SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 9 out, this is Chapter 10 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 10: 3 vs. 1 Battle! Matsumoto's Crisis

"Let's try that one more time." Mira Rose grinned, the three Fracción having worn down Matsumoto.

"Haineko!" Matsumoto engulfed Mira Rose in a sphere of ash, the dark-skinned Fracción merely sliced through the clashing ash. "I told you that won't work!" she freed herself and charge at Matsumoto, the said Lieutenant forming an ash screen to block the attack.

"Let me in on the fun." Sung-Sun used Sonido to take Matsumoto's back and slashed the orange-haired Lieutenant's arm.

"You're wide open!" Apache then moved in to attack Matsumoto from behind. "Do you mind if I go take a break?" she turned to her two fellow Fraccións.

"What nonsense is this?" Sung-Sun chided.

"She's practically ready to keel over." Apache retorted. "Not that she stood a chance against when it's 3-on-1. Hey, why don't you go get some help from that brat? We might be able to have some fun if it's 3-on-2. This is just a waste of time!" she snapped, grabbing Matsumoto by her scarf and throwing her back. "Like that'll work!" she blasted the gathering Haineko ask with Bala blast. "You couldn't even handle me on a 1-on-1." she charged straight at Matsumoto.

"Blaster Cannon!" a stream of flames hit Apache before she could land a hit on Matsumoto.

"What?" Matsumoto looked around. "It's you!" she breathed. "Hinamori!" then, she saw the familiar bracelet on the former Lieutenant's wrist. "The Phoenix Heart..." her eyes widened in horror. "Hinamori, what did you do..."

"I only took what was supposed to be mine." Hinamori spat. "I've already proven that I'm better than that weakling; it is she who doesn't deserve to be Suzaku's Avatar! That privilege belongs only to me! Now that I'm Suzaku's new Master, Shiro-chan has no choice but to love me!"

"You temporarily lost control of your Reiatsu." Halibel noted, clashing blades with Hitsugaya.

"I don't think so." Hitsugaya retorted.

"What happened?" Halibel inquired.

"Nothing." Hitsugaya insisted and sent a wave of ice at Halibel. Hinamori, don't you know that disobeying Tula-sama's direct orders amounts of high treason? Not only that, you also have the gall to steal Karin's power foci. You'll better pray nothing happened to Karin, or I'll never forgive you!

"Please don't worry, Rangiku." Hinamori assured. "I'm here as the new owner of the Phoenix Heart. I'm no longer Captain Aizen's subordinate. After all, he's the enemy of Soul Society."

"You're right." Matsumoto conceded. "Stay alert, Hinamori."

"You done with your little girly chit-chat?" Apache barked, one of her wrist collars flying out of the dust cloud.

Matsumoto immediately summoned Haineko's ash to block the projectile.

"Fire Sphere!" Hinamori let loose another fireball at the spinning collar.

"I see." Apache reclaimed her smoking bracelet. "So that fireball came from that bracelet. Most impressive. But two Shinigami against us isn't going to be all that different from our earlier 3-on-1. Mira Rose, Sung-Sun, let's end this!" all three female Fraccións revealed their Zanpakutō. "Let's put an end to this silly game and go help Halibel-sama."

"Calm down, stupid." Mira Rose chided.

"You're the one who's dragging this out, you know." Sun-Sung reminded.

"What.. the hell?" Apache suddenly paused in her charge, finding herself trapped in the middle of a Firedancer: Fushibi net.

"Didn't you even wonder how I was able to land a direct hit on you with Suzaku's fire?" Hinamori giggled. "All of you are stronger than I am, even if I'm supported by the fire Shishin. I had to mask both my presence and Reiatsu with Kido in order to draw you close enough for Suzaku's attack to hit you. So when I hid my presence, I also wrapped Rangiku within a Kido net. I'd never imagine I'd be able to catch all three of you in it. That alone proves that I'm a better candidate for Suzaku! Firedancer: Eruption!" she set the webbing on fire.

"They're sure going all out over there." Kyoraku peered over at the other fight. "How about it, Espada? Why don't we start going all out over here, too?"

"No." Stark flat-out refused. "Besides, you aren't fighting me for real, either, are you? You haven't drawn your other sword yet."

"Are you okay, Hinamori?" Matsumoto asked, seeing the other girl panting heavily.

"I am." Hinamori assured. "Sorry about that. I'm still getting used to using Suzaku's powers. It was really hard to focus on it when Suzaku's been fighting against me."

"Thrust: Cierva!" bursting out of the smoke, Apache activated her Resurrección.

"Devour: Leona!" Mira Rose followed suit.

"Strangle to death: Anaconda!" Sun-Sung powered up as well.

"No way!" Hinamori gaped. "I didn't think my attack would be enough to defeat them, but they're not even hurt."

"They healed their injuries when they went into their Resurrección forms." Matsumoto explained. "It's one of their powers. Here it comes." she warned as Apache powered up a Cero.

"Leave it to me!" Hinamori declared. "Wildfire!" she cast a wall of fire to deflect the incoming Cero.

"Haineko!" Matsumoto added in her ash cloud for good measure, before grabbing Hinamori and Shunpo-ed out of the attack path.

"Why are you getting so worked up over weaklings like them?" Mira Rose chided the glaring Apache.

"Exactly." Sun-Sung agreed. "From the sound of it, you're the one who's coming across as cocky."

"I don't want to let this drag out any longer." Mira Rose sighed. "Let's finish them off with that."

"Quimera Parca!" the three Fraccións either tore off or cut their left arms, and summoned Ayon.

"What on earth is that? Matsumoto was stunned at the chimera's appearance.

Omake: Shinigami Zanpakutō Introductions

Renji: Today, I'll be introducing Kazeshini.

Insert clip of Hisagi releasing Kazeshini.

Renji: Hisagi Shūhei's Zanpakutō, Kazeshini, transforms into two scythes that are attached together by a chain when released in its Shikai form. Even he can't tell where the weapon'll go when he starts swinging it around. Hisagi hates Kazeshini because it looks like it's meant to reap people's lives.

Hisagi: (Swinging Kazeshini's chain) I've already learnt from experience that randomly swinging it around can get you hurt.

Renji: I wouldn't brag about it.

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, the fused creature named Ayon is able to severely wound Matsumoto and Hinamori with little effort, but Hisagi and Kira arrive to save them. Hisagi attempts to fight Ayon while Izuru tends to Matsumoto and Hinamori's wounds, but Ayon overpowers him. Iba tries to intervene, but Ayon pushes him aside with a Cero blast from a hidden eye. It tosses Hisagi aside and advances on Kira, but Tula, in her Guardian Frost form steps in to fight it, wounding it with a pillar of firewater.

Now that's done, read and review.