After reading the cryptic note Rukia had left behind, Kurosaki Ichigo felt a knot tighten in his chest. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
With Urahara Kisuke's help, he tracked her down in his Shinigami form. But when he arrived, his eyes first caught Ishida Uryū lying motionless on the ground. Without hesitation, Ichigo's gaze shifted to the Shinigami standing closest—Amamiya Miyako—and his instincts screamed to strike.
"Haa!" Ichigo slashed forward, but before the clash could deepen, Abarai Renji's voice cut in, his brow furrowed.
"Who the hell are you?"
Ichigo didn't flinch, his expression steady. "Kurosaki Ichigo. And I'm the one who's gonna take you all down. Please take care of me… not that I plan on losing."
But as his eyes locked on the other Shinigami, his mouth fell open in surprise. "Oi… it's you! That Shinigami from before!"
Renji glanced at Miyako. "Miyako, you know this guy?"
"There are some humans in Karakura Town who can see spirits. The Kikanshinki can't erase their memories." Miyako's tone was calm, almost detached. "I ran into him once. Since I couldn't wipe his memory, I left him be."
"Sou ka…" Renji's eyes narrowed. That meant this human was once just spiritually aware—but now… "You're the one who stole Rukia's powers!"
Ichigo's answer was blunt. "So what if I am?"
"You bastard… I'll kill you!" Renji snarled, drawing Zabimaru and closing the distance with a burst of speed.
Ichigo braced, gripping Zangetsu with both hands.
"Matte, Renji—!" Rukia tried to step forward, but Miyako's hand shot out, stopping her.
"Miyako! Why are you—? This has nothing to do with Ichigo, it's all—"
"Rukia!" Miyako's voice cut sharp, silencing her. His eyes locked on hers with quiet authority.
"Listen carefully. The Thirteenth Division sent me to investigate the reason for your loss of spiritual power. The Sixth Division," he inclined his head toward Byakuya and Renji, "is here to arrest you and take you back to Soul Society."
"I'll remain here in the Human World for a while. But you…" His voice softened but carried weight. "…can't stay here any longer. Strange things have been happening to you—your reiatsu not returning, this boy's involvement… it's too dangerous."
He leaned in slightly. "Go back to Soul Society quietly. Don't resist. As for those two over there—Soul Society hasn't issued a kill order. With me here, they'll be fine."
Rukia's mind spun. The sudden flood of information left her struggling for words. "Miyako, I…"
"No more, Rukia." He shook his head. "If you return now, there's still a way to resolve this. But if you resist… there won't be."
Meanwhile, steel clashed behind them. Ichigo and Renji's battle had reached its peak—despite his injuries, Ichigo countered with raw power, even managing to wound Renji after Zabimaru's Shikai release.
But from the sidelines, Kuchiki Byakuya stepped forward. He had no patience for wasting time. With a single Shunpo, he appeared before Ichigo, seizing Zangetsu's blade with his bare hand—shattering it like glass—then vanishing to strike from behind.
"…How…?" Ichigo's eyes went wide as pain bloomed across his chest. His body crumpled before he could react.
"Ichigo!" Rukia cried, but Miyako's grip stopped her again.
"Captain Kuchiki. Vice-Captain Abarai. Please… take Rukia and return her to Soul Society," Miyako said, his tone respectful but firm.
Renji shot a glance at Ichigo's battered form. "And these two? Especially him—shouldn't we finish it?"
Byakuya's voice was cool, almost indifferent. "I have already destroyed his Soul chain and Soul Sleep. He will die within the half-hour. If by some chance he survives, all spiritual ability will vanish—both his Shinigami powers and his natural reiatsu."
Miyako gave a single nod. "Then you two may return first. I still have matters to investigate here."
Byakuya didn't question him. With Rukia secured, the Sixth Division began to withdraw, leaving Ichigo broken on the ground, his breathing ragged, and Miyako watching in silence—eyes unreadable.
Renji gave a short "Tch," but obeyed, drawing his Zanpakutō and slashing open the air. The glowing Senkaimon doors appeared, the light spilling across the alley.
He stepped inside first, Rukia following close behind. Just before she crossed the threshold, she glanced back. Her eyes met Miyako's—pleading, uncertain.
Miyako simply gave a small, reassuring nod.
Byakuya noticed the brief exchange. His gaze lingered on Miyako for a moment, unreadable, before he too entered the Senkaimon without a word. The gate closed, and silence reclaimed the alley.
Now, under the pale moonlight, only two unconscious bodies and Amamiya Miyako remained.
He knelt beside Ichigo, narrowing his eyes at the deep wound in the boy's chest.
"Yare yare… with an injury like this, even my Kaidō won't fully restore him… but I can at least keep him alive until Urahara-san shows up."
Placing his hand over the wound, Miyako murmured a brief incantation, channeling green healing light into Ichigo's body.
From the other side of the alley, Ishida Uryū stirred. The Quincy had recovered enough to sit up, his breathing still uneven. Seeing Miyako tending to Ichigo, his brows drew together.
"Why… are you helping him?"
"He's already lost his Shinigami powers," Miyako replied flatly. "But I still have questions for him. Letting him die now would be… inconvenient."
He glanced at Ishida.
"So, Ishida-san… do you still want to fight me?"
The Quincy didn't answer. His silence said enough. The chaos of the night had left him with more questions than resolve.
Miyako smirked faintly.
"If you're worried about this boy, don't be. He's not in danger of dying anymore. I'll have someone with proper skill treat him soon. By tomorrow, you'll see him walking around like nothing happened."
Ishida didn't move to leave, so Miyako ignored him and pulled out a small Denreishinki—the communication device Urahara had provided him for the Human World.
Miyako sighed.
"Figures… so you were hiding here, Urahara-san. And suppressing your reiatsu again, huh?"
From the darkness, the striped bucket hat and fan appeared.
"Ara ara… isn't this Miyako-kun and Ishida-kun?" Urahara Kisuke greeted them in his usual playful tone, stepping into the light. His geta clacked softly against the pavement.
His gaze dropped to the boy lying on the ground.
"Oh? If it isn't Kurosaki-san. My, my… what happened here? Such terrible injuries."
Miyako shot him a sharp glare.
"Cut the act, Urahara-san. Take Kurosaki back and treat him. Now."
The shopkeeper only chuckled behind his fan, but the smile in his eyes never changed. Ishida, however, regarded him with suspicion.
He had seen Urahara once before, during the Hollow incident, and already suspected the man was far from ordinary.
Without another word, Ishida finally turned to leave. If Ichigo was in safe hands now, there was nothing more for him to do tonight.
Miyako didn't stop him. Their paths would cross again soon enough—along with Ishida's father. That meeting… he was actually looking forward to.
As Ishida's figure vanished into the night, Miyako addressed Urahara again.
"There are things we need to talk about. Once Kurosaki-san is stable, we'll meet."
Neither trusted the other, and both knew it. Urahara didn't offer to bring Miyako along, and Miyako didn't insist. That in itself spoke volumes.
Still, as he watched the shopkeeper lift Ichigo effortlessly, Miyako's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'll come to you soon enough, Urahara-san… whether you invite me or not."