Chapter 13: Unforeseen

Chapter 13: Unforeseen

Harribel's gaze drifted up, her brow furrowed in contemplation as she studied the pale, round orb of the moon. She shook her head gently. “I was reflecting on your growth... and thinking about new things to teach you.”

She was really invested in her role as his mentor, to the point of obsession. This very obsession pushed him to delay his plan of seducing her, that and the fact both of them had yet to become an Arrancar. He felt weirdly turned off by the notion of having sex in his current body, even if both of them looked mostly humanoid.

‘Guess I am not into monster sex.’

It wasn’t a bad thing per se as even Harribel, the closest to having a humanoid form, had most of her body covered in Hollow fragments.

He rested his head on Harribel’s thighs, looking utterly comfortable in his action. The white shell covering her legs was cool and soft to touch. “I’ll be here while you wreck your brain for ideas.”

He had been on the receiving end of some lap pillows after she wrecked him in training. She also loved showering him in care after beating the hell out of him.

Kazuya closed his eyes, trying to maintain a steady breath as if he was sleeping. Harribel let out a soft sigh, and her fingers glided through his disheveled, white hair with a light touch. He sneakily opened his right eye and saw a tender look in her eyes. It was all the confirmation he needed.

‘I was right about her.’

In the month they spent together, he noticed many abnormalities — the way she always came up with things to teach him, the way her protective nature materialized every time he faced a Hollow, the way her eyes softened when she looked at him, and the way she never let him out of her sight for long time. All the signs pointed to Harribel loving him; like a sister loved her brother, or a mother loved her child.

Familial love.

That was why Harribel’s demeanor shifted when he mentioned his age as a Hollow. A young one like him would be the perfect person to pamper and spoil. She subconsciously chose him as the target of her nurturing. It all made sense when taking her Hollow Hole’s placement into consideration.

‘Her Hollow hole is where her womb should be.’

Harribel’s death was most likely related to a child. Her instincts unconsciously sought a replacement for her missing child, and then she found him.

‘Family-zoned by a Hollow.’

The situation was so absurd that he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was truly ‘one of the experiences’ of all time.

It was like her instinct to spoil Kazuya, like a Gillian’s instinct was to devour other Hollows, or a bird’s instinct was to soar into the sky with its wings.

“It’s fine...” she smiled gently. “Kazuya needs to rest, or his training will bear no fruit.”

She justified her ‘instincts’, wholeheartedly believing her behavior of spoiling Kazuya was the right way.

“Oh...” Mila Rose’s head drooped and her body sagged as she lowered herself to the ground. Harribel’s matter-of-fact response was like a gust of wind, blowing away her courage.

After a few minutes of pretending, Kazuya stirred and got to his feet. He gave Mila Rose a surprised look. “When did you arrive?”

“Been here before you were born...” Mila Rose whispered. “Harribel-sama saved me before all of you.”

His presence had become a negative influence in Mila Rose’s life. She was unable to voice her discontent because of her unwavering loyalty to Harribel.

‘I have to address her before it’s too late.’

He stretched his arm and beckoned Mila Rose. “Come with me. We need to talk.”

Harribel sharply narrowed her eyes, realizing his intentions. “Don’t push her too much.”

Being the quiet, observant leader, she understood Mila Rose’s problem with Kazuya. She looked forward to Kazuya’s way of handling Mila Rose. From her observations, Kazuya wasn’t rash, but he also wasn’t kind toward strangers. While she spared those who obstructed her path, he mercilessly killed them and fed them to Apacci, and sometimes Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun.

‘It’ll be an excellent lesson for him,’ thought Harribel, like a mother watching her child’s growth. ‘I expect him to get to her, eventually.’

He was too stubborn to admit defeat.

Mila Rose gritted her teeth. The way Harribel worded things, it seemed as if she was the problem here. She didn’t like this feeling. Not one bit. Even so, she followed Kazuya like a pup, each step taking them further away from Harribel. When he was sure they were beyond Harribel’s sight, he stopped and turned to face her.

“Franceska Mila Rose, are you a coward?”