-Day 5: Thursday-

Once again the sun has risen, once again breakfast is water and cardboard. Still my stomach begs for anything more, threatening to claw its way out to search on its own. How many days has it been? Does it matter? No, not really. Just sitting up has my head swimming, but I cannot show it. I need to be steady for Fox and the other two. Yatsuhashi, I wonder how he is. Messages? None. No surprise. Remember, stay positive, optimism, we will not be here forever. We will leave, unless we don't, NO! Optimism. Happy. Control. I am the leader and I can fix this. Stretch, pee, wash face, then finish the cardboard. It is something. It will help. It is all we have. Even with that first alley clear of clean cardboard, there were others, there is plenty of this one last thing. Just a few more days, at most. Fox was right, someone would notice the lack of updates.

Coco returned, dropping another load of cardboard on the map, this pile larger than in previous days. It was a subtle acknowledgment of the situation that this was the only thing to consume apart from the murky water. Fox was making the four beds, having presumably preformed his morning routine while she was digging through trash.

"There is another sheet at the barn, yes?" asked Coco, not mentioning the messages not received, her only indication of their status.

"Yes, do you want to redo the wrapping again?" Fox was putting the finishing touches on Yatsuhashi's bed, the last one. I suppose this room does look less like a dump of supplies now.

"I want to see if some of it healed by aura, but that might be selfish. If it has not been, rewrapping so soon might just be a risk."

Fox turned to face her, sitting on the bed he'd just made. "I'd like to see that too, but you are right about rebandaging. Let's see how he was over night, they might need changing anyway."

They left for the barn, not carrying any supplies save for the cardboard and the filled water bottles to replace the ones left for their teammates. Voices from inside filtered out of the barn, two voices speaking amicably.

Velvet and Yatsuhashi turned to the other pair when they entered. Greetings and pleasantries cut through the silent village and even their increasingly stoic leader's face softened. As the small talk trailed off, Coco set them on their next course.

"Velvet, how about you take a break? Walk around outside, stretch, whatever. We brought more water and paper." Coco held the full water bottle and some of the cardboard out to Velvet.

"Ah, thanks. That's a good idea." A small groan as Velvet stood simply seemed to be punctuation on her agreement with her leader. "But, my canteen still has some, so I'll take that instead." she said with a smile, picking hers from the night up and shaking it.

"Alright" Coco replied, handing two pieces of cardboard to Velvet as she left. When she looked back at the other two, Fox was helping Yatsuhashi finish the second overnight canteen.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, kneeling beside Yatsuhashi.

"Not bad, my back hurts but otherwise okay. You two aren't hurt, right?" Yatsuhashi handed the empty canteen to Fox as he spoke.

"Yes, we're fine, you were the only one they managed to swipe."

"I really should be more careful." he responded with a chuckle. "I feel like I was hit in the stomach too, do you have anything to eat?"

Fox immediately produced a rectangle of cardboard and offered it.

"Cardboard? No food?" ask Yatsuhashi, looking to Fox.

"No. No one has replied to our messages yet, and no food drops." the leader answered for Fox, looking at him before Yatsuhashi turned back to her, attempting to silently show her concern to her partner.

"Ah, right, right." nodded Yatsuhashi. He rolled his shoulders a little and smiled again, "This is taking a while to heal, they must have been really deep. Do you two think my aura will heal it faster if I sleep some more? I feel kinda tired."

Coco attempted to return the smile. "Maybe, but I want you to try to eat a bit of the cardboard first, it will help your stomach."

Fox handed it back over. "I think while you do that, we will take a look at your back, okay?"

Yatsuhashi nodded and the other two set to work. Fox cut the existing bandages, while Coco grabbed one of the new water bottles and the clean sheet. She almost dropped them both when she saw what was beneath the bandages. It looks the same, more scabs, but not at all healed. Is it worse? It looks raised, and red. Redder? They were not terribly deep, they would not have hit too much of importance. Why is his aura not doing anything? Is there not enough of a spark to close them if not heal? Or at least make them not get worse? Food? Was that it? Was it her lack of packing that was making this injury, light enough to be brushed off with aura as a shield, suddenly so terrifying? What could she do? Hunting was no longer an option, not with their auras as low as they were a day ago, and why would they be better now? Are we past sleep being helpful? I feel so tired. My hands keep shaking. With those grimm, would we be able to hunt there anyway? The fighting would scare anything off, and there were so few signs of life even outside the walls . . . Plants? Grass would likely just make us sick, as the leather had threatened to do if we could have managed to eat it. Such a foolish idea, too many chemicals in the processing.

"Coco?" Fox interrupted the thoughts racing through her mind. "The water?"

Without a word she fell to her knees behind Yatsuhashi, behind those devilish marks that bore into her worst fears, fears that she was desperate to bash down and bury. but not bury, no graves, we will live, survive, I can lead the group out of this. I have to.

Fox cut a rag from the sheet and handed it to her. His gaze lingered on her face, he waited, not immediately releasing the fabric. Does my face betray me? Is he tempted to trade tasks, shooing me away to cut the sheet? She wet the cloth, put the canteen down, and reached for Yatsuhashi's shoulder with her now empty hand, her other pressing the cool, moist cloth against his back. Warm, sticky? Sweat? Was the bed too warm? Her arms held still as her eyes looked to Fox. Had he felt the same? Was it from sleeping or a fever? Maybe he could walk, maybe they could take him to a house with a tub. No, not for a fever his body would try to compensate for the colder temperature and get worse. But maybe it is fine, maybe it is just sweat. People with aura don't get sick, remember? It is okay. What if it isn't? What about Velvet?

Coco quickly looked to the door, then turned back to Yatsuhashi, attempting to work quickly without sacrificing care. She can not see. She cannot know. She shall not know. She can't find out. It was not that the absent teammate was weak, but that she drew her strength as a huntress from emotion, from wanting to stop people from getting hurt.

"You were right, Yatsu." Coco smiled, taking a deep breath slowly, to avoid the sound. "It looks like it is starting to heal, it will just take some time since we let our auras get so low, and it was deep." Her hands worked to wipe the sweat from his back, and cool it down slightly. "It is already working, they are starting to close. I think we had better leave the stitches though, in case you have to run or something, to help them not reopen."

Fox moved in her peripheral vision, but she dared not look to him. He must be done with making the new bandage. That is all. Perhaps he heard my voice quiver, or saw that my mouth smiled for my words but not my eyes. Perhaps he just did not like that I said the wounds had been deep. Yatsuhashi did not though, I cann- will not allow that to happen. Perhaps Fox saw what I did, he can think whatever he likes, but not Yatsuhashi. Just leave it be Fox. Coco dried his back, and moved out of the way so Fox could wrap it.

"Did you finish breakfast, Yatsuhashi?"

"It tastes like cardboard."

Coco's body pushed air through her smile, not forced this time. "Yeah, are you surprised? Just tear it or chew it. It will make your stomach feel better."

"I know, I am, you said that already."

"So I did. You said you were tired, right? Once Fox is done you can take a nap. That should help your aura heal you some more."

"Yes, alright."

"I think I will stay with you today, does that sound good? You have probably exhausted all of Velvet's stories by now. I will go get her while Fox finished up and you lay down, okay?"

"Mmm hmm" sounded Yatsuhashi with a nod.

Coco stood and walked to the door. She had not met either of their faces, she could not look at them right now. Her hand shook slightly, but she stilled it as it reached for the door.

With the door closed behind her, Coco looked up and down the street, to be sure Velvet had not returned. Once satisfied she drew a shaking breath and dropped to a squat, her arms wrapped around her legs. In and out. Inhale, exhale. Be strong. Be the leader. Survive. Survive this and get back to Beacon. In and out. Inhale, exhale. Her mouth was open, her body seeming unable to breath with just her nose for the moment.

Stand. Stand up. Stand up, find Velvet. She and Fox can go . . . I don't know, look for food in a place devoid of anything remotely consumable except for cardboard? Oh, there is the other half of the outer ring. That would give them something to do. Coco snapped out of her thoughts and sprung up, a hand reaching back to the barn wall as she waited for her vision to return. Stay calm, stay steady. Your team needs a leader. Be strong. Find Velvet.

Coco returned to the barn with Velvet, the latter appeared refreshed. Fox was sitting quietly beside Yatsuhashi, who was laying on his front, possibly sleeping. Fox stood and met them halfway, not speaking until they were close.

"Is he sleeping?" ask Velvet, vocalizing the question Coco nearly spoke herself.

"I'm not sure, but he should be close by now." answered Fox, his voice hushed.

"The plan for today is for me to stay here, while you two check the other half of the outer ring. It is still marked on the map, just follow the same procedure as last time. I think it will be free of grim, more guarded than this side, but don't get caught unaware, okay?"

Fox and velvet nodded in response.

"It will take longer, but you two know what to look for, so I think you can cover it in a long day. When it starts to get dark, head to the house, grab the flashlight, another clean sheet, fill your water bottles, and come here. That will give you an extra hour, I think."

"Shouldn't we all check in around midday? Just to be sure?" asked Velvet, looking to Yatsuhashi.

"Yeah, how about I meet you at the house around 2? I can check for messages then. Velvet, you should take Yatsuhashi's scroll, to keep track of time and so I can reach you. When you two make your plan, be specific Fox, so Velvet can find you quickly at 2 or for anything that comes up, okay?"

"Yes"

"Understood."

Once they left, Coco sat on the cool floor and sighed. Yatsuhashi is definitely sleeping now. He is getting worse. His words, they were out of place, odd. Velvet must have noticed. Did she just refuse to acknowledge it? She crawled to Yatsuhashi and carefully touched his forehead. I feel cold with hunger, but I am fairly certain he has a fever. Were those cuts infected? What do they need? What can I do? We never learned about that, I suppose that's only a problem for people without aura. Why? Why is this happening? WHY?

Coco checked her scroll, 15 to 10am. I suppose we are all getting up earlier now. As tired as we feel, our bodies seem to be pushing us to go find something, anything, to consume. Slow down! Try Harder! Those conflicting demands just tire us more. Four hours until the meet. He seems to be sleeping soundly. Coco stood, slowly this time, took a piece of cardboard to quell her hunger pains, and went on a short walk, looking for anything they might have missed when they first searched but remained close enough to hear any loud noise that might come from the barn.

Apart from a flat above a small warehouse that must have been in one of the others' areas, nothing was remotely noteworthy. She returned to the barn after about an hour. She sat and waited, within 30 minutes Yatsuhashi began to stir. Coco was not surprised, he had likely slept the night and cardboard could only do so much to suppress the hunger.

"Hey"

"Hey" echoed Yatsuhashi, turning his head to smile at her. "How did you convince Velvet to go?"

"Magic."

"Funny. What are they up to? The basement?"

"Oh dust no, I sent them to check out the last quarter of the settlement, the other outer ring."

"So far . . . " commented Yatsuhashi, his voice trailing off.

"Are you thirsty?"

Yatsuhashi pulled his hands close and started to push himself up. His head free from the floor he shook it lightly. It was a challenge, she could tell, for him to sit up on his own, but she hesitated to help. This strong man, nearly a fully fledged hunter, forged with the strong will needed to be accepted as a teammate under Coco's leadership. He did manage it on his own, sitting up facing her.

"My aura is not healing it at all, is it?"

Coco was taken aback by the blunt question. Her hesitation as her torso leaned back said more than she ever intended to reveal. "It will, rest will help it regenerate. The scratches are already healing and they are not too deep, I doubt they hit any organs."

He did not further the conversation, and she did not force it. They sat quietly for a while. After some time had past Yatsuhashi broke the silence.

"Do you have any more of that cardboard?"

"Yeah." Coco smiled, and leaned over to reach a piece for him and herself. "Here."

Yatsuhashi chewed on chunk, while Coco ripped off smaller pieces and swallowed them. She pulled the water closer.

"Coco? Tell me about how we met."

She put down her cardboard and told the story. Her mouth felt dry, her eyes wet, her smile from the memory real. She did not question the request, Velvet had likely been reminiscing with him unprompted.

"You will protect Velvet, right? Make sure she survives and makes it out of here?" he asked, a short moment after the story concluded. He had been active in it, adding his own details and laughing.

Coco nodded solemnly. "Yes, of course. All of-"

"Good." he interrupted, not allowing her to state her lie. The word left his mouth just barely before he bent forward, his forearms pushed against the floor, as his chest heaved a string of coughs. Coco was at his side at once, a hand placed on his upper, unmarked, back. It lasted a minute, the only thing to leave his body was the cardboard he'd been chewing and a little spit. She offered him a water bottle as he sat back up. In turn he gave her a smile.

"Just make sure she gets out. You and Fox too."

"Yatsu, you can-"

"Coco" he began, interrupting her again. "I can't see."

"What?" Coco's voice suddenly raised above the quiet voices they had been using. Returning to the softer volume she took a deep breath and rephrased, "You'll be there to help me. We-"

"Without an aura I am just a normal person. Normal people don't survive grimm attacks without a hospital."

"You have an unlocked aura." Coco insisted. "It is there, it's working, it's just slow." Tears began to moisten her eyelashes, but not yet her face.

"Coco" said Yatsuhashi, resting a hand on her leg. "I have a fever. My head hurts, my back is numb, I cannot see. I could barely keep up with your story."

"Yatsu . . ."

"Leave me. Let go and leave me here. You guys can check the basement and get the tower working."

"No. I won't. It probably won't work anyway. The people would have tried to fix something like that, it is probably not something we can do." She let her fears surface into words in a desperate attempt to destroy his reasoning. Her tears followed suit.

"But it is something, Coco. What day is it?"

"I don't - umm, Day 5, fourth morning . . . Thursday?"

"Do you think, that in this state, I can manage to live for another 3 days?"

"Yes!" she pleaded, "Maybe we can push some of our aura into you. Or yours will strengthen. Maybe-"

"Coco, none of you are much better off. You need what you have and that is likely around empty too. Please. It hurts."

Coco could not hold back any more. She fell into his chest and wrapped her arms under his, her hands grasping his shoulders tightly from behind. Her shoulders shuddered, and she knew he could feel it when he laid his arms over her upper back. It was just too much, him asking her to end his pain. Why? Why are you asking this of me? I was never meant to be leader, I can't, I can't hold on any more. I can't stand, I can't lead, I can't do as you have asked. I am not strong enough.

Yatsuhashi waited, letting her shaking subside, before whispering in her ear, "Coco, please, let me go. Just leave me if you must. "

"Yatsu . . ."

"Just walk away. Get the others, tell them I'm sleeping, and try the basement."

"I can't just leave you alone, Yatsu."

"Please, just let me go."

Coco pulled away so she could see his face. His eyes did not quite meet hers, but he was trying to smile at her. The pain he felt, in request or physically?, twisted his expression. She put a hand against his jaw, while inhaling slowly, before rising to her feet. She walked away, but returned dragging Velvet's straw bed onto Yatsuhashi's.

"Lay down, on your back."

He obeyed, without a sound apart from a wince when his weight rested upon his injuries. A scraping sound indicated her picking up his sword. She knew he could now feel the tip of the blade resting on the left side of his chest, some of the weight was not held by her hands but not enough to tear the sheet he'd been wearing as a shirt. Coco stared down at him for several minutes, the pain in her arms from being still with the heavy weapon simply not registering. She watched as tears, her own, dripped onto the this sheet and wondered if he could feel them.

"Are you sure, Yatsu?"

"Yes."

"Is there no other way?"

"Coco, you don't have to. You can walk away, it would be okay."

"Yatsuhashi, you know that I cannot. I cannot simply leave anyone of my team. Ozpin made me leader."

"The meaning you have ascribed to that position is far beyond what is reasonable to expect of yourself. No one demands you be flawless, Coco, or take all the responsibility upon yourself. All that I ask is that you leave. Leave me and go. Go with Velvet, and Fox. Fix the tower. Get out of here."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I could not protect you. I'm sorry I did not consider that we'd need to bring our own food. I'm sorry I failed." The point of the blade transferred the shaking of her body to the sheet, to her teammate. She could see it in the wrinkles, hear it in her wavering voice.

"Leave, leave this place and return to Beacon. Get Velvet out of here. Get Fox out of here. Get yourself out of here. If you can do that you will not have failed, it might not be perfect or flawless, but it would be success. Plans change, but you need to keep going."

"Yatsuhashi?"

"Mmmm?"

"We'll get out of here. You might get to be released from this hell early, but we will all leave. Velvet, Fox, and I will walk out. I promise you. Yatsu, I swear."

"Thank you. I am sorry I had to ask this of you Coco, it is not fair. Thank you, and goodbye." he closed his eyes.

"Goodbye" she echoed. Coco moved the blade, so that it would rest on the floor instead of his labored chest, then stood for a long time, not moving, simply waiting. Her left hand twitched against the hilt, her right quickly settled over it to quell the involuntary motion. His difficult breathing smoothed out, and beneath his closed eyes she saw movement. A deep breath, two, and her eyes refocused on her teammate. She repositioned the blade over the sheet, exactly as it had been.

"Goodbye." she repeated, before letting go of the heavy sword and pushing down with all her strength. It was lined up between ribs, but the width forced through the curves and connections of the bones. The sheet had already become moist, dried, and spotted again, but red seeped over it, blending the two-tone color into one of dark discoloration.

Coco pulled the sword from his chest, laid it beside him, and walked out. She did not wipe her face, nor did a cry escape her pursed lips. Eyes blinking away any fog, she walked directly to the flat she had located earlier. If she was to fulfill her promise, there was more to be done.