Chapter 29

"It seems the previous captain of the Tenth Division was named Isshin Shiba, and his last known whereabouts were in the World of the Living."

"You sure know a lot, kid," Kūkaku Shiba said in a low voice, staring intently at Miyako Amamiya.

"And Ichigo Kurosaki and the others will soon be coming to Soul Society to save Rukia."

Kūkaku had intended to offer some help, since Rukia Kuchiki was someone her older brother had entrusted to her. But now she had also heard her uncle's name and news of his son.

Looks like things have gotten troublesome this time, Kūkaku thought with a headache.

"Did you come here today just to tell me all that? If you only wanted to see me get irritated, congratulations. You succeeded," Kūkaku said irritably.

"No. I already reached an agreement with Kisuke Urahara in the World of the Living. I'm going to rescue Rukia with Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions." Miyako shook his head at her.

"So I hope to wait here for Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to arrive and discuss things with them. The Seireitei is difficult to infiltrate from any direction, so there's only one way in. Ichigo Kurosaki and the others will come here sooner or later."

"Urahara? Looks like you've done plenty of preparation..." Kūkaku understood at once. It seemed she would get to see an old friend this time, too.

"I'll allow it."

"There's one more thing I'm sorry to trouble you with, Miss Kūkaku." Miyako had come for another, more important matter: finding information on the Quincy from a thousand years ago.

"Let's hear it first."

"I was hoping you would let me see the historical records of Soul Society kept by the Shiba family."

"History?"

"That's right. The Shiba Clan used to be nobles, so you must still have them."

Kūkaku stared at Miyako without speaking. The Shiba Clan had long since been stripped of its noble status and was little known in Soul Society. Those who did know were the ancient captains and nobles. Miyako clearly belonged to neither group, so how could he know about it?

"Kid, who told you about that? Ukitake?" Kūkaku asked with a hostile expression. The Shiba Clan had indeed preserved historical records, but she had no intention of showing them to Miyako.

After all, Soul Society's history was a history full of sin and filth.

"I think you've misunderstood, Miss Kūkaku. I'm not looking for all of Soul Society's history, just what happened a thousand years ago."

"A thousand years ago?" Kūkaku had read about that period in the family records. It concerned the Quincy invasion of Soul Society.

"Yes, that's right. I only need the history from a thousand years ago. As for why, it has to do with my Zanpakuto. I'll tell you directly, Miss Kūkaku: after its Shikai, my Zanpakuto becomes a bow and arrows."

"So I'm looking for the history of the Quincy, who used bows and arrows. I also asked Captain Ukitake, and it seems the records from a thousand years ago are only kept by the nobles and in the Great Spirit Book Gallery. Both are places I can't reach, so I could only ask you for help, Miss Kūkaku."

Kūkaku didn't think what had happened a thousand years ago was particularly important. By comparison, the older historical records concerning the Soul King were what truly couldn't be allowed to become known to others.

"...All right, I'll find them for you. But remember, kid, you owe me a favor." Kūkaku also needed Miyako's strength for now, since the operation to come...

"Thank you very much. I'll wait for your good news, then."

"Here." Kūkaku had Koganehiko bring over a battered old chest and spoke to Miyako.

"Let's be clear beforehand: don't damage these records, or else..." Kūkaku clenched her only remaining hand and threatened him.

"I understand. Thank you very much, Miss Kūkaku." Miyako carefully opened the chest and took out the documents inside.

Miyako read through them page by page and finally found what he was looking for.

Found it... Soul Society year xxx, Yhwach, leader of the Quincy.

Converted to the calendar of the World of the Living, that would be...

In the year 10xx, Yhwach invaded Soul Society. That same year, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai assembled the strongest team in Soul Society and defeated the Quincy organization...

The documents contained not only the history of a thousand years ago, but also records of Soul Society's research into the Quincy at the time.

And Miyako had finally found the most crucial piece of information.

Auswählen... Miyako discovered that Soul Society had actually recorded information about Auswählen as well. "Auswählen is the means by which Yhwach takes power from Quincy he deems 'impure' and makes it his own."

With these clear records, he could tell Ryūken Ishida exactly what had happened that year.

Miyako continued leafing through the documents and found that they also recorded other Quincy skills.

"Ransōtengai... Its principle is to control body parts that can no longer move using bundles of Reishi formed from countless interwoven threads. Whether tendons are severed or bones broken, Reishi can forcibly control the body like a puppet. This is the strongest combat spirit technique by which Quincy manipulate Reishi."

"A thousand years ago, many Quincy who did not fear death used this technique to cause the Soul Reapers of Soul Society enormous trouble..."

"But after the Quincy leader was eliminated, the remaining Quincy were no match for the Soul Reapers and were ultimately slaughtered one by one."

Miyako had found an unexpected boon. He hadn't expected Soul Society's research into the Quincy to have been so extensive a thousand years ago. It had even recorded some of Yhwach's skills. Unfortunately, they had been completely unable to understand the principles behind his skills; otherwise, Miyako could have studied them himself.

Still, the record of Ransōtengai was unexpected. I could try practicing along those lines, Miyako thought.

And there's Quincy: Letzt Stil... With the help of a Sanrei Glove, Reishi is dispersed at high concentration, and by keeping a bow drawn for seven days and seven nights, one can ultimately reach the highest realm of the Quincy.

Miyako carefully recalled what he remembered about Quincy: Letzt Stil. Several hundred years ago, the Quincy of the Wandenreich had surpassed that form and developed the more advanced Quincy Vollständig. Although it also placed a burden on the user, it was nowhere near as extreme as Quincy: Letzt Stil.

Although using Quincy: Letzt Stil caused one to lose all Quincy abilities, there was a way to restore them: push one's mind and body to their limits, then, in that state, strike a point nineteen millimeters to the right of the heart's sinoatrial node with a spirit arrow.

Then perhaps Quincy Vollständig comes from repeatedly using Quincy: Letzt Stil and recovering, until one truly masters the power of Reishi subjugation, Sklaverei, Miyako thought in surprise.

But Miyako thought of one crucial problem: he was only a soul now, without a physical body. Even if he really learned Quincy: Letzt Stil, he might not be able to recover his Quincy powers after using it as Uryū Ishida had.

Damn it, is there really no way for me to master Vollständig...? Miyako thought, unwilling to accept it.

After reading all the documents, Miyako calmed himself and put them back in the chest.

"Koganehiko, I've finished reading. Sorry to trouble you, but could you tell Miss Kūkaku?" Miyako said to him.

"Yes."

The next time he went to the World of the Living, he could tell Ryūken Ishida about what had happened a thousand years ago. He could also ask about training for Quincy: Letzt Stil; Miyako still didn't want to give up on that power.

But for now, the most important thing was still the power he could master as a Soul Reaper. If he couldn't even resolve his Shikai, there was no point talking about Bankai or Quincy Vollständig.

Miyako looked at the twin swords at his waist. During this time, he had entered his inner world and fought his Zanpakuto.

But his Zanpakuto had always treated him poorly and shown him no mercy, which troubled Miyako greatly.

"Am I missing something?" Miyako felt that his Zanpakuto's Shikai didn't seem like something he could resolve by continuing to fight. Rather, something was missing, something Miyako hadn't realized.

The twin swords hung quietly at his waist, showing no intention of responding to Miyako.

That night, Miyako left the Shiba residence, intending to find somewhere to train some more, but saw Ganju Shiba returning at the gate.

Ganju was riding a boar, with blood still beneath his nose. As he reached the Shiba residence, he immediately shouted, "Sis! I'm back! I-I-I-I didn't miss the deadline!"

He looked a little panicked, and his words had become incoherent. But he quickly spotted Miyako standing at the gate.

"You? What's a Soul Reaper doing here? Are you here for revenge because I bad-mouthed you last time?"

"Damn Soul Reaper, you're so petty!"

"Mr. Ganju, instead of bad-mouthing me here, you'd better think about how to explain yourself to your sister," Miyako said helplessly, pointing behind him.

Sensing the astonishing pressure coming from behind him, Ganju slowly turned to look.

"S-s-s-sis..."

"Ganju, can you explain why you're coming home so late?" Kūkaku smiled at him, clenching her fist.

Rather than answer immediately, Ganju hurriedly wrapped his arms around Kūkaku's leg.

"Sis! You can't blame me for this. I ran into a really weird Soul Reaper today, and he even insulted me. I only stayed to teach him a lesson..."

"Oh? I'd love to hear who made my dear little brother so angry..." Kūkaku didn't take his words seriously. She intended to wait until he finished his performance and then beat him up.

"Sis, it's true! That Soul Reaper with the orange dandelion head was completely different from the Soul Reapers in Soul Society. He actually dared to make fun of my Boney and called me a boar-riding ape-man!"

"Oh? Anything else? If not, I'm going to start."

"Sis, don't! I'm telling the truth!" Ganju shouted at this, nearly bursting into tears.

Miyako called out to Kūkaku from the side. From what Ganju had just said, he could already tell that Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions had arrived.

"Miss Kūkaku, Mr. Ganju probably isn't lying."

"Hm?" Kūkaku looked at Miyako in confusion, stopping what she was doing.

I-I'm saved, Ganju thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

"He was probably talking about Ichigo Kurosaki. They've arrived in Soul Society, and I'm afraid they'll be here soon."

"...Is that so? I'll let you off this time, Ganju." Kūkaku ignored Ganju and went back inside.

"Ichigo Kurosaki?" Ganju seemed to recall that the dandelion head's companions had called him something like that.

"Hey, Soul Reaper, what are you doing at our house? Rukia Kuchiki's situation has been resolved, right?" Ganju asked.

"I'll explain everything once they arrive." Miyako didn't answer him then. He abandoned the idea of going out to train and returned to the Shiba residence.

The next morning, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others finally arrived where Kūkaku Shiba lived.

Koganehiko and Ginhiko stepped forward and looked down at Ichigo without speaking for a long time.

"W-what? You want a fight?" Ichigo looked at the two hostile-looking, burly men before him and reached for the sword on his back. The others were also poised to attack.

Koganehiko and Ginhiko stepped back twice, then bowed their heads. "Welcome, Mr. Kurosaki. Lady Kūkaku has been waiting inside for you."

"Huh? You know me?" Ichigo looked utterly confused, unsure what was going on.

Uryū Ishida frowned as well, thinking about the situation.

"Ichigo, are they acquaintances of yours?" Yasutora Sado asked.

"How could they be? This is my first time here!" Ichigo said helplessly.

"Why do you know Ichigo Kurosaki, Koganehiko, Ginhiko?" the black cat beside them asked.

"L-Lady Yoruichi!" Koganehiko and Ginhiko exclaimed in unison. "Please forgive our rudeness. We didn't expect the old friend Lady Kūkaku mentioned to be you."

"Please follow me, everyone. Lady Kūkaku will explain."

Ichigo and the others went inside in confusion and finally met Kūkaku Shiba in a room.

"Kūkaku is... a woman?" Ichigo and the others looked astonished.

"You finally made it, Ichigo Kurosaki." Kūkaku carefully sized Ichigo up, a little surprised herself.

He looks so much like Kaien... Kūkaku had been skeptical of Miyako's information, but seeing Ichigo in person dispelled her doubts completely.

Ichigo looked a lot like her older brother, and she could also see some of Isshin Shiba's features in him.

"Kūkaku, what's going on? How did you know we were coming?" asked the black cat that Yoruichi Shihōin had transformed into.

"So it's you, Yoruichi. I was wondering how Urahara could feel comfortable throwing this bunch of kids into Soul Society." Seeing her old friend, Kūkaku finally understood why Kisuke Urahara was confident in rescuing Rukia.

"Kūkaku, you still haven't answered my question," Yoruichi said in a low voice.

"I'll answer that question." Miyako walked out of a room to the side.

"Ah! It's you." Ichigo pointed at Miyako in surprise.

"Kurosaki-kun, he's the Soul Reaper who came looking for you before, right?" Although Orihime Inoue had only met Miyako once, she still remembered him.

"Yeah. He came to discuss rescuing Rukia with me."

"I see. So you're Miyako Amamiya, the one Kisuke mentioned." Hearing this, Yoruichi Shihōin understood who Miyako was.

"Were you notified by Soul Society? No, that's not right. We had only just entered Soul Society then, so you couldn't have known. Besides, the Seireitei is closed now."

"There's no need to guess, Miss Yoruichi. I anticipated that you would come here and came specifically to wait for you," Miyako said.

"Miss... Yoruichi?" Ichigo and some of the others looked at one another in confusion.

"Mr. Yoruichi, you're a woman?!" Ichigo shouted.

"Idiot, that's not what you should be focusing on now." Yoruichi Shihōin was puzzled by Miyako's early arrival. Although Kisuke Urahara had already told her about Miyako, she hadn't told Urahara anything about what would happen after they entered Soul Society.

"This guy seems to know a lot. He came here early to wait for you. I'll leave the details to him," Kūkaku said, scratching her head. She didn't want to explain all these troublesome matters.

"Hey! Soul Reaper, I want to hear it too! You didn't tell me anything yesterday!" At that moment, another door suddenly opened, and Ganju Shiba jumped out.

"Ah..." Ichigo and Ganju stared at each other in confusion.

Then they shouted at each other.

"Dandelion head!" "Boar-riding ape-man!"

Hearing this, the two immediately rushed forward and started fighting. Miyako sighed, unwilling to waste time.