Shadows of Destiny

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Main Pairing: Atsura/Pyrrha/Blake (Dusk to Dawn)

Volume 3: Winter

Volume Theme: "Smile"

Chpt. Theme:

Summary: He was an orphaned Faunus. She was considered the strongest of her class. He barely survived the slums of Mistral while she was placed on a pedestal on her way to Beacon. Neither of them expected to be compatible and yet, fate had other plans for them. With secrets and agendas awaiting them, the world of Remnant will have a force to reckon with.

The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1.

OCs for Team AZRE are as follows:

Atsura Khan [formerly Otoume] (xXCrownofChaosXx)

Roxanne Rouge Octane (ArnoldStroong)

Zaffre Grey (DarkDarsi)

Earna K. Athena (zetsunaflames)

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs. Also, some material may include violence, gore, and mentions of rape. If any of these things disturb you, there will be a marker that will give you a chance to skip past those sections. This is just an early 'precaution' and will be followed up with direct warnings when necessary.


Chapter 27: Aftermath


Two months had passed and the island of Patch began to give way to the shifting season. The snow was now nothing more than soaked earth as many of the trees above began budding with leaves and flowers. Normally, this season would bring a sense of happiness and serenity; a fresh start awaiting all who witnessed its sweet embrace. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the case for the two Faunus residing in the Xiao-Long household.

A moderately bandaged Atsura and Blake sat at the kitchen table, silently eating their food. Tai and Raven sat on the other side, adding to the perfect contrast of the incoming season. The tranquil state outside proved to be no match for the unspoken chaos within the home. While mother and son refused to even spare a glance at the other, Blake and Tai would shift their gazes between themselves, wondering when the inevitable volcano would erupt.

"So..." the patriarch chuckled apprehensively. "...you've really outdone yourself with the tea, Raven. It's really delicious."

"Thanks," she replied politely.

It was evident to the former tribal leader what her lover was trying to do. It was also clear that she wasn't falling for his tactic either as she took a long sip of her tea. Interestingly, the vulpine mirrored her gesture, silently appreciating the taste of the hot liquid. He too figured out quickly what the man was trying to do and he was none too pleased.

Still, he said nothing as he chose to focus on his meal before finally standing up to excuse himself, Blake politely thanking her teammate's father for the meal before exiting herself. Tai flashed a look over to the dark-haired woman, stern, and pressing. Raven spotted the glower from the corner of her eye but did her best to ignore it while drinking her beverage.

"Raven? We both know there's nothing in that cup."

He was right. The hot brew had long been gone, showing that Raven Branwen was sipping on air the entire time. She wasn't sure which was worse at this point, being caught in the act or the fact that she didn't have a good lie to counter with. She let out a heavy sigh. Finally, she lowered the cup.

"You know, you can be so annoying at times..."

"And you're incredibly stubborn," he deadpanned. "Seriously, I see the familial resemblance now. Why won't you just talk to him?"

Raven remained silent, not able to give an immediate retort. Tai noticed this shift in the pale woman's posture. Shoulders slumped. Crimson orbs downcast. Tai-Yang Xiao Long began to realize what kept his estranged wife from speaking to her son.

Fear.

It was the same reason she left shortly after the birth of Yang. The reason she secluded herself to leading the Branwen tribe. The reason behind her abandonment of Team STRQ. All of these situations and more were the result of her fear. Fear of rejection and judgment. It causes many to make the most irrational decisions they'd wouldn't otherwise make if they were in full control of their senses.

"You have to speak to him at some point."

"He wants nothing to do with me, Tai," Raven growled, exhibiting more desperation than anger in her voice. "I literally attempted to murder my own son out of fear that he might come for revenge after taking his girlfriend hostage. I'm a monster."

"...Yet you saved him."

This pulled Raven Branwen from her self-loathing, drawing her attention to the blond male sitting next to her. "What?"

"Aside from me, you shared a link with Qrow and Yang. But, when it came down to it, you felt the strongest connection with him and you used your portal to save him and his... girlfriend, Blake from Ironwood's men. That counts for something, Rae."

"What if he doesn't want to talk?" she whispered while tears threatened to spill out. "What do I do then?"

"Then you give him space to come to you."

Tai allowed a soft smile to grace his lips before standing up from the table. He placed a hand on the woman's shoulders, leaning in to kiss her temple before taking his departure from the kitchen. Alone with her thoughts, Raven wanted nothing more than to just leave; turn into her bird form and find some other place to reside in. It was her nature after all, right?

Yet, she couldn't deny the truth behind her former husband's words. She truly felt a strong connection several months back. A sharp pain pierced her stomach that day, triggering something inside of her that she never believed she'd ever feel. Worry for someone else. When she used her portal, she expected this strong sensation to be either her daughter or brother so, imagine her shock when she saw the brutally injured form of her forgotten son.

Damn you, Tai... She huffed before leaving the table.

Step by step, Raven felt the knot in her stomach get tighter. She felt sick yet she refused to turn around. Her eyes no longer held self-pity but determination as she opened the front door. Outside, she was surprised to find Blake Belladonna sitting on the porch step watching the still wounded Atsura training. The feline Faunus didn't say anything as the woman stood and observed the scene in silence, studying just how far her estranged child had come since their time in Anima.

He swung the dual blades slowly, proving that he wasn't 100% yet. His eyes were laser-focused as sliced and slashed the air around him. His technique was steady, but, being the seasoned warrior she was, Raven picked up the faintest traces of hesitation in his motions. From the way he stood, the woman could tell that he wasn't himself in more ways than one.

"HAAA!" he roared, pivoting on the ball of his foot to deliver a downward slash. This however proved to be a bad idea as he suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his side, courtesy of the wound inflicted by Tyrian Callows. Atsura relinquished his weapons, clutching the spot as he dropped to a knee in agony. He'd feel a hand trying to assist him up to which he graciously accepted with a labored smile. "Thanks."

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

His smile dropped instantly upon hearing the voice. He expected Blake but upon looking up, he spotted none other than an anxious Raven. Her eyes were filled with worry, motherly and full of warmth as she helped him up on shaky legs. As expected, he pulled away as if her touch had burned him. His dual hued eyes wide in horror as his mind began to recall the last time he saw that look in her eyes.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"I-I'm... I was just checking to see if you were okay."

"Well, I'm alright," he looked away, a callous look appearing on his face. "I'm not that helpless child wishing he had his mom anymore."

The venom coating his words cut Raven deeply despite there being no discernable anger. He looked away, conflict dancing behind his eyes before he stormed off through the woods. Blake tried to protest, but her calls fell on deaf ears as his wounded form soon disappeared behind the many trees. Raven just stood frozen in place as tears began to finally break free from their fleshly prison. In her stead, Blake offered to go after the vulpine but the damage had been done.

It was no different than that night underneath Haven Academy when she was confronted by her children. However, that burning hatred was missing now, a small and insignificant victory. She was a fool to believe that he'd just accept her into his life just because she saved his life once; It was her rule.

Dammit...


I don't need her! I don't need her!

Atsura sat near a cliffside, staring at the scenic waters that crashed against the terrain. He continued to mentally chant, hoping to rid himself of the feelings of vulnerability that plagued his mind and heart. After running off, he spent his time exploring the depths of the region. Fatigue eventually took over though as he hadn't rested from his attempts at training before sprinting off. Now, he sat trying to catch his breath as his mind continued to replay that sorrowful expression of Raven Branwen.

I don't need her! I don't need her! I don't-

"Atsura?" fox ears twitched slightly upon hearing his name in the distance. Recognizing it, Atsura sighed gently before turning to find none other than his girlfriend, Blake, appearing from the cover. Relief appeared on her face upon seeing him safe. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you."

Turning back, Atsura pointed his gaze at the sun-kissed waters. His mind was still scattered with many thoughts rattling around but, at least he had Blake around him. She sat down next to him, eyeing the wounds on his body, faded white cloth covering most of the cuts and healing gashes. Her amber orbs couldn't avoid the slightly darker patches of skin where he'd been burned by Cinder.

Without looking, the fox held up his wrapped right arm. Blake hesitantly obliged, gently tracing over the seared flesh in hopes of not aggravating the tender skin. Atsura didn't so much as flinch, granting her a slight reprieve from that notion. She still wasn't convinced as she knew he was known for putting on a brave face, even when he was hurting.

"It still hurts, doesn't it?"

Atsura felt his lips stretch upward playfully, a chuckle passing through shortly thereafter.

"Not at all. I'm perfectly fine."

"Atsura..."

"Don't worry. This is nothing."

"Please..."

"Blake, I'm not-"

"STOP LYING TO ME!"

The air around the two grew heavy. Blakes sudden eruption silenced any further protest from her vulpine counterpart as she glared daggers at him. His ears drooped, matched only by his averted gaze under her harsh gaze. Even still, Atsura could feel her eyes burrowing into his soul as her shoulder rose and fell in frustration. This was the first time he'd seen Blake in such a state.

"Blake?" he whispered, not wanting to invite more of her wrath.

"Pyrrha told me that you could be stubborn, but I never figured you'd be THIS bad! You're clearly hurt in more ways than one and yet, you refuse to acknowledge it."

"I-I'm sorry..."

This did little to placate Blake's growing fury.

"I don't want you to be sorry, Atsura. I want you to be honest!" she poked his chest, ignoring when he let out a tiny hiss as a result. "Cinder tortured you for two days! You had to fight through infections and dehydration after we were rescued by your mo- Raven and you won't even give her a 'thank you'?! Now, you're just trying to pretend as if none of that happened! Why?"

Atsura remained silent for a moment, allowing Blake's words and emotions simmer in his core. He'd never seen her like this before, his preparedness was lacking.

"I... I don't know what you're talking ab-OW!" Atsura yelped in pain, courtesy of the feline's hand slapping his face. "What the hell, Blake?!"

"Lie. To me. Again..." she seethed through grit teeth. Her eyes were ablaze with fury now. "For two months now, you've been distant about this subject and I'm sick of it. You're still nowhere near 100 percent and yet, you try to convince everyone here that you are. You've been nothing but cold to Raven ever since we were brought here. You haven't said a word about Pyrrha and the others or even what we're going to do next. You've become complacent with existing..."

"That's not true..."

"Really? You have the chance to fix a broken relationship. Instead, you're acting like a spoiled brat."

Downcast, Atsura took a deep breath.

"So, what are you saying?"

Blake rose to her feet, noticing the subtle bit of hesitation in his tone. Though she figured she'd made her point clear, it seemed that the canine would need a remedial answer.

"Clearly, Atsura, you're not the guy I fell for back in Argus or Beacon for that matter..."

With that, she took her exit, heading down the makeshift path through the woods once more. Atsura was now left alone once more to ponder his thoughts. The door of ambiguity was wide open now, but there were a few ideas of what that statement could've met. None of it mattered; He only wanted to apologize for his behavior but, it was evident that would have to wait until he returned to the Xiao Long homestead.

His mind then took him back to his sister, Yang. Then Ruby. Pyrrha. Everyone back at Atlas. Did they make it out? Were they captured by Ironwood? What was the state of the kingdom? His heart ached when he contemplated the possibilities and outcomes.

Finally, Atsura began to reflect on his own condition. Whether he'd admit it or not, the Faunus was in no shape to do much of anything, let alone fight. After several months of recovery, he still couldn't generate his aura, no doubt due to the wound afflicted on him by Tyrian. Things weren't any better after Cinder seared that injury shut, forcing him to house the remains of the poison inside of him.

"I'm such an idiot..." he finally muttered to the ocean before him.

It was the only answer he expected but, it wouldn't be that as his ears began to pick up the sounds of rustling behind him. "Blake?" He turned around gingerly, still feeling the sting of his injuries. He watched as pale yellow eyes emerged from the shadows. It was a Beowolf Grimm. It was the most common of the monsters but, without his aura or weapon, Atsura realized he was nothing more than a meal for the beast.

To make matters worse, it was soon accompanied by two of its brethren, each licking their lips at the prospective feed in front of them.

"Shit..." he centered his gaze at the trio.


Tai knelt in front of his flowerbed, watering the freshly sown seeds when he heard footsteps from behind him. Turning around, he found only a dejected Blake emerge from the wooded area. With no Atsura alongside her, he understood her attitude.

"Didn't find him?"

"I found him... But, we got into an argument. He feels that he doesn't need to express when he's in pain; It's like he's trying to be this macho man or something."

Tai Yang Xiao Long rose from his position and approached the saddened Faunus. On his face, he bore a knowing smile that comforted her a little. He knew all too well the difficulty of a relationship, and he knew, even more, the struggles of loving someone who was stubborn and bull-headed at times.

"Perhaps it's his way of being strong?"

"It's not strong!" she accidentally yelled. "It's stupid. He's not alone anymore so he doesn't have to deal with things on his own. I don't know why he can't just get that! Pyrrha. Yang. Me? We love and care about him deeply. Can't he see that?"

Tears streamed down the face of Blake Belladonna as she finished her response, her pain overflowing as Tai pulled her into a soft hug. If nothing else, he could provide a small measure of comfort to the young girl. That empathy poured out through this gesture, allowing Blake the freedom to release her feelings.

"Don't worry too much. He'll come around, Blake."

"How can you be so sure?" she raised a brow in uncertainty.

"Because I married and raised someone with the exact same traits. He is Yang's brother and Raven's son. The latter literally left after giving birth to Yang because she was afraid that she wouldn't be a good mother. I'm beyond sure that inflexibility is in their DNA."

The pair shared a gentle laugh as they separated from one another. It was nice to let loose the things that weighed heavily on one's heart. Still, there was a degree of uneasiness that concerned the cat Faunus.

"By the way, where is Raven?"

"If I'm not mistaken, she said something about going for a walk to clear her head. Why?"

His answer came in the form of a bloodcurdling shriek from off in the distance.


Along the edge of the cliff, Atsura ran for his life, his breath practically short gasps. He rushed through various bushes and bramble with three Beowolves snapping at his tail. He managed to slow one of them down when he slid under a low hanging branch that caught one of the creatures in the face. Unfortunately, this did little to keep the other two off his heels.

His lungs burned and his muscles began to tire. One of the monsters managed to swipe at his back, slicing his shirt in the process. He screamed in agony while tripping over his feet, sliding into a clearing near what appeared to be a single gravestone. The impact drove what little air he had left out of his chest, leaving him defenseless and weary.

"Dammit... Not like this," he grunted while trying his best to drag his heavy frame.

Panic began to slither around his heart, strangling it tighter with every passing second. His vision frantically checked for any sign of help, yet found none. He was alone. This was nothing new. He'd been this way throughout most of his life but, now it truly sunk into his inner being. The Grimm closed in, their appetite only growing with the scent of despair from their prey.

Atsura felt like he was thrust back in time. That little cub seeing the dangers of the world break him down with no one to help. His body trembled for the first time since those days, fear seeping from his pores as a damaging truth settled into his soul. Closing his eyes, Atsura decided to face this reality.

I'm going to die.

Sensing no resistance, the three hellacious creatures pounced on the fox. There was no pain. No screams of distress. At least, not from Atsura. It came from the beasts themselves, prompting him to open his tired eyes.

"Are you going to just lie there?"

Red armor. Long and wild black hair. He recognized the figure that now stood before him.

"You?"

The monsters seemed to mirror the same sentiment as they growled in fury at the woman who halted their lunch. She kept her blade pointed at the nether-world denizens, her eyes matching their displeasure. While they scrambled to regain their footing, she backed away, meeting the kneeling boy. Under his tattered shirt, Raven Branwen saw the same signs of pain and suffering but, something stood out to her.

The Grimm wouldn't give them a chance to catch up, charging forward. This only irritated Raven even more. Clutching her blade, she slashed sideways, slicing one of the heads clean off. She followed up with a vertical swipe that cut a second Beowolf symmetrically in half. One of the middle Grimm managed to avoid its demise but, it still suffered a solid cut to its midsection that had it withing in pain. Soon, it crawled back into the recesses of the woods, leaving the mother-son tandem alone.

"STAY AWAY FROM MY CHILD!" she cried out ferociously at the retreating Grimm.

Atsura now wore shock and awe like a mask as Raven resumed her inspection of his condition. She pointed to his side, the black and purple flesh that'd been seared shut by Cinder during his short but brutal captivity.

"R-Raven?!"

"What happened?" He was about to lie, but her dark glare shut down that option quick and in a hurry. 'Don't lie' it demanded. The look made him shiver but, he complied. He told the truth without hesitation about being poisoned and how he couldn't summon his aura ever since. Raven nodded, figuring out what to do next. "Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do. You. Trust me?" she looked deep in his eyes, urging him to answer.

"Y-yes...?"

At that moment, everything stood still. A quick pain pierced through his side, the wound now reopened and spilling out a violet liquid. Atsura recognized it as poison as it burned the ground next to him like acid. He turned to the woman, silently attempting to make sense of the abrupt act. She simply smiled at him as the pain steadily subsided.

"How are you feeling now?"

"Ugh... Still a little sore, but better." he grimaced slightly, before noticing a hue of amber began to glow around him. "Much better."

"Whatever he injected in you, it was blocking your ability to generate an aura. It's why Cinder was able to do so much damage to you after that."

"Thanks," Atsura averted his eyes, guilt resting firmly behind them. "I'm sorry too."

Raven looked at the Faunus with confusion. What was he apologizing for? In her mind, he'd done nothing wrong. Still, as she watched the beginning of his healing, the former leader of the Branwen tribe lifted the boy's chin so that he met her soft gaze, a first for him since that horrid day. With nothing else to distract them, the pair sat down in front of the gravestone.

"I should be the one apologizing. I've been a terrible mother and I deserved your anger and hate. I've let fear rule my life and I caused both of my children, as well as my marriage, to suffer as a result. I kept those I should've cared about away just so I could feel a false sense of what I thought was strength. I clung to loyalty while abandoning it when it came to those like Tai, Yang, and Qrow."

"And me?"

Raven could see the curiosity behind the boy's eyes, triggering a warmness to rise up within her. Gone was the coldness in his gaze, succeeded with a willingness to know. She remembered her months after arriving at the island, opening up with her estranged husband, vowing to make a change if able to. Now, she had an opportunity.

"It's a long story..."

Atsura spared a glance at his reopened wound, seeing it slowly but surely closing on its own. He let a smile settle on his features before turning back to Raven Branwen.

"I think I have time."

"Then, I should start by introducing you to an old friend of mine." she pointed to the stone embedded in the earth, emphasizing the name inscribed on it. "Atsura, this is Summer Rose, Ruby's mother. Summer, this is Atsura my..."

Noticing her hesitation, Atsura exhaled softly.

"...her son." he finished softly.


Night fell over Patch, shrouding the isle in a cool blanket of royal blues. It was a calming scene to behold as the partially shatter moon shined brightly over the land. It didn't have that effect for Tai Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna. They'd searched all over the island but found no trace of the pair. They'd even asked around a nearby town but to no avail.

"I can't believe they just disappeared without a trace." Blake groaned.

"Knowing Raven? This is normal for her..." Tai yawned. "All we can do is trust that they're okay."

Blake didn't like the sound of that, but, there wasn't much she could do. In her thoughts, she continued to reminisce about the last conversation she and Atsura had. No matter the circumstances she remembered what she and Pyrrha had talked about back in Atlas. She shook off the negative thoughts only to find the lights were on in the house.

"Do you have automated lights?" she pointed.

"No." He replied curtly, prompting them to rush towards the building.

When they arrived, they found no signs of forced entry, though the patriarch wasn't satisfied. He and Blake crept around the side of the house toward the backyard where they heard the sounds of metal clashing. Peeking around the corner, they were met with the sight of none other than Raven and Atsura battling fiercely. Even in the dark, Raven was holding her own as Atsura presented a powerful offense.

With her skills as a bandit, she used crafty tricks she'd learned from her days in the tribe to keep the boy from gaining too much of an advantage. For his part, Atsura kept his attacks measured, opting for a more efficient approach over a relentless assault. As he slashed upward, Raven flipped out of the way, swiping at his midsection, meeting steel for her troubles.

"Shouldn't we try to stop them?" a worried Blake pointed out.

Tai simply grinned, crossing his arms at the display.

"No need," he noted. "We wouldn't want to ruin their bonding."

Blake didn't fully get what the older man was referring to, but she remained in her spot. She'd start to figure things out though when her night vision caught the image of something she hadn't seen in months. Atsura had a smile on his face, wide and enjoyable. On top of that, while the burns on his body were still evident, she could also tell that certain parts of his body were now devoid of the marks he sustained from Cinder Fall, most notably his side was no longer a gnarled shade of purple.

Soon, exhaustion would creep up on the pair as they ceased their sparring. A clap would ring in their ears after this. When they looked at the source, they found the figures of Tai Yang and Blake appearing from around the corner.

"Good match!"

"Do you always watch people battling like a stalker?" Raven frowned softly.

"Do you always, sneak in people's homes while they're gone? he countered.

Raven grinned smugly at the blond. "Only when they've left the back door open."

Tai wasn't pleased with the rebuttal but, there wasn't much he could do except debate his wife's antics, going on about how worried he was looking for her and Atsura. This went on, leaving the cat and fox to watch in amusement at the couple. Blake couldn't help a giggle while Atsura tapped her shoulder, motioning for her to join him inside. She quietly obliged.

They went upstairs, the two entered the guest bedroom. Blake wasted little time in peeling off her jacket, her short hair tickling her neck in the process. After a long day of searching for her boyfriend and his estranged mother, she was rather sweaty and in need of a shower. The sticky feeling would serve to further her discomfort when she realized that the vulpine had an apologetic look on his face.

"I'm sorry..." he started, holding his hand up to stop her from interrupting. "You were right. I was selfish in my actions and you didn't deserve it. I discovered that Tyrian's poison was still affecting me."

"What?"

"I didn't confirm it until Ra- my mom revealed it earlier today. His venom prevented me from generating an aura which explains why I wasn't healing. When Cinder seared the wound shut, his venom just sat in my body, burning inside of me. I never fully realized it until she cut it open and-"

"She cut you?!"

"Relax, Blake. She noticed my side and did what she felt was necessary. Had she not done that, I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in now."

Though she was still displeased with the knowledge, she nodded in agreement given the outcome. Closing her eyes for a moment, she contemplated the explanation, finding little fault behind everything she'd been told. Blake sighed, opening her eyes, locking them with Atsura's. Her lover smiled softly, his wound nearly closed thanks to his aura. She met his smile with one of her own, relief taking over the worry that once drove her.

"Anything else you'd like to say?" she questioned.

"Of course, I wanted to apologize for not trusting you. I know you told me earlier today that I wasn't the guy you fell for but, I'm hoping that you'll forgive me. I'd like to be that guy again if you'd let me."

Normally, Blake would roll her eyes and say something about earning said forgiveness, but, she was in no mood to deliver a sophisticated anecdote. Instead, she stepped toward the shirtless Faunus before pulling him into a passionate kiss. With her hold on the back of his neck, Blake dominated the moment, intensity building within them both. Pulling away slowly, Atsura could see the clear signs of lust flickering like a well-kept flame behind the girls' amber orbs.

She stretched out her hand. "Come on," she commanded. He didn't resist her as he took her invitation. This allowed her to guide him to the connected bathroom. She pressed him against the door after he shut it, planting her soft lips against his marred skin. His neck. Chest. Jawline. These were good places to start with as she heard a soft gasp leave his mouth. She traveled up to his chin, feeling a small patch of fuzz tickle her edges. "Do you really want my forgiveness?"

Her voice was like honey, luring him in with her sweet song. He nodded blankly, a trance taking him as she captured his lips again. This time she left him longing for more, only a thin line of saliva connecting them. "Don't hide from us, Atsu." She whispered, the authority subtly coating her sentence. She left that command to linger as she turned the shower on, slowly filling the room with steam.

After finding some towels and soap, she began her bid for his 'redemption'. The entire time, he hadn't moved a muscle, mostly due to him still feeling the effects of Blake's sudden shift in demeanor. He wasn't sure what to expect but, he was sure to prove himself willing to solidify his own feelings for the feline. She set the items down and proceeded to strip them both of their confining clothes. Removing his pants, she was grateful that he was careful to place them in a pile quietly. She removed her top as well, adding it to the heap.

"Blake..." he whispered only to receive a finger on his lips. Even with just the utterance of her name, it held so much more that didn't need to be said. Lust. Love. Worry. Guilt. That and more poured from his soul as she pulled him inside the large shower. It wasn't nearly as spacious as the Atlas Academy's bathrooms but it didn't need to be.

"I know. You're saving that for Pyrrha," she replied, a sudden wave of disappointment appearing.

This time, Atsura took control. His lips found her forehead first as the hot water rained down. Then, he traveled down to her neck until he was gently suckling on her collarbone, eliciting a gasp from the raven-haired Faunus. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck as he returned to eye level.

"I'm saving it for both of you, Blake. I love you and Pyrrha. That's never going to change."

Blake paused, her eyes drinking in the boy's, no, young man's soul as she became lost in his eyes. It had been a while since she had any type of sexual interaction, but now, she wanted nothing more than to just savor the time they'd have together. She mentally apologized to Pyrrha, wherever she might be, as her fingers hovered over the soaked bruises and scars. They clothed his torso, each with a story to tell though, one clearly stood out. That dark stretch of land where he was poisoned and brutally burned. Cinder had done a number on him, but he was resilient, even if it was to a fault.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Just a little," he whispered, eyes never leaving hers. That was until he felt something soft take hold of his 'little' friend. "Blake..." She smiled when hearing his warning tone.

"I get it. No sex until we're back together." she rolled her eyes playfully. "I just wanted to know what I'll be dealing with at some point. Is that so bad?"

Slowly she stroked him, watching as he tried to muster as much fire in his eyes as he could. He didn't say a word. It wouldn't have done much anyway. Atsura just continued to stare back at Blake, cursing how much control she re-attained with just a feather-like touch. He tried distracting himself with anything he could, but nothing worked as she picked up the pace. His resolve was breaking quickly.

"Does my foxy boyfriend like this? I'm sure I can count this as forgiving you, Atsu."

It took everything in Atsura not to let out the growl of pleasure, his body shuddering under her teasing caress. If only the water was cold... he silently lamented, much to Blake's delight. In her mind, this was very similar to what she read in her ninjas of love novel. Now, she was writing out her own lewd scene. Of course, she was so engrossed in her directive, she forgot one of the most important aspects of those stories:

The plot twist.

Blake suddenly felt something slip past her folds, massaging her inner walls. Her eyes shot open in dreaded realization as her own motions slowed to a crawl under the enticing movements. She 'mewed' in pleasure, feeling the shift in control overtake her as she leaned into her partner, their lips latching onto one another's once again. He kept a steady pace, allowing her to do the same. Soon, they'd both feel that well begin to build up as Blake clenched around his fingers while Atsura twitched in her hand. In a way, they both shared their own non-verbal intent through these acts as they reached their climaxes.

The remainder of the night was quiet as Atsura lied flat on his back in the bed while Blake settled on top of him, her arm hanging lazily over the side. Her lips were curled into a solid smirk, satisfaction clearly adorning the rest of her features. Unknown to the couple, Raven and Tai peered through the crack in the bedroom door, the latter frowning lightly.

"You don't think they... You know?" Tai inquired, as they retired to their own room.

"Fucked?" Raven replied bluntly. "Not at all."

Tai blushed at the outright direct answer of his wife. "Must you be so straightforward?"

"One of us has to be," she smirked. "Leave them alone and come to bed. Mama's ready for her nightly dose-."

Tai closed the distance between him and Raven, kissing her nose.

"...of sweet love?"

"Disappointment," she winked, kissing his nose in return playfully.

Tai Yang Xiao Long rolled his eyes but chuckled at the running joke Raven wouldn't let die. If only his daughters could see him now; Reunited with Raven Branwen and actually rekindling their relationship.

If only...


The cries of the flocks of Nevermore rang outside of Evernight Castle. Months after her arrival in Atlas, the immortal had managed to obtain not the lamp of knowledge, providing her with one of the four relics. Sadly, with Penny Polendina as the winter maiden, there was no way of accessing the staff of creation as she had mysteriously disappeared. Still, one relic was more than enough as Salem had gained a rather favorable consolation prize in the process.

She had managed to acquire some interesting inhabitants in the process of her invasion. Underneath the main level of the fortress, her prisoners sat in chains, each trying to hold onto whatever shred of hope they had left. After her siege, she struck a deal with the now heartless General Ironwood that resulted in them splitting up the heroes from one another.

In one cell sat Lie Ren, his resolve all but decayed as he leaned against the stone wall of his cage. Next to his cell sat Roxanne Octane, who was equally dejected after months of torture and despair. Across from them, a battered Ruby Rose lay unconscious against the bars of her cell, showing she'd been on the receiving end of the bulk of Salem's wrath upon her return. Lastly was Oscar Pine, the reincarnation of the witch's lover. She took pity on the form but, that quickly left once she learned that this child was interested in the silver-eyed girl.

Over in Atlas, the others were heavily guarded, from their cells as per the order of General Ironwood himself. The Ace-Ops were chosen as their wardens until Salem gave further instructions. To make matters worse, Qrow Branwen was slated for execution for the crime of murdering Clover Ebi. Even Pyrrha was thrown in the psychiatric ward after having another meltdown with the prospect of Blake and Atsura going missing.

Needless to say, all was not well in Remnant.


Holy crap!

I was not expecting to write this much but, that's life right? Anyway, let's get the notes out of the way. While the previous chapter was the end based on the story of RWBY thus far, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do going forward. Initially, I was going to leave this as completed and pick it back up once Volume 8 rolled around, but, after brainstorming, I decided to make this chapter the end of Volume 3: Winter.

Next volume, the stakes are going to be major as I'm deciding where Atsura & Blake go from here. The way I see it, I'm considering the two returning to Atlas first before taking on Vacuo or Evernight Castle. Either way, things are going to get dark. There will be some deaths and even a surprise revealing at some point in the near future.

I'd like to apologize for the delay and if things are a bit convoluted. I was stumped with writer's block in such a big way until today and did the best I could with what I had to work with. For the record too, Atsura and Blake experience these moments without knowing what's going on with the others. I know someone is going to mention it so, I'm nipping it in the bud early.

But, I needed to get this ending to Volume 3 first so, be on the lookout for the beginning of Volume 4 in the next chapter. For now, thank you all for your patience and I love you all. Enjoy the chapter and see ya next time!