Kazuya braced himself.
Apacci was bound to be crushed by the news. Cirucci's evolution was a momentous occasion, but Apacci—fiercely proud, deeply emotional—would likely see it as a reflection of her own stagnation. She'd bury those feelings, but he knew her too well.
So, he decided to take a few days off from his duties in the Soul Society. Whatever the consequences, he'd be at her side to cheer her up.
Cirucci's evolution had caught everyone off guard, even him. When he sent the trio to confront Szayelaporro, his only intention had been to give Cirucci a chance at revenge, a shot at closure of the Espada chapter of her life. He never imagined it would result in the birth of a new Vasto Lorde.
There had been no explosive surge of power like with Nelliel. No storm of pressure, no howling of Reiatsu. Cirucci's transformation had been... natural. Silent. Like a flower had bloomed away from all life.
Perhaps it was because of their contrasting Aspects of Death—Despair versus Lamentation.
Nelliel had evolved through her unyielding desire to protect the helpless. Her strength came from others. Cirucci's path had been the opposite: overcoming all sources of despair in her life—freedom from Barragan's tyranny, release from her own self-imposed chains, and finally, closure from the shadow Szayelaporro had cast over her soul.
{Partner, her despair has turned into hope. She is… the magical girl of hope!}
He quietly agreed with Nami. Cirucci's goth outfit reminded him of magical girls from his previous life.
'These Aspects of Death are still a mystery to me.'
If he understood everything about these Aspects of Deaths, he could have fulfilled Apacci's deepest wish with a snap of his finger and created dozens more Vasto Lorde with another.
{It's okay, Partner. Forcing will only make things worse. We must let nature take its course with Apacci.}
He shook his head and willed himself to materialize near Cirucci. The two had done exceptionally well without Lisa, more than he had hoped for. But…
They had overlooked one thing. One dangerous, lingering thread.
Szayelaporro's ultimate ability: Gabriel.
With a flick of his will, golden threads shimmered into existence and spiraled around Menoly's body. She gasped as a warm, golden light poured into her, mending her wounds at a cellular level. The sensation flowed deep into her core, a strange heat that made her body shiver.
As for why Kazuya reached so deep into her, she had her own weird thoughts.
Both Menoly and Cirucci were unaware of Szayelaporro's intentions. Szayelaporro had implanted a portion of himself when he created a puppet doll of Menoly through his 'Teatro de Titere' ability. Szayelaporro planned to be reborn through absorbing all the fluids and chemicals in Menoly's body when she left Cirucci's side. It was a full-proof plan to escape with his life in case things went south.
A perfect resurrection strategy.
A flawless escape route.
And a death sentence for Menoly.
With the remnants cleaned from Menoly's body, Szayelaporro perished from the world. He perished without ever knowing how someone nullified his final card, which he had yet to use. He died in confusion, his arrogant intellect undone by a force he never accounted for: Someone who knew the future.
A fitting end for someone who believed himself above consequence in his chase of perfection. A death so pathetic that it might turn him into a vengeful spirit for the rest of their life.
Cirucci assumed Kazuya was simply healing Menoly's wounds. Likewise, he had no intention of revealing the truth and dampening their mood after such a hard-fought victory.
"What about Lisa? Should I go help her?" Cirucci asked, brushing aside her new status as a Vasto Lorde. It was just a boost in her personal strength. She'd use it when Kazuya required it. This evolution wouldn't change between her and her family.
"She's doing fine," he answered. "You can go now."
"Alright, I'll tell Izumi not to worry."
"That'd be for the best."
A sly grin crept across Cirucci's lips. "How about I tell her to keep her bedroom door open tonight?"
"Izumi's body is frail. If only there was a woman with a strong body…" Kazuya shook his head and sighed dramatically as though he felt completely lost in life. Then, suddenly, his eyes brightened. He reached out and held Cirucci's hands. "Cirucci, you're a Vasto Lorde with a strong physique, aren't you?!"
Caught off-guard, Cirucci stiffened on the spot. She shivered under his expectant gaze, still mustering the courage to give a trembling nod. "Y-Y-Yeah..."
"Perfect. Go, rest up—I'll be there soon."
Cirucci's eyes flew wide open. Her playful teasing had backfired spectacularly. Now she stood at a crossroads… Should she wait for him? Or should she back out?
"Go find Rose or Apacci! I'm tired as hell! I'm going to sleep for three days and nights!"
Her voice trailed down the hallway as she vanished in a panicked blur. For all her bravado, Cirucci chose retreat, her courage and ferocity nowhere to be found. Teasing, hugs, kisses—those were fun and thrilling. But her heart wasn't ready for that final step.
Kazuya and Menoly stared after her, speechless.
"…Didn't expect that," he muttered. "Oh well, I have plenty of options."
Menoly remained silent, fidgeting. She found herself suddenly alone with him—an awkward situation. She wanted to leave but didn't dare walk away without permission. He wasn't just her savior; he was the supreme ruler of Hueco Mundo and the strongest Hollow alive. Cirucci could joke with him, but Menoly? She was no more than an acquaintance. Their relationship was more like a king and a commoner. Just walking away without a word felt disrespectful.
Unaware of her spiraling thoughts, Kazuya placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You did well today. Say... how do you feel about leading the security division here?"
Her recent performance made him reconsider her potential. Even though she wasn't the strongest, she had quite the experience as a former Espada, and she knew what it felt to be bullied by some stronger. Someone like her wouldn't tolerate the strong preying on the weak.
The blonde Arrancar looked completely baffled at the sudden job offer. "M-Me? Am I even qualified?"
"Naturally. You can decline if you don't feel like it—"
"I'll do it!"
"That was fast," he said with a chuckle, making her blush. "Go see Sung-Sun later. She'll explain the specifics of your job and assign you a team."
"Okay! I'll do my best!" Menoly beamed with a blush, her nervous energy replaced with a motivated look. "I'll be leaving now…"
Kazuya nodded and let this manifestation to escort Menoly and Cirucci safely out of Hueco Mundo. Then, he shifted his attention to the battle of behemoths outside Las Noches.