Chapter 2

I just want to clarify that it's all your fault... don't look at me it's your fault

like it or not now we can't go back. We're all on our way to the Valley before you know it, you have arrived at your destination, with the transport here being fast, it was not to be expected. Very different from menageri having everything being done in a traditional way, even the means of locomotion. Even though I admit it has its charm it's not something I'll miss.

" Excited ? " asked the girl next to her

It took me out of my thoughts again, I had a book open but I noticed that it was just there and I wasn't really reading it.

" With ? " I asked

It's a way for everyone to get to know each other, you don't want to be stuck in a place with strangers, it's just like leaving a cat and a dog together, it won't be nice at least most of the time it's not" she smiles

for a reason my face made a face making me want to scratch the top of my head with your comment ,for a reason my face made a face making me want to scratch the top of my head with his comment. how can she make analogies related to animal topics even without knowing that I was a... strange it felt like fate was playing a prank on her

" Well when you say it like that, i'm not excited but curious it's the first time i go to the valley maybe i'll discover something i like i don't know, it depends on what they have in their bookstores

Now it was Yang's turn to make a face " Seriously, books Brake's seriously this is the time to connect with your team that time heart heart knows a time for all of us there you are thinking about books. Lame"

" Now you're being dramatic " her other partner said filing her nails she didn't seem to be paying attention at least not much to what was going on around her

" Sorry if i'm trying to unite our team, we need a pillar to be a better team, i don't want our team to just say goodbye at the beginning of beacon " she said in an exaggerated way clearly with a hint of sarcasm

" I think that was a mistake " the bow girl thought. This caught the attention of the heiress " it hasn't been a week since ... "this" was formed, we still have time to turn it into a team I think "

" This ? " she repeated blink

" It's definitely not a team, yet " she commented coming back filing her nails

" That's why we're here, let's work on it " a raised voice from the girl's side made her jump out of her seat causing the nail file to fly almost hitting Blake . The frightened heiress winked at the girl with 0 to 100% of the girl's volume " Where did you come from ?"

" I was here the whole time, you who stood there ignoring everyone, rude if you ask me " she said in confusion

" Oh " she said

A bump in the ship caught everyone's attention, and the ship's doors began to open.

" It looks like we arrived , i'm impressed with how fast the transport is here in the valley " commented Blake

" Well it is to be expected here is the focus of the kingdoms, everything is centralized making the economy strong, it should probably be just below Atlas " Yang commented lazily as he prepared to leave. but she noticed the attention she was getting from Blake and Weiss.

The two blinked and Weiss was the one who asked confused " how do you know that ? "

" Just because I'm blonde I think I'm the one that lacks intelligence in the group. I STUDY " she said with an arrogant smile, until she heard her sister's voice

" She heard it in a documentary, i think it was the day she was bored flipping the tv channels without thinking" Ruby comments as she walks by her team

" RUBY !? " she screams

" WHAT IS TRUE ! " she screams back "Oh" the two girls said

" Yes, but they don't need to know that " she said reaching for her sister

The Heiress looks at Blake and shrugs and starts following the girls. Well, trying to work the dynamics, I don't think it would hurt. I hope by the end of Beacon we don't end up at each other's necks the bow girl thought while I followed in slow steps the rest of your team.

- 2 -

Now that I think about it, I'd never visited the Valley, well at least I hadn't stayed long to get to know things here. now that I see it better, it's a junction of all the cultures of the realms giving a touch from everywhere. I see different people talking in the street, some falnos and humans, some merchants yawning and opening their stores and children and parents taking their children to schools. It gives me a nostalgic look. however I was taken out of my thoughts when I realize that my steps are getting slow and I stop following my team and I see them walking away they seemed to be involved in a conversation I don't know what they are talking about it seems that I get distracted in my thoughts and I don't know where from what they're talking about even Weiss seems to be involved in it in her own way.

Blink and blink again , decided to look around noticing the design of the buildings a junction of futurism and traditional giving an air of unique , I noticed that we were going to a place with commercial focus judging by the vendors starting to open their stalls and the restaurants around who were starting to open their businesses.

I notice something touching my leg and I shiver and I look down

" Meow ~ "

" ?! " I move my head to the side imitating the cat that was touching my leg

" Hello little one is lost " I get down and try to caress your head " so the little feline doesn't seem to like it and just tries to scratch my hand and making it jump and take my hand away quickly " hey hey " I say surprised " why so suspicious ? " holding my hand that was almost scratched even with the aura I don't want to risk it

" She doesn't like to be touched" I hear behind me and I turn and look at an old man with dark hair and short hair mostly white with his stooped posture. he was holding tablecloths and menus while wearing an ordinary uniform and a red cloth tied around his waist. he smiled as he spoke.

" Oh, why not ? " I ask I see the cat looking at me with since I'm a little nervous by the feline's ostility while looking at me and walking away rambling

" Don't take anything personal she doesn't like being around other girls it doesn't matter if she's human or her own species, maybe she's protecting her territory at least that's what I think " he said as he puts the cloth on the table

" Territory ? " the words come out of my mouth without realizing it

" Yes, she's quite jealous she doesn't like other girls being around the restaurant, ah very troublesome if you ask me" he says with a smile "so what brings a young girl to eat you so early in these parts"

" I was visiting the Valley with my team, we have free time so why not kill time getting to know the city I'm going to die in for the next few years" I reply perhaps a little nervously. I have to work the social part living in a 'Group' like White Fang for a long time doesn't give you the best social skills ever"

" Team ?" he replies

I look around and realize I'm alone, they must have gone and I ended up staying behind.

" I understand you are a hunter at least you are in the process of being a huntress, it is not a very popular profession nowadays, the dangers that come with it for most people are not worth the benefits, so I thank you for that" he said while cleaning and placing the cloths on the table.

I blink in surprise "why are you thanking me? it's just another job, nothing more" I reply curiously, this simple comment made me smile a little for some reason, maybe it's the fact that every time I interacted with humans was always in a conflict situation

" Well these days it takes hunters for things to work it 's not the same thing as having law enforcement officers . Taking care of people is the easy part the monsters no one has to deal with . hunters are getting more and more scarce . " he says as he finally finished fixing the entrance to the restaurant, it wasn't something too big or small in a humble way " so what made you take this path ? " he asks

"..."

"..."

What made me choose this path, I think and think

" I..." the words stuck in my throat it was such a simple question but I didn't know the answer

" Well it looks like you still don't know the answer, well it's ok if you don't know the answers. are you busy ? he asks as he wipes his hands on the rag

" What, no I'm not, why? " I answer curiously.

" Well , one of my employees is still bringing the groceries and it would be nice to have a little help to tidy things up here , he is usually the one who does this part and i think i have passed my peak for this type of thing . Physical work. he says as he gestures to the chairs and tables that were to be placed.

" Ooh of course i wouldn't mind" i reply with a smirk

" Oh sure I wouldn't mind" I reply with a smile, walk over to him and go help him pack up.

" Ooh why doesn't the cat like people touching it? I ask as I get him the chairs " No people, girls" he answers

I look at him for a few seconds "Wait is this serious she doesn't like girls around her? Why?" I ask confused. he hummed and looked at the cat staring at the girl

" As i said she is quite jealous since Jonathan took her in and took care of her she became quite attached to her and always comes here looking for her attention. whenever a female customer is around she gets aggressive quite jealous in fact well i can't blame her she was in a horrible state when he found her almost dying of hunger " he answers her while bringing some food to the feline

All Blake did was watch the little one go from aggressive to gentle to you and going to get the food that was placed.

" Jonathan ?" name sounds familiar " your employee ? " I asked

" Yes, I think he saw himself in the kitten, when I found him she was in a condition similar to the little one there weak, thin and weakened. He didn't think twice about welcoming when he saw her in this situation now she doesn't leave his side " he replied looking while she ate " the young man always says that animals are better than people, I'm trying to make her better her social skills but she has a big resistance on her part " the lord sighed in a little frustration

" Wait, weakened? What happened ? " this comment caught his attention and while he stopped arranging the tables and chairs

" Well, I'll be honest I don't know, when I found him she was very very weak, thin, he looked like he had been through a difficult situation, I dare say he was about to die maybe from hunger or from wounds, as I said it's a world scary thing we live in" the old man says while caressing the kitten "he never said what happened and he also doesn't seem to want to talk about it, so I don't ask, it seems that the scare makes him very sad"

Maybe someone who lived outside the Valley, some village was attacked? Grimm's... maybe no no don't think about it. The last thing I want to have is that feeling of being a possibility.

" Oh you're done, thanks for helping this old man here. well i guess you'll want to meet your friends won't you?" he responds while looking at work done. Blake blinks "oh" she says and her bow across the way moves, she looks around and thinks 'why not'

" Well like I said I have some free time, sir who helps with anything" she says with a smile, a real smile maybe the first one in so long.

The man smile " Well" he says

- 2 -

I blink and look around the restaurant that was already set up when I arrived, it was not common to be ready so early. I usually do the preparations, Mr Jackson couldn't do it all by himself. so, who ?

I enter the establishment with the supply bags and put it on the floor and look around.

" Mr Jackson? " I call him, but I hear a meow, but I hear a meow ~

" ?! " Look at where the familiar sound was coming from

" Hello little one " I stroke the top of her head and she seems to love it " Where is the owner miss" I ask the feline with a smile

" Oh he is looking for him, he said he would be back in a few minutes, he needed to make some calls. Are you Jonathan ? I hear a female voice behind me and look where it was coming from

It was a girl about my height with a black bow on her head, black hair and it looked like she was wearing a girl's uniform at the restaurant was she hired? strange I don't think Mr Jackson has the conditions to have more employees the place was humble and never really needed a lot of work. and the fact that she looked uncomfortable as I stared at her as if I had been looking into her soul didn't help my distrust much.

" ... So who are you ? " I get up and ask the girl

" Ooh I'm blake, nice to meet you " she reaches out to shake

I shake his hand "Jonathan so, are you a new employee?" I ask her "ah about that, i'm just helping out, but i guess you can say i'm hired for a day if you want" she says as she holds his hand and notices

" You can let go now " I say no longer putting effort in the grip waiting for her to let go

She seems to notice that she's been holding her hand too long " Oh sorry " the girl seems to notice some scars running through her fingers and going through her hand being hidden by her shirt sleeve

" Something wrong" I ask with a raised eyebrow

she seemed to notice that she was staring and spoke " sorry I didn't mean to face it...but what happened to your arm ? " she asks curious your bow moved

" Curious we are not " I say with a half smile " Accident at work we can say that " I tell her

" In ? she asks moving her head to the side giving me a feline look when she was curious

" Well not all of us have aura that protect us from everything, i must admit i even feel a little jealous of all of you who live in the remnant i say in a lazy way

" ... What without aura everyone is born with an aura " she asks even more curious. I blink at the girl's insistence and curiosity

" Ah, you're back, I see you brought the supplies " I hear the bar owner's voice leaving the room closing the phone in his hand I look at him and smile "yes I benefit from going out, I don't need to fight with an old lady for picking the juiciest fruits. I take the bags that were on the floor, there was more than fruit there. since the little cat was trying to get what was inside

" Ah ah, I still think you leave too early, at your age nothing made me wake up before noon " she says with a hand on her chin " maybe you were a lazy kid" I reply as I walk past him

" Hey hey it's not like that " you try to make an excuse and all i do is smile while I go to store the groceries

" Oh yeah almost, Jonathan would like to introduce you to Blake " he says. I stop and look at the girl "yes i met her a few minutes ago i wouldn't have thought i was so replaceable it really hurts my heart sir" i say with a false tone of hurt what a bad old man, he has a good heart more

" Hey wait it's not like that, the young lady was passing by and i just asked for a little help, you know i'm not at my peak, more help is always welcome

the girl seems to have noticed they started talking about her "it's not a problem nor one, i'm happy to help" she says with a smile " Miss, I think you're going to regret those words" I say while shaking my head in disapproval I hear her saying "why?"

" How much energy, well are there any things you would need to help young lady " you tell her " Well if you don't mind and of course " the smile never leaving your face, for some reason Blake foresaw that maybe she regrets it

well, i warned you all i can do is look at the girl who changed her expression from one who wanted to help to discomfort and distrust, along with the little feline that looked like it was smiling at her. it looked like she liked what was to come.

-2-

" Okay how did we lose her ? was asked , the team wonders while looking around looking for her partner " I mean she is not hard to get lost " was said as if looking for a missing pet

" So what now ? " asks the white haired girl sitting on the sidewalk while putting her hands on her knees " she must have just decided to go " she says while looking at the two sisters looking around looking for her this caught the attention of his team leader"

Weiss you should be helping, how are we going to build a good team if we can't even spend a single day together "

the girl blinked "hey at least i'm trying, she just disappeared. let's face it this team is a disaster" she says like it's a normal thing. now this caught the interest of the golden haired sister " wow how excited we are, you know we're going to spend years together and we're going to have to learn to live together?" she says while looking at the heiress " no, don't worry inside I'm going crazy, imagine dedicating your whole life for this moment making sacrifices, studying sacrificing your social life for in the end this... well you know... why of all people I had to fall with the troublesome" she says in an exaggerated way as she grabs her head

the two sisters blinked in surprise charm stared at each other and some people on the street who were starting to come out of their houses to do their routines watched the girl's explosion

" We are that bad " the two girls whispered to each other " the heiress answered no matter how much more a whiny whisper could even be exaggerated " Yes ! "

" Our calm lady from... look, Weiss I know I didn't want to be on this team at all you probably would like to be on Pyrrha's team " Yang tries to comfort the girl but she listens " yes I would like " but she ignored and continued " it's just that whether you like it or not you're stuck with us, so the only choice we have is to try to work in this mess we call a team" she says charm approaches the girl. But she hears "I can't trade you two for a Pyhrra, yes yes more than fair. Would Team JNPR accept it?" She says with a hopeful look at the girl.

" Hey we're here" Ruby said even looking offended. however Yang responds with a "nope" and grabbed the girl like a potato sack and took her with her, there was no resistance from Weiss she just stood there watching everything happen as if she was in another world

" I think we broke her Yang" says her little sister as she poked Weiss in her cheeks

" She'll get over it, we'll have to look for the fourth member of the friendship team, after all, the joke is just good with everyone together" she says with a smile while listening to a grunt from Weiss on her shoulders "See, she agrees" but your sister said " I think she's just making sounds" your older sister answers " what's the difference ? "s

" I'm sure there's a difference, hey hey wait you stole my moment?!" said Ruby in a burst of both volume and speed to catch up with her sister.

" !? " Yang gives her little sister a questioning look

" Yes the discus, it was the perfect time for LEADER to give an inspiring discus and you stole my moment" she says to her Yang now she is the dramatist. It makes your sister smile and messes up your hair

" Don't worry, always next time" she says comforting her

" yes, however " she says

" Let's go fearless leader we have to find the fourth member of the joy team" a grunt was heard on his shoulder as the girls walked back to their steps. I hope we learn to get along otherwise this is going to be like Weiss said one disaster, four years in a place where everyone can't stand each other in the same place is going to be problematic. That was the only thing that came out of Yang Xiao Long's mind.