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

Chapter 16: Red vs Blue

*Twang**Twang**Twang**Twang* Was the sound of a bored Yang bending back a fork before releasing it. Teams RWBY and JNPR are in the lunch hall.

"Yang?" Blake asked.

"Yeah?" Yang answered, still bending and releasing the fork.

"Are you bored?"

"Why d'you ask?"

"Because you've been messing with that fork for the last ten minutes," Blake said.

"And it's starting to get annoying," Weiss added.

"Oh, sorry," Yang apologized, putting the silverware down on the table. She groans. "I'm just soooo bored. Is the year done yet?"

"Yang, it's only been one month since we attended Beacon and we still have the Vytal Festival coming up," Pyrrha said.

"Really? It feels like a whole year went by," Yang complained. "I wish the festival is here now so we can do some cool stuff."

Nora groaned too. "Yeah...I wish we could do something fun now."

A metaphorical lightbulb blink to life in Ruby's head. "And I just got the right idea."

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"Paintball fight?" Ichigo questioned with a raised brow.

"Yeah! There is this cool place over in the industrial district that's big enough for paintball fights." Ruby said. "I think we should do it. It could help improve our teamwork. JNPR and TAIM can come too."

Ichigo looks at the blonde suspiciously. "Did you want to do this because it helps with team dynamics or to just get out of the usual stuff?" He asked.

"...Both?" Ruby said. Ichigo rolled his eyes, but smiled.

"It would be a good team exercise before we leave tomorrow," Rukia said to Ichigo.

"You're leaving?" Ruby asked.

"For a collaboration mission."

"Who's it with? NGUS (Negus) or IRYS?" Tatsuki asked.

"IRYS," Renji answered.

"What's a collaboration mission?" Yang asked.

"It's a mission where more than one team has accepted the same assignment," Uryū explained as he adjusted his glasses.

"So, are we going or not?" Yang impatiently asked.

Ichigo shrugs. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get going!" Yang said.

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The Vale Outdoor Fun is the perfect place for a paintball fight. It is located in the midst of the industrial district. The area looks to be an abandoned neighborhood, split in half by a line two colored stripes, red and blue.

The group are wearing black full body suits and helmets accented with their respective colors, but their visors are red and blue, red for the upperclassmen and blue for the freshmen.

"Okay, freshmen, what we're gonna do is a game of Capture the Flag," Ichigo said.

"The rules are simple: The opposing team needs to traverse the enemy area in order to find their opponent's flag," Rukia said, referring to the Red Team flag currently in Yatsuhashi's possession. "Find the flag and make it back without getting caught, you win. Any questions before we continue?" Pyrrha, holding the Blue Team flag, raises her hand. "Yes?"

"Do we need to guard our own flag?" She asked.

"Yes. And in order to do that, you would need to pick some of you to guard it while the rest looks for the other flag," Rukia answered.

"What are the losing conditions?" Jaune asked, his hand raised.

"Well, one is, of course, your flag taken to the other side," Ichigo said. "Another is everyone in the team shot by the opposite side's paintballs. Once your hit, you're out." Ruby raises her hand. "Yeah?"

"Are we allowed to use our Semblances?" She asked.

"If you think it may help you, then yes. We've got time for one more question." Ichigo said. Yang raises her hand. "Yeah?"

"Why are they here?" She asked, jabbing a finger at none other than team CRDL.

"What? Not happy to see us?" Cardin taunted.

"Please, I'd be more happy to you lot lost in a maze."

"Oh, so we're amazing now?" Russell chuckled. The other CRDL members laughed.

"...Again, why are they here?" Yang asked again.

"Because we thought putting you with those you work less with may help improve your communication skills with that kind of people," Coco answered. "In times of survival, personal feelings no longer apply." No one could tell because of the visor, but the crossed arms and the obvious body language of displeasure was evident on Yang.

"Think of this as a collaboration mission," Uryū said. "By being in larger numbers, you'll have a wider variety of skills and talents to use in your arsenal."

"Start your timers. You guys got 15 minutes to strategize," Ichigo said. "Dismissed."

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"Let's see..." Ruby said. "Who would stay to guard or go out to get the flag?"

"I'd say you losers stay here and play house while me and my team win."

"Um, in case you haven't noticed, we're supposed to be working together," Weiss pointed out.

"Y-yeah. We need to cooperate," Jaune said, nervously trying not look at Cardin in the eyes.

"What's this, Jauney-boy? Feeling brave now that you're with your harem?" Cardin mocked.

"Okay. Listen, Ren is a guy," Nora said, somewhat irritated. "I've seen him naked! He has the same stuff as you do." Ren blushed a deep tomato red in his helmet.

"Could have fooled me. You two have more going on here than the Schnee heiress," Cardin said, pointing at the chest. Weiss goes to summon a Glyph, but Blake stops her by grabbing her wrist and shaking her head 'no'.

"Let's take a deep breath, everyone. Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere. We only have seven minutes left now," Pyrrha urged. She turns to Jaune. "What do you propose we do?"

"I think...what we need is stealth in order to get the flag," Jaune said.

"So, who do you think should in that team?" Pyrrha asked.

"I think Ren could be in it. He's stealthy enough," Jaune said.

"Like a ninja," Nora added, making a ninja sign with her hands. She even scurried around like she was trying to be sneaky herself. Ren chuckled at her.

"I'd be honored," he says, taking a light bow.

"Blake, Weiss, you guys think you're stealthy enough?" Ruby asked the two.

Blake and Weiss look at each other. "I think we can manage," Weiss said.

Ruby nods. "Okay, let's prepare."

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It was all going accordingly. Ren and Weiss took the left side further in while Russell, Ruby, and Blake took the right further back to assess. Ren cautiously peer through some bushes. The Red team's guarding squad seems to be consisting of the upperclassmen's strongest: Ichigo, Renji, Yatsuhashi, Coco, and Tatsuki.

"How does it look?" Ruby whispered through the comms.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Ren asked.

"Um, good news?"

"The good news is that we're on equal footing in terms of numbers. 5 to 5."

"And the bad news?"

"…Think of trying to attack an iron wall."

"That tough, huh?" After some thinking, Ruby said, "Let's try picking them off, one by one. Attacking them all at once would not be a smart move."

"That's…an astute observation, Ruby," Blake commented.

"R-Really?" Ruby wondered.

"Color me impressed," Weiss smiled. Ren huffed a soft chuckle. Russell grew impatient.

"Enough with the sap fest so we can win this," he demanded.

"Slow and steady wins the race," Blake said. "We need to be careful."

"What, afraid of a bunch of hotshots who's all muscle and no brain?" Russell challenged.

"Uh, Russell?" Ruby said.

"What are they gonna do? Use their big muscles to punch us? Oh, I'm so scared, I'm shivering!" Russell laughed.

"Russell?" Blake said.

"I bet they have no idea we're over here," Russell chuckled. Then, a finger taps him on the shoulder. He turns around to see the Red team's guarding squad aiming their guns at Ruby, Blake, and Russell. Yatsuhashi stood in the back with Ren and Weiss in his arms.

"They found us," Weiss moaned in defeat.

"Yatsuhashi is well-versed in Aura Sensing," Ren said.

"Russell Thrush, right? Word of advice: Be sure to check your radio is on your team's private channel and not on neutral," Ichigo said. "And by the way," He leans close to Russell's visor. "I'm a B average student."

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Pyrrha witnessed the whole thing through the scope of her rifle. "Oh, dear," she muttered.

"What's up, Pyrrha?" Jaune asked.

"It looks like we've just lost our stealth force," Pyrrha informed.

"O-Oh…um," Jaune muttered as he tries to think of another plan.

"Looks like your plan went up in smoke, Jauney-boy. Surprising no one," Cardin snickered. "Let an actual leader handle this."

"We've already had a plan in motion, Cardin. Yang and Nora are the base while Dove and Lark guard outside," Pyrrha told him. "Abrupt changes at this stage will only cause confusion."

"And what are we doing? Exchanging muffin recipes?" Cardin questioned.

"We are eyes in the sky. We watch out for any hostiles in the vicinity and have the others be ready an attack," Pyrrha said. She turns around to return to her duty.

"Well, you guys are doing a crappy job," Cardin said.

"Um, shouldn't you be on guard duty too?" Jaune asked Cardin.

"Oh, now you're growing a spine, blondie?" Cardin mocked.

"Instead of antagonizing your team member, focus more on your role," Pyrrha said.

"Hah! Look who's has more balls than Jaune."

Pyrrha whirls around at Cardin so fast, it startled Jaune. "Cardin Winchester, tell me why you are attending Beacon." Her stern tone surprised Jaune. She has such a gentle voice that such a different mood seemed odd on the redhead.

Cardin snorts. "Why? To be famous, duh. Isn't that the reason you're here?"

"I—" Pyrrha was about to say before a siren went off.

"Uh…what does that mean?" Jaune asked.

"It means…we lost," Pyrrha said.

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It may seem strange to see a petite young woman strolling around the industrial district, but not if your Neo Politan. She grew bored at the hideout, Roman still hiding from the police and Zakuro was napping. She starts to hear a lot of popping sounds from a gated area called the Vale Outdoor Fun. She took a peek to see people playing paintball. She rolled her eyes at the childish sight and then gets an idea.

She knows how to spice things up.

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Yang giggled as she removed her helmet, unleashing her wild mane of hair. "Whoo! That was a lot of fun."

"I wish we won though..." Nora pouted.

Cardin scoffed. "It's because of you losers that we lost." The Red team made quick work of the Blue team. In the end, Uryū was the one to retrieve to the Blue team flag and brought it back to the Red Team side.

"What's with you? It's just a game," Renji said.

"You guys were just lucky. In a normal fight, me and my crew would have wiped the floor with you," Cardin said.

Ichigo glowers at him with narrowed eyes. "Is that what you believe? Alright, fine. Let's put it to the test then. Ishida, go set things."

Uryū sighs before doing what he is told, the others followed.

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The group, sans Ichigo and CRDL, went over to a platform on a patio, looking over the area.

"Hey, Mizuiro," Keigo said as they stood.

"Yes?" Mizuiro said.

"Ever wondered why we're here?" Keigo asked.

"Not particularly," Mizuiro answered. "I do wonder about you though." Keigo can just imagine his friend smirking.

"Fuck you," Keigo said.

"This will be a simple paintball fight. If you get hit, you lose," Uryū said over to the combatants.

Cardin chuckled with grin. "4 against 1? This will be a piece of cake."

"Round 1 will begin in 3...2...1." With a snap of his fingers, a stream of light flew through the air before exploding like a miniature firework. Not a second later, Cardin and his team charge forward...only to be stopped shortly when they got hit by red paint. "And the winner of this round is Ichigo Kurosaki." Uryū looks at an imaginary watch on his wrist, his expression monotone. "And in record time too."

Ichigo laughs, resting his paintball gun on his shoulder and his opposite hand on his hip. "Ready for another round?" He asked.

"Yes, I am!" Cardin declared, clearly frustrated.

Ichigo looks up to his partner. "You hear that, Ishida?"

"Loud and clear," Uryū said. He looks to team CRDL. "But do keep in mind that you can use the buildings as refuge so you can stay in the game a little longer." Some of the other freshmen, namely Ruby, Yang, and Nora, snickered. Cardin glares at Uryū too. Almost sensing the glare, Uryū smirks a little.

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Many rounds later...

"Man... he's seriously kicking our asses," Lark said.

"Heh. Not if we use the real deal," Cardin said, brandishing a box.

"Dude, where did you get real ammunition?" Russell asked.

Cardin scoffed. "I do'know. I found them over in the corner. And besides. Like we're gonna win anything with these kiddie stuff," he said as he loads the rifle. "Let's see how tough Kurosaki really is."

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The final round begins as Ichigo and CRDL confront each other, their score being 15-0. Ichigo felt confident. He also hopes these four had learned their lesson.

"Go, Blue Team! Whoops, I mean Red!" Ruby exclaimed. She turns to Coco. "I've spent entire flag game to say Blue instead of Red and now I'm getting mixed up again." Coco smiled, almost sympathetic, as she pats Ruby's shoulder.

"Are both sides ready?" Uryū questioned. While neither side said anything, he knew answer. "Final round begins in 3...2...1!"

Much to his and everyone else's surprise, team CRDL started to fire real rounds instead of paintballs.

"Whoa!" Ichigo shouted, ducking from a bullet. He dodges a few more before taking refuge behind a house.

"Not so brave now, huh Kurosaki?" Cardin mocked.

"What the hell?!" Keigo shouted.

"Are they using actual bullets?!" Jaune exclaimed.

"Everyone, stay back!" Rukia commanded. She places her hands, open-palmed, onto the grass. Slow at first, ice began to form. The speed of the freezing picks up as the majority of the area gets covered in a sheet of ice. Team CRDL were trapped, their legs in-cased in ice while the rest of their bodies are frozen in place. "How very unsportsmanlike of you boys." Cardin's only response was a glare.

"That's so co – Ah, awesome! It was awesome, Rukia!" Ruby said as she carefully walks over on the ice to the Kuchiki girl.

Uryū walks up to the half-frozen team. "Hopefully, you four learn to actually use your heads."

"Um, guys?" Came Ichigo's voice from behind a building. Rukia, Renji, Uryū, and RWBY peer around the corner of the house to see Ichigo stuck to the house by the ice. "Can you thaw me out?"

I wonder who Team NGUS and Team IRYS are...?

Can you guys spot the RvB references in this chapter?

Next Chapter: Camaraderie