Chapter 31

Ethan bid farewell to Rosaria as she boarded the airship going back to Beacon. He still had to go shopping with Pyrrha. Which hopefully wouldn't be as bad as he thought it was going to be.

Pyrrha was waiting outside the shop when she saw Ethan approach. She waved and he ran over to her.

"Afternoon Pyrrha." He said

"How was your lunch with Rosaria?" She asked

"She seemed to be hitting me on the whole time. Almost like you." He smiled at that last part "But the good kind of hitting on me. Not the bad kind, if there even is a bad kind."

Pyrrha giggled as he added that last part. Ethan sighed and looked at her.

"So what's on the docket for today?" He asked her

She pulled out a list of all the things Blake said to do to maximize time with him.

"First things first, we need to go clothes shopping." Pyrrha said grabbing his hand "Come on."

She pulled Ethan and they started walking to the clothes shop. She kept holding his hand the whole time, which was freaking Ethan out.

"Remember what you told Ren." He told himself

They arrived at the store and they walked in. Pyrrha walked to the back and brought Ethan along with her. She was looking at dresses when he noticed a familiar coat hanging up on the wall. Ethan walked over and asked the clerk about it.

"When Vale was first formed, a young man by the name of Lubbock came in here and asked to hold onto it until his grandson came to get it. I'm guessing you're his grandson?" The old man said

"Yeah. How much is the coat?" Ethan asked reaching for his wallet

The clerk simply put his hand on Ethan's shoulder.

"You're his grandson, it's yours." The clerk smiled at him

Ethan walked over and took it off the shelf, he put it on and walked back to Pyrrha. She exited a changing room wearing a red dress when she saw Ethan.

"Nice coat." She said "It suits you very well."

Ethan was frozen in place as she stood there in the red dress. It fit her very well and made her look more beautiful than she normally was.

"Earth to Ethan?" She asked waving her hand infront of his face

"You look like a goddess." Ethan told her

Pyrrha blushed and walked back inside the changing room. She walked out wearing her clothes and had the red dress in her hand.

"Did I say something bad?" He asked as she walked up to him

"Nope, you just told me what dress to buy for the dance." She smiled at him

"You'll definitely be turning heads in that dress." He added

She bought the dress and Ethan carried the bag. The clerk bid them farewell and told Ethan to come back soon.

"Who's coat is that?" Pyrrha asked him

"It's my Grandpa Lubbock's coat. He wore it during his time in Night Raid. It's a family heirloom you could say." He told her

Pyrrha pulled out the list and led them to the next item on the list, weapon shopping.

Ethan saw the forge and pointed it out, they walked over to it and entered the store.

"How can I help you kids today?" The dwarf behind the counter asked

"We're browsing for now." Pyrrha said

"If you see anything you like, call me over." He responded

Ethan was looking around and saw a dagger with a ruby in the hilt. He snuck over to the dwarf and told him he would like to buy the dagger.

"Planing on giving to that young lassie over there?" The dwarf whispered

"You could say so." Ethan responded as he handed over the cash

"Just throw it in the bag you currently have lad." The dwarf smiled at him

Ethan walked back over and put the dagger in the bag, he hid it under the dress. Pyrrha walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"You ready?" She asked him

"You done already?" He returned

"I figured I would come back when I had more time." She said looking out the window and seeing the moon rise into the sky "Why not we get dinner?"

"Alright, let's just make sure we're back before after hours." Ethan told her as they left the shop

Pyrrha took him to a cafe near the river that ran through the town. Ethan pulled her chair out for her then sat in his own opposite of her. She blushed and hid her face behind the menu, Blake's plan was working well. Too well.

"Blake told you what to do didn't she?" Ethan asked her

Pyrrha lowered the menu and looked at him.

"Relax Pyrrha, I'm enjoying our time out. I was just asking. I noticed you talking a bit more with her than usual." He told her

"She may or may not have helped me plan this day." Pyrrha admitted

Ethan laughed a bit then felt pain in his chest. He ignored it until it went away.

"Is everything alright Ethan?" Pyrrha asked him

"Yeah, everything's fine." He responded "What made you ask?"

"You looked like you were in pain for a minute." She said

"Nope, I'm all good." He told her as the pain came back

It was worse than the first time and all the previous times. He closed his eyes tight and waited. He opened them and saw the world spinning in front of him. Pyrrha looked worried as he became pale.

"Son of a…" Ethan said falling out of his chair and passing out

He woke up in the infirmary. He saw a rune sticking out his chest, it was black at the base and blue as it went higher up. He looked around and saw Blaire chanting something into the rune. Ethan watched as the dark magic was drained out of his body and into the rune. Blaire removed it and handed to Ozpin, who put it in a box and on the shelf of the infirmary.

"Mr. Belladonna, how are you doing today?" Ozpin asked him

"I've been better. Is it all out?" He returned

"Yes it is. Miss Blaire has been a big help with removing the dark magic from your body. Luckily you were only for a couple hours. Miss Nikos was very worried about you when she called." Ozpin told him as he left the room

Blaire sat next to Ethan and looked at him.

"You alright Blaire?" Ethan asked her

She blushed at his question.

"Yup, all fine here. I think I'll go tell Pyrrha you're awake." She said very quick and dashing out of the room

Blake saw Blaire dash out of the infirmary and she rushed in. She walked over to Ethan and took Blaire's seat.

"I have maybe five minutes before Pyrrha gets in here." Blake laughed "What the hell happened?"

"When Wrath stabbed me he put dark magic inside my body. It was slowly killing me until Blair removed it. I didn't want to tell you because then you would have made me take it easy. And you know I hate taking it easy." Ethan told her

Pyrrha entered the room and saw Ethan laying in the bed. She slowly walked over and stood next to Blake.

"I'll see you tonight Ethan." Blake said kissing his forehead and leaving

Pyrrha sat next to Ethan and looked down at the ground. Ethan moved his hand over and held hers. She looked at him and saw him smiling at her.

"Don't be sad, this was my reckless doing." He told her

She laughed and smiled back at him.

"You should head to class, I'll be fine here." He told her

She got up and went to leave for class but stopped. She walked back and kissed him. She blushed and then ran to class.

"Women are weird." Ethan said as he looked out the window

That night Ethan was released and Ren walked back with him to their room.

"What did I miss in history?" Ethan asked

"Nothing, because we never do anything in that class." Ren laughed

Ethan laughed and continued to walk back to their room. Pyrrha took his coat back for him when he was admitted, so Ethan was walking back in his grey t-shirt and jeans.

"It's Wednesday right?" Ethan asked

"Yeah, so tomorrow we have the combat class in the afternoon." Ren said

"Oh boy, I wonder who'll fight." Ethan told him

"My money's on you and Blake." Ren told him

They arrived at their room and opened the door. Team BNRV's door was open a crack as Blaire watched them enter their room. She closed the door and leant up against the door.

"Not you too." Rosaria said to her

"He's so cute! But I already told Pyrrha I would help her." Blaire said throwing her hands up in the air "Damn feelings."

Velvet laughed and pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Plan Hook Blaire Up With Ethan is in action ladies. Let's start." Velvet said

Meanwhile, Team BERP were discussing recent attacks in the forest near the school. Monsters and Bandits were roaming the forest, which made for good fighting practice when the students needed it.

"Someone should clear them out." Blake said from her bed

"But who would go and kill them?" Pyrrha asked from her bed too

Ren and Ethan were playing a card game at the table they brought in.

"Eat it!" Ethan said slamming a card on the table "You just lost your defense boost."

"Or did I?" Ren asked him revealing his own card "Plus 40 defense boost when the opponent plays a cancellation card."

Ethan smacked his head against the table as he admitted defeat.

"I lose every time." Ethan said

"You just get bad hands." Ren said packing up the game and throwing it on his bed

"Are two done playing so we can talk about the matter in the forest?" Blake shot at them

"Yeah, we'll go first thing Friday night." Ethan said "We'll split up and each take a region of the forest."

"No way, we go in teams of two." Blake argued

"Fine then." Ethan said as he climbed into bed

"Are you going to change Ethan?" Blake asked throwing him his pajama pants

He got out of bed and put them on, then removed his shirt and got back into his bed. Ren and Ethan fell asleep. Leaving Blake and Pyrrha still awake.

"Why didn't he argue back?" Pyrrha asked Blake

"He's tired. It's not everyday you get dark magic sucked out of you." Blake said "Get some rest, we have a combat class tomorrow."

The two ladies fell asleep not knowing the plan that was being hatched across the hall.

"It's perfect!" Velvet said as they stepped back to look at the plan

"This is bound to work." Rosaria said "So now it's a three way duel for Ethan's heart."

"Sounds perfect." Blaire said "Let's rest up ladies. We begin the operation tomorrow."

Ethan and Ren sat in the back of the class with the rest of their team. Team BNRV was sitting in front of them as Professor Goodwitch went on to describe the use of the stage.

"So today we will have a you fight against each other. Due to them already fighting, Lady Rosaria and Mr. Belladonna won't be fighting each other. Instead we will have the brother and sister duel it out." Goodwitch told them

Blake and Ethan looked at each other before heading down, huge smiles across their faces. They got up on the stage and stood at opposite ends.

"Miss Goodwitch," Ethan said "we will be using the Belladonna family rules for this duel if that's alright."

"Just don't kill each other or blow up the school." She said leaving the stage

Blake transformed her weapon into her tec-9, Ethan activated Cross Tail and the two stared at each other before moving. Ethan started by sprinting at his sister, she fired at him but he was moving left and right to dodge the bullets. He got close to her and went to kick her legs out, but she jumped and kicked him across the stage instead. She landed and transformed her weapon into a katana before rushing Ethan. He threw his wires at her, she cut them down and kept moving. Ethan jumped and brought his foot down on Blake's head. She moved back and grabbed his leg, she went to throw him across the stage when she felt herself get pulled up into the ceiling. She cut the wires and landed on her feet, just like cats always do. Ethan used his wires to make a sword, Blake knew that he was out because the sword matched hers. He ran at her, and she blocked his attack. He jumped back and landed on one knee, Blake looked at him before running at him. He rolled to the side and moved his sword next to her throat. Blake saw this and kicked him into a wall, he landed on the wall with his feet and pushed himself off at her. She blocked the attack and saw him land behind her. His sword broke and he pulled his spool out, seeing it was empty yet again. He threw it to Ren, and nodded. Ethan spun around and faced his sister, he flicked his arms and two pistols emerged from his sleeves. He held the triggers with his pinkies and aimed them at Blake. She looked in surprise before he pulled the triggers. She blocked the blasts and waited for the smoke to clear. He emerged from the smoke and fired at her. She rolled to the side and kicked him away. He landed on his feet back where he was and put the pistols away. Blake looked at him and saw something change about him, he removed his jacket and tossed it aside. He brought his pistols back out and Blake saw his eye color change to red. He rushed her and she blocked his attack, before receiving a blast from his gun next to her. She was sent flying back and Ethan stood there looking at her. He raised his pistol and clicked, but nothing came out. He sighed and tossed them back to Ren, who caught them and put them next to Cross Tail. Blake pushed herself up and wondered what her brother had in store for her next. He set up his right hand as if he was going to draw a sword from his thigh. He moved his hand in the motion and a sword appeared. His lower right arm became armored as he held the sword. It curved towards the top, and had a hand guard that went down half the handle. A red gem was sitting at the hilt of the sword. He raised the sword at Blake and a red aura surrounded him. Blake became scared as he rushed her, she blocked his attack and was kicked back. She looked up and saw him coming in from the air. She rolled to the side and kicked his stomach. He didn't flinch and Blake's eyes went wide with shock. He pulled his sword out of the ground and the red aura disappeared along with the sword and gauntlet. Ethan collapsed onto his knees, panting and covered in sweat.

"Ethan…" Blake said looking at him

He stood up and threw a smoke bomb onto the ground. The smoke cleared and he was gone. Blake stood up and looked around for him, he was gone and she had no idea where.