— I imagine such an act must have been painful... and cruel for all those who betrayed you. I hope I don't do anything that will enrage you. —
He is unaware of how strong Harribel has become, and angering her is something the captain does not want.
She got up from her throne as she walked towards the male to examine him.
"What do you mean you're not suppose to be here?"
The Queen was confused as she gripped her head tightly trying to remember the male as she was erased of all memories but the ones of servings Aizen.
— Well, I just keep practicing and improving. But in fact, I'm actually stronger than ever now that my Bankai has reached a new level. But I'm not the only one who's stronger. Other Soul Reapers are stronger too. —
— Well, that's already a big step. I personally don't even want to imagine having to face you again... And I say this because I recognize that you're stronger, just as I am now. —
Harribel's smile, though rare, truly calmed the captain's nerves, and greatly so.
"Well every Arrancar was tricked by Aizen so we were enemies of the Soul Society but worked together to defeat a new enemy..."
She smiled.
"The past can easily be forgotten as for the betrayal of Aizen."
— Thank you for your kind words, Queen. In the end, I confess that your trust in me is very valuable... even though we were enemies in the past. —
Perhaps, just perhaps...
Cont.
"Thank you for that Captain Hitsugaya."
A smile appeared on her lips for the first time in a while.
"And yes the Quincies have been defeated and thank you for trusting me."
— I wholeheartedly affirm that you do. You guide Hueco Mundo on a path of peace, alongside the Soul Society now that Yhwach has been defeated. —
The words were spoken with an air of sincerity, reason, and confidence towards the queen of Hueco Mundo.
Cont.
—I truly appreciate your way of thinking, even more so because you are a determined and courageous leader.—
Hitsugaya admitted sincerely, always believing Harribel's words without questioning or doubting.
—Every sacrifice was ultimately worthwhile, which was to save our sides.—
— You represent sacrifice, and that makes me think about something regarding all of this. Do you perhaps think that all these sacrifices on both sides served to make us stronger? I don't like to talk about this subject, to be honest. —
— Not only to Hueco Mundo, but also to the Soul Society. —
Hitsugaya added, still harboring resentment from such a melancholic and bloody era as the battle against the Quincies.
— I'm still surprised that it all ended, thanks to the support from all sides. —
— And if it weren't for both sides working together... things wouldn't have ended well. But thankfully everything worked out, and you're no longer a slave to the Quincies. If I could have saved you from all that... I would have done it without question. —
"Yes it was Captain Hitsugaya..."
She could see the anger in his eyes from what Azien has done.
"But I've heard the Quincies are trying to rule the same thing as Aizen."
— It must have been really... —
There was a hint of disgust in what Hitsugaya was about to say, genuinely angry at even finishing that sentence.
— It must have been awful having Aizen as a leader. Even more so because he destroyed your confidence, Harribel. —
— There's no need to apologize, Harribel. You placed your hope in Aizen, who ultimately deceived you. But now that you are the ruler of Hueco Mundo, your leadership surpasses that of Aizen. —
— Well, that's true. I still can't forget almost dying from your attack when you cut my ice clone. I still have the feeling of almost being brutally cut by your Resurrection. —
He still had brief chills from that attack, which luckily missed him.
— R-Really? Even considering the fact that when we met you were serving Aizen? Besides, you wanted to kill me in that confrontation. —
This made Hitsugaya briefly remember his fight against Harribel, recalling how he was almost eliminated by the water.