Chapter 5
Miyako Amamiya crouched down and rubbed his head. That blow had really been hard.
Watching her leave, Miyako Amamiya smiled faintly, then turned and left as well.
When night fell, Miyako Amamiya sat on his bed and drew his Asauchi. He planned to continue communicating with his Zanpakuto today, but he still had no way to deal with the Quincy.
I'll just have to figure it out as I fight. Hopefully, I'll discover something in actual combat. As his consciousness continued to sink, Miyako Amamiya once again arrived in his inner world.
"You're certainly diligent. I thought you'd do a little more research before you dared come looking for me again." The black-haired boy in white appeared not far from Miyako Amamiya.
Miyako Amamiya stood atop a utility pole. Despite the few lights, the pitch-black street remained clearly visible.
"If I can't find a way, then I'll settle it through battle." Miyako Amamiya looked at him and slowly drew the sword at his waist.
"Very nice, but if you just fail again and again, wouldn't that make you a bit of an incorrigible fool?" the black-haired boy mocked.
"Then let's find out whether I really am an incorrigible fool, or whether you'll be defeated by me." The moment Miyako Amamiya finished speaking, he used Shunpo to close in on him.
The black-haired boy was in no hurry to retreat. "Your Zanjutsu isn't overwhelming enough to leave me unable to respond. Even if you're wary of my Quincy abilities, there's no need to be in such a hurry, is there?"
Miyako Amamiya closed in but didn't immediately strike. He knew it would be difficult to hurt the boy directly with Zanjutsu alone.
"Bakudō #21: Sekienton." Without reciting the incantation, Miyako Amamiya used Sekienton near the black-haired boy.
Miyako Amamiya's mastery of Sekienton hadn't yet reached the point where he could completely abandon the incantation, so he could only reduce the smoke's range, hoping to temporarily block the boy's vision.
"Blocking my vision? Let's see how that works out." The black-haired boy didn't rush to escape the smoke, wanting to see what Miyako Amamiya would do next.
Miyako Amamiya had actually had an idea ever since he first saw the black-haired boy use the Quincy Cross. Given his level as a Soul Reaper, truly defeating the boy might be a bit of a stretch. What was more, the boy could read his memories, and the Quincy abilities in those memories were even harder to deal with.
Switching his sword to his left hand, Miyako Amamiya swiftly slashed at the boy.
"Naive," the boy mocked. He shifted slightly to one side, easily dodging the slash.
But Miyako Amamiya had never intended to actually strike him. His freed right hand darted out to grab the black-haired boy's hand.
"Trying to grab me? But using your bare hand instead of Kidō—isn't that a little arrogant?" The black-haired boy gathered Reishi beneath his feet, intending to use Hirenkyaku to retreat and evade Miyako Amamiya's grasp.
"I know. Kidō probably couldn't catch you, much less my body." Miyako Amamiya was perfectly calm. That had never been his goal. "My target is this."
Miyako Amamiya reached out, aiming not for the black-haired boy, but for... the silver cross dangling from his hand.
The black-haired boy hadn't considered the cross part of his body, so naturally, he had overlooked the distance between it and Miyako Amamiya.
The chain broke, and the cross in the black-haired boy's hand finally fell into Miyako Amamiya's grasp.
"Oh? And what will you do with that?" The black-haired boy was unconcerned, though a faint trace of anticipation stirred in his heart.
"You said it before, when we first met. A 'Soul Reaper' has to obtain power the Soul Reaper way." Miyako Amamiya looked at the silver cross he had taken.
"Then this cross represents your power. And I'm going to take your power the Soul Reaper way." Miyako Amamiya put away his sword. This so-called sword was merely a manifestation of his mind and carried no power, but the cross was different. Although the black-haired boy had brought it out, here in the inner world, it was his power made manifest.
"And this," Miyako Amamiya said, raising the silver cross, "carries a trace of your power."
Miyako Amamiya closed his eyes, recalling his first attempt at Shin'ō Academy. He used his instincts to awaken that power.
The black-haired boy watched Miyako Amamiya with satisfaction as the Reishi around him slowly began gathering toward his hand.
The silver cross in Miyako Amamiya's hand began to float. Reishi gradually gathered on it, extending upward and downward from the cross until it gradually formed a... blue-and-white bow.
Miyako Amamiya opened his eyes and looked at the bow in his hand. Just as he had thought, it was easier than when he had used Reishi Convergence before.
"Come on, let's really start round two." Miyako Amamiya raised the Spirit Bow in his hand and gathered Reishi with his other hand to form an arrow, aiming it at the boy in front of him.
"Hahahaha! Wonderful. I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You really do delight me." The black-haired boy laughed, one hand covering his face and the other clutching his stomach.
"But you've only taken a little of my power, so you can have it." The black-haired boy stopped laughing and raised a hand, gathering Reishi to quickly form a blue-and-white Spirit Bow.
"Let's begin, round two." He too gathered Reishi into an arrow and aimed it at Miyako Amamiya.
Miyako, you still don't know what my power truly represents. Hurry up and discover it. I'm not as simple as a Soul Reaper's power...
The two stared at each other, then released their bowstrings at the same time.
In the Thirteenth Division's barracks living quarters, Miyako Amamiya slowly opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.
He had failed again. Although he had used the same abilities against him, the black-haired boy could constantly reproduce Quincy techniques from Miyako Amamiya's memories, while Miyako Amamiya had failed when he tried them himself.
His Zanpakuto really didn't fight fair. It was one thing for a Zanpakuto to use Quincy abilities; he could just treat that as one of its unique traits. But it could find other Quincy techniques in his memories, while he couldn't use them himself.
Miyako Amamiya, using a cheap version of Quincy abilities, had fought the black-haired boy, who used the pro max version. Miyako Amamiya almost wanted to cry but had no tears. His Zanpakuto seemed a little too shameless.
What a headache. I only know how to use Reishi Convergence, so I pose practically no threat to him. Miyako Amamiya scratched his head with both hands.
That left him no choice but to improve his strength as quickly as possible and challenge a Seated Officer. Going to the World of the Living and convincing Ryūken Ishida had become his top priority.
Miyako Amamiya had just read the Thirteenth Division handbook Ukitake had given him that day. According to it, many Seated Officers were stationed in the World of the Living, but Karakura Town was generally assigned to a high-ranking Seated Officer.
Perhaps because Karakura Town was a Spiritually Dense Area, the Seated Officers dispatched there were never too weak. So Miyako Amamiya's goal was to challenge a high-ranking Seated Officer and earn the right to be stationed in Karakura Town.
At present, although Aizen had already set his sights on Karakura Town, he probably hadn't made many arrangements before Kisuke Urahara exposed his Hōgyoku. As long as Miyako Amamiya didn't approach Ichigo Kurosaki's family, there probably wouldn't be much trouble. So all he needed to consider was how to convince Ryūken Ishida to teach him Quincy abilities.
There are only about two years left. I don't have much time to learn. If I miss this window, it'll be even harder to learn Quincy abilities later.
With those thoughts, Miyako Amamiya soon fell asleep, waiting for the next day to arrive.
Miyako Amamiya got up at the first hint of dawn. He went to the training grounds to practice Kidō, aiming to reach the point where he could use every Kidō he currently knew without an incantation and without any loss of power. He was confident he could do it, as long as he had a little more time.
When Miyako Amamiya arrived, he found Rukia walking over as well.
"Oh, morning, Rukia." Miyako Amamiya greeted her.
Rukia glanced at him without responding. With a quiet huff, she went off to train on her own.
"Wait a moment, Rukia." Miyako Amamiya called out to her.
"What is it, Amamiya-kun? I'm about to train, so I don't have much time to chat," Rukia replied.
"There's only so much you can accomplish training alone, Rukia. How about we spar?"
"Spar? You mean like yesterday?"
"Yes, exactly like yesterday. I think actual combat is the best way to train," Miyako Amamiya said seriously. "Besides, I might not see any results from training alone for what I'm planning to do next. I can only find out by fighting you, Rukia."
"Why do you say that? What are you planning?" Rukia asked, puzzled.
"I'm going to challenge a high-ranking Seated Officer soon, so you're the best benchmark, Rukia. Captain Ukitake has acknowledged that you have the strength of one."
"Wh..." Rukia was shocked. He had only just joined the division, yet he was already thinking of challenging a high-ranking Seated Officer. People who thought that way were rare in Soul Society.
"Oh, come to think of it, if I succeed, wouldn't that make me your senior as a high-ranking Seated Officer, Rukia?" Miyako Amamiya said with a mischievous grin.
A vein throbbed on Rukia's forehead. Miyako Amamiya's unserious attitude made her want to teach this junior a lesson.
"I accept. Let's begin." As soon as Rukia finished speaking, she drew the sword at her waist and slashed at Miyako Amamiya.
"Huh?" Miyako Amamiya hadn't expected Rukia to agree so quickly, much less attack without warning. He hastily retreated, narrowly dodging the strike.
"Rukia, you could at least give me a warning," Miyako Amamiya complained, though his hands didn't slow as he drew his sword to face her.
"Idiot, an enemy won't give you a warning." Rukia swiftly launched a second slash while murmuring an incantation.
The sudden attack startled Miyako Amamiya slightly, and he hurriedly raised his sword to respond.
Elsewhere, Kiyone Kotetsu arrived to find the two fighting again and couldn't help sighing. Captain Ukitake's old illness seemed to have flared up again recently, and she still had to hurry over and use Kaido to treat him. After a quick glance, she ran to the captain's office.
In the captain's office, Ukitake was coughing violently. With each cough, the hand he held over his mouth became stained with blood.
Again? This body really is... Ukitake felt helpless. Although the Soul King's Right Arm had halted his illness, it hadn't truly cured it, and the occasional flare-ups still tormented him.
"Captain, are you there?" Kiyone's voice came from outside the Captain's Office, allowing Ukitake to catch his breath a little.
"Kiyone? Come in. Cough, cough, cough..." No sooner had Ukitake spoken than he started coughing again.
Hearing the coughs, Kiyone knew Captain Ukitake's old illness had flared up again. She hurriedly opened the door, ran to his side, and began using Kaido.
"Sorry, Kiyone. I'm always troubling you like this." Although Kaido couldn't cure his old illness, it could make Ukitake feel a little better.
"Please don't say that, Captain. It's my duty," Kiyone said worriedly. She continued working until Ukitake's coughing eased somewhat.
Ukitake raised a hand to stop her. "That's enough for now, Kiyone. Once Sentarō arrives, let's deal with the division's affairs first."
"Yes, Captain." Seeing that Ukitake's complexion had improved, Kiyone finally stopped using Kaido.
"Captain Ukitake, when I came over this morning, I saw Rukia fighting that new recruit again. Should we go say something to them?" Kiyone asked.
"Oh, is that so?" A smile appeared on Ukitake's face as he replied, "It's all right, Kiyone. It's only a spar between division members. Besides... the Rukia and Amamiya-kun I know wouldn't really lose their tempers with each other. If anything, this might be better for both of them, especially Rukia."
"What's so good about him fighting a senior twice when it's only his second day?" Kiyone complained. "But Captain, why do you say it's good for Rukia?"
"Rukia has been held back for far too long by Kaien's death. And as for Amamiya-kun, I can see that he has a clear goal and a positive attitude. I also see some of the same qualities Kaien once had in him," Ukitake said with a smile.
"Spending time with Amamiya-kun might help Rukia grow further," Ukitake said with feeling.
Kiyone still didn't understand. She hadn't seen anything different about the new recruit, except that he was rather talented.
Just then, a knock came from outside the door. "Captain Ukitake, I'm here." It was Sentarō Kotsubaki.
"Come in."
"Now that everyone's here, let's begin." Ukitake began handling the Thirteenth Division's affairs with the two acting lieutenants.
"Captain, the members stationed in the World of the Living are about to return to Soul Society. We should consider the next group to send," Sentarō Kotsubaki said to Ukitake, holding a report.
"I see. List all the Seated Officers in the division. I've heard that the Hollows in the World of the Living seem to be growing stronger and stronger. We may need to be more thorough with the next dispatch," Ukitake said seriously.
Meanwhile, the two at the training grounds had finished their fight. Rukia held her sword against Miyako Amamiya's neck.
"I lost, Rukia. Put the sword down." Cold sweat poured down Miyako Amamiya's forehead. He hadn't really gotten angry, but Rukia Kuchiki seemed to have grown more heated as the fight went on. Her Zanjutsu was sharper than yesterday, and she was just as proficient with Kidō.
"Hmph." Only then did Rukia slowly put away her sword. "You talk about becoming a high-ranking Seated Officer, but you're still a long way off, my 'junior.'"
Rukia Kuchiki was worthy of being an important character in the original story. Her strength was indeed outstanding compared to that of an ordinary Soul Reaper. But Miyako Amamiya didn't think she was impossible to surpass. If this had been a real fight to the death and he had used everything at his disposal, Miyako Amamiya believed he would have a very good chance of winning.
But if they relied solely on the Soul Reaper arts of swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and Kidō, there was still a gap between Miyako and Rukia.
"Rukia, haven't you forgotten something?" Miyako Amamiya asked with a smile.
Rukia tilted her head, puzzled.
"Captain Ukitake just said yesterday that you can't become a high-ranking Seated Officer for certain reasons, but I don't have that restriction." Miyako Amamiya brushed the dust off his clothes.
"So if you still haven't realized why you can't become a high-ranking Seated Officer, I'm definitely going to become one first."
"What?" Rukia now realized the problem. She knew how talented Miyako Amamiya was, and if things continued like this, her junior would overtake her. Which meant what Miyako Amamiya had said...
Rukia could already imagine this junior, after becoming a high-ranking Seated Officer, constantly demanding that she call him senior.
She quickly shook her head, casting the thought aside. "I-I'll definitely find out why." Though she said it, she didn't seem very confident.
Miyako Amamiya snickered. She probably wouldn't get the chance. Her sister-complex brother wouldn't let her succeed, unless she could convince Captain Ukitake and truly demonstrate that she had grown in her state of mind.
"Rukia, my 'senior,' please cherish the respect you get from your junior. After all, our positions might be reversed in the future." As soon as he finished speaking, Miyako Amamiya used Shunpo to run away, giving Rukia no chance to strike.
Rukia was left alone, pondering the matter.
Half a year later, at the training grounds of the Thirteenth Division barracks in the outskirts of Soul Society.
With a loud crash, a short-haired male Soul Reaper was sent flying backward. Just as he tried to get up, Miyako Amamiya quickly appeared in front of him.
Miyako Amamiya held his Asauchi with its tip against the man's throat.
"Thank you for the match, Murakami, Fifth Seat," Miyako Amamiya said with a smile.
The fallen Murakami couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had indeed been thoroughly defeated in this fight. But no one had expected Miyako Amamiya, who had joined the Thirteenth Division only half a year ago, to already be capable of defeating the Fifth Seat.
"It's only been half a year, and he's already beaten Murakami, Fifth Seat. Is this what a genius is like?"
"His Spiritual Pressure Level was measured at fifth class when he enrolled. With that kind of talent, this isn't surprising at all."
"He's a lot like Lieutenant Kaien back then. Not only did he graduate early, he's also progressing rapidly in the division."