Waterfall Eclipse

A Visitor From The Gotei 13

Chapter Two:

A Visitor From The Gotei 13

Two years later, Rani accompanied Kiyomi to the gate to get in for the Shin'o Academy exam. It was there where Danzomaru, the North Gate Gatekeeper to the Seireitei, greeted the two girls.

"No entrance permitted."

"I – I." Kiyomi stuttered at the scary and large looking man.

"She's here to go to the Shin'o Academy entrance exam." Rani replied for her, before turning to her friend. "You know, you can't be scared of a gatekeeper when you want to become a Shinigami." She teased and then looked to the gatekeeper.

"Ah, I see." Danzomaru answered. "Name?"

"Kiyomi."

"Well, Kiyomi, I wish you luck." He said and then opened the door for her.

Kiyomi hesitantly started to move forward, but took in a deep breath and walked a little faster.

"GOOD LUCK KIYOMI!" Rani yelled once her friend was through the door, and as it was closing.

"THANKS! Promise me you'll take the test in the next few years!"

Rani nodded in agreement and then looked up to the gatekeeper.

"Yes?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thank you for opening it for her. Have a great day!" Rani said and then left.

~~Three Years Later~~

Rani and her brother, now aged thirteen and seven, were proficient at keeping themselves occupied and alive. They helped the newcomers that were orphans when they showed up nearby.

"Miss Rani! Miss Rani!" One of the younger kids yelled as she ran through the door.

"Yes, what is it Lily?" She asked as Lily took her hand excitedly.

"There's a special visitor outside. He's in the tavern across the way."

"Oh really?" Rani replied curious.

"COME ON! You gotta see his carriage!"

She got up and walked outside, technically dragged by Lily, to the carriage that was taking up the entire street.

That's when she felt it. She wasn't sure what it was.

"Miss Rani? Are you all right?" another one of the children asked.

Rani didn't respond. She collapsed to the ground. There were some local yells and heard someone running outside, which suddenly stopped near her.

"That's my spiritual pressure you feel, I am afraid." A man's voice stated. His voice was very calm.

Rani looked up to see a bearded man, with a floral kimono over his white haori looking at her.

"Here, take my hand. Let me help you up." He offered.

She hesitantly took it.

"Spiritual pressure?" She eventually asked.

"Yes. I am Captain Kyouraku Shunsui from the Gotei 13. I am captain of the 8th Division."

"My name is Tómasu Rani." She eventually introduced. "Ah!" She screamed and then grabbed her stomach as it growled.

"Ah, I see." He commented as he reached into his carriage. "Here. Eat this." She glared at him puzzled. "Trust me. You'll feel better."

She obliged hesitantly with a smile.

"You, my dear, should apply for the Shin'o Academy. Your spiritual pressure is growing." He finally admitted to her. "But it needs to be a little higher."

"I was going to join a few years ago with my friend, but never did."

"Well, now is the perfect time." He said with a smile. "The next open exam date is in a week. I'll put your name down, just in case you show up." He commented before climbing into his carriage. "Pleasure meeting you Miss Tómasu." He added before heading out.

She watched as the carriage left. All of the people around her were still staring at her. It wasn't until she felt someone tug on her clothes that her attention was diverted.

"Yes, Lily?"

"Miss Rani, will you go to the Shin'o Academy? Will you join the Gotei 13?"

"I don't know. I may have wanted to, but now I am not so sure." The thirteen year old replied softly.

"Well, I think you should." A boy said from behind.

"Yasuo! You're back! Where did you go young man?" She teased slightly happy to see her little brother.

"Hi. Yes, I am. I went to see the recent arrivals to see if there were any solo children." He answered as the three walked back to the house they had claimed for themselves.

"Oh, okay. No new arrivals?"

"Nope." He assured her. "But, I do agree with that captain. You should go to the academy. It's about time. And maybe you'll see Kiyomi."

Rani smiled.

"I have a week to get everything organized for you here, and make sure you're well taken care of."

"No, you have a week to try to get your pressure up."

"Now, to find out how."

"I think I know." Lily answered causing the two siblings to look at her.

"How would you know that?"

"Practice!" The little girl yelled.

Yasuo and Rani looked at each other and then laughed.

"You're right. I have to practice." She stated and then thought for a moment. "I'm going to go somewhere for a few days. Think you can cover everything here?" She asked her brother.

"Yes, I can. I have Daisuke's help too."

She nodded in agreement and then gave her brother a quick tousle of his hair and a hug to Lily before making her way north and to the outskirts of the North Rukongai District.

"I guess this is as good a place as any." She said out loud to herself as she looked around at the land. There was a lot of greenery surrounding her, which she reveled in. "No one's around. This is great!" She added as she sat her bag down next to a tree trunk and then sat down and meditated. She focused on finding the energy within her in order to amplify it. She was shocked to find out that she found her own pressure easily, and how easy it was to focus in on it and raise it. She focused a little too hard, however.

~~In The Squad 10 Barracks~~

"Captain Hitsugaya, did you just feel that?" Lieutenant Matsumoto alarmingly asked her captain. She had been stirred from lying down on the couch in his office, while he was working on paperwork.

"Yes." He replied just as alarmed and worried. He quickly stood up.

"What was that?"

"Better question would be, 'Who was that'?" He answered as he stood up and started to walk outside with his Lieutenant following him.

"It's gone." Lieutenant Matsumoto observed after the two had looked around to see any Spiritual Pressure in the sky.

"So, it is." Captain Hitsugaya commented.