Waterfall Eclipse

Pre-Battle Meditation

Chapter Sixty-Six:

Pre-Battle Meditation

Rani was escorted to the Squad One practice field by the lieutenant a few minutes after all of the captains and lieutenants left.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lieutenant Sasakibe inquired.

"It's what the Captain Commander ordered, so I have to right?" She rhetorically asked. "Will I be going all out, injuring him severely as well?"

"I believe it is just like you would be doing in battle, so yes. Don't worry though. Squad Four will have two teams here just in case."

"Thank you."

"You sure you want to be alone?"

"Uh, can you have someone stand guard?"

"Sure. See you in a couple of hours."

Rani went down into the belly of the practice area and scoped out where she would be battling for the first half hour to find what she could use. She then found a spot on a bed of grass and started to meditate.

"Hello Rani! How are things?"

"Hey Taki Nisshoku. Things are okay."

"What brings you to my realm?"

"I am apparently going into battle against Fourth Seat Katayama, per the Captain Commander's request."

"Oh really? You must fill me in!"

Rani proceeded to tell her zanpakuto the whole story leading up to why she was meditating.

"Well, thank you for the information. What can you tell me about his Shikai?"

"I actually have no idea what it does. I've never seen him use it." Rani admitted.

"Well, this will be interesting. But, if we can beat Senbonzakura, Sode no Shirayuki, and Zabimaru, I think we will have no problem here."

"Don't get too cocky now. I am worried."

"Do not be. Trust in me, and yourself."

"Okay."

"You have visitors."

"Are they a threat?"

"No. It's Captain Kuchiki and Lieutenant Abarai."

"They can wait." Rani replied. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"Use all of your talents. You are proficient enough in all aspects of being a Shinigami. You excel in Kido. Your power behind your castings are stronger now too."

"That poison did a number on me."

"But you pulled through. You went above and beyond when it was in your system fully and overcame it."

"True."

"You might want to snap out of it. Your captain is getting restless. And someone else is here."

"All right. I'll meditate with you tomorrow if I get a chance." Rani replied and then opened her eyes. "Hello captain, lieutenant, and...Lily?"

"RANI!" She yelled as she lunged and tackled Rani to the ground.

"Ow." Rani said after her head hit the ground. "That was not becoming of a young lady, Lily." She paused as she hugged Lily. "Let me up."

"Sorry." Lily said sheepishly. "I'm still me no matter how much they try to change me."

"Gee, forget getting beat by Katayama." She rubbed the back of her head. "You can do some pretty decent damage." Rani joked as she stood up and brushed herself off.

"Are you okay?" The lieutenant asked with a small laugh.

"Yeah. I'm good. What brings you two here now?"

"Lily wanted to see you. Sorry to disturb your meditation." The captain answered. "You aren't seeing double, are you?"

"No. I'm good." Rani nervously laughed. "Will you be staying to watch?" She asked Lily.

"Daddy says I can." She said with a big grin. "We came early to get the good seats."

"Good seats? What are you telling her lieutenant?" Rani questioned as her friends arrived. "Hey girls!"

"We'll leave you. Have Miss Nakano bring Lily up with her."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh my god! Rani! This is crazy!" Kiyomi greeted. "Hey Lily!"

"Hi Kiyomi! Hi Chiharu! Hi Umeko!" Lily greeted as they each gave her a hug.

"But if you want to be formal, it's Lady Kuchiki." Rani teased. "The captain won't make me call her that though, which is odd."

"No it's not. I asked if he would let you still call me by my name and he said okay."

"Oh."

"So, do you think you'll beat him, or will he beat you?"

"Well, my zanpakuto's pretty confident that I'll beat him. I don't even know what kind of Shikai he has."

"I don't either." Chiharu realized. "Damn, and we're in the same squad!"

"Will Captain Hitsugaya give you a good luck kiss in front of everyone?"

"Umeko, you're horrible. I doubt it, though."

"Well, now that the secret's out, he might." Kiyomi stated. "You never know."

"How's life in the Kuchiki Manor, Lily?" Chiharu inquired.

"It's good. I am doing really well in my lessons and all that. I love it there, especially now that I get to see Rani once a week for a whole day."

The four girls smiled at her and then Lily started to giggle as Captain Hitsugaya came up from behind Rani and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Hi." Rani greeted. "You know you shouldn't do that while in uniform." She teased.

"Lady Lily, you're horrible at keeping secrets." He jokingly scolded her.

"Sorry. Wait, no I'm not. Rani's right."

"So, what's the deal with this battle, Captain Hitsugaya?" Umeko asked him.

"Rani and Katayama battle. Plain and simple. Shikais and all."

"To the death?"

"No, just defeat. If Rani wins, he loses his title and has to apologize to all of the female lieutenants and captains."

"And if he wins?"

"Rani may possibly lose her Third Seat position, but would only be switched to Fourth Seat. And he can choose a female officer and battle with them if they agree." He said then paused. "But that's a big if."

The girls smiled and then left, taking Lily with them must to her protest. Captain Hitsugaya turned Rani around and just embraced her in a better hug. She sighed as she buried her face into his chest.

"You'll do fine. Don't worry." He said as he rubbed her back. "He's weak."