Waterfall Eclipse

Lieutenant Matsumoto

Chapter Sixteen:

Lieutenant Matsumoto

~~Four Days Later~~

"What do you mean Tómasu's not back yet, Sasaki? Her leave ended yesterday. I told her to not be late!" Captain Hitsugaya scolded Umeko.

"Just that sir. She never came back last night. She told me she would, but she's not here. I double checked with the guards at the Senkaimon, and they said she hadn't come through yet."

"Find her. Now!" He barked.

"Yes, sir." Umeko replied and then left.

Umeko made her way to the Senkaimon, told the guards she was being sent to find her comrade, and then proceeded through.

"Her Reiatsu is low. I can barely make it out." Umeko observed once she was in Karakura Town.

Umeko headed to Urahara's shop to inquire if he had seen her, and when she was told no by his comrades, she became worried. She ran outside and began a Bakudo spell first by drawing a circle in the ground, dividing it into four parts, and inserting the necessary characters in each quadrant.

"Heart of the South, Eye of the North, Fingertip of the West, Heel of the East, Carry the Wind and Gather, Banish the Rain and Disband!" She chanted. The incantation animated the circle and soon Umeko was given a set of numbers, which Umeko immediately traveled to.

Once Umeko arrived she found Rani laying down on the ground with her Asauchi in katana form along side her.

"Oh no!" She said as she pulled out her communications device. "It's Sasaki. I need assistance from Squad Four as soon as possible. Lock onto my location in the Living World." She said into it once she was connected.

A moment later, the team from Squad Four that was dispatched arrived and took Rani back to their barracks for treatment. Umeko followed them to the Soul Society, but headed to her captain's office.

"Sasaki, come in." Lieutenant Matsumoto commented once she saw the girl standing outside the office door.

"Lieutenant, where is the captain?" She asked slightly afraid wondering if he already made his way to Squad Four.

"He's in a meeting with the Captain Commander regarding Kurosaki Ichigo." The lieutenant answered. "Something I can help you with?"

"I found Tómasu Rani in the Living World unresponsive. Squad Four has her now and is treating her. I just wanted to report it to the captain." She stated and then got quiet.

"Anything else?"

"Her Asauchi. It took a katana form. It doesn't look like a typical Asauchi anymore." Umeko stated slowly.

"A katana huh?" Lieutenant Matsumoto inquired as her interest was piqued. "Stay here and wait for the captain. I'll go check in on Tómasu right now."

The lieutenant made her way over to the Squad Four barracks and asked to speak with Lieutenant Kotetsu.

"Oh, hi Rangiku. Are you here about Tómasu?"

"Yes."

"She's stable. Her energy was wiped. By what, or who, I don't know. She's lucky she isn't dead."

"Is she awake yet?"

"She should be coming to soon. We're doing one more round right now on her. Whatever happened to her must have happened right before Sasaki arrived in the Living World."

Lieutenant Matsumoto nodded as she was directed to the private room for Rani. She sat by the bed until Rani opened her eyes, but she was staring at Rani's Asauchi.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto?" Rani questioned looking at her. "Where?" She started as she tried to sit up.

"Stay lying down." The lieutenant ordered. "Now normally I am an easy going lieutenant, but this was blatantly irresponsible."

Rani gulped and looked up at the ceiling.

"I know."

"I am glad. I won't tell the captain, not this time."

Rani turned to look back at her.

"Huh?" She mustered out in confusion.

"I won't tell him about you trying to obtain Shikai, just as long as you don't try it again for a long while. You and I will train together in the practice grounds and you are to train more in general."

"Yes, ma'am."

"But, we will need to figure out some kind of story for why you are in here now." The lieutenant continued. "Especially since your Asauchi should have been left in your room while on leave."

"I am going to be in so much trouble, aren't I lieutenant?"

"Not if we're careful. I'll have to get Sasaki in on this too. I'll be back. I have to get her before she reports to the captain."

Lieutenant Matsumoto quickly made it back to the office to find Umeko still sitting there waiting for the captain to arrive.

"Good! You're still here." She said as she closed the door.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Sasaki, you need to listen very carefully. Unless, of course, you want to see Tómasu seriously reprimanded by the captain?"

"No, of course not!"

"Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT mention anything in your report to the captain about Tómasu's Asauchi taking katana form."

"But, will it go back to a regular Asauchi?"

"Yes, in due time. She has to regain all of her Reiatsu back before she can ask it to." Lieutenant Matsumoto answered. "Now, you said she was unresponsive when you found her?" Umeko nodded. "Good. Don't change it. I'll be back."

Lieutenant Matsumoto went back to the Squad Four barracks and told Rani to say she didn't remember anything.

"This is the story that we're sticking to. Just say you must have hit your head and that's why you can't remember."

"Got it. Thank you Lieutenant Matsumoto."

Three days later Rani was released from Squad Four's care and she walked back to the Squad Ten barracks, where she ran into Lieutenant Abarai and, the now, Lieutenant Kuchiki.

"We heard you had quite the accident in the Living World." Lieutenant Kuchiki commented.

"Uh, yeah. I don't really remember much about it though." She answered as she held onto her Asauchi and looked to the ground. She then looked up and saw Captain Kuchiki and Captain Hitsugaya coming their way. She suddenly felt all of the color drain from her cheeks.

"Miss Tómasu, are you all right?" Lieutenant Abarai inquired.

"Yes, sorry, I am okay. I just got released and I am suddenly not feeling so great. I need to hurry back to my room and lie down." She quickly said. She wasn't in the mood for a discipline by her captain in front of everyone.

"Do you want help?"

"No, I am fine Lieutentant Kuchiki. Have a nice day!" She anxiously replied and then ran off.

The two lieutenants looked at each other with puzzled looks just as the captains arrived.

"Was that Tómasu?" Captain Hitsugaya inquired. "Where is she going? I wanted to speak with her."

"Captain Hitsugaya," Lieutenant Kuchiki started, "She was just released from Squad Four and was already not feeling well again." She finished concerned.