Waterfall Eclipse

Zombified

Chapter Seventy-Eight:

Zombified

Lily walked with her father in silence for the first few minutes, but she was thinking about what would cause Captain Hitsugaya to come here, and what her father would have to talk to her about.

"Daddy?" Lily asked, partially frightened.

"Yes?"

"Is everything all right?"

"What did Miss Tómasu tell you?" He asked as he stopped walking.

"That there's a war coming. She didn't mean to. She slipped."

"If you are worried that I would punish her, do not be. I hoped she would be upfront with you about it." He said and then paused. "This is a greater enemy than we are used to dealing with. I need you to listen to your great-grandfather. Should anything happen to me, you are my descendant, therefore the next head of the household."

"Daddy, you're scaring me."

"Do not be. You have everything here. Your great-grandfather will be your advisor and help you in the daily affairs should anything happen. I wanted to inform you just in case."

"I don't want anything to happen to you or Rani, or anyone else!"

"I know. This is the fate of the Shinigami. This is what we do."

Lily took a deep breath and sighed.

"All of this before my birthday." She muttered.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing! Sorry." She apologized. "What happens now?"

"In a few minutes I will be heading to Squad Six. Miss Tómasu will stay here so you can spend more time with her before I make her on-call until she is needed."

Lily nodded as she formed a small smile.

"Will I see you tonight at dinner?"

"Yes. We will talk then. Rukia will be there too."

~~Five Hours Later~~

"I wish you could stay for dinner." Lily whined.

"I know. But I think your father would like some time alone with you." Rani consoled her as she rubbed Lily's back.

"Good point. Tell the girls I said hi and good luck." Lily replied as she gave Rani one final hug. "See you soon!"

Rani left the Kuchiki Manor and headed back to her squad to meet up with Chiharu before the two met Umeko and Kiyomi at the restaurant.

"How'd today go?"

"Good. I got fitted for a new kimono, spent some time with Lily, and now Toshiro has me really worried."

"Toshiro? Why?"

"He came to the Kuchiki Manor with the captain and wanted to speak with me. He said he wanted me to be strong and fight. He said that anything could happen with this new enemy and he wanted me to prepare myself."

"Did this come with an 'I love you'?"

"Yes. It was weird. I don't think I have ever been this worried about him, or scared. It's like he's foreseeing something."

"Well, the captain did say this was an enemy unlike they have ever faced before. We'll get through it."

"Good. You and I are teaming up. If we can get Kiyomi and Umeko with us, that's what we'll do. We worked great as a team at the beach that one time, and we can do it again."

"I agree. We'll talk to them about it tonight. I doubt Toshiro and Momo would mind the girls working with us."

The following morning, Rani and Chiharu were standing on edge on guard outside of the office. They had already received word that Kurosaki was on his way, but hadn't heard anything else.

"The captain and lieutenant are fighting already, right?"

"Yes. I can feel their energy with an enemy." Rani stated as she looked to where she was sensing it. "But the lieutenant is fine right now. I just sense the captain's, as if he was the only one engaging the enemy."

"I have never quite figured out how to sense them."

"It takes practice, and a great deal of Reiatsu yourself." Rani said as she stood up. "Should we go to the roof?"

"The roof of what? I thought we were going to try to stay low."

"Not with our strength." Rani said and then the two heard the message about the Bankais being stolen.

"Bankais? Why would they want our Bankais?"

"I don't know, but this is bad. Without their Bankais we won't be able to defeat this enemy." Rani realized. "This is really bad."

"What about our Shikais?"

"Not a match. Not in the least. These invaders can defeat our Shikais. Kurosaki better get here fast. We need him."

"Do you sense Toshiro?" Chiharu asked as Kiyomi and Umeko approached.

Rani focused for a few moments.

"Yes, but barely."

"Captain Hitsugaya lost his Bankai to a Sternritter named Cang Du." Umeko stated. "I was horrible. I was a chicken and hid, but saw it happen from the shadows."

"How is he?"

"Off to try to continue to battle again."

"He's not going to succeed. These enemies are taking the Bankais because if the captains have them, then we would be victorious."

"So their plan was to engage the captains first, steal their Bankais, and then use them against us?"

"I believe so Kiyomi."

"Damn. What the hell can we do?"

"Pray nothing worse happens." Chiharu stated. She then looked at Rani who went pale-faced. "You okay?"

"He's being approached by someone else." Rani answered and then was quiet. "Our captain. He's...dead."

"WHAT?" Chiharu asked in disbelief. "What about the lieutenant?"

"Knocked unconscious I believe. His pressure is really low though." Rani said then swallowed.

"And Toshiro?" Kiyomi inquired.

Rani gulped. She couldn't sense him either.

"Uh...isn't that him? With that female Sternritter?" Chiharu asked as she pointed towards her left.

Rani turned her attention over to where Chiharu was pointing. She squinted her eyes to try and get a better look. All of a sudden they saw an army of soldiers walking behind the captain and Sternritter.

"What the?" Kiyomi said confused as she got a better look. "Are...are they all zombies?"

Rani's eyes got wide. She was finally able to get a closer look at her boyfriend.

"TOSHIRO! NO!" She cried but her friends covered her mouth and brought her inside. "LET ME GO!" She ordered, but her friends knew better. They held onto her tight and brought her down into the basement to find a better hiding position. Rani finally collapsed into sobs in her friends' arms.