"Miyako-san, what are you doing?" Rukia questioned the purple haired Shinigami when she saw the other was setting up the patio table for only two people with candles and sakura petals on it.

"Ah, Rukia-san! Did you send the Hell Butterfly?" Miyako asked as she finished with the table.

The raven head nodded. "What are you doing?"

"I'm setting the table for Renji-san and Byakuya-sama."

"This is what you had in mind for them? A moonlit dinner for two?" Rukia queried.

"Hai, why not? It's romantic and it should bring them closer together. It also may even spark out confessions and a few kisses." Miyako grinned.

Rukia thought about it and shrugged. Maybe she's right. This could work. I just hope it doesn't back fire. She thought to herself. "Well, what else do we need to do?" She asked.

Miyako couldn't think of anything else that needed to be done. The table was set the menu was already set and being seen to. Then she thought of one thing that she had almost entirely forgotten. "Music!" She exclaimed.

Rukia giggled. "Ah, I see you almost forgot that detail. It's not a 'romantic dinner for two' without music."

"Come, we should pick out some music to play for their dinner." Miyako took hold of the other girls hand and led her back into the manor.

"Miyako-san, where are we? I've never known this part of the manor." The raven haired Shinigami asked.

Miyako turned to face the other. "This is the library, I'm sure you've heard of the Kuchiki clan taking care of the history texts for the royal family, no?"

Rukia nodded. "Hai, but I don't think any music will be in here."

"Actually music is a big part of history in the three worlds. So music albums are stored in another room here also."

"Oh?" The raven head grinned. "Even popular living world music that is present?"

Miyako nodded and smiled. She turned to the wall ahead of her. She slid in a key where the recess was and a pathway opened so she and Rukia could enter the large room with many bookshelves that held old historical texts. There were other cases where they held scrolls. "Only the clan leader, future clan leader and their personal guards are allowed in here." She said as she walked through the room with the raven head behind her following.

"Then I should not be in here." Rukia said worriedly that they were breaking a clan rule.

The purple haired Shinigami shook her head. "There are some rare times where we are allowed to bring in a guest. I chose you as mine. We are not breaking any rules." She assured as she turned off into another wall and slid the key in again. The wall moved and they walked into the room with shelves filled with old records, CDs, and tapes.

Rukia gasped at the large music collection. "This is amazing…" She said just above a whisper as she was still shocked. There were some shelves where the records looked as if they were played recently.

The taller Shinigami smiled at the stunned raven head next to her. "I come here often to get away for a while. This also where Byakuya-sama and I went when we were little; when it became too rough to handle things we would seek refuge in reading and listening to music." She began as they split apart and looked around. "And since Ginrei-sama and Sōjun-sama were the only other ones allowed in here; they never bothered us until we came out."

"Why is that?" The raven head asked from a nearby shelf.

"Because they knew that we needed our space from time to time."

"Ahh, I knew Nii-sama and you had difficult times when you were young. I just didn't realize they were that difficult."

"Yes, well you were not here then. You and Renji-san had your own problems in Inuzuri. I'm sure Byakuya-sama's and my qualms were nothing compared to what you had faced." Miyako said as she picked up a record of Barry White and looked at the back of it.

"Hai, Renji and I did have some hard times back then. But we pushed through it and ended up here. When we were young our friends said that Renji and I should become Shinigami because we had respectable amounts of spirit energy. But back then we didn't want to…" Rukia trailed off to look at Miyako. She saw she was looking at an American album of Barry White and shook her head and giggled. Miyako looked up and gave her a questioning look. The raven head quickly sobered. She cleared her throat. "We don't want that one. That one is for more… intimate times. We want something more subtle."

Miyako nodded. "I see your point." She said as she remembered Byakuya and she had played that record a while back and was not very fond of it. She shook her head at the memory and set the record back onto the shelf. "Erm… do you know of any songs that would be suitable?"

Rukia stood and put her chin in between her thumb and index finger. She thought for a long while until she thought of a movie she saw in the living world with Inoue Orihime. She remembered she really liked a song called 'A Thousand Years' that was played sometime in the movie. She nodded and turned towards what looked like a shelf that had newer albums on it from the past couple years to present. Rukia searched for the CD and was thankful that everything was in alphabetical order, so she could find it quickly. She took the CD that she was looking for and pointed down at the name of the song. "That one." She said.

Miyako looked down at the song and she knew she had never heard it before. She shrugged and popped the disk into the nearby player. She turned to the song and by her surprise she liked it. "I like it, it reminds me of them." She said happily. "But we need to pick a few more songs. This song alone will not last long enough." Miyako pointed out.

"Hai." Rukia smiled. They shuffled through a few more CD's and hurried to Miyako's room to her computer to mix a CD for the two men's dinner date.

Byakuya and Renji were both heading to Kuchiki Manor when their squad training ended. The two had a really good day together. Renji was still surprised that Byakuya still had a happy expression on his face. Usually he was so calm and cold looking when he was in public but he really let down his mask today.

The redhead had to make a quick pit stop at the office because one, he needed to change. And two, if his pint sized best friend wanted to learn how to play the cello he had to pick his up. They were completely unaware of what to expect when they reached the garden gates.

"Renji you can set your cello down over there. It's out of the way and you won't have to worry about some…" Byakuya trailed off as they reached the patio that Miyako set up. His smile faded and was replaced with a look of shock.

The table had a white silk table cloth, two red candles lit, wine that was being chilled in a bucket of ice, and two places set opposite of one another with sakura petals spread freely all around the table. Both men had their eyes widened in surprise. Renji's mouth flung open when he heard the music playing softly in the background. Both men were blushing furiously at the love song.

What in all the three worlds is Miyako thinking! Byakuya screamed in his mind. She is becoming just like Senpai!

Oh shit! Oh shit! OH SHIT! What the fuck? Renji's still shocked mind exclaimed. Oh… I'm sure this was Rukia's doing… I'm going to fucking kill her! "T-taichou? What is this?"

Byakuya turned to Renji and for the first time he was utterly speechless. He shook his head and when he finally got his mind to calm down he started to speak. "I-I honestly d-don't know."

"Ah, you two have finally arrived." Miyako said from the walkway with Rukia at her side. Both Shinigami women had innocent smiles plastered on their faces.

"What in the world is this?" Renji asked with his face still flushed.

"Renji, you may follow me. Nii-sama you have to go with Miyako-san." Rukia chirped then started to walk away giving the other girl a wink. "RENJI!"

"Uh… Hai!" Renji gave a quick glance at Byakuya, who looked as if he was going to die of embarrassment right then and there. He then quickly ran after the other raven head, leaving Miyako and Byakuya alone.

"What do you think you're doing?" The raven head asked.

The purple haired girl gave him a devilish smile. "Just giving you two a little nudge." Byakuya glared at his cousin. She was spending way too much time with Yoruichi. "Go change then come back. Renji will meet with you." She turned to walk away.

"Miyako!" The clan leader called. "Come back here!" But it was too late she quickly flash stepped to find Rukia and Renji. Byakuya sighed and thought he might as well do what she said and change. I'll kill her and my sister later. He promised himself, then he flash stepped to his bedroom.

Miyako reached Rukia's room and heard she was giggling.

She's probably embarrassing him. Her devilish grin tugged onto her lips again.

"R-rukia! What are you doing? Hey!" Renji yelled from the other side of the door.

I think I'll help her. Miyako opened the door and saw Renji was half dressed in a comfortable silk kimono that was red with black designs on it.

"What the hell!" The redhead yelped as the girl walked in. "What are you two up to?" He asked as he quickly yanked the other half of the kimono from his best friend's hands and put it on.

Rukia looked over to the girl who walked in. "What are you doing here Miyako-san? I thought you were going to help Nii-sama."

Miyako shook her head. "No, he does not need my help. I knew you did though. Renji-san being fussing I see."

"Hai, he is like that sometimes." Rukia rolled her eyes.

Renji scolwed. "Hey! I asked you a damn question! What the fuck are you two up to?" He asked again.

"We know you and Nii-sama love each other but are too damned stupid to see it yourselves." The raven haired girl said as she turned her head to look over to the irritated redhead.

Miyako nodded. "When would you ever realize if we Rukia-san and I didn't come up with this 'date'?"

Renji blushed. He didn't think that Byakuya loved him. Much less go on a real date with him. Yeah, they were friends and went out to lunch often but that was different. He didn't even think his taichou would return his unsaid feelings. He finished getting dressed but was then quickly yanked into a chair and both girls started to brush out his hair then put it back up but in a neat braid. They tugged on his hair which made him wince.

"Hey, watch where you're pullin!" The redhead snapped. The girls giggled a bit which made them tug more.

"Our apologies." The purple haired Shinigami replied. She then let Rukia quickly take over and braid the man's hair.

"Tch." He muttered disapprovingly under his breath. He folded his arms and waited until Rukia was done.

"There, you're done." Rukia said as she finished braiding then slipped a hair tie in. "Now go out there and have a good dinner!" She ordered pointing towards the door.

"Hey Shorty, I know your brother doesn't love me!" The redhead yelled as he got up and walked over to the door. "Why would he love me, of all people?"

"Yes, he does baka." Rukia said simply while shoving Renji out the door and closing it.

Renji scowled and then sighed. I might as well do this thing. He thought. He walked out towards the table then.

Rukia went over to her CD player and re-stared the disk to start from the beginning with 'A Thousand Years'. Miyako giggled and went to open the door when Rukia suddenly wrapped a hand around her wrist. "Stay, please." Rukia spoke softly. She didn't want to the purple haired girl to leave. She really didn't want the day to end. Because tomorrow meant that everything would probably go back to the way it was before. She wanted to tell the other how she felt. But she couldn't find the words yet so Rukia settled for just having Miyako staying with her for the night… she hoped.

Miyako turned to look at the other with confusion. I wonder why she wants me to stay…

"Please…" Miyako nodded and was led by Rukia to sit down on her bed.

Renji and Byakuya met each other at the table. Renji was stunned at how beautiful the other looked in a midnight blue kimono with white designs. He noticed the other also looked more relaxed without his taichou and nobility symbols.

"Sit Renji." Byakuya ordered gently. "I imagine Rukia and Miyako set this up for some reason. Did they say anything to you of what this is all about?"

Renji obeyed the elder man. But Renji didn't know if it was a good idea to tell his Taichou the truth. That meant he would have to confess his feelings and wasn't so sure if he was ready to feel so defeated when he would hear Byakuya's rejection.

Byakuya studied Renji. He noticed the kimono that his sister had bought for the redhead. He thought it suited him well. He also noticed that Renji's hair was brushed and braided which was laying down his shoulder. The head band was also absent revealing the tattoo's on the said man's forehead. The raven head was breath taken by Renji's appearance. The man he secretly loved looked amazing. But he looked at Renji's troubling gaze and knew he was in deep thought again. By his subordinate's facial expression; he expected that the two girls had explained themselves somewhat to the redhead. "I take your silence and expression as a yes." Byakuya spoke softly.

Renji snapped out of his reverie and decided that it was no use to lie. He would have to tell the raven haired man the truth and just hope he wouldn't look too hurt at the rejection he was expecting. He finally nodded. "Hai."

"Well? Out with it, what did they do this for?" Byakuya was growing impatient.

Renji knew not to keep Byakuya waiting too long by his tone. "They said something about us having to realize our feelings for one another."

Byakuya's face paled. Oh, kami… Miyako told him my feelings. "O-oh… is that all?"

The other shook his head. "No, they…" he paused.

"Renji?" Byakuya called in a more concerned tone. The song changed to a more country like love song then. Byakuya looked calm but his eyes showed that he was worried quite a bit.

Renji took a deep breath and was about to speak again but a servant came and placed their dinner before them. He didn't even want to think about food right now for what he was about to tell his taichou and then probably be torn up by Senbonzakura. The servant bowed then flash stepped away.

"You may go on now…" the raven head said softly.

The other nodded and sighed. "They said that they knew that we had feelings for each other and set this up."

Byakuya's face paled. "And what feelings are we feeling for one another?" He said trying to stay calm.

Renji blushed. "L-love." He mumbled.

The two sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. Finally Renji just decided maybe he should just leave. He stood and was about to do just that when all of a sudden the other grasped the redhead's wrist. "Where do you think you're going Abarai? Byakuya questioned.

Renji glared down at the slender pale hand that took him by the wrist then his gaze traveled up to the others eyes. He was a bit confused.Why is he stopping me from leaving? I know he doesn't feel love for me. He thought to himself.

"Renji, I…I…" Byakuya was having trouble saying those three words to the one he felt them for. Damn… Why can't I just say it? I don't want to see that sad look on him. Renji looked away, not wanting here the rejection he thought he was going to get. "Look at me Renji." Byakuya demanded softly. Renji refused and shut his eyes tightly. The raven head shook his head and reached up to the redhead's chin. He pulled Renji's face close to his. So close that their lips were nearly touching. "Maybe this will tell you how I really feel." The raven head whispered then closed the distance between their lips and claimed Renji's softly. They pulled apart and Renji was partially shocked at the other's actions, then relieved that he wasn't getting rejected. He looked at the other questioningly.

"Why?" He asked.

Byakuya smirked. "Because I love you."

Renji was so overwhelmed with happiness that he practically threw himself in his taichou's arms and looped his own arms around Byakuya's neck. Byakuya chuckled a bit and kissed the other more deeply this time. He felt the redhead's tongue had come out to play along his lower lip. So he opened his mouth and let his own tongue twirl with the redhead's. The song changed again. They broke apart panting for air with their foreheads pressed together. When the song changed again, they finally caught their breaths.

Renji finally spoke. "I love you too."