Disclaimer: Bleach ain't mine but Tite Kubo's.

Note: Thanks for the wonderful reviews! And finally summer has come to Germany, too! The next week will be a busy one, so I can't promise when the next chapter will be out, but I'll do my best.
Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 39:

"You can't wear that, Renji. It totally sucks!", said Ichigo.

"It does not!"

"Does, too."

"Does not."

"Does, too."

"Does not."

"Let's ask the others. Inoue?"

"I like it", smiled the girl. Ichigo goggled at her for a moment, then remembered her taste in food.

"Forget that. Ishida?", he continued.

"As much as I hate to say it", commented the Quincy, pushing his glasses back up his nose, "but I agree with Kurosaki. Horrible taste."

"Chad?"

"...,well."

"See?", said Ichigo triumphantly, turning back to the red-head. "They all hate it, too."

"But...Sado-kun didn't even say anything", protested Renji.

"It's his way of saying that. No more discussion now, bright orange is not your colour, got that? Here, take some of my things", said Ichigo.

He opened the wardrobe and rummaged around. Then he tossed Renji a pair of jeans and a sleeveless black shirt.

When he came back from changing, Renji still wore the orange shirt.

"What's wrong with you?", shouted Ichiho angrily. "Didn't we tell you to change?"

Renji just held up the black shirt. It was way too big.

"Oh", made Ichigo. "I guess it's back from when I had to lend one of yours, Chad."

"Yes", confirmed Sado.

"No problem", said Ishida with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I can change it in no time." He whipped out a sewing set. Within a few minutes time, he was done. "Here you go", he said and tossed it back to Renji.

"How the heck did the Quincy cross get on the back?", asked the red-head.

"Just an extra service", replied Ishida calmly.

Renji finally shrugged out of the orange shirt and put the black one on.

"Now what's with your hair?", pondered Ichigo. "You look girly."

The words 'wear it down or I'll rip you to pieces' resounded in Renji's head. He gulped.

"It's rather complicated...", Renji began.

"Then let's drop it", interrupted Ichigo. "We have to get going."

At the same moment at Kuchiki manor...

"This is a catastrophe!", cried Shihana. She was walking up and down in her room, wearing nothing but a towel.

"Calm down, Shihana-san", said Rukia calmly. "It's only the wedding-eve party. Whatever you wear, he won't remember tomorrow morning."

"But it only comes once in life! I have to be perfect!", argued Shihana and eyed the interior of her wardrobe.

Rukia stepped up next to her. She was already ready to go, wearing a school regulation skirt in light grey and a white T-Shirt with 'I love Chappy' in rainbow colours on it.

"Jeans and a dashing top?", she proposed.

"Hmm...", made Shihana and pulled out a pair of dark blue tight-fitting jeans. Then she continued to rummage around.

"How about that one?"

She held up a bright orange T-Shirt with little pink hearts on it. Rukia burst into fits of laughter.

"When...did...you", she managed to say between giggles, "buy that eyesore?"

Shihana pouted. "I found it rather cute."

"No", panted Rukia. "Totally out of the question! Look, why don't you try this one on?"

She pulled out a black neck-holder satin top.

Shihana gave it a critical glance then shrugged and took it.

"But you can't say anything against the underwear Matsumoto-san bought for me", she said.

Rukia avoided to look at the lacy thing in her hands to do her friend the favour not to object. Then a look of panic crossed her face.

"Hurry up Shihana-san, or we're going to be late!", she exclaimed.

Five minutes later they were running at full speed through the garden and nearly bumped into Byakuya.

"Byakuya-san! Good to meet you here. Come with us!", commanded Shihana.

Byakuya threw her a questioning look but obliged.

While they were flash stepping across Seireitei he asked what the emergency was.

"Emergency?", answered Rukia confused. "It's Renji's and Shihana's wedding-eve party, of course."

Byakuya immediately came to a halt.

"And what do I have to do with that?", he demanded irritated.

"Do you think I would have the last party of my free life without my favourite cousin?", said Shihana. Then she unceremoniously grabbed his arm and dragged him along with them. "Be a man and bear with it. I don't want to drag you all the way to the living world."

Byakuya sighed inwardly. Then he gave in and followed the two women to the senkaimon that was already visible in the distance.

When they climbed down the ladder to the huge cave under Urahara's shop, Byakuya was impressed against his will.

There was a ten meters long bar hewn out of the yellowish stone that formed bizarre rock formations everywhere. Behind it, Tessai and lieutenant Kurotsuchi Nemu were expertly mixing bright coloured drinks.

A large area of the rocky floor had been laid out with tatami mats and sofas, big cushions and armchairs were strewn about in groups occupied by leisurely dressed people, chatting and nipping at their drinks.

At the far end, a dance floor with spotlights and giant loudspeakers had been put up. On a raised platform stood a broad-shouldered human Byakuya recalled having seen with Kurosaki Ichigo before.

"Pretty cool, eh?", said Shihana proudly when they walked towards the bar. "It cost me a fortune, but the wedding-eve does only come once in life, after all."

Then she spotted Matsumoto not far away. With a last "Have fun, Byakuya-san!" and a light clap on his shoulder, she was gone.

Byakuya and Rukia stood a moment in awkward silence.

"I hope you like it here, Nii-sama", Rukia finally ventured.

"It will suffice", replied Byakuya. With tremendous effort to sound relaxed, he pointed towards the bar. "How about a drink then?"

They strolled over to the stone bar. While Byakuya gave the highly polished surface an appraising glance, Nemu came over and bowed politely.

"Good evening, how may I serve you?", she asked in her usual emotionless voice. She wasn't wearing her uniform but an ankle-long blue-green sleeveless dress that went well with her eye-colour.

"I'd like a Strawberry Daiquiri", said Rukia. "And you, Nii-sama?"

Byakuya pondered the list of drinks on the chalkboard behind the wall for a while.

"I haven't ever had one of those drinks from the mortal world. Can you recommend one?", he eventually said.

Nemu responded without hesitation: "Byakuya Kuchiki, taichou of the 6th division. Enjoys walks at night and spicy food. Recommended drink: Martini."

"A funny little glass", commented Byakuya when they had their drinks the blink of an eye later.

"Yet the taste is quite acceptable", he said after taking a sip. "Rukia, have you..."

But the small woman had just spotted Ichigo and Orihime in the crowd.

"Excuse me, Nii-sama, I'll be back in a few", she said and, as an afterthought, added, "Enjoy yourself!"

Then Byakuya was alone with his Martini.

He sighed inwardly and looked around for a quiet spot.

Across the room, Renji had settled down next to Ichigo and sniffed warily at the drink the former had pressed in his hand.

"It's a Zombie", explained Ichigo. "Take a sip."

Renji complied and gasped when the highly alcoholic liquid burned its way down his throat.

"Whoa", he said. "Tryin' ta kill me, Strawberry-head?"

"Don't be a ninny, dumbass", laughed Ichigo. "It's just a drink and I'm having it, too. See?"

He held up a glass filled with something the same colour and took a large gulp. The look on his face spoke volumes. Renji broke into laughter, while Ishida only shook his head.

"Yay, let's have a drinking contest!", proposed Orihime cheerfully.

"Did I just hear the words 'drinking contest'?", came a voice from behind them.

Renji looked up to see Ikakku, Yumichika and Iba approaching them. They slumped down next to him and were joined by Hisagi and Kira moments later, each carrying three glasses.

"Can't have a party without the Shinigami Men's Association!", hollered Iba and threw his arm around the shoulders of a slightly embarrassed Hisagi. "Right Hisagi? Why aren't you wearing your regulation sun-glasses?"

Hisagi forced a crooked smile. "Forgot them?", he ventured.

"Don't fret over rubbish!", said Ikkaku and took a large gulp from his drink. "We're here to have fun. And we'll have it especially after that stripper makes her appearance."

Renji went white as a sheet. "S-stripper?", he stuttered. Then he grabbed Ikkaku by the collar. "Are you trying to kill me, dude? Don't say you hired a stripper!"

Ikkaku grinned him in the face. "There's Matsumoto and there's alcohol. You get: a stripper!"

Renji sighed with relief. Then he smacked his friend around the head. "Ya scared the heck outta me. Damn, Ikkaku, a stripper!"

"Looks like our Pineapple-head is totally henpecked, huh?", grinned Ichigo. "You shouldn't let women get the upper hand or..."

His last words were muffled by the small foot that ended up in his face, nearly knocking the sofa over.

"What did you just say, Itsigo?", asked Rukia with a honey-sweet voice.

"Nice to see you, too", grumbled Ichigo. "You nearly spilled my drink."

Shihana looked over to where Rukia and Ichigo were bickering.

"Can't those two have a decent conversation?", she sighed.

"Can we get Ise drunk enough to finally admit her deep feelings for Kyouraku-taichou? Beats me", replied Matsumoto and shrugged elegantly. She was wearing one of Orihime's school uniforms with bright red high-heels. As always, she looked stunning.

"Yay, peanuts!", cried a voice from above and the blink of an eye later, Yachiru sat on the table, resembling a pink chipmunk, her cheeks full of salted peanuts, munching happily.

Byakuya was sitting at the far end of the bar and thoughtfully chewing his olive, when a shadow fell over him.

With a skilful motion he kicked against the bar, thus spinning his stool around and avoiding the foot that hit the rock a split second later. A few chunks fell to the ground.

"Baka-neko", Byakuya said irritated.

"For you still Yoruichi-sama, Bya-bo", said Yoruichi and leaned against the bar next to him.

"Yo, Tessai! Long Island Ice Tea!", she shouted and winked at the big ex-kido corps member.

"What is it you want, Yoruichi-sama?", asked Byakuya. "I'm enjoying myself here."

Yoruichi grinned mischievously. "You do remember you owe me one, do you, Bya-bo?"

"How could I forget", replied Byakuya coolly.

"I thought of having a bit of fun for everyone at the wedding reception", she continued.

Byakuya grew a few shades paler.

"You will have a giant cake in the shape of your favourite seaweed ambassador made and jump out of it, wearing nothing but a pair of red swimming trunks."

Byakuya stared at her. She had her arms crossed and regarded him with a look of superiority. She was indeed a demon-cat!

"I shall do so. But with this, we are even", Byakuya finally said. Uwaaa! My reputation will be ruined! Ruined!

"Agreed", grinned Yoruichi and shook his hand.

The "Zombie" is a highly alcoholic drink with several sorts of rum. Here's a receipt from .com:

3/4 oz. lime juice 1/2 oz. Don's Mix (see below) 1/2 oz Falernum 1 1/2 oz. Dark Jamaican rum 1 1/2 oz. Gold Puerto Rican rum 1 oz. 151-proof Demerara rum Dash Angostura bitters 6 drops Herbsaint or Pernod 1 tsp. Grenadine 6 oz. crushed ice

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