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: Byakuya Takes the Field! Dance of the Wind-Splitting Cherry Blossoms

"No ready stance?" Byakuya questioned, noticing Kariya's relaxed posture.

"And what about you?" Kariya asked. "I'm always ready."

"I see." Byakuya noted. "So, even a lowly Bount such as yourself has the ability to use Shunpo." he added, flashing behind Kariya to take the Bount leader's back, only to have Kariya shift to dodge the Zanpakutō.

"You scratched me." Kariya looked at the cut on his coat. "I'll go first this time." summoning a strong gust of wind, he vanished.

Byakuya flashed to avoid the swirling sphere of wind that had came at him.

"Got you!" Kariya was in the air this time, his wind-covered fist striking down on Byakuya.

Byakuya managed to dodge the attack, both men exchanging strikes with each other. "I have heard that Bounts manipulate puppets." the 6th Squad Captain stated. "Was that thing I couldn't see a moment ago your puppet?"

"Well, I wonder." Kariya shrugged.

"In which case, I shall just have to cut down your puppet, too." Byakuya declared.

As if waiting for the perfect moment to strike, both opponents clashed with each other again.

"That's Kuchiki Byakuya for you." Kariya praised, avoiding Byakuya's sword. "You're even greater than the rumors claim. I'm glad that I got to meet you."

"What?" Byakuya frowned.

"Among the Four Great Noble Families of Soul Society, you are said to be the greatest leader in the history of the Kuchiki Clan, Kuchiki Byakuya." Kariya explained. "It's only natural that anyone who has reached a level of skill would want to test his strength against you. And I am more than satisfied with the level of your strength."

"What are your goals?" Byakuya pressed.

"Goals, huh?" Kariya mused. "Among the mighty Gotei 13 that protects Soul Society, you are by far the most famous. If you were to be defeated, unrest will spread throughout Seireitei."

"Such nonsense." Byakuya scoffed.

"I'm serious." Kariya assured. "I would not have come all the way out here if I wasn't confident. But, it seems that you are a much softer man than the information indicated. It seems that when one of my accomplices was about to deliver the final blow to Kuchiki Rukia, you frantically protected her. In top of that, you came here alone so that you could avenge your sister. I thought you wouldn't succumb to such petty provocation."

"This is pointless." Byakuya retorted. "I already told you; I merely cut down anyone who disturbs Soul Society."

"Well, whatever." Kariya shrugged. "Whatever the case may be, you must die here to further our great goals."

"Discussion is useless." Byakuya declared. "You will be the one to die here. Scatter, Senbonzakura."

Kariya moved into the sky to dodge the trails of Sakura petals, only to find himself engulfed in a pink sphere of energy, which he managed to shatter mere seconds later. "So, this is Senbonzakura?" he landed back on the ground, with a single Sakura petal caught between his fingers. "It's a beautiful technique. But it doesn't seem to work on me. Now then, it's my turn. The Great Winds, come before. The great powers, come into me."

"So I was right." Byakuya remarked, seeing Kariya conjure up his power. "What you've been manipulating all along was wind."

"Windestanz." Kariya let loose his attack, surrounding Byakuya with wind tornadoes from the four corners. "Die." he declared as the four tornadoes closed in on Byakuya.

"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui." Byakuya freed himself. "Hadō #4: Byakurai." he followed up with the attack Hadō after Kariya dodged his sword.

"Senbonzakura is a technique that has a thousand blades dancing about, making it impossible to see it all." Kariya stated, after both men met with another standstill. "The blades reflect light, making it look like countless flowers are scattered about. But my Doll is the wind. In other words, the wind in this world, the air, is without limit. Gathered together, its power rivals your blade. It's a simple matter of numbers. Senbonzakura, Kido and cutting attacks with Zanpakutō are all splendid, but they cannot bring me down. You will the one struck down in the end."

"I wonder." Byakuya countered.

"Now you're just acting tough." Kariya taunted.

Slowly closing the distance between them, both men attacked once more.

"Windestanz." Kariya summoned his attack again.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura." Byakuya countered with his Shikai, both attacks engulfing the two men in a whirlwind of Sakura petals.

"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo's energy blade broke both men free. "Hey, Byakuya. What's with you fighting so hard after refusing our help?" he joked. "Ririn, it's dangerous, so back off a little." he told the Mod Soul on his shoulder.

"Ichigo, what are you going to do?" Ririn asked.

"It's okay." Ichigo assured.

"What's with you?" Ririn whined, jumping off. "And here I was worrying about you."

"Kurosaki Ichigo." Kariya was not impressed by the sudden intervention. "I didn't think I'd see you so soon."

"I guess not." Ichigo fired back. "Byakuya, are you okay?"

"You are not needed." Byakuya related.

"Shut up." Ichigo snorted.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, if you interfere, then I will consider you an enemy as well." Byakuya warned.

"What the...?" Ichigo was stunned when he saw Kariya use the surrounding Reishi to heal himself.

"Soul Society is filled with Reishi that increase the powers of us Bounts." Kariya explained. "As long as this world is filled with Reishi, we Bounts are invincible."

"Bankai!" Ichigo activated Tensa Zangetsu.

"Such terrifying speed." Kariya noted, the two males clashing.

"Bankai Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Byakuya saw the opening and activated his Bankai. "You're in the way." he informed Ichigo.

Omake: Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide

Elsewhere in the Rukongai forest...

Inoue: That person is called Hawk, right? (Red arrow points to Hawk)

Ganju: That's right. I didn't introduce them to you. First off, there's Fever. His real name is Ishino Mizuru. Dumbbell. Real name is Saiounji Sakatomo. Top. Real name is Yamashita Kenji. And lastly, there's Hawk. Real name is Miyamoto Taichi.

Inoue: Did you give them those names, Ganju?

Ganju: Yeah. Cool, aren't they?

Sado: It's the same thing with the boars.

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Byakuya and Ichigo continue to fight Kariya, who continually regenerates all damage by absorbing Reishi to recover. Ran'Tao, the Shinigami who created the Bounts, arrives with Tula by her side and Kariya retreats. As Byakuya leaves, Ishida arrives, and Ran'Tao takes the three teenagers to her home. Now that's done, read and review.