"Who exactly are you? Why did you save us?"
Amid the endless white sands, Tier stood in front of Sung-Sun and the other two, fixing her gaze on Higashino Shuuichi as she questioned him.
"From Soul Society, Katana-gari-shū (Blade-Hunting Corps) Great Blade-Hunter Chief, Higashino Shuuichi.
Of course, to you right now that position is probably still a bit unfamiliar. Just think of me as a Shinigami captain."
Cradling the unconscious Yushima Ōko in his arms, Higashino Shuuichi walked toward Tier as he spoke.
Tier's reaction struck Higashino Shuuichi as odd.
Because according to the original storyline, Tier should have already been saved once by Aizen by now. Only then would she—who had originally been just an ordinary Vasto Lorde-class Menos—and the accompanying Sung-Sun and the others be noticed by Aizen and granted Arrancarification through the Hōgyoku.
So when it came to being saved by a Shinigami a second time, Tier shouldn't be reacting like this; emotionally, she ought to be much calmer.
"So what then? You still haven't said why you saved us. You're a Shinigami, we're Hollows. We're supposed to be natural enemies."
Tier shot the question back at Higashino Shuuichi.
Hearing that, Higashino Shuuichi became even more certain that his own meddling had caused Aizen to get a head start in seizing Hueco Mundo. As a result, Tier's original encounter with Aizen had simply vanished—or rather, the protagonist of that episode had changed from Aizen to Higashino Shuuichi himself?
If that was the case, Higashino Shuuichi felt that what had originally just been a move to give Baraggan a hard time might be something he could make more of.
After all, from any angle you looked at her, Tier was an almost perfect subordinate.
Loyal, top-tier in strength, a flawless figure, and a decent personality to boot—plus she lacked most of the nasty habits typical of Hollows.
This kind of talent, Aizen didn't know how to cherish—but Higashino Shuuichi did.
"Enemies? That's just a label other people defined for us. Let me ask you—if I told you to raise your blade against me right now, would you?"
Step by step, Higashino Shuuichi walked right up to Tier, until there was almost no distance left between them. Tier could even feel his breath brushing against her face.
With that oppressive gaze fixed on her, Tier's mind at that moment was filled with just those three words: Would you?
Tier knew that, even in her current condition, if she ignored the consequences she could still fire off two fully powered Cero (Hollow Flash).
She also knew that Higashino Shuuichi was perfectly aware of that, because she had told him so before.
Yet Higashino Shuuichi had still set that green-haired Shinigami down to the side and walked right up to her without putting up any guard at all, to the point of practically pressing up against her.
In this situation, as long as she gathered a Cero (Hollow Flash), she was guaranteed to hit Higashino Shuuichi; at such close range, he had absolutely no way to dodge.
But—
For the first time, Tier felt her heart pounding wildly. Faced with Higashino Shuuichi's unreasonable, overbearing interrogation, she chose, just for a moment, to abandon thinking and simply follow her heart.
"I won't."
The moment those words left her lips, Sung-Sun and the other two, who had been standing behind Tier ready to go down in a blaze of mutual destruction with Higashino Shuuichi, were all stunned. Was this really the same Tier-sama they knew?
You can't surrender to this Shinigami, Tier-sama!
Almost at the same time, the same thought surfaced in the minds of all three of them—but not one of them dared voice it.
"So that means you're not my enemy, and I won't raise my hand against you either. Therefore, I'm not your enemy. It's a very simple logic, isn't it?"
Seeing Tier's reaction, Higashino Shuuichi was very satisfied, even though this result had long been within his expectations.
"Mm."
Tier nodded almost mechanically. She kept feeling that there was something off about Higashino Shuuichi's words, yet for the moment she couldn't pinpoint what it was—because the logic did flow so smoothly.
"However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Even if we're not enemies, I have no obligation to save you. I stepped in, of course, because I have my own needs."
"Then, what do you want us to do?"
Hearing that, Tier finally felt like things were back to normal.
"Work for me. In return, I'll make you one of the current Espada (Ten Blades) of Hueco Mundo."
Higashino Shuuichi finally laid his cards on the table.
Tier fell silent for a moment before asking in return, "You're a Shinigami captain. How are you going to help me become one of the Espada (Ten Blades)?"
Tier no longer bothered to question why a Shinigami captain would come to an Arrancar like her for help. If words like "Shinigami and Hollows don't have to be enemies" could come out of Higashino Shuuichi's mouth, then following that up by asking her to become his subordinate was perfectly consistent.
As for whose subordinate she became or for whom she worked, Tier honestly didn't feel much resistance in her heart. She'd never been someone who craved authority, nor was she some naturally hedonistic, freedom-loving Hollow. For the original Tier, she simply held to a straightforward wish: she didn't want to become strong through power gained by killing others.
So even when she heard Higashino Shuuichi make such a demand, she didn't reject it. In fact, deep down, there was even a faint trace of anticipation?
But when it came to the other promise Higashino Shuuichi had made, Tier couldn't help but voice her doubts.
She did indeed want to become one of the Espada (Ten Blades). That way she would have the right to act freely in Hueco Mundo and sufficient status to ensure Baraggan couldn't just come harassing her and Sung-Sun's group whenever he pleased.
But she strongly suspected that this Shinigami captain, Higashino Shuuichi, had absolutely no idea what being one of Hueco Mundo's Espada meant, nor what kind of process it took to become a new Espada.
A Shinigami wanting to interfere in the selection of their Espada? What kind of wild fairy tale was that supposed to be?
And then Tier realized she was wrong.
Because not only did Higashino Shuuichi understand, he was downright overbearing about it.
"It's simple. Just get rid of the Espada who are stronger than you. As long as a seat is vacant and no Arrancar stronger than you fills it, then that Espada seat can only be yours, right?"
Higashino Shuuichi gave a casual smile as he said it.
Fair enough—that was very much a Shinigami way of thinking.
To think she had just been assuming Higashino Shuuichi was some Shinigami friendly toward Hollows; now it seemed he was only friendly toward her.
…Huh?
Only toward her?
Tier, who had originally been calmly holding Higashino Shuuichi's gaze, suddenly lowered her head.
A surge of emotion she couldn't quite name suddenly welled up in her chest.
Between a Shinigami and a Hollow… that shouldn't be possible, right?
Higashino Shuuichi, completely unaware of what Tier was thinking, saw her suddenly lower her head and assumed she was doubting the truth of his earlier claim.
"What's wrong? Was that Jigoku: Shokeikyoku (Hell: Execution Aria) from just now not shocking enough?"
"No problem—watch me show you another trick!"
Higashino Shuuichi refused to believe it. In the original storyline, Aizen had managed to win over Tier with just a few lines. Now, with the plot development practically the same, there was no way he'd fail where Aizen had succeeded!
So Higashino Shuuichi extended his left hand and gently pressed it against Tier's left arm, which had been rotted to bare bone by Baraggan's aging ability.
If one were to ask what Higashino Shuuichi had actually learned from Zero Division's members in that imagined future, then this top-class Kaido (restorative Kidō), refined by "Hot Spring Demon" Kirinji Tenjirō, would definitely be one of them.
By guiding the power of the Soul King fragments within his own body into it, and using Kaido (restorative Kidō) as a conduit to release that power, Higashino Shuuichi effortlessly restored Tier's left arm to its original state.
Originally, this had only been Higashino Shuuichi's fantasy about his own future Fullbring abilities. But in front of Zero Division members, who understood the Soul King's bodily powers better than anyone, even without Fullbring as a medium, further developing the Soul King fragments inside him had been a simple matter.
Yet as she stared at her left arm, now almost indistinguishable from how it had originally been, Tier found herself even less able to look Higashino Shuuichi in the eye.
She understood all too well how overwhelming Baraggan's aging power was. For Higashino Shuuichi to restore her arm just like that—how much must he himself have paid?
Higashino Shuuichi said nothing aloud, but Tier knew the price had to be far greater than she could imagine.
So in the end, Higashino Shuuichi really was… toward her…
No, this wouldn't do. She was a Vasto Lorde, and Higashino Shuuichi was a Shinigami. There could never be anything between the two of them.
Tier gathered her courage, lifted her head, and finally met Higashino Shuuichi's eyes again. "I understand. From now on, I'll work for you, Shuuichi-sama!"
She had made up her mind: she would define their relationship like this. That way, perhaps in the future Higashino Shuuichi wouldn't harbor those unrealistic fantasies about her anymore.
After all, they were a Shinigami and a Hollow.
Higashino Shuuichi, for his part, had no idea what Tier was really thinking. He merely assumed she had finally been subdued by his strength.
As expected, all these high-class Menos were bullies who feared the strong and preyed on the weak. As long as you showed them invincible power, what difference did it make whom they submitted to?
"Very good. Then the first thing you'll do after following me is, in the near future, go to the Human World and cause a big commotion on my signal!"
Fortunately, Higashino Shuuichi hadn't forgotten the real purpose of bringing Yushima Ōko to Hueco Mundo this time—to tear open a breach for Tokinada Tsunayashiro's "Arrancar threat" propaganda.
However, Tier's next words left Higashino Shuuichi feeling rather stifled.
"Go to the Human World and cause a commotion? To what extent?"
"It doesn't need to be too serious, but you absolutely must make sure most of the Shinigami in the surrounding area become aware of your existence. It'd be best if you brought the three Arrancar behind you as well. The more Arrancar, the better."
"Mm…"
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"I think… it might not be necessary for us to go at all."
"What do you mean?"
Tier watched Higashino Shuuichi sit back down alone beside the still-unconscious Yushima Ōko, not quite understanding. In her view, wasn't this a good thing?
But from Higashino Shuuichi's perspective, only the heavens knew how complicated his feelings were when he heard from Tier that, on the very day he had just explained Tokinada Tsunayashiro's ideas and part of his follow-up plan to Aizen, and then come from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo, Aizen had temporarily redeployed from Hueco Mundo an entire group of pro-Aizen Arrancar—including Coyote Starrk—leaving in Las Noches only the pro-Baraggan faction of Arrancar, with Baraggan himself at their head.
"Fine, fine, fine, Aizen Sōsuke, you bastard. I treated you with sincerity and you make plans behind my back without telling me, huh?"
Even from Tier's few brief comments, Higashino Shuuichi still couldn't fully discern Aizen's true intentions. But any fool could tell that, after Aizen had clearly stated he had no interest in the Quincy in the Human World, the only ones still qualified to make him redeploy his forces were the Shinigami of Soul Society.
That guy Urahara Kisuke was still over in the West Administration with a certain Hollowfied Shinigami and had yet to return!
In other words, Higashino Shuuichi hadn't needed to come to Hueco Mundo at all!
But to Higashino Shuuichi, sulking over Aizen was meaningless. The man was his boss, after all; a boss really had no obligation to inform a subordinate about everything he planned to do.
So before long, Higashino Shuuichi's expression returned to normal—but anyone familiar with him would have been able to see from his flickering gaze that he still hadn't fully vented his anger.
There was this saying in the country Higashino Shuuichi had come from in his previous life: "Well, since I'm already here…"
"So, Aizen, you took all of Hueco Mundo's main fighting strength away, huh?"
"Fine, that actually works out. It's been a while since I've had a proper match with that Baraggan. If I don't give him a little something to remember me by today, this trip to Hueco Mundo might as well have been for nothing!"
Time rewound to the night before, when Higashino Shuuichi was about to take Yushima Ōko from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo. In the Human World, in the Kanda estate in Ichimoku Town, a vicious incident had occurred. At a gathering that should have involved only humans from the living world, a Hollow with a special form had broken in, slaughtered all the humans present, and then immediately killed a nearby Thirteenth Division rank-and-file Shinigami who had noticed something was wrong and rushed over to investigate.
The death of a single rank-and-file Shinigami immediately put the stationed Shinigami in the Human World on alert. But up to that point, most of the Thirteenth Division still hadn't raised the incident's threat level very high—because when facing a Menos, the casualty rate among ordinary troops was indeed quite high.
Only when the second support squad—led by the Thirteenth Division's Ninth Seat—was also completely wiped out did the report on this incident finally make its way to the Thirteenth Division's lieutenant, Shiba Kaien.
"Captain, it seems an unusually powerful Menos has appeared in the Human World. I need to head there immediately to deal with it, and I'd like to ask you to petition the Central 46 to permit me to remove my spiritual pressure limit in the Human World if necessary!"
In name he was only the lieutenant, but in reality Shiba Kaien had been handling the captain's duties for many years. Even so, he didn't recklessly rush straight to the Human World, and instead first went to Ugendō, where his captain Ukitake Jūshirō was, to request instructions.
This was the proper procedure, though ordinarily it wasn't necessary. As long as the reasoning held up, most of the time Central 46 wouldn't actually pursue the matter. At the very least, the vast majority of Shinigami at lieutenant level or above wouldn't specifically apply to the higher-ups for such permission.
But Shiba Kaien still chose to do so.
And as a matter of course, the answer he received was approval.
However, after Shiba Kaien left, Ukitake Jūshirō's heart couldn't settle. He had this persistent feeling that something bad was going to happen.
So, for the first time in a long while, he left his small Ugendō and went to his family's shrine. There stood a statue that his relatives had moved there. Back in the Rukongai district where it had originally been enshrined, the common souls had called that statue "Great Deity Mimihaki."
Although Ukitake Jūshirō was no professional priest, his readings were usually fairly accurate thanks to his special connection with Great Deity Mimihaki.
That night, the subject he cast the divination for was Shiba Kaien.
And the omen he drew was great misfortune.
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