Patch

Blake was taken in by the simplicity of it all. The Xiao Long household wasn't much larger or any more complex than most temporary White Fang housing; just a little more permanent. When Taiyang eagerly invited her in and gave her the grand tour she saw the amenities and Blake realized this was more than a place to house a dozen soldiers with floor space, but a home for a father and his children.

Home... that fact became incredibly apparent when Zwei wandered over and nuzzled up to Blake's leg. Despite the unauthorized snuggle, Blake couldn't help but be pleased to see him, reaching down to scratch behind his ears. Zwei couldn't have been happier.

Taiyang reminded Blake of her mother. Despite being very masculine in appearance he was quick to see to her accommodations and offered her food and drink, eagerly inquiring about his daughters, first about their current whereabouts, and then about all of Blake's interactions with them.

It was quite overwhelming at first, and Blake hadn't ever expected to field so many questions. Still, she was patient in indulging Taiyang's curiosity (though she avoided telling him certain details about herself and Yang), and eventually she was able to get to her true objective.

This was the last place Yang had been. Blake needed to find her; not only to reunite with her dear friend, but prove to the White Fang Adam's malfeasance by showing them one of his human victims. Time was of the essence- her parents could only distract Sienna Khan for so long. Khan was being patient with them, but she'd need evidence eventually or be forced to dismiss their accusation. The loss of the Scroll en route to her had already tried Khan's patience.

"She went to Mistral to find Ruby," Taiyang explained, swelling with pride.

Blake at least had a solid location now. She wished she could simply contact her parents and let them know, but without the CCT she'd have to immediately rush back rather than risk any message being intercepted by the White Fang.

It was unfortunate; Blake would've liked to stay longer and hear embarrassing stories about Yang and Ruby's childhood, but she needed to keep moving and resolve matters while the opportunity was available.

Taiyang was disappointed, but he understood. His daughters had both undertaken very important missions; it came as no surprise their friends had done the same.

Though Blake had just met him, and it was not in her to display much affection, she offered him a hug. It seemed the least comfort she could offer.

He was quick to accept, and Blake held the embrace a good while, knowing that they were both closer to having the people they loved back in their lives.

Kuroyuri

Yang sat in the commander's tent, performing maintenance on her arm when Raven finally stepped in, looking rather dour as she gave her report.

"We found her," Raven explained.

Yang glanced up at her mother, wary. "Really."

"She has ears like a cat, and told us her name is Belladonna," Raven explained. "Dressed mostly in black; former member of the White Fang."

"All right, show me," Yang allowed, standing up. Raven scoffed at being ordered around, but did as she was told. She gestured to the other bandits, and two of her subordinates stepped out, leaving the Xiao Long and the Branwen alone for several uncomfortable moments of silence.

When they returned they dragged a woman into the tent, a bag on her head. She was dressed in an ornate (if asymmetrical) shrug. Yang had never seen Blake wear something so elegant, but it wasn't too far from the realm of possibility. The faint signs of wavy black hair emerging from beneath the bag were promising.

"I trust this settles the debt?" Raven asked, a little too eagerly.

"If you brought the right one," Yang agreed, stepping over to remove the bag from the girl's head, eager to see her again. Yang consciously chose to use her left hand when pulling on the bag... she felt an ear twitch beneath the cloth, and her hopes raised ever so slightly.

Only to be dashed when Yang removed the bag. This woman certainly looked like Blake; looked like her quite a lot. But Yang knew Blake intimately. She glared at Raven, displeased. "Not her."

Raven sneered, drawing her blade and holding it to the Faunus woman's throat. "You lied to us?"

The woman frantically shook her head. "No, I-"

"I asked you your name," Raven spat. "You told me you were Belladonna."

"I am!" the woman protested. "Kali Belladonna of Menagerie."

Yang held the woman's gaze as Kali looked frantically between her and Raven, searching for some explanation for why she was here.

She wasn't what Yang wanted. But she was close enough. For the moment.

"Leave us," Yang requested.

"But I thought-" Raven began, only to be quelled to silence when Yang lifted her right arm.

"Keep searching for the right one," Yang instructed. "Sooner you find her, the sooner you've paid your debt."

Raven sneered, but complied, putting her blade away and heading out of the tent, leaving Yang with her prisoner.

Kali looked at Yang, trying to comprehend all this. Seeing the fear and confusion in her eyes... it reminded Yang of Blake when she'd pushed herself in chasing Roman back at Beacon.

She loved that look.

"Please, what's going on here?" Kali asked. "Why have you taken me?"

"I'm trying to find your daughter," Yang explained. "For the moment, you'll have to do instead."

Kali immediately went on the defensive. "What do you want with her?"

That protective instinct impressed Yang. It made taking the next actions all the easier.

Yang leaned in, getting uncomfortably close. Kali was still defiant, but increasingly wary of this unknown woman drawing nearer.

Then became quite confused when this strange blonde kissed her.

It wasn't the same, but it would have to do for now. Until she found the real one, Yang would play with her mother. She would do in sating her wishes for now.

When Yang drew back, Kali looked up, perplexed. "Why did you-?"

Yang smiled. "I have a type."

She had one type. One soul in all of Remnant that she wished for.

And now she had something that girl would want back. And something that she could hold onto in the meantime, and use to hold her in place.

And Yang wanted to show Blake how much she'd learned... how fortunate to have a facsimile to practice on in the interim.