Waterfall Eclipse

Wedding ~ Part Two

Chapter Ninety-Seven:

Wedding ~ Part Two

Three weeks later and Rani was secretly fighting off a vicious cold as well as performing her duties and dealing with the next stage of wedding planning. Luckily Captain Kuchiki was training a group of Shinigami in the dojo and she could focus on inhaling her tea more than doing actual work. She heard a light knock on the doorframe and looked up to see one of the new recruits and smiled at her.

"Why, hello, Miss Onishi. How can I help you?"

"Hello Lieutenant Tómasu." Onishi greeted. "These came for you at the front gate."

Rani took the bundle of letters from the new recruit and looked at said recruit with a befuddled expression.

"All at once?"

"Oh, um no." She said nervously as she rubbed her hands together. "We were told by Captain Kuchiki yesterday to start bringing them to you a bunch at a time instead of delivering them one at a time."

"Figures." Rani said as she rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Miss Onishi. How are you holding up here?"

"Good. I am happy we are training so much. It's been helping me a lot. And everyone here is so nice."

"That's good to hear."

"I'm sorry to say this, but you sound horrible."

Rani let out a small chuckle before commenting.

"Yeah, I know. I am trying not to talk as much today and drinking a lot of tea."

"I have a secret family recipe for a tea that might help. Can I go down to the officer's mess and make it?"

"Sure. I'll try anything at this point." Rani replied. "If anyone gives you an issue tell them to see me." She then added and sent her on her way.

Rani then put the small stack of messages on her desk in the corner and went back to the form she was currently trying to fill out. Onishi came back and gave her a teapot full of the tea and a new cup.

"This is..uh..interesting." Rani stated as she swallowed her first gulp. Onishi giggled before replying.

"It can taste bitter and sweet at the same time depending on the person. My grandmother taught me how to make it while living in the Rukongai and I always made it for the kids and adults in the area if they got sick after she told me she no longer wanted to make it anymore."

"That was nice of you. Although, I do have to ask - what is in it? I feel like I am tasting honey."

"Honey is in there, but I can't divulge the full family recipe." Onishi joked. "I need to head back to the front gate."

"Okay. Have a good afternoon."

"I will. You need to drink all of that pot. It will really help."

Rani complied and then went back to drinking the tea and eventually started working before her captain came back in.

The rest of the afternoon went by quietly without any interruptions, much to Rani's enjoyment.

Once home, she went through the stacks of replies that she received today and checked off the people from the master list she had created. After taking notes and organizing herself yet again for this wedding she realized she was waiting on a few more replies from the names that her captain added.

"Good." Rani said out loud and then got up to stretch and then went wide- eyed at the sound of rustling outside. She looked to the door but saw no shadow. "Hmph!" She grunted and then headed over to open it. "Anyone out here?" Rani asked out loud and then grinned. "Like, you, Lieutenants Kusajishi and Matsumoto?"