Waterfall Eclipse

Regrets - Part Two

Chapter Eighteen:

Regrets - Part Two

Rani was less than pleased she was now stuck in the Squad Five captain's office with her captain after trying to have a decent conversation with the Squad Five Lieutenant. She did not want to even look at her captain, but she knew something had to be said.

"I am sorry Lieutenant Hinamori left like that. I am sure you came here to speak with her and not me." Rani eventually stated and then looked up at him.

Captain Hitsugaya was silent, but stared at her intensely for a few moments.

"Do I want to know why one of my subordinates is even here?" He questioned.

"For advice." She admitted. "I know I didn't have the right, but there was no one else I could turn to. For some reason I found myself here and Lieutenant Hinamori said she would listen and help if she could." She added, slightly ashamed.

"But I am your captain. And you have Lieutenant Matsumoto."

"No, not really, no offense. This is something I couldn't talk to either of you about."

"You have no faith in my opinions?"

"It's not that." Rani said as she turned away. "Just this thing that's bothering me, well, it has to do with you and Lieutenant Matsumoto." She finally confessed as she looked to the floor.

"Look at me, Tómasu." Rani hesitantly did. "I need you to trust me. You need to talk to me if something concerns me."

"I will. I promise." She said then paused. "I am just not ready yet. I don't quite have the words in the way I want."

"You're lying. You know what you want to say."

"Maybe I am, but I am not sure I should, at least not right now." Rani quickly shot back. "I don't want to say anything I cannot take back, or that will anger you or myself to the point I will completely regret it. I need to gather my thoughts correctly, if that is okay with you, captain."

Captain Hitsugaya was once again quiet.

"Fine." He eventually replied. "Make sure you come to my office when you are ready."

"Yes, sir." Rani replied relieved.

He left the room, but Rani stayed wanting to give him ample time to get where he needed to go. Lieutenant Hinamori and Kiyomi then walked in.

"Chicken." Kiyomi teased.

Rani turned her attention to her friend.

"I know. I just couldn't do it." Rani replied as she sat down on the couch.

"Relax. I know it was mean of me to do that, but if I didn't I would have been asked why you were here and I wasn't about to lie to him. He can be very intimidating when it comes to trying to get answers."

"It's okay Lieutenant Hinamori. I just wish I wasn't such a wimp at things like that. I can't say what I want to say verbally, but I sure as heck can write it." She stated as she pulled out the two letters. "I could have, and should have, just given him his, but I didn't. It would have explained everything."

"You already wrote it? May I see?" Rani handed her the letter she had addressed to her captain. "It's not sealed in wax?"

"Not yet. I was going to later before I handed it to him or dropped it off on his desk."

Lieutenant Hinamori opened the letter carefully to read it. Rani and Kiyomi sat in silence.

"It's very well written and very self explanatory, but I do not think you had to add that last part, Tómasu. Shiro won't discipline you. There would be no reason to."

"But how many other unseated officers have a Shikai?"

"None, but when they do, they become a seated officer, usually."

"I guess I still have a lot to think about."

"Maybe. Kiyomi go with her to her barracks and room. You haven't seen each other in a while and you can have the afternoon off."

"Are you sure, Lieutenant Hinamori?"

"Yes. Go. There's nothing to do here."

The two thanked the lieutenant before leaving and then made their way out of her office.

~~Squad Ten Captain's Office~~

"Matsumoto! Get up!"

"Sorry captain." The lieutenant stated as she sat up. "Did you invite Momo to the party?"

"No. I didn't get a chance to. I did however run into Tómasu at the Squad Five office."

"Really? That's strange. I wonder what she was doing there."

"Asking Hinamori for advice regarding myself and you, apparently."

"What?"

"Yes. I was talking to her, but she wouldn't tell me what. Do you know why she might be seeking advice from other officers?"

"Not a clue, captain." Lieutenant Matsumoto replied. "Oh, the Captain Commander wants to see you tomorrow at one o'clock. It's another meeting regarding Ichigo."

"Thank you."

"Okay, well, want me to see if I can find Momo and ask her?"

"Yes, if you wouldn't mind."

The lieutenant smiled and then bolted out the door. She headed to the Squad Five barracks and was let in immediately just as Kiyomi and Rani were heading out.

"Tómasu! How are you dear?"

"Oh, I am fine lieutenant." Rani replied surprised as Kiyomi nudged Rani.

"What?"

"Give her the letter." Kiyomi said quietly.

Rani silently agreed as she pulled out the letter she had written to Lieutenant Matsumoto.

"I was going to drop this off on your desk, but would you mind taking it now. I would want to say everything verbally, but I explained it all in there. And you look to be on official business." Rani said handing her lieutenant the letter.

"Sure, hun. No problem." Lieutenant Matsumoto replied taking it. "I'll come find you later, so don't go wandering around too far."

"Okay. We're just heading to my room."

Lieutenant Matsumoto nodded and the three departed ways.

"You sure you can't talk to her about what's bothering you?"

"I feel weird. I am the lowest on the totem pole here, or should it be the highest? Anyway, I am not important enough to warrant being in the same room sometimes with them."

"You think that, but most of these captains and lieutenant had hard lives growing up in the Rukongai Districts."

"I know, but I was referring to their power. I was a complete idiot for trying Shikai when I am still considered fresh out of the academy. I'll be the example for the new people – 'Don't follow in Tómasu's footsteps and try to do things on your own. You could get killed.' Know what I mean?"

"But you didn't get killed. That's the main thing to think about."

"Yes, but I was so close to." Rani said as they walked into her room. "Maybe I shouldn't have even bothered with this squad, or becoming a Shinigami."