Waterfall Eclipse

Back to the Seireitei

Chapter Seventy-Five:

Back to the Seireitei

After Rani had changed, she headed up to the tenth floor and slipped her note into Toshiro's room. She then headed downstairs to meet the girls on the beach. She was walking briskly and turned a corner walking right into someone.

"I'm so sor...ry." She said then got wide-eyed. "Captain!"

"Sorry to intrude on your vacation, but we need you back in the Seireitei immediately. And the girls."

"Captain Hitsugaya too then?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll get –"

"I saw the girls walking to the beach. I'll tell them. You get Captain Hitsugaya."

"Yes sir. See you at the Senkaimon."

Rani made an about-face and went back into the hotel to the elevators. She went up to Toshiro's room and knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" He said as he opened the door and was reading her note. "What's wrong?" He asked noticing her worried expression.

"I don't know. I just ran into Captain Kuchiki, literally. We've been summoned back to the Soul Society."

"All right. Looks like my grandmother will have to wait."

"I'm going back to my room to quickly pack. We'll meet you at the Senkaimon with Captain Kuchiki."

"Sure." He said then grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.

"To-" He cut her off by planting a kiss on her. "You're horrible. See you in a few."

She made her way to the room where she met the girls and headed to the Senkaimon, Gigais and all.

"Where will we put our Gigais? Normally we drop them off at Urahara's." Kiyomi asked confused.

"We'll all put them in my quarters." Rani stated. "Our luggage too until we can get them back."

"Okay."

After everything was packed, the girls went to the Senkaimon, which Captain Kuchiki made at ground level. They headed through and the girls immediately went to Rani and Chiharu's squad to place their stuff in the room. They then headed to their own squads for a debriefing.

While Chiharu lined up in her assigned position, Rani made her way to the platform and stood beside Lieutenant Abarai.

"Nice vacation?"

"It was until it was shortened by a few days." Rani replied with grin. "What is going on?"

"Trouble. Once Captain Kuchiki tells you all what is going on, he and I need to head to Karakura Town for Kurosaki business."

"Huh?"

"You'll see." Lieutenant Abarai stated flashing her a grin as the captain came onto the platform. "He has a letter for you on his desk. After this head to the office and read it. Bring Nakano with you too."

"Sure." She said puzzled as she looked at the captain, who nodded.

After a rousing speech of explanation and orders, the captain the lieutenant left the Squad Six barracks leaving a now confused Rani in charge. Luckily for her, the squad members immediately followed the captain's orders and went back to their normal routines for the moment, until they were needed.

Rani carefully hopped off the platform and as soon as she stood up she was face to face with former Fourth Seat Katayama.

"Can I help you?"

"I am sorry." He said looking down at the ground.

Rani was silent for a few moments. She noticed Chiharu walking up towards her, but Rani motioned for her to stop.

"I accept your apology, Katayama, but now you need to get back to work. There's a lot that needs to be done before Captain Kuchiki gets back."

"Yes, ma'am." He said and then turned away.

Chiharu approached soon after.

"So?"

"He apologized to me. That was all." Rani said with a shrug. "Come with me to the office."

"Sure."

The two girls made their way to the office and Rani went right to Captain Kuchiki's desk.

"Should you be touching that?" Chiharu asked as Rani picked up an envelope.

"Yes. It's addressed to me. And I was told to." She said as she opened it. She read it while Chiharu closed the door. "Shit!"

"What?"

"He wants me to help train you for your Shikai."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, he thinks you can handle it, and that I can help you. This is effective immediately."

"Rani?"

"I know. You didn't want to learn your Shikai yet. But now's not the time to be hesitant on the matter. Whatever is about to happen must be huge or else he wouldn't have asked me to train you on it."

"Do you think I am ready?"

"Yes. You know your blade. Let's head to the practice ground."

"Okay."

Chiharu followed Rani to the squad's practice ground. Rani ordered the handful of Squad Six members who were on it to leave, and they obeyed her order no questions asked.

"What do I do?"

"To obtain your Shikai, you must become one with your blade. To do this, you must meditate and try to speak with it. In reality, the blade won't just voluntarily give you its name or command word or phrase. You'll have to battle him or her to prove that you are worthy. Taki Nisshoku didn't do that with me because I was being a stubborn pain in the ass, but yours should. You've had it for almost a year now, so a better trust should have been made between the two of you."

"Sounds scary."

"Eh, you'll see. You'll battle your zanpakuto in its own world, so the environment will most likely not be like the practice ground. I will not see you, or hear you talking to it. I will be here though keeping an eye on things while you attempt to achieve it."

"How do I –"

"Sit down in a comfortable position, mostly cross-legged, and have your Asauchi laying on your lap unsheathed."

"Is that how everyone does it?" Chiharu inquired as she carefully took her blade out of its sheath and laid it on her lap.

"No, but it is how ninety percent do." Chiharu nodded and then closed her eyes and focused on the task at hand. "Now, just breathe and think about connecting with your zanpakuto."

"Okay."

Rani sat there with her keeping watch of any intruders or other officers and Squad Six members that may approach.