Jaune woke up that morning feeling more confused than ever. He supposed that was becoming normal now. He had stayed up late the last night, thinking about his most recent encounter with Pyrrha. He couldn't help but think of the way he felt when he held her tight in a hug. He never wanted that moment to end. He had been close to his partner before in their combat practices, and they had hugged before a few times, but it had felt different. It felt important, like that embrace was the last lifeline that held the two together.

He also couldn't deny how much he had enjoyed it. Being that close to her had been electrifying for the blonde teen. He had always enjoyed her company, but when she had hugged him the previous night, his entire body, from his finger tips to the tips of his ears, had buzzed with uncontrollable energy. It had to end, of course, but in that moment, Jaune had wanted nothing more but for time to stop.

After she had left, Jaune had stayed on the roof for a long time. He was shocked at what had just happened, and a little confused. One thing, however, was prevalent to him. Pyrrha didn't want whatever was happening to happen. She had apologized to him on the rooftop, and Jaune could tell that whatever was happening had hurt her. He had stood on the rooftop, steaming in frustration and rage, unable to stay calm knowing that Pyrrha was hurting. It had taken him a long time to calm down enough to return to the dorm. By the time he got back, everyone was asleep already, so Jaune got into bed quickly. He laid in his bed for hours, thinking about Pyrrha, and what he could possibly do to help. He hadn't been able to fall asleep for hours.

When he woke up, he got ready and quickly left for the cafeteria. For the first time in days he actually felt like he could stomach eating something. When he got there, he sat in his usual spot and noticed Pyrrha in her new corner of the cafeteria. Judging from the dark shadows under her eyes, she hadn't been able to sleep any better than he had. She looked up from her small breakfast and made eye contact with him. She quickly ducked her head, but Jaune saw the trace of a smile on her lips. The first he had seen since Friday.

It wasn't long before the rest of his team started showing up along with team RWBY. Ren looked tired, as though his rest hadn't been much more gratifying than Jaune's own, but Nora looked as perky as ever. Team RWBY didn't look too well off. Weiss looked grumpy, which wasn't too unusual. Ruby looked a little hurt, and kept looking at Weiss dejectedly. Yang and Blake didn't say a word to each other. For Blake, it wasn't unusual, but Yang always talked.

After exchanging a few pleasant greetings, team RWBY took their usual seats across from team JNPR, and started chatting idly with the other team. The two teams chatted a little, Jaune partaking in the conversation a little bit. He was still distracted, but it no longer felt like someone was constantly slicing up his insides.

Yang finally got Blake to partake in the discussion by asking if the latter wanted to go for a picnic with her for lunch. Yang's dark haired partner respond with a curt yes and a glimmer of a smile. The two teams finished their breakfasts and headed their respective ways. Jaune decided to try to train again. He was feeling a bit better about Pyrrha, but he could hardly forget the deadline hanging over his head. He finally felt like things might get better with Pyrrha, but he still had other issues to deal with. He had registered for the tournament, and the bracket was going to be released later that week.

Though Jaune felt more confident than he ever had before in his life, he still doubted he could stand up against anyone who had made it into the prestigious academies that made up the tournament. After breakfast, Jaune decided to head down to the practice room where he worked on his techniques for hours on end. He didn't feel like he was improving, however, not like when he worked with Pyrrha. Every time he practiced with his partner, he felt like he got better by leaps and bounds, but against dummies it felt like he was only marginally improving. At best, he might be getting a little faster, but his strategy and thinking wasn't improving. That was what Jaune had to focus on; he knew he would never win out of speed or strength alone. He had to out think his opponent.

Despite his experience with the Death Stalker where Jaune felt the procession of the battle naturally, Jaune was having issues working on this tactical thinking against Pyrrha and the dummies. Pyrrha was simply impossible to touch, her defense as perfect as her offense. The dummies were the opposite, providing no mental stimulus at all. Jaune sighed and sheathed his sword. He turned away from the targets, unsatisfied with his training session. If he had been working at it this much in his free time all year, Jaune might've been able to improve enough, but he doubted it. Pyrrha's guidance had already brought him further than he could've ever hoped to get on his own, and he no longer had that luxury.

As he started towards the door, he saw Pyrrha leaning against the wall, watching him. She stopped him dead in his tracks. He wasn't sure what to do anymore. She winked at him then moved away, but Jaune saw her leave a small piece of paper on a railing on her way out. He went over and picked it up, unfolding it to read a small message scrolled in it.

Stay lower in your stance.

Swing with your body, not just your arms.

Try not to step into every attack, it's an obvious tell for your opponents.

Keep working.

Jaune smiled lightly at the sheet of paper. He didn't know if she had somehow found out about the tournament or if she was just trying to show that they were still friends, but Jaune treasured that piece of paper immediately. His spirits lifting partially, he headed to the cafeteria again to get lunch. He was famished after training for so long. He ate alone, his team apparently elsewhere. Just when he was about to leave, Ruby sat across from him, looking distracted.

"Hey Ruby, what's up?"

"Weiss isn't mad at me anymore. I don't know why."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yeah, but she was getting really frustrated with me for not doing enough work. Now she's just not getting mad at me, she just stares at a little game device thingy."

"Weiss is playing on a game tablet?" Jaune's mind was utterly blown. Weiss was the last person he would ever expect to pass on a chance to yell at someone for a game.

"Yep."

"Whoa, well just roll with it. Your team seems to be getting back on it's feet." Ruby perked up at that.

"Yeah! That's true! I hope Blake has a good time with Yang on their picnic. They've been acting weird together for too long. If they're good again after this, maybe things will get back to normal. I hope Blake's dealt with that thing, whatever it is." Jaune's head spun trying to follow the different topics the smaller redhead shot through in such a short span of time. He finally decided to pursue one subject.

"What's up with Blake anyway?"

"Well, she won't tell us. She says she has to deal with it one her own." Ruby looked troubled again at that.

"Is that a problem?"

"Well, she's a part of a team. I would think she would at least trust us with what it was, even if she deals with it on her own. I mean, what could be so bad that she couldn't tell us? And if it's that bad, what's it going to do to us as a team?"

"I honestly don't know Ruby, but I hope it works out for you guys." Jaune wasn't sure how to comfort the redhead.

"Thank Jaune, by the way, I saw your name get put in the tournament draw. I didn't think you were going to enter."

"I wasn't going to actually."

"So what happened?"

"It's a long story," Jaune answered, really not feeling like talking about it. Thinking about it was starting to get him anxious again. He steered the conversation to less serious topics. He would have gotten up and left already, but he didn't want to leave Ruby eating all by herself. Once she had finished her meal, Jaune excused himself.

He headed to the training rooms once more, determined to improve. He kept Pyrrha's list in mind as he swung at the targets again. He got bored of simply swinging his sword around quickly, but he kept going. Jaune didn't want to miss a single second of training before the tournament. So Jaune trained all day, not stopping despite his body feeling heavier and heavier.

Blake sat on the soft blanket across from Yang. The two were sitting in a small patch of forest on the edge of Forever Fall. If they were to move a dozen feet into the forest, the small light red petals of the forest would be falling all around the. The two had been in there initially, but when the petals started catching on Yang's hair, Yang had freaked out and Blake suggested they move to the edge of the forest, giggling all the while.

All of the previous day, the two had hardly talked. After Yang's proclamation outside of the library, Blake had grown a bit wary. She wanted to spend time with Yang, but was worried the other girl would take any move as a distraction and get mad with her. So Blake had waited, hoping that Yang would suggest something. Yang, for her part, seemed to feel bad for her partner, and suggested a lunchtime picnic with her that morning at breakfast. Blake had eagerly accepted, feeling guilty for using Yang earlier on.

So the two found themselves with a few tuna sandwiches, some milk and some catnip. Blake glared at yang when she saw the herb in the basket, but the Blonde just burst out laughing. Blake was having some issues staying mad at her partner with how bubbly she was, so she let it slide.

Other than the gag with the catnip, Yang refrained from teasing Blake, seeming to genuinely want to spend quality time together. That was one of the reasons Blake liked Yang so much. Yang knew how to have fun, and she liked to tease others, but when it came down to it, she would do whatever she could for those she cared about. Blake enjoyed her sandwich along with Yang, who sat in a rare comfortable silence.

Blake snuggled up next to Yang as she finished eating and sipped on her milk. The blonde allowed Blake to cuddle up against her, and stroked her hair lightly. Blake's worries were quickly washing away as she spent time with her partner. Yang undid the bow in Blake's hair, allowing her ears free range. Blake still felt a little uncomfortable when Yang did that, but she let it drop as her partner slowly rubbed her ears.

"Prrrrrrrrrrrrrr" Blake shot up away from Yang, blushing furiously. The sound of pleasure had escaped her throat before she had registered it. Yang laughed heartily.

"C'mon it's sooo cute!" She laughed at her partner. Blake flattened her ears and shot at dark look at Yang. Yang laughed again. "C'mere, you!"

Yang leaned forward and pulled Blake against her. The two looked into each other's eyes briefly before Blake slowly leaned in and kissed Yang quickly. She pulled back a little bit before Yang draped her arms around Blake's neck and pulled her in for a deep passionate kiss. Blake leaned into Yang as she started to slide her hand along her partner's side. Yang laid down onto her back, bringing Blake with her. Blake ran her hand from Yang's stomach down onto her thigh, feeling the lean, powerful muscle there. The two partners pressed against each other, kissing furiously. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Blake noted how different this was than the other night. Whereas there it had been a fiery an intense kiss, it lacked the passion that she had now. Deep in her stomach, Blake started to feel warm where there had been nothing but ice for the past few days.

Blake rolled over so that her blonde partner was now on top of her, and pulled Yang into her as the two kissed. She slowly worked Yang's lips open with her tongue, desiring to feel the latter kiss her back with all her passion. The two kissed for a long time, but eventually Blake felt compelled to break it off. Her cat ears had started to buzz, and Blake had started to lose control of her composure, so she broke it off, not wanting to go any further with Yang. Not right then.

"Well, that was a thing." Yang said, her eyes bright and shining at Blake. Blake blushed a bit, she had never really been that intimate with anyone before. The introverted faunus had never had a serious relationship before, and she was finding her time away with Yang more and more pleasing. The two lay down on the blanket and looked into the forest, watching the endless fall of the rosy petals. Blake's mood fouled as thoughts of the letter started to return to her mind. She grimaced and reached for her bow, tying it around her ears again.

She thought about all the weight she felt she was carrying because of that note. Blake looked over at Yang, who smiled back at her. Yang reached out and took Blake's hand, holding it between them. The physical contact was reassuring, and Blake felt a little guilty. She mentally checked herself. That sort of thought was foreign to her. For the first time in her life, she felt like there was someone she could confide in. The thought caught in her mind. She wanted to trust Yang, tell her about the letter, but at the same time, she was worried of opening up to another.

Taking a deep breath, Blake sat up and looked down at Yang beside her. The blonde propped herself up on her elbows, at attention, sensing that Blake was about to say something. Blake closed her eyes, trying to calm her heartbeat.

"Yang.." She began, but found it impossible to get the rest out. She simply could not bring herself to tell her partner about the letter. She started to shake a bit, her stomach feeling queasy.

"What is it Blake?" Yang's voice had her ever present contented edge, but when Blake opened her eyes and looked down at Yang, her eyes were full of worry.

"I," Again, Blake found it impossible to finish the sentence. She lowered her gaze to a spot on the blanket, unable to meet Yang's gaze. "Never mind, forget it." she said quietly. She felt a hand on her back.

"It's alright Blake, you don't have to tell me right now. But if you ever want to, I'll be here." Blake looked at Yang gratefully. The optimistic blonde was more understanding than Blake would have ever thought when she first started going out with her as more than friends. The two stayed there for a moment as Blake centered herself once more. "Now come on, let's head back. I don't want Weiss to kill my little sister before we get back. Those two have been at each other's throats lately."

Blake agreed, and the two packed up the picnic. Blake paused before putting the blanket back in the basket, remarking how this could hardly have been Yang's idea of a good time out. Yang loved to do exciting things, more likely to want to go hunting Nevermore together than to go out for dinner, let alone a romantic picnic. She smiled lightly as she realized that her partner had set this up for the sole reason of making Blake's day a bit brighter. She thought about the simple and sweet action as they made their way back to Beacon. She grabbed Yang's hand just outside the gate into the school to stop her for a moment.

"Yes?" The blonde inquired.

"Just, thanks Yang. I really needed that." Yang smiled at her knowingly. Blake was not a faunus of many words, and a sincere thanks like that was all Yang needed. Blake liked her even more for knowing that. It was then that Blake resigned to tell Yang about the letter. She would tell her just after dinner, before she made preparations to meet with the sender of the letter. The two walked slowly back to the dorms, Blake savoring the time she spent alone in comfortable silence with her partner. They didn't hold hands or anything, Yang respecting that Blake didn't like public displays of affection.

Eventually they found themselves back in front of the dorm. Blake gave Yang a final, quick kiss before they opened the door. Ruby was sitting on her top bunk with a book open, taking a few notes. Weiss was below her with something clutched between her hands. As Blake and Yang approached, Weiss shrieked and thrust one hand up in a fist pump.

"Yes!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Just two more moves and Remnant will be all mine!"

Yang and Blake stopped in their tracks.

"Um, Ruby? Did you break Weiss?" Yang asked, a little worried.

"Hm? Oh, no. She found a version of that game we showed her and Blake in the library a while ago. She's been playing for hours and won't give up until she has 'become the most iconic figure in the history of the world.' I'm a little worried."

Blake smirked at this. She might have expected Ruby to be playing the game and Weiss to be studying, but she never would have guessed that this situation would ever arise. Blake strolled to her bed and rolled onto her soft mattress. She stretched out, and the next while passed as Ruby, Yang, and Weiss chatted idly. Mostly Yang teasing Weiss about being a nerd for playing that game.

Blake's mind, however, was elsewhere. As the others joked and killed the time easily, Blake lay down and started thinking about that night. It was finally going to happen. She was finally going to come face to face with whoever sent the letter. Blake wanted to make a plan, but had no idea what she could do. She was uncertain of the identity of whoever had written the letter, so couldn't prepare of any personal knowledge. In addition to the issue of identity, Blake also had to deal with the fact that the letter contained next to no information. The only thing she knew was the location of the meeting. The fountain. There wasn't much to work with there. An open courtyard with a medium sized fountain in it. Blake's mood fouled. Not only was her stomach roiling with anticipation, but she couldn't even plan for what was happening.

She couldn't stand the feeling of helplessness that was overcoming her. Blake didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. Her past was catching up with her, and she was terrified that it would cost her everything around her. She didn't know what agenda the letter-sender held, but she was sure that if it was from the White Fang, it would threaten her life at Beacon. She didn't want to lose it: Beacon, her team, her friends, and Yang.

For the first time since Blake could remember, she wasn't ready to run. She had had friends before, people she trusted. She had even almost had relationships before, but it had never been solid. Blake's life had never been stable. It had hurt her to leave others, but she had always been able to survive it. Her past was troubling, but if Beacon and all it entailed became apart of that past, it would destroy her. Her helplessness and fear did nothing but fuel her anger, make the faunus feel more and more irritated and edgy.

One thought continued to prevail in her thoughts. What if she had to leave?

She would never do it willingly, but she had to consider the very real possibility that whoever it was intended to expose her past to those in positions of authority at Beacon. Blake wouldn't let that happen. Despite her new ties to the school, it only provided her extra incentive to flee. She wouldn't allow herself to be exposed for two reasons. The first was that she couldn't let herself be caught by the White Fang. If they ever caught her, they might kill her, or possibly worse, force her to work for them to hurt innocent people. The second seemed a much more powerful than her own freedom and fear now, and that was her friends. She didn't want to hurt them. She didn't know she could bear to watch Yang if she was outed. Worse was if she wasn't outed, and the White Fang forced her to work for them. She couldn't imagine hurting her partner like that.

"Blake?"

"What?" Blake snapped at Ruby, who had asked the question.

"Whoa there," Yang cut in. "Hey, you alright?" Blake looked up, irritated.

"Fine." She cut the conversation off short.

"Ooookay." Ruby half whistled, "Well, we're just going to get some dinner, come on!" Blake had to actively stop herself from glaring at her team leader. Instead, she tried to stay composed as she stood with them, heading towards the cafeteria.

Blake noted that it could be her last dinner with her friends.

Blake snuck out of her room silently. It was a little past eleven at that point, and her team mates were sound asleep. Blake was used to being silent, and had been apart of a fair share of stealth based missions, so sneaking past her friends came naturally. It felt wrong, however, almost as though she were lying to them.

She snuck through the hallways of Beacon, her steps making no sound as they fell on the hard floor. She found her way outside and started heading towards the fountain. She remarked that it felt good to finally be confronting the issue that had been weighing her down for the past few days. At the same time though Blake felt hollow. She was afraid of who she might find waiting for her.

She rounded the corner to the fountain and climbed a tree where she could overlook the scene. She thought she might get the jump on her visitor if she got there early enough. She surveyed the scene. the fountain and courtyard were dimly lit by a few dust lamps around the edges. This had the effect that the fountain was the darkest part, the water nothing but the outline of a shadow against the somewhat lighter backdrop of the paved stones. She scanned the courtyard for a good time, looking for the slightest movement. When nothing showed, she started looking at the sparse trees planted around the outside, wondering if perhaps her caller had the same idea as her.

The night's gloom had little effect on Blake, her eyes easily adjusting to the darkness so it was hardly any different than during the day. She stood on the branch of the tree she had chosen and stared intently around the courtyard. She studied her surroundings for close to 45 minutes with nothing to show for it. It was approaching midnight now, and Blake sighed. It had been a long shot that whoever had written the letter would show themselves before she did, but she had to try.

Blake gracefully slid down the tree to land softly on the ground beneath her. She stepped warily into the light of the courtyard, walking up to the fountain. It must have been midnight by the time Blake reached the middle, stepping slowly and gingerly towards the fountain. Despite her slow approach, she could sense nothing of anyone around her. She reached the fountain, but there was still no sign of movement. Growing frustrated, Blake decided to check the other side of the fountain, chastising herself for not doing that from the cover of the trees.

However, instead of another person when she reached the other side of the fountain, she found another envelope. Of course, she thought to herself, why allow me to possibly make preparations for the encounter when you hold all the chips. Whoever it was was smart, and that worried Blake. She knew she was smarter than most others, but she was less confident going up against someone who was smart enough to actually plan this through.

She opened the envelope, the mark of the White Fang in the top corner. She pulled out the letter and read the directions.

"Outside the gate," Was all the letter said. Blake sighed and strode out of the courtyard towards the entrance of Beacon. She reached it quickly, but slowed when she saw the outline of a tall man, standing and facing away from her. He was in the middle of the path, making no attempt to hide himself. She recognized the outline immediately, her stomach sinking in apprehension.

As she walked up behind him, he turned his face to the side and she could see the outline of his face, the top half covered in a white mask with red designs on it.

"Hello Blake," Adam Taurus, Blake's old partner said, "It's been far, far, too long."