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?
Note: I changed Ichigo's Semblance from intangibility to blink instead, where he can teleport by switching places with someone or an object.
Chapter 31: Brunwick Dead Farm
'This doesn't feel right.' thought Ichigo disturbed by the not literal chills going up and down this spine. With his spiritual pressure that he passively leaks out in waves Ichigo basically had his own coat even if he was shirtless. He did however become concerned by Ruby's friends' lack of winter clothing, but assumed it was because of their Aura. He still doubted their limits to the cold as the snowstorm started to pickup into a blizzard. The silence was too unnerving, and the chilly air gave a dreaded sense of foreboding. Unconsciously, Ichigo twitched his fingers on the hilt of Zangetsu ready for any kind of attack.
'That's good, Kingy.' said Zangetsu, 'Keep those instincts sharp. It will save you.'
Ichigo narrowed his eyes as he observed the town. Everything was oddly intact, yet there were no signs of life. It all just screamed to be alert.
Shortly on his cautious stroll, Ichigo caught sight of familiar, bright silver eyes with her old team on the porch of a house. Ruby and Ichigo met their eyes and both twinkled towards each other. The smile on Ruby's face could melt the entire snowstorm. With her were Weiss and Qrow.
"I don't get it." Ichigo heard Ruby say as he approached, "The empty towns I've passed through have been damaged or unfinished. But this place looks fine, and that's not normal. Whatever did this may be still here, so we need to keep our guard up."
"M-Maybe everyone left in a-a hurry." said Weiss in a shiver, which was ironic given where she was born.
Ruby shook her head. "No, I don't think there are any survivors. If there were, I would feel their reiatsu out, but there isn't a sliver left."
Seeing the confused looks on Qrow and Weiss, Ruby opted to explain. "You could say it is another way of saying Aura. Reiatsu comes from the soul, and when generated it becomes an energy named reiryoku. I don't sense either."
Ichigo made himself known. "I agree. This doesn't feel right, and we had to fight through Soul Society. Be on guard."
Qrow nodded and tried to twist the knob of the door, and quite strangely it was locked. He took a step back before kicking the door down, then rushing in with weapons out. Ichigo and Ruby sharply observed the house they entered for any threat, their zanpakuto ready to slice through whatever came.
Blake, Yang, and Oscar followed ready for a fight. Ruby's wolf ears seemed stiffened for any sound, and Ichigo's tail looked ready to wrap around any he found his way. The air froze under the tension of the warriors present at the entrance.
"Close the damn door already!" cried Maria, "It's too cold in here as it is."
The animal appendages of Ruby, Ichigo, and Blake visibly relaxed when they sensed no threat nearby. Once everyone went inside, Oscar and Blake barricaded the door with a cabinet. The cat Faunas went to get some logs for a fire, and Weiss went to get blankets for the night with Yang. Ren and Senna explored to find some food, or to practice Kido somewhere else if the happy expression on Senna's face would indicate such. Maria settled herself in the family room where the fireplace was. Ruby caught sight of a wall of three photographs. The biggest was a picture of the entire town that only consisted of a few families. Another pair of footsteps stopped at her sight, and she could hear the familiar grunt of pity.
"This is just sad." commented Ichigo, "All these people put all this to make something wonderful for everyone. Only for it all to bring it down."
"This is what happens to those who have ambition." Ruby said, "You get something wonderful or the Grimm bring ruin. This is why we are always so desperate to get rid of the Grimm so we can make these wonders possible."
Ruby reached out a hand and caressed the part of the portrait of the family in the middle with the little girl. She sighed knowing that such an innocent soul was unfortunately taken from this world, but she couldn't cry about it like she would a while ago. Maybe being a pseudo-shinigami perhaps nullifies any feelings towards death or maybe Ruby has matured enough in her adventure as one to accept all kinds of death no matter how painful.
"AAUGH!"
The shrill scream of Weiss snapped Ruby out of her thoughts. "WEISS!"
Panic rushed through Ruby. For all she knew, her partner could be in mortal danger so she used a shunpo to instantly appear where Weiss' reiatsu signature was. The Shnee heiress was with Yang in a bedroom, on the floor panting in terror. Blake, Ichigo, Ren, and Qrow followed next. Eyes went to the bed, and some gasps escaped their mouths.
In that bed were decayed bodies of a couple, killed in their sleep.
"Holy ####." Ichigo swore.
Seconds passed as the group could only look at the bodies in shock, with the shinigami present staring at the bodies with wide eyes. According to them, there wasn't even a taste of reiatsu from them. Ren approached the bed and examined the bodies more closely, feeling out anything he could find. He waved a hand over them that glowed an ethereal green.
Ren turned back to everyone a moment later. "Died in their sleep and a very long time ago if we go by how much they have decayed. Strange thing is there aren't any signs of attack, like they were drained."
Ruby could only sigh. This was just becoming too hectic. Ren walked Qrow and Blake out while Ruby crouched to Yang and Weiss to rest supportive hands on their shoulders.
"C'mon, let's get downstairs."
(Time-Skip)
Ren and Qrow went to investigate the other houses for the same phenomenon from upstairs. The rest of the party made themselves comfortable in the living room where a blue fire was lit by a simple Sokatsui from Ruby. That caught a few wide eyes from everyone until she explained the ways of Kido. Weiss was sitting by the blue fire with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a steaming cup in hand. Ruby was standing on her left side with Oscar. Blake and Yang were sitting on a couch with Ichigo leaning on the wall beside them. On the right of Weiss were Senna and Maria sitting on chairs.
A swoosh of wind and Ren appeared with shunpo before the group, then Qrow bust through the door wiping snow off his arm. They only took one look at the group and shook his head.
"It's the same in every house." said Ren, "They've all died in their sleep and at the same time."
Qrow walked the fireplace. "It's like the whole place went to sleep and never woke up."
"We're not staying here, are we?" asked Weiss apprehensively.
"We don't have a choice." Qrow corrected, "The storm won't let up," Qrow then looked to the pseudo-shinigami, "and not all of us can tank the cold."
"Uhh... sorry?" Senna apologized meekly.
"Whelp." Maria announced, jumping off the chair and walking to the bookshelf, "Might as well get comfortable."
"Yeah, fat chance." Yang commented.
"Enough!" Ruby snapped, "I know you're all frustrated over Ozpin's, or Ozma's, of, well, there is no less to say than absolutely being pathetic. We can use any supplies the town might still have. Maybe even a vehicle to carry us all."
"I'll do another sweep of the town." said Qrow, walking off, "No one goes alone."
Yang sighed. "Whatever gets me out of this house."
Ren turned his gaze to Senna. "Would you like to practice more Kido, Senna-san?"
Senna perked up. "Yes please."
Yang and Blake left to find anything to help with transporting them while Ren and Senna went to practice (hopefully lightly) Kido in a separate room. Ruby barricaded the door again once they left, but at the entrance to the living room was Weiss looking down with Ichigo looking straight at Ruby concerned with her friend's well-being.
Ruby smiled at Weiss. "Food always makes me feel better."
Weiss sighed. "You never change."
"Well, at least I'll do something." said Ichigo following the pair.
The trio entered a dark cellar at the end of a hall passed the stairs. At first, Ruby used her zanpakuto and poured her reiatsu to produce a glow that only grazed the shadows. Weiss, however, raised Myrtenaster with a flame burning at its tip. Embers traveled from the flame to every candle in the room, revealing a miniature bar.
Ruby frowned at the shelves full of bottles. "Let's keep the door closed so my uncle doesn't drink the whole place dry."
Weiss blinked at Ruby for a second before nodding. Ichigo continued forth to another door at the end of the room. As he investigated the other room, Weiss spoke up to Ruby.
"Ruby," asked Weiss, "do we have to go to Atlas?"
"Where else can we take the Relic to?" said Ruby.
Ruby and Weiss followed the pseudo-shinigami inside. Weiss frowned when there was a door to a wine cellar.
"Yo, found some food here." Ichigo called from the side.
Ruby gave a cute gasp and dashed to Ichigo's side. Next Weiss knew, Ruby was holding a can of food with a glowing smile on her face.
"Food!" Ruby squeaked.
"Canned beans?" Weiss wondered.
"I could probably make something good out of this." said Ichigo, grabbing as much as he could, "I'm not Yuzu, but I can cook."
"Can't wait to try." Ruby cheered.
Ichigo glanced back to the rows of canned food just lying there on the shelves. He switched back and forth with his reptilian tail and the shelf. An idea lit up in his head.
"Let me try something." said Ichigo.
He focused on moving his fifth new limp. At first, it just waved randomly but Ichigo found the more he used it the more easier it was to control. Like Zangetsu said, all that is needed is instinct. Eventually with some focus, Ichigo got full control of the white reptilian tail and revealed to be almost ten feet at full length. It wrapped around the cans of food on the shelf and gently held them up in the air. It was literally easier done than said.
"Well, that's convenient." Weiss complimented, "Obviously strong and can cook. I'm starting to get jealous of you, Ruby."
Weiss smiled at her own take on a joke. In response, Ruby gave half of a glare and some pink dusted on her cheeks.
Ichigo smiled as he gave a few experimental waves with the cans of food wrapped gently in his tail. "I think I am going to like having a tail."
As they left, none of the trio realized the shaking of the wine cellar door
Ichigo, Ruby, and Weiss reached the front of the house with cans of food in their arms. Yang and Blake were returning to bring news of a cart they could attach on and Qrow got back from another patrol. There was a sudden boom from one of the rooms in the house. All attention went to the returning pair of Ren and Senna, the latter covered in ash.
"What happened to you?" asked Ichigo.
"Tried to use Haien." Senna groaned, coughing out some ash, "It, uh, didn't go so well."
"You are not ready for Hado spells in the 50s, Senna." Ren lectured.
"C'mon, let's eat-"
Ruby was about to say until she cut herself off. Her eyes dilated and locked on Blake, most notably her cat ears. Her wolf ears stiffened straight and if she had a complimentary tail it would be shaking like crazy. Confused looks drew on the pseudo-shinigami wolf faunas. Blake however had a horrified expression as her cat ears perked up in alarm and she took paces back.
"Oh no." Blake bemoaned, "Oh god no. Please, Ruby. Please don't do it."
"... must... chase..." Ruby mumbled in a trance, "... must... get... cat... play with Blake..."
A feral grin stretched itself on Ruby's face, highlighting her canines. A dog's pant replaced her normal breathing. Ruby leaped into a chase in a dash of rose petals and reappearing in a failed catch where Blake was standing. Due to her heightened reflexes, the cat Faunas got out of the way in time and was currently clinging on top of one of the couches.
"Uh, what's happening?" Oscar asked.
Ichigo facepalmed and sighed. "Oh Kami, I think Ruby is trying to chase Blake."
"Why would Ruby chase her?" Yang asked.
"BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK!"
It was at this point Ruby crouched to a lower height and was almost on all fours like a wolf. Blake's fingers sunk into the couch, fear riddling her dilated eyes and drew her back up.
"Yeah, that is a stupid question." Yang admitted, seeing the answer between the two Faunas. Honestly, what else would happen between a cat and a wolf Faunas? Instinct is rather stronger when a pair like that meet, and usually causes a disaster.
Yang had to duck avoiding two blurs. Blake was now perched on top of a lamp in the corner with Ruby being held back by Ichigo's tail.
"PLEASE SOMEONE SAVE ME!" Blake pleaded while hissing at the rival Faunas.
"BARK, BARK, BARK!"
"Oh my goodness, she is actually acting like Zwei." Yang said, losing her breath as she laughed.
"It is never going to be dull moment with Ruby now a Faunas, is it?" said Weiss.
"You said it, not me." Yang replied.
"Oi!" Ichigo called, his feet struggling to stay put while holding back Ruby who was on all fours, "Somebody help me here!"
(Time-Skip)
The next hour or less was spent trying to calm Ruby down from her break in self-control and Blake from the trauma of being chased. Be it actual cat or Faunas, it is the worst nightmare of all felines to be chased by the savage canines. Dinner was served by Ichigo in the form of baked beans and whatever spices he could find. The group of quite impressed by his surprising skill. Ruby was simply enjoying a bowl of it with Ichigo as the pair were sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Everyone else except Qrow were in the living room finished with their meal.
"I'm impressed, orange-head." Yang called from the living room, "Now I won't have to worry about Ruby going on about her cookie addiction since now she's got her own baker."
Ichigo scowled. "For the last time, my name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I mean, come on what's so weird about having orange hair."
"It just that yours looks so bright that it has to be bleached." said Weiss.
"Trust me, I did a thorough check on that hair of his," Ruby denied, "and it is definitely his natural hair color. I love it."
Yang chuckled, but Ruby could tell it was mostly fake. Mostly everyone except the shinigami had very low moral. Ruby looked the right to find Qrow sitting in a chair gazing at the moonlight with a bottle of alcohol on the floor. Ichigo already nodded to Ruby and she walked to her uncle. She could smell the beer from his breath, giving Ruby a strong urge to slap her uncle. Now was not the time to be drinking.
"The storm has cleared up." Qrow informed without giving a glance to Ruby, "We'll leave by morning."
"As soon as we leave the better." Ruby said.
"I know." Qrow said, "I just have a bad feeling about this place. Especially with me around."
"We still need you." Ruby said in a raised voice, "You're also why some of us are still here, so I need you in tiptop shape."
"Heh, sure." Qrow said in drawn out tone that meant the opposite, "I'll wake you guys in the morning
Ruby's fists clenched at her side, but she held in her rage for the moment. Qrow wasn't in his worse shape, at least not yet.
"I'm serious, Uncle." Ruby said with a small snarl, "Stay - sober. And don't bother with me. Senna and I going to spend the night to train."
Qrow said nothing in return. She went to the living room to gesture Senna outside. The pair stood opposite each other a safe distance from the house to avoid collateral damage. Senna immediately released Mirokumaru, her sword lengthening and turning into a golden staff. Winds carrying autumn leaves sprang to life around in a whirlwind. Ruby smiled feeling the reiatsu of her friend which was now stronger than a 3rd Seat since the first time they met. Pretty soon she'll reach captain level and then they can get started with Bankai.
Ruby didn't release her zanpakuto at all as she held in a kendo style Urahara tutored her on. She relied on a more fluid defense with deflections and dodges with just the medium in regular defense. Unfortunately, it contrasted with her style wielding her scythe that focused on unrelenting offensive speed.
Without a word, Senna charged Ruby with an overhead. Ruby simply deflected it away while sliding her blade down the polearm for a palm strike behind Senna's reach. The purple-head gritted her teeth and slid her staff down her hands so the butt of his could block her hand. Ruby gave her an approving smile for Senna's quick-thinking.
Ruby disappeared with a burst of shunpo and landed a kick to Senna's back. The blow was enough to send her sprawling over the snow for a few feet, but the shinigami quickly righted herself with a handstand and shook any snow out of her hair. Maple eyes narrowed on the smiling Ruby in a lazy stance.
"C'mon Senna, I know you can see my movements." Ruby said.
Senna widened her eyes when Ruby suddenly appeared right in front of her lunging her blade. She just moved her head out of the way while her Aura grazed against the steel. Ruby followed-up putting her hand on the blunt edge and forced the zanpakuto blade into a heavy side slash. This gave Senna enough time to block it with Mirokumaru. Steel against steel caused a start of sparks to go off and her feet immediately left the ground from the power overwhelming Senna. The shinigami flew off at the end and crashed into the snow. Ruby's attack continued on digging a trench into the ground, and picking up snow and earth into the sky as it went on.
"Uhh... oops." said Ruby, a sweatdrop on her forehead seeing the destruction she accidentally caused.
A sudden powerful tornado exploded from the earth, freeing Senna from an early grave. The shinigami used her zanpakuto's immense control of the winds, sending a a horizontal twister blasting at high-speeds to Ruby. Her eyes widened at the speed and she just raised her zanpakuto in time to block it. Ruby gritted her teeth as the tempest started to push her back. Before Ruby could jump out of the way, two vertical tornadoes slammed into her sides. Her Aura ached under the building pressure. Ruby looked up and only had enough time to see Senna raining down three more upon her.
"Orutenpesuto."
The chant of her Senna's move marked the signature of her Shikai surrounding Ruby in several tornadoes that combined into a dome of shredding wind on impact trapping Ruby in the deadly space. Senna wasn't done as she put one hand on her staff and focused her reiatsu.
"Hado 11: Tsuzuir Raiden."
Lightning etched from her arm onto the staff then traveled down every tornado like a wire. Once all electric currents met, the dome exploded in massive explosion of electricity. Winds combined with lightning to further damage Ruby inside the dome. A smile etched on Senna's face.
"Ha-ha, take that, Ruby-san." Senna celebrated, "I win-"
"Cast of the Void, Mazarozu."
A great explosion of white reiatsu dispersed the winds and lightning like they were nothing. Senna shielded her eyes from the sheer pressure waving over the area. Snow flew away from the ground revealing the bare earth. In the center was Ruby with her released zanpakuto now a mighty scythe. There were a few scratches on Ruby's face, but nothing of significance.
"I'm sorry." Senna squeaked in terror.
Ruby smiled, deeply impressed how far Senna had come. The fact Ruby forced her to release Mazarozu at all speaks volumes. Right now, she could say that her level could now reach to a lieutenant indefinitely.
"You're doing so well, Senna-san." Ruby said, "From now on, we can do our fights with both our Shikai."
"What are you talking about?" Senna boasted, "This fight-"
-"is over." Ruby's voice said from behind Senna. The maple-eyed shinigami felt the butt of a something hard hit her in the head and everything went black. Her fall was interrupted when Ruby put a hand under Senna and slowly descended back to the ground. Ruby glanced to Senna glad that she put such a good fight. She stared to the horizon and quirked one eyebrow when she saw the sun start to rise.
Did they really fight that long?!
That's it for this chapter. I wanted to add just a little fight so everyone could see Senna's progress as a shinigami and where she stacks up.
Up next is Chapter 32: Death to Apathy
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