Chapter 321: Disembarking
Ulquiorra unbuttoned his white coat and looked down at his chest. The formerly dark, hollow area was now covered by pale skin.
He tried to poke it with his finger, but the skin, tougher than even blades, stopped him. From here, he could clearly feel the temperature of his skin and the vigorous beating of his heart inside.
Ulquiorra, usually emotionless, showed a dramatic change in expression for the first time. His eyes widened in shock, and his lips parted slightly.
"This is...?"
For the first time, the hollow of his chest, typical of an Arrancar, was filled, as if his inner void had been closed.
"This is your heart. You can see it and touch it," Eric said with a smile , explaining the truth. "Your wonderful life begins now, from this very moment."
"So having a heart really lets me do things I couldn't do before..." Ulquiorra said, as he continued feeling the sensations coming from his fingertips. "A Hollow without a complete soul, no matter how many souls it devours, can never regain what it has lost. It can only keep moving forward, never stopping, until it dies in battle."
"Eric -sama." Ulquiorra stepped back with his right leg, about to kneel, but Eric grabbed his arm.
"What do you want to do?"
"…"
"You've found the answer you've been longing for. It's not for you to do something so boring."
Ulquiorra might have wanted to smile, but his expression management didn't allow it, and the slight curve of his lips went unnoticed.
Eric smiled and asked, "So, have you developed some interest in humans?"
Ulquiorra's gaze shifted to his companions playing in the distance, and with his still calm voice, he replied, "I... have developed a little... interest in them."
"A little...?" Eric saw through him but said nothing, gently tapping Ulquiorra on the chest. "Remember, the Dawn Pirates will always be your home. The bond between our comrades is an unbreakable [link]."
[Ulquiorra's affection increases significantly, bond level rises from 3 (trusted friends) to 4 (inseparable friends), gaining 3 bond points.]
After Speaking, Eric glanced to the side, leaving Ulquiorra alone and turning to leave.
Ulquiorra, still touching the hard-earned [heart], thought to himself: 'So this is the heart...'
"Is the answer you've earned so easy to touch?" A voice came from around the corner as Kakuzu stepped out of the shadows.
"Kakuzu..." Ulquiorra lowered his right hand and grabbed the collar, pulling it up. The sound of the chain teeth sliding made a "click-click" noise, and his white coat gradually closed, hiding the pale chest inside.
"I never imagined that the hole in your chest would be filled by the [heart]." Kakuzu spread his hands, "This is truly interesting."
Deidara, who followed Kakuzu, interjected, "By the way, you two really make a perfect team."
"Huh?" Kakuzu, with his upper body unmoving, squinted his green eyes at Deidara. "What do you mean by that?"
"You both like to make holes in your enemies' chests!" Deidara explained. "One likes to make holes below the collarbone, the other likes to dig out hearts from the chest. You two are a match made in heaven..."
"Don't use words carelessly!" Kakuzu's voice carried a murderous intent.
"Yes, yes," Deidara responded dismissively, "Hoshigaki once joked that you and Hidan are the zombie duo, so this time I'll name you the 'Chest Hole Duo'!"
"Whoosh, whoosh." From Kakuzu's stitched arm, dozens of black tentacles immediately shot out. The dark tentacles twisted chaotically. "Deidara, do you want your heart to be my spare?"
"Hi, hi~" Deidara raised his hands in surrender. "Just don't break the ship, Eric will kill both of us."
"..." Kakuzu heard this, and the flailing black tentacles slowly retracted.
◇
Above an island, the Fearless was hidden inside a spatial door created by Perona.
Ulquiorra and Kakuzu were about to disembark here.
"Little U, if you ever miss us, remember to give us a call." Eric split the telephone bug, life papers, and record pointers into two parts, handing one set to Ulquiorra and Kakuzu.
"Little U?" Kakuzu suppressed his laughter and repeated.
"Do you like the nickname 'Little Kakuzu'?"
"I absolutely hate it." Kakuzu's voice was filled with disgust, his green eyes showing a look of disdain. It seemed like something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't get it out.
"Really not straightforward."
"I'm not."
After a month of interacting, Ulquiorra's lack of complaints and his cold expression had earned him a lot of favor aboard the ship.
Perona said her farewell without much enthusiasm: "Even though you're not cute at all, I've already accepted you as my subordinate. Bring me a tribute when you come back."
Porche wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "I hate this~ Why does Little U have to leave? Little U, if you bring a gift, remember to bring one for me."
In summary, their words were all about gifts.
Neither of them dared to ask the money-hungry Kakuzu for a gift.
Ulquiorra ignored the two dramatic actresses with his usual expressionless face, putting away the items Eric had given him. "I will report on the mission's progress regularly."
"There are many things in this sea that you need to witness with your own eyes. You will feel more of [heart]." Eric turned to Kakuzu and said, "Little U has always been independent, but some diplomatic matters need your help."
"I understand." Kakuzu confirmed again. "I can keep half of the bounty for capturing pirates?"
"Exactly."
"Don't you worry I might keep some for myself?"
"I trust you." Eric smiled lightly. Of course, he wasn't worried. When Kakuzu kills a bounty criminal, the system gives a prompt, and the money carried increases.
System, now you can't stop me from taking advantage, can you?
"Hmph." Kakuzu snorted lightly, grabbed his bundle full of clothes and supplies, and walked toward the air door opened by Porche.
Ulquiorra turned to look at Esdeath, who was beside Eric , the fighting spirit hidden in his eyes, "Esdeath, next time we meet, I'll challenge you."
"I'm waiting for your challenge." Esdeath's competitive spirit showed on her face as she confidently replied, "Next time, I will win again."
"Is that so." Ulquiorra didn't argue. He followed Kakuzu and jumped down from the air door.
The black and white figures stepped into the bustling town.
(END CHAPTER)
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