SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 4 out, this is Chapter 5 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 5: Ulquiorra's Scheme, the Moment When The Sun Sets!

"What a surprise." Urahara noted, dodging Wonderweiss' sudden attack. "What was that technique just now? I've never seen it before."

"How about I tell you?" Yammy laughed, attack Urahara from behind. "That attack's call Bala. You solidify your Reiatsu and use it to clobber your enemy. It isn't as powerful as a Cero, but it's twenty times faster." he fired off another Bala at the ground where Urahara had fallen. "How about that?" he mocked, raining Bala shots at the ground. "Can you dodge these? You can't, can you?"

"My, my." Luppi tsked. "I was thinking about killing that guy since he got in my way earlier. Stupid Yammy. Either way, he's dead now. Well, what's done is done." he turned back to his opponents. "We'll just continue here, lady. You really are pathetic. That sandal-man just saved you, and you've already managed to get caught again. Well, it's inevitable. There's nowhere for you to run when it's 8-on 3."

"You know," Matsumoto deathpanned. "I've been thinking this for a while, but you talk way too much. I hate talkative guys. They gross me out."

"Hey, lady." Luppi growled. "You seem to be forgetting that I'm holding you captive. If you piss me off, I'll skewer you. What is this?" he gaped in shock when his tentacles were suddenly covered in ice.

Earlier on...

Hitsugaya peered open an eye as he sensed the familiar healing powers of the Suzaku feather. "Karin, is that you?" he turned to the side, both eyes focusing on the concentrating Suzaku Avatar.

"Just be silent and let me heal you; I'm almost done anyway." Karin retorted. "Seriously..." she canceled the Reiatsu flow after Hitsugaya's injuries were closed.

"My apologies, Keara." the healed Hitsugaya pressed his forehead against hers. "I've been reckless."

"Tōshirō, you..." Karin breathed in awe. "You remember?"

"I'm sorry it took so long." Hitsugaya gave his counterpart a wry grin. "And I'm sorry I let her kill you the last time." frowning, he focused on the battle up above them.

"You have a plan?" Karin stood up.

"Yeah." Hitsugaya nodded, tightening his hold on Hyōrinmaru. "Hyōrinmaru."

"For getting one hit off on your opponent, you're way too relaxed." Hitsugaya voiced behind Luppi in Bankai form. "Haven't you heard of following through?"

"You're still alive?" Luppi was stunned.

"Hyōrinmaru is the most powerful ice-based sword." Hitsugaya declared. "As long as there is water nearby, it can repair itself no matter how many times it's broken apart. There's no way you can win now. I've had all the time in the world to set this up. You left me alone for too long. Your weapon may have eight arms, but mine is all the water in the atmosphere. Sennen Hyōrō." he intoned, crushing Luppi with the numerous ice pillars he had conjured. "Sorry," he ended the battle. "Eight wasn't enough."

"What was that?" Yammy was shocked by Luppi's defeat. "Luppi got killed. That's what that dumbass gets for underestimating and taunting them so much. At this rate..."

"Aizen-sama will be livid." Urahara suddenly sang behind him.

"How? Yammy glared, Urahara jumping back to increase the distance between them.

"How am I still alive?" Urahara echoed. "How indeed."

"Cocytus River: Lunar Jewel!"

Both Urahara and Yammy turned to the other fight, Guardian Frost having locked Wonderweiss in a large ball of ice. Both male combatants then watched in muted shock as the ice ball imploded, sending the frozen over Wonderweiss pummeling to the ground.

Never let it be said that the Goddess of Winter is no Goddess of War; re-summoning her 'Cocytus River: Cyro Scythe', Guardian Frost shot off after Wonderweiss, her weapon drawn back to the finishing blow.

"What a moron." Yammy fired off another Bala at Urahara. "He's toast."

"I've watched you shoot that thing many, many times now." Urahara stated behind Yammy, Benihime was rested against the Espada's neck. "It won't work on me anymore." that said, he fired his energy blast at point-blank range. "You just can't understand it, can you? You're thinking 'It felt like that storm of Bala I blasted off were direct hits. So why isn't he even scratched?' This is the answer." he brought out an eye-shaped pill which he blew up to reveal it as a rubber clone of himself. "It's a portable Gigai. So, did I do a good job?" he taunted, deflating the Gigai. "You couldn't tell when I switched places with it, could you? That move won't hit me again." he blocked out Yammy's Bala-charged fist with his Zanpakutō. "Now then, shall we finish this?"

Meanwhile, on the streets, Grimmjow was using the de-powered Ichigo as a punching bag.

"Next Dance: Hakuren." Rukia's ice wave blasted at Grimmjow before he could finish Ichigo off. "Ichigo!" the female Shinigami hurried over.

"Don't sell me short, Shinigami." Grimmjow freed himself from the ice, his hand gripping onto Rukia's head. "You think freezing a layer of my skin would actually kill me? You're retarded!" laughing, he charged up a Bala, ready to finish Rukia off when a yellow Reiatsu blast stopped the attack.

"My, my." Hirako tsked. "I really didn't want to get involved in any Shinigami fights. Whatever; with a rumble going on so close by, there's no way I could ignore it."

"Whoever you are doesn't change the fact that I'm gonna kill you." Grimmjow changed his target to the former 5th Squad Captain.

"You're such a hothead." Hirako sighed, the two fighters taking the fight to the air and he donned on his Hollow mask.

Grimmjow was forced on the defensive in response to the blond's furious blade strikes.

Hirako simply ended the fight with a Cero fired at Grimmjow.

"The mission's completed." Ulquiorra rested a hand on Grimmjow's Zanpakutō, preventing him from releasing his Resurrección. "We're going back." a Garganta opened in the sky as a Negación took both Espadas back to Hueco Mundo.

"This mission's done?" Yammy snorted as the Negación came down on him.

Guardian Frost spat in frustration as the Negación melted off the ice covering Wonderweiss.

"Negación." Matsumoto gasped as the light pillar melted away Hitsugaya's ice coffin.

"Damn it." Urahara cursed after the three Gargantas shut.

Omake: Arrancar Encyclopedia

Ichimaru: ('Hōgyoku' is written on the blackboard) This time... (Sweatdrops as the blackboard is sliced into half) No way!

Tōsen: I'm going to explain the Hōgyoku. By temporarily merging with someone with twice the Reiatsu of a normal Captain, the Hōgyoku's full power becomes usable for a brief moment. Wonderweiss was born via this method. For Aizen-sama... (Wonderweiss nuzzles up to him like puppy. Rests a hand on Wonderweiss' head)

SailorStar9: In the next and final chapter of this arc, the Hitsugaya frontal assault team is recalled back to Soul Society to prepare for Aizen. Now that's done, read and review.