"Silly little dear, take care of yourself."
As the obsidian butterfly fluttered, Kazuya's message filled with warmth echoed within Apacci's consciousness. Her heart fluttered, mimicking the butterfly floating before her.
'So sweet.'
She turned to the other Hollow beside her. The olive-haired arrancar in an elegant kimono. Sung-Sun had taken a liking to the traditional Japanese clothes.
"Are you free now?"
Sung-Sun had postponed their departure for two sunrises. The Snake Princess had found a new passion in visiting the library these days, digesting books of different genres. Apacci, too, felt a shade of melancholy with Kazuya's departure, else she'd have yanked Sung-Sun back to Hueco Mundo without delay.
"Alright, let's get you fat with souls. You'll become…" Sung-Sun trailed her voice, a mischievous smile on her face. "A Fatso Lorde!"
An awkward silence flowed between them.
"I'm not fat," Apacci grumbled. "You're just skinny."
"Skinny or fat, it matters naught. My beloved treasures me. Only his opinion matters."
Apacci's words couldn't put a dent on her steel-like confidence.
"It only happened because I let it happen," Apacci said, hinting at the favor she did for Sung-Sun. "I didn't think you'd pull it off… you're so shameless, Sung-Sun."
Sung-Sun smirked. "All is just in the fight for survival."
"Why are you comparing your romance to survival?"
"It is a matter of life and death for me…" Sung-Sun gazed at her blankly. "I would have killed myself if he didn't accept me. Being with Kazuya is the same as breathing to me."
Apacci's brows knitted together at Sung-Sun's words. Was she truly speaking the truth, or was it just another one of her games? The slight twitch at the corner of Sung-Sun's mouth did nothing to resolve her confusion.
Apacci shook her head and opened a rift to garganta using Descorrer. "Come."
"Only Kazuya, my husband, can make me cum."
"..."
Emerging from the Garganta, Apacci and Sung-Sun found themselves within a hauntingly familiar landscape — the white desert that witnessed the birth of numerous Hollows, including themselves — Hueco Mundo. The wind of the barren desert whipped around them, tugging at the fringes of Sung-Sun's kimono and tossing Apacci's hair into a wild dance.
Apacci tucked back her hair. "This place looks duller than the last time we were here."
Sung-Sun covered her mouth with her sleeve. "We have tasted the lively air of the human world. Of course this barren desert will feel lifeless now." Her eyes sparkled as she faced west. "Can you feel that, Apacci?"
Apacci's head swiveled toward the west, her senses catching a familiar Reiatsu. "The place where Kazuya became an Arrancar. His Reiatsu is still so strong here."
"We'll need to name that place something. The King's Stand. A magnificent name for the place where our king ascended."
Apacci clucked her tongue at Sung-Sun's melodramatics. "Mind if we check it out?"
Their destination — the Forest of Menos — lay in the opposite direction, but the desire to bask in Kazuya's residue Reiatsu proved irresistible. A wave of nostalgia beckoned her.
"You needn't ask."
They walked through the desert without suppressing their aura. Kazuya's current strength gave them full confidence. Not to mention they could rival Vasto Lorde if they fought together.
Their Reiatsu, of course, sent the nearby Hollows packing except for the pack of Hollows staying in the cave they used to occupy. That wasn't all. Apacci saw a lone Hollow standing outside the cave, armed with a lance. Nelliel, who had occupied the cave until now, stood her ground against a pair of hungry Adjuchas.
"An Adjuchas?" Apacci licked her tongue. "Just what I needed."
Sung-Sun narrowed her eyes. "Something doesn't feel right."
Normally, a threatened Hollow would instinctively release Reiatsu in defense. The Hollow before them was clearly perturbed — Sung-Sun could see the terror in those eyes. Yet, there was an absence of hostility, as if the Hollow didn't want to fight.
"You don't look like Hollows to me," Nelliel said, eyes narrowing on the woman licking her lips. "Who are you and what do you want from me?"
Nelliel's delicate voice revealed her gender to Sung-Sun and Apacci.
"It's rare to see a female Adjuchas," Sung-Sun said and pointed at Apacci. "As for our intentions, my friend here wants to consume you. Make you a part of her. Will you surrender or fight for your life?"
Nelliel's expression became clouded. "As expected," she whispered. "Don't release your spiritual pressure here. We'll settle this somewhere else."
She needed to persuade the two women to move away from this location. She had moved her little companions to this cave where she could use the Reiatsu of a Vasto Lorde to keep unsuspecting Hollows away.
As much as she abhorred death, there was little hope for her survival in a clash of this magnitude. She still would take a stance and fight for her life.
'I'm not suited to be a Hollow.'
It was already a miracle she had survived this long without killing a single Hollow.
Apacci rubbed the back of her head. To attain Vasto Lorde status, she needed to devour souls and control her wild instincts. But she hesitated when it came to the woman before her. The centaur-esque Hollow hadn't budged even after Sung-Sun's ominous revelation, even though she was facing two Hollows above her league. As if she had accepted her death.
Nelliel stirred echoes of Apacci's past within her. While she wasn't proud of her former cowardice, those moments of weakness were cherished memories. After all, they led her to meet Kazuya.
Apacci let out a sigh. "Are you protecting those weaklings?"
Nelliel's eyes widened behind her Hollow mask. "No," Nelliel said, shaking her head. "This intimidating Reiatsu around us has helped me avoid many potential battles. I simply wish for this place to act as a safe haven for weaker Hollows."
Nelliel wasn't fond of lying but protecting her little friends was more important than bearing the guilt of deceit.
"Wow," Sung-Sun exclaimed. "Indeed, this place is sacred, for our husband became an Arrancar here. This Reiatsu you feel belongs to him."
Nelliel gulped nervously. She had witnessed the Vasto Lorde they referred to, and even sensed his confrontation with Barragan. He was at a level of power she could never aspire to emulate. "R-Really? Who is he?"
"Who he is doesn't matter," Apacci growled. "I don't care if you want to protect someone. I'm going to kill you and eat you."
Sung-Sun giggled and tugged at Apacci's shirt. "You stopped hesitating when you thought she might fall for our husband, you jealous creature."
Apacci dodged Sung-Sun's gaze. "I did not! What even gave you the idea?"
"Fufufu, you're so possessive."
Nelliel watched in silent astonishment as the two Hollows, whose intentions were to eat her, started a playful banter. Behind the annoyance of Apacci, she could see how close she was to Sung-Sun.
'They share the same mate. It's natural they'll be close.'
In contrast to their camaraderie, Nelliel felt a sharp pang of solitude. Her little Hollow companions lacked the ability to converse, leaving her feeling lonely more often than not.
Sung-Sun eventually refocused her gaze back onto Nelliel, her eyes softer now. "Apacci, just look at this adorable lady. She doesn't want conflict like our Harribel-sama. Let's just leave her alone and go to the Menos Forest."
"Ugh, fine," Apacci accepted with a grunt, her finger pointed accusingly at Nelliel. "But on one sole condition. Fight me."
...
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