The clock had just struck 1 AM when Kurosaki Ichigo burst into the dimly lit Urahara Shōten. Kisuke Urahara's earlier "announcement"—half-warning, half-prank—had been enough to jolt him from bed and send him sprinting through the quiet streets.
Inside, the air was thick with tension. Several of Ichigo's companions were already assembled—Inoue-san, Chad, Ishida-san—each with a resolute expression. Seeing them ready to risk everything for Rukia-chan filled Ichigo with relief and quiet determination.
Urahara-san, leaning on his cane and tilting his striped bucket hat to shadow his eyes, broke the silence. "Now then, Kurosaki-san, before I open the Senkaimon, there's one thing you should know." His voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it. "If you run into Vice-Captain Amamiya Miyako of the Thirteenth Division, you'd do well to ask him for help. Within reason, of course."
"Amamiya…?" Ichigo frowned. "He mentioned saving Rukia before. Thirteenth Division… I think I've heard that name, but…"
"You'll understand when you get to Soul Society," Urahara-san replied, a hint of mischief tugging at his lips. "For now, let's just say Amamiya Miyako can be considered… on our side."
Ichigo gave a short nod. "Got it. Sounds like he's not a bad guy after all. Guess I was wrong about him just talking big." He didn't expect that Miyako had already been in contact with Urahara-san, much less that they had coordinated plans.
Meanwhile, beyond the Seireitei's walls, Vice-Captain Amamiya Miyako himself was already on the move. He had departed early through the West Gate, heading straight for the outer districts.
There was still time before Kurosaki Ichigo's official intrusion into Soul Society, and security at the Seireitei gates was not yet at its highest alert. This allowed Miyako to slip into Rukongai without suspicion, making his way toward a particular household—one belonging to Shiba Kūkaku.
Two large, imposing men stood watch at the entrance. Miyako approached them with polite firmness. "Koma-san, Gin'emon-san… could you let Shiba Kūkaku-san know that Amamiya Miyako has come to see her?"
The guards exchanged a glance but quickly complied, leading him inside.
Kūkaku was seated on the floor, pipe in hand, her expression as fiery as her temperament. "It's you again, huh? What do you want this time?" she said bluntly.
"Does Shiba-san know about the… recent events in Seireitei?" Miyako asked.
"Hmph. Shinigami matters? I've no interest. Rukia Kuchiki already apologized, and as far as I'm concerned, our ties with the Gotei 13 are finished," she said dismissively.
Miyako's gaze sharpened. "Rukia Kuchiki has been sentenced to the Sōkyoku. Execution. Her crime—transferring her Shinigami powers to a human. The execution date is just over ten days away."
The pipe nearly slipped from Kūkaku's fingers. "What?! That little girl…? What in the world happened?"
"Do you know why I came here today, Shiba-san?" Miyako didn't answer her question directly, his voice deliberately measured.
"Oi, brat, drop the riddles and spit it out," Kūkaku snapped, though her eyes betrayed concern. She had no intention of letting the girl Kaien had once trusted die so pointlessly.
"The human Rukia transferred her powers to is named Kurosaki Ichigo."
Kūkaku's brows knit. "So? Just some human's name. Explain what's going on with Rukia already."
"Patience, Shiba-san. I looked into Kurosaki Ichigo's family… and found something curious."
Her irritation was about to boil over when Miyako finally spoke plainly. "Kurosaki Ichigo's father is named Kurosaki Isshin. But 'Kurosaki'… does not seem to be his original family name."
Kūkaku's eyes narrowed dangerously. "…Kurosaki… Isshin? You don't mean—"
"It appears the previous Captain of the Tenth Division was Shiba Isshin. His last known whereabouts… were in the Human World."
A shadow passed over Kūkaku's face. "Heh. You've done your homework, kid," she said in a low voice.
Miyako continued, "And Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends will soon arrive in Soul Society… to rescue Rukia-chan."
Kūkaku had been prepared to help simply because Rukia was someone her elder brother had once trusted. But the mention of her uncle's name—and the possibility of his son standing before her—complicated matters.
'Tch. This is going to be troublesome…' she thought, suppressing a sigh.
"Did you come all the way here just to drop this mess in my lap? If so, congratulations, brat—you've succeeded in pissing me off," she said, though there was no real malice in her tone.
Miyako shook his head calmly. "Iie. I've already made an agreement with Urahara-san in the Human World. We're going to rescue Rukia together with Kurosaki Ichigo and his group."
He crossed his arms, eyes steady. "That's why I plan to wait here for Kurosaki and the others to arrive. The Seireitei isn't the kind of place you can sneak into from just anywhere. There's only one safe way in… and sooner or later, they'll have to come to you, Kūkaku-san."
Kūkaku raised a brow. "Urahara, huh? Sounds like you've been busy, Amamiya-kun. Looks like I'll get to see an old friend after all." She gave a lopsided grin. "Fine. I'll allow it."
Miyako nodded. "Arigatō. But… there's one more thing I must trouble you with."
"Hoh? Another favor already? Spit it out."
"This time, it's about information," Miyako said, his tone turning more serious. "I'd like to see the historical records of Soul Society… the ones the Shiba Family has preserved."
Kūkaku's eyes narrowed slightly. "History, eh?"
"That's right. As a former noble house, you must have kept certain archives."
Kūkaku leaned back, studying him in silence. Few outside the oldest noble families—or certain captains—knew the Shiba had ever held noble status. And Amamiya Miyako was neither.
"…Oi, kid. Who told you about this? Was it Ukitake-taichō?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.
Miyako met her gaze without flinching. "Misunderstanding, Kūkaku-san. I'm not asking for the entire history. I only need to see the records from a thousand years ago."
Kūkaku paused mid-drag from her pipe. "A thousand years ago…?" She knew exactly what that referred to—records of the Quincy invasion of Soul Society.
Miyako gave a single nod. "Hai. And since you're asking why, I'll tell you directly. It's about my Zanpakutō. When I release it into Shikai… it takes the form of a bow."
Kūkaku's eyes narrowed, catching his meaning instantly.
"That's why I need information on the Quincy. I already asked Ukitake-taichō. He told me that those records are only kept in the noble houses… or in the Great Spirit Archive inside Seireitei. Neither are places I can walk into freely. So…" He bowed his head slightly. "I'm asking for your help, Kūkaku-san."
Kūkaku exhaled slowly, smoke curling in the air. Truthfully, she didn't think those records were particularly dangerous—unlike the truly forbidden archives about the Soul King. Still, she understood his urgency.
"…Fine. I'll dig it up for you. But remember this, Amamiya-kun—you'll owe me. Big time."
Miyako smiled faintly. "Aa. I'll repay that debt, no matter the cost. For now… arigatō, Kūkaku-san."
Kūkaku tapped the ash from her pipe and waved him off. "Yare yare… guess things are about to get lively around here."