Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo while RWBY belongs to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth
Chapter 14: A Day in Vale
The first weekend at Beacon has officially arrived, which is an excellent time to have some fun today. And by 'fun' it really means 'studying', much to the chagrin of one Yang Xiao Long. Either through possession or manipulation, her baby sister decided that team RWBY should have a study session in one of Beacon's pavilions since it's such a nice day. Joining them was JNPR.
"Pop quiz, Ruby," Weiss said. "What two basic Dust is used to create Ice and Bubble Dust?"
"Uhhh...Water and Wind Dust," Ruby answered.
"And how do you differentiate the combos?" Weiss quizzed.
"Ice Dust requires a ratio of 3:2 of Water and Wind Dust while Bubble Dust requires 2:3."
Yang lets out a suffering groan, gaining her teammates attention. "Everything okay, Yang?" Blake asked.
"Yeah. Of course, I am. This is sooo much fun," Yang said sarcastically. "Can we go to Vale Mall instead?"
"In the main city? What for? We've been there already," Jaune asked.
"Because it's finally the weekend and we're here, studying. How boring is that? We should be hanging out over at the mall or something," Yang pointed out. "...And, I'm sure some of you here don't know your way around these parts still."
"Hmmm. That may be true," Pyrrha said thoughtfully.
"Okay then. We could use a bit of a break," Jaune said. Though, he just wanted to rest his brain after the strain he's giving it.
"Alright, Rubes. It's your decision," Yang said. "As team leader~"
"Don't use your sister's position of authority for your needs!" Weiss scolded. "Ruby, don't listen to her. We have a test coming up." It came out more of a cautionary tone then demanding compared to earlier in the week.
"Come on, Ruby~. I heard that there is a sale at Game Pause~" Yang urged. She saw a familiar gleam in the red-hood girl's eyes at the idea of games on sale. Like, maybe the one about an ex-knight and his dog helping a young noblewoman. Or maybe the one about a teenage pirate with a strawhat. Or a prince and his friends trying to save their kingdom from darkness...
Ruby clears her throat. "As leader of RWBY, I say we will go the commercial district for today." Yang pumps a fist in triumph and Weiss glares at the bombastic blonde. "AFTER we finish studying." Yang turns blue in disappointment and Weiss huffs in her own victory.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ichigo gives out an audible yawn as he makes his way the men's restroom at his dorm. Since Kon decided to not heed his threat and tried to cop a feel Prof. Goodwitch (again), Ichigo made true to his promise by finding the little rat and tied him to the toilet in the last stall of the men's restroom. Virtually anyone who are acquainted with Team IURR is aware of the perverted lion plush and knows that if they hear a muffled cry for help in the last stall in men's room, then it's Kon in the midst of his punishment and ignores him.
Ichigo enters his dorm's men's room at goes to the last stall, which has a piece of paper taped to it saying 'Punishment In-Progress'. Ichigo takes out a thin piece of metal to slip through the door to flip over the hook so he can open it. "Alright, Kon. Your sentence is-" Greeting the orange-haired male was pieces of duct tape strewn about the stall and the amorous plush is nowhere to be seen. "THAT LITTLE SHIT!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on. Pick up," Roman Torchwick demanded impatiently on his Scroll. When the device went to voicemail, he slams a fist onto the kitchen table. "Why can't that woman answer the phone?" He complained, tossing his Scroll on the table. His partner-in-crime, Neopolitan, shrugged her shoulders as she files her nails. Roman sighs irritably and takes out his lighter. Just as he was about to light his cigar, Neo passed him a flyer. It was an ad about some kind of limited edition Neapolitan cheesecake. He already had problems to deal with thanks to his attempt at robbing Dust Until Dawn going up in smoke thanks to some little girl and Huntress and those idiots from Junior's Club have dropped from the face of Remnant. There's no way he could get Neo the cheesecake unless he wants to be seen by the cops and the petite woman isn't gonna want to do it... There is another option. "Where's the kid?" Neo jerks a thumb in the living room area of their hideout, where a television is on.
Seating on a couch, watching the TV with his knees drawn up, was a young man, at least 20, though you can't really tell at first glance because of the hood of his white hoodie over his head. It almost reminded Roman a certain Little Red. The younger male was pale and seems to be a bit on the thin side. Long, black sleeves can be seen coming out the hoodie's white sleeves, dark red jeans, and black high top converse with white soles. His mid-back length black, scruffy long hair lays out over his right shoulder from the hood, kept in place with a dark red hairband. Because his bangs hung over the left side of his face, only his right eye can be seen, the iris a red burgundy. That same eye is currently glued to the television, which is showing an episode of Karakura Superheroes.
/Spirits are always with you. Bwahahaha!/ the actor for Karakura Golden, Don Kanonji, exclaimed, crossing his arms and laughing in a boisterous manner.
"Isn't that a show for children?" Roman asked to himself before looking at the younger male.
This is Zakuro, Roman came to know. Apparently, he's someone important to his employer's benefactor. As to why he is stuck babysitting him is beyond him. Yet another thing his so-called-employer keeps him in the dark about, among others. Well, since he's here and may have a clean slate, might as well put him to good use. "Hey, kid. I have a job for you." Roman said. Silently, Zakuro gazes at him. Roman shows him the flyer. "I'm gonna need to go to the city and get this." He digs into his pocket and brings out a gray Lien bill. "Here. Use the change to get some groceries. You're under my jurisdiction for now, so you're going to have to pull some of your weight." The younger male merely stares at him, almost studying him, before getting up from the couch. Zakuro was a couple of inches shorter than Roman himself. He takes the Lien and flyer.
"Okay," Zakuro muttered monotonously, pocketing the two items in his hoodie pocket. He strolls off to the door and heads out.
"Weird kid."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Teams RWBY and JNPR found themselves at the commercial district of Vale and back in Vale Mall.
"Ooh, Weiss! Let's take a selfie!" Ruby said.
"A selfie?" Weiss questioned.
"It's when you want to take a self-photo instead of having someone else do it," Ruby explained.
"I know what a selfie is, Ruby," Weiss said. "I was asking why you want to take one."
"Because it's fun!" Ruby said, taking out her new Scroll, black bordered with red and the hard-light screen is a rose color. She puts an arm over Weiss' shoulders to pull her closer. "Cheese!" She lets go of Weiss after the picture was taken. She turns her Scroll around to look at the photo. "Having a Scroll is so cool!"
When the two finally started to get along, Weiss want to exchange numbers with Ruby. Imagine her surprise when the silver-eyed girl told her she never had one. Weiss was given hers on her ninth birthday. According to Ruby, Yang did some sort of prank call a couple years ago that went wrong and her father felt paranoid at the idea of Ruby having a Scroll. It wasn't until yesterday Ruby received a package from her father that had a Scroll inside, as a reward for passing her initiation for Beacon.
Yang takes a deep breath. "Aaah. Now, this what a fun weekend is." Weiss rolls her eyes. Then, a loud grumble could be heard from Yang's stomach. She pats her belly. "Whelp, time for lunch!"
"We just got here!" Weiss said. "We should at least look into a store before we decide our meal."
"Why not that one?" Pyrrha said, pointing at a store saying Home Craft & Decor. "It looks absolutely adorable."
"Well, it's something," Ruby said.
Ren notices the disgruntled look on his leader's face. "Is something wrong, Jaune?"
"It's nothing." Jaune said. "It's just say that I've been in these kind of stores a lot more than I should growing up."
"Well, too bad, 'cause we're going in!" Nora said gleefully, dragging her two male teammates by the crooks of their arms. The group enters the store, looking at the various decors and stencils and the like.
Weiss sees a white vase with blue floral markings on a top shelf and went to take a look. It was a beautiful porcelain, the blue hydrangeas complimenting the snowy white background. She fingered the lip of the vase to have a closer look. At that moment, another slim finger touched. Weiss' eyes trailed the finger to the arm and to the face of one Uryū Ishida. Weiss gasped.
"Weiss, is something wrong?" Ruby asked, coming around the aisle. She spots Uryū. "Oh, hi Uryū!"
Rukia pokes her head from a different aisle. "I thought I heard a familiar voice. What are you guys doing here?"
"We wanted to explore around the mall. We're planning to go to the food court to eat in a little bit. Wanna come with us?"
"Sure, what not? Uryū and I just got finished shopping for the student council," Rukia said, lifting up some bags. "What do you think, Uryū? Up for some lunch?"
"I...I..." Uryū struggled to say something. A pained look glazed over his eyes before he headed out the store.
Rukia sighed as she facepalmed. "Okay, this is getting really ridiculous. We'll meet you guys at the food court." She walks out of the store to catch up to her pale friend.
"Weiss..." Ruby said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Yang looks on with sympathy. She turns to the window and sees a Shoe Festival store just across from them.
Yang places a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "Hey. Why don't you and I go into that store?" Yang purposed. She turns to the others. "You guys go on ahead. We'll catch up."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Damn it! Where the hell is that little piss ant?" Ichigo cursed as he ran around every corner of the campus, looking for the sentient plush. He checked the lecture halls that are empty during the 4th year classes, the lunch hall, the library, the CCT, the dorms, and the men's locker room. As for the girl's restroom and lockers, he asked any female students who are aware of the amorous lion doll to check for him. No avail. He is seriously considering giving him back to Kisuke once he finds him.
In his haste as he turned another corner, he crashed into Velvet. Papers that the bunny Faunus was carrying went flying. "Ah, damn it," Ichigo cursed underneath his breath. The two finally made eye contact.
"Velvet/Ichigo!" Ichigo and Velvet said at the same time. They started to frantically pick up the fallen papers with Ichigo apologizing and Velvet saying it's okay. As they picked up the papers, they accidentally bump each other in the head.
"Sorry..." Ichigo apologized.
"It's okay," Velvet assured. "Why were you in such a hurry?"
"Kon escaped," Ichigo told her. "I've looked everywhere for that nuisance. Have you seen him?"
Velvet tilted her head in thought. "Actually, I think I saw him leaving the school grounds." Her ears drooped. "I'm sorry. I thought you had let him go already."
"No. There's no reason for you to apologized. The little cretin just doesn't learn though." Before getting back to his feet, Ichigo gathers what is left of the papers and lends Velvet a hand. She takes it and gratefully receives the papers back. "Okay...so...I'll see you later, then." With, Ichigo continues his hunt for Kon. Velvet's ears drooped again, almost dejected.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Uryū turns off the facet, having to have calm down a little. The sound of running water had always soothed his nerves, even back during his childhood. His dark blue eyes move to his reflection in the mirror. 'How mature of you,' he berated to himself, 'Running away when a problem presented itself to you with cold indifference. I thought you've outgrown this.' Uryū tightly grips the sink, his knuckles turning white. "I did..."
"This is getting old, Uryū," Rukia chided, entering the restroom.
"Rukia? You do realize that this is the men's room," Uryū said.
Rukia coyly smiles. "You do realize that I'm the only girl in my team and I don't care. Especially when it comes to my teammates. Now, back to the main topic."
"I don't want to-"
"Talk about it. I know, I know. But don't you think you're being a little too harsh about this? I thought you two were friends," Rukia said. "Have you even tried talking to her?"
"I did," Uryū said, not making eye contact and looking at his mirror image.
"Was it talking or just you trying to end the conversation?" Uryū didn't bother to answer, but Rukia can see the guilty expression on the mirror. Rukia smiles. "I see." She leaps up to take a seat on a sink next to Uryū's. "Look, I can tell that you two really close, maybe as close as Renji and I were. I can also tell that your hurting yourself by acting cold and distant towards just as much as it hurts Weiss. Ask yourself: Do you really want to lose such a bond? That answer should be 'no'. Understand?"
Uryū pushes up his glasses. "Yeah."
"Great!" Rukia said, jumping down from her seat on the sink. "Now let's go meet up with Ruby and the others so we can eat, and you can apologize." She goes to swing the door open with newfound pride, the door collided with someone outside in a loud bang. Rukia and Uryū runs out to see a slightly older male on the ground. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!"
Uryū sweat drops.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Weiss and Yang entered the store, the smell of leather permeating from the store's goods.
"So, what's the deal?" Yang inquired, eyeing at a pair of flats in a box.
"The deal?" Weiss echoed in confusion.
"What's going on between you and Angelface?" Yang asked. "As his favorite neighbor, I gotta pry."
"Well," Weiss started. "He and I became friends about...10 years ago. On my birthday, actually."
"Really. Never him mentioning the heiress of the SDC being his friend," Yang said.
"You mean he never told you?" Weiss asked.
"Nope. Not surprising, if I'm being honest," Yang said. "He's not the most open person, especially about his feelings. No matter the person, he doesn't like to talk about his problems."
"Really? Not even his family?" Weiss asked.
Yang shook her head. "Apparently, things were dicey between him and his dad," she explained. "Every time somebody asked what it's like in Atlas or Fors, he just grows more quiet than usual. You could practically feel the air turn cold around him."
"I see..." Weiss said, a little downtrodden.
"Hey. Listen," Yang said. "Don't let what I said bring you down or see Angelface in a different light. I'm sure he's still the same person. Just more hard-headed." Seeing Weiss still seemed unsure, Yang places a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me. The best way to get anything out of him is to be persistent. That's what my dad did."
Weiss smiles. "Okay."
Yang returns it with her own. She then spots a nice pair of brown lace-up boots. "Ooh, these look nice. I've been thinking of getting a new pair because Zwei kept chewing on my shoes. Hey, why don't you find a pair? My treat."
"Are you sure?" Weiss asked.
Yang flashed two blue Lien. "I dragged you in here to ask you questions. Might as well compensate, right? So, pick a pair, any pair."
Weiss looks around the store, looking for something that catches her eye. She eventually spots a pair of white, thigh high boots with black heels. She picks them up from the shelf and shows it to Yang. "I have an outfit that these can go with."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Brown eyes twitch in frustration as Ichigo trudges through the streets of Vale, eventually finding himself in the commercial district. Still having zero luck finding Kon. Maybe he can get Uryū to stuff a tracking chip in his body.
"Agh! Where is that perverted lion doll?!" Ichigo screamed out loud, gaining some attention.
"Perverted lion doll?" A young man with crimson-red colored hair styled, yet slightly messy look asked. Ichigo felt like dying right now, realizing what he just did.
"Ah...y-yeah," Ichigo said, feeling foolish.
"I think I saw something like that in a clothing store," The redhead said.
"You did? I mean, you did?" Ichigo asked, a little dumbfound.
"Yes. And considering what you just called him, that would explain why it was heading into a changing room."
"Do you know which store?"
"I think it was Always 17."
"Thanks!" Ichigo wasted no time and runs off. The redhead grinned.
"You're welcome, Ichigo Kurosaki."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, guys! We're back!" Yang announced as she and Weiss joins the rest of the group at the food court.
"Hey!" Ruby greets back. She takes a picture of Yang and Weiss with her Scroll. "What you guys got there?"
"Shoes," Yang said simply as she and Weiss sat down at the table. She notices something across from them. "Who's that with Angelface?" Seating on a bench with Uryū is the man Rukia accidentally knocked with the men's room door. His long, black hair hung over his right shoulder, a long-sleeve black shirt snug enough to emphasize his muscles. His white hoodie to currently being mended by the bespectacled Quincy.
"You really didn't have to do this," the unknown male said. With his long hair free, a mask over his left eye is revealed.
"Don't think much of it," Uryū said as he sews. "Consider it my way of apologizing."
"If you say so," the other male muttered.
It was at this moment, Rukia appears with a plastic bag in hand. "I'm sorry it took so long. The line was huge." She hands over the bag to the man. "Here you go...What's your name again?"
"Zakuro," The man answered. He takes the bag, peering inside to see its content. It was the limited Neapolitan cheesecake. "I'll pay you back."
"No need," Rukia dismissed. "This was my way of saying sorry. I should have been have been more careful."
"No, it's okay. I wasn't paying attention where I was going."
"So, where are you from?" Yang asked curiously. "I've never seen you around before. Did you just move here?"
"Yang, it's impolite to ask a stranger where they live," Blake chided. "No matter how good looking they are."
"You know me so well," Yang said. "But, seriously. Where did you come from? And don't give me the 'Birds and the Bees' explanation."
Zakuro actually seemed hesitant to answer. "I-"
"GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE CRETIN!" A familiar voice shouted. Everyone turns to see Kon being chased by Ichigo.
"Big Sis Rukia! Please protect me by holding me close to your virginal chest-OOF!" Kon shouted before getting stepped on by Rukia.
"You little pervert! I'll teach you!" She shouted, stomping on the plush.
"You really need to keep an eye on him, Berry-Boy," Yang said.
"Shut it," Ichigo said, snatching Kon from the floor after his beating.
"Uhhh..." Zakuro started, a little confused.
"Don't ask. Alright. I'm done." Uryū said, giving Zakuro back his hoodie. The older male puts down the cheesecake to take a quick look at the cloth.
"Amazing. No signs of any stitching. You even got rid of some stains."
Uryū smirks with confidence as he flashes a pocket-sized spray. "I never leave a work partly finished."
Zakuro ran a hand through the fabric. He looks at Uryū. "Thank you." Ichigo looked at Zakuro and something…strange came over him. It was almost like he was looking at a mirror. Zakuro looks a little like him, sans his hair and eyes.
"Wanna join us for some lunch?" Rukia asked. Zakuro goes to say something, but was interrupted by his Scroll's buzzing. He takes it to see a message from NP.
Hurry up! X{, The message said.
"Sorry, I have to go. It was nice meeting you," Zakuro said, putting on his hoodie. He covers his head with the hood and takes it cheesecake. "Thank you, again." He gives everyone, especially Uryū, a grateful smile before leaving.
"So... You carry around stain-removers and a sewing kit wherever you go?" Ruby asked.
"...You never know when you need it," Uryū defended, almost wisely.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Guardians of Remnant *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is bad," A man in a black suit and red shades said. He and two of his buddies, who are dressed similarly, are trudging through a back alley. Night has fallen as the shattered moon loomed over them.
"Damn it!" Goon #2 cursed. "How are we gonna get back to Junior's?"
"I knew it was a bad idea to work with that Torchwick bastard," Goon #1 whimpered.
"Will you shut up already?!" Goon #3 shouted. "We need to get out of here before-"
"Someone finds you?" a new voice finished. The three Goons look ahead to see the silhouette of a man. The dark shadows make it hard to see exact features, but they could faintly see the red shade of the male's long hair. He is reading a book.
"You..."
"Seeing as you three would be compromised," The shadowed male closes his book, read Myths & Legends. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"
Before the three goons could act, the mystery man disappeared. "What the-" The poor guy didn't even see it coming as his throat was sliced open. The other two drew out their weapons, red swords, and attacks him. The redhead dodges the feeble attempts with ease, slashing the chest of one and the stabbing the chest of the other.
"You bast-" The last goon gurgled a groan, before slumping down into a bloody heap. The man nonchalantly pulled his knife out of the newly dead body's chest.
"Well that wasn't much fun. Better clean this up and get back before anybody notices," The redhead muttered as he walked off. He flicks his estoc-styled blade in a single swipe, splattering a line of blood on the alley wall.
Just want to clarify: Zakuro is technically not an OC. Like, he is and he isn't. His design is based off of something in Bleach. Or I guess he's the personification of something in Bleach.
As for the red-head, he's the OC of someone else.
Also, another headcannon of mine involves the Lien. Both Dust and Lien in RWBY have drove me nuts because of which color represents which or how does the currency of Lien work or something like that. So, for my story: Yellow Lien is 2, Red Lien is 5, Turquoise/Green Lien is 10, Blue Lien is 20, Lavender Lien is 50, and Gray Lien is 100. Apparently, cent is a thing (even though we have yet to see a coin). There are 1 Lien coins, kind of doing a mix of the US dollar and Japanese Yen.
Next Chapter: Regrets and Reconciliation