Waterfall Eclipse

Just Friends, For Now

Chapter Fifty-Three:

Just Friends, For Now

The morning after the party was a major headache for Rani and the girls. Luckily for them, their associated captains allowed them to have the morning off to recover.

"I have such a headache."

"It's that damn sake you drank." Kiyomi said scolding Umeko.

Rani was still sitting on her bed. She was holding the hair comb in her hand.

"I had fun last night, even though I couldn't move for two hours of it."

"That was classic, Rani. Only you." Chiharu teased.

"Now don't go telling everyone about it. I don't want to be the laughing stock of the Gotei 13."

"No problem." Kiyomi answered with a grin. "But that doesn't mean that we're going to let you live it down anytime soon."

"Somehow I am not surprised at that." She said as she looked at the hair comb again.

"Something bugging you, Rani?" Kiyomi asked.

"Yeah, about this comb."

"What?" She asked nervously.

"I think I know you well enough, and possibly Captain Hitsugaya, and something isn't adding up." Rani said then paused. "There's another reason why he offered to pay for this, and you're not telling me."

Kiyomi nervously swallowed. Rani quickly stood up, went to change and headed out leaving the girls in shock.

Rani made her way to Squad Ten to the captain's office. She knocked on the door and went in.

"Good morning Captain Hitsugaya. Do you have a minute?"

"Sure Third Seat Tómasu." He replied making it a point to use her newly acquired title. "Come in."

She walked in, made sure the lieutenant wasn't there, and then closed the door.

"How can I help you?"

"We've been pretty honest with each other as of late, am I right?"

"Yes." He replied then looked up at her.

"Then can you tell me the real reason why you helped Kiyomi buy this." She asked and then tossed the hair comb over to him.

His eyes got wide after realizing what he had just caught.

"What are you-?"

"Please, captain. The truth."

He got up and walked over to the couch. She followed, sitting across from him.

"I am trying to give you space. The space that Hinamori said I should give you. She never brought up the possibility of you being promoted so soon after switching squads. I never had a chance to talk to her about any ideas for a gift, especially since the rose incident ended so wrong."

"So you buy this after a conversation with the girls in that little shop, telling Kiyomi to say she has to pay you back?"

"Yes."

"But why not just buy it and you give it to me?"

"The story I heard behind it. It wasn't my place. Gifts like this, well, I consider them the types of gifts close friends give to each other. Family. Friends. Boyfriends." He replied then paused. "I am none of these." He looked up at her, and looked into her eyes. "I don't know where I stand with you."

Rani was taken aback by his statement.

"Oh. Right. I guess we never clarified all of that."

"We?"

"It's as much your fault as it is mine. Am I wrong?"

"No, I guess not." He admitted. He handed the hair comb back to her.

Rani reluctantly took it and put it in her Shihakusho.

"So, what do you want, captain?" She eventually asked.

"Deep down you know my answer." He quickly replied. "I still want us to be a thing. I still love you."

"You say that so casually that it frustrates me!"

"It's the truth though. My feelings haven't changed."

"The scary part is, I realize that." She stated. "All right, so, we need to figure this out. I know you have work to do and –"

"Do you want a more familiar relationship? Do you want us to refer to each by our given names?" He bluntly asked her, startling her.

"Well, that felt rushed."

"Answer the questions."

"I...yes. I think I am ready to take this relationship we have to that level, but only as friends. I still don't think I am ready to date anyone." She answered him. "So, you can call me Rani."

He smiled, well grinned was more like it.

"Okay, Rani, you can call me Toshiro." He replied. "But keep the formal addresses when in the presence of other officers." He added. "We'll be just friends, for now then?"

She stood up, nodded and smiled.

"Of course. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to Squad Six. I am due for a meeting with Captain Kuchiki."

"One small question before you go."

"Yes?" She questioned as he went to sit back down at his desk.

"Did anything happen after the party ended regarding you and his floor?"

"Not to me, specifically. I am pretty sure the maintenance employee he has who did that is in big trouble while another one fixes the floor."

Rani left his office and headed to Squad Six to report for her duties.

"Hello Captain Kuchiki." She greeted smiling.

"Good morning Miss Tómasu. You're here early."

"I couldn't sleep, sir. Too excited."

He nodded and waved her inside. She closed the door behind her after being requested to do so.

"Hello Lieutenant Abarai." She greeted after finally seeing him in between two stacks of papers.

He looked up and formed a grin on his face.

"Miss Tómasu, you will be working with the lieutenant today. All of those papers on his desk need to be put away in the other room."

"Sure. No problem. Although I could do it by myself, if he has other work to do." She started saying looking at the piles and then back at her captain, who raised his eyebrow. "No, seriously. I'm very organized myself. I take pride in it."

"I am okay with that captain."

"You do have a lot of work to do. I agree. If you need help though, just come in here and ask one of us."

Rani smiled and then nodded. She made her way over to the lieutenant's desk and grabbed half a stack of the papers clearing a view to the door.

"She's determined not to let this promotion go to waste, isn't she captain?"