Chapter 18 and it's a casual chapter but still filled with characterization and mentions of the next arcs of the story.

That cliffhanger from last chapter actually had me in quite the brainstorming manner. I had to decide who it was and, I'm hopeful, I chose the character who's going to be playing with a theme of a set of characters in the story that we already know.

Secondly, Coco's short-term motivations are more established in this chapter and will be a little subplot throughout the next arcs.

Let see, what else… Oh, Ozpin's group and the introduction of Kakashi's family is going to be fun while I make use of a character in the RWBY universe I've never thought of using before though it's only mentioned in passing, for now.

Also, also, Kakashi and Obito just, sort of, talk this chapter. We get Kakashi's story, and I do mean his story, on his life in Remnant. That's going to be fun since I was trying to establish the reasoning for his actions.

Let's see how you all like this chapter.

~NRK~

Coco blinked as her bottom hit the floor, holding the right side of her head and ear as she looked out in front of—

She stared at the carnage that seemed to have hit the room. Soot was all over the floor in front of her along with water and low mist that covered her surrounding area.

She blinked as she looked up further to see both Kakashi and Ms. Hawks crouching some ways away, the former's hands held out in front of him as electricity sparked from each finger.

That pose was familiar. Hadn't Obit—!

Her head moved around the room, aching all along the way, only to blink as she looked to her left to see a familiar teen with a mop of spiky black hair and dark silver ey—

Were his eyes glowing? His hands were outstretched and she could see orange diamond patterns moving up and down them now. The lines almost looked like fire.

"Co…" Coco winced and slowly put a hand to her ear tenderly as her slight deafness began to clear up. "Coco!"

"Ah…" the girl groaned as wobbled a bit, vision getting blurry as a blob of teal and black approached her.

A hand rested on her shoulder and she blinked at the feel of scales on her skin… Wait, skin… scales?

She blinked away some of the bleariness as that teal blob pulled off its upper half before she felt a light weight press against her front. She grabbed onto it involuntarily before feeling her head lull to the side as an arm was placed under her back and knees.

She blinked rapidly, eyes heavy as she looked up to see a black spot on tan and shifting black hair.

She lost the battle of consciousness then and there but only after she uttered a name.

"O…bito…" she dropped her head against his shoulder and fell to a world of black once more.

Ochre was a mass of thin nerves as Obito carried Coco up to the observation deck, Glynda resting a hand on her shoulder as Olivia held her head down in slight shame.

"What happened?" Amber stared at the coming up group. "W-Wha?"

What the hell had just happened?! She'd seen it all and yet still she felt a shiver run up her spine.

That Coco girl and Obito had held their hands up along with those Aura shapes, one an orb while the other was a ring.

Things were going well until someone lost control.

That ring Coco had and the, quickly becoming a fireball, black orb Obito had seemed to have resonated or something. That ring began to replicate as they sat in close proximity.

One ring turned into two then four then eight before its behavior changed. Instead of just hanging in front of her hand, it had floated further away, closer to Obito's position, and those rings began to spin on an axis before becoming a sphere of rotating, flipping, spinning, fire rings.

That had been as far as things had gotten before Coco's Aura spasmed and that ball of rings became a ball of perfectly spherical fire.

Well, that's what Olivia had said before it connected with Obito's completely and blew up. Elena and Kakashi had been able to see it coming, shouting something to Obito, but the boy couldn't hear them, seemingly. He'd been shouting at Coco the whole time to try and bring her attention back to the world around them.

So when it had gone up in, an explosion had rocked the observatory, its aftershock effects, thankfully, being contained by the room's Gravity Dust system.

The sliding door to the stairs slid open and in came Obito, now topless, with Coco in his arms. The girl's modesty, her bra, thankfully, covered by Obito's thrown over medical top.

Ochre was by his side in a second and Amber grimaced at the look on her face, the shock and worry was enough to make her want to leave the room before a strong hand rested on her shoulder.

Ozpin nodded and led her out, leaving Glynda to watch over the proceedings. He directed her to the wall opposite the door to the A.E.G.I.S. room after which Amber slid down it and rested against the floor, back to the wall.

"Are you okay?" Ozpin asked, standing at her side as he looked on at the others tending over Coco. "I know that wasn't pleasant for someone like you, empathic abilities can be quite the double-edged sword."

Amber shivered a bit, both from the low temperature in the hallway and from remembering the feelings going on in that observation deck.

Yes, Amber had strong empathic ability, but it was so much worse than that.

With Ozpin finding her, she'd had a pretty decent feel for it. Discerning the feelings of the people around her had been easy in her early days of recovering from when she received her Maiden powers.

Then… then said Maiden powers had activated and it boosted everything about her, at least, that's what Ozpin had said would happen.

She couldn't have been prepared for the raise in her empathic ability, though.

She'd spent a series of days just trying to ignore everything around her. Every student arguing in Beacon, all the disappointed or happy students, all the sad students.

Then she felt the bullying going on and she'd nearly done something she wasn't proud of. She'd wanted it to stop so badly but knowing about the bullying emotions, things she'd learned how to separate and file, she'd felt an unsurmountable anger along with the emotions.

Over the years, she learned to limit it to as small as she could make it but that still wasn't a pleasant limit since it still extended about two meters on all sides. She couldn't live in the Kingdoms like that and had taken to the wilderness before being attacked.

So here she was, shivering as she felt every emotion running in that room.

Kakashi and Elena's concern.

Olivia's shame and guilt.

Ochre's downright terror, though it was hidden as best she could on her face.

And Obito… the boy felt the worst.

There was an erupting guilt mounting in him and as each second passed she felt it more and more. The terror that nearly froze her veins, the shame that slammed into her gut, and the sadness that fell over her like a film nearly caused her to dry heave.

There was the sound of sliding doors opening and closing and Amber looked up to see Elena's worried looking visage coming into view.

"Is everything okay?" the teacher asked, getting to a knee before resting a hand on Amber's shoulder, the sight of the woman's trembling eyes making her resting hand turn into a one of firm comfort. "What's wrong?"

"Amber, hahh, has a strong empathy," Ozpin explained. "She's suffering the aftereffects of what just happened. She simply wasn't prepared for this to go awry."

Even as she looked at the curled up woman, who looked down and away from her gaze, Elena's eyes narrowed.

'That's quite a thing to say when you brought her in for just this, isn't it?' she felt like something about this picture wasn't right.

That said, as the sound of sliding doors and rapid steps filled the space behind her before disappearing down her right towards a hallway, Elena had a student to check in on.

~NRK~

Obito just stared at her as she underwent another series of scans by Olivia in the examination room up in the Beacon Medical Wing. Ochre was right there next to the Faunus, watching her the entire way with an angry expression while Elena stood just by her teammate, words that couldn't be heard from their place passed to the grimacing doctor.

What had happened? Why was such a response the answer? Why Coco?

Why him? Was this all his fault? Had he endangered another—

He felt a firm hand drop on his shoulder and, ashamedly, twitched a bit as his crossed arms clasped at the edges with his hands.

"You okay?" Kakashi asked as he stepped to Obito's side, eyes trailing down at Coco's still form as Obito made out the sight of bandaged hands in his peripheral. "Obito?"

He didn't say anything as his eyes moved to Coco's unconscious form once more. "… This is my fault."

"Ob-"

"Kakashi," the former Hokage flinched at Obito's quiet tone, the undertone new and worrying to the albino. "I think I figured out what I'm turning into… And it did this to Coco."

Kakashi frowned as he tightened his grip on Obito's shoulders before trying to lead him away.

It took some effort, the young man's feet seemed cemented to the floor for a bit before Obito tore his gaze away from Coco to follow.

~NRK~

They walked towards the roof, opening it to see the garden of Beacon at top with a series of patients lazing around. They went in deep towards a corner, Obito monotonously informing Kakashi they'd made enough distance.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked with a sad gaze.

"Dragon," Obito stated as he looked down at his re-bandaged arms. "It's the only thing that makes sense… especially after I learned something down there while I was wrapping my bandages," Obito punctuated this as he pulled up the edge of his bandages a bit to reveal his blackened skin.

Kakashi touched it and his eyes widened. "Scales…"

"Yes and I don't know what's going to happen from here on," Obito admitted. "Kakashi I'm not sure what's going on with me and I… I get the feeling I'm going to hurt someone."

He was worried. Obito was actually worried about what was happening. Kakashi was both surprised and not.

Coco's startling resemblance to Rin was one thing but to hurt her was likely something Obito never considered would happened. But it had and that was eating at his psyche.

Kakashi didn't need to think about what his friend was likely referencing, already doing it himself. "You didn't do this. Neither of you did. You couldn't have prepared for this."

"I should have said something, anything, to dissuade her from coming," Obito said with a growl, his sharp teeth making the action more threatening than it should have been. "If I had said anything…"

"And what would that have solved?" Kakashi said with a raised brow and crossed arms at Obito's startled expression. "Do you honestly think Coco was just going to listen to you?"

"Yes? I don't know," Obito sighed. "I don't understand that girl sometimes. Why she was here in the first place was annoying enough."

"Hmm, from what Elena tells me," Kakashi began. "It was both to learn more about her situation and to help you out."

"Help me?" Obito was in disbelief and Kakashi chuckled at his tone. "Help me with what? I have no idea what she's thinking with trying to help me."

"Well… Obito, you have to remember, you're seventeen, almost eighteen come next February," Kakashi emphasized. "You're a year and half older than Coco, that's not that big of an age difference to her to consider you a friend."

Friend… What?!

"Excuse me?!" Obito was horrified. "Friend?! That's ridiculous! How can she consider me any friend of hers, we're too different!"

Kakashi facepalmed. "Obito, my friend, that has got to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard you say," Kakashi's hand slid down his face to reveal his flat stare.

It was also childish at that but Kakashi had a point to get across, he'd rib Obito for this later.

"H-Huh?"

"Obito, you should know more than anyone how little that means," Kakashi raised a brow and Obito got the impression the man was smirking at him. "I mean, look at us."

"…" Obito's eyebrow twitched. "That's different."

"Is it?"

"Yes, because we think more alike than anyone here."

"I'd say Ochre could give us a run for our money but that's not really the point," Obito frowned at that early part of Kakashi's sentence. "What I'm saying is, that kind of difference means nothing in the way of friendship."

"… You're referring to Naruto and Sasuke, aren't you?"

"Who else?" Kakashi grinned. "Those two couldn't be more different yet they were as close as brothers with how everything went. They were close for years after your passing."

"… Kakashi, I'm curious," Obito began, pinching the bridge of his nose. "When did you die?"

Kakashi smiled at him, the expression relaxed if a bit sad. "Around two to three years after Kaguya."

"How?"

"A meteor heading towards Konoha," Obito stared wide-eyed at his explanation. "Hold on, let me explain."

Apparently there was another Otsutsuki who'd come for Hinata Hyuuga to be his wife, this Toneri Otsutsuki. A series of falling pieces of rock from some fake moon had been heading towards Konoha and Kakashi had done his best to stop it.

Sasuke apparently showed up too late to save his sensei but did stop the meteor. Kakashi ended up here in Remnant sometime after.

"Oh…" Obito pulled his legs up on the bench they were sitting on and rested his arms on his knees. "That's… Dammit, did we even stop anything?"

"I hope so," Kakashi said with a sigh and a hiss as he stretched in the mid-afternoon sun. "Tsunade could still take up my position so it's not like they're without a Hokage, I just hope more of those people don't come."

"They seem particularly obsessed with our old world, don't they?" Obito said flatly before staring up.

"…"

"…"

"Kakashi?"

"Yes?"

"I really hope they don't come here."

"…. Same."

There was the ring of a Scroll and Obito shot his albino friend a look as Kakashi removed his Scroll from his pocket.

The man made to get up and leave before thinking better of it, reseating himself and scooting over to show Obito the screen.

"Whitley?" Obito frowned at the name, a familiarity with it banging on the back of his noggin. "Who's that?"

"Well, seems like we all got a little extra family coming here," Kakashi said with a grin as he sat up straight, straightened out his dress shirt, and answered the call. His behavior got a weird look from Obito before the Scroll began projecting the person's, calling Kakashi, voice.

-Oh, brother- Obito felt his eyebrows shoot into his hairline at the proper tone in the young, squeaky, voice on the other end of this call. –I'm glad I caught you at a good time-

Kakashi grinned. "Hello Whitley, how're you doing?"

-Oh! Fine! Just fine…- There was a pause. –I've been trying to learn a new piece of music and Mistrali haiku… So I should show that to you sometime- there was a nervous cough over the line and Obito felt his curiosity well tip over.

"Who is this?" he whispered and Kakashi smiled before showing—

Was that a Schnee?!

Obito's head snapped in Kakashi's direction as the older man grinned mischievously at him. "Yup."

-O-Oh, hello?- The person on the line blinked at Obito's appearance before nervously looking about. -I didn't know my brother was having company, I-

"It's fine," Obito said, getting over his surprise a bit. "I'm just surprised is all, pleased to meet you, Mr. Schnee."

Whitley Schnee, a young boy who flinched back in surprise, blue eyes staring at Obito with slight confusion and shock before he recovered.

'Recovered' being him straightening out his tiny white dress shirt, similarly stark white hair that fell short around his nape and forehead and then coughing into his small fist as he pushed his little chest forward.

This kid was tiny.

-Y-yes!- he seemed easily pleased if Kakashi's off the side giggling was anything to go by. -Yes, I am Whitley Schnee, pleasure to meet you- the boy blushed as he stuttered a bit. -T-That is, pleased to meet you… Sir…-

Kakashi's shoulders shook in mirth as he pulled the Scroll back over to his own face. "His name is Obito, Obito Midoriya, he's a fellow officer of the force like me."

-Really?- Whitley blinked. -He's really young, brother.-

"Yes, he actually started just these past three weeks," Kakashi smirked as Obito rolled his eyes. "He's already been involved with and helped deal with a major case, actually."

Whitley's eyes narrowed a bit as he cupped his chin, a single finger tapping it. -Wait… Father had said that something happened in Vale-

"Yes, a rather alarming situation… but it had its upsides," Kakashi said as he raised his hand.

Whitley's eyes widened, Obito's narrowing in the same breath, as Kakashi had a floating, rotating, circle above his palm.

It was white and looked like a snowflake.

-T-that's!- Whitley sputtered. –W-What happened?!-

Kakashi explained as best he could without involving important, life-threatening, information.

-Gang violence?- the boy looked worried. -Brother, if it's too dangerous…- Whitley bit his lip.

"I promise," Kakashi said sincerely. "I'm fine, I'm actually going to be training with my friend here with learning how to use it."

Whitley's eyes dimmed a bit. -Oh…-

Obito could feel the sadness from the side as Kakashi tried to assuage the boy before looking at Obito.

Obito's Sharingan were already active, pulling the two of them into Obito's mindscape.

"So what was that about?"

"Whitley… No, maybe the better words would be that the Schnee family isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"How so? He seemed saddened by the fact you have your Aura."

"It's complicated but, for lack of a better term, he's lonely and likely a little jealous," Kakashi explained.

The two of them were sitting around a little campfire with stones as seats, Kakashi was horribly familiar with this setting but said nothing about it.

"Dysfunction?"

"Just about," Kakashi rubbed his head of hair. "Our father, Jacques Schnee, is a man obsessed with making the family name mean one thing, greatness."

"I'm going to assume there was some isolation going on," Obito said as he crossed his arms, looking down at their blackened skin. "So the three Schnee children are fighting amongst one another?"

"Well, more like two," Kakashi said with a slight smile that faded into a sigh. "Winter, my first little sister by three years, joined the military, as you know, and was disowned the same day. Weiss, my second little sister by 12 years, is heiress."

"And Whitley is left with nothing but his mother…" Obito frowned as Kakashi hesitated. "Kakashi."

"Our mother, Willow Schnee… It's more complicated than it looks. For lack of a better word, she's an alcoholic and can be in and out at times."

"How bad?"

"We're talking really bad, like she may not remember certain things at times," Kakashi held his head aloft. "When I was born, I was given the title of heir but I handed it down."

"Why?"

"I guess, I didn't want the responsibility," Kakashi looked guilty. "Being Hokage even for a few years made me dislike everything about the position besides protecting the people. That kind of just… followed me a bit."

"And now the other three were in a fight for it or, at least, that's how you're selling it to me right now."

"… I tried, ya know?" Kakashi said. "With Jacques, it's both easy and difficult because I know what he's thinking and the man's a terrifying businessman."

"He's essentially the only giver of the world's most necessary resource," Obito added. "That's to be expected, I wouldn't want a weak-willed man to be running such a show."

Kakashi laughed. "Well, I guess you at least know that he has some admirable attributes… My sisters weren't too fond of that idea when I said as much," he tapped his head. "Winter and me always got into arguments about it. Especially as kids, specifically, four years before I left for my life here. I understand what she was saying, I wanted Jacques to realize that he has a family as well but I guess that caused a sort of divide between us."

"And the others?"

"Weiss looks up to Winter, I'd say almost as if Winter was her mother with how Willow could be at times. With her being so much younger, as well, she's impressionable and typically follows Winter's steps. She wasn't a fan of me, likely from hearing some things from Winter, but she never really liked listening to anyone else but Jacques, to be fair," Kakashi chuckled a bit. "It's rather vexing, actually, I have no idea how to handle these kids and I had a Genin team."

Obito hummed a bit. "I… I don't know what to say, I'm out of my depth here… But, if anyone might know, think of what Naruto would say and do."

"He'd likely just run into things head first and shout it out to them, haha," Kakashi chuckled. "He was seriously the heart of that team, when I think about it."

"Well, you have time now, make sure your family doesn't break."

"Speaking from experience?"

"I tried and Raven was… someone I accept as my older sibling, meanwhile Qrow made a lot of offenses against my sensibilities in my formative years here," Obito frowned. "It's like he has no idea on how to think for himself sometimes."

"Well, how about you actually talk to him about it?" Kakashi suggested. "I've only seen what I have from you two but it seems like you blow him off the moment he says something you don't like."

Obito was silent.

"Remember, Obito," Kakashi said softly as his friend's head lowered. "This is a whole new life for you, you can live it to the best of your ability even with Salem around. Enjoy it, do that for me, for all of us."

"Putting that aside, what about your little brother?"

"Fine, Whitley's, essentially, to me what Weiss is to Winter," Kakashi said with some slight cheer. "I've basically looked out for him along with the help of our butler, Klein. He's the only one of us who doesn't have his Aura unlocked and I think he might fear that he's not a Schnee if he doesn't have a Semblance. If I'm bad with kids, he's sort of the exception but that's not really hard when he's essentially craving attention."

Obito closed his eyes as he processed everything. "Especially if he's not heir, yes?"

"Got it in one."

"… We've both got some family problems to deal with."

"It seems so."

Obito sighed as he sat back against the bench, both him and Kakashi out of his mindscape, as Kakashi smiled at Whitley.

"You know, Whitley," the boy's head looked up at him with some confusion. "I have been thinking about coming back to v—"

-You should!- the boy shrieked, shocking both males before he realized what he'd done. –U-Uhh, uh, that' is! Um-

Watching him flail for an excuse was amusing until his eyes widened.

-T-That's it!- he smiled widely, arms in front of him, as he did a little jig. –Brother, there's a big event coming up!-

Kakashi blinked, scratching his nose a bit. "There is?"

-Yes, the Atlas Hyper Train- Whitley was smiling as big as possible as he pulled up what looked like a child version of a train schematic. –Yes, it's one of Atlas's latest, most hidden…- Whitley looked around a bit, eyes on the door behind him before turning back to the Scroll.

-It's one of Atlas's most hidden projects, most of the people in Atlas are going on it next week and we have reserved seats already.-

Kakashi already saw where this was going. "Well…" Whitley's eyes seemed to dim a bit.

-You're n-

"He's going," Obito said as he pushed Kakashi's head out the way. "He's been through a lot these past couple of days, he's just adjusting, he'll be going."

Whitley's eyes and smile couldn't have been bigger. -REALLY?!-

Kakashi pushed back against Obito's head with his own hand and chuckled slightly. "I guess so… And my friend here is coming along."

-He is?-

"I am?" Obito shot the albino a confused look. "Kakashi?"

"I'm thinking you also need some time away, yeah?" Kakashi asked, getting a wince from Obito. "How about we just get some time to think, yeah… And I guess I can also see if I can work with what you told me."

Obito covered his face with his hand before sliding it down. "Fine, we'll do things your way."

-Hm- Whitley cupped his tiny chin once more and tilted his head upward. -I think I could get your compatriot as well, father did always like you so it shouldn't be that hard.-

"Great!" Kakashi smiled as Obito groaned. "If you can't, I'll find a way, I typically do."

Whitley smiled. –Yes, you did.-

"I'll see you soon, Whitley, alright?"

-Yes! Brother!-

"Oh, and Whitley?" the boy stopped his finger seconds away from ending the call. "That drawing is really nice."

Whitley's eyes had never been brighter in that conversation than right just then.

-I-I'll get better, you'll see!- the call ended with a high note as the boy grinned as he ended it.

"The exception, huh?" Obito said as he got up.

"I told you," Kakashi grinned a bit as he followed suit. "He's essentially wants attention, I have no problem giving it to him."

"What about the butler? Which, by the way, sounds weird when I think about the context."

"That was another reason I left, too crowding, and, no offense to Klein, I think he favors Weiss above all of us."

Kakashi's shrug caused Obito to blink before he stopped the older man in his tracks.

"Hold on a second," Kakashi chuckled. "Where does Ochre occur in all of this?"

"Remember, I met her on the shores of Vale… but I lied about growing up around there," Obito nodded. "I lived there for a bit, mind you, getting back to basics and she sort of just washed up."

"And everything that followed is the same?"

"More or less…" Kakashi stopped for a moment. "I promise you'll get the whole story eventually, I-"

"You've promised her, right?" Obito said. "Then don't, if it doesn't threaten anyone, it's none of my business."

'Oh if only you knew, Obito,' Kakashi scratched his cheek. 'If only you knew.'

With the recent developments, Kakashi hoped that things could be solved peacefully and simply.

He'd had enough crazy circumstances to last two literal lifetimes.

~NRK~

Ochre crossed her arms as she waited, sitting in the seats by Coco's bed, she looked to her side to see Velvet talking with her little brothers as they waited along with her.

She watched them, the image of another trio of children taking each of their places before she snapped out of her reverie at the sound of the door sliding open.

Kakashi and Obito looked in, the latter with a grimace that Ochre knew she was going to have to talk to him about.

"Anything change?" Kakashi asked softly as Obito closed the door behind them the moment they entered the room. "ETAs?"

"No, though Olivia thinks she should awaken any moment now. She didn't have any wounds," Ochre admitted before sighing. "I'll need to apologize to her, I flew off the handle a bit and…"

"We understand," Kakashi nodded to Obito but the teen was current affixed to Coco's pseudo-sleeping state. "Right, we're here if anything though that's until next weekend."

"What do you mean?" Velvet's group looked up at Kakashi as he scratched his head at Ochre's question. "Kakashi?"

"We're going on a little trip that Friday and I think we should be back in a matter of days after that," the albino stated with a shrug. "I actually forgot to ask him how long this whole thing would last."

"I see," Ochre breathed out through her nose as she leaned back against her seat, gaze down and away. "I guess things shouldn't change too much while you're both gone."

"I'd hope so," Kakashi said before throwing a wave Velvet's way. "Sup."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Grey," the female Faunus said as her gaze went from him to Obito, the latter's empty stare worrying her. "Is O-Obito, alright?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head with a slight frustration. "He's… dealing with a little emotional issue, he's working through it."

Velvet's gaze stayed on Obito, the boy's longer bangs hiding his face from her position, when the side of the beeping of Coco's heart rate monitor picked up.

All eyes snapped to the girl in the bed as she emitted a soft groan.

Ochre was by her side in an instant, holding Coco's hand in both of her own as she saw her little sister crack open her eyes.

"Ooooommm," Coco blinked slowly as came back to consciousness. "Uuuhhhh, Ochre?"

"Coco," Ochre said quietly as her head fell a bit. "Thank goodness."

"Mm?" Even as drowsy as she felt, Coco could feel the need to apologize. "Sorry, didn't mean to worry ya."

Ochre didn't say anything as she let out a shuddering sigh.

Coco tried to get up and Ochre was there every inch of the way and the younger Adel frowned as she sat up with little issue.

'Okay, now I know something's off,' she thought with a frown as she stared at her the palms of her hands. 'Why…?'

She had a rough idea of what happened even with her head being kind of foggy. She was at the center of an explosion again.

Seriously, what was her luck?

She looked to her right side, aiming to see the back of her hand under the sleeve of her medical gown, but then noticed a pair of legs standing on the opposite side of her bed from Ochre's position.

Looking up, Coco saw—

She barely caught the look of regret, pain, and just overall miserableness, ranging over Obito's face. The moment he noticed her gaze, it all seemed to disappear under a façade of impassivity.

She didn't frown, she couldn't let him know she saw him but…

What the hell had that look been? She'd never seen it on Obito in… ever!

Obito always just seemed kind of brickwallish when it came to, well, anything. He was never fazed when they dealt with everything that they had last week, always being coolheaded and quick to act.

Coco almost thought he was a cyborg at one point but, obviously, threw that idea away from just how crazy it was.

That said…. He'd never looked so vulnerable before. He looked like he'd made some grave mistake that he'd regret for the rest of his life and… she didn't understand it.

She got hurt, yeah, she got it. That must have shocked him, sure, but that couldn't get such a reaction, right? Obito had never showed too much affection her way, though she had to wonder if he did that to anyone, so why the face?

What was he seeing?

"We're glad to see you're alright," he said but she winced at the slight monotony in his voice. "That incident…" he grimaced and, this time, he couldn't hide it.

So something about their recent accident made him uncomfortable? Was he… was Obito afraid of hurting people?

That didn't make sense though, he'd fought like he meant to… well, like he meant it. He never backed down, totally the opposite actually.

So what was it?

Kakashi's hand clapped down on the younger male's shoulder and Coco quirked a brow as he tightened his grip a bit, an understanding gaze thrown Obito's way for all of a second that she was sure only she saw.

… She'd talk to Obito later, bet on it!

"How are you holding up, Coco?" Kakashi asked as Obito moved to stand by Velvet, face softening a bit as Vallen greeted him in his own childish way. "Nothing off?"

"Well, a lot's off but I'm still working through it," Coco admitted. "How're you?" she asked as she looked at his bandaged hands before blinking and turning to look at Obito's.

"Fine," Kakashi waved his hands in the air as Ochre finally lifted her head up from mulling over her thoughts to see him do it. "Once again, thank god for Aura. I should be fine by the end of the day, the doctor said."

"I see," Coco eyed Obito for a bit before sighing. "Anything I miss?"

"Well…" Kakashi began to explain about the trip he and Obito had planned.

"Atlas?" Ochre blinked, eyes wide. "You never said that before, what are you both going there to do?"

"Well, I'm visiting some family, actually," Kakashi admitted. "I haven't talked to them in a while and I just spoke to my little brother a bit back."

"Why does it seem like everyone has a sibling in this room?" Coco asked with a tilt of the head. "Well, 'sides Obito, anyway."

"Oh, you didn't know?" Kakashi asked. "Qrow is Obito's older brother."

Coco squawked. "He is?!"

Obito's head snapped up from Vallen inspecting the string around his finger to shoot them a curious frown.

"It's fine, just talking," Kakashi waved off Obito's roll of the eyes as Vallen brought the former Uchiha's attention back to him. "And, yeah, he is."

"… That explains… a lot actually," Coco said as Ochre nodded. "Alright, so everyone in this room DOES have a sibling, what're the odds?"

"Pretty high, actually," Ochre said as she sat back in her seat. "Remnant life, being the way it is, prioritizes reproduction. We have to keep the races alive, after all."

Kakashi actually blinked before cupping his chin, tapping it with one finger. "Now that you mention it…"

Kakashi wasn't going to say he didn't like having younger siblings but he always wonder why his parents kept on having more kids with an heir already decided for so long. Maybe it was just the culture? Remnant was weird in ways that he didn't consider at times, though it made sense.

Velvet observed Obito as Vallen held his attention, the young male Faunus showing Obito a patch that he'd messily knitted from back home. Obito held it in one hand, feeling the fabric, before using both his hands to hold it.

His hands glowed black as he seemed to smooth it out with swipes of his thumb on specific portions.

He finished and handed Vallen back a smooth patch that the young boy stared at in wonder before thanking Obito, the older boy making sure the Faunus didn't fall over.

She giggled a bit, mind at ease a bit.

Perhaps things weren't fine but they would get better, right? That's what she came to think these past couple of days.

~NRK~

He sat in his office, eyes down on his desk as he clasped his hands together.

"This information, Amber…" Glynda was shaken, the news of what Amber had learned astounding and exciting her. "This could change the very tide of things! This is glorious news!"

"…" Ozpin remained silent as Glynda said this from the side of his desk, Amber seated in front of him on one of the two chairs opposite his desk. "Amber, are you sure?"

"Yes… I think so," the Maiden among the trio frowned. "I've never actually been near a literal dragon, Ozpin, so I can only go on what you told me all those years ago."

Ozpin hummed low in his throat.

This changed things… This changed so many things…

It was official, he needed Obito Branwen on his side. There was no time for hesitation or doubt. That boy had officially become his perfect counter to Salem's forces.

There was a bleep and blip as his desktop Scroll opened up, a notification appearing on its closed screen that caused him to frown.

"That can't be good," Glynda said with a frown that Amber blinked at. "To have a notification pop up with it closed means that it's urgent, Amber."

"How urgent?" Amber was on her feet. "What's the news?"

Opening his desktop, Ozpin read over the text before sliding his finger up and having his eyes widened.

"Ozpin?" Glynda asked worryingly only to blink as his finger tapped a button on his desk and she pulled out her Scroll to see a message, Amber doing the same. "What happened?"

"Read it first," Ozpin said and his former students did as asked.

Reading it, Glynda frowned. "What is this?"

"… On the day of the incident," Ozpin said. "I went in and found a room that had a series of tubes with mysterious liquid in them, all broken and around the floor of that room."

"What was it— liquid Dust?!" Her eyes widened as she read further. "Ozpin, this is-!"

Amber stared at the tracks in the image on the screen, a forest that was a couple miles east of Vale the city… That was just outside the wall near Beacon!

"That close to here?!" Glynda shouted. "What does this mean?! Liquid Dust that resembles ancor for preserving corpses, Grimm tracks… What were they doing down there?" she asked with wide eyes, turning to Ozpin.

"Ozpin?"

"… Glynda, I'm hoping, praying, that Salem isn't a part of this… which may not even be the best outcome," Ozpin frowned as he stared at another picture.

Two separate tracks littered with liquid Dust ancor split in the forest near the ocean bordering on the land at near the edge of the continent.

There was a blip as an exclamation point appeared in the corner of his monitor and he opened it with barely a thought, knowing who it was.

-Ozpin!- a person appeared in that tiny screen off the corner of his desktop. –I saw it, what the hell is that?!-

"James," Ozpin nodded. "I… I don't know yet."

James or, more notably, James Ironwood, Headmaster of Atlas Academy in Atlas and their leading military leader.

James was a large, broad-shouldered, man who stood at a height of 6'6 with fair skin, a square jaw, blue eyes, and clean cut black hair with grey around the nape. He wore his usual, and treasured, white Atlas uniform, a double-breasted white coat with tail ends that led down to the back of knees. His pants were similarly-colored and led down into his black boots.

-Ozpin, I've looked at this substance and I'm unsure of what to make of it- the Atlas headmaster said with a frown. -I've never seen Dust like this before! It's something that I'd need samples of-

"I've already sent over a missive with some of it," Ozpin answered. "I want you to take a good look at this James, what happened down there… I fear we may have another faction to deal with."

-Your concerns are valid- James said with a nod. -…Oz-

"James…" Ozpin's response was… hesitant. "I… I want more time before you try and send someone over here."

James stared back at Ozpin with a shocked look. -…It's that bad?- he asked quietly, the very fact Ozpin hadn't shot down his attempt to send reinforcements… It meant something about the situation was downright wrong.

"James… They were growing Dust, there are Grimm likely splattered with this worrying substance, there was a silver-eyed boy with them. And if what Glynda and Qrow have been telling me is correct… they've done something I could never have even predicted."

Ironwood was slightly pale at the news and swallowed before asking. -What? What happened?-

"…" Ozpin clenched his fist. "They outfitted Grimm with Dust, James," the other headmaster flinched.

"Their power," Glynda spoke up with a grimace. "I've only ever seen something that destructive few times in my life. They…" she shivered a bit as Amber looked at her concerned.

"They true monsters, James," she emphasized. "Their masters are no slouches either, they have more than enough power to deal with a good amount of Hunters."

-You fought them?-

"Yes and Glynda's testimony is worrying," Ozpin said with a frown.

"How are there people this strong around?" Amber asked with disbelief. "This doesn't make sense, where are all these people coming from? How are they NOT in some system?"

"It's a rather unfortunate event that can happen often, actually," Ozpin said as James picked up.

-You have to understand, Amber, there are so many unaccounted for people that simply don't live in the Kingdoms as is. These powerful people could come from anywhere, that's another problem with the Grimm as they make making civilization difficult.-

"That still doesn't make sense, right?" Amber countered. "Surely people this strong would be known."

"Not necessarily," Ozpin answered. "Gangs, the underworld really, are a secretive bunch. In Mistral alone, there's likely multiple people who could deal with a Huntress, a normal one, anyway."

"I was smart enough to handle that woman, Esparza," Glynda said as a series of clicks and clacks emanated from Ironwood's screen. "That doesn't mean it'd be the same for others."

-Esparza… I'm searching for anyone like that in the registry of Vale but I don't… What kind of Faunus is she?-

"Snake, blonde, blue eyes, a ring of scales around her neck?"

-That's it!- James exclaimed. -She's a woman that goes by the name of Hana Vent, she was a… Oh…-

"James?"

-… Haaa,- the military man sighed as he held his head in his hand. -She was a former member of a fashion studio by the name of 'Odd Fasion', a joke on the word 'fusion'. She was making waves…in Atlas, haa…-

"What happened?" Amber asked but had a feeling she wouldn't like the answer. "General?"

-… She was staged. They convinced people that she was working for the White Fang around when they were turning violent. Mind you, she was proven innocent but that forever ruined her reputation.-

"And she came to Vale? For what?" Glynda asked but couldn't help but feel some sympathy for the woman.

-I don't know all the answers save for one, Glynda, this whole situation is kind of weird- James said. –Hana, shockingly enough, was what the peaceful White Fang would have liked when they were peaceful. She made fashion that was really popular among the people in Mantle and Atlas, one of my very professionals used to support her.-

"And then things went south," Ozpin said sadly as James nodded.

-Yes, she tried to restart her business… but people above weren't too happy with her- James mouth was set in a grim frown. -She was repeatedly attacked by 'mysterious groups that no one knows about' and was forced to flee for her own safety.-

"So a fashion designer turned gang leader?" Amber's frown was deep. "That doesn't add up, how is she able to fight off Glynda?"

"To be fair, she doesn't fight in a straightforward manner," Glynda stated as she readjusted her glasses. "She couldn't have been low on too much Aura when we fought and I dealt her heavy damage in a few hits. She's likely not built to fight directly and she works with misdirection."

"So that's her secret," Ozpin said, marking something down on a notepad on his desk. "What about the rest of them?"

"Collbrand was the name of the other one," Glynda reminded. "His sheer bulk was intimidating and he was able to send Qrow flying before I went off to fight Esparza."

-Hmmm- James hummed as he looked before he sighed. -He's a no go, he's likely a straggler.-

"The last man," Glynda frowned. "His name is Danzo and from what the others have said, he's a man of great power, political and battle-wise, in Mistral."

The keyboard clicking came to a stop as James looked down with a frown. -… Who said this?-

"Both Kakashi Grey and Obito Branwen said as much, noting from their travels in Mistral that he had a group that wandered the land," Glynda confirmed before her eyes widened as she remembered. "Ozpin."

"That young man," Ozpin started. "Is very likely our greatest asset against Salem's forces."

-Excuse me?- James blinked in confusion. -Ozpin that sounds rather ridiculous, he's certainly not a woman.-

"General, it's true," Amber added as she swallowed. "He's… He's able to use magic, at least, he has the ability to."

-WHAT?!- James's head seemed to lurch up as the sound of something cracked against the floor in his office. -Ozpin!-

"I know, I simply haven't thought up an approach to this situation."

-Ozpin, surely you might want some of my help on this matter- James pleaded as Ozpin grimaced. -If we can convince him, we'd have another true magician on our side!-

Amber made to speak up, a finger raised and mouth open, to say that there was more but Ozpin's hand, which was out of view from James's vision, rose and showed his palm to her.

She halted, eyes wide at his stopping gesture.

"James, give me some time," Ozpin said with resolution. "I want to try and convince him my way first before we try any other options."

The general of Atlas looked hesitant to listen before he sighed and disappeared from his screen, the sound of something scraping the floor reaching their ears, before reappearing with a squeak, sitting in his rotating chair.

-…- he grimaced further before speaking. -Ozpin, you will tell me when you're exhausted your options, yes?-

"I promise," Ozpin smiled at his old friend. "I want to try my own methods."

-… Very well, I guess that does work out in my favor.-

"Something happen?" Ozpin asked intrigued.

James winced. –Nothing I can't handle, just… there's a project going on that's going to be put into motion in Atlas, a luxurious, project.-

"Ah…"

That meant that it was likely some frivolous thing that the elite of Atlas intertwined with. Something Ozpin had no love for.

"I'll leave it to you then," Ozpin said with a nod, James reciprocating, before he ended the call. "Ha…"

"Why?" Amber asked almost as soon as the call ended. "Why didn't you tell him?"

"…" Glynda was silent but crossed her arms as Ozpin explained.

"James is a man I respect for many things, he's a master of many facets of combat, a tactician, and a man who's willing to sacrifice himself for his cause when he truly believes in it… But he's also human," Ozpin leaned back in his chair. "He's able to see cold logic, regardless of his emotion, when the situation seems at its worst. It can make his image worse even when he's doing it for the people."

"James believes in people," Glynda said with a solemn look. "Perhaps a bit too much at times, it's one of the reasons his body is the way it is. All because of a man by the name of Arthur Watts, his old friend and a disgraced scientist from Atlas."

"James is as human as it gets and I always worry about that," Ozpin said.

"What part of him makes you worry when it comes to Obito being a dragon, then?" Amber asked with a soft frown.

"James was already getting excited, Amber," Ozpin explained. "He was already hesitant to listen to my instructions with just the knowledge of Obito's possibility to use magic."

"If James were to know the actual hard fact that Obito Branwen is a dragon," Glynda grimaced. "He wouldn't listen, he'd let him in on anything to bring a power to our side. James's cold logic is worrying but his trust is his most dangerous trait."

~NRK~

James leaned back in his seat as he looked at the files on his desk.

Merlot Investigation: Approved

He groaned as he rubbed his eyes before ring echoed in his office and he stopped his rubbing to look down at his Scroll on his desk.

Seeing who it was, he sighed and opened it. "Jacques?" he said, with some strain as the call remained in Audio Only mode, James didn't feel like looking at anyone right now.

-James, yes, it's me… That project, how many seats are left?- it was a deep voice with a slight nasally tone to it.

James Ironwood blinked, the question bringing him a sort of… brevity, he guessed, that he desperately needed.

"If I'm correct, there should…" He scrolled through his desktop and looked at the Hyper Train details. "There's some seats left for the scientists."

-Do all of them need to be there?- Jacques asked.

"Well," where was this line of questioning heading? "I can chose a certain amount for the sake of any conflicts. Why?"

-… Some family decided they were coming to this junction- James had known Jacques for a while.

The man was prideful in the SDC brand like he'd made it which, technically, he'd made it what it was. He was a man who had great greed and was a wicked businessmen.

That said, when it came to family, he was… distant for lack of a better word. Jacques wasn't a great father, the man's own daughter had left slipped more than enough on that in James's service, and so family never really was something he was associated with. So who was this family he was concerned about?

His two youngest were already coming, Winter was coming as James's own entourage along with one of his specialists, and the Schnees… they were, unfortunately, woefully underperforming on family members.

Those that he knew about were either in hiding or gone, so who… Wait.

His eyes widened. "Is this about your eldest?"

-!- Jacques's voice hitched a bit. -… Yes-

If there was one child that Jacques could be said to be on strange terms with, it would be his eldest.

Alabaster Schnee, Jacques's first born and the one he named purposefully to make his heir… until the boy up and denounced his title to pass it on to Winter. A rather absurd move for one of the Schnee lineage, he'd been such a bright mind as well at that.

Needless to say, Jacques hadn't been too happy at the time but, for likely as long as James knew him, that was the first time he'd ever held his tongue.

Alabaster was one of Jacques supporters, actually, despite the boy's cheerful demeanor and casual attitude, he saw what his father was doing in a different life or, at least, his business side.

Winter didn't say much of her older sibling other than that she and he had differing opinions on important topics. That he'd left before they could reconcile, James had a feeling that Winter may not have taken well. She never seemed happy talking about Alabaster, if anything, she seemed downright sad and regretful.

Perhaps this was the universe showing him a sign? "Jacques, I think I can work him in," James grinned, thankful that his face couldn't be seen.

-Well, good! T-That's good! Though, he's bringing a plus one…-

"Girlfriend?"

-Oh, thank the gods, no. Some officer of his he met recently… James I really hope that that isn't the case.-

The general laughed. "Haha! Who knows! Maybe he'll surprise you!"

Jacques groan on the other side of the call reminded James of a simpler time, when the man was simply trying to prove himself in a world that didn't want him too.

James Ironwood, the boy from a lesser known family who wanted to change the world.

Arthur Watts, a boy who'd lost much and wanted to gain great knowledge.

And Jacques Gele, a boy who was as poor as dirt and wanted greater things.

James sighed for a bit. "I'll see if I can't do something, Jacques."

-… Thank you, James.- the call ended right then and there and the general leaned back in his seat, shoulders a bit less heavy than they were earlier.

He looked down at the investigation he approved with a clearer mind before pressing a button on the side of his desk.

-Yes sir?-

"Ms. Ivory, please send a message to Scientist Aubrey," he said with conviction. "I have something I want to discuss with her."

He had many things to consider and Aubrey had always been a great ear ever since he found her nine years ago.

~NRK~

And that's a wrap.

This chapter was to fill in the gaps on some backstories, Kakashi's being the centerpiece.

Yes, duh, Jacques Schnee wasn't born a monster, who could have saw that coming. It's always something I take issue with the show.

Jacques isn't some monster of a man who kicks puppies and burns money in front of the poor. For God's sake, he's just a guy who's too greedy for his own good. I do agree that Weiss likely has parental issues with him, no surprise, but I don't think he was some physical abuser who makes deals with Satan.

Even the latest season paints him as some idiot who's not evil, just an idiot. He wanted to win an election… a situation which would have literally done nothing to the people other than get them their jobs back since he was in opposition of James on the matter.

The way I view Jacques in the show is such: He's a ruthless, greedy, man who's always focused on the next thing to make him more powerful. Think Endeavor but without all the physical abuse, though some mental might be there. He's not thinking that he wants to crush people on a daily basis, he does so by proxy of his goal. There is a difference in that.

So yeah like many of the things in RWBY that find unfavorable, I'm rewriting his backstory in this fic. I hope people like it.

Words: 9.5k+, actually kept it under the 10k word limit so that's cool.

~NRK Out~