"This isn't the route to Fourth Division…"
Soi Fong frowned as she watched Cole's steps.
Cole grinned.
"I know a doctor stronger than the Fourth Division's captain. If he treats Ichigo, the results will be much better."
Far away, Yachiru's ears twitched. She dragged Kenpachi along, bouncing as she ran to catch up.
"Cole, can't you ask that doctor to heal Ken-chan too? Captain Unohana disappeared…"
Cole's heart skipped a beat.
Don't tell me she's still bedridden from last night because I was too rough…
But that wasn't his fault! Who asked Unohana to beg him to go harder during their "battle," saying she wanted to feel the pain?
A total masochist big sister.
The group marched grandly into Second Division.
Seeing them, the Onmitsukidō corps froze.
Wasn't that… the ryoka who had caused chaos in Seireitei? And the madman who struck the Head Captain!?
Yachiru waved her tiny hand.
"Nothing to see here! Go play, Cole and Ichigo are good kids!"
Cole rubbed her head, making her pout.
"Yachiru, I'm a high schooler, don't treat me like a kid."
She muttered, "But I'm a shinigami who's lived for hundreds of years. You're hundreds younger than me. If you're not a kid, what are you?"
"Age is judged by appearance. I look older than you, so you should call me big brother!"
"No, no, by age! You should call me big sister Yachiru!"
"If you don't call me brother, I'll heal Kenpachi, then tie him up so he can only watch me and Ichigo spar!"
"…Brother." Yachiru finally muttered, puffing her cheeks.
The soldiers exchanged glances, unsure what to think.
Soi Fong shot them a glare.
"Keep training. Pretend you didn't see us."
"Yes!"
Hundreds shouted in unison, instantly resuming their drills as if blind.
Cole clicked his tongue.
"Queen Soi Fong, you really are domineering."
Usually he treated her like a young girl, but at this moment he truly felt her power.
She was not just a captain.
Commander of the Onmitsukidō.
Head of the Executive Militia.
Second Division Captain.
In her domain, her word outweighed even the Head Captain's.
In any monarchy, she'd be an empress wielding absolute power over the army and intelligence.
Soi Fong smirked.
"See, brat? If you dare cross me, there won't be a place for you to stand in Soul Society."
Cole raised his brow, then, taking advantage of her carelessness, ruffled her hair into a messy bird's nest.
"Cole!!" she roared, face red.
He laughed and darted into her quarters, carrying Ichigo.
"Orihime! Orihime! Ichigo's badly injured, hurry and heal him before he transforms again—"
But Cole froze mid-sentence.
Unohana sat serenely inside, Shiba Kukaku standing behind her with a bitter expression. Rukia and Orihime sat meekly, listening like scolded children.
"Unohana… why are you here?" Cole's smile stiffened.
She didn't answer. Instead, her warm gaze shifted to Ichigo in his arms.
"Cole, if he was this wounded, why not bring him to Fourth Division? Or…" Her eyes softened toward Orihime.
"Do you think her powers surpass mine?"
Cole coughed.
"I didn't want to tire you out, Unohana…"
He set Ichigo down. Orihime rushed forward, placing her hands before him.
"Sōten Kisshun (Twin Heavenly Shield, I Reject)!"
Golden light enveloped Ichigo. His wounds closed at a speed visible to the eye.
Unohana's expression hardened.
"This ability…"
It wasn't healing. It was more like creation—like turning back time, rejecting the very existence of his wounds.
"This girl…" she whispered.
At that moment, Yachiru dragged Kenpachi inside.
"Captain Unohana, you're here! Can you heal Ken-chan too? He's really hurt!"
Cole facepalmed.
"You dragged him all this way? Now he's ten times worse off than before."
Yachiru puffed her cheeks.
"I'm too short! I can only drag him along!"
Unohana healed Kenpachi with Kaidō, smiling gently.
"They're only surface wounds. He fainted because of blood loss."
Then she glanced at Ichigo.
"The same for him."
Cole stared at the two.
"Monsters… even after cracking each other's skulls, you call that surface wounds."
Soi Fong kicked him.
"You're the monster! One swing from you would send even Kenpachi flying."
Cole pounced at her playfully, chasing her around the room as she shrieked.
Yoruichi shook her head, amused.
It had been so long since she'd felt such warmth.
Soon, Unohana finished.
"They'll be fine with some blood-replenishing medicine. A few weeks of rest and they can walk again."
Ichigo groggily sat up, confused.
"I thought I was badly hurt… but now I feel completely fine?"
Unohana stared at Orihime.
"What a terrifying ability…"
In a thousand years she had seen countless zanpakuto powers, yet none like Orihime's. This ability brushed the realm of gods.
If her reiryoku grew stronger, even Cole might not match her.
Yachiru tugged on Orihime's sleeve.
"Could you heal Ken-chan too?"
But under Unohana's sharp gaze, she quickly backed down.
"Never mind! If Ken-chan can't feel pain, he won't enjoy fighting!"
Cole leaned down to whisper to her.
"Big sis's scary, huh?"
She nodded firmly.
"Super scary!"
After some chatter, Cole clapped Ichigo's shoulder and turned to Yoruichi.
"You see, he's still too weak. Got a way to make him stronger?"
The cat blinked, recalling Urahara's Tenshintai. Normally she had intended it for Cole and Ichigo to achieve bankai. But now…
Cole slipped her some catnip.
She wanted to curse him. Who carries catnip into Soul Society!?
But soon she was entranced, leading them to a training ground—a separate dimension identical to Urahara's underground space.
"Cole, are you sure about the Tenshintai? It's dangerous. If you fail, it'll cost dearly."
"I'm sure." Cole nodded. He had poured enormous reiryoku into his staff, but its only change was weight and size. The fastest way to grow stronger was bankai.
Ichigo agreed without hesitation.
When Yoruichi produced the wooden mannequins, Cole suddenly turned to Rukia.
"Want to try too?"
She froze.
"Me? But only captains can master bankai…"
Cole smiled, rubbing her head.
"With me here, it's fine."
Though the Tenshintai carried risk—failure meant never gaining bankai again—Cole knew the Royal Guard could later undo the restriction.
Even if she failed now, in the Thousand-Year Blood War she'd still achieve it. And if she succeeded, her strength would soar.
Encouraged, Rukia clenched her fists.
"Alright. I'll awaken bankai too."
"That's the spirit! Once you do, we'll bully Byakuya together."
"Wait—that's my brother, you can't!"
"Don't tell me you don't want to knock him down a peg?" Cole teased.
Rukia faltered. The thought was tempting.
"And when you get bankai, we'll show Hitsugaya who really has the strongest ice zanpakuto!"
Soon, three Tenshintai mannequins stood ready.
As everyone watched, the ritual began.
Three terrifying reiatsu flared, colliding and filling the space with crushing pressure.
Unohana grew solemn. This meant their zanpakuto were beginning to materialize. The stronger the pressure, the stronger the spirit.
First was Rukia. Cold flooded outward, white reiryoku spreading like snow, freezing the ground.
Her wooden mannequin shifted into pure white, forming the figure of an icy beauty with long pink hair and a white kimono, every step leaving frost.
She gazed at Rukia.
"Rukia, it's been a while."
At Ichigo's side, a black-clad man with messy hair appeared, gripping Zangetsu.
"Ichigo, long time no see."
Cole waited expectantly.
His blue reiatsu shook violently, cracking his mannequin.
Cracks spread—then with a boom, it shattered.
In his hands, the golden staff changed. With a swing, the entire dimension trembled.
(End of Chapter)
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