The frozen treats that were introduced to the menu were a wonderful addition since Yuki's arrival. From the differently tasting frozen desserts he had been entrusted to craft with his icy touch. Ice creams, milkshakes, and yogurts made from different kinds of milks or milk substitutes. Gelato and soft served topped chocolate or berry flavored syrups in festive bowls. Fruity sorbets and sherbets looked like a rainbow when scooped out. All made from the fresh produce harvested from an orchard and garden by Charmain. She kept within a building very close to the cafe through urban farming. She was glad she was able to use a building left from the Quincy invasion. Different levels left her able to grow what she needed with help from Kisuke.
Since at the moment she was looking into what kind of spicy peppers she could grow. She had a few seeds she was sent from home she was allowed to plant. Which allowed her to explore the heated side of the flavor spectrum. Along with blue bananas that taste like vanilla were also grown. Hydroponics system of sorts was their irrigation with recycled mineral nutrient water. Carefully set up that a full crew isn't needed to keep an eye on the produce throughout the day. Unlike today when Kirakio could be found with a basket of blue bananas next to her. She was looking over one of Charmaine's cookbooks from the world of the living.
"Something caught your eye?" Harlee asked her.
"Just a bit of reading." She didn't look up.
"Looking up pagotó or other ice cream related recipes ?" He wondered if she was looking for new ones.
"A request your mother made," She folded a page over, "She wants to be ready."
"Mother has been like that." Harlee figured.
"Shouldn't you be working?" She pointed out.
She didn't want to explain that Byakuya ended up spending the night after a rather fun romantic had taken Charmaine out to make up for late nights he didn't have time for her. Instead of returning to his family's estate at the late hour with her. She brought him back to the cafe and the two had relations in her room upstairs. Not knowing, the Kuchiki Clan ninjas would drop in that morning to check if the young master was still alive. Ana they found was him in a relaxed state of sleep just cuddling with Charmaine in an undressed state. Left a surprising wake up call for the other members of the household. A change of clothes was left for Byakuya after he ordered the ninja to leave him alone.
"You brother and sister are still gone?" She reminded him.
Having two of your best workers away training due for their mixed heritage intriguing the Soul King. Everyone with Yuki's help were trying to fill in the gaps that were left among the existing staff.
"Maybe your mother could make another request for something more personal?" Kirakio asked.
"Mother already feels like she took advantage," Harlee brought up his mother's feelings, "She rather look into another form of hiring."
"Wasn't there another Fullbringer with industry experience?" She recalled Kutsuzawa .
"Mother had looked into it since he does have a bartender." He shared what his mother already knew.
"Any success in getting him to agree?" She asked.
He waved his head back and forth on the topic since he stopped being informed about his mother's progress. Not that he tried to find out if Yuki would be the only Fullbringer on their staff.
"None of my siblings can tell me anything and mother isn't one to talk about such manners." Harlee didn't know what to tell.
"Kirakio! Harlee!" Charmaine called, "Come to the cafe and try our new cherry blossom flavors."
"Forgot!" The two recalled.
Like in the world of living, Charmaine wanted to bring a theme of cherry blossom to her cafe. Her main inspiration was Byakuya's love for cherry trees after coming to like the blackened one. Each one was going to be in her newest dishes that the taste testing she had happening. Just who she was inviting to sample these were heads of the female and male association, and other guests.
8*8
"More please!" Yachiru finished her third helping.
"You sure?" Harlee asked her.
Up he picked her empty ice cream dish after watching her down third helping of sweet tooth with Cotton Candy ice cream. She wanted a fourth helping in her usual manner. Which Harlee would grant since he and Koshi were the only ones on duty. After he bowed to her after slowly backing away from her. He ended up making his way to the back counter where Yuki was.
"How can she pack away so much?" Harlee traded empty dish for a filled one.
"That is a mystery among us." Koshi answered him.
"Two different kinds of pocky, sugar coated fruit, three coated wafers, and a handful of gummy candy," Yuki said, "All spread across three scoops of ice cream."
"It is the Respiro Del Diavolo challenge," Koshi pointed out, "That bothers me."
Harlee rushed back over to the occupied table to give the ice cream over before moving on. Apologizing for the minor lateness of bringing her order. He lay on the table before backing away for her to eat to her heart's content.
"Arigatō." She waved her spoon around.
He didn't want to watch her dig into the ice cream as he moved onto other Shinigami. Some of them would have an order from the ice cream list after watching Yachiru. Making his shift with Koshi hard with hopes that Korikio comes back soon. He took a breath and put on his best smile as Koshi used Flash Steps. Between taking and leaving an order for Yuki to fill was confusing. The Broombuggies couldn't figure what was going on from their spots on the stairs.
Didn't slow down until Byakuya came in the company of his niece that evening to try this ice cream. His request to try the Respiro Del Diavolo challenge was turned down. Not because of the Shinigami that failed the first few spoonfuls after waiting to try. Their moments were caught on film that was placed in a scrapbook to preserve the memories. Came with the person's name and time stamp with the date of when a Shinigami couldn't finish. That could pull off the newly established bookshelf that was set up by Charmaine. Filled with the latest picture books that Shinigami women's Association released in the past few months.
"Where is the boss lady?" Ichika asked since she hadn't seen Charmaine all day.
"I was wondering that," Byakuya brought up her absence, "She never showed up after her deliveries."
Harlee sighed as Koshi looked at Yuki in complete silence, not knowing how to answer without angering Byakuya. She could be found within the walls of Shinigami Research and Development Institute. As a guest of Kisuke when Mayuri was curious about her. What better way to answer all questions about western branch than an interactive interview.
"We fear your temper," Yuki answered him, "So we fear telling you it is now."
"I like him." Ichika was shocked by his answer.
"I have forgotten that my past history left a sour reputation with some," Byakuya sighed disappointment in himself, "How long will she be?"
"We do not know," Koshi shrugged, "We were told to wait."
Ichika ended up elbowing her uncle that he was going to be lonely tonight with a wink. Before stepping ahead of him and offering to work a waitress shift. Harlee allowed since they barely got by the morning and twilight. Left Byakuya to either stay and wait for Charmaine or leave for a later moment.
"May I see your menu?" He asked with curiosity getting the better of him.
"We were told you don't like sweet things." Harlee handed him one.
"It is not your oxide cream I want to try out," He assured him, "It's another rumor about a pudding you have."
"You mean banana pudding?" His niece answered.
He nodded his head and asked if he could get that to go since he would be returned to Divicon six barracks. Wanting to take something with him to eat with his provided meal around dinner. Was a change since Charmaine usually brought himself to nibble on. Having her go without visiting him bothered him to the point he was secretly bothered. Yuki ended up doing what he asked with remarkable speed and efficiency.
"Here you go," Ichika handed him the bag the pudding was placed in, "Next time we'll have more for you."
The bag was accepted after Byakuya nodded his head to her and told her to not stay here late. Her parents want her back at the Kuchiki manor without ninja being sent after her. She agreed while winking when she brought a special late night visit from Charmaine. Left her uncle to cough uncomfortably about what she said to him and underline meaning.
"Farewell for now," Byakuya composed himself, "Tell Charmaine hello for me."
"Will do." Harlee saw him out.
Yuki went back to doing dish with help from Koshi as Ichika ended up helping Harlee with cleaning dining area. Just they weren't going to stay in this quiet moment when tall, middle-aged man who possesses short dark hair, brown eyes and a thick mustache. Dressed shirt and dark waistcoat with a bow tie, reminiscent of a typical bartender's outfit. With a dark leather-like strap to cover his right eye he held a for hire flier within his hand. Made Ichika about to accus him of lying since she never heard of this.
"My name is Giriko_Kutsuzawa from the Rukongai district, " He went on to introduce himself, "Saw your flier and thought I came here."
"I forgot mom got special permission to post those around the Rukongai ." Harlee had to get Ichika to stand down, "Your one of those Fullbrings that were once apart of group that steal abilities from spiritual aware people, and gave them to his teammates."
"Seems you know of me," He wasn't shocked, "Then I don't have speak much of past."
"Good," Harlee looked him over, "Fact you were a bartender get your in the door, but you have to past final interview with my mother. She doesn't take to people with crimnal backgrounds such as yourself."
"That is something I completely understand." He some how got that he may be hired.
Harlee sighed and knew the walk here wasn't an easy one since this person had to get by the gate guardians. He ended up allowing this person to stay until his mother's return despite Ichika's objections. In the kitchen, he was sent to help Yuki and Koshi with dishes as a test.
"Glad to meet a fellow Fullbringer," He nodded to Yuki, "May I ask does your ability pertain?"
"Mostly ice-based and still doesn't have a name." Yuki looked him over.
"You haven't named your ability." Koshi and Ichika didn't believe Yuki.
"I've got one, but I don't think it's good enough." Yuki shared.
"So share." He was encouraged.
"Winter's Frost." He created a snowflake.
"I thought for a second," Koshi breathed, "You would have a name similar to Tōshirō."
Everyone in their own way laughed at the thought of Tōshirō's Zanpakutō sharing the same name as a Fullbring's ability. Left them to try and not to ponder how similar these ice-based abilities most share some features.