"Finally finished."
Stark let out a long yawn, lay back right where he was, found a comfortable position, and closed his eyes. "Let me sleep for a while... Unless Hueco Mundo ceases to exist, don't wake me."
"Hey! Stark!"
Lilynette stomped her foot, unable to comprehend how Stark could be this lazy. But with her childlike heart, she quickly shifted her attention elsewhere. She scurried over to Kensei's side and began rummaging through Szayelaporro's body parts like she was treasure hunting, hoping to dig up something good.
"Kensei, that move of yours earlier was amazing! When can you teach me?"
Lilynette gestured animatedly as she spoke, mimicking Kensei's blade-sheathing motion from before. Unfortunately, her Zanpakutō had no sheath, so she couldn't produce that satisfying sound of a blade sliding home.
"Heh heh. You could compliment me a few more times."
Kensei tilted his chin up accordingly, sweeping back the hair from his forehead with one hand. "This genius's techniques are always art that balances both aesthetics and power."
"You've got no shame at all."
Yoruichi shot Kensei a look. Out of everyone here, probably only a child like Lilynette could be on the same wavelength as Kensei.
"Haha! Baraggan, I got him!"
Kensei unearthed what remained of Baraggan's body—a little over half. Lucky old bones, managing to avoid his earlier dimensional slash.
He used his blade tip to lift Baraggan's remains above his head, shouting in triumph.
He wondered how much power would remain in the Zanpakutō forged from this body. Would it be enough to satisfy Old Man Yama?
"Ah well. Why think so much about it?"
Kensei casually tossed the old bones into Kūkon's spatial storage for preservation, lest too much of his power dissipate.
Harribel approached Kensei. The once-brutal King of Hueco Mundo had fallen at Kensei's hands. She believed that under Lord Kensei's leadership, Hueco Mundo could surely develop for the better.
Harribel knelt on one knee, head bowed, her voice solemn:
"Congratulations, Lord Kensei. You may now call yourself King of Hueco Mundo."
Behind Harribel, Apache, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun also bowed respectfully. They, too, held genuine respect for Kensei in their hearts. Though he sometimes spoke in ways difficult to understand, he had never forced anyone to do anything excessive.
Lilynette blinked, then lit up as if struck by an idea. "If you're the King of Hueco Mundo, Kensei, doesn't that mean you have to give me some awesome title?"
"Sigh. You all are making things difficult for this Emperor."
Kensei clasped his hands behind his back, putting on a troubled expression. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded as if reluctantly compelled. "Very well. Since Hueco Mundo needs me, I naturally won't shirk my duty."
Yoruichi watched Kensei with an odd expression. She wondered how he planned to explain this to Old Man Yama once they returned to Soul Society.
The title "King of Hueco Mundo" sounded grand, but right now he had barely any subjects, and not even a proper palace to his name. Kensei couldn't even hold some kind of victory celebration or coronation ceremony if he wanted to.
Besides, everyone had just finished fighting. Regardless of how much spiritual pressure they'd actually expended, rest was still necessary.
Though Baraggan's Las Noches lay in ruins, clearing out a few rooms for temporary rest was easy enough.
Kensei lay in his temporary quarters, taking a short break. Dealing with Szayelaporro had consumed some spiritual pressure, but that was nothing to him. His main concern was figuring out how to get Senjumaru to ask Ōetsu to forge a Zanpakutō using Baraggan's power.
The door slid open. Nel entered and closed it behind her.
"Can't sleep again?"
Kensei didn't react much, assuming Nel had come for the same reason as last time—to use him as a body pillow.
Nel walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Unlike her usual cheerful self, she didn't immediately lie down beside him. Instead, she nervously twisted her fingers together.
"Kensei... Your purpose in coming to Hueco Mundo is complete now, isn't it?"
Nel's voice trembled slightly. She couldn't bring herself to look at Kensei's face.
"Yes." Kensei nodded. "I came to Hueco Mundo this time to retrieve that Zanpakutō."
"Then... will you be returning to Soul Society soon? Going back to your own home?"
Nel's voice dropped even lower. After asking the question, fear crept into her heart.
She knew Kensei wasn't originally a resident of Hueco Mundo. The only reason he'd stayed here so long was to complete his mission. But now that the mission was done, would Kensei and the others leave again, just like before?
Though Nel had met many companions while with Kensei, none of them had that unique quality about Kensei—the one that made her feel safe.
While she agonizingly awaited his answer, Kensei suddenly pulled her into his arms.
"Hueco Mundo's such a mess. I'll need to clean things up, won't I? And it's not like I'll never come back to Hueco Mundo after this."
Kensei rolled his eyes. In Hueco Mundo, he could do whatever he wanted. No one constrained him here.
As for Old Man Yama? It's not that his student was unfilial—it's just that Hueco Mundo's dazzling world was too tempting! With Nel begging him like this, he wouldn't trade it for ten Captain-Commander positions.
Nel's body slowly relaxed. She cautiously wrapped her arms around Kensei's waist, burying her face deeper. "You won't... abandon me?"
Kensei's expression twisted oddly. The way Nel phrased that made him sound like some heartless jerk who— Heaven knows, nothing had even happened between them yet!
"Of course not. I'd abandon Old Man Yama to get himself killed before I'd ever abandon you."
Pushing aside his strange feelings, Kensei declared with conviction.
After all, those Wandenreich Quincies would eventually use Hueco Mundo as their base to invade Soul Society. Staying here was for Soul Society's safety. Surely Old Man Yama would understand.
Nel lifted her face, staring at Kensei without blinking. "Then I want to be closer to you. Is that okay?"
Kensei looked at Nel, already practically pressed against him, and couldn't help but laugh despite himself. "At this point, what do you think?"
Nel shook her head. Gently taking Kensei's hand, she opened his palm, placed her own hand against it, and slowly interlaced their fingers.
"Closer, like this."
With that, Nel lifted their joined hands and pressed them against her chest. Even through the obstruction, Kensei could feel her heartbeat.
"Closer still, like this."
Nel met Kensei's gaze directly, her voice earnest. "But it's still not enough. I want to know—what is the 'closest' distance?"
"Kensei... tell me. Please?"
Kensei looked at Nel's face, so close to his own, at her eyes filled completely with his reflection. He could only think that someone had been absolutely right—tonight, it seemed, he would die at the hands of a woman.