HELLO ALL!
Yes, I am back. I am really surprised I was able to get back into writing this story. A lot of drama has been happening to me in the past year. I've been trying to complete this story, but I have had ZERO inspiration in doing so. I finally finished this chapter a little while ago. Half of my next chapter has been pretty much finished from day one so that saves me some work. I just need to figure out where to place that half in.
Thanks to users EmiAlfen21, LStilwell24, rogermille88, and heleana1 for adding this story to their favorites since my last chapter update on October 16, 2016.
Thanks to users EmiAlfen21, LStilwell24, North Moonlight, kjshqwleLIHU, rogermille88, and heleana1 for following this story since my last chapter update on October 16, 2016.
I really appreciate it. I am sorry if I ever lost any followers (I am too lazy to check my inbox folder regarding this story to compare lists).
Chapter Four:
Rani walked with her husband to the dining hall where they were greeted by the Kuchiki family members. After Lily finally made it, the group made their way to their seats and proceeded to enjoy the meal that was prepared for them with minimal discussion.
Once everyone was finished with their meal, they opted to head outside to enjoy the warm weather.
"Now, Lieutentant Hitsugaya, I am wondering how curious you are about your past?" Lord Ginrei inquired breaking the semi-awkward silence.
Her captain's glare towards his grandfather did not go unnoticed by Rani either.
"I had be wondering what you found out about my comb and the crest on it, but I've been rather pre-occupied with work to ever ask about it." she admitted. "Why do you ask?"
"Do you have the comb?" her captain inquired.
"Yes." Rani answered with a nod and slowly pulled it out.
"What did you find out, Lily?"
All eyes that were looking at Rani turned to Lily.
"Not much, truthfully. I can't match any family crest to any clan in the records hall. I've come close, but none are exact matches." she answered.
"Why were you having her do such research anyway?" Rani inquisitively asked.
"It was a quick way for her to learn all of the clan names since her lessons only cover about a quarter of the ones that exist." Captain Kuchiki answered. "And I didn't want her to be in that studio all the time."
Lily sheepishly grinned once she realized Rani was smiling at her.
"So, you are at a stale-mate?" Lord Ginrei inquired.
"Yes, great-grandfather." Lily said sadly.
"But there is something she and I are both wondering." Rani stated.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Why is there one copy of a posted list with a single volume crossed off, and why is there a locked door?" Rani asked taking the initiative.
"You saw that, huh?" Lord Ginrei asked with a grin receiving two nodding heads.
"That, lieutenant, is something I will open now for all of us." Captain Kuchiki replied.
He then started to walk away and the group followed him with a surprised delay. Lily had a bounce to her step as she followed the adults.
"You, uh, didn't have anything to say?" Rani asked Toshiro as they walked along.
"Nope. This is all about you and your history. I am just here to witness and learn." he answered her with a grin. "And I am not the only one that has been quiet." he added as he motioned his head over to Rukia.
"I am well aware that I have been quiet about this." Rukia defended. "I know my place in this family, and I am here to witness and learn as well."
Rani let out a small giggle as a response.
"Where exactly are we?" Toshiro asked as they approached the building.
"This, Captain Hitsugaya, is our family's personal hall of records." Captain Kuchiki answered as he opened the door.
"Personal? You keep a second account of everything?"
"You're quick, but technically we have multiple accounts and records of everything in random buildings throughout the Seireitei." Lord Ginrei answered.
They all followed Byakuya to the rear of the main hall and through the stacks. He stopped right at the door and turned around.
"This door, right Lily?"
"Yes." she answered as she squeezed through Rani and Toshiro.
As he turned back around, Lily noticed he pulled out a key that was hidden inside of his shihakushō and used it to open the door.
"This is one of our lesser used rooms here, but it has valuable records in here."
"How valuable?" Toshiro inquired. "And did the Central 46 know?"
Byakuya chose to remain mute, which caused Toshiro to grin at his wife who just shook her head.
"Oh, right, before we go in," he started, "What list Lily?" he quickly asked.
Lily moved over to the closest stack and pointed it out. He walked over to her and took it off of the stack confusing all who were in the hall with him.
"I'll need this as a reference and confirmation." he calmly stated as he turned around and walked through the door. "And no, the Central 46 did not know. However, once the truth comes to light, the new Central 46 members will be informed. I'll…explain everything to them once Rani hears her full history."
The group nodded.
"Although she might not want to hear it." Lord Ginrei added.
Byakuya brushed off his grandfather's words and walked through the smaller stacks and carefully examined the books. He took two off the shelf and handed one each to Rani and Lily.
"They aren't the same, but one is the only copy ever written. The Kuchiki Clan never rewrote it, so it was kept in here." Byakuya commented as he eyed the one in Rani's hand. "The other one, on the other hand,"
"Is the volume I needed." Lily excitedly finished. She looked around and found a chair with a light nearby and started to go through page by page. "Rani, can I have your comb?"
"Y-yeah." Rani stammered and then walked over to her.
Lily carefully looked at all of the clans symbols in the volume and stopped after darting her eyes back and forth between the page she was on and the comb.
"I found it." She said calmly, even though everyone knew she would have preferred to scream it in victory. Lily looked up at her father and smiled.
"Bring it here."
Lily did as she was told and handed him the book with the page open. She also handed Rani back her comb.
"Let's head to the house. This is a story that might take a while, or might not, depending on how many questions are asked."
The group nodded and followed Byakuya out the hall of records. Rani kept a semi slow pace not sure of what was about to unfold for her. She looked at the cover of the book in her hands and tightened her grasp.
"You'll be fine."
"Somehow, Toshiro, I am not sure that I will be. If what I am seeing in my dream and nightmare, it's not going to be pretty." Rani replied quietly.
They arrived in the common room, and the manor staff were told not to disturb them by any means after tea was brought into the room for everyone.
Rani sat down directly across from her captain and kept eye contact with him.
"The information of what I am about to reveal was an order by the former Head Captain to keep is secret. Now that he is gone, I do not feel as bad in telling you your history." he started. "Rani, you are the sole descendant and heir of the Sutahomu clan, and your real first name is Amaraniyah." She nodded remembering the name from the dream. "Your clan wasn't a bad clan, by any means, but for one reason or another, there was an uprising amongst the servants."
"How old was the clan?" Toshiro asked curious.
"About seven generations." Lord Ginrei answered. "Byakuya met Lady Amaraniyah when she was really young, about a year before the uprising occurred. And I am sure you do not remember that."
"No, sir, I don't." Rani confirmed.
"The Sutahomu clan was not in charge of anything specific, but they did help out with everything when they were asked to. They put their ties in everything, whether it be weapons, trade, written history, and other trades that the Seireitei needed. The family itself was friendly with all other clans, so they were deemed worthy and trustworthy. No one new what was happening behind closed walls though regarding their inner workings. As far as the uprising, I firmly believe that the clan was taken by surprise."
Rani listenend intently to what her captain was stating. She was silent, as was everyone else, as he continued the story.
"Although your family did what they could to defend themselves, it was in vain. Somehow you managed to get out and survive. The sight of me seeing the deceased members of your family still resurfaces on occasion. It was a very grisly scene for any new Shinigami, especially since young innocent kids were massacred as well. The Gotei 13 looked in vain for you after realizing you were not a part of the dead, but they never found you. We did find the servants who fled to the Seireitei and questioned them about what happened and where you were. The first they answered, but they had no idea where you went off to. After a couple of weeks, the search was called off, the guilty were tried and punished, and the Head Captain ordered all records of your clan to be destroyed."
"I might have a small idea on how I escaped." she commented thinking back to her dream. "But what about this book?"
"That was a personal request by your father of me. It's a comprehensive history of your clan, including trade information, family information, and stuff like that. The volume that Lily has is more concise and basic "common knowledge" that anyone can have. Think of yours as a biography on your clan that was written in secret."
Rani raised her eyebrow at her captain.
"Read that later, Rani." Lord Ginrei requested. She nodded. "What did you mean when you said you might have an idea on how you escaped?"
"Oh, I've been having this recurring dream, sometimes nightmare, but it's not showing in the right order. Toshiro thought it could have been a memory from my past. I can agree with some parts, but not all."
"Explain please."
"Um, well, it's not like I am living it. It's more like I am watching it unfold as a spectator."
"I may have jokingly commented that there was a possibility that Captain Kurotsuchi could help her." Toshiro admitted.
Byakuya was silent for a moment, as were Rukia and Lord Ginrei.
"Actually, he may be able to."
"What?" Rani asked in shock.
Byakuya stood up.
"Let's go. All of us."
"Even me?" Lily asked confused.
"Yes. I did say 'all of us', didn't I?"
Lily smiled.
"Hold my hand." Rani commented. "Shunpo is not something to be taken lightly."
Lily nodded and did as she was told. A few moments later they were all standing outside of Squad Twelve.
"How did you know daddy was going to shunpo all the way here?"
"Because he's that kind of captain." Toshiro answered for Rani. "Walking's too slow for him." he whispered in her ear causing the young girl to giggle.
"Captain Kuchiki, Captain Kuchiki, Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Hitsugaya." the four were greeted by one of the Squad Twelve Shinigami. "And?"
"Lord Ginrei Kuchiki and Lady Lily." Byakuya introduced. "Is your captain in?"
"Yes, sir. Please go ahead."
The group headed in and made their way to the main building of the squad, and where they all knew they'd find Captain Kurotsuchi.
"Ah, what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Captain Kurotsuchi, we have an odd request." Captain Hitsugaya started.
"I see. Does this have something to do with the only lieutenant among you?"
Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
"I see it does. Come, come. No need to be shy. We're all friends here." Kurotsuchi stated and then saw Lily. "Hello."
Lily gasped and hid behind her father.
"Is there really a need in scaring my daughter?" Byakuya asked firmly.
"No, my apologies. Tell me what the favor is."
"How to word this…" Toshiro said trailing off.
"Is there a way to force me to dream something, like a possible memory or recurring dream, but dream it in the correct order. And is there a way to project said dream for everyone here to see?" Rani asked impatiently.
"Now, that, my dear lieutenant, is a very interesting question."
"Do you have an answer?" Lord Ginrei inquired, clearly annoyed.
"Give me five minutes." the Squad Twelve captain enthusiastically answered and quickly left the room leaving the group puzzled.
"He definitely is a weird captain." Lily commented.
"Enough to scare you." Rani added. "Don't worry. He creeped me out too the first time I met him. His personality never changes."
"His physical form might though." Toshiro quipped causing Rani to giggle.
"What do you mean by that?" Lily asked confused.
"Start painting him. Then paint him every few years." Byakuya answered surprising everyone.
"Don't you people know how rude it is to talk about someone behind their back?" Kurotsuchi asked causing almost all of them to jump out of their skin. "But you do have a point Captain Kuchiki." he agreed. "Now, onto the lieutenant's question, follow me, please."
Rani gulped as they all started to slowly follow him through his laboratory. They stopped when they reached a room with a bunch of monitors and an odd looking chair that Captain Kurotsuchi was standing next to and picking up a helmet off the chair.
"That looks scary to sit in." Lily softly stated. "And that helmet looks scarier."
"Well, the helmet, I am sure, is to get an accurate reading of whatever I am seeing." Rani said as she walked over to it. "I better be heavily drugged to do this."
"Don't worry, you will be. But I need Captain Kotetsu here as well." Kurotsuchi interjected.
"I am here." Captain Kotetsu said from behind. "Are you sure you want to do this, lieutenant?"
"Yes. Maybe it will cure me."
"Always about curing."
"And a thorn to Squad Four." Rani joked.
"I never said that, but you are a pain sometimes." Captain Kotetsu teased.
Once Rani was hooked up to the machine, she closed her eyes and waited for the medication to kick in and put her off to dreamland.
The group watched what she was seeing unfold with inquisitive eyes, and horror. At certain points, Byakuya covered Lily's eyes knowing what was to come.
"It's one thing to dream all of this, but it's another if it was actually a memory." Captain Kotetsu stated worried for Rani's well being. "Why would she dream this?" she asked as she unhooked Rani from the machine with Kurotsuchi's help.
"I will fill in all of the captains soon. Kurotsuchi, did you record this?"
"Yes. I will copy this for you…and for the lieutenant."
Moments later, he handed Captain Kuchiki and Toshiro a chip.
"Expect a meeting in two days. I need to see the Head Captain to arrange it." he said then paused. "Lily, go with your great-grandfather. I'll be home later."
"Yes, father."
Once Lily and Lord Kuchiki Ginrei left, as well as Rukia, Toshiro cleared his throat.
"Something on your mind, Captain Hitsugaya?"
"Yes. I was just wondering a couple of things."
"And what would they be?"
"Why it took you so long to tell Rani about the crest, and why you had Lily research it? Something isn't making any sense."
"In answer to your second question, I wanted Lily to learn more than what any Seireitei tutor can teach her. Some things need to found out through personal reading. Also, she needed to get out of the studio."
"And my first question?"
"I would have preferred to tell her earlier, but my grandfather and I agreed to hold off. I knew once I saw the comb. He knew it as well too."
"But why? Because of the Captain Commander?"
"Yes. If I told her then, she most likely would have confronted him and caused a big disturbance in the Gotei 13, as well as the Seireitei."
"Now that he's gone, you thought you were in the clear?"
"Sadly, yes. I know I might get in trouble still. But, do not worry about me. Rani will need time to process all that she has been told. Try to keep her home tomorrow. Let her process on her own, but make sure she doesn't do anything rash." Byakuya said concerned. "I am worried for her mental health at this point."
"As am I." Toshiro agreed as he watched the Squad Six captain leave.
Toshiro brought Rani home and kept a watchful eye on her while she slowly came out of the anesthesia.
"H-how'd I get here?"
"I brought you. Kurotsuchi succeeded. We all saw." he answered as he held up the chip. "He made you a copy so you can watch in an awake state."
"Oh. Okay."
"How are you feeling?"
"Actually, pretty damn good. Almost well rested."
He smiled and then encouraged her to go back to bed since it was late.
In the morning, Rani got up out of bed and changed. She didn't notice Toshiro in the doorway.
"I'm under orders to keep you home today."
"Huh? Why? And by whom?" she said half startled.
"Captain Kuchiki requested it so you can process all he told you. And, I am assuming so you can watch what is on this chip." he answered as he handed her the chip. "I have a reader in the closet in my office."
"That's an odd place for it."
"Well, I never needed a chip from Kurotsuchi for anything, so I put it away. I'll have it brought here so you can see what you dreamed in privacy."
"S-sure." Rani said as she scratched her head.
Toshiro walked over to her and embraced her into a hug.
"It's been a long road for you. But you now know who you truly are. It's a lot to process for anyone."
"I still need to read the book he gave me."
"So, will you stay home?"
"Yes, I will." Rani replied.
"I can sense the reluctancy in your decision."
"That, and I don't want to be lectured by my captain about going to work when it might not be the best time."
"True. He would do that." he agreed as he let her go. "I'll come back for lunch…say around noon?"
"Sure. See you later."
Toshiro left Rani be and headed out the door. Thirty minutes later, a Squad Ten officer was at their door with the reader.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Hitsugaya."
"Oh, hello. Just bring it onto the table."
"Sure."
He brought it inside the house and left Rani in peace. She waited until she knew she was in the clear before she inserted the chip in the designated slot and watched her full dream. Once finished, she took the book her captain gave her and started to learn about her birth family's history.
A quarter of the way into the book Rani found her eyelids getting heavy. Luckily for her, a much needed interruption occurred when someone came knocking on her door.
"Hello, Captain Kotetsu." Rani greeted.
"Isane, please." Rani nodded. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Maybe a bit tired from reading, but other than that I am good."
"What about from yesterday? Did you dream it again last night?"
"Surprisingly, no. It was a peaceful night. Maybe the anesthesia helped." Rani joked. "Would you like tea, or water?"
"No. I just came from a meeting with another Squad Ten member and thought I'd swing by and see how you were."
"Thank you."
"And if you're tired from reading, don't fight it. Take a nap. With all of the restless nights you've had, it should help you."
"Medically speaking, what do you think about what you saw?"
"Frankly, I am curious as to why you were dreaming that. I don't know the full story, just that this was your reason for all of those sleepless nights."
"Everyone will learn about it at the meeting, which should prove to be interesting." Rani commented. "I would love to see everyone's reactions, but I doubt that will happen."
"Don't be so sure. Captain Kuchiki might request for you, and other lieutenants, to attend."
After a bit more small talk, Captain Kotetsu excused herself and made her way back to her Squad. Rani, once clear, laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. An hour she awoke to the sound of the bedroom door opening.
"Hey." she said slightly groggily.
"You okay? Normally you don't take a nap in the morning." he inquired as he sat down next to her.
"Yeah, between getting up early, watching the dream, and reading a part of that book, I made myself tired. Captain Kotetsu also stopped by and encouraged me to take a nap."
Toshiro smiled.
"What do you want for lunch? Or do you want to forego lunch and just rest?"
"Just rest for now. I can make myself something later." she answered with a grin. "Any word on when the meeting with all of the captains will take place?"
"I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe when I get back to my office."
A little while later, Toshiro left his sleeping wife and headed back to his office where a notice of a meeting was waiting for him, as well as his lieutenant.
Thank you again for reading this story. I do appreciate the views when I remember to check this. I am still waiting on my first review, but oh well! There's nothing I can do about it.
Well, that covers it for right now. Off to write the next (final?) chapter. We'll see when I post that one. Hopefully it won't be a year from now...
~Kirby42280~