Laid-back Highschooler In Bleach (With Soul Cube)

As they neared Las Noches, the moods of the rest of the group were starkly different.

Ichigo was the most perplexed, his eyes darting from Nel to Kai. His eyebrows furrowed in a mix of confusion and concern, his mind trying to piece together the strange scenario unfolding in front of him. He had known Kai for some time now, and had learned to trust his judgment, yet this situation was more than he had bargained for.

"Kai," Ichigo finally broke the silence, his voice a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, "why are you feeding her candies? She is a hollow, right?"

Kai merely smirked, looking down at Nel who was now preoccupied with a particularly shiny candy wrapper. "Why not?" He replied, his eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "Aren't you guys the ones always preaching about coexistence and understanding?" He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face, "or does that only apply to cute human girls?"

"Why the orange big brother finds it weird?" Nel asked, her large teal eyes filled with pure innocence as she turned them up to Kai.

She continued, confusion creasing her small forehead, "It is as if you are not hollows. Like you are Shin—"

Her words faltered as she took in their attire. Ichigo's typical black Shinigami uniform, Uryu's white attire with his ethereal bow hanging by his side, and Sado's unusual mix of street clothes and his gigantic armored arm.

The realization came to her slowly, her eyes widening as she finally made the connection.

"Yo," Ichigo spoke up, his voice casual despite the tension, "Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Shinigami."

"Ishida Uryu, Quincy." Uryu was next, his tone serious and filled with quiet resolve.

"Sado Yasutora, Human." Sado offered, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of his determination.

Nel recoiled slightly, her small arms tightening around Kai's neck. "Wahh. You are the bad guys," she whimpered.

Kai chuckled, a low, soothing sound that seemed to alleviate Nel's anxiety. "What about you, Kai Big Brother?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Kai hummed, gently rubbing circles into Nel's back. He considered his answer, his gaze settling on the curious eyes of his companions.

"Kai Kurogami," he said finally, pointing a thumb to his chest, "I am Nel's Big Brother."

The affirmation seemed to lift Nel's spirits. A bright smile blossomed on her face, replacing her earlier fear. But then, Kai did something that caught everyone off-guard.

Kai gave Nel's head a light pat, a comforting gesture that elicited a burst of gleeful laughter from the small Arrancar. Her apprehension seemed to melt away as she basked in his attention.

"Watch this, Nel," he said, raising a hand in front of his face. With a swift movement, a mask began to manifest, one that was strikingly reminiscent of a hollow's. It spread across his features, enveloping half his face in a complex, bone-white design.

The response from his companions was immediate and palpable. Shock rippled through them like a wave, their eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and caution. It was a significant revelation; none of them had known about Kai's Hollowification.

"Are you an Arrancar?" Uryu asked, his voice noticeably stiff. His hand, still resting on his Quincy bow, clenched tighter. The question was more defensive than inquisitive, a reaction born out of surprise rather than curiosity.

Sado was taken aback as well but didn't move. His gaze on Kai was unwavering, the slightest hint of confusion etched onto his stoic features. Over time, Sado had learned that being a Hollow did not equate to evil. He had seen Kai do enough good to trust him despite this revelation.

Ichigo, however, seemed to be the most stunned. He held his breath, eyes wide with surprise as he watched Kai. He himself had been concealing his Hollow powers, born from the White Ichigo, his true Zanpakuto spirit. Despite Kai being aware of this, he had kept it hidden from the others. Kai’s revelation only deepened the mysteries that surrounded him.

Kai simply shrugged in response to Uryu's question, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Call me whatever you want." He said, his tone nonchalant. "Shinigami who gain Hollow powers later are called Vizards. Hollows that gain Shinigami powers are called Arrancar. I am neither."

He paused, letting his gaze sweep over his companions. His eyes held a certain defiance, a clear statement that he didn't care for labels. "I am neither. I am all, I simply don't give a f-" He cut himself off abruptly, casting a glance at Nel who was watching him curiously. He couldn't curse in front of her, it wouldn't be right.

He quickly replaced the unfinished curse with a more acceptable term. "I don't care," he said, the smile returning to his face. His gaze then shifted to Nel, who was still clinging to him.

The little Arrancar looked at him, her teal eyes wide with a mix of confusion and wonder. The sight of his hollow mask seemed to both scare and fascinate her. "Big Brother is a Hollow too?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kai nodded, his smile turning reassuring. "Yes, Nel. But remember, not all Hollows are bad. Just like not all Shinigami are good. What matters is what you choose to be."

Her eyes seemed to shine brighter at his words, a small, relieved smile playing on her lips. "Nel chooses to be good," she said, her voice strong and determined.

Kai chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "That's my girl."

The group fell into silence, the revelation still hanging heavy in the air. Despite the initial shock, they couldn't deny that Kai's declaration had altered their perception. The lines between friend and foe, Hollow and Shinigami, were blurred. They had ventured into uncharted territory, where labels held no power.