Chapter 21

"Tch, an interesting but boring brat." Bound by the rules of the Gotei 13, Kenpachi Zaraki had gone a long time without a truly exhilarating fight. He couldn't help taking a little interest in Miyako Amamiya, who had appeared out of nowhere and defeated Renji Abarai. After all, Renji was fairly strong even by the standards of the 11th Division.

But Kenpachi could also see that Miyako was still too weak. The brat knew Soul Society's rules well, too, and Kenpachi thought he was the type to follow them. He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

Like certain captains in the Seireitei, he wouldn't fight without good reason, much less have an exhilarating battle with Kenpachi himself.

Miyako was about to leave the 11th Division grounds when Renji Abarai called out from behind him.

"Please wait, Lieutenant Amamiya." Renji stopped him.

"Abarai?" Miyako turned to look at him.

"Lieutenant Amamiya, how has Rukia been lately?" Sure enough, Renji had come to ask about Rukia.

"Oh, she's a lot better than before, I'd say. She certainly kicks me hard enough now," Miyako said with a smile.

"Is that so? Is that so... That's great," Renji murmured to himself.

"Did you help Rukia resolve her problems with her older brother, Lieutenant Amamiya?" Renji still thought Rukia had been in low spirits ever since joining a noble family because of that.

"Captain Kuchiki? No, I hear things are still the same between them." Miyako hadn't expected Renji to have thought all this time that Rukia was unhappy because of the Kuchiki Clan.

"Abarai, don't you know what happened to Rukia in the Thirteenth Division?" Miyako asked, puzzled.

"The Thirteenth Division? No. After I graduated... I hardly ever went to see Rukia."

"I see..." Miyako fell into thought. It seemed Ukitake hadn't publicized the matter either, so everyone had only a partial understanding of the true cause of Kaien Shiba's death. Or perhaps someone had deliberately concealed it. After all, a Hollow capable of making Zanpakuto disappear was worth Soul Society's attention.

"No, it's nothing. Rukia has already decided to prove to Captain Kuchiki how much she's grown as his adopted sister, using her own strength." Miyako didn't tell Renji the real reason for Rukia's gloom, either.

"I see..." Hearing that, Renji realized the conflict between Rukia Kuchiki and Byakuya Kuchiki might not have been resolved after all. In that case, what he had done hadn't been for nothing.

Lieutenant of the Sixth Division. I can finally... see you up close, Byakuya Kuchiki. Renji couldn't help clenching his fists.

"Oh, right, Abarai. Come visit Rukia at the Thirteenth Division when you have time," Miyako said.

"Me?" Renji asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Rukia's preparing to go on a mission, so she might not have time to visit you. But ever since you last saw each other, she's been wanting to talk to you."

Miyako had no dislike for Renji. Renji was a man of flesh and blood, full of warmth, and a trustworthy partner.

"No... I'd better not. Thank you for the invitation, Lieutenant Amamiya. But before I see Rukia, there's something more important I have to do." Renji declined the invitation.

Renji didn't intend to see Rukia until he had truly defeated Byakuya Kuchiki and asked him his real reason for making her a noble. He hadn't forgiven himself. Whether it was supporting Rukia's becoming a noble or growing distant from her afterward, it was all his fault.

So he wanted to apologize to Rukia openly and honestly after truly defeating Byakuya Kuchiki.

Miyako looked at him, as though he could see his resolve.

"I understand. Do your best, then. Oh, and from now on, just call me Miyako," he said.

"Then you can call me Renji, Miyako." Renji gave him a hearty smile, not at all bothered by his recent loss to him.

"See you next time, Renji." With that, Miyako headed back.

After saying goodbye, Renji returned to the 11th Division training grounds. Though he didn't particularly mind losing to Miyako, their match had shown him the shortcomings in his Zanjutsu.

Before he left the 11th Division, he would continue honing his skills and fighting his seniors.

At the entrance to the Thirteenth Division, a crowd waited anxiously for Miyako's return. Soon after the squad members had explained the whole situation to him, he had gone to the 11th Division alone.

Miyako had persuaded Ukitake to let him handle the matter alone, so he hadn't taken any other squad members with him.

After they had waited quite a while, Miyako finally returned to the Thirteenth Division.

"Look, Lieutenant Amamiya's back!" the squad members shouted.

"Lieutenant Miyako!" Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki were first to rush to his side.

"Lieutenant Miyako, are you all right?" the two asked in unison.

"Hey, hello. Me? Do I look like anything's wrong?"

"Honestly, going to the 11th Division alone was far too reckless," Kiyone complained, completely forgetting that she was the one who had brought the matter up to Miyako.

"Exactly! The 11th Division is full of battle maniacs. It would've been bad if they'd latched onto you," Sentarō agreed.

The other squad members crowded around as well, each asking Miyako questions.

"Ahahaha, don't worry. After my visit, those people in the 11th Division probably won't dare make fun of us anymore," Miyako explained to the crowd.

How could he be like those battle-crazed brutes? Once he'd settled the matter, of course he'd left immediately. Besides, Miyako was actually happy to be pursued for a fight, provided it was by a worthy opponent like Ikkaku Madarame.

"Honestly, have a little faith in me. It's not as though I can only solve problems by fighting, although I did get into a few fights with them," Miyako complained.

The people around him broke into noisy discussion, but without exception, they praised him for what he had done.

"Oh, right, I still need to see Captain Ukitake and report what I did. You all carry on talking." With that, Miyako left at once.

"Hey, wait, Lieutenant Miyako..." Kiyone couldn't make him stay. In an instant, he was out of sight.

"Honestly, Lieutenant Miyako, doing something that makes everyone worry like that..." Kiyone muttered.

"But didn't Lieutenant Miyako handle it well? Look at the other squad members' faces," Sentarō said.

Even after Miyako had left, the other squad members still looked excited, cheering and encouraging one another. The Thirteenth Division had never felt so vindicated.

"I thought Lieutenant Miyako's reason for not wanting to handle squad duties was just an excuse. I didn't expect him to actually take this matter seriously." Kiyone's doubts had now been dispelled, and she felt great admiration for Miyako.

Sentarō nodded in agreement.

They had thought the reason Miyako had confidently given for freeing himself from squad duties was just an excuse. They hadn't expected him to fulfill his promise so quickly. Though he hadn't been in office long, he had already earned the trust of most of the squad.

"Captain Ukitake, I'm back," Miyako said, knocking on the Captain's Office door.

"Come in, Miyako," Ukitake said.

Opening the door, Miyako found that Ukitake wasn't alone. The other man wore a straw hat and a gaudy pink coat over his white captain's robe.

Only Shunsui Kyōraku dressed like that in Soul Society.

"Captain Ukitake, and Captain Kyōraku, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Miyako Amamiya," Miyako greeted him.

"Hello, hello. So you're Miyako Amamiya? We finally meet. Jūshirō's told me quite a bit about you," Shunsui said casually.

"Shunsui..." Ukitake looked at him with a wry smile. "Back to the matter at hand, Miyako. Nothing happened during your visit to the 11th Division, I hope?"

Though Miyako had persuaded Ukitake to let him go to the 11th Division, Ukitake had had no idea how things would turn out.

"Yes. After I went to the 11th Division and had a friendly exchange with their Fourth Seat and 6th Seat, they probably won't mock our Thirteenth Division anymore."

"Is that so? Sorry for the trouble," Ukitake said. "Wait, what do you mean by a friendly exchange?"

"You didn't beat them into submission, did you, Miyako?" Shunsui guessed.

"Yes. After I defeated the Fourth Seat and 6th Seat, Third Seat Madarame was going to come up and fight me too, but their captain, Captain Zaraki, happened to return."

"Captain Zaraki?" Ukitake asked hurriedly. "Are you all right, Miyako?"

"Captain Ukitake, why are you asking me that too?" Miyako replied helplessly. "I know my own strength, so after Captain Zaraki showed interest in me, I used Soul Society's rules to talk him out of it."

"I see." Ukitake breathed out, finally reassured.

"Hahahaha, you're an interesting fellow, Miyako. You actually managed to talk Captain Zaraki out of it. And if I remember right, the 11th Division's 6th Seat, Renji Abarai, has already been confirmed as the next lieutenant of the Sixth Division. I didn't expect you to beat him."

"You flatter me, Captain Kyōraku. Captain Zaraki isn't interested in people weaker than him. As for beating Renji, I only caught him off guard by taking advantage of my Zanpakuto."

"Your Zanpakuto..." Shunsui looked at the pair of swords at his waist. "I didn't expect another dual-bladed Zanpakuto to appear besides mine and Ukitake's."

On the surface, Shunsui was marveling at Miyako's twin blades, but he was already considering what lay hidden behind his Zanpakuto.

He knew perfectly well why his own Zanpakuto took the form of twin blades, and why Jūshirō Ukitake's Zanpakuto had formed twin blades as well.

Their twin blades had something in common. If he considered only their experience, then Miyako must share that trait too.

What puzzled Shunsui most, though, was that according to Jūshirō, Miyako's twin blades actually became a bow and arrows after Shikai, rather than changing into twin blades like theirs. That made him very curious.

Miyako Amamiya must be hiding a secret. Shunsui was certain of it.

Jūshirō Ukitake had once hidden a secret of his own, but that hadn't stopped the two of them from becoming close friends.

Shunsui could see that Ukitake was also very satisfied with his lieutenant, and as things stood, there was no need to be wary of him.

Miyako had no idea Shunsui had considered so much in such a short time, but he felt fairly reassured about him.

Shunsui was tactful and thorough in his dealings and generally didn't make people dislike him. As long as someone didn't actually do anything harmful to Soul Society, he was usually quite broad-minded.

And at present, the vast majority of what Miyako did wouldn't harm Soul Society; some of it might even benefit it. So he wasn't worried at all.

"I thought it would take you some time to settle this matter, Miyako. I didn't expect you to do even better than I imagined." Ukitake smiled with satisfaction. Miyako's bold yet careful conduct couldn't help but reassure him.

"What should I do? Kiyone and Sentarō are both very good at handling squad duties, but I think you might have some talent for it too, Miyako. If you ask me, how about giving it a try?" Ukitake teased.

"Ahem, Captain Ukitake, the matter with the 11th Division isn't settled yet. Third Seat Madarame and I still have an unfinished fight, so I'm afraid I won't have much time," Miyako said hurriedly.

"I was only joking. Carry on as usual, Miyako," Ukitake said with a smile, but Miyako couldn't help feeling he'd frightened him on purpose.

"You're the same as ever, Jūshirō, always saying things people can misunderstand," Shunsui teased.

"Am I? I don't remember doing that," Ukitake said with a squinting smile.

"All right, now it's time to get down to business. Miyako, starting tomorrow, our Thirteenth Division will officially dispatch new squad members to be stationed in the World of the Living. When the time comes, you'll make the announcement with me in front of everyone," Ukitake said seriously.

"Yes, I understand, Captain Ukitake." Miyako agreed, clenching his hands.

Has the day finally come...? Miyako silently calculated how much time remained.

"The World of the Living? I've heard that the Hollows appearing there seem to be growing stronger and stronger," Shunsui remarked from the side.

"Yes. Including the Hollow codenamed Grand Fisher that Miyako reported on earlier, there have never been cases like these in the World of the Living before. It's a little unsettling," Ukitake said gravely. Faced with such unknown changes, the Thirteenth Division's members were in the greatest danger.

"Yes, I have a bad feeling about it too. After all, there are always bad signs before a sudden upheaval." Shunsui's keen senses had detected a hint of unease.

"But our Thirteenth Division's members aren't so weak," Ukitake said with a smile.

"I have considerable faith in them. Besides, since the accident with Kaien, the squad's support regulations have continued to improve. If anything does go wrong, I believe you and the other squad members will rush to support your comrades in time, Miyako."

"Yes, leave it to me," Miyako said solemnly. It was what he wanted too. After Kisuke Urahara implanted the Hōgyoku in Rukia, it was essential for him to go to the World of the Living promptly and make some preparations.

"Shunsui, our lieutenant is very dependable, isn't he?" Ukitake asked Shunsui with a smile.

"Yes. Our Little Nanao is excellent too, but I wish she respected me as much as Miyako does," Shunsui said helplessly.

"Shunsui... isn't that your own fault?"

"Alas, is it?"

At the Thirteenth Division training grounds, all the Seated Officers had assembled. Ukitake and Miyako stood before everyone, while Sentarō and Kiyone stood behind Ukitake.

Holding the documents, Miyako announced the personnel assignments one by one.

"...6th Seat Kuchiki," Miyako called.

"Yes." Rukia Kuchiki stepped forward.

"You are appointed as the Soul Reaper stationed in Karakura Town. Your jurisdiction is a radius of one spirit league centered on Karakura Town. I hope you will diligently carry out your duties as a Soul Reaper in the World of the Living, purifying Hollows that appear and performing Konsō on wandering souls."

"Yes." Rukia accepted the assignment in a half-kneel.

"7th Seat XX," Miyako called next.

After assigning everyone, Miyako spoke again. "That concludes the list of Soul Reapers to be stationed in the World of the Living. The Soul Reapers who have not been assigned will form a support team, ready at any time to assist the personnel in the World of the Living."

"Shortly, you will proceed to the Senkaimon and depart for the World of the Living. Until then, you may take a short rest."

Miyako came over to Rukia and asked, "How do you feel, Rukia? This is your first official mission to the World of the Living, isn't it?"

"It is my first official trip, but don't underestimate me," Rukia said confidently.

"I have plenty of confidence in you, but..." Miyako sighed inwardly. I have just as much confidence in Kisuke Urahara. There's simply no way he won't stir up trouble.

"But?" Rukia asked.

"No, it's nothing. Just think of it as a lieutenant's unnecessary worry," Miyako said.

"What do you mean, a lieutenant's worry? Honestly," Rukia said with a pout.