CHAPTER 146-147: Alter Ego

The next day, Kazuya stepped out of the bath, putting on a gray sweatshirt and cargo shorts—his go-to casual attire. Making his way to the breakfast table, he found Tier looking captivating in her teacher attire, an outfit that somehow combined professionalism with her wild allure. Not even Nami could top the nurturing charm Tier exuded.

"Morning, Tier."

As he took his seat, Tier's hand gently covered his. "I'll be back by the afternoon. After which I'm free."

After a three-month longing, the thought of spending uninterrupted time with him filled her with anticipation. She even contemplated taking a day off, but knowing Kazuya, he wouldn't appreciate her sacrificing her responsibilities for his sake.

{Mila Rose and Harribel back to back. Partner's luck is going insane. I wonder what tragedies fate is cooking for us.}

'Stop jinxing it.'

{It was a jinx to counter-jinx every jinx.}

"We haven't sparred together in a while," Kazuya suggested, giving Tier's hand a reassuring squeeze. "How about we head to Kisuke's underground chamber later?"

It'd be a challenge to leave Karakura Town once he made love to Tier. In addition, he had to focus on getting stuff done and work out his Zanpakutō issues.

Tier's eyes gleamed at the idea. "Just like the old days."

"Yup, just like the old days."

As they shared a moment, lost in each other's eyes, Mila Rose cleared her throat and stood up, capturing the attention of everyone at the table. "Attention, everyone! I have an announcement—"

"You and Husband fucked for hours yesterday," Sung-sun playfully interrupted, concealing an evil smirk behind her sleeves. "We already know that, Rose."

Their long disappearance yesterday, combined with Mila Rose's affectionate glances at Kazuya at the table, hinted at a new milestone in their relationship. Sung-Sun couldn't be happier about Mila Rose accepting her feelings. Now, she won't have to see Mila Rose having depressive episodes again.

Mila Rose's attention shifted to Tier, who verified Sung-Sun's statement with a gentle smile. Her shoulders drooped, her face a priceless blend of embarrassment and shame. "Ugh, I was so looking forward to breaking the news to everyone..."

Sung-Sun arched an eyebrow. "Rose, never forget that you're our family, and a real family knows each other like the back of their hands."

"Damn yes," Apacci agreed. "I'm glad Franceska stopped being a stubborn bitch and decided to be with Kazuya."

Mila Rose blinked at the rare show of affection from Apacci. "I also love you both… though I love my mate and Harribel-sama more."

Cirucci crossed her arms, tapping the floor. "What about me, Rose? You didn't—"

"You idiot," she said, hugging Cirucci from behind. "You're my bestie. I love you too."

Apacci let out an exasperated sigh. "Great, now she's going into full-on sentimental mode."

After the lively exchange at the breakfast table, Kazuya retreated to his room and sprawled across his bed. "Nami, take me to the Inner World. We need to talk."

{Sure, Partner.}

In the blink of an eye, he went from the room to a tiny island, surrounded by an endless sea that stretched as far as the eye could see. Nami stood before him, her presence dominating the surreal environment.

"So you went with the 'it's lonely at the top' aesthetic here."

Nami closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a surprisingly tame hug, contrasting her intensely horny nature. "Lonely? Not when you'll be surrounded by your harem and your soulmate — Izanami. Now, what did my alter ego say to you?"

Kazuya sighed. "Tsubasa… she talked to me in your voice, through you."

After the anger over Tsubasa's manipulation had faded, he was more accepting of her existence. Yet, there was one condition — Tsubasa inhabited Nami, taking his already unhinged Zanpakutō Spirit to a new level. Out of all the potential developments for a yandere, it had to be the dreaded emergence of a dual personality.

"I… I screwed up, Partner," Nami let out an anxious chuckle. "I thought I devoured her. I should've known better. A Shinigami's Zanpakutō Spirit is part of their soul; how could they die that easily?"

He narrowed his eyes sharply, seeing through her feigned surprise. "I understand why you aggressively pushed me on Unohana and Isane. You had an inkling about remnants of Tsubasa's ego and worried that you might lose the psychic battle against her. They were your backup, to keep me from spiraling into despair if you were gone."

"I got caught…" Nami looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I lied… I was having lapses, blank spaces popping up in my memories. Strangely, they only happened when you were asleep… Partner, will you punish me for deceiving you?"

He revealed a soft smile. "Considering how essential a Zanpakutō Spirit is to a Shinigami, you must've hesitated in completely devouring Tsubasa. It'll be stupid to punish you."

Since Tsubasa was part of his soul, completely annihilating her would've harmed his soul. How could he have the mind to punish her when she acted with the intent of helping him?

She cradled her own face in her hands as her eyes widened and her lips twisted into the signature smile of a yandere. "You cannot know how happy I'm to be understood by my beloved. It means the world to me!"

Others might find her level of obsession creepy and unnerving, but he held a different perspective. Her love, however twisted, was undeniably sincere — a dangerous mix of passion and devotion that he found adorable in its own unique way.

"I can never predict the inner workings of a woman, much less a yandere like you," he mused, eyes locking onto hers. "But when you began pushing women on me, I knew something was off. You said it yourself that the other women in my life meant nothing to you — you were indifferent to them."

"Ah, my Partner's love made me touch more… accommodating to others." Nami spun in an elegant pirouette, her laughter echoing like a haunting melody around the isolated island. "I'll still call Tsubasa my Alter Ego. She is, after all, my polar opposite. The life to my death. The light to my shadows. I exist to protect and elevate my beloved to his righteous position in Heavens, while she exists to protect your loved ones. In short, Tsubasa and Izanami are two sides of the same coin. We complete each other."

His theory about the antithetical relationship between Tsubasa and Nami was astute. In theory, with Tsubasa, Nami represented an ideal yandere — one driven by the desire to protect him and the other driven to protect those around him. It encompassed everything he needed to enjoy his life. The only dreadful outcome of their continued existence was the possibility that Nami may transform into a stranger or lose her sense of self.

"Well, what happened to Tsubasa being our daughter?"

"No longer possible. Moreover, I'm not old enough to be a mother—oops, I forgot Partner loves milfs. It's unfortunate that Tsubasa can't be my daughter with her living in my head and all."

"You live in my head, and Tsubasa lives in yours…" He chuckled. "We're one fucked-up trio."

"Perks of being the main characters," she cooed. With a graceful gesture, she placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her demeanor had shifted, eyes solemn and tinged with reverence. "Master… we meet again."

"Tsubasa, you're one stubborn Zanpakutō Spirit to survive the wrath of a yandere."

Tsubasa's lips curled into a soft smile. "That may be truer than you imagine. I almost died when Nami devoured me, but Nami was gracious enough to preserve my essence and merge her soul with it… My specialization in restoration allowed me to reconstruct my ego. It was made possible by staying close to you, physically and spiritually."

"I guess the saying about Shinigami and their Zanpakutō Spirit being inseparable is true."

She kneeled on the ground and touched her head on the floor, performing a dogeza — a gesture used to show deference to a person of higher status or express deepest apologies. In Tsubasa's case, it was the latter. "Master, I apologize for the harm I caused… and for my despicable actions against Izanami. I never intended to mock your strength during our battle… I was swept away by the fantasy that Master would get more motivated to grow strong and overcome me."

His brows arched in surprise. "You sound like one of those side villains whose real goal is to help the protagonist, so the protagonist can kill the main villain."

"They were my inspiration to fuel your growth. I… never considered you would leave me to die in a battle against Izanami."

She had taken her defeat into account, but not the possibility of a Shinigami abandoning his Zanpakutō Spirit. She severely underestimated his rage and his adoration for Nami.

"You're so weird," he said, shaking his head. "Then again, you're just the reflection of my desires. It was a little stupid of me to let you die. So, we're even."

She raised her head, surprise painted across her features. "Thanks, Master… I swear I'll never act without your permission."

"You better, because I'd hate to see you die again."

She happily nodded her head and rose to her feet. Her eyes fluttered close before she fell towards him. Instinctively, he reached out to catch her, supporting her weight as she transitioned back to Nami.

"Partner, I'm back!" Nami's eyes twinkled as she looked at him. "What did Tsubasa say?"

"Before that, I have a question: do you hate Tsubasa?"

Despite having an inkling about her feelings, he needed to hear it straight from her.

"I had nothing but hatred for her until I burned her soul with my flames, leaving just her essence. While she may lack maturity, her heart was in the right place: to assist you. How could I loathe someone aiming for the same goal as I do? So yes, I've forgiven her, even for trapping me like a caged bird."

His eyes crinkled in a pleased smile. "You were a bird when it happened."

"I WAS A PHOENIX. Get that right, Partner."

"Yandere bird."

Watching her huff and puff about being called a bird, he gave her a brief rundown on Tsubasa's apology and her promise to Nami. Her arms tightened around him, her entire weight leaning against him. "I'm absolved from the guilt of slaying my blood and flesh daughter."

"That makes the two of us."

"I long for the day Tsubasa separates from me. I want my head full of Beloved's thoughts, not her!"

"Me too. I think we should refrain from fucking while Tsubasa is merged with you."

Nami pouted, sulking, but not pushing the issue. "Mom incest is fine. Daughter incest is not. I see."

"...Now that the problem is solved, let's go train."

"Fucking finally!"

***

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