Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo while RWBY belongs to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth
Chapter 06: The Mentorship Program
Uryū plucks a white pill from a blister pack - missing a few now - and pops it in his mouth and swallows. He sucks in a deep breath before releasing it slowly, steeling himself before the announcement begins. He thinks back to a few hours ago, before the initiation, where Ozpin called for him to his office. Upon arriving, the headmaster began to tell the young Quincy about his new program...
~~~~~ Flashback: A Few Hours Ago ~~~~~~
"The Mentorship Program?" Uryū questioned. He was sitting in a chair on the other side of Ozpin's desk. In his hands is a mug of freshly brewed coffee.
Ozpin takes a sip from his own mug. "Yes, I thought it will be a fine addition to the system. Thankfully, the Vale Council approved it."
Uryū lifts the mug to his lips. "Are the other academies involved in this?"
Ozpin shook his head. "No. We'll be the first to do this. Think of it more as a trial run."
"Hmmm," Uryū says as he drinks some of the coffee, hiding a slight grimace at the strong flavor. He internally wishes that he could add more cream to it.
"Here." Ozpin handed him a piece of paper. "Everything about the program is on this paper. You may discuss this with the rest of the student council. Later today, Professor Goodwitch call for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years to the amphitheater to announcement you'll be making."
"Of course," Uryū said. He places the half-empty mug on the desk. "Thank you, professor." Uryū gets up from his seat, before heading towards the elevator, paper in hand.
"Uryū..." He heard Ozpin. He stopped and turned his head to see that the man's smile has changed to a serious frown. "Have you and your team made a decision yet?" Ozpin asked.
"No, professor," Uryū answered after a long pause, turning around to face his headmaster fully. "We…still think that we are not ready yet."
"Not ready." Ozpin echoed, almost in disbelief. "I find it hard to believe because with everything that Team IURR has done for the people of Remnant, I have no doubt that you four are more than qualified."
Uryū has a memory in rain, rain that is attempting to cleanse innocent blood. That same blood covering a lone doll. His hand gripped into a tight fist as he remembers it. "With all due respect, sir, it's still too early to draw such assumptions," Uryū said, his tone even.
Ozpin's smile returned, though more in solace. "Well, all right then. But, please, do keep in mind that the offer stands until September, one month before the tournament." Traditionally, October is the last month of the school year. Within the first week actually.
"Okay. Thank you, sir," Uryū thanked before heading for the elevator, with one lingering thought in mind: Are they really ready?
~~~~~~~ Flashback Ends ~~~~~~~
"Get ready, Prez." He heard Coco saying. Uryū looks around to see the students gathering into the amphitheater. He looks at his fellow student council members and then walks over to the microphone. He taps on the item, causing a feedback to sound. He waits for a moment for everyone to quiet down. He can see his partner's vibrant hair-color amongst the crowd, taking mental note of his uncombed hair.
"Thank you all for coming here today. I have a special announcement from our Headmaster, who is currently watching over the initiation with Professor Goodwitch," Uryū pauses for moment. "Starting this year, we will take part in a program to assist the new students: The Mentorship Program." A holographic screen appeared. Uryū then continues. "As the name suggests, an upper-class team will be assigned to a first-year team based on adequacy and capabilities." A few teams of four began appearing on the screen, representing the older teams, before smaller figures appear, representing first-years. Lines began to appear, connecting an older team to a first-year team. "The Mentorship Program is to insure the training and growth of the new students. We will know which team we are assigned to tomorrow morning at 8 o' clock. As such, school is off tomorrow for the program to begin. That is all." The crowd whispered among themselves. Predictably, Keigo moaned and groaned at this. Ichigo, on the other hand, was glaring where the holographic screen was, trying to process it all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you shittin' me right now?" Keigo questioned in disbelief.
Tatsuki looks to her teammate. "Well, it's Professor Ozpin's idea. Seeing how things are, he probably just wants to make sure everyone would be ready."
Keigo huffed. "But why do we have to be babysitters, then!?"
"Take it up with our headmaster," Uryū says.
Orihime claps her hands together. "I think it's gonna be a lot of fun! It's almost like when we used to have a Huntsman aid us when we got our first mission."
"Well, whatever," Keigo dismissed. He quickly turns to his amber-haired. "Hey, Ichigo! Wanna go to the arcade tomorrow? I heard there's gonna be a new installment of Corona-"
"No." Came Ichigo's blatant response. This, of course, made Keigo upset.
"Oh, come on!" He whined. "You heard Four-Eyes, tomorrow's our last day before we have to go back to school stuff! What are ya? A nerd? Live a little!"
"Uh, Keigo?" Mizuiro started. "You do realize that tomorrow is not a free day, right?"
"That doesn't mean anything," Keigo said. " I was thinking. There's gonna be like, what, sixteen first-year teams at most? And there's like, forty-eight older teams including us and team CFVY, right? What are the odds of our teams being chosen?" The rest of the group only stood there, staring at the brunette as though he was a new animal species. Very few people know this, but Keigo is surprisingly brilliant despite all his talk about having brains is for nerds. How else was he able to make this far? He just uses his smarts for things like video games and girls.
"Leave it to Keigo to use his brain to get out of work," Mizuiro said deadpanned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ugh. Why? Just...why? Of all people, why did Ruby had to be paired up with Weiss, that stuck-up know-it-all heiress.
"Pick up the pace, Ruby!" Weiss demanded.
"Ugh, what's the point of being in a hurry when we have no idea where we're going?" Ruby pointed out.
"Just. Keep. Moving," Weiss demanded. Ruby only rolled her eyes. "Why do you want to become a huntress, anyway? Did your sister read you bedtime stories or something?" Weiss mocked.
"A-As a matter of fact, yes!" Ruby declared. "Ever since I was little, I had heard stories of heroes and monsters and I wanted to be just like them!"
"Stories...Really, what are you, twelve?" Weiss asked rhetorically. "This is the real world, Ruby. Not one of those stupid fairy tales. Grow up. If you can't handle that, then go back home and have your mother read you more childish stuff."
That stung Ruby. Even after every insult Weiss has thrown at her, none of them hurt her like that.
"I have lost someone very important to me a long time ago. My mom," the silver-eyed girl revealed, trying very hard not to have tears form, though her voice wavered. "While I only have vague memories of her, the hurt was still there because I don't get to know her like Yang did. What I do know was that she was a Huntress and that she died doing what she wanted to do. Save people. And that's why I'm here."
Weiss stood there in silence, staring at Ruby, her expression turning from indifference to something akin to shock. Up until now, Ruby was nothing more than a child trying to be an adult in the heiress' eyes. It made Weiss think about her own mother. Very much alive, yes, but...
"I..." Weiss began, but was unable to continue as a hollow pressure fell upon the two girls, very nearly bringing them to their knees. A loud caw echoed through the air as a shadow looms over. They look up, seeing a giant black bird with a white mask, red eyes and markings.
"A Giant Nevermore..." Weiss identified.
"Uh oh..." Ruby muttered. Not good.
The last scene is inspired by a part in the RWBY Anthology: Red Like Roses. Also, I'm borrowing the mentorship idea from Sourl3monz's own RWBY/Bleach crossover, Legend of the Vizards.
Next Chapter: Team Up