Chapter Ten
A soft crunch of earth and rock echoed into the air as a hurried set of small foot-steps race along the ground. Tiny worn and weathered dress shoes kicking up small clots of dirt as a little girl trails behind a mountain of a man.
The small girl was dirty as her honey colored eyes peer around her new scenery with wonder. Her one-piece dress was crusted in dirt with rips and tears as it weighs upon her shoulders. One could easily mistake her dress for being a shade of black, but it was originally a light shade of gray. With each step she took, a loud jingle of a bell rings out with no tempo.
Around her neck was a brand-new black ribbon with a bright and silver bell.
Ashe looked up toward the back of the large male. A black emblem of a behemoth roaring staring toward as she rapidly jogs to keep even with his long strides. If one was to look at her face, it was wiped clean recently. Or at least someone attempted as a few streaks were still faded around her lightly tanned skin.
She comes to a sudden stop as a peculiar sight catches her attention. Her childish gaze staring at a large pit buried into the ground. It was carved in an oval and about ten feet deep or so with a ladder for an entrance. Wooden poles buried along the outer rim as a wall with spikes at the end. Her ash colored hair reached her lower shoulders as it smacked against her back from the tangles and knots.
Her nose twitches as she watches two people within the pit circling one another. The one to catch her attention was the smaller of the two. It was a boy from what she could tell. His hair was the same color as the man that brought her here. He looked to be much older than her though, maybe around the age of twelve or so.
Ashe tilted her head as he kept his sword within its sheath with a smirk upon his lips. Why would someone fight without having their weapon out?
Strange.
"Something catch your interest, Little One?"
A shadow consumes her small frame as she looks up toward her side to find the mountain of a man next to her. With a cross of his arms, she could only watch as his muscles flexed as he stood tall and proud. His gaze was also peering down in the pit with a neutral look. Ashe stared up toward him for a moment as his long and spiked scarlet hair swayed in the wind.
Looking back into the pit, she nods her head once. The young boy is attacking his older opponent relentlessly. Sparks erupting into the air from each hurried parry in a poor defense from his opponent. Reaching out toward the person next to her, she lightly clutches onto his pants and gives it a soft tug. Her other hand points down toward the pit as she looks up toward him with a tilt of her head.
Scarlet eyes flicker down to her tiny form before they return to watching the battle. "The Pit of Evolution. There, we evolve and grow strong. Train and sharpen our claws and fangs. It is also where personal disputes are settled. There are no rules, killing is permitted, but frowned upon between clansmen and faunus.
A loud bang ruptures through the pit from a gunshot. Ashe notices that the boy has a blank white mask over his face as he slices through his opponent's chest. He cries out in agony as blood ruptures into the air and spills into the mud. The older male lands upon his back and holds his chest in agony with a painful cry.
"Tsk. It was only a shallow cut. Disgraceful."
Ashe couldn't help but tilt her head at the scene before her. The scarlet haired boy slowly turns toward their direction as he peers up toward them calmly. She could feel his eyes upon her as his head tilts ever so slowly. His lips twist up into a smirk as he raises his arm and smacks it against his chest in a salute.
Her hand twitches and clenches onto her stained dress. She can feel those hidden eyes staring directly at her. Sizing her up.
She doesn't like him.
"That is my son Adam. You too will soon spend your days in the pit. Training, sharpening your claws and fangs. Evolving. Come, Little One, there is more to learn." The man turns and steps away as his dress pants pull away from her tiny fingers.
Ashe's gaze lingers on Adam for a moment longer. Turning away she follows the monster of a man. She never notices the smirk growing into a full-grin as Adam watches her trail along behind him.
Her dull and honey colored eyes continue to peer about in curiosity and wonder. Ashe notices that everyone is a faunus, but almost everyone is an adult or teenager. She has yet to see another child within the ranks.
"Stay close." Ashe flinches and quickly jogs up to his long and prideful strides. "You are now the youngest of the herd. They will be out for fresh blood." She tilts her head and looks up toward him as they come to a stop.
"Watch closely." She remains silent and does as instructed while peering out before them. With a slow blink, she ponders what she is seeing.
Two fox faunus brothers are kneeling before a cloaked and hooded figure. They appear to be older than the scarlet haired boy from before by a few years. The smaller of the two had large fox ears upon his head, as the larger one was with a large and bushy fox tail. They both had identical golden, spiral daggers placed before them upon the ground.
"We hear, you are the best in camp at the usage of daggers." Spoke the older Faunus.
"We come to humbly seek your wisdom and tutelage for these blades of ours." The younger fox Faunus replied after the elder. Both had an eerie calm to their voice.
Ashe's lips twist down in confusion. What are they doing?
The hooded figure remains sitting before them with his legs crossed as he uses a dagger to carve into a wooden stump. He was wearing a large cloak that covered his frame, so she couldn't make out much of his figure, but his voice was quiet and eerie. "Do you, know who I am?"
She slowly blinks her eyes toward both fox faunus teenagers. Both wearing gray sleeveless tops and matching black pants and boots. The older fox faunus looks up toward the back of the hooded figure with a slow nod. "Of course. You are the one called Elder Smoke. You who has been since the founding of the Primal Fang sect, a founding member."
The younger faunus raises his head as well and leans forward just a hunch. "Yes, we have heard much. Your prowess with daggers is second-to-none, and stories tell that you could fight The Behemoth as an equal. You are the only one he hesitates to fight."
Ashe looks up to the Behemoth beside her as his muscular arms are crossed over his bulging chest, only a knowing smirk is spread across his rugged lips. Is there someone as strong as him? Her dulled honey eyes turn back toward the scene before her in new curiosity.
Then she hears it.
It starts out low and quiet as the hooded figure is slowly vibrating. That cackling and maniacal laughter beginning to grow in volume. It doesn't take long before the figure throws his head back and bellows out frantically in a scratchy and gargling roar of laughter. She instinctively reaches out and grasps onto the pants of the Behemoth next to her.
"Fools! Naïve brats!"
A glint of steel flicks through the air as the hooded man whirls around in glee. A shout of pain cries out as a flutter of blood spews from a dagger imbedding into the younger's shoulder. A swift foot slams into his gut and thrusts him away into a violent crash upon the ground.
A withered and old hand crushes around the older faunus' throat in a vice and slams him into the dirt without mercy. A dagger glints as it hovers over a frightened eye threateningly, the fox faunus was terrified and squirming for freedom, but he was trapped and held in an iron lock.
That cackling echoed out once more as he leans down toward the pinned down fox. Ashe could only watch as he sniffs toward him repeatedly, she was feeling repulsed by the action as he leans back with an exaggerated sigh. "Ah, your fear. It is intoxicating. Kyah-hak-hak-hak. More. Give me more of it!" With a mad cackle, he raises the blade and slams it down with force as the teen shouts in fright.
"Elder Smoke, a word if you may."
Thunk.
Ashe watches as the blood trails down the fox's cheek. A cut embedded into his skin as the dagger pierces into the dirt. Pure terror was etched onto his face as he was hyperventilating. The hooded figure slowly turns toward them before it tilts at a questioning angle. Ever so slowly, he begins to remove himself from the cowering figure beneath him.
"Such generosity from The Behemoth himself. Saving such a lowly and sniveling coward as you. Shame, such shame." His foot kicks out and slams onto the fox's gut without a care or mercy. "Well? Thank him, have you no gratitude for his benevolence?"
A hand reaches down and grips onto the fox's clothing before lifting and throwing him face down into the dirt before them. A small puff of dirt whiffs into the air as Ashe looks down toward the tanned teenager in wonder. Her dull honey peer into those light brown eyes as they cast up toward the Behemoth beside her.
The teenager quickly prostrates before them and presses his forehead against the ground quickly with a quivering breath. "I-I, thank you, Great Behemoth for saving my life. I can not express my gratitude enough. I, Corsac Albain owe you a debt of gratitude this day."
Ashe tilts her head silently, a debt of gratitude? What does that mean? And why is he thanking the person beside her? He did nothing but ask to speak with the hooded man. Strange.
This place is so very strange and new.
"Noted. Move along, pup. It won't happen again."
"Thank you." Corsac raises himself up, but his light brown eyes meet a questioning dull honey. He stares toward her as his eyes flicker between her and her guide. His teeth clench in anger as his fingers claw into the dirt. Corsac breaks his gaze as he rushes off toward the other fox faunus before they run off to lick their wounds.
What just happened? She doesn't understand.
Peering up, she gives a soft tug onto the man's dress pants as she points over toward the Fox Faunus'. She was silent as he looks down toward her questioningly. Her head tilts to an angle to convey her meaning as his brow only arches in question.
"That, my pup," She whirls around as the hooded figure marches toward them in a slow shuffle. She notices he has a slight hunch as his old and withered hands are rubbing and soothing his old joints on his approach. "Was a weakling being forced into a life debt due to his cowardice and weakness. Such is our way of life. The strong dictate the weak and choose who gets to live and die." Elder Smoke stops before them as he hunches down lower to meet her gaze. "However, we are not savages, for that would make us the mindless beasts that the humans degrade us to be. Respect and gratitude, these are the morals that we encompass here. Respect strength and wisdom. Show gratitude for when it is shared, for no one owes you a damned thing here. Ask or earn it, then show gratitude."
Ashe could only stare at the hooded figure in curiosity as he lowers and peers closer toward her. With a slow blink, she catches glimpses of beady black eyes staring directly at her. His skin was withered, and old as buck teeth were protruding out from his mouth. His head tilts to the side in curiosity, "Where are my manners, I am Elder Smoke, and who are you?"
She stares back into those peering and beady black eyes as they peer at her searchingly. Ashe looks up toward the Behemoth beside her as he remains passive before nudging his head toward Smoke. She quietly turns back to the hooded figure before her mouth barely opens with a whisper of a single word being spoken. "…Ashe."
"Ashe?" Tilting his head to the opposite side, Smoke tests the name upon his old and withered lips, "Ashe." They soon twist up into a slight grin, "Ashe! I like it, just rolls off the tongue. Tell me," His lips part into a large grin to show off his savage teeth with his buck teeth snapping toward her in a loud clack. "Do you fear me?"
Dull honey eyes stare back into Smoke's pitch-black eyes in uncertainty. Why would she fear him? It is not like he has done anything to her to warrant violence, and the person next to her said that this is a place for all Faunus. So, he must also be a faunus like her, why should she fear him? With a soft crease of her brows in thought, she nibbles on her lower lip before shaking her head in a negative.
Smoke hums to himself before leaning forward and taking a few sniffs from her tiny figure. Ashe could only watch him awkwardly before she looks up in question. Finding none, she gazes back toward the figure. "Hm, interesting. Yes, yes, so very interesting. You, I like. Yes, yes." Smoke takes a step back before turning his once more hidden face toward her guide. "Now then, what is it that you needed, Behemoth?"
"Come now, old friend. No need for titles. You have earned the right to use my name. However, I come to ask for a favor of sorts." Smoke tilts his head questioningly toward Behemoth as a large hand pats down onto the top of Ashe's head. "Would you consider taking her on as an apprentice? I have witnessed her instincts and cunning, I believe she would be perfect for your art."
"Hm…yes, yes, she does seem compatible. Silent and composed, good, good. But first, a test, yes, a test." Elder Smoke turns quietly with a slight hobble as he walks away for a moment. Ashe notices he returns to the dagger that was stabbed into the dirt. Her head tilts as the bottom half of his hood flutters before a long and thin tail slithers out and wraps around the handle of the discarded dagger. She notices it was pink and lacked any sort of fur upon it.
Smoke re-approaches in that slow jaunt of his before the tail slithers out toward Ashe and offers her the dagger. "A gift, from me to you, young pup. Take it, for you shall need it."
Ashe looks up toward Behemoth as he slowly nods his head toward her. Turning her gaze back to the weapon, her small and timid hands reach out and slowly grasps the dagger with both hands. She looks it over with a curious eye, the blade was double sided and short with a simple black handle.
Disposable.
A large and sturdy hand presses onto the back of her head suddenly and forces her into an angled bow as her eyes widen from the sudden contact. "Express your gratitude for his generosity, Little One."
Express her gratitude? How? She recalls to scene from a moment before as well as the people she would watch back in the city. Clutching the daggers into her hand, her mouth partially opens as she speaks quietly and timidly, "Thank…you…Ewder Smook." Did she pronounce that correctly? She's not quite sure, she has never really spoken before. Hopefully the message got across well enough.
Elder Smoke throws his head back in amusement as he bursts out into a laughter. Yes, yes, this girl is quite interesting. "Kyak-hak-hak-hak! Yes, yes, you are quite welcome, pup. Now, the test, yes, the test. A game I say. Cat-and-mouse. Simple, yes? Very much so, indeed. One hour you will survive. Survive and you pass. However, it will not be with me, no-no. My other pupil will it be." Smoke arches his back as he perks up slightly to peer around the large camp. "Where is he? Always running off, that one." He looked annoyed at the disappearance of his pupil. His nose was sniffing around into the air strangely.
Ashe looks up toward Behemoth as he looks down toward her in amusement. She raises her new weapon and shows it toward him. He lowers himself down into a single knee as he looks it over appraisingly. "Hm, quite the tool. Simple, but sharp. Elder Smoke knows a fine dagger when he sees one. Take care of it and use it well, Little One."
She nods her head once as she pulls it back into her chest silently as her tiny fingers clutch around the handle as her brand-new bell jingles quietly from the thud. "Ah, there is he, bumbling fool." Ashe could only watch as Smoke reaches into his cloak as he flicks a dagger out with practiced-ease and annoyance. A twang is heard as she turns toward its intended target.
There, she finds a young man, possibly in his early twenties or so. He had dark brown hair that was pulled back into a thick and long braid. She could not make out most of his features as his back was toward her, but what she does notice.
Is his long and swaying tail.
It had a deadly stinger on the tip.
"Tyrian, get over here, imbecile." As the figure turns, he was pale with small golden eyes as a crazed grin was plastered upon his face.
Her world suddenly sputters and twists in upon itself. Ashe reaches up and grasps onto her head as pain ruptures through her head. She groans out in pain as she can feel her mind being split asunder. Without ceremony, Ashe drops to her knees as an eruption of darkness swallows up her surroundings like a cancer as she finds herself back in her normal body.
The void is so cold. The numb feeling tingling and slithering up her spine. It's like there are bugs crawling on the base of her skull with fervor. With the shivering cold, she closes in on herself to confide her warmth as Ashe opens her mouth in a silent scream as pain swells within her mind. Her eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears or pain.
However, as quickly as the mind sundering appeared, the pain was quick to subside as she finds herself standing within the pitch dark. Yet, her perception was warped, as if she was standing upside down. She could hear the faint sound of a droplet of water in the distance somewhere.
Ashe swivels her head around in a panic as her chest thumps with heavy breathing. Darkness. She can only see darkness. What's next? What will torment her once more? She wants out.
She can feel it; her hair is standing on end as her muscles are clenching to be used. Goosebumps ripple through out her body as the tingling feeling at the base of her skull returns once more. Like someone is watching her. Staring and admiring her with glee.
She's not alone.
"Hehehe."
That childish laughter thundered and echoed through the void like a war drum.
Ashe stills into shock. Her eyes wide into saucers as she takes a ramrod stance. Her mouse ears perked inside of her top hat as the fur is on end. Her heart twists in disturbance as she can feel a droplet of sweat glistening down her temple.
Her body is frozen as she attempts to turn toward the source of such laughter, but she can't. Her body won't respond. Dread is flooding and drowning her.
Ashe doesn't need to turn toward the source.
The void around her swirls around like a vortex in a cloud of dark fog. The miasma is clouding and suffocating. Spinning, swirling, a cyclone.
Make it stop.
"Hehehehehe~"
Her hands dart up to her head as pain thunders through without mercy as Ashe screams into the endless void. It rages through as that child-like laughter continues to torment her very soul. It feels as if her bones are quaking at the shrill as she stumbles around the frozen dark like a wounded drunk.
Make it stop.
"Hy-hehehehehehe~"
The pain is unbearable, she's suffocating, make it stop. The storm continues to batter against her small body as a wall of wind slams into her with the force of a freight train. Ashe stumbles onto her knees once more with a crash as the now hurricane storm rages through her mind. She struggles to stand as an unknown force slams her down once more.
This torment.
Make it stop.
As if answering her call, the storm slams into a calm. The void is no longer spinning or raging within her mind. That child-like laughter is gone. Silence reigns as she keeps herself curled within. The frozen chill of the void tingles at her skin as a dark fog slithers against the invisible flooring.
Ashe begins to slowly suck in oxygen through her teeth as she slowly unclenches at her ash colored hair as the pain is no longer present. A hand reaches out and slams onto the ground as she chugs out a coughing fit as her eyes slowly open. The other hand rises and wipes onto her eyes to remove any watery substance as her vision swims.
The pain is gone. For now.
She's still stuck here.
But she's not alone.
Ashe slowly catches her breath as the dark miasma seeps beneath her fragile body. As her vision begins to return to normal, they peer into something strange. Is that…the outline of boots? They are small…yet…
Familiar.
So familiar.
Blinking her eyes, she gives her head a quick shake to dispel the sight, but they remain. Her throat begins to dry as she sucks in a deep breath. Clenching her fingers into the dark marble, she forces her gaze to trail up the dark silhouette.
Nothing but a dark silhouette. She can hardly make out what the figure is wearing. Ashe quickly stumbles up to her feet as she keeps her gaze on the stranger. She finds the person to be a head shorter, coming to her shoulders.
A child.
A child that she knows very well.
Ashe's honey colored eyes shake in fear as she meets the only color of the silhouette. A dull and dark shade of honey are staring directly at her. Yet, it is like they are shining like beacons, as if there's a light behind them. The figure tilts its head to the side in child-like wonder as a shade of wavy hair in a short bob reaching her chin flutters.
"Ne~ Why are you pretending to be something we aren't? Is this a new game? I like games!"
Ashe takes a step back away from the figure, her hands clench into fists with a snarl smearing onto her lips. "I'm not pretending…"
The child-figure steps forward to keep the same distance, "Don't go away. There's nowhere else to run. Raise our daggers. Come on, let's have some fun~ I'm so bored lately~"
"No! I won't play those games anymore!" Ashe begins to panic in fright, she stumbles back rapidly, yet she keeps her eyes glued onto her past. But no matter how fast she retreated, the silhouette chased after her like a bloodhound.
With a skip and hop, the shadowy silhouette bumbles toward her, a dark shade of lips smear into a bright and manically grin of madness. "Our eyes can only see prey, it's an instinct we act on. This bloodlust is not enough for us. We need more, we are so thirsty."
Her chest was heaving as she swipes her hand in the air with a panic. "Stay the hell away from me! Stop chasing after me!"
The madness was flooding from the dark silhouette like a broken dam as that childish laughter returned in revenge. "Like a beast we unleash to indulge in our desires. With our claws, a killing spree. Like an animal; we crave and a human no one can save. We hunger."
Ashe suddenly slams her back into an invisible wall as she pins her self up against it in fright. No, no, no. Let her go! Before she could attempt to run, the child pounces forward in a shriek of laughter as her cold and small hands roughly grasp onto Ashe's biceps.
"Just like Father always said." The dark past perks onto her tippy toes as her head twists to the side with those glowing and dull colored honey orbs are shining in a deranged madness that only a psychotic child could make.
"We honor the Jingos.
We are the Jungle.
Let our Hunger never end.
Let our savage brethren rise!"
The crazed eyes widen in mad glee as it throws her head back in delighted mirth. Those hands dig into Ashe's flesh in a cold clench. A grip like dead-lock iron. It won't let her go. She can't shake free from the past.
"HYA-HEHEHEHEHE! AH-HAHAHAHAHA!"
Ashe clenches her eyes in a fierce grit as that psychotic laughter pierces through the void like a sledgehammer. She quickly shakes her head before shouting out in desperation. "NO! LET ME GO! MAKE IT STOP!"
The laughter suddenly stops as the figure twists her head further like a lunatic with a broken mind as her lips widen to show off a row of pearl white teeth in a grin of madness. The dull honey colored eyes were glowing bright and deranged.
She leans upward toward Ashe as her cold breath stings onto Ashe's terrified skin as she presses her back up against the wall as far away as she is able. "It will be my turn to play soon~ We will have sooo~ much fun~"
"AHHHH!" Ashe flares her eyes wide and open as she screams out in a terror filled shriek. Her beating heart batters against her chest in agony as her vision swirls and swims. Sweat glistens and coats her pale and cold skin.
Two hands quickly grasp onto her cheeks as Ashe instinctively reaches up and grasps onto them tightly. Soft and cold to the touch as they force her head to tilt back firmly. Ashe finds herself staring into two deep and mesmerizing light blue orbs.
Ashe's hands clench down onto Weiss's, yet she remains silent and makes no mention if it hurts or not. Those eyes are so captivating and soothing. She can't tear away from their gaze as her breath pants heavily with a rise of her chest.
"Calm down, it has passed."
Clenching her eyes shut, Ashe grits her teeth and forces her breathing to still and calm. Ashe forces her mind to focus on one thing. Her gloved hands release Weiss's wrists and cup onto the back of her hands. Prying her eyes open once more, she stares into those beautiful ice gems to calm her senses.
"Weiss." Oh god, was that her voice? Sounded like she was gargling on marbles and dirt rock. She was barely able to croak that out.
Weiss nods her head once, "Yes, it's me. The shock is almost over. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."
Ashe leans into her hands in respite. How is it, that they can feel so cold, yet so warm? It's a mystery she will probably never learn. "A nightmare. The dream wasn't too bad…but…afterwards…"
Feeling Ashe pressing her cheek against her right hand, Weiss brings the left to gently brush her bangs away from her forehead. "Tell me what happened."
Ah, those light blue eyes of hers are so demanding. Hypnotic and mesmerizing. Ashe bites onto her bottom lip as she releases a deep breath through her nose. "Just…a memory from long ago. About when I first joined the Fang." A flicker of a scorpion tail stings toward her in a distant memory. "I'll just say, it was merciless."
"Hm~ What happened next? You mentioned something happening afterwards." Weiss could feel her tense up on her lap. Her hand strokes through her scalp as it parts through her soft locks of hair. Her eyes narrow in suspicion as Ashe turns her gaze away awkwardly.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about it. If I do…It's like, I'll be making it real."
Weiss suddenly remains quiet as her fingers still within Ashe's hair. A moment after, she pinches some threads between her thumb and finger and gives it a firm tug. Ashe winces slightly, but it wasn't painful at all. Mostly in a jolt from surprise. "Fine, I'll let you off easy this time. But if it happens again, you will tell me everything."
"No promises." With a flat stare down toward Ashe, Weiss once more gives a firm tug onto Ashe's hair. This time, she keeps pulling it in annoyance. "Ow, fine. I'll tell you."
Weiss tosses her head back with a flair as her side-tail whips over her shoulder with smugness. "Hmph, I will hold you to that. Now if you are up to it, we should get a move on. Miyako is managing the café, but she is worried about you. She checked on us multiple times while you were unconscious."
Tilting her head back, Ashe glances up toward Weiss in question, "Oh, where are we and how long was I out for?"
With a hum, Weiss motion a hand in a circular gesture for the room, "We are in her breakroom in the back of the store. You have been unconscious for roughly an hour or so."
"Ah, I'm sorry." Ashe slowly sits up as she finds herself on a soft sofa before looking around the room. It was a basic breakroom you could find almost anywhere. A small square table with chairs and a kitchenette with a microwave and sink. There was also a fridge in the corner.
Ashe turns back toward Weiss as she finds her straightening out her combat skirt with elegance. Must she always be so poised? Weiss then grasps a familiar top hat from the arm rest as she holds it out while turning toward Ashe. "Here, and don't worry, I made sure no one else saw them. I still don't understand why you hide them."
She takes back her hat with a soft grasp as she flips it over before peering into it. With a sigh of relief, Ashe plops it back onto her head. The gesture does not go unnoticed by Weiss with a flicker of her eyes. "Thank you, Weiss. I am grateful for that. I suppose I owe you another drink."
Weiss rolls her eyes while rising to her feet as she flicks her snowy hair over her shoulder with flamboyance. "Indeed, you do, but I would prefer a drink without you passing out on me."
A snort bellows out from Ashe as she turns away while straightening her hat. "I'll do my best."
Closing one eye, Weiss peers toward Ashe with the other with a disbelieving haunt. With a huff, she strides passed Ashe toward the door. The mouse faunus quickly rises to her feet to follow Weiss who opens the door and walks out with a click of her heels.
A moment later, the two girls find themselves back in the main café. There, Ashe finds Miyako behind the counter and wiping down a glass cup in a lax pose against the counter. She appears to be talking to someone who was casually sipping coffee from a mug.
Approaching closer her brow rises as she finds the person to be familiar. Unless, there was another brown-haired female with a caramel colored bang on the side of her head with a beret and sunglasses. Miyako and Coco both turn her direction as she stands near a stool next to Weiss.
Did Miyako always smoke cigarettes? Ashe's nose twitches at the smoke tickling her nose. "Hey, Ashe, feeling better? You had me worried there."
"Mm, thank you for worrying about me, and I apologize for the trouble I caused." With a polite bow, Miyako waves her off nonchalantly.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Ashe turns toward Coco to find her with staring toward her with those shades tilted down her nose. "Never thought I would run into you here, Doll. Alone with the reputable Ice Queen as well. What brings you here?"
A cold and soft hand firmly slaps onto Ashe's mouth before it could fully open as Weiss manages to react in time. "Nothing, just a drink between friends that Professor Ozpin recommended for us."
Ashe looks down at the cold hand before looking up toward Weiss. She remains unmoving as Coco glances toward Weiss with a neutral expression. Pushing up her aviators, she turns toward Miyako who shrugs a shoulder. "They were on a date."
Coco quirks a brow as she turns back toward Weiss, "Oh-ho? I was right, you do move fast."
Weiss frowns with a slight red tint to her face as she stomps her heel and glares toward Miyako who sets down the cleaned glass. She finally removes her hand from Ashe's lips, "Miyako!"
Grasping onto her cigarette, she puffs a small cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. "What? I thought it would be funnier and more interesting if I told her. I was right."
Weiss grabs onto Ashe's wrist with an embarrassed blush upon her face and drags her toward the entrance. Ashe quickly scrambles to pull out her Lien to toss onto the bar as payment for the drinks. "Thank you for the drinks Miyako." The entrance chimes as she is dragged out by her wrist, "H-Hey, slow down Weiss!"
Coco and Miyako watch their retreat in amusement. Coco laughs quietly to herself as she rests her back against the counter before taking a sip from her hot coffee. "You were right. That was much funnier and more interesting, Sis."
With an amused grin, Miyako leans onto the counter and rests her chin upon her palm. "Right? They would make for an interesting couple. I am starting to see why you and Ozpin find so much amusement in pairing people up."
Coco angles her head to tilt back toward Miyako out the corner of her eye with amusement twinkling behind her sunglasses. "Oh? You have no idea. I feel like my birthday has come early with this one." Crossing a leg over the other, Coco raises her mug in flamboyance, "I am going to have sooo much fun with this!"
"Ha-ha, just don't go overboard. I have a feeling one of them has quite the temper tantrum." Miyako takes her cigarette and puts out into the ash tray as she glances toward Coco with a knowing look.
Placing a hand upon her chest, she turns toward Miyako with a mock expression of hurt, "What? My dear Sister, you wound me so. I would never take my teasing over the limits. I am but a humble servant for those in need of assistance in the ways of romance."
With a roll of her eyes, Miyako snorts in amusement.
"Now that I think about it." Coco pumps her mug toward Miyako pointedly, "How did Peach ever fall for a Yankee like you? I mean, you were 'Metal Bat Miyako'. Do you know how much work and effort Ozpin and I had to put into it? I almost gave up at one point."
A hand suddenly reaches out and squeezes onto Coco's ear as she grumbles out in pain while setting down her mug. "Hey. I told you not to ever bring up that old nickname. Else, I will make you start paying full price for your coffee. You, caffeine addicted punk."
"Chill, chill, my bad. Just let go. Your yankee side is showing again." The offending hand releases her sensitive ear as Coco rubs it tenderly. "You know, I have half a mind to tell mom on you."
Miyako waves a hand dismissively over her shoulder as she walks off, "Whatever, she loves me more anyway. Now, get going brat. I am closing for a bit. I have a hot lunch date with my wife."
"She does not, Mom totally loves me more. I'm the cute one after all." Coco suddenly finds a hot pink box shoved into her chest courtesy of Miyako. A look of annoyance crosses over her face, "Again? Seriously? Can't you get someone else to deliver this for you and him?"
"I could, but you make a 'cute' delivery girl, right?"
Coco stares toward Miyako through her shades with a flabbergasted expression. She whirls around toward the entrance with the box in hand. "Yea, I am totally telling Peach you are bullying me. She is going to punish you later."
Miyako grins as she stares toward Coco's retreating form with her elbow resting on the bar. "Oh, that's what I am counting on later tonight."
Coco stops mid-step as her body shivers with a jitter. Her free arm raises with her fingers spread in disbelief at what she heard, "Okay, ew. I do not want to hear that from my own sister." A chuckle is all the response she gets. "I'll see you later, Sis." The door chimes once more as she makes her exit from the café.
Further down the street, Ashe finds herself being dragged along by her wrist. Her bell chimes erratically as she stares toward Weiss's slim back. "Can you let me go now? You're about to pull my arm off." She could always pull free, but that might be rude considering how Weiss watched over her.
Her words fall on deaf ears as Weiss continues her stride to who knows where. Yet, the sudden loud gurgle of Ashe's stomach manages to force Weiss into a halt mid-step. She turns to glance over her shoulder toward her. Ashe fidgets and looks toward elsewhere, "Um…I'm hungry?"
After a momentary stare, Weiss turns away and looks around at their location. She apparently finds what she's looking for as she drags Ashe for just a moment longer toward a café. Ashe finds herself inside the restaurant as Weiss speaks out toward the host. "Table for two, patio if you will."
Is she going to drag her all the way to the table as well? Apparently so.
Ashe soon finds herself sitting in a chair at a small table with an umbrella for shade. A small iron fence separates them from the sidewalk as she takes note of her surroundings. Weiss is already looking over her menu in silence.
Grasping her own, she looks it over and finds their specialty to dine with pasta. With a hum, she glances over the menu toward Weiss, "Hey Weiss, what is alfredo?"
"Hm? It is just a creamy sauce made of butter, heavy cream, and cheese. Usually anyways, why? Do you see something you want to try?" Decision made, Weiss sets her menu down and stares toward Ashe with amusement.
With a twitch of her nose, Ashe perks up at the mention of cheese. Looking once more over her menu with renewed vigor, Ashe makes her decision as the waitress approaches for their orders. Waters are placed before them as both girls give their orders.
"You know, you really do love cheese." Ashe perks up toward Weiss who is staring toward her with those light blue orbs as she points upward toward her hat. "Then again, it makes sense."
"Well, not like I can help it. Cheese is just really good."
Weiss leans forward onto the small table as she rests her chin against the back of her hand, "Oh? I see. What else do you like?"
Before long, the two girls find themselves lost in conversation as the rustling of the city fiddles in the background. Weiss picks away at Ashe with questions to learn more about her. Mostly just about her likes and dislikes. When Weiss finds something interesting, she wants to know everything about it.
But she was cautious to ask anything related to her past or possibly a trigger.
However, Weiss couldn't hold in her fit of giggles as their dessert arrived. Ashe couldn't help but stare and drool at her strawberry cheesecake. Taking a bite, Ashe flutters into a sigh of pure bliss and sinks into her seat at the tasty treat. Only to blush and pout in embarrassment from the fit of chuckles.
With their meals paid for, both teenagers soon find themselves back upon a bullhead taxi and arriving at Beacon. Their return back was mostly in silence as the two are left to their own thoughts with full bellies. A moment later, Weiss and Ashe find their way back toward team RWBY's dorm as Weiss reaches for the knob.
Only for it to once more fling open.
"Finally, you're back! Hi, Weiss." A slender hand shoots out and grabs onto Ashe's wrist and drags her forward once more. Seriously, what is with everyone dragging her around today? "I finished your maintenance, and they are so much better! Give them a go!"
Ashe finds herself staring down at Ruby's work station as her daggers are bright and shiny. Did, did they just twinkle?
Grasping the hilts into her hands, she notices how much lighter they are compared to before. Blinking, she turns toward Ruby who is staring toward her expectedly with blinking eyes and a small smear of grease on her cute cheek. "How do they feel? So much lighter right? There was a lot of build-up, so they should work much more efficiently."
With a hum, Ashe flickers both daggers around her fingers expertly. It makes for a neat parlor trick. But Ruby was correct, they are much lighter and easier to handle. Finding their window open, Ashe flicks her daggers as they sail airborne before she snaps them back.
Smooth.
"Ah! I really studied that mechanic and it was so interesting! It even gave me a few ideas to maybe modify Crescent Rose with, but I dunno how to implement them." Ruby darts forward as she stares down toward Ashe with stars in her eyes. "Maybe I can bounce a few ideas off of you and get your opinion." Ruby pouts suddenly and hangs her head, "I tried to ask Blake, but she left after the incident."
Weiss makes her presence known once more as she approaches the two girls with an arched brow, "Um, what incident?" Ashe as well was quite curious.
Ruby leans away as she raises both hands and pokes her index fingers together suspiciously. "Well~, I was working on the propulsion mechanics of your daggers…" Ruby nonchalantly waves her hand in a circle with a dismissive expression, "And I maaay, have accidently set it off."
Ashe smacks her forehead as Weiss massages at her temples with a sigh. Ruby rubs onto the back of her head sheepishly with a nervous grin, "Let's just say…Blake has great cat-like reflexes." She then points toward Blake's bed nervously.
Following her point of direction, they find Blake's bed empty. But where she leans against her headrest to read, they spot a fresh and deep hole made from a blade. Ashe and Weiss turn back toward Ruby with neutral expressions as Ruby fidgets. "Hey! It only happened once! I figured out how they worked after that."
Weiss rolls her eyes with a scoff as she quickly disappears into their bathroom. Ruby pouts before sticking her tongue out behind her. Ashe snickers as she gives Ruby a pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. It has happened to me before as well. They are quite sensitive and unexpected."
With a nervous chuckle, Ruby nods her head, "Yea…thanks. I think."
Striding pass Ruby, Ashe waves over her shoulder. "Thank you, Ruby. I'll pay you back here soon for your work." Before she could leave the room, a voice calls out to her and filled with amusement.
"Well~, now that you mention it. There's something I wouldn't mind you doing for me to pay me back." Ashe looks over her shoulder toward Ruby as she finds her suspiciously clasping her hands together with her head tilted cutely.
With a narrow of her eyes, she speaks out, "What's that?"
Ruby shuffles and sways cutely as she bats her eyes while raising her hands up closer to her lips with a tilt of her head. "Well~ Since your daggers are ready to use. I was hoping that you wouldn't mind having a spar with me." Ruby plops her hands down toward her skirt as her leg bends backwards in a cutesy pose with a beaming smile toward Ashe.
"Oh, is that all? Sure, let's go."
"Aw yea!" Ruby whoops in joy before she grabs onto Crescent Rose and Ashe and drags her out of the room once more after shouting over her shoulder, "Be back later Weiss! Taking your girl out for a spar!"
The bathroom door suddenly slams open from Weiss with a red hue on her face and gritted teeth. "My what?! Ruby!"
Ruby giggles childishly as Ashe finds herself being warped and her surroundings turning into a blur of speed as petals flutter around in a storm. Not a moment later, Ashe finds herself standing in a grass clearing with a few trees outside of the dorm building.
Ashe couldn't help but blink as Ruby wipes away a tear from her fit of giggles, "Oh man, Yang was right. That was hilarious and so much fun. Aw, now I want some cookies. But that can wait." Ruby grabs onto her weapon as it whirls before she slams her massive scythe into the grass. "I got some butt to kick, aw yea!"
She couldn't help the smirk that works its way upon her lips as Ashe grabs one dagger into her left hand. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Ruby. I am one of your worst match-ups."
"Whaa~ Wha'cha talk'in about? I don't have any bad match-ups! I am a complete, grade-A butt kicker! You'll see!" Ruby throws out her arm with a thumbs down and a playful grin, "You're going down!"
With that being said, Ruby raises her Crescent Rose and charges forward in an arc with a shout. Ashe watches her with keen eyes. She was not lying though. Ashe is a completely bad match-up for Ruby. As terrifying as her scythe is, it has a major weakness that she needs to realize and work on. There's a reason there are not many scythe users.
As Ruby approaches, Ashe trains her gaze toward the polearm of her scythe. Know where the staff is, you know where the blade is. With a horizontal slash toward her, Ashe dashes inward with a kick of her feet.
Small, quick, and agile with mobile weapons that can easily slip into a scythe's blind spot. Silver eyes widen in shock before Ruby tugs back on her scythe inward. Ashe watches the polearm as she slams her dagger against it, and parries upward without looking.
Grinding along the staff with a few sparks, Ashe locks Crescent Rose in position as her right-hand snakes out and grabs onto Ruby's neckline. Ruby yelps as Ashe slings her over her shoulder and slams her onto the ground with a thud as her dagger flicks and sinks into the soft grass beside her head.
"I win."
Ashe stares down at Ruby who's laying on her back with a shocked expression. Her red cloak flutters down and lands over her face before she quickly sits up in wonder. "Wha-What just happened?!"
"I told you, I am a bad match-up for you." Reaching down, Ashe offers Ruby a hand that she happily takes before being pulled up and dusting off her combat skirt. "I spent a week watching everyone's fighting style during Professor Goodwitch's class. So, I have a good general assessment of everyone's combat strengths and weaknesses. Has anyone ever told you about your strengths and weaknesses?"
Ruby reaches up and scratches onto her head in thought, "Um, I don't really remember. Why, what are they?"
Ashe turns and paces toward Crescent Rose on the ground before she plops down on one side of it before motioning Ruby to take a seat as well on the grass. "First, let me ask you this. Do you think you are long, mid, or close range with this weapon?"
Looking down, Ruby squints her eyes before leaning back slightly, "Uh…Close range?"
"You are mid-range." Ruby tilts her head to the other side while narrowing her eyes further. "Why did you choose this type of weapon in the first place?"
"Because my Uncle also uses a scythe and he is really cool! Plus, it just looks so awesome, right? I mean, he uses a scythe too and he specializes in close range." Ruby crosses her arms over her chest in thought.
"Does he use a scythe exactly like this one?"
Ruby shakes her head in the negative, "No, he uses a smaller one that is a sword that transforms into a scythe." Her eyes begin to lighten up in realization, "He would always use the sword when sparring with other Huntsman, Dad, and Yang. Would that be why?"
Ashe hums before slowly nodding her head, "More than likely, yes. But I can not say with absolute certainty since I don't know him or his fighting style."
Raising a hand, Ruby cups her chin in thought before glancing over Crescent Rose and then toward Ashe with intrigue and interest. "So, I am supposed to be a Mid-range fighter, where would my strength be?"
Ashe crosses her arms for a moment in thought, her bell chimes lightly in the breeze, "If you need crowd-control and precious, I would ask Weiss. If I need someone to stall and sneak around, I would ask Blake. For Yang, she would be the one to ask as a decoy and heavy hitter." Nodding her head, Ashe points toward Ruby in realization, "If I need someone that can mow down a crowd and watch my back, I would ask you. You would be great at hit and run tactics."
Ruby perks up as she leans forward with both hands flat on the grass. "Whatcha mean?" Her silver eyes were twinkling in excitement.
"Well, your semblance is speed, meaning you can easily get in and out. Your weapon is a scythe and high-caliber rifle." The gears begin to spin within Ashe's mind as she also leans forward while pointing down at Crescent Rose. "Support fighter. With your range, you can easily attack from afar and watch your team's back. Your scythe is long, you can reach your target from two body lengths at least if you can hold it from near the base. You'll need loads of upper strength for that though, and leg strength to keep your balance."
Excitement is radiating from Ruby with a big grin as she looks down at Crescent Rose and back to Ashe, "One more question, how could I compensate my weakness of close combat?"
Ashe blinks, "Well, the easiest solution is to never put yourself into that scenario, but that is practically impossible. So, make that your first method, and learn a new skill for when that fails."
Ashe leans away as Ruby begins to quake in excitement before she bodily leaps forward and smothers Ashe in a hug. "Alright! Thanks for the spar! Ah, this was so~ much fun, even if I didn't put up much of a fight at all." Ashe couldn't help but squeak out a groan as she is squeezed once more.
"Y-yea, you're welcome."
Ruby grabs Crescent Rose and quickly holsters it back before jumping in joy. "I have to make a new training schedule and I have so many new ideas to work on~ Thank you so much Ashe! Let's spar again some time, see ya~" With a shower of rose petals, she quickly disappears in a red blur back up into the dorm building.
"Yea…sure…" With a slow blink, Ruby was already long gone as her hat tilts in the soft gust of wind. With a shrug of her shoulders, Ashe plops onto her back as she makes sure her hat stays on while relaxing in the soft grass.
Not a moment later, she hears the soft crunch of grass as she peeks an eye open as a familiar tall figure blocks out the sun while bending over with bright red hair cascading down her shoulder, "Hello again~"
"Pyrrha? Hello, how long have you been here?"
With a light giggle, Pyrrha brushes a few strands of hair behind her ear, "Oh, well I was a bit bored earlier, so I came out here to exercise to pass some time. I was relaxing under a tree when Ruby and you appeared. You know, that was a nice thing you did for her. Giving her advice on how to improve herself. Not many people would do that for others."
"Mm, I know. That's why I did it."
A smile works its way onto Pyrrha's lips, "Ah, I see. May I ask you something?"
"Mm?"
"Would you have a spar with me?"
Ashe cracks an eye open as a soft breeze rustles through the clearing, "Right now? I was kind of hoping for a nap. It feels good right now since the sun is setting. I also woke up early today, so I am tired." She couldn't help but sigh at Pyrrha's dejected pout and frown. "Tomorrow."
Pyrrha perks up as her green eyes sparkle in the dim glow of the sunset, "Of course. Tomorrow. Mind if I lay here with you?"
With a wave of her hand, Pyrrha takes it as an invitation as she lays beside Ashe in the dim glow of the sun. Pyrrha couldn't help but chuckle softly as a soft and quiet snooze echoes out from Ashe after she quickly falls asleep.
Pyrrha looks up to the sky as she raises a hand and clenches her fist as it begins to shake in excitement with a small grin upon her lips. "Tomorrow."
(A/N)
So...Neat little story I thought people might find interesting or funny. So, here I was writing this chapter and minding my own business at around 10 a.m. Window open and wild turkeys in the next lot having a heyday. Gobbling and having the time of their life. Next thing I know, an explosion rings out in the distance and a loud whistle of something flying through the air. The gobbling stops and power cuts out. Apparently, the power company said one of those turkeys went and messed with the neighborhood transformer. Apparently, Thanksgiving came early this year with an extra-crispy turkey.
In related news, next chapter is going to be fun to write. I am really looking forward to working on Chapter Eleven. The gears will begin to spin! Let me know your thoughts on the story thus far.