Chapter 23
"...All right." Miyako Amamiya got up, planning to go take a look with Ikkaku Madarame.
The place Miyako Amamiya followed Ikkaku to turned out to be near the Sixth Division.
On top of a building, Renji Abarai was kneeling and bowing with a solemn expression. Beside him were Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori, his former classmates at Shin'ō Academy.
"Hey, Renji! Congratulations on becoming a Lieutenant," Ikkaku Madarame said as he walked over.
"Mr. Ikkaku, thank you so much," Renji Abarai said gratefully. Ikkaku Madarame had helped him a great deal with his training.
"Oh, Mr. Madarame, long time no see," Momo Hinamori greeted him from the side. "By the way, who's that behind you?"
"Miyako, why are you..." Renji Abarai looked at him in surprise.
"Ikkaku brought me here. Congratulations on becoming the Sixth Division's Lieutenant, Renji," Miyako Amamiya said. Then he turned to greet the two in front of him. "Hello, I'm Miyako Amamiya, Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division."
"Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division?" Momo Hinamori said in surprise.
"What is it, Hinamori? Do you know him?" Izuru Kira was hearing Miyako Amamiya's name for the first time.
"It's our captain. Captain Aizen once praised Lieutenant Amamiya in person, right in front of me. He said he was a rare genius who graduated early, just like Hitsugaya."
"Just like Captain Hitsugaya? That's really..." Izuru Kira was surprised too.
If I had a choice, I'd rather not be praised by your captain, Miyako Amamiya thought helplessly.
"You can both just call me Amamiya or Miyako," Miyako Amamiya said casually.
"So, Renji, isn't it about time you mended things with Rukia Kuchiki? You're a Lieutenant now." Ikkaku Madarame guessed that Renji Abarai had trained so hard because he wanted to raise his standing and speak as an equal with Rukia, who had become a noble.
"Ah, thank you for your concern, Mr. Ikkaku. Actually, Rukia and I made up a long time ago," Renji Abarai said awkwardly.
"What?"
"What?!" Momo Hinamori cried in surprise. "What happened?"
"Well, I have Miyako to thank for that too." Renji Abarai recounted what had happened that day.
"I see. Lieutenant Amamiya really is a responsible Lieutenant. That's wonderful, Abarai," Momo Hinamori said.
"Miyako, you went and quietly solved the problem that had been bothering Renji for so long?" Ikkaku Madarame was somewhat surprised too.
"Rukia was just being too stubborn. She actually wanted to mend things with Renji too. But ever since then, Renji hasn't been willing to go see her himself."
"Why not, Abarai?" Momo Hinamori was very curious. As Abarai's classmate for many years, she knew this had always troubled him.
"...There's something more important I haven't finished yet." Renji Abarai didn't want the others to know about his wildly ambitious idea.
"I underestimated you, Renji. So you were working so hard and asking me for advice because you had a bigger goal? Don't tell me you want to become a captain?" Having guessed wrong, Ikkaku Madarame grew curious about Renji Abarai's real goal.
"In any case, I won't bother Rukia until I've done it."
"All right! It's settled! Renji, fight me later!" Ikkaku Madarame said excitedly.
"Again...?" Izuru Kira knew Ikkaku Madarame's personality well enough that this was nothing new to him.
Momo Hinamori watched awkwardly from the side. She still wasn't quite used to the 11th Division's battle-hungry nature. Fortunately, Renji Abarai hadn't been converted after joining them.
"Come to think of it, Ikkaku, we've all sparred before, but I don't think we've ever had a real fight, have we?" Miyako Amamiya asked.
"Oh? Miyako, are you talking about releasing our Zanpakuto?" Ikkaku Madarame's gaze turned excited and dangerous.
"That's too reckless! Lieutenants aren't allowed to release their Zanpakuto in the Seireitei without a reason!" Momo Hinamori said hurriedly. She hadn't known that Miyako Amamiya was battle-hungry too, and even more so.
"That really is too reckless," Izuru Kira said, frowning.
"Then we just have to go outside the Seireitei," Miyako Amamiya said. "What do you say, Renji, Ikkaku? Interested in going outside the Seireitei and having a real fight?" Miyako Amamiya wanted to use the opportunity to improve himself in a real battle. Renji Abarai and Ikkaku Madarame were both excellent opponents.
If he challenged anyone else, they probably wouldn't pay him any attention.
"I couldn't ask for more," Ikkaku Madarame said with a slightly ferocious grin.
"I'm in too." Renji Abarai knew this was an excellent opportunity to see just how strong he currently was when fighting at full power.
Outside the Seireitei, Miyako Amamiya and the other two found a secluded, deserted spot, so releasing their Zanpakuto wouldn't affect the people of Rukongai.
Renji Abarai and Ikkaku Madarame faced each other and drew their Zanpakuto.
"Hey, Renji, we've fought so many times already. We can skip the appetizers this time, right?" Ikkaku Madarame said excitedly. He could finally fight without holding back.
"All right, Mr. Ikkaku." Renji Abarai didn't dare underestimate Ikkaku Madarame. As one of the rare Soul Reapers among the Seated Officers who had learned Bankai, Ikkaku Madarame's strength could be called terrifying.
"Don't worry, you two. My Kaido isn't very good, but I can keep you alive and take you to the Fourth Division for treatment without any trouble," Miyako Amamiya said.
"Is that so? Then I'm very grateful. But that depends on whether Renji's got what it takes," Ikkaku Madarame said excitedly.
"Extend! Hōzukimaru!" A tremendous burst of Reiatsu erupted from Ikkaku Madarame. His Zanpakuto glowed white and began to lengthen and change, finally forming a long staff with a sharp blade at its tip.
Facing the impact of that Reiatsu, Abarai showed no fear.
"Roar! Zabimaru!" Not to be outdone, Renji Abarai released his Zanpakuto at once, transforming it into a double-edged segmented sword.
Zabimaru had six joints and seven blade segments. The upper half of the blade, from the spine to the middle, was black, while the rest was silver-white, with numerous protrusions along it.
As expected of two men with the strength of true Lieutenants. Their Reiatsu has already surpassed Sentarō Kotsubaki's, Miyako Amamiya thought.
"Here I come!" Ikkaku Madarame shouted, vanishing from the spot in an instant.
In that instant, Ikkaku Madarame brought Hōzukimaru down in a heavy slash. Renji Abarai hurriedly blocked with Zabimaru, but his movements faltered.
Hōzukimaru's long shaft began to bend under the tremendous force. Renji Abarai knew he couldn't let himself remain pinned down, so he quickly made his move.
Zabimaru extended, revealing the silver cables between its blades. It knocked Hōzukimaru's slash off course, sending it into the ground.
"Go, Zabimaru!" Renji Abarai retreated, then attacked Ikkaku Madarame with the extended Zabimaru.
"Hmph." Instead of dodging, Ikkaku Madarame seized his chance and slashed sideways at Zabimaru. "Split apart, Hōzukimaru!"
The staff suddenly split into three sections. They wound around Zabimaru, wrapping neatly around the joints between its blades and preventing Renji Abarai from retracting it.
"Get over here!" Ikkaku Madarame pulled hard, yanking Renji Abarai off balance.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong, Renji? Doesn't look like you've improved much."
"Damn it..."
Seeing this, Renji stopped trying to match Ikkaku Madarame's strength and retracted Zabimaru instead, flying swiftly toward him.
Renji Abarai kicked straight at Ikkaku Madarame, but Ikkaku saw through it in time and blocked with one hand.
Renji Abarai had achieved his goal, however. Ikkaku Madarame's Hōzukimaru had come free of Zabimaru, and Renji Abarai quickly attacked with it.
Miyako Amamiya wasn't idle either, carefully observing their movements. Ikkaku Madarame was worthy of his position as the 11th Division's Third Seat. He had an enormous amount of combat experience, and his fighting style was bold and forceful. Every move seemed disorderly, yet all of them produced results.
As the fight went on, Ikkaku Madarame grew increasingly excited, and Renji Abarai gradually began to be driven back. Although Renji had suffered wounds of varying sizes, he had also inflicted quite a few on Ikkaku Madarame.
In the end, Renji Abarai was defeated. Though both had fought seriously, it hadn't been a fight to the death. Their wounds varied in depth, but none were fatal.
"Renji, you're a long way from learning Bankai at this level." Ikkaku Madarame released his Shikai and took out the clotting powder hidden in his sword's hilt. He gave some to Renji Abarai, then began applying it to himself.
Miyako Amamiya first used Kaido on the more seriously injured Renji Abarai. Once he had visibly improved, Miyako began treating Ikkaku Madarame.
"After a fight like that, it looks like my match with you will have to wait until next time." Miyako Amamiya glanced at the two of them, guessing there probably wouldn't be another fight today.
"Yeah, let's do it next time." Renji Abarai wasn't discouraged by his loss. Instead, he was even more eager to fight, because he had clearly felt movement from his Zanpakuto during the battle and felt as though he had taken another step toward Bankai.
"What? That's it? No, I can still fight!" Ikkaku Madarame shouted. The exhilarating fight, his first in a long time, had left him wanting more, so he refused to let Miyako Amamiya off.
"Ikkaku, your wounds haven't healed yet. My Kaido isn't that good." Miyako Amamiya wanted to fight too, but seeing Ikkaku Madarame's injuries, he didn't want to take advantage of him.
"Are you looking down on me? They're just scratches," he continued.
Looking at the clotting powder covering the wounds all over his body, Miyako Amamiya found that less than convincing. But given his stubborn nature, it seemed there was no getting out of a fight.
No choice. I'll hit him hard right from the start, Miyako Amamiya thought.
"All right, I'll fight you," Miyako Amamiya said helplessly. "But don't complain afterward."
"I couldn't ask for more!" Feeling that he had recovered a little, Ikkaku Madarame got to his feet.
At that moment, Ikkaku Madarame had no idea how frustrating his coming fight with Miyako Amamiya would be.
The two walked to one side and faced each other, ready to begin.
"Just so you know, my Zanpakuto's Shikai is a little unusual. You might not enjoy fighting me." Miyako Amamiya's Shikai was mostly suited to ranged combat, unlike his twin blades, so he had already anticipated that Ikkaku Madarame would certainly be unhappy fighting him.
"Hmph, bring it on!" Ikkaku Madarame was still excited, since he knew a little about what the Soul Society's twin-bladed Zanpakuto looked like when released.
"Alas..." Unable to persuade the stubborn fellow, Miyako Amamiya had no choice but to draw his twin blades, join their hilts, and use Shikai.
"Separate, Divine Arrow: Severed Thought." The twin blades began to glow, gradually changing shape.
On the other side, Ikkaku Madarame was growing eager. But the sight of Miyako Amamiya's fully released Zanpakuto gave him a great shock.
"What?!" Ikkaku Madarame discovered that Miyako Amamiya's Zanpakuto's Shikai was a bow and arrow.
Renji Abarai also looked at Miyako Amamiya in surprise. Bows and arrows were uncommon weapons in the Soul Society. Ikkaku Madarame, meanwhile, was a little stunned. He had thought he would be fighting an enhanced version of Miyako Amamiya's twin blades, but...
"I have a bad feeling about this..." Ikkaku Madarame couldn't help saying. Even so, he immediately released his Zanpakuto again and stood ready.
"Ikkaku, let's start with a greeting." Miyako Amamiya immediately formed two arrows and shot them at Ikkaku Madarame.
Ikkaku Madarame reacted swiftly, knocking both arrows down.
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa."
Ikkaku Madarame didn't know why Miyako Amamiya was chanting Kidō now. At this distance, he would spot it as soon as it was cast.
But ropes formed from Reiryoku bound Ikkaku Madarame's hands, one on each side.
"When did this..." Ikkaku Madarame looked at the source of the ropes and couldn't help being startled. "The arrows..."
Now he understood why Miyako Amamiya had said he wouldn't enjoy this fight. Miyako Amamiya's Zanpakuto was a Kidō-type, with the most bizarre abilities.
But before he could return to his senses, Miyako Amamiya's next arrow was already flying toward him.
"Split apart! Hōzukimaru!" Ikkaku Madarame hurriedly split Hōzukimaru and cut through Hainawa, trying to dodge the arrow.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai." Miyako Amamiya transformed the arrow once again. Before it hit Ikkaku Madarame, it changed from Reishi into a bolt of white lightning and rushed toward him even faster.
"Hadō works too?!" Caught off guard by the sudden acceleration, Ikkaku Madarame was struck by Byakurai.
Byakurai wasn't very powerful, but it had a slight paralyzing effect, and Ikkaku Madarame's body went rigid instantly.
Miyako Amamiya naturally wouldn't pass up such a good opportunity. He shot a more powerful arrow and hit Ikkaku Madarame.
But before the arrow struck, Ikkaku Madarame desperately crossed his arms to block it, so it didn't hit a vital spot.
His arms, however, were bleeding profusely.
"You bastard!" Ikkaku Madarame said with a fierce grin.
"Impressive, Ikkaku. Could Byakurai's paralysis only hold you for that short a time?" Miyako Amamiya praised him.
"But don't worry. I can't stand to see you suffer like this, so the fight will be over soon."
The fight didn't last much longer. Already injured, Ikkaku Madarame finally fell under Miyako Amamiya's relentless and utterly bizarre attacks.
Although Ikkaku Madarame had managed to get close to Miyako Amamiya, Miyako was extremely cautious each time, constantly using Kidō to stop him.
The few times he managed to get close and slash at him were openings Miyako Amamiya had deliberately left. Already wounded, Ikkaku Madarame had a truly miserable time.
"You're definitely the kind of opponent our 11th Division hates most," Ikkaku Madarame said, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.
"Thanks for the compliment." Miyako Amamiya was treating him with Kaido.
"If it had dragged on, you'd have suffered even more," Miyako Amamiya said with a sly smile. He had plenty of other dirty tricks, including but not limited to blinding his opponent, tripping them up, and attacking them from behind. Naturally, such tricks were of little use against experts, but they were very effective against straightforward people like Ikkaku and Renji.
"After fighting Renji, I forgot that not everyone is as untalented at Kidō as he is, especially someone like you."
"Mr. Ikkaku!" Renji Abarai called out helplessly from the side.
"Hahaha, Renji, I'm complimenting you. Someone like you is the best fit for our 11th Division," Ikkaku Madarame said with a laugh.
"Hey, Miyako, next time, once I've fully recovered, I'm going to pay you back for this beating." Ikkaku Madarame made the threat. Though he hated fighting like this, he wasn't quite satisfied leaving without getting even.
"I'd be happy to." Miyako Amamiya shrugged helplessly. He was only too happy to have such a good sparring partner.
Miyako Amamiya's treatment could only provide an initial recovery, so he and Renji Abarai helped Ikkaku Madarame back to the Seireitei, intending to have people from the Fourth Division continue treating him.
After Miyako Amamiya returned to the Thirteenth Division, Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki came rushing over anxiously.