CHAPTER 28: Care

Chapter 28: Care

Crackle. A vicious surge in Reiatsu brought the kiss to a premature end.

Mila Rose snapped to her senses and pushed his face away from her. "W-What the hell was I doing?"

She kissed Kazuya, a lewd act she never imagined herself doing with someone else, much less a man.

Kazuya didn't dwell on Mila Rose's distress. Instead, he swept his Reiatsu over the area, searching for the terrifying yet familiar presence that had interrupted their moment. He located the source of the familiar Reiatsu, well-concealed and undetectable to those not diligently searching.

He glanced over his shoulder. "Harribel, you can come out."

"Harribel-sama is here?!"

Harribel emerged from behind a boulder and approached them. She wedged herself between Mila Rose and Kazuya, pushing Mila Rose away from him in the process.

"You called?"

She acted like she wasn't eavesdropping and peeping at them from a hidden spot. Her calm and collected manner worked her in her favor this time around.

Mila Rose just stared at Harribel, stupefied. "Harribel-sama…"

Despite her resentment toward Harribel's interference, she respected her leader too much to question her suspicious actions.

Harribel sighed. "I'm sorry, Mila Rose. I had to check up on him… I didn't want you to get into a fight."

Kazuya would be stupid to take Harribel's words at a face value. She might be peeping on her 'son' for all he knew. "I won't fight Rose. Heck, we were about to enter a new phase in our lovey-dovey relationship."

Harribel responded with a shocked look, "I see… I wasn't watching you."

"Oi, Skull. Stop spitting lies! Who the heck wants to—"

Kazuya leaned behind and winked at Mila Rose. "You let me kiss you — that's a fact you can't deny."

"You are horribly twisting the facts." Mila Rose sprang to her feet and pointed at him with her sword. "I didn't stop you because you mentioned something about rewarding you. Yeah, that's it. Think nothing more of it than a reward."

She was too embarrassed to admit being attracted to Kazuya, knowing that the menace Sung-Sun will rip her apart with teasing.

Harribel closed her eyes and giggled, adoring the sight of her 'children' messing around instead of fighting. It was one of the few times she had been so lively. "Kazuya, I need a favor from you."

Kazuya paused and looked into her eyes. Despite his deep understanding of her character, he could never guess the thoughts coursing through her mind. "Sure."

Harribel lowered her head, her eyes brimming with seriousness. "Can you—"

All three suddenly spun their heads in one direction. A familiar Reiatsu was flaring up in the distance, as if it was preparing for a fight.

Kazuya instantaneously slipped into his Hollow form. Standing up and unfolding his wings, he showed a grim look. "Apacci is in trouble. I'm going ahead."

With a burst of Sonído, he gained momentum and tore through the air, leaving Mila Rose and Harribel behind as he raced toward the source of the disturbance.

…

Kazuya found himself in the haunting battleground where he silenced Dordoni for eternity. A horde of monstrous Gillians unleashed torrential Cero rays, painting the desolate landscape in vibrant crimson. A blood-soaked Apacci nimbly dodged each lethal beam, her agility and determination evident as she lunged at a towering Menos Grande with every ounce of her strength. Yet the behemoth remained unfazed by her full-powered headbutt.

The Menos Grande drew its colossal hands from its shadowy cloak and struck Apacci with a resounding impact. She was sent hurtling into a nearby mountain, crumbling rocks cascading around her crumpled form.

Exhausted, injured, and drained of Reiryoku, Apacci couldn't even block a Gillian's attack. She struggled to her feet with trembling legs, only to collapse once more. "N-Not yet... Damn it, where are the others?"

"I'm here." Kazuya arrived by her side, cradling her face as he transferred some Reiryoku to her. "Just rest. I'll take care of them."

She looked at him, eyes overflowing with emotions. "Y-You are so late."

Kazuya nodded solemnly, his focus shifting to the menacing Gillians. His Reiatsu bore down on them, a crushing force that made them shudder. With a swift motion of his hand, he unleashed Oppression, reducing the creatures to grotesque chunks of flesh.

"Did they come for Dordoni's body?"

"I didn't let them touch it."

She seemed smug about putting her life in danger for a corpse.

"I'm glad you're not dead.." He leaned his chin on her Hollow Mask and cleared the blood from her with his Reiatsu. Her tail adorably wiggled even while she refused to look at him. "There, you are all clean now."

Sung-Sun approached the pair as Kazuya finished cleaning Apacci, while Harribel and Mila assessed Apacci's condition from afar and returned to base.

Sung-Sun cast a glance at the mangled remains of the Gillians, playfully nudging Kazuya with her tail. "Ara, am I interrupting your cuddle time?"

Apacci shot Sung-Sun a glare. "I'm out of Reiryoku at the moment. Kazuya is helping me clean."

"I'd also request Kazuya's cleaning services after I become an Arrancar. They will be free for a friend, right?"

"Absolutely free. You can bring another friend if you want."

"What a sweet gentleman. I'd bring my old friend Rose then. She will appreciate your services."

After some light-hearted flirting, Sung-Sun left Kazuya alone with Apacci. It was for the best, as he needed to address her privately, away from prying eyes.

"Apacci, I care more about you than that corpse over there. I'd be very sad if you became a corpse while protecting a corpse. You know, I can find Arrancar's corpse in Las Noches but I can't find another Apacci."

His tender words had the intended effect, prompting Apacci to stare at him wordlessly, touched by his sentiment.

"O-Of course. There is only one Apacci in this world but there are thousands of Mila Rose. You won't find me anywhere."

He chuckled at her budding envy or perhaps jealousy, for Mila Rose. He playfully tugged at her ears, making her wince in pain. "That's why you should stop risking your life for nonsensical reasons."

"It's not nonsensical!"

"How is it not? You could've called me, Sung-Sun, or even Cirucci. Fighting them in your condition was beyond reckless. You could have died if I didn't make it in time."

His sharp voice contrasted with his usual gentle, honeyed tone. Apacci felt as if time had frozen. She had been waiting for a reward for enduring an impossible battle for him. Yet, here he was, scolding her for her recklessness.

For the first time, Apacci experienced the biting sting of cold betrayal.

Kazuya sighed and gently rubbed her horn. "Look, I'm sorry for being so harsh and controlling but I will do everything I can to protect you and others." He gestured Apacci to Dordoni's corpse. "You can eat him."

Apacci understood his reasoning, but it didn't ease her bitter feelings. "No, you eat him to increase your Reiryoku capacity. It'll be beneficial for you."

"You might break into Vasto Lorde if you eat him."

His enticing words made her pause and ponder, distracting her mind from his previous scolding.

"Vasto Lorde…" Apacci whispered. "Will I have a body like Harribel as a Vasto Lorde?"

Envy dripped from each and every word as she imagined herself in a similar form as Harribel and most likely Mila Rose.

"Most likely."

"I…"

"Don't hesitate. You risked your life to protect it. It belongs to you now."

Apacci glanced in Dordoni's direction and shook her head. "Your strength is harder to increase than mine. I can eat any random Hollow and gain little boost."

She was being selfless for once, hoping he could feel her care behind her small sacrifice and stop being so harsh. She just wanted him to be the casual, playful Kazuya.

Kazuya grinned. "Jeez, stop staring at me. I know I'm handsome and you love me but get a human form before we take things further."

"W-Who loves you, skullhead?" Apacci grumbled as she lowered her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "Leave me alone!"

"Well, eat to your heart's content, my adorable dear."

He left Apacci alone to enjoy her meal. She might reach Vasto Lorde status or at least come close to achieving it. More crucially, it will heal her wounds faster and recover the lost Reiryoku.

***

A/N: Did you guys expect a lemon? Lmao. To be fair, it would feel forced if Mila Rose actually started liking him all of a sudden.