Chapter 9 – Breaks, a Date, and Trouble

Teams RWBY and JNPR sat in the court yard still reeling from the amount of physical training they had done. Jaune was utterly exhausted being the one who was the most physically unfit of the group. He laid on the rim of the fountain like a dead log.

"So, we never really talked about each other." Jaune suddenly broke the silence.

"What do you mean?" Weiss asked a hint of dislike in her voice.

"I mean that we've never really got to 'know' each other. You know, where we are from, what our goals are, why we want to become what we are training for. You know the typical 'What makes us, us' speech." Jaune said earning looks from his fellow peers.

"Isn't goal and what we want to become a little redundant Jaune?" Yang asked.

" Not really Yang, everyone can be a huntsman. What we want to become can be totally different. Our end game goal can be totally different and if you think about it, just wanting to become a huntsman is a little shallow don't you think?" Jaune shifted into an upright position giving off a goofy smile towards his friends, " My goal...is to not save the lives of now but, to work towards saving the lives of our future generations. Sure, the methods I chose...aren't exactly worthy of bragging rights but, what I think counts is the overall goal. I am willing to achieve it even if I must get my hands dirty. Of course, some that know of my family may see it as ' he is only becoming a huntsman due to the fact his family are all legendary huntsmen.' but who cares what others think right?"

The everyone looked at Jaune dumbfounded.

"That's...that's pretty deep Vomit-Boy." said Yang.

" That and the misunderstanding I had with my father made me think I was no good and I wanted to prove I was more than a failure. I just wanted him to praise me though deep down after much thought, I came to that conclusion. I also want to learn. I want to learn the secrets of the Grimm, what makes them tick. Then I want to crush it. Future generations will not have to deal with what we have had to deal with today." Jaunes voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Well, mines not as deep as yours Jaune but, I came here to get a thrill, experience many things and if I save people in the process that's just another plus!" Yang had a bit of hesitation in her tone which Jaune caught he decided to leave it at that.

"I want to be like those heroes in books. Save the day and live happily ever after!" Ruby cheered.

Yang ruffled her hair earning a pout from Ruby which Jaune thought was kind of cute.

"Well, I am a Schnee as soon as I picked up the sword and found I was good at it I knew I would strive to become a Huntress it was my calling. I also have a legacy to uphold." Weiss said with dignity.

" Snow Angel, that's a little shallow don't cha think?" Jaune said teasing her. He knew it was facade. Her actions and tone did not match together. In the little time he knew her, he knew she was lying, he found it sad that she put up that act but, whenever she was hanging out with her team she dropped her heiress attitude and looked like a normal girl.

"Shut up dunce. I don't want to hear it from a guy who faked his way into here." Weiss stung back.

Jaune winced back a little. He had practically told everyone while he was training with Bruno inadvertently. Then even after that they wanted to confirm not long after. He saw mixed reactions and emotions that day. Team RWBY was boisterous with their thoughts where as his own team simply nodded and moved on as if nothing happened which gave him much reprieve. He felt good now that it was out in the open and that his own team and friends accepted him for who he was regardless of how he got here. Still, the thought of war springing up again made his blood boil for some reason.

" Ren and I fight for a rather selfish goal actually." Nora showed an unnatural serious expression. Ren tried to stop her but she held a hand back stopping the boy.

" An S-Class eradicated our home back when we were kids. Ren and I were visiting his grandparents which I came along with because he had invited me." uncontrolled tears fell and the rage in her voice was blinding, " We watched in horror on the TV of our town in ruins. No survivors, everyone was brutally killed. Our parents, our friends, our relatives. Everyone. We are here to get stronger. To get revenge."

Ren frowned and being the best buddy he was hugged her comforting her until she calmed down. In fact, this is why he stuck with her no matter her ridiculous scenes and schemes. He knew deep down she is hurting inside. After all, he lost his parents there too he knew how it felt like.

"So you guys lived near the outer land...My lord don't tell me. The tragedy of the town of Zebir?!" Jaune's eyes were wide open.

"Y-yes, that's the name of our home." Ren said, "I moved there from a distant town called Naero when I was but a young boy."

"I-I-I'm sorry Ren. My uncle tried to get there as fast as he could. By the time he got there it was too late." Jaune looked at the ground, "All I remember my uncle cursing himself greatly at his inability to save that town."

" There is nothing to apologize for Jaune, if you ever meet your uncle again. Tell him thank you." Nora agreed

"Why?" Jaune looked at his teammates confused.

"For trying to save them. That there was someone willing to risk their life. It takes a noble soul to put one self into a life threatening situation with no hesitation even in the face of an S-Class." said Ren.

"I will the next time we have a family gathering. He is an accomplished hunter and he makes it his priority help people in need."

"A good man." Pyrrah said, "Like many of us here we fight to survive. We fight to protect the weak. Most of us can say that we are here to protect the people. In my case I am like Jaune, I want to protect the future of mankind." Jaune nodded in agreement. He expected no less from his partner.

She shifted her tone suddenly, "People put me on a pedestal saying that they can't reach me but, being on it so long separates you from the rest of the crowd. You guys have shown to not care about my status as a champion."

"Of course! We're friends!" said Ruby, "We treat our friends like we would treat ourselves."

"I'm glad I can fight knowing you guys have my back." Pyrrah smiled.

"And we're glad to have you protecting ours as well." Yang and Ruby said at the same time.

"Jinx, you owe me a soda, no wait 2 boxes of strawberries." Ruby said.

"Damn...and why two?!" Yang slumped over at the silent response she got from her sister.

Blake remained quiet the whole time which no one seemed to mind. While Tir sat listening to their conversation while staring at her scroll awaiting her reckless friends status. ' He certainly chose the right group. Maybe we all can make it out of this alive.'

Abandoned Warehouse on the outskirts of Vale

"WHAT" Cinder was not pleased with the information the White Fang grunt relayed her.

"M-m-mam, t-th-" The grunt stuttered uncontrollably.

"Lord man, your a man! Speak with a confident tone. Now tell me again in detail!" She was growing impatient. She held back the desire to turn the grunt into a human torch.

"The outer land outpost has been over run. The report said Harbinger before the comms went dead!" He was talking so fast he was barely understandable.

"Was that so hard?" She walked over to the grunt, "Now for a reward." with that she placed a hand on the grunt's shoulder earning a confused terrified look.

"M-mam?"

"I don't like bad news, especially when your so called leader doesn't tell me himself..." She said almost with a demonic tone.

The grunt screamed as he was turned into a human torch from the inside out. He started screaming at the top of his lungs. Fire oozed out of his eye sockets and mouth and then in an instant he was a full inflamed body. The screams only lasted a second until there was nothing left but ash in a pile.

"What do we do? Its too soon! Our plan is going to fail and in the most spectacular way! I don't want to fight a horde of Grimm you know." Emerald panicked.

"We can still do this don't worry child..." She walked over to the digital receiver, "I just have to talk to an imbecile...first..."

Forever Fall Forest

Bruno sprinted back into "Safe" grounds once again. Seeing as there was no hell bent high class Grimm on his tail he decided to rest. Using aura he forced the remaining shrapnel his body to be jutted out. The pieces fell out one by one hitting the ground harmlessly while the wounds healed themselves. The sheer amount of shards that impaled him were enough to kill a man ten times over. ' Five or six gunshots are DEFINITELY nothing compared to the force of that blast and this amount of shrapnel...' He cringed once more, ' I hate this curse. Why do I have it.'

He was worried. He had a good reason to be worried. The Harbinger itself was really close to the border of civilization. Its not the first time this has happened. The tragedy of Zebir being case and point but, the Harbinger was a different story. Out of all the S-Classes there are only few that are known to lead with leadership. The Harbinger was one of them. With the Harbinger being so close he knew the amount of time before a full scale war would draw close.

The amount of damage he sustained affected his aura reserve yet it was not enough to worry about. He would make it back to the rendezvous point where Richie would be waiting. He had contacted the pilot, or at least tried to. His scroll was nearly thrashed. He hoped luck was on his side. He wanted to get back to beacon and collapse on the large cedar tree.

Beacon

Tir was frustrated no she was going insane. If he comes back she was going to smack him into next week. She knew he was always like this but, she had enough, she was going to give him hell.

Ruby had walked in on her mentor while she was fuming. "Miss Tir? Is there something wrong?"

Tir was knocked out of her intense state and stared up at a concerned looking Ruby. " It's nothing too serious Ruby. Someone's just giving me trouble."

"Don't tell me is it Bruno?" Ruby cracked a smile.

" Yes, you could say that."

" Why don't you just tell him already."

"Tell him what?"

"Its obvious, everyone can see it."

"Ruby, I don't know what your talking about." Tir was surprised, this girl was surprisingly perceptive and from what she observed over the last few weeks, she had the qualities of a leader but the only flaw was perception, at least not in a real dire situation.

" We ALL know you like him. He is the only one that can push your buttons too." She hit it dead on.

" Oh really? What about you child. I see the way you look at a certain blonde boy." Tir thought, ' Pay back is in order.'

"W-wha?" Ruby immediately attempted to switch the topic, " So, about the report due tomorrow."

"Don't change the subject you started this." Tir grinned.

"Look, I don't like-like the guy I just think hes interesting." Ruby tried to convince Tir.

"Oh really~ let me guess he has an interesting weapon and you want to dissect it. Also he had blue charming eyes that you can't help but stare into, with the conviction to boot." Tir teased.

"Ye- No wait! No!" Ruby exploded.

Tir smirked. "Gotcha."

"Ugh" Ruby had no comment.

"Achoo!" Jaune sneezed for the fifth time while meditating on his bed. It was obviously not working due to the hyper active Valkyrie bouncing about. So he just pulled out the latest issue of a popular comic and started reading.

"You are not getting a cold are you Jaune?" Pyrrah asked worried.

"No I feel fine. It must be allergies...though I do not know of any I have during this time of year." He assured Pyrrah.

"Someone must be talking about you then." Ren voiced his conclusion, " They say some sneezes are people talking about you. Malicious or not remains to be seen though."

"You believe that Ren?" Jaune looked at him strangely.

"Of course not, its fun to say though." Ren smiled.

Ozpin's office

Ozpin was on edge, the council was being uncooperative with his requests and questioned his sanity in some. He now understood why Bruno hadn't wanted to seek an audience now. He pinched the bridge of his nose till he got an emergency call. He quickly hit the button.

On the screen he stared at a wrecked immortal. Bandages laid across his torso and his attire was scorched.

"Ozpin, you are not going to like this. Looks like that time prediction was spot on. We do not have much time." Bruno yelled over the loud bullhead over the pilots shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Ozpin gripped his cane.

"The Harbinger is close to the outer land borders. I had a little run in with it actually. Nearly killed me, my regeneration is doing jack squat. Looks like I have to heal this one with natural time. Heh, its been a while. Damn high class." Bruno yelled over the pilot which paled at the information he just got.

"Is it okay to tell this information in front of that pilot?" Ozpin's eyes narrowed.

"Yea, he knows of our plans which is why he is risked his life to drop and pick me up. I am going to rest. I'll be back in beacon in 3 days if things go swimmingly. If not tell Tir sorry haha. I am going to rest I'll report any events." Bruno saluted Ozpin while Ozpin returned it. The screen shut off leaving the front door to his office now visible. Ozpin reclined back into his seat and let out a wary sigh. 'looks like I have to put this into full gear despite the words of the council. If I am not headmaster next year, I'll round up the most willing students and train them to the best of my abilities with all the professors.' He chuckled a bit, ' Besides, it will take the council a long while to find someone as competent as my staff and myself.'

Three days later Beacon landing pad

Bruno stepped out of the bullhead after briefly thanking his buddy pilot with a firm handshake and a salute. He grimaced at his wound underneath his shirt, it was a fairly thin gash yet, it showed no signs of healing even after he had activated his regenerative semblance for now it only held back the bleeding a bit. The residual black residue hanging around his wound also disturbed him. If the Harbinger learned what the Scourge could do. That meant that the S-classes have capacity to learn and this war will be hell on earth. He hoped it was simlar to the Scourges anyway, they had a cure for that.

He saw all of the teens minus a certain woman as the ship flew away. A sense of dread resided over him.

It was not even twenty seconds when he received a hard curved fist as he sailed into one of Beacon's many pillars breaking it in half as he continued to sail into the next leaving a large crack.

"That HAD to hurt." Yang grimaced at what she had just witnessed.

"Yea." Everyone deadpanned. Their heads swung back and forth between Tir and Bruno who was engraved into the pillar.

"Glad you missed me Tir." Bruno joked and coughed. He felt the wound tear even more from the sheer force he had been hit with.

"You insufferable, reckless man! You realize you could of died back there?!" She charged again hitting him again just as hard as he was sent through the pillar he was stuck in.

Various students watched in horror at the spectacle. Some even pulled their scrolls out to report to the staff.

"It was necessary Tir. I -" Tir had caught up to him and slammed him into the ground. He winced in pain once more, "And you are certainly making my wound worse."

She stopped when she noticed a discoloration in his shirt. She touched his chest and pulled back looking at her palm. Blood.

"Oh my lord Bruno! We have to get you to the infirmary now!" Tir pulled him up.

"That is where I planned to go you hot-headed woman! In fact, I feel in a worse state now than before I fought the Harbinger!" He was a bit angry but, he certainly deserved what he got.

Tir smacked him in the head once more and started to drag him towards the infirmary.

"That just happened." Jaune uttered.

"Yea, that just happened." everyone else chimed in.

"What about our training?" Pyrrah broke everyone out of their trance.

"Free time until things are sorted out I guess." Yang suggested.

"True, who wants to go grab some food." Ruby suggested.

"You mean strawberries and cookies." Weiss accused.

" Yea! I don't understand why you don't find them the greatest thing in the world!" Ruby exclaimed.

" I don't hate them Ruby... I just find your habit of eating them...excessively unhealthy." Weiss stated.

" Well, what are we waiting for! I call all the remaining pancakes!" Nora dashed towards the mess hall.

" I want something more home cooked for a change." Ren said as he walked off after Nora.

" I am with you there bro! Let me into that kitchen as well!" Jaune ran to catch up with his teammate.

"You can cook Jaune?" Weiss said in disbelief.

" Of course I can! Arc's are to be completely self-sufficient, unless we marry we are to take care of our selves...at least the men do...combat training and all..." He slumped a bit remembering depressing memories. He thought he had gotten over most of them but, there were lingering doubts regardless of what Bruno had told him along with many others.

Pyrrah and Ruby shot a look at Weiss who recoiled and apologized silently as they watched the blonde mope towards the kitchen with Ren in front of them.

Ren patted him on the back and gave him a reassuring smile, " I am sure it was for the best for you in mind."

Jaune cheered up considerably at the words of his friend, "Thanks."

"No need to thank, just be yourself and stay with all of us till we must part." More wise words from his friend. Jaune nodded and opened the door to the mess hall holding the door for all his friends.

On the way in Weiss lightly pat his shoulder apologetically. He just smiled at her letting her know she was not at fault.

Ruby and Pyrrah could not help but feel kind of jealous at the silent exchange.

Yang took notice of this and grinned while Blake remained neutral. Though, she had grinned slightly.

Infirmary

"Wow it got you good despite it being shallow." Tir stared at the diagonal gash that ran down his torso.

"Well Tir...It bled more from your strikes taxing my body than I ever did fighting it." He complained.

"You deserved everything you got."

"I know. That's why I did not dodge any of it." He smiled.

"Please." Tir rolled her eyes. "So, why was the Harbinger so close to the border."

"I don't know, I have a feeling it has to do with the operations of the White Fang along with another group."

"Not a group, a woman." Tir shifted her legs briefly before deciding to prop them up on his bed after the medics patched him up and left the room for their privacy.

"Who is it?"

"Cinder. Cinder Fall, wears a crimson one piece dress embroidered with symbols of a master Elementalist. Fire to be exact." Tir said in a flat one.

"So my instinct was right, I should of ended her then and there." Bruno said out loud.

"There is no way you could have known, you are a sensor but, if you acted on feeling alone everyone would be gone sooner or later."

"True, what is she trying to accomplish."

"That Bruno, I do not even know." Tir crossed her arms.

"Maybe this can help." He tossed her a chip. "Neo sent it. Could contain exactly what we want."

"That runt? I don't know how you can just live knowing that your brother had lived and practically binged on your fame and practically got what ever he wanted now you-"

"Have really distant family spread across the four corners of this globe? Even if they do not know it themselves? Of course I am not angry, my brother did what I could not. That is continue on the family line. One way or another." He interrupted, " Jin will always be my brother Tir. Besides I am not worthy of anything." He stopped himself when he saw her face full of a mix of worry and longing.

' If you only could open up. It has long been past that self torture method of yours after losing her and your team Bruno...' she frowned slightly.

' Perhaps it is way past time since the days of old standing along side my precious teammates. Its time to move on. I must be a big fool to her right now. We might as well enjoy our time. I still feel guilty about telling the half truth to both Tir and the disciples.' In truth, he had very limited time. He was a tired man. He had no doubt by the time this ordeal was over he would disappear like he should have all those years ago, for good. He stared at the woman in front of him. ' Well, here goes nothing.'

"Say wanna go grab a bite to eat?" He asked surprising her.

"...Is that you asking me out for a date?" she propped one eyebrow, "Maybe you did get hit a little too hard." She wanted to hit herself for what she just said.

"You could say that." He smiled lightly.

'Oh. My. Lord!' was all she could think. ' Gotta answer!' "Sure why not! Where in Vale shall we go?"

"I have a place in mind... also what about a movie I haven't seen one in ages." Bruno offered once more.

"Me neither, why not? Lets give the teens a break they've been training hard the time you were gone after all." She got up and put her hand on his shoulder and began to leave, "I'll see you later. Don't move around too much, the technique they used on you should remove that residual black energy allowing you to heal good as new soon." She turned around and made her way towards the door, "Best not keep me waiting." She grinned.

"Oh I won't trust me." He never really looked at Tir closely over the time they knew each other surprisingly. He was too busy caught up in his own self loathing deep within in consciousness to have time.

He grasped his fists at how much of a fool he was and she probably knew it. He chuckled at how she could stay with him for so long. Well, he was going to make it up as best as he could.

True to Tir's word the treatment had cleared most of his wounds of the black residue. He let his semblance do the work and got up. Just as he was about to put on his hood he sensed someone infiltrate the infirmary. He smiled knowing who it was.

"The hell are you doing here Neo. Where is Roman?" Bruno turned around to see a smiling very distant family member. The smile soon faded, transforming into a frown.

Her silence was deafening it wasn't a good silence either.

" So I am either guessing hes dead, or on the run." Bruno finished putting on his cloths.

"..." She nodded from side to side then up and down.

" Cinder is a ruthless woman." He sighed, "Well, I'll introduce you to the rest of the gang, don't cause too much mischief around here. It is a school after all." He warned her.

She had a devious smile which earned a flick to her nose.

"I mean it, I will tell Asin." He smirked.

She shivered and complied.

After a short scroll message everyone was called to their meeting spot.

Neo and Bruno stood idly waiting for everyone to finally appear. Bruno's eyes twitched slightly at Neo's inability to stand still while checking out various parts of the sparring arena.

"Neo! Stand still your driving me nuts!" How Roman put up with her was beyond him even if she was related to him he could never understand it.

Neo just smiled at him and disappeared as the double doors opened.

He sighed once more.

"Hey Bruno! What did you call all of us here for?" Ruby yelled from the entrance.

"Well get in here and I can introduce you." He replied.

"To who?" Jaune looked around confused due to no one being anywhere near him.

"To a really distant relative that I will root to the ground if she doesn't make an appearance...Now!" He held back his temper.

With that Neo appeared next to him hiding her grin. Her mission was successful. ' Piss off immortal grandpa.'

Bruno smacked her on the head keeping his fist there. "Meet Neo the Runt. She has been working as a double agent not too long ago until her subject of interest suddenly got booted from his position and is running for his life."

Neo pouted at her nickname. She signed towards him about making fun of her height.

"Oh she's mute too." Bruno ignored the furious signing.

"N-nice to meet you." Jaune said offering his hand, everyone waved and repeated.

She stared at Jaune then at Bruno.

"Yes, he is an Arc, untrained yes, but an Arc regardless." Bruno smiled.

Then without a second thought Neo shook his hand furiously throwing Jaune off balance.

"Shes just excited to meet an Arc. Despite your family wanting to lay low in general Jaune the Sieg family and all related to Sieg family know of all of the Arc accomplishments." Bruno explained.

The doors opened once more revealing a group of second years.

"Team CFVY! How are you guys?" Ruby asked.

Bruno looked at the second years and waved.

"Bruno, that guy has similar eyes to yours is he immortal too?" Yang whispered.

"No...those eyes are of a man who has lost sight Yang." Bruno corrected seeing her frown.

"Now I feel bad." She whispered.

" I doubt he'll mind, I think he'll really mind if you treat him any different though." Bruno patted her on the back.

Team CFVY walked down the greet the two teams.

"I see were are not the only ones wanting to spar today." Coco the leader of the team perked an eyebrow, " And we have the veteran here today too..."

Bruno put a hand up, "Ah, just having a real greeting after getting mercilessly punched through several pillars...ha ha..ha"

"Yea, we all saw that you sure you should be out of the infirmary from what we saw you were bleeding profusely." Yatsuhashi asked in a genuine worried tone.

"Oh I am fine now, all healed up!" Bruno smacked his chest.

"I see," Yatsuhashi seemed to have relaxed at the sight of the veteran's well being.

"I'll be taking my leave now...I kind of have an important thing to get ready for. Neo please...PLEASE don't cause too much trouble." Bruno pleaded

"Let me guess a date with Tir" Yang accused.

"How did you know Mrs Xiao Long..." Bruno's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't but you just confirmed it." Her grin so wide it would of broken her face, "Have fun~"

Bruno remained silent and turned around. ' How did I even run into that so easily now I won't hear the end of this for months.'

He closed the sparring arena doors behind him ignoring the comments being made towards Tir and himself. ' Whatever.'

" For an old war veteran he doesn't look it." Coco said after witnessing Bruno leave.

"I can't read him at all." Fox said, "Makes it hard for me to 'see' him too. I could only see him when he wanted me to."

" That's easy! He's im-" Ruby and unsurprisingly Nora were interrupted. Ren's hand covering Nora's mouth specifically while Ruby was simply cut off.

"Hes immensely skilled, he hardly broke a sweat fighting off Grimm while we were in a bit of a spot." Weiss quickly said, "He is also one of our mentors for training as we've said." she added.

" I don't doubt that." Fox agreed, " I just want to know how he does it."

"Probably years of honing his skills." Pyrrah said. ' Lots of years no, a couple hundred years.' She said internally.

"Anyway, have you heard the news? Grimm activity is off the charts! Requests are coming in to both fourth years and veteran hunters alike. I am surprised that veteran hasn't been shipped off yet. I don't doubt he still has the skill to get rid of them." Coco said in calm demeanor, " My team felt like we needed to train in order to be prepared in case the worst happens so we decided to come here."

"Well, we won't keep you from doing just that." Jaune smiled and walked towards the double doors.

"Where are you going Arc? I heard about your family despite being 'under wraps' I hear you guys are both merciless and geniuses of the battlefield. I would like to spar one, even if he is one year under." Coco spurred on.

"Uh... I am not sure if that's a good idea... I am not much of a challenge." Jaune attempted to get out of this situation.

"I also would like to see how I would fair against the four time Mistral Champion." Fox bowed in front of Pyrrah.

"I would be happy to oblige a spar." Pyrrah's face lit up at the chance of a real challenge.

"Ugh," Jaune nearly slumped, ' Damn it Pyrrah I wanted to NOT fight.' He just remained silent and walked over to empty sparring ground. "Well, might as well Coco, please don't humiliate me too much."

" He seems like that but...he's pretty damn good." Yang whispered at Coco.

" How do you know." She asked

" We're tied in sparring win/loss ratio." She grinned, " I plan to fix that too."

"Interesting." She pulled down her shades at the boy who was growing impatient. " This might be fun."

"I hope you'll spar me as well Lie Ren" Yatsuhashi bowed, " I would love to fight a man such as yourself."

"Of course!" Ren did a slight bow keeping his eyes on Yatsuhashi, " I would love to see how I would fair against you as well." Ren was genuinely interested. Yatsuhashi's weapon was one he never fought against.

Velvet and Nora just stood there, "I cannot really spar with my weapon... it kinda has a special function when requires a lot of time Nora I am sorry."

"That's alright Velvet I want to watch Renny fight!" Nora smiled as she walked up to the observer seats.

"I would like to watch Yatsuhashi battle also." Velvet followed suite.

"He's not going to beat Renny!" Nora challenged.

"Oh huh...we'll see about that." Velvet smiled

Team RWBY sat down with the two spectators eagerly wanting to watch the matches unfold.

The other pairs in ready to spar waited on the lower benches to spar.

Cinder Fall was afraid. All of her careful planning, careful operations, perfect choices of henchmen, and all of it resulted in a colossal failure. She stared in horror as her men one by one reported to the main base. Not a good report by all means. Each one of them either screamed bloody murder as she hurt growling in the background or men reporting somewhat calmly before she heard the tearing of flesh. At first she was angry but, when the amount of bad reports increased dramatically she paled. Her two right hands looked sick from listening to the various reports each containing the howls of Grimm while they tear at flesh.

" Lord Monty, we have created a mess. There is no way to fix this now..." She wracked her noggin thinking all the possible solutions. Then she remembered Roman's report before he screwed up royally to her.

" I have captured a trespasser, he seems to wear some high quality stuff sugar, his attire consists of black jeans, a hoody modified for combat ; red mind you, a hilt for something; seems kind of useless to me; some REALLY high quality dust and, he has the semblance of regeneration. Ha ha I shot him five or six times and it healed instantly, Insane ability though I think a kill shot would end him as anyone would. Strange thing about him though, hes not blind but he seems to have white eyes with an iris. Reminds me of one of my henchmen somehow... but that's just me rambling. Shoot ya another message of updates on who exactly this guy is darling~ Ciao~"She cringed at his last words but some how that description reminded her of a stranger she had passed by.

Of course, she payed it no mind but, she was a very experienced woman. The man literally was a blank. She could not sense aura in him whatsoever nor any intent. She remembered turning around to only witness no one behind her in an instant. No one can completely hide their aura, not even her but he managed to do so. Even inexperienced people who never picked up a weapon on their lives leak a faint amount of aura. The one exception being of the legendary Arc family. Their auras were unique by nature to begin with. Traditional techniques used against an Arc would most likely kill the person unless highly compatible or skilled when unlocking their auras which is why the family forced their children to unlock aura themselves or die in the process. She had a strange feeling this man would be a large factor and needed to seek help.

This man was not part of the Arc family due to his facial features eyes and hair. She had to find him to fix this mess she made but where. She realized there was no time as she saw the Harbinger leading Grimm and attempting to breach the outer lands of Vale...She pulled up the console and told her henchmen.

"Go try to find info on a man with black hair, scarred face with white eyes, wearing a red hoody and black jeans. He wields a hilt around his waist and seems to carry a combat belt with many pouches while I search and probe archives here! Go! We don't have much time children." She ordered.

Both Emerald and Mercury nodded without hesitation and disappeared.

"How could this backfire, I was sure I would have control over most of the Grimm." She cursed, " At least I wouldn't think they would literally aim for me specifically I thought they were mindless creatures..." She knew that statement was true yet false but she believed humans and faunas alike had superior minds. So she naturally came to the conclusion: With the right tools, you could control a lesser being. She was wrong, so wrong this could end everyone including her.

A/N: Yea, I made him related to Neo. Seemed logical to me, (Tir can't change her eyes at least I don't think she can lol and I'd like to think Bruno had similar attitudes and qualities in his past, not much is known about his past yet but ill get there eventually if you guys want it including Jaunes distant relative.) I have strayed far far from canon anyways. Dunno if I'll include Cardin and his merry band of bullies (dont know yet). And yes Bruno's Brother WAS busy...yep not going into much detail. Dunno about lemons but if you want me to stick one in there...(I prefer bloody scenes) i guess... but for now. not right now. Not too sure on the pairing of the teens but w/e my mind goes it will be that way... like it or not I guess? but w/e i've rambled on too much off to sleep (wrote at 11 p.m) and ill start working on the next chapter as soon as I can for those that still read this heh.