Chapter 17

"But Rukia, doesn't your Sode no Shirayuki have more techniques? I only saw the first dance and the second dance. If those are your only two moves, they shouldn't count as a trump card, should they?"

"I do have another move, San no Mai: Shirafune. It's a technique meant to secure victory. But the third dance consumes too much Reiryoku, so I wouldn't have used it unless I was certain it would hit you," Rukia said with a sigh. Miyako Amamiya's Zanpakuto really was a bad match for her. If only her Sode no Shirayuki could produce ice without conditions, like Captain Hitsugaya's.

"Rukia, did you see me use my Zanpakuto's ability?" Miyako Amamiya asked.

"Your Divine Arrow: Severed Thought's ability? Isn't it forming arrows out of Reiryoku and then manipulating them afterward?" Rukia asked in confusion. That was what Miyako Amamiya had done both times he had used Shikai so far.

"That was just an application of Reiryoku. Forming arrows and manipulating or changing them isn't my Zanpakuto's true ability," Miyako Amamiya explained.

"What? Everything you've used all this time was just basic manipulation?" Rukia asked in shock.

"What I'm trying to tell you is that no matter who you face, you shouldn't reveal all your abilities. Until you've completely defeated your opponent, you can't let them know what you're truly capable of." Miyako Amamiya decided to tell her after all. Rukia wasn't the only one with this bad habit, and information was an important part of battle.

"Really..." It was the first time anyone had ever told Rukia this.

"Have you heard what Captain Ukitake's Zanpakuto can do? What about Captain Kyōraku's?" Miyako Amamiya asked.

"Captain Ukitake's Zanpakuto..." Rukia fell into thought. Now that she considered it, Captain Ukitake had been a captain for so long, yet few people knew his Zanpakuto's ability.

"Isn't that because Captain Ukitake is ill and doesn't fight very often?"

"Then what about Captain Kyōraku? Or the other captains?"

"Hmm... No, that's not right. Captain Aizen is happy to tell people his Zanpakuto's ability. He even demonstrated his Shikai for us personally."

Miyako Amamiya felt a headache coming on. Only Aizen would be so generous about telling people his Shikai's ability, because it was a lie. Miyako Amamiya needed to have a good talk with the straightforward Rukia.

"Let's leave Captain Aizen aside for now. In any case, Rukia, don't tell your enemies your Zanpakuto's ability during a fight. Until you've confirmed that your enemy is completely down, keep your mouth shut. Look at what happened this time. Wasn't it because I'd figured out most of your Zanpakuto's ability that you couldn't land a hit on me?"

Rukia was a little embarrassed when Miyako Amamiya pointed out the truth.

"Enough already, I get it. Honestly, your Zanpakuto is just too good a counter to mine."

"Besides, after all that, you still haven't told me your Zanpakuto's real ability."

"Well, you'll see it someday." Miyako Amamiya brushed the question aside. He couldn't let Rukia know now. If Aizen heard about it, he might give Miyako Amamiya some special treatment. After all, his Zanpakuto was...

"So mysterious..." Rukia muttered, unconvinced.

"It's still early, Rukia. Let's keep training. After that fight, I have a few thoughts about your Zanpakuto that I can share with you."

"My Sode no Shirayuki?" Rukia asked, holding her Zanpakuto in confusion. She didn't know what Miyako Amamiya wanted to say. But at that moment, her stomach chose an inconvenient time to rumble, and Rukia's expression changed rapidly.

Miyako Amamiya stared at her without a word. "How about we eat first?" he asked with a smile.

Rukia silently turned and walked toward her bag.

Miyako Amamiya chuckled as he watched her ears turn red and decided not to tease her any further.

In the captain's office at the Sixth Division barracks, Byakuya Kuchiki looked expressionlessly at the letter before him.

"A resignation?" Byakuya looked at his lieutenant, Ginjiro. He had been doing a decent job as lieutenant, so why did he want to resign?

"Your reason?" Byakuya asked calmly.

"Well, Captain Kuchiki, you know my dream is to make all kinds of glasses." Ginjiro scratched his head, thinking that Byakuya would probably lecture him again.

"Now that my shop, Silver Dragonfly of Glasses, is up and running, I want to pursue my dream in earnest."

Byakuya said nothing for a long time. The reason for his resignation was rather frivolous, but Ginjiro had also been a diligent lieutenant, and refusing him would be rather unfeeling. Besides, as long as it complied with the rules, there was no reason he couldn't grant the request.

"I understand," Byakuya said. "However, the Sixth Division cannot be without a lieutenant. You will recommend a candidate for the position."

"Thank you so much, Captain Kuchiki," Ginjiro said loudly. He hadn't expected to escape a scolding this time. He had often been lectured before for working part-time at his glasses shop, though Byakuya had only lectured him and never stopped him. Ginjiro hadn't expected him to agree outright this time.

Captain Kuchiki really is a good nobleman, cold on the outside but warm at heart, Ginjiro thought. Other nobles might have laughed at him. Ginjiro had only dared make this request because, after spending so much time with Byakuya, he had come to understand a little of his true nature.

"Please rest assured, Captain Kuchiki. I already found a candidate for the Sixth Division's lieutenant before I brought this up." Ginjiro patted his chest reassuringly.

"Who is the candidate?"

"Renji Abarai, currently 6th Seat of the 11th Division," Ginjiro said.

"Renji Abarai..." Byakuya knew him. He was his adopted sister Rukia Kuchiki's childhood friend, and they had enrolled at Shin'ō Academy together. Renji had been assigned to the first class because of his outstanding talent with a sword, but his adopted sister Rukia had not joined him there.

"His strength?" Byakuya continued. Even if he was his adopted sister's childhood friend, that was no reason to disregard the rules. He still had to see whether Renji Abarai was qualified to be lieutenant.

"Please rest assured, Captain Kuchiki. I've already looked into him. Renji Abarai has learned Shikai, and he's different from those battle maniacs in the 11th Division. He can be a little foolish at times, but he'll have no trouble handling division business as lieutenant."

"I see." After hearing him out, Byakuya decided to see for himself. "I'll submit a request to the 11th Division and then test him. We'll see whether he's truly qualified..."

At the 11th Division barracks, Renji Abarai was sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath and unable to move.

"Honestly, Renji, you can barely manage Zanpakuto Materialization, and you already want to start learning Bankai? How naive. That's enough for today." Ikkaku Madarame waved a hand and walked out the door.

"Please wait..." Renji watched his respected senior walk straight out and sank helplessly to the floor.

Damn it, even the first step of Bankai training is this hard, Renji thought dejectedly. How am I supposed to surpass that man at this rate...?

The man Renji wanted to surpass was naturally Byakuya Kuchiki. But Byakuya had been a captain for many years and had mastered Bankai long ago. His strength was unfathomable, and Renji couldn't help feeling powerless.

"But I'll never give up!" Renji raised his hands and clenched them into fists.

"6th Seat Abarai, it looks like the Sixth Division's lieutenant needs you for something," a member of the 11th Division informed him.

"Mr. Ginjiro?" Renji wondered aloud, but he left the 11th Division to look for him. The goggles on his head had been a gift from Ginjiro, who had also said a whole lot of things Renji hadn't understood. He wondered what Ginjiro wanted with him now.

On the way, Renji walked along in silence until he heard a familiar voice he hadn't heard in a long time. He looked toward it and finally saw Rukia again, but she was talking to someone beside her.

"Idiot, it's nowhere near as easy as you make it sound. My Sode no Shirayuki isn't like your Zanpakuto. It can't be controlled that precisely..." Listening to Miyako Amamiya's fanciful idea, Rukia couldn't help giving him a kick.

"Ahem, don't say that, Rukia. It wouldn't hurt to try. Besides, your Sode no Shirayuki only has three moves so far. Isn't that a bit too few?" Miyako Amamiya said.

"What did you say? I worked day and night on those three moves..." Rukia was about to lose her temper when she noticed Renji Abarai up ahead, whom she hadn't seen in so long. She immediately fell silent.

Renji opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say either. After all, he was the one who had supported Rukia in becoming a noble, and he was also the one who had distanced himself from her afterward. How could he face Rukia Kuchiki now?

Just as the two of them were about to turn and leave, Miyako Amamiya spoke up. "You must be Renji Abarai."

Rukia Kuchiki turned to look at Miyako Amamiya, not expecting him to call out to Renji. Rukia herself felt terribly awkward, meeting her childhood friend without greeting him. She hadn't contacted him once since becoming a member of the Kuchiki Clan.

"Hello, I'm Renji Abarai of the 11th Division. And you are?" Renji asked.

"I'm Miyako Amamiya, the newly appointed lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, as you can see." Miyako stepped aside to show the lieutenant's insignia on his shoulder as he introduced himself.

"As for this awkward member of our division, you two are old acquaintances, aren't you? I don't need to introduce her, do I?"

Miyako Amamiya gave Rukia a nudge, but she looked at him in embarrassed irritation. She knew she was being awkward, but it was still a little humiliating to have him say it aloud.

"Hey, Rukia, how long are you going to keep acting like this? Isn't he a friend you cherish? Are you going to let things stay the way they were before?" Miyako Amamiya bent down and whispered in her ear.

Renji stared blankly at the two of them, unsure what to say. He only felt as though the emptiness inside him had grown.

Rukia took a deep breath and finally spoke. "It's been a long time, Renji."

"Ah, yeah, it has..." Renji said nothing more. After they had both remained silent for a while, he found an excuse to leave. He still wasn't ready.

"Um, the Sixth Division's lieutenant is looking for me, so I'll be going." Renji turned to leave.

Rukia opened her mouth to stop him, but in the end she said nothing. Seeing this, Miyako Amamiya gave her a hard pat on the back and said, "Haven't you always wanted to show Byakuya Kuchiki how much you've grown? So why are you stumbling over your words in front of an old friend?"

Rukia rubbed her aching back and gave Miyako Amamiya a threatening look, as if to say, Just you wait.

"Wait, Renji!"

Renji stopped and turned back to look at Rukia.

"I'm sorry, Renji!" Rukia said. "Back then... you supported me becoming a noble, but I just ran off, and I haven't contacted you since. I'm really sorry!"

Renji looked at Rukia, unable to believe what he was hearing. What are you talking about, Rukia? I'm the one who pushed you toward the nobles. I'm the one who ignored you. I'm the one... That was what Renji thought, but the words never left his mouth. He just gave a dazed reply.

"Ah. Oh, oh."

"So, can you still be my friend?" Rukia asked with a smile.

"I..." Renji was deeply conflicted. He was the one to blame, so why was Rukia the one speaking up?

In the end, he managed to say, "I've always... thought of you as my best friend, Rukia."

"Really? That's wonderful. It's really... wonderful." Rukia smiled in relief. She had never lost this friend after all.

"See? All you had to do was say it. I really don't know why you were being so awkward before." Miyako Amamiya vigorously ruffled Rukia's short black hair and smiled at her.

"Miyako Amamiya, you... Over and over again..." Rukia's expression began to change, veins bulging on her forehead. She spun around and kicked Miyako Amamiya hard in the stomach.

Miyako Amamiya immediately clutched his stomach and crouched down. The kick had been much harder than the others, and he hadn't recovered from it. But judging by Rukia's expression, she still hadn't vented her anger and wanted to kick him again.

Miyako Amamiya quickly dodged and smiled at Rukia. "Don't expect the same move to hit me twice." He ran toward the Thirteenth Division barracks.

"Get back here!" Rukia chased after him, only remembering Renji halfway there.

"Sorry, Renji. Let's talk next time. I have something more important to do right now."

Renji watched them leave, seeming a little desolate. Although Rukia seemed to be back to her old self, the person standing beside her was no longer him...

"Mr. Ginjiro, what did you need me for?"

"Ah, Renji, you finally made it. I actually have good news for you. I'm planning to resign as lieutenant, so I recommended you to our captain," Ginjiro said.

"Lieutenant? Me?" Renji asked in surprise.

"That's right. You learned Shikai a long time ago, didn't you? I'd have no worries at all about letting you take my place."

"Well, what do you say? Will you come?" Ginjiro asked.

Renji looked at the Sixth Division lieutenant's insignia on Ginjiro's shoulder. Remembering the man he had always wanted to surpass, and Miyako Amamiya, whom he had just met, he clenched his fists.

"Please, let me try!" Renji said firmly.

"Then come with me. Captain Kuchiki is waiting for you..."

Meanwhile, at the Thirteenth Division.

Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki had finished all the division's work and were preparing to return to the barracks for a rest.

But they saw Miyako Amamiya running ahead, with an embarrassed and furious Rukia Kuchiki chasing after him.

"Ah! Lieutenant Miyako didn't come to handle the division's work today, and he's with Rukia again?"

"Again?"

"Yes, yes! Come to think of it, I haven't told you yet, Sentarō." Kiyone wore an exaggerated expression.

"Told me what?"

"Actually, Lieutenant Miyako took leave on his very first day yesterday because of Rukia."

"Huh? Come on, tell me the details."

"When I found Lieutenant Miyako yesterday, he and Rukia had just returned to the Thirteenth Division, and..."

"And?"

"They were holding hands all the way to the entrance!"

"Ohhh! Could those two be...?!"

"Hehe, I'm guessing that's about right. Even if they aren't, they're close," Kiyone said, gossiping.

"That really is something," Sentarō Kotsubaki said with feeling. "Rukia used to look so down all day, but now she seems to have completely recovered."

"Yeah. It was only after Lieutenant Miyako came to the Thirteenth Division that Rukia gradually started to come out of that gloom."

"Ah, I can't stand it! I have to give those two my full support!" Kiyone cried, cupping her cheeks.

"Idiot, she heard you!" Seeing Rukia stop chasing Miyako, Sentarō Kotsubaki hurriedly spoke to Kiyone.

"Ah..." Kiyone also noticed that Rukia had stopped.

In the distance, Rukia had been completely focused on chasing Miyako Amamiya, intending to give him a few more kicks to vent her anger. But Kiyone's increasingly loud voice made Rukia realize what they were discussing, so she quickly stopped.

"Uh, Rukia?" Miyako Amamiya looked at Rukia, whose head was lowered, and thought she was truly angry. He slowly approached her.

Rukia kept her head down until Miyako Amamiya came close. Then she suddenly looked up at him.

"You... idiot!" With that, she kicked Miyako Amamiya with all her strength. After sending him flying, she hurried away, not wanting more people to see.

"Ah, she's gone." Kiyone and Sentarō Kotsubaki came over to Miyako Amamiya, who was still lying on the ground.

"What exactly did you do, Lieutenant Miyako? I'm not helping you," Kiyone said. "That's what you get for thinking about shirking division work as soon as you became lieutenant."