SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 14 out, this is Chapter 15 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 15: Kariya! Countdown to the Detonation

"I'm okay." Hitsugaya assured the guards protecting the Squad 10 barracks. "I defeated the Bount. The Southern District has been frozen over by my Hyōrinmaru. It's going to melt soon, so please recover the Bount's body. I'm not sure if there even is a body, but we can't just leave it there. At some point, we should bury him somewhere."

Meanwhile in the Captain-Commander's office...

"This is an urgent report from 8th Squad Captain Kyoraku and 13th Squad Captain Ukitake." Nanao reported in.

"Hasn't Captain Ukitake been sick?" Yamamoto asked.

"Yes sir." Nanao responded. "I'm afraid that he's gone to the Central Library in order to search for documents related to the Bount."

"Very well then." Yamamoto excused Ukitake. "So what is this urgent report?"

"They have found some documents that Ran'Tao left behind." Nanao replied. "The documents contain information regarding the explosive powers sealed away inside the Jōkaishō."

"I see." Yamamoto noted. "So this means that this Kariya isn't merely bluffing after all."

"According to the documents, in order to take full advantage of Jōkaishō's powers, you must wait a while after first activating it." Nanao added.

"How long is 'a while'?" Yamamoto pressed.

"About a day." Nanao answered.

"So that is why Kariya said he would give us one more day." Yamamoto realized. "For him to have been able to plan everything out like this, he is an enemy that we must not underestimate. We must capture Kariya as soon as possible to relieve Lady Tula of her burden. I will give instructions to all of the Squads from here. It seems that we no longer have enough time to hold meetings with all of the Captains. Tell Captain Ukitake to continue searching through the documents." he went over to his chair.

The next morning...

The severely drained Tula, holding onto her Command Staff as support, had sank to her knees in exhaustion.

Kariya had arrived on the perimeter of the square the weakened Goddess was in, the Bount leader was smirking down at the younger girl. "Who's there?" he demanded, sensing another presence. "You're..." he recognized Ran'Tao. "Ran'Tao. A Kido gun?" he mused, running along the wall to dodge the blast fired by the Kido weapon. Jumping into the air to give himself more leverage, he tossed a wind sphere at the incoming Kido blast, nullifying it. "How did you know I was here?" he demanded, Ran'Tao using Shunpo to close the distance between them. "Did you use a Bount sensor?"

"Yeah." Ran'Tao replied. "After all, I know more about the Bount than anyone else."

"Why haven't you handed that technology over to the Shinigami?" Kariya wondered.

"That's because I want to personally put an end to this." Ran'Tao declared. "There is no need for the current generation to pay for the mistakes caused by the previous generation."

"You're holding something rather interesting." Kariya looked at the rifle Ran'Tao was holding. "It's seems like it's fairly powerful, but something on that level isn't going to be able to defeat me. What's wrong?" he mocked, seeing Ran'Tao's stunned expression.

"That crest is..." Ran'Tao gasped, recalling where she had seen the crest mark before. It can't be! She realized Kariya's real identity. "That boy was you, wasn't it? Don't you remember when you got that crest? That crest should have taken effect when you used the item. I'm the one who gave you that item. I've continued living for the sole purpose of saving you. Soul Society has changed with Tula-sama's return."

"What's with all of this now?" Kariya cut her off.

"I'm not lying." Ran'Tao retorted. "If you use the power of the Jōkaishō, which has been sealed away in Seireitei, then you could..."

"Jōkaishō's power?" Kariya echoed. "It's energy is already part of my body. I'm going to use it to destroy the Shinigami.

Outside the Squad 10 barracks...

I can barely feel Hasu's Reiatsu anymore. Ishida was already on the move. Has expanding her Reiatsu the entire of yesterday been too much for her? This Reiatsu... he picked up another familiar energy. It's Ran'Tao. Is she fighting? Kariya is the only one left. Kariya should be where they are.

"No matter what you try to do, it's already too late." Kariya declared. "I'm the only Bount remaining now."

"Then I'll save just you." Ran'Tao fired back.

"Foolish." Kariya scoffed. "I wanted to show you, the creator of the Bount, the destruction of Seireitei to make you regret what you did. But instead, I'll take your life now." he fired off a whirlwind from his fist which deflected the Kido blast Ran'Tao shot at him. The attack continued to break up the tiles on the roof, knocking Ran'Tao off and sending her weapon into the air.

Omake: Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide

At the Squad 10 cookout...

Inoue: I'm hungry.

Matsumoto: Okay, everyone. This is the famous 10 Squad's boiled rice. Eat up. (Starry-eyed) In response to Orihime's request, I've also prepared a bunch of red-bean paste dishes.

Inoue: (Beams) Thank you very much.

Everyone else: (Aghast and horrified expressions) Shit.

Hisagi: (Holds out ladle of red-bean paste food) Hey! Hurry up. Come and get it.

Inoue: (Confused) Why, Hisagi?

Matsumoto: Shūhei seemed to be bored, so I got him to help me out.

Ichigo: Aren't you just using him as a servant?

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Ishida arrives and fights Kariya. Ran'Tao uses the Jōkaishō's power to stun Kariya, and asks Ishida to kill Kariya. However, Ran'Tao begins to feel pain from the Jōkaishō, and Ishida uses his remaining power to save her, which destroys his Quincy battle accessory. As Kariya is about to kill them both, Tula ignites her Reiatsu just as Ichigo arrives. Now that's done, read and review.