disclaimer: still don't own anything

authors note: thanks for the reviews :) and thanks to my guest who told to format a bit better, I hope this chap is okay ^^

Chap 3: an interesting night starts

Ichigo and Grimmjow began to worry: Renji wasn't back home and it was just one hour left until their work began, unusually worried the two made their way to Sodom.

Meanwhile

A knock sounded on the wooden door to an office with one lone figure. Said figure was intently reading when the knock sounded and frowned at the door, wondering who disturbed him.

"Come in." the brown-haired man said. With a light creak the door opened and an unusual quiet and concerned looking red-head walked in.

"Renji-kun! How unexpected. How may I help you?" he said in a concerned voice.

"I don't want to be rude Kyouraku-san, but would it be possible if I take the job of a waiter today?" Renji asked his boss, fearing the older man would deny his request.

"How come? You never asked me that and now you make such a request? Oh and you weren't rude for asking, but I think I have to be rude. You never changed your position in the bar. Did something happen?" Shunsui asked now really concerned for the young man, he really liked him.

"Ah… mh… I.. I don't know… I don't feel like it today, I mean I like working here you are a great boss, but I think I need to do something different. I can't really describe it, I'm sorry." Renji responded to him, more disappointed at himself than Kyouraku, because he couldn't describe it quite good.

'I should ask Ichigo-kun and Grimmjow-kun, maybe they know what's wrong with him, but for now I should accept that request. He really doesn't seem to be able to handle it today.' Kyouraku thought worried, a frown crossing his normally laid-back features.

Renji noticed that and instantly tensed, thinking he might get a harsh reprimand from Kyouraku, who in turn softened his features and answered in a gentle tone: "Of course, you can switch with Shuu-kun. I wanted to test him for a while now, but never got an opportunity, because we would lack on waiters. So your request comes at a good time. You can go and inform him in the change of plans."

That caused the features of the red-head to brighten way too much, so Kyouraku had to chuckle a bit at the enthusiasm.

"Well you should go now and talk with Shuu-kun." 'I hope Ichi-kun and Grimm-kun are already here.' Kyouraku reminded him and with that Renji nearly dashed out of the door and went to find Shuuhei.

'I really hope we have waiter clothes in his size…' was Kyouraku's last thought before he too got up and made his way to find Ichigo and Grimmjow, forgotten was the letter he was reading earlier.

He didn't know why, but Shuuhei Hisagi had an uneasy feeling about the day… So far all went well, but there was that feeling deep inside his stomach he couldn't describe.

Well not until a beaming red-head came running towards him. 'What's gotten into him?' Shuu thought with a frown, already fearing the answer might not mean well for him. Sad but true.

"Oi! Shuu! I have good news for you." Renji informed while beaming from ear to ear.

"Then spill it I don't have all day. My work clothes are a bit more complex than yours, you know." Shuu commented while dressing in his waiter clothes, although that statement wasn't true: the clothes weren't any more complex, quite the opposite.

"Yeah well you can just stop dressing. We're gonna change tasks today." While hearing that Shuuheis eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, Kyouraku couldn't possibly think of him as ready and so he did the only thing that came to mind. He reassured himself: "What do you mean we change tasks today?"

Clearly annoyed Renji rolled his eyes while explaining: "I don't feel well today so I asked Kyouraku to be a waiter tonight and he agreed, saying we would change. So obviously he thinks you are ready and I saw you. You are ready for that Shuu." He said while giving his friend a reassuring smile.

It seemed to have worked, cause Shuu let out a defeated sigh and took his waiter clothes of, just to change into his other clothing, that of his stripper self.

Meanwhile Kyouraku was on the search of Ichigo and Grimmjow and to his luck they entered the club, as he preferred to call it, so he made a beeline towards them.

"Ah Ichi-kun, Grimm-kun sooooo glad to see you, come come we need to talk a bit." He said while directing them into his office causing Ichigo and Grimmjow to exchange nervous glances.

After closing his door and locking it he turned towards the duo which occupied his visiting chairs.

"Say you two… Do you know something about Renji-kun?" he asked never taking his eyes from either of them.

Clearly dumbfounded they looked at Shunsui hoping the older male would offer them some input about what was going on here.

Kyouraku took the hint and let out an exasperated sigh. "I take it you too have no clue?" he asked, just to make sure. Both shook their heads simultaneously 'no', still hoping he would enlighten them.

After a while of silence Ichigo dared to speak up: "Uhm say Kyouraku-san…. Did anything happen?" The look Shunsui gave them made them really uneasy, it had something foreboding.

"I'm not sure, but Abarai-san came to me some minutes ago, requesting to change tasks with Hisagi-san." That earned him two jaws that nearly hit the floor.

"You see I hoped to get something out of you two, but apparently you know less than me. What a pity." Now it started to work in their heads, clearly processing the new information and considering something he couldn't know.

After a while Ichigo spoke up. "That really is strange. He behaved strange this morning too, not making one joke and working out till he came here. Sorry Kyouraku-san, but we just know that something is wrong, but don't know what."

Now Shunsui was more than worried. Renji isn't the type of person to leave his closest friends in the dark.

"It has to be fucking serious, though." Grimmjow spoke up, for the first time that evening, drawing the looks from the other occupants of the room to himself. "The last time he behaved that strange was when we were still on the street, he was worrying his ass of about kids that came to us for help. Whatever it is that's bothering him it will have a great influence of his life." He said in a dead serious voice, gone the teasing and daring tone, something that bothered Shunsui and Ichigo a great deal, because Grimmjow was never that serious.

"Come now, we can only observe Renji for now and you two have a show to do. So go now and entertain your fans." Kyouraku told them, trying to fake a smile and not quite succeeding, while standing up and unlocking the door for them.

Ichigo and Grimmjow made their way to the dressing rooms and prepared themselves for the evening and made their way to the bar of Sodom.

Upon reaching they were greeted by Yumichika, a very effeminate man who, surprisingly, ended up with one of the manliest men (themselves including of course). His short ear-length purple hair was, as always, neatly on his head, feathers perfectly in place on his eyelashes.

"Hey guys what can I give you?" Yumi asked them, blinking ever so slowly. "Oh nothing, we were just looking for Renji." Ichigo replied, permanently searching for the red-head.

"Why are searching for him? He's right here." Yumichika answered and, while turning, discovered, that the red-head was not there.

"Nani? He was here not a minute ago! Uh how can someone as that big be that silent? He should be called "the cat" and not "the beast". I swear I am going to put a bell on his neck the next time I see him." He exclaimed furious, still polishing the glasses. Neither noticed that said red-head came back to the bar during Yumis tirade.

"Hey guys you need anything?" Renji asked, making Ichigo and Grimmjow turn in his direction with bewildered expressions and causing Yumichika to nearly drop the glass he was polishing. "What?" was the only word he could ask as they gave them their death glares. Absolutely unaffected he shrugged and made his way to bring the tables in order.

In less than 15 minutes they would open and lots of customers would try to get past their bald bouncer.

On the other end of the club was already a long line of waiting maybe-customers, hoping to get in and to see their favorite dancers. Amongst them were five people, one of them sported a very hateful expression towards his companions.

"What's the problem Byakuya-bo? We told you it's a strip-club, you just never listen to us" Yoruichi teased him with a cat like grin.

"No it's not entirely that, but just to think I would go in there on my own free will and on my birthday no less is just ridiculous. Even you should be aware of the fact, that I dislike wasting my time."

"Sure, but Sojoun-san and Ginrei-san wished us a good evening and they were fully aware what kind of club this is, the opening was on the front page of our local newspapers." Sosuke kindly reminded him.

"Yes and that is even more disturbing, considering our society deems this as important enough to report on the front page and not some useful facts of our economy or companies involved." Byakuya spoke in a detesting tone.

"Okay the next guys can go in now." The bald bouncer screamed and so the line went further to the entrance. One more group and Byakuya and his so called friends could go in.

While Yoruichi, Kisuke, Sosuke and Gin kept conversing Byakuya observed the outer appearance of the club. It seemed good enough. Bright neon-signs screamed the name of the club "Sodom" in red colors. Fascinated from the colors Byakuya didn't notice that they could enter and so got shoved into the club from Yoruichi.

What he saw there surprised and enchanted him at the same time. There were three big main stages, all with at least one pole to dance and framed with red light to make the mood more seducing. The stages were arranged like a W just with curves. Between the main stages were at least eight round tables, in every part four. And then there was something like a lounge, lots of booths with comfortable couches to sit on giving you a great view on the main stages but still ensuring privacy. And all was held in a very seducing red with a nice smell and enticing music.

All in all the atmosphere was perfect, if one wanted to get seduced or wanted to seduce someone.

While Byakuya observed the club Yoruichi walked off to get their booth, the others were watching Byakuya, surprised to see something like consent for their choice in location.

Not two minutes later Yoruichi came back to their little group, followed by a tall red-headed man.

If one had to describe him Byakuya certainly would call him handsome. He was slightly taller than Sosuke with the brightest red hair he ever saw someone wearing, tattoos covering his forehead, neck and the parts of his chest that were visible, what, mind you, wasn't less considering his revealing clothing.

Byakuya was that fascinated from the man that he didn't hear him talk, what caused a slight pink to dust his cheeks out of embarrassment. And so he closed his eyes for a moment then nodded and followed the chuckling red-head to their booth.

"So and that's your booth Lady and gentlemen. Can I bring you anything to drink?" He said with a smile on his face.

"Yes, four beer and a cup of tea would be sufficient for now." Byakuya replied, confused of the raised eyebrow from the red-head he inquired: "Is there something wrong with the order?"

"Ah no, you see normally we don't have tea… It's not that often ordered, but I see what I can do for you. Although I fear you have to settle for a teabag, that's the only thing I can offer you in an emergency." He said turning and leaving to get their drinks.

"Really Bya-bo? Tea? At this hour and in this club?" Yoruichi asked him nearly bursting to tears.

Byakuya, already being at the brink of snapping calmly said: "You can be glad I let him call you lady." That earned a dumbfounded look from Yoruichi and giggles from the other three men.

"Oi, pretty boy. The guy on that table wants tea, you got something?" Renji asked Yumi while walking to the bar and putting down the order. "Only that what you always put in here beast." Yumi responded.

"Ah crap, guess I have to make him mine then, although he won't like it." He told him with a frown while Yumichika prepared the beer and heated the water.

"Can't be helped, if he wants it." Yumi said while putting the beer bottles with glasses on Renjis tablet.

"Hm here comes tha fine piece of meat." Gin said with a purr-like sound while watching the red-head coming towards them.

"So here is your beer. Your tea comes in a minute or so depending if pretty boy gets it done himself or I have to help." Renji said with a face splitting grin.

"That's good to know, but how come you were able to get tea? I didn't see it on the card." Byakuya said very curious, he really wanted to know.

"It's just from my private storage so to say, but never mind it's fine." he silenced the raven-head with a look and walked off to bring the tea.

Now that all had their beverage the night could finally start.

pfuh I hope there are no major mistakes ^^ I tend to forget a word sometimes xD

so do tell me how you liked it :)