"…Aneko Kocamura. Kind, sweet, caring, independent, dependable, and a little short-tempered. A real friend, just like a big sister. Well, that's what I think she is anyway. She always stood by me, even if the situation was grim. That's what I talked Grandpa Yamma into making her my lieutenant before I died. Because we worked well as a team, like Toshiro and me. We understood each other and our problems. And when something bad happened to one of us, we would of been worried sick, and scared. And, in my unfortunate case, she was hurt and sad, and completely depressed by my sudden death. Well, that's what Toshiro said anyway. So, now that I'm walking back to the place I called home, I wonder. Will she believe it's me, and, if she does, will she remember the certain things I said to her the day of my death?…"
December 7th, 2010
SOUL SOCIETY
Aneko's Perspective
Aneko sits on the roof of her quarters, watching the sun rise silently in the sky, grasping her legs close to her chest. She yawns, and blinks a couple times as she slumps her head into her knees.
Life is slow, especially for her. A mission hasn't come up in at least a month, and her squad members are starting to lose their touch.
Her ebony brown hair blows passed her face, the two low pig tails dancing in the soft breeze.
Slowly, Aneko hears running coming from the ground below.
She turns her head and sees two members jogging below her, trying to get in their morning exercise before the daily duties are assigned. She sighs and looks back at the horizon.
Her hand goes up to the choker around her next automatically. She looks down at the necklace.
The necklace is a simple black ribbon with a clasp at the ends, and from it dangles two simple white moonstones, one layered above the other.
It had been a present, from her old Captain.
Captain Yattamori had given her best friends necklaces that she made herself. Apparently, before her parents died, they had given her a pouch of many gems which she had kept hidden. And, when Aneko had told her that her favorite gems were moonstones, Yattamori made her this necklace, as a symbol of their friendship. And, since her death, she never takes it off, in memory of Yattamori.
"Lieutenant Kocamura!" a voice yells.
Aneko's trance breaks and she looks down below, to see a friend of hers, Haruna, panting.
"What is it Haruna?" Aneko asks.
"Lieutenant, a captain-"
"What about a captain?"
"The Head Captain is heading over to Captain Yattamori's old barracks. Apparently, we have a new captain ma'am." Haruna explains.
Aneko's eyes widen. It has been 14 years since Yattamori's death, and no one has been able to find a Soul Reaper that matched her in strength or power. But, now, they've found one out of the blue? They must of had to lower their standards, seeing as how no one, not even herself, could surpass her old Captain.
Aneko looks back down at Haruna as she stands up.
"Where are they now?" Aneko asks.
"Um, they should be about two minutes away by no-" Haruna starts to answer.
But, before Haruna can finish the sentence, Aneko is gone, flashstepping as fast as she can towards the abandoned building. She had seen some men from the 1st Squad going in and out of the barracks with bulkily items, but she thought that they were just cleaning it up and putting stuff in there to store, seeing as how it hasn't been anyone's home for over a decade. But, now she understands. They must of been moving in furniture for the new captain.
Anger begins to bubble inside Aneko.
How dare the Head Captain replace Yattamori. She couldn't be replaced. No one was like her. She was impressive, especially for her age, being only a little older then Captain Hitsugaya.
Aneko thoughts suddenly turn to him.
Toshiro had been Captain Yattamori's best friend, and since he was a captain, he knew who it is, and had approved them.
The anger builds even stronger.
How could he let someone else take Yattamori's title?
Now, she can't wait to sock Captain Hitsugaya in the head.
She flies over the trees only yards away from the barracks.
"This is going to change today's plans-" Aneko starts to say.
"Man! This place is so nostalgic!" a familiar voice says.
Aneko immediately takes to the shadows of the trees and hides. And, just for extra precaution, she becomes invisible, one of her five Time Psychic abilities. She looks over her shoulder at the people walking through the barrack gates. The Head Captain is the easiest to pick out, being in the front. Behind him is Lieutenant Matsumoto of Squad 10, Captain Hitsugaya's squad.
Aneko becomes confused.
Why is she with him and the new captain? Does she know them?
"The outside may look the same, but the inside is completely different. It's been outfitted to fit your current comforts, which Captain Hitsugaya helped with, of course." the Head Captain says to the new captain.
"Really? Awesome! Thanks, now I can relax for a little while before I meet the squad." the new captain says.
Aneko tries to catch a glimse of the person who owns the voice.
The new captain is on the opposite of the Head Captain, which makes it hard to see. She only sees a little of the person's hair, which is wavy, chestnut brown, like Captain Yattamori's had been.
But, the voice is so familiar to her. It has been years since she's heard it.
But, who's is it?
Captain Hitsugaya soon answers the question.
"Yattamori, why would you want to relax, you were just unconscious for the last week." she hears Captain Hitsugaya say as he comes out from behind the Head Captain.
"Oh, shut up, Toshiro." the voice says.
Aneko is speechless, and motionless.
The new captain is…Captain Yattamori?
Aneko flashsteps out from the shadows of the trees and onto the front steps of the barracks.
She gasps quietly.
It is Captain Mariya Yattamori, her superior that had died 14 years earlier.
She looks exactly the same as she did the day she had died, except being a little taller.
Yattamori looks at were Aneko is standing and stops instantly. Toshiro and the others notice.
"What's wrong Yattamori?" Toshiro asks.
Yattamori grins and sighs.
"Why are you invisible Neko? You know that I can see you. Come on, come out." Yattamori says, smiling.
Aneko looks surprised.
No one but Yattamori had called her Neko. She quickly dissipates the invisibility and begins to walk towards Yattamori.
"Is that really you, Captain?" Aneko asks as she walks closer.
Yattamori grins again.
"Yeah, it's me. I know that you probably weren't expecting me. It's a really long story." Yattamori answers.
Aneko walks closer without saying another word and stops right in front of Yattamori. Yattamori face becomes worried.
"Aneko, what's wrong?" Yattamori asks.
Suddenly, without a second thought, Aneko raises her hand behind her head and whips it across Yattamori's face, slapping her as hard as she can.
Yattamori fumbles sideways after the impact, her eyes wide with surprise. Toshiro quickly reacts.
"Mariya!" Toshiro yells as he runs over to Yattamori's side.
He turns back towards Aneko, anger in his eyes.
"Why did you do that. She didn't do-" He yells.
Yattamori's quiet laughter breaks through his yelling.
"Yattamori's why are you laughing? She just slapped you!" Toshiro yells at her, irritated.
"I was hoping you had forgotten about that promise. But, it looks like I wasn't saved. And you certainly did hit me hard. Dang, have you been working up the strength in your hand for that? Man, that stung!" Yattamori says as she holds a hand up to her cheek.
"What are you talking about?" Toshiro asks, completely confused.
"The day Captain Yattamori died, she and I had a conversation about death on the battle field." Aneko explains, starting the story.
-—
November 29th, 1996
Captain Yattamori and Lieutenant Kocamura sit at their desks doing paperwork. Yattamori suddenly moans and lays her head on her desk.
"Man, this paperwork is killing me! I say we take a break." Yattamori says as she lifts her head and picks up the stack of papers.
Aneko laughs.
"If we take another break, we will have to stay here during the monthly scouting tonight." Aneko says.
"No! I can't miss that. They finally paired me with Toshiro again, I can't be kept here by this!" Yattamori yells, raising from her seat.
"You're really close to that kid, close enough to be his little girlfriend." Aneko taunts.
Blush rises to Yattamori's cheeks.
"S-Shut up Neko! He's my best friend, nothing more!" Yattamori says, slamming her hands playfully on the desk.
"Whatever you say." Aneko answers, chuckling as she turns in her chair.
Her expression becomes more serious. Yattamori notices.
"Hey, what's up? Something bothering you?" Yattamori asks.
Aneko looks surprised by the question, then looks away.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"No it's not. If it was nothing, you would of told me. I know how you work. Now tell me, that's an order." Yattamori says as she comes from behind her desk.
Aneko smiles weakly. Yattamori likes to use her title to get people to talk. And if that doesn't work, she will look through their mind until she can find what she is looking for, which is one of her more annoying abilities.
"Fine. I just don't want to go tonight. That's all." Aneko confesses.
Yattamori looks surprised by the answer.
"Why?"
"Because, you never know if someone will get hurt or even worse, killed."
"You're afraid someone will get killed?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Aneko, we're Soul Reapers, we pledged to give our lives to the Soul Society. To die fighting, death, injury, they're all parts of being a Soul Reaper. "
"But why? Why do innocent people have to die for someone else's cause?"
"What do you mean Aneko?"
"My father was a Soul Reaper. He was caring, compassionate, smart, innocent. But, then, in one battle, he was killed. And for what? Just to retrieve a stupid stolen scroll that was property of a noble family. It's not right, Yattamori. It's worthless."
"It's not worthless if you're fighting for something." Yattamori answers.
Aneko looks up at Yattamori, who's now on the other side of her desk.
"You think that your father was slaughtered for no good reason? Well, try to think about how he might of thought about the situation. Do you think he thought it was pointless?"
"Uh, well-"
"Of course you don't! If your father thought it wasn't worth it, he could of pulled out of the mission and stayed behind. But he didn't, did he? He went through with it, and died fighting for what he believed in. The exact reasons why he did it, you might not ever know. But, you can know one thing. That he did die honorably, because he chose to fight, and in the end, we accomplished what he helped do." Yattamori yells, pounding her fist on the table, but for real this time.
Aneko looks at Yattamori, her eyes wide. Yattamori is only a kid, and she is a goof-ball most of the time. But, when it really matters, Yattamori is probably one of the wisest people she's ever met.
And that isn't an exaggeration.
Yattamori looks seriously at Aneko for a few more moments, then her expression becomes softer.
"I know you're scared about death. I am too. Everyone is, even if they don't admit it. Just look at Toshiro for instance. He may have a hard exterior that looks like he's scared of nothing, but inside, he's a scared little puppy, looking for someone to make him forget about his fears. Take that person away, and you might actually get some water-works."
Aneko chuckles.
Toshiro Hitsugaya, 3rd seat of the 10th Squad, was one of the youngest and smartest Soul Reapers in the entire Soul Society.
And, Yattamori told her that he's a nominee to become a captain, just like her.
He just has to achieve Bankai, and he'll be set for the title.
Yattamori has been helping him try to achieve the goal for the last couple weeks, using all her free time to help him practice and train.
"But, as I was saying, death is a scary thing. I mean, I don't want to be killed on the battle field. I believe it would be one of the worst places to die on the planet. If I could choose where and how I would die, I would pick dying in my sleep, in my own home, in my own bed. But, we can't control fate. So, if you die on the battle field, that's your destiny, and nothing can change the fact that you're dead."
"How cruel." Aneko comments.
"But, if I do die on the battle field, I hope I die because I fought protecting someone I cared about or a cause I believed in." Yattamori says, smiling.
Aneko smiles back.
"That sounds honorable Captain, but I hope that will never happen."
"Me too. And if I do die on the battle field, I give you permission to slap me as hard as you can when you see me in Heaven."
Aneko grins. She then puts her hand out to Yattamori. Yattamori looks confused by the gesture.
"You promise?" Aneko asks.
Yattamori looks surprised, but smiles and giggles.
"I promise. And I keep my promises." Yattamori says, placing her hand in Aneko's.
A few hours later, Aneko is staring at Toshiro, hunched over, crying his eyes out over Yattamori's dead body, which he's clutching in his arms.
Yattamori's words run through her head.
"…look at Toshiro for instance. He may have a hard exterior that looks like he's scared of nothing, but inside, he's a scared little puppy, looking for someone to make him forget about his fears. Take that person away, and you might actually get some water-works…"
Aneko kneels down next to Toshiro.
"Toshiro, how did this happen?" Aneko asks, trying to hold back the want to sob.
Toshiro looks up at her through the tears.
"She…pushed me…out of the way. I…was supposed…to die. But,…she took…the hit…" Toshiro says in between sobs.
Yattamori's voice comes back to Aneko.
"…if I do die on the battle field, I hope I die because I fought protecting someone I cared about or a cause I believed in…"
Aneko's eyes widen as the words collide in her mind.
Then, she smiles biter-sweetly.
Her captain, Mariya Yattamori, had gotten the honorable death she had wanted if nothing else was possible.
Aneko bet that she was thinking the same thing when she died.
Suddenly, she could no longer hold back and she began to sob as well.
-—
PRESENT
Aneko looks over at Toshiro after the story ends, to see him stunned, his eyes wide in shock.
She then turns back towards Yattamori, to see that she's probably thinking of the events.
"I died the way I thought was most honorable that day. Even though it feels like just a bad dream now." Yattamori says, breaking the awkward silence.
Toshiro grins weakly.
"It strange, I thought that you did it in the spur of the moment. But, it looks like you somehow knew somewhat what would happen that afternoon. Talk about irony, huh?" Toshiro confesses.
"I can't believe you cried like a little baby," Yattamori says, "I mean, I expected a few tears, but absolute sobbing? Man, that rough. I was scaring you. I didn't mean to-"
"Shut up! Don't talk like that. It's wasn't your fault, it was mine. If I had just listened to you, you wouldn't of had to.." Toshiro snaps at her, but stops.
He remembers getting into this argument before with her, while she was bleeding out. The words are still fresh in his mind.
Aneko reads the thoughts that cross his mind and looks away, a little shocked.
Rangiku had told her the story a few days back, thinking that she should know what really happened to Captain Yattamori, but it was still hard to believe.
"I'm…scaring you. I didn't…mean to-" she whispers in-between breaths.
"Shut up! Don't talk like that. It's not your fault, it's mine. If I had just listened to you, you wouldn't of had to.."
"Toshiro…" Yattamori says.
"Captain Yattamori, why don't Aneko and you go look around your barracks. We'll have a captains' and lieutenants' welcome celebration later tonight in the Squad T.P. courtyard. All of the members of your squad are welcome to come. I'll be back in one hour's time to introduce you to your squad, although you'll recognize many of them. But, we do have 23 new members, so that's going to be complicated." the Head Captain states, trying to change the discussion.
"23! Seriously! That's a lot!" Yattamori comments, her attention turned away from Toshiro.
"How about you run over the new members with her inside." the Head Captain says to Aneko.
"Yes Sir." she answers.
Rangiku walks over and leans towards her ear.
"Don't tell Yattamori about what happened after she fell from the tree. She doesn't remember and my Captain doesn't want her to. He thinks it would be too painful." Rangiku whispers.
Aneko's eyes widen, but she nods anyway.
Yattamori is about to ask, when the Head Captain begins to speak again
"And Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Matsumoto, I would like if you would run through the paperwork that you didn't turn in yesterday." the Head Captain says to them.
Toshiro becomes irritated and turns towards Rangiku.
"Rangiku, you told me that you turned that in!" Toshiro yells at Rangiku.
"I forgot to, sorry." she says.
"Ok, you're coming with me, now!" Toshiro yells as he walks away, pulling Rangiku behind him.
"Wait, Captain! Can't we talk about this?" Rangiku yells.
"Nope! We'll see you later Yattamori." Toshiro yells over his shoulder.
Then, they're gone, flashstepping their way to their barracks.
"Well, that's going to be a fun conversation." Aneko says, sarcasm in her voice.
They turn towards each other and begin to laugh. They turn back to see the Head Captain gone, probably following Rangiku and Captain Hitsugaya.
She looks back to see Yattamori walking towards the barracks.
She quickly follows. When they get to the door, Yattamori stops and just stands there.
"Captain…?" Aneko says.
"Neko…you don't have to hide it from me." Yattamori says without moving.
Aneko becomes confused.
"What?"
"I know what what happened after I fell from that tree!" Yattamori yells.
Aneko gasps.
"But they said that you didn't remember-"
"I didn't. Until Toshiro told Rangiku the story."
"But why then would they think that you wouldn't know?-"
"Because I was unconscious."
"What?"
"I was hospitalized for a week in a coma after fighting with Kuchiki, I just woke up this morning." Yattamori explains.
Aneko's eyes widen.
"That was you? You were the one that beat up Captain Kuchiki?"
"Uh huh."
"Wow."
Aneko then looks down at the hand she had used to slap Yattamori.
Now she feels bad.
"Don't feel bad. I don't need another person feeling guilty about something that wasn't their fault." Yattamori says, apparently after reading Aneko's thoughts.
Aneko looks surprised.
Yattamori suddenly punches the door with all her might, breaking through it as a result.
Aneko gasps.
"Toshiro…you're a complete idiot!" Yattamori says, a tear rolling down her face.
Aneko's eyes widen, then become more calm.
Now she knows why Toshiro didn't want Yattamori to know.
She's falling apart.
"Oh, Captain…." Aneko whispers.
Bonus Funny ^o^
Hey guys! Wow, it's been awhile since our last Info corner.
Anyway, Today, I'll be talking about my Lieutenant, Aneko ^^
Aneko is around 200 years old, and became my lieutenant about 15 years ago when our Squad was created. That's when we met.
Aneko: Yes, previously, I was in Squad 6 as the 5th seat.
That must of sucked.
Aneko: Why do you say that?
Byakuya was your Captain.
Aneko: He's not that bad.
He tried to kill me!
Aneko: Mariya, I think you're over-reacting to the battle-
HE TRIED TO KILL ME, WHAT PART OF THAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
Aneko: Captain, please.
I can't get you to be on my side for anything...Cat-lady
Aneko: DON'T CALL ME THAT! YOU KNOW I HATE THAT!
*Neko, Mariya's nickname for Aneko, means Cat in Japanese*