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 11: Recovery and Moving Forward

Ichigo awoke still in pain with stitches all over his body. His vision cleared to see Hanataro wearing gloves as he tended to Ichigo's wounds with Kido. The wounds over his body were practically stapled shut so he could heal.

Ichigo flinched as his chest rose. Just breathing caused him so much pain.

"Where am I?" asked Ichigo.

"We're back underground." said Hanataro, "I've been spending all night healing both of your wounds."

"Concerning how both of them were beat up," added Ganju's voice, "you are some medic."

Ichigo ignored the pain of his body as he put strength into his arms. His left hand reached out and landed on something soft.

"I've gotta get going." said Ichigo.

Before Hanataro could interject, they both turned their attention to a soft moan. Ichigo found Ruby laying right beside him, shoulder-to-shoulder. His face went red with embarrassment and regret when he saw where his hand on Ruby's chest. Worst of all, Ruby was coming too.

"Ruby - I, uh." stuttered Ichigo, trying to come up an excuse, but it was too late. Ruby didn't say a word as her face went red with embarrassment and fury when she saw a hand where it wasn't supposed to be. Despite the pain, she raised a tightened fist and her eyes went to Ichigo, sending a chill through his body.

"Wait, wait, wait." panicked Ichigo, "I'm sorry."

"YOU DAMN IDIOT!" screamed Ruby, bringing down her fist as hard as she could. It hit Ichigo on the side of the head and hurled him to the wall. A big red bump was visible on the left side of his face. His fingers twitched, but his face was stuck in an awkward expression. The only sound that came out of his mouth was a soft moan as he fell back to the floor.

"Ow." winced Ruby, lying back down with her own share of wounds and stitches, "Everything hurts."

"Even a punch like that would knock me out." commented Ganju.

"Oh great." complained Hanataro, "Another wound to heal."

"Hey at least he isn't gonna try and go off." said Ichigo.

Eventually, Ruby went back to sleep to join with Ichigo to heal their injuries. As Hanataro tended to them, he looked behind him with a nervous mood. Laying next to each other were two masks. One was lip-less with sharp teeth and red stripes on its left side, and the other one had red tear marks going down the eyes and had canine teeth.

'Those masks I found in their shihakshos.' thought Hanataro, 'They must've absorbed the blows while fighting the lieutenants. But what are they to withstand a direct hit from a released Zanpkauto? Ichigo's looks like a hollow, but the other one has some similarities but isn't the same thing. What do they mean, you two?'

(Some time later)

Ichigo awoke with a startle. Sitting up was enough to spike pain throughout his body, but at least his wounds were closed. Ganju and Hanataro were asleep, but Ichigo saw Ruby awake sitting with her knees wrapped by her arms. She was wincing at the bandages that stitched the wounds in her shoulders and pouted seeing visible scars.

"Scars aren't that bad." said Ichigo, catching Ruby's attention.

Ruby glanced back at him with a surprised expression that quickly turned in an angry puff. Her cheeks flushed red remembering what happened a few hours ago.

"Oh, right." said Ichigo, "Sorry about that. I just woke up and I didn't realize you were next to me."

Ruby sighed. "It's okay. If my sister were here, on the other hand, you wouldn't be alive."

"That's," responded Ichigo with a sweatdrop down his neck, "reassuring."

Ruby turned away from her aimless gaze and focused on Ichigo.

"What were you saying about scars?" asked Ruby.

The question caught Ichigo off guard, but he soon composed himself as he thought of the answer.

"Scars mark the experiences in your life," explained Ichigo, "and they signify your growth in strength. The ones on your shoulders show your battle of fighting the most powerful foe yet, and you came out the strongest. They all tell a story, even as ugly as they seem."

"Must be some nasty scar I got." said Ruby, "My Aura can't even make it go away."

"About that." Ichigo noted, "That thing you did when we were practicing with the spirit cores. What did you do?"

Ruby chuckled. "I completely forgot that you don't know what Aura or Semblances. I unlocked your Aura, that's all. It's nothing like magic, but it is a lot like all this spiritual power and stuff. It's your soul's power that emanates around you to protect you from harm."

"So I basically have a force field around me." Ichigo concluded.

"Maybe." said Ruby unsure, "I'm not too good with the whole thing. I mean, I'm sure I did something because I studied the chant and everything."

"You're unbelievable." said Ichigo.

"Hey!" exclaimed Ruby, "Sorry, I can't be the smartest girl, okay. Talk to Ren about it when we see him again."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "I forgot about him. You think he's okay?"

"Of course he is." answered Ruby, "He may seem a bit of a deadpan and sometimes unemotional, but Ren is a pretty determined guy who'll look after his friends. His fighting skills are, admittedly, better than mine at some levels. Put all that together, and I can't see him losing."

"I can say the same for Chad." added Ichigo.

"The big guy?" questioned Ruby, thinking how Yang would drool over someone who had that body and yet was around the same age.

"Yeah." said Ichigo, "I can still feel his spiritual pressure, no matter the distance between us. And I can't ever see him losing. He's just too strong and too determined to lose. I know that for a fact."

"He didn't give off the vibe of a fighter." noted Ruby.

"He really isn't." said Ichigo, "That's because he's so nice, he refuses to fight back for himself. That's how I met him after saving him from some thugs bullying him. I would never let a guy just let himself get beaten up senseless, even if he is big and tough."

Ruby smiled. "You're a pretty nice guy yourself then."

"I guess I am." said Ichigo, lying back down, "Get some rest. We're gonna need it after this."

Ruby didn't say a word as she rested softly on her back. Ichigo gave Ruby one last glance and he too fell asleep to heal his wounds.

(In the morning, elsewhere)

Ren and Chad found themselves in some sort of checkpoint. In a matter of minutes, the tens of shinigami present here were dealt with non-lethally, but painfully. This time they managed to keep some conscious, and the two deadpans (yes, Ren counts as one) went about interrogating each shinigami they found that could talk.

As Chad sent a shinigami with a monk's hairstyle flying, Ren tossed another shinigami after he was done with him. Chad noticed and glanced to his ally.

"Did you get anything?" asked Chad.

"Yeah." said Ren, "I asked about where Rukia Kuchiki is, and he said that she is in the repentance cell. Before I could ask anything else, he passed out."

"Hmm." Chad responded. He approached the shinigami who he just beatdown.

"I give!" cried the shinigami.

Chad picked the shinigami up by his collar and asked. "Where is the repentance cell?"

"How do you know about that?" exclaimed the shinigami.

"My friend over there asked another where Rukia Kuchiki was." Chad said, his eyes giving off a slight menace, "Tell me where the cell is while you're still awake. If you refuse, my friend over there has some... unorthodox mean we would rather not use."

"It's right there." said the shinigami, his finger pointing to his right. "The big tall white tower on the side of the mountain."

Chad couldn't see any lie in the shinigami's face. Ren gave him a nod, and Chad dropped him. As Chad ran ahead, the shinigami raised his sword and charged him down with his back. Unfortunately, he was not smart enough to remember about Ren.

The Huntsman flashed before the shinigami and caught his blade with his bare hands. His Aura shimmered slightly at his fingertips. Ren gave the shinigami a stone cold look, but the shingami was shaking head-to-toe. Chad went up and bent the blade in a 90 degree angle while Ren snapped it.

"AH!" screamed the shinigami, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again."

"Fine." said Chad flatly, making his way forward, "You coming, Ren?"

Ren stared at the shinigami with a curled lip, who shook under his eyes that gave off hatred.

"You took a vow of honor, did you not?" said Ren, his spiritual pressure brimming, rather burning, green around him, "And yet here you are, breaking those vows without a second thought. I thought this place was supposed to be heaven for the living world, but here I see the same wrongs from the real world."

Chad was a bit scared what Ren would do to the shinigami. Suddenly, Ren sent out a wordless Kido blast that ripped through the earth and made air cirlces in its wake. It obliterated the wall into dust, and left the shinigami forgetting how to breathe.

"Remember that the next time you betray those vows." said Ren and he continued on in fast pace with Chad.

"You seem to be getting stronger the longer we're here." noted Chad.

"I wouldn't say I'm getting stronger." said Ren, "It's more like I'm discovering myself. The more I use these powers, the more strength I find. It's like an unending reserve. It - kind of scares what my strength is at this point."

"I see." said Chad as the two made a turn and entered a checkpoint.

Ruby, Ichigo, Ganju, and Hanataro finally made it up the stairs. Their legs ached, except for Ruby and Ichigo thanks to Aura, but the exhaustion was still there.

"I'll say it." panted Ruby, "I hate stairs."

"Preach to the choir." added Ichigo.

They pressed forward at a more casual pace. Suddenly, it felt like gravity was tuned up. The air roared around them in the wake of this high pressure. Ganju and Hanataro were on their knees from the immense spiritual pressure. Only Ruby and Ichigo didn't seem affected, but their Auras shimmered around them to keep them safe.

"Woah." said Ruby, "It feels like something pushing on my neck."

"More like putting a blade to it." said Ichigo, a bit unnerved.

Ruby glanced at Ganju and Hanataro. The spiritual pressure was so high that their beads of sweat were going upwards instead of downwards. Their knees gave out and they collapsed on the ground.

"We have to move." cried Ichigo, "Obviously, there's someone around here we don't want to meet."

Even Ichigo and Ruby's legs felt heavy under this spiritual pressure. Ruby dared not use her Semblance fearing her legs would snap from the massive force pushing down on them. No matter the distance they made among the high towers they couldn't make any headway from this spiritual pressure.

Hanataro collapsed and Ganju was forced to carry him over his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" exclaimed Ichigo.

"We're fine." said Ganju, "You two have got to keep going."

High above them sat Captain Zaraki, the source of this spiritual pressure. His hair was spiked which ended with bells, and in his right hand was a sword with a chipped edge.

"Four of them." said Kenpachi, "Which is the one?"

He overlooked Hanataro and Ganju seeing how weak their spiritual pressures were. Kenpachi would've gazed over Ruby, but his eyes stopped in shock.

"Those two." Kenpachi noted Ruby and Ichigo, "Their spiritual pressures are on par, and they are strong. Fantastic."

Ichigo suddenly felt a presence just inches from his neck. He could feel the raw violence and blood-thirstiness from it. He turned his entire body around to see the shadow of a person standing on a towers high above them. The orange-head couldn't breath and Ruby was unnerved by how still he was.

"What's the matter with you?" demanded a deep voice, "How long are you gonna keep staring there?"

Whoever it was, that voice was between Ruby and Ichigo. Before they could turn around, they suddenly froze from the pain of fear that literally stabbed through their chests. It was only for a second, but the sensation lingered.

"What," gasped Ruby, "the hell - was that?!"

'Could the intent to kill,' thought Ichigo, clutching his chest, 'have that much power?'

Ruby and Ichigo finally faced the man that stood between them. He had an eye-patch over his right eye and his clothes were not in the best condition with rips and tears. He had this constant smirk on his face, and Ruby could notice sharp teeth in the back of his mouth.

"I'm the captain of Squad 11," the captain introduced, "Kenpachi Zaraki, and I challenge you, Ichigo Kurosaki, a fight to the death."

Ichigo was silent in thought. He remembered that Yoruichi told them to exclusively avoid any fights with captains.

"Are you deaf or something?" said Kenpachi, "I just challenged you to a fight to the death. After I'm done with you..." Kenpachi turned to Ruby, "... you're next."

Ruby's hand unconsciously reached for her Zanpakuto as soon as those vicious eyes landed on her.

"Why me?" asked Ruby, her voice a little shaky.

"Silver eyes and a red hood." noted Kenpachi, "That's what my daughter described the one who defeated her. I cannot wait to see how much fun we'll have."

'Pyrrha's adopted father?!' thought Ruby, 'So this is the guy that turned her into that?'

Ruby's attitude changed dramatically from fear to sheer rage. In the blink of an eye, Ruby drew out her Zanpakuto and rushed down Kenpachi to cut him down.

"Monster!" cried Ruby, "You're the one who ruined Pyrrha!"

Instead of steel cutting into flesh, steel clashed against steel. Ichigo's eyes widened as he saw a petite pink-haired shinigami girl with her own Zanpakuto intersecting Ruby's strike. But she heavily underestimated Ruby's fury and power. Her increased reiatsu gave her enhanced strength and Ruby sent the girl through a couple of towers like she was batting a ball.

Kenpachi was unfazed by Ruby's display of power. Out from the rubble the girl reappeared and hopped to Kenpachi's feet. She was bruised with a cut on her cheek, but to Ruby and Ichigo's shock there wasn't anything too serious.

The girl shook her head to get dirt out of her hair. "Redhead is really strong."

"That was just stupid." said Kenpachi.

"What the hell are you, you pink twerp?" exclaimed Ichigo.

The girl giggled. "My name is Yachiru Kusajishi, and I'm the lieutenant of Squad 11. It's nice of you to ask. Thanks."

"You're a lieutenant?!" exclaimed Ruby, "Y-You're so tiny."

"Hey Ganju.' said Ichigo, "Get Hanataro up and go on ahead. You save Rukia. I'll deal with these two."

Ganju was going to protest, but he knew he was no difference in this fight. Without a word, he grabbed Hanataro and bolted down the path.

"You too Ruby." said Ichigo without looking at her.

"I can fight too-"

"Ruby!" exclaimed Ichigo, "You have to listen to me. With your speed, you can keep them safe and save Rukia." Ichigo gave Ruby a smile. "Don't worry, I'll catch up with you."

After a hesitance in her motion Ruby ran after Hanataro and Ganju in her Semblance.

"Don't die on me." Ruby prayed.

The red riding hood teenager disappeared after the rose petals of her Semblance fell to the floor.

"Aww." whined Yachiru, "There goes the other strong one, Kenny."

"Doesn't matter." said Kenpachi, "I'll chase her down after I fight this one."

"I'm sorry but I can't let you follow them." stated Ichigo, his right hand gripping onto Zangetsu.

"You don't understand, do you?" said Kenpachi, "I've waited for you in the hopes that I get to have a decent fight. I have no interest in those two weaklings, and your mission to free that Rukia. My only desire is you and that girl in the red hood."

"Is that so?" said Ichigo. The cloth of Zangetsu unraveled as Ichigo swung it over his shoulder and took a stance. Blue reiatsu brimmed off of him, so much that the ground cracked and pebbles floated up in his wake.

"Coming through!" cried Ruby to Ganju. She couldn't slow herself and rammed into Ganju full force, causing Hanataro to loosen from his grip and tumble to the ground.

"Hey!" outraged Ganju, "What's the big idea running into me like that?! It's bad enough that I have Hanataro squirming on my shoulder."

"Sorry." groaned Ruby, rubbing her head, "C'mon, we gotta keep moving while Ichigo takes care of those two."

When Hanataro heard those words, he snapped out of his dizziness and turned to Ganju and Ruby.

"No we can't." cried Hanataro, "We have to go back and help Ichigo."

Ruby's eyes widened. "But he said he could handle them."

"Are you crazy?!" cried Hanataro, "By himself?! He can't. He has to run or else he'll die."

"Settle down." said Ganju. Ruby was just at a loss of words.

"You don't understand." said Hanataro, "Ichigo can't win. It's impossible. He's facing off against Captain Zaraki. The name Kenpachi is passed down to the ones who crave fighting. It mean that they are monsters who can never go down no matter the injury. He can't die. He's invincible. If Ichigo fights him, he'll die surely by his hands."

"In that case-"

Suddenly, the winds swept passed them and they looked back to see Ruby running back. Fear filled her eyes and carried her steps. As soon as she heard all that, Ruby's only thought was to go there and save him. The odds of this fight reminded Ruby of Pyrrha's useless efforts against Cinder. There was no way Ruby could handle losing a friend like that again.

'Ichigo, you idiot.' thought Ruby, 'I won't let you die. I'll make it this time. I promise.'

Ruby and Ichigo in this fanfiction are more closer to the power levels of captains since they both have their Aura unlocked. As for Ren, he should be more on Ichigo's level after his battle against Kenpachi so he can fight Shunsui, but even then it should be obvious of the victor then.

Up next is Chapter 12.

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