Chapter 30

"Miss Kūkaku, sorry for the trouble, but could you stop your two younger brothers?" Miyako Amamiya said to Kūkaku Shiba. Uryū Ishida, standing nearby, heard the unusual way Miyako addressed her and frowned, wondering about something.

Kūkaku Shiba stepped forward and used her fists and feet to knock both of them to the ground in an instant.

"Let him finish talking first, you two idiots!"

"Yeees." Intimidated by Kūkaku Shiba, the two on the ground didn't dare continue fighting.

"Then I'll keep this short. Soul Society has officially sentenced Rukia to Sōkyoku—that means the death penalty. It will be carried out in fourteen days."

"Damn it, that's all the time we have left?" Ichigo Kurosaki slammed a fist into the ground in anger.

"Next, I'll give you a general explanation of the fastest way through Seireitei to the place where Rukia will be held. She should still be in our Thirteenth Division now, but since there isn't much time, she'll soon be sent to the Senzaikyū."

Miyako Amamiya quickly described some of Soul Society's landmarks so Ichigo Kurosaki and the others could reach the Senzaikyū quickly. Although he had given them a thorough explanation, Miyako still didn't believe Ichigo and the others could rescue Rukia directly from the Senzaikyū.

The real decisive battle would have to wait until the day of the execution.

"...But there's one thing that matters most. It'll determine whether you can actually rescue Rukia," Yoruichi Shihōin cut in. She wanted Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to understand beforehand just how deep the waters of Seireitei ran.

"What is it? Hurry up and tell us!" Ichigo Kurosaki asked eagerly.

"If you run into anyone at the level of a captain or lieutenant, don't get drawn into a fight. Run immediately," Yoruichi Shihōin told them seriously, then looked at Miyako Amamiya.

"Amamiya-kun, could I ask you to do it?"

Miyako Amamiya understood what she wanted him to do, so he looked at Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Come outside and fight me, Ichigo. I want to see how strong you are," Miyako Amamiya said to him, intending to have a serious fight with Ichigo.

"Huh? This isn't the time for that, is it? You said yourself there's barely any time left before Rukia's execution." Ichigo Kurosaki didn't want to fight Miyako Amamiya at all. He just wanted to rescue Rukia as soon as possible.

"Ichigo, aren't you underestimating Soul Society's strength a little too much?" Miyako Amamiya stood up and looked down at him, his voice grave.

"No matter who's in my way, I'm going to rescue Rukia!" Ichigo Kurosaki said firmly.

"I'm glad you're so determined, but there are thirteen lieutenants like me in Seireitei, and thirteen captains like Byakuya Kuchiki. If you're not even strong enough to defeat me, then forget about rescuing Rukia," Miyako Amamiya said disdainfully.

"Byakuya Kuchiki..." Ichigo Kurosaki recalled that man's icy gaze and formidable strength. The wounds he had suffered then seemed to start aching faintly again.

"If we don't show you the Gotei 13's true strength, I'm afraid you'll underestimate your enemies and be wiped out the moment you enter Seireitei."

"...All right, I'll fight you. Show me what the Gotei 13 can do." Ichigo Kurosaki knew there would be countless obstacles on the way to rescuing Rukia. If he couldn't even defeat Miyako Amamiya standing before him, he had no chance against Byakuya Kuchiki.

Everyone went up to ground level and moved a short distance away from Kūkaku Shiba's home. In an open area, the two faced each other.

"Let me make this clear first. Even though I'm here to help you, I won't hold back," Miyako Amamiya said seriously.

"Wouldn't have it any other way!" Ichigo Kurosaki smiled confidently.

Miyako Amamiya had no reason to hold anything back against Ichigo Kurosaki, so as soon as he stepped into the fight, he unleashed all his Reiatsu.

The Reiatsu swept across the area, making several of the onlookers feel their breathing grow sluggish. Only Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba were unaffected.

"Hey, Yoruichi, is it really a good idea to let them fight?" Kūkaku Shiba asked.

"I'd say it's just right. The goal this time was always to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, not fight people at the level of lieutenants and captains. If we don't show them how strong lieutenants and captains are, I imagine they'll just charge straight into a fight once they get inside Seireitei."

"But where did this kid Miyako Amamiya come from? Kisuke told me a little about him, but I didn't expect him to have such considerable Reiatsu," Yoruichi Shihōin asked Kūkaku Shiba.

"I don't know. All I know is that he's that guy Ukitake's lieutenant. Seems he hasn't been in the position long."

Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his sword and swallowed as he felt the Reiatsu.

"Ichigo, there's something you should know. When we lieutenants and captains enter the World of the Living, we seal our Reiatsu to keep it from affecting that world. And as captain of the Sixth Division, Byakuya Kuchiki is even stronger than I am in Soul Society. If you want to rescue Rukia, he's an obstacle you'll have to overcome."

Only then did Ichigo Kurosaki realize how difficult this would be. Didn't that mean Renji Abarai would be even stronger in Soul Society too? Not to mention Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Here I come." Miyako Amamiya drew both swords and vanished from the spot.

So fast! Ichigo Kurosaki lost sight of Miyako Amamiya and looked around for him.

Suddenly, he felt a prickling sensation at his back and instinctively held his sword behind him to block.

Miyako Amamiya's crossed blades slammed into Ichigo Kurosaki's sword. Without losing force, they pressed down on his great blade.

Ichigo Kurosaki struggled to hold him off, but Miyako Amamiya leaped behind him and kicked him straight in the back.

Caught off guard, Ichigo Kurosaki went flying. He immediately got to his feet and tried to locate Miyako Amamiya.

But Miyako Amamiya was already in front of him, attacking with both swords in a relentless storm of blows that left Ichigo Kurosaki struggling to defend himself.

"What's wrong? Is that all your resolve amounts to?" Miyako Amamiya taunted. "I'm not the only one in Seireitei. There are at least a dozen people stronger than me. Do you really think you can save Rukia with just this much strength?"

"Damn it, don't you..." Ichigo Kurosaki put strength into the hand holding his sword. "Underestimate me!" He sent Miyako Amamiya flying with a single strike.

Miyako Amamiya carefully sensed the Reiatsu Ichigo Kurosaki was releasing. It had risen noticeably during the fight.

So he really does get stronger the longer he fights. Miyako Amamiya looked at the constantly released Zanpakuto in his hand and immediately used his full strength.

"Separate, Divine Arrow: Severed Thought!" The twin blades quickly transformed into a bow and arrows. Miyako Amamiya formed an arrow, drew the bow, and shot at Ichigo Kurosaki.

Ichigo Kurosaki had seen Miyako Amamiya release his Zanpakuto once before. The moment he saw the arrow coming, he didn't dare block it with his sword and dodged instead. He had seen with his own eyes what happened to Kisuke Urahara's Zanpakuto after it was struck by one of Miyako's arrows.

"How is that possible? It's a bow and arrow? Is that Reishi Convergence?!" Uryū Ishida exclaimed in surprise, seeing Miyako Amamiya's Shikai for the first time.

"No, this isn't Reishi Convergence. The Reishi in the atmosphere isn't converging on Miyako Amamiya's hand. He's drawing Reiryoku from his own body to form those arrows." Yoruichi Shihōin saw through the way Miyako's Shikai attacked at a glance and explained it to Uryū Ishida.

Even so, the more Uryū Ishida watched Miyako Amamiya attack, the more familiar it felt. The way he used a bow and arrows was far too similar to a Quincy.

"You don't dare take my arrows head-on? That's fine too." Miyako Amamiya fired another arrow, which landed at Ichigo Kurosaki's feet. Unwilling to waste such a good opportunity, Miyako hurriedly began chanting a Bakudō.

"Disintegrate, Black Dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat!"

"Bakudō #9: Geki!" To bind Ichigo Kurosaki with the full power of Bakudō #9: Geki, Miyako Amamiya had recited the entire incantation.

The arrow turned into chains and flew toward Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo naturally hadn't noticed anything strange about the arrow at his feet and was immediately bound.

"Damn it, when did you set this trap...?" Ichigo Kurosaki thought Miyako Amamiya had caught him with a trap he had set in advance.

The next arrow came flying in quickly, leaving Ichigo Kurosaki no choice but to twist aside. But Miyako Amamiya's arrow changed once more.

"Hadō #20: Heaven-Illuminating Orb!" The arrow turned into white light, blinding Ichigo Kurosaki at such close range.

By the time he broke free of the chains, Miyako Amamiya had already drawn his bow and was aiming it at him from point-blank range.

Seeing this, Ichigo Kurosaki hurriedly backed away. But Miyako Amamiya released his Shikai and put away his twin swords.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I haven't lost yet!" Ichigo Kurosaki was naturally unwilling to accept it. Although Miyako Amamiya's strange abilities had repeatedly gotten the better of him, he wasn't hurt and believed he could still fight.

"Much as I'd like to keep fighting you, there isn't much time left." Miyako Amamiya took out his Denreishinki, which displayed an order Soul Society had just issued.

"Soul Society is about to hold a meeting. Captains and lieutenants all have to attend."

"Ichigo, you understand now after that fight, don't you?" Miyako Amamiya said to him. "There are plenty of people in Soul Society who are stronger than me, and plenty whose abilities are stranger than mine. Once you actually enter Seireitei, don't underestimate anyone."

Ichigo Kurosaki looked at him silently. At last, he understood a small part of what lay beneath Soul Society's surface.

"But I won't give up!" Ichigo Kurosaki declared firmly.

"Miss Kūkaku, I'll leave the rest to you." Miyako Amamiya nodded to him, then turned to Kūkaku Shiba.

"Got it. What a bunch of troublesome brats," Kūkaku Shiba said irritably. After all, everyone involved this time was someone she knew.

"One more thing." Miyako Amamiya looked at them. "Inside Seireitei, we'll be enemies. Don't mention me to anyone."

After saying goodbye, Miyako Amamiya hurried toward Seireitei. Since Jidanbō's arm had been cut off, the West Rukongai Gate couldn't be opened, so Miyako had to enter Seireitei through another gate.

At the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake was waiting anxiously at the entrance.

"Miyako, you're finally here. Cough, cough, cough..." At this critical moment, Ukitake's old illness had flared up again.

"Rukia is about to be sent to the Senzaikyū. Cough, cough, cough." Ukitake coughed as he spoke. Kiyone Kotetsu was treating him with Kaido at his side, hoping to get him to return and rest.

Ukitake waved a hand and continued to Miyako Amamiya, "As for the emergency captains' meeting that Master Genryūsai has called, I'd like you to attend in my place. I've already cleared it with Master Yamamoto."

"I understand, Captain Ukitake. Please go back and rest. We'll still need your help with what comes next."

"I understand what you mean. While I'm away, you, as my lieutenant, can act with my full authority. Sentarō, Kiyone, make sure you support Miyako."

"Yes, Captain!" Sentarō Kotsubaki answered loudly. Kiyone Kotetsu nodded and took Ukitake back to the Captain's Office.

Watching Ukitake return to the Captain's Office, Miyako Amamiya said to Sentarō Kotsubaki, "Let's go, Sentarō. First, we'll escort Rukia to the Senzaikyū."

Outside the Thirteenth Division, a group of guards dressed in white had arrived at the entrance early, ready to transfer Rukia to the Senzaikyū.

Before that, Miyako Amamiya still had to carry out Kisuke Urahara's instructions. As Miyako saw it, the timing was just right...

Recalling the instructions Kisuke Urahara had given him in the World of the Living, Miyako Amamiya quickened his pace toward the place where Rukia was being held.

Standing outside the door, Miyako Amamiya instructed Kotsubaki Kotarō, "Sentarō, once I go in, don't let anyone else enter. I have something to discuss with Rukia alone."

"Yes, Lieutenant Miyako!" Seeing Miyako Amamiya's serious expression, Sentarō Kotsubaki agreed.

After a while, the faint, intermittent sounds from inside the room seemed to vanish entirely. Nothing could be heard, nor could any movement be sensed inside.

Before long, Miyako Amamiya came out with Rukia. Both wore somewhat complicated expressions, leaving Sentarō Kotsubaki wondering what had happened.

"Let's go, Sentarō. We'll take Rukia to the Senzaikyū," Miyako Amamiya said in a low voice. He seemed to be in a poor mood.

"Yes!"

Miyako Amamiya and Sentarō Kotsubaki led Rukia to the entrance of the Thirteenth Division. The Senzaikyū guards, who had been waiting there for some time, surrounded their group as they headed toward the Senzaikyū.

Along the way, Rukia wore a complicated expression and glanced at Miyako Amamiya from time to time, showing him a look of concern. Miyako led the way in silence.

When they arrived at the towering white spire, Miyako Amamiya watched Rukia enter the room and nodded to her, then prepared to take his leave.

"Miyako, you..." In the end, Rukia couldn't help asking, but Miyako Amamiya didn't answer him. He merely shook his head.

"Lieutenant Miyako Amamiya, thank you for leading the transfer. All right, let's go," one of the guards said to Miyako.

Miyako Amamiya nodded and walked out of the Senzaikyū.

Miyako, Ichigo... Please, both of you, stay safe. Rukia had learned from Miyako Amamiya that Ichigo Kurosaki had arrived, as well as what had just happened to Miyako himself. Both left her deeply worried.

Miyako Amamiya prepared to head to the First Division to attend the captains' meeting in Captain Ukitake's place. On the way, he saw Renji Abarai below the Senzaikyū, gazing up at it.

"Miyako!" Renji Abarai spotted Miyako Amamiya and ran over to ask, "Has Rukia already been transferred to the Senzaikyū?"

"Yes," Miyako Amamiya replied.

"I see..." Renji Abarai's expression darkened slightly, and he felt deeply conflicted. "Captain Kuchiki hasn't asked a single thing about Rukia. Not since we arrested her and brought her to Soul Society."

Miyako Amamiya shook his head. He didn't feel he could say much about Byakuya Kuchiki as he was now.

The two stood in silence, neither speaking again, each preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Ahead of them, Sōsuke Aizen appeared at an intersection and waved to Renji Abarai and Miyako Amamiya from a distance.

Miyako Amamiya knew he couldn't avoid him. He went forward with Renji Abarai, silently praying he wouldn't be found out.

"Abarai, Amamiya-kun, it's been a while. Could I... have a word with you?" Aizen said with a smile.

"What did you want to talk to us about, Captain Aizen?" Miyako Amamiya asked, guessing that Aizen had come to incite him and Renji Abarai to rebel against Soul Society.

"Rukia Kuchiki is one of your division members, isn't she, Amamiya-kun? And Abarai, as I understand it, you and Rukia Kuchiki have been friends since your days in Rukongai."

"Huh? Well... yes." Although Renji Abarai was surprised Aizen knew that, it wasn't a secret, so he admitted it.

Miyako Amamiya, meanwhile, remained silent.

"From where you stand, does she really deserve to be executed?" Aizen's voice suddenly grew low as he asked the question seriously.

"Uh, I'm not sure what you mean." Renji Abarai was a little flustered by the question.

Aizen went on to share his thoughts on the matter with Miyako Amamiya and Renji Abarai, leaving Renji silent, while Miyako worried about something else.

But an alarm bell suddenly rang, cutting their conversation short. The emergency captains' meeting was about to begin, reminding Aizen and Miyako Amamiya that it was time to go to the First Division.

"Well then, Abarai, Amamiya-kun, let's continue this another time," Aizen said, waving goodbye.

"Please wait, Captain Aizen. Captain Ukitake can't attend the captains' meeting because he's ill, so he asked me to go to the First Division as an observer and report back to him." Miyako Amamiya was full of regret. If he'd known, he wouldn't have agreed to Ukitake's request. Now he had no choice but to go to the First Division with Aizen.

"Is that so? Then come with me, Amamiya-kun." Aizen looked surprised and took Miyako Amamiya along to the First Division.

When Aizen and Miyako Amamiya arrived at the First Division, several captains had already been waiting there for quite some time.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who was relatively familiar with Aizen, greeted him. "Hey, Aizen, you're here. By the way, who's that behind you?"

At the sight of Miyako Amamiya, Tōshirō Hitsugaya couldn't help feeling puzzled. This was supposed to be a captains' meeting, so why had Aizen brought someone who wasn't a captain?