"One!" Jotaro dodged another punch from Yang. His hands were in his coat pockets as he ducked under her set of lunges. "Two!" A trio of fast fists flew at him and he managed to avoid all but one, which caught him right in the shoulder. "Three!" he said. If the prior punch had hurt him at all, he didn't show it.
Yang faked him out with her arm of flesh and deliver her true strike right in his chest with the metallic one. Professor Kujo found himself on his knees, panting slightly but holding a small grin on his face at the progress Yang had been making. Rising to see her hands on her hips with a smirk, he decided it was time to move onto another exercise.
Star Platinum appeared beside him as he swiped his finger across the length of his hat. "Gimme a break…."
Yang lifted her hands up into fists once more and kept her indigo eyes fixed on Jotaro's Semblance. "No time stopping, deal?" she asked and received a simple grunt that she took to meaning he agreed. If she was training to not only get stronger but to control her semblance, it was only fair that he not use his own ace in the hole.
She rushed forward and threw her robotic arm first at Star Platinum, who blocked it with his own arm. Yang continued her assault immediately. Three more punche and a jump kick ended much and the same. It was Jotaro's time to attack now. His Semblance raced toward her and opened up an attack rush that she'd only seen twice before. It was absolutely terrifying and made her glad that Professor Kujo was on their side and not Salem's.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" went his Semblance as it repeatedly smashed into Yang, who was barely blocking it with a combination of aura and simply putting her arms up. Panting as his attack ended, her fist was shaking. Every instinct in her told the girl to burst into a fury and use her Semblance blindly. She pushed it back down with a sharp breath and fluttering eyelids. Focus Yang. Focus!
At the moment, Star Platinum stood in front of her with fists at the ready. Yang rushed forward, pulling back to punch again. However instead of punching, she used Ember Celica to fire off a hail of bullets towards semblance of Professor Kujo.
It worked. Somewhat. Since he could not stop time, Jotaro had to rely on the speed and precision of his semblance, which had caught every single bullet of her's, barring two. Those two slammed into his semblance and put him on his ass. As he turned to get up, he saw Yang's gauntlets aimed at his face point blank. Only a time stop would get him out of this and they had already set the rules. Jotaro slowly lifted his hands in surrender which caused the fight to end. Yang helped him up and he rose to tower over her once more.
"Gimme a break…" he sighed, trying to hide the satisfaction in his voice and on his face. He was truly glad that Yang had bounced back this quickly. No doubt the trauma remained, her shaking arm was evident of that, but she was recovering. The professor took up her offer of a drink of water. As she headed inside, he felt his scroll vibrate. Checking to see who it was, Jotaro was mildly surprised to see the face and number of one of his former students. Josuke Higashikata was calling him…. but the CCT was down…. which meant.
"Josuke, what the hell are you doing on Patch?" were the first words out of Jotaro's mouth. The tall man eyed Yang coming back out with two cups of water and set his down on the porch all while drinking her own.
"The General sent me to get you! Don't blame me when people start asking where Professor Kujo disappeared off to! Where the hell are you?!"
Jotaro rubbed his temples in frustration. It appeared his visit with the Xiao-Long's would be ending sooner than he wished. "I'll send you the address. Come pick me up there. Goodbye."
"But wait-"
Jotaro hung up without hesitation. Turning back to Yang and taking his drink, he heard her speak. "Who was it?"
"One of my former students was sent to snatch me back to Atlas it seems. Gimme a break…."
Yang knew what this meant. No more day long training sessions. No more bringing her back to strength. No more of Jotaro's brusque wisdom and stubborn attitude that had rubbed off on Yang. "Damn.." was all she said.
Jotaro went "Mmh" as his only response. They didn't have much time left together as Josuke was already on his way. It would be another hour at best. The two decided to spend their remaining time speaking about Yang would do next. The blond haired fighter had come to a decision a fight nights ago. Leading Jotaro to the Xiao-Long shed, she unveiled her bike to him. Bumblebee hadn't been used in a long while but Yang felt she was ready. "Are you sure about this?" Jotaro asked. It was not to dissuade her but to affirm her commitment to it. There could be no half measures. A nod was all he needed. He knew what she was going to do.
"I am."
Jotaro nodded at her decision and put a hand on her shoulder. It was his form of sentiment. He always had difficulty expressing his emotions. Instead he used small actions, simple words or something else entirely to get across how felt. Yang understood this and nodded back.
An hour came and went. Josuke Higashikata stood outside his car waving to Jotaro, his fantastic hair shining in the wind.
Holding only his bag at his side, Jotaro Kujo went to say goodbye to both his host and his student. "I suppose this is goodbye, Yang." The Professor went to shake her hand only to end up in a bone crushing hug. After a moment of awkwardness, he returned the hug in turn.
"Thank you. For everything…." she said softly before letting go.
Jotaro could only playfully roll his eyes and sighed out a "Yare yare…." before waving farewell to Taiyang and heading towards the car.
"What kept you here for so long anyways?" Josuke said as the two drove to reach the Bullhead that would take them back to Atlas. "Putting that girl back together?"
Jotaro shook his head as he idly thumbed the photo of him and his fellow Stardust Crusaders in Vacuo. "No. She did that herself. I just have her a little push."
Somewhere near Mistral city…
Jaune ran hard. His breath was panting and his legs burned furiously. In fact it was a surprise he was even able to move at all. Exhaustion reigned through him but he continued to run with all his might. His armor and weapons were left behind with the rest of RNJWR. Only a pair of blue pants and his shortened Pumpkin Pete's hoodie adorned him, as well as a red sash at his waist that Pyrrha gifted him to take on his travel.
His goal was simple. He needed to reach the house of Diavolo. Read his journal. Figure out a way to deal with the second soul that was affecting him and the people he cared about. All while that damnable demon whispered poison in his mind.
I should have known from the start that you'd try something this foolish. You had a will unlike your weak Father!
I'm not going to be beaten by you! The Knight snarled back in his mind as he kept running through the foliage. Diavolo kept speaking to him as he did so.
Without me you're nothing. Just a fool with a sword and shield. Do you truly think Nikos will stay with someone so weak? So worthless? I'm your strength!
Shut up! he yelled as he ran towards what looked like his destination. There. I made it! Jaune stopped at a rocky alcove on top of what seemed like a hill . Large stones sat by a nearby gravel and dirt road in which vehicles or perhaps even carts may have once traveled upon. Hovering below the rocky mountainous terrain was a forested house. It was practically built into the mountain. How the hell do I get down there…
As quickly as he had begun planning his descent to the old home of Diavolo when Epitaph triggered and showed him an image of the future. A razor sharp knife flying straight towards him! He didn't want to resort to using his Semblance in the off chance it helped Diavolo regain control. He'd just have to take it.
And take it he did. The dagger slammed into his aura with a force that threw him to the ground. He cried out in pain as he fell to the ground. Jaune felt a wetness dripping from his nose and after checking he could see the sticky red blood on his fingers. Looking up Jaune saw a man sticking his lower body forward, holding his arms up above his head and grasping them together.
"I've finally found you… Diavolo…" he said in his low, deep voice and terrifying. His red eyes bore into the blond knights soul. Jaune had no idea who this foe was and called out to him.
"W-Who are you? I-I'm not looking for a fight!"
Risotto Nero just smirked. This would be easy. Far too easy. The body Diavolo inhabited seemed weak. A shame he would die with his target but that was a price he was willing to pay. "Seriously… I … I don't want to start anything!" Jaune cried again.
"Come out Diavolo! Come out and show me your face!" Risotto screamed. He kept walking closer to Jaune who cowered in fear. Crocea Mors and his shield were elsewhere, so too was his armor. He couldn't use King Crimson, at least not fully.
If I don't do anything, he'll kill me. Words from months ago echoed in his soul. The man who he once fought in the Vytal Festival, Bruno Buccellati.
I have to have resolve! I have to desire winning above all else! Jaune knew what he had to do. He stood up and bolted towards Risotto. If he wasn't going to his his time skipping abilities then he'd use the fists of King Crimson at least. Let me fight him! You'll never last! Do you honestly think you can face him? You?!
Jaune ignored Diavolo and pulled his fist back, summoning one of King Crimson's arms when he stood in place suddenly. Risotto stepped back one bit and flicked his wrist.
Jaune suddenly felt something in his throat. It was like a globule of mucus at first. Then it felt larger and created pressure on his neck, like it was clogged. Then it felt like searing hot pain. The globules of mucus were not mucus at all, but his own blood forming into razor blades inside his own neck. Jaune started gasping but each breath only caused more slicing pain. It's slicing my throat up from the inside! His throat was bulging with razor blades that finally reached his mouth. The poor blond knight vomited out a torrent of razor blades and his own blood that pooled on the ground.
Jaune screamed in agony, causing more blood to spur out of his mouth. His large aura worked overtime to keep him alive as the wounds were forcefully trying to he closed and healed. He felt taxed to the brink, but simply giving up was off the table. He promised Pyrrha he'd make it back and an Arc never goes back on their word.
With his hands and knees on the ground, he tried to push himself up but slipped slightly on a pool of his own blood, staining his clothes and skin. Slowly he rose and looked around for his dangerous foe. He spotted him standing closer now and Jaune lunged forward with an array of punches with his semblance, leaving only one slight prick to Risotto's aura. The man leaned back and seemed to vanish into thin air. W-what? Where the hell is he? The boy thought in panic as he looked around, backing up slowly against one of the large rocks nearby.
If you'd only let me come and save you-
Jaune did not pay heed to Diavolo and instead focused on Epitaph. The angry face in his forehead triggered and his bangs lifted to reveal a concealed Risotto Nero creeping up on him. He's hidden himself somehow? Is his his semblance? But then what was his attack on my throat?
His would-be assassin creeped closer towards him in his vision of the future causing Jaune to start breathing heavily. Where would he attack from? His vision of the future didn't show. If I can't see where he'll attack from, then I'll attack him.
Jaune snapped his head towards where his enemy would be in the next three seconds and rushed towards it. He used King Crimson's palm to swipe down and slam into the ground. His breath caught in his throat when he simply cut through the air.
Looking above slightly he saw Risotto Nero laying on a rock, visible and smirking. "I'm surprised you've lasted this long. You're the only one who's ever come that close to me."
Jaune kick stepped back and faced him, triggering another vision from Epitaph as Nero faded from view again. In his vision of the future he saw scissors growing in his neck. Gods… he's gonna kill me! I need to be ready! His precognition saved him as he felt the start of scissors forming in his neck. Painfully, he sliced open a part of his skin to reach the scissors before they fully formed and screaming, he tore them out. They clattered to the ground as he heaved and felt his aura straining to close his new wound alongside the old.
The knight would have no time to rest as another vision showed him a dagger being thrown at him, then many more. He ducked quickly and in a fit of anger he lashed out all around him, punching away oncoming knives and daggers with his semblance. Have to think fast! Out of the corner of his eye he could see that some of his blood had seemingly disappeared. Wait… let me think… the knight thought as he lay on his hands and knees. His only form of attack is seemingly sharp objects and he can materialize them from both inside and outside my body….
Jaune was panting as he thought, wary blue eyes shifting left and right. He didn't know where the next strike would come from. Please. I'm begging you, Jaune. Let me solve this and I promise you'll never take control again!
Jaune grunted off Diavolo's pleas and focused on trying to figure out what his enemies Semblance was. He can't just be creating metal out of thin air… he needs to be using something…. blood… wait…
His blood. More specifically the iron in his blood. It had to be. He couldn't be just using blood as that wouldn't explain how he could simply vanish. But iron? That's why he could create razors in his throat and launch blades at him from the air. He was using iron. It was like a twisted version of Pyrrha's polarity, drawing all the iron together magnetically into whatever he wanted it to be. I got!
Jaune stood up and prepared to face his enemy again. Now that he knew what his foe was capable of he could probably formulate some kind of plan. For now though he'd have to just survive. And find him. The man was still invisible! He must have been using the iron particles in the rocks around him to coat himself in it and reflective particles to camouflage himself.
Jaune tried to focus but his aura was straining. He was exhausted. He just wanted to lie down and take a nap.
He didn't have that option when a pair of knives flew at him again. He dodged one but the other crashed into his leg. In a cry of pain he fell forward onto his back. Need… to find him! Jaune crawled towards the torn out scissor that lay on the ground near him. His idea was a long shot…. but it was his only hope.
He balanced the scissors on his hand. They lightly shook before tilting behind him. They tilted in a way that metal would if they were being affected by magnetism. That meant…
Found you! Jaune rose up and threw the scissors as hard as he could towards his target. He found his mark when he saw the open blades slash into what was the leg of now reappearing Risotto Nero. The two blades sliced down hard, tearing his foot off the right. The man groaned in pain as his cloak faded and left him on the ground, open to attack.
"I'm… impressed" the man croaked out, clearly in a great deal of pain. "No ones ever been able to detect me that way. Let alone do me harm."
Jaune stood defensively, panting and eyeing the now footless man. He had to finish him off. I-I've never killed anyone before he thought in despair. Would he have to kill this enemy?
"And I see you've uncovered how Metallica works. But, it won't save you."
Jaune saw the severed foot rise up into the air and could see just exactly how Risotto's semblance worked. He could see the flowing magnetism in the bloody stump of both his foot and leg. They flowed until they reattached, magnetic staples sticking the foot back to the leg. All using the iron found in blood and then disappeared.
Down below he could hear something. His friends. His friends were here. No! No I needed to get away from them! The sound of Ruby Rose's familiar voice was barely heard from down below. They were practically at the house and were actually calling his name.
Jaune backed up in fear as his foe vanished. He had to use Epitaph to predict his next attack and what he saw was devastating.
Oh no! He thought as he saw needles bursting out of his nose and skin along his face. In the next few seconds that exactly happened. Needles exploded from his nose and face and spilled blood all across the ground.
That's it. I'm coming there NOW! I will not see my chance to acquire requiem wasted by you! I will seize control! In fact
I can't take any more of this. Jaune in a fit of desperation came to one last plan. Once more lashed out with King Crimson, reaching out towards the ground for several of the blades left on the ground. He figured he'd use his same trick to find his foe before. Using the magnetic pull of his enemies semblance he threw his daggers towards him but to his shock, the blades simply flew off the edge of the rockside and down towards the old house.
Risotto was behind him with a smirk, arms above his head. "Magnetism indeed pulls at the iron. You thought if you could find where the blade was pulled you could find my location. However the magnetism you were being attracted to… was my own severed foot." There was delicious contempt in his voice. Jaune turned around to face his enemy. The blood on his face was turning deathly yellow. Jaune could see the severed foot glowing blue with his enemies semblance.
He must have thrown it there!
"W-what's… happening to me" he stammered out as Nero walked closer and closer.
"You saw through my ability and chopped my foot off" Risotto began to say. His victory was assured now. "But you are already complete. There's nothing you can do about it. Large amounts of iron can be found in vegetables like spinach and meat like liver" the man began explaining, much to Jaune's confusion.
"It's an important substance that's found in your bloodstream. What happens when all the iron in your body leaves at once?" he asked rhetorically. "To put it simply, your blood turns a horrible shade of yellow and you die. The iron in your blood captures oxygen. Without that the precious oxygen doesn't reach your fingers or your brain. Despite how hard you're breathing, oxygen isn't entering your body."
N-no. Can't… end like this...
He felt himself fading as a familiar feeling welled up inside him. His exhaustion. His pain. All of that was weakening him to the point where Diavolo would take control once more. Can't… sleep… have to keep him… out...Pyrrha… please
Diavolo took his chance. With forceful manipulation, he thrust his soul into taking control of Jaune for one final time. He would not make the mistake of letting him in charge ever again. I need to get the blood back in my body…. I need to…
He triggered Epitaph to witness the future. What he saw….
Well, it caused him to smirk.
Risotto drew his severed foot back to him and reattached it as before and moved towards the weakly standing Jaune. He just didn't know his true enemy had taken over again. "I know you're in there Diavolo. I can't wait to see your face when you die." Risotto reared back and pushed all his aura into one final killing blow, metallic energy swirling around him as his Semblance roared to life.
"METALLICA!"
A series of gunshots rang out. Risotto stood in his place, arms extended as bullet holes riddled his chest. Behind him, high up in the canopy of trees that surrounded their hill, was Lie Ren and Stormflower. His guns were smoking lightly after discharging. Diavolo figured it was a sufficient enough distance for the magenta eyed member of JNPR to not see his eye color. Pretending to be Jaune, Diavolo nodded and walked towards Risotto. Ren nodded back and began to make his way down the canopy.
Blood slid down his chest as his hand swiped some of it to see, as if he simply couldn't believe it. "I...I… was winning.. I would've won..." He said with realization. "But you threw the blades…. Boss…. Before I die… show me your semblance. Your face."
Risotto Nero collapsed as Diavolo stood over him. He began chuckling weakly as he stilled was lacking the iron in his blood. He fell to his knees and leaned over Risotto. "Risotto Nero. I will not allow this conversation to go any longer. The last thing I want is for those students to find me in control again. You should die with pride as the leader of the Hitman team, since you made it this far. I'm sure your men who are waiting in the afterlife will be proud of you. You are going to die any second now. The students will find you here. Before that happens, give me back the Iron you still from my body. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to die in front of those students? If you do this, I'll finish you off myself."
Risotto gasped for air weakly, words pouring slowly from his mouth. "I… die…"
"What are you saying? I can't hear you. Hurry and return the iron!"
"I said…." Risotto aired out, knowing his death wouldn't be in vain. "I'm not… going to die alone…."
For it was not only Lie Ren that was attracted to the canopy because of their fighting. From the corner of his eye he could see Neo. She must have climbed up the trees as well.
With the last of his strength he gave Neo a look and wrapped his arms around Diavolo and pulled him into a bear hug. Diavolo struggled as Neo jumped down with her weapon bared. The sharp point would pierce their hearts together.
Diavolo scoffed lightly as he saw the blade's afterimage go through him and impale Risotto. That damn fool was doomed from the start. "King Crimson. I've erased .5 seconds of time. That time is no longer in this world. The moment in which I was stabbed has been erased, leaving only the results of your death." One the blade left them in erased time, he ended his semblance, leaving a dead Risotto and a confused Neo.
Damn you Risotto Nero… you died with your pride intact and I still don't have my iron…
He needed to act quickly. The students would be at his old home by now and they'd acquire the second arrow. He could not allow that. Diavolo eyes both Neo and a frog, two sources he could use to replenish his blood.
He turned to both of them and lunged towards the frog. It was disgusting and tasted miserable, but he managed to force himself through it. When he was finished, he turned to look at Neo and lunged at her. However she seemed to shatter away with her semblance. Dammit! The man thought as he stumbled around, falling softly to the ground. I can't breath… I…
He needed to act fast and had only one option left.
Diavolo turned to the bloody body of Risotto Nero. Damn you… was all he thought.
"Jaune!" Ruby cried out as she and Weiss approached the front door of the house. They had their weapons at the ready in case of Grimm or that Magnetica guy that Qrow warned them about.
Ren and Nora were high above in the canopies searching, hoping that the high ground would aid their search after a couple of daggers flew down from on high. A sign of Jaune perhaps?
"You don't think… he's de-" Weiss was beginning to say before Ruby cut her off. She walked up to her side and squeezed her hand. That reassured the Schnee girl who swiftly squeezed back.
"He's not. And we will find him. I promise." At least I hope… Ruby thought privately. Even if she couldn't truly promise anything, she was still the leader. Of both RWBY and RNJWR. She had to be resolute for them. All of them.
"Guys!" they heard coming from above them. With a quick turn of their heads they could see Ren and Nora descending from the tree tops. "We found him! He's looking pretty bad though!" Nora said with deep and frantic worry.
Ren himself seemed shaken. "I… I had to shoot the person he was fighting." It was clear that he hadn't taken a life until now and was feeling sick because of it. He knew he had to do it but….
He understood how Jaune had been feeling over the past weeks. Huntsmen were supposed to preserve life, not destroy it. Nora seemed to sense this and slid her hand into his. Without thinking he held it tight.
"Where was he?" Weiss asked quickly as they neared the house. Ruby herself moved to open it carefully. Weiss held Myrtenaster at the ready to blast anything that came through the door.
Ren spoke as he took Stormflower back out shakily. "On a hilltop nearby. He should be here soon…." Ruby nodded and pushed the door open and held her weapon ready only to find an empty, run-down room. It wasn't dilapidated but it had seen better years before.
"Alright. Let's find that arrow" Ruby said as her team fanned out into the house. Weiss and Ruby moved slowly through the dark to try and find their goal. The floors creaked as they moved and they found nothing until Weiss spotted the glint of a gold gilded lock. Using her glyphs to pick it up in case of a trap, she gently floated it over and let Ruby take the thing.
"Is that….?"
Ruby nodded as she dusted the cover off to reveal a simple journal. This must be what Jaune was looking for…
"Diavolo's journal." Ruby quickly broke open the lock and flipped through the pages that were surprisingly well kept for a book that must have been hundreds of years old. It made sense though that Diavolo would keep taking care of it from host to host.
Weiss used one of her fire dust crystals to form small flame glyph to create a light for Ruby and her to use. When they began to flip through the pages they saw countless scribbled notes that made less and less sense as they moved on. It went on about aura and the souls and transference. There were models and diagrams every which way but few made any sense. It wasn't until the journal got to the Maidens did they begin to read carefully.
Ruby's eyes widened when she turned the page to find a shocking discovery. "Ruby, what is it?" Weiss asked as her partner showed her the text, causing Weiss to read it and gasp.
I've finally gotten it. The Maiden's powers are tied to aura. To the soul. They transfer from one to the other and are imbued within their aura. If I can transfer the aura of a Maiden into my own forcefully, I can probably trick it into thinking I'm female and allowing me to receive the Maiden's powers! I'm not sure how much of it is required to be effective but I suspect the more aura that is captured and transferred the more likely it will succeed. The Maidens powers choose their next host at the dying thoughts of the prior. I've yet a way to spoof this, so I suppose that the results of using the arrow with the Maidens power will be successful or will result in death if the soul is weak. Because I am not a true host for the Maiden I've discovered that it will manifest itself in a great power. Since I'll be forcing it into my own aura it will… evolve it.
I've called this Requiem. I must achieve King Crimson Requiem, no matter what that fool Oz says nor what Salem promises.
"This… this was his plan with the Maiden?" Weiss finally said, breaking the silence. Ruby nodded. It was even more imperative to keep the Maidens powers out of Diavolo's hands more than ever.
"Weiss! Ruby!" they heard from the other end of the dark house. It was Ren calling to them. "We've found the Arrow!"
That was the first good news they've had in a while. "That's great! Meet us at the exit to the house and then we can go get Jaune!"
Ruby and Weiss rushed to the exit of the house to find Ren and Nora were already there, slightly outside and standing completely still, facing down something.. Why aren't they-
Her train of thought was cut off when they exited the home to reveal Jaune standing some good feet before them. He wore no shirt. Blood dripped from his dirty, stained pants and there was some stuck on his freely flowing long blond hair. His eyes shot up and they were not blue but broken green sclera. Jaune was not present.
A single hand rose to point at Lie Ren who held the second golden arrow. King Crimson shimmered and appeared behind Diavolo.
"That arrow is mine and mine alone" was all he said to them in his deep and distorted voice.
Ruby and Weiss stood forward with their weapons drawn. Ren held the arrow tightly and placed it against his belt. Nora readied Maginhild, prepared to beat Diavolo out of Jaune if she had to.
"Not going to happen" Ruby finally said in response as she stood proudly. "And we're going to be bringing our friend BACK!"
The plan. We have to use the plan. He and I knew it could come to this.
Diavolo shrugged then vanished as time skipped. Suddenly he was on top of them and the battle began.
To be continued…
A/N: This chapter was not enjoyable to write nor did it come out as I had planned. Much of the second half has followed this pattern as being too ambitious and too difficult in some regards. This story will be over in the next few chapters so I can finally move onto other fic projects. I hope y'all had a great Christmas and New Years.
My Cowboys have hired Mike McCarthy as the new HC. Not sure how I feel about that yet. We'll see if he'll deliver or not.
As always, please leave a comment or review! I love to hear your thoughts