Waterfall Eclipse

Dinner With Friends

Chapter Twenty-Nine:

Dinner With Friends

When Rani arrived back in her room, Chiharu greeted her.

"What happened? Why is your face pale?"

"You are not going to believe this, but I need to go out with you, Kiyomi and Umeko."

"Okay, I'll go get Kiyomi and you can get Umeko."

"No. You get Umeko. I can't go back into Squad Ten right now. You'll find out why at dinner."

"Okay." Chiharu agreed.

The girls split up and while Rani got Kiyomi from Squad Five, Chiharu went and got Umeko from Squad Ten. The four girls met at a restaurant.

"So, what the heck is the news?" Kiyomi asked after the waiter took their order.

"Know how you three always tease me about having a crush on Captain Hitsugaya?"

"Yeah?" The three questioned.

"Well, apparently, according to Lieutenants Hinamori and Matsumoto, he likes me too."

"Seriously? That's fantastic!" Chiharu exclaimed.

"No, that's not the main news I have to tell you. You didn't let me finish."

"What? What's the news?" Umeko asked.

"Captain Kuchiki had me run an errand for him today before I had my follow-up at Squad Four. There were papers he needed Lieutenant Hinamori's and Captain Hitsugaya's signature on, as well as Captain Unohana. So I went to Squad Five first, and then after talking to the lieutenant, I went to Squad Ten. I was going to be all 'normal', or at least I hoped I would be, and just get the signature. It was going great until he asked me to stay and asked me about how I was doing and if I was happy."

"Wait – he asked that? That's strange." Umeko commented but was hushed by the other two.

"Yes, he did. Now I answered the questions. Yes I was fine. Yes I was happy. Once I noticed the time, I excused myself, but he stopped me. He got uncomfortably close." She said then paused for dramatic effect. "And before I knew it, he kissed me."

"WHAT!" The three girls yelled in shock disrupting the other restaurant goers.

"He kissed you?" Kiyomi asked quietly. "No way! What did you do?"

"Nothing really. I was in shock. He must have realized it because he quickly apologized and said I should go. I think he was embarrassed just as I was."

"But you didn't fight him to get him off of you?"

"It wasn't a long enough kiss, but it wasn't a kiss on the cheek either." Rani replied. "So I leave to go to Squad Four, get checked out by Captain Unohana, get the paper signed and then bring them back to Captain Kuchiki. After a brief report about when I can go back to work, I hurried off to talk with Lieutenant Hinamori again. As I was sitting there facing away from the door, and telling her what happened, he shows up and says that he would do it again. I was embarrassed and quickly left."

"Then you came to our room?" Chiharu asked.

"Yes. Help. Please. What the heck am I supposed to do? A captain kissed me. My former captain kissed me. I have never delved into the realm of dating, nor did I plan to. I am so confused right now."

"Talk with him. Find out his intentions." Umeko replied. "It's different for you because of the history you have in Squad Ten, Rani, but also because it is obvious you have feelings for him as well, right?"

"I don't know." She said with a sigh as the bells on the door to the restaurant chimed. Rani didn't have to turn around to see who it was due to the girls' gasps. She sunk into the chair. "Don't say a word." She said quiet enough for the girls to hear.

"You really should talk to him though." Kiyomi commented quietly as the Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Hinamori walked by, the latter getting close enough to rub her shoulder and slip her a small letter. "What's it say?"

Rani opened the letter and read it first before summarizing it.

"It says that she talked to him about it after I left. He was embarrassed too, but he says he would still do it again if he had the chance." She said and then paused. "Maybe I shouldn't go talk to him privately."

The three girls smiled.

"You will go and you will talk to him in private." Kiyomi ordered. "He likes you and you like him. So just start dating."

Rani glared at her friend as she took a sip of her water causing the other two to start laughing.

"It's really not funny. I did so well earlier before he did that when talking to him. I wasn't nervous. I was very businesslike. He threw that kissing wrench in there and screwed it all up."

The girls continued their meal and eventually left. When Chiharu and Rani made it back to their room, there was a note tacked to the door addressed to Rani.

"Who is it from?"

"Captain Hitsugaya." Rani answered softly as she rubbed her thumb over his name on the cover. "The question is do I even want to read it?"

"If you don't, I'll open the darn thing and read it out loud."

"Uh, no, I'll read it then. I'll be in in a few minutes." She said as she started to open it.

"Dear Tómasu Rani,

First let me say that I do not regret my actions from earlier. I wanted to do that for a long time, and I am glad I finally have.

I believe I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you at your entrance exam. However, there is something you should know that I haven't told you yet. I have experienced your power before that, but just by a few days. I do not know if it was your spiritual pressure awakening, or if you did it on purpose, but it was strong enough that both Lieutenant Matsumoto and I felt it in the office.

When I had asked about my letter, I was worried that I was not there to receive it and you held onto it. I was relieved when you told me in person that you wanted to be under my command. I was happy. I could be closer to you, and that's why I gave you an office type job. I wanted you to be familiar with the paperwork I have as a captain, so that if the time came that you were given a seat, you wouldn't be overwhelmed.

When you wrote me that letter about your Shikai achievement I was both shocked at the lie and impressed you attempted it on your own. I was scared when Sasaki found you unresponsive. Scared of losing you. It was even worse when you tried to commit suicide during your leave. I did not think you were afraid of the Gotei 13, but Lieutenant Hinamori told us otherwise along with a few choice words for myself.

I couldn't stand to see you lying in a hospital bed again, so I never attempted to visit you while you were in there. I did, however, have to have a lengthy talk with the Captain-Commander on a few occasions regarding you, and the actions I should have taken instead.

When you chose to leave my command, I was deeply saddened, but I knew you made the right choice for you. I am still not sure why you even chose Squad Ten to begin with, especially since I scared you from day one, according to Lieutenant Matsumoto. I am happy to see that you are doing well, and that your training is also progressing nicely. I can't say that I am not jealous, but you are where you need to be.

Lieutenant Matsumoto's constant teasing about me liking you in "that" way finally got to me. I had to admit it to myself before I did anything. Lieutenant Hinamori has been a great person for us both to confide in, although I could always talk to her, talking to her about you and my feelings was harder than I anticipated. She had mentioned that maybe you were thawing my otherwise frozen heart, but I shrugged the idea off until now.

I don't know where this will lead, but I would like to talk this out. I was only half serious when I said that I would kiss you again if the opportunity arose. I would only do it again if I had your permission. Please come see me at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro."