Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and RWBY. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo. RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and the late Monty Oum (rest in peace you saint of a man).
A question one would ask why type this up? Simple – why not?
Chapter 9: RUN!
Once Ichigo defeated Ikkaku, he used the baldy's ointment to heal their wounds. He was able to get some information out of him on the whereabouts of Rukia, and a warning to avoid Captain Kenpachi. He felt a presence slowly approach him and raised Zangetsu, but relaxed when he realized it was Ruby. That relief turned into shock seeing the massive wound in Ruby's side and the weak state she was in as she dragged her reaper on the ground. As Ichigo ran up to her, Ruby collapsed and her Zanpakuto sealed itself. Ichigo managed to catch Ruby before she hit the ground.
"Hey, Ruby!" cried Ichigo, "Ruby! Dammit!"
Ruby was losing a lot of blood, so Ichigo used the cloth on Zangetsu to tie around Ruby. Once he put her Zanpakuto firmly in her sheath he slung her onto his shoulder. Admittedly, Ruby was a bit heavier than expected, but that didn't stop him.
"...I...won." Ruby mumbled.
"Hang in there." Ichigo prayed.
Meanwhile, Ikkaku's eyes were wide with shock. In his mind, Pyrrha should've turned the girl into a bloody paste, but here she was instead of the Third Seat. He couldn't believe it that someone of Pyrrha's caliber and himself were defeated by these Rioka. Ikkaku could also sense that Ruby's spiritual pressure was greater than the last time he saw her run off battling Pyrrha. How could these two have their powers multiplying at an alarming rate?
"Impossible!" exclaimed Ikkaku, "How could she have bested Pyrrha?! The daughter of Captain Zaraki?!"
"I don't give a damn about you anymore." barked Ichigo, "Unless you know how I can help Ruby."
However, a horde of Squad 11 shinigami were rushing down Ichigo and Ruby like bulls seeing red. All Ichigo could do was run as fast as he could away from the bad-mouthing shinigami. Some paused to look at the down Ikkaku, but that served for the rest to chase them down with more fervor via vengeance.
"Goddammit." cursed Ichigo, running even as his legs screamed in pain, "How many of these bastards are there?"
He couldn't use his weapon, or else he would take off the bandaging and reopen Ruby's wound. There had to be some way to save her. The only thoughts running through Ichigo was to outrun the chasing shinigami.
"Hey Ichigo." Ichigo looked ahead to find Ganju. "What are-"
He stopped dead in his sentence seeing the mob that was chasing after him. Ichigo still kept running after him, even as Ganju had his own mob after him.
"Don't come any closer to me." shouted Ganju, "Stop waving at me. You're making them mad."
'Sorry about this, Zangetsu.' thought Ichigo as he ripped the cloth and quickly tied the bandage around Ruby so it would stay. After that, Ichigo jumped a kicked a guy in the face, and Ganju punched a guy behind him.
"Ganju," called Ichigo, throwing Ruby to Ganju, "Catch and duck."
Ganju caught Ruby safely and Ichigo swung Zangetsu toward the approaching horde. That one swing took down five lines on each side and crushed them into groaning bodies on the ground.
"What are you doing throwing a girl at me and swinging a sword so close to me?!" screamed Ganju.
"I told you to duck didn't I." barked Ichigo.
"Say it before, not at the same time, you moron." barked Ganju. "Yeah, but we got other things to worry about. They backed off after your little surprise attack, but it isn't gonna work again."
Ichigo noticed some strange commotion that was drawing closer from the horde of shinigami before him. He could see the men shifting around in annoyance as something got close. Then, out came a small man of weak build falling to the ground. He had the same clothes as a shinigami, but lacked a sword.
Ganju smiled. "Ichigo, I think I have an idea how we can get ourselves out of this mess."
"Me too." agreed Ichigo. He was thankful Ruby was unconscious; she would be the only one against this.
The shinigami looked up. "So you guys are trying to get out of this place? But why would you try to get away from here? Unless of course you happen to be the Rioka that everyone is so worried about."
The shinigami realized too late and he was held by Ganju and Ichigo held the edge of Zangetsu to his throat.
"You guys are gonna let us out of here." demanded Ganju.
"Or else your friend is gonna be missing some pieces." threatened Ichigo.
"AAH!" screamed Hanatoro.
The reaction they were expecting didn't come. Instead they were silent for a while in surprise then they started laughing. They explained how they were from Squad 11 and that the shinigami they took prisoner was from Squad 4. Unlike the other Gotei 13, Squad 4 is a medical unit and as they say are for chumps who can't use a sword.
"Go right ahead and kill that weasel."
"Hey," cried Ganju, "don't you think it's a little bit cruel to recommend death to someone just because they have different responsibilities?!"
"That kind of almost makes sense." said Ichigo.
"...concur..." moaned Ruby deliriously.
They were about to be overrun from both sides, but an explosion from a wall cut their forces in half. Ichigo and Ganju spent no time to wonder, and Ichigo cleaved a path through the other side with Hanatoro still in Ganju's grasp as well as Ruby slumped over his shoulder.
"I'll say this again." interrogated Mayuri, looming over Ikkaku who was on a medical bed.
"Captain Mayuri, I must protest." said a nurse, "Interrogation of patients is strictly prohibited."
"Mind your own buisness." snarled Mayuri, scaring the nurse away with a Kido blast.
"I'm telling you all I know." lied Ikkaku, seemingly unfazed by the sadistic captain. He was saving the information for Captain Zaraki only. "I don't know who the Ryoka are, nor what their goals are."
"How can that be?!" snarled Mayuri, "You were defeated in battle without learning a single shred of information?"
"Exactly." stated Ikkaku, refusing to give him eye contact.
"Liar." Mayuri turned to the Third Seat of Squad 11, Pyrrha Zaraki. She had been dealt similar injuries, but she was still unconscious from a strange "head trauma" that none of the doctors could explain. As Mayuri approached the unconscious redhead, Ikkaku's expression turned grim and hateful.
"Why you bastard." snarled Ikkaku, "Don't you dare touch his daughter!"
"I find it a suitable punishment," said Mayuri, raising a bladed hand, "for your failure of giving me information."
Before Mayuri could pierce Pyrrha's heart, a hand gripped Mayuri's arm tightly. The scientist turned around in shock to find none other Captain Zaraki holding his arm back from striking his daughter. His lip spread in a sour and hated expression, a face Ikkaku rarely saw but feared.
"Zaraki!" said Mayuri.
"I want you to know this." said Zaraki, his spiritual pressure crushing the room, "If I find any drop of blood of her blood anywhere because you struck my daughter in such a pathetic state, I will cleave you in two before every captain to see."
Mayuri swiped his hand away and took his leave. Kenpachi was in silence looking at the still Pyrrha below him on the medical bed. He never imagined her to ever be defeated, and she had been cut not once but multiple times. Whoever it was to beat Ikkaku and Pyrrha was definitely strong and he need to find him or them.
"You certainly look beat." said Kenpachi, glancing back to Ikkaku.
"Captain," said Ikkaku, "thank goodness you got here before that creep could do anything to her."
"We didn't plan to." said Yachiru, hopping off of Kenpachi's shoulder on top of Pyrrha, "We just got lost. Kenny here was having trouble following directions, but I may as well see how my little sister and you are doing, baldy."
"Don't call me that." snarled Ikkaku.
"Is it true that you were defeated in battle?" asked Kenpachi.
"I'm sorry, Captain." said Ikkaku, "If I wasn't defeated, I could've-"
"Save it." stated Kenpachi in a sharp tone.
As the two conversed, Yachiru poked Pyrrha in the chest and face to try and get some response from her sister. The secretly Zanpakuto spirit could sense a rise in her spiritual pressure as Pyrrha's face started to twitch and sweat. In fact, it was rising higher, not necessarily in power but like it was being sharpened. Pyrrha started to mumble some things in her sleep as visions of a past that she didn't know until know forcefully flashed before her eyes and flooded into her head. She remembered a certain blonde boy her age, full of spirit, yet lacking in training. Most importantly, he had a heart and a drive that made others come to his side. It was that quality that made Pyrrha Nikos fall in love with him, and remember him to the bitter end of her life. That is until a familiar silver light brought them back.
"JAUNE!" screamed Pyrrha, sitting straight.
The released state of her Zanpakuto soared through the walls of the hospital and locked in Pyrrha's hands. She was at first in disbelief that her Zanpakuto was the exact copy of her weapons back in Remnant, minus the rifle. Pyrrha quickly hid away her shock as she realized she had her short spear aimed at Yachiru, her supposed 'older' sister.
"I'm sorry, little Pyrrha." apologized Yachiru frantically.
Even Kenpachi was a bit taken back. No one should have their injuries healed like that. On closer glance, he noticed the shimmering light that surrounded Pyrrha, the same that blocked his blade and gained his respect to adopt the redhead. He could also feel there was a greater increase and sharpness to Pyrrha's reiatsu. And she seemed different than Kenpachi could describe it. Not that he was a people person to begin with.
"Pyrrha, you're healed." said Kenpachi.
Pyrrha looked to Kenpachi, and he could see the confusion in her eyes whilst she stared at him.
"Father." Pyrrha said finally.
"Again and again," said Kenpachi smiling, "you continue to surprise me. No one, not even myself has ever healed that quickly. There's not even a scar on you."
Pyrrha checked herself. It felt like her body was brand new, and she couldn't believe just how powerful her Aura was to heal her like that. Kenpachi gave her a suspicious look.
"Tell me," said Kenpachi, "what is your name?"
"Pyrrha," stated Pyrrha, "Zaraki."
She lied. Her true name is Pyrrha Nikos. Kenpachi was none the wiser.
"Who was it that bested you in combat?" asked Kenpachi with his wicked smile.
"A girl with a reaper for a Zanpakuto," answered Pyrrha, "Wearing a red hood and her eyes shine a bright silver glow. I... do not know her name."
"The Ryoka that beat you," questioned Kenpachi to both Ikkaku and Pyrrha, "Are they strong?"
"Of course they are." said Ikkaku. "They are heading to the repentance cell."
"And they will continue to get stronger." added Pyrrha, "I am unsure who is the stronger out of the two."
"Good." said Kenpachi, "I can't wait to fight them."
Before he left, Kenpachi paused to see his daughter leap out of the bed and standing strong. She stretched her arms feeling no pain, and she held her spear and shield in one hand. Despite lacking footwear , Pyrrha made her way out of the hospital.
"Where are you going?" asked Kenpachi.
"To the forge." answered Pyrrha, "There's something I must do."
Kenpachi only smiled and let her daughter go. Unknown to him was her thoughts on actually helping the Rioka, specifically Ruby Rose.
'Ruby,' thought Pyrrha, 'I have many questions, but I do know that you are on a quest. Whatever it is, I will help you. First, I need my rifle.'
"Why the hell did you bring him here?!" barked Ichigo.
"I don't know, I was too busy holding your girlfriend to notice." barked Ganju.
"First, she's not my girlfriend." shouted Ichigo, "And what are you, the trash man?!"
Hanatoro was focused on the injured girl that lay further in the room. Despite the makeshift care Ichigo gave her, Hanatoro knew she wouldn't last long. They may be the enemy, but he had a vow as a healer.
"Guys, this is not time to argue." said Hanatoro, raising his voice, "If I don't do something, your friend is going to die."
That caught Ichigo's attention. With a nod, he made way for Hanatoro to heal Ruby. First, she removed the bandages and immediately stopped the bleeding with Kido. He was in disbelief how Ruby was still alive. Meanwhile, Ichigo was talking to Ganju how to find the repentance cell where Rukia was held. It caught Hanatoro while still healing Ruby.
"It's Rukia Kuchiki you're looking for, isn't it?" said Hanatoro, "It makes sense now. And that white tower you were talking about must be the repentance cell. If you'll trust me, I can get you into that tower."
Hanatoro suddenly stopped healing Ruby once a silver-red light enveloped her body. Her wound healed as her Aura awakened and her eyes opened awake. She was so fast when she suddenly got to her feet.
"I feel like a Nevermore rammed a beak into me." groaned Ruby, looking around, "Where are we? Who are you?"
"I-I'm Hanataro." he said, a bit stunned of Ruby's speedy recovery.
"Man," commented Ganju, "these Squad 4 medics are no joke."
"Alright," said Ichigo, recovering from his shock, "you've gained our trust."
"The only place where they'll never find us." said Hanataro, "The sewer system."
"NOOOO!" Much to Ruby's displeasure, Ichigo dragged by her cloak and they climbed through a panel.
Along the way, Hanataro notice something drop out of Ruby's clothes. His eyes widened on a mask he had never seen before. It reminded him of a Hollow's mask, but something in him told that it wasn't the same. Even thought it gave him the creeps, Hanataro picked it up so he could give it back to Ruby.
Chad was surrounded by the whole horde of Squad 11. His right arm, The Arm of the Giant (okay I somewhat forget what it is called), brimmed with energy ready to blast a whole line away. However, a Soul Reaper got behind and raised his sword. The next second, that same Soul Reaper was kicked away as the blades of Ren cut the shinigami's blade to pieces.
"Hadou 31: Shakkaho."
While Ren blasted a whole horde with Kido, Chad blasted the horde on the other side with a single punch. There was silence as their opponents lay unconscious on the ground. Chad glanced to Ren.
"You've seen Ichigo?" asked Chad.
"Yeah." said Ren, "Don't worry, I'm sure he and the others are fine. I have complete faith in them."
They were completely silent... for the whole time... not a single word mentioned between them as they made their way through the Soul Society. Too bad none of the Soul Reapers were conscious so they could question them. (They are both basically deadpans. As far as I know they aren't strong conversationalists.)
In the tunnels, Hanataro was basically begging the group to save Rukia. He talked how nice she was to her every time the he visited Rukia's cell. He knew it wasn't right for her execution, and Ruby agreed with Hanataro on that level.
"Sounds like this Rukia is a strange Soul Reaper." commented Ganju.
"Yeah." said Ichigo, "She sure is."
Ichigo suddenly picked up the pace and only Ruby could catch up to him. It was useless just to talk some sense with him and just joined him in his haste.
"Ichigo," said Ruby, "I may not know this Rukia, but I promise you I'll try my hardest to rescue her."
They stopped at a latter Hanataro pointed out to be where they would enter the base of the white tower. When they resurfaced, they found themselves in a mist. Ichigo made his way through the mist followed closely by Ruby, but Ganju and Hanataro were more cautious. Suddenly, Ichigo halted in their path before a huge flight of stairs.
"What is it Ichigo?" asked Ruby, but he said nothing.
Ichigo's squinted and the fog cleared. There was a man standing at the base of the stairs with red spiky hair and a Soul Reaper's outfit. Ruby noticed the shock in Ichigo's eyes before the man.
"I wonder," said the man, "do you still remember my face?"
"I've got a whole mountain of payback to extract from you," said Ichigo with a serious expression, "Renji Abarai."
"You not only remembered my face, but my name as well." said Renji, then he glanced to Ruby beside him, "Who is that?"
His eyes widened recognizing the similar clothing Ruby wore and seeing a Zanpakuto at her hilt. Not to mention the girl's strange spiritual pressure. He only felt this kind from Pyrrha, and he considered her skill on par with a lieutenant if there wasn't Yachiru in her way.
"My name is Ruby Rose." said Ruby, her face hardened as she reached for the hilt of her Zanpakuto. She then whispered to Ichigo with a curled lip, "Uh, what's the deal with this guy?"
"This guy," said Ichigo, "was the one who took Rukia away, and sentenced her to death."
A brow twitched on Renji's face. Ruby was about to open for an attack when she saw Renji reaching for his sword but Ichigo stopped her.
"Don't." said Ichigo with a stern tone, "I'll handle this alone."
"But what if-"
"There's no say in the matter." barked Ichigo, drawing Zangetsu. With a pout, Ruby loosened her grip on the hilt of her Zanpakuto but didn't have her hands far from it.
"Are you sure you want to fight me alone?" said Renju as the two walked closer, "It'll make your chances better."
"At least I have the respect to fight you one-on-one." retorted Ichigo.
"I was sure you were a dead man the last time we met." said Renju, drawing his Zanpakuto and increasing his pace in a run, "As I once said, I'm going to be the one to kill whoever stole Rukia's powers."
"What do you care," growled Ichigo, charging at Renji, "when you sentenced her to death?!"
They opened up with a regular side slash, and upon impact a shockwave resonated from their clashing spiritual pressures. Ruby didn't feel herself pushed and her hair whipped in the riled wind, but Ganju and Hanataro had to find cover. However, they did not know of another spiritual pressure that had followed Renji. He came on the concern of Momo's worries, and stared down with a hard glare at the fight below.
Ruby had that tingle in her eyes. When Renju and Ichigo backed away, Ruby sprang into action using her Semblance to get there in time. Her blade clashed against another, and Ruby was staring into shocked eyes of a man of Renji's stature. His outfit was sleeveless and he had a 69 tattoo on his left cheek. Ruby made it just in time to save Ichigo, and they themselves were shocked at the newcomer.
"Hisagi!" exclaimed Renji, "What are- Did you follow me!?"
"Momo was worried." argued Hisagi, "What are you thinking fighting against an enemy while outnumbered?"
"I can handle it." barked Renji.
"Like it or not," said Hisagi, "I'm joining you in this fight."
"Then let's take this somewhere then." said Ruby, swinging another slice. Hisagi blocked it but suddenly Ruby's blade glowed silver and he was suddenly blasted afar. It was a wordless Shirubasukai and even though Ruby still didn't master the technique it still worked even in the Zanpakuto's sealed form.
Hisagi didn't look like he took that much damage as he got to his feet. Ruby prepared her blade in an opposing stance while Ichigo and Renji continued their battle a fair distance away.
"I guess you'll be my opponent." said Hisagi.
Soo sorry I haven't been uploading. I've just been reading other stories and I kinda got distracted, and life is hitting me like a train. Up Next Chapter 10.