On top of a utility pole by the street, a girl in a black Shihakushou stood firmly.
She had short hair with the ends flicked outward, deep violet eyes, a single strand of bangs hanging down her forehead. Petite in figure, she carried a long sword at her waist.
"The Shinigami girl… Kuchiki Rukia!"
Cole's eyes flashed with excitement as he looked at her.
The reason he had chosen to live at the Kurosaki Clinic was partly for safety, and partly to wait for Rukia's arrival.
Only through her would he have a chance to obtain transcendent power.
There were two possibilities.
The first was becoming a Shinigami.
The second was being influenced by the Hōgyoku and gaining special abilities.
Either way, he could shed his weakness, no longer running from Hollows, but instead having the ability to fight back.
As he was lost in thought, Ichigo's urgent voice called out:
"Cole, run! That monster is coming straight for us!"
Cole snapped back to reality and saw the grotesque Hollow charging at him with greed in its eyes, roaring furiously.
"Damn it, you really think I'm an easy target?"
His eyes burned with anger as he stepped forward, barely managing to channel some spiritual power over his fist, and smashed it forward.
After being chased for so many years, he had at least learned to gauge the strength of a Hollow.
"Die!!!"
With a furious roar, Cole's fist landed squarely on the Hollow's mask.
"Bang!"
The impact sent the Hollow staggering back several steps, howling in pain.
From atop the utility pole, Rukia's eyes widened in shock as she turned to look at Cole in disbelief.
"He can see Hollows? No, it's more than that…"
Her gaze shifted to the mask. On it was a clear fist mark, cracks spreading across it as if it might shatter.
"A human… almost killed a Hollow?"
Rukia was stunned. She recalled what the instructors at Shinō Academy had taught them: humans were fragile. Even if a hundred humans fought together, they couldn't kill even an ordinary Hollow.
That was why Shinigami were needed to slay Hollows and maintain balance between the worlds.
But this human before her…
"Roar!!!"
The Hollow's furious cry shook her back to reality.
Before Cole could swing again, Rukia drew her Zanpakutō and slashed down.
"Shua!"
The Hollow's head was severed, its body slowly dispersing into black reishi.
Ichigo suddenly realized and exclaimed with joy:
"So it was you protecting us all this time?"
But Rukia didn't even look at him. Instead, she lightly leapt down from the pole and landed in front of Cole.
"How strange… a human who can see Hollows, and with unnatural strength too…"
Rukia curiously examined Cole, even reaching out to pat his body here and there, searching for the cause.
Cole's face flushed red. He stepped back, coughed lightly, and said:
"Even though I'm a guy, I'm still pretty pure, so could you respect me a little?"
Rukia blinked, her face turning bright red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hands.
Only then did she remember—if Cole could see Hollows, of course he could see her as well.
"Uh…"
The Shinigami girl turned and bolted away in embarrassment.
"Wait…"
Cole stretched out his hand helplessly. "Why are you running so fast? It's not like I'm asking you to take responsibility…"
But since she had left, he didn't chase.
After all, as long as Urahara Kisuke and Kurosaki Isshin hadn't abandoned their plan, no matter how far she ran, she would have to meet him tonight.
...
"Cole, this is so strange. That girl was the one protecting us, so why did she run away when she saw us!?"
Ichigo said as he opened the door to the Kurosaki Clinic.
Cole, standing beside him, replied casually: "I think you'll soon have more pressing things to worry about."
"Why?"
Before Ichigo could finish, a sudden kick sent him flying, crashing into the ground with a loud bang.
"Hahaha! Ichigo, you're too careless. Didn't I tell you to always stay alert?"
A rough-looking man in a white lab coat laughed heartily.
Cole looked at the man speechlessly, but in his heart, he didn't dare underestimate him.
Right now, he was living as a human. But years ago, this man had been the captain of the 10th Division in the Seireitei—Shiba Isshin.
It was thanks to him that Cole had managed to survive these past five years.
As he thought this, a whistling sound rushed past his ear. Instinctively, he swung his palm.
"Pa!"
A sharp smack echoed.
In Ichigo's stunned gaze, his father was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the wall with a loud boom.
"Crack crack crack…"
Cracks spread across the wall.
And right in the center was Isshin, embedded deep into the wall.
Cole gasped, rushing over to pry him out.
"Isshin-san, are you okay?"
Isshin trembled as he raised a thumb at Cole.
"Well done, Cole. I have nothing left to teach you. Just… remember to light more incense for me next time…"
With that, his head lolled to the side, and he fainted.
"Isshin-san!!!"
Cole let out a sharp cry.
...
"So, how's Isshin-san?"
Outside the bedroom, Cole asked anxiously as Ichigo stepped out.
He hadn't expected that a moment's distraction would send the former 10th Division captain crashing into a wall, stuck so deep he could hardly be pulled out.
"No worries, he's just asleep."
Ichigo wasn't concerned about his father. Instead, he gave Cole a strange look.
"Isn't your strength getting way too much? I remember when you first moved in, you were just a normal guy. But now, after five years, your power is dozens of times stronger. It's like you've turned into a monster."
Of course… I've been putting all my points into Strength for five years straight. Cole thought silently, but outwardly he smiled.
"Isn't it thanks to Isshin-san's constant training? Without him, I never could've gotten this strong."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Training? You call that training…"
Before he finished—
Another kick sent him flying again.
Isshin retracted his foot and laughed boisterously. "Ichigo, didn't I tell you? Never let your guard down at any time!"
"Damn old man…"
Veins bulged on Ichigo's forehead.
......…
......…
(End of Chapter)
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