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 10: Duel of Scythe-Users

With Ichigo busy with Renju, Ruby was busy with Hisagi. He was faster than Pyrrha, but that didn't seem to be a problem. For some reason, she felt as though a light swing impacted with the force of a heavy one. Her speed and reflexes dodged even at the most last second circumstance. Hisagi was surprised by Ruby's natural battle motions and soon adapted. His swings became heavy sending shocks through Ruby's arm. When Ruby countered with a lunge, Hisagi suddenly used shunpo, and just as instantly Hisagi swung a clear blow to Ruby's side flank.

Hisagi was in shock seeing his blade stop mere inches from Ruby by a shield of some sorts. Before Ruby could react for a counter, Hisagi used a short, quick shunpo to gain some distance to evaluate the situation.

'I've seen that before.' thought Hisagi, 'The Third Seat of Squad 11 has that power.'

To the lieutenant's surprise, Ruby used her Semblance instead of shunpo to close the distance. It caught Hisagi off guard long enough to hesitate using shunpo. Ruby brought down an overhead with all her might, and the area exploded in a cloud of dust and a crater formed at their feet.

'She's strong.' thought Hisagi in shock.

Ruby pushed her blade through Hisagi's guard and cut him at the shoulder as he stepped back. They both gave each other stern looks as a tension grew between them.

"What is your name, Rioka?" Hisagi asked.

"Ruby Rose." Ruby introduced with a smile, "Awesome Huntress of Remnant."

That was a new one. He heard of hollows, bounts, and Quincys, but never anything close to a huntress as Ruby claimed herself to be. And what place was called Remnant? Hisagi knew too well there was no such place in the Living World called that. Then, there was Ruby's strange reiatsu that literally was so concentrated and manipulated that it coated her body in a shield.

"What's yours?" Ruby asked.

The sudden question surprised Hisagi and he answered. "My name is Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of Squad 9."

Ruby smiled. "You don't seem like a bad guy, but I know you won't let me or anyone of my friends pass."

"Rioka are not welcome in the Soul Society." stated Hisagi, "And I'm sorry to say but you've already sealed your fate when you assaulted and defeated Squad 11."

Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "Really? I've only fought Pyrrha since the first time I got here. I must've been really out of it."

Hisagi was shocked as his eyes widened. He gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto tighter to keep his composure.

'This is the one?!' thought Hisagi, 'This is the Rioka that beat Pyrrha. I can't afford to hold back.'

"If you're the one who beat Pyrrha Zaraki," said Hisagi, holding his Zanpakuto in front of him, "I have no choice but to go after you with the intent to kill."

His reiatsu started to increase around him, causing the wind to whip violently. Ruby covered her eyes from the violet winds and a teal aura burned around Hisagi.

"Reap, Kazeshini."

Before Ruby's eyes was Hisagi's true Zanpakuto. He held two spiked poles connected to each other with chains in a Kusarigama fashion. The poles were armed with scythe blades inverted to resemble a pinwheel. Hisagi's expression became more dark as the very winds around him became a gust.

"I don't usually like to release my Zanpakuto," said Hisagi, "but I have an oath to the Gotei 13 to defend the Sereitei."

'Finally you release me, Hisagi.' spoke the voice of Kazeshini.

'Ruby those weapons are...' spoke Summer.

Ruby gawked at Kazeshini with eyes that sparkled like diamonds. "That's... so... COOL!"

"Huh?" responded Hisagi, completely dumbfounded.

"Your weapon is awesome." said Ruby, zipping around Hisagi at all angles while admiring his scythes, "So, like do call it dual sycthes, or something else? Oh, why didn't I think of this when making Crescent Rose..."

'It's so awesome.' Summer agreed in the exact same mind as Ruby.

Hisagi tried to say something, but the words couldn't leave his throat. Even Kazeshini was in shock.

'This one is strange.' Kazeshini noted.

"I bet Uncle Qrow would be so jealous." continued Ruby with her fangirling, "Oh-oh-oh, how far can it wrap around opponents? How far is its reach? Can you manipulate its movement in the air? How fast can you spin it? Imagine how many Grimm you could take down with it."

"You," Hisagi managed to say, "you think my Zanpakuto is 'cool'?"

"Of course it is." cried Ruby, "I love them. What's not to love about scythes?"

Hisagi looked at his Zanpakuto. The more he looked at it, the more sickened he was at its appearance. It promised nothing but death to its opponents. Yet, here was this girl who showed zero fear and her eyes full of admiration for his weapon. It was the first time not feeling any killing intent even with his Shikai.

'What in the world is she?' thought Hisagi.

"I doubt she's even part of this world.' said Kazeshini.

After another moment of admiring Kazeshini, Ruby stepped back with a more serious expression while still keeping that smile. Hisagi could sense that their battle was about to continue and took an opposing stance.

"You've shown me yours," said Ruby, positioning her Zanpakuto in a diagonally, "now I'll show you mine. Cast off the void, Mazazoru."

Silver reiatsu exploded off of Ruby as her Zanpakuto grew and changed shape. Hisagi was shocked to find Ruby now wielding a massive scythe of red and black. She twirled it around in such fluid, fast motions Hisagi couldn't keep track of it. Ruby anchored the scythe into the ground as though aiming it at Hisagi.

"Here I come." cried Ruby, bursting into her Semblance.

'Are those... rose petals?' thought Hisagi as Ruby drew closer.

(Que Red Like Roses Pt II)

He successfully parried away Ruby's opener and threw his left scythe to counter. Ruby deflected it away with a quick swipe of Mazazoru, but Hisagi used that as an opening to attack. Not only has his weapons changed, Hisagi was also physically stronger and faster than before. Ruby wasn't used to someone wielding two weapons and she had to keep herself on her toes.

After Hisagi retrieved his left scythe, he brought it down where it locked on Ruby's polearm. She noticed the disappearance of the right scythe and knew with a pull on its chain that it was behind her. Ruby managed to aim Mazazoru at Hisagi and fired off a reishi bullet. Hisagi managed to tilt his head far enough to avoid a direct shot and it grazed the side of his left cheek. The recoil from the shot blew Ruby backwards and she went over the scythe, grazing the aura on her back.

Ruby stayed her distance as she anchored her feet into the ground to steady her aim of reishi bullets. Hisagi just blinked in and out of sight of the bullets and threw a rod as the blades spun like a pinwheel. Ruby aimed her swing carefully and deflected it away into the air. She saw Hisagi throw the other scythe and pull the other one down. Ruby used shunpo to get away, but Hisagi got behind her and quickly retracted the scythes to Ruby's position.

Ruby was hit full force by the spinning scythes. Hisagi hopped over to avoid getting cut by his own weapon and Ruby was sent into a wall. Hisagi retracted his poles with a quick pull, but there wasn't any blood. Ruby stepped out of the rubble, her Aura flickering from just managing to protect her from certain death.

"You're a tough one, I'll give you that." said Hisagi.

Ruby panted. "Oh, yeah watch this."

Hisagi wasn't prepared for Ruby combining shunpo and the little bit of her Semblance she had left. He threw one of his scythes, but Ruby blocked it away and rushed for the shinigami. Her scythe twirled around her like a complete blur like before, but the occasional bullet shot increased the speed to out of sight via recoil. As he retracted his other scythe, he struggled to defend himself against Ruby's attacks. She was using the blunt edge of her weapon, but the impacts could break bone as they hit his ribs, shoulders, and sides. When his retracted scythe was going to strike from behind, Ruby basically sped up the speed of her scythe to defend from all sides. Hisagi was in disbelief of Ruby's reflexes.

'She must have trained half her life,' thought Hisagi, 'but she isn't trying to kill me. That will be her downfall.'

Hisagi used shunpo to get out of Ruby's way, if only for a moment. A moment long enough to use Kido.

"Bakudou 62: Hyappo Rankan."

A rod of purple light shot out of Hisagi's hands and suddenly split into hundreds.

"What the-" exclaimed Ruby as she tried to dodge, but it was useless. There were so many that the very air was clouded with them. She was pinned to the wall, and her eyes widened as Hisagi threw both of his scythes. Ruby got footing on the wall and used shunpo to get out, but Hisagi anticipated this and pulled back the chains with all his might.

An unbearable sharp pain shocked through her whole body as the scythes literally ripped through Ruby's shoulders. Blood rained out of the wounds onto the floor, and she kneeled to the ground. Ruby supported herself on Mazazoru to keep herself from falling. Hisagi didn't attack and casually approached Ruby with a cold expression.

"You're talented and skilled." said Hisagi, "And you have the speed and power of a lieutenant, but there is one clear difference between of why you're on the ground bloody while I stand. It is because you didn't bring yourself to kill. When you kill, it brings out the necessary strength. You can't win against killing intent without killing intent as well."

Ruby was too in pain to speak, but she was speechless anyway. Then she went back to what Ren and Mr. Urahara said.

'When you defend, you counter. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. When you attack, you kill.'

When Ruby heard those words, all she could see was their faces during training. Neither of them had any sympathy or emotion in those eyes as they said those words. That cold look spoke only one thing: death. The purest killing intent.

She hated those last words. They went against everything she stood for. But, Ruby had seen more death than she wished for. Heck, she died herself and that's how she got stuck in this world. Life wasn't a fairy tale. Not everybody is going to get what they wanted. Ruby realized that her entire belief in those fairy tales and wishing for a happy ending was selfish thinking, just like Weiss when they first met.

Ruby repeated those words in her head over and over. They resonated in her heart and mind, and the pain was suddenly mild compared to this cooling sensation through her very soul. She accepted it with open arms, and Ruby ascended to her feet much to Hisagi's shock. When her eyes stared back, she gave back the same cold glare that Hisagi had. The glare that told her killing intent.

"I see..." said Ruby in a flat tone, raising her scythe above her head. Her reiatsu suddenly increased, pulling pebbles from the ground around her. The very blade of Mazazoru vibrated the air under its power. Hisagi felt his body sinking to his knees by this crushing pressure.

'Her spiritual pressure skyrocketed so much it's crushing me.' thought Hisagi, struggling to keep on his feet, 'Is this Rioka - Ruby - on par with a captain?!'

"If killing intent is needed," said Ruby, her voice void of emotion, "then I will kill you."

"Even so," Hisagi groaned, using all his strength to stand up, "I'm not going to go down."

Hisagi held his scythes and threw them at Ruby with all his strength as he chanted. "Kubikake."

"You may not like it, but this is my resolve, Uncle Qrow." said Ruby, her blade and eyes shimmering in silver, "Shirubasukai."

A tremendous light tore through the air, ground, and shattered Kazeshini into pieces as it sped toward Hisagi. It was a slicing ray of pure reiatsu that pushed Hisagi away, ripping his clothes and burning his flesh. The ground even gave way as it slanted up. Hisagi was stopped by it, but he coughed blood on impact.

His weapons were nothing but metal sticks from that last attack Ruby did. They wouldn't be much use anyway. His arms were immobile from his wounds. He was only able to look ahead of him at his opponent. Ruby stared Hisagi as her eyes burned a silver light he had never seen before. That light died down, but that cold look lingered in the glitter of her eyes forever.

She had her own wounds as well, and by all rights should be the one to fall. Yet, Ruby stayed on her feet and made her way to Ichigo who was not too far.

"Ruby was it?" groaned Hisagi, catching Ruby's attention, "Do you... fear your weapon?"

Ruby only took one glance at Mazazoru as she sealed and sheated it away.

"Of course." answered Ruby, showing sympathy, "I mean, who doesn't? Even the most experienced have fear of their own weapons. But what I learned from my time training to become a Huntress is that you may fear your weapon, but you must always trust it. Because in the end, it'll be the last thing at your side."

Hisagi was wide-eyed with surprise as Ruby continued on her way with a limp. He glanced to his broken Zanpakuto, and his hate for it dimmed a little.

'Kazeshini,' thought Hisagi before everything went black, 'can I really trust you? Or rather do you trust me?'

Renji had just passed out after hearing a promise from Ichigo to save Rukia. Then from his left appeared Ruby, bloodied from her battle but standing as the victor. She approached Ichigo slowly with a limp and flinching from pain in her shoulders.

"You won." congratulated Ichigo.

"I bet I beat my guy faster than you did." joked Ruby.

"I don't think so..." said Ichigo before they both passed out due to their injuries.

"Ruby, Ichigo!" cried Ganju, rushing to their aid, "Dammit, wake up you two numbskulls."

'Ruby and Ichigo.' thought Hanataro, 'They took on two lieutenants and won. They may be reckless, but they are crazy strong.'

Hanataro heard footsteps in the distance and noticed several shinigami heading to their position.

"We've got to get them out of here." cried Hanataro, "Reinforcements are on their way."

"You don't have to tell me twice." said Gaju, pulling both Ruby and Ichigo over his shoulder while Hanataro carried Zangetsu. They made their way to the nearest panel to the sewers and got out of sight just in time for making tracking them impossible.

Izuru arrived on the scene and was in shock to see Renji down on the ground in defeat. His followers immediately went to check on Renji and wake him up, but he was out cold.

"This can't be right!" gasped Izuru, "How could Renji be beaten?"

"There's another one."

Izruru looked behind him to see two of his members carrying another bloody shinigami. They laid him beside Renji and their shock grew. Not only was Renji was down, but Hisagi as well, and by the looks of it he had released his Zanpakuto.

"Two Lieutenants down!?"

"Lieutenant Hisagi defeated as well!?"

'How can this be?!' Izuru's thought, 'It is another for Renji to be defeated, but Hisagi alongside him? He's probably one of the strongest of the Vice-Captains, and together with Renji they should've been unstoppable. How is it possible they were both defeated?'

"Lieutenant," asked Izuru's subordinates, "what should we do?"

"Call for two stretchers." commanded Izuru, his voice shaken, "We have to get them to the barracks."

(At the barracks)

"This has to be a nightmare." gasped Momo, looking at the wounded bodies of Renji and Shuhei on the floor before her.

"They were both defeated when we got to them." said Izuru, "I still can't believe it. Hisagi is one of our best, and those two working fighting side-by-side should've won. I doubt even if I got there I would've made a difference."

Izuru tightened his fist in rage. Who were these Rioka to be able best both of these lieutenants? They had to be complete monsters. For all they knew, wiping out Squad 11 was a cake walk for them. Suddenly, Momo's knees buckled and she buried her face in her palms.

Momo sobbed. "It's my fault. If I didn't ask Hisagi to go check on Renji, then he wouldn't be hurt."

"Don't say that." consoled Izuru, "If that's the case, then you should be thankful that they're both alive. For all we know, Hisagi is the reason Renji is still alive."

"If that is the case," said a familiar deep voice, "then Renji shouldn't be allowed to live."

Izuru and Momo turned around and their hearts skipped a beat. Before them was Captain Kuchiki.

"I order Renji to be taken to the barracks." Captain Kuchiki commanded coldly.

"What?" exclaimed Momo, "No, you can't do that. He'll die without medical treatment."

"Why you-"

"Momo!" cried Izuru, steadying Momo, "Forgive Momo's outburst. We are still - shocked at the current development."

"Make sure you do as I say quickly." said the captain walking away, "Renji's very sight offends me."

Before he used shunpo, Kuchiki glanced at Hisagi. He had to admire the lieutenant's skill, and it even shocked him a little of his defeat.

'It cannot have been just that Kurosaki.' thought Kuchiki, 'The only explanation is that there is at least another who is equally as strong, if maybe even stronger. And growing as well.'

"Cold as ice isnt' he?" said Ichimaru, making his presence known.

"Captain Ichimaru." greeted Momo.

"Don't worry about Renji." said Ichimaru, "I'll send a medical team to his prison cell on my behalf."

"Thank you." said Momo, trying to hide her deep thanks.

Ichimaru looked to Hisagi, and he couldn't help but think of the two strangers that came along with Ichigo. It seems that the girl has as much boundless potential as Ichigo if they took out two lieutenants of Renji and Shuhei's stature.

'I have to tell Aizen about this.' thought Ichimaru, walking away, 'This may interest him greatly.'

It was not easy stretching Ruby and Hisagi's fight like that. I'm still debating if I should make her fight Toshiru or not. But Ren will be facing off against Shusui to help Chad.

Up next is Chapter 11.

Stay in touch. Please, please leave a review.