I wanna tell ya'll before-hand, a certain someone is gonna appear rather early.

Also, that this story is shorter than the last, at least ten chapters less.

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo while RWBY belongs to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth

Chapter 02: Planted Seeds

Ruby hums to herself as she skipped to the cluster mailboxes near the entrance of the dormitory. Punching in the code of the box designated for RWBY, she opened it. Inside is a couple of magazines, an envelope, and a cylindrical tube with a note attached. Ruby eyed the tube curiously before taking it out. She stumbles at the surprise weight the tube carry.

I wonder what's inside?, she wondered. Ruby shrugged her shoulders as she took out the magazines and envelope and closes the lid.

"Hey, Ruby." Ichigo greeted as he and Uryū entered the building.

"Oh, hey." Ruby greeted back. She notices the two wearing their combat attire. "Mission?"

"Yeah. A search and rescue mission a little ways away from Vale." Ichigo said.

"What do you have there?" Uryū asked, glancing at the tube.

"I have no idea." Ruby said. She looks at the folded note. "Apparently, it's from my dad." She turns back to her mentors. "What are you guys up to? Coming to say bye?"

"I just need to ask you and your team a question." Uryū answered.

"Oh, okay. Follow me then. They're in the living room." Ruby said as she led the young men to the area where Yang is playing a video game on the holographic tv, Weiss is checking her makeup, and Blake is reading… when is she isn't? "Hey, girls! Mail's here."

"Sweet." Yang said, not breaking eye contact from the game.

"And Uryū wants to ask us something." Ruby added.

"I just want know what you girls like to read." Uryū said.

"Oh, I like comics!" Ruby exclaimed, raising her hand and dropping the magazines and envelope in the process.

"…I think you need to be more specific than that, Ruby." Yang said.

"Oh…" Ruby said. Blake bends over the armrest of the couch to gather up the dropped mail. "Okay, I prefer ones with a lot of action. Ooh! Have you heard of the new superhero manga? The one where the main character goes to a high school for heroes?"

"It's going to take you two minutes to read that whole book, Ruby. They're nothing but pictures." Weiss said.

"No, it wouldn't it." Ruby argued.

"Rubes is right. She'll have her nose in it for, like, an hour or so." Yang said.

"Told ya so." Ruby said, sticking her tongue out childishly.

"Weiss, I think this is for you." Blake said as she handed the envelope to the heiress. She looks over it and a smile graced her lips.

"It's from Winter." She said.

"You're sister?" Yang wondered, putting down her Scroll, which she was using as a controller.

"That's right." Weiss answered. "Oh, I wonder what she wrote."

"Can't you just text her?" Yang asked, nonchalantly.

Weiss hmphed. "You have no clue about etiquettecy."

"…I don't even know what that word means." Yang said. "I don't really care much for books, but I do like S.E. Brine novels, the king of horror."

"I…like all kinds of books, really." Blake said, trying to hide a guilty blush.

Weiss took a moment to think. "I have read Death of an Aristocrat. A fantastic read. I have taken a liking to the Famine Event series and Eventide."

Yang makes a disgusted sound. "Yeeugh, you actually read that stupid vampire story?"

Weiss huffed. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Don't tell me you watched the movies too."

"And if I do?"

"Why are you asking?" Blake asked.

"…No reason." Uryū said as he typed what he heard in his Scroll. Ichigo rolled his eyes at Uryū's poorly veiled excuse. He noticed the cylinder that Ruby is still holding twitching.

"Hey, Ruby, something's moving in there." Ichigo said.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, you're right. Hey, Yang. We got something from Dad." Ruby said.

"No foolin'? What is it?" Yang asked as she stood to her feet and walked over.

Ruby unscrews the lid of the tube and holds it upside down. Something black and furry slipped out and landed on the carpet floor. It twitched before puffing into fullness. Everyone in the room looked closer at it. It was a black/white-furred corgi with a red collar and a golden tag with a bone and two dots.

*Bark**Bark*, the little animal said.

"ZWEI!" Ruby and Yang cheered as they picked up their beloved pet.

"He sent a dog…" Uryū started.

"…in the mail?" Weiss finished.

"Oh, he does this all the time." Yang said as Zwei starts to lick at Ruby's face.

"…Your father or your dog?" Blake asked… about seven feet away.

"I think a better question is how did he manage to fit a medium sized dog in this thing." Ichigo wondered, picking up the dropped tube.

"If I'm being honest, I could see your father doing this sort of thing too, Kurosaki." Uryū said.

Ichigo opens his mouth to protest but thought about it. "…You're probably right."

"So, you're saying that this mangy mutt is…" Weiss was about to object before she saw Zwei looking at her upside down with his button-like eyes and his tongue lolled out to the side. "…going to wive with us fowever? Oh, yes he is, yes he is." Much to everyone's surprise, Weiss took Zwei from Ruby's arms and into her own as she started to baby talk him.

"…Keep him away from my belongings." Blake said, staring at the canine warily. Funny enough, you could almost see her hair raised on ends, like how an actual cat would when frightened.

"Uh, need I remind you that Renji is a dog Faunus? I've never seen you like this around him." Yang pointed out, rather amused to see her normally stoic partner like this in the presence of a docile pooch. "Wait. I think you were a little spooked when you first sparred with him."

"…This is different." Came Blake's reply. She remembered the time she first fought against Renji. It was okay, until Renji had her at sword point. Blake knew that Renji wasn't going to hurt her but coupled with the fact that Renji has red hair and a deep voice like a certain someone Blake knew, it brought up some disdainful memories. Ichigo could feel her discomfort.

"I'm not sure if this is allowed." Uryū commented as he scratched Zwei below the chin. "I wonder why Mr. Xiao Long sent him."

"Here's a note." Yang said as she took the note off the tube. "Dear girls, I have to leave home for the moment, so I need you two to keep an eye on Zwei until then. I've sent everything he needs with him. Love you both, Dad." She read.

Ichigo chuckled. "Okay, I was a little skeptical about the delivery process of a 30-pound dog in a 2½x9 inch mail tube, but I've seen some crazy stuff, either from missions or at home with my nutty fruitcake of a dad. But there is no way that I'll believe that there is more in this thing. I just can't." To prove his point, he turned the tube upside down. In some kind of miracle, at least dozens of dog food cans spilled out of the tube, following by a can opener and chew toys. Uryū's jaw dropped slightly at the sight. "Okay, I'm done. Ishida, let's go." He said as he flung the tube away and threw his hands in the air as he walks away.

"Ichigo." Ruby spoke up. Ichigo turns at her. "You'll be okay." Ichigo's eyes widen slightly and his lips part a small bit. The other three members of RWBY smile at him too. Zwei barks from Weiss' arms. Even Uryū had the faintest of smiles.

Ichigo chuckled a little. "…Right."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ichigo and Uryū arrived at Tukson's Book Trade. They enter through and were met with the smell of books. The store's owner, Tukson, wasn't present, but the two could hear him in the backroom, humming. Uryū dings the bell on the front desk.

"Coming." They heard Tukson said. Not a minute later, a burly man of six feet emerged from the backroom. "Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade. Home to—" He recognized the two. "Oh. Well, if it isn't Uryū and Ichigo." He greeted warmly.

"It's great to see you again, Tukson." Uryū said. After giving Tukson a quick 'hey', Ichigo browsed around the shelves.

"Likewise. What do I owe the pleasure?" Tukson said.

"I'm here to order some books before my team and I head out for a mission today."

"Anything for my star ex-employee." Tukson said.

"Then I hope you don't mind with assisting me with some recommendations." Uryū said.

"Of course not. What do you have in mind?" Uryū shows him the list. "Hmmm. Let me see what I have. What about you?" He asked Ichigo.

Ichigo shook his head. "I'm good. Thanks though."

Tukson nodded. "All right. Just give me a minute and I'll be right back." He moves back into the rear room. Sometime later, he reemerges with stacks of books. "Here we are." He places the books on the desk and sorts them out. "These are the books with high recommendations. From Brine's latest Asylum to the manga collection of Hero High." Uryū looks through the novels.

"Hmmm…these are really good choices. Do you by any chance have the last two installments of the Hymn of Flames series?" Uryū asked.

Tukson thought for a moment. "…I can order them. It might be until tomorrow though. I can also call for the Shattered Morn from the Eventide series."

Uryū grimaced at that. "…Sure."

"I thought the slogan was 'Home to every book under the Sun.'" Ichigo remarked, earning an elbow to his ribs.

"I get that a lot." Tukson laughed as he types on the cash register. "This is your total with some discounts." Uryū hands him a card to pay for it. "Thank you for your patronage. Would you like for your purchases to be delivered?"

"Sure, why not? We'll be gone until tomorrow."

"All right." Tukson said as he types on a computer. "Expect the delivery either tomorrow or the next day."

Uryū nods. "Will do."

The warm smile on Tukson's face slowly changed to a small frown. "Uryū, what would you think if I were to give you all the books in this entire store?"

"…Why are you asking me that?" Uryū questioned.

"Just curious." Tukson said. Ichigo could almost feel the uneasiness coming off of the broad man. Lately, he's been able to… more or less 'feel' other people's emotions. Or, at least, the negative ones, whether they are minor or not.

"…Well, I'd be flattered. Why?"

"…I've been thinking about leaving." Tukson admitted. "Business hasn't been booming lately, especially since you left to attend Beacon. I guess folks aren't so kind to Faunus store owners."

"Tukson, you don't have to listen to those people." Ichigo said.

"I know, but you know the old saying: Money talks." Tukson said. "I can't keep a failing business afloat."

Uryū looked solemn and sighed softly. "If…that is what you wish, then I hope you will endure in future endeavors."

Tukson smiles. "Don't worry. No matter what my new job may be, you will always be my star employee… I'm happy to see that you are doing well."

"?...What do you mean?" Uryū asked.

"I remember when I first hired you, you were a little rough around the edges. Not rude, but at the same time, not kind either. But, after some time, you've loosened up a little. And now, you seem at peace with yourself."

He turned his head away so neither broader men could see his blush. "Th-thank you."

Familiar with this behavior, Tukson chuckled. "You're welcome."

"Have a good day, Tukson. Let's go, Kurosaki."

"'Kay." Ichigo said as they leave. Once they were gone, Tukson's smile changed to a frown of dread.

He needs to hurry…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well, that was fun." Ichigo commented.

"Not funny, Kurosaki." Uryū scolded.

"I wasn't joking." Ichigo said. Uryū sighs. "You…care for the guy a lot, don't you?"

"Of course I do." Uryū said. "He was the only one willing to give me a job when no one else would because I'm a Quincy."

"I'm surprised that you were willing to order those Eventide books." Ichigo said. "I thought you hated those."

"I do." Uryū said. He pushes up his glasses. "Still, they're not as bad as The Boy with the Scar and King of Crowns, given their poor description of my people."

"Yeah. I agree with the use of tiny, timid elf slaves being a bit of an insult, but you have to give the author of King of Crowns some credit. He was spot on with the Quincys' arrogance." Ichigo grinned mischievously as he ducks from Uryū's attempt to hit him.

"Itsygo!" They heard Nelliel Tu Odelschwank called out from the other end of the street as ran to them. "Is Itsygo ready to go?"

"Hey, Nel. Yeah, we're ready." Ichigo said.

"Yay! It's been a long time since Nel and her team went on a mission with Itsygo and his team!" Nel exclaimed, obviously happy. Ichigo smiles at her. She may be closer to becoming a Huntress than most of her peers, but she still has a charm of a little girl…unless you make her mad.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ruby scurried over to hide behind an armchair, covering her mouth to muffle her snicker. Zwei waddled into the living room, looking for his owner. He tilts his head curiously.

"Boo!" Ruby exclaimed, jumping up from her hiding spot. Zwei barked excitedly, waging his stubby tail. Ruby giggles. "Okay, your turn! Go go!" The corgi jumps into a run after Ruby ducks behind the armchair. After a minute or two, Ruby gets to her feet to find Zwei. She scans around the living room to find the hiding pooch.

Zwei pops out from underneath the coach with a bark. "There you are! Ready for another round?" Ruby asked the dog. Zwei's answer was a wag of his tail and running around. "Okay. Wait for moment and…" Ruby trails off when she noticed a magazine on the coffee table. It was a Cookie Fab magazine, showing off a chocolate chip cookie recipe. Ruby goes to pick it up to examine it closer. Zwei tilted his head again like before. As Ruby read through the recipe, a feeling of nostalgia grew.

She wants to bake this. She wants to bake this and share it with her friends. "Sorry, Zwei. Looks like we're done for the day." Almost understanding what she said, Zwei's ears drooped. Seeing this, Ruby pulls out a rubber bone from her overall's front pocket. She gives it a squeeze, making it squeak. The sound made Zwei perk back up. Ruby lightly tosses the toy and Zwei chases after it.

Ruby goes to the kitchen to see if there are any ingredients, which there should since Ren likes to stockpile. Not at all shocking, given the bottomless pit named Nora Valkyrie. Thankfully, there is plenty to bake cookies. 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 eggs, half one cup of vegetable oil, one cup of white sugar, one cup of light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and the key ingredient: chocolate chips. After turning on the oven for 375 degrees Fahrenheit, Ruby slips on a black apron and went to work. Using a decent sized bowl, she whisks the ingredients together. After that, she places 24 chunks of the dough on a nonstick oven sheet. When the oven is ready, she places the sheet in and closes it. She then sets a timer on her Scroll for about 10 minutes and waited, sitting on the heels of her feet as she watches the sweets baking. The feeling of nostalgia grew as time went on…

Summer Rose, along with her two daughters, 4-year-old Yang and 2-year-old Ruby, watch the cookies in the oven bake. The timer went off, meaning they are finished.

"Yay!" Yang cheered.

"Mama cookie. Mama cookie." Ruby cooed.

"Wait a minute, girls." Summer chuckled as she uses a rag to pull the sheet out of the oven. "We still need to wait for the cookies to cool." She places the sheet containing freshly bake cookies on the counter. The three waited again, the youngest two fidgeting with anticipation.

"…Is it ready yet?" Yang asked. Summer hovered a hand over the baked goods and taps the sheet. She smiles.

"Go ahead." Summer said. The girls smiled big and Yang makes a grabbed for two as Ruby tries to reach for one. Summer giggled. "Yang be mindful. You need to save some for your dad and Uncle Qrow."

"Kay!"

"Here you go, Ruby." Summer said as she hands her toddler daughter a cookie. Ruby happily grabbed it in her chubby hands and starts to nibble on it. Summer smiles fondly. She places her hand on Ruby's feathery hair, caressing it with care. The toddler looks up, young silver eyes meeting mature ones. "Is it good, Ruby?"

Little Ruby giggled.

The timer went off, bringing Ruby out of her memories. Putting on some oven mittens, she opens the oven and takes out the sheet. After letting it cool, she places the cookies on a plate.

"Mmm, something smells good." A new voice said. Ruby turns to see a slightly older female with dark skin, red eyes, and mint green hair.

"Oh, hello. I haven't seen you before. Are you from one of the other schools?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah, I'm a student from Haven." The girl said. She held out a hand. "Emerald Sustrai. A member of team CEAM." Ruby takes the hand in a shake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ruby Rose."

"Sorry for coming in unannounced, but I was exploring and I couldn't help but smell that delicious aroma." Emerald said eyeing the cookies.

"Oh, no, it's fine. I just got done baking cookies." Ruby said. "Would you like one?"

"I would love one. Thank you." Emerald said.

Ruby turns to get a cookie and hands it to the older girl. "Here you go. Careful, it's a little hot." She then heard a strange sound. It sounded like a 'shoo' and was a little high-pitched. She looks around for the source.

"Is…something wrong?" Emerald asked, a little concern.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Thought I heard something." Ruby said. It was probably Zwei.

"Oh, okay. I'll be going then. Thanks for the cookie!" Emerald thanked as she left.

"You're welcome!" Ruby said. She turns back to her baked goods and noticed something. "Huh. I could've sworn there was more cookies than this." She shrugged. "Probably Nora."

Emerald hums to herself as she emerged from the dorm with a nice handful of cookies in her arm. Mercury was there, waiting for her.

"What's with those?" He asked.

"A snack." Emerald replied. She smacked Mercury's hand when he tried to get one.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a little after six when Tukson returned to his store after he made his…delivery. What he did was incredibly dangerous, but he had no other choice. The White Fang… it's nothing like it used to be. While they were gaining respect by using force and showing the humans that Faunus are necessary, the latest plans for the next operation… what is Adam thinking? Does he want his brothers and sisters die?

Tukson went into the back room of his shop, where his other books are, as well as a table and a few chairs. None of his patrons knew this, but Tukson's Book Trade does more than sell books. It's one of the meeting places for the Vale branch of the White Fang. They conduct secret operations here and the last meeting two weeks ago… this is getting too much. Adam is clearly not thinking straight. This is not the answer… Tukson could only hope that they can stop this from happening before it starts.

He hears someone ding his bell, waiting for his service. "Be right there!" In an effort to look natural, he takes a few stacks of books. "Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade. Home to every book under the sun. How can I—" he gasps when he sees the 'customers'.

One was a young man with partially slick back silvery-gray hair and gray eyes and his attire consists of mostly slate gray and black. The other is a young woman with dark skin, red eyes, and mint green hair. Her clothes showoff her midriff and a little bit of cleavage. She looked innocent, but Tukson knew better.

"Hey." The girl greeted. "I was wondering if you have a copy of The Thief and the Butcher?"

Crap.

Yeah. Zwei appears WAY earlier!

And if anyone is curious, Eventide is a reference to Twilight. I'm not a fan.

Next Chapter: Underneath Our Noses (November 2 or 3)