So here we are once again. Ten chapters of pure crap and Volume 4 online.

Thank you for being with me during these chapters and hoping you liked my work so far.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Run, Kaiden, run!

-o-

Once again, we were before Emerald Forest. It looked the same as the day we had the Initiation. This time we had class with professor Port and professor Ozpin was with us with his cup of unlimited coffee. That shit defied the laws of nature.

"Vey well, dear students. Now that we're all together we can begin the today activity." The old professor started "This is something that has always been done with first year students: Catch the Grimm."

"What are we supposed to do, professor?" Ren asked.

"Thank you for asking. Today you'll be working as a team to catch someone designated as the grimm with these ropes." He pointed to several boxes with ropes of various colors that were on his feet "In previous years, the professor Ozpin always had the role of grimm."

There were a lot of frustration groans. It wasn't a surprise if we had to deal with a veteran huntsman like Ozpin. Even if here blindfolded, with one hand tied behind his back and hopping on one foot, it he wouldn't be caught easily.

"Relax, everyone. Today will be different." Professor Port looked at me "Mr. Azabache. Could you come forward, please?"

All eyes were fixed on me as I walked toward the front. I had a bad feeling about what was going to happen. Once being in front of everyone, the professor continued:

"Today we'll enjoy the services of a Special Unit!" He announced with joy.

I closed my eyes and thought 'Shit'.

"No offense, but I would like to ask: if the professor Ozpin is not here to play role in the exercise, why did he come?" I asked.

"Just for fun." Ozpin replied before taking a sip from the usual mug.

'Of course' I thought.

"And to announce the reward the winning team in this challenge. After reaching an agreement with the professor Port, it was decided that the team that brings the grimm (in this case, Mr. Azabache) will not have to take the next exam and getting a high score."

Everyone was excited about the news and several people were staring at me, obviously willing to do whatever it takes to get the reward. I could hear Nora whispering something about breaking my legs.

"The total time will be one hour. If, in the end, there's no team here with Mr. Azabache, he'll get the reward." Port continued ". It is allowed to use any non-lethal method to catch him so as he can do to free himself. Your scrolls have been updated showing the permitted area for the activity. Go beyond this and you will be penalized."

So, basically, I had to face my friends and classmates avoiding being trapped and use any way I could to endure a whole hour. That wasn't going to be easy considering Ruby's speed, Pyrrha abilities, Blake and Ren's ninja skills and Jaune's puppy eyes begging me to let me catch.

"Mr. Azabache, we will give you 10 seconds ahead. Take advantage of them very well." Professor Port advised me.

I got ready focusing aura on my legs to get to the trees fast and then use the gauntlets to move faster between them. Then I'd be changing my direction to distract the pursuers and maybe I can find a good place to hide. Yeah, that was a good plan.

"Set. Ready…Go!"

I felt my body becoming on with the wind. Two seconds later I was close to a tree. Using the gauntlets, I started swinging across the forest. Ten seconds were an eternity until I heard the noise coming from the place where I started.

The hunt had started.

After being Spiderman for a while, I decided to rest and check for possible threats near. Not a single noise so far. Only the wind and birds singing. The question was if I should keep running or get a hideout. Maybe I could check if there were grimms nearby so they could be used as distraction in case of emergency. Decisions, decisions and more decisions.

Then I realized something: someone was breathing on my neck.

I turned around only to see big silver eyes.

"Boo." Ruby whispered.

"Holy fresh cheese!" I screamed falling the tree. I saved myself from the fall lunching a line to another trunk and landing on the ground rolling. I touched my pants checking if I had not shat after that fright.

My roommates appeared from the bushes slowly with their green ropes ready to tie me. Yang was swinging her rope like a rodeo lasso.

"Ladies." I greeted them "How can I help you?"

"You know how, you dolt." The gentle Weiss answered "Now stay still while we tie you unless you want to sleep outside tonight."

"It's nothing personal, Kaiden." Blake said looking at me with her golden eyes.

"But nobody wants to take that exam." Yang said on my right side "Besides, on that day there are special sales in Vale and we can't miss them."

"I see. Your arguments are good." I said starting to fall back slowly. I had to make they look only at me for this strategy. The four girls were almost aligned so I used it. "Oh! Hello, JNPR." I said greeting the nothingness behind them.

At the time when they looked back, I ran strengthening my legs with aura trying to get seconds ahead to lose them.

Team CRDL appeared in my way while their leader yelled victorious with a yellow rope on his hands:

"It's time for a little payback!"

"Indeed!" I said dodging the ropes they were throwing at me, jumping and propelling me using Cardin's head to climb a tree while he ate dirt.

I was finally back to a swinging the I heard a shot and the branch where my gauntlet had set breaking. I got on another tree to find out what happened. The shot was very precise and it only could be possible with a sniper rifle.

Ruby.

I didn't want to find out if I was right so I changed my strategy hoping they haven't seen me. I got off the tree and hid in the bushes waiting for them and see their reaction and maybe discover their plan.

As I expected, they gathered in front of me at 5 meters.

"Where did he go?!" Weiss exclaimed.

"I don't know I only could see he descended from the tree and then trunk blocked my sight." I could hear Ruby explaining the situation.

"Maybe he kept running on the ground." Blake gave her opinion.

"Shall we split up?" Yang suggested.

"I think so" Ruby agreed.

I breathed a silent sigh of relief. They fell for it. But something weird happened: for a moment, I thought I saw the bow that Blake always wore moved as if something alive was inside. She turned to my direction almost like if she had heard my sigh. It was impossible, right? It was only possible if she had… animal ears?

She stopped one meter from the bush and stood still for some seconds until her form vanished in a dark cloud. Before I could realize what was happening, someone pulled me from my back.

"I found him!" she announced with a grin.

I looked directly at her eyes and whispered:

"Blake… are you a faunus?"

Her eyes opened wide in shock. It was a surprise for me as well. I had nothing against that race, but the fact I had been living with one without I could notice was something different. Now that explained why she used to sleep with her bow on, why she wanted us to change the sidewalk so we wouldn't walk next to some dogs in Vale, or the time when she begged me nonstop so I changed my tuna sandwich for her broccoli soup last week.

I had to seize the moment so I fired a line to the closest tree and continued my run.

"He's getting away! Get him!" I heard Weiss ordering Blake.

Discovering my friend and roommate was a faunus wasn't in my list of things to do that day but I had to save it for later.

There was another surprise when I came to a small clearing. I landed checking around to see if anyone was near. Then I heard a melodic voice:

"Hello again!" Pyrrha greeted with her usual smile with the rest on JNPR next to her.

"There he is!" Yang's voice was heard from the direction I came from.

Then there I was, in middle of a confrontation between RWBY and JNPR. The tension was in the air.

"Jaune" Ruby saluted the leader of the other team.

"Ruby" the blond guy replied.

Then it was turn of the beauties of both teams:

"Pyrrha."

"Yang."

Then the ninjas:

"Ren."

"Blake".

And finally, the dunderheads:

"Nora."

"Weissy."

Ladies and gentlemen, the battle of two teams, once friends, looking for the opportunity to avoid an exam for a class that causes 75% of students fall asleep in the first 5 minutes. It's duel time!

A tumbleweed crossed the clearing freaking me out because we were in a goddamn forest where it shouldn't be possible.

I walk slowly backwards to the trees until…

CRACK.

Damn you, Murphy, for your stupid law and damn you, little branch in the floor, for making so much noise even if you are too small.

Both teams remembered why they were there and stared at me, except Blake, who avoided making eye contact with me. It could only be one winner.

Nora raised her hand with a finger pointing at me and yelled:

"GET HIM!"

Once again, I ran. I summoned dark blades in front of me and sent them behind me hoping to get more distance from them. But Ruby appeared next to me wrapping her rope around me.

"Gotcha!" she yelled happy.

That was a sad moment, because I used the gauntlets once again from my arms close to the body while the girl was celebrating. I was an asshole for ruining those seconds of her joy. I got dragged to the tree that made contact with the line feeling the dirt getting into my gakuran and shirt while the rope became loose.

I got up and kept running. Checking my watch, I discovered that 30 minutes were left to end all the madness. In the distance, I saw black figures walking around. Grimms. I never had been so happy to see those beasts. I headed on their direction while they stared at me and ready to attack.

"Sorry, guys. Too busy for the moments." I apologized running past to the ursas and beowolves "Why don't you have fun with my friends?"

"Uh?" it was their response.

Poor bastards, I felt bad for them.

I stopped and waited for any signal telling me the situation of my friends/pursuers. Nothing. I was safe. Well, that's what I thought before a shield smacked me right in the face.

So, there I was. Tied and being carried as a sack of potatoes by Jaune. Pyrrha stood guard in the rear while Ren and Nora did the same on the side. They tied my hands on my back and Slayer was being held by the magnetic girl so I was still planning my escape. Then I felt the call of nature.

"Jaune."

"Yeah?"

"I need to go to the closest tree." I whispered.

"Can't you wait? We are almost there."

"Please." I begged.

"Just wait."

"What about the promise?"

"I promise you that you'll can do it when we be there."

"Shame" I whispered. I couldn't believe he'd the first one to break the promise.

We kept going on and the urge was growing.

"You have a nice weapon, Kaiden." Pyrrha admired "But, why haven't you painted it?"

I looked at my weapon on its sword mode. That has the default colors of gray and black for the original components of which it was done. I never had the time to paint it and didn't have a creative mind for the design.

"Lack of time." Maybe Ruby would help me with that, if I was still allowed in the dorm after that day.

"What do I have to do so I can pew pew pew with it?" Nora asked leaving her position to see my weapon closer.

"Nora, focus." Ren scold her.

"It's ok. Come closer and I'll teach you."

The hyperactive girl took Slayer and ran until she was behind Jaune and in front of me.

"It's easy actually" I say out loud then I whispered quickly: "Help me to escape and I'll get two boxes of donuts of Greasy Jack in Vale only for you. Those donuts with a lot of sugar enough for a big ursa to have diabetes."

"Just twist the handle and push it all the way down until you hear a click. If you do it correctly, the trigger will pop up." I said with normal voice and winked to the girl who, for my surprise, was considering the proposal.

She went back next to Pyrrha and followed my instructions transforming the sword into the rifle. I didn't tell her some insignificant details: the automatic mode was on and…

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM

The trigger was very sensitive.

The shot surprised my captors so I had to put my plan in action. I hit Jaune in the chest with my knee and we both fell on the ground.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha screamed running to aid her leader.

I couldn't lose more time. I took his sword from the scabbard and bent down so I could use a gauntlet on anything I could reach so I could escape fast. It didn't matter where I was going.

I needed to pee.

"C'mon! C'mon!"

Cutting the ropes with Crocea Mors backwards was really hard and more having a bladder about to explode.

SNAP! The rope fell to the ground and my wrists were free. I nailed the sword into the ground and ran to the closest tree to let it go. This part of my life is called happiness.

I heard footsteps getting closer but I didn't care.

"Finally!" I heard Ren behind me.

I turned my head to see an angry Jaune, Ren with a pair of ropes and Nora with Pyrrha looking away to not see me doing my thing.

"I'm almost done." I smiled at them "Wait a little bit more."

JNPR decided to avoid more problems so they tied my hands and legs and hanged me from a branch they found near, with Jaune and Ren in charge to carry me. Now I looked like a freshly hunted boar, hung up and gagged mouth. The time was almost over and we were close to the meeting point.

BANG.

A sniper shot broke the branch and I fell to the ground while RWBY started their ambush. I didn't pay too much attention to the battle looking for something to cut the ropes and run away. Not so far from me was Slayer still in rifle mode. If I could change it back to sword mode, I could free myself.

I crawled as fast as I could due to my limitations until I was at an arm's length from Slayer. Pyrrha predicted my move and kicked my sword away from me.

'Goddammit, Nikos.' I thought seeing a grin on her face before Weiss attacked her with Myrtenaster.

I was halfway when Gambol Shroud fell near me while Blake was dealing with Ren so I took that chance and cut the ropes and removed the gag. Using the confusion, I grabbed my weapon and headed to the trees but something happened.

"Nora, don't let him go!" Jaune commanded her.

"Got it!" the girl fighting Ruby replied while shooting a grenade to her foe.

I saw her swinging her hammer in my direction when Ren screamed:

"Nora! No!"

It was too late. I was flying after that hit.

When I landed, I saw professor Ozpin and professor Port looking me from above.

"And time's up!" Port said looking at his scroll "We have a winner."

Ozpin knelt beside me and said with a smile:

"Congratulations, Mr. Azabache. You got a day off."

"Yay" I exclaimed before falling unconscious.

And done. Another chapter ready and thinking about the next one.

Have you seen Volume 4? It was beautiful!

I have watched it 5 times and I love it. It sucks I have to wait another week until the next episode.

For now take care and wait for more!