Man, being busy and having things to do sucks at times. This chapter would have come out much faster otherwise, but hey, that's just how it goes. Chapter is here now, later than anyone would like. Really hoping I can really get into writing GVLP and only GVLP soon.

Either way, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 46: Birds and Roses

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.(Chapter start)

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October 3rd

Thursday

Rainy

Azura was standing in Ozpin's office, alone for the first time within the room. The only noise to accompany him was the ticking of the clock below his feet, a constant reminder of the time going by. He wondered if Ozpin did that intentionally or not, though he suspected that the man did. It wouldn't be Ozpin if he didn't meticulously plan everything out.

His thoughts wandered as he watched the storming night sky from the office window, rain pouring down from the clouds like an unrelenting force. Lu's journal outlining the days with Aurora and what it was telling him, bringing that up to Ruby, needing to have a more proper talk with Weiss about Neo and Roman, how to approach Yang with the same topic, sitting Pyra down and getting into what was bothering her and now starting to bother him, as well as everything to do with Qrow.

And that was without getting into the Nightmare Grimm.

"We really don't have our work cut out for us, do we?" Summer asked, injecting some humor into the question.

"We never do, Summer. We never do." Azura answers, feeling a smile grow on his face at her presence. "I hope my thoughts didn't rouse you from...whatever it is you do when not at the forefront of my mind or body or whatever."

She laughs. "They didn't bother me, no. I do worry about you if it's so heavily on your mind, though."

His shoulders sag slightly with a sigh, relaxing as he felt Luna latch herself around his shoulders. "Just a lot to do and what feels like never enough time between training, things with Neo, the upcoming Vytal tournament, and what Ozpin is helping with."

"You'll have time." Summer says with some cheer in her voice before she laughs. "It's weird for you to not be the optimistic one here."

A laugh escapes from him, hearing the elevator ding. "You have a point there, Summer."

"What point would that be, Azura?" Ozpin asks, tapping his cane on the ground with a grouchy looking Qrow behind him. "Or was that not meant for our ears?"

The boy turns, shaking his head. "She just said that I'm typically the optimistic one."

Ignoring Qrow's snort of amusement, Ozpin spoke again.

"Well, she would not be wrong there."

Azura moved to stand on the other side of Ozpin's desk as the man himself moved to take a seat behind it, though he kept his distance from Qrow in the meantime. Ozpin looked between the two of them, as if weighing his options and words, then closed his eyes and spoke calmly.

"Let me go ahead and tell you why the two of you are here today. It's for two reasons, but let's go over the elephant in the room, hm?" He said, eyes narrowing slightly in Qrow's direction. "I understand how you feel, Qrow, but you cannot pin the blame on Azura. Or anyone, really."

"I already told ya, Oz, I'm not going anywhere. I fail to see why you want me to be all buddy-buddy with the ghost boy that was possessed by Summer."

Azura looked between the two men as their eyes met, soft brown on hard red, feeling rather out of place within the conversation despite it being about him in the first place.

"It's more of a fifty-fifty split, and has remained that way since it first happened." The headmaster said in a matter-of-fact tone. "His semblance has, in a way, jury rigged itself to protect him and keep Summer there."

"Like some sort of twisted symbiote?" Qrow asks, sounding irritated.

"A soul bond is more than a symbiotic relationship, but that is neither here nor there. Our discussion is about your attitude to him."

"I can feel however I damn want to, Oz. I just want to know why you recruited a literal child. He has no place here, Summer or not."

Azura grabbed Luna's arm, seeing her narrow her eyes at the man.

"My place here is because I wanted to be here. Everything that has happened has been done with my own consent and Summer's backing." He said, looking at Qrow from the side. "Just because I am bonded to Summer does not mean I am Summer."

"Look, kid." He said, approaching Azura. "I don't know who you think you are, but this is far from the proper place for someone who knows nothing of his situation. Don't you think that maybe the dead shouldn't be disturbed for your own selfish purposes?"

"I don't need the tough guy talk, Branwen." Azura said, Summer's voice growing thicker as he grew annoyed, keeping his grip on Luna. "Or would the drinker know better?"

"Both of you, enough." Ozpin commanded. "We are allies, not school rivals. Act like it."

Qrow turned away and walked back to where he was, while Azura's annoyance wilted and left him with more shame than anything. He had overstepped, enough so for Summer to feel guilty despite not saying a word.

"Azura, you know what happened there as much as I do. Is...she okay?"

The question could mean anything, from simple concern for Summer's state to asking if he was losing control.

Azura breathed out. "We're fine." He looks at Ozpin. "I'm fine with being allies, but Qrow has to back off from talking like he knows me. Otherwise, I won't hold Luna back next time."

"We both know that's an empty threat, Azura. I understand your annoyance." He looks to Qrow. "Just as I know your frustration."

Qrow shook his head after taking a swig from his flask. "What're you trying to do, Oz?"

"I'm making sure that we are all together in our beliefs and levels of trust." Ozpin answers. "I am very aware that you weren't even given time to prepare yourself for the reveal of Azura and his semblance, but the two of you fighting over something that doesn't even need to be fought over isn't going to do anything for anyone."

"Right." Azura says, sighing quietly. "I should consider more than Summer here."

For Qrow's part, he did grunt in acknowledgement. "Do the others know too?"

"I don't know. Azura?"

"Ruby and Yang haven't told me if they told anyone, if that's what you mean. I haven't told anyone beyond team Juniper and team Ruby." He answers, shrugging.

They didn't need to know that Raven not only figured it out, but had saved his and Yang's lives. He wasn't even entirely sure why he had told no one, and had even held the information when Yang asked about her.

"So, it's just you and those nine that know. Do you intend to tell Taiyang? Raven?"

Qrow sighs heavily. "I shoulda drank more if these were the questions you wanted to ask." He drinks from his flask once more.

The sight of him doing that sat uncomfortably between Azura and Summer, though there wasn't much he could really do about it, he felt. When the man pulled the flask away from his mouth, he spoke.

"But, no. I don't want to tell them, not right now. I doubt I could even find Raven right now after what happened."

"Yes, that is true." Ozpin said in response, falling silent.

After several moments passed without a single word said between the two of them, Azura had to wonder what exactly had occurred to cause such a silence right now. Summer surely didn't know, if even her confusion meant something. Was there a fallout after the first fallout of team Stark? One that occurred after Summer's death?

"Am I...missing something?" He eventually said, breaking the silence.

"Nothing that concerns…" Qrow begins, trailing off as he makes eye contact, then sighs. "Maybe later, for Summer's sake."

"That's what we call improvement, then." Ozpin joked lightly, easing the tension in the air. "Are you two done butting heads over Summer now?"

"I still want some explanations here." The dusty bird says. "From what I'm gathering, his semblance deals with the dead and their ghosts, and through a matter of survival, his soul basically merged with Summer's. That leaves them, where, exactly?"

"In a standstill, as of right now. I'm of the belief that something in Azura's semblance stopped their soul bonding or merging from finishing. Which is good, I'd say, since the current theory is that his soul and person would vanish and Summer would take his physical body as her own."

"That...sounds really weird. In a 'why does this exist' way."

"How do you think we feel?" Azura said dryly. "We've been getting used to sharing senses, I think I represent Summer and I when I say that we would prefer to keep it to just that."

"Please." Summer pleads quietly, sounding both amused and supremely uncomfortable.

"Nonetheless, it is a precarious situation that requires a lot of thinking to truly begin to unravel."

"Precarious enough to keep them this way? With your...set of tools?" Qrow asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, without a doubt." The man answered. "The three of us are working on a form of separation, though. Not a full and permanent one, but one that would let Summer interact with the world beyond Azura's senses."

Qrow looks over at Azura, a new curiosity entering his eyes.

"Putting that aside," Ozpin announced, gaining their attention once more. "We have one more matter to speak of." He glances towards Azura. "It seems like you were correct when you told me that the Nightmare Grimm would remain near. We've seen signs of it carving a path through the dense forests of northern Vale."

Concern ran through Azura's veins like a chill upon hearing his words.

"I should specify the Northwest part of Vale. It swerves clear of your village." Ozpin assures, though his assurances are quickly killed a moment later. "It has destroyed some villages, towns, and buildings in its path, though. It doesn't seem to be hiding...but we can't pinpoint where exactly it's going or where it even hides for a home. It moves only in the darkness of night."

"Who in the world do you have tracking this thing?" The drunken man asked, sounding surprisingly sober now.

"Currently no one. They're presumed dead now."

Azura frowned. "It wants to be chased, then?"

"I can't be too sure. I'm sending a Huntress skilled in stealth after it, if only to find out what it could be using as a base of sorts and where. It's staying in a very large area, roaming for miles and miles in all directions from what the last transmission was from the original group." Ozpin answered. "The main reason for Qrow being here to hear about this Grimm is that I want him to be a secondary tracker, who goes out after her in a few days."

"When?"

"A week from now, October tenth."

"Any details or instructions to know?"

"I'll fill you in later tomorrow for that." Ozpin says, waving him off before looking to Azura. "Azura, I'd like for you to stay here for some training tonight. I understand it's late, but I have a theory I wish to test."

"Of course." Azura responds, nodding his head.

"Sounds like it's time for me to take my leave, then. See you around, Oz." Qrow said, waving his hand as he turned and walked off with a single glance towards Azura. "Kid."

The man enters the elevator, disappearing behind the metal doors. As the sound of it descending is heard, Azura sighs and scratches the back of his head.

"We shouldn't force him to like me, you know."

"I know. I only brought it up because, while he might not like you and you might butt heads with him, you two are going to need to work together." He explained, tapping his cane a moment later. "Now, why don't we get started?"

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.(Line Break)

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Searching within yourself proved to be much harder than Azura could ever expect, even if this was still somewhat new to him. The previous times have proved to give no sense of progress towards their goal of a temporary separation, which made it hard to focus in the end. When you are attempting to do something that requires pure focus and continue to not show any progress, it can get distracting, which was his current predicament.

He couldn't focus because he was thinking about his failures, which then looped back into not being able to focus, causing him to fail and think on said failure. Ozpin did say that it was likely the hardest part of the entire process, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard. He generally picked things up easily after some practice, but his thoughts wandered to the possibility of what he could be missing to make this finally line up and work.

"You've lost your focus." Ozpin's voice entered his ears. "Open your eyes, relax."

Azura listened to his words, opening his eyes as he pushed his hands back to hold his weight, relaxing with a sigh.

"You're distracted."

He nods in return. "I can't find anything. Lost my focus because of it."

"Thinking on failure will not do good if you are not trying to find what caused the failure, Azura." Ozpin advised, his wisdom easily heard in his voice. "Might I suggest my theory for you to try?"

The words cause the boy to look up at the man, curious. "An idea?"

"Yes." He affirmed. "When you first tried this, you tried searching for Summer's aura signature within yourself and found nothing, correct?"

Azura nods, standing up and wiping his hands of dust.

"But you also seemed to slip into this...place of water and rose petals. Which is a place you first spoke of when you and Summer were soul bonding." The man explains, tapping his cane lightly as he slowly paced. "This idea stems from that. It's likely as I thought, where your aura signatures are mixing together like paint, and that got me thinking on how that is the case."

"Our souls are bonded to some degree...so our aura mixed alongside that?" Azura asked for the sake of asking.

"Exactly." Ozpin answered, pointing at him. "Back onto this place, though...I was able to drag you out last ti-"

"You were?" Azura interrupted, not recalling such a thing being told.

"Ah...something akin to that. A part of my semblance." The man explained. "My idea, however, was about possibly bringing you back to this place. It might be, and likely is, all in your head...but you were very close to Summer in that moment months ago. Very close." He sighs a moment later. "I would be willing to try if you are as well."

"He's...not wrong."

Summer's words rippled softly, expressing her worry and doubt of the idea. Azura frowned, considering it. While the first time had been a close call, it was also a very different scenario than the most recent time and now, in this moment. It was safer here, more controlled. His semblance gated the bond from progressing further, so long as he had aura. He looked past Ozpin to Luna, who was cautiously watching Ozpin. When he caught her gaze, she gave him a smile, fox ears perking up. A silent reassurance of whatever choice he made.

"We're both active and here this time." Azura thought, speaking to Summer. "It could be safe this time."

"You think so?"

"I do."

"Okay." Summer says after a few moments of silence, a feeling of some confidence coming from her. "We...should try it, I think."

Azura nods, taking another look at Luna before shifting his gaze to Ozpin's expectant one. "I think we should try."

"Then try it we shall." Ozpin responds, a smile gracing his lips. "I would take a seat, just in case."

Heeding his advice, Azura moved to take a seat in the single chair that lingered on the side of the desk. He sat down, relaxing himself with a quiet sigh. Luna moved to float by his side while Ozpin went to stand in front of him, putting his cane on top of the already cluttered desk. The two of them looked at each other before nodding, then Ozpin moved to place his hand on Azura's shoulder.

"You'll be looking for anything Summer related. You said you saw memories last time you were here, look for anything similar."

Flashes of people shifted into his eyes before they fluttered close, a soft green glow entering the darkness behind his eyelids. He breathed out softly, feeling as though he was falling asleep. It was an odd sensation that passed through his body, as if he was falling in place.

Without opening his eyes, a place opened up before him. Water trickled through his hair and around his body, gently embracing him as he sat up to examine his surroundings. Familiar red-white rose petals floated on the water in the dozens, hanging from the trees that stuck its roots into the small patches of grassy land.

He walked forward for a few steps before looking up into the sky. It was a near empty night sky, a perpetual darkness hanging over the place within his mind. Looking back down, he closed his eyes again. He could still feel Ozpin's hand on his shoulder, but he pushed the idea away to avoid being distracted, and began to search for anything Summer.

The woman was silent, but still there. Her aura, as Ozpin said, was possibly mixed with his, so they couldn't look for aura and aura signatures. They needed to find something deep within. The sounds of water splashing followed his footsteps, finding it very disconcerting to know that he was sitting in a chair and not actually walking while he did so.

After only a few moments, Azura found himself looking at a full rose. The stem was broken, but its petals were in perfect condition, their white and red colors mixing together. He picked it up, and looked around once it seemed to do nothing at all.

"Come to me…"

Summer's voice whispered within his head and the water rippled at the sound.

"You only need to find me…"

His eyes snap open as the words wrap around his mind with a chokehold. Ozpin was standing before him, hands off and away from the boy. A cold hand was gripping his warm one, and he looked around to examine the room before him. He was still in Ozpin's office, surprised to find that Luna was fully visible as well.

"My semblance." He whispered to himself, quickly shutting it off. "I was using my semblance?"

"After a certain point, yes. You didn't seem to take too kindly to it." Ozpin answered, shaking his head slowly. "Do you feel like I should stop?"

"For now, I think…" Azura muttered, feeling that Summer's presence had shrunk, like she was hiding. "I want to try again later. I think you were right to think that there was something about that place that should be explored."

The headmaster nods, adjusting his glasses. "Then, you are dismissed."

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.(Line break)

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Azura sighed as he stepped out onto the late night Beacon grounds, the chill of the night biting his ears. The night sky was somewhat visible beyond the lights that stood guard along the stone paths. He looked to his left and his right, finding no one else around, and began to walk down a random path. He didn't want to return to the dorms yet, and his sweatshirt provided him with a level of warmth to fight off the Autumn cold, so he figured he could take a walk to clear his head before heading back to the JNPR dorm.

Despite his intention to clear his head, he didn't want to push and prod Summer. They both already knew that both of them needed to be here and putting forth the effort to achieve this so-called temporary separation, but she was still hesitant. But, what was she hesitating for? Was she afraid? Did she think that this would fail, despite every effort to keep that from happening?

The questions circled around in his mind like Nevermores who found prey, keeping his mind occupied as he walked down the path.; ; ; ; ; He was so distracted that he hadn't even noticed that he walked by someone until he heard his name being called.

"Azura?"

It was spoken softly, but enough to catch his ears. He stopped and turned around, taking Pyra into his vision as he looked the girl up and down. She must have had shorts on, since all he saw past one of his sweatshirts was bare legs and shoes. When he took a moment to look around, he saw the CCT from its central location, then looked back over at Pyra.

"I didn't think you would be out at this hour, Pyra. Aren't you cold?"

She shrugs, keeping her soft spoken tone. "A little bit, I suppose. I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a walk."

Azura looks at the girl, finding her blue eyes to be distracted and not meeting his own silver and yellow ones.

"Nightmare?"

"No."

He scratches the back of his head. "Is this about my...less than stellar work as your partner?"

"No." She answers, shaking her head slowly. "It's not your fault."

Azura's lips thin as he approaches her. "It is, Pyra. I've been spending a lot more time with-"

"It's always those four with you. No, it's always Blake this or Blake that now with how much time you spend with her.." Pyra said, cutting him off before she paused, rubbing her face with both hands. "Sorry...I don't mean that, I'm just…"

"Frustrated?"

"Yes." She answers in a whisper, heard just over the wind.

He stands before Pyra in silence, thinking over his words before saying anything. "I don't want to assume, so I'll ask. What's really the problem here?"

"Am I not good enough, Azura? Did you want Blake to be your partner instead?"

"No, no no no." Azura answers swiftly, shaking his head and taking a step closer. "Blake is Yang's partner, and I would never want to change that. Just as you are my partner."

His eyes meet with Pyra's blue ones, and he smiles to try and reassure her.

"And I would never change that for the world. Even if I have sucked at being a partner to you in return."

The single foot height difference between them had never seemed so large to Azura, with her a mere two steps in front of him. The silence was uncomfortable to him as she stared up at him, her breathing the only thing providing any form of white noise as he waited for her to say something, anything to break the silence.

"Prove it." She said softly, as if expecting something from him.

He blinked, having not expected for this conversation to be as brief and blunt as it was. Had he overestimated Pyra's feelings? Summer offered no assistance or hints, and Luna had already scattered to give them privacy. He had never missed the help more than in this moment.

"How?" He asked in a quiet manner, not sure what else to say or do.

"Tell me what's going on." She said, biting her lip. "It seems like only Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang know things that happen to you, but never your own team. Not even me."

Azura sighs, looking to the side. There was a lot that he could tell her, all of them separate topics, and not even team RWBY knew some of it. The entire investigation into the White Fang the five of them were doing, what he was doing with Neo, Ozpin and the Inner Circle, and whatever was going on with Summer. All topics that were a big deal, all with varying levels of importance and what reaction they would get.

So should he give her the truth? He would hate to lie to her, but to bring Pyra into the know would involve her in some dangerous things. Did he trust her enough to listen to him and not jump the gun? He looks to the ground before looking back up at Pyra, who was expectantly waiting for him to speak.

"Team Ruby and I are investigating the White Fang." He says, admitting to one of the topics. "We have been since Blake ran off some months ago."

"With you in tow." She says, crossing her arms.

"With me in tow." Azura echoes. "It's been a long time since then, and we're slowly making progress. It's been a group effort, but we...don't want to involve more people than we need to."

"Why not? You know that team Juniper would join you and help. I would help too."

"I know that, we all do. But…"

"But what? Do you not trust us?"

"No, we do trust you guys. But this is dangerous, so we haven't wanted to get others involved."

"Dangerous? Azura, we had an entire breach of the city not far from here. There were so many Grimm there, and some that were supposedly ancient. You were nearly killed by that Grimm, right?" Pyra says, not looking happy. "You aren't telling me something...you five aren't telling any of us anything. Don't you think it's whispering in the back of our minds, wondering what is happening?"

Azura goes silent, not knowing what he could say in return. Pyra breathes out, sighing as she pushes her hair out of her face.

"Why do you think we shouldn't be involved?" She asked softly. "Personally."

"Less people would be less suspicious." He says. "But that's the logical side of me. The other sides are telling me to keep you and Pyrrha and everyone safe. And, well, Beacon is safe."

Pyra smiles with a shake of her head. "That's...Azura, we don't need to be protected."

"I know that." Azura replies. "But I would feel a whole lot better if no one else got involved."

She sighs then, sounding tired. "Okay."

Azura tilts his head slightly, waiting for her to say something else. The wind blew through gently, reminding them both of the cold atmosphere around them.

"I hate that I agree with you. I would feel the same way, I think." Pyra says, looking to the ground as she licks her lips. "And I hate that about myself...seeing where you're coming from."

"I'm sorry."

Azura's words are light, placing a hand on Pyra's shoulder for a moment as he pieces together his next words. However, Pyra steals the next words before he could so.

"I know." She looks back up, sniffling. "Can we go now? I'm cold."

"Did I...help you at all?" He asks, wanting to make sure he alleviated her worries.

"It helps to know what is going on, even if I don't like it." She answers, blue eyes hardening. "You don't want us or me involved...does that mean I can't tell the others?"

"I would prefer it." Azura says, giving a troubled smile. "Again, I'm sorry."

A frown comes across her face momentarily before softening with some emotion. "If you're sorry, then carry me back to the dorm."

"Yeah, yeah…"

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.(Line break)

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Neo had been scouting the surrounding area leading to her and Azura's next target on the second floor of Junior's club when she heard the heels of one Militia Malachite approaching her table. Despite the disguise she wore, the young woman always seemed to know who she was, so she dispelled her semblance and closed her scroll. Whatever reason she had to talk to her, Neo didn't exactly have much choice in listening to her or not, so she simply raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"You must be rather arrogant if you think I don't see through your games, Neopolitan." The girl said, her ever-so-sharp green eyes narrowing.

So long as she acted in peace, Neo knew that Militia could do nothing but talk. She tilted her head with a confused expression, taking enjoyment in seeing annoyance come across Militia's face.

"Word has it you were seen with a certain boy." She continued, keeping her calm. "I don't trust you as far as I can throw you when it comes to him, you're planning something."

Neo placed a finger to her chin lightly, posing a silent question of what the girl was even talking about.

The reaction she gets is a heavy sigh. Militia places a hand on her waist, shifting her weight as she speaks again.

"I figured that would be the answer I get." A blood red claw extends in her free arm, her weapon partially unsheathed. "I'm watching you. I won't just let you use him as a plaything."

Her words did cause Neo's eyes to narrow ever so slightly.

Militia rolls her eyes. "Going to tell me not to interfere with him? Or have you claimed him with that...body?"

She stands up from her seat at the table with a stiff look in her eyes, quickly relaxing a moment later and grabbing her parasol as she calmed herself. She flipped it around her wrist using the curved handle, then rested it against her shoulder. As she walks off, Militia calls to her.

"What do you even want from him?"

Neo paused, then looked back to the girl over her shoulder. She smirks, then sticks her tongue out at the girl. Seeing her frown and narrowed eyes in response, she turns back around and walks off with a skip in her step.

Wouldn't she like to know.

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.(Chapter End)

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Lots of talking, I know. But don't worry, I have tricks up my sleeve as we continue forward. First, though, I need to be able to become more consistent like when we were in the early parts of the story. That's for me to do, though.

So, Neo is up to her shenanigans and Militia is being...well, rough with her words. Given her upbringing, I'm sure you can imagine how openly she speaks.

Hope you have a nice day/evening!