"Bankai!?"
Cole was startled.
He quickly shrank his golden staff, eyes burning as he stared into the smoke ahead.
Though wary of a Soul Reaper's bankai, he believed with his current strength he wasn't completely helpless against it.
"I remember Urahara Kisuke's bankai is more of a support type. It shouldn't be one meant for direct combat…"
Just as Cole grew eager to test it, a hand suddenly thrust out from the ground, pressing against the dirt.
Kisuke crawled up, covered in dust, his clothes torn with holes — looking more like a refugee who'd just survived a sandstorm.
"Cough, cough…" Kisuke spat out a mouthful of soil.
Cole couldn't help asking: "Urahara-san, what about your bankai? Didn't you already say Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame?"
Kisuke glared at him darkly.
"Didn't I tell you to stop!?"
He looked at his battered state, his trembling hands, fury in his eyes.
"Cole-san, you're really ruthless. Ten minutes straight — you nearly hammered me from the surface to the Earth's core."
At first, he tried to take Cole's zanpakuto head-on. After a few strikes, he gave up.
That weapon was too heavy, every blow like being crushed by a mountain, his arms going numb.
And so, Cole had spent nearly ten minutes grinding him into the dirt with a staff the size of a building.
If it went on, Kisuke was sure he'd be turned into mochi.
Cole smiled brightly. "I just wanted a real fight, Urahara-san. Didn't you say so yourself?"
"You…" Kisuke ground his teeth, finally forcing out:
"You think if you face a real enemy, they'll politely give you time to unleash all your power?"
He had planned to spar, maybe teach the brat a lesson in swordsmanship.
Instead, he had nearly been crushed outright.
Cole coughed lightly, looking at him calmly.
"Urahara-san, ten minutes have passed. That means I win. According to our deal, you'll guide us properly."
With practiced motions, Cole dispelled the barrier.
Ichigo, Rukia, Uryu, Orihime, and Chad rushed in.
Kisuke sighed helplessly, pressing down his battered hat.
"Fine. You've won."
"Yeah!" Cole cheered, slapping Ichigo's shoulder.
…
The group gathered at Urahara's shop.
The sky was still cracked, the ground split — as if Karakura Town might collapse at any moment.
"Cole-kun…" Orihime clung nervously to his sleeve.
"Don't be scared." Cole smiled, ruffling her hair.
Chad surveyed the scene. "Urahara Kisuke… isn't he from Hueco Mundo?"
"Too much inner drama, Chad," Ichigo groaned, then slapped Cole's shoulder.
"This mess is his fault, not Urahara's."
Chad looked at Cole like he was some monster. His classmate was scarier than a Hollow.
Cole glared at Ichigo. "I only absorbed spirit energy."
Ichigo pouted. "Why buildings though? There's plenty of spirit energy in the air."
"Idiot. Absorbing from buildings is way faster."
Cole sneered. Normally, he'd get 500 points a whole day. From here, he got 500 points in a second.
"Here we are." Kisuke stopped before a massive barrier space.
"Cole-san, if you dare absorb this area's spirit energy, I'll kill you."
This was the temporary training ground he and Tessai had spent three days forging.
"Relax!" Cole patted his chest. Not because of conscience, but because the energy here was too thin to bother with.
"…I'll believe you this once." Kisuke stepped in, his gaze shifting seriously to Orihime and Chad.
"For the next while, I'll help you two master your powers. As for you four — Cole, Ichigo, Uryu, Rukia — assist them."
None objected. They all knew strength was the only way to protect themselves and Karakura Town.
…
Three days later.
"Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily — Santen Kesshun (Three Sacred Linked Shield)! I reject!"
Orihime's hairpins glowed, three fairies flying out to form a triangular yellow shield.
Opposite her, Tessai swung his bat.
"Boom!"
The shield held firm.
"Well done, Inoue! Keep it up!" Cole called encouragement, pausing from his sword practice.
Blushing, Orihime nodded. Excited, she cried out:
"Tsubaki — Koten Zanshun (Solitary Cutting Shield)! I reject!"
The assassin-like fairy shot out in black light, striking Tessai's face with a slash that left a cut and sent him flying.
"W-What the…? Why's it so fast this time!?" Tessai exclaimed.
Tsubaki crossed his arms proudly. "Finally that fool woman's starting to use my power properly."
"Don't say mean things!" Hinagiku scolded.
Orihime rushed to Tessai. "Sorry, I'll heal you right now. I just got too excited."
Waving his bat, Tessai chuckled. "This is nothing. Back when I fought Cole, we almost killed each other."
Orihime puffed her cheeks, silently recalling her fairies.
"H-Hey, what about my healing!?" Tessai panicked, rushing up to Cole.
"You're not healing me!?"
"Nope…" Orihime muttered.
"…."
"Brazo Derecha de Gigante (Right Arm of the Giant)!!!"
Chad roared, his black-red arm forming a massive shield before slamming down on Tessai's palm.
Even bracing with spirit pressure, Tessai was pushed back several meters.
Eyes wide, he looked at his hand.
"Chad, your strength… it's grown again, especially in this form."
Clenching his shielded arm, Chad replied steadily: "Thanks to Urahara's training, I've gotten stronger."
"Good, Chad," Cole interjected. "Later we'll go to Hueco Mundo. That'll boost your power even more."
Unlike Orihime's power, he knew how to evolve Chad's. With more Hollow battles, his strength might even reach captain level.
"Cole-san, stop daydreaming. Your swordsmanship isn't even as good as Ichigo's yet," Kisuke grumbled.
He'd expected Cole's talent with the blade to surpass his peers, but it wasn't extraordinary.
Cole pouted inwardly.
"If I just drained all this spirit energy, I'd surpass Ichigo hundreds of times over."
…
That evening, at home.
Rukia sat on her bed in pink pajamas, scowling at the door.
"If that brat sneaks in again, I'll whack him with my hilt."
Every night for days, Cole had come by under the excuse of 'experiments.'
Strange ones, at that — leaving her body tingling but showing no results.
"Dad!"
With a clatter, the window opened. Rukia turned just as Cole leapt in.
"Rukia, yesterday we tested kido under level seventy. Tonight we'll try seventies and eighties."
"No way!" she snapped, blushing and clutching her chest.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt."
"No!"
"I'll be gentle."
"No!!"
"Please, Rukia. It's for your own good. I can definitely extract what's inside you."
"You mean my heart!?" she glared, though her hands slipped from her chest.
She had no idea what he was after, poking and prodding with kido experiments.
Cole smirked, pressing his hand to her chest, spirit energy flowing.
"Yes, yes, I'm a thief of hearts."
"…."
Hours later, Cole left.
Alone, Rukia lay red-faced, rolling under the covers.
"That pervert… always using that excuse. He hasn't extracted anything at all…"
She muttered, glancing at her bed.
Still, knowing he worked so hard for her, even planning to fight Soul Society, warmed her heart.
"Silly boy… you'll never beat Soul Society's captains."
As she whispered, her face suddenly paled.
A crushing spiritual pressure fell from the night sky.
"Brother… Renji…" she whispered.
Byakuya had arrived sooner than she expected.
After a moment of hesitation, she dressed and leapt from her room.
"Yo, Rukia, you're awake."
In the villa's yard, Cole stood smiling.
"Cole!!" Rukia exclaimed, then froze.
"Why are you here!? It's the middle of the night!"
Cole sighed, pointing west. "That arrogant spiritual pressure — did you think I wouldn't notice?"
The force wasn't hidden at all, blanketing all of Karakura Town.
"No!" Rukia grabbed his arm, terrified. "That's my brother — Byakuya. Captain of the Sixth Division. He's extremely dangerous, a cold-blooded killer…"
Cole blinked at her description, amused.
Smiling, he lifted her in his arms, stepping forward like a black eagle soaring west.
"He's already here. Running's pointless. Let's go take a look."
"Cole!!" Rukia kicked her legs in protest.
(End of Chapter)
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