"West Rukongai?" Ukitake-taichō raised an eyebrow.
"Hai," Amamiya Miyako replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Rukia-chan didn't give me the exact district… just said it was somewhere deep out west."
Taking leave from his captain on his first official day as fukutaichō—even someone like Miyako, who usually took things easy, felt a little awkward.
"Gomen, Ukitake-taichō. I'll head out with Rukia-chan, and once we're back, I'll handle all the division work I missed. Promise."
Ukitake chuckled softly, his pale features calm as always. "Miyako-kun, don't worry so much. Kiyone and Sentarō are still around, after all."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "…But more importantly, I'm entrusting Rukia to you."
"Eh?" Miyako blinked, slightly startled by the sudden shift in tone.
"She's an important part of our Thirteenth Division," Ukitake continued, his gaze distant. "And this trip... I believe it's to see someone from her past. She may have resolved herself to do it, but even then, she asked you to go with her. That must mean something."
Ukitake smiled again, softer this time. "Please, look out for her."
Miyako responded with a rare touch of formality. "Understood, Taichō. You don't need to worry. Besides—Rukia-chan's our precious nakama."
With that, Miyako received the travel pass to Rukongai from his captain and left to find Rukia.
When he returned to the barracks, he spotted her waiting near the gate. "Oi, Rukia-chan!" he called, waving his hand.
She jogged over quickly. "How'd it go? Did Ukitake-taichō approve it?"
Miyako struck a proud pose, hands on hips. "But of course! I'm the fukutaichō now, remember? My requests carry weight!"
Rukia let out a breath of relief at the first part, but her expression soured as she realized he was clearly boasting. "Yare yare… you sure it wasn't Taichō's decision?"
"Eh? You wound me, Rukia-chan!" Miyako exaggerated a dramatic gesture. "A little gratitude wouldn't kill you, ya know!"
"Let's just go," she muttered, already walking off toward the division's main gate. "Before your ego gets any bigger."
Miyako trailed after her, pretending to sulk. "Oi! Don't just ignore me like that! At least say thank you!"
Once they reached the West Gate of Seireitei, they handed their documents to Jidanbō, who let them through with a familiar nod. From there, they stepped into the winding outskirts of West Rukongai.
The dusty roads of the districts outside Seireitei weren't crowded. Residents walked here and there, barely paying attention to the two Shinigami.
As they continued, Rukia grew quiet. She simply walked ahead, saying little.
"Rukia-chan… where exactly are we going?" Miyako asked casually. "This is getting kinda remote."
"…The outer edge of West Rukongai," she replied quietly. "…To visit the Shiba Family."
Miyako's brows raised slightly. "Kaien-fukutaichō's family?"
"…Hai."
After that, she went silent again.
Miyako watched her for a moment, then walked up beside her and, without warning, placed both hands on her head—ruffling her neatly kept hair into a mess.
"Wha—Oi!" Rukia shouted, slapping his hands away, her cheeks pink. "What do you think you're doing, you jerk?!"
Miyako laughed. "You were overthinking again, weren't you? That gloomy face totally gave it away."
She pouted, brushing her hair down. "…I'm just… I don't know if they'll forgive me."
"You're planning to apologize, right? For what happened with Kaien-fukutaichō."
Rukia blinked. "Did I tell you that?"
"Nah. But it's written all over your face," he said simply. "Kids always hesitate when they feel guilty. Afraid of not being forgiven, so they stall. That's what you're doing."
"Hmph… how dare you call me a kid," she muttered, turning her head, fists clenched in quiet protest.
"But," Miyako said, his voice gentler now, "you're not alone. I'll be right there. Whether they forgive you or not… at least you'll have said what you needed to."
Rukia glanced at him. Her expression was hard to read—but she didn't argue.
"…Arigatou," she whispered.
"Eh? I didn't catch that."
"Shut up, Miyako!"
....
Although she had made up her mind to apologize seriously this time, the closer she got, the more hesitant Rukia-chan became. Her steps slowed, her fists clenched at her sides. The fear of being rejected by Kaien-fukutaichō's family weighed heavily on her heart.
Just then, Amamiya Miyako's voice broke through the silence, casual yet strangely perceptive.
"You're going to apologize to Kaien-fukutaichō's family, aren't you?" he said with a slight smile, not asking—affirming.
"Ehh?! How do you know that?" Rukia turned to him, eyes wide in surprise. She hadn't told anyone.
Miyako shrugged. "Because that's how kids always act when they're scared of not being forgiven. They hesitate. They stall."
"W-What?! Who are you calling a kid, huh?!" Rukia snapped, her temper flaring.
But Miyako continued, completely unfazed. "Still, the most important thing about an apology isn't the timing. It's whether or not you mean it. Whether it comes from here." He gently tapped his chest with a finger.
"Of course I mean it," Rukia muttered, lowering her eyes. "I just… should've said it a long time ago…"
"Then let's go," Miyako said cheerfully, giving her a firm push from behind. "No more running. If you're sincere, they'll understand."
"Oi! Stop pushing me already! I can walk on my own!" Rukia grumbled, cheeks puffed. "Yare yare… I really don't know where you get your confidence from."
Soon after, a large pair of wooden hands came into view, holding an enormous banner that read in bold kanji: 『志波空鶴』—Shiba Kūkaku.
"We're here," Rukia murmured, pausing for a breath.
As they approached the entrance, two large men stepped forward, blocking their path.
"May I ask what business a Gotei 13 Vice-Captain has with the Shiba Clan?" one of them said, noticing the badge on Miyako's arm.
"I—" Rukia started to speak, but Miyako stepped in smoothly.
"Thirteenth Division Vice-Captain Amamiya Miyako and sixth officer Kuchiki Rukia have come to pay a visit to Shiba Kūkaku-dono and Shiba Ganju-san. Please, could you inform them?"
"Understood. Please wait a moment." One of the guards turned and disappeared into the estate.
Inside, a chaotic scene was unfolding.
"Oi, onee-chan! I seriously can't do this anymore!" Ganju wailed, ducking a blast of Shō that scorched past his ear. "Why the hell do I need to learn Kaidō and Hadō? You trying to turn me into a Shinigami?!"
"Hmph. Don't be stupid," Kūkaku scoffed, flinging another blast at him. "You're the last man of the Shiba Clan. If you don't learn Kido and more, who will carry the name forward?"
Just as Ganju dove behind a barrel, a knock came at the door.
"Saved…" he muttered, sighing in relief.
"Koma, is that you?" Kūkaku called out, lowering her arm.
"Yes, Kūkaku-dono," came the muffled reply. "Two Shinigami have come to visit you and young master Ganju."
"Shinigami?" Kūkaku raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"It's Vice-Captain Amamiya Miyako of the Thirteenth, and… Kuchiki Rukia."
Silence fell.
"Wha—? Kuchiki Rukia?!" Kūkaku and Ganju exclaimed in unison.
"That's the one! That's the Shinigami who… killed Kaien-nii-san!" Ganju roared, slamming a fist into the floor. "What the hell are they doing here?! Grr… Even if you bring a Vice-Captain as backup, I, Shiba Ganju-sama, won't—"
Whack!
An elbow jabbed him clean in the ribs.
"Shut it, Ganju." Kūkaku said flatly.
Meanwhile, outside, Rukia was frozen, her feet rooted to the spot. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't get the words out.
"Oi, Rukia," Miyako said quietly, then—smack!—gave her a solid slap on the back.
"Ow!!" Rukia snapped, glaring at him. "That hurt, you idiot!"
"You came all this way, Rukia-chan. You're not seriously gonna just stand there and say nothing, right?" Miyako said calmly.
Rukia took a deep breath, her fists trembling at her sides. At last, she turned to the two people standing before her—Shiba Kūkaku and Shiba Ganju.
"I'm sorry," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "I'm truly… sorry."
Her voice cracked as she continued. "I should've said it long ago. But I was weak… and I kept running away. Ever since that day… the day with Vice-Captain Kaien… I've been unable to face it. Unable to face you."
Kūkaku's expression remained unreadable. Ganju simply crossed his arms and looked away, silent and cold.
"I know this is late… maybe even useless… but I had to say it. I had to come and apologize properly. I'm truly—truly sorry."
A long silence passed.
"I won't forgive you," Ganju finally said, his voice sharp like broken glass.
Rukia stiffened. She had feared those words. Her worst expectations were coming true.
'So that's it… my actions are still unforgivable…'
Her knees threatened to give out. Amamiya Miyako quietly moved beside her and grasped her hand. Her palm was icy cold. She was trembling.
She looked up at him, red-eyed, as if on the verge of tears.
He shook his head gently and turned toward Kūkaku.
"Kūkaku-san. May I ask your thoughts? Do you feel the same as Ganju-san?" he asked softly.
Kūkaku scratched her head, gaze lingering on Rukia. Her eyes softened. "Tch… there's no need to apologize anymore."
"Eh?!" Rukia blinked in confusion. "W-what did you say?"
"Big Sis! What are you saying? Big Bro clearly—!" Ganju began, voice rising.
Miyako raised a hand. "Ganju-san. Do you truly know the full story behind what happened?"
"Of course I do!" Ganju snapped. "That Shinigami—her—she brought back Kaien-nii barely alive. She even admitted she was the one who killed him!"
His anger surged. Kūkaku looked like she was about to intervene, but Miyako calmly cut in.
"Then let me explain," he said, voice steady. "The full truth is recorded in the Thirteenth Division's archives. Kaien-dono was possessed by a Hollow—Metastacia, a parasitic Hollow capable of taking control of Shinigami."
Ganju's expression shifted slightly, uncertain.
"The Hollow consumed Kaien-dono's soul. Rukia-san was forced to make a decision. She ran her blade through him—at his own request. He regained control in the final moment… and chose to die as a Shinigami rather than be a threat to others."
"No way… Nii-san ran onto her blade?" Ganju's voice cracked.
"It's the truth," Kūkaku said, stepping forward. "Not long after Kaien passed, Ukitake-taichō came to me and explained everything. I've known for a long time. Your brother—he chose that ending himself."
"No… that can't be…" Ganju's voice broke, and he dropped to his knees. "Big Bro…"
"I'm sorry, Ganju," Kūkaku said, turning toward him. "I should've told you earlier. But even until the end, Kaien thanked Rukia. She carried out his final will with her own hands."
Rukia looked down, voice trembling as she spoke. "Kaien-dono was the person I admired most. In the Thirteenth Division, he was our light. Even to the end, he never stained his honor as a Shinigami. He was proud… and I— I wanted to protect that pride."
...
After a long silence, Ganju finally stood up. His fists were clenched at his sides as he muttered, "You Shinigami… don't get the wrong idea. My brother… he wasn't great because he was a Shinigami. No matter what path he chose, Big Bro would've shined."
Shiba Kūkaku gave a short chuckle, watching him with an exasperated smile. "Yare yare… still as stubborn as ever, Ganju."
Then Ganju turned his eyes on Rukia and snapped, "Hey, you Shinigami over there!" He purposely avoided using her name. "Since Nee-san said it's over, I'll go along with it. From now on, I won't hold a grudge. It's done."
Amamiya Miyako leaned over slightly, speaking softly beside Rukia's ear, "That's his way of forgiving you, Kuchiki-san. He just doesn't know how to say it directly, so he's hiding behind his sister's words."
"Eh…?" Rukia blinked in surprise, still trying to understand.
"Oi! What're you two whispering about? Don't think that just 'cause you're a Vice Captain like Kaien-nii-san was, I won't throw hands!" Ganju shouted, flustered. His tone was fiery, but the way his eyes shifted nervously gave him away.
"Don't mind him," Kūkaku said, folding her arms. "That's just Ganju. He's never been good at saying what he really feels."
Rukia bowed her head again. "I'm sorry… I really am," she said, her voice trembling. "For all these years, I was too scared. I kept running away from this… even though you were the ones who suffered most."
Her tears fell freely now, splashing quietly against the floorboards. She couldn't stop them.
Kūkaku sighed and strode forward. "I told you already—don't apologize anymore, dammit!" she said, raising her fist to bop Rukia on the head.
But before the punch could land, Amamiya Miyako calmly stepped forward and caught Kūkaku's wrist in midair. "Kūkaku-san," he said gently, "please let her speak. She's not just apologizing to you… She's apologizing to Kaien-dono, too."
He looked at Rukia, his expression soft. "She's been holding this pain in for so long. Let her get it out. She's earned that right."
Kūkaku glanced at the crying girl again. Her tough exterior wavered as she sighed. "…You're really too kind, Vice Captain."
Rukia trembled as Miyako took her hand—firmly but warmly—and didn't let go.
So many burdens had weighed on her over the years, but she hadn't crumbled. Amamiya Miyako could see it in her eyes. She had survived because she was strong—but even the strongest person is still human. Everyone has a breaking point.
If Kurosaki Ichigo hadn't saved her back then… Rukia Kuchiki would've shattered under the guilt.
Now, with Miyako at her side, she let go of the fear. The tears dried up, and she managed a small, trembling smile.
"…Thank you," she said, voice barely more than a whisper.
Thank you… for forgiving me. For waiting for me. For understanding how hard it was for me to finally say this.
Kūkaku looked at her silently for a moment before grinning and waving her hand. "Alright, alright. I'll accept the thanks. But if you apologize one more time, Vice Captain or not—I'm punching you, got it?"
Rukia's smile widened as she wiped her face. "Hai, Kūkaku-san."
"Geez," Ganju muttered, turning away. "…You guys are too dramatic."
Amamiya Miyako chuckled under his breath. "That's what makes us human, Ganju-san."