129 CHAPTER 140: Devotion
As Kazuya stepped out of the Urahara Shop, his gaze was immediately drawn to Apacci, comfortably perched atop an old-fashioned motorcycle. This elegant bike, with its bold black and red paint, lacked the sleekness of modern motorcycles but made up for it with its undeniable vintage charm. The design had one major drawback. The primary seat, plush and inviting, cradled Apacci in comfort. But the secondary seating, rather than being a cushioned extension, was a bracket made of steel joints. It looked less like a place for a passenger and more like an instrument of mild torture.
"When did you start driving?"
"Picked it up to drive Sung-Sun to different libraries in Tokyo. Now I love my baby Honda D-Type." Apacci caressed the fuel tank with a beaming grin. "Come on, Pretty Boy. Let's go grab a drink. This Onee-chan is thirsty."
The invitation was playful and cliche, reminiscent of a scene from some romance drama. She must have been waiting for months to recreate it with him — the thought made him smile.
"Move over. Make room for your pretty boy."
"What? Sit there."
Seeing her point to the torture device, he gave a determined frown. "Sit on my lap or I'm not going with you."
"You," she groaned and rose from her seat before plopping down on his lap. "You're such a kid sometimes."
He ignored her whining and placed his hands on her waist. "Deer wife, take me someplace where it's just the two of us."
The promise to make her a Vasto Lorde wouldn't be fulfilled if he didn't spend time with her.
She kickstarted the bike and drove out of the street. "Not now. I'm going home."
"Awww, I thought you were in the mood. I forgot you like having threesomes now."
Time constraints may have forced her into a threesome but she took great pleasure in getting teased by him and Sung-Sun. That night would remain an unforgettable experience for all three involved.
{Freak in the sheets. Apacci is just like me for real.}
Apacci nudged his waist with her elbow, clearly embarrassed about her threesome experience. "What were you doing at the shady shop?"
"Having a chat with my old pal Kisuke. He gets lonely sometimes, you know."
"Kisuke and lonely? I never thought I'd hear these words in the same sentence. I'll believe that you don't love me over accepting Kisuke as lonely."
"Ouch. Don't treat my feelings like that."
"It was just an analogy!" She huffed. "Also… thanks for helping me with Franceska. I shouldn't have riled her over nothing."
"You got it all wrong. I wasn't helping you; I was helping my future wife."
Listening to his shameless confession, she almost swerved into a car on the road. "Almost lost control there…"
"Let me guess. You imagined a threesome with Rose and lost focus."
"I did not!"
Her loud denial was every bit of proof of her lewd fantasies.
{This horny deer is always ready to get pounded.}
'You can also join.'
{No. I'm shy.}
'...'
{I want my first time solo.}
'Got it.'
The subtle warmth of his breath caressed Apacci's ear as he rested his chin tenderly against the delicate curve of her shoulder. "I was wondering if you have any wishes or anything you're unsatisfied with."
Had he used a different tone, Apacci might have thrown a snarky retort. But the gravity in his voice made her pause, searching for the right words. "Why?"
"Let's say I'm interested in making my deer wife happy."
Discovering her deepest desires was the key to uncover her Aspect of Death and succeeding in her Vasto Lorde ascension. As things stood, she could devour another Vasto Lorde and still fail to evolve. They had to fill the 'emptiness' in her Hollow Heart first and foremost.
{Could her Aspect of Death be envy or devotion? She was envious of the attention Mila Rose received from you, and she chose a similar body type in her evolution. We can also think of her willingness to change her perception as her dedication to you.}
Apacci's hand suddenly pressed on the brake. The motorcycle halted, just a whisper away from the serene river of Karakura Town. For a fleeting moment, the world around them stood still. The comforting hum of the town and the distant laughter of children playing merged with the gentle rustling of leaves.
After a long moment of inner reflection in the peaceful neighborhood, she gave a shake of her head. "I have everything I want with me."
He gently lifted her shirt and brushed over the opening within her stomach — her Hollow Hole, the representation of her emptiness. "Why does this still exist?"
"I-I don't know," she answered in a trembling voice. "Stop touching me."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Apacci, close your eyes for me and take a deep breath. I'll show you the path to become Vasto Lorde."
She let his hypnotic voice guide her, the mesmerizing rhythm of the flowing river caressed her senses, enveloping her in calmness.
"Now, concentrate on my voice."
She hummed and bobbed her head in daze. "I am."
He had never used his voice with the intention of charming his lovers. For Apacci's benefit, he instilled every word with intent to lower her defense and open her true heart — a skill he learned while seducing the women in the academy.
"Apacci Emilou, do you believe that you're the most beautiful woman in my life?"
"I'm inferior to Nami, your Zanpakutō Spirit."
{To satisfy my soulmate for all eternity, I'll be the sexiest and most gorgeous piece of meat in the market.}
Paying no heed to Nami's strange pride in her beauty, he continued, "Are you the strongest woman in my life?"
She shook her head in disagreement. "I'm barely able to beat the duo of Snake and Lioness whereas you have evolved to the pinnacle of the Hollow race. Harribel's strength is closer to you than it is closer to mine… and I'm not even the strongest Adjuchas. Nelliel took that title away from me."
The battle with Nelliel still lingered in her mind and for good reasons. She got overconfident in her strength and underestimated the Non-Arrancar Nelliel. The price — she lost.
"What's your dream? What's the goal you want to achieve at any cost?"
"I want to get… strong. So strong that no one can deny me from living in the Soul Society with you. I want to shield you from every harm in the world… I want to…" She paused as the sound of her gulp echoed through the air. Lowering her head, she clenched her fists. "I want to be the fucking strongest in the world and crush anyone who wants to hurt you."
{There's no mistaking it. The depth, the intensity, the unwavering dedication she has for you is only second to me. Her Aspect of Death can only be 'Devotion'. Nothing else would make sense, well, apart from Love.}
He couldn't help but agree with Nami. Apacci may have yearned for strength out of peace but meeting him deeply changed her priorities — now, he was her everything. Nelliel fulfilled a part of her Aspect of Death 'Lamentation' by putting her life on the line to protect Hollows. How could Apacci receive the same amount of fulfillment with her Aspect of Death being 'Devotion'?
Suddenly, a droplet of tear rolled down Apacci's face, making a soft tink against the hollow fuel tank. The barely audible impact shattered her trance state.
"Huh?" Apacci reached up and wiped the tears from her face. She had answered something strange, and the fact they made her cry eluded her. "What did you do to me?"
"My silly goose," he whispered. "You couldn't help but cry when expressing your love for me. I'm such a lucky guy, aren't I?"
She feigned annoyance but the hint of a smile betrayed her. "Hmph. It's good you know that."
"Just stay put on my lap. I'll drive us home."
***
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