AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. This is it, the finally battle of the White Fang Killers Saga. In it, we will see the last group in the mission go up against the Grimm of the Battlefield himself. Of all the fights, this one was cool to make for the ending, as well as the character development for the cast here. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 55 – Acceptance

Blake.

Emerging out from the forest, Caenis lead Blake and the Malachite twins towards a cave, "Is this where the signal ends?" Miltia spoke with Blake nodding.

"Looks inviting," Melanie said with her arms crossed.

"Also unguarded." Blake added, "If Hijikata is here, he's in that cave."

"Well, no use waiting," Caenis spoke as she entered the cave with the others following. They walked down the rune lite pathway until making it to an empty wide corridor. In examining the area, the group noticed one of the walls was more lite than the others, "What makes this one so special…. huh?" she said before noticing a hole in the wall near her eye level. The White Fang Champion reached into the hole and pulled out a device attached to a wire, "What is this?"

Melanie walked over and examined the device, "That's a dust charger." She answered, "Basically, a homemade remote bomb."

"That didn't take long to find." Miltia commented near her sister.

"Yeah," Melanie said as she and Caenis looked up the wall, discovered multiple holes in the wall. "There must be a hundred of them here. And if I had to guess, they each one has one of these has a bomb inside." The white twin spoke, "I thought they were using them for a big bomb, not a bunch of little ones."

"And I thought it was to blow up Menagerie," Miltia said as she overheard, "Not some rock wall." She said before looking over to Blake, who was transfixed on the wall, "What is it?"

Blake walked up to the wall, her eyes focused on the material, "This isn't stone." She then placed her hand on it before her body pulsated, her eyes widening, "Gah!" she gasped as she pulled her hand away, "W-what was that?" she said will looking at her trembling hand.

"Hey, what happened?" Miltia asked.

"I don't know," Blake responded, "But… can you lend me your claw?" she said with the red twin having a look of confusion, but then extend her hand. Blake then garbed the blades with her palm, squeezing until the blood was dripping. The black cat faunus then held her hand to the wall, "Just as I thought," She said as her black blood matched the same color as the rock wall, "This is the same material used to make Alters." Blake then turned to the others, "We need to inform the rest of the team. Whatever we thought their plan was, it could be much worse-" suddenly, her cat ears flickered, "Look out-" she said while pushing Miltia.

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard. The bullet passed by the red twin while grazing past Blake's right shoulder. All four girls looked over to discover Hijikata standing at the other end of the corridor, the rife in hand with a smoking barrel, "Well, here I thought I would get some peace and quiet for a bit." He said before yawning.

"Sorry to wake you up from your nap, White Fang Killer." Caenis responded before spawning her shield and lance, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get a nice long rest after I am done with you."

"Is that so?" Hijikata responded before recognizing the other intruders, "You two, aren't you the cowards that I spared before."

"You knew we were hiding after you raided that White Fang group?" Melanie asked.

"I did, but you were too insignificant for me to waste my time on." He responded.

"Hey!" Miltia said with a pout.

Hijikata ignored her before turning to Blake. "And didn't I kill you already?"

"Answer our questions first," Blake said as she spawned her black bow, her wounds healed over as well, "What are your plans with this wall and those charges?" she said while aiming her bow, causing a purple fire arrow to form.

"Heh, didn't I say this to you before?" Hijikata spoke with a smile, "That information matters not to a corpse." He said before firing another shot. The four girls scattered to evade the shot, but Caenis rushed the White Fang Killer. Her lance clashed with his sword as the two glared into each other's eyes.

"She can't take him alone," Blake said before turning to the twins, "Both of you, find the detonator to these bombs. If we have that, then whatever they have planned here will fail."

"On it," Miltia spoke with Melanie nodding.

The trio split up with Blake rushing toward Hijikata. He turned to see the foes approaching, parrying Caenis before firing a shot towards the black cat faunus. Blake fired her burning black bow at the same time, causing both projectiles to explode in a smoke cloud. The black cat faunus jumped out of the smoke before slashing with her black bow. At the same time, Caenis thrust her lance towards the White Fang Killer.

However, Hijikata parried both weapons with his own. He then kicked Blake's left abdomen, sending the black cat faunus into the White Fang Champion. The two tumbled on the ground for a second before each getting to one knee, "Damnit," Caenis spoke as her body started to radiate an orange flame.

"No, you can't use your Noble Phantasm here," Blake warned, "The fire might set off the bombs, then we're all dead."

"Tsk," Caenis scoffed before standing up, "Just stay out of my way then!"

"Wait, we need to-" Blake tried to say, but Caenis rushed Hijikata again. She watched as the two continued to clash weapons again, "Damnit." The black cat fauns said before aiming her bow.

"Hey!" Miltia interrupted, holding up a grey device, "I found it!" she said with Hijikata turning towards her, raising his rifle, "Uh oh." She said before the shot was fired.

At the same time, Melanie tackled her sister out way. Hijikata scowled before dashing in, reposing his sword. However, Blake tackled him to the ground before turning to the Malachite twins, "Take it and get out of here!" she screamed while struggling to keep him down.

"Don't have to tell us twice!" Melanie responded before helping her sister up, causing the twins to rush towards the exit.

Hijikata then pushed Blake off before aiming his rifled again at the red twin, then fired the shot. However, Caenis blocked the bullet with her shield, "Your fight is with me, not them." The White Fang Champion spoke, then rushed him again. Her lance clashed with his sword as sparks were created of each impact.

Blake reposed as she drew her bow, but suddenly felt her body pulsate, "You cannot win." A voice spoke in her mind, "He will kill you again."

"Shut up." Blake spoke aloud as she aimed, "That's not going to happen."

"Then, will you kill him?" the voice spoke as Blake gasped, "Become the just like them, a murderous creature bent on bloodlust."

"No, that's not me." Blake spoke as her hands trembled, "Get out of my head!"

"Never." The voice spoke again, "You will never be rid of me!"

"I said, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Blake shouted, but unknowingly released her pull of the black bow. She watched as the purple flame arrow flew through the sky towards Hijikata. However, he saw the attack coming and dodged out of the way. At the same time, Caenis thrusted her lance towards him, but her eyes widened as the arrow hit her between the shoulder blades. A pillar of dark flames erupted with Caenis's body being tossed aside, her lance and shield out of her hands before she hit the ground. She tried to push herself up but already saw Hijikata approach, his sword already thrust towards her.

Caenis knew she could not dodge but scowled as she saw the blade about to pierce her skull. Suddenly, blood splattered on her face. However, it was not Caenis's blood. Standing between the two was Blake, the sword embedded through her abdomen as she held the blade with both hands. She gritted her teeth as blood dripped down her mouth, "I'm…sorry." Blake spoke towards Caenis, who gasped as Blake coughed blood.

Hijikata lifted his sword, pulling Blake into the air as well, "You were weak before and weak still." He spoke before scowling, "Do yourself a favor, and stay dead this time." He said before whipping his sword, causing it to launch Blake into a stone wall. Her body slid down with a bloodstain, her eyes becoming devoid of light. Soon, her vision when black as her eyes slowly closed.

?

Suddenly, Blake's eyes opened to discover herself in a hazy purple void. She looked around in confusion, then heard a voice speak to her, "He's right." She turned to the voice, then gasped as it was her alter, "Everything would be better if you were dead." Nikushimi spoke before flicking her grey hair, "So, just die, and let me take over again."

"No," Blake responded with a scowl, "I can't give up."

"Fine, be stubborn." Nikushimi said before crossing her arm, "We will both die, then the White Fang Killer will murder Caenis, then go after the twins. The mission will fail, and it will all be your fault." The Faunus Alter spoke with a smile forming, "Let me put an end to the murder's life."

"I know you can't beat him," Blake responded with the smile on Nikushimi's face faded, "I can tell what you are thinking, and you know he is stronger than either of us."

"…Tsk." Nikushimi scoffed, "I would rather die fighting than letting this monster get away."

"You want to fight so that Caenis can get away." Blake said with Nikushimi gasping, "You may hate me, but you do care for others and want to protect them." The black cat faunus spoke with her hand on her chest, "Even if it means you are hurt in the end, you will still do all you can to save them."

"Tsk, another trait I loth that I inherited from you," Nikushimi responded, then saw Blake offering her left hand, "What are you doing?"

"I can't let you have full control, but we can work together to save everyone." Blake responded, "Neither of us has to do anything alone."

"Y-you realized what you just asked on me?" Nikushimi spoke in shock, "And you know what I am?"

"I do, but I remember what someone said to me," Blake responded, her eyes closed, "We don't get to choose what we're born into this life as," she said before her eyes opened with a smile, "but we do get to choose what we do with this life." With those words Nikushimi gasped again, "You have a choice right, what will it be?"

"…" Nikushimi looked down at Blake's hand, then smirked, "You know, thinking of this as a good thing is wrong." She said before reaching out her left hand, "It will just continue your everlasting Hell with me."

"Maybe, but we will have our friends to help us through it," Blake responded, "And each other."

"Heh," Nikushimi spoke as she accepted Blake's hand, causing both to radiate a white light, "For the record, I still hate you."

"I know," Blake responded with a smile, the light fully encompassing the two in the void.

Meanwhile.

Hijikata looked towards Blake's body, seeing it was responsive. He then turned back to Caenis, "All of you are just pathetic." He said with Caenis gritting her teeth, "Nothing personal, but should never have gotten in our wa-" suddenly, his line was cut off as a fist collided with the left side of his face. The White Fang Killer's body was launched away as Caenis gasped at the attacker.

Blake radiated a dark purple aura, her right fist still clenched from the punch. Slowly, her black hair started to change to a grey color, as well as getting more disheveled. Caenis looked on with her eyes widened, the image of the White Fang Informant coming to her mind, "Are you… Atalante?" she said with Blake looking back to her with yellow.

"I'm still Blake." The black cat faunus spoke, then had a look of remorse, "Sorry for hitting you with that arrow. Just rest now" Blake then looked back to Hijikata, the two glaring at each other.

"You intend to fight me alone?" Hijikata asked as he stood up.

"No," Blake said as her aura began to pulsate more and more, "And we will show you something you are not prepared for!" she said before digging her claws into the ground, her fangs flared as aura fully encompassed her body. Hijikata readied his weapon, recalling the type of Grimm Boar he saw in their last fight. However, the shape of this creature was far larger, and the body was in the form of a cat with two tails. Bones formed around hits head, tails, and claws before it focused on its prey, "RRRRRRRAAAAAARRRRRRWWWWW!" the Grimm Nikushimi roared before pouncing towards the White Fang Killer.

Hijikata jumped out of the way as one of the claws crashed into the ground. He aimed his rifle for the Grimm Nikushimi's head but was batted out of the way by one of the tails. The White Fang Killer skidded on the ground before dashing in with his sword aligned for a horizontal slash. The Grimm Nikushimi jumped into the air to dodge. Hijikata readied to jump as well but realized the ground was unstable. His eyes widened as he stood in the shadow of the Grimm Nikushimi. However, the shadow began to move on its own as a black claw emerged, slashing him across the chest.

Hijikata coughed blood before rearming his rifle, then shooting the black claw. It vanished into a black mist, causing the Grimm Nikushimi's respective arm to pulsate with pain, "RRRAAAARRRRWWW!" She roared before landing on the ground, then dashing in toward again.

This time, Hijikata paired her slashes with his sword. The Grimm Nikushimi went for a bite towards the body, but he dodged. In setting up for a headshot, The White Fang Killer's rifle barrel glowed with a red flame. However, Caenis crashed into him with her shield, throwing off the aim of the shot to only graze the Grimm Nikushimi's head, "You think I'm going to just sit back and watch, HA!" Caenis spoke before reposing with her weapons, "I'm far from done yet."

"Tsk," Hijikata spoke as he stood up, glaring down both opponents, "Neither of you knows when to die." He said before a small smile formed, "Well, I guess I don't have much choice anymore." The White Fang Killer then took a calm stance.

"Giving up then?" Caenis spoke, "How bor-" she said before he quickly fired a shot into the rock wall towards the explosive, hitting one of the chargers. Caenis and the Grimm Nikushimi's eyes widened in horror, while Hijikata grinned.

Meanwhile.

Running through the woods, the Malachite twins continues towards the airship they arrived in. However, the shockwave of a massive explosion launched them into the ground. They recoiled in pain from the sound, the white twin looking at her sister in horror, who looked back to the device, "I didn't press it!" Miltia answered as she looked at the remote, "Something else set it off."

"Then we need to go back." Melanie said as she stood up, "And see what set them off." She said with her sister nodding. The two ran back through the forest before making it to be the cave in the mountain was. However, more than half the mountain had been obliterated into rubble. The Malachite twins gasped in horror as all they could not hear a soul, "Look!" Melanie pointed as she and her sister discovered the disintegrating corpse of a Nikushimi. As they ran over to it, the Grimm body vanished to reveal a barely conscious Blake atop Caenis. "What happened!?"

"He detonated the bombs." Blake said as she moved to a sitting position, then turned to Caenis, who held her bleeding skull, "If I wasn't in that form, neither of us would have survived."

"Yeah, but it still hurt like Hell," Caenis responded.

"Well, at least that guy is dead for-" Miltia spoke before Hijikata's body emerged from the rubble a few meters away, "…I'm just gonna stop talking now."

"H-how!?" Blake spoke in terror as Hijikata stood with a crimson aura, his head down.

"The banner of Makoto," Hijikata spoke before looking towards his enemies in hatred. His eyes were fully white with rage. "Is immortal!" he said before drawing his sword, "Slice! Advance! Slice! Advance!" he declared while rushing in, "I am!" The Grimm of the Battlefield said before he was about to slash Blake's head, "The Shinsengumi!"

At the last second, Melanie kicked the blade away with her bladed boots, "I don't know what anything you just said means." She said before reposing her stance, "But you need to shut up and die already."

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Hijikata roared before he attempted another wild swing.

This time, his sword was parried by the crimson claws of Miltia, "You called us too insignificant?" she said as she stood next to her twin sister, "We'll see about that."

"Plus, we have a lot of experience fighting mindless beasts," Melanie added on before the twins rushed Hijikata again. The three clashed blades with Blake and Caenis watching on.

"They won't last long," Caenis commented, "We need to fight." She said before recoiling in pain, "Damnit." The White Fang Champion spoke before looking to Blake, who was focused on the fight, "What are you thinking?"

"What Melanie just said reminded me so something," Blake said as she looked back to Caenis, "Hijikata's ability, it's like Yang and Adam's," she said before watching the Grimm of the Battlefield fight.

"Which means what exactly?" Caenis asked.

"He looks like he isn't taking damage," Blake said as Miltia slashed Hijikata across the chest, but the Grimm of Battlefield remained unflinching as he wanted for a slash. Melanie pulled her sister back to avoid the hit, "But you can't nullify these attacks, only absorb them. The damage must go somewhere," She said before noticing his red aura pulsating, "There, his aura!"

"Okay, how does that help us?" Caenis asked.

"There must be a limit, right?" Blake asked Caenis, "If we can shatter that aura, he should take all the damage we inflicted on him all at once."

"I see," Caenis responded, "So, you got a plan of attack?" she said with Blake nodding.

The Malachite twins continued to clash with Hijikata, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" The Grimm of the Battlefield roar before slashing towards Miltia's claw, shattering it. With his second slash, the blades on the heels shattered. The Malachite Twins gasped as he drew his rifle, ready to blast both at the same time.

"HEY!" Caenis called out, gaining Hijikata's attention, he glanced over to see the White Fang Champion, positioned at the end of Blake's black bow, "Try tanking this!" she said before Blake released a shot, firing Caenis like an arrow toward Hijikata. However, the Grimm of the Battlefield dodged out of the way, but Caenis smirked. Hijikata looked back to discover Miltia uppercutting him in the chin. At the same time, Melanie ran behind him, placing both her hands on the ground before kicking him towards the sky, "Nice, time for me to use my move." Caenis spoke as her body glowed in an orange flame, "Lapithai Caeneus!" she declared as her body transformed into its phoenix form, which flew through the sky and circled back towards Hijikata.

"I'm not done either!" Blake spoke as her body glowed in black and purple flames, "Tauropolos Skia Thermokrasia!" she declared before pouncing into the sky towards Hijikata.

Hijikata aimed his rifle at Caenis and slashing towards Blake. However, the White Fang Champion's flame overpowered the rifle blast, incinerating the barrel as well. The black cat faunus flared her fangs before biting the blade, shattered it before crashing her body into Hijikata's chest. At the same time, Caenis collided with the Grimm of the Battlefield's back.

The Malachite twins look up in awe as an orb of multiple-colored flames formed in the sky, the heat rivaling that of the sun's rays. Suddenly, the orb exploded with black smoke filling the sky.

Miltia pointed with Melanie also seeing the three individuals falling towards the ground. The red twin ran to catch Caenis, while the white twin caught Blake. The two succeed while Hijikata's body crashing into the ground.

All four girls all looked on as Hijikata tried to push himself up, "The banner… of Makoto," he struggled to speak, but his eyes were still full of rage. "Is… immortal…" The Grimm of the Battlefield said as his red aura flickered, "I am... The… Shinsen-" suddenly, his aura shattered, causing his body recoil, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" he screamed as his organs erupted, the sound of bones breaking echoed through the area. The pain went on for a full minute as the body was drenched in blood bursting out of his skin, "…" Hijikata stood with his mouth open, his body motionless, but his eyes still white with rage.

"Is…is he dead?" Miltia asked.

"He's still standing," Melanie added on, "Is he gonna do anything?"

"No, he's dead," Caenis spoke.

"He just refused to fall." Blake added before closing her eyes, "It's over." She said with tears leaking from her eyelids. "It's over." She cried as Melanie hugged her. Caenis and Miltia looked on before noticing a few of the airships flying close by, "It's finally over."

AN: There you go, the last White Fang Killer is dead. Hijikata was fun to have in this series as an antagonist and still died standing up. For me, he was the true White Fang Killer to this arc that Blake needed to defeat. But as she learns the hard way, she could not do it alone, and needs to work with others to achieve that goal. In the end, she does reconcile with Nikushimi, which gives her a big power boost because of it. Now, she can transform in a massive Grimm Cat, as well as use the Noble Phantasms of Atalante. The final move here was really a blast to make and puts an end to the White Fang Killers. Next chapter, we see how everyone here deals with what just happened, where they are going next, and what new threats are looming. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.