"Oh, Harribel-sama, I just remembered something," Mila Rose said, clapping her hands.
"It looks like Las Noches is hunting Nelliel."
"Nelliel? Why would Las Noches go after her?"
Harribel looked up, her sharp features showing clear confusion.
"Even if Baraggan couldn't find us, he shouldn't have picked a fight with a powerful Vasto Lorde, should he?"
"Let me think..." Mila Rose lowered her head in thought for a moment. "It seems to have something to do with Oswell's death."
"I see. They must have mistaken Nelliel for helping us."
Sung-Sun nodded, analyzing the situation.
"Las Noches doesn't know about Masatsuki-sama's existence, so there are only a handful of beings in Hueco Mundo capable of defeating Oswell. Nelliel, being independent of Las Noches, happens to be one of them."
The room fell silent at her words.
This was completely unwarranted. While they were busy running for their lives, Nelliel was probably still sound asleep at home.
"Just like that—bam!—a huge burden got dumped on her. Talk about bad luck."
"I'd bet my money on that bastard Nnoitra," Apacci said, lounging on the sofa while idly playing with her discarded shoes. Her delicate feet swung lazily in the air.
"He must've bad-mouthed Nelliel in front of Baraggan, which is why Las Noches is after her."
"Otherwise, Nelliel's not a bad person, but it's not like she's particularly close to us either. Why else would they suddenly suspect her?"
"Tch, that bastard Nnoitra again?"
Mila Rose's temper flared as she growled,
"That guy hides behind Baraggan's backing and constantly disrespects Lord Harribel. And now, he's stirring up even more trouble? One day, I'm going to rip his head off!"
"You should focus on your training first," Sung-Sun said, quickly grabbing Mila Rose's arm before she wrecked the furniture. This place, along with everything inside, had been carefully arranged by Masatsuki-sama.
"As much as I hate to admit it, that guy is still one of the strongest among the Vasto Lorde-class Menos."
"If we use the Quimera Parca, we should be able to take him down."
"But he's holed up in Las Noches, and Quimera Parca is no match for Baraggan."
"Let's set Nnoitra aside for now," Harribel said. "The trouble Nelliel's facing is ultimately because of us, so we should help if we can."
"As expected of Harribel-sama, taking responsibility upon yourself," Sung-Sun murmured, covering her face.
Harribel shook her head.
"Of course, we'll only help if we can do so safely. Our priority is to protect ourselves."
"I feel bad for Nelliel, but our lives don't belong to us. They belong to Masatsuki-sama. Only Masatsuki-sama has the right to decide whether we live or die."
"I wonder when Masatsuki-sama will be back," Apacci mused, her legs swinging back and forth. "I hope it's soon."
"Yeah..." The others turned their gazes toward her.
Seireitei, underground training grounds.
Masatsuki Aozaki gazed at the skeletal remains before him, now smooth and full under the nourishment of blood...
His eyes met those of the woman standing across from him.
A few seconds later, the blood-red curtain vanished in the blink of an eye, revealing the bare rocky ground of the underground training area once more.
It was as if nothing had ever happened. The eerie sea of blood had left no trace, and the only evidence of battle was the shattered stone fragments strewn across the area.
Floating in midair, Masatsuki Aozaki sheathed Banshō Senran, now restored to its katana form.
Retsu Unohana lay on the ground, gazing up at the ceiling. The dome of white light reflected in her eyes, each glimmer resembling that familiar Reiatsu.
Every speck of light that shone down seemed to settle within her gaze.
The last traces of blood energy merged into her body.
In that instant, she underwent a complete transformation—her blood surged through once-dry veins, and every cell in her body came alive, desperate to breathe.
She had been "healed."
"How many times has this happened?"
Retsu Unohana lay on the ground, gripping her katana, struggling to lift even a single finger.
As long as Minazuki had strength, her body would not die.
But while life seemed endless, Bankai was not.
Bankai granted immense power for a short time, but the cost was an equally immense consumption of Reiatsu.
And now, she had none left to summon.
"I've lost count," Masatsuki Aozaki said as he sat beside her, gently brushing aside the long strands of hair covering her eyes.
He had no idea how long this endless battle had lasted. More than once, he had seen her body reduced to bare bones, and more than once, he had dragged her back from the brink of death.
Bound by the dual effects of Minazuki, they had cast aside mortality, locked in an endless cycle of combat.
No matter who fell, the other would always pull them back.
Time and again, they stood up. Time and again, their bloodstained blades sank into each other's flesh.
Unohana's eyelids drooped slightly, her calm gaze fixed on the man before her.
"Endless slaughter... what an intoxicating feeling."
"This is the first time," Masatsuki said with a smile, "but it doesn't have to be the last."
He reached out and helped her up, letting her rest against his chest.
"You always know exactly where to strike," Unohana murmured, her voice softer now.
With great effort, she lifted a trembling hand and placed it against his face.
"I wish I could personally pass the title of Kenpachi to you... but it is no longer mine to give."
Once, there was a powerful "child" in Rukongai—a child obsessed with the thrill of battle. He sealed away his own power just to extend his enjoyment of the fight, only to be defeated by the first Kenpachi, Yachiru Unohana.
But Unohana never accepted that victory. She believed her opponent had not fought with his full strength and saw herself as the true loser. In her eyes, that child was the one who should inherit the title of Kenpachi.
That battle left a scar on her chest. Afterward, she changed her name to Retsu Unohana and took up the mantle of the 4th Division's captain.
As for that child—he would one day become Kenpachi Zaraki, the future captain of the 11th Division. But for now, he still wandered Rukongai under the name "Zaraki."
"I will reclaim it one day— with my own hands," Masatsuki declared.
As he spoke, he slowly lowered his head.
At the same time, Unohana leaned in as well.
Their faces drew closer and closer, their breaths intertwining, their heartbeats aligning.
"Continue to entertain me, Masatsuki Aozaki..."
Her voice was dreamlike, soft as a melody from the heavens, yet tinged with a sorrow that could break the heart.
Her beautiful eyes fluttered closed, long lashes trembling like butterfly wings.
"Our entanglement is far from over... and it never will be."
Masatsuki murmured in response, his fingers tracing the delicate contours of Unohana's face.
In that moment, time seemed to freeze.
The world faded, leaving only the two of them.
Bound by battle, by fate—this struggle would never end.
Not even death could stop it.
p@treon com / PinkSnake