The shinigami froze, looking at this young man who indeed looked like a shinigami at first glance but a Kuchiki? It was hard for people to believe.
"Where are you from?" Byakuya asked
"Far away" Vincent replied, rather unsteady on his feet as he swayed on the spot.
"You say that you are a Kuchiki, so you must be from Soul Society" Byakuya informed him. Vincent, still swaying slightly, gave Byakuya an odd look, part way between questioning and a glare.
"I am a Kuchiki, my origins are of no importance" Vincent replied. Behind him, Captain Soi Fong appeared stealthily accompanied by 9th Division Lieutenant Hisagi Shuuhei. Renji then arrived; landing on a rooftop not far to Vincent's left.
Hitsugaya stepped forwards to speak to Vincent
"Vincent, can you tell us, do you know anything about these unknown hollows that are attacking Soul Society?"
"Hollows?" Vincent wondered, he did not know that word.
"Yes, Souls of the dead that have been plagued by their hate and fear from when they were alive" Byakuya informed him. Vincent shook his head, something he should not have done in his drowsy condition as it cause him to stumble but the unknown warrior managed to catch himself.
Renji looked around, there were several Captains and Lieutenants in the immediate area but no hollows, where as Hitsugaya had said earlier that the hollows were attracted to powerful Reiatsu. Looking further a field, Renji could see no hollows of any sort.
"I'm afraid, I must be going, there is work to be done" Vincent informed them with a slight bow before turning on his heel and walking away, immediately stopping in his tracks as Byakuya cut across his path, grasping Vincent's Kimono.
"You are a Kuchiki and so must heed my words, I am Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Guard Squadron and head of Kuchiki Family" Byakuya ordered. Vincent, suddenly losing all drowsiness, struck Byakuya's hand from his Kimono and pushed the Captain.
"I am Vincent Kuchiki, warrior for the cause and the Black Prince of the outer regions, I take orders from no man" Vincent snapped before vanishing.
Suddenly the spiritual pressure increased phenomenally, catching many people off guard as Byakuya flash stepped after Vincent and attempted to strike him with his sword but Vincent blocked him with a small bladed weapon.
"Back off Byakuya Kuchiki" Vincent warned as they hurtled through the air, flash stepping and duelling.
Renji watched as Byakuya and Vincent tore across the rooftops of Seireitei, weapons clashing.
"Why don't you draw your Zanpakuto?" Byakuya asked as Vincent struck him back and landed on a nearby rooftop. Vincent twirled the small knife around his finger before catching it again.
"I don't need to use it" Vincent informed him "Now why are you so desperate to fight me Byakuya?"
"I want to know where you come from and why you have my families name" Byakuya snapped
"Who says it's your families name?" Vincent asked as he flash stepped again. Immediately Byakuya stood ahead of him.
"My family has lived in Soul Society for generations and now you appear declaring that you are one of us" Byakuya said "This is a great dishonour to me and my family"
"I don't have time to listen to your pathetic excuses for wanting a duel" Vincent informed Byakuya as he drew his sword. The blade of the sword was black and red, unlike the usual Zanpakuto's black and white colour. Byakuya jumped backwards as he raised Senbonzakura.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura" Byakuya whispered. Immediately his sword's blade scattered to the winds in pink blossom style.
Vincent smirked as he raised his own weapon
"Seal" he whispered as he swung his own weapon at Byakuya.
Renji and the other Captains looked up at Byakuya as he released Senbonzakura. They watched in awe as the beautiful weapon spread out through the air towards Vincent Kuchiki.
Then, without explanation, Senbonzakura fell from the sky followed by Byakuya.
The sword shards tinkled as they showered across the rooftop, broken and lifeless.
"Captain!" Renji roared as he flash stepped across the rooftops and dived, catching Byakuya's body before he hit the solid earth. Renji skidded across the floor, Byakuya in his arms, immobile and pale. Renji set down Byakuya as the other Captains arrived.
"Send for Unohana Retsu!" Hitsugaya shouted at one of the other shinigami soldiers who had come to investigate. The soldiers nodded and vanished as they searched for the Captain.
Renji looked up in fury but Vincent Kuchiki had vanished from sight.
"Revenge is not what you need to concentrate on" Hitsugaya told Renji "We need to look after Byakuya"
Renji nodded and looked down at his pale and unmoving Captain, was he actually dead?