Chapter 17

Litchi's Clinic

"So Lieutenant, what do you intend to do now?" Asked Litchi.

"Mako- I mean my friend said I should hide for a while, but I can't just sit here and do nothing. First I need to do is find Major Kisaragi, and see if he's alright." Answered Noel.

"Yes… About that… I might know where he is."

"What! Really?"

"Last night, when I returned to my clinic, I was called away again by a friend, to treat a patient, who turned out to be Major Kisaragi."

"Really? Where is he? Please tell me!"

"… I was told not to tell anyone where he was by the woman with him… but fine. The last time I checked, he was still at the Ronin-Gai. I'll take you there. Or should I say, I have to. Ronin-Gai residents all know each other. You will stick out like a sore thumb. Plus, the place is kind of a maze."

"Thank you, thank you!"

"That being said, it's better for you not to run around in your NOL uniform. I know! How about I lend you some clothes. Let's go to my room!" Litchi said with a little too much enthusiasm, and Noel thought she also saw a strange smile.

'I probably just imagined it.' Thought the innocent Noel.

Dark Alleyway

Ragna threw a white-masked man towards the wall, the lifeless body hit the wall, and fell to the ground, drained of life.

?: "Fancy meeting you here."

"It's you again." Said Ragna to the Cinder.

"What a coincidence."

"Coincidence nothing. You stalked me, you weird maiden… stalker." Ragna said, pointing his sword at her.

Cinder's eye twitched a little. 'Endure, Cinder… endure. Remember, unlimited power…'

'She just stole a glance at my right arm. Shit.' Thought Ragna.

"Friend of yours?" Asked Ragna, pointing to the bodies on the ground with his sword.

"Never seen them before. Who are they?"

"These masked freaks are the same assholes that I fought before." Ragna looked over to Cinder. "Remnants, like you."

He noticed them this morning, watching the village. When he went out to confront them, they retreated, but then hid in the shadows, spying on him. Sensing that they were more interested in him than the village, Ragna lured them to the surface, so the Kaka kids wouldn't have to see what he would eventually do to them.

While leaving the sewer, Ragna also noticed someone else was following the White Fang flunkies, and now he knew who.

Ragna felt good. Thanks to those goons' life force, his wounds are now completely healed. He turned and saw Cinder was still looking at him.

'Don't sense any hostility from her. I can guess what she's after, but what is she planning?'

Annoyed, he sheathed his sword, and walked away, and Cinder followed him.

"Quit following me, woman."

Cinder let out a laugh. "Me? Following you? Self-obsessed much?"

"So where are you going then?"

"Haven't decided yet."

Ragna rolled his eyes, and suddenly leaped into the air, jumped from wall to wall, and then jumped upward. When he landed on top of the building, he heard something behind him, he turned around, and saw Cinder.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let me introduce myself." Cinder lifted her hair. "I am called, Cinder Fall."

"And I'm "don't give a damn"."

"Do you really want me to call you that?"

Ragna ignored her and ran, leaped from building to building, jumped down, hopped over a trash can, zip zapped through crowds, ran across walls, jumped over an opening door, and scared the hell out of an old man, back on the street, and jumped towards a building, and then ran up the wall, and landed on the roof. When he heard something else landed behind him, Ragna let out a sigh.

"So you like to do Parkour." Said Cinder.

"Park what?"

"We, are alike, you and I. I can feel it."

"If you said so." Ragna said with a bored face.

"We both want power, and more importantly, I can sense it, a rage, A hatred!"

"Wow, what a seer. Going to tell my fortune now?" Said Ragna, sarcastically.

"I could tell, the world has wronged you, I can understand, as it has also wronged me! You and I, wish to write the wrong. Am I not correct?"

"Sorry, what? World? What's with this vague shit? Sorry, but a real tangible person wronged me, and I will right this wrong by destroying him and all who stand in my way!"

"And I can help you! I only wanted to have you as my underling, but, we are of kindred spirit. Join me, as my equal. With our power combined, no one can stand against us!"

"What makes you think anyone can stand against me now."

"So…" Said Cinder with her twin swords out. "Perhaps I should prove myself."

"Finally, something simple to understand." Said Ranga, putting out his sword.

"No magic, Drives, Semblances, or Ars, just pure combat skill."

"Implying Ars and Drives isn't part of my combat skills."

"You know what I mean."

"What you mean is stupid."

The two of them looked at each other intensely, watching, waiting. When a bird flew past Ranga's eyes, Cinder rushed forward and attacked with two of her swords together, but Ranga reacted in time, slashing upward, clashing with Cinder's cross slashes, and with a push, Range forced her back.

"You relied too much on your strength and speed. I could teach you how to fight better." Said Cinder with a confident smile.

"So how about… no."

And Ragna vanished into thin air.

'What! Where… he disappeared again!'

"Why! We are the same! Only I can understand you!"

Cinder looked around frantically, but in truth, Ragna didn't go anywhere, he was still in front of her, only he used his camouflage Ars. And now, he just waited. Once Cinder turned around, Ragna quietly moved away, and jumped down from the roof lightly with a gravity Ars.

"Ya got ball of steel, boy. Going out on a date when there are wanted posters all over the city." Said a voice behind him.

"It's not a date. And besides," Ragna tore a poster off the well. "What is wrong with their artist? It looks nothing like me!"

"What? It doesn't? Sorry, it all looks the same with my old cat eye." Said Jubei.

"Whatever."

"She's targeting that right arm of yours, you know."

"Yeah. I can see that. I caught her looking at my arm at least three times."

"How rude. Don't you just hate that? Yer eyes are up there." Joked Jubei.

"Ha ha." Ragna gave it a dry laugh.

"Look out for that woman, I mean it. Her eyes, when she looked at your arm, were filled with greed."

"What? I never thought that you were one of those who see greed as sin and bad."

"You're right, greed itself isn't bad, as long as you are in control of it. But her? She had let her greed consume her, I only hope it doesn't consume the world." Jubei pointed to Ragna. "The same can be said about you. Ragna, your rage is natural and, in my opinion, justified. It means you're human, however, never let it becomes you."

"I know."

"Ragna." Said Jubei, looking his apprentice in the eyes. "You, and her, are, alike, but not the same. Remember that."

"It's the pep talk over?"

"Yes, sorry, must be the old age. Are you planning to come back to the village?" Asked Jubei suddenly.

"Me? What about you? Where have you been?"

"I asked first."

"No. it's safer that way, for them and for me. And you? Where have you been?"

"Before yesterday? Spying on that girl's accomplices. Also, I had a few appointments to keep. Also keep an eye out for Tarumi."

'Terumi.' Thought Ragna. "Why didn't you kill him?"

"Do you want me to?" Asked Jubei.

"No." Answered Ragna. "I want to kill him myself."

"I would if I could. I too have a few grudges I like to settle with him." Said Jubei, bearing his fangs. "But he has gone to great lengths to hide from me."

"He? Hides from you?"

"You're overestimating me, and underestimating him. Terumi is dangerous, beyond your imagination."

Ronin-Gai

"Odd." Said Weiss, looking around.

"What?" Asked Ruby.

"People are looking at us."

"While in colorful ninja cosplay." Commented Jaune.

"So, what say our resident ninja?" Asked Nora, looking at Ren.

Ren: "I'm not a ninja."

After Yang won her match, and Weiss lost her match with Penny, they went to Litchi's clinic, only to find she's not there. They then came to Ronin-Gai because Litchi's assistant, Linhua told them both Noel and Litchi had left for Bang Shishigami's place, in Ronin-Gai. Linhua however neglected to tell them what a strange place Ronin-Gai was.

'Bang lives in the biggest house there. Just ask one of the people there for direction, after all, Bang's the leader there.'

It wasn't that hard to find, all they needed was a good vantage point, and they just walked towards the biggest house they could find. It was then, three of the ninjas, in red, yellow and blue, or at least people in ninja costumes, walked in front of them.

"Where are you going, stranger?" Asked the red ninja.

"Check out the Ninja Rangers." Joked Yang.

"Don't be rude." Scolded Weiss.

"But I like Ranger Sentai…" Said Jaune.

"We're looking for Bang Shishigami's place."

"And what business do you have with master Shishigami."

"We…" Weiss thought for a bit.

"We're looking for doctor Litchi." Said Ruby.

"Ruby?"

Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice, when they turned to the voice, they found Noel, in a Kaka hoodie…

Later… Bang Shishigami's Mansion

"This place is bigger than I thought."

"Well, It is also a Dojo. Welcome!" Said Bang.

They moved to the living room, and Pyrrha wasted no time asking about Drives.

"So, what is the difference between Drives and Semblance?"

"Well, Drives are speciality, not just something you're born with. For example, The sage Nine spend her whole life developing a sorcery system only she can use, that was her Drive."

"And Overdrive?"

"Overdrive is a technique that basically makes the Drives more powerful by using Aura. Not just making them stronger either. Most Drives have lots of weaknesses, like time limits, slow startup, etc. Overdrive can help negate that."

"Wow, imagine if I could use my Rage all the time!" Said Yang.

"But the downside is Aura consumption, right?" Asked Pyrrha.

"Not just that, your body can also get overheated, like when a cheetah ran for too long. It's dangerous, You have to keep track of your limit yourself at all times."

"Bad idea for you then." Said Weiss, looking at Yang.

"Hey!" Responded Yang.

"So, what's your Drive?"

"Drive… Uhm… My Drive… I called it Chain Revolver." Answered Noel, for some reason, uncomfortable.

"Wow! That sounds so cool! So… what does it do?" Asked Ruby with enthusiasm.

"That's…"

"Guys, stop." Said Pyrrha. "Sorry if it sounds like I'm pressuring you. You don't have to answer it. I understand if you don't wish to reveal your power to everyone."

'Chain Revolver is me basically stop thinking and let Bolverk guide my every action.'

Tsubaki theorizes that during battle, Noel gathered information through her five senses, sent it to Bolverk, and then Bolverk processed the information and sent it back to her.

"It's like the State of Nothingness. You're aware of everything around you, yet not disrupted by anything. Your body is guided by a clear mind, free of unnecessary thought. A state of being that all martial artists strive for." Said Tsubaki.

Tsubaki made it sound so impressive, but all she really did was let Bolverk do the thinking for her.

"Can… are you allowed to teach us how to use Overdrive?" Asked Pyrrha.

"I'm sorry guys." Said Noel, apologetically. "It's not really forbidden, but it's still too dangerous for someone as inexperienced as me to teach anyone."

"Come on! Again?" Said Nore, unhappy.

"No, it's alright, I understand." Said Pyrrha.

"So… You guys just here to ask about Drives?"

"Well… We were also worried about you, and about ourselves." Said Yang.

"Can you really not tell us what is happening here?" Asked Weiss.

"I'm sorry… the truth is, I'm also not quite sure what's going on…"

"Nothing at all? About how the crushed ships? The earthquakes? Why is the tournament still on?"

"Sorry… I was underground when the ships crushed. I don't know anything about the quakes, or about the tournament."

Later… In the Hanging Garden

"Well… that was a waste of time…" Said Weiss, annoyed.

"What? How come? We learned a lot about Drives!" Said Rudy.

"And we even got a free book." Said Jaune, holding a book up.

""The True Story of the Ikaruga Civil War: The War for Justice and Liberty". Sounds like a propaganda book." Said Ren as he read the title.

"Just give it to Blake, it seems to be her staff." Suggested Weiss.

"Are you sure? She might fry her brain reading this." Said Yang.

"Let her decide that.."

"Guys." Said Ruby., trying to get their attention.

"Okay fine. But I'm more worried about being trapped here. I mean, I like the tournament, but-"

"Guys" Yelled Ruby again.

"Yeah, I don't want to get stuck in a dystopian city either." Agreed Weiss.

"Hi, Guys!"

"What?" Weiss eventually answered.

"That girl… over there."

"What girl?"

"That girl!" Rudy pointed to someone far away. "Doesn't she looks like Noel?"

Ronin-Gai In front of a sweet shop

"So, sweet Dango. Never took you for a man who likes sweet." Said Winter

Jin was sitting here, in front of a Dango shop, when Winter greeted him.

"Specialist Schnee. Why are you bothering me again?"

"Nice to see you too, Major. So, Shishigami let you out?"

"He has no power over me."

"Look, I get it, we both don't like each other, but you are my only link to this whole mess."

"So, am I to be your prisoner?"

"You don't have to be." Winter putting her hand on her sword. "But, if you resist, then, well, let's just say our next match will not be just a "monkey show"."

Jin ignored her, suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, behind Winter, he saw a woman walking towards them, and immediately stood up.

"Tsubaki!"

Winter turned around, and saw a red-haired woman in a white NOL uniform. Jin moved past her and stopped in front of Tsubaki.

"Major Jin Kisaragi. You are under suspicion of treason, as well as going AWOL. Surrender and come quietly." Said Tsubaki in an unemotional tone.

"Treason? Do you mean Sector Seven? Really? Has everyone with brains in the Librarium died?"

And then suddenly, the world around them blackened. Everything just disappeared, other than the three of them.

"What's going on!" Asked Winter, her hand on her sword.

"So this is the Izayoi's barrier." Said Jin, looking around. 'We can see each other, but not the surroundings. What a dangerous power.'

"Stop panicking Specialist. Her weapon has the power over light." He then turned back to Tsubaki. "Sealed Armagus Izayoi. What were you thinking, Tsubaki."

"It was the only way to match yours, and Noel's Nox." And Tsubaki's face suddenly softened. "Jin, we don't have time, as long as we are in the barrier, no one can see or hear us. Please! The truth is, I been given an imperial order to kill you and Noel!"

"I already knew. Zero Squadron is an assassination unit. They don't arrest people, they eliminate them."

"Jin, if you say that this is wrong, then I will believe you. But please, return with me first! It's not too late, if you make your case-"

"I can't."

"What? Why?"

"There's something I must do."

"Bloodedge?" Tsubaki said, unhappy.

Jin's eyes lit up. "It has nothing to do with you."

"I am a Librarium officer, a Wing of Justice. This has everything to do with me."

Tsubaki's uniform charged form, from her white cloak to her combat uniform. In her left arm, a book, in her right hand, a shortsword.

"You are coming with me, by force if need be."

'So it comes to this.'

Jin put his hand on the grip of his sword, but-

'What!? I can't draw Yukianesa? Why?'

Winter saw his difficulty, and walked in front of him.

"Specialist Schnee, what are you doing?" Asked Jin.

"Specialist Schnee, this is Librarium business, stand down." Said Tsubaki with anger in her tone.

"I don't think so." Winter said as she drew her saber."A fleet of Atlasian airships just crashed, and I believe Major here is connected."

"Connected or not, this is still a Hierarchical city, not Atlas. You have no authority to interfere with the Librarium affair."

"I'm taking Major Jin Kisaragi into Atlas's protection. I'm making it my business."

"Remnant Kingdoms' law doesn't work in Librarium territory." Tsunaki pointed her sword at Winter. "Now, stand down."

For a while, no one moved, and then suddenly, both of them charged forward, and Tsubaki's book shield clashed with Winter's glyph shield!

'Tsubaki?! Attacking an ambassador? This isn't like you. What's going on?'

From under the book, Tsubaki stabbed her sword at Winter's abdomen, but was parried by Winter's dagger. Both of them disengaged, and jumped back, and Winter immediately summoned and shot out an ice wolf, but Tsubaki countered with a slow moving light orb, but just before the orb clashed, Tsubaki charged forward again, book first, hitting the light orb.

SANCTUS AEQUUM!

Tsubaki adsorbed the orb into her book, and her speed increased! Ramming right through Winter's ice wolf and at Winter, Winter reacted and formed a glyph shield in front of her, and Tsubaki smashed into it, and the shockwave pushed both women away!

Tsubaki recovered, and thrust her sword at Winter, Winter parried, but Tsubaki's sword came apart, into a bladed whip, and wrapped around Winter's left hand.

'What the-'

Winter didn't get to finish that thought, and was pulled forward, Tsubaki then stepped on the whip, and Winter was pulled into the ground. Winter looked up, and saw Tsubaki's book had materialized a mace!

CLANK!

White birds, dozens of them flying, surrounded Winter, one of them stopped Tsubaki's mace and shattered! The rest swarmed her, cutting as they flew past her, forcing Tsubaki to release Winter from her whip and retreat.

"You think you've won!? You forget, you are inside my barrier. The only reason you still have the ability to see is because I allowed it!"

"And I been trained to fight blind!"

"What? Did you train blind fighting once a week? A month? For an hour a day? Two? Please."

And just like that. Winter was blind.

'Don't panic. This sphere isn't that big, I just need to leave.'

First, Winter summoned twenty more Nevermores, and had them fly around in a circle around her.

'Now, I just use my glyph and dash out of-'

No! She forgot about Jin!

"Major! Where are you?"

No responses.

"Major?"

"Jin?" Tsubaki seemed to have also lost track of him.

And then the darkness was gone, Winter looked around, and saw Tsubaki running off.

'That Bastard! He's gone!'

Winter pulled out her scroll, and began to walk away.

The North Edge of Ronin-Gai

"There you are!" Said Winter when she saw him.

Jin turned slightly toward her. "Specialist Schnee… You found me quick. Did you planted a tracker on me?"

"When did you leave?" Asked Winter, ignoring the accusation.

"The moment you and Tsubaki clashed blades."

"I thought we had an agreement. I'll take you into my protection-"

"We do not."

'Keep calm, Winter. Once General Ironwood's here, I'll just arrest him. For now, I'll just keep track of him.'

Winter took a deep breath. "That girl, she was stronger than I thought."

"Tsubaki was, as far as I know, always at the top of her class."

"Ah, I see. No wonder, skilled, but leak killer instinct, and experience. But somehow she's still able to overpower me… was she wielding a Nox?"

"She is wielding a sealed Armagus."

"A what?"

"A predecessor to the Nox Nyctores. Equal in power to the Nox, but far more… hurtful to the wielder."

"Predecessor? I thought, no, I was never taught that Noxs have prototype. Why have I not heard about this?"

"That isn't my problem, it's yours."

Winter shook her head. "That woman was your friend?"

"A childhood friend. I never thought she would join the Zero Squadron." Said Jin with disdain.

"What do you have against the Zero Squadron?"

"What do you know about them?"

"That they only follow the Imperator's orders. A kind of personal strike team."

"They are cleaner, against the Librarium."

"What?!"

"The war of Ikaruga. I, and some others were sent to assassinate the leader of the Ikaruga rebels. We succeeded, as you all know, but only I was labelled a hero. Do you know what happens to the rest of my team members?"

"No…"

"Officially I did not assassinate anyone, I fought the rebel leader in a deal and defeated her. But no, I'm just an assassin."

'That's the truth about the war?' Thought Winter. 'And he just told me like it was nothing…'

"They sent us to assassinate their enemies, and then sent the so-called "Wings of Justice" to get rid of us, to "clean up". Only I was kept alive, so they could create a fairy tale, and a legend, to hide everything."

"But why?"

"If I have to guess, image is everything, they didn't want assassins, they needed a hero. or maybe something else."

'I don't even remember clearly what the leader of Ikaruha looks like.' Thought Jin.

"How could you stay after this?"

"Because, I saw an opportunity. They want to make me a hero? I'll use it to climb their ladder of power. I was already the future head of the Kisaragi family. It would be easier to change things, to have my ravage from within."

"That… sorry but that just sounds like an excuse."

"What makes you think I ever care what you think."

Winter rolled her eyes.

Back to Tsubaki

Tsubaki looked around in the air, and couldn't find him anywhere. It didn't help that her eyesight was already failing. Without a choice, Tsubaki landed on a building.

"Having trouble, Lieutenant?"

Tsubaki turned towards the voice, and found Hazama.

"Captain?"

"Or doubt?" Asked Hazama.

And suddenly, Tsubaki felt a discomfort, as if, something was moving inside her brain, her head ached and dizzied, and her vision blurred, and yet, she couldn't move.

"Are you feeling alright? Lieutenant? You looked kinda pale." Asked Hazama.

"I… I… I'm fine." Tsubaki was finally able to speak.

"If you said so. Because there's something I needed to talk to you about."

"Yes?"

"How do I say this… it's about your dear friend, Noel Vermilion."

To be continued