Waterfall Eclipse

A Sister's Sacrifice

Chapter Twenty-One:

A Sister's Sacrifice

~~Squad Ten Barracks~~

"YOU DID WHAT?" Lieutenant Matsumoto asked yelling in shock.

"You heard me." Captain Hitsugaya said calmly. "I sent her home for two weeks. I am giving her the option of coming back or staying. If she's not happy here, I can't force her to stay."

"But there are other squads that would surely take her in."

"Yes, and if that's what she wants, I will let her change squads."

"But captain, you're going to miss your little crush."

"MATSUMOTO! Enough! I don't think of Tómasu like that! She is one of my subordinates."

"Stranger things have happened." The lieutenant stated, as there was a knock on the door. "MOMO!"

"Hi Rangiku. Hello Shir – sorry, Captain Hitsugaya."

"What brings you here?" The captain asked her puzzled.

"Rani made her way around last night. She visited Kiyomi and told her what you did. Did you really send her home?"

"Yes, not like it's any of your concern."

"Captain Hitsugaya, I am sorry but it is. She came to me for advice regarding you since I have known you the longest."

"Know your place."

"At this point, I don't care! This is important." Lieutenant Hinamori continued gaining the captain's complete bewilderment. "She cared enough to wonder how you would punish her. She was afraid, although she was willing, to go to the Maggot's Nest if she wouldn't be allowed out of the Gotei 13 because of her pressure." She stated getting slightly choked up.

"What are you talking about?"

"She, deep down, is afraid of the entire Gotei 13. Learning how we operate, and her being a powerful prodigy, she's afraid." She answered and then saw Lieutenant Matsumoto's curious expression. "Kiyomi told me, Rangiku. Rani confessed to her last night before leaving." Lieutenant Hinamori added directed towards her friend, and then her changed her tone when talking to the captain. "Honestly, captain, you say you care about your subordinates? If you did, you would have seen the turmoil in her heart, that's why she could never really talk to you face to face, or any of us. She only came to me because she felt deep down she could trust me and I just betrayed that trust by coming to you now." Tears started to form in her eyes as Captain Kuchiki arrived with Lieutenant Abarai.

"Is everything all right here?"

"Fine Captain Kuchiki." Captain Hitsugaya answered curtly.

"No! No it's not! You're not thinking clearly! Are you even sure she went home? She hasn't learned her Shikai completely! She could be killed by her own undoing, and it would Be. On. You!" She finished as the distance between the Squad Five Lieutenant and the Squad Ten captain was minimal.

"LIEUTENANT HINAMORI! ENOUGH!" Captain Hitsugaya yelled.

Lieutenant Abarai quickly took the distraught Squad Five lieutenant out of the room and Lieutenant Matsumoto followed leaving Captain Kuchiki in the office with her captain.

"What is going on? Who has a Shikai?"

"Tómasu Rani." Captain Hitsugaya eventually answered after realizing Lieutenant Hinamori was right. "If what Hinamori just said is right, I am in big trouble."

"Then take care of it. You can use Abarai if needed. And me."

Captain Hitsugaya looked up at him.

"Thank you, Captain Kuchiki." He solemnly replied. "MATSUMOTO! Get in here!" She came in moments later. "Find those who are closest to Tómasu for their help. We need to find her."

"Yes, sir. On it." She said and then left.

~~North Rukongai, District 59~~

"I don't understand why he gave you two weeks."

"He probably felt really bad, but I can't stay here. I can't continue being a Shinigami anymore. I am not happy there and being here will put you all in danger."

"Miss Rani, you should go back. The Gotei 13 is a better place, even with its crazy rules, than here."

"Lily, I know, but it's not for someone with my spiritual pressure. I am a danger to many people, and I don't want to risk hurting anyone."

"But you're willing to hurt yourself?" Yasuo asked her.

"Yes." She eventually replied. "I love all of you, and you have survived this long without me."

"But, what you want to do....that's...that is literally suicide."

"I know. I just don't know what else to do."

"So tomorrow, Miss Rani?"

"It's going to have to be. One more night here and then you go to Daisuke. Yasuo will go with me."

"Okay."

The little trio went to sleep and woke up early in the morning. On their way out, Lily was dropped off at Daisuke's hut and Yasuo and Rani made their way to the outskirts of the North Rukongai District.

"What is it that I am doing again?" He asked.

"As of right now, dealing with my screams of pain." Rani answered as she pulled out her Asauchi.

"That's it?"

"No. Not yet. Give it a minute." She replied with a smile as it turned into a smooth katana. "This is the katana form." Rani stated and then took a deep breath in. "Forgive me Taki Nisshoku. I can't bear to see anyone suffer because of me." She quickly thought. "Rush Taki Nisshoku." She stated and her katana changed into the water whip again. She grabbed the whip with her hands and started to wrap it around herself. As she did so, the water shot the electric pulses again rendering her weak. She screamed in pain.

"RANI!"

"NO! Don't touch them. Leave them on me. Whatever you do, do not take them off!"

"I can't! I can't see you suffer like this!"

"It'll be worse for me and you if I live. Just let me do this." She said as she clenched her teeth and then moaned in pain. "Make sure I am unresponsive before you leave me here. Don't tell anyone I am here, no matter how intimidating they seem. Or hide for a few days and then go back. Understand Yasuo?"

"Yes, sister." He replied sadly. He watched her lose more and more energy and get weaker and weaker. Eventually, within about five hours, she was completely unresponsive. He kissed her forehead and then covered her with a blanket of leaves, hoping to hide her.

Yasuo took the long way home and traveled to the outskirts of the Rukongai. He stayed there for two nights. He eventually arrived back to District 59 and went to the hut. He was there for an hour before a Shinigami wearing a white haori arrived on their street.

"I am Captain Kuchiki. I am looking for Tómasu Rani. Has anyone seen her?" He asked.

"Tómasu Yasuo just got back. He's been gone for a few days." A neighbor tattled on him. "Maybe he knows. It's that house right there."

Captain Kuchiki looked to where the gentleman was looking and walked over to it and stood in the doorway. He saw a teenage boy sitting towards the back wall.

"Are you Tómasu Yasuo?"

"Yes. My sister is not here. I joined her on a walk but she made me stay in the 80th District. She said if she didn't return in a few days to get me to come back here." He quickly answered. It was a lie he thought of to protect her during those few days away.