SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 18 out, this is Chapter 19 and the final chapter 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 19: Thoughts in the Revolving Around Heaven

"It is rather peaceful, isn't it?" Ishida mused, setting his pawn into a new spot.

"Indeed." Hasu agreed, shifting a gold general to block. "But I would never have thought you guys would return here this soon."

"What?" Ishida teased. "Don't you want to see me?"

"I certainly didn't say that." Hasu flustered. "There aren't anymore Bount left. All that remains is just a bitterness beyond comparison. It certainly was that sort of battle, wasn't it?"

"Kariya knew full well the history of the Bount." Ishida fingered the bishop. "He most likely couldn't stand to see it being repeated over and over. Living for so long isn't easy. He must have been shown the changeless, never improving history of the Bount numerous times. For him, the Bount history isn't a line extending forward, but rather a circle that goes round. He was trying to break from that." he moved the bishop.

"Round, huh?" Hasu mused, lifting the knight. "Revolving..." she set the piece down. "If fate is a wheel, then we are the cogs that drive it. We don't have a choice but to believe that this wheel is flawless and forge on ahead. The power of the individual cogs and their eventual destinations... and the blade that is brought down on them."

"Looks like it's an impasse." Ishida noted, looking at the shogi board.

"Indeed." Hasu agreed.

In Ran'Tao's hideout...

"Where am I?" Koga peered open his eyes.

"So, you're awake?" Ran'Tao asked.

"You're..." Koga gasped. "Yoshino?"

"Not Yoshino, Ran'Tao." Yoruichi supplied. "This is Ran'Tao's hidden abode."

"Why am I here?" Koga inquired.

"Because I removed you and carried you here so tha the Shinigami wouldn't notice." Yoruichi replied.

"You were with Kurosaki Ichigo and the others, weren't you?" Koga recognized the cat-eyed woman. "Why did you help me?"

"Who knows." Yoruichi shrugged.

"What of Kariya?" Koga asked.

"He's dead." Ran'Tao confirmed.

"If the fate of the Bount is simply to die out, then I have only to accept that fate." Koga stated.

"Anyhow, please stay here until your wounds are healed." Ran'Tao requested. "At any rate, there's nothing more for me to do here. And I have no intention on returning to Seireitei at this point in time. I would also like to hear all about the Bount from the last of the race."

"Then, I'm going back to the real world." Yoruichi remarked. "I'm leaving the rest of Ukitake, so there's no need to worry."

"Sorry, but please thank Kurosaki Ichigo for stopping Kariya." Koga requested.

"And thus, the second blade is brought down the second time." Hasu muttered as the Senkaimon opened to allow Ichigo's group to return to the real world. "My dear ANBU Squad, I'm leaving the rest to you."

Omake: Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide

In the Squad 11 barracks...

Yachiru: I'm back!

Zaraki: (Pulls the training dojo's door open) Yeah, I just came back.

Ikkaku: You're back late, Captain.

Zaraki: We got lost in Kusajishi.

Yachiru: It was really fun.

Zaraki: And what about the Bount?

Ikkaku: Ichigo defeated them.

Zaraki: I see. All right. Then I guess I'll go have at it with Ichigo.

Ikkaku: Captain, he went back to the real world.

Zaraki: What? (Reiatsu flaring up) That bastard, next time I see him, I'll kill him without so much as a hello.

Ikkaku: (Sweatdrops) Ichigo, you did the right thing by not meeting him before heading back.

SailorStar9: In the next arc, after the skirmish with Ulquiorra and Yammy, Ichigo meets a scouting team of Shinigami consisting of Renji, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Rukia, who are dispatched alongside with Hasu to help Ichigo against the Arrancar threats. Now that's done, read and review.