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 17: Boiling the Blood of a Rose
The morning sun rays leaked through the windows of Ichigo's room. The unceasing light forced his eyes to open. He sighed and grumbled about forgetting to close the damn curtains. Ichigo would've done anything for maybe give or take 14 hours of sleep in his home instead in the "heaven" that was Soul Society. Physical exhaustion was already taken care of and Ichigo didn't mind it. It was the mental exhaustion between convincing Byakuya and avoiding Kenpachi and other weird crap.
Yeah, Ichigo needed a much longer vacation than any summer could give him.
The smell of breakfast caught Ichigo's attention. He quickly got dressed into his casual wear and headed downstairs. So far, everything was great, mostly because his dad didn't surprise attack Ichigo for at least five minutes. In a rare occurrence, Ichigo was in a genuine good mood. The usual clatter of plates and utensils drew him closer and he couldn't wait to see the faces of his family.
As he expected, yet cherished, there was his family that he had known all his life. Goat-chin was no where in sight, which slightly unnerved Ichigo but it wasn't unusual. Karin was playing as the literal carbon copy of Ichigo as she sat on her end of the table. Ruby was almost drooling with the smell of food in the air. Ichigo could hear Yuzu in the kitchen humming a tune...
"..."
Wait, Ruby!?
Before Ichigo could exclaim why the hell Ruby was in his house, the events of last night came back to him and he gave his usual deadpan face. Of course, when Ichigo got Ruby to his home Goat-chin had to be awake and spout about some crap of Ichigo becoming a man. It took a good fight between the two so the old idiot didn't say something out of context with Ruby present. The last thing he needed was his practical partner thinking he was a pervert or something along the lines. Ruby couldn't fit in the closet Rukia used, but she made use with a red futon she conveniently had one person with her trademark of a rose.
"Yo, Ichigo!" greeted Ruby in her super Yuzu-like manner.
"Good morning." Ichigo deadpanned.
"Did you sleep well?" Ruby asked.
Seeing the concern in her silver eyes actually coaxed Ichigo to put on a better face with a smile. "Like the best thing I ever had."
"That's great." Ruby perked up, "I can't wait to try your sister's cooking."
"Jeez, I can't believe there's two Yuzus in the house." commented Karin, turning her attention to her brother, "Care to explain, Ichigo?"
"You see-" Ichigo explained before the inevitable interrupted him.
"IICCHHIIIIIIGOOOO!" cried Isshin in a "surprise" attack. Ichigo lazily dodged his opening kick, then curled his lip in fury as he returned with a punch on Isshin's face and sent him into the wall.
"Impressive son." groaned Isshin, keeping a pained smile, "With that kind of strength... I have no worries you'll protect your girl-"
Ichigo stomped his foot on Isshin's face and growled. "What the hell, old man?! Don't just attack me randomly. Especially when I'm trying to say something."
Ichigo looked back at the wall and his face contorted with surprise. The whole side of the wall looked like cracked glass, but none of Ichigo's usual punches did that kind of damage. He turned to Ruby, who gave him a look that said 'We'll talk later'.
Ichigo took his seat and Yuzu arrived with a platter of pancakes and another of cookies. Which was strange considering who would have cookies first thing in the morning. His answer came to him when Ruby preyed on the entire platter like a hungry Hollow, her eyes dazzling with satisfaction.
"Did you somehow find Yuzu's older and more childish clone?" Karin half-joked.
"Nme," spoke Ruby before she swallowed, "The name's Ruby Rose."
"Karin Kurosaki." Karin answered, "So explain Ichigo."
"As I was trying to say before Goat-chin interrupted," explained (lied) Ichigo, "Ruby just recently moved here. When I got here, she was totally lost where to go, so I just figured I could let her hang out here for a while till she knows her way around town."
"If that's the case," said Karin, stretching her hand to Ruby, "welcome to Karakura Town. Hopefully you won't find anymore idiots here."
"Thanks!" Ruby chirped, and the two girls shook hands. She went back to eating her platter of cookies like a vacuum. She would stop in between stacks to drink from a whole glass of milk and refilling each time.
"More please." squeaked Ruby, finishing her baker's dozen.
"I'm sorry, but you shouldn't eat like that." said Yuzu.
"Pretty please." repeated Ruby with a cute pout.
'Gagh, this is too cute to be possible.' thought Ichigo.
Yuzu responded with the same pout. "I'm really sorry, but you have to eat healthy."
"You leave me no choice." mumbled Ruby under her breath. She took a deep breath, making sure she was face-to-face with Yuzu. When she opened her eyes, they were wide and puffy with a layer of tears just near breaking point. Ichigo, Isshin, and Karin's jaws dropped as they witnessed the dreaded Puppy Eyes.
'Too much.' thought Ichigo, reminded of the times Yuzu gave the family that look.
"Oh, this is going to be interesting." commented Karin.
Yuzu replied. "Don't think-"
"Pweaty pwease." Ruby squeaked cutely.
'No, not that.' thought Ichigo.
Yuzu started to sweat. "I-I - no-"
Instead of using speech, Ruby's eyes somehow widened more and she responded with a whine. Like a freaking puppy.
"I-"
Another whine.
"I-" The words were starting to get caught in Yuzu's throat.
Another whine, and a tear dripped down Ruby's cheek.
"No I-" Yuzu's was starting to break down and her own tears were starting to fall.
Ruby used a long drawn out little whining cry and a stream of tears went down in her cheeks. That was the final weapon that broke Yuzu down.
"I can't say no!" exclaimed Yuzu, running into the kitchen and bringing out another tray of cookies. Instantly, Ruby glowed with joy and went back devouring her sweet paradiese. Isshin, Ichigo, and Karin's jaws practically smashed into the table at the end of the so-called fight of cuteness.
"Yuzu - lost!?" exclaimed Karin in shock, "She can't be human."
"Son, where did you find this girl?" gasped Isshin, "Anyway, I'm proud of you. She'll keep your heart warm."
"It is not like that." snapped Ichigo with a blush.
Yuzu sat by Isshin, trying to dry the tears from her little contest with Ruby. Her eyes were still puffy as though she had witnessed the most sad thing on Earth.
"You okay, Yuzu?" asked Isshin.
"I..." Yuzu sniffled, "I just couldn't say no. It was like looking at the most miserable puppy that deserved all the love in the world."
"That's kind of... scary." said Karin with a shiver.
"THANK YOU!" screeched Ruby, completely satisfied, "Oh, Ichigo. Can you give me a tour around town later? Maybe introduce me to some of your friends?"
Ichigo shrugged. "Sure."
Isshin giggled. "Make sure you us-"
Before Isshin could utter the next word, Karin and Ichigo used an uppercut to send their father flying into the next room and possibly through a wall. Ruby sweatdropped at the scene, and even more confused how everyone was so casual about it.
"SHUT UP, YOU PERVERTED OLD FART!" shouted Ichigo.
(Later...)
Ruby and Ichigo were walking along the sidewalk of the street. First, they headed to a clearing in a forest away from public eyes so Ruby could discuss some important issues.
"Okay, Ruby." said Ichigo once they arrived at a private-enough spot, "What is it you want to talk about?"
Ruby smiled. "Check this out."
Ichigo's eyes popped out of their sockets. Reiatsu took form on Ruby's left arm, quickly taking definite shape and color. In the next second, Ruby was wielding her Zanpakuto in her Gigai.
"He-he." Ruby giggled at Ichigo's expression.
"How?" gasped Ichigo.
"It's because of my Gigai." said Ruby, withdrawing her Zanpakuto, "Unlike you, I'm... technically dead, so Mr. Urahara made a Gigai for me. This one works with my Aura so instead of leaving a random body around, the soul candy uses my Aura to construct a brand new one. I can still use my shinigami powers with my Aura and Semblance."
"Lucky you." grumbled Ichigo, then he remembered that Mr. Urahara could wield his Zanpakuto in his Gigai. He paused for a moment, then his lips curled in anger. "That bastard is holding out on me."
"You just realize that?" Ruby deadpanned, "That brings me to another thing."
"Wha-" Ichigo was cut off, literally, by her Zanpakuto after his shoulder. His reflexes saved Ichigo from a direct blow, but he could feel the impact.
"What the hell?!" shouted Ichigo.
"Look at your shoulder." said Ruby.
Ichigo looked with awe as he saw a blue shimmer covering his shoulder. The shirt may have been cut, but the skin was completely untouched.
"Wait, what is this?" asked Ichigo.
"Don't you remember?" said Ruby, bringing up her Aura which shimmered red around her body.
"So this is Aura." said Ichigo, checking himself out as he brought out what he felt was Aura and found the blue shimmer around his body, "This feels really weird."
Ruby smiled. "Neat, right? It'll protect you from practically. I'd say we have so much, we could walk through a speeding train. Wonder if that would work?"
"Let's not test that out." Ichigo deadpanned.
"Sorry." Ruby said, scratching the back of her head, "Not only are you invincible, you're also faster and stronger when you activate it. Then, there are also Semblances."
"How do I do that?" Ichigo asked.
Ruby shook her head. "You have to find it yourself. I mean, my Semblance is speed which I discovered from running from my sister after I, uh - 'redid' her hair. A friend of mine named Nora found hers when she was struck by lightning."
"Uh, okay." said Ichigo, trying to get over that last part.
"You know," said Ruby, "since you have Aura, you could use the same soul candy I use. That way, you don't have to put your body in a closet when it can just turn back into the candy for later."
"I guess that is useful." replied Ichigo, "Want to keep going? You still have no idea to get around town. Maybe later, we can have lunch with some friends from my school."
'It sounds like he's offering you a date.' Summer teased, making Ruby blush.
"Hey, Ruby?" said Ichigo, a bit concerned since Ruby went all red.
"Y-Y-Yeah, I would like that." Ruby answered with fluster, "Uh, l-lead the way, Ichigo."
(Orhime's apartment)
After touring around Karakura for the morning so Ruby could know her way around, they now tried to find a home for Ruby to stay. The first that came to mind was Orhime's apartment complex, which wasn't too far from Ichigo's home and Urahara's shop.
"Hi, guys." greeted Orihime finding Ichigo and Ruby at her door.
"Yo." said Ichigo.
"How you doing, Orihime?" asked Ruby.
"Great." perked Orihime, leading them into her home, "So what brings you here?"
"You know Ruby isn't from here," said Ichigo, "so we're trying to find a place for her stay. Your place seemed a good option."
"Really?" said Orihime, clapping her hand together, "Oh, that's great. In fact, there's an open apartment right next to me and Tatsuki. Speaking of..."
"Hey, Ichigo!" called an oddly deep feminine voice. From a room walked a teenager with a white shirt and regular black pants. Her hair was black and spiky and she had tomboy manner around her.
"Who's that?" Tatsuki asked, her attention to Ruby.
"That's Ruby Rose." answered Orihime, "She just moved her to Karakura and is moving with us to live here."
"Odd name." noted Tatsuki, "Oh, I know, you must be a transfer from the United States."
"Y-Yeah." agreed Ruby, extending her hand, "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." said Tatsuki, shaking Ruby's hand, "Huh, you've got a strong grip."
"Thanks." said Ruby, instantly pulling back her Aura.
"You should probably catch up on some Japanese if you're going to live here." Tatsuki suggested "Ichigo, any plans today?"
"Well, I've spent the morning showing Ruby around town, then go have lunch somewhere." briefed Ichigo, "We don't mind if you want to come with."
"Sure, I'll join you." said Tatsuki, "We'll catch up since last month."
Ruby sighed. "Well if that's the case, I'm going run off to get a friend of mine to join us. See ya."
Tatsuki widened her eyes as Ruby sprinted out of eyesight with a burst of Ruby's Semblance, only leaving petals in her wake. The room was blanketed in a silence for a few moments since Ruby left.
"Did she-"
"She's just really fast." answered Ichigo.
(Some time later at a restaurant)
Ichigo gathered his friends, including Chad and unfortunately Keigo who ended up getting under Ichigo's foot when he tried to hug him. They ordered some burgers and fries, and Ichigo ordered two extra for Ren and Ruby. Before Keigo could ask, the bell of the door rang as out stepped said pair.
"Over here." called Ichigo, waving his hand to get Ruby's attention. There was a zip in the air and Ruby took her seat right next Ichigo. Ren walked over and took a seat on the other side at the very end, followed by Chad then Keigo. Tatsuki sat next to Ruby.
"Glad you could make it." said Ichigo, then pointed to Keigo, "He's Keigo. Just ignore him."
"Hey!" Keigo protested.
"Hello!" Ruby greeted with her signature cute smile, "Tatsuki, Keigo, right there is my friend Ren."
"It is well to make your acquaintance." said Ren.
"Woah, what's with the bruises all over you?" noted Tatsuki. Ren was hiding them well, but not enough from those who could notice such things and squinted eyes.
'What has he been doing?' thought Ichigo, noticing some bruises weren't very mild when he noticed one hidden by his green shirt.
"Ren trains a lot, but I always tell him to not push himself." Ruby half-lied and with some venom aimed at Ren.
"Sorry, it is just somewhat of a routine I do." Ren excused.
"You must be an impressive martial artists if you train like that." said Tatsuki.
"Oh, he's the best." Ruby added, after taking a bite from a burger, "He's like 'wha-cha' and his opponents are like 'Oh please no'."
Tatsuki smiled while sipping from a cup. "Really? I would love to spare with someone if he has such credit."
Ren made a small smile. "Maybe." Then proceeded to stay quiet and eat his meal.
'Everyone's being nice.' thought Ichigo, 'Perfect. Just as long as-'
"You must be from the United States, right?" said Keigo, putting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his hands, "I didn't think you would be such a cutie."
'God-#######-dammit Keigo!' thought Ichigo, and outwardly curled his lip in the middle of a scowl.
"Uh, yeah." replied Ruby, "It's nice there, but not enough fresh air you know."
'Crap, its too late to stop him.' thought Ichigo, crushing his cup by accident.
"I promise everything's beautiful here." said Keigo in his usual manner, "But nothing beats those pretty eyes you have. And you look cute in that red cloak of yours. Like Red Riding Hood."
Suddenly, the very universe seemed to stop in silence. Ren almost choked on his drink and visibly paled on that last comment. A massive amount of killing intent descended on the entire restaurant, and all eyes turned to Ruby who shadowed her face. One could swear a pair of piercing red eyes were staring back at Keigo.
"What!?" hissed Ruby coldly.
Keigo started sweating bullets. "Uh, you know, that cape is kind of cute, you know. I mean it's totally not a rip-off from-"
Ruby smashed her hand on the table, splitting it in two. Cold silver eyes stared back at Keigo, twitching with fury that spelled his end. It was like he was staring back at a death goddess.
"I-Ichigo, what d-do I do?" said Keigo.
"Run." Ichigo answered, and Keigo bolted out of the restaurant.
'But you can't outrun Ruby.' thought Ichigo.
In the most rage-induced tone, Ruby bellowed. "I AM GOING TO MURDER THAT BASTARD AS SOON AS I FIND WHERE HE IS."
At that, Ruby ran through the door and after Keigo with petals in her wake. After a few seconds of shocked silence, the group went about their normal business eating their lunch, or whatever was in their hands.
Only Ren was silent. His mind was haunted the last time somebody commented Ruby's cloak as cute. In her mind, it was nothing but awesome. When Cardinal happened to make such a comment as lame to Red Riding Hood, oh the nightmares he had since that day. Ren could still hear Cardinal's screams of agony where Ruby was laying a bloodthirsty beatdown on the larger man.
Ren could remember the faces of everyone present. Blake's eyes were slitted like cats. Weiss' jaw hit the floor if that was possible. Yang actually had a look of pride on her face, but still a hint of fear in her eyes. JNPR were silent in shock, except Nora who cheered Ruby on. Even more when Ruby actually broke Cardinal's legs, and threatened to rip his shoulders unless he admitted that he was wrong.
It took Glynda with her full Semblance to pry Ruby loose from Cardinal, but the mental scarring on everyone was already done. Near the end of the beatdown, they were met with a new side of Ruby that laughed with an evil grin.
Ren made a mental note to never piss off any women unless he wanted to see that look again.
A ringtone caught the table's attention, and Ichigo pulled out a cellphone which was actually a shinigami device in disguise. Seeing whatever message it was, Ichigo leaned over to Ren to keep Tatsuki out of earshot.
"I just got some news." whispered Ichigo.
"What?" asked Ren with a raised eyebrow.
"I called this service from Soul Society to remove and replace my Bankai." said Ichigo, "As an added bonus, I also made plans to get you and Ruby Bankai as well."
"...Why," hissed Ren, "the hell - would you do that?!"
"Because my Bankai-"
Suddenly, the front of the restaurant exploded. Shards of glass flew in every direction, but Ichigo and co. managed to get to some cover to avoid any major injuries. Ren and Ichigo could feel a foreign spiritual pressure just outside and it was likely the source of the explosion.
"Hello," spoke an eloquent, yet deep voice, "I am Baishen from the Bankai Removal Service, and I've come for one Mr. Ichigo Kurosaki."
'Maybe it wasn't such a good idea.' thought Ichigo.
'It wouldn't be a normal day without this happening.' thought Ren, summoning Kakushifokkusu.
(Meanwhile)
(Que "Ditty for Daddy")
Despite the destructive fight caused by Baishen, most of the attention of Karakura Town was drawn to the high-pitched screams of terror from Keigo. People could only see a blur of the brown-haired teenager racing down the sidewalk on a bicycle, absolute terror plastered on his face. His heart was drumming in his ears, and beads of sweat were staining his white shirt.
'I should be fine.' thought Keigo, 'There's no way she can catch up to me.'
By Kami's, or Monty depending which universe, will to screw the man over, Keigo looked back and all color in his face went away. A dust cloud was blowing people away as it approached and at its head was Ruby at high speeds with a look so menacing it promised the eradication of Keigo's soul. Keigo gave a feminine scream, pushing his legs beyond screaming pain. But Ruby was easily catching up with her Semblance.
'She isn't human!" thought Keigo.
"Get back here and take your beating like a man!" bellowed Ruby, her eyes flashing silver in a very Yang-like manner.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no." whimpered Keigo, "NO! Please spare me."
"Give me one damn good reason, soon-to-be-six-feet-under!" snarled Ruby, and her voice was so close to Keigo's voice.
'Ruby, maybe you should just get him to apologize and let him go' Summer suggested sweetly.
Keigo exclaimed. "Okay, okay. Your hood is not a rip-off. The style is totally original. Cool even with the red. If you wore white, it would be really lame."
Summer's attitude took a full one-eighty. 'Oh, he did not! To hell with this asshole. Kill him, Ruby!'
And right on cue too as Ruby had chased Keigo into a more rural area with no witnesses. With a wicked grin, Ruby summoned her reiatsu and let it glow red and silver on her outstretched left arm.
"Cast off the void, Mazazoru."
The scythe manifested into the real world, held by Ruby in an expert's stance and ready to chop anything to tiny pieces. Keigo witnessed the entire thing, and it was because of the gripping fear that he didn't pass out from shock. Now he knew Ruby wasn't human. She was the death goddess just strolling through town, and Keigo had to be so stupid to piss her off.
As much as he said, no amount of prayer or apologizing would save his soul from the wrath of Ruby Rose.
I'll end it there. At some point, I wanted Keigo to get a good bashing. It just fits him as a character to annoy as many people and be the rightful victim of his actions. And pissing Ruby off was right up his alley. If I didn't write this, I would be laughing. In the next chapter, Ruby will show off her training she has attained from Yoruichi. Hint: It isn't Bankai.
Up next Chapter 18 and potentially the start of...
Drum roll...
The Memories of Nobody.