Chapter: 3

Memories

A RWBY Fanfiction

By: Delvakiir

Hiei turned fitfully in his sleep as a thousand unpleasant images tore through his mind at once. He saw two children being ushered out a back door, running barefoot through dark alleys. He could hear shouts and screams coming from behind them. It was just running, running, and more running. The face of a crying girl with eyes filled with panic flashed through his mind. He could see a young boy filled with uncertainty and pain struggling to make the right decision. He could feel what they felt as if he were right there next to them: great fear and anger, large crowds and mounting rage, a desire to run, a desire to fight, and the crack of a gunshot like the sound of a nail being driven into a coffin.

Hiei awoke with a start, sitting straight up in bed, cold sweat rolling down his face. He fought to control his ragged breathing; rubbing his eyes and shaking free the last remnants of the nightmare. He fell back onto the soft feathers of his pillow; throwing his arm over his eyes. A gentle breeze wafted in from the open window blowing a few strands of his shoulder length dark hair across his face. Brushing it behind his human set of ears he closed his eyes and tried to forget the horrible visions that remained fresh in his mind like an open wound.

"How much longer must I live with this torment?" said Hiei aloud, wiping the sweat off his brow.
"As long as you shall live," said a voice from across the room.
Hiei turned his head to see his teammate Lloyd Leyak sitting in a hard-backed chair, basked in shadow, regarding him thoughtfully.

Lloyd was a tall human, with a lanky, yet athletic build. His choice of attire was strange to say the least. He wore an asymmetric dull brown coat covered with embellished burgundy designs that hung down below his knee on his right side. His only accessories were a leather greave with two small metal plates worked into the leather around the knee that he wore on his left leg and a white cravat on his collar. All in all it looked like he'd just leapt out of a history book. However his most defining feature lay under the low brim of his old coachman's hat and behind his oval shaped wire rimmed glasses. Yes, his most defining feature were his eyes. They were supposedly solid red, and a very horrible and hypnotic sight. Looking into them was said to be like drowning in a sea of blood. The very thought sent a shiver down Hiei's spine.

"Forever, huh," whispered Hiei, an ashen look on his face.
A moment of silence passed between the two, Lloyd's unjudging red eyes regarded his teammate with worry.
"They're just memories," he began, closing his eyes. "Intangible, nothing more than dust and whispers of the past," he said, speaking in a calm, almost sad voice. "We shall only be free of them when we leave this plain of existence, and travel into whatever awaits, to either find our rest, or answer for what we've done."
Hiei went over what Lloyd said thoughtfully, "Dust has a way of piling up in dark places," he said with a bitter smile.
Lloyd's glasses caught a ray of sunlight as he tilted his head and smiled eerily, "I can help with that you know?"
"No," said Hiei with an edge of steel in his voice.
Undaunted, Lloyd continued, "My specialties lie in the mind, my friend," he said with a smile. "A simple mental barrier could relieve you of this torment," Lloyd prodded earnestly.
"You would have me shut out my problems rather than face them like a coward!" spat Hiei, in a venomous tone. He didn't like the idea of running away from his past but he had to admit the idea of going the whole night without being ravaged by nightmares did sound appealing, but not enough to let Lloyd go poking around his brain to do as he pleased!

Seeing Hiei's mounting rage, he backed off, his expression one of understanding.
"I only wished to offer some solace for whatever plagues you, my friend," said Lloyd calmly.
"Save your excuses! You are far too transparent, my "friend"," Hiei's voice carried the full weight of his anger. A clear warning for Lloyd to back off.
"Whatever you say," said Lloyd with a shrug. "Some things just need to work themselves out I suppose. However I think you should do something about it, I know I'm not the most affectionate person on Remnant but I am your teammate and I'm here to talk if you want."

Hiei didn't answer, he just sat on the edge of his bed staring at the floor. Hiei wasn't so sure that Lloyd's intentions were as selfless as they appeared. He was a very private person and to Lloyd, who was a person who wanted to know everything about everything! It seemed just a tad too convenient that he was being this nice. For the past three years he'd constantly tried to pick his brain for any information he withheld and so far all that had accomplished was make him even more avert to sharing his thoughts with others.
Hiei gazed out the open window and let the cool breeze brush over him. "Thanks but I don't really feel like sharing..."
They sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes. Hiei gazing out the window with Lloyd watching him. It made him feel like he was under a magnifying glass, a very uncomfortable sensation for someone like him.

Just when the perpetual silence was beginning to grate on his nerves Lloyd spoke up.
"Didn't you have something you were doing?" said Lloyd pointing at the Scroll lying on his bed.
Hiei cringed, noticing the mostly unread dossiers in front of him. "I didn't intend to fall asleep," he said, frustrated with the amount of work he'd been given.
"Really?" said Lloyd quizzically as he leaned back in his chair, "Seems to me like something you'd do."
Hiei glared at him, Have I ever told you, you talk too much?"
"Almost every day."
"Then remind me to start telling you twice a day," Hiei drawled.
Lloyd tipped his hat to him, "By your command." he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hiei narrowed his eyes at him, "You're getting on my nerves more than usual today."
Lloyd laughed for a moment before becoming serious eyeing him with suspicion, "You got home rather late last night..."
Hiei paused from gathering his things looking at Lloyd once more. The unspoken question hung heavily in the air between the two men. Rather than answer, Hiei decided to change the subject.

"How long did I sleep anyway?" he asked Lloyd as he continued to walk about their little dorm.
Lloyd huffed and crossed his arms clearly not pleased with being denied more information, but answered regardless, "I'm not sure, I just got back from lunch."
Hiei whirled on him, "Lunch!" he said with dismay.
"Slept longer than you thought?" Lloyd asked with an amused expression as Hiei quickened his pace.
Hiei grimaced, "A lot longer." He'd only just awoken and he already felt a headache coming on. He hadn't finished reading the info on his new students and now he'd have little time to prepare for his imminent duties.
Lloyd laughed, "See what happens when sleep is neglected?" he chided wagging a finger.
Hiei pulled Lloyd's hat down over his eyes in answer to that and looked around the room noting the two other empty beds.
"Hey, where's Marik and Fuko?" said Hiei.
"Do I look like their babysitter?," said Lloyd as he readjusted his hat on his head and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "I don't keep track of their whereabouts every second of the day."

Hiei sighed as he pulled a fresh shirt over his head, "Oh well its not like need them right now anyway. What are you up to?" said Hiei bringing his attention back to Lloyd as he licked his thumb and smoothed down a tuft of hair on his animal ears.
"I have my own things to do," said Lloyd, swiveling in his chair, motioning to the small lab on the desk beside them.

The desk was covered in beakers, burners, and vials of every shape and size. Above it hung a shelf Lloyd had installed himself, it was covered in jars of Dust of every kind imaginable. A large and rare collection that would be the envy of any huntsman or huntress.
Hiei looked at it all with mild concern, "Another Dust experiment?" he said taking a step back. "You aren't going to have a repeat of what happened last time are you?"
Lloyd shifted in his seat, "I….admit that attempting to fuse fire and lighting had…less than favorable results" he said uneasily.
Hiei huffed, "That's putting it lightly."
"If I wanted your opinion I'd ask for it!" seethed Lloyd. "My research into synthetic Dust crystals could revolutionize the way we look at Dust all together!" Lloyd quickly added.
Hiei's expression remained neutral. He knew all too well how highly Lloyd thought of his experiments. Noting his expression Lloyd became very grim.
"Dust is a mineral, meaning it has to be mined. Meaning it's a natural resource, which means it has the potential to run out. Dust is our way of survival in this dark world. What are we supposed to do then?"

"It would take centuries for us to tap out the planets source of Dust," said Hiei reassuringly
"That's what everyone says until it's too late," said Lloyd turning towards his lab.
Focusing on the various kinds of powdered Dust in his assorted jars he spoke as if he was in another world, "Imagine it Hiei, I could create Dust with entirely new properties! The ability to move earth, control plants and trees, or move metal objects….," said Lloyd, wistfully.
Hiei thought about his last example for a moment, "Wouldn't that just be a magnet?" said Hiei, looking at Lloyd.
Lloyd just narrowed his eyes, "Don't you have something you need to do?"
Hiei sighed, "Your right, I'd best be going."
"Best you should," said Lloyd as he took out a couple vials of Dust powder and examined their contents.
Hiei turned to leave but stopped and walked back up to Lloyd.
"See ya later, and don't be causing anymore explosions," said Hiei slapping Lloyd on the back.
Hiei, however, had used too much strength causing Lloyd to lurch forward sending both open vials cascading towards one of the burner's open flame. The two watched with frozen expression of horror as time seemed to slow down, the Dust getting closer towards the flame. All Hiei had time to utter was an apologetic "Oops" before the Dust connected with the flame.

It was said from then onward that on that day every student currently attending Beacon Academy felt a small tremor go through the school.
Ruby Rose feeling the slight vibration was startled awake as she sat in Professor Port's classroom.
"I dare say! That was mighty strange!" bellowed Professor Port his gut jiggling.
"Felt like an explosion,' mused Blake as she stared at the ceiling
Ruby looked around in confusion still shaking off the after affects of sleep.
"I just had the weirdest dream," said Ruby groggily.
Weiss fixed her with a stern look, "You should be spending more time studying, and less time dreaming." she said looking down on her. Quite literally looking down as she was sitting in the row above her. Ruby squirmed in her seat. Seeing Weiss above her like that made her feel as if she was on trial.

"I know, I know, but still it was really weird!"
"What was it about?" inquired Yang, turning towards her sister.
Ruby turned towards her and opened her mouth as if to explain but suddenly stopped and got a thoughtful look on her face.
"What's wrong?" asked Yang.
Ruby scratched the back of her head, "Well now that you ask me about it I can't really remember," she said with a chuckle.
"Then how do you know it was weird?" said Blake as she leaned over the edge of the desk, for she was sitting in the same row as Weiss.
"I just have a feeling."
"What kind of a feeling?" said Yang with a raised eyebrow.
"Just an odd feeling that things are going to start shaking up around here," said Ruby.
"That's a bad pun sis," groaned Yang.
"I'm being serious though!"
Weiss sighed, "For our sake's I hope your wrong because that's just what we need, more trouble!"

Little could they possibly know….