"Crack… crack…"
Fractures crawled across the surface of the Negación (Anti-Membrane), like a pillar about to shatter with only a few threads still holding it up.
"Hah…" Aizen finally let out a breath. When he looked at Cole again, there was a new weight in his eyes. "Cole… is it?"
This time, the human boy's name truly stuck.
Since becoming a Shinigami, many had doubted Aizen—Shinji, Urahara, Shunsui…—but no one had ever made him pay. Yet today, this human not only made him pay, he'd nearly kept him trapped in Soul Society. Not even the Commander-General had managed that.
The black rift slowly sealed, then vanished. Blue sky returned, dotted with drifting white clouds.
Cole yawned. "Old man, looks like you'd better figure out when to invade Hueco Mundo. Otherwise Aizen might just—"
Before he finished, a blazing red arc slashed toward him.
"Clang!"
The golden staff met Ryūjin Jakka with a shriek of metal. Billowing flames nearly swallowed Cole's figure.
"Commander-General!" Rukia cried, unable to understand why he would strike Cole. Wasn't the misunderstanding cleared up?
Shunsui and the others only scratched their heads. What could they say? The old man held grudges.
Genryusai scowled. "Brat, not calling me a fossil now? Don't forget—you're still an intruder."
From the fire came Cole's sigh. "Old timer, you really hold a grudge. You've lived over a thousand years, strongest Shinigami and all that. Why fuss with a kid?"
As Cole spoke, Genryusai realized his flames had guttered out. Not only that—his body felt heavier, as if a mountain had dropped onto his shoulders.
Cole brushed aside the lingering embers with a casual sweep of the golden staff. Genryusai narrowed his eyes. He tightened his grip on Zanka no Tachi (Remnant Fire Blade), intent on testing the boy again. A purely physical zanpakuto this strong—he was curious.
But Cole had lost interest. He flashed over to Shunsui and the others. "Bad news—Aizen's got the old man under Kyōka Suigetsu (Mirror Flower, Water Moon). Let's beat him down and make Shunsui the new Commander, yeah?"
"Cough—cough—!" Shunsui choked on his own saliva. What a coronation. Did the kid want him dead faster?
The captains were uniformly speechless. The old man obviously just wanted to smack the kid around.
Retsu glided forward with a smile, tugged Cole into her arms, and mussed his hair. "Commander-General, that should be enough. Cole and his friends are benefactors of Soul Society."
Shunsui hurried to add, "Right, boss. Feels like everything was Aizen's plot from the start. Even the business with Shinji and the others might've been a misunderstanding."
Byakuya, face tight with pain, said through clenched teeth, "Commander-General, as head of the Kuchiki family, I also find this improper."
"Cough, cough… cough…" Jushiro tried to speak, but Shunsui patted his back. "Okay, okay, save your breath. Keep hacking like that and you'll go before the old man."
Jushiro gave a wry smile. "Go early either way. The old man's so sturdy he'll live another thousand years."
Seeing the room aligned, Genryusai snorted, sheathed his blade, and said flatly, "Tell that punk Urahara Kisuke to come see me."
Instantly, the air's temperature stopped rising; the sauna heat dissipated. The captains finally exhaled. None of them wanted a brawl with Cole right after sending Aizen off.
Cole, half-smothered, wriggled free of Retsu's chest, face bright red. "Flower-sis, I'm not a kid anymore."
Retsu leaned to his ear, smiling. "If you're not a kid, why do you always run back to drink milk?"
Cole coughed, flustered. Rukia's ears perked; she'd heard something she shouldn't have. She stepped to Cole's side, voice cool. "Cole. Come. I'll take you to see my brother."
Cole blinked, then looked three meters away at the man himself. "Isn't that ice block right there?"
Cold-eyed, Byakuya shot him a glance for the nickname. Retsu kept smiling. "Rukia, Cole's hurt too. I should take him to Fourth Division."
Rukia, still mantled in her "ice-saint" bankai poise, replied coolly, "No need to trouble Captain Retsu. In terms of healing, classmate Orihime surpasses Captain Retsu—and she's much younger."
Cole blinked again. Healing… since when did age get involved?
Retsu's smile deepened just a touch. "Rukia, in this state, you don't feel fear, do you?"
Rukia shook her head slightly. "Only at absolute zero would fear vanish completely. Right now, my emotions are simply muted."
Retsu nodded. "If your emotions are muted, why is your reaction to Cole so strong?"
Rukia's cool expression faltered, then smoothed. "I like Cole. Of course I care. Captain Retsu, don't tell me you like him too?"
This time Retsu paused. After a few seconds, she said gently, "How could I? I see Cole as a child. That's not the same as your 'like.'"
"Good." Rukia nodded. "Because an old granny who's lived for centuries trying to seduce a twenty-something kid would be a bit much, don't you think?"
Retsu's smile went stiff. Cole stared at Rukia, half wanting to applaud. Bold. Savage. A queen declaring law.
Shunsui and the others were equally moved. Ah, youth. Only Retsu was truly stunned; an ancient captain of Genryusai's era—liking a brat? Old cow nibbling tender grass? Old tree sprouting new blossoms? The thought flashed through several minds, and the captains quietly made themselves scarce from Sixth Division's barracks.
…
The next day.
Second Division.
In Soi Fong's bedroom, Cole lay on the bed, half-asleep, something tapping his head. "Quit it—that tickles…"
Watching the black-haired boy wiggle to dodge, Soi Fong fumed and bonked him again, hard. "Hurts, doesn't it? You smacked me that hard yesterday, and it still hasn't stopped swelling."
After a bit, Cole woke to the drumming and sighed at her. "Too much, Soi Fong. I was saving you yesterday. Didn't you see Sajin's bankai armor get smashed?"
Of course she knew. But she was still angry—with herself. How had she fallen into Complete Hypnosis so cleanly? If Cole hadn't noticed, if Suzumebachi struck the same spot twice… she'd be dead.
Seeing it, Cole grinned. "Relax. With my spiritual pressure, I can tank your nigeshi ni shisatsu (two-hit sure kill)."
He still wasn't on Aizen's or Genryusai's level, but he wasn't someone Soi Fong could threaten either.
Which only made her madder. She hammered his chest with her fists, thump-thump-thump. Cole didn't bother stopping her—on him it was basically a massage. He flipped the covers to get up.
Soi Fong's cheeks flared scarlet. "You—you're sleeping naked in my bed again!"
Cole tugged on clothes and deadpanned, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm wearing underwear."
She meant to avert her gaze, but for some reason didn't. She watched, face pink. "Are you going to keep living in my room?"
"If you're not happy, I can stay with Flower-sis or Rukia," Cole said lightly. "Though that gives me a headache."
Stay with Retsu and he knew exactly what would happen—fights from floor to bed to floor again, no breaks. A brutal trial for body and… kidneys. Stay with Rukia and Byakuya would likely come after him with a sword. Yesterday, the man had dragged Rukia off on the spot, saying he'd instruct her in noble virtues. Yeah right—clearly trying to break them up.
"That's not what I meant…" Soi Fong shook her head. "I mean starting tomorrow, I'm sleeping in the bed too. And you have to keep your promise and bring Lady Yoruichi."
"Aren't you a lily?" Cole eyed her suspiciously. A plot?
"That's why you need to bring Lady Yoruichi!" Soi Fong blurted, blushing. With her idol present, she'd charge a field of swords without fear.
"Yoruichi, huh…" Cole sighed. The true queen had returned to the Shihōin family yesterday—one of the four great houses. Stealing her away wouldn't be easy.
Hurried footsteps approached. Rukia burst in, saw Cole on the bed, and dove onto him without a word, face pale. "Cole, what do we do, I'm going to die."
Soi Fong's little fists clenched on instinct. Then she shook herself: she liked only Lady Yoruichi. No way she liked this infuriating boy.
Cole blinked. "Who's going to kill you?"
Byakuya would protect his adopted sister as long as she broke no laws. Would he threaten Rukia—clean house if she didn't break up with Cole?
"Captain Retsu!!!" Rukia whimpered. "I was so disrespectful to her yesterday—won't she be furious?"
Just remembering yesterday made her want to crawl into a hole. In bankai, she'd tugged and clung to Cole in front of everyone, even declared she liked him. Her brother lectured her for half a day after. Worst of all—she'd badmouthed Captain Retsu. Rumor said Retsu was all gentleness on the surface, but among captains, one of the scariest.
Cole rubbed his chin. "From what I know of Flower-sis, she should be… probably… maybe not mad."
Rukia sagged in relief—then Cole added, "She's seething."
For a lady who'd lived millennia, age was the ultimate taboo. He'd nearly died over it once.
Rukia's heart went cold. She opened her mouth and bit his shoulder. "It's all your fault! If Captain Retsu hadn't said those… shameless things to you, how would I have provoked her?"
In bankai, she was ice—emotions muted toward everything. Only talk of Cole could needle her into snapping at Retsu and calling her an old woman.
Cole felt a twinge of guilt. "What exactly did you hear?"
Arms crossed, cheeks burning, Rukia ground out, "I heard everything. You like Captain Retsu's soft body, and she shamelessly asked you—asked you…"
She trailed off, too mortified to finish. Then she opened her mouth to bite him again.
Watching her rosy lips, Cole couldn't help himself—he kissed her.
"Mm!" Rukia's eyes flew wide. She meant to push him away… but somehow her body went softer, and softer…
Soi Fong, face flushed, watched them on the bed. As they got more carried away, she finally coughed. "Um, I'm still here."
They jolted apart. Rukia buried her head under the blanket, mortified. Cole coughed and headed to wash up.
As he passed, Soi Fong huffed, "Two-timing radish!"
Cole finished washing and was about to eat when a desperate cry echoed from within Second Division.
"Cole, help!!!" Ichigo's voice.
(End of Chapter)
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