Chapter #24 - Um..?

Neliel and Kizuna jumped upwards and continued in silence. Neliel's anxiety and Kizuna's curious thoughts were hidden in the silence. Neliel moved with hurried steps, while Kizuna was slower and calmer.

"I mean... I understand you're worried, but there's no need to rush. My Fraccion will take care of them," Kizuna said, smiling.

Neliel took a deep breath. "Thank you, but..." The worry in her eyes still hadn't disappeared. "I won't be able to relax until I see for myself."

Kizuna looked at her with understanding. "I've heard that you care too much for your Fraccion. No doubt if I were in a similar situation I would act the same way, perhaps more violently." Even though he said that, Kizuna was sure that he would undoubtedly go mad.

Neliel nodded slightly. "They are my comrades."

Kizuna nodded in understanding. A little guilt filled his heart. If he hadn't been late, he could have unraveled this plot before her Fraccion was harmed. The worst had been averted, but Kizuna was not at peace.

As they walked away in quick, slow steps, he glanced at the uneasiness he felt around him. For a brief moment, it felt like someone was watching them. But then it disappeared. Kizuna shook his head from side to side, it must have seemed that way to him.

What he hadn't noticed was the presence of Szayelaporro in the shadows, watching them unobtrusively. Szayelaporro was gritting his teeth, trying to suppress his anger at what had happened. Kizuna had ruined his plan!

He muttered to himself, his voice almost a whisper: "This will not end here..."

***

In a room in the mansion, two people were tied up by Cirucci. Something strange, given by Kizuna, had cured them. But they were stubbornly suffering and struggling in spite of it all.

Pesche was an Arrancar, dressed in a uniform with blond hair and puffy shoulders. The big, chubby Dondochakka wore a white hooded uniform with black polka dots. Unlike Pesche, Dondochakka was always crying, while Pesche struggled stubbornly.

Pesche was struggling to get out of his bonds, while complaining. 

"We have to get to Nel-sama! What if something has happened... We must be with her!"

Dondochakka joined Pesche in tears. "Nel is waiting for us! We have to be with her!"

Cirucci stood in the corner, arms crossed over her breasts, watching them with a bored expression. "You two are really annoying. Can't you calm down a bit?"

Pesche turned to Cirucci without stopping struggling. "Didn't you yourself say it was a trap? We have to help Nel-sama!"

Dondochakka reacted in the same way. "Yes, yes! Nel needs us!"

With a deep sigh, Cirucci took a few steps towards Pesche and Dondochakka. Inwardly, she berated Kizuna for letting these idiots get into her head, and outwardly she fumed:

"You two fools think you can take on an espada? Now that Kizuna-sama has gone to help your Nel-sama, everything will be fine. Now cut the hair!"

Pesche and Dondochakka looked at each other and nodded silently. But after a few seconds Pesche's eyes lit up. "Dondochakka, how do you think we can escape from here?"

Dondochakka looked puzzled. "Pesche, why did they say we had to escape!"

Pesche made a serious face. "I know, but... maybe we can make a plan."

Dondochakka nodded excitedly. "Yes! Maybe... maybe we can fool Cirucci!"

Cirucci fell silent as she listened to their ridiculous plan. Didn't these two idiots realize she was listening to them? She sighed in resignation and let out an angry laugh.

Pesche and Dondochakka looked at each other and nodded solemnly. "Our plan is ready! One, two, three... escape!"

They both tried to break free at the same time, but Cirucci's bonds were too strong and they both fell to the ground. Pesche and Dondochakka were rolling on the floor in frustration, while Cirucci was laughing hysterically at the absurdity of the situation. At that moment, Pesche's sharp eyes noticed something.

"Hm~? I can see it from here..."

Just then, the door opened and Neliel and Kizuna entered. When Neliel saw Pesche and Dondochakka on the floor, her eyes lit up with worry. "Pesche! Dondochakka! Are you all right?"

Kizuna first paused at the sight, then covered his face with his palm to hide his face, trying hard not to laugh. "Really?"

Neliel rushed to his two comrades. "Why are you two tied up here?"

When Pesche saw Neliel, his previous focus immediately shifted and he burst into tears. "Nel-sama! How good to see you! You are well, aren't you? We were told that the evil Espada would attack you, we were just coming to help you!"

Dondochakka started to cry as well. "Nel, we missed you so much!"

Cirucci rolled his eyes and shook his head from side to side in distress. "These two idiots..."

Neliel turned to Cirucci and frowned. "Why did you tie them up?"

Cirucci glanced at Kizuna before answering. When confirmation came, she shrugged her shoulders. "Plata-sama told me to stop them from doing any harm if they did anything foolish."

Kizuna suppressed the urge to laugh with a deep sigh. "Calm down, Cirucci, you can untie the bond. It's all fixed."

Cirucci pulled back the tie, or rather her Zanpakuto, and the bond holding them tightly disappeared. But because of her quick pull, they whirled around like a beyblade and fell to the ground with a thud!

Pesche jumped up, quickly rubbing his head, and pointed at Cirucci as he got to his feet. "The devil in black underwear! 

Would it kill you to be a little more merciful? Nel-sama~! Do you see us being bullied?"

When Cirucci heard Pesche's words, she frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you say?"

Pesche stiffened a little when he saw Cirucci's reaction, but continued speaking. "Yes, I said the devil in black underwear! You're a bully, bully!"

Neliel rolled her eyes and approached Pesche and Dondochakka with a slight smile. "Okay, okay. Come on, calm down, you're both fine."

Dondochakka was rolling on the floor in tears. "Nel-sama, Pesche is right! They left us in the hands of tyrants!"

With a slight smile, Neliel took Pesche and Dondochakka's hands and helped them to their feet. "Come on, calm down..."

Meanwhile, Cirucci's expression was distorted. She was holding the weapon tightly in her hand, trying to suppress her desire to kill. Kizuna put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. They seem fine, even though they're misbehaving like children."

Cirucci rolled her eyes. "What do you say?"

Meanwhile, as Nel helped them up, she looked at Kizuna and asked:

"Are you sure you want us to stay?"

Hearing what Nel said, the trio froze, but Kizuna laughed and nodded, understanding why he had said that.

"Of course. Except for one or two incidents, this kind of comedy drama doesn't happen easily. And as long as no one harms anyone for no reason, I don't think there will be a problem."

Nel was even more relieved by this answer when the short silence was broken and almost three people complained at the same time!

"Is this in the same place as the devil?" Pesche asked in complaint.

"Humhum, not with this Nel-samaa~!" complained Dondochakka in tears.

With the two of them complaining, Cirucci exploded in denial: "These two circus freaks are going to join us!? Impossible!"

As if that wasn't colorful enough, things got even more confusing.