SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 3 out, this is Chapter 4 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.

Pairings: Ishida/Hasu, minor pairing Hitsugaya/Karin

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

Chapter 4: Ichigo vs. Grimmjow, the 11-second battle!

"Bankai?" Grimmjow echoed, Ichigo activating Bankai right off the bat. "So what? Did you forget that how your little Bankai couldn't do shit to me?"

"What about you?" Ichigo fired back. "You forgot how my Bankai's attack gave you that scar? One more thing, Grimmjow; what happened to your arm?"

"I cut it off." Grimmjow shrugged. "I don't need both arms to kick your ass."

"Then, I guess I don't have to hold back." powering up his Reiatsu, he swiped his hand down his face, donning on his Hollow mask and his Hollow Reiatsu just exploded.

"What did you do?" Grimmjow growled.

"Sorry, no time to explain." Ichigo replied and vanished via Shunpo.

Grimmjow unsheathed his Zanpakutō to defend himself against his opponent.

"Getsuga Tenshō." still locking blades with Grimmjow, Ichigo fired the energy blade at point-blank range.

Hitsugaya instant-froze Yammy with an ice dragon.

"What was that?" Yammy bragged, breaking out of the ice effortlessly. "It felt nice and cool."

"I told you, you can't handle me 1-on-1." Luppi chided, smacking Yumichika off. "Do you get it yet?"

"Silence." Yumichika snapped.

"You talk to him." Luppi looked at Ikkaku. "I'm about ready to finish the job."

"I don't do 2-on-1 fights." Ikkaku answered.

"I see." Luppi sighed. "What a bother. Yammy, let me have that kid you're fighting, too. This is taking way too long. I'd rather fight them 5-on-1. I'll release my power and finish all of them off."

"You won't get the chance!" Hitsugaya abandoned his fight and charged at Luppi. "Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

"Strangle: Trepadora." the unperturbed Luppi activated his Resurrección.

Hitsugaya was forced to stop when the Espada's Reiatsu exploded. Expanding an ice wing, he shielded himself from the sudden extended tentacle that ejected from Luppi. "What?" he skidded to a stop. "That's all you've got? That's the best your released form can offer?"

"Nice defense." Luppi chuckled. "But I didn't think you would completely block it. I'm actually a little surprised. You Captain-class Shinigami are tougher than I thought. But, what would you do if I multiplied that attack by eight?" the smoke cleared to reveal Luppi with seven more tentacles protruding from his chest armor. Chuckling, he sent the other seven tentacles towards Hitsugaya and slammed them into the boy Captain, scattering his wings.

"Damn you..." Hitsugaya winced, falling downwards.

"Captain!" Matsumoto called out, seeing her Captain fall into the thicket below.

"Remember?" Luppi turned back to the other Shinigami. "I said that we should fight 5-on-1. Sorry." he mocked. "I should've said 5-on-8."

In the thicket below...

Unbeknownst to the fighters in the air, Karin had cast a Reiatsu-concealing barrier around her temporary healing station. Fighting back the urge to cry out when she saw Hitsugaya fall earthwards, she encased the injured Captain within a ruby-red bubble and brought him in front of her, one of Suzaku's feathers was already at the ready with its healing properties.

"That... power..." Grimmjow was shocked. "It's not a Shinigami. What the hell did you do to yourself?"

Ichigo just remained silent and fired off another black energy wave at Grimmjow. "I told you I don't have time to explain." using the opening Grimmjow had while defending off the attack, he reappeared behind the former Espada. A second energy wave from the back sent Grimmjow towards the ground.

"Son of a bitch." Grimmjow hissed, powering up a Cero in his hand and tossed it at Ichigo who, after fending the energy beam for a moment, sliced it right into half with Tensa Zangetsu.

"You're finished, Grimmjow." Ichigo declared, the pair renewing their sword fight. Parrying off the former Espada's blade, he was about to end the fight when his Hollow mask cracked.

"You're finished, Shinigami." Grimmjow's grin widened and closed in for the finishing blow and struck Ichigo with his Zanpakutō, causing the Daiko to fall to the ground. "Whatever that power was," he used Sonido to catch up with his opponent. "I guess you overused it, huh? You started breathing heavily the second your mask shattered. It's over, Shinigami. You got some good shots in, but in the end, you were no match for me."

"Give it up." Luppi tsked, fending off the other three Shinigami with his rotating tentacles. "Man, you guys are nothing to write home about. And you're really seated officers of the Gotei 13? Boring."

While Luppi was fighting off Matsumoto, Ikkaku and Yumichika, Yammy found himself trapped inside a Phlegethon-River-powered firewater pillar, the licking flames emitting from the tornado preventing him from interfering as Guardian Frost took on Wonderweiss in a weapon fight: Wonderweiss fending off her 'Cocytus River: Cyro Scythe' with his Zanpakutō .

"Matsumoto!" Ikkaku warned, the orange-haired Lieutenant suddenly found herself caught within Luppi's tentacles. "What the hell do we do?" he hissed when he and Yumichika were caught by the tentacles seconds later.

"He's beyond ugly." Yumichika growled.

"You've got one hell of a body, baby." Luppi drew Matsumoto close. "Very sexy." raising one of his free tentacles, he ejected spikes from its end. "Maybe I should punch it full of holes."

Just then, before the spikes could puncture Matsumoto, an crimson red energy blast shot up from the ground, severing the two tentacles and freeing Matsumoto.

"Looks like I'm just in time." Urahara stated. "That was a close one."

"Who're you?" Luppi frowned.

"I'm sorry." Urahara voiced. "Where are my manners? Urahara Kisuke; the humble owner of a small neighborhood candy store. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Humble, my ass." Guardian Frost snorted, her scythe slash sending Wonderweiss crushing to the ground. "You mind dealing with that lug-head?" she pointed to Yammy who had at this moment found himself freed from the firewater pillar. "I have my hand full with this brat."

"As you command, Frost-sama." Urahara gave the younger girl a small bow.

Omake: Arrancar Encyclopedia

Ichimaru: (Blackboard on wall shows a chalk drawing of Grimmjow) When a new Arrancar's born, if he's stronger than any of the Espada, we switch one of them out. (Crosses Grimmjow's drawing out with the chalkboard eraser) This time, Luppi became the new number 6 after Grimmjow had his arm sliced off.

Luppi: (Blackboard on wall shows Luppi's sparkly drawing) Personally, I think I should've been an Espada before that.

Ichimaru: I think we're gonna get along great. For some reason, the other Espada ain't so fond of me.

Luppi: (Beams) I don't like you, either.

Ichimaru: (Downcast aura around him)

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, as the battle with Luppi continues, a healed Hitsugaya (courtesy to Karin) uses a sneak attack with his Bankai and defeats Luppi. Meanwhile, Urahara dodges Yammy's attacks using one of his inventions, and subsequently nullifies all of them. Grimmjow nearly kills Ichigo, but is saved by Rukia. She is nearly killed, but Hirako saves her. Grimmjow begins to battle Hirako, and after Hirako dons his hollow mask, he overwhelms Grimmjow. As Grimmjow prepares to release his Zanpakutō, Ulquiorra stops him and orders all the Arrancars to return to Hueco Mundo. Now that's done, read and review.