Chapter 34
"G-G-Ganju?" Uryū Ishida jumped in surprise. Thanks to Miyako Amamiya's timely rescue, Ganju Shiba was not covered in wounds; only his arm was wrapped in thick bandages.
"You're finally awake. Come on, tell me, did that guy Amamiya knock you out too?" Ganju Shiba asked eagerly.
"Too?" Uryū Ishida picked up on Ganju Shiba's wording. "Amamiya knocked you out too?"
"Yeah. I was so close to rescuing Kuchiki, but the captain of the Sixth Division found me. I took a slash from him, and when he heard my name was Shiba, he released his Zanpakuto and attacked me without another word."
"Luckily, Amamiya showed up just then and blocked the attack for me. But even though we were only one step away from rescuing Kuchiki, he came over and knocked me out on the spot."
"He was definitely getting revenge! He was paying me back for talking bad about him before! What a small-minded man!"
"I didn't expect you to be the first of us to reach Senzaikyū... But what Miyako Amamiya did..." Uryū Ishida was full of questions.
"Why would he protect you and then knock you out? He knocked me out and brought me here too..."
"Because a captain in Soul Society was assassinated, and we're important leads," Yasutora Sado said from the side.
"Sado? Thank goodness, are you all right too?" Uryū Ishida could not help expressing his relief at the sight of his familiar figure. "Wait, did you say a captain was 'assassinated'?"
"So he saved us for further investigation... No, it seemed like Amamiya was deliberately stopping us from going any farther. Damn it, whose side is he on?"
"Who the hell knows? If these handcuffs weren't sealing my Reiatsu, I could use Seppa to escape right now. Then I'd give Amamiya a good beating! Sado, Uryū, you have to help me!"
"Handcuffs?" Uryū Ishida looked at the handcuffs on his wrists, but his expression darkened. Even without them, he had lost all his Quincy powers...
"But Ichigo hasn't been caught yet. I believe he'll definitely come and save us. Until then, let's wait here," Yasutora Sado said.
The next morning, the Thirteenth Division received even worse news.
"What did you say? Rukia's execution has been moved to tomorrow!" Ukitake said furiously.
"We understand. You may go back," Miyako Amamiya calmly told them.
Seeing how visibly angry Ukitake was, the messengers naturally did not dare linger.
Miyako Amamiya looked at Ukitake and reassured him. "Captain Ukitake, this is good news."
"Good news? Rukia's execution date has been changed again and again, and this..." Ukitake's face was livid. He finally became fully convinced that there had to be someone pulling the strings behind this incident.
"Captain Ukitake, the fact that the execution date has been changed again means 'he' really is getting desperate. And we've made every possible preparation. All that's left is to wait for the day of the execution."
"I see... You're right. It seems he doesn't want to wait any longer. But is even Central 46 accommodating this person pulling the strings? Could he be a member of Central 46 himself? Or is he a noble?"
Ukitake raced through possible suspects, but he never once suspected the man who was "dead."
"Captain Ukitake, the Heavenly Gift Armaments require someone to assist in activating them, and I have other things to do. I hope you can go to Captain Kyōraku," Miyako Amamiya said, making his final arrangements.
"Shunsui... I understand. I spoke to him about this beforehand, so getting him to agree shouldn't be difficult. But Miyako, do you have something urgent to attend to?" Ukitake could not understand what Miyako Amamiya still had to do at such a crucial time. Was it so important that he could not even be there for Rukia's execution?
"Please don't worry, Captain Ukitake. I'll definitely be there on the day of the execution. After all, our division is going to openly violate Soul Society's rules this time, especially with the Captain-Commander present."
"Yes, but even if we have to fight Master Genryūsai, we have to stop this, or else..."
"Then I'll be going, Captain. I need to explain things to a few idiots, and most importantly... figure myself out."
Miyako Amamiya arrived below Sōkyoku Hill and carefully sensed Ichigo Kurosaki's Reiatsu.
"Found him." Miyako Amamiya could sense Ichigo Kurosaki's Reiatsu rising and falling.
In a cave, Miyako Amamiya found the path to the inner space. He smashed through the disguise and jumped in.
"Someone else is here!" Yoruichi Shihōin found the situation troublesome. Renji Abarai's arrival had already caught her off guard, though fortunately he had not come looking for a fight.
But now that another person had arrived, she had to wonder whether he was here to cause trouble.
"Looks like I came at just the right time." Miyako Amamiya looked at the three people ahead.
"Miyako Amamiya?" Yoruichi Shihōin looked at him in surprise. Ichigo Kurosaki, on the other hand, immediately demanded, "Hey, you! Why did you lock Rukia up again back then? Didn't you say you'd help us? If you'd just taken Rukia and run away then..."
"Too naive." Miyako Amamiya shook his head, then looked at the middle-aged man in the black coat standing before Ichigo.
Is this what Yhwach looked like when he was young...? Miyako Amamiya noticed that his Jue Nian seemed to be trembling slightly, but he paid him no mind.
"Miss Yoruichi, could you let Ichigo pause his training for a moment? There's something I need to discuss with you."
Yoruichi Shihōin frowned in confusion. She had just heard from Renji Abarai that Rukia Kuchiki's execution had been moved all the way up to tomorrow, so they really could not afford to waste any more time.
"Sorry, but there's not much time left, and I don't want to waste any more of it." Ichigo Kurosaki ignored Miyako Amamiya and continued fighting his Zanpakuto.
"Sigh, what a stubborn idiot." Miyako Amamiya sighed. "In that case, Miss Yoruichi, Renji, please hear me out."
Renji Abarai still did not know what had happened between Miyako Amamiya and Ichigo Kurosaki, but he could tell that Miyako Amamiya genuinely wanted to save Rukia, so he decided to come over and hear what he had to say.
"During tomorrow's execution, Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku will use the Shihoin Family's Heavenly Gift War Artifact to destroy the Sōkyoku outright."
"What? Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku are both going to save Rukia?!" Renji Abarai did not know what had happened while he was unconscious, but somehow two captains were willing to save Rukia.
"And then?" Yoruichi Shihōin already knew about this, so she prompted Miyako Amamiya to continue.
"The Heavenly Gift Armaments will destroy the Gōkakyū outright, and Renji and I will take care of the Execution Pillar. After we rescue Rukia, the most important thing will be to hold off the captains present."
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto will be held off by his two students, Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku. As for the other captains and lieutenants, we'll have to hold them off ourselves."
"...I understand. I'll destroy the Execution Pillar. And leave Captain Kuchiki to me." Renji Abarai had originally planned to rescue Rukia as soon as he finished training his Bankai, but he had not been confident he could do it on his own.
But in Miyako Amamiya's plan, they had two lieutenants and three Captain-level fighters who could help rescue Rukia, and that greatly boosted Renji Abarai's confidence.
"If that idiot over there makes it in time, we'll have a formidable force." Miyako Amamiya glanced at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was still fighting, and spoke to them.
"No problem. In fact, the timing's perfect. There's an old friend I'd like to see too." Yoruichi Shihōin rubbed her hands eagerly. "Besides, I believe Ichigo will definitely make it in time."
"But the problem comes after we rescue Rukia. Miss Yoruichi, you know, don't you? Once his plan is destroyed, 'he' won't be able to resist showing himself."
"...Yes."
Miyako Amamiya and Yoruichi Shihōin were talking about things Renji Abarai could not make sense of, so he hurriedly asked, "What will happen after we rescue Rukia? Miss Yoruichi, what's going on?" Even someone as slow on the uptake as Renji Abarai had realized there was something wrong with this execution.
"Don't rush, Renji. Let me finish first," Miyako Amamiya told him.
"Miss Yoruichi, I don't know if Mr. Urahara told you about my Zanpakuto's ability."
"Your Zanpakuto's ability? Kisuke did tell me. Your ability is quite similar to the function of a sacred treasure our family has."
"Similar, but they're different things." Miyako Amamiya had decided to reveal his Zanpakuto's true ability now.
"My Divine Arrow: Severed Thought's true function is to sever the will carried by Reiryoku..."
"What? Miyako, doesn't your Zanpakuto control the arrows you shoot and make them change again?" Having observed Miyako Amamiya's Zanpakuto up close, Renji Abarai had thought he had seen through its ability long ago.
Miyako Amamiya shook his head. That was only what appeared on the surface.
"Divine Arrow: Severed Thought is a Kidō-type Zanpakuto. The arrows fired from the bow carry my will. If one hits an opponent, it can temporarily sever the will carried by the Reiryoku released from their body."
"If the command originally infused into the Reiryoku is lost, then the power released becomes ineffective or even disappears. That's why it also has some effect on Zanpakuto. It can sever the connection between a Zanpakuto and its wielder, temporarily nullifying its abilities."
"I see... So that's the true nature of your Zanpakuto..." After hearing Miyako Amamiya's explanation, Yoruichi Shihōin finally understood why Kisuke Urahara had been willing to discuss things with him.
"A Zanpakuto with an effect like that..." Renji Abarai was astonished. His own Zanpakuto was a direct-attack type and did not have nearly so many fancy abilities.
"But you should have fallen under 'hypnosis' too, shouldn't you? If 'he' intends to come under hypnosis from the start, then neither your Zanpakuto nor my sacred treasure will have any effect on him if we can't hit him." Yoruichi Shihōin frowned as she asked, realizing that the most crucial problem had yet to be solved.
The conversation that followed left Renji Abarai completely lost. He wanted to ask questions, but their serious discussion gave him no chance to interrupt.
"It's all right, Miss Yoruichi. He won't use his Zanpakuto at the moment he seizes Rukia. If the Sōkyoku fails, the only backup he'll have left is that thing of Mr. Urahara's."
"The moment he's about to achieve his goal, the moment he lets his guard down, will be our best chance to act."
"Oh? Now I'm starting to believe you really can stop him," Yoruichi Shihōin said with a smile.
It's not that I can stop him. I've already stopped him. That's why I'm working so hard to give him a real beating, Miyako Amamiya thought helplessly.
Hearing this, Renji Abarai hurriedly asked, "Hey, Miyako, Miss Yoruichi, what are you talking about? What's this hypnosis, and who is 'he'? Has someone been manipulating Rukia's execution from the beginning?!"
Miyako Amamiya looked at him and said seriously, "Renji, whether you believe what I'm about to tell you or not, remember it well. Tomorrow, you'll know whether what I've said is true."
"Miss Yoruichi, let me stay here for a little while too." After telling Renji Abarai everything, Miyako Amamiya paid no further attention to his astonishment.
"That's fine, but what are you planning to do?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked in confusion. Everything was ready, so Miyako Amamiya should have been returning to the Thirteenth Division.
"Although everything is in place, I still want to make one last effort," Miyako Amamiya explained. He then walked to one side, and after making sure he would not be caught up in Ichigo Kurosaki's fight, drew his two swords, sat cross-legged, and placed them across his knees.
Renji Abarai had recovered by now. Looking at Miyako Amamiya, he could not help asking in confusion, "Miss Yoruichi, what's Miyako doing? Isn't that how you communicate with your Zanpakuto? But Miyako has already achieved Shikai, hasn't he?"
"Who knows..." Yoruichi Shihōin looked at him, curiosity stirring in her as well.
"I see. Something really is very wrong." Shunsui Kyōraku sighed. "Central 46's orders this time seem unusually firm, leaving no room for question."
"Miyako and I discussed it, and I'm starting to believe that Central 46 is being influenced by someone. That person's ultimate goal is to kill Rukia with the Sōkyoku, so we can't let him succeed," Ukitake said.
"I never expected a Ryoka invasion to have so many consequences... But Jūshirō, you've made up your mind. As for Old Man Yamamoto..."
"Yes. Even if I have to cross swords with Master Genryūsai, I'll stop this execution," Ukitake said firmly.
"My, my. Since you've already made your decision, I suppose I can only risk my life alongside you." Shunsui Kyōraku spoke helplessly, but he actually agreed with Ukitake that there was something wrong with this execution.
"Thank you, Shunsui. I knew you'd do the same." Ukitake smiled. His close friend's support filled him with motivation.
"But dealing with the aftermath won't be easy. Just thinking about Old Man Yamamoto scolding us..."
"Ahahaha... I'm prepared to face the consequences." Ukitake laughed helplessly. "I'll take my leave, then. I still need to go see Byakuya. Rukia is his sister, after all."
"Captain Kuchiki? The Kuchiki Clan is the foremost noble family. Asking them to go against the rules probably won't work, will it?"
"After Rukia joined the Thirteenth Division, Byakuya once specifically asked me to keep an eye on his sister. So I want to see if I can persuade him to join us."
Watching Ukitake leave, Shunsui Kyōraku could not help sighing.
How far will this farce go before it ends? Shunsui Kyōraku thought helplessly.
After meeting with Shunsui Kyōraku, Ukitake immediately headed to the Sixth Division.
He needed to find out whether Byakuya Kuchiki truly no longer wanted to save Rukia Kuchiki.
"Hey! Byakuya, Rukia's execution has been moved up again. Are you really just going to stand by and watch?" When Ukitake saw Byakuya Kuchiki, he hurried after him, put a hand on his shoulder, and asked urgently.
"The execution is tomorrow. Since it has already been decided, I can only accept it," Byakuya Kuchiki said expressionlessly.
"This joke has gone too far! She's your sister!" Ukitake had not expected Byakuya Kuchiki to be so cold. He had thought he had a chance to win him over, but now it seemed impossible.
"As a member of the Kuchiki Clan, once she has broken the rules, she must be prepared for the consequences, whether she is my sister or not..." Byakuya Kuchiki had already sworn that, no matter who it was, he would not let himself break the rules again. "Ukitake, keep your lieutenant under control. If he causes trouble on the day of the execution..."
With that, Byakuya Kuchiki turned his back on Ukitake and left.
Ukitake watched him go with a complicated expression, unable to understand why he was so resolute. Byakuya, why would you say that? You went out of your way to see me when Rukia joined the division...
But even if you truly don't want to concern yourself with your sister anymore, I won't stand by and let one of my division members die... I'll save Rukia with everyone else. Ukitake's expression gradually hardened with resolve, and he turned back toward the Thirteenth Division.
At the 11th Division, Ikkaku Madarame, who had recovered, and Kenpachi Zaraki saw one of their division members bring someone back.
"Hey, Aramaki, who's this woman? She's not from our 11th Division, is she?"
"No, Third Seat Madarame! This woman is a Ryoka! I caught her and brought her back!" Aramaki shamelessly took the credit.
"A Ryoka? Hey, woman, what's your name? Do you know Ichigo?" Kenpachi Zaraki asked with interest.
"Huh? I'm Orihime Inoue. If you mean Kurosaki, we came in together, but we got separated when we entered the Seireitei."
"Oh? So what happened in the end, Orihime? Is Ichigo still alive? He beat both me and the captain one after the other," Ikkaku Madarame asked.
"Um, well, actually, I..." Orihime Inoue did not know either, and she was very worried about Ichigo Kurosaki's current situation.
"Ikkaku, stop asking pointless questions like that. Of course Ichigo's still alive." Kenpachi Zaraki grinned fiercely. "I know perfectly well he's alive, and he seems to have gotten stronger. No, he has gotten stronger!"
"How interesting, Ichigo Kurosaki." Kenpachi Zaraki grew even more excited. Now that Ichigo Kurosaki had gotten stronger, he could have an even more satisfying fight with him.
"Hey, Orihime, was it? I need your help. If I go with you, I'll be able to see Ichigo soon, right?" Kenpachi Zaraki could hardly wait, having completely forgotten Soul Society's order to arrest the Ryoka.
"Take us with you, Captain. I want to see what level Ichigo's at now too," Ikkaku Madarame said excitedly.
Night fell, and the chaos in Soul Society continued as before. Lieutenants defected and captains fought one another. With the restrictions lifted, captains and lieutenants clashed left and right, and local disturbances continued.
As time passed, the night over Soul Society slowly faded, and the day of the execution quietly arrived. Renji Abarai had finally completed his Bankai training. He looked at Miyako Amamiya, who was still meditating with his eyes closed, and Ichigo Kurosaki, who was still fighting tirelessly, and seemed a little anxious.
"Miss Yoruichi, why hasn't Miyako woken up yet? And is Ichigo really going to make it in time?"
"Don't worry. Amamiya's Reiatsu seems to be gradually stabilizing. And Ichigo—I believe he's someone who can master Bankai in three days. He'll definitely make it in time." Yoruichi Shihōin had witnessed how quickly Ichigo Kurosaki was improving, so she had great confidence in him.