Author's note: A lot of people weren't happy with the fact that Jaune seems averse to killing now. I have to point out again, Jaune is only 17 at the time of these events, and like his canon self, violence isn't actually his thing. He's already said it in this story a few times. The fact is, Jaune is not being built to be a Kenshiro rip-off in this fic. He is his own person, and his very own kind of badass. Does that mean he's going to be incapable of doing what he has to? Absolutely not! At the current point in the story, Jaune is still not a fully grown Successor. He has mastered the base techniques of Hokuto Shin Ken, and built up his physical strength, but he is not fully mature yet. He is currently going through the events that are going to serve as the tests he must overcome in order to become a full-fledged badass. He is still in the stage where he is stepping out of Kenshiro's shadow and learning to live life and do things his own way. There is a reason Souther is Jaune's title in this fic, and not Kenshiro. There is also a reason why Jaune doesn't use too many of Kenshiro's signature techniques, instead using others, or even his own. I won't make any promises I can't keep, but I have a vision of where this story is going, and I need to follow it. For all of you who've supported me, all I'll say is: be patient and give it a chance. Give it some time. Season 2 Chapter 7: Each One's Motivation
On one side was Weiss Schnee, younger of the two sisters of the current generation of her line. As ever, she held her trusty modified rapier, Myrtenaster. Her index finger and thumb were poised, ready to spin the chamber and fire up the Dust cartridges as soon as a chance came. Her blade bearing side was facing her opponent in a fencer's stance, the foundation of her armed combat.
In front of her stood Jaune Souther, Successor to Hokuto Shin Ken. His hands were open and at chest level, the lead one extended forward. His feet were spaced apart and his hips just slightly lowered. There was no unnecessary tension in his muscles, but he was ready to move forcefully. The stance was meant to keep opponents at one's preferred distance, using the hands and legs to parry attacks, while also moving around to maintain spacing, line of sight on the opponent, and balance. At the same time, it kept open a variety of options for offence.
The normally full arena was mostly empty today, but there were a few notable people around the platform, watching intently. Namely, the other members of RWBY and JNPR, along with Jotaro. Since they were using the Training Hall to practice in their own time, they were free to stand ringside instead of watching from the stands.
Yang, the member of RWBY who specialized in hand-to-hand combat, noticed the difference in Jaune's bearing. It wasn't as though the stance was new. Jaune had used this balanced stance many a time before. But the feeling he was exerting was completely different. He wasn't simply focused. He was motivated. This wasn't the state of a fighter who will calmly avoid danger and then counterattack to subdue an opponent. It was that of a fighter who seeks to give an opponent no chance to muster up an offence. One who seeks to attack, and convincingly defeat the one in front of him.
She leaned closer to Blake and whispered.
"Oi oi. Is this normal? He seems really serious. Like he's going to destroy her or something. He… does realize this is just a training sess, right? And that Weiss is… you know, his girlfriend?"
The cat faunus shook her head, frowning as she kept her eyes focused on the fighters.
"It's unlike him to get so serious during a training fight. Even more so against Weiss. But, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense."
Yang raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
Blake took a deep breath and said what was on her mind regarding the situation.
"Well, maybe it's exactly because she's someone he cares about a lot. He respects her. And in a fight, the truest way to show respect…"
"... Is to not hold back," completed Yang, understanding at last. Her eyes widened as she realized what that meant.
"Wait. But that means-"
Before she could even finish her sentence, Jaune dashed forward.
The attack was so fast, none of them could see it, barring Jotaro, who was watching with Star Platinum's eyes.
Jaune was in front of Weiss, his extended fist inches from her face.
He had stopped right before the blow connected.
"This would have been the end in a real fight," said Jaune.
Weiss' eyes widened. Several emotions coursed through her. Surprise. Anger. A determination to fight on.
"That's- you simply caught me unaware!" she protested. "I can react if I see it coming! Again, Souther! We fight again."
Jaune lowered his arm and straightened.
"The result won't change. Not as you are right now."
"You don't know that!" snapped Weiss, with surprising volume and ferocity. The others flinched, slightly taken aback by how vociferously she was fighting back. "Come at me again, and I'll show you."
Jaune sighed, reverting from fighter to regular guy once more.
"Why are you so eager to fight me, Weiss? Why now? You've never said anything about training with me before."
In Weiss' mind, the advice given by Winter echoed.
Defeat the Godfist, and win the Vytal Festival Tournament.
That was what she needed to do to step out from the shadows she had lived in all her life. Those of her parents… and that of her sister. In order to obtain freedom, she had to fight, and win. In order to live the life she sought with Jaune… she had to first defeat him. Even if only once.
"Because-!" she stopped. There was no way she could reveal that to was no way they'd be able to have a fair fight if he was weighed down by a guilty conscience. For this to hold any meaning, she would have to fight him at his best, when he was giving it his all. In other words, as a competitor in the tournament, and not as her boyfriend.
Unable to reveal everything, and unwilling to lie, she decided to speak a part of the truth.
"I have to beat you. It's a goal I set for myself. I will fight you, and defeat you!"
Jaune blinked, looking momentarily surprised.
For an instant, Weiss rejoiced, thinking she had seized the psychological advantage.
Until Jaune's look of surprise turned to one of eager anticipation. He grinned fiercely. Fights to the death were gruesome, and never fun. But an honest, fair competition against someone he respected… was awesome. His own spirit had awakened in response to Weiss'.
He clenched his fist.
"In that case, bring it on! I'll hold nothing back, and crush you every time!"
Weiss comically sweat-dropped and nearly collapsed.
Drat! I've only motivated him more! At this rate, I'll never beat him!
She was about to descend into a spiral of dark thoughts when she felt Jaune's arm around her.
"Here's a hint: loosen up a little, and don't let fear control you. You want to fight me, right? Then don't half-ass it. Go all the way, and come at me, ready to get hurt, and ready to hurt me. That's the only way to fight."
That… is actually really good advice, Weiss conceded mentally. She smiled slightly, and nodded. This was just another great thing about the two of them. They could compete fiercely without any hard feelings. They could compete while helping each other learn and grow.
As the two of them made their way off the ring, the others discussed what had just taken place.
"Aww… they're so cute together!" said Yang. "I can just see them in my mind, going out. Having fun freezing people and beating them up together."
"That's… disturbing imagery," Blake pointed out.
Everyone laughed, with one exception.
Weiss noticed that Jaune wasn't listening.
He was preoccupied. He had been for a few days now, ever since he had come back from that mission. She still hadn't gotten around to asking him about it yet.
Whatever happened… is weighing down on him.
The already normally stoic Jaune looked even more serious, lost in thought. His eyes were seeing something far away. Something that worried him. He seemed… uncertain. It was hard to spot. But Weiss had learnt to see the subtle tells of Jaune's emotions.
It hurt her a little bit that he hadn't seen fit to share the source of his troubles with her. But then again, there were things she hadn't told him either. Not because she wanted to hide anything from him, but simply because the moment to reveal it all hadn't come yet.
She decided to be patient, and trust him.
Of course, that didn't mean she wouldn't offer to help.
"You can talk to me, you know," she said to him, as the two of them trailed after the rest of the group.
He turned to look at her, slightly surprised that she had caught on. It wasn't that strange once he thought about it. Weiss was observant when she wanted to be. And she meant well.
"I… I guess I'm not myself," Jaune admitted.
Weiss took a step to the side, walking closer to him now, so that their arms brushed against each other.
"And why is that?" she asked.
Jauned took a deep breath.
"Have you ever reached a fork in the road?"
"Like an actual fork in the road or a metaphorical one?"
Weiss swore internally. Ruby's influence was starting to show. She was making more of these quips.
Still, Jaune chuckled a bit, so at least it wasn't annoying.
"I mean, a point in life where you have a choice between two paths. Two ways of doing things. Two ways of living."
Of course she had. All human beings capable of making a choice had been there. Weiss herself had had to choose between being a puppet and being her own person, a free individual. In fact, she had a massive task ahead of her for the sake of following through on that very choice.
She hadn't known Jaune was facing something like that too. Even with what she knew about him, there was something she wasn't aware of. She wanted to know those things. Wanted to help him.
"What is this about, Jaune?"
Jaune looked straight ahead as they walked, not making eye contact with her.
When he spoke, his voice was hard.
"Hokuto Shin Ken originated as an assassination art. A means to end lives with the greatest efficiency. A long time ago, the first practitioners were the loyal protectors of the Emperor. Their task was to eliminate all who threatened him. However, as the art was passed from one generation to the next, it was realized that not all who come from royal blood are worth serving. It was realized that perhaps, the world might be better off without an Emperor. So, our task changed. We did not serve any man, but God in Heaven. It was not our place to judge His creations, or look down on our fellow beings. But it was our task to protect the innocent, and preserve life. To this end, the Successor to Hokuto Shin Ken is meant to be the servant of the God of War in this world, and if He sees fit, His vessel."
Weiss listened intently, taking in every word. Jaune had not revealed this before. Though he had spoken about the Fist of the North Star before, he had not gone into any specifics. This was the first she was hearing about the origins of the legacy he had inherited, and the reason behind his duty.
He continued.
"As a servant of the War God, the Successor protects life by destroying all who threaten it. For generations, each Successor has kept peace to the best of their ability, by eliminating evil. I have done so as well."
Weiss stared at him.
It had been a while, but the dark side of Jaune that had intimidated her so much had surfaced again.
This was the reason everyone had been terrified when he had disciplined Cardin.
It was the reason why armed White Fang members had backed away from him.
It was the reason Weiss had known from the look in his eye that Jaune could end lives.
Right now, he had admitted as much, without any regret or shame.
It scared Weiss even now. But, she knew him better. She knew that he was a good person. And she cared about him. That meant accepting him. All of him. The light and the dark.
Jaune's expression changed, the light of certainty in his eyes flickering.
"I have mentioned before that it is not my place to judge. I do not pretend to know better than anyone else. But I have been given power, and with that power comes responsibility. My heart is my guide, and I must trust it. When I was in the wilds… it was not hard to know what I had to do. I knew who was too dangerous to let live, and who could do good if they survived. Despite everything I knew about how grey the world is… I could only see in black and white. Certainly, even now, I am certain I will come across evil that my heart will not tolerate. But I have realized… that things aren't always so cut and dry.
At the docks that night when we went to find Blake… I fought a criminal. I do not know what acts he might have committed in the past. In front of my very eyes, he tried to have three people gunned down. The me of the past would have finished off such a person without a shred of hesitation. My intention was the same… but then…"
Jaune paused, and swallowed.
"That man did something amazing. He protected someone else. It seemed she was like a daughter to him. And so, he stood in front of her, begging me to end his life, as long as it meant I could spare her.
When he did that, I knew in my heart that I couldn't strike him down. It… just wouldn't be right.
So I let them go. I do not regret that decision. But… a few days ago, on that mission… my sister, Lily. She came across two students who had been living at Beacon. They had claimed to be from Haven, but in truth were infiltrators. Of course, Lily killed them swiftly. I can see the logic behind her actions, Weiss. Infiltrators, allied to people trying to destroy humanity. Who knows how many lives they've taken in the past. How many more they were willing to take if they had lived. How many they had tortured, and how many they would have. In so many ways, my sister was right in finishing them. But…
… I hesitated. When I learnt of what she had done, I could only think of how she should have tried to apprehend them instead.
When I see people now… my heart is not always certain. In some cases, there is yet good in a person who has chosen the wrong path. And… I can't take away from them the chance to change. To turn their life around. Yet… in hesitating, I may end up sparing those who are evil, and intend to remain so. For a Successor to Hokuto Shin Ken… a weak heart is shameful. It makes me unfit. Unfit to wield this power. Unable to perform my task properly."
And all of a sudden, the darkness that had been so intimidating just a moment ago stopped scaring Weiss at all.
Sure, Jaune the martial artist was dangerous.
But Weiss knew Jaune the person. And right now, she was seeing him clearly. His insecurities had become crystal clear. A lot of people were anxious about their grades. Their bodies. Their looks. Their abilities. Their bank balances. Jaune was anxious about whether or not he was doing his duty right as a Successor of Hokuto Shin Ken. His fear was that he was losing his grip on his ability to evaluate character, which would essentially make him a liability.
While the specific things he feared might be different, the fear itself, the anxiety over something that mattered to him… was relatable to any human being who could comprehend and think about their own life.
Weiss' hand closed around his own.
"You're having doubts about killing people? That's called being human, Jaune."
He turned to look at her, expecting to see a familiar sarcastic smile, and instead, being greeted by a genuine, earnest one.
"When the time comes, you'll be able to make the right choices. Believe in your heart, Jaune. Believe in yourself. I do. You should as well."
There was a strength in her gaze. It wasn't the glassy look of someone deluded. This was the look of a person who was willing to see the good and the bad in him, as it was, without trying to distort either. And it was the look of one who accepted both.
That sort of faith in him made him want to be a better man.
"Lost the fight, won the war…" muttered Jaune. It appeared Weiss had won the day's duel after all.
"Hmm? What are you talking about?"
"Never mind. Thanks, Weiss."
He squeezed her hand slightly in appreciation.
"You're welcome."
They walked in silence for a while until she punched him in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"That's why you were super motivated in the spar? Because you thought you were losing your heart?"
"Eh? Of course not," replied Jaune. "That has nothing to do with it."
"Then…"
This time Jaune smiled slightly.
"Believe it or not, you're not an opponent I can take lightly. If I left openings, I might very well have been the one to lose. Besides. It's disrespectful to not fight properly."
Special Dorm, Beacon:Lily closed the open window on her Scroll, done reading the document. A classified report from the Atlas military's database. Part of a larger folder containing all known information about Hokuto Shin Ken.
Targeting pressure points. Combat based on freeform versions of several martial arts. Increased physical abilities, and manipulation of one's Aura. All known Hokuto Shin Ken Successors have displayed these abilities and skills. No mention is made of any Successors losing a battle. If I go only off what I know of their abilities, what I've seen Jaune do, and what records exist… Hokuto Shin Ken is invincible.
Her own Master, Guts, had proven that time and time again, by killing beings who had called themselves God Hand.
In the case of Hokuto Shin Ken, there was a curious anomaly.
During the Civil War between humans and Faunus, three warriors had risen.
All three had been from Hokuto Shin Ken.
Kenshiro, the chosen Successor. Known as a hero of the people, a protector of the innocent. He had not taken any sides, instead, travelling the lands, ending war cruelty by killing the perpetrators.
Toki, known as a legendary healer, and called by some a son of God. He too had taken no sides. But rather than Kenshiro's path of destruction, he had chosen to treat the sick and wounded, saving countless lives.
And finally, Raoh. Called the Conqueror at the Century's End, he was legendary for his power and violence. Raoh had amassed an army of his own, and his goal had been complete domination. To this end, his legion had devastated the forces of the four kingdoms, as well as those of Menagerie.
By the end of the Civil War, only one remained, Kenshiro. Nothing else was officially acknowledged.
However, Atlas records had anecdotal reports as well.
According to these, the three brothers of Hokuto had fought, many a time.
When still young, Toki had been the thought the one most likely to be named Successor. It was mentioned by several sources that at the time, his skill had been greater than either of the other two.
Then there was Raoh, who had been called the one least likely to become Successor. There were statements from several sources that he had been the one to kill his Master, the previous Successor. Despite Toki's superior skill at the time, Raoh was generally acknowledged as being the strongest of the three.
Then there was Kenshiro, who had started out behind both his brothers, but gradually surpassed them.
The reports said that Toki was weakened by a sickness that resulted from radiation poisoning, thus preventing him from ever reaching his full potential.
Raoh, on the other hand, had gotten stronger and stronger, his skill improving by leaps and bounds as he learned secrets from other styles.
Thus, the conclusive duel for the future of the God Fist was fought between Raoh and Kenshiro.
By all accounts, Kenshiro had convincingly won, leaving no doubt as to who the rightful Successor was.
What had led to this enormous increase in strength and skill?
From being the least noticeable of the three brothers, to the most powerful of them?
From here, the accounts of eyewitnesses and people who knew Kenshiro became less focused on combat.
In fact, most would have thought the trail was dead, and given up trying to derive anything further from those accounts.
However, Lily was not so certain.
Curious, she had read about these apparently unrelated aspects of Kenshiro's life.
Like the fact that he had been in a relationship with a woman named Yuria.
Like the fact that both his brothers had also had feelings for her.
And the fact that right before the outbreak of the Civil War, Yuria had been kidnapped.
However, by all accounts, Kenshiro and Yuria reunited at the end of the War.
Meaning, he must have been searching for her. Tracking down her kidnappers in order to find and rescue her.
It was during this journey that he had gained the tremendous growth in power and skill needed to defeat Raoh.
How and why?
Lily's common sense told her that tracking down a kidnapped woman during a time of war was next to impossible. The sheer stress of such an endeavour, along with the physical and emotional trauma it must have involved, would change any person.
There was no mention of Yuria following a period of four years from the end of the War.
And Kenshiro had mentored Jaune, who had mentioned he had travelled the wilds. It was unlikely Kenshiro would take Yuria along on such an arduous journey.
The only logical explanation was that he had left her somewhere.
But it seemed extremely unlikely that Kenshiro would willingly part with her.
Thus, Lily came to the conclusion that Yuria must have died.
It was after this that the anecdotal reports of Kenshiro's feats reached truly astronomical heights.
Strange. Many people lost the will to fight after losing a loved one.
But a hint was found in a statement associated with Hokuto Shin Ken.
He who does not know sorrow, does not know strength.
That would explain everything, and be perfectly in line with the vision the Relic had shown her.
Hokuto Shin Ken's greatest secret lay in its Successors surviving profound personal tragedy. One who did so unlocked some kind of hidden strength that far surpassed anything Lily knew of.
This was the Jaune in her vision.
An older, rougher Jaune, who had lost everything he cared about, but in exchange, gained godlike power.
"So that's it, then. That's the fate of the Successor, huh?"
Lily had spoken to Ozpin, who had said that the Shinken's duty was to protect and preserve the world.
So this was to be Jaune's fate.
Martyred to protect a world that no longer held any joy for him.
This scarred Jaune was guaranteed to have enough power to protect the world.
On the other hand was the first vision Lily had seen. One in which he was happy and smiling. One in which he was with her, with his friends.
Was that scene only a snapshot then? A brief moment of happiness in an otherwise blasted future? Or would somehow, the combined strength of them all be enough that Jaune would not have to lose everything to save the world?
Lily clenched her fist.
"I see. I see clearly now. If this is your fate… then screw fate. Come at me with Hokuto Shin Ken, Jaune. I'll crush you at your best, so that you can finally live in peace and joy. With all my strength, I'll regain our lives. Both of ours."