Waterfall Eclipse

Will to Live

Chapter Eighty-Two:

Will to Live

All Rani could see was black. That's how it was, so she thought that's what it meant to die as a Shinigami. There was no afterlife for the afterlife.

She started to see a bright light, which was pulled towards.

"What the?" She asked as she covered her eyes.

Once the light subsided, she saw she was in Taki Nisshoku's world. She saw the rainbow waterfalls that surrounded seventy five percent of her.

"Why am I here? How am I here?" She asked out loud as she turned around and then saw the humanized form of her zanpakuto. "Taki Nisshoku."

"That little girl is quite brilliant."

"Little girl? You mean Lily?"

"Yes. She was lying next to you on the hospital bed, faking to be asleep and got me when the coast was clear. She put my blade on you and made you hold my hilt."

"Why?"

"Everyone wants you to live. You aren't dead yet, but it is close. You and I are both weak right now, but I think you lost your will to live, therefore anything Squad Four does is pointless."

Rani swallowed. She had been in that black abyss for a while, but time stopped so she had no idea how long it had been.

"How long have I been in Squad Four?"

"This will be day three." Taki Nisshoku answered.

"Damn. That's a long time." She realized. "What went on while I was out?"

"You should have heard Captain Hitsugaya when he finally came to see you. It was so sweet. His words were from his heart and so sincere."

"What did he say?"

"That he loves you, that he can't lose you, that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. He even fell asleep on you for quite a few hours." Taki Nisshoku replied. "Lily also said that all she wanted today was for you to wake up, so you need to get back."

"How am I supposed to – "

"You need to find your will to live. It can be anything or anyone. I can't tell you what for it's your decision." She answered and then got wide eyed.

"What is it?"

"She's about to be yelled at for putting me on you by Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya. They just walked into the room and saw me on you, with her holding your hands to me."

In an instant her memories flashed into her head of growing up in the Rukongai, when she was in the academy and the past year being in the two squads.

"Good. You found it. Now wake up!" Her zanpakuto ordered.

Rani went from Taki Nisshoku's world to slowly opening her eyes in the hospital room. Her view was the back of Lily's head and the shocked expressions of the two captains mid-scolding.

~~Meanwhile, with Lily~~

Lily sat patiently on the bed next to Rani as she held Rani's hands to the hilt and waited patiently.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Someone yelled at her from behind causing her to turn around to realize it was Captain Hitsugaya and her father.

She released her grip on Rani's hands in the process.

"Get that off of her!" Captain Kuchiki ordered.

"No. I won't! No one else seemed to try this! I thought I would." She said defiantly. "You always told me that the Shinigami and their zanpakuto are connected. Putting Taki Nisshoku that far away from her was wrong!"

"Lily, get off...of –" Captain Kuchiki started to say but was stopped when he saw Rani's eyes start to flutter open.

Rani moved her left hand onto Lily's back to get her attention, which she did when Rani jolted and then slowly turned around.

"RANI!" She yelled as she fell onto her crying.

"I would appreciate it if you three would stop yelling, especially you Lily. I am right here." She finally managed to say as she was rubbing Lily's back.

A few moments later, Lily got up off of Rani.

"Captain Kuchiki, can you please put Taki Nisshoku on the bench?"

He nodded as he came over and picked up her katana.

"I guess Lily's idea worked." Captain Hitsugaya commented.

"Yes, it did, and I think the two of you should apologize to her." Rani stated as she tried to sit up more. She received two raised eyebrows as a response. "I'm serious."

"Sad part is, I know that." Captain Hitsugaya replied. "I am sorry, Lady Lily."

"So am I."

"Apologies accepted." Lily said with a smile. "I'm going to go tell the girls the good news." She said as she hopped off the bed. She then walked around to grab Captain Kuchiki's hand and pulled him out of the room leaving Captain Hitsugaya and Rani alone.

"She's conniving."

"She's just smart." Rani said with a smile as she looked up at him. "Are you okay?"

"They told everyone to say their goodbyes." He stated slowly walking over to her.

"And I know you couldn't."

"How?" He inquired as he sat on the bed next to her.

"You would never be able to. That, and Taki Nisshoku heard every word you said. She's a great reporter when needed." Rani said with a smile. "Did you really fall asleep on me?"

"Maybe." He said sheepishly. "It was comfortable though in a way." Rani smiled. He propped himself with his left hand on the bed on her right side before leaning in for a kiss. "I am so relieved that you are awake now." He said as he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you."

"I love you too, but I can tell we're about to get an audience." She joked.

"Right. I am sure Captain Kuchiki informed Lieutenant Kotetsu and Lily told the girls." He realized as he sat up.

"Shit! What day is it?"

"Monday. Why?"

"It's Lily's birthday."

"She is wearing the hair thing you bought her. Didn't you notice?"

"No. When she comes in I'll get a better look. I can at least say my eyesight was a bit fuzzy for a few moments."

Within a few moments, the girls came in with Lily, Chiharu included. Lieutenant Kotetsu also came in to check on Rani.

"I don't know how, but your Reiatsu is back to normal. It wasn't this morning." She stated.

"Just file it under the mystery that is me." Rani said with a smile.

"You're right. You are a mystery." The lieutenant replied. "I think I can release you in tomorrow." She said and then excused herself.

Rani saw the lieutenant talking with Captain Kuchiki, who then stood in her doorway.

"Miss Tómasu, I will see you in two days in my office." He stated and then left. Rani smiled.

"What a buzz kill!" Umeko purposely stated causing the girls to burst out laughing.