Some readers are asking me if the Vaizards are going to be in this story. The answer is yes, they will be coming in during later chapters, but I haven't decided if they're going to rejoin Soul Society.

Chapter 5: Ten Times Stronger

An hour later, everyone had eaten lunch and was returning to the stadium. There was more excitement in the air this time since it was time for the three matches against captains. Everyone was wondering who was going to fight whom, and separate conversations were indiscernible from all the chatter echoing around the stadium.

"Who are you guys fighting against?" Kyouraku asked.

"Captain of the Tenth Division," Amina answered promptly.

"Captain of the Second Division," Saki said, playing with her zanpakuto's handle.

"Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Soifon, huh?" Ukitake smiled, "Good luck."

"Thank you," Saki replied.

"What about you, Hanako-chan?" Kyouraku asked the youngest Kuroichi.

"Umm…well…the captain I'm fighting is…" Hanako fidgeted uncomfortably.

"She's fighting you, Captain Kyouraku," Amina blurted out.

"Ah, I see." Suddenly, his facial expression changed and his eyes widened, "Wait, you're fighting ME?"

"You're evil," Saki told Amina.

Amina grinned wickedly. "Not as evil as you. I'm guessing you're not gonna hold back against Captain Soifon."

"Of course I won't hold back."

"Good. Don't worry; Hanako and I will be on guard," Amina stood up, "I'm gonna go beat up the captain now."

"Yeah. Have fun." Saki leaned back in her chair.

Yamamoto's voice rang around the stadium. "The match between Kuroichi Amina and Hitsugaya Toshiro will begin now."

Amina smiled at the short, white-haired captain. "Hey, midget."

Toshiro became pissed immediately. "Shut up."

Hanako let out a giggle while Saki mentally face-palmed.

Toshiro pulled his zanpakuto out of its sheath. "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru!" With his zanpakuto released, the air soon became cold. Clouds gathered in the sky and a few seconds later, snow began to fall.

Amina pulled a face, which angered Toshito even more although he kept silent. She raised her hand in front of her, fingers splayed. "Take control, Yoso!" Unlike her previous battle with Rangiku, Amina's zanpakuto's hilt was red.

"Since the hilt is red, I'm guessing that you're preparing to use the fire element," Toshiro said, holding Hyourinmaru in front of him.

"Yup! Element Two: Fire!" Amina pointed the tip of Yoso at Toshiro. A fireball formed at the tip.

"Hyourinmaru!" Toshiro yelled, not intending to allow Amina to attack. The ice dragon appeared at the tip of Toshiro's zanpakuto, and Toshiro waved his sword. The dragon roared and charged forward.

"Too slow!" Amina called from behind Toshiro, making the young captain jump.

He whirled around. When did she…?

Amina didn't give him a chance to complete his thought. "Here it comes!" she yelled, and swung Yoso. Toshiro quickly jumped out of the way, skidding to a halt a few feet away.

Amina grinned at him, the fireball still attached to Yoso's blade tip. "Just kiddin'!" she laughed.

An angry tick mark appeared on Toshiro's head.

"What's Amina-chan doing?" Hanako asked Saki, who looked extremely bored.

"She's trying to lure out his Bankai…" Saki began.

"Bankai: Daiguren Hyourinmaru!" Toshiro shouted.

"…and he fell for it," Saki finished.

Amina stared at Toshiro's Bankai form for a minute longer before squealing, "You're so CUTE! Wow, you even have a tail!"

Toshiro was beyond pissed by now. "You…!" he growled.

"Hey, Saki!" Amina called, completely ignoring Toshiro, "Did you put up the barrier? I think I'm probably gonna have to go Bankai soon!"

"Shut up and focus on your battle," Saki muttered.

"I guess that's a yes then," Amina mumbled to herself. Without a word, she swung her zanpakuto at Toshiro, releasing the fireball. Toshiro dodged to the side so that the fireball flew past him and hit the ground.

Taking advantage of the small opening, Toshiro shouted, "Sennen Hyoro!"

Pillars of ice surrounded Amina and moved in, trapping her in the center. Amina looked around. An ice prison, huh? I doubt a simple fireball will be able to blast a hole through it completely. Hah. Never thought I'd be forced to use it so soon. She heaved a sigh and tightened her grip on Yoso.

On the other side of the ice, Toshiro was just beginning to relax a little when he suddenly felt a huge rise in Amina's reiatsu. Then, a faint red glow appeared in the center of the ice prison, followed by a loud rumbling sound. Seconds later, the ice prison was blown apart by a rushing torrent of fiery lava.

The spectators let out yelps of surprise as the wave of lava crashed over them. To almost everyone's surprise, there was a pink barrier that prevented everyone from being burned to a crisp. Saki had raised an arm and was supporting the protective barrier that she created. Any lava that came into contact with the shield promptly dissolved. The crowd gave an audible sigh of relief and turned its attention back to Amina.

Amina's zanpakuto had changed form. The blade of Yoso was engulfed in flames, and although the blade was resting on her shoulder, it was quite obvious that the flames weren't affecting Amina at all. In fact, there was a smirk on her face.

"Your…zanpakuto…" Toshiro whispered.

"I know," Amina said simply, "This is Kyukyoku no Yoso*." Her grin grew wider as she added, "This is my Bankai."

"Hey, Amina!" Saki shouted.

Amina froze and slowly turned around. "Yes?"

Judging by the look in her eyes, Saki was seriously annoyed. "Control your excitement," she snapped, "Do you want to burn a hole in my barrier?"

"Woah, you're actually supporting the barrier with one hand?" Amina sounded astonished, "Have I gotten that strong?"

"No, your emotions are out of control. Get a grip," Saki admonished Amina harshly, "unless you want to be responsible for the burning of Seireitei."

"Okay, okay," Amina sighed, "Although you could just use your strongest barrier."

"And use my Bankai?" Saki retorted, lowering her arm, "I don't think so."

Amina rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "So, midget. What do you think?" she asked Toshiro.

"It's Captain Hitsugaya," Toshiro snarled. Amina laughed.

"I'll call you Captain Hitsugaya after you beat me," she challenged.

Toshiro let out a roar of fury and charged at Amina. The latter quickly switched her element to wind and pointed Kyukyoku no Yoso at the captain. A fierce and powerful gust of wind started up and blew Toshiro into the ground. After that, the wind continued to pressure him, making him unable to get up.

"You know, you shouldn't attack me if you don't know what Kyukyoku no Yoso does," Amina said lightly, "Now, you're in a position where I could easily take your head."

She raised her eyebrow at Toshiro's vulnerability. "The flames that engulfed Kyukyoku no Yoso's blade earlier as well as the air swirling around it now aren't just decoration," she went on, "They're also power enhancements. My attacks in Bankai are ten times stronger than my attacks in Shikai."

Toshiro gritted his teeth. She's not kidding. The power difference between that fireball in Shikai and that lava attack in Bankai was tremendous. Suddenly, the air pressure lifted and Toshiro found himself able to move and breathe properly again.

"Kuroichi Amina," Yamamoto said, "Is the power enhancement the only thing that your Bankai gives you?"

"Nope," Amina shook her head, "There's one more ability that I gain when I use Bankai, which is element combination."

"You can combine elements?"

"It is possible to combine all five elements of Yoso, but as of right now, I can only combine two elements at a time."

Yamamoto nodded. "I see. Well, thank you for showing us your abilities. You may take a seat now. Next: Kuroichi Hanako and Kyouraku Shunsui!"

*Ultimate Elements