The next morning, Amamiya Miyako strode into Karakura General Hospital, heading straight for the Director's Office. His goal was clear—speak with Ishida Ryūken.
He arrived early, the soft ticking of the wall clock keeping him company as he sat waiting. He had come to report the progress of his investigation.
The door clicked open. "It's you…" Ryūken-san's voice carried mild surprise as he stepped inside, crisp white coat swaying behind him. "I thought you wouldn't bother to return."
Amamiya smirked faintly. "Yare yare, Ryūken-san, you wound me. How could I break a promise? True, I had… other matters to handle in the Human World, but this is the perfect time to share what I learned in Soul Society."
Ryūken's gaze sharpened. "Hmph. Then tell me—what did you find?" His tone was calm, but Amamiya could sense the undercurrent of expectation.
"The most recent record of the Quincy in Seireitei is from about two hundred years ago," Miyako began evenly. "That much, you already know, so I'll skip the details. As for records from the Thousand-Year Blood War… they're mentioned, but most have been lost. No surviving official documentation."
"I see…" Ryūken's voice was cool, but the faint drop of his shoulders betrayed his disappointment. A millennium-old history was not something easily preserved, even in Soul Society.
"However…" Miyako's eyes narrowed slightly, and Ryūken-san's head tilted toward him again. "From what I've learned, there are still places in Soul Society that hold pieces of that ancient history."
"Oh?"
"You've heard of the Four Great Noble Houses, yes? Kuchiki, Shihōin, Tsunayashiro, and one other whose influence rivals the age of Seireitei itself. Their archives stretch back to that era. And…" Miyako paused, "…the Four were once Five. The House that fell from grace may still keep records of its own. I have… a connection. I can dig deeper next time I return."
Ryūken's brow furrowed slightly. He understood the danger and difficulty in prying into the affairs of the noble families. "I see. Then… I'll leave it to you. Please continue your investigation."
It was the first time Amamiya had heard Ishida Ryūken-san use such polite phrasing toward him—proof of how seriously he regarded this matter.
"You flatter me, Ryūken-san. This is an agreement between us, and I intend to see it through," Miyako replied with a respectful incline of his head. "Then… I'll take my leave. There are other matters I must attend to."
…
By midday, Amamiya found himself outside Karakura First High School. By now, Kurosaki Ichigo should have recovered from Byakuya's injury thanks to Urahara Kisuke's Kaidō. Miyako wanted to speak with him—to hear firsthand the events before and after Kuchiki Rukia transferred her Shinigami powers to him.
It was the last day before summer break, but Ichigo didn't share his classmates' excitement. His mind was elsewhere. Ever since that bizarre shopkeeper had told him about Rukia yesterday, he had made up his mind—he was going to the Seireitei to rescue her.
He stared out the classroom window, lost in thought… until a familiar voice called to him.
"Yo, Ichigo."
The voice came from outside the window. Amamiya Miyako leaned casually against the frame, visible only to Ichigo and the few spiritually aware students nearby.
"You…!" Ichigo shot up from his seat.
"Kurosaki-kun, what's wrong?" the teacher asked, puzzled.
"…Nothing," Ichigo muttered, sitting back down.
Miyako smirked faintly. "I do have a name, you know. Call me Amamiya, or Miyako—whichever. Hmph, looks like you haven't completely lost your reiryoku yet, if you can still see me."
"What do you want? Didn't you guys already drag Rukia back to Soul Society?" Ichigo hissed under his breath, anger and frustration in his eyes.
"I came precisely because of Rukia's matter," Miyako said evenly. "But you're busy now. I'll come back after school." He stepped away from the window.
Ichigo watched his retreating figure, his mind brimming with questions.
After class, Inoue Orihime tilted her head, her usual curious expression lighting her face. "Kurosaki-kun, who was that person just now? And… why is Rukia-san gone again? What's going on?"
Ichigo blinked at her in surprise. "Inoue… you actually remember?"
Orihime looked puzzled. "Eh? Should I not?"
Ichigo didn't answer. Something in his chest tightened.
...
After school, Ichigo stepped out the front gate—and there he was again.
Amamiya Miyako stood casually, hands in his pockets, the faintest smirk playing at his lips. "Yo, Kurosaki-kun."
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "What do you want with me?" His tone was already edging into hostility.
"I'll keep it simple," Miyako said bluntly. "I came to talk about rescuing Rukia-san."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "Oi, what the hell are you talking about? Aren't you Shinigami gonna drag her back and execute her? Why would you—"
"Later," Miyako cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Don't get ahead of yourself. First, you answer my questions."
Ichigo clicked his tongue. "Tch… fine. What?"
"Why did Rukia-san give you her powers in the first place? Did you ever ask her?"
Ichigo thought back. "…Yeah. She said she'd been fighting Hollows nonstop and was already worn out. When she ran into me, she was injured badly by a Hollow. That one… felt kinda weird, though. Different. But I didn't think too much about it."
"I see…" Miyako's gaze sharpened. "Second question: before she started working with you, who gave her the Gikongan?"
"The… what?" Ichigo tilted his head.
Miyako sighed. "Yare yare… Gikongan. Substitute souls placed into an artificial body. Used when a Shinigami leaves their gigai."
Ichigo shook his head. "No idea. She never told me where she got it."
Miyako noted it all down, his pen scratching against a small notepad. He already knew the truth, but testimony from direct witnesses would carry more weight when he presented it to Ukitake-taichō.
"My questions are done. Your turn," Miyako said, slipping the notepad away.
Ichigo leaned forward, eyes locked on him. "What's this about rescuing Rukia? Explain. Now."
"It's simple. Not everyone in Soul Society wants Rukia-san executed. And… the fact she lost her powers here, in the Human World, is too much of a coincidence. Makes you wonder if there's some kind of conspiracy behind it."
Ichigo's brows knitted tighter. "Conspiracy…?"
"That's right. But for now, it's just speculation. Nothing solid yet. No proof to declare her innocent."
Ichigo's fists clenched. "So it's true… after going back, she's really gonna be executed?"
Miyako's tone was calm, but heavy. "Giving Shinigami powers to a human is a grave crime in Soul Society. Unless the truth is overturned, her sentence will be execution. Sōkyoku, to be exact."
Ichigo's voice rose. "Then what are we waiting for?! You said you wanted to save her too! Or are we just gonna sit here and do nothing?!"
Miyako shook his head. "Rukia-san is a valued comrade in the Thirteenth Division. We won't abandon her. But until the truth is uncovered, I can't openly defy the Gotei 13's law. That's why… I need to talk to you."
Ichigo grit his teeth. "Damn it…" His thoughts immediately turned to the only man who might be able to help him get his powers back—Urahara Kisuke.
Miyako watched his expression. "You're planning to go see Urahara-san, right? Take me with you. I've got some business with him too." His eyes narrowed just slightly. "At the very least… I want to know where that shady shop of his really is."
Ichigo hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "…Fine. Follow me."