ICE HEART
xxx. and
❝WAVE FIVE, KŌRI NO TEN OSHIOKI.❞

"Toshiro, please be okay."

It was as if the white-haired male had listened to Ayame's thoughts, because only a few seconds later did he reveal himself to still be alive. The blonde let out a huge sigh of relief and flash stepped next to him. His turquoise eyes were narrowed, focusing only on Harribel. The small woman noticed that one of his ice wings had gone and that he was heavily panting.

"Are you okay, Toshiro?" Ayame questioned him.

"I'm not in the best state, but I'll be fine." He answered, his gaze never leaving Harribel.

"No more running away for you two." She spoke.

Toshiro's ice wing began to regenerate as he spoke, "You fight such a timid battle. Can't say I really blame you though. We are all waiting for the same thing, aren't we? Waiting for this battle ground to be filled with water so we can strike a final blow."

"So, what's your point?" Harribel asked.

"It just means one of us will have to make a decision." Toshiro replied as she aimed his sword at the third Espada.

"We'll go in circles if we continue like this. Should I release my bankai?" Ayame thought to herself. "I was ordered not to show my true strength, and I've already released my Shikai. If I do release my Bankai, then less people will get injured and I could send Kōri no Joō's duplicates to help Izuru heal the injured and guard them with Sajin."

"Have you come up with some sort of strategy?" Harribel asked them.

"To tell you the truth, it's not really necessary for me to wait for water to gather, and I'm sure it's the same with Captain Hitsugaya." Ayame replied.

"We're ready." Toshiro spoke, however his eyes widened dramatically and he looked behind him, making the blonde's eyebrow raise in confusion.

The female gazed behind them to see what he was looking at and noticed that he was looking at the injured people beneath them and her eyes widened in realisation.

"Oh no. This is obviously an issue. Are they too close for Toshiro to use the technique he's going to use?" She thought.

"What's the matter?" Harribel questioned them. "Did you hesitate because you might injure your allies?"

"None of your business." Ayame snapped at her. "You should try worrying about yourself."

"You're right. Either your allies get sacrificed in this fight, or you yourself will become the sacrifice. Please, feel free to pick an option." Harribel smirked.

Toshiro pointed his blade at Harribel and several ice pillars began to grow up and spin around her, confusing Harribel greatly.

"What about this option? Sennen Hyōrō." Toshiro muttered as the ice that surrounded Harribel incased her.

"Too weak." Ayame thought in her head.

A few seconds later, the ice began to shatter and Harribel's voice rung in Ayame's ears as she spoke. "Spare me. Is this the best you can do?"

Water began to pour out of the cracks of the ice prison and within a few seconds, the ice prison was demolished, completely shocking Toshiro. Water burst out from the ice prison, forcing Toshiro and Ayame to place their arms in front of them to protect themselves from the water. When they were able to see Harribel, she had water swirling all around her.

"Are you through? If you don't have anything more, I guess it's my turn." Harribel told the pair.

"Dammit." Toshiro grumbled as Harribel raised her blade.

"Cascada."

The water surrounding Harribel merged into one, large whirlpool and flew towards them, making Ayame's blue orbs widen.

"If we dodge this attack then she'll hit the people below. Alright then, I guess it's time." The blonde thought to herself while stepping in front of Toshiro and placing her white katana in front of her, the tip facing towards the ground.

"W-What are you... What are you doing?" Toshiro stuttered, gazing at the small Captain with confusion.

"Bankai, Kurimuzon Kori No Joo."

Ayame's zanpakutō dropped to the ground and shattered upon impact, causing everybody to gain a perplexed expression. Once the blade had shattered, a large blast of turquoise spiritual pressure enveloped Ayame. Once the dust had cleared, she was wearing the familiar white jumpsuit and cape.

Ayame gazed up to see the whirlpool of water coming towards them at full speed. The female smirked before placing her hand out in front of her and stopping the large blast with her hand. The petite woman noticed that Toshiro's and Izuru's eyes had widened at the female's power and had to stop herself from giggling. The water began to turn into ice and one it had fully turned to ice, it shattered into smithereens.

"So, you were able to shatter that Cascada? But, you've accomplished nothing. When we sacrifice ourselves it's to further our tactical advance. You, on the other hand, are willing to fall into battle just to protect the other members of your squad. My subordinates were not simply defeated. Each one left behind a marker for me, a guideline telling me how to carry out the fight. If I lose this battle, the sacrifices of my subordinates would've all been for nothing. I hold the resolve of the ones who've fell before me." Harribel explained to them.

"I hold resolve as well - I am resolved to stop you. I may of earned a great deal of damage, but I can still fight." Toshiro informed Harribel.

"Yes, but it's a waste of time. You won't be able to operate at full strength." The Espada argued.

"I trust that the strength we have will be enough to stop you from victory. Also, you haven't seen even half of my abilities yet." Ayame smirked, her gaze never leaving Harribel.

"Such wasted effort." She mumbled.

Ayame's haori started to blow wildly as the wind started to become more powerful. The female smirked before she started to raise her spiritual pressure, knowing that Toshiro was also raising his spiritual pressure. Dark clouds replaced the bright sky as Ayame flash stepped next to Toshiro.

"My Hyōrinmaru is the second strongest ice and snow type zanpakuto, just below Ayame's Kōri No Joō. I can speak for the both of us when I say that it allows us to make all kinds of water from any source into our weapon. The entire sky is always under our control." Toshiro explained, before adding. "Hyōten Hyakkasō."

"I have never tried this technique before." Ayame thought to herself.

"Remember to follow your instinct, my Queen." Kōri no Joō reminded her.

"Wave Five, Kōri No Ten Oshioki." The blonde spoke, her blue orbs narrowing.