"Niño, when you become the king… don't try to take anyone's freedom."
Kazuya shook his head at Dordoni's question. He wasn't going to kill Baraggan to become the new king; that was too much responsibility for his shoulders. He wanted to be free like the wind. "Taking someone's freedom is the worst thing you can do to a person, well, besides some messed-up stuff like making them watch Boku no Pico or a thousand episodes of One Piece."
He gave a weak, raspy chuckle, blood speckling his lips as the laughter broke into a cough. "Become a demon, niño. Become strong like a demon. Become crafty like a demon. There is no way to withstand ruthlessness other than by becoming ruthless."
"You can rest assured I will."
"Show me, then." Dordoni raised a hand and weakly beckoned Kazuya. "Devour me, Niño. Inherit my Reiryoku, and become stronger."
Kazuya's gaze bore into Dordoni as his thoughts raced. Although he had lived in Hueco Mundo for a month, he had never consumed Hollow's flesh aka soul. The sheer magnitude of Dordoni's Reiatsu tempted him.
"I won't." He shook his head. "Someone important to me will be very proud if I achieve victories without eating others."
His energy recovered far quicker in comparison to the other Vasto Lorde. He wasn't in any danger of regression. It didn't make sense to break his streak for one percent chance.
Then there was the fact Harribel would be happier if he followed in her footsteps to avoid consuming Hollows like her—that was the biggest reason.
"Sacrifice nurtures..." Dordoni squeezed out and reached for something in the distance. "Don't let it mine be in vain… become a demon, Niño… a true demon."
As Dordoni lost consciousness, Kazuya reminisced. Dordoni's role in the story was similar. Dordoni taught Ichigo about the brutality of Hollows through twisted choices then he sacrificed himself to buy time for Ichigo.
'He is just like Harribel.'
It would be a lie to say he didn't regret Dordoni going out this way. It would've been infinitely better if Dordoni just accepted his hand and assisted him. But this was what Dordoni chose. Even if Kazuya wanted Dordoni to survive now, he couldn't. Dordoni's Zanpakutō was completely broken unlike Cirucci, his body shattered beyond repair. Even if he survived by a miracle, he would never regain his former strength, let alone surpass it.
Kazuya clenched his fists. "Rest in peace… I'll kill Baraggan for myself and… you."
He was about to turn and leave when he remembered Cirucci's request to be mutilated. Dordoni seemed to be on the verge of death, but there was a chance he might survive till someone from Las Noches arrived. Dordoni might get experimented on and become a new tool under Baraggan. And that would be a fate worse than death. Using Oppression, Kazuya accelerated Dordoni's heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Dordoni's heart crumbled under the pressure and ceased functioning altogether. Yet, Dordoni's eyes remained open, fear and terror etched into them, even as a handsome smile graced his bloody lips.
'Motherfucker will give me nightmares.'
Kazuya gently lowered Dordoni's eyelids. His corpse would be used to nurture someone as per his last wishes. However, the one to do that wouldn't be Kazuya. It would be either Apacci or Sung-Sun. "It's finally over."
"For now," whispered Harribel as she silently landed beside him, taking his hand and squeezing it with comforting warmth. "Are you tired?"
He rose to his feet with her help. "A little."
Harribel kept his hand in hers and led him from Dordoni's lifeless form and had him sit by the entrance of a nearby cave. A comfortable silence ensued between them as they found moments of respite after tough battles. "Kazuya, Baraggan will keep hunting us down… But I'll be with you, no matter what... we'll fight him together."
Kazuya would have been over the moon if she had made this passionate declaration without that tender, motherly look in her eyes. "Harribel."
She looked at him, her eyes crinkling, showing rare moments of joy. She seemed glad that he emerged from the encounter relatively unscathed. He couldn't bring himself to shatter her happiness with his questions. With a sigh, he raised his head to the ever-so-close moon of Hueco Mundo.
"Nothing. Just wanted to thank you for having my back."
Harribel could tell that he had something on his mind. She chose not to pursue the matter and followed his gaze, admiring the lonely moon in the sky. "You are my family, Kazuya… You, Apacci, Mila Rose, Sung-Sun—you all give me hope in this world. That we, Hollows, can coexist peacefully without sacrificing each other for selfish gains… Hope Hueco Mundo can be a world without violence."
She dreamed of making Hueco Mundo a utopia of peace. But her power was severely lacking to realize even a fraction of her dream. This wasn't enough to make her give up, though. If anything, she was even more motivated than before.
"Kazuya… I will protect this hope, with my life if I must."
"You're unsalvageable, Harribel." He sighed and used 'Oppression' to revert his body back to its original state. Freed from extra dense muscles, he felt lighter than ever. Perhaps this wasn't a bad way to train. He found Harribel tapping her thigh and rested his head on her lap without hesitation. "I'll get some sleep."
He was too tired to be lecturing her that sacrifices were utterly meaningless. Dordoni was a great example. The man's sacrifice wouldn't achieve anything as Kazuya would kill Baraggan one way or another.
With a soft smile, she gently stroked his hair. "Sleep well..."
In the silence that followed, she considered his words. He wasn't entirely wrong in calling her unsalvageable. But she knew everything in this world came at a price. Her life was too small of a cost for the safety of her 'family.'
After all, protecting someone wasn't just helping them survive. It means giving them a place to belong. Giving them a place where they could feel safe and free.
A couple of hours passed by. Kazuya woke up and stretched his arms while Harribel fixed his hair. Afterward, they flew back to their base on his own. Harribel decided to stand outside to keep an eye out.
So Kazuya entered the cave alone and stumbled upon an astonishing sight. Mila Rose paced around with her breasts bouncing with each step. The dark-skinned beauty stopped abruptly in front of him, placing a hand on her curvaceous hip. Kazuya's eyes traced the captivating details of her body: her rosy-hued nipples, the Hollow Hole just above her navel, her sculpted abdominal muscles beneath, and the enticing slit between her legs.
Her Resurrección form gave her a lewd armor, a luxury her normal Arrancar form lacked. Apart from the three-sectioned crown on her head and her white necklace, she was practically nude.
Kazuya shook his head. "Lord, have mercy."
"Stop staring so rudely, Skull." Mila Rose covered her crotch with one hand and covered her breasts with the other, a disapproving frown creasing her brow. "Since you've observed so thoroughly, share your thoughts. This is my normal, unreleased form. Do you find it better than my Adjuchas form?"
She sought his approval, even though she felt confident in her Arrancar form. It enabled her to achieve so much more with significantly less exertion. Her combat prowess had skyrocketed beyond her wildest expectations.
"It's way better, if you ask me." He took off his shirt and tossed it at her. "Don't run around naked. My heart can't handle it."
Prior to his Hollow transformation, he had an impressive muscular build. His physique had further developed after a month of rigorous training, allowing him to stride confidently in only his jeans.
"Pervert." Mila Rose grinned and sniffed his shirt, her nose wrinkling. "It reeks of blood… Thanks, though. I appreciate it."
She donned the shirt, concealing her ample chest. The shirt extended just enough to cover her most intimate area. Despite her statuesque height of 177 cm, she appeared small in comparison to him. After all, he towered at an impressive 6'4" (192 cm).
The difference in their height allowed her to wear his shirt as an impromptu dress, the material draping gracefully over her curves. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a burst of Reiatsu, purging the bloodstains from the fabric with immaculate control of her Reiryoku. Her Resurrección didn't give her any special ability. However, becoming an Arrancar did improve her base strength and Reiryoku control. Of course, her senses were also sharper than before.
A/N: Shark mommy will protect her children.