make Byakuya younger, but then i realized, if he's Ikari's colleague, and Ikari has six kids, Byakuya would not be ten years younger. also Nakato is a real reasturaunt and those are real foods and prices on the menu, it does sound delicious! and seven dollars, okay i would be alittle hesitent to if someone were treating me, it's just how i am, so please don't think i was writting some unnessesary hesitation in Toshiro, it's courtesy, not wanting to take advantage of someone elses generousity.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they help motivate me and make me a better writter.