Chapter 44 - Awaited Reunion
It was a peaceful weekend, all things considered, a rarity given my abnormal lifestyle among Beacon and its residents. I was alone, no Echo, and in an empty training hall with only two other occupants. The newest 'member' as Myst was insistent on the idea, Shiri Star, my partner's recently adopted daughter. And my good ol' pal, Jaune.
"Understanding your center is key to magnifying your aura, to put it simply, you need to learn to accept whatever it is that weakens you, your short-comings, your fears, the more control, and understanding you have of those, the better and larger your aura grows with time," I instructed, all three of us sat with our legs crossed.
Shiri's new casual outfit was a simple pair of white shorts with black and white running shoes dotted with purple stars. Her T-shirt was striped, purple, and black with a matching, lilac jacket tied to her waist. She had her two braids tied with red ribbons, a silver hair clip keeping the bangs out of her eyes. She honestly looked like the purple variant of Azure only with longer bangs and lack of Wolf additions. I also added my own touch with two, orange wrist bands, a 'pretty alright contrast' as Myst and Coco put it.
Jaune was the first to stop generating a white veil around his body, panting heavily while Shiri's continued to flicker in and out, sweat forming on her wrinkled brow. "This... is alot harder than I thought."
"It happens, I mean, you basically had no training prior to Beacon, so you're runnin' the expert difficulty in terms of training," I clicked my tongue, "Again, really freakin' stupid but gotta hand it to ya, you got guts to try without an Aura until the trial,"
He smiled awkwardly at my strange compliment. "I... thanks, with Pyrrha and Ren's help I really felt like I've improved," He held his fist out, generating a small shield around. "And you've helped me concentrate my Aura where it's needed - I never thought Aura could do that."
Shrugging I scooted closer to Shiri. "Eh, I just point in one direction I hope others aren't so incompetent to fail along the way, so it's you not me," Now sat before Shiri, I placed my hands on her small shoulders. "Kid, stop forcing it, you'll burn yourself out - you need to calm down, this ain't a race."
"I-I'm trying... ngh!" Her aura suddenly spiked, burning my palms slightly as I forced my aura onto hers, suppressing the small surge. When her eyes opened again she gasped. "S-sorry..."
"Honestly," Shaking my head I just channelled my aura around my singed hands, healing the effect with ease. "You and Azure are too much alike, always concerned for no reason... well, in any case, I think we're done here," Standing up, I helped Shiri to her feet, but her head was still down at her own hands. "Spit it out, kid." She flinched at my blunt tone but I wasn't going to have her mulling over something her body can't handle.
She always did this thing where she'd play with one of her braids whenever something embarrassing was brought up. "I... I wanna, um..." I and Jaune looked at one another, himself shrugging as Shiri looked down at her feet. "...I want to be... like you..."
Que the brow-raising skepticism. She wasn't lying but I hardly saw why anyone wanted to be a grumpy as me. "Why's that?" I expected her to say Azure, hell, even Myst but me? That's... um, really flattering.
"...you're really strong, and-and I want to help with my Semblance because you helped me." She blurted out in one go. Honestly, dealing with children is really strange, something anyone else could handle better than me. She was stiff on the spot, face red with embarrassment as I knelt down to pat her on the head, lifting her eyes to my one, visible orb.
"Being like me didn't come cheap," That's the reality, even if she was just a kid. "But, like Jaune, you both can grow strong in your own ways - not many kids your age unlock their Semblance and Aura so early - heck, I never unlocked mine until I was nearly twice your age."
"Really?" Those damn, big eyes...!
"Heh, yeah," Ruffling her hair I stood up, hand on my hip. "Strength isn't what defines your soul, it's your emotions, your dreams, and willingness to overcome fears," With minimal focus, two chains coiled around my right arm, hugging my jacket until they bobbed at my fingertips. "Inside all living creatures lies a soul, it is what transcends death, the very core of who we are and what we have chosen to become in our lives, it is what the Creatures of Grimm lack, and a power they too can fear more than an idiot with a weapon." I poked at her chest, smiling all the same. "Your soul can manifest, become a paragon of virtue and glory, a sword and shield."
"Wow, that was really deep," Jaune murmured, patting his chest. "I only unlocked mine thanks to Pyrrha, even if I don't have a Semlbnace I feel something's there."
"That's possibly the great volume of Soul energy you have, as Pyrrha told me, you've got alot of it," Nodding to his inquiry I noticed a certain bluette and Nightmare approaching. "Well, more on the philosophy of souls another day, it's nearly lunchtime - yo." I flicked my hand at them.
"Sup guys," Echo waved, looking down at Shiri curiously. "Huh, her Soul's gotten stronger - yours too, Jaune."
"Really?" Jaune and Shiri blurted out, and the blonde finally looked confident in himself
"'That's great, see, Zorah's a good teacher, isn't he?'" Azure smiled fondly at her daughter, while I shrugged. "'Thanks for looking after her while Echo helped me with Shooting Star'"
"What's with the compliments today?" Shaking my head, I wandered past them. "Well, before lunch I've got to meet up with the rest, said there's a transfer coming for the Festival that's arriving late today - why not check out the competition, right?"
Jaune suddenly jumped. "That's right, we're going to be late!" Without warning, I felt my body tilt as I was dragged out of the amphitheatre by the arm. "Come on, Zorah!"
"You know, much as I love having people do stuff for me at times, dragging me won't make me move faster - seeya girls later I guess," I casually waved back, Shiri blinking curiously while Azure waved me off, Echo just giggled behind her hand like a devil. Now out of earshot, I raised my fist. "You're wearing my soles out, Blondie-The-Second."
*BAM!*
"Why am I here exactly, Red?" I turned to Ruby for an answer, only to see her buzzing with excitement.
"Because~ This team's late due to being on a super tough mission - AND they're the same year as us!" Again, fascinating as that is, why am I here?
"Isn't spying Weiss's job?" That earned me a jab to the shoulder. "I stand by my word."
"Hmph, I merely wish to welcome them to -" Weiss caught herself when me, Myst, Yang, Blake, and Nora all gave her 'The Look'. She turned, crossing her arms. "Oh please, you all were thinking about it."
"No Comment." "Guilty." "Yeah." "Yep." "You know it."
"Hey, think I see them!" Eros waved, hopping down from the large, white pillars lining the front entrance to Beacon, it was often a good place to sit in the sun away from people, or for spying on who was entering/exiting Beacon for Vale. Eros smiled, pointing down the middle of a few odd students moving about the large road.
My eye squinted, trying to pick apart the person from the odd groups - Wait... this soul is...
"Heeeeey!" No one saw it, but I visibly flinched at the distant voice, my eyes shadowed by my hair.
"Huh? Who said that?" Myst held her hand over her brow to try and make out the shadow quickly approaching our location. How did I get spotted so easily from here?
"Looks like the transfer student? Maybe? I don't think that's a uniform from any school I've seen?" Even Eros struggled to make out the person now and I slowly shifted back from the group, hands in my pockets.
"Must be someone else - not our guy, not our problem," Turning around, I had no intention of staying longer. With a strained, whispered voice I added. "What a lovely day..."
"Zoraaaaah!" Crap. I shrunk under both my friends', Jaune's, and sister's teammates' eyes. This was already hot water. "Hey, I know you can hear me!" That was the tragedy here...
"Hmm, must have been the wind," I dismissed.
"Clearly," Weiss crossed her arms with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. "She definitely seems to know you."
I pointed to myself. "'Devil of the Sword', pretty sure all of Vale knows at this point," That would be great for revenue. Not the issue - shaking my head, I quickly sped up my walk before Myst or Yang could stop me. "Nope, I see nothing, I heard nothing, all of this is nothing."
"Well that nothing's pickin' up speed," Nora teased with a grin
"Wow, she's really moving fast - i-is that a sword?" Jaune grimaced.
"It appears so, wonder why she's drawn it in the open, isn't that against the rules?" Pyrrha wasn't helping me in this case. "Z-Zorah, who is this girl exac-"
"Hey, would you answer me already!?" Oh no...
Groaning angrily, I clasped Night Sky. "Fucking typical..." In one sudden shift, I withdrew the dark blade, seeing the clash of white and red sparks between myself and the woman now attacking me. The sight startling everyone around me as I stared bluntly ahead, shoving the crimson blade off my own. "You really don't know how to greet people like a normal person, do you?"
"Like you're one to talk, I was trying to wave you down, but noooo, apparently that's not enough to pierce that fat ego of yours."
"Why thank you," I smirked slightly at her twitched brow.
"You're unbelievable."
"Coming from you, that's insulting."
The girl in question stood at a medium height. She had mid-length dark-blue tinted hair with a single left-swept red highlight on her bangs. Her blue eyes have peculiar gear-like pupils with eight grooves around the edges. Her outfit is a simple white shirt with a red ribbon tie, a black miniskirt, white sneakers, and a black & white jacket with rolled-up sleeves.
In her right hand was her signature weapon, one half of a giant pair of scissors, which she wields as a one-handed, single-edged longsword. Copy-cat if I'm honest.
Breathing through my nose, I knew what was coming next. "Okay, Ryuko - wait, did you dye your hair?" I pointed, breaking the tension momentarily as my crowd of friends practically collapsed.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT!?" Okay, ow. Good thing Echo isn't here.
She blinked, then stood to play with the red highlight between her two fingers. "Um, yeah, thought I'd change things up, ya know - and hey!" She slammed the tip of her blade off the concrete. "Stop changing the subject, you ass! I'm winning this time, got that!?"
Rolling my eyes I chuffed. "Oh please, I won more times than you."
"Dumbass."
"Twat."
"Snowball."
"Exhibitionist."
That last one made her blush intensely, swinging her scissor at me shakily. "Hey, that wasn't even my fault and you know it!"
"Uh-huh, whatever you say." Drawing Night Sky toward her I grinned. "Come and shut me up then, Lil sis."
"LIL SIS!?" I'm going to have a headache later.
"Tch - hyrah!" In a blur of black and red, I felt her presence lunge on me in an instant. Flashing a smile, I marked this as our 'Reunion' match.
Her blade tore through the concrete while mine skimmed her aura, the hilt of her scissor blade deflecting my attack while I hopped up to avoid her swing, kicking off the face of her blade. Ryuko closed the gap, slashing frantically at my blind spots, forcing me to remain on guard until I stepped back sharply, drawing Night Sky up to deflect her vertical slant.
Stepping back, I rubbed my shoulder, peeling back a red smudge on my finger. "Using your threads again, I barely noticed it until I used your sword like a stepping stone."
Ryuko paused, grinning as she pulled her left hand back, revealing the near-invisible red threads in the light, four tangled around her fingers, woven from her clothing. "Managed to make them thinner, even got their tensile strength higher just from seeing you again - corny as that sounds."
"Threads of Emotion, what a pain," I chuffed, pulling out my own, black chains from my chest, the thick, rattling links bound to my body. "Let's see, Thread or Chain, which is better?" I couldn't stop grinning, now this was fun!
Vanishing, I swung my sword at Ryuko's back, her shadow moving to reveal me as her blade slid across mine, both of us locked while she kicked forward, flipping over my head, forcing me to guard against a sudden cross-slash, rolling forward to evade her vertical chop, the ground under me splitting. Pivoting around, we locked blades again, crossing relentlessly, scoring the earth while my chains broke and her threads snapped, both of us spilled small drops of blood.
By now many students were probably watching us, but all that became static in the background, my burning irises locked to the gear-shaped ones focused solely on me. Ryuko dived, sliding around in an attempt to flank me, so I bent my arm backward, bracing with my chains to block her attack, a small gust of wind between us.
"What the..."
"I've gotten stronger too," Looking over my shoulder, a flash of anger filled her eyes. "And you're still as hot-headed as ever."
"Bite me!" Ryuko threw herself back, gaining room briefly while I sunk away into her own shadow. The ravenette gagged not a moment later, my fist twisted against her stomach, flinging her across the pathway while forcing her to roll away from my plunging attack, scoring Night Sky through the brickwork to catch her, blinding Ryuko with a flick of dust upon relieving my blade from the ground. "Ack!"
Ryuko held her footing again, lunging down only for me to flip over her obvious attack, using a small sonic burst behind me to thrust my blade across her protective threads, splitting them and slicing her Aura. Turning sharply, I inverted Night Sky, drawing it around in a diagonal cross, parrying her attempted plunge.
Another solid kick to the stomach and she was down, blade remaining glued to her fingers. "Still want to try and get the drop on me? Lil sis." Even from here I saw steam vent from her head. It was fun to tease her.
Ryuko shot up, spinning the scissor's handle around her wrist, drawing it forward to cut back my chains from reaching her forearms. The slithering steel kept her on the defense for once, each either slashed to pieces or rebound through the air to be bound in her crimson threads, herself forming a webbing of chain and thread above us until they disintegrated. "How the hell do you even know you're older - we're the same age!?"
"I'm taller, duh." Thought that was obvious? Her eye twitched, then she held her scissor with both hands. Rubbing my head, I let the silence ring out, murmurs here and there. "...you've grown alot, Ryuko."
Her seething face faltered, lowering her scissor while scratching her cheek bashfully. "Y-yeah, thanks..." The silence passed by and finally, her grin split her stubborn face. "Heh, I'll show you what I've learned, bring it on!"
"I'm waiting," Sheaving Night Sky, I drew both, locking the scabbard and blade for its 'True' form, lifting it so that my stance held the edge high in both hands.
Ryuko lunged with a furious cry, her highlight glowing a bright, cherry red, matching her sword's. She drew it wide with a large halo of red - her arms tensed with her left moving to the handle guard, extending it outward. "Scissor Blade-!" This is new. The blade split down the middle of the edge, extending the length of her blade to match True Night Sky's reach. "-Decapitation Mode!"
Ryuko swung from her right, shaving my chest with enough kinetic force to carve a large, jagged U-shape through the concrete behind me, almost hitting the onlookers with the gale-force and rubble alone. With a great deal of balance, I managed to stand strong, hoisting my body forward again, grinning back at my sister. She really is amazing...
Pulling forward, I readied my sword in both hands again, "Now this is getting interesting."
Ryuko shared my enthusiasm, posing her blade so it ran parallel with her nose. The tension was brief but unbearably tense between us, my soul and hers resonating from across the tight gap between us. The second our feet left the earth, our blades screeched, red and white sparks grinding while our positions reversed, pulling back for Night Sky to block her upward slant.
Our constant strikes tore off a thin layer of the ground under us, both our blades, chains, and fibers mingling together. "I thought you said you'd show me what you've learned!? I'm still waiting!" My foot kicked her chest, breaking her Aura and dispelling her threads, those that remained on either side of us splitting the bricks, holding us steady.
"I'll show you... just how strong I can get!" Ryuko growled, driving Night Sky away from my chest so she could land an iron-like left cross to my jaw, throwing me off my balance temporarily. "Even after all this time, you still piss me off!"
"Wouldn't have any other way, bitch!" At this rate, we'd probably cause more damage than just a few bricks in the road but nothing Professor Goodwich can't repair. Both of us were inching closer and closer, ready to either draw or declare victory.
*Shiiing!*
"Eh? Oof!" Both I and Ryuko tumbled into each other, Ryuko landing atop me as both our blades clattered to the ground in an instant from a third party. Looking up past Ryuko's hair, I froze.
"Um... hehe, heeey Master, lovely day?" Grinning sheepishly, Ryuko sat up, rubbing her head.
"Man, I felt like a truck hit me," Blinking, her gear-eyes rolled around to the armor-clad man above us, himself silent while sheaving his own, draconic-styled sword. In an instant, Ryuko completely forgot about what just happened, crushing my stomach as she stood up with a rare, bright face. "Uncle Yin! Man, I didn't know you were at Beacon too!"
"Yes, I am the Combat Professor here," He bowed his head. "It is good to see your heated engagements with Zorah haven't wavered, and your swordsmanship has improved greatly."
"Don't mind me, still down here in the dirt," Waving my hand, I hopped up, picking put our swords in each hand. "Sorry about the courtyard, kinda just... happened?"
"T-that's... my bad," Ryuko slumped, taking her scissor from me, collapsing it back by fixing the handle guard back against the hilt's edge. She looked around, wincing at the damages to the road with a wary smile. "Think we overdid it?"
"Oh hell no, we've cut a building in half before," I reminded her, seeing her hand move to hide her pink cheeks.
"Ugh, don't bring that up... it's not my fault, who has a house build suspended over a cliff anyway?" She excused herself, and I quickly reported by flicking her forehead.
"Mistral, and their horrible contractors," Holding my gaze to my Master, I nodded to his silence. "I'll clean this place up."
"No need, I have informed Goodwich, she will see to the damages, thankfully they were minimal," I was taken back alongside Ryuko, the two of us sharing a baffled look until the old man chuckled, patting our shoulders. "The repercussions can wait, you two should see to spending this day together."
"You sure?" Ryuko added, looking around at our chaos
"Go, I will handle the rest," With that and a light pat to our backs, we were sent on our way, ignoring the looks the student body gave us, yeah, this was going to do wonders for my name.
"Zorah, that... was... Awesome~!" Ruby squealed, hands close to her face as she gushed.
"Eh, you've done worse," I added bluntly, holding my hand out. "I'll deal with the twenty questions speel now - yes, Ryuko here is my younger, biological sister, her hair's naturally white underneath if you're wondering-" This was going to be a long lunch.
"You..." All the excitement simmered down at Ryuko's blank stare between her bangs. I quickly sensed it, a burning flare in her heart. "You're both..."
"Huh, what's with her?" Yang pointed dumbly, and in a heartbeat, Ryuko was upon her and Ruby, her scissor drawn with a blood-thirsty glare.
"YOU'RE THE BASTARDS THAT DID THIS!" Really wish Echo was here right now. Within a second of her muscles so much as tensing, I moved between my sisters, grabbing the tip of her weapon with my bare hand, keeping it from so much as grazing the pair. Ryuko hesitated instantly, blade shaking between us. "Z-Zorah? What the hell are you-"
"Calm down Ryuko," I spoke sternly, holding her glare with a lax stature. "I'd rather not have to explain to the school why my crazy sister turned two students into rashers of human flesh." With a flick, her whole guard fell, almost until she flat out landed on her backside. "Now, if you're done injuring me for one day, and threatening Red and Blondie, let me explain."
Once more, I detailed everything that transpired between me and Tex to Ryuko, from how he manipulated their minds and hearts against me, all to get back at my Mom, and is the one that... killed her. Ryuko just remained slack-jawed the whole time, unable to say anything. With a sigh, I concluded, "And that's how it is, I was so close to killing him, and yet... I failed."
"I... what the hell?" That's about what I expected of her. Rubbing my now healed hand, I took a bite of my apple. Ryuko then rubbed her temples, looking over at Ruby and Yang who were equally on edge about the retelling. "Crap, I almost... s-sorry 'bout that, I just knew whatever Zorah told me a while back."
"More so I should've told you the rest but... well, no use complaining now," I shrugged, looking back at her. "Moving on past what can't be changed, where's the rest of your so-called, 'badass team' as you so elegantly put it?"
"Oh, this I'd like to hear." Myst grinned, leaning closer against the table. Only Ruby's team and mine were here, JNPR sat behind us, listening in if they wanted to. And not far I saw three others approaching us. Myst took a sip of her drink, patting her chest. "Best teams in Beacon right here - ain't that right, Red?"
"Yeah!" Ruby slid up to Myst's side, both giving a low-clap while we all stared, shaking off the odd notion.
"Still in Vale, said they wanted to check the sights then head up later tonight," Ryuko leaned forward, propping her cheek onto her right arm. "I wanted to come see Zorah so here I am."
"Aw, someone missed me," I cooed, nudging her side only to earn a punch to the face, seeing her blush lightly.
"H-hey, I could've asked one of those idiots to come with me, then you'd have two problems to deal with." She challenged, a spark dancing between our leers until I glanced over the table at Yang's thousand-yard-stare.
"Yo, Blondie," I flicked the stem of my apple at her, startling her out of that trance with an aloof stare. "Just 'cause Ryuko's related to me doesn't make you or Ruby any less important to me, got that?" Her eyes hesitated on mine, everyone looking between us, even Ruby was worried for Yang's reaction to all of this. "Making up for what's wedged between us isn't going to be easy, and... I struggle to put the right words together so... ah, just, don't go thinking I don't love you two, alright." This was hard to convey, ruffling my hair. "Grah, that still doesn't sound correct..."
"What he said," Ryuko leaned her elbow on my shoulder, smirking their way. "Blood or not, you're his family, I've got him and my own, not like I'm here to steal him away from you two."
"Thanks, Ryuko," Ruby smiled, hugging her sister's side. "Right, Yang?"
"Yeah..." She sat up with a small smile. "I know, just... alot to manage I guess."
"None of us expected her to be related to Zorah at all, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it." Weiss reinforced, a few of them adding small notions of agreement. "I can see how you two are related though - you both are hopelessly reckless." The Heiress sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Why thank you." We replied in unity, freaking Eros into raising his hands.
"Okay, if they're going to start doing that too, I'm calling it a day." That got a laugh of us, putting all the doom and gloomy behind once Echo appeared beside me, my fingers pinching her cheek.
"Ow-ow-ow!" She teared up as I set her free. "How did you even see me?"
"'Cause you're an idiot," My cold stare shut her down with an arrow piercing her back, slumping down beside me. "Hey, Azure, want a culture shock?" My partner blinked, looking at Ryuko, then to me and my lazy thumb poking at the blue-eyed girl staring blankly at Azure, as if her gaze passed through her. "Meet my biological sister, Ryuko, surprise~"
"Dun-Dun-Duuuun." Echo chimed with some elegant jazz hands while the words sunk into Azure's face then it became flustered with shock.
"'You have another sister? You never said you had any family outside of Ruby and Yang?'" She signed with haste, sitting down with Shiri beside her, already munching away at her lunch, not really observing the massive flip to our crazy lives.
"One, it wasn't really important - don't you start, Ryuko," My fingers clamped her lips shut. "Second, you never asked." Everyone turned pale, deadpanned at my snarky reply while I chomped on my apple. "What? Hell, you could've asked Eros - though I doubt he remembers me telling him about Ryuko since his head's more focused on his newest pick-up-line than reality."
"Speaking of..." He cleared his throat, only for Ryuko to point the edge of her scissor blade in his general direction, not taking her eyes off her sandwich.
"Swy a wrd an I cwt yu dwn." She muttered through another bite, withdrawing her blade to sit slanted against the table.
"Understood Ma'am." He saluted sharply, my head pounding from the chaos brought by her arrival.
"I can certainly see you both share each other's direct confrontation," Blake added behind her book, though I saw a small smile at her jab.
"Oh, damn, shots fired." Echo snickered, winking at me while hiding behind a glass of coke.
"First off, I'll you have that one; Second, between Ryuko and the rest of her team on the horizon, I don't know how much I can handle before I need more than just antidepressants," I sarcastically drawled while tossed several down my throat. "I need stronger meds..."
"How about I just knock ya out?" Ryuko suggested, but I put my hand up between us.
"Too strong," Glancing at Azure, I asked, "What's up?" She looked to Ryuko, then pointed at her palm, I nodded in understanding what she wanted. "I can translate."
"Something wrong?" Ryuko pipped up so I translated away for the mute. Although, the more I began to translate, the more my words began to trail with peculiarity.
"'Nothing, I wanted to know, if you both were separated when you were both really young, how did you meet each other again?' Huh, there's a story," Rubbing my chin at the thought, it's been a long time since I talked about that day. "Honestly-" We shared a look, and Ryuko instinctively pressed her side against mine, I was smiling fondly when the day rushed back to me. "-It's another reason I doubt I could ever repay my Master."
Several Years Ago...
I was fourteen at the time, and Master Yin said he wanted me to meet with someone in Mistral. That was the first time I've ever left the Kingdom, where I saw just how big Remnant was from high above the clouds...
Mistral was a large kingdom, the architecture a vast contrast to how Vale was built, rising with the cliffs and mountains of the highlands where no flatland could be found. A city built and shaped to the land's unforgiving formation. To say I was nervous was an understatement, I've just traveled across the world and was standing on the streets of a new kingdom. It was amazing.
"I've never been to Mistral, I think..." Echo murmured, and my brow rose at her shadow tracing the wall beside me. "Best keep you hands in your pockets, people here I heard are shady." This coming from the Nightmare in my shadow.
"Come now, he can't afford to stay in the lower regions of Mistral for long," Master ushered me forward, and while I could handle myself I was in unfamiliar territory, so sticking by his side was paramount for the moment. As we climbed an incline toward the next sector of the city, the residential district, Master turned his head, "Are you nervous?"
While for the most part, I remained silent and observant, I couldn't shake the butterflies from my stomach. "...a little, I... I've never left Vale or Patch, and you still haven't told me who we're meeting, Master," It was a little annoying, but he never really kept me in the dark if it wasn't important. "Why are we in Mistral?"
"One, to relax, we've trained for years and I don't believe you've ever experienced a vacation, quite a shame really, Mistral has its charms with traditions and art, al of which are something to explore," I groaned into my hand, he was getting long-winded again... "My real motive for coming here was to meet with someone special, it will be strange at first but you are no stranger to that outcome, no?"
"Is that a jab at me and Echo?" I feel like it was. Skipping up to his side, I observed the many eastern homes in passing, something Echo told me were from a place in another world called 'Japan', it was strangely tranquil in passing cherry blossom trees and small creeks.
"Ah, we are here, do try not to feel... conflicted," He was ignoring me again, great, that means this is probably something that's going to hurt me and possibly give me trauma. Before we stopped I quickly made a perimeter check, sighing happily, no trees.
It was the same as any other house, only with a few plots for flowers to grow along a cobblestone pathway. Once up to a porch, Master Yin rapped the door, awaiting whoever laid beyond the wall for us. Whatever happened next became a blur, my body shivering at the sensation of being watched. Looking around the porch, even the streets lay vacant. Then I saw the eyes by the window to my right.
Two, dark blue orbs watched me, wide with wonder and... confliction? Strands of white hair swayed with a single, crimson bang crossing from the right to the left of their brow. Soon, the person vanished and the door opened, revealing a Faunus Cat with ginger hair, tufts of white tinting the tips of her ears, and a tail. Her eyes a glistening emerald.
"Hi - oh, Yin, you're finally here!" The woman beamed, quickly hugging the concealed man as he chuckled, patting her back to reciprocate the reuniting. "You should've told me you'd be arriving early, might have had something planned."
"It is no bother, we were surprised to have arrived without any transgressions," Master replied politely, stepping aside to reveal me standing there, timidly at the woman's surprised face as I was put on the spot. "Well, I believe I should introduce you both. Saria, before you is my pupil, Zorah, Zorah, an old friend of mine, Saria."
The Faunus knelt down to my height smiling... just like Mom used to. I felt a little nervous under her fascinated gaze, then her hand reached up to rub my cheek's blemish with a thumb, and I didn't budge, in fact, I felt relieved, strangely. "Hmm, you have really kind eyes, and a sharp gaze too."
"I... what?" My eyes were 'kind'? She kept her smile and patted my head, standing back herself to smirk at the person watching from afar.
"Come on, Ryuko, stop brooding and come say hello," The woman motioned for the girl to step out completely, looking less than open about the idea of meeting me. Our eyes locked, and... her irises appeared to have a gear-like mutation to them. And... why did I feel like I knew her? Her soul? Have I met her before? "This mopey girl is my daughter, Ryuko, she can be a little troublemaker."
"Hey!" She huffed, and Master hummed, rubbing his helmet's chin.
"Fascinating, so can Zorah at times."
"Okay, are you just determined to take jabs at me today?" He didn't say, so I added with a breath. "Look, nice meeting you both but... why am I here? What's the deal?"
"You don't know?" The girl, Ryuko looked baffled, then shook her head, anxiety and many odd negatives filling her heart. "I... need some air," She soon turned and disappeared into the house somewhere in an instant before Saria could get a word in, the woman shaking her head.
"If I made aware my intentions, you would have refused," Master began, resting a hand on my shoulder supportively, he never did this unless it was about... my family. "I have spent a great deal of time scouring Patch and Vale for clues, to pick up what little trails remain, of your original family."
My heart skipped sharply. "What?" Looking back at the woman, then to my Master, I felt my world stop momentarily. "W-what do... you mean?" I knew, I'm not an idiot yet I felt my head try to revoke the implications.
"Ryuko, as far as I am able to investigate, is your biological sibling, both of you were left at separate orphanages at exactly the same time, date, and held the same handwritten message," Master laid before me, and Saria too placed a hand on my shoulder, patting me gently as Mom would, that alone rooted me to the floor.
"I... no, I'm... that's just... who would..." Nothing, not a word. How could I accept that? After everything, the last thing I needed was family - another failure. Scowling up at his helmet, I just shook my head, wandering off down the porch to turn and follow its path around the house. "The last thing I need is another person to call my sister."
What was he thinking? Even if everything he said was true, I could hear it, feel it, it doesn't matter. Red, Blondie, Tai? They turned their backs on me for a crime I never had any part of - me, a child! My fist hit the wall, almost cracking the brickwork out of anger.
"You know, kinda like my house intact, thanks," The voice made me jump out from under the porch, stumbling down onto a back garden, sitting on the steps was the girl, Ryuko, phone in her hand while giving me a deadpan look. "Seriously, what the hell kinda training does that guy in the armor put you through?"
"Well, I officially hate trees because of it," I huffed, standing at the edge awkwardly before sitting down. "God he's really done it this time..." Rubbing my eyes, I had hoped it would clear away this awful dream, sadly, Ryuko was still here. "You know, I really wish I wasn't here right now."
"Tch thought you'd have loved this - guess we both agree this was a real stupid move." Ryuko rolled her eyes, flicking through her phone to distract herself. Her heart was racing like crazy, but what she said wasn't the complete truth. Was she... upset by this? "...how do you know the old guy my Mom used to work with?"
"I dunno, I'm convinced he's ageless with how much he knows and has seen," I threw my hands up in disbelief, Ryuko chuckled sharply.
"So... who are you?" The girl started awkwardly, looking through her phone.
"Zorah," She paused, glancing up at me briefly
"Zorah... who?" I inwardly cringed at the reminder.
"Just Zorah, I... don't have anyone but my Master and three others," She looked at me for the longest time, as if I was lying to her, then she put her phone down by her side.
"Ryuko... and it's just Ryuko," She smirked slightly, it was obviously a lie about that being her whole name but... I didn't feel like a sore thumb as much. "Sorry, I guess, I know who you are..." She turned to look at the garden again. "...can't say I'm not... you know..."
"Yeah," Rubbing my head I did the same. I had a sister, a biological one, yet my chest felt ice-cold, the idea of another sibling frightened me more than my anger for Red and Blondie. Ryuko seemed nice atleast. "I... did have a family but they... they're not family, my Mom but... well she's... not here, so." Bitterness seeped into my words.
"Bad lifestyle?" I didn't speak, rubbing my arms as they itched. Her eyes opened wide. "Oh..."
"Yeah." Silence reigned, and I felt colder than ever before, even with Echo's eyes trained on me in contemplative silence.
"Want to look around Mistral?" At the suggestion, Ryuko hopped to her feet, standing before me with her hand out for me, a tiny smirk playing at her lips. "Bet it beast following that dude in armor like some lost puppy."
"My sense of direction is fine, thank you," I grunted, but she just snorted.
"Sure it is, 'Just Zorah'." Her taunt drew my irked stare, hand still awaiting mine. "Just take my hand already you dumbass."
"Coming from the girl that glared at guests like they're the devil spawn, that's rich." Her hand twitched but I took up her offer tightly.
"God, you're annoying."
"Looked in a mirror lately?"
"Why bother, you're right here."
We smirked while approaching the garden's back wall, she doesn't seem so bad I guess.
"Tsundere." Shut it, Echo. "You were totally thinking it."
"-And that was also the day we first got in trouble for property damage to a fruit stand, one hell of a first greeting," I obviously left out Echo's comments but that was the general first meeting with Ryuko. Slinging my arm around her shoulders I held up a finger. "Since then we either visited Mistral twice a year or I talked online with her, and thus I came to love this idiot and all that sappy stuff."
"Way to make me sound like an asshole." Ryuko huffed, my finger poking her cheek.
"Not that your attitude's improved since then," Her own finger prodded my cheek in turn.
"Look who's talking edge-lord."
"Funny, I didn't know I was a mirror again." Now a spark struck between us yet again.
"Well, for what it's worth, pretty cool meetin' ya! Hope we can spar sometimes, that Semblance of yours looks crazily similar to Whitey's!" Myst grinned ear-to-ear, challenging the gun-ho sibling of mine.
"Heh, sure, I don't mind," Thus a new rivalry seemed to be brewing. "Can't say there's much of a difference between our Semblances. I can do what Zorah can just with fibers similar to clothing threads, they're really good for getting me out of situations or reinforcing my body."
"Whereas mine increases my overall strength, Ryuko's centers toward agility," I added matter-of-factly. "Harrow and Fate as we call it."
"Yep." Ryuko popped the 'P', taking one last chug of her drink.
"A hereditary Semblance?" Weiss looked to have her curiosity piqued. It was rare for family's to have such traits, and while there is that visual and practical difference, mine and Ryuko's Semblances were the same, manifesting with our emotions.
'Do you remember anything about your parents?' Azure wrote down, drawing a deathly silence between us momentarily. Quickly, Azure waved her hands. 'S-sorry, is that sensitive?'
"Eh, who cares?" Ryuko snorted, flicking a fork between her fingers. "They left us behind, so what? We don't know 'em, and I got folks that care for me so why bother trying to find the ones that had nothing to do with you, you know?"
"Agreed," I sighed, "We don't hate them but that doesn't mean we're obligated to reciprocate any form of affection for them either. Whether or not they're just your average people, Huntsmen, heck, some catalysts for a long-winded destiny - who cares, we have our own lives to live, besides..." I scratched my cheek, looking around at anything but the people around me. "...got you guys, so... yeah..."
It was out there and I never really say it but they people, despite how crazy they are or how they drive me up the wall, like the Twins, they're people I trust, like Echo. This, of course, made many fond smiles or approving looks come my way, and I just slammed my head against Ryuko's shoulder, the once whitette looking to share my pain, possibly for her own team.
"Uh oh, Zorah?" Ruby grabbed my jacket, yanking me out of the mushy moment and her way to see the worry plaster her features. "I think Professor Goodwich is here."
"And she looks reeeal mad." Yang whistled, grinning at us and our wide eyes. "Busted~"
"Crap." We looked to one another, then to my friends.
"Remember two years ago, Summer Festival?" I quickly jogged her memory as death came swiftly down the rows of tables and students.
"Yep," Ryuko slowly clasped her scissor blade.
"Hold on tight - if anyone asks, we went to buy headlight fluid for Myst's motorbike." Grabbing Ryuko's arm I flung us into Echo's shadow, the girl shivering at the invasion for a moment before grabbing my forsaken drink and refilling her own glass happily.
"Ah, and they say crime doesn't pay." She grinned
"Unbelievable." Weiss threw her hands up in defeat.
"Well, they're certainly lively." Blake shrugged, clearly suppressing a smile with humorous eyes. They... do realize we're still here, right?
'That's just the norm with us, huh?'
"Yeeeeep!" Nora slurred from afar - Okay, yeah, they do.
[Azure's POV]
"'Now, remember Professor Ozpin said he'd help you tomorrow while I handle my morning classes, so make sure to listen to him, okay?'" They say being a parent is quite the workload, they weren't kidding yet I found it to be very rewarding. Espeically when my... hehe, daughter, is so special. Though I guess every parent says that about their child's abilities, regardless of who they are.
"Mmhm, I *yawn* will." Shiri murmured against her pillow, almost falling alseep in an instant. Smiling, I leaned down and kissed her forehead, brushing her hair before she fell into slumber. "G'night... mama..." And there she goes. The name still makes me feel very warm, like when Zorah is-
Standing up I shook my head clear, ensuring everything was right in Shiri's own room, even checking the shadows diligently with a small pulse of my aura against the wall. Something Zorah taught me with Soul Magic, Aura Sense. So far so good. Sighing calmly, I mouthed 'goodnight' and closed the door, heading for my room not far down the hall.
The day of Ryuko's arrival was unexpected, already people really seemed to like her. It took some time to adjust but she really is alot like Zorah. The two of them seem to really be dorky when it comes to displaying affection. I felt my tail wag a little more when recalling him saying how he loved Ruby and Yang, and he does really feel genuine about us. It was a nice development from his old ways prior to Beacon.
"I wonder..." Putting both hands on my chest, I tried to make sense of why he crept into my mind before. I mean, yeah, Zorah's a great guy past all his cynicism and egocentric persona. He does that to hide alot of his pain, I don't see anything wrong with that. He's protective, sweet when he wants to be, can sing which is cool, and- "Hmm?" My ears perked up.
"Oh, hey Woflie, come check this out." Myst waved me over. For some reason, the two of them were camped by the door to our dorm. Curiously I approached, standing between them with a brow raised. Tapping her shoulder, I motioned toward the door. My leader grinned giddily, holding up her Scroll. "Shh, follow me and Playboy, this'll be worth the risk - thief's honor." Her finger crossed her heart.
"Thought that the first rule was a lie - mphm?" Eros firmly had his mouth welded shut by Myst's hand, giggling silently, I mimicked her movements into the room lit by only a static TV and a lamp by the coffee table across our beds.
Moonlight helped to illuminate the details in the room from the balcony, refining whatever we were sneaking toward.
What was going to be a series of questions as to what mad idea ran rampant in my teammate's head, those were all put to rest in a heartbeat. Zorah was asleep on the couch with his mouth ajar like always. He always slept so peacefully for someone with so many dark feelings. My face lifted slightly seeing that Echo was fast asleep too, herself on the floor with her head against the sofa, snoring gently next to Zorah's knees, wings tucked around her torso.
Passed out with their head against Zorah's shoulder was Ryuko, herself sleeping much in the same way Zorah would, her right arm folded around Zorah's stomach, hugging him slightly. Eros nudged my side, "Found them like this when we got back, they look at ease so I thought I'd leave them."
"Good call," Myst quickly snapped a photo of them, stretching while her left hand yanked up a blanket, laying it over the pair, grabbing a second just for Echo who cooed in her sleep. "Hehe, our team's got quite the characters - really think I made the right choice."
That was an odd choice of words? I lifted my notebook, 'The right choice?' Reading over my words, Myst's face grew a little pink, scratching the back of her head with her eyes shut.
"Haha, you guys are just like family to me, gotta look out for ya, eh?" Myst grinned, turning around. "Speaking of, let's get some Z's, the rest of Ryuko's team is bound to crop up tomorrow - that'll be a riot if they're as crazy as she's made them out to be - sweet."
"Wonder if they know Zorah too?" Eros pondered, walking past me while I stared longingly at Zorah and Ryuko. "Well, night girls."
"'Till tomorrow," Myst flopped against her bed, just kicking off her shoes to sleep in her shorts and t-shirt, tugging out her hair-pin to let her silky-white hair flow freely. "Ahh..."
I sat on the edge of my bed, facing the moonlight, "...I miss you guys," Keeping my sorrow hidden from the others, I just got ready for bed, only now I kept thinking of them, listing them off by memory with a heavy, guilt-ridden heart, enough for me to lose my gleeful demeanor. "Cele, Aoko, Jay, Carolina, Ford, Lapis, Ruka, Neel, Cyane... Mom, Dad."
How long had it been since I actually saw their faces? When I ran away, it was all just blurs since I... my fingers shivered against my throat, and a chill clung to my back while I threw on my blue shirt for bed, slipping under the covers, only to have a shade of fuzzy blue blot my view. It was the plushy Zorah got me of Dodogama.
Without restraint I hugged the chibi monster close, hoping it'll help atleast starve off the pain in my chest a little longer. Why now of all times? Squeezing my eyes shut, I just hope things will go well tomorrow, please. "I'm sorry."
To Be Continued...
I can't feel my hands, man this was long but no reason to divide it. While Azure is the focus of this piece, Zorah and the rest play a part in what's to come. OH! And let me clarify, 'Ryuko' doesn't have any connection to Kill La Kill, just the character in a different setting, so no Senketsu either, sorry.
I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter Hunters!
Next Chapter: Team CRST
The remainder of Ryuko's team arrives, gaining the attention of Beacon, even the likes of Sun and Neptune. Zorah doesn't like them, and their leader feels the same way for Zorah, as you can imagine, a battle of egos ensues.