Introductions

Cangya and Apache followed Tier Harribel to her base, their footsteps as silent as shadows in the moonlight.

As expected, two adjuchas sat in the cave, staring at Cangya.

The Serpentine Hollow's narrow eyes gleamed with curiosity and amusement, while Lioness growled, making no attempt to hide her hostility.

She reacted as though Cangya were the evil being who had killed her loved ones.

Sun-Sun giggled. "Oh my, Lady Harribel brought a man home."

"Is that all you have to say?!" Mila Rose shouted at her friend, who she felt was being far too casual about it.

They had previously implied that Cangya was a bad person who would attack them on sight.

Now he and his companion stood before them as Harribel's guests. "Why don't you ask about him?"

The Serpentine Hollow ignored Mila Rose's shout and waved her tail at Cangya and Apache. "Hello, newcomers."

Apache pointed a foot at Sun-Sun, then at Mila Rose. "Hey, this is Harribel's whole team. I'm Apache."

Sun-Sun's tongue flicked out and back in. "I'm Sun-Sun. This grumpy little puppy is Franceska Mila Rose."

"They have full names?" Apache whispered to Cangya. "We're the only ones who don't."

"Sorry, you're the only one who doesn't." Cangya smiled at Sun-Sun. "I'm Cangya."

Sun-Sun nodded, her eyes narrowing to slits. She looked pleased.

"Your voice is so pleasant. You'd make an excellent singer or storyteller."

"I don't have any memories I can use to make up stories." He sighed, playing the part of a naive young man to the hilt.

He could sense the oppressive atmosphere hanging over the cave, so he laughed. "I do have a few interesting stories about Apache, though. Would you like to hear them?"

"I'd love to!"

"Don't sell me out!" Apache interrupted him angrily. "Wait, I haven't had any embarrassing moments, have I?"

He crossed his arms and grinned. "You just made one."

Sun-Sun laughed. "You took the bait."

Harribel watched the three of them with a serious gaze.

Cangya and Apache were getting along well with Sun-Sun.

Then again, Sun-Sun was clever enough to be friendly with anyone, no matter their personality.

Meanwhile, Mila Rose blinked as she watched the others interact like old acquaintances.

The new members fit into their group as if they had always belonged there, while she felt like an outsider, out of place.

She hated the feeling.

Cangya glanced at Mila Rose, understanding why she was silent.

His arrival had disrupted the group's dynamic. "If I make you uncomfortable... should I leave?"

Mila Rose stared at him, barely able to conceal her surprise.

He was the person she couldn't forget, and also the source of her emotional turmoil.

His polite apology had clearly caught her off guard, and his gentle voice only heightened the effect.

Mila Rose let out a gentle growl, then looked away.

"I'm not questioning Lady Harribel's decision. She would never do anything to hurt us."

Cangya nodded and smiled gently.

Mila Rose seemed like another tsundere hollow, just fiercer than Apache.

"I really forgot she was here," Sun-Sun whispered. "Oh, Mila Rose. Be a little more refined. Let's start with a brief introduction."

"I... introduce myself?" Mila Rose stammered, then sat down like an obedient puppy.

"I'm Franceska Mila Rose. My hobbies are tearing hollows apart and kicking their heads in. I also like sharpening my claws!"

Her introduction left everyone speechless.

Mila Rose's gaze moved from face to face, wondering how her introduction had gone over.

Cangya broke the silence by clapping with an innocent smile. "Wonderful."

Cangya chatted with his group for a while.

Then Harribel motioned for them to follow.

They soon emerged from the narrow cave, which, despite its small size, had held everyone without feeling crowded.

Cangya liked that, and it would also help Mila Rose and Sun-Sun slowly get used to having him and Apache around.

Harribel turned to leave. "I'll let you know when we set out. Until then..."

Cangya reached out and caught her hand. "I have a request. Can you help me train?"

"Train?" Harribel asked without thinking. "What kind of training?"

"What skills do I need in Hueco Mundo?"

Harribel's gaze softened. "Fighting... do you want to start now?"

"I'll ask you later."

He had to address Apache's concerns first. As soon as Harribel left, Apache glared at him for obvious reasons. He had put her in a difficult position and made her lie. It was time to make it up to her.

"You forced me to—ah!"

Cangya wrapped his arms around Apache's neck and squeezed the little deer hard, nearly choking her.

"Thank you for supporting me."

Apache hadn't expected to hear words of gratitude. She stood there like a fool until Cangya let her go.

"Were you the one who tore off their masks and turned them into arrancar?"

"Yes, and the result was just as I expected. Besides, don't feel bad for them. They came to kill us, remember?"

The three hollows had ended up burning their own souls, briefly displaying Reiatsu on the level of a Vasto Lorde. A thought suddenly occurred to Cangya. Those nameless non-player characters couldn't endure the arduous process of becoming arrancar, but Apache was different. She was a named character with a role of her own in the massive war Aizen had started.

Apache had a good chance of succeeding.

Cangya's "intent" locked onto Apache, and she couldn't help shivering. "What are you thinking about now?!"

"I'm hungry! Can I roast your leg and eat it?"

"No!"

He decided to abandon the risky idea. There was a one percent chance that Apache would die or lose her memories like Nel, and he couldn't accept that.

"I'm too obsessed with this arrancar business."

He shook his head and decided to relax for the day.

Some time passed.

Cangya wandered across Hueco Mundo's rocky terrain until he came face-to-face with Harribel.

Mila Rose, Sun-Sun, and Apache stood on a distant cliff, their shadows long and dark in the twilight.

The three adjuchas watched with interest as the two Vasto Lordes silently studied each other.