Leaving the Sixth Division barracks, Amamiya Miyako made his way swiftly toward the tall, imposing gates of the Central 46.
The air here was always heavy, even more so today.
Outside the great wooden doors, Kiyone-chan Kotetsu and Sentarō-san Kotsubaki were pacing nervously. Beside them stood a composed woman with short dark hair and glasses. Miyako instantly recognized her—Ise Nanao-san, vice-captain of the Eighth Division and right hand to Captain Kyōraku Shunsui.
"Miyako-fukutaichō!" Kiyone-chan and Sentarō-san rushed over the moment they spotted him.
"Has Ukitake-taichō not come out yet?" Miyako asked, frowning slightly. By all logic, his captain's request should have been approved. Investigating the cause of Kuchiki Rukia's loss of Shinigami powers in the Human World benefited both Seireitei and, theoretically, Central 46 itself.
Still… Miyako could not be sure when exactly Aizen Sōsuke would strike. If Central 46 was still operating normally, there was no reason to refuse such a simple investigation permit—especially coming from Ukitake-taichō. And if Aizen had already begun to move… then as long as the request looked reasonable, he would avoid drawing suspicion. Either way, it shouldn't be denied.
"Yes," Kiyone-chan replied, biting her lip, "Captain Ukitake's been in there for a while…"
"If you are worried about the outcome, please rest assured," Ise Nanao-san said in her calm, polite tone.
"You're Captain Kyōraku's fukutaichō, aren't you?" Miyako asked, glancing at her. "Your presence here… means Kyōraku-taichō went in with Ukitake-taichō?"
"That's right. Our Captain may seem unreliable most of the time…" Nanao-san pushed her glasses up with one finger, "…but among the noble houses, he carries considerable weight."
"…I see. I'm truly grateful." Miyako nodded, inwardly agreeing with the tactic. As a high-ranking noble, one of the Gotei 13's veteran Captains, and a direct disciple of Yamamoto-sōtaichō, Kyōraku Shunsui's influence was not to be underestimated. With him supporting Ukitake-taichō, their chances were much higher.
"No, no, it's nothing special. I've also heard about Kuchiki's situation," Nanao-san added. "The Captain agrees it's worth investigating."
They waited a while longer until the doors of Central 46 opened at last. Ukitake-taichō emerged, his white haori fluttering lightly in the wind, followed closely by Kyōraku-taichō in his pink haori and straw hat.
"Miyako." Ukitake smiled faintly and handed him a folded document—the approved permit.
Kiyone-chan and Sentarō-san both sighed in relief.
"Thanks to Shunsui coming with me, otherwise… yare yare, it might have been troublesome," Ukitake said.
"Oi, Jūshirō, don't make it sound like I did something big," Shunsui said, tipping his hat playfully.
"No, Captain Kyōraku, I owe you my thanks," Miyako said, bowing slightly. "This concerns the safety of our division's members."
"Heh, I'm just as curious as anyone. A second case of a Shinigami passing their reiryoku to a human… in such a short span of time? That's no small thing." Shunsui's eyes narrowed slightly beneath his hat.
Nanao-san stayed silent, watching her captain's rare serious mood. For all his laid-back charm, Shunsui-taichō had a sharp mind when it mattered.
"Miyako," Ukitake said firmly, "I'm entrusting Rukia's matter to you. And… Shunsui and I managed to get them to agree—Rukia will remain in the Thirteenth Division's custody for now."
"That's good enough, taichō. As long as she's still with us, we can learn the truth. When I return from the Human World, and you question her directly… we'll find out what's really behind all this," Miyako said, voice low but resolute.
....
The Next Day
At the Sixth Division barracks, Miyako met up with Kuchiki-taichō and Abarai Renji-fukutaichō. Before departing, the three of them performed the application of a spiritual limiter to prevent their power from overwhelming the Human World.
"This mission has two objectives," Byakuya said, his voice as cold and precise as a drawn blade. "First: apprehend Kuchiki Rukia, who has committed the grave crime of transferring her powers to a living human. If she resists… killing her is permitted."
"Taichō!" Renji burst out. "That's too much—"
"Then see to it she does not resist," Byakuya replied, his expression unchanged. "Second—find the human to whom she transferred her reiatsu. Destroy their Soul Sleep (Reikaku) and Chain of Fate (Saketsu and Hakusui), erase their spiritual power completely. Killing the target is also permitted."
Renji clenched his fists but said nothing. Even if it tore at him inside, a direct order from his Captain could not be defied.
"As for the Thirteenth Division's… investigative activities—" Byakuya's eyes briefly shifted to Amamiya Miyako, "—the Sixth Division will not interfere. However, likewise, the Thirteenth Division will not interfere with our arrest."
Miyako met Byakuya's gaze calmly. "Wakarimashita, Kuchiki-taichō."
The Senkaimon doors opened, its light spilling into the dim space. Guided by the fluttering Hell Butterflies (Jigokuchō), the three stepped into the Dangai. The silent flow of the Precipice World surrounded them, and before long, they emerged into the Human World.
"Renji, deploy the Hell Butterflies. The Onmitsukido has already provided data on her reiatsu signature. We'll locate her quickly," Byakuya ordered.
"Hai, taichō." Renji released the Hell Butterflies, letting them scatter over Karakura Town like dark messengers under the moonlight.
Miyako stood silently nearby, his eyes following the night horizon. He made no move to search on his own—better to stay close for now.
"Fukutaichō Amamiya," Byakuya's voice cut through the still air, "If it is an investigation you're here for, you should proceed alone."
"Arigatō for the concern, Kuchiki-taichō," Miyako replied, his tone polite but carrying a subtle weight. "However… finding Rukia-san is equivalent to finding the people I need to speak with. You need not worry about me."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Do as you wish. But if you interfere with the arrest—"
Miyako gave a faint smile. "I won't interfere… perhaps I'll even give you a hand."
That earned him the smallest crease of Byakuya's brow. The noble Captain could not read what Miyako was plotting, but as long as it didn't break any rules, he would not stop him.
Night fell deeper over Karakura Town. The streets were still, the stars faint and cold in the heavy sky. A subtle pressure hung over the city, the kind that whispered of approaching danger.
Walking alone under the shadows of tall buildings, Rukia paused mid-step. A strange tightness gripped her chest, as though the darkness itself was warning her.
"Taichō…" Renji's voice came low over the Hell Butterfly's report. His expression was unreadable. "We've located Rukia's position."
Byakuya's tone was flat as ever. "Sou ka… Then we move."
Miyako followed without a word, his gaze sharp in the night.
...
Meanwhile, in the Fifth Division barracks, Ichimaru Gin tilted his head, his foxlike smile in place. "Heh… are you sure about this, Aizen-taichō? Letting Ukitake-san and his lot get that request approved?"
Aizen Sōsuke didn't even glance up from the papers in his hand. "It's of no consequence. In fact… it's exactly what I wanted, Gin." His smile was calm, almost warm—yet utterly hollow.
Gin's eyes narrowed playfully. "Sou ka…?"
"Although Kuchiki Rukia's location has been found, the cause of her lost spiritual power remains unknown. If Ukitake sends Amamiya Miyako to investigate in the Human World, it will inevitably create complications… complications that will trouble Kisuke Urahara."
He leaned back slightly, voice lowering into something almost conspiratorial. "And if, at the same time, we can keep Urahara from meddling in Soul Society's affairs… all the better."
"For me, granting Ukitake's request is a trivial concession—one that might even serve to further my plan. As for keeping her in the Thirteenth Division…" A faint, mocking smile curved his lips. "That's merely Ukitake's last futile resistance. There's no harm in indulging him."
"Oooh," Gin drawled, his grin sharpening. "Captain Aizen is really kind, isn't he? Gonna let Ukitake-san watch his own fukutaichō die right in front of him… for the second time?"