3. It's all roses from here

On the other side of the gate Ruby was greeted with the breathtaking sight of a new world. The air here was clearer than back home. That mystique lasted for all of two seconds. Then, she plummeted. Just below her, the rest of the crew were experiencing the same thing.

"It's always the same thing with that man!" Ichigo roared.

"Why do we let that man do anything?" Uryu questioned as he frantically held onto his glasses.

"He isn't that bad," Ruby defended before her eyes widened. "Ground incoming guys!"

Ichigo nodded before clutching his substitute badge and separating his spirit from his body. Ichigo grabbed Chad and Uryu and stomped feet first into the ground, a small crater forming beneath them. Ruby hugged Ichigo's physical body and Orihime by the waist as she disappeared into a flutter of rose petals. Unlike her boyfriend's, she had a buffer of wind to cushion her descent.

"Such a nice start to this merry adventure," Ichigo muttered as he let his friends down.

Ruby appeared by his side to nudge him in the ribs, "Don't be like that. Maybe falling from the sky was a bit of a surprise, but what's an adventure without some excitement? Did you see the view, it was beautiful. Eh, eh?" Her nudging continued.

Smiling, he lightly shoved her back, "Alright, you've made your point."

"All of you get on the ground!" A coarse voice roared. It was a man wearing a dark uniform and a bone white mask with red accents. Growling, the man held a high powered gun at towards them. A crew of similar dressed people marched behind him.

The teens looked at the aggressive group then at the ground. None seemed pleased with the idea. Uryu coughed to get their attention, "Good sirs, there seems to be a misunderstanding. We meant no harm with our accidental trespassing. If you would kindly point us towards the nearest town or village, we would be much obliged."

The man held firmly to his weapon, "You won't need those directions. None of you will be leaving here. You humans should've never crossed the White Fang."

Uryu pushed his glasses up, "I see. It appears that they're a brutish bunch. Such a shame civilized communications won't work." He glanced towards Ichigo, "I believe this is the area of your expertise."

Ichigo snorted even as he cracked his knuckles. "Some punks just need to be punched before they decide to be helpful. You got my back, Chad?"

"As always," Chad stated as he too cracked his knuckles.

What happened in the next minute wasn't so much a fight as a visual guide on the many unpleasant and painful ways a body could hit the ground.

The original guy that had been threatening the group was held by the collar by an irate Ichigo. "Anything you want to say buddy?"

"S-Sorry," the man cried with tears running down his swollen face. Ichigo had perhaps gone a touch too far with the physical abuse.

"I see your ego has gone down a peg or two," Uryu stated casually. He had the air of a scolding teacher, as though he himself had been part of the battle. "Now that you're willing to be civilized…"

His declaration was cut off by Ruby's squeal of delight, "They're so cute~. Look Ichigo, they have different animal parts." She pointed at the fallen soldiers. All of them had either animal ears, tails, or some other animal like feature. "And they're natural."

"Lower your voice Ruby. I see them."

"Don't be such a downer Ichigo," Orihime scolded lightly before she too squealed at a cat eared woman. A woman who appeared to be wholly uncomfortable by Orihime poking and prodding.

Ichigo continued the questioning, "What was the big idea? I want some answers now."

The man continued to whimper, "I'm sorry. I…"

"Yes?"

"I… I… just wanted to be COOL!" The man finally cried out pitifully.

Everyone, including the man's allies, stared at him incredulously.

"Our division of the White Fang never see any action. I just wanted to make my mark. So when I saw you trespassing, I leapt at the chance. Please don't hurt me."

Uryu took the chance to get the conversation back on track, "Perhaps you should have taken that into consideration before you attacked us. Now I believe you owe us some answers for your rather rash actions. Where exactly are we?" The glint of his glasses promised pain if his questions weren't answered. "And do try to be specific."

"Y-Yes sir! We're on the island of Patch, west from Vale, on world of Remnant, with a broken moon for the nearest satellite… sir!"

Ruby nodded in a serious manner, "Of course, Patch. Just as I expected."

Orihime gasped before clapping cheerfully, "Really? That's amazing. I never knew you were so insightful."

"Ah shucks, it's nothing." Ruby said proudly getting lost in her own story.

"Good work," Chad stated.

Ichigo sighed, "Don't encourage them Chad." He threw the mumbling man aside. It would be best to leave the rest of the questioning to Uryu. Seeing his girlfriend tittering, he questioned her, "What's got you so pumped up?"

Ruby stared at him in sympathy, "How can't I be? We're in a different world, talking to fantasy like people and now we've gained our own soldiers. What's not to be excited about?"

Against his efforts, he couldn't help but crack a smile at the logic, "You do know that these guys are probably criminals? Everything about them is suspicious."

Ruby waved her hand in dismissal, "Suspicious, them? Nah. They're harmless. Just look at them."

He turned to see that the 'leader' was talking nonstop to appease Uryu. The others were mumbling in fear as they attempted to appease said teen. Ichigo was mildly concerned by the power trip that the Quincy was going through. It wouldn't surprise him if Uryu began laughing diabolically as he twirled a mustache and adjusted a monocle.

A loud beeping caught everyone's attention. Dread filling him, Ichigo turned mechanically towards his physical body. The garish tie of his was not only beeping, but it was moving as well. To his displeasure, thing got worse.

"Ichigo~!" Kisuke voice rang form his tie. "I'm sure by now you've exhausted extends of your little teenage mind. But have no fear, I have not forsaken you. You see this tie is not only stylish, but it's also functional. The tie is locked unto Ruby's internal energy. After some calibration time, it should lead you to the nearest concentration of it. Aren't I kind?"

Somehow, this didn't relief him of any dread. After a few seconds of beeping, things escalated even further. With a mind of its own, the tie rose and sped towards its destination.

His physical was dragged for the ride.

Like some demented ragdoll, his body tumbled and his limbs flailed uselessly in the air. As time went on, the tie seemed to grow faster and faster. Ichigo and company could only gape at the sight.

Ruby was first to snap out of it. "Guys, figure out what you can. Ichigo and I will deal with… that." She finished lamely before bursting with speed.

Ichigo followed suit not even a second later. Kisuke and he would have words later.