AN: Thank you for reviewing, they mean a lot to me. I am glad to hear that I am not completely hopless and unable to make fluffiness, so maybe I will continue it later on. On this story or in another. The chapter is bit short again, sorry for that. I hope you enjoy reading it though.

Chapter 7

At "the Bony Grasshopper" Shuuhei had just finished the last song of the night. As usual it was his favorite one, the song he always sang for Rangiku. The "Right Here Waiting", it was a love song from the end of the 80's, he had heard the song being played by his big brother Kensei several times in his youth and it had stuck to his memory. Shuuhei knew he could not sing well, but it did not matter as long as his girlfriend of many years wanted to hear it. For her he would sing it as many times she wanted no matter what other people said about his lack of musical talent. He smiled and bowed to the crowd who knew him and then he stepped back to the table.

Ikkaku and Yumi had gone back home after Renka and Byakuya had left and Izuru had gone as well, probably to mope of the lack of his love life. The guy was a mess ever since his girlfriend Hinamori Momo had gone to study in the UK. So now the only occupants of the table beside his beloved Rangiku were the intoxicated Nnoitra who was loosing both the thumb war and drinking game to Kuchiki Hidehiro. Shuuhei laughed. The younger Kuchiki seemed to be a fun guy, less formal that the one Renka had left with. Both of those guys seemed to fit rather well in their group of odd people and Shuuhei was happy to see that at least Renka was going to get some. Ok, that was not well said. Renka did not do one night stands. She would not even date at all unless she was serious about the guy. Takako was even worse, and Shuuhei knew that the brown haired woman had never gone out with anyone since senior year of high school, or never indicated that she was even interested in dating anymore. She had stopped dating any guy after a small but ruthless relationship with some college dude. Shuuhei was one of the rare friends whom had been in the same school with both of the women since elementary school, so he knew the women pretty well. Yep. Something had happened in Takako's senior year, a year after he had graduated Inuzuri High. Takako just never talked about it, not even to Renka.

Takako looked happier now, and the man beside her seemed to be part of the reason and it was a positive sign. Shuuhei and most of their friends had tried to coax the lithe woman in to going out with someone, but she had deemed herself to be alone. And then there came this stalkish raven head that seemed to take everything Takako had sworn upside down.

Nnoitra had given up the game and had smacked Hidehiro on the back reminding him that he was a cool guy to hang out with and he would see the end of Santa Teresa if he did not treat Takako well, then the taller of the two stood up and wobbled towards the back room of the bar while telling them to get the fuck out. Bar was going to be closed soon and Nnoitra went to make sure that the intern called Tesla would lock up the place properly. No matter how intoxicated the tall man was he would do his work. "The Bony Grasshopper" was important for the man, it was like his baby. Well his and Takako's actually. Shuuhei stood up as well and dragged Rangiku on her feet too, they were leaving and the rest of the patrons on the bar were also preparing to depart the facility. They waved their goodbyes and left. Only Hidehiro and Takako remained at the table. They sat there for a while quietly until the bell rang to tell that the bar would finally close.

"It seems the position is reversed. I think it is my responsibility to make sure you get home Takako. You are quite drunk."

"So? Imma been this drunk before. Imma gonna be walking. No way Imma gonna let ya pay the cab for driving around the town. Where I live its not too far, few blocks or something from here."

"No I insist. I want to see you safely home, I promised to treat you like a princess. And it is the prince's responsibility to see the princess back to the castle."

The woman sighed and nodded. They stood up as well and went outside. They howled a cab and gave Takako's address to them. When they arrived to their destination Hidehiro asked the cab to wait for him and he escorted the petite woman to the front door of the house. Takako was walking a bit unsteady due to her drunken state and she leant the tall man for support. Hidehiro wrapped his arms around the woman for support. It felt good to lean against a sturdy body and it had been so very long since she had been close to anyone. She smiled. They stopped walking when they reached the front door of the house and Hidehiro waited patiently for Takako to find the key to the front door from her purse. When she finally managed to do that and unlock the door she turned around and smiled brightly to Hide.

"So, Imma seeing ya again right? Yer ma stalker or something and ya wanta see me again right?"

"That would be accurate, even though I do not considerate myself as a stalker. Those are creepy people harassing their prey. I have been merely observing you. And yes I would like to meet you again. Next time we should go out for dinner, just you and me. How about that?"

"Sure, yeah why the hell not. Imma too tired ta be afraid."

"Afraid? What do you mean? Are you afraid of me?"

"Eehh, did imma say that? No, no Imma not afraid of ya. Forget me even saying it. Anyway I had fun, and ya were fun too so, betta to say goodnight and so. Uum.. I'll see ya for the dinner and thanks ta escorting me home." She tiptoed and kissed Hidehiro's cheek and took a hold of his hand and slipped a note in it. Then she smiled again and went inside the house before closing and locking the door. When Hidehiro opened his hand he noticed a piece of paper, in it was a phone number and a name, obviously written earlier the evening. Hidehiro smiled, put the slip of paper in a secure place inside his wallet and touched his cheek and went back to the waiting cab to drive him home.

He did not see a black car parked across the street. Inside the car was sitting a man with silver hair. His usually closed pale blue eyes were now open and his face was holding a grimace. That damn bitch, she was seeing the tall man wasn't she. Ichimaru Gin opened the door after the cab had driven off and walked to the gate of the house. He opened it slowly to make sure that there would not be any sound coming from it and he walked to the yard. He smiled; it would not matter if the tall guy was after his Taka-Chan. Gin could get the guy out of his way one way or another. He had a goal in his life and he had already managed to get this far, he would not allow anyone to stop him. She was going to be in his arms soon, just like she had been years before.

He circled the house slowly while hiding in the shadows. He did not want to alert the neighbors or the occupant of the house either. He wanted to see if there would be a way to get in to the house beside the door, it would be locked for sure and Gin was rather sure that the red head would arrive soon home as well so he did not have much time. He circled the house again and noticed a window to the basement that was closed but in rather poor shape, it could be opened easily with some tools. He would have to work on with it. He smiled and stood up. He slipped back to the street from the property and climbed to his car. He could not stay here for long. He was sure that Kuchiki Byakuya would escort his own date here and he did not want the man to recognize him.

Ichimaru Gin would have to create a crafty plan to achieve back what was rightfully his. Aizen might be able to help him, but he would have to see what his business partner was really up to. The man was so hard to read. It would be fun to mess with both of the Kuchiki's and make their little world fucked up.

Gin drove off just in time when another cab turned to the street. Kuchiki Byakuya was there to escort his date back home. The cab stopped at the gate and the couple stepped out. Byakuya took a hold on of Renka by her waist and they walked slowly to the front door. Before Renka fetched her keys Byakuya leaner over her and pressed his lips on Renka's for a goodnight kiss. Renka responded with fire and they kissed each other until the need of oxygen made them stop. They smiled and said goodbyes. They would meet again on Monday at first at work and maybe later in the evening. Byakuya promised to call Renka the next day. He did not want to be apart from her, but there were things that he needed to do and he also wanted to give Renka some space. So with a last small kiss on Renka's lips he watched the woman unlock the door and slip inside the house. Then he walked back to the cab and went home.

AN2: "Right here waiting" is a song by Richard Marx, it's a lovely song, and it definitely never looses its touch to one's heart. You should listen to it. .

The chapter is short again but I did not want to put too many scenes in it, so I hope you do not mind. Next time will see Monday coming or something else… hmm... Different point of view perhaps…

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