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 14: The Final Release

Ren didn't dare get out from under the sheets until Ruby gave him the confirmation that Yoruichi was fully dressed. It didn't help Ichigo too since his face was the most impressive shade of red Ruby had ever seen. Just as they calmed down, they felt an immense spiritual pressure, comparable to Kenpachi. Ichigo knew perfectly who it was, and wasted no time grabbing Yoruichi's artifact despite the pain from his healing wounds.

"What the heck are you doing, you idiot?" yelled Yoruichi.

"Ichigo, stop, you need to heal." said Ruby, though she too.

"I sent Ganju and Hanataro up there." said Ichigo, activating the device, "It's my responsibility-"

Suddenly, Ichigo gagged and fell to the floor unconscious. Behind him (somehow) was the big man known as Chad who dealt a quick punch to Ichigo's temple to knock him out. His demeanor was still so flat.

"I know I'm strong," said Chad, "but even I know that a punch like that would never knock out Ichigo at full strength." When Yoruichi got Ren, she also picked up Chad and he assisted the ex-shinigami in healing the trio's wounds when Yoruichi brought them all back to their hiding place. Suffice to say, Chad's skill with first aid could've landed him a job at Ichigo's dad's own clinic.

"Thank you, Chad." said Yoruichi, grabbing her device and exiting the hideout, "All of you stay here. I'll go make sure that Hanataro and Ganju make it out safe." With an expert shunpo, she was gone and blinked hundreds of feet with each step.

"It's scary." noted Ren.

"What is?" wondered Ruby.

"You're already fast as it is." said Ren, "But if Yoruichi is the one that is teaching you, excuse me to say you're going to be a complete monster under her."

Ruby laughed nervously seeing the sincere fear in Ren's eyes of a Ruby so fast she could reach the mountains around Vale from Beacon academy in one shunpo.

(Repentance Cell)

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

At those words, the blade of Captain Kuchiki scattered in numerous cherry blossoms. They surrounded the man known as Ganju, who took a stand the moment they felt the captain's spiritual pressure crush down upon them. And they were so close too. They finally got Rukia out of the cell only for a captain to stand in their way.

Instantly, Ganju was dealt multiple gashes and cuts across his body since the "petals" were many blades so fast and tiny they shined in the air. He collapsed on the ground, but Byakuya's eyes were cold to reveal his merciless intent.

"Brother, stop!" cried Rukia, "Don't kill him."

Her words fell on deaf ears as Byakuya raised his hand to deal the killing blow. However, in a burst of speed, a chocolate-skinned hand stopped Byakuya's arm. The captain's eyes widened with surprise.

"You need to control that temper, little Byakuya." said a silky, feminine voice.

"Yoruichi Shihoin." said Byakuya, looking back perfectly composed, "What is traitor such yourself dare to enter the Soul Society?"

Yoruichi flashed her teasing smile, but instantly led it fade into a more serious look. With a shunpo, Yoruichi grabbed Ganju. She was interrupted mid-shunpo by Byakuya blocking her way.

"If you think I will let you leave here alive, you have become senile." stated Byakuya.

Yoruichi smirked. "You've gotten faster, but not as fast as me unfortunately."

Rukia and Hanataro watched with wide eyes of the afterimage display before them. Both were unbelievably fast, and the wind picked up in the wake of their speed. Wherever Yoruichi went, Byakuya had blocked her path, but any attack he launched Yoruichi was already gone. No one could tell the Shihoin was toying with the captain.

Meanwhile, a white-haired man arrived on the scene with a concerned look marking his face. "Captain Kuchiki, I sensed your spir- What the devil!?" He stood shocked that Byakuya was currently in combat with Yoruichi, who supposedly disappeared a century ago. Juushiro, the arrival's name, caught a glint of Yoruichi's golden eyes glance back at him for a moment.

When Byakuya slashed his sword, Yoruichi disappeared and appeared on the very blade. With another, Yoruichi appeared on top of a roof.

"Three days." stated Yoruichi, "In three days, I will have trained Ichigo to be strong enough to kill you."

With another shunpo, Yoruichi disappeared and was already too far to track down.

'Ichigo's really alive.' thought Rukia, 'Thank goodness.'

Byakuya moved towards Rukia and Hanataro, but Juushiro interjected on their behalf.

"That's enough, Captain Kuchiki." said Juushiro in a commanding tone, "Just what do you think you were doing?"

"I was handling-"

Byakuya was cut off as Juushiro coughed painfully from his illness. It went on for a few several seconds before Byakuya spoke again.

"I am dealing with-"

Juushiro coughed again, interrupting the captain.

"I am-"

Yet again, Juushiro halted the captain's words with another fit of coughing that must be destroying his lungs.

"I-" Byakuya said but gave up when Juushiro proved too sick to let him speak back, "Please just die."

"You have no authority here." said Juushiro, holding down his coughing fits, "Hanataro's punishment will be delivered by Captain Unohanna, and Rukia Kuchiki will be returned to her cell."

"Fine." grumbled Byakya and walked away from the cell, forcing himself to never look back. Juushiro looked back at his former lietenant, and his look promised to save her if it was the last thing she would do.

Back at the hideout.

Yoruichi returned in a literal flash, now carrying Ganju over her shoulder. Ren was recovered from his injuries just enough to assist Yoruichi and Chad to apply Ganju first aid. Ruby and Ichigo still rested in their sacks, the former keeping an eye on the orange-head so he wouldn't run off. Ichigo responded with his usual scowl, clearly annoyed by the situation.

"Hey, it's your fault you were stupid enough to try and get out of here." noted Ruby.

Ichigo grumbled under his breath, but it only brought a smug smile to Ruby's face.

"Even as powerful as the three of you are," said Yoruichi, "you're still not strong enough to deal with captains. With the exception of Captain Zaraki, all captains have the ability to obtain a level beyond shikai, called bankai."

"Bankai?" wondered Ruby with dazzling eyes.

"Yes." answered Yoruichi, "Every Zanpakuto is capable of bankai, but it takes a decade of grueling training to achieve so."

"Unless..." said Ruby, sensing Yoruichi was up to something.

Yoruichi chuckled. "You catch on quite well. Follow me."

To their surprise, Yoruichi led the trio of shinigami down a ladder in the back and they found themselves in a "basement" exact to the one under Mr. Urahara's shop. It was less flat than the one in Karakura Town with numerous cliffs dotting the training ground. Even if you stuffed fifteen Grimm mammoths in here, it still wouldn't fill the expanse before them.

"How do you make this stuff?" exclaimed Ruby in a cutesy, but demanding tone.

"Kisuke and I had a loooot of time on our hands." answered Yoruichi vaguely.

Somewhat satisfied, Ruby perked up to the main topic. "So, when can we get started? I'm ready for anything you've got."

Yoruichi visibly winced and paused to figure out her words. "Um, uh, Ruby... you see when you say we that's , well, you're thinking of you Ren, and Ichigo... when in fact it's only Ichigo."

Ruby's was stuck as though by glue and only muttered in a flat tone. "Come again?"

"I think it's best that I show you." said Yoruichi as she pulled out a thin mannequin from out of thin air, "The secret to master Bankai in three days lies in this spiritual tool called the Tenchintei. It allows the user to draw out their Zanpakuto so they may train with them to master Bankai and will do so as long as the wielder has done so."

"And you're telling me this because..." said Ruby.

'Ruby is going to dig her own grave, I just know it.' thought Ren and sighed outwardly.

"Sorry to say but," said Yoruichi with a heavy look, "but the device can only handle one spirit at a time, and I already had plans to train Ichigo."

Right on cue, Ruby's world absolutely shattered, her hopes and dreams of attaining some super awesome power just gone. It left Ruby a pale shell of herself with her jaw hanging loosely and tears swelling in her eyes. Ren covered his ears knowing full well what would come next.

Ruby let out all her breath at once and shouted, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Her scream was somehow so loud it rocked the training grounds, but she ran out of breath before she actually did damage. Next, Ruby flashed in her Semblance and trapped Yoruichi in her arms.

"Please~, don't do this to me, Yoruichi~." cried Ruby, "Why does strawberry get to get cool stuff but not meeee~?! I'm your little Red Flash. Am I not good enough?"

"Ruby..." said Ichigo with a sweatdrop. Ruby's banter reminded her too much of Yuzu when she got upset, and she could really melt hearts of stone.

"Oh, don't cry like that." said Yoruichi in the most honest sympathetic tone she could muster, putting a hand on Ruby's head, "You're my little pupil, remember? I never would forget you."

Losing hope, Ruby dashed away and sulked in a corner sitting on the ground and hugging her legs to her chest. A dark atmosphere was hanging over her head like a storm cloud.

"You're only saying that just because I'm upset." whimpered Ruby, making everyone sweatdrop more.

"Ruby, of course you're my star pupil." said Yoruichi, approaching the miserable Ruby, "My prized Red Flash. And so I've been thinking of teaching you a 'technique' only I know. It may not be Bankai, but it is no less awesome since I made it." Yoruichi put a comforting hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Does that make you feel better?"

"...I guess so." responded Ruby softly. She stood up with a sunken head and walked off with Yoruichi for exclusive advanced training.

"Hey, what am I supposed to do here?" demanded Ichigo.

"Just focus your spiritual pressure into the Tenchintei." explained Yoruichi before she and her student flashed away with a shunpo.

Ichigo glanced to Ren. "So what are you going to do?"

Ren put a hand to his chin. "I'm already at the peak of my shikai. It wouldn't hurt to train for bankai, and I have an idea that Kakushifokkusu agrees with. I'm going to ask Chad for help. Good luck, Ichigo."

Ren disappeared with a shunpo and left Ichigo in the dead silence. With a sigh he put his hand on the device.

'Alright Zangetsu.' thought Ichigo, pouring in his spiritual pressure, 'Bring it.'

(Time-Skip)

Yoruichi smashed Kido into Ruby for the next four hours until she left to check on the situation outside. She did manage to get out some low-level Bakudou and Hadou spells and that was all Yoruichi needed for Ruby to advance to move on her secret training. The effort of using so many Kido arts left Ruby's body aching in pain and that wasn't counting the "spars" of Yoruichi beating down Ruby to hone her hand-to-hand. Nonetheless while she was gone Ruby was honing her skills with her reaper through imagery training and pushing herself to get the perfect blocks, parries, dodges, and most importantly slashes with the most minimal of stamina usage and openings. She hoped this was her first steps in mastering Bankai.

Ren already started on his mastery of Bankai with a means that was certainly unique. Somehow, he put part of his mind in Jinzen to bond with his Zanpakuto spirit. It left all of his senses to be almost unusable but the kicker is he had both Ganju and Chad fight him while he was in partial Jnzen. To say Ruby was amazed was an understatement. The way Ren fought with his eyes closed dodging and attacking his opponents on almost equal ground reminded her of a martial arts master of decades of experience.

'Wow.' thought Ruby, 'He makes graduates, no, proper Huntsmen be outshined by him. If he didn't get so tired easily at the academy, Pyrrha would be considered only a fraction of Ren's skill. And Weiss would be seething at the sight.'

The thought of Pyrrha sunk in her heart. She hadn't heard anything since they battled to near-death on both sides. She wondered what Pyrrha Zaraki was currently doing. Was she plotting revenge and training her body to make Ruby a bloody mess? Or in that final blow when Ruby let her silver eyes unleash her power did Pyrrha regain her memories and was planning to help them?

If that was the case, Ruby was going to have a heavy talk with Ren.

Ruby broke herself from her stupor and realigned her stance. Before she could do a swing, the voice of Summer grabbed all of her attention.

"Ruby, I think I may know a way for you to master this Bankai." said Summer and Ruby's eyes grew wide with stars.

'Mom, you're the best~!' Ruby squeaked in her head.

Summer chuckled and huffed her chest in Ruby's mindscape in pride. "Of course I am. Who else has a mother that also kills Grimm and bakes the best cookies?"

She paused to explain. "Remember when you manifested myself in the real world with your eyes. Do it now, but put more power and concentration. I should have a body of a more solid reishi, or whatever you call ghost stuff. I won't be around as much as Zangetsu, maybe seven to eight hours at best. I highly doubt you'll get Bankai in the time we have, but I can get you on good progress, and plus you'll get more practice with your eyes."

'Alright Mom.' Ruby replied, 'I'll try my best.'

Ruby concentrated her Aura till it was at a certain tune and glowed silver instead of her usual red. She focused a significant amount to her eyes. After a moment, her eyes flashed in brilliant silver light that engulfed a part of the training grounds. Once it dimmed down, the smiling image of Summer stood before Ruby. The girl latched onto Summer in a tight hug.

"Hi, Mom." said Ruby, digging her head into Summer's body, "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself."

Summer chuckled and wrapped an arm around Ruby. "It's okay, little petal."

Summer released their embrace and jumped a distance away, showing off years of experience in the agility of her movements. With a snap of her fingers, Ruby's Zanpakuto disappeared and they both wielded dual pistols.

"This is what we'll do." said Summer, "I'll give a certain weapon of my choice. If you are able to hit me once, we move on to the next weapon. The same goes for you, but you will move down a step if you lose."

Ruby smiled. "Easy enough."

Summer gave her own devious smirk. "Oh, ho-ho. So my little petal Ruby has grown some thorns and she thinks she can take on her own mother. Remember who was the greatest Huntress in Remnant, sweetie."

In the blink of an eye, Ruby was shot with a concussive blast that felt like an iron bug rammed into her shoulder. The shot was relatively harmless, but her Aura acted up to work on a bruise.

"Ow." whined Ruby, "I wasn't ready, Mom."

"The enemy won't warn you, Ruby." replied Summer, her smirk unwavering.

'Why do I feel like I'm going to go through hell?' thought Ruby, her instincts on edge.

They blinked about the training grounds with reishi bullets going in all directions like a storm. Each combatant was faster than a lightning strike as they tried to shoot the other, but it was clear who was the dominant one. Wherever Ruby would let off a shot, Summer dodged out of eyesight and Ruby was shot in the back. Ruby would turn around to retaliate only for Summer to disappear and start all over.

"Just," growled Ruby, trying to keep pace with Mazazoru, "stay - still."

Two shots impacted on Ruby's shoulder when Ruby sprayed her dual pistols in front of her.

"Come on!" whined Ruby.

"Aww." cooed Summer, "Is Ruby getting cranky she can't keep up with her own momma?"

A tick mark formed on Ruby's forehead. "I'm gonna make you eat those words."

"That's the spirit!" cried Summer and mother and daughter blinked around each other and fired endless volleys of reishi at each other. Each bullet made a small crater in the rock.

Summer had her eyes locked on her daughter, examining her every move. She already had a feel of Ruby's predetermined movements, and in her opinion she was way too predictable. If she ever went back to Remnant, she was going to give Qrow and Taiyang as piece of her mind for not properly teaching her little petal. Summer fired a shot meant to make Ruby dodge out of the way.

Normally, Ruby would've used her Semblance or shunpo to dodge in a backwards diagonal direction. This time, Ruby adapted successfully and ran straight forward, which caught Summer off guard. The rush of petals split to throw the spirit off and blind her vision. The click of dual guns alerted Summer to the danger behind her. By pure instinct, Summer swayed her head to the side to avoid a reishi bullet hitting its mark, then proceeded to kick Ruby aside.

"Nice try, Ruby." Summer complimented.

Meanwhile...

Ichigo had gone through a dozen swords and he still thinks that Zangetsu is bent on killing on him. What was the point of all these swords if they just break on contact? As Ichigo was dodging a slash of Zangetsu, a certain zipping noise caught his attention.

"What in the-"

Ichigo was interrupted from his sentence as something aggressively lodged itself into his behind. A reishi bullet courtesy of Ruby missing a shot on Summer.

"AAAAAAUUUGH!" screamed Ichigo, "RUBY, YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT!"

Back with Ruby...

Ruby took a pause in her training with Summer when she heard the terrible roar of wrath from Ichigo in the distance. As much as she knew Ichigo, the teenager went true with his promises whether there are for favors or revenge. Already, Ruby was sweating bullets on the spot.

"Nice shot." Summer complimented.

"I-It wasn't on purpose!" exclaimed Ruby.

Summer sighed. "Whatever you say, Ruby. You were close, but I'm only going to make it harder on you."

Without warning, Summer used shunpo to get behind Ruby to shoot at point-blank. She feinted the shot as Ruby dodged to outwit Ruby, but the daughter narrowly dodged on reflex with her own shunpo. A bit surprised, Summer didn't acknowledge the bang from Ruby's pistols till the white clad Huntress felt a sting on her back. She turned to the source to see a tired, yet smiling Ruby.

"Very good, Ruby." said Summer.

Suddenly, Ruby's pistols were replaced with a glaive just a third longer than Ruby's height. It gleamed silver like it was made from marble, but the blade as delicate as it may seem gave off a deadly aura. Ruby gave it a few twirls to quickly adapt to the unique balance and wield it effectively. Once done, Ruby didn't have a second for a break and her glaive moved behind her back to block a strike from Summer.

"Your reflexes are getting better." Summer complimented.

"By the end of this day," challenged Ruby, gaining distance with shunpo, "I'll be the one getting Bankai."

"Just try it." said Summer, and the two Roses disappeared in afterimages of themselves across the area.

(Elsewhere)

Far from the fighting in a locked room dimly lit in an orange glow of a fire. A symphony of metal bashing metal sang throughout the forge for days to then stop. Pyrrha, once beautiful dancer of death, was stained with ash in her hair and sweat on her body. Even so, it couldn't mask the tone physique of the upbringing of a warrior.

Her presence in the forge served two purposes. One was the environment. The near-killing heat was a form of Jinzen training to sharpen her spiritual pressure. Combined with some daily exercise, her endurance was pushed beyond the limits. Insane to most, but to Pyrrha it was served as a punishment for the corruption of her spirit. She still cursed herself that she almost killed Ruby of all people.

The second was the forge itself. Pyrrha may not be someone from Squad 12, but her knowledge of weapon making proved a treasure with the materials she had. It may not be interchangeable with her released Zanpakuto, but it served a purpose still. Hanging by a leather strap on her back was a rifle, black and grey in color from the steel Pyrrha used. She was lucky that ammo and ignition could originate from her own reiatsu reserves.

Despite having her memories of her past life restored, Pyrrha felt split. Pyrrha Zaraki was gone, but there was still an imprint and so Pyrrha Nikos wasn't exactly there either. Everytime she gripped her Zanpakuto, Pyrrha felt this rush of vigor. It was so intoxicating, but it was sickening at the same time. The more she practiced and swung perfect slashes and thrusts, the more this feeling flooded through her body till all she could see was blood.

Pain didn't matter. Losing and winning were the same. Death was meaningless. All that remained was the fight itself.

No matter how much Pyrrha would try to deny it, there was undeniable truth whether in life or death. Pyrrha loved to fight, and it was in death that she truly discovered its bliss.

"What am I?" Pyrrah questioned in the orange glow, her hand tightly gripping her sealed Zanpakuto.

The doors of the forge smashed off their hinges and the tall shadow of a man stood in the light. As Pyrrha's eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed the details of a ripped haori and a pointed chin with a fanged grin. It was the yellow eye that gave him away.

"Captain Zaraki." said Pyrrha, her voice revealing her surprise.

"There you are." said Zaraki, "I've been looking all over for you. And you seem stronger than before."

"Hi, Redhead." said Yachiru, poking her head from Kenpachi's shoulder.

"Oh, hello, it is nice to meet you." spoke an orange headed teenager.

"Who are- What is going on?" exclaimed Pyrrha.

"What does it look like?" said Kenpachi, giving off his maniacal look in his golden eye, "We're going to start a riot."

Pyrrha could tell from that look. The girl must be one of the Rioka, and somehow convinced Kenpachi to aide them in whatever quest they have in Soul Society. That meant they were going to commit treason and fight the entire Gotei 13. It was the perfect opportunity to help Ruby, wherever she may be.

But it was also the prospect to fight. Pyrrha couldn't help herself really. She gave Kenpachi a fanged grin and a glint of excitement in her green eyes.

"What are we standing around here for?!" stated Pyrrha, her tired state immediately washed away by her flaring reiatsu.

Going to skip most of the training and get right to the end of Ichigo's fight with Byakuya. I'm going to change the canon a bit and make it that the other captains arrive later.

Up next is Chapter 15: 3 V 3

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