Night fell, moonlight spilling over Seireitei. But instead of peace, the entire city boiled with chaos.
Aizen had defected!
Gin and Tōsen had defected!
The First Division's vice-captain Sasakibe was gravely injured!
The Head Captain himself had ordered a search across Seireitei for a blue orb. And to hunt down the traitors.
Three captains gone. A quarter of the Gotei 13. It was unthinkable. The shock spread like wildfire.
Especially the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions—betrayed by their own captains. Many rushed to the First Division to demand answers. But facts couldn't be denied. Patrols swept every street, searching with suffocating intensity.
Meanwhile, in the Third Division barracks, Cole lay on a soft pink bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Beside him, Unohana sat gently healing his wounds with kido.
"Cole-kun, aren't you going to sleep?" she asked softly.
He twitched. Sleep? With this woman beside him? Not the gentle healer of old, but the bloodthirsty demon who craved battle in the Thousand-Year Blood War? He feared he wouldn't live to see morning.
Dryly, he said, "I usually sleep naked… but with you here, I don't think I can."
"Don't worry," Unohana smiled. "You can. I am a doctor, after all."
Cole snapped upright. "Soi Fong! Save me! Let her sleep with you instead—I'll die if I stay here!"
A pillow smacked his face. Soi Fong muttered, half-asleep, "Shut up. If Unohana-taichō wants to spar with you, then go. She said she won't kill you."
Cole shivered. Not killing was worse—torture. Still, exhaustion claimed him, and before long, he drifted into uneasy sleep. Unohana smiled faintly, lying beside him.
Morning. Cole awoke to a killing gaze. He turned, meeting Soi Fong's eyes, sharp as knives.
"Soi Fong, why are you looking at me like that? It's not like I peeked at your panties," he yawned.
Her teeth ground. "Cole. Can you explain why you're in the same bed as Unohana-taichō?"
He turned slowly—and there she was, smiling at him. "Cole-kun, you're awake."
Panicked, he threw off the covers to check if he was intact. Dozens of pillows rained down on him.
"Why show me your naked body!?" Soi Fong roared.
"I still have underwear on!" Cole shot back. To his shock, he was unharmed.
Unohana stretched languidly, her pink sleepwear straining against her full figure. "You're too suspicious, Cole-kun. I only let you rest to prepare for today's training."
Cole swallowed hard. Her body rivaled Matsumoto's, maybe more.
"This sleepwear," Unohana said, glancing at herself with faint embarrassment. "It belongs to Soi Fong. I took the largest size… but it seems too small."
Veins bulged on Soi Fong's forehead. Her largest size, tight on Unohana? She hurled more pillows. "Get out, both of you!!"
Cast into the street, Cole sighed. "Flower-sis, if you keep this up, I'll be homeless at night. At least give her some face."
Unohana only smiled. "You can always stay in my quarters. It'll make training easier."
Cole groaned. "I'd rather it not be the kind of training that kills me…"
The streets bristled with patrols, especially from the betrayed divisions. Yet none dared question Unohana's presence, or the man behind her—they assumed he was just a Fourth Division member.
"Tch. This mess is bigger than I thought," Cole muttered.
"Of course," Unohana said. "This is the greatest upheaval in a century. Even the Head Captain hunts Aizen."
Cole shrugged. "If you want to find him, check the Central 46. The safest place is always the most dangerous."
Unohana raised a brow. "Then why not tell Yamamoto?"
"Why should I? He can't catch Aizen anyway. Better to keep him busy than have him chase me."
She chuckled. "Fair enough."
Soon they reached the Fourth Division barracks. Vice-captain Kotetsu Isane rushed up, relief plain. "Captain, you're safe! Last night was terrifying—"
Her eyes widened at Cole. "The ryoka!? You—you forced Captain Unohana? Did you—"
"Isane," Unohana said calmly. "Cole-kun is my guest. Show respect."
Isane froze, then stammered, "B-but… he's a ryoka! He absorbed our buildings! Don't be fooled just because he looks handsome! He's dangerous!"
Unohana ignored her, leading Cole to a hidden rock formation. She chanted softly.
"Strike, shepherd of shadows. Hunt, crimson sparrow. Kekkai-gi, open!"
The ground rumbled. A black cavern yawned open.
Cole blinked. "This looks like Urahara's space. Did he build this too?"
Unohana smiled. "When I created this, Urahara hadn't even been born."
Cole whistled. "So you're at least seven or eight hundred years old…"
As he stepped forward, a small figure darted to his side—Soi Fong again.
"You followed me?" Cole asked.
She snorted. "You kept dodging yesterday. I want to see this so-called sparring myself."
Cole brightened. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me! You'll save me, right?"
"Idiot. If you die, Yoruichi-sama will be mine."
"Eh? I thought we were friends."
"I don't befriend rivals."
The group descended into the dark.
At the chamber's heart, Unohana turned, blue reiatsu radiating like storm clouds. Killing intent rolled out, sharp as blades.
Soi Fong stiffened. "Such bloodlust…!"
Isane trembled, seeing this side of her captain again.
Unohana drew her blade, eyes shining feverishly. "Cole-kun, are you ready?"
Cole sighed, summoning his golden staff. "Come on, then."
Unohana frowned faintly. "Where is your zanpakuto?"
"This is my zanpakuto," Cole answered, swinging it. The sheer weight stirred a storm of wind.
She said no more, body flashing forward like white lightning, blade stabbing for his heart.
Cole swung his staff to meet it.
"Clang!"
Steel shrieked. Unohana's hands trembled, barely holding on.
Isane gasped. "That's not fair! His zanpakuto is too heavy—this isn't swordsmanship!"
But Unohana licked her lips. "No, Isane. This is swordsmanship."
She lunged again. Blades and staff clashed again and again, sparks showering, blood staining both combatants' clothes.
Fabric tore. Skin gleamed pale beneath slashes.
Cole glanced at Unohana's half-bared chest and coughed. "Flower-sis, maybe… change clothes first?"
(End of Chapter)
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