Chapter 14

"That's because the Thirteenth Division has been mocked by the other divisions several times for not having a lieutenant," Rukia Kuchiki said with a sigh.

"Mocked? Why? Don't they know Captain Ukitake is one of the oldest captains in Soul Society?" Miyako Amamiya was puzzled. Ukitake was a student of Captain-Commander Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, yet people still mocked the Thirteenth Division.

"Of course they wouldn't dare talk about Captain Ukitake. But because we don't have a lieutenant, the other divisions think it's because the members of the Thirteenth Division aren't good enough that the position has stayed vacant." Rukia was aware of what people said, which was why she had always wanted to train hard and show everyone that the lieutenant's position wasn't vacant because the division's members weren't good enough.

"I see..." Miyako understood. In the original story, the 11th Division looked down on the Fourth Division's healers because they were a combat division. But if asked to pass judgment on Retsu Unohana, they wouldn't have dared.

"Come to think of it, I was going to congratulate you just now." Rukia sighed again. "But the way you acted put me off."

"Don't be like that, Rukia. You really helped me out this time. I owe you one," Miyako said with a smile.

"Forget it... Amamiya, congratulations on officially becoming a lieutenant." Rukia smiled. "That speed is really amazing. I lost our old bet. You've already... reached the same heights Lieutenant Kaien once did."

"You're calling me the wrong thing, Rukia," Miyako reminded her.

"Oh, right. You're officially a lieutenant now, so I should call you..." Rukia realized.

"That's not what I mean. I told you before I went to the World of the Living last time, didn't I?" Miyako said, disgruntled.

"Miyako...?" Rukia said slowly, adding the honorific.

"You don't need the honorific either." Miyako scratched his head, exasperated. "I told you ages ago to just call me by my name. You're really stubborn."

Rukia stared at Miyako, lost in thought. That attitude... it seemed that long ago, there had been someone else who often spoke to her as an equal like this...

"Hey, Rukia. Hey." Miyako waved a hand in front of her face, thinking she was getting lost in her thoughts again.

Rukia slapped his hand away and said irritably, "It's nothing."

She walked to one side and gazed into the distance, as if looking beyond the bounds of the Seireitei. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

"What are you looking at?" Miyako asked softly.

"Nothing..." Rukia began to deny it, but stopped. Then she looked at Miyako.

"Miyako." It was the first time she had properly called him by his given name to his face.

"I want to see two people. Could you... come with me?" Rukia's gaze shifted, but there was determination in it too. She seemed to have made up her mind.

"Piece of cake," Miyako said with a soft laugh. "Even if you wanted to beat up your big brother, I'd come with you. Though the two of us probably couldn't beat him."

Rukia burst out laughing. She now knew why she had instinctively asked Miyako to come with her.

This feeling... isn't bad at all, Rukia thought.

Miyako watched her quietly, something in his heart seeming to melt...

"West Rukongai?" Ukitake asked in surprise.

"Yes. Rukia didn't tell me exactly where," Miyako explained. He had to ask his captain for leave on his first day as lieutenant, and even Miyako, who liked to slack off, felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm very sorry, Captain Ukitake," Miyako said. "As soon as Rukia and I get back, I'll return and take care of the division's work."

"No, Miyako, that's a small matter," Ukitake said with a smile. "With Kiyone and Sentarō here, you have nothing to worry about. Besides..."

"Besides?" Miyako asked.

Ukitake shook his head. "Please take care of Rukia," he said seriously. He knew Rukia had to be going to West Rukongai to see the Shiba family. That meant she was ready, though perhaps she had asked Miyako to accompany her because she lacked the courage herself.

It's been far too long, but finally... Miyako should be able to help Rukia, Ukitake thought.

"Rukia is an excellent member of our Thirteenth Division. You don't have to ask me, Captain. I wouldn't stand by and do nothing," Miyako said with a smile. "And Captain, you don't need to use an honorific with me."

Miyako then got a pass to Rukongai from Ukitake and prepared to find Rukia so they could set off together.

At the barracks, Miyako spotted Rukia and waved to her.

Rukia Kuchiki hurried over. "Well? Did Captain Ukitake agree?" She was visibly still a little nervous. If Captain Ukitake knew she was going to West Rukongai, he could guess that she was going to see the Shiba family. So she was unsure whether he would try to stop her.

"Of course he did. It was a request from his lieutenant, after all." Miyako planted his hands on his hips and spoke proudly.

Rukia breathed a sigh of relief at the first part, but when she heard the rest and saw Miyako's expression, she could barely contain herself again.

"Then let's go." Rukia Kuchiki headed toward the entrance to the Thirteenth Division barracks, ignoring Miyako's antics.

"Hey, why are you leaving? Where's your thanks, Rukia?" Miyako called after her.

What request from his lieutenant? It was obviously Captain Ukitake... Rukia thought, at a loss for words.

At the western gate of the Seireitei, Miyako and Rukia Kuchiki presented the relevant documents to Jidanbō and walked straight out.

Rukongai's residents walked about here and there, none finding it strange to see two Soul Reapers. Soul Reapers had come to Rukongai on business and passed in and out of the Seireitei before, after all.

Along the way, Rukia was unusually quiet, simply leading the way.

"Rukia, where are we going? We're already out in the countryside." Miyako could tell Rukia was probably still hesitant, and he wanted her to tell him. If she kept hesitating like this, she might not be able to say a word when she met Kūkaku Shiba.

"...To the outskirts of West Rukongai," Rukia said this time. "To... visit the Shiba family."

"Lieutenant Kaien's family?" Miyako asked.

"...Yes." Rukia said no more.

Seeing that, Miyako stepped forward, put both hands on Rukia Kuchiki's head, and began vigorously ruffling her hair.

Rukia stopped and immediately slapped his hands away. Flustered and angry, she demanded, "Hey! Miyako! What are you doing?!"

Though she had resolved to offer a proper apology this time, the closer she got, the more afraid she became that Lieutenant Kaien's family wouldn't forgive her. Miyako's antics instantly distracted her.

"You're going to apologize to Lieutenant Kaien's family, aren't you?" Miyako said. His expression showed that it was a statement, not a question.

"How did you know?" Rukia was surprised. She hadn't told him.

"That's how children apologize. They're afraid they won't be forgiven, so they hesitate and keep putting it off."

"You called me a child..." Rukia's fists were starting to clench.

"But the most important thing about an apology isn't how long it takes," Miyako told her. "It's your sincerity. Do you really want to apologize to them from the bottom of your heart?"

"Of course I do! It's just... I should have gone to apologize to them sooner..." Rukia said dejectedly.

"Then let's go. Nothing else matters. They'll definitely forgive you." Miyako pushed Rukia from behind, urging her to get moving.

"Don't push me, I can walk on my own! Honestly, I don't know where you get that confidence..." Rukia muttered.

Before long, Miyako saw two enormous hands raised ahead, holding up an exaggerated banner bearing the name "Kūkaku Shiba" in huge characters.

"We're here." Rukia looked at the place and paused for a while, but eventually walked forward.

As soon as they approached the entrance, two burly men came out and stopped them.

"May I ask what brings a Soul Reaper lieutenant to the Shiba Clan?" one of them asked, recognizing the lieutenant's badge on Miyako's shoulder.

"I..." Rukia tried to speak, but Miyako beat her to it.

"I'm Miyako Amamiya, lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, and this is Rukia Kuchiki, a member of the division. We've come to visit Miss Kūkaku Shiba and Mr. Ganju Shiba. Could you please let them know?" Miyako said.

"Understood. Please wait a moment." One of them then went inside to find them.

Inside the residence, Ganju Shiba was shouting.

"Oh, oh, oh, Sis, I really can't take it anymore! What's the point of learning all this Kidō anyway? Am I supposed to become a Soul Reaper? I'm not doing it!" Ganju ran as he dodged Kūkaku Shiba's attacks from behind.

"Give me a break. Kidō isn't exclusive to Soul Reapers. As the last man of the Shiba Clan, you have a lot more than this to learn." Kūkaku ignored his wails and continued attacking.

But then a knock at the training room door interrupted her attack.

Saved, Ganju thought, wiping away his sweat.

"Lady Kūkaku," a voice called from outside.

"Ginhiko? What is it?" Kūkaku asked.

"Two Soul Reapers are outside. They say they've come to visit you and Master Ganju."

"Soul Reapers? Interesting. Who are they?"

"Miyako Amamiya, lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, and Rukia Kuchiki."

"What?" "Rukia Kuchiki!" Kūkaku and Ganju exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

"She's the Soul Reaper who killed Big Brother!" Ganju slammed a fist into the ground. "Why would she come here now? To humiliate us? I'm going to teach her a lesson!"

"Wait, Ganju," Kūkaku said with a frown. She wasn't sure what they wanted either. Since Rukia Kuchiki had come with Lieutenant Miyako Amamiya, Kūkaku didn't know whether Rukia was there to apologize or for something else.

"I'll go with you. Let's see what they're up to." Kūkaku went out with the bruised and battered Ganju.

After waiting a while, Miyako finally saw Kūkaku and Ganju Shiba.

Kūkaku was still dressed in that sexy red outfit, with a headscarf wrapped around her long black hair.

They do look a little alike, she and Ichigo Kurosaki, Miyako thought. He felt Ichigo looked more like Kūkaku's younger brother. Ganju, by contrast, looked a little rough.

Miyako looked at Ganju. Uh, what was with all the bruises?

"A Soul Reaper and a Soul Reaper lieutenant. What brings you all the way here?" Kūkaku asked coldly.

"Hey! You Soul Reaper! You killed Big Brother, and you've got the nerve to come see us? You even brought a lieutenant. Are you here to pick a fight? You definitely are, aren't you?! Even with a lieutenant backing you, today I, the great Ganju, will—"

At that, Kūkaku drove an elbow into Ganju. "Ganju, shut up for a moment."

"I..." Even now, Rukia was still hesitant, stammering and unwilling to continue.

Miyako sighed and gave Rukia a hard slap on the back.

"Ow!" Rukia glared at him.

"Rukia, you finally made it here. You're not going to leave without saying anything, are you?" Miyako said.

Rukia took a deep breath and finally spoke to the two before her. "I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry."

"This apology is a little too late. I wanted to say it sooner... but because of my weakness, because I kept running away from what happened to Lieutenant Kaien, it took me this long to come and apologize."

"But even after all this time, I still didn't have the courage to face you alone. I'm truly... sorry."

Kūkaku and Ganju said nothing, listening coldly.

"I won't forgive you." After a long while, Ganju finally spoke.

"What..." Rukia Kuchiki's fears had come true.

As I thought, what I did doesn't deserve forgiveness... Rukia trembled.

Miyako looked at Rukia. She seemed to have returned to the gloomy state she was in when he first met her. He gripped her hand and felt her hand and body trembling.

Rukia's eyes had reddened. She looked at Miyako, tears seeming ready to spill at any moment.

Miyako shook his head at Rukia, then looked at Kūkaku.

"Miss Kūkaku Shiba, what's your answer? Is it the same as Mr. Ganju Shiba's?" Miyako asked.

Kūkaku scratched her head. Seeing Rukia like that, she sighed and said, "You don't need to apologize anymore."

"Oh, is that so? Right, I understand. I'm not qualified to ask for your forgiveness. After all, I'm the one who..." Rukia had gone back to muttering, blaming herself nonstop.

"Rukia, let Miss Kūkaku finish," Miyako said.

"You little brat, honestly... I mean we're putting this behind us. You don't have to say sorry anymore."

"Huh? What?" Rukia looked bewildered, unable to believe what she had heard Kūkaku say.

"Sis! Why would you say we're putting it behind us? Big Brother..." Ganju protested anxiously.

"Mr. Ganju, do you really know everything that happened?" Miyako still held Rukia's hand, and he could feel that it was still a little cold.

"Huh? Of course I do! The Soul Reaper next to you brought Big Brother back when he was barely alive. She admitted herself that she killed him." Ganju was furious.

Kūkaku was about to say something too.

"Then let me tell you. The Thirteenth Division has a detailed record of everything that happened," Miyako said, and slowly explained it to him.

"How could that be...? Big Brother ran into her sword himself? He did it willingly?" Ganju still found it hard to believe. "You're lying! Soul Reapers are all rotten. Big Brother, he..."

"Ganju!" Kūkaku shouted, cutting him off. "What he said is true."

"No, Sis, you're lying to me. Big Brother..."

"How could this be..." Ganju collapsed, drained of strength.