Waterfall Eclipse

The Fate of the Shinigami

Chapter Forty-Three:

The Fate of the Shinigami

Rani and Chiharu walked with Captain Hitsugaya out of their barracks, and then headed back to work.

"Should we have asked him to give Umeko a message for us?"

"Nah. One of us will get her later, while the other gets Kiyomi." Rani answered.

The girls made their way around the grounds, but ran into Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi.

"Hello Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi. Can we help you with something?" Chiharu greeted and asked.

"We came here to speak with you, Miss Tómasu, if you don't mind." The pink haired lieutenant answered. "Kenny and I, well we wanted to talk with you about what happened."

"I'll catch up with you later, Rani! Have a great day captain and lieutenant!" Chiharu said and then left Rani with the Squad Eleven officers.

"The three idiots have been dealt with accordingly on my end." Captain Zaraki stated. "What they did was unforgivable, especially since it tails what I heard they did while you were in the academy."

"The Captain Commander has stripped them of their title after the investigation by Squads Two and Twelve proved that they did poison you." The lieutenant cheerfully added, although one would wonder how that could even be.

"Oh, okay. Thank you for letting me know, but why didn't you just inform my captain? He could have told me."

"Oh, we tried. But Captain Kuchiki wouldn't see anyone. No idea why. So we happened to run into you and I told Kenny he should just tell you personally. He agreed obviously."

Rani bit her lip with a small guilty smile coming across her lips.

"Captain Kuchiki is sulking. This is great!" She thought to herself.

"Well, we need to go now! Bye Miss Tómasu!" The lieutenant yelled. "Come on Kenny!"

With that, Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi left with the latter piggy backing on her captain. Rani shook her head and proceeded with her work. She ran into Lieutenant Abarai in the process.

"So, Miss Tómasu, do you know what is up with Captain Kuchiki?"

Rani wanted to spill the beans and tell him, but thought of the captain's request, or order depending on who you talked to.

"No, not a clue." He gave her one of those looks where he knew she was lying. "Is it true he won't see anyone? Like, not even another captain such as Captain Zaraki?"

"Yeah." Lieutenant Abarai answered scratching his head. "I am clueless."

Rani managed to stifle her approaching giggle, before excusing herself and continuing on.

Five hours later, her shift was over. She met up with Chiharu and they went to get the other girls and go out.

"Need more sake, Rani?" Kiyomi asked.

"How did your session go today with Captain Kuchiki?" Umeko asked.

Umeko had her back turned again, so she didn't see him walk in, but Rani did and eyed him as he walked with Lieutenant Kuchiki.

"Oh it was okay, I guess. I mean I thought I had him, but he tricked me." Rani replied lying.

"Hello ladies." Lieutenant Kuchiki greeted as she walked by.

The girls greeted her as well.

"Where do you think they're going? They never eat here together." Kiyomi commented.

"I have no idea." Chiharu replied. "It looks official."

"Oh! I know what I need to tell you girls." Rani said quickly changing the subject as she sat up.

"Is the sake already affecting you?" Kiyomi teased.

"Ha. Ha. No." She said giving her friend a glare. "Those idiots are being punished. I ran into Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi today in Squad Six, and they told me that they were being punished by Zaraki AND the Captain Commander." She said with a cheesy smile.

"What's their punishment?"

"Well, as of today, they are officially stripped of the title and honor of being a Shinigami. I don't know the exact specifics, but that's what I was told."

"And you?"

"Not being punished. I had my final meeting, or hearing I guess it was, with the Captain Commander yesterday. Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya also came with me as witnesses and all that."

"So what happens when a low level Shinigami is stripped of their title?" Kiyomi asked confused.

"They're sent back to the Rukongai District that they came from." Umeko answered. "There's been talk about three being sent back, but I didn't know it connected with your incident."

Rani smiled and the looked to see who was coming into the restaurant now. Her eyes got wide.

"Hello, ladies. How are you this evening?"

"Captain Commander, good evening." Rani greeted as Umeko and Chiharu turned around.

"We're doing great, Captain Commander!" Umeko responded, blatantly already buzzed, or drunk.

"I am glad to see you girls are having a great time. I hear, Miss Tómasu, that your Shikai training is going well. Would you want to spar with me one day?"

"Uh, no offense, sir, but I think I would be no match for you. I am going to have to decline that invitation." She replied, mostly in shock.

"That's fine. Have a great evening." He said and then started to walk away.

One of his associates handed her a letter and then caught up with the Captain Commander.

"What does it say?" Chiharu inquired.

"Hold on. Let me open it." Rani replied and then read the paper real quick. "Oh, it's just confirming what Captain Zaraki told me. I guess so I have it for my records."

"Well, enough talk about all that. How much leave do you girls have put away?" Umeko excitedly asked.

"Leave? Why?" Rani asked.

"Because I have four days worth. I was thinking of a mini vacation back to the beach. We could all go again."

"Umeko? What are you trying to get at?"

"Okay, so the captain is going to the beach and I have enough leave to go as well. He's making the lieutenant go as security because there are reports of Hollows again."

"So you want to travel with Captain Hitsugaya?"

"Oh no! Just go there as well. I know where he's planning on staying and we can stay a few hotels over."

"I might have four days as well." Kiyomi answered.

"Shouldn't we all then?" Chiharu asked.

"I don't." Rani sadly answered. "Missed too much work." She added and then saw Captain and Lieutenant Kuchiki walking by.

"Well damn! You would think Captain Kuchiki might make an exception since you're been working your butt off with Shikai training." Umeko replied.

Rani bowed her head, hands covering her face and turning red in embarassment.