Cole turned his head aside, coughed, and said:
"A few days ago, I wanted to absorb some spiritual energy. I took the chance and… well, absorbed the walls of the First Division's building…"
Hearing this, Yoruichi almost fainted.
"Have you not absorbed reiryoku in eight hundred years? Seireitei is overflowing with spiritual energy—why would you target the walls!?"
"The walls have denser reiryoku, compressed energy, you know…"
As he spoke, Cole brushed his fingertip along one of the few intact walls inside the Ninth Division while holding Rukia on his shoulder.
Instantly, the wall dissolved into blue reiryoku, surging into Cole's body.
Yoruichi was furious, leaping up to bite his calf hard.
"That's what you get for absorbing! Keep it up, and the Head Captain will roast us alive!"
"That's why we need to run faster."
Cole kicked his leg wildly, trying to shake her off.
After just a few minutes, Shiba Kuukaku was already gasping for breath, staring in disbelief at him carrying two girls and a cat.
"This brat runs way too fast!"
She was the head of the Shiba Clan, childhood friend of Yoruichi and Byakuya, and her hoho wasn't weak. Even with no burden, she couldn't catch up with the boy carrying everyone.
Feeling the scorching reiatsu closing from behind, Kuukaku's face went pale. She turned desperately to her best friend.
"Yoruichi, carry me, I can't keep up!"
"Alright!"
Yoruichi, still in cat form, agreed without hesitation. She was just about to leap toward Kuukaku when Cole snatched her by the scruff and dangled her like a kitten.
The little black cat exploded with fury, claws slashing.
"Brat! Put me down now, or I'll scratch your face off!"
Cole rapped her on the head.
"Yoruichi-san, are you stupid? You're a cat right now. You really planning to run around naked if you transform back?"
Yoruichi blinked, remembering she'd be completely nude if she returned to her human form. She turned apologetically to Kuukaku.
"Sorry. If you get caught, please don't sell me out."
Though careless in nature, she wasn't bold enough to streak through Seireitei.
"Nooo!" Kuukaku howled in despair. She was from one of Seireitei's Five Noble Houses. Even if captured, she wouldn't be executed. But if Yamamoto caught her, he'd force her into permanent duty—she'd rather die.
At that moment, Cole slowed down.
"Clan head Shiba, I've still got one spot left. You want a ticket?"
Kuukaku's eyes lit up at his broad back and leapt on without hesitation.
"Remember, you'll have to pay later!" Cole teased, picking up speed again, darting through the streets and past squads of shinigami.
Nearby the Fifth Division, Yamamoto sensed it all, pausing with a cold snort.
"Crafty brat… As expected of Urahara's disciple. Exactly the same. One day, I'll teach him a lesson."
…
Meanwhile, in the Human World, Urahara sneezed miserably.
Jinta gawked. "Shopkeeper, that's over five hundred sneezes these days—you could set a world record!"
Ururu timidly nodded.
…
Deep beneath the Central 46 lay a vast alternate space—the Great Spirit Book Corridor. Endless shelves stretched into the distance, filled with pristine books. It was the ocean of knowledge and history itself, containing every major event and secret in Soul Society's history.
Ordinary shinigami could never enter. Even captains found it difficult, requiring Central 46's approval and the reiryoku of the Tsunayashiro Clan's gatekeepers. Forced entry would trigger destructive barriers.
So despite the treasure trove, decades often passed without visitors.
Today, however, pages turned.
Aizen sat calmly, flipping through a tome. Gin stood nearby, also reading, smiling slyly.
"Aizen-taichō, who'd have thought? Those Quincy nearly wiped out Soul Society a thousand years ago."
It was Gin's first time here, finally seeing what Seireitei had hidden.
Aizen turned a page, his voice even.
"The Quincy are unusual. Their extinction in the Human World surprised me. I investigated, but found nothing."
Gin raised an eyebrow.
"So by your logic, their destruction had little to do with the shinigami?"
Aizen explained patiently.
"Shinigami indeed struck at them, but not to the degree of genocide. Despite their strength, Quincies are human. Blend into the masses, suppress their reiryoku, and we can't tell them apart. They thrived until a few decades ago—then disappeared overnight."
Gin was stunned, lowering the ancient book.
"Then what do you think caused their near extinction? Don't tell me… their king survived?"
According to records, Yhwach, the Quincy King, once led a massive invasion of Soul Society. After fierce battles, Yamamoto Genryūsai struck him down.
But the books hinted Yhwach could control the lives of all Quincies.
"Perhaps. But it matters little." Aizen dismissed it coldly. To him, even Yamamoto was beneath notice, let alone an old defeated foe.
Gin, however, filed it away. Soul Society was beset by enemies from all sides.
…
Suddenly, Aizen snapped his book shut.
Before Gin could react, the space before them cracked like glass, shards scattering into nothingness. A black fissure yawned open, dark and unsettling.
A foot stepped out. Then a figure emerged—Kaname Tōsen. Behind him followed a pale man with short black hair, haunting green eyes, and tear-like green streaks running down his face. A broken helm with horns covered part of his head, and a black hole pierced his chest.
"Lord Aizen," Tōsen said respectfully, "I just returned from Hueco Mundo. I visited the lab and brought what you requested."
Aizen nodded and turned to the cold-eyed man.
"Ulquiorra. The item?"
Ulquiorra raised his hand, revealing a blue orb akin to the Hōgyoku.
Gin's eyes narrowed. He knew it was one of Aizen's incomplete Hōgyoku—capable of fusing shinigami and hollows, but unable to take Aizen further. Only by merging it with Kisuke Urahara's version could the true Hōgyoku be born.
Gin smiled.
"Aizen-sama, now that this Hōgyoku is here, shall we find the other one?"
"Exactly." Aizen rose smoothly.
"The Hōgyoku has its own will. It instinctively seeks completion. Now that mine exists, the other will surface."
Gin's smile faded slightly, but he glanced at Ulquiorra.
"Then why not summon the rest of the Espada? We could start the war with Soul Society right now."
Aizen chuckled, amused.
"Gin, don't be so impatient."
…
Meanwhile, in the Second Division captain's office, Soi Fong glared at Cole and the others.
"So you all came running here?"
Cole sipped water with a smile.
"Don't be so stingy, Soi Fong. Besides, I even brought Yoruichi back to you, just like I promised."
He held up the little black cat like a gift.
Furious, Yoruichi flailed.
"Cole, you brat! I taught you hoho—you should be calling me master! How dare you treat me like a present!"
Before she could scold him further, her former disciple leapt forward, clinging to her with a crazed look.
"Yoruichi-sama, I missed you so much!"
As Soi Fong rubbed her face desperately against her, Yoruichi stared into the void. How had her students all turned out like this?
Rukia stifled a laugh and asked Cole, "Cole, are we really safe hiding here in Soi Fong's office? What if the Head Captain shows up…"
"Relax, relax. With me here, it's fine." Cole ruffled her hair.
Rukia's cheeks flushed, her bottled-up worry spilling out. She lunged into his arms, punching his chest with her tiny fists.
"You idiot! Do you know how worried I was these past two days? Every moment, I thought you might be in danger!"
"Yes, yes." Cole soothed her gently.
Seeing this, Orihime approached with a pout.
"Cole-kun…"
He patted her head with a grin.
"Sorry for worrying you too. But I really wasn't in danger."
Watching the tender scene, Kuukaku muttered under her breath:
"Playboy."
She hadn't forgotten the bite marks and hickeys she saw on him earlier. This shameless human brat already had two girlfriends and was now entangling with another shinigami in just two days.
Cole shot her a warning look, mouthing:
"You still owe me fare money."
Kuukaku sulked, abandoning the idea of warning the "innocent" girls.
Soon, Yoruichi noticed Cole heading out.
"Cole, where are you going?"
He pointed toward the Repentance Palace with a crooked smile.
"Going to watch the fun. Two big cheats are about to cut loose."
"…Cheats?" Everyone looked confused.
Yoruichi leapt onto his back, eager to escape.
"Let's go! I don't want to stay here any longer."
She'd had enough—Soi Fong had petted her nearly to death these past two hours.
"I'm coming too!" Soi Fong ran after them.
Left behind were Rukia, Orihime, and Kuukaku.
Staring at the two blushing girls, Kuukaku decided to intervene—not out of kindness, but revenge.
"Don't be fooled by that brat Cole. He's a playboy, he'll definitely cheat on you someday."
Rukia and Orihime looked at each other, then nodded firmly. Yes, he definitely would.
"That's not what I meant…" Kuukaku sighed.
"I mean he's already fooling around. I saw plenty of marks on him—he must've seduced some shameless shinigami already."
"Shiba-san, who are you calling shameless?"
A gentle voice came from behind.
Rukia gasped, standing quickly and bowing.
"Captain Unohana!"
Orihime froze at the word "captain," grabbing Rukia's sleeve nervously.
Kuukaku turned stiffly—and her face went blank.
She saw Unohana smiling warmly, but the skin on her neck, arms, and ears was flushed, with faint bite marks visible.
As Kuukaku's heart sank, Unohana's smile deepened.
"Shiba-san, you haven't finished your sentence."
(End of Chapter)
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