Chapter 47

Yhwach... Ryūken Ishida silently repeated the name to himself.

"Kiyone, have you seen Miyako?" Rukia had wanted to find Miyako Amamiya and train together, but she couldn't find Miyako anywhere in the Thirteenth Division.

"Lieutenant Miyako? He seemed to have left the Thirteenth Division early this morning," Kiyone Kotetsu recalled, holding a heavy stack of paperwork.

"Rukia, could you help me carry all of these to the Captain's Office? I still have some more documents to bring over," Kiyone Kotetsu said naturally.

Rukia looked at the stack of documents rising above Kiyone Kotetsu's head and couldn't help asking, "Kiyone, why does it look like you and Sentarō are still handling the division's work together? What about Miyako?"

"Lieutenant Miyako? We settled that a long time ago. Lieutenant Miyako handles external affairs, while Sentarō and I continue to handle the Thirteenth Division's internal affairs," Kiyone Kotetsu said without concern.

"Listen, Kiyone... You and Sentarō haven't been fooled by that guy Miyako, have you? Maybe he just doesn't want to do the division's work?" Rukia asked cautiously.

"Lieutenant Miyako? How could that be! Don't you know about what happened before? After the people from the 11th Division came to provoke us, Lieutenant Miyako went over and fought them all by himself. Since then, no one from the 11th Division has dared make snide remarks about us!"

"I did hear about that, but..."

"Lieutenant Miyako handled it so brilliantly! So Sentarō and I have no problem taking care of little things like internal affairs!" Kiyone Kotetsu said proudly.

"And Rukia, you probably didn't know this, but Lieutenant Miyako made arrangements in advance for so many things during this incident that even Captain Ukitake couldn't help admiring how efficiently he carried them out!"

"I-is that so..." Rukia accepted the documents, her tone complicated. She knew she probably couldn't persuade Kiyone otherwise, and she wondered what Miyako Amamiya had done to win them over.

Outside the Seireitei, in Rukongai, Miyako Amamiya returned to the lake from before and continued training in it.

No one would have imagined that beneath the tranquil lake, a man was holding a bow-drawing stance, completely motionless.

But the cross in Miyako Amamiya's hand remained motionless, and no bow took shape.

Reishi Convergence is so difficult to use. It feels as though something is blocking it... Miyako Amamiya frowned underwater.

Miyako Amamiya carefully recalled the properties of the Sanrei Glove. Once a Quincy put it on, its powerful dispersal force would interfere with them, preventing them from forming Reishi into a bow. But if they managed to form a bow in that state and maintain it for seven days and seven nights, they could rapidly approach the highest realm of the Quincy.

Miyako Amamiya gave up on forming a Spirit Bow underwater and then using Reishi Convergence to form an arrow. It was too difficult. So he would break the process down: first form a Spirit Bow on shore, then go underwater and try Reishi Convergence. If that succeeded, he would disperse the Spirit Bow and form it underwater.

A Quincy's ability to use Reishi Convergence was instinctive. Making an arrow out of Reishi was very easy; making a Spirit Bow came after that. So he would start with the easier task...

For now, I'll make the Spirit Bow a little smaller and try again... Miyako Amamiya returned to the surface, formed a smaller Spirit Bow on shore, and dived back down.

According to what Ryūken Ishida had told him before, a smaller Spirit Bow could accelerate Reishi Convergence, but it would reduce the power of the arrows.

But right now, he didn't need to shoot arrows. He needed to improve his control over Reishi Convergence, so a smaller Spirit Bow might work better.

As time passed, Miyako Amamiya suddenly noticed that his attempt at Reishi Convergence seemed to be working. A faint blue light appeared in his hand, but he didn't know whether it had been converted from the water.

So Miyako Amamiya went to the shore and tried to converge the water into Reishi again. But there was no movement on the water's surface; once again, it was Reishi from the atmosphere that gathered in his hand.

Damn it, it still won't work... Then where did the Reishi I converged underwater come from? Miyako Amamiya wondered in frustration.

Forget it. I'll try my Zanpakuto... Miyako Amamiya's Zanpakuto could further strengthen his Reishi Convergence, and he hoped it would help him use the technique underwater.

"Separate, Divine-style Jue Nian." Miyako Amamiya's two swords turned into a bow and arrow, and he dived back underwater.

Only after Miyako Amamiya drew the bowstring and used Reishi Convergence again did he discover that he could indeed converge Reishi underwater. But rather than turning the water into Reishi, he was drawing Reishi from the atmosphere.

So it was still from the atmosphere... Miyako Amamiya looked helplessly at the Reishi gathered on his bow. Am I not diving deep enough...?

Or can I only achieve high-concentration Reishi dispersal with a Sanrei Glove...?

"No, since the people of the Wandenreich could train to achieve Vollständig, there must be a similar environment that can help them do it."

Forget it. It's only the first day, so I'll keep trying... Miyako Amamiya continued the training, planning to check in a few days whether his proficiency in Reishi Convergence had increased.

Miyako Amamiya didn't leave until dusk, when he returned to the Seireitei.

Only then did Rukia finally notice that Miyako Amamiya had returned.

"Hey, you! You vanished first thing this morning! Were you off doing something you couldn't let anyone see?" Rukia came over to demand an explanation.

"What do you mean, something I couldn't let anyone see? I just went outside the Seireitei to train," Miyako Amamiya said sheepishly. What he was doing really was something he couldn't quite let people see.

"Idiot! Why didn't you take me with you? Were you just saying things at random when you promised to help me with those moves?" Rukia demanded.

"Oh, right, those. I haven't forgotten. It's just that so much has happened lately..." Miyako Amamiya said awkwardly. He had given Rukia a few suggestions about her Shikai before, but she had immediately gone to the World of the Living on assignment. So much had happened after her return that the matter had been delayed.

"Since you had the nerve to offer so many suggestions, you'd better take responsibility! I also... I also don't want to watch helplessly while you all get hurt anymore..." Rukia's voice grew quieter as she recalled how powerless she had been before Aizen, able only to watch her brother and friends fall one after another at his feet.

Although Miyako Amamiya's plan had succeeded, Rukia still couldn't forget how her companions had fallen one by one while she could do nothing.

"..." Miyako Amamiya looked at her. He understood how she felt, so he stepped forward and took Rukia's hand. "I promise you... We'll go train together tomorrow. But not at Ribushiyama. We'll go to another place I found," Miyako Amamiya said softly to her with a smile.

Near dusk, Rukia and Miyako Amamiya returned to the Seireitei.

"Miyako, I really don't understand the point of that training of yours..." Rukia couldn't make sense of what Miyako Amamiya was doing. "I feel like you'd be better off focusing on developing your Zanpakuto's abilities with me."

"I am developing them, aren't I? But that training is also very important to me," Miyako Amamiya said helplessly.

Rukia had been training with Miyako Amamiya outside the Seireitei for quite some time now. When Rukia discovered that the training ground Miyako Amamiya had found was by a lake, she was utterly puzzled.

Besides their daily sparring and discussions, Miyako Amamiya dived into the lake every day, and she didn't know what he was doing. Although Miyako Amamiya had told her about some of his Zanpakuto's abilities, Rukia couldn't connect that training to developing them at all.

"There you go again, refusing to tell me..." Rukia puffed out her cheeks and muttered to herself.

Miyako Amamiya heard her and felt helpless too. After all, the abilities he was developing were Quincy abilities, and it wasn't time to tell Rukia yet.

"Sorry. Forgive me, Rukia. I'll tell you someday." Miyako Amamiya moved behind her and pushed her along with an apologetic smile.

The two returned to the Thirteenth Division, playfully bickering, but a division member soon came to tell Miyako Amamiya that Ukitake wanted to see him and Rukia.

The two exchanged a glance, neither knowing what Ukitake wanted with them.

"Miyako, did Captain Ukitake and Kiyone find out you've been slacking off? I know what you did. You must have found an excuse to leave all the division's work to Kiyone and the others," Rukia said suspiciously.

"How can you just make up lies and smear an innocent man?"

"Innocent? I saw Kiyone carrying a stack of documents taller than she was the other day, and she spent the whole day working on them in the Captain's Office. Isn't a lieutenant who leaves all the division's work to the Third Seats slacking off?"

"W-what nonsense are you talking about? When it comes to a Soul Reaper's work, how can you call that slacking off? Look at Miss Matsumoto from the Tenth Division. Hasn't she left all the division's work to Captain Hitsugaya too?"

"All right, all right, I get it," Rukia sighed. Not wanting to argue with him anymore, she walked toward the Captain's Office alone.

Amamiya followed behind her, continuing to explain something about training, dignity, and everyone doing their own jobs, making Rukia sigh again and again.

In the Thirteenth Division Captain's Office, Ukitake was seriously considering Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's suggestion.

"Ah, Miyako, Rukia, you're here." Seeing that the two had arrived, Ukitake greeted them. "How is it? Is your training going well?"

"Everything's going well. This guy may be a little frivolous most of the time, but he's pretty smart and has given me a lot of useful advice," Rukia said bluntly.

"Rukia, we're in front of the captain..." Miyako Amamiya said helplessly.

"Hahaha, is that so?" Ukitake laughed awkwardly. "Oh, right, there's something you two should know about."

Ukitake handed them a document for Miyako Amamiya and Rukia to read.

"Confirmation of Soul Society's list of Soul Reapers to be dispatched to Karakura Town?" Rukia asked in confusion.

As soon as Miyako Amamiya saw the document, he knew that Soul Society was planning to send more Soul Reapers to help Ichigo Kurosaki and the others protect Karakura Town more effectively.

After all, Karakura Town was Aizen's most important target at present.

"Captain Ukitake, are we the ones deciding who goes?" Miyako Amamiya asked, looking at Ukitake.

"We can indeed decide on the Thirteenth Division's members ourselves, but Soul Society doesn't intend to send only members of the Thirteenth Division. So they've given us a list of candidates for us to make recommendations," Ukitake explained.

Miyako Amamiya looked over the names on the list, nodding repeatedly.

Renji Abarai is an excellent fighter and has learned Bankai. He's certainly a good choice.

Izuru Kira graduated first in his class at Shin'ō Academy. His strength is indeed impressive.

Tetsuzaemon Iba has mastered all four Zankensoki techniques and certainly has considerable fighting strength. It looks like Soul Society doesn't intend to send just one lieutenant...

Huh? Ōmaeda? Miyako Amamiya looked surprised.

"Miyako, is something wrong?" Ukitake asked.

"Ahem, it's nothing. I just saw an unexpected candidate." Miyako Amamiya thought carefully about Ōmaeda's strengths, only to find that he really couldn't think of any.

"Captain Ukitake, why are they sending so many Soul Reapers to guard Karakura Town? Ichigo is already there, and isn't Senior Chōtarō in Karakura Town now too?" Rukia asked, puzzled.

"Captain Ukitake? Should we tell Rukia?" Miyako Amamiya looked at Ukitake, asking for his opinion. Ukitake nodded.

"Miyako, what's going on?"

"Aizen's real objective is Karakura Town. And Aizen has probably already gathered more fighting strength in Hueco Mundo. He could make a move on Karakura Town at any time..."

Miyako Amamiya briefly described Aizen's objective. The more Rukia heard, the more alarmed she became, and by the time he finished, she couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.

"How could this be... Aizen would actually do something like that..."

"Rukia, you understand now, right? That's why Soul Society wants to send more Soul Reapers to guard Karakura Town," Miyako Amamiya said.

"Yes, and Soul Society's position is that this group must be led by someone of captain-level strength," Ukitake said gravely.

"They're even sending someone of captain-level strength to Karakura Town to guard against him..." Rukia said in surprise.

"I've already decided that the two of you will represent the Thirteenth Division in the World of the Living and help Ichigo Kurosaki and the others protect Karakura Town. What do you two think?"

"I couldn't ask for more! It's my turn to help Ichigo this time," Rukia said immediately.

"I have no objections either." Miyako Amamiya nodded. His training in Quincy: Letzt Stil had reached a bottleneck, and he needed to go to the World of the Living to find Ryūken Ishida and use that chance to find a way to break through.

"I see. Then do you have any suggestions for the other people going to the World of the Living?"

"How about Captain Hitsugaya?" Miyako Amamiya suggested readily.

"Captain Hitsugaya? Why recommend him?" Ukitake asked in confusion.

"Captain Ukitake, after losing three captains, the Gotei 13 really doesn't have many suitable candidates left to send to the World of the Living. What we need is someone with a normal personality and a certain level of strength—not necessarily the strongest, but the most suitable."

"If I recommended someone like Captain Zaraki or Captain Kurotsuchi, how do you think they would do?" Miyako Amamiya had originally thought that Tōshirō Hitsugaya going to the World of the Living in the original story was just a coincidence. But after carefully considering the captains still serving in Soul Society, he found that Tōshirō Hitsugaya really was the most suitable person to lead the group.

Ukitake carefully recalled the traits of the current captains and found that Miyako Amamiya did have a point. Thinking of the few peculiar captains in the Gotei 13, Ukitake felt a little awkward himself.

"I understand. I'll discuss it carefully with Teacher Genryūsai. Are there any other candidates besides the captain?"

Rukia thought carefully for a moment, then gave up and looked at Miyako Amamiya, hoping he could offer a few more suggestions.

"How about Ikkaku Madarame of the 11th Division? Although Ikkaku likes fighting, he's very reliable in everyday life, and he's also extremely strong." Miyako Amamiya had fought Ikkaku Madarame quite a few times and had come to know him somewhat. If they were just going to guard the World of the Living, Ikkaku was more than capable.

Though he had the old habit of hiding his Bankai, he was still a good choice if left to handle things on his own.

"I understand. I'll report that as well. Miyako, Rukia, you two should prepare yourselves. The time for your departure to the World of the Living should be decided very soon. You won't have to wait long."

"Yes, Captain Ukitake," the two answered in unison.

Early the next morning, Ukitake stopped Miyako Amamiya and Rukia as they were about to go out.

"Miyako, Rukia, Soul Society has approved the candidates you recommended. Sorry for the trouble, but I need you to go explain the situation to Captain Hitsugaya and Third Seat Madarame. Before long, you'll officially depart for Karakura Town in the World of the Living."

Miyako Amamiya hadn't expected Soul Society to act so efficiently. It seemed Aizen's slaughter of Central 46 had given them quite a fright after all.

"Let's go, Rukia. We'll find Captain Hitsugaya first."

In the Tenth Division Captain's Office, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had long since recovered, was hard at work handling the division's duties.

During the days Tōshirō Hitsugaya had spent in the hospital, Rangiku Matsumoto had been in no mood to handle division business because of Gin Ichimaru's defection.

So when Tōshirō Hitsugaya returned to his post, he found Rangiku Matsumoto carrying over piles of division work, giving him a very bad feeling.

After he asked her, his suspicions were confirmed: his lieutenant hadn't handled any of the work at all. It had taken Tōshirō Hitsugaya a long time to clear the mountain of accumulated work.

"Hey! Matsumoto, how long are you going to keep slacking off? I still haven't settled the score with you for last time!" Looking at how relaxed Rangiku Matsumoto was, Tōshirō Hitsugaya couldn't help having a vein pop out on his forehead.

"Captain~ I've really been in a bad mood these past few days. Just let me rest a little!" Rangiku Matsumoto said to Tōshirō Hitsugaya in a soft, pleading voice.

"What nonsense are you talking about?! You've already been resting for..." Before Tōshirō Hitsugaya could finish, there was a knock on the Captain's Office door.

"Come in."

"Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Miyako Amamiya and Rukia Kuchiki of the Thirteenth Division are here. It seems they've come to inform you of an official order from Soul Society."

"The Thirteenth Division? Miyako Amamiya? An official order?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya frowned. "Send them in."

After a short wait, Miyako Amamiya and Rukia arrived at the Tenth Division Captain's Office.