Chapter Thirty-Six
Jūshirō's POV
"Uncle Byakuya!" Midori cheered as she dashed up to her godfather. He smiled brightly at her and picked her up. I smiled and attempted to nudged my wife awake, she was still recuperating from her promotion to fourth seat. "Hi! Who are you?" my daughter asked gaining my attention. "I'll introduce you in a moment." he replied softly then asked, "Where are your parents?" "We're over here." I called, stirring Heather awake. "Hm?" she questioned as she looked around. "Byakuya's over," I replied and noticed the woman at his side, "And he's brought a friend." "I hope it's alright." he stated eyeing my wife as she stretched and yawned. "It's perfectly alright, Byakuya." I replied.
My wife gave the woman a look like she was trying to place her face, as if she had seen her before. In that moment, my wife asked, "What's your name again?" "Oh, I didn't introduce myself yet, I am Hisana, it's a pleasure to meet you." the young woman introduced herself softly. Heather's expression did not change, she suddenly broke the silence by complimenting and introducing us, "That's a nice name. I'm Heather and this is my husband, Jūshirō and you've met Midori." Byakuya looked to me somewhat concerned and stated more than asked, "Her memory has been getting worse, I take it?" I nodded and told him, "I wouldn't let that kind of information get around though." She seemed totally unaware about the conversation and continued to talk to the woman, "So how do you know Byakuya? Family arrangements?" "Nothing like that. We met while he was doing a reconnaissance mission. He rescued me from a hollow attack." the younger woman filled in, "He's quite the prince charming." "I wouldn't doubt that for an instant." Heather replied. "Oh?" I questioned playfully. "You cut that out," Heather giggled lightheartedly and hit my arm softly before saying, "He's my brother for God sakes."
"Byakuya, you should bring her over for dinner sometime." I invited. My wife nodded in agreement. "Uncle Byakuya?" Midori questioned, as she softly tugged on his hair, gaining his attention. "What is it, Dori?" he questioned. "Does this mean she's going to be Auntie Hisana now?" my daughter questioned. I was about to correct her when the couple laughed almost giddily. "Soon, but if you'd like, you can call me that." Hisana replied with a soft smile. "Yay!" Midori exclaimed happily. "Are you two serious?!" Heather gasped while I could not find the words to say. They were getting married so soon?! Wouldn't his family stir up trouble because she was a commoner? Byakuya nodded as he replied, " I wanted you to meet her before I introduced her to the elders." "I like her." Midori stated her opinion positively. Hisana smiled softly, she seemed to be a nice young lady, but I got the impression that she seemed to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Too bad my wife did not seem to remember her, I would have asked more about her. "Well, I hope you two have the best of luck." Heather replied before asking, "Do you two want to stay for a little while?" "Sadly, we don't have the time." Byakuya answered. Dori pouted slightly and I stood up to collect my daughter while asking, "Just decided to say your 'Hello's?" "Yes, and I wanted to know how it went with Midori and the Academy." Byakuya stated and I watched my wife frown. "They want her next term." I answered while putting an arm around my wife's shoulders and kissed her cheek. "She's still a baby!" Heather cried. "And she's brilliant, they wouldn't want her now if she was anything less. She'll still live with us after her schooling, we're not losing her just yet." I consoled her for what felt like the thousandth time. I was still trying to get over it myself but she was doing what mother's do best. "I'm sure Midori will do just fine." Byakuya assured, "You two raised her after all."