"Wow, is this the ultimate Shunpo (Flash Step)!?"
High above Karakura Town, Rukia was held in Cole's arms, marveling at the scenery rushing past beneath them.
She had also once stepped through the air.
But her speed wasn't even one-tenth of Cole's.
The corner of Cole's mouth curved upward, his foot tapped again, and his figure suddenly shot straight up, reaching two thousand meters into the sky.
Rukia's heart leapt into her throat, and she clung tightly to Cole's neck.
"Cole, why did you bring me up this high?"
Right now, she was in a human body. If she fell from this height, she had no way to step on air like a shinigami.
Cole chuckled and led her into a white cloud.
"Come on, let me test something again."
Rukia's face instantly flushed red. She raised her hand to hit him, but her fear of heights made her unable to move her arms.
So she stiffened her face and said dryly:
"Cole, if you dare mess around again…"
Touch!
Feeling the sensation on her chest, Rukia's face turned as red as an apple. She bit Cole's neck fiercely.
"Let me go…"
But Cole wasn't letting go.
He had just learned several Bakudo (Binding Spells) and wanted to test if he could pull out the Hōgyoku.
But after trying several, Cole helplessly realized that the ones he knew were completely wrong.
They only tied Rukia up in ropes.
None could reach inside her body.
If only kido could be strengthened like Shunpo… Cole thought with frustration.
Zan, ken, kido, and shunpo — the four core shinigami arts.
Among them, Shunpo had only one technique, which he could endlessly strengthen.
But kido had thousands, split into Hado (Destructive Spells), Bakudo, and Kaido (Healing Spells). Each had hundreds of abilities.
And beyond those were barriers, seals, and other techniques.
If he wanted to master them, he'd have to strengthen them one by one.
"Cole, you perverted brat…"
Rukia's tearful voice trembled.
Cole snapped out of it, quickly pulling his hand back, and comforted her softly:
"Don't cry, I wasn't trying to harass you. I want to protect you. I feel like there's something very dangerous inside your body."
Rukia snorted angrily, not believing a word.
How could something be inside her body?
This brat was obviously bullying her.
Though… she didn't exactly dislike him.
As they descended from the sky, Cole suddenly sensed something and looked strangely toward Kurosaki Clinic.
"Rukia, did you give Ichigo something?"
"How did you know?"
Rukia blinked in surprise at him.
"I saw his soul couldn't separate freely, so I bought him a soul candy."
"I knew it."
Cole smirked, realizing the last member of the main cast was about to appear.
The modified soul — Kon!
Though with his presence, who knew if Ichigo would still meet that lion plushie?
"Crack!"
The sound of space shattering rang out.
Cole and Rukia looked in shock as a Senkaimon (World Passage Gate) appeared beside them.
"What is that?"
"A Senkaimon!"
Rukia gasped, her face paling.
"It's the gateway we shinigami use to travel between Soul Society and the human world. I never thought it would appear right beside us."
"They came this quickly?"
Cole frowned, then relaxed.
If things went his way…
Then the one coming might not be Byakuya.
And even if it was Byakuya, he could always drag Urahara into it.
No matter what, he couldn't let Rukia be taken back.
Thinking this, Cole leaned close to whisper in her ear:
"If they come to capture you, push all the blame onto me. Then I'll get Urahara to protect me."
Rukia's cheeks flushed as she nodded.
His breath on her ear made her whole body tremble.
As they spoke—
The Senkaimon suddenly split open.
Soi Fong strode out, her gaze coldly sweeping over Karakura Town.
But she froze.
Her eyes landed on Cole and Rukia not far away.
"The Kuchiki's… Rukia?"
Her eyes wavered in disbelief. She hadn't expected to run into Rukia the moment she arrived.
At that moment—
Omaeda stepped out behind her.
Seeing Cole and Rukia, he grew excited and quickly drew his zanpakuto.
"Captain, it's the 13th Division's Rukia! I didn't expect we'd complete the mission so quickly. Let's bring her back now."
Soi Fong ignored him.
Recovering, she turned her icy gaze to Cole and spoke in a voice like frozen water:
"You are Cole?"
Cole nodded with a smile. "And you are?"
Soi Fong slowly drew her zanpakuto, her tone sharp as a blade:
"I am Soi Fong, Captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13… and the disciple of your woman, Yoruichi."
Cole's lips twitched.
So he finally understood her hostility.
This girl looked like an ice queen, but she was actually a flower burning with devotion.
Fanatically devoted to Yoruichi.
To the point of obsession.
She must have heard the lie he spread, which was why she rushed here ahead of Byakuya.
Even though it was his plan…
Why did he suddenly feel uneasy?
Cole opened his mouth to explain, but his expression suddenly changed. He stomped the air, leaping back dozens of meters in an instant.
"Shhh!"
A flash of silver blade-light cut through where he had just been.
"Couldn't you at least hear me out!?"
Cole sighed helplessly.
Had he been a second slower, he'd have been cut down.
Soi Fong halted, her eyes colder than before, glaring at him.
"With Shunpo at that level, you really are connected to that criminal."
She had come here with doubts.
But seeing Cole's Shunpo left no room for hope.
This boy's Shunpo was among the best in all of Soul Society.
No one could have taught him but her Yoruichi-sama.
The thought of her beloved Yoruichi being pinned down by this man, marked by him—
A killing intent unmatched surged in Soi Fong's heart.
"You bastard…"
"Prepare yourself!!!"
She shouted, vanishing with Shunpo even faster than Cole could manage.
"So fast!"
Cole's pupils shrank. Without hesitation, he summoned his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Compliant Golden Staff).
He swung it down in a crushing arc at Soi Fong.
...…
...
(End of Chapter)
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