Kazuya floated by the cave where he had told Harribel's group to wait. Just as his feet touched the sandy ground, Nelliel rushed toward him. Before he could react, slender arms wrapped tightly around his waist from behind, pulling him into a firm embrace.
Her warm breath brushed against the back of his neck, and he could feel the slight tremble in her grip. "Give me one minute…"
There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice that caught him off-guard.
"Nelliel?" he said softly, tilting his head to glance back at her. "What happened?"
She held him a moment longer, her forehead resting gently between his shoulder blades. The usual spirited aura that surrounded her was absent, replaced by a sense of melancholy. Something was obviously very wrong with her.
'My charm didn't work?'
It seemed at Nelliel's level would require his charm to work at its full hypnosis-like power. He would rather not try that on Nelliel.
He carefully unclasped her hands, turning to face her. Her hazel eyes avoided his gaze, fixating instead on the ground between them. "If you need to talk about something, I'm always here for you. We are always here for you."
Carefully speaking, he placed a great emphasis on 'we.' After all, Nelliel had Harribel's full support. Having Harribel's support was the same as having everyone's support in his family.
She hesitated, her brows knitting together as she struggled to find the right words. "My companions…" she finally managed to speak in a trembling voice. "They're all… gone. It's all my fault, Kazuya. I…" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked up at him. "I killed them."
He felt a pang of sympathy but also confusion. "I don't believe it. You loved them more than anything. You aren't telling me everything. Nel, what's the whole story?"
"I-I…" she stuttered, wrapping her arms around herself. "I messed up. I thought I could make them stronger like you did. But they-they started eating each other. Three of them formed these huge tornadoes and dragged the others in it before I could stop it. I tried, Kazuya. I tried everything, but…"
His gaze softened as realization dawned."They became Gillians?"
He had expected them to become Gillians eventually but never this quickly. It seemed like Nelliel had accelerated their growth through some means.
She nodded slowly, a single tear escaping down her cheek. "Why wasn't I more careful? My negligence killed them… I killed them."
Gently, he took her hands in his, squeezing them to reassure her. "You know Gillians are formed by hundreds and thousands of souls. Your friends are still alive in those Gillians."
She shook her head, her green hair swaying softly. "They lost their individuality, their hearts. It's not different from death."
Nelliel had stubbornly chosen to take the blame for her companions' deaths. Nothing he said would ease her guilt. He could comfort her, but only time will heal her wounds.
"Well, where did those Gillians go?" he asked gently, hoping to shift the conversation.
"They went through the Garganta… I don't know where they are now."
He narrowed his eyes. The Gillians were probably hunting for more souls in Hueco Mundo. He couldn't say it in front of her as she would never want her companions to hunt other Hollows.
"Oh, Apacci." He turned to find the trio, who had been stalking him from the shadows. They were a perfect opportunity to distract Nelliel from her issues. "Nel, let's go meet others."
He dragged her inside the cave, where he was jumped by Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun. The trio hugged him, Apacci in the middle, Sung-Sun on the left, and Mila Rose on the right.
"You dumb husband, when will you stop making us worried for you? I almost got wrinkles because of you!"
"She is also becoming a hag!" Apacci burst into laughter. "That leaves me as the youngest and prettiest of us all. I am—"
Mila Rose fiercely headbutted Apacci. "Stop yapping. You shouldn't even open your mouth without your Master's permission."
Apacci headbutted her back, starting a battle of headbutts like a bunch of unruly kids. Thankfully, he was there to break them up.
"Girls, girls. I don't have much time. Let's not waste it on fighting."
Cirucci hugged him from behind. "Only whores fight with their mouths. Real ladies solve their issues with swords."
Kazuya hit her shin with the back of his heel. "Shush. Nobody asked for your wisdom."
A sadist like her absolutely loved sprinkling oil in the fire and watching it flare even brightly from the distance.
Cirucci let out a giggle before pressing her head against his back. "I'm glad you returned safely."
"What she said," Apacci said from the middle, her arms tightening around his waist. "I'm pissed I couldn't be at your side."
"It was just a warm-up. The real battles will be coming up. That's where I'll have you fight for me like a slave."
Apacci gulped before nodding her head like a duckling. His words had stroked a part of her heart that she was quite unfamiliar with. Her 'Devotion' Aspect of Death gave her incredible satisfaction to do things for him. Even being called his slave made her feel fulfilled. "I'll give it my all. This maid will pop those skulls like balloons!"
"And this lioness will crush them like bugs under my feet."
The two were genuinely pumped to finally fight for him. Having a peaceful life was a blessing for them, but it also suppressed their natural fighting instincts as a Hollow. Today, all of their pent-up fighting spirit would be unleashed upon Las Noches. He felt a little bad for the punishment awaiting the opponents of his ruthless Hollow lovers.
"Husband," Sung-Sun called from the side before lowering her voice to a whisper. "Did Nelliel expose your secret?"
"Things worked out just fine."
Sung-Sun nodded thoughtfully. "Husband, check that out."
He looked over to Nelliel, who was having a face-off with Harribel. Neither woman said a word and simply communicated with their eyes.
"Is everything alright?" Harribel asked. "You look… troubled."
Harribel saw no signs of physical fatigue in Nelliel's movements. From her perspective, Nelliel lacked her usual energy. The only girl who could rival Mila Rose's energy seemed to be going through an inner turmoil, making her look as depressed as Cirucci of the past.
Nelliel shook her head and revealed a smile. "I'm fine. Just a little tired after that fight. Nobody told me Kazuya had a Shinigami friend." She turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with feigned excitement. "What was that flame scythe you had back there? It looked bizarre and powerful! Fight me using that later!"
Her fake enthusiasm only raised the concern among everyone.
"The heck happened to her?" Mila Rose asked in an exaggerated voice. "Why do I feel like she is trying too hard?"
"Because she is," Sung-Sun whispered, narrowed eyes trying to see through Nelliel. "She is putting on a mask to hide her true feelings. Apacci wasn't lying."
"I never do," Apacci said with a rare gentle look. "I feel pity for her… Kazuya—Master, is there some way we can help her?"
Cirucci perched up on her heels and rested her chin on his shoulder. "I know you can help her in recovering her lost 'heart.' You're the expert of mending broken hearts."
Although Sung-Sun and Mila Rose stayed silent, he knew that they shared Cirucci's feelings on the matter. None of them felt great seeing Nelliel suffer, who was perhaps the only Hollow beside Harribel to become a Vasto Lorde in the unconventional peaceful method.
"I want to help her," he said with a soft sigh. "This won't be easy, though. I might need everyone's help."
Apacci playfully nudged his abs. "You know this maid will do anything for her Master. Just give me your word."
"So will this wife," Sung-Sun said coyly. "Anything for my husband."
Mila Rose sank her fangs in his neck. "All my mate gotta do is ask."
Cirucci couldn't help but giggle. "You know I'll scale nine heavens and earths for her man."
They all squeezed him together, showering him in love. After the group hug, Mila Rose and Sung-Sun shoved him towards Harribel, who had been watching them with an amused smile.
He approached Harribel, pulling her into a brief embrace. "Were you worried?"
"When am I not?" She shook her head. "Are we leaving now?"
"Not yet. I'll have to check on my colleague."
"Just a colleague?" Harribel asked, a subtle teasing in her voice. "Or is she…"
"Our relationship is purely professional. Can't say what the future holds though," he said, rubbing the back of his head. Rather than hiding anything, he openly revealed his honest feelings. "She got beat up pretty bad by Ulquiorra. It bruised her confidence."
Harribel seemed satisfied with his answer. Reaching into the pocket of her sweatshirt, she pulled out a delicate necklace. Dangling from the silver chain was a sharp, triangular tooth of sky blue hue; the tooth resembled a shark's, more importantly, it had a clear resemblance to Harribel's sword arm.
"It's beautiful. Did you make it?"
"You don't believe me?" she asked with a tiny mischievous smile. "Come, I'll put it for you."
He leaned down and let her drop the necklace around his neck. She took her sweet time in properly locking the necklace and adjusting his Shihakushō to hide it from everyone's view. As the cool metal touched his skin, he felt a subtle pulse of Reiatsu emanating from it. The spiritual energy was soothing, reminiscent of the calm ocean depths — it was Harribel's own spiritual energy.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it. Not as much as I love you though. I love my sweet Tier more than anything in the world."
She revealed a faint smile, a little touched by his confession. "The necklace also has a special feature. If you imbue it with your Reiatsu, it'll react and release a wave of our mixed Reiatsu."
"Let me guess. You can sense that mixed Reiatsu from faraway and rush to my aid."
She patted his chest as though praising him. "A mother has to look after her lovable son."
"Appreciated. Anyways, who helped you with this?"
"Lisa. Her experience as a Shinigami really helped… I really couldn't have made it without her."
He glanced around the cave once more. "Where is she?"
"She went out for fresh air." Harribel glanced at Sung-Sun, who began whistling like it had nothing to do with her. "Don't worry about Lisa. Go, finish your business."
Kazuya nodded and let his gaze drift through the cave. Starrk had only glimpsed at him to reassure his safety before he went back to napping. Lilynette was nearby, energetically recounting some old story to Menoly, who seemed absorbed into Lilynette's dramatic storytelling.
Menoly looked far more lively than she did in his mansion.
{Menoly is starting to fit in.}
'I'm happy for her.'
Harribel followed his gaze to the duo. "I'm sorry I couldn't pay much attention to Menoly…"
"Being a teacher is tough, isn't it?"
"A little," she replied with a smile. "Watching those kids grow before my eyes… it's rewarding for the effort."
He reached out and placed a hand on her stomach. "Soon you'll have your own."
Her gaze softened to an endearing level. "I can't do it without you, Father."
"..."
***
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