Torvi's body laid happily between the cotton sheets of her bed, a crooked smile unconsciously forming as she dreamt of slaying a fire giant.
But a sudden warmth in front of her face made her body cringe. Her face crinkled she turned her body away from that annoying warmness. It lasted for a good three seconds before that presence was at her face again, but in addition to its pestering company, a quick gust of wind flew into her face.
Torvi snapped open her eyes to see a topless Ryuuto blowing air into her face. "Morning sleepy-HEAD?!"
Ryuuto should have expected much, but he didn't. He did not predict Torvi would punch him in the face, forcing him to stumble backwards into Olivia, who was in the midst of putting her white school shirt on. The black prior yelped in an unexpected girly manner and manifested a black tendril to force Ryuuto to the ground.
Torvi grumbled as she got up. She stomped over to Ryuuto and crouched until their faces were a few inches from each other. She held her index finger and thumb together in front of his face. "You are this close to getting eaten alive!"
"Oh? Is that a challenge I hear? Just name a time and place. I'm always ready for a rematch."
"As much as I want to witness the fated grudge match, I believe you both need to change. We have classes in an hour and I desire sustenance." Olivia said after she composed herself.
"I mean, I have a bag of chips. Why can't we eat those?" Ryuuto said as he pulled his uniform shirt over him.
"Do you really expect a bag of cheese puffs to provide ample nutrition?"
"Duh." Torvi and Ryuuto said in unison. The two lock eyes after that and Torvi blushed in frustration that they actually agreed on something while Ryuuto smirked that they did.
Later, elsewhere...
As an aramusha, it was in Ryuuto's nature to move about. At most he stayed in one place for a week if a mission called for it, but other than that, he was a wanderer.
Which made adjusting to Beacon Academy all the more tricky. He was no longer used to staying in one place, especially in a place like a school. The first few classes were a grueling trial that made him almost regret agreeing to Ozpin's demands. Almost. It beats getting locked up in a high security prison.
Actually, maybe he could've started more than a few prison fights. 'Nah. Too easy' he then revoked.
To Olivia's annoyance, Ryuuto choose to wear his uniform in his own way. The "improper way" as she said. He wore the dress pants and blue vest right, but neglected to tie the tie, leaving it hanging around his neck. His coat was tied around his waist and his white dress shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
"Ya know, Port actually tells some pretty interesting stories. It's just his voice makes everything sound so dull." Ryuuto commented as Torvi, Olivia, and him were on their way to the cafeteria.
Torvi snapped her head to him, eyes wide. "I know right?!" she laughed. She then stopped herself and scowled.
"He cannot control the type of voice he has, Yamamoto-san." Olivia calmly interjected.
"But he can control the tone and volume of his voice." He then pointed out. "And drop the formalities, ya robot. I ain't really a fan of it, so just call me Ryuuto."
"Robot?"
The trio entered the bustling cafeteria. They glanced around and spotted team RWBY and JNPR. Torvi and Olivia went to get food. Ryuuto briefly said what he wanted before approaching the teams "Red! Kitty cat! What's up?"
Blake, upon hearing the nickname and the voice that said it, snapped her head at him, her expression silently telling him to shut up lest she kick him in a place no man wants to be kicked in. She restrained her reaction to a minimum. It would do no good for her to accidently reveal herself. "What are you doing here?" Blake evenly said with a hint of disgust.
The aramusha could sense the hostility and knew what her question alluded to, but... "I mean, hungry people typically go places with food, don't they?"
While Blake donned an annoyed stance and continued to glare, her leader took an awkward and nervous frame of mind. "Umm... Hi, Ryuuto." It shocked both her and Blake when Ryuuto appeared with Torvi and Olivia as their new roommate and classmate, but with how Torvi's growing team was composed, it didn't surprise them that he was paired with Torvi. "How's your first impression of Beacon coming along?"
"Boring. Uneventful. Confusing. Should I continue?"
"Damn... I'm sure things will lighten up."
"Sure hope they will. Damn school is testing my patience!"
Yang sensed the tense atmosphere between them and the new guy and she easily deduced why. It took a huge amount of talking to calm the fire that was Yang Xiao Long after Ruby and Blake came back smelling like burnt hair and looking like they headbutted an electric fence. "It was you?"
"There's a lot of things I did. You gotta be more specific than that, blondie."
Yang got off her seat and stomped to Ryuuto, who got out his seat as well. The girl approached and glared up at him as Ryuuto smirked in amusement at her, fueling her growing ire. "Quit the smartass remarks. You're the guy that hurt my teammate and little sister, aren't you? Answer me!"
The cafeteria began to avert their attention to them. Some of the students sitting near them backed away as if sensing the impeding brawl about to erupt. Some even pulled out their scrolls to record the bloodbath.
"Did you hurt my sister and teammate?" growled Yang.
"Yeah, I did." the aramusha answered truthfully. That was gonna come out sooner or later; might as well get it over with. "I wouldn't have needed to if they didn't come between me and my target, but I suppose if they didn't, I wouldn't be here now."
"Your target?"
"Torvi. She made enemies with the Winchester family and they wanted revenge. I was simply hired to carry out their request." Ryuuto said.
His words did not totally surprise Yang. Torvi did mess up Cardin, she just didn't expect he came from an affluent family. From their perspective, she deserved any and all the pain in the world for hurting their "wonderful boy". Torvi was, however, their friend, despite her problems. And anyone who hurt her friends wasn't gonna make it off easy if Yang had any say in the matter.
Yang grabbed Ryuuto's collar harshly and brought him down to her level. "Listen up, buddy, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once: mess with my friends again, and I'll beat you into next year, you hear me?"
"Oh?" Ryuuto smirked. Perhaps school life was interesting after all. "What's your name, blondie?"
"Yang Xiao Long."
"Well then, Yang, for your information, I have no intention of being a bully to you, Torvi, Red, or anyone for that matter. Just because we were opponents on the battlefield doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?" He then turned his head to Blake and Ruby. The former huffed and turned her head away while the latter donned smiled awkwardly and shrugged. "But..."
"Huh?!"
Suddenly, Yang's head jerked forward, but not out of her consent. Ryuuto had quickly snaked his hand behind her and grabbed the back of her head. "What you just said, those are fighting words. Just name the time and place, blondie. We can throw hands like crazy then."
Yang felt Ryuuto's fingers tangle themselves in her hair - her long and precious hair. And he was just carelessly tangling it. She gritted her teeth, her lilac eyes turning a bloody red. She stared back up at Ryuuto with absolute murderous intent.
"Enough you two." To Yang and Ryuuto's surprise, it was Ruby that separated the two duelist before they could destroy the cafeteria. She pulled Yang's arm and gave her an imploring look. "Play nice, alright?"
The blonde looked at her little sister and after a small pause, she gave a small nod. She went back to her seat, but not without joining Blake and glaring at the new member of Torvi's team.
Ruby sighed. "If you really mean what you said, that you intend to be friends with us, then I see no reason why we can't start over." She offered her hand. "Sorry about... shooting you in the back."
Ryuuto chuckled. "Hey, we were in a heated fight. No biggie." He offered his hand and they shook. Ruby smiled at the outcome and sat back down. Ryuuto sat down as well. "You know, I was operating on my last flumes at the end. Using my semblance drops my aura, and I used my semblance A LOT during our fight. That, and you guys cut me up pretty good."
"That must mean you have a large aura pool then." Pyrrha piped in. She and team JNPR stayed silent during the last few minutes as they observed the interactions Ryuuto had with their friends. For someone affiliated with Torvi and Olivia, he was pretty down to earth and battle-crazy at the same time. Be that as it may, if Ruby and team RWBY was willing to build bridges with him, then she and her team can do the same.
"Oh my Oum, you're Pyrrha Nikos! I've seen videos of you fight. Me and you have to spar sometime, you're awesome." Ryuuto then leaned on the table and offered an open palm to the redhead.
"Oh! T-Thank you." She high-fived him and smiled at his enthusiasm.
"Can I get high-five too?!" Nora gleamed, liking Ryuuto's energy.
"Why not?! High-fives for all!"
Olivia and Torvi approached with their plates of food. Ryuuto had his hand raised towards Weiss, but the girl refused to as much lift a finger. "I see you're bonding well with the others." Olivia stated.
"I sure am! I'm even devising nicknames for 'em" He then looked at Weiss.
"Let me guess: Weiss-cream? Ice queen?" the heiress pointed out.
Ryuuto smirked. He lived in Atlas for some time so he knew the Schees and their shady business dealings and their questionable working conditions, especially for the faunus. He wasn't gonna hold that over her, though. That battle belongs to her father and the company. But that didn't mean he couldn't tease her. "Nah. It's White Cream."
"'White Cream'?" Jaune parroted.
"I don't get it." Ruby said.
Olivia handed the aramusha a plate of pancakes. He casually picked one up and took a bite out of it. "Well, what's cream-like, white, and a pain to remove from your sheets?"
Yang was the first uncover the meaning. She busted a gut snickering. Torvi was next and slowly everyone was starting to get the meaning.
Torvi didn't think it was possible, but Weiss looked even paler as she stared back at Ryuuto, mortified. "You-... You pervert!"
"Guilty as charged!" He and Torvi burst into cackling hyenas, clearing taking delight in the dirty joke and the heiress' discomfort.
The shaman realized what she was doing: she was having fun with Ryuuto. Her struggling mind knew this and told her rein herself, but by the gods, she loved dirty jokes. But to accept any part of Ryuuto, even his small characteristics, would be an admission that she accepts him and by proxy accepts her self-betrayal to her principles. She didn't, or at least not yet.
Olivia groaned out her frustrations at her roommates. She side-glanced at Ryuuto. Despite his carefree demeanor, their first interaction stuck out in her mind. He may act like it, but he is no idiot. Years of experience shined not only in battle, but also in his mind.
She hadn't equated for a team member like him joining the fold. Her mission given by her... allies required a tactful, subtle touch. She had to blend in with the student body while also completing the designated tasks ordered of her. Torvi was too much of imbecile to catch on to her, but this boy may present a problem or two if she wasn't careful. It didn't help that he already had his eyes on her and knew the order she used to belong to.
He was a danger to her assignment. When Torvi is angry, she scowls and yells. With Ryuuto, he'll smile though his anger.
When Blake opened up her notebook, Ryuuto couldn't help but take a peek. Yang too shared his thoughts as she bumped shoulders with her cat-eared partner. "Whatcha doing?"
"Nothing. Just going over notes from last semester."
"Can we borrow those? We weren't here for last semester." Olivia asked.
"Do we have to?" Torvi whined.
"It is only because of the witch you have good grades. Start taking more of hand in your studies." Olivia chastised.
Torvi twitched. "For once, I actually agree with emo bitch. Stop relying on me so damn much!"
"Like I have a choice! You keep taking control whenever I try to work!"
"That's only because you keep getting things wrong! The school doesn't recognize that I'm a person so I'm stuck with doing the work for me AND you, which you keep on getting WRONG, you retard!"
Torvi remembered Cardin calling her that and her face crinkled in fury. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"Enough." Olivia promptly said when she slammed her fist in Torvi's noggin.
"That is so freaky." Ryuuto commented.
The time passed on calmly enough. The three teams ate and talked while Nora was tossing peas into Yang's mouth. Torvi joined in as well when Yang started tossing pieces of bread her way, only for her to catch it with her maw like a leaping hyena. Olivia tried to stop this behavior, but gave up when she realized the girls were gonna continue regardless.
"Hey, where's Ruby?" asked Torvi as she noticed the red reaper wasn't eating with them.
"Right here!" With that, Ruby came and slammed a giant pile of papers on the table, the top page titled, Best Day Ever ACTIVITIES. Yang, Torvi, and Ryuuto snickered when they saw Weiss's name and her title were scratched out. "Ahem. Sisters! Friends!... Weiss."
"Hey!"
"For score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream!"
"Lets hear it, Red!" Ryuuto clapped, his attention on her. Yang threw a blueberry at Tovi and she practically swallowed it whole.
"A dream that one day, the four of us would come together, as a team, and have the most fun any of us would ever have - EVER!"
"Did you steal my binder?" Weiss asked the obvious.
"I am not a crook."
"The scratched out name says otherwise." the black prior deadpanned.
"What're you talking about?" Torvi asked, confused.
"I'm talking about starting the new semester with a bang, my dear shaman friend!"
"I always start out my semesters with a Yang." the long-haired blonde punned. "Eh? Right guys?"
Many of the table's occupant found the joke lacking. Torvi and Ryuuto did not. They laughed like they just heard the funniest joke ever spoken to mankind.
Yang smirked proudly. "Ah... It's good to see good humor going strong. Catch Torvi!" She flung a cherry at the fellow blonde just as Nora threw an apple at Yang's face. She growled at the ginger.
"Look, guys, it's been an eventful time for all of us, and between Torvi and her gang, more exchange students arriving, and the tournament at the end of the year, our second semester is gonna get more hectic. And classes start back tomorrow which is why I've taken the time to schedule wonderful events for us today!"
"Does one of those events involve wrestling?" Torvi questioned with a raised hand.
"Does one of those event involve stealing Goddwitch's underwear?" Ryuuto then added. The teacher tore into him about his state of attire and he wanted a little payback.
Olivia, red faced, smacked him upside the head for his suggestion.
Yang grabbed a cabbage ball the size of a baseball and threw it at Nora. Torvi and Ryuuto quickly sensed the impeding storm that was to come and choose their sides. Ryuuto behind team JNPR, and Torvi behind team RWBY.
Team RWBY continued to converse ignoring the broiling struggle. "You two..." Olivia sighed. She got up and walked to Torvi, who was behind Yang as their eyes and hands were screaming and waving no to their opposition. Oblivious, Olivia walked her way to the blondes. "Cease this childish-"
"Heads up!"
And with that, a pie with a cover of whipped cream collided into Weiss's face as she was talking with her team.
Ryuuto, who had thrown the pie, laughed. "HA! You creampied, White Cream!"
Moments later...
It was an utter mess. Every ingestible item was tossed after another, tables were launched and stacked to make a make-shift fort, students were running for their lives to escape the mayhem, and sides were forged to topple the other.
Olivia sat on the side, contemplating all her life choices that inevitably lead to her current position.
Nora Valkyrie cackled as she stood atop her castle of lunchroom tables. "I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" She sang as her team and Ryuuto stood on the ready for their enemies to make their move.
"Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful! IT WILL BE DELICIOUS!" Team RWBY and Torvi roared a hearty battle cry.
It was like they were readying for war.
She should probably stop this. As a diligent student of Beacon Academy, it was her duty to bring this lunchroom war to termination.
...But, it wouldn't hurt to watch for a little while, would it? Plus, it would be good to study their teamwork and combat styles.
Yes. That's it. It's simply research.
"Hey!" Torvi yelled out to her. "Aren't you going to join, too?!"
Torvi and Ryuuto stared smack-jawed as a small smile spread itself across Olivia's face. "I am a neutral party. But..." Black tendrils arose around her and picked up all manner of food and distributed it at random. "That does not mean I will be idle."
"HAHA! Who knew you had it ya?!" Ryuuto smiled as he grabbed a pair of long baguette bread. He charged as team JNPR unleashed a volley of watermelons upon their opposition.
"Yang, turkies!" Ruby pointed out. The elder of the two sheathed her hands in the cooked but cold poultry. She and Blake, equipped with her own baguette swords, crushed the watermelons that came their way to pieces as they advanced upon team JNPR.
Torvi didn't stay still for a moment as she grabbed a chicken leg the size of her hatchet and slightly smaller tuna fish. She slashed and smashed her way towards Pyrrha, who grabbed as baguette sword as she saw Torvi coming to her.
Blake smashed a couple melons, but Ryuuto appeared as if he came right of the fruits themselves. She blocked his overhead strike with her "swords". "Huh. Who wouldn't thought our rematch was gonna be the next day?"
Bread crumbs fell as the two continued their weapon lock. "Do you ever shut up?"
"Only when I sleep."
The faunus pushed the aramusha off and the two deflected each others blows as they attacked. Blake flipped herself behind Ryuuto in the attempt to strike his back, but Ryuuto turned just in time to blocked. She flipped again, using her semblance mid air and tricked the teen. She threw one of her baguettes and Ryuuto raised his to block. The force of the throw split apart his bread to half its length, but Ryuuto did not complain. Rather, he smirked and charged the faunus just when she landed. He raised his "swords" to the left, striking her right and sent her flying to the Olivia's side.
The black prior caught her mid air with a large manifested baseball mitt. "Thanks, Olivia."
Olivia placed her down and gave her a long link of sausages as she lost hers during her confrontation with Ryuuto. "Ryuuto is close-range combatant. Keep him at bay with range and use speed to your advantage. Now go." Blake nodded and jumped back into the fray.
Torvi came closer and closer to the redhead and swung her drumstick in an upward motion. Pyrrha dodged and clubbed Torvi in her exposed gut, forcing her to keel over. She then hit her back and aimed for her head, only for Torvi to dodge right and club Pyrrha in the head with the chicken leg.
More of the crunchy exterior fell as Torvi began her assault. Pyrrha countered to the best of her abilities, but Torvi's proficiency with poultry was frightening. Whenever she tried to turn the tides in her favor, Torvi kept slashing her tuna across her chest, halting her for a millisecond, enough to return the battle to her favor.
Pyrrha parried a tuna stab and swung her baguette downward. Torvi blocked. "Hehe. Have you claimed you quarry yet?" Torvi's ask as her eyes drifted to team JNPR's leader.
Pyrrha blushed, catching Torvi's drift. "W-Wha-?"
That was just what Torvi needed. She kicked Pyrrha off of her, throwing her back some distance and stunning her. She was about to close the distance when Pyrrha disarmed herself, throwing her baguette like a spear, narrowly missing Torvi and hitting Yang way back. Torvi looked back to assess what she did when a concussive force in the form of a watermelon hit her square in the chest, the force launching her all the way to the other end of the cafeteria.
Torvi swore she saw stars dancing across her vision when Weiss suddenly connected and broke a gray column, courtesy of Nora wielding a watermelon hammer. She shook her daze away as she raced to catch her before the column crushed her. "Weiss? WEISS?!" she said as she shook the heiress, but she was out cold. The shaman looked around the cafeteria, at all the destruction and mess everyone caused. Her eyes snapped at the roof when Nora sent Yang flying out the building. She shed a single tear, out of what Torvi did not know. "War... War never changes."
Her moment was cut short when flying soda can, exploding like grenades, sent her and the unconscious Weiss into another wall.
Ruby, seeing as all her comrades put down so merciless, decided to take matters into her own hands. She crouched as if she was going to run a sprint, and with tremendous speed that had Ryuuto whistling in approval at, she kicked herself forward, blowing everything around her forwards just from the force of her hyper speed.
The aramusha stepped back and dropped his bread swords in awe. "It's game over, guys..."
And it truly was. The force of Ruby's speed dragged team JNPR and Ryuuto and into a wall. A vortex of food, drink, and plates came barreling towards them, leaving none safe from its destruction. It lathered the teens in food, but also the shame of defeat.
Torvi smiled a dumb smile. "Victory!" She yelled before collapsing on Weiss's body.
"Facinating..." Olivia mused. The speed Ruby just demonstrated was powerful enough to cause damage. I made her wonder why she didn't use that against Ryuuto upon battling him.
The door slammed open, and Olivia's heart fell. Goodwitch had arrived, but she was with a couple of teens she hadn't seen before.
Exchange students from the other academies, perhaps? One of them was blonde monkey faunus with a ripped figure. He was dressed in an open white shirt revealing his strong chest, red armguards and shoes, and blue jeans.
The other teen beside him as covered in purple muck from the food war. His hair was blue and wore a pair of googles on his head. His attire consisted of a white dress shirt with a black tie under a red coat. On his back she see his weapon peaking, but couldn't make out what it was. He wore gray jeans with black padding on the sides as well as black, laceless shoes.
The platinum blonde teacher growled as she appraised the damage of the lunchroom. She stopped some food from flying into her face and with a few flick of her whip, the cafeteria began t repair itself. Every table was placed back to its original position and every plate, broken and not, was neatly stacked. "Children... please, do not play with your food."
Torvi helped Weiss stand on her feet. She looked around and saw not even a smudge around the room. She really knew how to use that semblance, Torvi thought. She then realized something important. "Where's Yang-?"
The roof collapsed, and Yang dropped and crashed into a table.
"Ms. Junta," Goodwitch started. Olivia approached. "Why did you not attempt to stop the conflict?" Out of all the students, Olivia has demonstrated a maturity and sense of responsibility than the rest of her peers. Then again, she was a thirty-four year old in a seventeen year old body, so that was pretty much expected.
"... I wanted to watch and analysis the strength and techniques of everyone involved." she answered honestly, already knowing she and everyone were in trouble. "I accept whatever punishment you deem fit."
Her expectations were shatter, however, when Ozpin arrived. "Let it go." he said simply.
Goodwitch looked at him and relented. She sighed. "They are supposed to be the defenders of the world."
"And they will be; but right they're still children. So why not let them play the part?" Ozpin said. He turned to Olivia. "The same goes for you as well, Ms. Junta. Despite your and the rest of your team's true origins, you're all children. It's okay to live while you're still young."
Olivia was silent as her teachers talked. Her hand curled for a second at Ozpin's advice, but it was tempered with understanding. 'Easy for you to say...'
"After all," Ozpin continued. "It isn't a role you and your friends will have forever."
Later, elsewhere...
'Live a little, he said' Olivia thought as she walked around Beacon's administrative building. It was during these times the black prior could have some alone time for herself.
And for her mission: infiltrate, sabotage, and scout.
She turned on her scroll as she entered the building. To her surprise, the front desk lady was out, her computer turned off. She glanced around and saw surveillance cameras stowed away in the corners of the room. She sat down at a nearby chair and fiddled on her scroll to look like it was without purpose. After a minute of doing so and seeing that the front desk lady wasn't gonna arrive soon, she pointed her scroll at each camera, hacking them so that they could play a loop of her.
The device and all its utilities were given to her by a fellow associate, someone knowledgeable of technology and programming.
She set the loop to cover for six minutes. Enough time to install the program into the computer. She connected her scroll and computer, the program in the former bypassing the feeble security of the latter. She then uploaded the program, which took about a couple minutes. The screen turned red with a black chess piece in the center, signifying the upload's completion before turning back to normal. She turned the computer off, returned to her seat to let the loop complete, and exited the building.
The program she uploaded into the computer and all the others was meant to scour Beacon's systems for information, but she knew all that she's compiled was nothing of significance. Nothing more than assignment plans, unimportant documents, and some personal information on staff and students. There was hope it could, but alas, the main place to search had to be the motherload.
Ozpin's computer.
'One day. Not now, but one day.'
Elsewhere...
After a long period in the shower, team RWBY, JNPR, and Torvi's team returned to their dorms, Olivia notwithstanding.
The girl group of four went to their separate activities. The war left them in need of rest before they could do anything Ruby packed into that behemoth bundle of papers.
"Oh man, did any of you guys see Nora knock me into the stratosphere? It was so gnarly!" laughed Yang.
"I did before I was knocked out." Weiss said with a smile, recalling the destructive fun they created. "That was certainly a way to start off the new semester."
"I gotta admit, I agree." Blake nodded.
"You think we should start another tomorrow?" Ruby suggested. The girls laughed.
Swiping a tear from her eye, Yang said, "And you know, Ryuuto wasn't that bad."
Blake and Weiss both dropped their smiles. "Are you serious?" the white-haired girl gaped. "That man is the most vulgar, loud-mouthed, and hard-headed individual I have ever met! And I know you which is saying something."
"Hey, I'm not saying we're best buddies now or anything! it's just-... other than his lust for battle, he seems like an easy-going guy." the blonde said in defense for herself.
"Are you just saying that because he likes your puns?"
Yang snickered and looked away. "What do you think...White Cream."
The young heiress fumed. "Like I said: vulgar."
"What about the fact he injured me and Ruby, and almost killed Torvi?" Blake added.
Yang scowled remembering that and Ryuuto touching her hair. "Trust me: I'm gonna find my own brand of payback for that." Her expression softened when it came to Torvi. It wasn't that she wanted harm or death to befall on the girl, but it was hard to root for her most of time when the things she has done are just... horrible. "And with Torvi, after everything she's done, its not like it isn't justified if someone wanted her bruised or killed, right? I don't like it, but the girl reaped what she sowed."
Blake and Weiss begrudgingly agreed. Despite Ryuuto's character and actions, he wouldn't be here if it wasn't Torvi's near murder of Cardin.
Blake recalled the events that transpired during their attack on that White Fang base and how Torvi carved her way to victory until the near end. It was possible word of her reached them which would only leave a bigger target on her back. That includes the person she fought who left her limping, auraless. She recognized the strength of the shaman and doubted just anyone knocked her down that low. It had to be a high level fighter, and she had a few ideas on who...
The idea that Adam would hunt her brought a crippling sense of trepidation.
Weiss sighed. "You think... things would've been better if Torvi never came to Beacon to begin with?"
"Weiss!" Ruby gasped.
"Ruby, look at the facts! If Torvi wasn't here, Ryuuto wouldn't have fried you and Blake like french fries! From the moment that girl came to this school, she has been nothing short of a menace."
"But-"
"And I know we agreed to give her one more chance, but how many more chances will it take for that girl to realize brain matter isn't a late night snack?!"
Ruby was young, idealistic, and perhaps naïve of the inner workings of the world, but she wasn't dumb. She doesn't know what Torvi did before coming to Beacon, but from what she witnessed first-hand, it was safe to infer the shaman did a lot of messed up things even before Beacon. By no means was she defending her actions and crimes; executing and cannibalizing enemies, nearly murdering a student over a sparring match, and indirectly bringing a mercenary into a school. These three actions alone warrant a distrusting and/or disgusted view of someone, and rightly so.
"Maybe we can't change her, but we can still inspire her to be the best she can be."
What surprised everyone was that it wasn't Ruby that said that. It was Blake.
She continued. "After the fight, Torvi had Ryuuto dead to rights. She had him right where she wanted him and could have killed or eaten him, but she held back. She bit his arm and left him be." She was stunned when she first saw it. To see someone so merciless decide to put their blade down was a sight to behold. She didn't believe Torvi was capable of benevolence, but she just had to prove her wrong.
Ruby recalled how proud she was when Torvi decided to walk away instead of turning the fountain red. Yet she also recalled how conflicted she was at the decision. It was like she was forced to choose between two opposing sides - her principles or theirs - and she choose theirs.
Weiss must of thought of this and said, "How much of that was from her own volition or yours?"
Ruby didn't answer. She couldn't help but feel a small hint of discontent at the reality that Torvi did not grant mercy because she wanted to, but felt some sort of obligation to. It made her feel like she was forcing her to become someone she didn't want to be.
Blake mutually thought the same. She shrugged. "I don't think that's a big deal... at least right now. She spared Ryuuto. In the end, the decision was in her hands and she chose mercy. She capable of improving. That's what's most important."
"Yeah," Ruby chimed. "She can be better. And as her friends, it's our duty to help her on that path."
Weiss and Yang gave each other unsure looks. Perhaps it was because they weren't present to see the resolution of last night's fight, but they had their doubts. Still, hearing Blake vouch for Torvi was a surprising turn of events. If Blake believes in her potential, why shouldn't they?
Collectively, the quartet of girls felt mental fatigue like no other. Looking out for the otherworldly shaman was a constant rollercoaster; it had its ups and its downs, and neither one of them couldn't deny the fun they had with the girl, but neither could also deny the nausea she causes in addition.
Hard knocking were heard at their door. Weiss was the closest and went to answer. She was soon bonked on her forehead as the knocker did not cease their hand movements even when the door was being opened.
She yelped and looked at the guests when she heard a feminine gasp.
Torvi was the culprit behind her throbbing head while Olivia and Ryuuto were behind her. The aramusha smiled "White Cream! How's-?"
The door was promptly shut.
For Weiss, Torvi associating with Ryuuto was one of the downs.
"Weiss! That was rude!" Ruby admonished. A groan of exasperation left Weiss's mouth and she opened the door.
"What do you three want?" the whitette asked.
"Ryuuto has a mission. And he and Torvi saw fit to invite all of you." answered Olivia.
Blake frowned and got off her bunk. "If you think we're gonna join you on a some murder contract, you're-"
"Woah, woah. Keep the conclusions to a minimum, kitty cat. It ain't anything like that, I swear." Ryuuto assured them.
"We'll need to know more before we can come to a decision." Ruby said. Yang and Weiss nodded while Blake still looked skeptical.
Ryuuto nodded. "Alright, so one of my contacts in Vale hooked me up with this contract from a village near the outskirts of Vale. Apparently they've been having strange grimm encounters for the last week and wanted a hunters to investigate and eradicate the problem."
His choice of wording intrigued the girls. "How's it strange?" asked Yang.
"The village is mostly faunus and had a truce with the White Fang. They had an outpost nearby, but from what the villagers report, they're gone now. Without a trace. Without warning. Said a few of them went to investigate the encampment, and didn't even see any blood."
Now that was strange. Grimm attacks usually left devastation in their wake; torn up bodies and splashes of blood from what they heard. They also should've hit the village soon after attacking that outpost. It was out of their nature to simply stalk and watch.
Ryuuto continued. "Soon after that outpost was wiped clean, the villagers then reported seeing Grimm skulking around around the area. They've been getting closer and closer, and feared the worse so they requested for Huntsmen support."
"Why don't you deal with them?" Blake questioned with narrow eyes. He's powerful enough to take three huntresses-in-training one after the other, but a group of grimm needed a full team?
"I would... but then I decided to let my roomies and gal-pals in for some quality friendship building!" the man exclaimed happily. When team RWBY shuffled and looked at Ryuuto curiously. "Look, we're all aiming to be hunters, right? This is the kind of work hunters do. What better way to show you all I'm serious about bein' your friend than to fight for the people AND get paid for it?"
The prevailing emotion coursing thorough the team was hesitation. This was a mission for official hunters; a job they were not allowed to go on. But they have gone against worst; what's a few grimm compared to them?
"I say we go." Ruby proclaimed. "A village is in trouble and if something doesn't happen now, the grimm will destroy it."
"I like your moxy, red!" the ex-samurai praised. He draped an arm around her and pulled her close to his side. "C'mon, guys. Isn't this what all your training was meant for? To protect those who cannot protect themselves?"
That was true, they all conceded. "Wait. Why are you two going along with this?" Weiss indicated to Torvi and Olivia. With Torvi, she had an idea, but Olivia was a puzzle. Wasn't she the by-the-books type? Then again, memories of her involvement in the food war came to mind.
"Sounds like a good time!" Torvi said simply.
Her black-haired, blonde-highlighted partner rolled her eyes at her. "I was placed in charge of watching over these two." And as if she read Weiss's mind, she then said, "And while undertaking this mission is forbidden for students and civilians, who knows how long official hunters will pick this mission up. This faunus village is small and would be glazed over for more higher paying and prestigious jobs. Not to mention the bias against the faunus which would most likely dissuade the more close-minded."
Blake frowned as her ear twitch for a moment in frustration.
"Besides, it's as Ruby says. Immediate action must be taken." Olivia finished, surprising the girls. She had a sense of righteousness along with a sense of duty.
"And right you are! Let's go everyone! Let's go!" Torvi urged. Yang and Blake agreed to come, but Weiss was stammering for an argument.
"B-But what if we get in trouble? What if the Headmaster find out?!"
Ryuuto wavered her off as he inspected a book her found beside the door. "Eh. He'll probably congratulate us for taking the initiative. It'll be Goodwitch who'll, at most, lecture us." He said with a chuckle near the end. "Besides... what's the worst that could happen? It's not like we're gonna die."
Weiss sighed at his untroubled inclination. She went to retrieve her boots.
