Author's Note: Whew! This chapter is longer than I intended it to be...so I cut the battle between Kariya and Ichigo a little short. If you've seen the Bount arc, then you know how it goes. Just a lot of fighting. I also kept out the appearance of Yoruichi and Captain Kuchiki because that'd be a long explanation as well. I wanted to focus more on Maki's final moments, however, so a few quotes in there can be directly traced to episode 108 and is obviously not my work.

Also, a great song to listen to is "Free and Easy" by Ayumi Hamasaki. It's got some organ in it, reminiscent of the Bount theme, and I think it sounds good while reading the battle scene. The lyrics fit really well.

And I added chapter titles! Woohoo! As always, thanks for reading!

Miyako and Renji had used shunpo to get to Soukyoku, Renji gingerly carrying the tiny Rukia in his arms. The trip was swift and quiet. They all knew that they were not allowed up there under any circumstances, and that there already might be Captains up there, but the pulses of spirit power made them think otherwise. So far, there were only two distinct reiatsus. The third, which was almost entirely masked, had to be Kariya's. Miyako narrowed her eyes and hurried the pace, keeping slightly ahead of Renji. Renji was now more worried about Miyako than ever. He had felt the pulse of spirit power as well. Maybe it was a fluke? Unlikely. Still, this made things damn complicated.

They swiftly climbed the steps and passed through the trees until they saw three silhouettes ahead. Miyako and Renji skidded to a halt near the edge of the clearing, and for a mere split second, they stared at the scene in front of them.

Ichigo was in his Bankai form, and Miyako felt his reiatsu well-contained within his now thin, long, black soul slayer, even though he still seemed to be teeming with power. In front of him stood a white-haired man with red, gleaming eyes, wearing a long trench coat and standing casually with a small grin spread across his face. Maki, who was still miraculously alive, was bleeding profusely across the chest but still had strength enough to stand up to Ichigo. He was swinging his soul slayer at him weakly, but Ichigo would merely block and push Maki back, yelling an obscenity.

"What do you think you're doing?!?" Ichigo was demanding.

Maki would not speak, but would simply attack again. Blood was dripping from his arms as he swung and he looked incredibly pale. Miyako knew that Captain Zaraki had mortally wounded him, but had not killed him. There was only one explanation for this. The Captain was not that sloppy. He left him alive on purpose. She was not going to stand around and wait to find out why.

Before Renji could stop her, Miyako shunpoed towards them. Rukia tried to wriggle out of his grasp as well and run to Ichigo, but he grabbed her arm.

"Don't," he warned.

"But…but Renji…!"

"This is Ichigo's fight. Remember that he fought against Captain Kuchiki and nearly won…I don't think he'll have any trouble here."

"But Miyako…"

"Miyako's fine."

Rukia examined Renji for a bit. He stared out towards the fight with his jaw set and eyes narrowed.

"I know all too well that she can handle herself. Besides, I've already interfered enough."

Rukia looked down and nodded reluctantly.

Renji glanced down at Rukia. "Just have confidence in them."

Miyako gritted her teeth as she appeared right in front of Ichigo and slammed her blade against Maki's, mid-strike.

"Maki! Stop!" she yelled.

Maki stared at her in surprise.

"Miyako!" Ichigo growled. "What the hell are you doing here? Get out of the way!"

"This does not concern you, sister," Maki forced air out of his chest to speak. Blood was already dripping out of a corner of his mouth. "Step aside."

"Stop fighting for this madman, Maki!" Miyako pressed her blade back and pleaded with him. "All of his comrades are dead, and you will follow if you do not come to your senses!"

Maki looked surprised, but he tried to hide his expression.

"Are you simply going to follow him blind, without question?!" Miyako growled. She shoved her blade forwad and Maki jumped back. Instead of retaliating, he stared at Ichigo and Miyako for a long moment, breathing heavily. Eventually, he cocked his head to the white-haired man behind him.

"Master Kariya, I have a question."

The white-haired man raised an eyebrow. He seemed amused by the entire thing occurring in front of him.

"Where are the others?" Maki asked. "Where is Koga?"

Kariya closed his eyes and grinned. "Dead," he shrugged. "They're all dead."

Maki narrowed his eyes. "I see."

"He plans to obliterate all of Soul Society, including you," Miyako yelled at Maki. "He has used you all as puppets! He will sacrifice even himself if he must! He cares nothing for you! He only cares for his own revenge!" Her voice turned pleading. "Don't you remember what I told you about revenge, Maki?"

Maki narrowed his eyes at her and lifted his soul slayer again. Miyako and Ichigo readied theirs as well, but Maki hadn't made a move. Miyako's expression was no longer angry. She looked like she feared for her brother's life. She thought she had lost him once, but now he stood before her once again. Her eyes travelled to the red slash across his chest.

"Captain Zaraki did that to you, didn't he?" she called out.

Maki gritted his teeth and didn't answer. Her reminder rang out clear in his head, and he thought back on his fight with Zaraki. The Captain had unexpectedly taught him a lesson. A valuable one. Turning his head, Maki forced himself to do something he did not want to do. Instead of attacking Ichigo or Mikayo, he shunpoed behind Kariya and thrust his soul slayer towards the man's throat. Miyako and Ichigo gasped in surprise, and Kariya stiffened.

"What's the meaning of this, Ichinose?"

Maki narrowed his eyes and struggled to speak. "If you…if you insist on destroying Seireitei, then so be it. After all, it is I who left this place behind. I would not be sad to see it disappear."

His eyes darted to Miyako. "At least, that's what I had thought."

Miyako and Ichigo stared back. They both held their soul slayers out in front of them, but Miyako's grip loosened.

"I saw my beloved Captain in you," Maki continued. "That's why I followed you and did as you asked. But…my fight with Zaraki made me remember something I had forgotten." His gaze darted to Miyako again. "I nearly killed my own sister before realizing my own intentions."

Miyako locked eyes with him and swallowed.

"I wanted to improve the Gotei 13 and Seireitei," Maki added. "That was my desire. My Captain and I desired the same world. That's why I was willing to give everything up for the Captain…but that ideal changed into desire for revenge the moment my Captain died." His grip on his soul slayer tightened as he pressed it closer to Kariya's neck. "Master Kariya, you have gained the power to change Soul Society. I will kneel before you again if you are going to use your power to restore Seireitei. But if you insist on using that power for revenge, then I will stop you!"

Miyako felt her body release a breath she had been holding. Maki had finally realized his true destiny. She suddenly felt a flood of gratitude towards Captain Zaraki. Only he could have forced the concept, however skewed it was, into Maki's thick head. Maki's fight with Zaraki reminded him of honor once again.

Maki's eyes darted back to Miyako. "As my sister says, revenge cannot create anything new. Now that Koga and the other Bount are dead, I am the only one who can stop you, Master Kariya."

Kariya let out an exasperated sigh and closed his eyes. "Ichinose, I'm not going to be able to follow your advice."

Maki clenched his jaw and readied his soul slayer. "Then I'll stop you!"

Kariya scoffed. "Your power cannot stop me. I must say, however, you've helped me out a lot. Thanks to you, I was able to buy enough time for Joukaishou's power to flow throughout my entire body."

Maki curled his lip and was about to strike when Kariya suddenly turned around and slammed his fist through his chest, exiting in a bloody spurt on the other side.

"MAKI!" Miyako screamed.

Ichigo stared ahead in horror as Kariya withdrew his bloody fist and left Maki crumpled on the ground, shaking and bloody, choking on air and trying to find the words to speak. Kariya had moved too fast, and he was too close to Maki before Ichigo could act in time. Miyako hadn't seen the movement until it was too late. She was about to step forward but Ichigo grabbed her shoulder.

Maki was still trying to drag himself up, coughing up blood and cursing Kariya's name. He reached out towards Kariya's ankles and gripped them angrily, almost as if the last attempt would make a difference. Kariya looked behind him in annoyance, and suddenly used a different power that Miyako had never seen before – the power of wind – to toss Maki up into the air and throw him aside like paper. Maki's soul slayer had been thrown from his hands and the blade drove into the rocky ground, and blood splattered everywhere as the swirls of wind kicked up dust and dead leaves to envelope Maki in a tiny tornado. Miyako, Ichigo, Renji, and Rukia watched in horror as he was tossed across Soukyoku aimlessly, landing with a sickening thud.

Miyako wrenched herself out of Ichigo's grasp and shunpoed past Kariya, gripped Maki's body, used all her strength to pick him up by his robes, and shunpoed back to where Renji and Rukia were standing. They had seen and heard the entire thing from the distance, so they didn't say or do anything as Miyako huddled over Maki. Blood was seeping from his nose and from the corners of his mouth, and he was trying to speak, but he was fading fast. The gaping hole in his chest was bleeding profusely, but Miyako tried to ignore the wound as she leaned over his body to speak.

"Maki," Miyako whispered in a trembling voice. She was gripping the fronts of his robe, and her hair was splayed all over his body as she hung her head. "You goddamn careless fool. Why did you suddenly try to play the hero?"

Maki tried to force out a smile and coughed up blood. "There's…just….no pleasing you, is there, sister?"

Miyako looked up at him and smiled. Her lip was quivering but she was trying to force herself not to cry. She had never cried before, not even when Maki had left the Gotei 13 almost two hundred years ago, but this was different. Seeing her own kin brutally torn apart by someone other than she or her own Captain hit her on a more personal level. She was happy that he had remembered himself, relieved that he was back, and proud that he would finally die with honor with her at his side. The overwhelming emotions nearly caused tears, but she swallowed them back.

"I…I guess…" Maki coughed. "You're lucky….t-to have Kenpachi Zaraki…."

"Stop talking, baka," Miyako whispered. "You're already in deep shit."

Maki smiled again weakly. "You're…always…chiding me…big bully…"

Miyako closed her eyes tight and half snickered, half sobbed at his quip. "Who else would keep you in your place?"

Maki reached across his body and gripped her hand. "Was…it…did I…is this an honorable death?"

Miyako's lip quivered and didn't reply, but she slightly nodded.

Maki pressed his bloody lips together and gave her a curt nod. "Thanks…for all you have done, Miyako," he whispered. "My sister…it was you…….you reminded me…."

His last breath escaped his body and Miyako bowed her head over him, clenching his robes in one fist, gripping his hand in the other. She would not allow herself to cry. She wouldn't cry…

She felt Rukia's tiny hand on her left shoulder, and Renji's hand came up and squeezed her right. They hadn't said a word, but it was still consoling, nonetheless.

Miyako's sadness was accompanied by her overwhelming anger. She hadn't seen Maki in nearly two hundred years. They had parted on bad terms, and they were reunited under even worse conditions, but now that Maki had regained his honor, she suddenly realized that she missed her brother immensely. She was grateful that she was allowed to share his last moments together, and she knew that as a member of 11th squad, she could tell everyone that he died bravely, fighting against the enemy until his last breath instead of fighting against the ally like he originally intended. She was proud of him. She knew that she should feel privileged that Captain Zaraki hadn't killed him, most likely for both Maki's sake and hers, but she couldn't stop the wave of anger and blame wash over all other emotions.

"Where's the healing girl?" Miyako whispered through clenched teeth.

"Miyako…" Renji started.

"Where's Orihime?" Miyako growled. "Where is she? She needs to heal him! What is she doing standing idle in Soul Society? What good is she if she can't heal Maki?"

Miyako was on the verge of tears, but now because of the hatred welling up inside her. She couldn't control her reason. She was angry at the human because Maki's injuries could have been easily prevented. The former ryoka were allowed into Soul Society only to once again prove to be useless. And that Quincy…allowing the Bount here in the first place…her head lifted up and she stared at Kariya angrily. She gritted her teeth and was about to scream something at him when Ichigo interrupted her instead.

"Kariya, you bastard!" Ichigo bellowed across the plateau. "Do you realize what you just did?"

Kariya snorted. "What?"

"You just killed one of your comrades! He's followed you for so long!"

"So what? That man was your enemy. Why do you have sympathy over him?"

"Make no mistake," Ichigo scowled. "This isn't sympathy. I'm just saying that I cannot forgive someone who can cut down his comrade like that!"

Miyako gripped Maki's robes in her clenched fists, swallowing her anger and forcing her body to stay put. She took in Ichigo's words with some surprise. She hadn't thought him to be very self-righteous…but however, he was a human. If he fought based on his own judgement, she could not object. It was something that wasn't done in 11th squad – revenge was for the weak, fighting on someone's behalf was considered just as weak, and therefore fighting for love was pretty much out of the question as well – but Ichigo's reason seemed completely different. He was fighting because he genuinely thought Kariya was an evil man. Nothing else mattered.

"I never once thought of him as a comrade," Kariya replied, his lip curled. "He was just a pawn to help me reach my goals."

Ichigo's spirit force pulsed tenfold and created a hot wind that blew across the plain, making Renji shield Rukia and Miyako lower her head over Maki.

"KARIYAAA!" Ichigo screamed the Bount's name and readied his soul slayer.

Kariya grinned and stood there, waiting for Ichigo to strike first. He did. He flew towards Kariya in incredible speed, unable to be seen by the naked eye, and they were suddenly fighting each other with such force that it made the pebbles on the ground hop. The three Death Gods on the sidelines were watching with awe and concern, and Miyako suddenly heard distinct voices coming from the woods behind them.

"It's Ichigo! He's over here!"

"Are they fighting?"

"We have to hurry! This way!"

Ishida, Orihime, Chad, and the three Bount sensors all appeared from the treeline only feet away from Renji and Rukia. Rukia stepped forward.

"Inoue!"

Orihime looked at them in surprise. "Oh! Rukia! Renji!"

"Renji!" Ishida called out. "What are you doing? Go help Ichigo!" He looked at Chad and nodded to him. "You're the only one that's not hurt. Go with Renji."

Chad nodded and stepped forward, but Renji didn't budge. Rukia held up a hand.

"We can't interfere."

The humans looked at Rukia with a confused look. Rukia turned her head towards Ichigo.

"No…we should not interfere," she added grimly. She glanced back at the humans and crossed her arms, cocking her head towards Ichigo. "His thoughts are probably very similar to the Bount. Ichigo is a Death God substitute, but not an actual Death God. He's a human, but not a normal human. Until he gained his Death God powers, Ichigo wanted the power to protect those close to him. But, since he's gained the power he sought, he's been forced to carry the burden of two worlds; the real world and Soul Society. He carries a weight that we cannot understand."

Orihime looked down at the ground and sighed. Ishida and Chad looked out towards the battle, but said nothing. Renji kept staring straight ahead with his arms crossed and his jaw set, and Miyako was still huddled over Maki's body, gripping his robes.

"But he perseveres under that weight and tries to continue forward," Rukia continued. She looked around at everyone. "Could we do the same?"

Nobody answered, but they all watched the battle occurring before them.

"The Bount are human, but not human," Rukia explained, motioning towards Kariya. "He's been suffering as well, trapped between these two worlds. Perhaps the only one capable of stopping Kariya is Ichigo, who has been forced to carry a similar burden. If that's the case, all we can do is believe in him and watch the battle."

The humans nodded. Miyako and Renji didn't respond. Orihime looked genuinely worried, but Rukia gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry! He'll definitely win!"

Orihime smiled back meekly and nodded. After a long pause, she replied, "Yes, Rukia…you're right!"

Miyako watched the fight darkly. Even though she knew that some of what Rukia said was right – Ichigo did carry a heavy burden, and he did take his responsibility of Death God seriously to help Seireitei – she disagreed with everything else. In 11th squad, it was simple. Fight to kill the enemy. That is all. It was simply a black-and-white issue, and they should not interfere simply because they would hinder Ichigo's efforts and probably get killed in the process. The humans were useless. Miyako was still injured, as well as Rukia. Renji knew better than to step in and bother someone stronger than him. The Captains, on the other hand, would easily defeat Kariya, but they were nowhere to be found. Ichigo simply had the advantage, and that was that. To Miyako, it wasn't about believing in his ability to persevere. It was about who was the strongest, and Kariya's abilities didn't level up to Ichigo's. To a member of 11th squad, it was simply about the sheer numbers.

Miyako couldn't understand why the leaders of Seireitei placed so much trust in Ichigo, but she decided not to question it. By judging the fight, it looked as if Ichigo had a chance. He was getting his fair share of hits, to be sure – but so was Kariya. Ichigo's forehead was bleeding and he looked a little jarred, but he still kept attacking Kariya. Kariya's trenchcoat was now ripped to shreds and he tossed it aside angrily, revealing distinct cut marks made by Ichigo's soul slayer. Kariya seemed to be bleeding more than Ichigo, but Ichigo's black shinigami robe concealed most of his blood, making it harder to tell if he had as many wounds. Kariya had wielded a strange sword-weapon made out of the wind, which he was able to control. The wind was so powerful that it cut and sliced almost like a tornado, and as he stepped back to take a breath, he started to laugh.

"You look tired, Ichigo Kurosaki. How can you possibly defeat me with that sore excuse of a body?"

Ichigo scowled.

"I must admit to you," Kariya added with a grin, "that I've been holding back Messer's true form. Would you like to see it?"

Ichigo didn't reply, but he readied his soul slayer.

"Friction created by the wind causes static electricity," Kariya explained. "So, I guess that Messer's true form isn't the wind, but rather lightning."

Without warning, Kariya lifted his arm and conjured up large bolts of lightning out of thin air, collecting them into a large, sparking ball over his head and hurling it towards Ichigo. Ichigo tried to block the strike, but since lightning is sporadic and can spread in any direction, the friction created by Kariya's wind caused the lightning to completely engulf Ichigo. He was lifted into the air, screaming, and pushed backwards as the sparks flew and cracked in the atmosphere. Kariya lowered his arm as Ichigo skidded across the plateau and slammed hard into a boulder that had been jutting out of the ground from their fight. The group off to the side shielded their faces from the flying debris and forceful wind, and Miyako lowered her head over Maki's body and clenched his robes, bracing herself as her long hair flew up from the wind. The earth was split and cratered from their vigorous battle, and there was a loud crunch as Ichigo hit the rock, slumping over and breathing hard. Orihime gasped and Ishida let out a growl, but Rukia glanced at the humans, reminding them not to move.

Ichigo struggled to stand, leaning against the boulder and breathing hard.

"I no longer need to hold back," Kariya yelled, raising his arm. "It's over!"

With a hard swipe, Kariya hurled wind and bolts of lightning towards Ichigo. The movement was so fast that Ichigo didn't have time to react. As he was shielding himself, ready for the blow, the humans off to the side cried out and Rukia stiffened. Renji didn't move, but Miyako clenched her jaw and stared at Kariya with hatred. Suddenly, her soul slayer began to glow.

To everyone's surprise, the lightning bolts suddenly swerved upward and their course was redirected, nearly missing Ichigo. It was absorbed by something wedged into the boulder above Ichigo's head, and it glowed brightly as the sparking bolts zipped dangerously across the plateau towards Ichigo but then dissipated, negating Kariya's attack and thus shielding Ichigo from the electricity. Ichigo opened one eye and looked up.

Maki's soul slayer was still embedded into the top of the jutting rock above, and it was glowing yellow. It had absorbed all the lightning and slowly returned to its original color.

"Maki's…" Miyako whispered.

"…Zanpakuto?" Ichigo whispered.

Renji stole a sideways glance at Miyako. Her soul slayer was starting to lose its glow, but he had noticed.

Maki's soul slayer slowly started to disappear. It only meant one thing. A vanishing soul slayer was a painful confirmation that its owner was truly dead. Tied to its wielder's own reiatsu, the soul slayer's power only paralleled that of its Death God master, and if the master was seriously injured, the soul slayer's power would dwindle until it was ultimately reduced to nothing. In the case of Maki, he was already near death. His own life was tied to a thin thread of his own soul slayer, which was still embedded into the earth and left alone to endure the ongoing battle. It didn't last, and Miyako hadn't thought to retrieve it. Maki's injuries had extended too far to be restored in time, but like a flame flickering violently before going out, Nijigasumi had resolved to fight one last time before truly accepting its own fate. It had decided to protect Ichigo in the name of justice. In a way, Nijigasumi had also decided to protect its blood relative, Maki's sister and Taiyoukousen. It was the first time a soul slayer had actually taken the initiative to protect its master, let alone the others around it.

As Nijigasumi disappeared after the onslaught of electricity, Ichigo was still safe and Kariya was still recovering from the failed attack. Miyako, however, looked on with horror and despair. Maki was truly dead. Nijigasumi could not be recovered. It was over.

Before she even knew what she was doing, Miyako was emitting an inhuman, loud, crying wail that scared everyone around her, even surprising Kariya. Her reiatsu pulsed wildly and her anger was out of control, making waves of wind and heat fly around her party, but Renji knelt down to hold her. She didn't know if he did it to control her rage or to simply console her, but she felt calmed and forced herself not to enter the battle.

Stop it, she breathed. Stop it. Control yourself. Stop.

She had never felt such rage in her entire life, and the sour anger built up inside her until it made her lungs burn and her teeth clench. She squeezed her eyes tight and tried to breathe normal. Taiyoukousen let out a soft laugh.

Miyako growled and groaned, cried out and bit her lip, but after Renji's forceful grip, she ultimately forced her pain back into the pit of her stomach. Her anger and thirst for revenge felt as if it were overflowing out of her body, but she knew that she would make things worse if she were to give in to her feelings. Her final resolution, somehow, made her body ache. Her decision not to fight actually made her feel more pain than she had anticipated. Renji seemed to know this and he knelt down over her arched back, gripping her shoulders and pressing his cheek against her right shoulder blade. More than ever, she wanted to avenge Maki. She wanted to ruin the humans that had caused this much trouble in the first place. Her control and internal reason made her body force her teeming reiatsu back down, and she sighed and lowered her head onto Maki's body, softly sobbing and heaving. Renji didn't let go.

Ichigo stared at her and Renji in a daze, mixed with surprise, and realized what he had to do. A flood of emotion spilled over him and his reiatsu responded to Miyako's distressed cries. He couldn't let Kariya win. Even though Maki had been misled…it wasn't his fault. He had family here in Seireitei. Miyako. Captain Zaraki. 11th squad. He died at the last second, trying to protect Miyako and his homeland. God damn it all if I don't do the same, he thought angrily. Kariya cannot take down Soul Society. Ichigo thought bitterly of Aizen. Not when Aizen's still out there. We have to endure this. If we cannot, then we won't be able to fend him off Ichigo thought of everything that Rukia had to go through, all because of Aizen. He turned his head to the left and glanced at the party staring at him, focusing on Rukia. She wasn't allowed up here. None of them were. He knew that they had managed to sneak up to Soukyoku to see him. Christ, Rukia. She always was a fucking worrywart. Didn't she ever think he could do something on his own? He curled his lip at Kariya and gritted his teeth. I won't let Kariya do this. I still have to deal with Aizen, and I sure as hell won't let him do anything to them.

Ichigo's reiatsu suddenly pulsed into immense proportions, and it was nearly visible to the naked eye. It had exploded into a pale blue color, and Kariya stepped back in surprise. Ichigo's injuries were suddenly gone. The blood on his face had slowly singed off, the spirit force cauterizing any wounds on his body and cleansing the dirt from his skin. He opened his eyes to stare at Kariya, who was looking back at him with a gleam of fear in his eyes.

"Kariya," Ichigo hissed at him angrily. "I won't let you win."

Kariya responded with a loud yell of anger and forced a pulse of spirit power from his body, which gave off a red shimmer. Everyone gasped as Ichigo bolted towards Kariya, the force of his takeoff pushing the earth up into a small crater. Kariya rushed towards Ichigo at the same speed, and their weapons met with an enormous explosion of spirit force, wind, electricity, and heat. Everyone shielded themselves from the dust and rocky debris and the ground began to rumble and shake. Ichigo was forcing his blade against Kariya's doll Messer and they were speaking to each other that was inaudible to the observers to the side. Ichigo was curling his lip and Kariya looked tired. It was like an arm-wrestling match; one opponent was struggling against the other, pushing and shoving to gain leverage. After Ichigo let out a loud roar and one last gigantic pulse, another explosion occurred and a bright, white light made everyone shield their eyes again. Renji gripped Miyako tightly as she bowed her head over Maki and held onto his robes. Rukia was standing next to Orihime, holding her arm, and Ishida and Chad had turned their backs against the rocky wind to shield the tiny Bount sensors.

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried out. "Ichigo!"

"Kurosaki!" Ishida yelled.

Rukia clenched her teeth together and searched out Ichigo's reiatsu. It was hard at first to detect it, since the two reiatsus had burned with pain and nearly suffocated them for a moment, but now that the atmosphere was stabilizing, Rukia narrowed her eyes and tried to find his silhouette amongst the thick dust. Renji released Miyako and stood up, searching as well.

Rukia let out a sigh of relief. There he was. And yet…there was Kariya. They both had their backs to each other, both incredibly still. They had both struck out at the same time. Rukia's breath caught in her throat. Who had won?

Kariya had mumbled something to Ichigo, but then Ichigo fell to his knees.

"Ichigo!" Orihime screamed. She took two steps forward but Rukia stopped her.

"No! Wait!"

Everyone thought that Ichigo had been defeated, but there was something odd about Kariya. He looked apologetic. Ichigo's scowl softened, but he didn't look hurt.

After an agonizing pause, Ichigo slowly stood up. Kariya mumbled something again that couldn't be heard, and he suddenly turned into dust.

The humans cheered and Rukia let out a sigh of relief. Renji grinned and Orihime, Chad, Ishida, and the Bount sensors all ran out there to congratulate him. Orihime started to heal him immediately, and Rukia and Renji remained still, grinning at him from afar with their arms crossed.

Miyako stood up and brushed her hair out of her face, looking down at Maki. His blood was all over her robe and it had trailed out from his backside, staining the ground in a pool below him. Dry trickles of blood had formed from the corners of his mouth and nose, and his eyes were closed. She lifted her head and watched the jovial group in front of her, patting Ichigo on the back, laughing and talking. Miyako clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes.