The annual night the students of Spiritual Arts Academy were taken by the trusted seniors to the world of the living through a Senkaimon. It wasn't Karakura Town where the students went to learn soul burial. They were taken to the site of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami instead. Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures were just empty land with barely built structures of any kind. Just greenery beyond the eye could be seen with a strange sensation. One that sent chills up Koshi's spine when he came with Charmaine and Harlee.

"I pick up a few things at Urahara Shop and pick up our overdue letters," She remembered why they came here, "You sure you're up to this?"

"No problem." Koshi assured her.

He was then handed her list for Urahara Shop and address of the PO box where she gets her mail from. Before disappearing through use of his Flash Steps when he was getting his orders.

"This way," She addressed her youngest, "I promised your sister I would donate these old clothes."

He followed her away from the location where the students were scattered looking for a soul to perform a burial. Delmare rested on his shoulders happily enjoying the company of his new friend. A Jigokuchō with silvery lining to its wings was found resting with Delmare. This strange butterfly was found and nursed by Charmaine a few weeks ago. Seems didn't belong to any of the Gotei 13 when shown to them by her staff. Not that division 11 got interested in the strange Jigokuchō that seem to have metallic traits. Led to a thorough once over before being handed over to the high ups for review. While ownership was handed over to Charmaine officially, that shocked even Byakuya.

"I don't think we shouldn't be out here alone." Harlee felt a chill.

"What makes you think that?" She asked.

She ended up using the bag of old clothes as a shield against an icy blast of cold ice to shield her son. Who she pulled out of the way when a sight of a newly hollow made herself known to their eyes. She was just like how she was described by the last report that came in when she was sighted. Snow White skin covered in a kimono with a blank snowflake print just glaring at them.

"I hear your hollow after a young man in my employee," Charmaine addressed the hollow, "Do you have a name or you're just a savage thing?"

Her answer came in the form of wailing that made Harlee cover his ears as a thick fog started to roll in. He went from seeing his breath to the ground under him slowly freezing over. Which didn't freeze him in place; most of this hollow's victims were found at sunrise.

"Mom?" Harlee asked him to address her.

"Take Delmare, our Jigokuchō, and run," She dropped the bag, "You know where to run?"

"Mother…" He grew concerned.

Last time he saw his mother when she took out a familiar coin from her pocket and flipped it to him. He was able to catch it before dodging an ice blast that instantly froze that woman's fear. This hollow had its attention drawn back to Charmaine when she used a spell called Gatling Claw. A wide, generating, circle of energy levitated around her with multiple perpendicular spears. He held an unconventionally-shaped gun crossed with a magical wand.

"Run." Charmaine repeated her answer.

Which he did when he mounted Delmare and away he flew on him with Jigokuchō soaring beside him. He trembled with fear about leaving his mother behind with no means of back up. Had him before remembering his mother could handle herself against in a fight, but against a hollow. Had him rushing back to the spot the students were to leave.

8*8

Showing up with one of your hand bandages after frostbite treatment was given brought some concern to Byakuya. Had him ready to formally address her injury and the hollow that was inflicted. If she hadn't calmed him down with the usual basket of home cooked meals.

"I wish you stop drawing all this ill fortune," He shared, "You remind me of a certain substitute Shinigami."

"Mr. Kurosaki?" She asked, recalling her eldest's mentor, "I don't know if that is a compliment or warning?"

She ended up taking her usual position on the corner of his desk just lost in thought over the issue. Not noticing how she crossed her legs stuck out from the slit of her dress. Low cut neckline of her dress gave a view of her cleavage through transparent fabric. Still made Byakuya quite uncomfortable with how close she was.

"You know," She sighed realizing his point, "I don't mean it."

"I am just glad you came back in one piece." He tried to gaze upon her face.

"Good," She leaned toward him, "Why are you averting your eyes? I've dressed like this millions of times around you. This is the first time I've seen you react strongly."

"Your attire is more revealing than usual." He whispered.

"I forget you're not used to seeing a woman dress like this?" She thought his discomfort was cute.

When he tried to keep his eyes on her face that she felt touched to the point she leaned further over. Tilting her head enough to capture the center of his lips with her own. Started slowly when she started nibbling at both his lips with her front teeth. Going at pain stakely slowly with moisture added when she licked the outer skin of his lips. That would end up being dominated by him as he angled his head to reach up. Wove his fingers into her hair from the back to coddle her scalp in a gentle manner. She allowed when she felt him using his other arm to wrap her waist. Pulling her from the desk and right into his lap without breaking their lips. Her legs ended up sitting together then splitting apart and she took a straddling position on his lap. Had her stopping before she started to loosen his Shihakushō and the sash of his black kimono .

"Shahr?" He noticed her withdraw.

"You really want your fellow Shinigami to head you and I …" She pressed her together for him to figure it out.

He was quiet for a second before realizing we're about to do a private act in such a public space. Had him laughing in his own way what she meant as she adjusted herself in his lap.

"Trying to preserve my dignity?" He quietly asked her.

"Correct," She whispered as she lay her head on his shoulder, "Fact I don't want to put you through what my late husband and I went through. We were lucky to conceive our children despite our differences."

"I am in no rush for an heir," He assured her, "I would like to take our time with that since we just found each other."

He ended up allowing her to fall asleep on his lap for the remainder of her time visiting him until he woke her. The sight of her in his lap had him wanting to commission a portrait of this moment of her. Which he was already thinking of doing through the use of daguerréotype camera division 11 made. When photography was introduced by Kisuke along with television and HD technology. Already figuring out where he was going to place the photo of her on his desk in a frame. Which he put aside when he wanted to enjoy the sight of her just slumbering away.

"My precious Koibito," He reached toward her, "Boku mo anata wo ai shiteru."

He would have carried on hadn't spotted Renji standing at the door of his office just watching with a smirk. Was when he shook Charmaine awake to get her off his lap and on her way. He helped her off onto her feet beside him as she smooths out wrinkles in her dress.

"I think you are just fine," He answered her previous statement, "Anything looks good on you."

Her blushing had her tightly gripping his hand before separating since he had his duties to fulfill. Knowing he would get to the contains of the basket she left for him as a late night meal.

"Your daughter is a fine young lady with us," She addressed Renji, "We regret she may not be with us for long."

"Whatever you've done with her," Renji didn't know how that got Ichika to behave, "Keep it up with her."

"So she can stay working with us?" Charmain was surprised.

Byakuya knew the details needed to be worked out since his niece was raised to be a Shinigami. Since she spent her developmental years learning kido spells and to handle a Zanpakutō.