The Lion of Vale
Chapter 7
Outside Junior's Club
It was a familiar sight from 12 years ago when my work as a Vigilante began. It was here that I was first lead on my investigation. It was also where me and Flyresa were reunited even if it was unfortunate circumstances. However, after all the bad publicity, damages and the group of dead bounty hunters left down in the main dance floor. Junior decided that Vale wasn't his best interest for business. So it was shut down 4 months later by a certain blonde brawler.
"Funny seeing you here Black Lightning. Back in business are we now?" A familiar voice asked me from behind as I cracked a smile turning to face her. There she stood with the luscious blonde hair and lilac eyes. She had grown a lot in 12 years since we last saw each other. Although her personality hasn't change a bit.
"No, not yet anyway." I said before offering my hand out to Yang. "Good to see you again Yang." I offered before she hugged me instead in a strong bear hug. Nearly crushing my bones and lungs. "Oh dear god..." I grunted before she let me go as I quickly caught my breath.
"You don't have to be so formal with me big boy. It's good to see you again, and I heard about Karina. I'm sorry Kyran." She apologized.
"It's alright, it isn't your fault. I want to find him, but..."
"It is Flyresa isn't it?" She asked.
"That, and everyone knows I am the Black Lightning. I just can't be a Vigilante again. Not without the police, and Ironwood coming after me. It was the agreement we came up with when I took the position at Beacon." I explained.
"And a damn shame too. This whole city has fallen apart, it's only a matter of time before something happens." She said.
"It already has Yang, a Lionheart is alive." I responded.
"Am I supposed to know what that means? I wasn't in the military at your age." Yang exclaimed.
"Fair enough I suppose. The Lionheart Society or as it was called. Was a group of Human/Faunus who were slowly growing into a powerful group. Nearly powering the Atlian Military and out classing the White Fang. They were regarded with fear and terror as they for a short time, ruled this world with fear. At some point in time, they had developed a bio-weapon. However, it wasn't just any weapon, they had taken rare samples of Grimm blood and...what I saw, it was Human Grimm." I said morbidly.
"Human Grimm?! That's impossible, we know so little about the damn things. And they were able to create a weapon out of it?" She asked.
"Yes they were, and they threatened to unleash upon Remnant. They were holding the damn world hostage. So, in a last ditch effort. The 4 militarizes and Huntsmen Academies decided to launch an all out assault against them. And succeeded, barely, with the world in disarray. And thus in the wake, was the Human/Faunus War. The war I was conscripted into in my youth." I explained while Yang stood shocked and trying with all her might to understand.
"And the Lionhearts?"
"Sacrifice the few to save the many. Which meant a complete and total extermination of all Lionhearts, no matter how ruthless they deemed. The whole 7 day operation was one giant war crime. And now 14 years later, a Lionheart appears in midst of what was supposed a time of peace. One that now everyone is going to have their eye on." I explained.
"Why have you kept her a secret if you knew what she was? What she is?"
"Because she is only 3 years older than my own daughter. I have done many bad things in my life, but killing children wasn't one of them. So I took her under my wing and made her into what she wanted." I said.
"And what was that?"
"A Huntress."
"I see, and what do her parents think of it?" She asked.
"They don't they are dead. I found the girl fighting Roman Torchwick and saved her from her own destructive needs." I said.
"Even so, I figure you aren't here by coincidence then?" She asked me.
"No I am not. I want to ask you a favor if you are willing."
"Does it have to do with that girl?"
"Her and Karina."
"What do you need?"
"Since my movement as a Vigilante is restricted, I am required to associates to do my own missions. For I can't on my own." I said.
"And what about Karina? The older one, the one from the future? I thought she took on the mantle?"
"She did, and for seven years, we had peace kept by the Black Lightning. Until..." I stopped mid sentence as I held back tears from the painful scene.
"Until what?" Yang asked.
"Until the police found Karina, strung up in a warehouse: tortured, raped and killed. The police never found out who. That's why I require others." I explained as Yang puked on the side of the road.
"Fuck..."
"So will you do it Yang?"
"Yea, I'll do it. What do you need?" She asked.
"Upon the police investigation and my own. I have ruled out Victor Schnee as a suspect myself, which leaves one other person I can think of who I came across in my work with the Corporation. A person by the name of Neo?" I asked prompting a reaction of anger.
"You mean that mute bitch?" She asked.
"So you've met her before?" I questioned.
"Met is such a strong word Kyran. I'll do it, and I'll get you answers as soon as I can. But promise me one thing."
"And that is?"
"When you find the son of a bitch who killed your daughter, let me have a piece of him myself." She commented as I showed a faint smile.
"I will, I'll call you later Yang." I said as she got on her bike before giving me a small wink.
"You better." She flirted before riding off down the street leaving me alone in the silence.
"12 years later and you still flirt with me. You are something different Yang." I said aloud as I noticed a figure with a red and black outfit in the distance with a distinctive Grimm mask on. It bore feathers and on her side, a long curved blade. "What the fuck?" I asked as gunshot echoed in the distance. I briefly turned my head towards it before looking back to nothing. Whoever was at the street corner was gone. Who were they? How much did they hear if any? And what did they want? I arrived here with more questions than answers. But before the end, I would find out who killed her, no matter what it cost.