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 12: All of My Might

Ruby arrived at the place she assumed Ichigo would be fighting. The only thing that was left were signs of a minor skirmish. To Ruby's relief, there was no blood or a body. As she looked around her, Ruby realized the below at the feet of these towers she was a complete ant in a maze.

'Up it is.' thought Ruby.

Ruby unsealed Mazazoru without a word. With the muzzle aimed behind her, Ruby planted her feet against the vertical wall. While keeping her velocity and using the recoil with concussive reishi shots, Ruby ascended to the top of the forest of towers in a short moment. The view took her breath away. The Sereitei, despite being the smallest part according to Yoruichi, expanded literally as far as the eye could see. Definitely not even Vale could come close to the sheer scale. And everything felt smaller to her now that she was so high up to take a full scope of the city. Even the wall was so far away that Ruby had to squint to even see it.

Then, Ruby came back from her awe to focus on her objective: save Ichigo. Even if she can't see Ichigo or Kenpachi, being able to leap from tower to tower gave her the advantage of mobility. A pink blur passed her vision after jumping a few towers. She turned around to find the toddler Yachiru.

Those blushed cheeks and dimples would fool any bystander as an innocent girl. Ruby wasn't going to fall to such a deception, and her eyes could sense a thirst for blood as much as her captain. The lieutenant looked to Ruby with a wide grin, but Ruby did not lower her guard.

"Hi, Red." said Yachiru, "Just wait your turn. Kenny is still fighting Ichi, and he's having fun. Ichi couldn't even be cut for some reason."

Ruby knew what that meant. She escaped a sigh in relief that Ichigo was still alive. In fact, Ruby was proud that Ichigo's Aura finally manifested to the point it naturally protected him. Maybe Ichigo could win this, wherever he was.

Actually, Ruby was having second thoughts why she wanted to save Ichigo all of a sudden. They spent five days trading blows against each other, and she knew his skill and power like Crescent Rose. With the added power of Aura, Ichigo could totally win. So why did she go after him to help?

'What the heck is wrong with my brain?' thought Ruby, a strange heat on her cheeks.

There was a flutter in her chest, and it made her sick. She thought she was going to throw up until a sweet smell reached her nostrils. A smell she never thought she would smell again. A smell that held a special place in her heart and soul.

Ruby turned to the source to find Yachiru somehow brought out platters of freshly made cookies and snacked on them. Her mouth started to drool at the sweetness just a few feet away from her mouth. She loomed over to the little spot of heaven like a ghost, her eyes in a trance.

"Gimme." moaned Ruby.

"Huh?" responded Yachiru.

"Gimme," moaned Ruby, more aggressive, "cookies."

Yachiru pouted. "No! They are my snack to watch Kenny fighting."

"Gimme a cookie!" demanded Ruby.

"No!" denied Yachiru with a leer.

"Gimme!" snarled Ruby, her spiritual pressure rising with her anger, "Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme!"

"No, no, no, no, no!" snapped Yachiru, her own spiritual pressure rising.

They devolved into growling at each other like dogs, and the air around them became a storm of their clashing spiritual pressures trying to overtake the other. The stalemate lasted for about thirty seconds. In a burst of her Semblance, Ruby snatched a platter of cookies and instantly downed them. A more than satisfied expression glowed on her face as she savored the sweet taste.

Yachiru was in shock. Her right brow twitched and her aura of innocence shed away to her true personality. No one stole her snacks. Like an animal, Yachiru pounced onto Ruby pulling her hair. As soon as Ruby dropped to the floor, they rolled around trading blows in a comical fashion with superficial injuries.

"Red hooded pig."

"Stingy pinky."

"Snack thief."

"Cookie hogger."

"Skinny ugly."

"Spoiled brat."

As their comical fight waged on, a more serious fight to the death still raged on for poor Ichigo, running for his life. He managed to hide behind a tower after barely ducking under Kenpachi's blade. After five swings from his sword, Ichigo felt his Aura completely shatter and all he had left was his raw spiritual pressure, but the Squad 11 captain's a complete monster.

He looked up and to his shock he found Ruby... fighting wouldn't be the word to describe it. It looked more like a physical argument. Ichigo bit his lips in annoyance and anger.

'Dammit Ruby, I told you to go after Rukia.' thought Ichigo, "More importantly, why aren't you helping me?!'

Chad and Ren entered a flat ground where a checkpoint with a gate and tower stood in front of them. The area looked like a training ground as the walls distance from each other made it perfect for spars. They ran several paces before Ren stopped himself. He felt a massive spiritual pressure that was with them at this very moment. It made the composed Huntsman develop a sweatdrop on his cheek. He disappeared with shunpo and stopped Chad with a hand.

"What is it?" asked Chad, revealing his eyes from his hair.

"Someone is here." answered Ren, "Someone strong."

They took a more casual, yet slow pace to the gate that lay opened to the rest of the path to the white tower. A rain of cherry blossom petals halted them suddenly. From above silently came down a man in a cherry blossom kimono as light as a feather. When he revealed his face from his straw hat, Chad and Ren were met with a man in his late 30s with a smile on his face.

"Greetings you two." introduced the shinigami, "I am Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of Squad 8. May I ask who you are?"

Chad and Ren glanced at each other for a moment. They couldn't get a vibe off of this captain, and it sort of frightened them of the unknown. Meanwhile, the rain of petals did not stop and even quickened in pace. He looked up, and the two Rioka followed his gaze to find his lieutenant, a regular woman with glasses, holding a woven bowl of it and throwing the petals. She had an annoyed expression on her face.

"Nanao dear that is flattering," said Shunsui, "but you can stop now with the flower petals. Hey, can you even hear me up the-"

To all three of their shock, Nanao completely dumped all of the petals onto Shunsui, burying him in a pile. Once his head poked through, she threw down the bowl with such precision that it knocked off his straw hat and replaced it with the bowl. Chad felt a sweatdrop down his neck, and Ren just cringed at the sight.

"I," muttered Ren, "don't think we have to worry about giving away introductions."

Shunsui picked himself up and got back his straw hat. "Ah, where was I? Oh yeah, would you be so kind to tell me your names?"

"Chad." answered Chad.

"Lie Ren." said Ren, reaching for his swords.

Nanao jumped from the balcony next to the captain. Ren could feel her very stare was drilling a cold drill through his head. It was the exact opposite the kind of look Yang would give you with her red eyes.

"Sorry sir, but," said Chad, "my friend and I don't have time to stay and watch your routine. Please just step aside."

Seeing that calm and careless expression on the captain's face was making Ren nervous. He only seen that kind of face from Ruby's Uncle Qrow, regarded as one of the finest Huntsmen in Remnant. And this captain was just like that ascended to a higher level. His hands already were reaching for his Kakkushifokkussu dual bayonets just to be prepared.

"No need to be so serious." said Shunsui, and Ren knew he was eyeing his hand motions to his blades, "Can't you loosen up a little? Life's too short to take it so seriously."

Behind that deadpan look, Ren could see Chad getting impatient with the situation. Ren himself was beginning to notice the sweat drops that beaded his neck sensing the captain's spiritual pressure, but he stood strong.

"I've asked you nicely." said Chad, "We're in kind of a hurry. You seem a decent enough guy, so please let us pass so we can avoid any conflict."

"Yes." added Ren, "Upon coming here, we never meant you or the Soul Society any harm. We do not come here to invade, but you've forced our hand in the matter."

Shunsui's smile faltered. "Then it appears we have a slight problem. Neither one of us wants any conflict, but I'm under direct orders to not let you pass. Why don't you just retreat?"

"We've come so far to go back as it is." answered Ren.

"I thought as much." replied Shunsui. His hand reached for something in his kimono, and Ren tensed up ready for an attack. Instead, he brought out a jug, and when he placed it down with a thud, there was a muffled splash in it. Then he brought out three drinking plates. "We'll have to have a friendly drink."

All that tension shattered like glass around them. Chad's eyes widened for the first time Ren has ever seen them.

'Yep.' thought Ren, 'Definitely a nice Unlce Qrow.'

"Come on." said Shunsui, pouring himself a drink, "Just relax. Better to rest than fight. After all, this will all be over since us captains."

"Wait!" exclaimed Ren, another sweatdrop going down his cheek, "There are other captains after us!?"

Ren's thoughts were more frantic. 'Then that means Ichigo and Ruby are in danger. I don't know if I could beat this guy on my own.'

"That changes things, Kyoraku." said Chad, in the most subtle menacing tone Ren has ever heard, "So I asking you again to move aside."

"Or?" asked Shunsui, raising the little plate to his mouth.

"I'll move you!" growled Chad, pulling his arm back.

"NO WAIT!" warned Ren.

It was too late. Chad fired a blast from his fist aimed perfectly at Shunsui. The look in his eyes didn't change as he raised a hand and quite literally swatted it away into a wall. The best he did against the captain was blowing away his pink kimono. Ren and Chad stood in shock, but quickly gained back their composure.

"That's too bad." said Shunsui, drinking his sake and standing up, "I had hoped we could avoid all this."

Chad went on a full-powered assault against the captain. For every punch he fired, a trail of destruction soon lay before him. The captain wasn't putting any effort of dodging every one of Chad's attacks. He still even had his little plate of sake in his hand, and not a drop fell to the ground. His lieutenant did not interfere.

Ren couldn't move. Just seeing the captain so calm as Chad was unleashing all his strength was a terrible sight. It only added to the immense spiritual pressure he felt from Shunsui. Perhaps his lieutenant wasn't a problem, but Shunsui hadn't even drawn his swords.

'Why can't I move?' thought Ren, his legs stuck to the ground, 'Maybe if we can work together, we might have a chance to overwhelm. I may match his speed, but I've gotta move dammit.'

Shunsui used shunpo to dodge another attack and appeared at Chad's side. He whispered some words into his ear, and brought up two fingers to "poke" Chad in the shoulder.

'Now is my chance!' thought Ren. He bit his tongue, hard enough to jolt some pain through his body and get himself moving. One of the dual bayonets went to his right hand, and his spiritual pressure broke through the captain's own. It also drew Shunsui's attention to the newcomer.

At last second, Shunsui drew out one of his Zanpakuto blades, in a sealed state to parry Ren's surprise attack. The attack held more force that it slid Shunsui away gathering a cloud of dust in his wake. Nanao seemed concerned to intervene, but a raised hand from her captain stopped her.

Shunsui looked to Ren with a smile. "Impressive. I was actually focusing my spiritual pressure to keep you down. I can tell you're far more dangerous than your friend here, but it is quite astounding that you broke through and caught me in the middle of my attack. Quite the bit of power and added with refined speed too. I'd say you would give most of the lieutenants a run for it."

Ren said nothing as he held his dueling bayonet in a reverse grip. He wouldn't resort to his left bayonet, not until he learned more of Shunsui's movements. Then, an idea hatched into Ren's head.

"Chad," said Ren, "I'm closer to his speed. While I lock him down, you charge in whatever opening I give you."

Chad nodded and pulled his right fist back. Ren used shunpo to use his opening by thrusting his bayonet aimed for Shunsui's chest. The captain simply sidestepped out of the way, but Chad rushed in with his jet black arm burning with blue reiatsu. The captain's look didn't change as he flipped over his fist.

"I commend the team effort, but it is very out of sync." said Shunsui.

"As long as one of us can hit you." said Ren, now just starting to keep an eye of Shunsui's movements. He aimed two fingers and the shinigami could sense a rise in reiatsu at the fingertips. Shunsui raised his blade in time to deflect a wordless bolt of Byakurai lightning that deflected off the blade into a wall. The moment his feet planted the floor he used shunpo to gain neutral distance.

'Kido!?' thought Nanao with shock.

"That's some impressive Kido talent." Shunsui complimented, "And you're also a dual wielder like Juushiro and myself. Makes us feel we aren't so alone in the Soul Society. It is quite a shame that you are not one of us."

"I tend not to use both my blades from the start." said Ren.

Shunsui vanished in just pure speed. Ren just barely dodged to the side from a horizontal slash. He accidentally bumped into Chad, who was having a harder time keeping track of the captain's movements. A flow of a shihaksho caught Ren's eyes before the Rioka both felt a needle-thin sting to their stomachs that sent them tumbling across the ground.

'Ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow...ow.' Ren groaned inwardly after each tumble, 'Where's gravity when you need it? Only Nora could answer that.'

Ren bit his lip in pain. That "poke" combined with the unnaturally long bumps along the ground had crippled his Aura, and left his body aching all over. His vision started to get blurry as he receded out of consciousness. He fought against it as he saw a blurry Chad rise to the ground. Everything was ringing preventing Ren from hearing their conversation. Then his vision went black.

Ren's Inner World

Ren opened his eyes lying in a pool of water, the very same of his inner world. The sky was a sad gray, and was at the point that the clouds would burst down rain and flood the forests in the distance. Kakushifokkusu stood in front of his legs with a down look in its blue eyes. The two blue flames were more dim than before.

"Are really going down because of slight exhaustion?" said Kukushifokkusu, "Is that how you are going to give up?"

Ren tried to straighten himself up, but his body felt like the literal weight of the world was on top of him, and his breath was ragged and broken.

"Look at how pitiful you are, Lie Ren." said Kakushifokkusu, its tone blank, "Do you just intend to lay your body down for a moment's rest knowing full well your allies - your friends - are risking their lives? Is that how you want to protect them? If not, then ignore the screams of your body, get up, and face the enemy that dare come your way."

Ren bit his lip, his resolve made in an instant. "I will!"

"Then prove it to me." said the Zanpakuto.

Ren's teeth smashed down like a bear trap and slammed down a fist on the pool of water. The strain was so hard on his body to get up, but he would not let down an inch until he was up. The more Ren arose, the more sky opened up to the sun. Among the pain was a rush of energy Ren never imagined existed. In all that grueling pain, he dared not let out even an exclaim of pain leave his lips. Once Ren was on his feet, all that pain was replaced by an overwhelming rush, stronger than before. The fox Zanpakuto looked up to him, but its master could tell it was smiling proudly.

Run, and you will die. Rest, and you will never come back up. Face your foes with all your might, and make them rue the day and fear our name. Pierce through all resistance till there is nothing left!

Chad has fallen, barely alive in his own pool of blood. Despite the orders, Shusui deeply hated harming these Rioka. On first glance, they had no ill will toward the Soul Society itself. If the tables were different, Shunsui would've supported them in their quest to save Rukia. The best he could do for them is save them from his trigger-happy lieutenant.

'What a damn shame.' thought Shunsui.

Then, the air became heavy even to the captain's standards. That meant without a doubt there was a spiritual pressure on par with his own, and closer than he would've liked. Nanao was on her knees, her face contorted with strain rather than shock. The source came from Ren, who started to rise himself up from the ground with green reiatsu burning off of him like an inferno. Shunsui was shocked by the amount of reiatsu a simple human hardly two decades old could muster up this much power. And to add shock and a bit of joy, Ren drew out his other bayonet into his left hand.

Ren held the dual blades over each other vertically and then smashed their hilts together with a snap. The steel of the blades bended toward Ren and a string of gold reishi connected each tip of the blades, and now formed a bow of green steel.

"Kakushi Tsume."

Shunsui felt immense spiritual pressure rising as Ren pulled the bow back and an arrow of gold reishi formed much like a Quincy's bow, and the captain even felt to release his Zanpakuto to meet the young man in truth.

Shunsui smiled, though it was a solemn one. "You are one extraordinary kid, Lie Ren."

As soon as Shunsui readied his feet to dash the distance between them, Ren's arrow glowed brighter now fully drawn.

"Teirubisuto: Aro."

The arrow was faster than any dodge with shunpo was impossible. At point of impact, there was clap of steel, then the arrow piercing through leaving devastation in its wake till it exploded in the light of the sun a good distance away. Several buildings sunk into a crater made by the arrow's impact.

"I stood up." groaned Ren at the point of exhaustion.

Suddenly, Ren felt a sharp pain in his side. He was too dazed to hear the sound of steel ripping through flesh, but he coughed out blood. Behind him was Shunsui with a frown on his face and his left blade covered in Ren's blood. With a groan of pain, Ren fell back to the ground, this time in defeat.

"You're not bad at all, Lie Ren." said Shunsui, as his own blood dripped from his right arm, which held his right blade that was broken to the hilt. It took all his full might just to prevent that arrow from running him through, and it costed him his right blade. Now that Ren's spiritual pressure was lifted, Nanao was free to walk without being crushed.

"As I was saying," said Shunsui, sheathing both swords, "call Squad 4 to provide aid to these two."

Nanao nodded and turned to the Rioka. Beside Ren was a black cat looking over him. When Shunsui saw it, his eyes squinted with suspicion and noticed an all-too familiar look in those yellow eyes.

"Yoru-"

Before he could finish, the cat glowed in blue bright light, and Ren and the cat were both gone without a single trace. Shunsui was so stunned that his jaw was hanging a bit more loosely than it should.

"Nanao," said Shunsui, "how much did I drink today?"

"Not enough to imagine that." said Nanao, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Somewhere in a hideout in a mountain, the black cat known as Yoruichi stood over Ren lying under a green blanket. She just managed to get the bandages on before Ren lost too much blood than he would live without. Out of the whole group, Ren was far below the list of idiots to be dumb enough to fight a captain instead of running for it.

'A fool to the end.' thought Yoruichi, 'But a strong one at that. It seems conflict with the captains is unavoidable. That only leaves one thing I can teach you three.'

####ing finally! I've been buried in schoolwork, and that isn't counting getting my application set up for college. I missed this.

Up next is Chapter 13.

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