Waterfall Eclipse

Affairs of the Heart - Part Four

Chapter Thirty-Three:

Affairs Of The Heart – Part Four

The trek to Squad Ten took a lot less time this time around. Rani made her way through the doors, bypassing the protesting guards, and right to the captain's office.

"Rangiku, go home." She heard the captain state. She rarely ever heard him use her first name, but as far as he knew, no one was outside.

"If you say so captain. You really should join me one time for drinks." The lieutenant stated getting closer to the door.

Rani stepped back and hid in the shadows until the coast was clear for her to go in. She tapped lightly on the door.

"Come in?"

Rani took a deep breath and slid open the door. It revealed a very surprised Captain Hitsugaya.

"You asked for me to come, so here I am, Captain Hitsugaya."

"Yeah, I did. I was expecting you in the morning. Please sit down."

"I'd rather not. My friends are waiting for me at the restaurant." She said curtly.

"Oh, well, I wanted to discuss the letter I wrote you."

Rani swallowed, but kept her eyes locked on him.

"Do you have anything to say about it?" She was silent. "Anything at all? You can forget formalities and all that, if you want to speak your mind."

She swallowed again, trying to hold back her anger, and tears.

"Captain, although I am honored and surprised that you decided to tell me, and show me, that you have had an attraction towards me, I am sorry to say that I cannot return such affection." She started choosing her words carefully. "I may have idolized you in the past as some sort of celebrity because we share the same 'prodigy' label, but I cannot in good standing consider that to be a healthy basis to start any relationship with anyone." She paused and took a deep breath. She could really feel the tears starting to form. "I am sorry, but our relationship cannot be anything more than a captain and a Shinigami from another squad." She then turned around and started to walk out the door. "I know, in time, you'll find someone else that is worthy of your love and affection, but sadly it is not me." She finished and then left the Squad Ten barracks.

Rani quickly made her way back to the restaurant where her friends were still waiting there.

"We ordered you a drink, Rani."

"Thanks, but I think I'll need something stronger than tea." She said as she waved over the waiter and ordered some sake.

"Did you do it? Did you turn him down?" Chiharu asked.

Rani nodded as a tear snuck out of the corner of her right eye.

"I know I should be relieved, and I am, but I feel bad about it."

"Well, now hopefully you can start fresh and new." Kiyomi replied.

"He's going to a miserable captain for a while. I am sorry Umeko."

"Don't apologize. I can deal with him being mean." She said shrugging it off. "Now, just don't fall in love with Captain Kuchiki." She joked. She didn't see the person come up behind her, but Kiyomi and Chiharu did. "What?"

"I would hope that Tómasu would have better things to do than to form a crush on me."

Rani sunk into her seat in embarrassment before starting to quietly laugh. She didn't dare turn around. Her captain, always serious, surely wouldn't laugh at her expense, would he?

"I am sorry Captain Kuchiki." Umeko apologized.

Kiyomi and Chiharu kept a straight face as best as the two girls, slightly buzzed from the sake they had been drinking, could while they sat there with Captain Kuchiki looking at them.

"Is there something we can help you with, Captain Kuchiki?" Rani finally managed to ask as her laughing subsided.

"No, I am just glad to see you having a good time and smiling. Have fun on your week off, but remember when you get back, it is back to the schedule."

"Yes, sir." Rani replied.

He then walked away.

"What a buzz kill!" Umeko boldly stated.

"Uh, Umeko, are you drunk? Because the Umeko we know would have never said that." Kiyomi asked worried.

"I might be. Jusht a little." Umeko said starting to slur her words.

Rani smiled as she looked at Chiharu.

"Let's get some food in her. I don't want to deal with a hung-over Umeko in the morning." Chiharu stated as the door to the restaurant opened. "I'd say hide, Rani, but there's no place to."

"Huh?" Rani asked. She then turned around. "Now it's like he's stalking me."

"Wait, Rani, he might not be here for you. He may be meeting my lieutenant, like he usually does."

"So he'll drink some sake, and blab to Lieutenant Hinamori about me turning him down. Lovely. Then we'll hear about it when we get back. Even better." Rani stated as she took a gulp of her drink. "Wow. This sake is strong tonight."

"No, you're just getting like Lieutenant Matsumoto and chugging it down." Chiharu stated taking the bottle from her. "I don't want to deal with a drunk and hung-over you this evening or in the morning."

The girls ate their dinner and then Kiyomi helped Umeko back to her quarters before heading to hers. Rani and Chiharu headed to theirs together.

Rani woke up in the morning with a splitting headache.

"UGH!"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, hang-over headache. Got any advice to get rid of it?"

"Kiss Captain Hitsugaya?"

"Not funny." She said as she glared over at her roommate. "You're all ready to go?"

"Yup, and so are you. We need to hit Urahara's shop for our Gigais before making the venture to the beach, but the girls should be meeting us here momentarily."

"Okay. Let me freshen up." She said as she placed her hands on the ground to push herself up. "What's this?" She asked as a letter was stuck to her hand. "Oh come on! Seriously?"

"What is it?"

"Another letter from Hitsugaya." Rani said aggravated. "He apparently can't take a hint." She said as she opened it.

"What does it say?" Chiharu asked as she helped Rani up.

"It says, 'I know you were lying when you said you couldn't return my affections towards you, but I will forgive you. I will always hold a special place in my thawing heart for you, and I will never stop loving you, or trying to get you to admit you feel the same.' He really can't take a hint."

"You did say you would tell him that even if you did have feelings for him. He must sense that. And how did he know you were lying?"

"I must have some sort of tell." Rani concluded as the other two girls showed up. "Okay, let's get this vacation on." She said as she walked out the door.

"Girls, did I really tell Rani that she shouldn't fall in love with Captain Kuchiki, or was that in my dream?"

"No, you did, and he heard you. He approached us too." Rani replied.

"I am so sorry. Now you see what sake does to me." Umeko apologized.

"You could be Rani. She talks in her sleep when she's drunk."

"What? What the heck did I say?" Rani asked in shock causing Kiyomi and Umeko to laugh wanting to also know what she said.