Bleach: Starting as a Vasto Lorde

Once she was back to the familiar grounds of the 4th Squad, Unohana placed a hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "I know Sosuke was putting on an act… yet his smiles, his compliments, his expressions looked so genuine. I almost let my killing intent slip."

It was evident that she hadn't been fully prepared for this encounter with Aizen. And it had led her to almost making a massive blunder.

Kazuya patted her shoulder. "You were in complete control back there. I forgot that Aizen was a bad guy. That's how good you were at acting."

After a bout with Aizen, he had learned to read Aizen's subtle expressions. And he had seen no noticeable signs of doubt on Aizen's face regarding Unohana.

His consideration earned him a small, grateful smile from Unohana. "Still, if Aizen becomes suspicious of you, the blame is mine."

"He'll never go after you as long as you're Retsu Unohana. Yachiru Unohana is a different matter though. He'll try to get rid of you if you ever pick up that sword for the Soul Society again."

Even under the influence of Aizen's Shikai, Unohana posed a significant threat. When thrust into a precarious situation, a natural born killer like her could adapt to the sense-warping powers of Kyōka Suigetsu. Aizen would never underestimate her or Yamamoto.

Closing her eyes, Unohana put a hand on the hilt of her Zanpakutō. "I can't do that. I made a promise."

"Even if Aizen goes after Isane?"

Curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist asking this question. Will she break her promise for Isane whom she treated like her daughter more than her Vice-Captain?

Unohana's eyes snapped open, taking on a murderous look. An overwhelming bloodlust emanated from her. "I'll put him under Minazuki and kill him. Over, over, and over, until his mind fades into nothingness. I won't let anyone lay a hand on Isane."

As expected, she showed willingness to throw away her promise for Isane. Greater good of the Soul Society mattered less than her own Vice-Captain.

He revealed a faint smile. "That's probably the reason I like you."

Without mincing his words, he revealed his true feelings.

His straightforwardness caught her off-guard. "This isn't the time for your tomfoolery."

"I'm not though. Besides, you won't ever have to break your promise. If anyone tries to harm Isane or anyone else close to me, I'll give up on being an upstanding Shinigami and kill them. Even Aizen."

Despite his nonchalance, Unohana knew that he wasn't lying. Not one bit. She was once again reminded of why she had entrusted everything to this young man. His determination to see through had earned her respect.

"Kazuya," she whispered. "Are you hiding your true abilities even now?"

Her question received a quiet nod from him.

She studied his face intently. "Unbelievable… you still have a trump card — an ability that can kill Aizen before he can get support from any Captain. Could it be your Bankai?"

"Nope. It's something else. Though I'd prefer not to use it with my current capabilities, or I might end up becoming an abnormality."

Unohana smiled. "What are you talking about? You already are an abnormality by every metric used in the Soul Society."

He took a dramatic step back, placing a hand on his chest. "That one hurt."

She shook her head at his melodramatic behavior. "I have one more question for you. Why did you agree to go with Soi Fon? You made no attempts to refuse her. Does our training matter to you at all?"

The Assembly Hall didn't allow her the opportunity to probe his true motive behind helping Soi Fon.

"Do you know what would happen if I didn't agree to go?"

Unohana's gaze drifted towards the distant gate. "Another healer would have to accompany Soi Fon… The default option for high-profile assignments is Isane."

"Yeah, exactly. Either Isane had to leave, or Soi Fon had to go on her own," he said with a frown. "I'm not doubting Isane's ability, but Hueco Mundo is far more dangerous than a Captain and Vice-Captain can handle. It's Espada's base. Taking unnecessary risks simply isn't my approach."

She slowly nodded her head, looking satisfied with his explanation. "You can leave with a clear conscience. I'll look after your little girlfriends."

"You better keep them safe."

Unohana bared a vicious smile, one that looked far from her typical saintly demeanor. "Anyone who tries to touch them will have their innards gutted by Minazuki."

"Wow, Retsu is finally showing her true colors!"

She let out a disappointed grunt. "There's no need for pretense. You knew the real me from the beginning. How madly I lust for blood and battle."

He reached out and patted her head. "Well, it's a good thing your future husband is an immortal being, isn't it?"

All traces of viciousness vanished from her face, replaced by a look of mild annoyance. "It's unfortunate I stopped being a criminal. Or else I'd have put your claims to the test with my blade."

"Feel free to try me anytime."

"I'll do it later." She grabbed his collar with a grin. "When we train."

Kazuya gulped. "Okay, Ma'am."

***

Meanwhile, the Living World.

Apacci opened the door to a green-haired woman in a denim jacket and tight pants. The visitor appeared ordinary, only a lot more beautiful than the people in the town.

"Hey…"

"Hey! How are you doing?"

Apacci's awkward greeting was met with an enthusiastic greeting like no other. The reason for Apacci feeling so awkward had to do with her past visit to Hueco Mundo. She grappled with how to face the Hollow she had tried to kill. Was she meant to smile warmly and pretend it never happened, or act all grumpy because the Hollow defeated her?

Nelliel cocked her head slightly, puzzled by Apacci's lack of energy. "Are you the same person who tried to 'devour' me? Did putting on the maid dress change you?"

"Still the same old Apacci who got her teeth kicked in by you."

"Don't be bitter about it. There will always be people beyond our current reach," she whispered with a distant look, her lips curving into a nostalgic smile. "This is what fills life with a sense of purpose, you know. I'll keep bashing my head against the wall until I reach their level or surpass them."

"Fat chance of that happening."

Apacci knew the man Nelliel wanted to surpass, and she could never imagine any Hollow ever coming close to his strength.

Nelliel accepted Apacci's discouraging words with a calm face. "People can cling to unachievable goals."

"My goal is becoming unachievable too…" Apacci whispered, lamenting her inability to become a Vasto Lorde. She did her best every day — training with Lisa and the other Visored, consuming the rogue Hollows around the town, and even trying out the weird meditation techniques shown on the television. Nothing could nudge her toward the final boundary.

What was she meant to do to become a Vasto Lorde?

Shaking off her melancholy, Apacci pinned Nelliel with a sharp gaze. "Why exactly are you here?"

Nelliel took off her heat, which had been covering the remnants of her Hollow mask. "Is he home?"

"No." Apacci crushed Nelliel's hopes with a curt response. "Don't ask me where he is. He doesn't want anyone to disturb him."

Nelliel's shoulders sagged visibly as a dispirited sigh left her lips. She had hoped Kazuya was concealing his Reiatsu as usual, and she would be able to meet him. "Apacci, can you tell him Nelliel returned to Hueco Mundo? I'll be at my usual spot if he requires anything from me."

Nelliel put on her hat and tucked her hands in her pocket before walking away.

"Wait, what about those annoying little critters?"

For Nelliel to leave the Living World would mean abandoning her people. Apacci never took Nelliel for someone who abandoned her people.

"They…" Nelliel revealed a bittersweet smile. Her entire demeanor shifted at the mere mention of her little companions. "I'll talk about it some other day."

With a vague answer, Nelliel adjusted her hat once more and tucked her hands in her pockets before walking away, leaving a perplexed Apacci behind.

"What the hell happened to her?"

***

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