Professor Ozpin, Ozma, had seen many things in his day. That was just a simple fact.
A byproduct of an eternal life, really.
For the longest time, Ozpin believed that there was little that the world could throw at him that would be even the least bit surprising. Considering his age-old war with Salem, part of ensuring at least a moderate degree of success had revolved around correctly anticipating and planning for each and every possible outcome.
A world of many possibilities.
He had seen the rise and fall of a great many leaders from all sections of this war-torn world. Diplomatic leaders, vengeful successors, hedonistic nobility, obstructive aristocrats, consummate professionals, kingslayers, monarchs, ruling couples and who knows however many others.
There were simply far too many to name.
In the end, however, they had all fallen. Whether it be due to the ravages of time or the machinations of outsiders, it mattered not. The old world was done. In this new world of man, it was information that held the keys to success on the battlefield. Whether the battle was fought with the cold edge of steel or the sharp wit of diplomacy, both still revolved around who had access to the most pertinent information and the ability to apply said information to their adversaries.
Ruby Rose, trainee huntress and daughter of the late Summer Rose, now possessed information that he did not have but most certainly needed. And she knew it.
The girl was rapidly maturing into a guile leader capable of recognising an opportunity and capitalising on it for maximum personal gain. All in the span of a month or so. Ozpin did not have to wonder who had been behind said growth, when the girl herself was sitting right next to Ruby Rose with a knowing smile on her face.
Kirakishou.
The blonde had known that he was suspicious of her from the start. Possibly before the incident with Summer Rose even occurred- back when he was still looking into her suspicious arrival in Vale by way of a cargo ship with a false manifest. Kirakishou had used his paranoia against him, in order to secure a position in Beacon Academy for some unknown purpose.
It was with some degree of accuracy that Ozpin could, likely, rule out the girl as being one of Salem's agents. There was simply no conceivable possibility that his estranged wife would ever employ a girl of such a calibre. When Salem had discovered Kirakishou's semblance in such a scenario, the witch would have likely kept Kirakishou confined to a small abode to constantly produce uncanny doppelgangers of dead huntsmen and huntresses and sent them to cause panic across the globe.
But never would she have allowed Kirakishou to resurrect a copy of Summer Rose, memories and all. Even with mere fragments of her history, the sheer potential of that particular historic figure was too dangerous a weapon to wield. Information of that kind was a double-edged sword.
Salem would have known this, and thus not bothered to consider the possibility of releasing a shade of Summer Rose into the world. Not after what had happened in the past.
It was simply too dangerous of a risk, for the both of them. Salem knew that. Summer Rose was a foot soldier, a pawn, one that had made it dangerously close to the edge of the board through sheer deductive reasoning and a sizeable information network. She could have dismantled their entire game, if given the opportunity.
Which meant that Kirakishou either had an outside supporter with an unknown motive, or her motives were hers and hers alone. Both were equally terrifying, as he had discussed with Glynda previously. An unknown third party interfering was bad in its own right, but a girl with her own motive for her actions choosing the interfere during such a perilous time was also equally as deadly as a potential unknown adversary.
And yet, despite Ruby having every reason in the world to despise Kirakishou after what she had done to the image of her mother Summer Rose, the girl continued to recklessly thrown her affections to the blonde girl with all the grace of a blushing schoolgirl clearly unused to romance in any shape or form.
Which, as Ruby was hinting towards with her offer, meant that Ozpin was missing a great deal of information which had likely coloured his perceptions away from the actual truth.
"An impressive offer, Ruby Rose. Why, I can count on my hands the number of times somebody has managed to stonewall me into considering such a strange proposition. I daresay you may have found your second calling."
He was in a difficult situation. Depending on what exactly it was that Ruby and Kirakishou knew about the situation, especially regarding Summer Rose, things may quickly become… unpleasant.
Ruby smiled, glancing towards Kirakishou before levelling him with an even stare.
"…I try." was all she said.
Her Schnee teammate appeared noticeably irate on behalf of Ruby, having likely correctly deduced that their team member would take his words as a simple compliment. Kirakishou's proud expression likewise hadn't dimmed in the slightest at his bold words, however it would appear as if her smile had taken on a rather sharp edge.
Ozpin narrowed his eyes at the blonde girl, who would seek to hide her true intentions behind the smile of a seemingly innocent child. Truth be told, this was a sizeable opportunity if he played his cards right. However, one wrong move and two powerful pieces could be lost forever in the game against Salem.
"Very well, Miss Rose. You have a deal."
There was little else he could do. With James' autopsy continuing to fail to produce any worthwhile information and Qrow's current situation, his only possible source for any information pertaining to Summer Rose and thus Kirakishou's unique semblance rested solely in the hands of Kirakishou- who appeared to answer only to Ruby Rose.
Allowing Miss Rose to have her romantic evening with Kirakishou was an acceptable sacrifice in exchange for information that had just far eluded him. Although, Glynda would be quite upset once she heard the news, even if there was little-to-no cause for concern. With the two girls focusing on each other, they would likely be distracted enough to not cause any trouble for the others.
Hopefully.
There was also the distinct benefit in that, in accordance with James' stipulation regarding the two girls, allowing them this moment together would potentially improve their no-doubt stressed perception of him and hopefully cast a positive light over future interactions. As the Atlesian General had thankfully pointed out, this was a unique opportunity to gain not one ally, but two.
Provided that he played his cards right. The issue with Summer Rose would be the only delicate matter that had the potential to cause disaster is handled poorly. He would need to be cautious.
Ruby grinned a momentarily disarming grin as his answer, briefly reminding that headmaster that despite her odd behaviour the girl was still just a teenager trying to get her way. She may have picked up a few unusual mannerisms during her stay at Beacon, but she was still the daughter of Summer. Which would likely be his only leverage in the situation.
"...Provided that you are willing to answer several questions truthfully, Miss Kira, I would find myself inclined to allow you to attend the Vytal Festival Dance. Provided of course that you remain on your best behaviour."
The blonde doll smiled. "A pure rose could do nothing more, than to ensure her beloved maiden continues to grow strong and secure."
One can only hope that means 'yes' then.
"It would likely be for the best if you keep your questions concise and to the point, headmaster. For all our sake." Weiss Schnee supplied, a curt tone in her voice.
He gave a simple nod to the girl, whilst Ruby pouted at Weiss like a particularly grumpy puppy- likely uncomfortable with the Schnee Heiress' choice of wording. Which implied the girl was dreadfully protective over Kirakishou's pride.
Summer Rose had been similar, albeit to a lesser extent, regarding certain choice matters. The fact that her daughter appeared to be following in her footsteps was certainly a troubling development to behold, but one that would hopefully be tempered by her relationship and future study at Beacon Academy.
"Why did you resurrect a duplicate of Summer Rose?"
As he expected given the subject matter of his particular inquiry, Ozpin witnessed the young Ruby's eyes narrowing as the young trainee huntress grit her teeth in apparent fury. Kirakishou casually glanced over towards her for a brief moment, before returning her gaze to back Ozpin.
Fierce initial response from Miss Rose. However, is it over the question to Kirakishou or to the reference to the doppelganger of her departed mother?
"To make Ruby happy." Kirakishou answered simply. "She was the one, the only one, who came to me when I was nought but a broken little flower. Through her own force of will, she nurtured me back to health and gave me a reason. Is it wrong to repay kindness with kindness?"
Ozpin stared blankly at both Ruby and Kirakishou, watching as the former did a complete turn around in terms of emotions and began blushing profusely and stuttering words over the blonde. He sighed. Teen drama was perhaps one of the failings of training children to become the protectors of this world.
"And how exactly did you manage to create the Summer duplicate?"
Kirakishou cocked her head to the side. "...Ruby Rose is the only one who has held on to Summer Rose, following the ravages of time and the persistence of outsiders whom would seek to ensure she moves on from that which has shaped her very sense of self." Kirakishou explained, glancing down at Ruby's hand that she held on her lap. "As a result, there was a shade of Summer Rose present within her mind. They became inseparable. Summer Rose had shaped her, made her whole. All that a pale rose did was to give that entity a presence and grant her a body. Simplicity and difficulty."
A mental construct, then? A personality? Or was it something more?
"That hardly seems possible."
"Why?" Kirakishou deflected, her eye narrowing. "Why is it so hard to believe? Summer Rose was everything to her. Most of her psyche is built around the very concept of her mother. Her goals. Her aspirations. Her dreams. She was bound to Summer Rose in such a way that, deep within Ruby's mind, Summer Rose still existed in some small part. How many people in the world do you believe share that same devotion? That same passion? You are not one of them. Nobody that I have seen possesses such passion, except for Ruby Rose."
You are not one of them. Huh. An interesting choice of words that served to highlight her thoughts regarding the conversation. Remarkably defensive for a girl whose mind tended to wonder, yet quite accusatory. Impassioned. Kirakishou was a girl who believed in her abilities. To think that Ruby had seen fit in assuming the girl to be too oblivious to notice an insult.
Likely a failed assumption on the part of the young Miss Rose. Kirakishou did not lack the social tact necessary to pick up on phrases or insults. She had ignored them as a spider ignores prey deemed to be beneath notice. Only when her abilities were questioned, did she react.
The subject matter itself was rather troubling. It would appear as if both Miss Rose and Kirakishou believed that the entity that had appeared in the body of the Summer Rose doll was in-fact actually Summer Rose.
But was such a thing even possible?
"You misunderstand." Ozpin deferred, frowning at his thoughts. "I do not doubt the young Miss Rose's devotion to her mother. I was referring to your semblance. An undertaking on the level you describe would not be possible. The amount of aura required would be indescribable."
Kirakishou shook her head, peach blonde locks of hair flowing side-to-side from the movement.
"Do you ask the cost necessary to resurrect a human, or to craft a doll?" Kirakishou responded after a pause, smiling a knowing smile full of teeth. "What is the difference between a human and a doll, in the end?"
Ozpin blinked. That was not the response that he had been looking for, or even expected in the slightest. Nevertheless the answer was obvious.
"A human is a real, living and breathing person. They have free will. A conscious. A heart. Dolls are only copies or fakes, typically either made in the image of a character as nothing but a plaything for children or a hobby for adults."
"How dare-"
"Ruby." Weiss moved to interrupt, grasping her team leader who had stepped out of her chair in apparent outrage. "Stop. Let them finish."
There was a distinct narrowing of eyes present within Ruby's features, along with curled fists and a flare of aura. Yet, thankfully, the girl saw reason and fell back down into her seat with an undignified slump.
Kirakishou observed the situation with an empty silence. No, wait. Her smile seemed ever so slightly wider than before. He took the moment to remember exactly how Kirakishou had once reacted when reminded of how her sudden presence in the Vale Docks had caused a stir for the dockworkers and VPD called to the scene.
Pleasure. This is a soul that delights in the conflict she generates, yet still controversially seeks peaceful actions in the end. For what purpose? What reason is there for such paradoxical behaviour?
"Summer Rose was once a human, only to become a doll." Kirakishou responded with a knowing tone, "Would the cost you ask, therefore require that for a simple human or for a toy with which to play?"
Ozpin's brows raised ever so slightly. A toy. Interesting choice of words.
"I wouldn't be certain." he opted to speak after a momentary silence that had it made clear that the blonde had been waiting for his response to her inane babbling.
"You would be wrong, no matter which answer you chose."
Ozpin quirked a brow. "How so?"
"Summer Rose was not revived as a human, nor a toy. She was revived as a Rozen Maiden- a unique type of doll made utilising Father's special craft. A craft that he unknowingly passed to his beloved daughters, nestled deep within the confines of his soul and sheltered by seven overgrown petals."
If someone were to have overheard the conversation, there was the distinct possibility present that they would have been able to hear the sound of a pin dropping amongst the sounds of his clock tower- such was the silence that had thickly permeated the room following Kirakishou's statement. With Kirakishou's personality, most of the time it was as if even the most simplistic answer was nestled in riddle and conjecture that most could not hope to understand.
This had been different.
No matter how many minds went into dissecting her words and searching for any hidden meanings or actual concise statements, it was likely that they would all lead to the same conclusion.
"...Your sisters are capable of the same thing?"
Kirakishou smiled. It had seemed a lot less friendly than before. "Of course. Playing with dolls is an ability that all of Father's children possess. Some more than others."
A smaller ripple of shock seemed to have went through the two girls who sat on either side of Kirakishou. Both of the trainee huntresses appeared rather surprised at the declaration, more-so Weiss Schnee than Ruby Rose. It was likely that the Atlesian girl was no doubt privy to far less information surrounding Kirakishou than the young silver-eyed warrior actively pursuing her.
Perhaps that had been a part of the blonde's plan the entire time to ensure that Ruby was not overly surprised by the revelation of her abilities. Lessening the horror of something as unnatural as resurrection by claiming it to be something that her sisters could also perform, whilst also simultaneously causing a divide between the two girls for some unknown reason.
An intended reaction, or merely a reaction she was taking advantage of? Ozpin supposed that in the end it didn't exactly matter. The outcome was still the same.
It wasn't something that he would put past a devious mind to conjure up if the need arose.
Regardless of the truth behind such a claim, it was a horrid concept to imagine. The ability to return the dead to a half-life status as some immaculate doll creature possessing only a fraction of their memories. Doppelgangers seemingly designed to cause conflict anywhere they go by virtue of their very own cursed existence… Oum, what a nightmare.
There was no telling what untold devastation could be caused by unleashing such a power to its fullest potential.
With the grimm borderline ravenous for even a morsel of negativity they would certainly sense the angst and heightened emotional states born from witnessing a deceased relative come back to life in the form of some perverse blend between an endearing beauty and an abomination of life.
Worse still, such an ability was supposedly not limited to the warped mind of a crazed woman obsessed with flowers. No. That would have been too easy. Something easily controlled by controlling the only person capable of utilising such an ability, or the one her heart desired. This was different.
It was hereditary.
"Are you aware of any of your sisters currently utilising this ability?"
The sheer idea that there were six other girls out there capable of such a feat was nothing short of an internal nightmare on his side. He would be screening his spies for weeks following this revelation, regardless of Kirakishou's answer.
"None at the current time." Kirakishou responded, eyeing Ruby with an oddly solemn face in spite of her previous upbeat reactions and general nonchalance. "Summer Rose remains the only Rozen Maiden crafted by one of his own daughters. For now."
Ruby's shoulders visibly slumped, the young daughter of Summer Rose letting out an audible exhale of what seemed to be palpable relief. It would seem the girl had been dreading Kirakishou's answer, to a degree. Perhaps he was reaching the limits of the knowledge that Kirakishou had given to the girl thus far.
"How can you be certain?" he continued onward.
"In the same way in which a pale rose can grow, so too can her sisters. Although they will never attempt to follow in the footsteps of the pure white rose that is me..." Kirakishou explained, looking down. Ruby scooted her chair closer to the girl and shot him a glare- seemingly affronted for the girl on her behalf.
He was beginning to dislike this protective trait found amongst the Rose women. He was still her Headmaster, regardless of the unique circumstances surrounding her. For now, however, Ozpin focused on the topic at hand.
Namely deciphering Kirakishou's newest bombshell.
From what he could understand of her rambling, she believed that whilst her sisters were capable of making dolls in the same exact way, they wouldn't for some reason?
"How so?"
Ruby's grip on the blonde girl tightened and her aura flared again. It was clear that the girl wouldn't take much more of his questioning of her supposed paramour. Despite the fact that it was her whom had offered such in the first place.
Love truly was a maddening emotion.
"You are correct in believing that it would require a mass amount of strength necessary to revive a human, along with the inverse amount required to animate a simple doll. A Rozen Maiden lays somewhere in between. Thus Summer Rose did not require neither innumerable nor insignificant amounts of strength. She merely required more than most can hope to attain when clinging to Father's dream."
Behind his spectacles, Ozpin narrowed his eyes as he peered at the girl. Her response was nothing but speculation in the end, mixed with her own clearly unreliable mindset and questionable actions thusfar. There was simply no discernible way of outright confirming her authenticity beyond relying on her word alone.
Which was, naturally, a proposition that the Vale Headmaster found himself rather disinclined to follow. Were he to truly believe the girl's claims he needed evidence. Concrete, physical evidence.
Even were he to acquire sufficient evidence to lay claim to the idea that what Kirakishou spoke of rang true, due to her wording it was implied that each and every one of her six sisters could acquire the power to resurrect souls into 'Rozen Maiden' bodies if given sufficient time to grow.
"Do you know where exactly your sisters are? If they do indeed possess such an ability, they may be in danger."
It was a question that he had known was borderline pointless to ask considering the girl's history with her sisters, but one born out of a desperate bid to ensure the girls remained away from Salem's clutches if such a possibility existed.
Yet the fact remained that Kirakishou was a girl who had been betrayed by her sisters. He wouldn't put it past her to deny a rescue out of a petty desire to see them suffer.
"No."
Precise. Curt. And most certainly exactly what he had been expecting from the girl. All he had to believe such a claim was the word of a girl who would lie to him with a delighted smile on her face if she believed it would help her cause.
It would seem as if the young Miss Rose was quite pleased by Kirakishou's response, given the jolly smile that the girl was only now trying to hide from his view. A smile that was decidedly sharp for the same young trainee that had worried about hitting a bird accidentally during her launch into the Emerald Forest for her orientation. Unfortunately the very same girl had been far too late to hide such a concerning development.
No doubt Miss Rose has spoken to Kirakishou in great lengths regarding the girl's conflict with her six other sisters. Likely a response towards the notable decrease in her own relationship with her elder sister, in effort to bond through similar experiences. Unfortunately, she appears far too emotionally invested in the tragic tale of a broken girl to think rationally about the consequences of having six other girls capable of raising bizarre dolls running around Remnant.
No. If anything she appears just as pleased as Kirakishou did just previously. Is she glad to not have Kirakishou's sisters nearby? Possessive, perhaps? There may be quite the devious mind hidden behind that shy rougher shell. Or, perhaps such a thing is only brought on by her admiration for Kirakishou?
The young Miss Schnee is far less enthused. If anything, she appears quite put out.
He chuckled inwardly. Knowing the girl and her lineage, it was likely that she had also used her own channels of communication in order to attempt to discern anything regarding Kirakishou and also came up with nothing of import.
Which meant that he could likely strike the Schnee Dust Company and their subsidiaries off the list of potential involved parties.
For the most part. There existed a slight possibility of Jacques scheming behind his youngest daughter to avoid detection, but it was highly unlikely at this point. The man would never have allowed his precious heiress to attend the same school as his weapon under fear of discovery regarding their involvement.
Tangent aside, such a reaction from Miss Schnee also highlighted the fact that the young leader of team RWBY had been keeping secrets from the rest of its members. Unfortunate. No doubt James would have praised the girl's paranoia as a worthwhile trait for a huntress, but it had made his job all the more difficult.
Kirakishou's other sisters needed to be found. Quickly. If the girl would be of no help, he would be forced to search for alternate means of acquiring the locations as quickly as possible. If only to prevent the disaster that would certain follow were Salem of all people to find them. Whilst his estranged wife wouldn't be resurrecting Summer Rose, there are a great many figures in past history that would relish the opportunity to strike a blow against his kingdom.
"It seems we have arrived at the end of the line." Ozpin responded after a pause, recollecting his thoughts. "For now that will be all to my questioning. Thank you all for this opportunity. It was a most... enlightening journey."
Weiss gave a curt nod almost immediately, her intent to depart from the scene as quickly as possible made quite obvious.
"If that will be all, Headmaster?" she inquired.
Ozpin made to respond in the affirmative, only for his eyes to be drawn to the young miss rose who hadn't moved from her seat alongside Kirakishou, despite his rather blatant prompting.
"...So you'll let Kira attend the ball with me?"
As much as it would delight Ozpin to disallow having a potential powerhouse with mental instability attend the Vytal Dance, there was little Ozpin could do. Ruby had secured his vow and he was thus bound by his word.
Were he to deviate, especially in front of a mind as politically inclined as Weiss Schnee, the fallout could be immense. Following the upcoming Vytal Festival it would be an inopportune time to deal with the challenges of diplomacy. Even if the risk was minimal at best, it simply wasn't worth the hassle to consider denying such a simple request.
"But of course." He answered in as jovial a voice as he could fake at the time. "Provided that you ensure that Miss Kira is on best behaviour, I see no harm in allowing her to the Vytal Dance on just this one occasion."
In staunch contrast to her remarkably tactful approach thus far, the hooded leader of Team RWBY squealed in unabashed glee and jumped out of her seat, pulling Kirakishou up with her and outright glimpsing the girl right then and there.
"Do you hear that, Kira?! We can go to the dance together!" Ruby cheered happily, looking all the part of an innocent lovesick maiden. "Oh this is going to be so awesome!"
Kirakishou was silent for a moment, before wrapping her arms around the slightly taller girl and nuzzling her cheek in a manner similar to a cat.
"Of course, my maiden of the red rose. Our dance shall be exquisite, surrounded by all the other roses and-"
Weiss stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back with a slight screech and levelling a nod in the headmaster's direction as she barely spared the two embracing younger girls a look. "If that will be all, Headmaster?"
He nodded thankfully, waving his hand and gesturing towards the elevator in clear dismissal. Both Ruby and Weiss moved towards the elevator— clearly sharing his own desire to be over and done with the conversation, yet it was Kirakishou who remained standing in front of his desk.
She would be a difficult one in the future. A broken shell of a girl hopelessly in love with one of his key pieces, yet clearly capable of throwing up the board if the need arose. Kirakishou held a truly terrifying semblance and possessed a great aptitude for it, but she was akin to a blunt knife wildly slashing at everything around her.
Whilst even the most blunt of tools could still be used to some degree, Ozpin had long since favoured the more malleable weapons that were open for proper sharpening. It was the only way to ensure that his stranglehold over Salem remained strong. One wrong move and his bitter enemy could turn the world in her favour once more. In his world, even with all the time he possessed it was still far more efficient to simply find a more understanding individual than attempt to shape a resistant fool.
Ruby Rose was no such fool. The girl possessed the very same aptitude for combat as her possibly twice-late mother, even idolising the huntress life to the point of training herself to becoming one of the youngest children to ever join a huntsmen academy- having been accepting two years above the generally accepted term.
The girl would shape up to be the lance that struck deep into Salem's territory and, gods willing, ensured that this dreaded war with his estranged wife finally came to a close. Provided her silver eye powers manifested and the girl remained loyal, with the proper training there was a distinct possibility in such a scenario coming to fruition.
He had already failed with the girl's mother. He would not fail again. If he were to consider James' proposition regarding utilising the Summer Maiden's powers and transferring them into a Silver-Eyed Warrior, he could not afford to lose the girl to some petty love-story.
Somehow, in the space of just over a month of meeting Summer's daughter, Kirakishou had irrecoverably bound herself to said girl, even apparently manifesting the girl's own namesake out of what appeared to be some twisted desire for connection. Even out of great cost to herself and likely knowing the outcome in revealing such an ability, she had sacrificed any chance of remaining inconspicuous for the first girl that had paid her any attention.
Despite her own introverted nature, Ruby seemingly adored her just as much. If not more. That much had been made plainly obvious during their conversation just now. They were as thick as thieves, despite their conflicting histories.
But why? What in the world could possibly have convinced Ruby that every world Kirakishou spoke was gospel?
The girl turned towards him. There was no smile on her face, yet her singular amber eye remained affixed on him with an emboldened intensity that had been seemingly unaccounted for during the entire conversation. Something had changed.
"You remind me of Father, you know."
A sudden sound abruptly tore Ozpin's attention away from the girl's low tones. The glass window nearby had developed a sizeable crack down the centre pane overlooking Beacon. Ruby and Weiss had turned back upon hearing the sound, shock blatantly apparent in their features.
"You sit in your fortress, away from those who would fight for you. Defensive. All-encompassing. Encroaching. Passive. Efficacious. You do not tell them the meaning behind their hostilities. Why do they fight? What is the purpose? What is their meaning, beyond fighting? Do you even care anymore?"
He did not respond.
Kirakishou's expression remained unchanging as she stared him down, ignoring the cries of both girls for her to depart.
"Father lost himself in his purpose," she continued. "He became a shell of a man. Uncaring. Unseeing. Unfeeling. All he had was his singular dream of perfection, to the point where the very things he cared for became nothing in his sightless eyes. My darling sisters never quite understood this. They loved a shadow. The man he was, not the man he had become by the time I arrived. As a result, they would never become what he desired, because they could never understand him."
Kirakishou tilted her head to the side. Her lone eye remained fixated on him.
"Tell me. Why would a man like you be fixated on the history of a pure white rose? Why do the results of her powers matter? What semblance of interest does Summer Rose hold over a man content to remain sequestered in his tower? Was use is her daughter to such a man? The same as the mother, perhaps?"
This was escalating beyond his control. This, Ozpin could not allow.
"I am only looking out for the security of my students." he responded in as placating a tone as he could manage given the situation. "Surely if the young Miss Rose was threatened you would do anything in your power to protect her, yes?"
Her lips curled into a smile that did not reach her eye. For a brief moment, Ozpin wondered exactly what lay hidden behind the soft smiles and over-the-top friendly gestures. How much, precisely, did this girl know about his history with Summer Rose? What was she implying with her words and veiled references?
"A pale rose will always protect those dear to her." she responded simply. "No matter what those threats may be. Such is the nature of a pure bond. It is a gentle, wonderful thing. Beyond that with which most can ever hope to truly attain in their empty existences. Ours is a bond that must be protected at all costs."
Ozpin pushed forward. "Then you understand my situation. I am the Headmaster of a prestigious academy of future huntsmen and huntresses. I must protect my students from harm, whether they be an external threat or… internal. That is my 'bond' as you say."
Her head tilted to the side as she stared at him unblinkingly.
"An internal threat..." she mumbled, voice distant. Ones of her hands moved to partially cover her face, revealing only her lone slit amber eye that had never once left his own gaze. "Protect from harm..."
The headmaster gave a slow nod as he allowed the girl to slowly piece together his phrasing. There wasn't much he could say in the meantime. He had noticed that she occasionally parroted spoken words back at the speaker, often with a different inflation as if she were trying the words on her tongue and attempting to understand them from her own warped perspective.
It would be best to simply continue, he decided after a time. Try as he might, he was still a headmaster. Time was never truly on his side, when his pieces were still bound to its laws.
"That is my 'purpose'. My 'bond'. Surely you must understand. Similarities aside, those that I may or may not possess with the entity you call 'father', my purpose is not one I have forgotten, nor ever will. I protect. It is who I am. That is what I always will do."
Kirakishou smiled fully, her hands falling limply to the side as she refocused on the headmaster's visage. "A simple soul protects a single soul. Yet what defines a pure rose? What does a pure rose protect? Why does she protect it? Those are the questions you seek to answer. Irregardless of your words, of your half-truths and hyperbole. You seek. Endlessly. Without tire. Without rest. How far will you go to answer your questions? Not as far one may think, most likely."
Only after the girl had finished his tirade, did Ozpin realise that he had stood up out of his seat some time in the midst of it all. Kirakishou's eye narrowed, whilst a rueful smile crawled on her face. It looked wrong. Too wide in places, whilst thinner than most of her typical reactions.
She turned to move towards the elevator. No. Towards Ruby Rose. Her voice still remained.
"...Goodbye, Headmaster."
Meanwhile, a small figure slumped against the wall, her tiny heart beating wildly inside the confines of her chest.
That had been close. For a moment, she'd suspected that the blonde-haired crazy girl had actually managed to see through her invisibility illusion. Especially when they had been walking over to Ozpin's little private office for their supposed meeting. An interrogation would be a more apt way to describe that particular nightmare she had just witnessed.
Information gathered notwithstanding, there had been a crucial detail that she had managed to gather that the amber-eyed witch would likely find rather interesting. There was a look in that girl's eye that she had seen, as their eyes had met under the guise of her invisibility. A sensation had flourished in her body that she knew all too well.
That blonde girl that had little red fawning all over her was a killer.
She would know. They had the same eyes, after all. Well, eye in the girl's case. Whatever.
The eyes of a being that would jump into battle and continue until the very end. They would not hesitate. There would be no sappy words. No pleading. Nothing but death and violence for the sheer pleasure of it. The visceral experience of taking another's life into your own. Growing stronger, unbidden by petty societal whims.
They were a people who did not care for such things.
Because it sustained them. Because it made them happy. It gave them a purpose. Drive. She didn't know the girl's reasons for it. Didn't particularly care, either. But in the end there was no denying that the blonde little girl that she had just seen casually waltzing through the school was one of the most dangerous people that she had ever seen.
Perhaps that was why she was so very wet.
She shuddered, torn between equal parts revulsion and bittersweet glee. Much had been expected upon receiving Cinder's orders to infiltrate the school and shadow some… what was the term… crazed blonde flower-child through the halls of Beacon Academy. Supposedly, she was to learn what she could about the girl and, if necessary, use her illusions to keep the girl occupied for at least twenty minutes.
It didn't take a genius to know that she wasn't being given the full picture. No. Things were being compartmentalised. It was how people like Cinder worked. Regardless it was particularly simple to discern that the crazed flame woman felt threatened by Kirakishou? Kira? Yes. Kira's presence. She was threatened by Kira's presence to the point of personally hiring her to assist in infiltration, even when Cinder's own faction already possessed two that were relatively well-trained in remaining undetected.
Not that she actually cared about such a thing. She was getting paid out the ass for this job.
She sent off a simple message to her employer. Though an encrypted channel, of course. It was a simple message outlining the completion of her task and a note which implied she would be sending a more detailed report in the future explaining what she had uncovered.
There was no point to remain in Beacon Academy.
There was no reason in staying so close to a huntsmen academy that was both owned and operated by Ozpin of all people.
No reason.
No reason at all.
She could be home in twenty minutes.
There was ice cream in the freezer.
A flicker of indecision tore itself through her lithe body, before she quickly darted off after Kirakishou. Under the guise of her invisibility illusion of course. It was dangerous to continue, but she needed it. She wanted it.
How long had it been, since Neopolitan had found a similar soul in this broken remnant of a world?
A/N:
Hello again. Originally I had been planning to release this chapter sometime around the Christmas days, but duty called and unfortunately I was delayed until now.
Thank you all for the recent reviews. Reading and interpreting them is one of the most enjoyable aspects of a story, just to see how people are feeling about recent events. Please, feel free to let me know how this chapter has gone down. There were quite a few whammies in this one.
The Vytal Festival Dance is readily approaching. One of my favoured scenes that is so often unappreciated in a lot of stories.
Until next time!