I'm honestly surprised by the love this story has received, thank you guys so much! I have a surprise for you guys somewhere in this chapter! Hope you don't think you know what it is because I'll call you a liar! Aaaanywy, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Thoughts

Shukaku

Speech

Chapter Eleven: Reunion

"I know that was a lot to take in back there kid" Qrow sighed leaning against the wall behind Gaara, as he leaned onto the fence.

"..." Gaara didn't turn to meet his gaze he just continued to look out at the city.

"Okay... you haven't said anything yet so I know I was off the mark a bit" he relented kicking off the wall he walked up next to him mimicking his position.

"I'm not in a talking mood"

"Gaara, I know you haven't been yourself since you came back from the dead so to speak. Everyone else may not have noticed but I have. Talk to me" he pleaded placing his hand onto Gaara's shoulder.

"No" he answered removing himself from the fence and walking towards the house.

"I get it kid" he said back causing him to stop. Turning his head just enough to hear he didn't say a word but waited for him to continue "You took a bad hot back at Beacon, I know that can be hard... but you can't just shut everyone out because of-"

"I'm not shutting anyone out from my own injuries... but this isn't something they'll be able to help with" he explained as Ruby came within earshot. Ruby hid as to not interrupt them.

"What're you talking about-"

"Don't you get it!" he yelled turning to him, he was struggling to keep his voice level with tears threatening to spill over "It's not anyone else's fault but my own!"

"You mean Beacon?"

"I went to Beacon because I wanted to be able to help people and make people have better lives. That night I only did the opposite, I lost control so Pyrrha and even Penny paid the price for my failures. To top it all off I hurt one of the most important people to me" his fists clenched tightly with rage.

"Kid, you can't-"

"I told you, that you wouldn't be able to help me. I'm the reason Yang has to live the rest of her life with one arm, I'm the reason Jaune blames himself for Pyrrha and I'm the one who's too scared to fight anymore because I don't want to hurt my friends again. I wasn't just a bad friend that night, I was the enemy"

Ruby gasped realizing what his problem was "That's why you didn't just kill that Grimm back in town, you could've easily put that thing down but you didn't because you were scared to hurt someone"

"I can't stop my arm from shaking when I'm in battle with my friends, because it doesn't matter if everyone else forgives me for what happened, I'll never forgive myself... and that's just it" he finished walking back into the house. Qrow shook his head with a sigh "You can come out, kiddo. I know you're hiding there" Ruby came out from behind a nearby tree.

"I take it you heard all of that" Ruby nodded.

"Nothing for it I suppose" he groaned taking another sip from his flask.

"Doesn't he know no one blames him for what happened that night?"

"He does, that's what makes it so hard for him to accept. You gain a unique perspective when you die, sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. But the real important thing is to make sure you can still help those you care about"

"I know that he knows it's not his fault, Yang wouldn't want him to be like this"

"I know, kiddo. Your sister is one hell of a gal"

"You're gonna overcook it" Ren warned as Ruby was cooking with a pan.

"No I'm not!" she insisted.

"Ruby, come here" Qrow called.

"Just a second!" she called as the meat began to smoke uncontrollably "Fine you take over!" she relented. Picking up a tray of tea she walked over to the door.

"We didn't know how may you were bringing so we just cooked all of the food-" Ruby dropped the tray as she saw Yang and Weiss standing there in front of her, shattering the glass on the floor.

"Yang... I-I'm sorry for leaving the way I did it was just you were angry and I didn't know if you wanted me around-" she stopped as Yang grabbed her into a hug.

"I love you, Ruby" she began tearing up when Ruby hugged her back with tears in her eyes. They separated for Weiss to be able to join the hug as well who accepted.

"What is all the racket down here? I thought you were cooking not-" Gaara stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him.

"Gaara!" Weiss yelled grabbing him into a hug "I thought you were dead! What happened?" she asked wiping a stray tear away.

"I'll explain while we eat, lets just sit down first" he laughed.

"Good to see you're still in action" Yang mocked punching him in the arm as she usually did. Sitting down to eat they all laughed together as they traded stories about what's happened with them while they were separated.

"What luck you guys seem to have, finding each other in a bandit camp" he laughed.

"How can seven kids make so much noise eating dinner?" asked Qrow as he brought Oscar into the room with him.

Yang sat quietly letting all the information sink in. Standing up she smiled at Ruby "If Ruby is going to stick by you, Ozpin. Then so will I, she always knows what the right thing to do is" she grinned "But if we're going to do this right, then there can't be anymore half truths, no more lies. Everything has to be out in the open for all of us"

"Agreed" Ruby nodded emphatically. Gaara sighed deeply with a slight groan of annoyance.

"I suppose it's time I told you all about something I should've told you a long time ago then... You may know some of it already, but no one here knows the whole story"

"What story?" Weiss asked confused.

"Back during Beacon's attack, you all saw me transform into something terrible... That was a demon my father sealed inside me when I was still with my mother. The demon can speak to me at any time of day and I cannot sleep for fear of letting it out when I'm vulnerable and letting it hurt people I care about. Sadly... I'm already guilty of that" he sighed looking at Yang.

"I don't blame you for this" she assured him.

"You blaming me doesn't change what happened. I failed to control my emotions and ended up costing some of our friends their lives... Penny and Pyrrha. Not a day goes by where I do regret what happened that day. My failures cost us their lives and I intend to spend every waking hour towards making it worth something. I will not rest until Salem is dead, or I will die trying"

"I'm afraid killing Salem is not so simple, you cannot just stab her heart and be done with it" Ozpin explained.

"I don't care how I have to do it... I just want to see it done, not for me but for everyone"

Ozpin smiled "Then I suppose it's time we got to work"

"Yang" Weiss knocked at her door.

"Ruby, I really don't want to talk about Blake right now... can I just-" she stopped looking up to see Weiss "Oh, sorry. Was there something you wanted?"

"Blake is one of us you know" she said sitting down on the bed opposite her.

"I know, that's why I'm so upset at her for leaving, I can't forgive her for-"

"I know you feel abandoned, Yang. We all do, but Blake warned us that we would get hurt messing with the White Fang, and then it actually happened" she gestured to her arm.

"That doesn't-"

"We all lost friends that night, Yang. You lost something more personal, and we may never get over that. But we shouldn't alienate friends because they're scared"

"She's right you know" Ruby entered the room "Gaara gets nervous in battle now because he's worried he's going to hurt us like he hurt you"

"What?" Yang asked in shock "How? He was the one who pushed me to get back to fighting for my friends"

"He still fights, but he doesn't use big attacks anymore so he can't risk us getting hurt again... he's hurting a lot more than the rest of us right now. Losing a part of yourself and taking that part away from someone else is a lot worse than trying to get back what you already lost. Wounds like that may never heal, but it's up to us to show him that he doesn't need to suffer alone"

Gaara had been listening from outside the house. Sighing he smirked "They're all so stubborn" Suddenly a strange ringing came from behind him "Wait!" a voice yelled. Turning around he saw someone he never expected to see again. There in front of him, in all of his glory was Naruto Uzumaki. Although the blue spinning ball in his hand was new.

"Rasangan!" he yelled. Gaara grabbed his wrist and slammed him into the ground. Ruby, Yang, and Weiss came barging outside with their weapons drawn, followed shortly by Qrow.

"Naruto?" he asked confused.

"What's going on?" Qrow asked.

"Put your weapons down please" a tall man with silver hair and his headband covering his left eye, with a blue mask covering his face.

"Who're you?" Yang asked stepping between Gaara and him.

"Everybody stop!" Gaara warned "Kakashi, what are you doing here? How did you even get here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, you disappear four years ago then just pop up again in this place" he said keeping his hands up in surrender. Gaara let Naruto up.

"Tell the other two to come out from hiding, I do not wish a fight"

"That doesn't sound like the Gaara we know" Naruto growled as he jumped back by Kakashi, with a motion of his hand two more people joined his side.

"It's been four years, things can change"

"Sakura, Yamato, we aren't looking for a fight" Kakashi ordered.

"Yeah, Naruto! What the hell were you thinking!? Don't you know that's the crazy guy who tried to destroy the village? What happens when he starts fighting us again huh!?" yelled Sakura as she put him into a head lock.

"Unless you're going to try and harm me or my friends I will not fight you" Gaara assured.

"Are these people from where you came from?" Qrow asked his hand hovering over his weapon.

"Yes, these are leaf shinobi. I will ask one more time... why are you here?"

"We're hunting a member of the Akatsuki whom we believe to be hiding somewhere in this land. I was able to use my Sharingan to teleport us here and it's how we'll get back" he explained.

"What's the Akatsuki?" Ruby asked.

"An organization of very powerful criminals seeking the tailed beasts. I wondered why one would want to be here but now that we found you, I believe I understand why"

"This man you're after, does he happen to wear a mask with a single eyehole on his right side"

"No, although we have encountered someone matching that description earlier"

"Then tell me who you're here for"

"He is known amongst the Akatsuki as Pein. Our mission is to incarcerate him or terminate him"

"Did this organization happen to have two members name Hidan and Kakuzu?" Gaara asked.

"Indeed, have you seen them?" Yamato asked.

"They're dead"

"How do you know?" Naruto asked.

"Because he killed them" Kakashi concluded.

"Heart warming as this is, I want to be done with that organization, I have no intention of returning to the Elemental Nations"

"Why not? What about your family in the sand village?" Kakashi asked.

"My family is right here" he answered gesturing to the people around him. Kakashi smiled under his mask.

"I see... if that's the case why don't we make a deal"

"What are you offering?" Qrow asked.

"We need help finding this guy, and you need him taken down so he doesn't bother you. If we work together, then we can both get what we want"

"He'll probably be working with Salem and Cinder, if we keep working against them, I'm bound to draw him out" Gaara concluded.

"Do we have a deal?" Kakashi asked extending his hand towards him. Gaara looked to his team for their answers. Ruby and Yang looked at each other before nodding, Weiss shrugged not really sure, and Qrow just shook his head with a sigh.

"I believe we do" he answered shaking his hand.

"That's a lot to take in at once" Kakashi admitted.

"None of you should have any problem fighting people here, they don't use chakra and are less durable than people from your world. Keep in mind though that not everyone is okay with people breathing fire in the city streets" Gaara warned.

"You should probably lay low as much as possible" Weiss suggested "Especially you" she pointed to Naruto "Those whiskers on your face will get you mistaken for a Faunus, and some people really aren't a fan of the Faunus"

"What's a Faunus?" Sakura asked confused, while Naruto just gave Weiss a dumb look.

"They're humans that are part animal. Some of them have a wolf tail or cat ears like our friend Blake" Ruby explained.

"If you don't mind my asking, what happened to the other members of the Akatsuki? Why is this one in particular coming after Gaara?" Ozpin asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Most of the others died, they came after Naruto and ended up getting themselves killed in the process" Yamato answered.

"How many are left?"

"Two, just Pein and the masked man you mentioned, everyone else is dead"

"Do you have any ideas who the man is?"

"He calls himself Madara Uchiha. If his claim is true he is far more powerful than any of us can handle" Kakashi sighed.

"That won't stop me from trying" Naruto swore pumping his fist out. Qrow's phone began to ring.

"Hello? Yeah... ok we'll be there"

"What is it?" Ozpin asked.

"Leo said he's made a breakthrough on the council"

"That's quite a different response than we got last time" Gaara noted suspiciously.

"Indeed, we should be on our guard"

"Would you like us to accompany you?" Kakashi offered.

"No one knows your here yet, perhaps we should keep it that way for as long as possible... that being said this could be a trap so I would appreciate if you kept a lookout from the shadows. You shouldn't have to do anything unless we get attacked" Gaara explained.

"That plan sounds acceptable to me" Qrow agreed.

"We should get moving then" Weiss suggested standing from her place on the couch.

"Agreed"

Gaara walked inside the building with the rest of the team watching closely for any sign of trouble. Stopping in front of Lionheart who stood on the second floor of the room they waited.

"Leo, what's the breakthrough you've had with the council?" Qrow asked.

"There seems to be more of you than last time"

"That tends to happen when your planning an attack" Gaara answered.

"Of course, but why did you all bring your weapons?"

"Leo? We're huntsman" Qrow answered knowing he should've expected them to be armed already.

"Is everything alright?" Gaara asked noticing he was nervous.

"Mom?" Yang asked watching a raven on the second floor. Qrow fired at it watching as it transformed into Raven.

"If you're going to shoot me then shoot me, that was just an insult"

"What did you do, Leo?" Qrow asked in disbelief.

"Nothing he shouldn't have" answered Cinder as she, Mercury, and Emerald jumped down from the balcony. A large man came through the front doors and closed them behind him.

"The White Fang are preparing to attack as we speak, let's hurry this up" he suggested.

"Excellent, Hazel"

Raven was joined by another member of her tribe. Another man walked out onto the balcony.

"It appears that you have finally delivered yourself to me" he said looking straight at Gaara ignoring the others in the room "Surrender and I can promise that I will not let your friends suffer" he offered. as five more men appeared behind him, they all shared his hair color and purple rippled eyes with piercings all over their face.

"We're not handing him over to you" Ruby answered.

"That's unfortunate... for you" he answered. They all jumped off the balcony and headed straight for him. Gaara jumped through the glass window and into the courtyard with them all on his tail. Qrow engaged Raven while Weiss fought her tribesman and Ruby started combat with Emerald, Jaune and Cinder clashed while Ren and Nora engaged Hazel. Yang was attacked by Mercury, and Ozpin started fighting with Lionheart.

"You don't know what you're getting your friends into" Pein warned.

"No, we signed up for this" he answered crossing his arms over his chest.

"Lightning Blade!"

"Rasangan!"

Kakashi and Naruto attacked them causing them to jump away to escape the attack. Yamato and Sakura joined by Gaara's side. The female Pein slammed her hand down onto the floor "Summoning jutsu!" she yelled as a giant smoke cloud appeared, coming out of it was an enormous rhino charging them. Sakura grabbed its horn as it charged sliding to a stop she tossed it up into the air. Yamato placed his hand onto the rhino before wood splinters came shooting out of the back of the rhino causing it to disappear.

"Summoning jutsu!" she yelled placing both her hands onto the floor. a large three headed wolf and an ox charged them. Gaara slammed his hands onto the ground forcing the ground in front of the animals to transform into a whirlpool of sand, trapping them inside it's grip until they pass under the ground.

"Destructive Sand Burial!" the ground shook with tremendous force making everyone lose balance. Naruto charged one of them with his Rasangan only to have it absorbed by him.

"He can absorb Ninjitsu?" Yamato asked surprised.

"Then it looks like we hit him with tai jutsu" Gaara replied charging him. Swinging left and right, blocking his sight line he still dodged his attacks with ease.

He's dodging attacks he can't even see Gaara watched him dodge another attack as he looked at the other Peins. "Impossible" Kakashi and Naruto engaged with him as well, he remained unmarked.

"Kakashi! Mud wall between him and the others!" he yelled. Kakashi did so without hesitation. Sakura appeared behind him, slamming her fist into his back. The bones could be heard breaking as he flew to the ground.

"How'd you know that would work?" Naruto asked confused.

"He was able to see attacks that you couldn't unless he had eyes in the back of his head. In other words he was able to share vision with the other five with the same eyes as he had.

"Brilliantly done" Yamato called over.

"One down, five more to go" Kakashi sighed "Let's take care of the summoner next"

"I've got an idea for that" Gaara whispered to them.

"Sounds good" the agreed. Sakura jumped at them slamming her fist into the ground shattering it under them. Kakashi appeared behind one of them through the dust and pierced his chest with his lightning blade. Naruto dropped from the sky where Gaara had thrown him with two Rasangan and smashed the summoner into the ground.

"Now we've got the advantage" Yamato smirked from behind the one in charge, swinging a giant wooden mallet at him he was suddenly knocked away by the utterance of two words.

"Almighty Push" he whispered. Rocketing towards Gaara, the bald one with spikes on his head had blades coming out of his hand. Gaara jumped over him and slammed his fist down into his back splitting him in half.

"What the hell was that?" Yamato asked.

"I'm not sure, but this one seemed to be made of machinery rather than actually human" he shook his head not understanding.

"There's only two left, what's the play.

"Three"

"Huh?"

Gaara pointed to the man from before who could absorb jutsu.

"How'd he get back up? I know my attack hit home!" Sakura bellowed. Gaara pondered their abilities for a moment and remembering the formation they held, the one who's powers have yet to be revealed was in the back.

"Sakura, healers are always kept in the back correct?"

"Yes, as far away from the battle as they can be"

"I think that one in the back has an ability to bring back the dead ones we've defeated"

"That would explain that other guy coming back" Naruto agreed.

"I'll distract him, get the guy in the back and avoid the one in the center, I don't know his powers yet" Gaara grabbed a smoke bomb an threw it down onto the ground he stood on. Kakashi emerged from the smoke with a lightning blade in hand.

"You're wasting your time" he taunted as he clashed with his absorption field. Suddenly Kakashi vanished to be replaced by Gaara "Transformation!" Gaara grabbed his arms holding them behind him.

"Now!" Yamato dropped from above the one in the back smashing him apart with his mallet. Gaara punched him in the throat breaking it, then dashed at the one in the middle with Yamato attacking him from behind.

"Almighty push" They were thrown backwards several feet. Gaara and Yamato pulled on hidden wire strings trapping his arms to his chest. Kakashi pierced his chest with his lightning blade easily killing him.

"Is that all of them?" Naruto asked.

"I must say I'm impressed" came a deep voice from behind. Turning around the found the masked man "I never imagined Nagato could be defeated, and by such weaklings, so fast too. Maybe you are a worthy opponent after all, Gaara"

"We're stronger together than you'll ever be alone" Gaara countered.

"I wouldn't be so sure, I already have seven tailed beasts, the only ones I'm missing are yours. But I don't need the whole tailed beast for my purposes. Thanks to your little meltdown at Beacon I already have enough One-Tails chakra now I just need yours Naruto... but that can wait for another time. I'm sure Sasuke will be happy to help me kill you when the time comes. Farewell" he disappeared before the words were even heard.

"Who is Nagato?" Sakura asked.

"Probably the man controlling these puppets" Gaara answered "These aren't just random piercings, they're chakra rods"

"Weiss, no!" Jaune yelled from inside the building.

"Go! Help your friends we can handle finding the puppeteer" Kakashi pointed towards. Gaara nodded, entering the building again he saw Weiss lying on the ground with a grievous wound. Gaara's arms began to shake again.

"Focus kid! You can't lose it right now!" Shukaku yelled encouragingly.

"Shukaku?"

"What're you waiting for? Go kick some ass!"

"What's happening?" he asked looking at his hands as he felt a strange sensation. Jaune unlocked his semblance as was healing Weiss with it, while the rest of the group was being worn down.

"How is this guy still standing?" Nora asked as her and Ren dropped to their knees of exhaustion.

"Time to die little ones" Hazel growled as he charged them. Qrow was knocked to the floor by Raven.

"You were always weaker than me, little brother" she raised her blade to strike.

Emerald and Mercury had Yang and Ruby cornered.

"You won't be getting out of this one" Mercury laughed as he moved to kick Yang, Emerald's chains moved to Ruby's throat. Suddenly it was like time had stopped around them. Gaara removed his gourd, as it fell towards the ground he vanished. Reappearing in front of Yang and Ruby he grabbed the chain and caught Mercury's foot. Closing his fist, Mercury screamed in pain as his metal foot was broken, he pulled on the chain and slammed Emerald into the floor, vanishing again he appeared behind Hazel, grabbing his legs he made him flop onto his face. Appearing in front of Qrow he placed his arm up in defense, blocking the blade from Raven.

The entire room stared in amazement. Cinder stared at him and took a step back towards the wall behind her sweat forming on her brow.

"He's been practicing" Yang smirked.

"How's he blocking the sword with his arm?" Ruby asked amazed.

"Sand Armor" Qrow smirked from behind him.

"Try and keep up old man" head-butting Raven he kicked her backwards into the wall, grabbing Mercury and Emerald by the hair he threw them towards Cinder knocking her over. Turning around he waited as Hazel charged at him.

"Die!" he roared putting all his strength into his fist. Placing his hand up he caught the punch sliding back several feet, the floor crumbled beneath him as he slid.

"Huh?" Hazel was shocked he was still standing "What happened to my dust?" he asked confused, the electricity coursing through his arms had vanished suddenly. Gaara pushed his fist to his left punching him in the throat and then the gut knocking him to his knees, raising his elbow up forcefully knocking him back by hitting Hazel's face with it. Hazel rolled into the nearby door. Each punch had sent electricity through his body, enhancing the damage.

Looking up he noticed Gaara had already arrived in front of him. Hazel attempted to back up only finding the wall behind him, Gaara put all his strength into his kick as he twisted around kicking Hazel through the wall. Cinder screamed with rage and fired a large blast of fire at him. Gaara turned with a smirk on his face and placed his palm into the core of the blast.

"Incredible" Ozpin smiled in amazement.

"What is he doing?" Ruby asked with concern etched into her voice.

"Looks like Jaune wasn't the only one to discover his semblance today" Ozpin answered.

"What? But he's not able to have a semblance... right?" Ruby was very confused.

Gaara placed his right hand up in Cinder's direction and redirected the blast at her. Cinder was knocking into the wall behind her by the blast. Raven watched in pure terror as Gaara was completely unharmed.

"He's able to absorb attacks and redirect them at will" Qrow stared in amazement. Lionheart ran into his office in fear while Cinder and Raven jumped down the hole into the vault. Mercury and Emerald stood in front of it.

"If you want into the vault you need to go through us" he warned. Gaara walked right towards them with a confidant stride "I warned you" he kicked in his direction, Gaara was unaffected by the gun shots hitting his hand. Using his other hand he fired them back at Mercury knocking him down. Emerald began to shake in fear, he passed right by her without even looking in her direction and dropped into the vault.

"Wow" Ruby just stared not sure what to make of it.

"Gaara's scary" Nora laughed.

"So you're the spring maiden then?" Cinder asked surprised as Raven and her clashed blades together.

"you two don't look very maidenly to me" Gaara mocked as he walked towards them "Cinder you've got something on your face, right there" he pointed to where her eye was missing "oh pardon my manners that's just your face. Cinder growled.

"Temporary truce" Raven suggested.

"Agreed" she hissed as she created a fire blade in her hand. Gaara dropped into a stance similar to Yang's.

"Bring it"

Cinder charged slashing to his left side as Raven did the same to his right. Gaara blocked the bladed and kicked their knees stumbling them, flipping over their blades he kicked the both across the face knocking them away, they placed their hands onto the floor and pushed themselves back onto their feet to avoid falling. Gaara charged forward punching their blades as they used them to block their faces, sweeping his leg they jumped over it to bend backwards dodging another kick. Raven fired lightning from her hand, Gaara caught it and used it to obliterate Cinder's sword. Raven slashed for his throat only to meet the palm of his hand.

Cinder fired another blast of energy, Gaara griped Raven's blade and moved her into the path of the blast. Using her as a focal point he flipped himself over her and kicked Cinder in the stomach throwing her into the tree at the back of the room.

"I expected more from two maidens" he mocked.

"Don't underestimate me!" Cinder roared, she charged him with her Grimm arm reaching for his throat.

No way I'm going to risk absorbing that

Gaara flipped backwards planting his feet onto a rock then pushing off and punching her in the face with as powerful a punch he can muster. Raven charged him again, Gaara blocked an upward swing then downward, left and right. Twisting downward under the blade he elbowed her in the gut as Cinder joined the fray. Blocking a strike from Cinder he redirected the energy through to his opposite hand burning Raven's hand as she swung yet again.

"Augh!" she screeched. Gaara ducked under her swing then jumped over Cinder's and bending backwards again he narrowly avoided the blade. Raven attempted to freeze Gaara in place, he rolled to the side as she did then absorbed the blast and kicked Cinder off the ledge behind him. Raising his hand in her direction he froze her as she fell to stop her from saving herself.

Raven soared toward him using her weapon to launch herself, Gaara grabbed her arm with his left hand and locked it under his right arm. Turning he locked the blade in between a crack of one of the rocks, then slammed her face against the door. Picking up her hand he pressed it to the door forcing it to unlock. Releasing his hold of her, Raven gasped for breath on the floor.

"Stop!" Yang called out from behind them. Looking up at her he gave a crisp nod then he moved aside for Yang.

"I can't let you have that relic"

"Just who exactly do you think you are?" Raven asked standing back up "I'm the spring maiden, I'm the only person allowed to have this relic"

"You don't deserve it, you weren't granted the honor, you stole it didn't you?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"Does it really matter how I obtained the powers?"

"You're no better than Cinder" she sighed.

"I'm leagues above her-"

"You both murdered the previous maidens for their powers. You're the same"

"What do you know you stupid child! I have always done what was best, what no one else was strong enough to do!"

"You're a killer... Dad always used to tell me about how great you were. Sure you were complicated, but you weren't afraid to fight for what you believed in, for your team and your tribe. Did you kill her too?"

Yang's question struck a nerve "I did what I had to do, no one else was strong enough"

"You're just scared of Salem, admit it"

"I'd be a fool not to be!"

"Well I'm scared too! You don't see me running away!"

"I have more power than you could possibly imagine, Yang. I'm far stronger than you"

"Having power, isn't what makes you strong"

"What would you know about strength!" she yelled "Who are you to tell me that I'm wrong for being afraid when you're quaking in your boots!"

"I know what I'm fighting for! Ruby, Gaara, Weiss, Blake, Dad and Qrow... they're my family and I will do anything to protect them. Even if it means fighting Salem or dying on the edge of a sword. I will always be there for them, and they'll be there for me. That's true strength" she smiled looking at Gaara who returned it.

"You can't possibly know what you're up against"

"Maybe I don't, but I'm taking that relic. You think being a maiden paints a target on your back? Try leaving with that relic and see how far you get before Salem hunts you down"

"She'll do the same to you, if you take it"

"I know... But I have my friends to watch my back, and I'll watch theirs"

Raven stared as Yang with the most shocked expression, a small tear escaped down her cheek.

"I'm sorry"

"yeah... me too" Yang closed her eyes holding the tears back, opening them she found Raven to be gone. Yang entered the vault and picked up the relic, walking out she followed Gaara up to the elevator.

"You think we made the right call letting her go?" Gaara asked.

"I don't know... but I have to hope we're doing the right thing here"

"Whatever you decide from here on in, I've got your back" he winked at her.

"Get in line" she punched him in the shoulder. They laughed as the elevator arrived back on the top floor. Emerald, Mercury and Hazel stared in amazement that they had returned.

"What happened to Cinder?" Emerald asked with tears streaming down her face. Gaara shook his head as an answer. Emerald screamed in pain, a giant vision of Salem appeared in front of them, it charged at them before vanishing. Mercury, Emerald and Hazel were no where to be found.

"What was that?" Ruby asked.

"Salem. Just an illusion, but an accurate one" Ozpin answered through panted breaths.

"Blake?" Gaara asked noticing her presence in the room. Yang sat down next to Ruby and Weiss.

"What're you doing here?" he asked sitting down.

"I... I was about to ask you the same thing" she joked after a short breath.

"Oh, you know. Just hanging out" Ruby answered with a laugh "It's good to have you back" Weiss smiled. The group opened their arms for a group hug. Gaara chuckled watching them with a warm smile on his face.

"Get in here" Ruby called back waving her hand over to him. Yang grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into the hug.

"I didn't miss you guys at all" Gaara sighed, earning a laugh from everyone. Standing back up he turned for the door "We should head back and plan our next move" he suggested taking a step for the door. Stopping mid-step his eyes bulged out of his head. Gaara collapsed onto the floor "Gaara!" Ruby yelled.

Qrow rushed over and checked on him with a worried expression, his features relaxed into a small smile "He just passed out, he's exhausted.

"Guess that's what happens when you fight two maidens at once" Yang shrugged.

"Fighting one maiden is hard enough but two?" Qrow shook his head "This kid never stops impressing"

"He certainly enjoys a challenge" Ozpin agreed with a laugh.

Next chapter will be more of a relaxed one than another battle chapter, they're not easy to write in my personal opinion. Hope you all liked my surprise!