Hello everyone!

Your favorite ficker, jeit93, is back with more…

RWBY: GRIMM REAPER!

I know it's been a whole month since my update, but I've been busy with work, life, 13 season of Red vs Blue, and trying to start a relationship with a girl, who ended up ignoring me.

Anyway, this is the last chapter of arc two before going to the events of Vol 3. I got some surprises prepared so beware.

For now, let's see what they guys are up to.


Chapter 53: Now you're thinking with portals

-o-

As apologize for my small joke, I had to do several chores around the house, like cleaning gutters that had stuck leaves (which I cleared using my semblance), mowing the lawn with an old mower, giving Zwei a bath (how the hell can he run so fast with those shorty legs? I had to use my semblance to hold him with several arms only apply the soap), and many more. Thankfully, it got better after I accompanied Taiyang to the city and took the chance to buy some UTP cables, plugs and Wifi repeaters to enhance the internet signal in the house. It gave some bonus points with man and the place became quieter since everyone could browse internet anywhere.

Now, the last one was simple: chopping wood. But nobody told I'd have to chop wood to the equivalent of Emerald Forest. I know that Taiyang went full Ned Stark and declared "Winter is coming", but, did they need over 100 logs?

CHOP!

I mean, 101 logs?

CHOP!

102.

Despite being autumn, the Sun was bathing us with its overheating sun rays while I lifted and dropped the axe over and over again with another piece of wood shattered and my shirt sticking to my body due the sweat. It could've been easier if certain sentient sword wasn't unwilling to help with the chore. At least it was a good exercise to strengthen my endurance and my grip.

SLUUUUUUUUUUUURP!

However I had an audience.

Team RWBY and Zwei were resting and drinking soda on four beach beds with umbrellas, placed some meters away and facing me. Apparently they were having a day off from training and decided to see me doing my task. The girls had been staring at me for too long an it started to make me feel uncomfortable.

"Hey, why don't you take a picture? It last longer," I snapped at them after the 120th log.

They just glanced each other before unfolding their scrolls and doing as I said.

I understood Ruby shooting a pic, but, was it necessary that the other girls did the same?

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"Harder, Kai. It's all the way in."

"How much more?"

"A little bit. Harder."

"I can't take it anymore."

"Here it comes!"

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" Yang yelled at us, barging into the shed... only to find me, sitting on top of Crescent Rose and pinning it to the ground, and Ruby with a screwdriver in her hand while several tools and spare parts were sprawled everywhere.

A quiet click was heard in the following silence.

"Well, we're installing a new upgrade on Crescent Rose?" Ruby explained as I stood up, grabbing the scythe.

"But you had to shut the door?"

"The sunlight reflected on the metal too much and couldn't see very well," I stated pointing at the reflection on the roof that came from the weapon. "It had to be on the ground so I could hold it while Ruby attached the piece."

"But, at least you could have opened a window," Yang argumented. "It's like a oven here."

I glanced at my girlfriend who, like me, was glistened in sweat with her red sleeveless shirt that gave me a small peek of the bra underneath.

"The glue we used worked better in warm temperatures," Ruby quickly answered showing the label on the small bottle resting on the table next to us.

"Why are you so exalted, Yang?" I teased with a cocky grin. "What do you think we were doing here alone?"

The brawler's face bathed fully on a bright shade of red with her lilac eyes opened full wide.

"I-I thought you too… here alone… Oh! I think Blake's calling me!" Yang said before rushing outside the shed and leaving us alone.

I felt kinda offended. She assumed that we'd be having sex just because we were alone in the shed like a pair of pubescent with raging hormones.

.

.

.

Alright, maybe we did it in the shed some minutes ago, but it wasn't because of full lust. We struggled assembling the upgrade before finally having success, so we decided to have a quicky celebration.

Totally different.

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"Ready?!" Ruby asked some meters away from me on a open area behind her house.

The speed gun beeped when I pressed the trigger that activated it and the screen displayed zeroes in the screen and my laptop began processing the data transmitted. It's natural to find such tool in a house where a speedster lived.

"It's on!" I let her know out loud. "Let's start with a normal shot."

"Okay!" she replied with her weapon in its sniper form.

With a loud bang, Ruby was propulsed by the force of the shot and dashed in my direction at high speed before stopping not too far away from my place.

"How was I?" She asked now walking.

I checked the data analyzed in my computer, where the top speed displayed with big red letter.

"77 km/h," I informed her. "Two more times."

She nodded and returned to her initial position and repeated the same process twice, getting 79 and 85. This resulted in the average of 80.33

If you're wondering what was the new function that Ruby and me were working on, let me tell you.

From a while I've noticed that my girlfriend depends on her ammo to move fast during her fights, running out her supplies at the worst moment if she used it too much. Even if I didn't mind if I helped her to get some bullets of Crescent Rose's caliber once a while, she still felt bad about it due the raising prices of those days. Because of it, we had been designing a small attachment to the sniper rifle/scythe which would shoot compressed air and use the impulse to move fast without using her bullets. The shot would come out from the same end the main cannon, but separated enough to avoid any problem. The best of all was that the air chamber could refill itself as she moved the weapon before closing when it reached its limit. Just in case, we added a function to empty it whenever the weapon wouldn't be used at the moment.

"What are you doing?" Weiss asked with Zwei in her arms.

"Testing the newest update," Ruby informed her teammate. "Something to not depend too much on my rounds. Where's Blake?"

"In the living room, reading as usual. She seemed uncomfortable with Zwei around, so I brought him outside before she loses her mind," the Schnee said scratching between the dog's ear, who smiled like if everything went according to his plan.

"Right now we're about to test the upgrade," I told her saving the collected data. "Ready, Rubes?"

Before I knew it, she already was at the initial spot, meters away from me, and raising her thumb. I readied the speed gun and returned the gesture to tell her that she could start.

The sound that came out by pressing the new trigger was a deaf boom, more quiet than a normal shot. The first result was 75 km/h while the following were 72 and 77, less speed than usual.

"So, it's not so strong?" Ruby asked while we checked the info in my laptop.

"There's some margin of difference, but still it's better than using your ammo," I stated saving the information.

"Yeah." She was thoughtful for some seconds before she spoke, "Can I give it another shot? There's something I want to test."

She returned the same spot as the previous times and made a hand gesture to tell me to get the speed gun ready. However, the result was different.

At first I heard the simultaneous detonations of the air cannon and the sniper rifle as they fired the rounds as they had to. But the strange thing came afterwards when a second explosion was heard before she accelerated and passed by me. I knew the recoil was too much for Ruby when I saw her falling to the ground, rolling some meters before she stopped and ended up sprawled on the grass while the scythe flew away and fell heavily at few distance from it owner.

"Oh, shit!" I cursed, dropping the speed gun and running, along with Weiss and Zwei, towards the girl, who remained still. In matter of seconds, I was next to her, "Ruby, are you ok?"

"...some," she muttered.

"Huh?" I

"That... was… AWESOME!" Ruby suddenly exclaimed overjoyed.

I heard the sigh of relief from Weiss behind me.

"Maybe the amount of oxygen shot from the upgrade was enough to cause a chain reaction with the heat coming from the main cannon which resulted in a second impulse," she explained her hipotesis while I helped my girlfriend to stand up and Zwei retrieved her weapon.

"Uh, what?" Ruby asked confused.

"Oxygen plus fire equal to another boom," I tried to explain the simplest way possible.

"Oh, how fast was I?"

According to the speed gun, Ruby reached 120 km/h with the double thrust. The blast was powerful to be controlled so the best option was to use it in emergencies. At least the air cannon was a success.

That's something.

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"Alright kids. I'll see you on this spot at 9:30," Taiyang let us know as we descended from the car at a park in Signal. "One minute late and I'll be sending Yang to get you with a net. Kaiden, don't try anything funny. I implanted a subcutaneous tracker while you slept so I'll know where you're hiding."

"Dad!"

"Just kidding. I stopped doing it when Yang scolded me the last time," he said nonchalantly. "Be on time, though."

"Got it, dad."

Then the man glared at me:

"She's under your care, Kaiden."

"Understood, sir."

After another stare, Taiyang finally left us and the black four-door car disappeared turning a corner and finally letting us start our date.

Do you know how so uncomfortable was to sit on the backseat next to Ruby while her dad gave cautious glances at me? I had the feeling that, if I dared to grab Ruby's hand, I'd end up in a hole to 3 feet underground at a side of the road while she was distracted by a cookie.

"So, where are we going first?"

First we went to grab something to bite at a pizza shop she liked. Then we walked around while we chatted about anything. We passed by a gun shop and noticed how Ruby's eyes sparkled at the sight of the goods behind the window, so we went inside to browse the store. Compared with Vale, the place had a decent collection of gun, swords, maces, and many more weapons.

"Haven't you thought about getting a long-range weapon?" Ruby asked in front of a showcase guarding a mix of chainsaw and shotgun.

"I have, but I'm fine using my semblance and firing aura bullets from my hands."

"But it also consumes your aura," she replied. "What about adding another form to Requiem."

I remembered the last time I talked to the sentient sword about dismantling some parts to add a small modification.

"Bite my shiny metal ass!"

Yeah, it didn't go well having in mind that he sang Funkytown in my mind during a sparring with Jaune. It didn't let me to focus at all, trying to not sing along, and I got smacked by my best friend's shield.

"I don't think it'd be an idea, considering how so temperamental is Req."

"And if we add a SMG mechanism in your gauntlets."

"I tried during an earlier version," I informed her reminding me that time. "But the overheating almost burned my skin and I decided to leave it apart."

"You aren't making this any easy," Ruby grumped.

"I know. I just look for a weapon I can use without messing my fighting style."

"Oh… my… gosh," the voice of a girl caught our attention.

Behind was a hazelnut skinned girl with a reddish hair that reached around her neck. She was wearing at the moment a black jacket with a purple t-shirt underneath and short jeans on black leggings that ended into white sneakers. On top of her head protruded a pair of reddish ears of fox that twitched in excitement while her brown eyes were opened wide. She was carrying a plastic bag with a hand.

"No way…" Ruby gasped "Cammie!"

Both girls squealed in a pitched tone, which was enough to have the brief attention from the store clerk before returning to the megazine he was reading, and rushed to each other in a hug.

"You're here!" the Cammie girl exclaimed. "I thought you'd be at Vale in Beacon. I saw you in some videos online from the breach."

"We had the week off since everyone else are still in their missions, so I brought the team to know Patch three days ago. I'm sorry I didn't call you."

"It's fine, miss team leader. I'd been busy with class lately with the end of semester getting closer" Cammie said before she noticed my presence. "And you are…"

"Oh! Kai, she's Cammie, my friend from the Combat School Signal." Ruby then walked to me and grabbed my hand, "Cammie, meet Kaiden."

Cammie stared at me intrigued and strolled around me, looking me from head to toes like if she's been scanning me.

"So, Kaiden, tell me: are you some kind of living weapon?"

"What?" I was startled by the sudden question.

"Any robotic limb that could transform into a weapon or shoot something?"

I bit my tongue trying to suppress the urge to say 'It depends of where you touch', since it'd get me into serious problems with my girlfriend.

"No, 100% human."

She stared at me, as if trying to prove that I was lying, and then whispered to Ruby:

"I thought you had a fetish for weapons."

"Cammie!" my girlfriend's face looked like a cherry due a deep blush.

"Just kidding," Cammie chuckled. "I'm glad you got someone who got the approval of Yang and… Wait, does your dad know?"

"He knows and we fought," I said with pride.

"He got knocked out," Ruby deadpanned.

"Hey, I endured 2 minutes and 59 seconds."

"The last 3 seconds you were thrown after that puch doesn't count," she retorted.

"At least I survived."

"And you made an awful jest about having amnesia again," she turned to Cammie. "Long story."

"So, what are you doing here?" the girl asked.

"Just looking around," Ruby answered. "And you?"

"Getting some grease for the weekly maintenance for my tonfas."

"Did you finally fix the issue with the overheating?" Ruby inquired.

"I followed your advice about the ventilation." Cammie glanced at me, "But we'll talk about it another time. I don't want to interrupt your date."

"I don't mind," I assured. "As long as I hear some stories about Rubes in Signal."

"Kai," Ruby exclaimed annoyed, slapping my shoulder.

"I have good ones," Cammie grinned. "I'll tell you later. Why don't you drop by Signal tomorrow and we'll chat? I bet your team would enjoy it too."

"Oh ho ho, I know they will," I said laughing with malice while my girlfriend was fuming.

"Then I'll see ya later then, Ruby. Kaiden, nice to meet you," Cammie said before walking through the door. Then she peeked out from the threshold, "By the way, Ruby tried to make a potato launcher and destroyed the chemistry lab."

"CAMIE!" Ruby yelled at her friend, who ran away in laughs.

"So… was it the whole lab or a part of it? I asked with a smirk.

"Shut it!"

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The rest of the evening transcurred in peace while Ruby took me to some places that were special for her (like the cookie store). We passed by some acquaintances of her like former classmates, store dependants, and others that greeted her kindly.

Our time slowly ran out and it was almost time before Taiyang picked us up when we realized so we headed to the meeting point, where we kept talking while we awaited our ride. I'm still amazed about fact that, after those months together, we hadn't ran out to topics to chat about.

I sighted a ice cream cart not far away from the bench where we sat, and I had the craving for ice cream.

"Hey, I'm getting an ice cream," I told her as I stood up. "Want some?"

"Sure. Let's go," Ruby said.

"Wait here. I'll bring it for you."

"Oh, that's sweet," she appreciated with a small peck before I walked towards the cart.

Luckily for my girlfriend, the guy attending had strawberry flavor so I got a cone for her and vanilla for me.

Right after paying the boy with with uniform and he began serving the cold dessert, I looked back Ruby, who was still sitting at our bench and talking to a bunch of guys, which at first I mistook as more friends… until I observed her face. The look she was giving them was one filled with anger and hate, uncharacteristics emotions of someone kind and sweet like Ruby Rose.

I was halfway from them when a tall guy, who I supposed was the leader of the group, reached his hand to Ruby before she slapped it away, earning a shit-eating grin from him. That was my cue to intervene.

He was one head taller than me wearing a blue king jacket with black jeans that made his platinum blonde hair shine bright along with his pale blue eyes. Next to him was a girl with moss green hair and pink clothes and a guy that looked like he wanted to be found easily in the night with his phosphorescent yellow and green clothing.

"C'mon, Rose," the boy said, "let's hang out like the old times."

"What's going on here?" I announced my arrival, glaring him.

"None of your business, midget," he snarled at me. "Fuck off."

"None of my business?" I asked back amused. "I think the lady isn't interested in going with you."

"Oh, yeah? And who the hell do you think you are?" he then turned to me.

"Nobody in special. Just her boyfriend."

I got the reaction I expected. The boy was dumbstruck by the update, while his accompaniants gawked as they glanced at Ruby and me.

"Yeah. And I'm Jacques Schnee," the guy mocked

"Then go back to Atlas because it's true," I replied folding arms.

"Is that so? Are you really with this nerd?"

"That's not of your business."

"You then chose poorly. Her sister is way hotter."

I clenched my fist, struggling with the urge to sucker punch that asshat, when Ruby grabbed it.

"It's not worth it," Ruby muttered. I loosened my hand, squeezed hers and began walking away from the bunch of bullies.

"Yeah! Walk away, you pussies!" I heard him insulting us from behind with his minions laughing at us. "By the way, I hope you enjoy her kisses… knowing I was the first one!"

I stopped on my tracks while Ruby tugged me from my arm, begging me to keep going.

It was him. The guy who tried to get Yang through Ruby. The one who hurt both. The one who I swore I'd beat up if I'd meet him someday.

I turned around and strode to face him.

"So, you're Conner Rhea," I said dryly, glaring at him.

"You know who I am. I'm flattered," the tone in his voice only increased my desire to beat the shit out of him.

"The manipulating asshole who hurt Ruby and Yang."

"Hurt? I think Gearface enjoyed our time together," the expression on his face irritated me. "Especially when I gave her first kiss. Damn, she really enjoyed it."

I was about to fit my fist right on his face when Ruby suddenly wrapped her arms around me from behind, halting my ttack.

"Pathetic," Conner spit to my shoes. "You're weak."

"Am I? Why don't we find out?" I challenged him. "You're from Signal, are you?"

"Yes, the top of my generation and applying for Beacon."

"Then let's settle this: you against me. No limit time."

The boy and the girl with him seemed interested with the idea.

"Why not here and now? Scared?"

"Not at all, but I have the feeling that your friends might intervene if you're losing. Also, none of us want problems if someone calls the police. Why not somewhere with more public and with our equipment? Like the combat school."

"Fine. 3:30 after class at the gym." He then gestured to Ruby, "She knows the way."

"Deal," I agreed sharply. "I'll be counting the seconds."

"Humph. Whatever," it was his only response before walking away while his chimps followed him like remoras.

The tension slowly dissipated in the air before I felt the rush of adrenaline finally dying down, making fall on the bench and take a deep breath.

"I'm sorry," Ruby mumbled still standing. "I got you in this mess when I just wanted a nice night for us.

"Ruby," I extended my arm, motioning her to sit next to me, something she complied and I pressed against me, "it's not your fault. That guy disrespected you and I wouldn't allow it. Also, Yang told me about what that douchebag did to you two."

"It's just… ugh! It's my fault that Yang got suspended for punching him after finding out what was up to." she groaned displeased. "We wouldn't go through this if I hadn't been a fool back then. I was totally freaked out when the most popular guy in the school asked me out that I didn't pay attention to the glances he gave to Yang."

"Hey, everyone do stupid things once a while in their lives," I assured her. "Like luring a giant nevermore to a cliff and the getting knocked out. Trying to face a Soul Reaper alone. Fighting a criminal cartel. Riding a nevermore."

"Also trying to fight a Death Stalker by myself," Ruby concurred.

"Don't forget crashing a train in middle of Vale- Ouch!" I flinched when Ruby pinched my arm.

"Funny," she tried to say angrily but a smile twitched on her lips. "But now you have to fight him tomorrow."

"Meh. It'll be like another spar in Beacon."

"Don't you want to know about you opponent? Like his weapons o semblance?"

"It'd be a overkill if I-" I stopped mid sentence remembering a small detail. Cooner Rhea was a asshole who had hurt my girlfriend and my friend, and who also first kissed Ruby. "You what? Screw it. Tell me everything about that prick. He's gonna pay for all this."

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Maybe telling to your girlfriend's dad that you had a fight the next day against the guy who dared to mess with his two daughters after he picked you wasn't the smartest answer when you're asked how was your date. After a brief explanation, the whole ride back to the house was filled with angry mumbles about he hoped I beat the hell of him and something about rewriting his grades to negative numbers to send him back to kindergarten.

The things didn't improve when we got home, with Yang flaring up with her red eyes and punching several trees down. She then had the kindness to wake me up at dawn with a blow horn for her training session that included some squat series carrying a part of the downed trees and a match against her.

At least Blake tried to cheer me up by playing Eye of the Tiger.

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Maybe it wasn't Beacon with the tall buildings and the CCT tower, but Signal was pretty neat. The hallways had its wall covered by blue, regular lockers where the students stored their belongings, books and weapons. It had some resemblance to my former school, but everyone, just like in Beacon, was carrying their own weapons.

It was uncomfortable the way everyone stared at us as we traversed the campus, with some murmur like "Is he really fighting Conner?" or "If professor Xiao Long haven't scared him off so far, he must be serious shit". Apparently, the rumors about fight had been spread all over the school. Also having Weiss Schnee and the return of Yang with us wasn't helping at all to go low profile.

"Ruby!" Cammie joined us. "1: What is this thing that your boyfriend has a match with Conner Rhea? And 2: Why you didn't tell me that Weiss Schnee was in your team?"

"Oh, yeah. Meet my teammates, Weiss and Blake. You already know Yang."

"A pleasure," the Schnee greet cordially.

"Nice to meet you," Blake followed.

"Sup, Cammie?"

"Hello," Commie replied.

"And some stuff happened last night," Ruby chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry I didn't tell you."

"We're having a serious talk about communications, young lady," the friend narrowed her eyes. "But I think Kaiden has to get going to the gym for the fight." She turned to me, "Did Ruby give you an explanation of what you'll be facing? This guy isn't exactly someone who you'd see in every combat school."

Apparently, Cammie had the idea that I was from someplace like Signal, but not Beacon. I preferred to play along.

"Just the important stuff," I answered remembering what I was told while we kept going through the hallway. "Conner Rhea. Senior and son of Signal's principal. Fast and precise. He wields a pair of knives, which are used for close-range combat or throwing them at large distances. No semblance unlocked."

Cammie then stopped on her tracks right in front of the gym doors.

"Uuuuuh, how can I say this?" she seemed troubled. "The last two…."

"What are you trying to say?" Yang questioned.

Before Cammie could respond, one of Conner's henchmen, the guy who wore fosforescent clothes, called us.

"Great. There you are," he said totally emotionless. "Everyone have been waiting for you. This way."

I didn't misunderstood what "everyone" meant until the gym door opened.

What I thought would be a regular gym, with wooden floor and basketball hoops like a regular school, turned out to be a small replica of the training room in Beacon. The exercise equipment was placed far away to the edges of the room while a platform raised with several bleachers at the sides. On the platform were standing Taiyang, a man wearing a gray suit that a great resemblance to Conner, and the douchebag.

Taiyang strode to us.

"Dad, what's going on?" Yang asked.

"I had a talk with principal Rhea and decided to organize a exhibit match to avoid problems and still resolve this dispute. Signal vs a special guest", he explained before turning to me "May I have a word with you?"

"We are going to get out seats," Blake proposed and the girls headed to the bleacher.

I was about to follow Taiyang, but someone tugged my arm. I turned to find Ruby, whose face was filled with concern.

"Be careful," she muttered.

"You know I will," I smile at her in assurance, leaning for a kiss she gladly accepted… until we heard the sound of a camera's shutter. We turned to Cammie with her scroll in hand.

We glared at her before Ruby joined her and punched the girl right on the head while I catched up with Taiyang.

"What is it?" I asked meeting up with the blonde man.

"I had a conversation with the principal, who agreed to make your dispute with Conner into a exhibition fight. I told him that you came from Vale but not exactly from where, so you have the surprise element."

Honestly, I didn't mind to see the expression of shock from the bully when he'd find out.

Taiyang then placed his hand on my shoulder and looked at me with his blue eyes.

"Kaiden, as a professor of Signal, I'm obliged to tell you to have a fair fight and do your best. But, as a father, I'll just say: no mercy."

"Cooner Rhea, dared to mass with my friend and my girlfriend," I declared solemnly. "Let's say he's gonna learn a lesson about humility."

"Good," he patted my back, motioning me to the stage. "Play nice."

The whispering of the audience died down as I approached to the center of the platform, where Conner and the principal stood waiting for me.

"Here we are," Taiyang exclaimed. "Kaiden, meet principal Rhea. The man who organized all this."

"Nice to meet you."

"Hello, young man," the man in grey suit greeted. "Raymond Rhea. I think you have meet my son, Conner."

"Yes, he did," the boy snarked from his spot.

"Alright. We'll be putting and end to this quarrel in a fair way, understood? I want this be a fair and friendly match. Understood?"

"Yes, dad."

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. Let's get started then." He then raised the mic he had grabbed on a hand and spoke with his voice booming loud from the speakers around the place. "Good afternoon, Signal. Thank you for your presence here, despite being after school hours. Today we will having a special match between two future huntsmen. On this side, we have a senior student from Signal and applicant for Beacon academy. My dear son, Conner Rhea!"

The crowd roared cheering for Conner, who obviously enjoyed the attention.

"And on this side, out guest. Let me introduce you to…" the principal began before he pointed the mic to me.

I smirked, getting ready for the big surprise.

I stood straight and looked at Conner directly to the eyes.

"My name is Kaiden Noir… Special Unit of Beacon."

There was a loud gasp in the room, one filled of surprise while everyone stared at me in awe. Ruby, the girls and Taiyang just grinned. Cammie glanced at Ruby and me with her mouth unable to say a word. Ruby mouthed at her friend "I'll explain it later".

"Beg you pardon?" the principal asked dumbfounded.

I took out my wallet and gave him my Beacon id, which he inspected thoroughly before glancing at Taiyang.

"I told you he was special," the man casually declared.

"Are you really from Beacon?!" Conner's calm demeanor vanished. "How old are you?"

"16. Trained by Alice Noir (with Qrow Branwen afterwards) and recruited by professor Ozpin himself," I wasn't used to show off, but that moment merited it. "I'm surprised you didn't realize it. There are some videos online where I appear, like the Breach or my match against Pyrrha Nikos."

It was curious that the video of my fight against the champion was still online, having in mind that Beacon usually deleted videos that could affect the academy or its students. Maybe Ozpin wanted to have more promotion for the school.

My revelation had the desired result, since Cooner had a mixture of shock, doubt and concern while his hands slightly trembled.

"What's wrong?" I teased with a grin. "Having second thoughts?"

"O-of course not!" he declared in an attempt to regain his composure. "In fact, let's make this more interesting: if I win,I'll have your sword."

My hand flew to Requiem's handle, who seemed unpleasant by the challenge.

"What?! No! Tell him that you-"

"Fine," I agreed as I heard a sonorus 'motherfucker' coming from my sword. "But, if I win, you'll apologize to Yang and Ruby for what you did… in front of everyone."

Yang told me the dirtbag's greatest weakness: his pride; he cared about everyone's opinion about him. Sadly for him, the challenge was heard through the mic and everyone heard it, so he was in a dilemma: he could call off the deal while everybody in Signal would remember it, or agree and risk himself to a defeat and an apologize that everyone would witness. Yeah, I could lose the last gift that my master left for me, but it was unlikely since I had the intel of my foe so my victory was halfway.

"Deal," said the guy. "That sword will be hanging on my room to commemorate this day."

"I don't want to hang on any wall in any room where I have to see the weird shit that he does," Requiem was displeased about the idea.

"Well then," principal Rhea announced, "in you positions."

With a last glare, both of us turned around and walked to our spots at each side of the platform while Taiyang and the principal stepped down. Once they were at certain distance, a similar barrier that resembled the one in Beacon was deployed to protect the audience from any projectile that could fly towards them.

It was time to teach the asshole a good lesson about humility as I stood in battle stance and my hand resting on the handle of Requiem at my right, who still grumbled about my bet. If I win, he wouldn't forget it at all. Maybe it'd be a pro in the case I lose.

We remained in silence, with our eyes analyzing each other, trying to figure out who'd make the first move and who'd land the first hit.

[Play "The Hero (One Punch Man full intro)", JAM Project]

I breathed deeply while the out signal to start the fight. My fingers drummed on the hilt of the sword and my toes moved anxiously inside my boots.

"On your position… ready…"

The bell rang and I grabbed Requiem before throw him, aiming to Conner. I got him by surprise and dashed towards him while he stepped await to dodge the flying weapon. I was right in front of him when I shot a line that attached the sword from the hand and pulled it back to me. Right when I felt the texture of the leather on my hand, I quickly landed the first hit across the chest. Before I could go for another one, Conner jumped backwards and took out a chakram from behind, which was tossed at high speed to me.

The ring was at least 20 cm of diameter with the interior painted with gold details and the sharp edge shining with a dark blue.

I could hear the deadly frisbee whistling through the air when I hear something else behind me, like the sound of a small stone being dropped in a pond, before I heard it again to my left and a sharp pain struck me from that side. The same object had came out from a blue portal that allowed me to see my own back prior closing and another appeared below the chakram like a window showing me a side of Cooner. The guy extended his hand and retrieved his weapon from the portal next to him.

"What do you think about my semblance?" he asked with a shit eating grin. "I discovered it few months ago and been practicing ever since after changing my weapons. It's not a huge deal for a Special Unit of Beacon, is it?"

"Of course not," I replied keeping my temper in check. "Actually, it makes the things much more interesting."

"I'm glad you think that," he said, grabbing the chakram with both hands and disassembling it in two: one golden ring and a blue one. "Because it's getting better."

The thing about having my victory halfway… nevermind.

Conner threw both rings in my direction, but they disappeared going through two portals that emerged in front of me before closing. I didn't need another clear sign that I was being attacked from another side, so I move away in time to see how the chakrams came out from another pair of blue portals from behind and return to their owner's hands.

Any attempt to get closer was frustrated with another portal with a shitty shitting going through it and it was becoming annoying. However, I got a small chance when I blocked of the ring with my sword, halting its flight and fall moments before a gate opened under it. I decided to give it a shot and jumped indespite it was barely bigger that the object. Somehow I managed to fit whole in the portal and appeared facing Conner before I slashed him again cleanly.

Obviously it didn't please my foe and I sucked through another gate blow me. A line was shot from my gauntlet that gripped on Conner before I was completely swallowed and ended up several meters from the ground. Putting on motion Force's mechanism, I pulled through the entrance and resumed our fight while we plummeted the hard surface. Our weapons sparked with each clash, in a fierce game of finding out who'd end up sprawled on the ground. Conner was the first one to leave, kicking me away and opening a gate that would drop him safely. I just shot a line at a side of the battlefield and pulled myself to change the direction of my fall and rolling the floor while my aura got less damaged than expected.

"Whew," Conner exhalated, "now that was fun."

"And I'm barely warming up," I said, ready to go serious.

With a strong impulse strengthening my legs, I dashed towards the guys, who already was opening two portals before sending his rings. I heard the same sound they made when opening and waited for the right time.

At the moment the whistle of the chakrams was right on me, I vanished into black smoke and the flying objects went through ethereal body. The feeling on my mind being splitted lasted for few seconds as I reshaped and made use of the open gates before the closed. I turned around shot several dark bullets from the tip of my finger. The aura projectiles speed up past the chakrams and crossed the portal before impacting on an an unsuspecting Conner.

They hit him head-on before the chakrams followed.

I took that small moment of confusion to finally cut the distance between us, so I lunged at him.

I was about to stab him when when then turned around and parried my attack and slashed at me gripping on one of his rings. I managed to block it with the scabbard but Conner made me lose the hold of it with a kick to my hand. Dealing with chakrams, weapons that can be used as long as short range, was exasperating. In that case I grabbed my hunting knife and took stance.

Fighting with a sword and a knife was a combat style that I hadn't tried yet, but there's something we've learned from Glynda in Combat Class: If the situation gets worse, improvise.

While I used Requiem to attack, I employed the knife to parry and deflect any move of the sharp rings.

At that moment the fight became frantic, with our weapons playing and our skills deployed to the limit. Me, with the hands of darkness that I managed to call from the ground and the energy waves I slashed from both blades, and Conner with his portals that he used to jump from one side to another and hit me from anywhere.

Conner's patron was simple: portal, jump in, attack, another portal, get away. He apparead from anywhere and slashed me with his rings and I striked back before he disappeared again. However, his tactic suddenly changed when I landed a thrust on his shoulder.

With a last glare, Conner made another gate and go away. I brace myself for another assault but the noise of the portal being made started coming out from above. My foe was appearing and disappearing through several blue spots he made. I didn't notice it at first, but he was increasingly going faster with every gate he crossed. I left my guard down for a second and the fight took a painful turn.

I didn't notice a portal opening in front of me.

When I finally saw the guy that came out of it, he was almost close to me.

When my body knew I had to intensify my aura, a fist hit me right in the gut.

The speed and strength of the punch was so strong that lifted me from the ground and tossed me several meters to a side of the platform. After rolling on the hard surface, I did my best to stand up, but the lack of air in my lungs made it difficult while I gasped like a fish out of water.

I barely manage to get on my feet when a gate appeared next to me, from which Conner came out decked in my face and left through another one. I hadn't catched my breath and the pain I felt wasn't helpful as I got kicked on a side.

My eyes were foggy due the lack of air, but I could see 4 levitating blue circles giving a view of what the other were looking at: a guy who was beating the shit out of him.

The assault continued. When I thought I finally could breath, Conner reappeared and hit me hard enough to start wheezing again. I was done.

"Dude, what are you doing?" I heard my sword scolding me in my mind despite being away from me, laying next to my hunting knife.

'What do you think?' I thought enduring another hit. 'I'm done.'

"And what? Letting this prick win and boast about it?'

'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made that bet so you wouldn't be taken away.'

"I don't give a fuck about about me (maybe a little), but, what about Yang and Ruby? Conner really hurt them and you're gonna let him go away unpunished."

I glanced at the sisters, specially Ruby, who stared at me with concern looks to the beating I was getting. I promised me that she never would be seeing me like that. Not again.

I was going down, then it'd be standing my ground.

Something strange happened when that thought crossed my mind. I felt an odd sensation wrapping my body. One very very familiar.

Conner came out from another of his portals and lunged at me. I had no problem to avoid him by moving my body away slightly. He turned around and attacked again, but I parried the arm with the blue chakram using my open palm and connected a uppercut on his chin that stunned him briefly.

My opponent apparently was bewildered to my sudden recovery while he rubbed his jaw. He let it aside and continued the fight opening ang going through his gates.

It was unrealistic. Conner still attacked at his usual speed, but I could dodge and counterattack easily with my mind precessing what was happening at the moment at great speed. I didn't move much when it came to evade the slashes, but a slight step or just moving my upper body.

Conner seemed exasperated to the fact that he wasn't landing a single hit while I was getting the upper hand of the fight. He wasn't using his semblance at all. Only close combat.

I could see his eyes. They were filled with desperation.

A single mistake was enough to turn the tide in my favor.

With a poor attempt of a thrust, I slid my foot under Conner's and began stumbling. I charged my fist with aura and punched in the stomach, just like he did to me.

With a loud gasp, he was lifted from the ground.

It was just like that day. The sensation was somewhat different, but I was feeling powerful. I didn't understand what's going on but I wasn't thinking about it back then; I just enjoyed the moment.

Before the douchebag could touch the ground, I unleashed a fast flurry of punched that, due the speed they were going, were like black blurs. I stopped for a second and threw a last punch with all my might wrapped with my aura, which made it look like if my arm was engulfed in blazing dark flames. My fist decked cleanly on Conner's face. The force was enough to project him out of the ring and against the force field.

The bell rang.

The fight was over.

[Song ends]

When I heard the sound signaling the end of the match, I suddenly remembered that I've been holding my air the whole time since I started my imitation of Ultra Instinct. Desperately gasping for air, I fell on four while the oxygen filled my lungs.

My brain raced to find a meaning for what happened. It was almost the same like back then, but a lite version and didn't end up dead. My body trembled and I was exhausted, but that's all. Was that... the Overdrive? Impossible.

"Kai!" Ruby rushed to me, kneeling next to me and cupping my head on her hands. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine," I assured her with a kind smile. "Just a little tired."

"But you-"

"Your aura was burning like when you used the Overdrive," Weiss interrupted her team leader. "Maybe not just like that time but it had the resemblance."

"We thought you weren't using it again," Blake commented.

"Yeah, but this time I'm not dying."

"At least you beat the crap out of Conner," Yang praised. "Those punches in the end were very impressive."

"Impressive? It was freaking awesome!" Cammie exclaimed joined us. "Right when I thought you were done, you went full Neo in Matrix."

I just chuckled sheepishly, scratching my head, "Thanks."

Then Conner made act of presence. He glared from above as I did the same still sitting on the ground. Ruby and Yang joined me in the stare battle.

"Ruby. Yang," he began saying before he… bowed. "I'm sorry."

It was obvious that we were dumbfounded by the action.

"Uhhh..." the sisters were speechless.

"I did terrible thing to both of you and I'm deeply sorry about it. Maybe this apologize isn't enough to fix it, but I swear I do my best to change since then. I didn't know how to say this until today. I don't expect you to forgive, but please understand how I feel."

A silence surrounded us until a simple word was said.

"Ok."

"Uh?" Now Conner was speechless.

"What I said," Ruby replied. "Ok. Apology accepted. I admit that I enjoyed when we hanged out."

"And I could've gone out with you if you had asked before," Yang followed. "Talking about it, I'm sorry for the punch of that day. I was angered about you messing with Ruby, but I think I exaggerated with the strength I hit you with."

"I deserved it," Conner ensured with an awkward smile. "At least my pain threshold increased a lot with that." Then he turned to me, "It was a great fight. You really surprised me at the last minute."

"Trust me, I was as surprised as you."

"Now I see why you were admitted in Beacon before me." He then extended him hand to me, "How about a rematch next year, once I see you there?"

I replied the gesture as he pulled me to stand up.

"Deal," I agreed looking forward the next fight with my new friend.

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After cleaning up, we hanged around with Ruby and Yang's friends along with Conner and his companions, Rue and Garren. They weren't bad guys after all, just a little misguided.

We heard some interesting stories about my girlfriend and her sister from Cammie and others. Like Ruby almost failing P.E. and the time faked Taiyang's signature for a permission to have a day off and ditching to Vale for some sales. I think they enjoyed what we told them the stuff the girls had been doing in Beacon. They wouldn't let us talk about them with much freedom evidently, so the girls shared some stories about us. After sharing some advices about the life in the academy, we decided to call it a day and go back home.

Cammie and some friends visited us often and hanged out with us. Zwei didn't mind this at all if it meant a infinite supply of treats and belly rubs.

Thus the days after the match passed in total peace.

The morning of the day when we returned to Beacon, it started with a light rain, and when it fell, it gave a soft lullaby that made me feel even more sleepy when I woke up.

Taiyang was dropping us at the docks after lunch to take the ferry to Vale, so that meant we still had time to relax a little longer. Zwei was coming with us with the excuse of taking care of the dog if Taiyang had to leave on another mission. Guess which white haired girl agreed with with them.

Meanwhile, I was watching TV while the rain drops kept hitting the windows and many more on the roof.

I was watching an episode of Mythbusters about several uses of duct tape when I heard step coming down the stairs.

"Good morning," Ruby saluted me.

"Morning."

Without asking permission, she snuck in my blanket I was wrapped with and snuggled at my side.

"What's on?" she asked rest the head on my shoulder.

"Myhtbusters."

"Cool. What are they blowing up now?"

Now we're going to make a cannonball made entirely of duct tape.

"Nice."

We watched the entire episode in peace.

Something was bothering her. The expression on her face gave her away. She didn't even react to Adam Savage's mischieves. She was very thoughtful.

It was when credits began rolling when I finally talked.

"Ruby, are you ok?"

The girl was startled by the question.

"Y-yeahImgoodwhydoyouask?," she suddenly blurted out avoiding to make eye contact.

I stared at her, raising an eyebrow in incredulity. I totally wasn't buying it.

"Ruby," I called her out.

She looked at me for a second and let out a sigh in defeat. She slumped on the couch and gazed at the ceiling.

"During our mission at Mountain Glenn, I was sleeping when Zwei wanted to go to the bathroom, so I followed him. We glanced a White Fang patrol nearby so we went after them without telling the others. Right when I spotted an entrance to their hideout, the floor collapsed and I fell through it. Some guards apprehended me once I was found and I couldn't defend myself because I had dropped Crescent Rose. They scouted to Torchwick, who had fun tormenting me everytime I tried to escape. Thankfully the guys arrived to save me. We hitch a train and… well, you know the rest."

"Crashed a train in middle of Vale and a horde of Grimm bursted into the city."

Normally, it'd be enough to get an elbow on the ribs or a scowl from her. I got nothing. She kept staring at the ceiling. It was serious.

"Sometime I dream about it," Ruby confessed closing her eyes. "I try to run away but I can't move while Torchwick walks to me. I yell for help but I just hear him laughing. Then I think about the people I wouldn't be seeing again: Yang, Weiss, Blake, all my friends, my dad, Zwei,… you."

Thin trail of tears descend over her cheeks. I quickly wrapped my arms around my girl and pulled her to me. Her face buried on my chest.

"It's ok," I comforted her caressing her hair. "It's just a bad dream. I have some once a while, but I forget them when I wake up and see you with me. Don't forget I'm here along with your team and the people that cares about you."

"I know," she replied looking up. Our lips touched each other. "Thanks."

"Anything for my girl," I winked at her.

"Anything?" I nodded. "Then let me sleep a little more."

Ruby wrapped herself with the blanket and snuggled again with me placing her head on my shoulder. Her eyes closed and her breath became deep and silent.

It was still early so I did the same, resting my head over hers, and let myself being drifted away in the vast ocean of unlimited dreams and feeling with me the warmth of the girl I loved.

It had been months since my fight against the Soul Reaper and my revival and those moments of peace had become one of the many things I cherished with my life. My friends that already are part of my family. My roomates that had become my sisters. And their leader being now my reason to wake up every morning and live.

I wasn't big surprise to be aware that many things would come up in the future that could give us trouble and we'd fight it. Grimm. Criminals. People who want us fail in our objectives. But I also knew that nobody was alone. I knew I wasn't alone anymore. I knew that, no matter what happened, we'd face it and overcome together.

.

.

.

Or that's what I thought.


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END OF ARC 2: LIFE OF A REVENANT.

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So? What are thoughts about the chapter?

The Vytal Tournament is coming and Cinder's plan is setting in motion.

Until then, let's check the last reviews:

Dandyrr0403: Just wait for it ;)

Gizmo Gear: Don't be rude with guy. He's barely surviving Yang and her puns.

runelt99: You want edgyness? You'll be getting edgyness… in time.

InfernoKnightmare: Don't worry. You'll be reading the great moment soon.

Guest chapter 52 . Feb 13: Gracias. Acabo de terminar RvB 15. Extraño a Church :,(

Well, that's it for the moment.

A new arc is beginning and the shit is going down like Trump's goverment.

ReddLotus- xDD. I know its morbid but Who wants to bet that WW3 is gonna happen soon?

All the 10-years old kids who play Call of Duty.

While we wait for the coming nuclear, guess what's coming next… CHIBI!

See ya.