Remnants Strongest Hunter Jaune

By: Bubbajack

Beta: Self-proofread, Grammarly

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY or any references made to any anime/manga in this fic.

Ch.1: A Journey of a thousand li begins not with a step, but with resolve.

Rouge Arc watched in silence from where she stood at the window in her room as her little brother struck a nearby tree trunk over and over again with his wooden sword in an attempt to unlock his aura, to take the first step in making himself a hunter, to make his parents proud of him. She watched with sadness as he struck the tree over and over with increasing ferocity. And even with the window closed, she could hear his shouts of rage and all but feel his anger from where she stood. The reason for his wrath was as simple as it was understandable, for the fourth year in a row now, he had asked their parents, all three of them, for training. For the fourth time, he had been denied.

"You are too important," they said, "You need to carry on the Arc family name." he was told.

Rouge huffed, "Clearly that isn't what he wants to do with his life. Why can't either of our Mothers or Father see that?"

Her long braid of golden blonde hair whipped out behind her as she stalked out of her room and down the stairs. As she walked down the hall, she passed the yearly family portraits.

Their father Charlemagne Arc stood in the center his arm around each of his wives. His hair was blonde and his eyes blue, his physique blatantly muscular. On his left was Hildegarde her mother, and the mother of Jaune, and her youngest sister, Violette. She was a svelte woman who sported dirty blonde hair and blue-green heterochromatic eyes. On the left of her father stood Rouge's Aunt and mother of her quartet of half-sisters, Himiltrude. A voluptuous woman with crimson red hair and forest green eyes, the hair and eye color, were traits all of her daughter's inherited from her.

Jaune in all pictures was standing in front of his father, who had his hands on his shoulders while the girls of each woman stood beside them. Rouge stopped and looked at two such pictures sitting side by side. The first was of a five-year-old was Jaune smiling with two milky blue eyes, and the second was of him a year later. Now frowning with his eyes gleaming like mercury.

Looking back and forth between the pictures Rouge shook her head, 'It's as if he became an entirely different person after the operation. How could they not understand?'

Sighing Rouge made her way downstairs to the kitchen where Colombe, the oldest of the Arc children next to herself sat at the table, clad all the way down to her slipper adorned feet in a cinnabar long-sleeved nightie with a sheer silken white veil over her face. The cup of tea by her side that had long since cooled as she was staring worriedly out at the front yard where Jaune screams of frustration and rage came through much clearer than up in her room.

Allowing her gaze to trail out to the front yard, Rouge asked, "How long has he been out there?"

"Since before I got up. So, three hours at least." Colombe replied breaking from her vigil and locking eyes with her eldest sister.

Seeing worry reflected in her eyes, as she chewed her bottom lip Rouge asked, "What is it, Colombe?"

"Jaune, he's going to do something drastic soon Rouge…I can feel it."

Quirking her head to the side, the Eldest of the Seven Butterflies as their mother's referred to them as inquired, "What do you mean? Did he tell you something or has he been acting strangely?"

Shaking her head, Colombe replied, "No, it's just, when Dad and our Mom's denied him for the fourth time the other day. He didn't get mad, he didn't throw a fit, he didn't argue. He just went mute. Like that was the final straw. Now, he's going to do something drastic, crazy, to get what he wants."

"I'll go talk to him don't worry." She gave the girl a warm smile before teasingly adding, as she poured two cups full of cold tea and placed them in front of Colombe, "Besides we can't have your favorite cuddle toy disappearing now can we?"

Colombe blushed to the roots of her hair, her face the same shade as her crimson locks. Looking for an excuse to be alone and seeing what she wanted, Colombe placed a finger on the side of each mug, causing their contents to quickly bubble and froth at her touch after only a few moments.

The tea now warmed, Rouge made her way to the door. She was not quite out of hearing range when she heard Colombe mutter something along the lines of, 'Give it a few years, and he'll be too busy chasing the girls to cuddle with his big sister.'

Only for her to call to her back, "Don't worry Colombe, everything is going to be fine."

Rouge shook her head at her sister's concern before making her way outside to where Jaune was still furiously hammering away at the poor tree, which was now looking like it had been marked by an Ursa, so torn up was its bark. She stood behind him, his shoulders heaving as he drew in deep shuddering breaths. After a moment he spoke without looking at her, "Did I wake you, Rouge?"

Shaking her head, the eldest Arc replied, "No, but when I woke up and found you out here, I became worried."

"Like Colombe?" he inquired before turning around his silver eyes meeting her mismatched blue-green for just a moment before he slumped down, his back against the tree his expression sullen. Such a grim countenance looked so out of place on a ten-year-old that Rouge almost said 'fuck it' and unlocked her little brother's aura right then. But knowing what she knew about her parent's semblances held her back.

'Damn Father's Semblance.' She thought before kneeling down and offering him one of the two steaming cups.

"You know there is nothing any of us wouldn't do for you Jaune, and I've even thought about unlocking your aura more than once, but Father…"

"He knows." Jaune finished for her, "He always knows."

"Indeed." Rouge then took a sip from her drink to ward off the early morning chill that hung in the air.

Jaune just stared down at the contents of his cup, as if they could give him some form of as of yet unattained wisdom.

After a long silence, he threw back the hot drink like a shot, almost enjoying the scalding pain it sent down his throat as it parched his thirst at the same time.

"Jaune, be careful, that's scalding!" Rouge chastised worried as he sputtered.

He coughed a bit in pain before he said, "You know I've never blamed any of you. You know that, right?"

This earned the boy a smile. "Of course we are aware of that Jaune, that's why we do what little we can to help you. I-we all really love and care about you. We want to see you become the great hunter we know you can be."

"I love you all too…and I appreciate everything you've been doing, and everything you've done…"

Rouge took a good long hard look at his face then. He seemed to be filled with both guilt and…resolve?

"But?"

Taking a deep breath, Jaune declared quietly but with a fierce intensity, "If both our mothers, and dad refuses to train me, and forbid you to train me, then I'll just need to find someone who will train me."

It was as Colombe both feared and suspected. The last time had been the last time. Jaune had been told 'no' one time too many, and now he was going to do something drastic. Rouge knew she had to think fast. Otherwise, Jaune would leave. The thought of Jaune out there, on his own, where he could get hurt or even killed, terrified her to no end.

"Jaune please-"She began, her voice so full of desperation, came to a sudden halt.

Not by any word or action on his part, but by the look in her brother's eyes. He was full of determination, and resolve. She had seen him like that every time he asked his parents to unlock his aura and train him, or allow them to do so.

Becoming forlorn, Rouge asked, "You're leaving, and there's nothing, short of using my Semblance, that I can do to stop you is there?"

Giving a wan smile, he replied, "Sorry Rouge, but no. I need to do this. For that woman that did so much for me…and, also for myself."

Setting her cup aside, Rouge reached out and clasped one of his hands in both of her own, "I know you do, just please, promise me you'll be careful. That you'll be safe, and that one day…one day you'll come back to us…"

The 'to me' went unspoken but somehow Jaune heard it regardless.

Throwing his arms around her neck, he spoke into her hair, "I promise I'll come back one day, Rouge. To you, and everyone else."

He then disengaged from the hug and reached around the tree he'd been wailing on and pulled out a rather large travel pack.

Upon seeing it, Rouge's eyes widened minutely in surprise, and she commented, "You've been planning to leave for some time haven't you?"

"Ever since the third no. Since then I've been testing the limits of Dad's Semblance, trying to find some exploitable flaw. It took me awhile, but I figured out he needs to actually be awake for his Semblance to work. So considering they just took a job to Atlas…"

Realization sparked in Rouge's eyes, "They should be sleeping off jetlag right about now. But if you were planning this anyway, why ask them again the other day?"

Shrugging, he replied, "I didn't want to leave unless I really had to."

"Where will you go, how will you get there, do you have money?" Again, Rouge's anxiety for his safety was flaring.

Jaune looked away, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head as he replied, "I was thinking about going to Nippongu. I was going to book passage on and boat, and I've been saving my birthday money and allowance for a while now, I've got almost five thousand lien saved up."

Rouge was shocked, "Eh?! What the-Jaune, Nippongu is a myth. Also, how did you manage to save up that much money? I see you buy things like comics all the time. " Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Jaune, have you been stealing comic books?"

Now it was Jaune's turn to look surprised, "What, no! Seriously no…and I heard some guy talking at the port about returning to the kingdom of gold. He's been there, so it has to be true."

Rouge shook her head, "Setting aside the validity of the existence of Nippongu for a moment if you haven't been spending your allowance, then where have you been getting all this money from if it wasn't your allowance?"

Giving his sister a deadpan stare, he replied, "There's this new concept called recycling. Turns out you can get paid good money to do it rather than just throw things away."

"Smart mouth. Alright, so you have money, a destination, and a way to get there, but why Nippongu, a place that might not even exist?"

Ticking the reasons off on his fingers Jaune replied, "One, Hunters have no authority there. So if I can make it there, both moms, and dad will have a hard time getting me back. Two, it would be the last place there likely to look for me anyway. Three, there is a group of Hunters who live there. They moved there when they refused to fight in the Great War, according to what I managed to dig up on the CCT anyway."

"You've been borrowing our scrolls again," Rouge noted.

Jaune snorted, "Can you blame me? Our parents won't let me have access to a scroll either. It's like they're afraid I'll run away or something."

"Yeah, I wonder why that could be." Rouge said flatly before sighing and saying, "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to convince you to stay?"

"Short of narcing on me or breaking my legs you mean? No."

Rouge sighed and nodded, "I thought so. Will you at least come in and say goodbye?"

"I wrote letters, the reason I was out here all this time, was because I was debating on whether to leave them or say goodbye in person or not." Jaune let loose his own sigh before running a hand through his hair in frustration and conceding, "I guess, as long as they don't try to stop me from leaving, then there's no harm in saying goodbye."

"I'll go on ahead and wake them," Rouge offered before taking both the cups and heading back indoors.

Jaune took a moment to look around his family home. It was actually a modest sized mansion that was built by his Great-Great-Grandfather all solid stone, and oaken wood and fortified on top of a plateau like a fortress overlooking the coastal town of Montagnes. Protected by the plateau on which their family home sat on one side, and the shallow shores that surrounded all of Vale on the other, Montagnes was a beautiful place to live.

'The seafood is always fresh, the people are kind, and everyone always went out of their way to help each other. I'll miss this place.'

Taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air, Jaune made his way towards the kitchen door, his every thought filled with all of the good memories he could ever recall. As he rested his hand on the door handle, he considered changing his mind, about not leaving the safety and comfort of home and heading out into the great dark unknown that was Remnant.

But with the good memories came the bad. Jaune recalled his struggle to unlock his aura, how no matter how much he begged and pleaded, he was rebuffed time and time again by his own parents. He knew his sisters wanted to help he saw the sadness in their eyes everytime he was shot down, their cold demeanor when they spoke to their parents, and their constant attempts to cheer him up after every letdown.

He nodded to himself, 'I'll miss this place, but if I don't do this for myself, I'll always wonder 'what if.' I need to do this.'

With his mind made up, Jaune opened the door and headed inside. All of his sisters looked up when he entered, staring at him with mournful expressions on their faces. Indigo looked particularly put out as she had unshed tears in her eyes.

"Indie, don't cry. Please?" Jaune asked his little sister who was a year younger than him.

"Don't go!" she pleaded.

Smiling sadly he replied, "Sorry, but I gotta."

"Jaune."

The boy glanced over to his second eldest half-sister and third oldest sister overall, "Yes Noir?"

Noir was quiet, soft-spoken and studious. She had hair so red it was almost black only becoming bright red near the tips. Her green eyes shined with curiosity, "You're leaving?"

"Yep."

"You'll be careful?"

"As careful as I can be going to a mythological continent by ship." He affirmed.

Noir held his gaze for a moment before nodding, "Be safe. Come back to us all in one piece."

She then got up and gave him a hug, which he reciprocated. She then stood back and let the others say their peace.

Colombe her face covered head to toe in cloth, went next, "Be careful Jaune, be wary of strangers, but don't be afraid to make friends. Don't take kindness for granted, always remember to brush your teeth, and please, write to us if possible, alright?"

Gently taking Colombe's hand in his own, he gave her a gentle, reassuring squeeze before saying, "I will Colombe, I will."

She nodded before gently but firmly pulling her hand away and stepping back, allowing Ciel, the second oldest, with her hair cut into a pixie cut, to take her place.

"I don't like the fact you're leaving," She said without preamble, before sighing and finishing, "But I can't blame you for doing it."

Jaune nodded, "Thank you for understanding."

She nodded, before saying, "Since your leaving, you have no excuse to come back a badass understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" the boy replied giving a mock salute.

Ceil continued, "Don't die while you're gone, got that? If you do, I'll find you and bring you back just so I can kill you myself."

Her worry filled threat delivered, Ceil allowed the last of them, Saffron the fourth youngest of the Arc children to speak, "Jaune, I'm just going to say what all of us are thinking. Don't die, come back to us, and make us proud while you become the Hunter we all know you can be."

Determination flared up in his silver eyes and Jaune replied, "I will," He cast his gaze around the room, briefly locking eyes with each of his sisters in turn before he finished, "I promise to make each of you proud."

Squaring his shoulders, he hefted his pack and gave them all one final nod before, giving a two finger salute and saying, "So long for now."

Jaune was halfway down the dirt driveway when he heard his sisters call from the front door, "We love you Jaune!

Walking backward he called back, "I love you too, I'll see you soon!"

'That was almost seven years ago now.' A figure thought as he maneuvered his massive ship, into the port of Montagnes. The ship groaned as she came to rest in shallow waters.

"Easy does it gal, we're almost home." He spoke kindly to the seafaring vessel moments before it came to rest alongside the dock.

Throwing out a mooring rope, he made his way towards the hold, getting out a small satchel before heading towards the gangplank, a sorrow-filled if serene smile on his face even as his leather boots silently on the wood like the tread of a cat. He was thankful for his reed woven kasa hat as the sun was hot today.

As he made his way silently through town, he saw people openly staring at him. No doubt word had traveled fast about a massive galley docking in the harbor and its sole occupant. He could hear them whisper, see them point at him out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't blame them, though, 'My attire must seem quite strange.'

He was clad in a white training dōgi, the arms cut out to provide maximum freedom of movement, his wrists were covered by kote, arm guards made of leather chainmail, and pieces of iron in the shape of a forked Varja that were relief in gold to make them stand out more. On his legs, he wore suneate shin guards made of the same materials and in the same style. Around his shoulders, he wore a long white cape with a popped collar. On the yellow obi around his waist was a sword, its curvature evident even from the sheath. Anyone who looked could see he carried a katana the sheath forged of lacquered wood and embossed with his symbol in gold all down both sides, twin arcs with what looked like three lightning bolts around the top, making it look like a rising sun. His left hand rested in the metal knuckle grip built into the sheath.

Ignoring the blatant staring and whispers. Jaune Arc sprinted at a steady pace towards his family home. To anyone else, it would look like he was running.

Hildegarde Arc started from her position at the sink when a knock came at her back door.

'Who could that be?' she wondered, drying off the last plate before heading to answer the knock.

When she opened the door, she found a huge, absolutely ripped specimen of a man standing there. His face was covered in the shadow of his hat that looked to be woven of reeds. His attire consisted of a sleeveless white shirt with a dipping v-neck, that showed off the top of his bulging pectorals, loose fitting baggy pants, gorgeously intricate arm and leg guards that had depictions of some kind of fork in gold, and a golden sash from which a katana with golden fittings sheathed in dark glossed wood. On his feet was a pair of leather boots trimmed in bear fur.

"Can I help you sir?" she asked kindly.

In response, he tipped back his hat allowing it to hang from a cord around his throat before smiling at her and saying, "Hello Kaa-san, might I come in?"

"Jaune?"

"It's been awhile huh?" he said smiling slightly at her awe-struck look.

Hildegarde looked into the face of her long lost son. He was rugged and handsome, his flaxen hair falling over his face, while it was tied face just as chiseled as the rest of his body. Now sporting a jagged scar over his left cheek that just barely missed his eye and a slightly raised burn mark that formed a sideways cross on his face.

Hildegarde threw herself at her son, once she overcame her shock. "Jaune! You're alive! Thank Oum!"

She beat him on the chest as she started to sob, "Do you have ANY IDEA how worried I was about you, young man."

Jaune gently held his mother in his embrace for a moment before holding her at arm's length giving her a once over. She had a few worry lines on her face and a couple of gray hairs in her hair, something unusual for someone her age who possessed aura. He also noticed she had bags under her eyes.

"Mother, might I come in? The trip has been long…also, I brought you a present."

Hildegarde practically skipped into the house, "Of course of course! Come in sit down, I'll put the kettle on. Can I take your cloak?"

Jaune shook his head, "No thank you. Before you make tea, open this." He said reaching into the knapsack he had over his shoulder and bringing out a polished black wooden box.

"What's this?" she asked her tone curious.

"I told you, I brought you a gift." Her long lost son replied, before sliding the box towards her slightly.

Frowning slightly, Hildegarde replied, "You didn't have to do that."

"But I wanted to. Now, are you going to open it or not?" he teased.

Sighing theatrically, his mother groused, "I suppose if you insist."

Without further preamble, she took off the lid and gasped at what she found inside. "Jaune I love it!"

For within the confines of the box was a tea set made of the finest porcelain, covered with a clear lacquer and then painted with the images of sakura trees in the pink and black color. The handle of the lid was that of some form of a golden flower, a lotus blossom if she wasn't mistaken.

She took out several small handless cups and matching saucers numbering a dozen in all. She doted on them like a little girl would her collection of dolls. All in all, Jaune found the sight quite amusing. Suddenly he felt a kiss being planted on his cheek. "Thank you for thinking of me sweetheart this is wonderful…even if I don't deserve it."

"Mother?" he looked over to see her staring at her gift mournfully.

"We, your Father, Aunt, and I, we drove you away," She continued in her sorrow-filled tone, "If only we had taken you seriously instead of treating you like a child, you wouldn't have left."

Throwing a large arm around his parent, Jaune pulled her into his chest, silently holding as she cried. Once she calmed a little, he said to her, "I forgave you long ago. Now, you must forgive yourself."

This caused her to grip him ever tighter and cry all the harder. Not out of sadness, but out of relief that her only son didn't hate her.

"Thank you, son. But knowing you don't hate me means more to me than anything you could've brought back."

"Anytime mother."

Jumping to her feet with renewed vigor, Hildegarde collected her new tea set and said, "How about that tea hmm?"

Nodding Jaune called out, "Sounds good, might I suggest using the tea that comes in the kettle?"

"Eh?!" Jaune could hear the sound of china being shuffled around, and then heard a 'squee' causing him to chuckle.

Minutes later, and the two were enjoying a pot of green tea catching up on old times. Hildegarde sat on the couch while Jaune situated himself cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table.

"Honey, why are you sitting sown there? Come sit on the couch."

"Ah, my apologies. In Nippongu, everyone sat on the floor like this, even to eat. I suppose you could say I've gotten used to it." He said, rubbing the back of his head ruefully.

Blinking in surprise, Hildegarde asked, "They ate while sitting on the floor, why ever for?"

"Earthquakes."

"Eh?"

"In Nippongu there are many active volcanoes. These eruptions cause frequent earthquakes; because of this, everything is built flat and at ground level so that if a quake hits, there is little risk of injury from falling or loss of furniture. Even the beds are just a mattress, blankets, and a pillow, all of which can be rolled up for easy storage." He explained.

His mother made an 'O' shape with her mouth before she exclaimed, "Oh my. It sounds like quite the dangerous country. I'm glad you came back safe."

Shaking his head, he replied, "It wasn't the earthquakes that were a problem, it was the one-hundred-forty-year war I stumbled into on my arrival that caused me no end of trouble."

"YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A WAR?!"

Jaune felt his ears ring from the sheer pitch of his mother's voice. 'I didn't know she could get so loud.'

"Yes mother, I was involved in a war. But other than bringing back a few trinkets, a few scars, and going over there to learn what I intended to learn, I'm afraid I don't have much to show for it."

Hildegarde gently reached out and took one of her son's massive hands in both of her own, "That's not true, your home, your safe, and you became strong just like you set out to do."

The sound of the front door opening was heard and a voice Jaune hadn't heard in many years. "Oi mom, you're not gonna believe the rumors circulating around town right now! An absolutely massive galley ship docked at the harbor an hour or so ago, and some foreign warrior got off."

"Ah Jean, you're never going to believe who showed up today Rogue."

"Who?" Jean, along with Noir and Saffron entered the living room…then they stopped dead. They stared at what they thought could only be a ghost sitting on the floor next to their coffee table serenely drinking tea.

Raising a meaty arm, he called, "Yo, Rogue, Noir, Saffron! How've you been?"

The three got over their shock and yelled, "Jaune!"

The Western Samurai soon found himself at the bottom of a dogpile with a trio of girls attempting to squeeze the life out of him and asking him all manner of questions at the same time.

"Girls, girls," their mother called out amidst her chuckling, "Get off your brother, I don't think he can breathe let alone answer your questions."

As they pulled back, Rouge went first by virtue of seniority. "Jaune-I-just look you! What on earth have you been eating?!"

"Lots of seafood, fresh vegetables, and rice."

Noir went next, "You have armor and a sword now. Am I to assume your trip was successful?"

Smiling, he replied, "Very much so. I do not believe I'd be boasting if I were to say I do not think much can challenge me here."

"You're that confident?" Rouge inquired, receiving a nod she gave a cocky grin and challenged, "Care to put that to the test?"

He was silent for a moment before he nodded his assent, "Later perhaps. Right now I am just happy to be home."

Jaune then turned to Saffron and asked, "Your question?"

The girl with bright orange hair hesitated just a moment before asking, "Uh-I-um…where did you get those scars from Jaune?"

Jaune smiled sadly, "From training."

All the women present heaved a sigh of relief. Glad to hear he hadn't been hurt in combat. Jaune used the silence to reach for his pack and say, "I brought you girls' gifts by the way."

He handed each of them a paper wrapped package, each weighed little more than a pound, and gave at their touch. When they opened them, they gasped. For within lay intricate handcrafted kimonos of silk. Rouge's was a dark red with black swords implanted into the earth like grave markers near the hemline, Noir's was black with the outlines of cat's in the shaped via silver thread, and Saffron's was orange with light purple flowers with six petals and yellow stems strewn throughout its length.

He received a kiss in each cheek, and his forehead as thanks for his thoughtfulness before the trio raced upstairs to try on their new outfits. Jaune smiled, glad his sisters were happy. His mother who smiled behind her teacup, said, "That was sweet of you Jaune…"

Upon seeing her pause thoughtfully, he asked, "Is there something I should know mother?"

Nodding more to herself than her son, Hildegarde replied, "Yes, shortly after you left your father and Himiltrude had another child. A son."

A look of surprise crossed Jaune's face before he smiled widely and said, "So I'm an older brother then?"

Upon seeing his mother nod, he replied, "That's great! What's the lads name and how old is he?"

"You're taking this rather well?" she noted.

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked raising an eyebrow, "I get to be the older sibling for once. I'm just imagining all the things I get to boss him into doing."

Putting a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggling fit, Hildegarde chastised her son, "Jaune, stop thinking up ways to torture your brother, whom you haven't even met yet I might add. Also, his name is Rackley, and he's three months shy of seven."

Nodding Jaune thought to himself, 'He is likely old enough to begin training with his preferred type of weapon then.'

Standing, Jaune bowed politely and excused himself saying, "I believe I need to return to my ship for a while."

Hildegarde immediately became concerned, "What, why are you leaving again so soon after you just got back?!"

"I'm not leaving Vale mother, just going back to the ship to unload some much-needed supplies."

Putting a hand on her chest and taking a calming breath, she said, "Thank goodness for a moment there, I thought you were going off again for another eight years."

He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and replied, "I'm not going anywhere Kaa-san, I promise."

"Kaa-san, that's the second time you've called me that."

"Ah, my apologies," he said rubbing his head sheepishly, "I seem to keep slipping into Nipponese on accident. It means mother."

Hildegarde tested the word, "Kaa-san huh? Has a nice ring to it I admit." Standing herself, she continued, "Well I guess we'd better get going."

"We?" Jaune echoed looking at her in askance.

Giving him a knowing look, she replied, "Well you don't expect your sisters to get their new clothes dirty, do you? Besides I want to see what other treasures you brought back from the 'Golden Archipelago.'"

He tried to protest, saying he could handle it himself, but she tugged him along towards the backdoor like a child entranced by fair games. He had just enough time to get his Kegutsu on before she continued to drag him towards the pier.

"It's gigantic!" Hildegarde

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Jaune remarked, receiving a slap on the back of his head from his red-faced mother.

Giving her a look he asked, "What was that for?"

"You know why, making such lewd jokes in front of your mother, you should be ashamed." She chastised.

It took him a moment to figure out what she was implying and when he did, he rubbed his eyes in exasperation and said, "Yare, yare, daze. Hentai, Kaa-san."

"I don't know what you just said, but I don't like your tone young man."

Sighing, he replied in Remnanti, "I called you a pervert, and for the record, I was referring to the ship. They don't have them this large in Nippongu, so it is considered an impressive sight.

Hildegarde looked down in embarrassment, "Oh…"

"Yeah…"

"Wanna forget this conversation ever happened and never speak of it again?" she offered after an awkward silent pause.

"More than anything," Jaune then gestured towards the ship, "Shall I give you the grand tour?"

"Mmhm."

He proceeded to show her around the three-masted galleon, the Leifde and was eager to show her the hold. The moment they entered he knew something was wrong. For behind a mass of crates the light of a lantern show through. Motioning for her to stay quiet and where she was, he went to investigate. What he found surprised him.

¥"What the hell are you five doing here?"¥

Okatsu Tokugawa her hair cut short framing her face, and clad in her typical short kimono and long blue haori coat embroidered with flowers.

Okatsu's lady, Ginchiyo Tachibana sat next to her, with her long hair was flowing free in a soft black sheet trailing down her back. She was wearing a blue kimono that had the images of butterflies hidden throughout its length. She had Raikiri strapped to her side, yet nearby he saw her armor and blue cloak.

Muramasa Senji and his granddaughter Tome were sitting next to each other wearing their white and red smithing attire. Muramasa had a band of cloth wrapped around his head, while Tome had her patterned multicolored fabric in place over her right eye.

Rounding out the group was Fuku in her black tight form fitting wide sleeved Onmyōji garb complete with her tall hat.

All were sitting around a small hotplate in a small space that had been cleared of crates, and several nets seem to have been strewn up and been used as makeshift bedding.

Muramasa greeted him warmly as if nothing at all was the matter, ¥"Ah, Hiko-kun, just in time for tea."¥

¥"Would someone like to explain to me what is going on here?"¥ He asked in Nipponese, doing his best not to lose his cool.

It was Okatsu who answered, speaking in thickly accented Remnanti, "I am here at the behest of my Lady Tachibana."

Looking to the long-haired noblewoman, he inquired, "And why are you here, Lady Tachibana?"

He locked eyes with the lady, who proceeded to explain, ¥"I faked my death at the Battle of Sekigahara Lord Hiko. I did so because when milord Muneshige was off to war, I was attacked by a Yokai. It killed the child I was carry and infected me with its pollution internally. Ever since then, I have been slowly dying. Unable to bear an heir as is my duty, I encouraged milords' courtship with Lady Yachiko from afar, knowing she could give him the heir I could not. Then you came and spoke of miraculous technology. The technology I hope may be able to cure me of my envenomed wounds."¥

Jaune took a moment to digest this sad tale before inquiring, ¥"So you intend to head back to Nippongu if they can cure you?"¥

Shaking her head, Ginchiyo replied, ¥"No, even should you advanced medicines manage to heal me, I intend to stay here, in exile. For I am already considered dead by milord, why complicate things by returning when he has likely moved on with his new bride?"¥

Jaune sighed before putting his hands on his hips and allowing himself a moment to think, 'Ok, so I've got a forlorn duchess, a runaway ninja princess, a Fauns magician, a geezer of swordsmith and his apprentice. God that sounds like the start-up to a bad joke.'

Sighing again, he spread his arms wide and welcoming, smiled wide and said, ¥"Welcome to Montagnes, please enjoy your stay."¥

The assembled Nipponese gave a small cheer, causing his mother to call out, "Jaune, is everything ok over there?"

"Who was that?" Okatsu inquired.

¥"That would be my mother."¥ The blonde samurai replied before calling out, "I seem to have some stowaways mom, why don't you come and say hello?"

Hildegarde soon found herself introduced to the group all of whom bowed low to her when they were introduced.

"Please, call me Hilde everyone," To her son, she whispered, "Why are they bowing to me?"

Much to Jaune's surprise, it was Ginchiyo Tachibana who answered in her thickly accented Remnanti, "We bow to you out of honor and respect for what your son has done for our nation Lady Arc."

"What my son has done for your nation?" She gave her son a look which he refused to meet.

Therefore, she turned back to Lady Tachibana and inquired, "And what, pray tell has son been up to?"

"He fought in the War and helped bring peace to our war-torn nation. He slew many Yokai-ah, I believe you call them Grimm singlehandedly some of which felled even the strongest of our warriors, singlehandedly. During the Battle of Sekigahara, he, with the assistance of two others slew a beast that must've been at least eighty shaku."

"What's a shaku son?"

"A foot, more or less."

At this point she started slapping her son and yelling at him for his recklessness, "You fought in a war and killed an eighty-foot Grimm?! What on earth were you thinking! You could've died, you stupid boy!"

"Mom, mom! I'm alright." He grabbed her arms forcing her to glare up into his face, "I'm alright."

"You could've died." She reiterated.

Jaune nodded to that, "But I didn't. Mostly because Ceil promised if I did, she'd find me, revive me, and then kill me again."

Hildegarde turned to the Nipponese who remained quiet during the display, and she apologized, "I'm sorry about that. But I'm sure you can imagine my worry when I learn my son, who disappeared without a trace almost eight years ago, killed something that would give an entire battalion of Hunters cause for concern."

"There is nothing to apologize for. I would feel the same in your position." Ginchiyo replied while the others snickered behind their hands.

"Yare, yare, daze," Jaune sighed to himself, "Well if you're quite finished beating me up in front of my friends' mom, I'd like to take Ginchiyo to the hospital."

"Is she hurt?" Hilde asked in concern.

Walking over to the Lady of Tachibana, he picked her up in a bridal carry before replying, "No, but an old wound is acting up, and I don't think it would hurt to have it checked."

"Seijūrō Hiko the VIIth put me down at once! My wound does not prevent me from walking!" Ginchiyo demanded angrily even as she hid her face in his shoulder to hide her mounting blush.

"No."

"Why ever not?! Is it customary to carry women around like this in your homeland?!" Ginchiyo asked, her cheeks now burning red. They were so hot she felt he must've been able to feel the warmth through his clothing, which only served to embarrass her further.

"It is not." He affirmed as he made his way towards the hatch that led toward the deck.

"Then why do you persist on carrying me?!" she squealed, as she felt fresh wind play with her hair, signaling they were on the top deck.

"You snuck onto my ship without permission, put your life and the life of Okatsu in danger, and could potentially start a war here in greater Remnant."

Lifting her head from his shoulder, she asked, "War, what do you mean?"

He spoke calmly as if speaking about the weather, "Though she chooses not to be reminded of it, Okatsu is Ieyasu's daughter. You are the equivalent of royalty yourself. What do you think will happen when Ieyasu finds out his daughter is missing?"

"He doesn't care about her." Tachibana dismissed.

Jaune nodded, "As a person? No. As a potential political pawn, she's precious. When he find out she's gone, he'll come for her. For me, thinking I took her. His honor will demand it."

Tachibana sighed knowing he spoke the truth, "I am sorry Seijūrō; it appears I was not thinking clearly in my haste to get to the west."

"Don't worry about it, we'll just deal with it when it comes." He said strangely calm about the whole thing.

As he turned to go down the gangplank, he stopped. For standing there on the pier were his Father, Aunt, his remaining sisters, and his little brother.

The two men stared each other down for a moment before Jaune shrugged and calmly made his way down the gangplank.

"So, the prodigal son returns," Charlemagne spoke ominously.

"Excuse me."

Scowling slightly, the Arc Patriarch said, "I said-"Jaune cut him off saying, "I know what you said, I was asking you to move, seeing as you're in the way."

"You run off and go gallivanting to some islands, and the first thing you say to me is move?! You have some nerve boy!" Charlemagne growled out.

Fixing his father with a glare, Jaune said calmly, "Father, the woman in my arms is in need of medical attention. So you have two options. Move, or be moved. Either is fine with me."

Charlemagne reached towards his blade Joyeuse, a MADL, Multi-Action Dust Longsword, "You may have gained some rudimentary skill in those backwater Isles but don't think it is enough to take on a true huntsman boy."

Sighing, Jaune set Ginchiyo on her feet before motioning her to stand aside. Now on the pier proper, Jaune let his right hand drift towards his blade, Nioh no Onikiri. Locking his left hand in the metal knuckleduster grip he had on the sheath, he spoke calmly, "This doesn't have to happen, just move aside, and we can talk after my friend gets looked at."

In response, Charlemagne drew Joyeuse and held it at the ready.

"Fine, have it your way then."

As the two squared off, Jaune heard Rackley ask his mother, "Mom, why is dad fighting that guy?"

Jaune heard the sound of dirt shifting, and a sigh from signifying she had picked up the younger boy, before saying, "That man there is your older brother Jaune, Rackley."

"Jaune? But I thought he died?"

At this point, Jaune couldn't help but interject. Looking to the young lad, who was sporting a messy mop of red hair, dark-green eyes, and whose attire seemed to be a hue of purple, he said, "I assure you Rackley, rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Jaune raised his armguard in time to block a strike from Joyeuse. "Never take your eyes off your opponent. Didn't those fools manage to teach you even that?"

Focusing his full attention on his father for the first time in sheer annoyance, Jaune replied, "They taught me much more than that."

"Oh?" Charlemagne questioned bringing his blade to the ready.

But Jaune did not draw his sword. Instead, he dashed in raising his fists and said, "Yeah they taught me things like this!"

He took a deep breath causing his aura to flare around him, which in turn caused his muscles to bulge forcing his Gi top to fall around his waist revealing his torso. All gasped at what they saw. For Jaune had seven stab-like scars in the shape of the Big Dipper carved into his chest, along with a long scar going from his right shoulder to his left hip as if someone had tried to slice him apart at the shoulder.

"ATATATATATATATATATATAT! HO WATA!" As Jaune let out a battle cry, he struck with his closed fists, aiming every which way on his father's body, yet careful to make sure his own fists weren't covered in his aura as he struck.

His father fell to the ground, in a world of pain, but alive. For that, Jaune was secretly grateful. Though he may not like the man, he did not wish death upon him, not by his hand or anyone else's. Looming over the man he finally answered the question he asked earlier.

"You asked me who I thought I was. I am Hiko Seijūrō, the Seventh of my name, and master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, the 32nd Master of Hokuto no Ken, Successor to the Reikō Hadoken-ryu, 4th master of Mumyou Jinpuu-ryu, recognized Omyōji, and Sendōka."

Jaune paused before finishing, "But above all that, I am Nioh, which is why you're still alive when by rights you should be dead. Now, if there is nothing else, my friend really must see a doctor."

When all downed man did was groan in pain, Jaune took that as leave to walk over him and take Ginchiyo in his arms again, much to her protests. Ignoring her, Jaune turned his gaze to the Leifde at the railing was his mother and remaining friends.

"Sorry for the mess, Kaa-san."

"I…don't worry about it. Just don't make a habit of this." Hildegarde said in expiration, almost at a loss for words

Glancing down to his father, Jaune replied, "I won't as long as he doesn't continue to insult my friends and me."

"We'll talk with him," Himiltrude promised as she approached with her youngest still in her arms.

Bowing slightly, he said, "Thank you Oba-san."

He then rose and ruffled his little brother's hair, "We'll have to get better acquainted later Rackley, I must see to my friend first."

"Alright." The young boy replied, looking at his older brother briefly.

Turning to his remaining sisters, he said, "We'll catch up in a bit yeah?"

Nodding Ceil replied, "We'll see you at dinner. While you're off seeing to one of your lady friends, we'll have this thing unloaded."

"Thanks, see you in a bit."

Jaune then headed off at a brisk walk towards the setting sun only to stumble when a thought passed his mind.

"Seijūrō-kun is everything alright?" Ginchiyo asked from her place in his arms.

"Everything's okay, I-I just stumbled a bit." He lied.

For in truth what caused him to stumble was his sister's words 'One of my 'lady friends'? What could she have meant by that?'

Chapter length: 7,850 words Number of Pages: 17 Date Completed: 2/22/17

AN: Well, anyone who knows me should've seen this coming. This is what happens when I read manga, watch anime, and play Nioh, the new 'souls-like' game from Team Ninja. If it isn't obvious by now, I am very easily influenced by my surroundings. Which get's us this. A hodgepodge of action tropes thrown into the blender that is my brain and whatever comes out, that's what I'm writing about this week.

But that's not all, I've got two more updates for other fics planned for this week (Iron Body Glass Heart and Laughing Scooby respectively). So this is the first part of a triple feature. The rest is coming soon to a PC near you. Hope you all enjoyed, and till next time, Bubbajack out! Peace!