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 18: Clawing Out
"I lost him?!" snarled Ruby. She dispelled her gigai back into a soul candy in the middle of her chase. A moment ago, Ruby and Keigo were running in a forest. Once Ruby unleashed Mazazoru, they were only stumps and logs in her scythe's reach and the scarring path Ruby left. Keigo had never been so terrified in his life. He wished he was in a nightmare and actually allowed Ruby to take a swing at him. His nerves got the better of him when he dodged the last second, and he realized it wasn't a dream when Ruby left a stinging cut on his neck.
She was so close. So close to making Keigo pay for insulting hoods. They were not cute. They were awesome. And just when Ruby was going to deal some sweet justice, a blast of ice came her way from somewhere freezing the forest. Ruby got out of the way of course, but Keigo was no where in sight.
And Ruby was not happy about that. In fact, her ears were steaming with growing rage, ready to explode. A voice much like her own was cackling in her mindscape.
"HOW THE #### DID I LOSE HIM!?" shouted Ruby, huffing with anger. After putting a coin in her swear jar, she was left to her still livid state.
'When I find that loud-mouth,' thought Ruby, 'I'll make him wish he shaved Yang bald.'
Mazazoru was vibrating with its own emotions, furious that she was so close to cutting Keigo. They both needed something to push out their anger on.
In answer to unsaid prayers, multiple hollows flooded through Gargantas. They hunted after Ruby with her massive spiritual pressure. However, her silver eyes gazed daggers back at the horde. Her spiritual pressure skyrocketed, sending the hollows to the ground. Most of the weak ones were already flattened with their bones crushed.
"Fine then." said Ruby, taking her signature stance, "Guess I'll rip you all apart."
No matter how many came, they all met with the blade of Mazazoru twirling in an elegant but deadly dance around Ruby. It reminded Ruby of Qrow tested her against a pack of Beowulves one winter ago. She put all her effort in that little fight. But now, such a feat was second nature to Ruby. Slaughtering through Hollows was a literal walk through the forest, her scythe spinning around her in a red blur that chopped all who came too close.
It made Ruby a little giddy on the inside. If she was this strong now, she couldn't wait to get Bankai. A certain maniacal voice in her mindscape cackled in agreement.
Yet, it did not quell the erupting fury that plagued Ruby. She needed to let loose more of her power. Maybe it was time to use that, but none of these Hollows would last a second to satisfy her. She needed who could last long enough to vent her frustration on.
Her senses perked up to familiar rises in reiatsu not too far from her. She recognized one of them instantly as Ichigo, then Ren, Renji, and a few of the Gotei 13 Captains. Among them was a powerful signature on par with a Bankai. Ruby smirked before disappearing in a dash of rose petals. She soon found herself in some ruins. Renji was on the ground with a broken Zapakuto with Ren tending to his wounds, Ichigo was exhausted, and the captains were scattered. In the sky was a tall man made of steel. No, swords! Ruby didn't know if she should feel sickened or fangirling over the sight.
"Ichigo, what's happening?" asked Ruby.
"It's kind of my fault." admitted Ichigo, "I called a Bankai delivery service to get you and Ren a Bankai since you didn't get one. You know, as a thank you."
Ruby felt her cheeks heating up and she could only mutter, "Wow, that's really... sweet of you." She raised her voice once she got back her composure. "Why is he still standing?"
"Long story short." said Ichigo, "No one - is using their FREAKING BANKAI!"
"Then why aren't you?" retorted Ruby.
"Because he took some of my reiatsu and I can't activate it." said Ichigo.
Ruby frowned. "Likely excuse."
"Excuse me." said Baishin, crashing down to the ground, "My business is with Ichigo Kurosaki, and I would be happy to conduct business with you as well. Now run off so you don't get killed, Red Riding Hood."
Ren paled as a dark aura on the level Retsu Unohanna descended on the entire landscape. Shunsui and Juushiro gulped, Hitsugaya never felt so cold, and somewhere Kenpachi was having a funny feeling Unohanna was here. He grabbed Ichigo and Renji with a couple of shunpoes.
"We need to run, now!" said Ren, taking the two to a safe distance.
Some of the captains also took a few paces back as they saw Ruby losing it yet again. Her fists were clenched and Mazazoru was glowing an ominous red.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE COMPARE ME TO THAT FAIRYTALE!?" roared Ruby, her reiatsu splitting the ground.
With a growl, Ruby swung her scythe at Baishin who simply held it back with his arm. "Ha, as if a shikai can defeat a bankai."
(Soul Society)
Captain Kuchiki was going over some paperwork when he suddenly paused when he was struck with this strange feeling.
"I feel as though I must scorn someone." said Byakuya before he went back to his work.
(Back to the fight)
"Shiruba Sukai."
Upon the chant, the blade of Mazazoru glowed silver and sent an arc of silver reiatsu. Baishin was caught in the explosion but came out without a scratch. He got behind Ruby with shunpo and launched a fist into her back. Ruby bounced off the ground before she anchored her scythe to steady herself, and her Aura already worked to heal the damage.
"That attack wasn't half bad." said Baishin, "Perhaps you would be so kind as to allow me to remove your Bankai."
"I don't have a Bankai." Ruby answered.
"Then I guess you're going to have to Ban-die." stated Baihin before he disappeared with shunpo.
'Wow, that joke is as bad as Yang's.' thought Ruby.
Baishin reappeared in front of Ruby with a forward jab, but Ruby ducked under it his arm. She slashed diagonally from his right flank and enhanced the attack with a reishi blast to recoil the weapon forward. The skin of Baishin wasn't even scratched. He punished by grabbing Ruby's head, smashing her into the ground, then throwing her forward. As she was in the air, Baishin launched a rain of blades.
Ruby utilized hoho to gain footing in the air, and just barely realized the storm of blades flying after her. She used shunpo to avoid the blades, and deflected any that got too close.
"You're too distracted by my wares." yelled Baishin from behind.
Ruby just turned her head to meet a steel fist to her jaw, followed by another to her gut. She coughed out her breath. With a hammer smash Baishin sent Ruby back to the ground. Her Aura was at its limit, and the last of it was used to soften the blow. Sharp pain followed as Ruby's body was at the mercy of a barrage of blades sinking into her shoulders, legs, and arms.
"Ah, you're very strong for someone with just a shikai." said Baishin, grabbing Ruby's head, "Maybe I'll take your Zanpakuto to put it on as a special purchase."
"Dammit, Ruby!" called Ichigo.
Ren charged after Baishin, only to be blown away by a giant blade summoned by Baishin. The blades embedded in Ruby starting to sink deeper, and the pain forcing her to lose consciousness.
'This is really it!?' thought Ruby, 'It can't. I just got so strong. Strong enough to save everybody. I will not die. Not again. I need to get to everyone. I will not die. I have to - live!'
'Finally...'
"Ha-ha-ha." laughed Baishin, raising a blade to finish Ruby off, "All of your power is now mine!"
Before his blade could cut Ruby through her shoulder, her right hand rose up and caught it without trouble. All eyes, including Ichigo and Baishin, widened at the sight. They suddenly shivered as a sickly reiatsu made an appearance from Ruby, stronger than she was before. And the thing that shocked Ichigo and co. the most that it felt like a hollow. It felt like Ichigo's inner Hollow.
"Dumbass." said Ruby, her voice distorted with a subtle cackle, "This power isn't yours nor is it this idiot's."
When Ruby raised her head, Ichigo felt the world stop in that one moment. There along with a smile unlike of Ruby was half of a white mask on the right side of her face and continuing to grow. Her eyes were black just like Ichigo remembered from his inner Hollow, but the major difference were the piercing red pupils that made his instincts go out on red alert.
"It's - all - mine!" Faster than Ichigo could see, Ruby's slashed through Baishin's shoulder, freeing her from his grasp. The blades popped out of Ruby as a white substance healed the wounds. 'Ruby' took a moment to check out her surrounding and herself, her smile widening.
Ruby laughed like a witch. "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. So this is what it's like to live. To breathe air. To feel cold and warm. To have a soul. Finally, I'm free~. Ha-ha-ha-ha."
"Screw your shikai, I'm not buying from a freak." roared Baishin.
'Ruby' didn't let up that feral smile as she moved in such an erratic motion and avoided every blade that went after her. She twirled and twisted in a strange way, and her scythe let off a deep crimson reiatsu. She swung upwards, sending an arc of crimson and black energy. Baishin waved away the dust cloud. A deep gash went down his torso, a sign he was almost split in two. 'Ruby' was nowhere in sight.
"Over here." Baishin heard the voice right by his ear. He turned in time to see Ruby with that smile inches from his face and her other hand twirling her scythe with a single finger via a hole in the polearm. 'Ruby' slammed the scythe down and erupted a geyser of dark reiatsu big enough to split the horizon.
Baishin was barely battle-worthy when the dust cleared. His steel body was cracked in multiple places, and one of his eyes was blinded by his own blood. 'Ruby' stood not too far, twirling her scythe casually.
"So this is what it feels like to have someone else's life in my hands." said 'Ruby', "I'm not done playing with you yet. I still have to know how your screams fee-"
'GET OUT NOW!'
'Ruby' flinched, and her right arm went to the mask to pry it off.
"NO!" cried 'Ruby' frantically, swinging Mazazoru around, "You can't take this away from me. I will not allow it, Ruby!"
'This is my body! So get OUT!'
"I promise you, Ruby. When I take full control, I'll make sure you're in chains. I'll make sure you see every moment when I kill everyone you love. I'll make sure you hear their screams."
'You will never have your way.'
"AAAHH!" screamed 'Ruby', turning to Ichigo, "You! You better not slack off with your host. It would be a real shame if I were to kill Ichigo before you can take control."
'Screw you bitch! I will become King and make you eat those words!' Ichigo heard a voice scream in the back of his head.
With one more tug, the real Ruby pried the mask off her face. It instantly crumbled into dust, and the cold reiatsu disappeared from her. The effort to get back control left Ruby winded. Baishin made a final stand, determined to finish these shinigami and get profit from all of their Zanpakuto.
"What will you do mow?" said Baishin with a smug grin.
Ruby gave the steel man a stoic look. First, she anchored Mazazoru into the ground, then took off her red hood revealing her commander-in-chief uniform, and tied her red hood to the polearm. She lowered herself closer to the ground, with her hands outstretched.
"I may not have Bankai yet," said Ruby, "but my teacher is the awesome Yoruichi, and she taught me the next best thing."
(Que RWBY ost "Crash and Burn")
Her reiatsu burned around her into a thick silver veil. The reiatsu started to become more static and concentrated around her body. Some streamed into her eyes, producing a lustrous shine in them that put gold to shame. The aura around her condensed till it brimmed around her like liquid-plasma.
"Shunko."
Reiatsu erupted like electricity from her back and ripped through the ground. The air not only got heavier, but also heated. Ruby's eyes glowed with a lightning-like effect that made her quite intimidating. Baishin bit his lip and fired his barrage of blades. Ruby stayed in a relaxed stance. When the barrage came too close, her arms moved in an impossible blur and either deflected or shattered every projectile.
Ruby kicked forward in speeds that sent a miniature thunderclap. The next thing Baishin knew Ruby dug her knee into his gut and shattered his steel body. She followed-up with an uppercut then a high kick that sent Baishin into the air. The moment Baishin regained his bearings, Ruby was already behind him from a burst of pure speed.
'I can't last long in Shunko.' thought Ruby, 'I'll end this now.'
"Sutadansu: Fasutosutegi."
Ruby's right arm moved in an invisible blur delivering uncountable punches by the second that sent a shimmer of light on each impact.
"Sutadansu: Dai Ni-dan."
Ruby now used her left arm and her attacks increased in number and speed.
"Dai San Dankai."
Her right leg added to the onslaught.
"Dai Shi Suteji."
Upon that command, Ruby used all four of her limbs to attack, sending shockwaves and blinks of light with each kick and punch. She attacked with all four at once, pushing back Baishin to set up for a finisher. Her hands clapped together and flattened parallel to the ground where silver electricity and light emitted from her palms.
"Buredodoragon."
Ruby rushed forward with battle with her clapped hands poised like a sword. There was a second of silence as Ruby passed the form of Baishin who soon split in two at his midsection. She gave an impassive look as Baishin died in an explosion, finally released from his Zanpakuto.
'With this power,' thought Ruby, 'with this strength of mine, I will keep everyone safe.'
The strain of Shunko took its toll on Ruby's body. She could barely cling onto consciousness with her mind gone with any energy. Without it, her hoho technique dissipated and she began a slow fall to the ground.
"Somebody catch meee..." Ruby called out tiredly.
Her descent was suddenly stopped and Ruby felt a strong arm around her shoulders and under her arms. Her eyes managed to make out the familiar lock of orange hair of Ichigo. But she was taken back by the lack of a scowl on Ichigo's face replaced with a genuine smile. It made him glow a little. Ruby tried to push that thought aside as that detail trailed to "other" things, and a blush crept on her cheeks.
"Thanks..." said Ruby.
Ichigo softly landed back on the ground and he handed Ruby her cloak and Zanpakuto.
"Rest easy." said Ichigo, "Feeling good? Finally cooled off?"
Knowing what Ichigo was referring to, Ruby nodded. "Yeah, I'm cool now. Stupid Keigo."
Ichigo chuckled as he supported Ruby on her feet. She saw some of the captains taking their leave with the situation over, and Yoruichi was present giving Ruby a look of pride. One of the captains, a petite woman in the same outfit as Ruby was giving a noticeable glare that sent daggers through Ruby. Unknown to Ruby, that was Soi Fon the former apprentice of Yoruichi.
'She's good, but I don't get what makes her worthy of Yoruichi-sama's teachings.' thought Soi Fon with venom.
"One day and we can't get a break." said Ren, twisting an aching shoulder.
"Tell me about it." Ichigo and Ruby said.
Ichigo reluctantly let Ruby go via her pestering that she could stand. The sun was going down already. A thought came to Ruby: Just how long did she chase after Keigo? She was broken out of her thoughts by the sound of a drop of water and... crying? Her sharp sense automatically turned Ruby's head to the source, but only found the Zanpakuto that was once fused with Baishin. But the more Ruby looked at it, the more she heard the crying. Ruby didn't realize that she was approaching the blade till she questioned the concept.
Steeling her resolve, Ruby walked closer to the Zanpakuto. When she put a hand on the hilt, she almost broke down in crying herself feeling the intense misery and sorrow. Ruby realized it was the Zanpakuto spirit mourning for the loss of its closest friend.
"What's wrong, Ruby?" asked Yoruichi.
"The Zanpakuto." Ruby whimpered, shedding a tear, "H-He's crying. In the end, it considered Baishin its partner and best friend. But now he's gone, he's left with nothing but misery and sorrow. It-It's so sad. So sad."
'Incredible.' thought Yoruichi, 'She's able to have create a link with another Zanpakuto.'
"Ruby, what will do then?" Yoruichi asked.
Ruby took a moment to think. This wasn't just a blade. It was a person. It was all alone without anyone to care for it. Without anyone to share a purpose. With no doubt in mind, Ruby pulled the Zanpakuto in her grip, getting surprised looks from the shinigami present.
"For now, I'll keep him." said Ruby, "I promise you, Zanpakuto, that I will find a worthy partner for you. One who will prove stronger and give you a better, more righteous purpose."
Yoruichi was shocked. Such a thing wasn't unheard of, but what Ruby was entailing was putting a huge responsibility on her shoulders. She would have to choose very wisely who would be the next partner to that Zanpakuto. At first, the concept scared Yoruichi, but this was Ruby. That girl had a knack of doing things beyond her age.
'I have no doubt you'll do the right thing.' thought Yoruichi.
"Ichigo," said Ruby, "tomorrow, let's make sure we can actually take one day from all this."
Ichigo sighed. "Yeah, I know, it's still summer break and I don't want to waste the next two months."
A bit short than I would've liked, but I at least got to show off Ruby's inner Hollow and her Shunko. The difference between this inner Hollow and Ichigo's is that this one is more clever in how to gain control of Ruby, is crueler, and desires destruction and doesn't rely on instinct.
As for Baishin's Zanpakuto, it will be given to someone on Remnant when she returns along with any other blades she happens to collect. Let me know what Baishin's Zanpakuto's real name and Bankai name could really be in the reviews.
Next up is Chapter 19, and the definite start of Memories of Nobody.
Stay in touch. Please, please leave a review.