AN: Updating the third chapter. I hope you like this. And yes, Takako has a bad mouth. M is already for that only, maybe something else later :9

Chapter 3

Hidehiro; as the tall raven head was now identified sat down on a bar stool that had suddenly become empty. The blond droopy looking excuse of a man who had sat there only moments before had vanished when he had appeared. He smiled at his cousin whom he had never fathomed to come to this sort of uncultured place. Hidehiro took a good look on his cousin's attire. Gone were the high class well cut three piece Armani suit, replaced by more casual button up- white shirt and brown khaki pants that the man usually wore when time off. It was a nice look on his cousin. Next to Byakuya sat a woman with red hair on a messy ponytail, in black tight t-shirt and even tighter jeans. Hidehiro had seen the woman at this particular bar before; usually talking with the woman he was after or the black haired telephone pole that also occasionally worked behind the bar. Hidehiro still had the imprint that he had seen the red haired woman somewhere else. He just could not pinpoint where.

"I am here to spent my late night and possibly to woo someone." Hidehiro answered to his cousin's previous inquiry and he could hear a scoffing sound from the brown haired woman behind the bar muttering something a kin to "more like stalking". "And the question is more likely that what you are doing here cousin? This is not your usual place to have a drink. I would imagine you in a place with more class drinking expensive malt whiskey than a pint of English lager."

Byakuya nodded to the response. He pondered if the woman Hidehiro had been chasing after truly was Renka's friend. His aunt was currently in agony and had been asking Byakuya if he would have known something about her son's where about. Byakuya had simply ignored her as usual. While he was close to his family he did not keep tabs on where everyone was. It was true that he usually went for a drink in a golf club where more classified people were, but earlier that evening he had realized that it had been utterly boring place to spend time after work and he would rather to change his place for drinking to a place less high and mighty, preferably to a place where he would be able to meet Renka again, off duty of course. Some place like "the Bony Grasshopper". Maybe he should become a regular patron as well.

"I do not believe it is illegal for me to be here, but if you must know I am having a date with a lovely lady. And before you suffocate yourself in curiosity may I introduce her. This is Abarai Renka, my secretary. Renka, this is my first cousin Kuchiki Hidehiro."

Aa, so that's where I have seen her. No wonder she did feel familiar from somewhere else than here.

"Miss. Abarai, of course, how foolish of me for not to recognize you, but I must say that you look very different in the office. It is pleasure to finally make acquaintances. Rukia had spoken highly of you as well has my cousin here. You may not recognize me either but I work for the Kuchiki International as well, I am the head of the Financial Department. "

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Kuchiki and yes I am sorry for not recognizing you as well. I usually don't meet many from that department; they go straight to the boss. And please if you may call me Renka."

"Indeed, we do and of course from now on call me Hidehiro or Hide. I do hope that my cousin treats you well, but now to matters more important to me. Can one of you finally introduce me to this lovely lady behind the bar?"

"What, ya can't lift yer hand and shake mine and intraduce yerself with out chaperone? Ya been here fer three weeks everyday both morning and evening gawking at meh! Was gonna send Nnoi at yer ass fer doing it!"

"Feisty isn't she?" Hidehiro only smiled while looking at the couple next to him. Then he turned his gaze to now furiously blushing Takako.

Byakuya stared at his cousin like he had gained a second head. Never before he had seen his cousin act like this. Yes, the man was an annoying flirt at his best, but to actually spent days watching his prey was something very un-Hide like. He was known to be popular among the ladies in the office, but to actually find time to fancy anyone, let alone consider a date was unheard of. His cousin was usually busier than he was with playing and adding up numbers in his office. But spending morning and evening here for three weeks in a row? No wonder Byakuya's aunt was worried. The man was going to be up for a good chase and right now Byakuya was certain that Hidehiro would get the run for his money. Next to Byakuya Renka began to laugh.

"Ooh, Taka-Chan you have fan. A desperate one. I wanna see Jigura kicking his ass." She continued her laugh while pointing at the taller raven head. Byakuya only smiled, he would have laughed too if he would have any idea who this Jigura person was.

"If you are talking about the walking telephone pole, I am certain he would not mind. As far I have gathered information this lovely lady is not dating him." Hidehiro mocked back.

"Shut yer traps both of ya, and Byakuya stop smirking. How would ya feel if there is some weirdo staring at ya every god damn time ya enter ta work. It is freakish. Now if yer so desperate fer mah name then here ya have it. Imma Kuwahara Takako, and don't bother the San shit. Call me Takako. Imma said earlier ta yer cousin here that it makes me feel old and Imma the same age as Renka. Now what yer getting, betta hurry before Imma closing up."

"What ever you recommend." Indeed a feisty one, full of piss and vinegar.

"Lager then."

The woman turned to fill his order while Hidehiro kept staring at her back. Yes, it was true. He had spent the previous weeks at this bar to watch her. When he had first time entered this small facility to go for a bathroom and wait for a car toll to get his lovely black mustang away to garage he had notice this woman. She was completely different from the ladies he had been on a date before. But instead of beginning to flirt with the woman he had just kept coming back and observe. He had been able to do that as the accountant he regularly needed for help lived close by so he would have the opportunity to come and drink his morning coffee here. In the evenings he would take a cab and come for a drink. After observing the woman he had noticed her working both morning and late evening which of course was for his benefit. This particular evening he had decided that he would finally confront the woman as he had received some rather suspicious looks from the rest of the staff especially the baldie up in the front door. So he had to do something before he would blow up is chances. His musing were interrupted when a large mug of beer was put unceremoniously in front of him. He paid for it and smiled to the woman. She scoffed and went on with her work. Next to him he could here a sniggering and a snort. Two sets of eyes were looking at the scene with keen interest.

"Oh, for heaven's sake. Ok, I like her. I come here just for her. Are you happy now Byakuya? You can call mom that I am alive and kicking."

"Ecstatic. But as far as my impression of her I must give you my opinion. As they say she is a tough cookie. May I congratulate you for finding such a difficult case?" Byakuya smirked and Renka continued to laugh.

It was rather amusing scene for Byakuya and the way this whole action had given his date a reason to smile and laugh was even more precious. He was actually having a great time and for the first time in eight years he felt like life was more than work. It felt that he could finally let go of his disappointment with Hisana and look for a life in a new perspective. He was happy that he had taken his instincts in accord and had done the deed and gone for the unknown. He continued to smile and looked at Renka. She had a wide smile on her face and she was still silently shaking from the laughter. The mere feeling of making her laughter brought a nice shiver to Byakuya and he wanted to see her smiling like this more often.

A bell rang to inform that it was soon a closing time, and some of the patrons still there drank their beers and cocktails in one go, yelling to the barkeeper their goodbyes. Takako began to clean up the place and Renka stood up to help her. Byakuya and Hidehiro watched the women with keen eyes. Before Ren could actually take a rag and begin to clean the table the other woman escorted her back to Byakuya.

"Ya two are in a date. Ya can stay and talk or what ever till Imma finished. And then Prince Charming and his dubious cousin will hafta say beddy bye bye and lemme take the princess home. "

Renka smiled at sat back. She knew that Takako could do her finishing touches fast. Besides Hanatarou was probably going to come early and do his weekly cleaning. So she smiled again and moved her gaze towards her boss, now the date. Byakuya smiled back and took a hold of her hand. It felt good and the man hoped that when Monday came they still could do this after the office hours.

Soon Takako ushered all of them outside. All of the rest of her staff had gone home so she made sure that every place was locked. Then she turned towards Byakuya.

"Imma getting mah car, so Imma just wanted ta say that is was nice ta meet ya and so on. Probably gonna meet ya again. And ya too weirdo. And Renka, Imma be back in few, gonna go and get the car so just wait here."She shook Byakuya's hand and nodded to Hidehiro. Then with a small smile she walked to the back of the bar where she had parked her green 87' Chevrolet.

Hidehiro waved his goodbye with a sad look in his face that soon changed into determined look as if the man had just decided something important, He made a notion in his hands to Byakuya that he would call later and went to haul a cab for himself. It left Byakuya and Renka a lone for a while.

"Thank you Byakuya, I really had fun tonight, both at the ball and here. I hope you had fun too. So I guess we will see each other in Monday at work." Ren smiled and Byakuya and clumsily rolled a part of her hair in her fingers.

"Yes, I have had fun as well. I am glad now that Yoruichi made me to go to that ball and I chose to ask you with me. I know this had been sudden for you and I hope you did enjoy my company as much I have enjoyed yours. I would like to meet you again outside work of course and I would like to be able to talk to you. You have a day off tomorrow. Unless you don't want to meet me during this weekend I will be seeing you at the office on Monday." He smiled and leaned towards Renka, offering her a small peck on her forehead.

"Uum, I would really like to see you before Monday, but I promised to spend tomorrow with Takako and some of our friends, but if you like you could come back to "Grasshopper" tomorrow night. Takako is also off duty so maybe your cousin could come too. Here let me give you my cell number so you gave leave me a message or something."

Renka pulled her calling card from her bag and scribbled her personal number on it and gave it to Byakuya. He took it and smiled again. He watched her climb inside the hideous green car that had pulled in front of them and to drive off. Byakuya climbed to his own vehicle and drove back to his home.

He had had a wonderful and exiting evening and he was certain that from now on his life was going to take 180 degree turn and somehow he did not really mind it at all.

AN2: You guessed right? I wish you to review!