Small celebration for the return of her children wasn't short lived since Valarie and Victor had requests. First Valarie wanted to return home and resume her role with Wing Bind. Which had her mother proud of her choice. Valarie was then pulled into a hug by Ichika and then Korikio with Koshi following in her return. Assure her that she was missed when she was asked about trying Ice Cream cake that Yuki made for them. Second was surprise from Victor since he requested to take over operations of the cafe. Using the excuse that he wanted he mother to live her life away from the shadow of his first husband. Which put a smile on her face while she shared the proof photo book Shinigami Women's Association with him. Wanting Valarie and him to look over the pictures she gathered and chose to be displayed in this. Which they would end up doing to see what was going on sale by nxt month through Shinigami Women's Association.
"I have never seen you so happy," He spoke of how happy she was around Byakuya, "So go be with him as I run things here."
"You're too much like your father." She saw her late husband in her eldest.
"I see why he fell for you." Victor hugged his mom.
The two had their empty glasses refilled by Yuki when he was passing by without much of a care. To only be stopped by Victor and asked when he would be available for a date. Put a blush on Yuki's face as Harlee and Koshi cheered him on to say yes to him. Koriko and Valarie were just touched by the scene as Ichika didn't understand. Charmaine took the hint and explained what was going on to Ichika. Had the girl loudly raising her arms in the air as a form of encouragement.
"Must I answer right away?" He asked for time.
"You have time the night before," He gave him a due date, "My mom's birthday."
"Deal?" Yuki put his hand out.
Instead he grasped that hand and tugged Yuki toward him just enough to capture his lips into a kiss. One that had him go wide eyed just when they're late guest was allowed through.
"Have I missed some?" Byakuya asked rather confused about what he walked in on.
Charmaine excused herself when she put her glass aside to allow everyone to continue without her. Making her way over toward Byakuya with news. Which he accepted by offering her one his arms to take hold and walk beside him. That she did to show him her once bandaged hand was completely healed. Now a scar or blemish could be seen on the hand he was allowed to hold.
"In the near future," He reminded her of an ice-based hollow, "Please don't handle one alone."
He made this point further by the way he took hold of her hand and recalled the reports of her. She had contained the hollow using spells available to her despite experiencing the first early stage of frostbite. Despite areas that were already flash frozen or thick fog with an icy chill.
"I am a big girl," She was touched by his concern, " …and was able to hold my ground."
She adjusted her shawl when she was about to step away from him to ask him to leave to avoid conflict. If he didn't stop her from pulling completely away from him by gently taking her hand. Redirecting her away from the eyes of her children and employees for a private moment. Which caught her off guard since she was in sudden tizzy about how she ended up cornered.
"Forgive me," He quietly stepped away to her space, "I wish not to come off as over protective, with you when sharing my feelings when you're handled that hollow. Just want you to know we are here to help in those types of situations."
Across her face that smile he came to prefer about her appeared as she tightly gripped his hand in return. Looking into eyes that carried a still lingering bit of worry over her safety outside the Soul society. Conflicting twinkling in those slate gray eyes made her step back toward him.
"Is something my children want me to do." She spoke of Victor's request.
"Then you ?" He asked, looking behind her.
"Will be going through the process and handing the cafe over to them," She summed up with a sigh, "They are growing up so fast."
He lifted the back of her hand to his lips without a care about her being able to give him children since Ichika was old enough. Maybe talk with her about entering her children into the Kuchiki family registry. While figuring out where in his family's ancestral home she'll live.
"You are spoiling me too much." She is too much like a Princess.
"What a true lady like you deserve." He gave her his best smile.
Their moment was interrupted by Kurozakura scurrying their way from the cafe with his wings wide open. Happily screeching when he stopped at their feet. Byakuya kneeled down to welcome the Broombuggy by lowering his free hand to him. Which was crawling onto his shoulder when he stood back up rest on his shoulders.
"I do hope he hasn't caught the eye of SRaDI," He warned her of Mayuri's curiosity, "Being his nothing like what we faced."
"Told him to speak to the Directors for permission," She assured him, "We're safe."
"Are you sure?" Byakuya was amazed.
"Still waiting got permission to be granted," She informed him, "For data on dragons to be shared."
He went quiet for a few minutes when she went in about how she worked as a middle man. How she has been working with Wing Bind's Patchworks and Pipers between SRaDI. Trying to get the two to exchange only basic information on dragons. That photo book about the Broombuggies was popular. Since a few orders came through the newly repaired gate to the Eastern Branch.
"Means you will be leaving," Byakuya wasn't happy about that news, "For how long?"
"Do you have confidence in Renji to run things while you are away?" She asked with a smirk, "I plan on taking you temporarily with me, if allowed."
Being reminded of rumors that Shinigami Women's Association spread across the Seireitei through word of mouth. Sharing the news a long time bachelor has found love in a widow. Despite the woman having three grown children from her first marriage and business she inherited. A spark of some kind had formed with people secretly rooting for Byakuya.
"We are not engaged or married," He reminded her, "You miscarriage."
"Sourpuss." She elbowed him.
A croak came from Kurozakura with him slightly flapping his wings upon those broad shoulders. As if he was trying to tell Byakuya one can still be together with someone. Which left Byakuya in shock over the strike he got to his mid- chest from her.
"Let's get off, " She called to Kurozakura, "Since I don't want you messing up his uniform."
Her Broombuggy hestanted some in jumping off his shoulders at first before wailing unhappily about it. Then from Byakuya he would take a leap before landing into her arms with pause. His tail went from slightly wagging to dropping with his wings flat to his back.
"Seems you still have a few things to sort out." She gently stroked Kurozakura before turning away.
8*8
Not too long after Charmaine handed over control of her cafe to her children while a new photo book came out. This one was full of selected image of Charmaine throughout the Seireitei. Became as popular as others that were captain related among the Shinigami. Given as a gift to a drepressed Byakuya by his niece to make him feel better. Flipping through the glossy pages tugged at his heart and made him stop. One of her sitting among the blossoms of her blackened cherry tree branches. Simple shawl she wore over a dress that showed far too much of her legs. Never bothered him since this look somehow suited her from where he always stood.
"Ojisan?" He heard Ichika, "You ok?"
"…" He was too quiet.
"Okāsan and Otōsan say there is something wrong with you," She further spoke, "Does it have to do Charmaine- san?"
Way he grew quiet when he closed the book ad pushed it to the side of his desk out of his sight range needing to think. Back in his chair he would recline with his eyes lowly closing and retreating into himself to meditate. He foud himself within his inner world where orchard of Japanese cherry scattered through the landscape. Complete replicate of the Kuchiki manor from his childhood within the center with one of its doors opened. Which he found himself walking toward to find one morden day change sitting on a Chabudai. A framed image of his first wife laying next to a glossy image of his newest love interest. Had him already to focus his attention on what record the victrola was currently playing away. Being that tune sounded just like what Charmaine played when ever her cafe was opened to customers. Interrupted when spirit of his Zanpakutō came around the corner from the outside of the building.
"Masutā," He was asked as the music stopped, "Somethig wrong?"
Into the open room Byakuya walked with out saying much to his spirit of his Zanpakutō with his attention on the pictures. Unconcern about the eyes that was watching him when he took a seat before the table. Eyes on picture of a women that felt being with him was a dream and unable to retur his love. Who gave five years of wedded bliss to him before dying of illness where a promise to find her sister was made. Left him to shift toward someone he connected instantly and found himself intrigued by her. Days or nights he spent in her company just taking strolls when ever he had a moment from his work. Food and drink she prepared for him to eat out of worry he wasn't getting a decent meal.
"Charmaine." He spoke a certain name.
The atmosphere outside the building turned into a down pour with the sun still out as he looked to the unframed picture. Way she wore within that glossy 8x11 with a glint in her eyes that he knew well after interacting with her. Reminded him of the first time she smiled in front of him within the first few dyas of meeting him. To the center of his chest he reached with a tekko covered hand when felt his heart start to throb.
"She isn't like most women," Byakuya was reminded of her, "Way she dresses and acts had halted me in my steps."
"Then the problem?" spirit of his Zanpakutō asked.
Trying to explain, that being around her whenever they were together had him following a untraditional manner. He found himself not following what he was taught to woo a women such as her when around her. He was always agreeing to stepping out whe she asked him and ended up meeting her family first. Fact she recovered from a misscarriage of children from when they first slept together still upset him. Not because she lost potential heirs the elders of his family would have accepted whe given time. More like she suffered in quiet with only little family she had and not allowing him to help her through it.
"She will be leaving," He stated, "I did not react well."
"I know," spirit of his Zanpakutō already knew, "I say push tradition aside and go with her."
When his eyes burst open and scared his niece when she watched him just sit there in complete quiet. What his eyes laid on when he straingtian himself out was a certain Broombuggy sitting on his desk.
"Kurozakura?" He was quite confused.
"Your niece insisted I come by," A familiar voice reached out for Kurozakura, "Is everything ok?"
He blinked a few times trying to process what was happening with Ichika giving him a thumbs up before leaving his office. Charmaine WAs keeping her hands to self unlike the last few times she was in his space. Way she used to walk so close to his collections of cooks with her fingers following the spines as she read titles. Nothing like the women that now stood before his desk with her hands tucked to her side.
"About before …" His voice had her turning her head, "How do you feel about moving in with me after you return?"
"I don't see anything wrong with that," She blinked, "Since member of your family is fine with it."
Up from his seat he went trying to find the words to tell her how he wanted a life with her without offending her. That he had been lonely since her short absence and in deep reflection over how to go about asking her. Stopping when he got near enough to her to notice she was wearing wasn't what she usual wear. Cherry Blossom Pink of her wrap dress hidden underneath her shawl she had wrapped around her person. Left the words he was going to use stuck in his throat as he step back to take in sight of her.
"There goes my surprise," She felt his eyes on her, "Well?"
"Beautiful." He offered her a hand.
Kurozakura leaped from her shoulder to his by using his offered his arm as bridge with a squeal leaving his lips. Got Byakuya to stroke his scales as Charmaine asked what conditions they could work out. Become the foundation for a relation that down the line of the Kuchiki bloodline of second marriage with twin Shinigami.