Hosting the Female Shinigami Society for the first time wasn't much trouble for Charmaine as she welcomed them. She even closed the tea house for them while calling it a private event to people who asked. She had Korikio and Valarie work that day as wait staff over Harlee and Koshi.
"You want me to help publish your photo collection of Byakuya and take photos for a calendar?" A request from a smiling Yachiru, "Young lady, are you sure you're asking the right person?"
"Since you can access any place with your delivery service and you got this cute creature," Yachiru drew attention to Kurozakura, "He's such a cutie."
"He was then the cutest one among his litter," Charmaine recalled his birth, "You should do a photo collection of him, or even my sons?"
"We'll do it!" Yachiru liked the ideas.
To quiet the girl and keep her from further getting Charmaine to agree in helping them out. By giving her a plate of chewy mochi shells filled with creamy filling and a sweet cherry juice. Impressed Rangiku and Rukia when Yachiru lost herself with the sweetness that was presented to her.
"I already have photos of Kurozakura you all can choose from and see what I can get from my sons," She offered, "Now Byakuya …"
She still recalled her answer to him the day he asked her to give him a romantic chance in a private manner. Had her accepting the hand he had offered her while warning him of her baggage. Smile he wore when he also informed her of his own didn't stop him from weaving their fingers.
"I am going to need time," She got only her feet, "Do not except much from me."
She left them the rest to her wait staff when she retreated to the kitchen with thoughts weighing heavy on her. Some of them betraying the trust of a new love for some photo collection of him. Sigh escaped her lips when she slid behind the counter and reached for her apron. Looking for orders she needed to prepare before getting Harlee to deliver everything. She found one that was a repeat of what she first tried to bring to Byakuya on a slip. Set the pace for the rest of the time in the kitchen between the sizzling of a pan and stove top.
"What does someone from the Western Branch of Soul Society end up with us?" Rangiku asked as she leaned over the counter, "I mean from what I can gather, your story was a romance for the ages."
"I was just a thing of a lady among the lower ranks of Wing Bind and about to join one of their Divisions. When I met a member from the Eastern Branch of Soul Society delegation," Charmaine remembered her late husband's attempts at flirting with her, "One thing led to another with him and they were married 4 years later with three kids of their own. Our eldest took after him while our youngest took after me when years passed until the day he was taken from us."
"Here you are," Rangiku pointed out the tea house Charmaine took over, "How do you do it?"
"My late husband's family actually," Charmaine pointed out, "They ran this place until I was allowed to take over."
They would have further chatted when Charmaine didn't set forth Rangiku's drink order before her. Informing her to be careful since the water in the teapot was rather hot and could scorch her lips. Got her a clear thank you from Rangiku before the woman walked off with her drink.
"Is this going to be a weekly or monthly thing?" Harlee spoke from the back.
"Weekly with what they're willing to pay for a whole day," Charmaine tapped a wooden on the rim of a bowl, "Get ready to be smothered."
"Beats being back at home and handling dragons on a daily basis," He overlooked the women, "You serious about collecting photos of brother and me?"
"Have any name suggestions?" She teased.
"Eastern Gentlemen and the Quiet One?" He shrugged, "Good enough?"
What he got was a basket filled with afternoon orders that needed to be delivered to usual faces. Advising him to take some shots using the Capture Moment spell before giving him the list of stops. He whistled for his Broombuggy from his resting place on a large cushion on the steps. Who wiggled his tail when he picked up he heard his master before shaking off sleep. Dragging himself away from the warmth of his other Broombuggy to waddle down the stairs. Just before he could make his way across the first floor to the feet of his master.
"Omg!" Members of the female Shinigami Society were overcome by his cute appearance, "So cute."
"Please don't touch him unless you want to get burned," Charmaine warned the women, "Broombuggies are only docile with ones they are familiar with and not with ones they are not."
"… but …." Yachiru whined with her hand mere meters from the Broombuggy.
Harlee ended up walking away from hidden alcove off to the right of the stairs toward his Broombuggy. He kind of regretted that he decided to wear a down played version of his uniform. Matching tie, waist coat, and tailored pants that held embroidered work done by Charmaine. Came in the form of swaying Guelder-rose trees in the middle of a spring breeze. That went with the white button up shirt and other clothing accessories he decided to wear. Got him a few side looks from the female Shinigami when he stepped and kneeled down. He tranced a number into the air before it up and a spell called Capture Moment was used. Out of the air two issues of female Shinigami gushing over his Broombuggy and other of Yachiru almost touching his Yachiru. He picked it up and tucked it into the pocket of his waist coat.
"Delmare," He reached toward his Broombuggy, "Ready?"
Happy squeal and wings flapping from his Broombuggy before the little dragon crawled up his arm, and onto his shoulder. Which was produced by a captured photo popping out of the thin air. Joining the others since he caught it and pocket this one also got a round of applause. Charmaine smiled as her son walked over to the nearest table to place the images. That was joined by a few more that starred him talking to his mom and being glared at by female Shinigami. Others of him kneeling down to greet his Broombuggy and coming down the stairs. Were also there for the Members of the female Shinigami Society to gaggle at.
"Anything you want me to drop off at Kuchiki Estate?" He asked when the basket and delivery list were ready.
"At the bottom of the basket and remember to take photos," She reminds him, "Don't forget your cloak, it gets chilly up there."
"Sayōnara Harlee- San." Korikio bowed to him when she handed him his cloak.
"Laters." He pulled on his cloak when he passed her.
With a basket hanging off his arm and list securely within his hand as Delmare set back on his shoulder. little claws scraping the material that made up his cloak agreed with the Broombuggy. He happily squealed with his tail shaking back and forth as Harlee moved out the door. When the door slammed behind him with Valarie walking up to the counter with an empty trey.
"Not in the mood to interact with your brother or new co- worker?" Charmaine asked a quiet Valarie.
"I am not in the mood to be gucked at like a rare dragon," She whispered, "So sorry mother for not immersing myself in this opportunity."
Valarie then filled her empty tray without any further chat between her and her mother once she walked away. Leaving Charmaine to re - think about bringing all her children to Soul Society with her. Which she knew was risky since two of them weren't born with Shinigami traits.
"I forgot to ask," Rangiku recalled another detail about Charmaine, "I heard your eldest is in the World of the Living and training under Ichigo. This came as a request he made after turning down Division positions."
"We don't have any other family on my side or my late husband's side after they died of illness. Left my eldest to make a tough choice after he graduated and speed up his /needed experience," Charmaine answered her, "I just wish that Ichika girl stopped harassing me about him and be more helpful."
"Aren't you getting enough help from two Shinigami ?" Rangiku looked at Korikio and thought of Koshi.
"Hard workers that are willing to learn," Charmaine watched her interact with fellow Shinigami, "Best use of needed personal paperwork I filled out and hope they stick around."
Rangiku ended up ending her conversation with Charmaine when Yachiru called for her to come over. She happily wanted to share the rest of her mochi while looking over the pictures she was given. Which also were shared with other members and impressions were made all around.
8*8
Byakuya was quite shocked when he didn't find the Female Shinigami Society meeting within his home. Having the servants search for a single strand of hair didn't turn up a single female. Made him seek out where the women were through the Shinigami grape vine until an answer was found.
Cafe run by Charmaine
Had him leaving the sixth Division in Renji's care as he used his Shunpo out of an unknown worry. Disliking how he was too busy to properly plan out an outing to take a woman like Charmaine. Only seeing her when he had free time in between Captain Meetings and other traditional duties. Lasted around the same time as a small talk on the London subway would last. Fueled him to hurrying pace till he was under the shade of a blackened cherry tree. Finding wrapped in a shawl and not so form tailored dress with thigh high, side slit. Charmaine wore more of a conservative attire. High collar, lace collar and thumb hole long sleeves, asymmetrical high low flared maxi skirt, style dress she wore. Clear view he saw of her bare legs with only a pair of one inch, cross strap flats wore on her feet had him blushing. Single gold bracelet she wore on one of her wrists with embol of sagittarius down up in pearl was only jewelry she wore. Her hair was braided on sides until gathered in the back to form a long ponytail with a ribbon. She held a drawstring purse intertwined within her clenched and twitching fingers.
"Surprise!" She nervously greeted him, "What do you think?"
He slowly walked to her side, completely forgetting about the Female Shinigami Society as he slowly reached. Finding one of his hands moving toward one of her hands and slightly grasping them. Weaving their fingers together as he brushed her knuckles with one of his thumbs. His eyes slowly took in her form before looking right into her eyes.
"You have never looked more beautiful," He whispered, "What brings this on? Not that I was ever offended by your previous clothing, that tightly form-fitting dress with that side slit up to your thigh. Paired with that pearl brooch worn near clear sight of your exposed cleavage … "
" I thought I surprised you for once," She cut him off, "You have always been making an effort to visit me in between your responsibilities. So I thought why not try out a new look for future outings with you and see how you react."
"I am waiting for approval for a days off," He spoke of an outing he had planned, "I wanted to ask you to attend a Kabuki performance with me."
"That would be wonderful," She stepped closer to him.
He ended up using his other free hand to wrap securely take hold and scoop her off her feet to hoist her into the air. Suddenly being lifted into the air had her placing her hands down on his shoulders to brace her self and find some stabily. To only find she was a few inches away from a smile he was only reserving for her as he reached up to her face. Pushing back a strand of loose hair back behind her ear before lightly tracing the area behind said ear to end of her chin. Never once shattering their eye contact as he moved them closer to cherry blossom when branches started to sway. Noticing that one branch out of all of them with single piece of cloth securely tied around it.
"You repair work on the broken branch is excellent," He was impressed, "Such nimble skilled hands you have."
"I was apart of Divison with Wing Bind called The Doceres," She amusing spoke, "We act as veterinaries toward ill dragon that were domestic and wild."
"I'm glad to be in your company," He figured the bracelet preseted something. "Hope to see much more from you."
"Along with you since the way you used your Shikai," She brought up the moment they met, "Saved my life,"
"You know of Zanpakutō ?" He was shocked by her knowledge.
"Why don't your put me down and I'll explain?" She requested of him.
He did just then with out disconnecting his loose grip with her hand once he allowed her back on to her feet with his ears opened. Feeling like a fool when memory of last Captain's Meeting informing everyone about a Witch from the Western Branch of Soul Society. She and her children were relocating here to run a cafe that she inherited from late husband's side of the family.
"I am widower," She sadly smiled, "He was also a Shinigami and had a duel type Zanpakutō, a illusion and elemental type."
"What Division was he in?" He asked wondering.
"7th Division," She laughed at the memory of her late husband proudly telling her, "Always said the zest from his fellow Shinigami is how he ended up courting me."
She ended up growing quiet when over come with deep sorrow of her lost with tears appearing within her eyes as she spoke. Recalling how her eldest son was left his late father's Zanpakutō disguised as a musical note pin one could wear.
"I understand your pain," Byakuya brushed her tears away with his other hand. "I also a widower as well with lost of my wife."
He went to speak of her by expressing how dearly and unconditionally he loved his late wife with a sad smile of his own. How the five years they spent together before she left him due to illness were one of many happy memories.
"This Hisana was a lucky women," She could feel his adoration for his late wife, "To have you by her side."
She adjusted her gip with his hand while she made a suggestion they take advantage of the darkening sky above their heads. They go for a long stroll at a slow pace until they reached for entrance of 6th Divison and see where they went. He agreed to when the passing breeze blew in the dierction they were going to head with him and he shutter. He was the one that started them out from the privacy the cherry blossom gave them from prying eyes still lingering. Those belonging to her children from the second floor of the cafe as the peered out of a hidden window at their mother.
"I don't like this," Valarie say back to stroke her Broombuggy, "Mom shouldn't be dating right away."
"Really Val?" Harlee stared at her, "Father has been died for 5 years now and you think mom shouldn't even be romantically link?"
"Yes," She nods her head, "Victor would agree with me."
What she got from Harlee was his laughing when he got to his feet and to amused about her statement about their older sibling. Wanting to point out that Victor would't care either way about their mother was seeing while still away. Since all he would do was ask if she was happy and want to meet who ever she was romantically seeing once.
"Your not helping?" She huffed at him.
"Not trying to be on the subject of mom dating," He stopped at a small cabinet, "I just can't wait for how Victor will take this news."
" … " She went quiet when reality smacked her.
She knew Victor was never one to quickly reject new idea and interactions with people upon meeting them for the first time. He was rather opened to fellow Shinigami when he joined the Spiritual Arts Academy after joining after theyre located. Besides showing a genuine excitement to be among people that shared the same skillset as him.
"Hate when I speak the truth?" He opened one side of the cabinet.
He knew he was't getting an answer from her over this subject in one way or another as he pulled out three feeding bowls. Making sure to full them with cups of leaf clippings brought to them by the 4th Divison in a container for their Broombuggy. Since he turned around with cabinet closing behind him as he walked away with whistle on his lips. All three Broombuggies came running toward him when the feeding bowls were put down for them.
"Don't you want to go back home?" He was asked by his sister, "I don't like this place."
Flashing effect of a spell taking place had her sighing when Harlee was capturing imagings of Broombuggies and himself. Which he gathered and added to the many he already taken for the Female Shinigami Society.
"You are daft for partaking in this photo collection bull," She didnt' see the importaction of it, "Who cares anyway?"
"Mother," He reminds her, "Since she is trying to convince Mr. Kuchiki to allow the one of him to go through."
Again he found his sister snorting at the thought of their mother in possession of a photo collect of her sons and next love.