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

Chapter 13: Red and White

Ichigo lets out a growl. "What's the deal with her? Even Ishida wasn't this ornery!"

"Ichigo," Ruby started. She and Ichigo are still in the same hallway. "I'm sorry. I tried to do what you and Blake said but-"

"It's fine," Ichigo said, cutting Ruby off. "It's not like I was expecting you to get the hang of it on your first day. Believe me, I didn't."

"You didn't?"

"I didn't really view myself as the leader-type. Hell, when Team IURR formed, I wasn't sure what to do after Oz made me the leader," Ichigo told her. "I was really expecting Rukia or Ishida to take the position." He remembers back two years ago after the initiation when Oz appointed him leader. Ichigo was really surprised at the choice and was even more surprised when Uryū and Rukia went along with it given their prestige background. Yes, they did help him with it, but for the most part, it was all on him. "Even now, I wonder why he chose me."

"What do you think?" Ruby asked curiously.

"It is because he has qualities of a good leader," Ozpin answered, appearing behind the two, a mug in hand.

"Prof. Ozpin!" Ruby exclaimed, holding a hand to her chest.

"For fu...why do you keep doing that?" Ichigo asked.

"My apologies. Though, to be fair, you have yet to keep your Aura at a more reduce level. You are like a beacon," Ozpin chuckled at the pun as Ichigo blushed. It's hard to tell if that was intentional or not. "As I said, Ichigo here has qualities of a good leader. He is passionate, committed, honest, and an inspiration. Very much like his mother."

"Your mom went to Beacon too?" Ruby asked Ichigo.

"Yeah, she did," Ichigo answered. "I'll take a guess that it is the same for your mom?"

"Yes!" Ruby answered back.

Ozpin chuckled at the two, remembering back when their mothers attended Beacon. "Now, of course, Ichigo didn't became a leader on his own. He had his teammates to help him mold into the leader they needed because they have put their trust and faith in him."

Ichigo snorted. "More like scolded," He said with mirth. Ozpin chuckled again.

"So...it's not a mistake?" Ruby asked, still unsure.

"Ruby, I've made more mistakes than anyone had. Some of which that I have come to regret. However, my decision to make you leader is definitely not one of them," Ozpin said wisely. "You have a daunting task now. You both do. Please keep in mind of how to up hold it."

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

If awkwardness was a smell, then anyone could smell it as Uryū and Weiss made their way to the training grounds. They have not spoken to each other since leaving the balcony after speaking to Prof. Port and it only adds to the sheer uncomfortableness. Weiss had her head bowed to the ground while Uryū stayed stiff as a board that you could be afraid his bones would break from the pressure.

"It's a...beautiful day, isn't it?" Weiss said. Might as well start somewhere.

"Yes, it is," Came Uryū's reply.

"So, um..." Weiss started. "How are things? With your family I mean."

"Good," Uryū answered simply.

"Um, so, how have you been? At Beacon I mean," Weiss said.

"Fine," Uryū said. Weiss frowns at the short answers. Then again, Uryū wasn't really all that talkative back then either.

Before they knew it, they've made it to the training grounds where everyone is waiting for them. Renji greets them with a peculiar look. "What is it?" Uryū asked.

"And I thought Ichigo's pessimism stinks," Renji said. Uryū glowered at the remark.

"All right, now that everyone's here. Let's get started," Ichigo said.

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

"Today, we'll continue where we left off yesterday." Ichigo turns to his teammates. "Renji, since you've already spared with Blake, you'll be up against Yang."

"Alright," Renji replied.

"And Rukia, you'll be the one to spare with Blake."

"Okay."

"You four go over there. You guys know what to do," Ichigo commanded, pointing at a spot.

"Oookay. Good luck, Ruby!" Yang said. Blake only nodded.

Ruby turns to Ichigo. "Sooooo, what are we gonna do?"

"You two are gonna work together to fight against me and Ishida," Ichigo said.

"Really? Why us?" Ruby asked. Weiss also looked perplex.

Uryū pushes up his glasses. "Given what has transpired in Combat class, we thought this is more well-suited."

"Wait. How did you know about that?" Weiss asked.

"That's another thing about the program. Whenever Prof. Goodwitch have you guys do a practice duel in her class, she'll have it recorded and send it to us," Ichigo explained.

"I see," Ruby said.

"Why don't you two go over there to think of a plan to help face us," Ichigo said. "We'll give you ten minutes."

"Please think carefully on your decisions, Ms. Rose and... Ms. Schnee," Uryū said, casting his eyes down at the last word. Unable to see the pained look in Weiss' eyes.

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

"'Ms. Schnee?'" Ruby heard Weiss saying to herself. She could almost hear the hurt in Weiss' voice. It gave a pang of sadness in Ruby's chest. You would have to be blind if you couldn't tell there is, or was, something between the SDC heiress and the Quincy. They were probably very close back then.

"Weiss?" Ruby said. She quickly rose up her hands when Weiss shot a glare at her. "I'm not trying to pry in on your past, but I want to tell you something." Ruby pauses, waiting for a response from Weiss. When Weiss gives her a pointed look, she took a deep breath. "Look, I know you and I had our differences and that we have been not on good terms lately, but look where we are. We're at Beacon Academy to become Huntresses. I'm sorry for not being an ideal leader for Team RWBY. I get excited a lot and I'm not good at studying. And that's me. And it doesn't change the fact I am one, whether you or I like it or not." 'Ichigo didn't became a leader on his own. He had his teammates to help him mold into the leader they needed because they have put their trust and faith in him,' She remembered what Prof. Ozpin said. "But I can't do it on my own. While coming to Beacon early was fun and cool, I was stumped because of all the advanced stuff. If I'm gonna be a good leader for the team, then I'm going to need your help and cooperation. I need you to trust me." Ruby lends out a hand to Weiss.

Weiss seemed hesitant at first. Almost slowly, she has her arms out of their crossed possession and clasped her hand in Ruby's. "Okay."

Ruby smiles. "Here's what we'll do..."

Unbeknownst to them, Yang was watching them from the bushes. She worried for her little sister after that fight with Weiss and decided to spy on her and heiress. She smiles before returning to her sparring partner.

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

"Are you sure about this, Kurosaki?" Uryū asked.

"What, backing out already?" Ichigo presented it as a joke, though Uryū didn't find it funny.

Uryū huffed. "No, of course not."

"You're not gonna hold back, are you?" Ichigo asked.

Uryū didn't answer immediately. "No, I won't. This is to help them improve, so I will not hesitate."

Ichigo softly sighs. "I know you don't like talking about deep, personal matters, but I just want you to know that we're here for you."

"You, of all people, shouldn't be lecturing others about opening up," Uryū retorted. Ichigo rolls his eyes.

It was at that moment he sees Ruby and Weiss coming back. "Are you two ready?" Their response was having their weapons drawn. "Good. Now, let's see if-" Ichigo didn't have time to finish. Much to his surprise, Ruby and Weiss speed towards them, Ruby attacking Ichigo and Weiss attacking Uryū. Ichigo uses Zangetsu to block Ruby's attack while Uryū uses the staff form of his Bogen Sperling to block Weiss' Myrtenaster. "Whoa! Kind of a bold move, isn't it?" Ichigo wondered, though not without a grin.

Ruby grins too. "Do you think the enemy will wait?" Ichigo smirks at her.

"Alllright!" Ichigo pushes back the girl and they clashed again. Uryū and Weiss parry attacks at each other, staff vs rapier.

"Rose Blizzard!" Ruby commanded. The girls, via their Semblances, dashes around Ichigo and Uryū in a big circle. Eventually, they are nothing but white and red blurs. The colors starts to meld together and grew into something akin to a mini vortex complete with rose petals, with Ichigo and Uryū within the eye. The two moves to stand back to back with each other.

"Well...this is interesting," Ichigo commented.

"Keep focus, Kurosaki," Uryū said.

Ichigo turned to him. "I know, I know." Big mistake. Out of the makeshift whirlwind came Weiss' Glyph beams. Ichigo block them with his sword. Unfortunately, the beams created ice to in case it. "Cool..."

Uryū readied his bow, a string of Aura shimmering, trying to aim at one of the girls. He closes his eyes as he focuses on his Aura Vision, an ability the Quincys have. It is similar to the Faunus' night vision, though a Quincy's sight can change to seeing people's Aura, almost like a thermal imagine camera. He reopens his eyes, a faint glow present in his dark blue irises. He sees the dashing forms of Ruby and Weiss on the ground, red for Ruby and light blue for Weiss. He reels back his arrow, aiming for the hood of Ruby's cape. He releases it, but narrowly missed his attended target by an inch.

"Damn it," The Quincy cursed. "I missed. Have you freed yourself?"

With a rough tug, Ichigo rips Zangestu out of the ice. "Got it. Now..." He lifts his sword. His eyes flashed a golden color. "Better brace yourslelf, Ishida!" He brings down Zangetsu, creating a shockwave the moment it impacted the ground. The tremor made the two girls stumble and stop their run. Weiss was about to fall over, but Ruby caught her.

Uryū appears above them, bow and Aura arrow at the ready. Using a white Glyph, Weiss takes Ruby and leaps out of harm's way just as a volley of Aura arrows come raining down. Ruby shoots Uryū, who dodges and blocks each shot. Weiss sees Ichigo charging at them. She rotates the revolver of her rapier to Earth Dust and summons a wall of stone to block his slash attack, slicing a chunk of the wall off.

Ichigo continues his slashing, sending pressure waves at the wall, even slicing at trees by accident, until it crumbled. He sends a particularly powerful one at Weiss. She crosses her arms in an 'X' formation to shield herself, but she knocked back, hitting Ruby in the process. Uryū dashes at them to strike them with his staff. Weiss quickly gets to her feet and aim her Myrtenaster an inch away from his neck with his staff an inch away from her stomach. Ruby aimed her sniper-rifle at Ichigo just as he did with Tensa. They stayed motionless for a few moments.

"Good job," Ichigo congratulated, resting his sword on his shoulder. "That was excellent teamwork." He notices Rukia, Yang, Blake, and Renji watching them. "Shouldn't you guys be sparring?" Ichigo questioned.

"We should be, but then your battle got a little bit out of hand," Rukia said. The four finally looked around to see the damage. There were various holes in the ground, including the small fissure Ichigo created to stop Weiss' and Ruby's Team Attack. Speaking the Team Attack, there is a noticeable circle where they did it. There is also ice, some burn marks, and cutdown trees and piles of earth.

"Oops..." Ruby muttered.

"Goodwitch ain't gonna be happy about this," Ichigo said.

"You think?" Uryū said, adjusting his glasses. "Honestly. You have no control over your actions. You swing your sword like a maniac."

"Oh yeah? What about that swarm of arrows? That caused as much damaged!" Ichigo barked.

"I have precise control over my attacks," Uryū said, smugly. "You on the other hand have zero."

"Why you little..." Ichigo seethed, glaring fiery daggers at Uryū, who returns it with his own icy stare. Weiss and Ruby looked back and forth at the two arguing, bewildered. The verbal fight looked very reminiscent to their own, much to the amusement of the others.

"Huh..." Yang bemused. "Would you look at that."

Ruby and Weiss looks at each other before smiling and giggling.

Next Chapter: A Day in Vale