Chapter 28: Care
Crackle. A vicious surge in Reiatsu brought the kiss to a premature end. The couple's senses were triggered to the point of completely evaporating their desire.
Mila Rose pushed his face away as soon as she snapped out. "W-What the hell was I doing?"
She had kissed Kazuya, a lewd act she never imagined herself doing with someone else, much less a man. And she did it with such an intense passion
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. The source of the familiar Reiatsu, well-concealed and undetectable to those not diligently searching, was found within seconds.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Harribel, you can come out."
"Harribel-sama is here?!"
Mila Rose watched in surprise as Harribel emerged from behind a boulder and approached them. Harribel wedged herself between them, 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…"
Even though she felt bitterness over the interference, she respected her leader too much, to the point she was willing to let this slide without a word.
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 to see the growth of her 'son' for all he knew. "I have no reason to fight Rose. Heck, we were about to enter a new phase in our lovey-dovey relationship."
Harribel revealed a surprised 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're horribly twisting the facts." Mila Rose sprang to her feet and pointed her sword at his face. "I didn't stop you because you said something about rewarding you. Yeah, that's it. Think nothing more of it than a reward."
She was too embarrassed to admit her attraction to Kazuya, knowing that the menace Sung-Sun would rip her apart with teasing. She didn't want to step into Apacci's territory either. Everyone had accepted that Apacci loved him dearly.
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. Suddenly, her liveliness disappeared as she recalled something. What replaced it was a solemn look. "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. "How can I help you?"
Harribel lowered her head. "Can you—"
All three suddenly spun their heads toward 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 as he slipped off the cliff and soared right up with his wings. "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 had silenced Dordoni for eternity. Here, a horde of Gillians were unleashing torrential Cero rays, painting the desolate landscape in vibrant crimson. A blood-soaked Apacci nimbly dodged the lethal Cero beams and lunged at a towering Menos Grande with every ounce of her strength. Yet the behemoth remained unfazed by her full-powered headbutt. Her Reiatsu was at the very bottom, leaving her with just her physical strength.
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 is everyone?"
"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, those big, bright eyes overflowing with emotions. "Y-You are so late."
Kazuya nodded solemnly and shifted his focus to the menacing Gillians. His Reiatsu crashed down on them in a crushing force that made them shudder. Without delay, he unleashed Oppression to reduce the creatures to grotesque chunks of flesh. They were all dead within moments.
"Did they come for Dordoni's corpse?"
"Of course. I didn't let them touch it."
She seemed smug about putting her life in danger for a corpse.
"I'm glad you're alright." 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're 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 so Kazuya is helping me clean."
"I'd also request Kazuya's cleaning services after I become an Arrancar. They will be free for me, right?"
"Absolutely free. You can bring another friend along too!"
"What a sweet gentleman. I'll bring my old friend Rose then. She'll definitely 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 everyone's 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. I can find some 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. To hear him say how much he cherished her meant the world to her.
"O-Of course. There is only one Apacci in this world, but there are thousands of Mila Rose. I'm not like the others."
He chuckled at her budding envy, or perhaps jealousy, toward Mila Rose, which was a natural progression of their positions One was an Arrancar and the other was still in her beast form. 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. If I didn't make it in time… you know what would've happened."
His firm 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. This wasn't fair.
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 strength. It's most beneficial for you."
"But what if you became a Vasto Lorde after eating 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, which makes it your possession."
Apacci glanced in Dordoni's direction and shook her head. "Your strength is more valuable than mine. I can eat any random Hollow and gain a 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, the one she had found half-buried in the sand.
Kazuya grinned. "Geez, stop giving those puppy eyes. I know I'm handsome and you love me but get a human form before we take things further, okay?"
"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.