User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 585 - The Headless Star 4/@comment-26420452-20140618101046/@comment-24754636-20140618123037

2 things to bear in mind. Rukia, Renji and Byakuya have been back for a day longer than Ichigo; any gap in the 72 barriers would have closed by now. Plus, it's as stated earlier; why go up to the Royal Palace while Ichigo's there, when you can wait till he comes down and has to trek over to Kukaku's place to get back?