The leader saw the shinigami leaving and headed towards them. He would have gotten to them but then his sense of danger went off and he moved to the side, just barely missing a wave of fire. Interesting...the dragon is willing to put her body at risk? he thought to himself before calling on his doll's power.

Tatsuki swung Ryuuenjin down on the ground, calling out her first attack's name as she did so before a wave of fire raced towards the ground. She had a feeling it wouldn't hit him, but needed to make sure he didn't reach Ichigo or Hoshi.

Hoshi hoped they were getting closer to where Orihime was. She knew Junko was getting weaker as they moved. She also hoped that the captains would listen to her idea to find Vincent. If not , Hoshi didn't know what she would do.

Orihime was working outside the house, alongside the fukotaichou of the fourth division. Both wanted to help fight; Orihime because her friends were in there, and Isane wanted to help her captain. However, they both knew that what they were doing now was just as equally important as the one that others were doing inside.

Orihime saw Ichigo and the others coming towards them with an unknown woman with them, but didn't see Tatsuki anywhere. She hoped that her first female friend was okay...

Hoshi helped Junko lay down." Don't worry. You are in good hands." Hoshi said, knowing she could trust the shinigami with Orihime. Hoshi knew her senses were getting use to being around Shinigami stronger than her, but they still were going haywire to a degree.

Junko laid down lightly with the help of Hoshi, hoping that nothing bad was going to happen to her. She knew that the Shinigami could hurt her if they chose to do so.

Hoshi sat down , knowing she would have to explain the idea she had. She was nervous about it, knowing in her idea could be rejected. She also worried about Tatsuki, keeping focus on her friend's spirtual energy. Hoshi wanted to show the Bount she wasn't a lowly Seer like they thought she was.

Tatsuki jumped away from the place she was standing on a few moments ago as the earth exploded underneath her before sending out a wave of flame. She panted lightly, the fire waves starting to take a toll on her body.

"Hoshi-chan?" Orihime asked, seeing that she wanted to say something, but wasn't sure how to say it.

Hoshi looked up when she heard Orihime. " I'm worried Orihime-San." Hoshi said. " I have an idea to rescue Vincent . I couldn't sense him when I was helping Ichigo find Tatsuki. I know Seers do have their own Spirtual energy, since I sensed it from from Elva-chan. They have to be concealing him somehow. I offered to get Junko help when I saw her following us. I know she can help us find Vincent and then Elva can rest in peace. " Hoshi said sensing Junko still was weak, but getting better. Hoshi knew it was still risky, but had to take that chance.

"I'll try healing her as fast as I can, but can you trust her?" Orihime asked, not entirely sure about all of this. She would help her friends as best as possible though and thought that Hoshi's idea was a good one. "However...maybe you should wait until she's fully healed before putting your theory to the test?" she asked. She knew that Ichigo had already gone back into the house to back Tatsuki up, or so she hoped.

Tatsuki was breathing hard. Not only was she using her reiatsu to keep Ryuuenjin materialized but also firing off her attacks any chance she could. Luckily the fact that she was used to moving around this much, minus the explosions, so at least that wasn't taxing on her reserves. She just hoped that Ichigo and Hoshi were alright.

" As far as I know I can trust her. I don't want to be wrong. " Hoshi said solemnly. " I will wait. " Hoshi said, knowing it would be better that way. Hoshi knew Orihime was doing her best to heal Junko. Hoshi supported her friends when they needed her, knowing they supported her when she needed them. She also hoped Ichigo went to help Tatsuki. She sensed there still was fighting going on, but not as much as there had been. Hoshi would also help heal the injured if she was needed , even though her healing ability was limited. Kido was something Hoshi really wanted to learn.

Orihime nodded as two of her flowers continued healing the injured Bount. She trusted Hoshi and if she believed that the Bount wouldn't harm her AND be able to help find Vincent.

Ichigo blocked the swing of the green-haired Bount's axe with Zangetsu while using his other hand to punch the Bount in the face. Getting some room away from the Bount, Ichigo noticed that Tatsuki was running out of Reiatsu. "get to Orihime, I'll take care of him Ryu-chan," Ichigo said lightly. Tatsuki was about to argue the fact that she could still fight but noticed the look in his eyes.

Hoshi sensed Tatsuki coming closer to them and was relived to see she was safe. Hoshi had been thinking about why Elva was so scared that morning and Hoshi wondered if Elva had seen something bad happen in a dream. Hoshi had dreamed that night but it was her walking on a street someplace that she didn't recognize.

Tatsuki made her way to where she sensed Hoshi and Orihime. Once seeing Hoshi safe, she fainted due to using so much pure reiatsu while still in her human body.

Hoshi rushed over to Tatsuki and helped her on her back. She put a cold cloth on Tatsuki's forehead to help her friend regain consciousness. She was glad Tatsuki was safe now. Now all they had to do was find Vincent.

Tatsuki woke up in her mind and saw Ryuuenjin looking at her with a worried look on his face. "Ryu-kun?" She asked. Seeing him nod, she wondered what was going on. Hearing that she fainted from overusing her reiatsu she blinked, not believing him. "Shouldn't I...not exist or something if I used too much Reiatsu?" she asked.

Ichigo jumped back from the explosion before going into Bankai, allowing the speed boost to help him dodge the explosions easier.

Hoshi hoped Tatsuki would be alright, not wanting to lose one of her best friends. She still knew Tatsuki was alive and hoped her friend would wake up soon.

Ichigo fired a Getsuga off, but seeing something snake-like taking the strike for the Bount. That must have been his doll Ichigo thought to himself as he blocked a roundhouse kick to what he assumed was his temple with one of his arms. He winced lightly under the power that was used but quickly hid it.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Hoshi asked,hoping there was. She didn't want to leave Tatsuki ,but knew she might be needed to help with something else. Hoshi sensed that some of the battles had ended , hoping no one on their side was badly hurt.

"It sounds as if all the the battles are starting to wind down and I wouldn't want to get into any battles...especially since Unohana-taichou and the other Taichous can get pretty fierce when in combat such as this. It might be better for you to wait here until Junko-san heals so she can make good on her promise to you," Isane said. She knew that wasn't what Hoshi wanted to hear, but it was the truth.

Hoshi nodded understanding that it would be better for her to stay here. She knew there would be other battles she would be needed for in the future . Hoshi focused on Tatsuki, sensing her friend's reiastu levels were low , but slowly getting higher.

"I have to admit though, I was surprised when you were able to summon me while not in Shinigami form...although I wonder why it happened," Ryu said, thinking aloud as he felt her reiatsu levels rise slowly in power, most likely due to being close to Hoshi.

"surprised me too, but I didn't question it. Guess it just goes to show that Strawberry's theory about summoning our zanpakutos is possible," Tatsuki replied, shrugging lightly. Due to being unconscious she could only wait until her body healed.

Hoshi felt a little dizzy, not sure if it was because of the high levels of reiatsu or that she had been helping Tatsuki regain her reiatsu a little bit. Hoshi knew she had to be careful not over do it, unless she was needed to help.

Tatsuki slowly regained consciousness after a few minutes, slowly holding her head. "Ow...did anyone catch the number of that truck?" she asked weakly due to her body readjusting to the new Reiatsu.

Hoshi was glad that Tatsuki was awake. " I'm glad you are awake Tatsu. It should take your body a little while to regain the reiatsu you used ,with the amount I gave you. " Hoshi said, knowing it wasn't very much she that she lent , but enough for Tatsuki to be able to regain her's back. Hoshi did sense high reistsu heading toward them, but wasn't sure who it was, since she knew Ichigo was still fighting.

(huh, must have accidentally closed the link then. Sorry, just me thinking out loud.)

Tatsuki nodded as Hoshi talked, glad to see that she was alright and not harmed because of herself being used as bait. She felt the reiatsu that Hoshi gave her starting to kickstart her own reserves, but knew that she couldn't fight anymore in this battle. Turning towards Hoshi, she saw the girl tense up and felt around her, sensing an unusual presence in the air. Out of habit, the martial artist mentally prepared herself for battle, even though she consciously knew that she couldn't fight anymore today.

Isane felt the high reiatsu heading towards them and smiled lightly. Once the elderly woman came into view, "Unohana-taichou!" sprouted from her lips, glad to see that her mother figure was alright and still in one piece. Granted she sensed the small scratches on her captain's body, but nothing was seriously injured.