Within the massive walls of the Seireitei, was a cafe or tea house with modern amenities hidden among the Shinigami barracks. Such as, a victrola that played all kinds of records and electric energy to run the electrical features found throughout. Shōji styled windows and sliding doors made of wooden lattice covered in a translucent glass with rainbow shin; tatami mat floors; a tokonoma alcove; and simple, subdued colors and style. Hand carved tables and most of the furniture was spread throughout the open floor plan. Enough space was left for a pair or group of people to sit down and enjoy themselves. Sitting pillows that one could sit on held a hand embroidered and detailed design of a different flower. Menu was plastered on the wall next to a counter that separated the kitchen from the actual area Shinigami could order. Made up a small structure held a strange sign that hung out from a branch of a blackened cherry blossom tree. Single word Tentōchū was written in a combination of readable kanji and plain English, upon that sign.
Had a strange beauty, peachy cream skin and brightest blue eyes. Who sat with a straight posture in Charcoal black, fitted, straight cut, long sleeve, Off Shoulder, double High Slit Dress. Loosely pinned strands of Honey Brown tresses held by Wooden Hair Sticks. In ballet style flats with gold embroidered that were also folded on the hem lines of the dress. Sitting among the branches to the damage to one of the limbs from a recent storm. Just she wasn't paying attention to the break that was slowly forming to the branch she was currently sitting on. Before she moved fast enough to avoid this branch giving way with her being dropped into the air. She found herself falling in a state of shock before registering she wasn't among the blooming foliage of pink on blank limbs.
"Senbonzakura," A rather loud, high, and piercing voice gave a command she swore she heard before surrounded by thousand tiny, slender blade fragments. "Scatter."
Way the wave of pedal shaped particles caught her midair was breathtaking, leaving her unable to speak when slowly lowered to the ground. Disbursed once she was able to stand on solid ground to return to the person that saved her. This was none other than the 28th Head of the Kuchiki Clan sheathing his Zanpakutō with his eyes on a small, winged Dragon with two legs and a smooth body that ended in a large tail. Stood at the base of the blackened Cherry Tree just staring back at him.
"Kurozakura," Women sing a song voice with sweet timber called to this creature with a whistle to follow, "Come to me. My precious Broombuggy."
To her side this creature would happily scamper with little to no interest about the strange man staring at him. Stopping at her feet to catch a heart shaped treat made of Timothy Hay being dropped with his mouth. Which he munched away on while told to stay by the women that fed and commanded him.
"Irasshai-mase, Watashi no namae wa Charmaine Gifty Joye Duana desu," She addressed the man that saved her life with a bow, "Nani-ka, o-sagashi desu ka?"
"Does a girl by the name of Ichika Abarai visit here?" His use of English amazed her.
"Yes, every morning," This Charmaine recalled the girl, "She partially knocked down my front door and demanded to see my eldest son in such an unlady- like manner. To only leave in a huff when she discovered he was World of the Living."
This man ended up closing his eyes trying to stay as calm as he could toward the actions of his adoptive Niece. Knowing the girl was only acting this way since the person she wanted to see turned down division positions. Angered her to the point she wanted to know why he didn't want to join Gotei 13, after graduating from the Spiritual Arts Academy.
"Would you like to have a cup of tea as we chat?" She made an offer. "Beats standing around here with you getting a headache."
"I must turn down your offer," He was on his way to 6th Division Barracks, "Since I do have somewhere to be."
"I could have dropped something around lunch time?" She brought up their delivery service, " Free of charge."
She was able to hand a menu with wood block style artwork through the pamphlet. Portraying the blackened cherry tree and its pedals in a
passing breeze. Over to him while pointing out the ordering system to him as she picked up her Broombuggy.
"Kurozakura," Her nickname for her Broombuggy caught his attention, "See the nice man saved mommy."
The low grade growl that came from the small dragon when he flapped his wings. Was a friendly one when he accepted the chin scratch when placed on her shoulder.
"May I?" He asked with his eyes on Kurozakura.
"Go ahead." She retracted and welcomed him.
Upon reaching up with his hand to avoid touching, it didn't happen like he wanted. Kurozakura ended up tilting his little head to the side and re- angle her hand. How their hands ended up bumping into each other and a spark was felt. Electric sensation made their eyes go wide as one quickly retracted his hand. He nodded his head to her with a quick excuse and mumbled to her. Before quickly walking away from her with lingering effects still in his eyes.
"That was odd," The women continued petting Kurozakura, "What was that about?"
She kept this moment on her mind when she greeted the Shinigami assigned to work with her. The two were from 4th division and made up of a guy- girl pairing with military pairing. The boy had metallic black hair with flecks blue in his eyes and pale porcelain complexion. Stood around the same height at 5 feet 8 inches in standard butler uniform with mandarin collar on waist coat. He had a Bellflower brooch pinned to his left side of the right lepal of his shirt's collar for all to clearly see. As the girl with Golden Brown hair with copper color in flecks blue in her eyes, and light olive skin complexion. Stood around height at 5 feet 5 inches in the cheongsam version of maid uniform. Thigh high stockings in a white coloring and lace as she wore with black ballet flats, and gold anklets with individual Bellflower pendant. Her hair was arranged in thin braids and twin buns shaped in the form of bunny ears.
"Konnichiwa." They bowed to her as she assigned opening procedures inside.
"I will not talk about any judgments of any kind since the other half of my staff are from West Branch, got it? " She clearly stated, "That means not comparing what you know to them. They have different forms of spells and means of handling situations."
"Along with that thing?" The boy pointed to Kurozakura on her shoulder.
"This is my Broombuggy," She corrected them, "He was named by my late husband."
This was where names were exchanged when Kurozakura happily squealed when introduced. Then the girl went by the name of Korikio and the boy went by the name of Koshi.
"I am Madam Duana or Mrs. Reeves," She sighed looking them over, "Learn fast and adapt well."
She ended up showing them inside with the Chiming noise from a European lantern clock, standing on top of an 18th century Edo period altar table striking 10:00 AM. Echoed throughout the space of a tea room. That was soon brought to life when Charmaine lifted her hands to simply clap on ornate looking metal lamp lights, strung through the ceiling. Bright light that they casted would fill the space as foot steps from upper floors.
"The best of the morning to you." A greeting came from a girl and a boy pairing with a European accent to their voices. The girl with Golden Brown hair with copper color with flecks blue in her eyes and light olive skin complexion. Stood around height at 5 feet 5 inches in standard mini- skirt version of maid uniform. Thigh high stockings in a white coloring and lace she wore with strapless mary jane style, black flats. Her hair was in a complex half- braid/ half- ponytail with gold cord woven through the braid parts. Wore a Zodiac symbol Scorpio at the end of her bond hair that hung from the back end part of her braid. As the boy with metallic black hair with flecks blue for his eyes and pale porcelain complexion. Stood around the same height at 5 feet 8 inches in standard butler uniform from pressed waistcoat to the waist length paron. He had a Zodiac symbol Aries brooch pinned to the right side of his shirt's collar.
Causally waved to her before she assigned them inside opening procedures before the others joined them. Strange quietness overcame them all as Charmaine stood nearby. Kurozakura crawled off her shoulder and made his way up to the hidden staircase. Taking one step at a time before he joined two other slumbering Broombuggies. Curling up between them on a cushion as he folds his wings.
"I am Valarie and this is Harlee from Wing Bind," Then the girl introduced them, "We look forward to working beside you."
"We are also honored." Korikio spoke while Koshi bowed.
Charmaine was amused about the awkward tension forming between the four of them. Tomend informed them they had opening duties to perform before the first customer showed up.
8*8
Flying through the air of the Seireitei on a Broombuggy without Danzōmaru shooting you down. While making deliveries to the Shinigami barracks was a new normal. Being that the person was from the re- opened tea room/ house located within the barrack maze. Stopping every now and then among buildings to drop off ordered items to Shinigami, members of the Noble Houses, and high-ranking officers. One of those places was Division 6's Barracks as a last stop. Person who was seen dropping in the walkway leading from the entrance of the barracks. She was greeted by a member of the 6th division with his Zanpakutō drawn and blade pointed at her. Poor thing was trembling at the sight of Charmaine and Kurozakura crawling onto her shoulder.
"I am here to deliver number 4 lunch order to your captain and his Niece," She lifted a basket held within her arms, "Can you put that down?"
Charmaine was left standing where she landed with Kurozakura as her company when this person ran off. She sighed and reached up to stroke Kurozakura's scales.
"One of those times, I am glad that my late husband," She looked around the barracks, "Ran the tea room/ house."
Happy growl she got when she treated Kurozakura to a grass treat in the shape of a heart. He glomped up from her hand with her scratching his head between his ears. Had her sighing since she wasn't one to wait on someone like this. Since she needed to be back and start on the inventory for the week.
"I Knew It!" A familiar voice had Charmaine turning her head.
Eyes laid on was a red head with a high spiky ponytail at the back of her head 16 years old in a Shihakushō. Way the girl was pointing at Charmaine was rather unladylike. Her posture and stance alone was ticking off Charmaine into quiet rage.
"Your Here Must Mean His Here?" She asked to look for someone.
"I am here to drop this off," Charmaine drew attention to the basket, "I am here to drop this off with your uncle."
"Worst excuse given … " This girl didn't believe her.
Charmaine opened the basket to show that food was carefully wrapped and sealed bamboo cylinders. Napkins also included along the carefully placed food items within.
"Tell your uncle good day for me since I do have places to be," Basket was handed over to the girl, "Stop visiting my place of business to harness someone who isn't here."
Their interaction came to an end before another word could be said about her presence. Since the girl was left feeling like a fool when she watched the women leave. Standing in place with a poor grip on the basket in utter silence the whole time. Feeling she ruined something before it even got started at the pit of her stomach.
"Ichika?" She shook in place when her name came from her uncle's lips, "May I ask what you are doing here? I thought you were … "
He spotted a basket with a cherry blossom shaped tag hanging off the handle. Held within his niece's arms was something he found himself looking forward to. Fact he found himself getting angry over the lack of not seeing Charmaine. Again. Was puzzling to him since he barely knew this woman.
"You were the one that greeted … my … guest …" He brought attention to the basket.
"I thought she came here on behalf of her son," She tried to put on her best smile, "She brought food."
"Ichika," His voice got louder when he tried to stay calm, "What happened?"
The long story turned short about her interaction with the strange woman as she handed over the basket. Sharing how she had no knowledge of Charmaine was here to her uncle and not here. Way her uncle grew quiet after she threw her hands around and randomly spoke. Made her feel more and more like she did something wrong when attention was turned. Toward the basket within her hands by her uncle when she was doomed explaining.
"Come and let's eat," He turned away from her, "Then you may inform me why you have become obsessed with a young man."
She followed quietly behind him knowing this was going to flow through the grapevine and reach her parents. Information about her harassing a young man and his family wasn't going to turn over very well.
8*8
Once more Charmaine was found within the branches of a blackened cherry blossom tree. Just this time she was mending a branch on the verge of splitting into.
"May I ask," A familiar voice had her looking down. "How did you come by such a charred tree?"
"My late husband had it brought from the World of the Living after it barely survived a fire," She carefully tied up the branch, "Now it's been in my care ever since."
"You have done a good job," He placed his hand on the trunk, "Bringing it back to life and keeping it healthy."
"You should it when it blooms," She tranced one of the thinner branches, "Quite a sight."
"May I request your company when that happens?" He asked looking up.
Before she could answer him to his question, she witnessed his use of the Shunpo from the ground too where she sat. He made sure to not put too much weight on the branch that held Charmaine. When he found one to stay too close look into her eyes when he confess.
"I want to get to know a maiden such as yourself from this day forward," He couldn't look away from her. "You are the first women besides my late wife to stir an emotion I haven't felt since my late wife. May you give me this chance?"