Soul Society, Rukongai.
This place was a massive urban sprawl, completely similar to the World of the Living—people coming and going, traffic flowing nonstop, like stepping back into an ancient capital.
Unlike the lower-ranked districts of Rukongai, the higher-ranked areas were exceptionally prosperous. All kinds of shops dazzled the eye.
Izakaya, yakitori stands, snack shops, candy stalls… the entire street was filled with the tempting aroma of food.
The two of them walked down the street. Rukia munched on the dango Cole had bought for her and sighed with emotion.
"This place is pretty great, right? Even though it's all Rukongai, the lower-ranked areas and the higher-ranked areas are basically two different worlds."
In the district where she'd grown up, even getting drinking water meant stealing or fighting for it—and if you got caught, you could even be beaten to death.
But here, in Districts One through Ten of Rukongai, everyone looked quite well-off.
Cole was also holding a skewer of dango. He muttered,
"That's why I don't totally hate Aizen. Soul Society really does need reform."
The World of the Living had already reached a democratic system, letting people live and work in peace.
But Soul Society, whose military power was even higher than the World of the Living, was still stuck in such a feudal system. It really was hard to understand.
Rukia was startled.
"You're not going to be like Aizen too, are you?"
"How could I be!?"
Cole laughed, took a bite of dango, and said,
"I'm not as extreme as him. Even if I want reform, now isn't the time."
The threat of the Wandenreich (Invisible Empire) was right on the doorstep. Any change right now would be terrible timing.
Better to wait until the Wandenreich issue was resolved—then consider reform. That would be a much better choice.
As he thought that, Cole glanced at the Rukongai residents around them, his expression turning a little strange.
"By the way, Rukia… I've been wanting to ask—why are they all staring at us? Are we really that weird?"
Rukia froze, only then realizing that she and Cole had become the focus of the entire street.
She blinked, then lowered her head and looked at the white haori she was wearing.
Instantly—
The Shinigami girl's face turned bright red.
"I-It's my haori. I forgot to take it off…"
Soul Society was boundlessly vast. Compared to the number of souls living here, the number of Shinigami could be counted on one hand.
That led to a simple result: whenever a Shinigami came to Rukongai, they would draw a lot of attention.
Not to mention, she wasn't wearing a shihakusho.
She was wearing a captain's haori.
Cole couldn't help laughing.
"What a little dummy. You even forgot something like that. Don't tell me you like the attention?"
Rukia's face was still red, but then she noticed something. Her expression darkened, and she threw a punch at Cole, snarling,
"And you're talking about me? What form are you in right now?"
"My form?"
Cole looked down at his own body, then his expression turned awkward. He coughed a few times and explained,
"I got too used to my Hollow form. I completely forgot I was still in it. I'll switch back right now."
Even after Cole reverted to his Shinigami appearance, Rukia still felt her cheeks burning. She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
As a Seireitei captain, she'd been strolling through Rukongai with a Great Hollow.
If word got out, it would go down as a legendary tale for the ages.
"Alright, alright. Don't overthink it. Today, we're going to have a proper good time."
Cole smiled, not letting the little incident affect his mood. He held Rukia's hand and kept wandering around Rukongai, occasionally buying things for her.
Rukia gradually sank into the atmosphere as well.
She happily ate konpeito (sugar candy) while taking Cole around to different places to enjoy themselves.
Time passed, one second at a time.
Unlike Hueco Mundo, which never changed, Soul Society had day and night.
So it didn't take long for the sky to darken.
Rukia looked at the dimming sky, blinked, stuffed another piece of konpeito into her mouth, and said to Cole,
"Cole… should we head back? It's not really good to make Kukaku-san work for so long."
Cole's mouth curled into a smile. He held Rukia's small hand and said,
"Don't rush. I just saw that District Two of Rukongai actually has an inn—and it's really luxurious. Want to just stay there?"
Rukia was confused.
"Then what about Kukaku-san—?"
Before she could finish, Rukia let out a yelp as Cole lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
Cole laughed loudly, holding Rukia's petite body as his figure became a streak of black light, charging straight toward the distant inn.
"At a time like this, who cares about that!?"
Even if Rukia was innocent, she understood what Cole meant.
Her face immediately turned rosy red.
She buried her head against Cole's chest.
At the same time.
Inside the Fifth Division barracks.
Kukaku stared at the mountain of documents in front of her and gritted her teeth as she glared at the doorway.
"Those two idiots… where the hell did they go!? I'm not the Fifth Division captain! Are they using me like a lieutenant!?"
In a bedroom of the Kuchiki household.
Sode no Shirayuki (Sleeves of White Snow), her cheeks slightly red, rolled around on the bed over and over.
"Damn it, Master, and damn you too, Cole… you went out to play and didn't even call me. Be gentler… I can't take it anymore either…"
…
The next morning.
Rukia woke up on the soft bed and instantly felt soreness all over her body.
Thinking back on last night's madness, Rukia blushed all the way to her ears. She leaned over and bit down hard on Cole's shoulder.
"You jerk, Cole! You just had to bully me like that! Don't you know I still have work today!?"
Cole had already woken up as well. Hearing that, he raised an eyebrow and said with a grin,
"In that case, want to do some morning practice?"
As he spoke, his hand reached toward Rukia's body. Rukia jumped in fright and hurriedly wrapped herself up in the blanket.
"No, no! I've only been captain for less than a month—I have to go to work. I can't let Kukaku-san get too exhausted."
The smile on Cole's face grew even brighter. He leaned close and whispered a few words into Rukia's ear.
After a moment of bashful hesitation—
Rukia still, reluctantly, agreed.
Two more hours passed before Cole finally "pardoned" her and let her return to the Fifth Division.
There, she saw Kukaku, dark circles under her eyes and an expression full of grief and rage.
Rukia felt guilty and asked softly,
"Kukaku-san, why do you look so worn out? Did you not sleep all night?"
As Rukia spoke, Kukaku also noticed the bite marks on her neck, and her face immediately darkened.
She had worked here the entire night.
And meanwhile, the owner of this office had gone off with her little man to fool around all night long.
"That's too much…"
Kukaku ground her teeth and said,
"You left so many documents behind, and people kept coming to rush me. How would I have the energy to rest?"
Rukia glanced at the now-empty desk and felt even more guilty.
Because the desk that used to be piled full—
Now only had two or three documents left.
She'd thought those documents would take at least half a month to deal with.
So Rukia said apologetically,
"Kukaku-san, I'm really sorry for troubling you. I thought you'd leave after handling just part of it…"
That only made Kukaku angrier. She snapped through clenched teeth,
"I wanted to leave! The problem is I can't get out at all! I'm not even from the Seireitei—how am I supposed to pass through the main gate?"
When Cole dragged her in, he had broken through the Seireitei barrier effortlessly.
But when she tried to leave—
No matter how long she struggled, she couldn't get out.
As she spoke, Kukaku glanced behind Rukia and said viciously,
"Where's that little brat? Didn't he say he'd help me catch Isshin and drag him over? Why haven't I seen that bastard yet?"
Hearing that, Rukia finally smiled.
"About that… I think he'll be back soon."
Just then, a black rift tore open in the office space.
Cole stepped out from within it.
Beside him stood Isshin—bruised, swollen, and wearing an awkward expression.
Cole happily waved at Kukaku.
"Kukaku-nee, I caught Isshin for you. And as a bonus, buy-one-get-one—I brought his son too."
Ichigo stepped out from behind Isshin, scratching his head awkwardly as he forced himself to speak to Kukaku.
"Kukaku-obasan… hello. Long time no see."
He'd only just learned that Kukaku was actually family—and close family at that.
Just thinking about it made him want to yell at his old man.
This was way too awkward!
He'd met his own aunt before and hadn't even recognized her—and he'd even fought with his cousin.
Isshin coughed and said,
"Kukaku… long time no see. I've been meaning to come visit you for a while."
A bulging vein popped on Kukaku's forehead. She crossed her arms and laughed coldly.
"You've been meaning to visit me? Heh heh heh… If Cole hadn't dragged you here, how many more 'meanings to' would you have had?"
Sweat poured down Isshin's forehead. He looked at Cole like he was begging for help.
This was exactly why he hadn't dared come back to the Seireitei!!!
Because even he knew—
What he had done back then wasn't human.
He was the head of the family, yet he abandoned the entire clan, changed his name, married, had children, and ignored everything about the clan.
Cole looked at them with pity and waved his hand.
"Isshin… This mess is yours. Deal with it yourselves. If you die, I'll collect your bodies."
With that, he grabbed Rukia's hand and vanished from the Fifth Division in a flicker of hoho (Flash Step).
Even after they had gone far away—
They could still hear the screams behind them.
Cole quietly drew a cross over his chest and mourned.
"Kurosaki… don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame your old man for being irresponsible. I'll pray for you in silence."
Rukia was buzzing with excitement.
The documents were finished.
Didn't that mean she was free now?
"Cole-kun, then where are we going to play now?"
Rukia looked at Cole with eager anticipation, wanting to continue yesterday's honeymoon trip.
"Well…"
Cole rubbed his chin and smiled.
"How about we go to the World of the Living for a stroll? There are lots of fun places there too."
"Okay…"
Rukia had just agreed when a resentful voice sounded not far away.
"Master, Cole, where are you going to play? Can you take me with you? I suffered all night yesterday…"
Cole's expression immediately turned awkward.
At the same time, Rukia blushed as well and looked shyly toward Sode no Shirayuki.
They'd had too much fun last night—
And completely forgot about her.
So, the journey that followed went from two people to three.
They played hard in the World of the Living for several days.
Only when the Fifth Division's documents started piling up again did Rukia finally return, reluctant, to handle her work.
Cole was bored as well. After thinking it over, he headed to the Second Division, pushed open Soi fong's bedroom door, walked in, and said,
"Soi fong, I've been in Soul Society for days now. Why haven't you come to find me to play?"
The moment the words fell, Cole sucked in a sharp breath, rubbed his eyes, and stared in shock at Soi fong and Yoruichi on the bed.
"No way…"
"Soi fong, you actually succeeded at overthrowing your superior?"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]