Author's Note: Ugh... Hey everyone! It's me, Cecilia! Haha! I totally got this in really really fast compared to all my other chapters! I'm so happy! But I felt so bad that I left you guys on a cliff-hanger, so I put in some extra work and wrote you this chapter really really fast! woo-hoo! Anyway... since this is my note, I'll talk about how annoying this chapter was. I have at least 2 versions of this chapter and god, you should have seen me when I was away fom the computer! I was twisting and beating up my head. I couldn't write about Aneko's reaction about being back in the Seireitei! RAWR! It all came out so complicated and in the end, totally messed up my flow and the story's flow. But after one review, I was like HEY! Aneko deserves a new profile! *hand gestures to profile* Voila! The profile helped me a lot to organize who Aneko truly is. Haha at first I thought these stupid profiles were for my readers, but it turns out, they help me out a lot in my story. ^_^ Well... I'm done ranting for the day! ^_~ And as I say in all my notes... REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! and enjoy! I love you all! Oh and you can PM me anytime too. I'm lonesome... :(

Additional Information: All character images are provided on my profile page in order of appearance. Please feel free to look at them at any time. Thanks! ^_^


Can I Go On? (A Byakuya Kuchiki Love Story)

Book Two, Chapter Four

The Return of the Purple Butterfly

Name: Aneko Mayako

Height: 5' 4''

Birthday: August 27

Soul Society Class: The aristocratic heiress of the Mayako family, one of the 4 major noble houses in the Seireitei.

Family: Lady Horoko (adopted guardian), Shunsui Kyoraku (godfather/sensei)

Personality: Changed quickly over the years in her time in the human world, Aneko has matured greatly from her loud personality as a child. More analytical and strategic as before, she takes her role as leader very seriously, caring for the lives that are under her care. She has modeled her personality to be similar to her elegant idol, Lady Horoko. However, her strong-willed, stubborn, and short-tempered demeanor remains under her well-kept composure.

History: Adopted at a young age by the Mayako family, Aneko spent her second half of her childhood in the Seireitei away from her original home in the slums of District 79. Discriminated against for her impure noble blood, she received horrible treatment from the residents of the Seireitei, especially from the head of the Kuchiki noble clan and the father of her boyfriend, Byakuya Kuchiki. Presently, she is infamously known throughout the Seireitei as the Purple Butterfly, the unranked officer who killed a captain.

Current Shinigami Status: Deceased, killed in the line of duty.


~11 Years Ago~

"Aneko! It's already morning! What are you still doing in bed?" A voice rang in Aneko's ears.

Aneko groaned and dug her head underneath her pillow, "Get away from me, Kameko! I want to sleep tonight!"

"Kameko… m-maybe we should let her sleep for a little while longer…" A nervous voice came from the doorway.

"Nozomi, it's not right for the leader to be asleep when the whole group is up and running!" Kameko said, ripping the bed sheets off of Aneko. "Get up, princess! It's not night anymore. It's been morning for 10 hours already. Takushi is waiting for you."

Aneko groaned loudly and turned over on her stomach. She waved her two unwanted visitors away. Kameko shook her head and walked out of the room. Nozomi followed her nervously behind like a baby duckling her fingers at her lower lip. A few seconds later, Kameko came back into the room with a pitcher.

"Kameko! That's not how you wake Anek—"

Without hesitation, Kameko dumped the pitcher of cold water on top of Aneko's body that was only covered by a thin night dress. Aneko jumped out of bed and screamed loudly.

"…up." Nozomi sighed, finishing her sentence.

Aneko glared at Kameko and Nozomi. Kameko was finely built woman. She had tanned skin and short red layered hair. From day one, she was always the loudest and the rudest. On the other hand, Nozomi was the quietest girl of the team. Her features matched her personality perfectly, as well. She had long purple hair that she tied in one French braid and her brown eyes always looked at the floor. Although their personalities were completely opposite, it was rare to see them apart from each other. I guess Nozomi was attracted to Kameko's strong personality. Aneko thought.

Aneko stood up and slapped Kameko in the back of the head, making Nozomi yelp and nervously shake. Aneko sighed, snatched up her silk robe from her side table, and headed her way downstairs.

Ronin turned over his small wooden sculpture and examined the several crevices that he carved into the small block. He had shoulder-length white hair that he tied back in a ponytail and left the short bangs hang over his eyes. Across the table from him, a man with dark blue hair and a lotus tattoo on his neck yawned as he ate his breakfast. Both of them looked up as Aneko, Kameko, and Nozomi walked down the stairs.

Takushi's eyebrow rose as he examined Aneko's attire: a soaking wet nightdress that now practically showed everything with a silk robe that failed at covering anything. He blushed and Aneko noticed this. She slammed her hands on the table.

"Yo, Takushi! Tell your little sister to keep her freaking pitcher away from my room!" Aneko shouted.

Takushi nervously smiled and glanced over to Kameko, who shrugged innocently. He looked back at Aneko and smiled again, but this time his eyes stopped at her perky bosom. He blushed even brighter. Aneko sighed and took his chin between her thumb and forefinger, lifting his gaze to hers as she moved closer to his face.

"My eyes are up here, love…" Aneko said, seductively, licking her lips.

Takushi gasped as Aneko pushed him back, making him fall backwards in his chair.

"Pervert!" Aneko spat, and then snapped her attention to Ronin, "Do you have anything to add, Ronin?"

Ronin looked at her and then looked back at his wooden sculpture. Aneko followed his gaze and saw that he had carved a small replica of a fox with tentacle-like tails. It was the very same Hollow that they've been tracking down since the very day they were assigned to this mission… 24 years ago. He laid it on the table and looked back up to her.

Aneko picked up the figurine and looked at it closely, saying in a serious tone, "From 21 shinigami… we are down to 5… because of this stupid Hollow."

Everyone watched Aneko as she walked over to the kitchen in the front of the house and placed Ronin's figurine on the windowsill. She made sure the little sculpture faced out of the window into the road. She leaned against the edge of the kitchen sink that was in front of the window and sighed.

"Come on, little guy… where's the bastard?" She muttered, looking out the window.

Takushi watched her diligently and sighed. He walked over to her and placed his hand on her hip. Aneko didn't move at all. He sighed once more and then looked at the small figurine. He brought his mouth closer to her ear as he slipped his other hand around her waist.

"Don't worry… we'll find him… and we'll kill him… Aneko…" Takushi whispered, laying his forehead on her shoulder.

Aneko side-glanced at Takushi and then eyed where his hands were. She looked back outside with a pained look. She didn't even notice that her own hand reached up to her neckline where a small pink cherry blossom pendant hung from a silver chain. However, Takushi noticed this action. Suddenly, Takushi grabbed her reaching hand and gripped it… tightly. Aneko looked at him with wide eyes which softened after awhile of staring into his.

"What are you doing, Mr. Senrei?" Aneko whispered, her gaze unmoving from his own.

Takushi glared at her and then sighed, his expression softening as well. He let go of her hand that was already red and scratched the back of his head.

"Sorry… it was… force of habit." Takushi sighed, walking away back to his breakfast.

Aneko watched him and sighed. She turned back over to the figurine and flicked it over. It fell on its side. She walked back to the table to find Nozomi and Kameko giggling next to Ronin, who was starting his new wooden figurine. Kameko looked up with a big smile on her face. She ran over to Aneko and took both her hands tightly in hers.

"Hey, Aneko! You know, the communication line isn't being used or anything and I was wondering, since we don't have to report to Captain Freak Show… I was wondering, CAN I USE IT TO TALK TO MY BOYFRIEND IN THE SOUL SOCIETY?"

"No!" Aneko instantly answered.

Kameko looked at Aneko in horror and sank to the floor, crying, "Oh why not? It'll only take a second!"

Aneko shook Kameko off her leg and repeated herself, "No! Captain Kurotsuchi already hates my guts. If he finds out I allowed you to use it as a regular telephone line, I'm dead!"

There was no response. This surprised Aneko. Usually she'd be flailing and whining at this point. Hmm… Aneko thought, looking down at Kameko. Aneko shuddered in horror as Kameko gave Aneko her infamous puppy eyes look.

"Oh no! Not that again." Aneko snapped. "Don't even think about it, Kameko!"

"Pwease!" Kameko whined, her eyes getting bigger.

Aneko's eye twitched and she sighed, giving up. She waved her hand at Kameko who squealed loudly and hugged Aneko tightly. Aneko watched as Kameko jumped up, grabbed Nozomi away from her toast, and disappeared into the living room. Aneko plopped herself down in between Ronin and Takushi and sighed.

"That girl…"

Takushi chuckled, "At least you only had to deal with her on this assignment… I have to live with her."

Takushi and Aneko laughed. Aneko then stood up and took Nozomi's toast. She took a big bite out of it and headed to the living room.

"Hey! Where are you going, Aneko?" Takushi called out to her.

She turned and winked at him. Aneko then disappeared around the corner.

Takushi sighed and leaned his chin in the palm of his hand, digging his elbow into the table. He looked at his bowl of cereal with a sad expression. Ronin looked up from his wooden block, examined Takushi, and then continued to carve his block.

"So when do you intend to tell her, Takushi?" Ronin said, out of the blue. "It's been two years."

"I know… I know…" Takushi whined, "It's just that…"

"You still love her and you don't want her to be hurt."

Takushi groaned and banged his forehead on the table, swearing to himself, "Dammit! I promised myself I would never let any girl rule my emotions… but… but she's just freaking different."

"Yeah… especially with that necklace of hers."

Takushi shot his head up and put out his hand to Ronin, "I KNOW! What the hell is up with that? Some guy jilts her and what does she do? She keeps his only present! Talk about cock-block…"

Ronin shook his head and continued to carve, "You should respect her decision, Takushi. She gave you a chance, but in reality, you two were doomed from the start… Everyone could tell that she didn't love you…"

Takushi banged his head back on the table and muttered back, "I know… but still… even if it was a lie… It felt amazing."

Ronin looked at Takushi and sighed, "Takushi, you have to tell her. You have to tell her that Bya—"

"ANEKO!"

Ronin and Takushi looked up and saw Aneko run out of the living room and up the stairs. Her arm was up to her eyes, shielding anyone from seeing her face. Behind her Kameko and Nozomi followed. Takushi stood up and watched Aneko go up the stairs until he heard the slam of her door. Takushi turned to Kameko.

"What happened?"

Kameko looked at her brother and said, panicked, "What happened? Well… Nozomi and I were talking to my boyfriend and he was talking about his entrance into Squad 6… He was talking about how strong his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, was and everything. I didn't know she was listening. Then he went on and said…"

Kameko paused as she looked up to gaze at her brother. Nozomi stepped closer to Kameko, nervous. Kameko opened her mouth once more to continue.

"Brother… didn't you tell Aneko already that Byakuya was married… 2 years ago?"


"Onee-chan!"

Aneko's eyes snapped open as she looked around. Subconsciously, Aneko attempted to jerk her arms forward, but a strong force held her by the wrist. She turned her head to look at what was holding her bound and found orange and yellow ropes of light shimmer around her wrists, leaving deep red marks. Ahh… I remember now… Aneko thought, smirking.

It was probably half an hour ago that Kanji and his assistants found and arrested her and Etsu for 'unauthorized' activity. Aneko sighed and remembered that she got bored from waiting for the arrival of more Hell Butterflies and took a little nap. She smirked once more. I haven't dreamt anything like that in awhile… She thought with somewhat of a bittersweet taste in her mouth.

"Onee-chan! Please talk to me!"

Aneko turned and saw Etsu sitting right beside her. She was tied up similarly around her small wrists and ankles. Aneko smiled, looked into Etsu's scared eyes, and leaned over to kiss Etsu on the forehead. Without even looking around, Aneko could tell what brought the fear in the little girl's eyes… They were already in the Soul Society.

Suddenly a man ran out of a nearby gate and over to Aneko, Etsu, and their two escorts. Aneko looked up and saw the man had brown hair and grey eyes. She smiled.

As he came up to them, Aneko tilted her head and said in a sly voice, "It's been awhile… hasn't it, Mr. Kanji?"

Kanji looked at Aneko with wide happy eyes and then his thin lips spread widely on his face into a cute smile.

"Aw… did you miss me that much?" Aneko amusingly chuckled.

"You have no idea." Kanji laughed.

Aneko shook her head, looked around at the white reishi buildings around them, and said, in a calm voice, "So what do you intend to d-?"

Suddenly Aneko felt a pair of lips on her mouth. She looked down and saw Kanji kissing her sweetly. She gasped along with Etsu, both their eyes wide. After awhile, Kanji broke their kiss, smiling at Aneko's dumbfounded face. He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head.

"Sorry… I'm a bit excited…"

Aneko looked at him, speechless. She glanced over at Etsu, who was glaring at Kanji. Kanji followed her gaze and was taken aback by Etsu's intense glare.

Both of them watched Etsu take a deep breath before she shouted, "EWW! YOU'RE A BIG PERVERT!"

"I-I beg your pardon?" Kanji stuttered, surprised, looking at Aneko, who was laughing.

Etsu pouted and continued to explain herself, "How can you have the gall to force a kiss on a woman who is tied up? Do you have no manners whatsoever? YOU PERV!"

Aneko laughed loudly, "Kanji, this girl hasn't even been with you for an entire day yet and she has already has your whole personality figured out! This is hilarious!"

"Aneko! I'm not a pervert!" Kanji shouted, blushing badly.

Suddenly a cough came from one of the shinigami behind Aneko and Etsu. It was Kisho. Kanji looked up.

"Kanji, the captain's meeting…" Kisho said, in a serious voice.

Kanji nodded, realizing he completely forgot about the situation, and said, "Oh shoot. You're right. Come on! Pick up the girl. I'll get Miss Mayako."

Aneko watched as Kisho went over to Etsu and picked her up over his shoulder. Kanji then went to Aneko's side and picked her up wedding-style. Aneko looked at Kanji, who was smiling. He noticed his eyes trail to her lips. She immediately turned her head away from him.

"Don't you even think about it… pervert..."

"UGH! I'M NOT A PERVERT, ANEKO!" Kanji shouted.


"The next order of business to be discussed… The matter of the rebellion forming in the World of the Living…"

An old man looked up from his seat and stared down the 11 shinigami that stood in the room. He had a long white beard that had a piece of thick rope braided around it and bore a large cross star on his forehead. Fitting the usual shinigami uniform, the old man wore a captain's haori over his shoulders. In his hands, a gnarled wooden cane stood. This man was the great Captain-General of the Gotei 13, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

"As you may have already known, an unknown force of shinigami has taken upon themselves to attempt to destroy the Soul Society's inner workings. Stationed shinigami have come back injured, not from Hollows, but from other masked shinigami." Yamamoto said, seriously. "Currently, I believe, Captain Kurotsuchi has a few men in the area of the attacks, along with constant surveillance. Any news on the force, Captain Kurotsuchi?"

All the shinigami turned to a golden-eyed man who was staring at the floor. He wore a white hat with two ends that pointed to his right and a large purple scarf around his neck. His face was painted over to give him a skeletal look. He smirked.

"With the idiot who leads my scout troop in charge, I highly doubt we will receive any word whatsoever any time soon." Kurotsuchi sneered. "Besides the only reason I sent the boy out with a troop is so that he doesn't bother me… And no, the surveillance team is completely useless on finding any activity done by this so-called rebellion."

Kurotsuchi turned back to Yamamoto, who sighed and continued, "Very well. As long as they do not do any harm and are unable to enter the Soul Society, we have nothing to worry ourselves about."

Yamamoto paused, looking at a piece of paper, "Well, there is nothing more to discuss. This meeting is adjourn—"

"WAIT! You can't go in there! The captains are having a meeting!" A woman's voice shouted from the other side of the giant closed entrance doors.

All the shinigami turned to the doors as they slowly opened. Kanji walked in slowly, letting out a deep breath. He looked around, sweat rolling down his forehead, at all the captains. He found himself nervous and unable to speak.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto shouted. "Captain Kurotsuchi, is this not one of your charges?"

Kanji turned to his captain with wide scared eyes. Kurotsuchi glared at him with such fury and anger, Kanji shook uncontrollably. He thought he was coming into this brave and strong, but now he was nervous out of his wits and the speech he practiced constantly slipped out of his head.

"Boy, you better have a good reason coming into here without permission…" Kurotsuchi spat.

Snapped out of his nervous breakdown by his captain's voice, Kanji quickly bowed lowly and shouted, purely out of fear and embarrassment, "Forgive me for my intrusion, but there is still business to be taken cared of, respected captains."

"And what would that be?" Yamamoto said in a serious deep voice.

Kanji stood up and looked at Yamamoto in the eyes, "To determine the punishment of a convict I recently have arrested in the World of the Living…"

Kanji turned and waved someone to come in. A young woman walked into the room. She had long black hair and as she looked up at the shinigami captains, they could see her shimmering purple eyes. She smiled sweetly and titled her head slightly, turning her attention to Yamamoto.

"Long time, no see, Captain Yamamoto. How long has it been? 35 years… right?" She said, her silky voice echoing in the silent room.