Guardian of Memories

Chapter 1

I turned 4 years old today. Mama and Papa took me to my favorite park; the one with the field in the back. Not many people come here, so I could have all the fun I wanted without mean kids around. I ended up playing on the swings and slides almost all day. After I got tired from it all, Mama brought me to the field and set me on a blanket while Papa brought a little cake.

"Papa, why can't we sit in the middle of the field like last time?" I asked while trying to stand. Mama says that I'll get the hang of walking soon. The kids at my school can walk better than me, but Mama says that I'm only a little behind; that I shouldn't feel bad.

"Because, the last time we were here, the grass wasn't so high," said Papa as he pulled something out of his pocket.

Mama laughed and grabbed me before I could enter the tall grass. "The grass is much taller than all of us. You'll get lost for sure!"

I sat back down on Mama's lap as she fed me some icing off of her finger. Papa lit four candles and Mama joined him as he sang happy birthday. They clapped their hands as I blew out each of the candles.

I kept laughing until I heard rustling; like someone was walking toward us. It was starting to get dark, so it was kind of hard to see, but it looked like a really big guy.

"Happy Birthday!" he said. Papa stood up as the man got closer. I could see him better now. He had blonde hair and looked kinda crazy. I started to get a little scared when Mama stood up and pushed me behind her.

"Mama, who is that?" I asked, pulling on her skirt to get her attention.

"Just an old friend of Papa's." She looked down at me and smiled before looking back at the blonde haired guy. He was standing right in front of Papa now.

"Oomori," Papa said. It didn't sound like he was talking to a friend.

"Renji! Haven't seen you in a while," Oomori said. He seemed kind, but dangerous too. I hid behind Mama even more so that he wouldn't see me.

"How did you get out of that place?" Papa asked.

"You mean that torturous place that you helped put me in? I don't think you have the right to know. And by the way, it's Yamori now."

"You're the Yamori of Aogiri Tree?" Mama gasped. Why was she yelling? What did that mean?

"Ayame! Take Kaiko and get out of here!" Papa said. He wasn't looking at us. What's going on?

Suddenly, a big arm looking thing came out of Oomori's back. It was different shades of red and purple. I remember what Mama called it!

"Kagune!" I whispered. As soon as I said it, his kagune went straight through Papa's chest. "Papa!" I cried, running out from behind Mama.

"Nobody's going anywhere!" Oomori yelled, laughing as he pulled his limb out of Papa.

"Kaiko!" Mama called for me. I was already kneeling by Papa as he fell back, coughing up blood.

"Why's you put a hole in my papa?" I screamed. Tears were falling down my cheeks as I stood up. Papa kept saying that it was ok, but that shouldn't happen to him! He hurts, and it's because of that man. My mama kept calling for me as I stood in front of Oomori.

"You're a big meany head!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, stomping my foot. "Papa didn't -" I was cut off by his loud laughter.

"Oh, Renji! Your daughter's got some spunk!" I stared at him as he continued to laugh.

"Please... don't," Papa coughed again as he tried to say more.

"However, it looks like she still needs to learn to respect her elders!" Oomori yelled, raising one of his kagunes.