At long last, the final chapter of the… volume, arc, book one? One of those probably. Sorry this took a lot longer than I would have liked. My main beta reader and my backup beta reader have gone through a lot of real life stuff and everything just kept being delayed. Eventually I had to find a couple other people to give it a look over. I've actually been pretty busy myself and haven't written nearly as much as I use to. Maybe I just need a break and go use my time on something else for a few weeks before coming back to writing fresh and eager. If I do, now's a good time since we reached the end of… season one? Also, at the end of this chapter there is the list of ship names. Look them over, laugh, have fun, and if you think you can do better try. The worst thing that will happen is I'll shake my head and not add your suggestion.

shiroryuu012: That's the point of them.

TykkiMikk: At this time, no. He has to get stronger or maybe unlock them again.

Chroma: He wouldn't let some of his most important projects disappear like that.

IllusionBreaker: Nah, they are just going to have some nighttime fun.

Maelaeran: It was, but SilverFang made me redo it.

Ahsoei: At least one of them will.

JumpingToaster: I might skip a day or two now and then, but I don't have any plans to go long timeskips. If someone is knocked out, other people get a chance to be the star for a bit. A bunch of hormonal teenagers with powers causing drama? Nah, that can't happen.

D. : HA! You saw that too.

Fernandamichelleraya: It was only a flesh wound. Women never hit 30, they are 29 forever. Ruby's young and inexperienced with love thanks to Yang. She doesn't know how to express it and that will cause her to lose. She has to be more aggressive. That omake was pure gold.

Guest: I don't want to waste Adam like the actually series did. He had so much potential.

BlueJack22: So many things happening.

TheB: So you wanted the dragon to… *puts on sunglasses*… DISARM him?

Thanatos 2018: Karma at its finest.

Aurora Halsey: Just come up with the best ship name.

ShadowBloodedge9396: Someone told Accelerator he couldn't do something. He doesn't like that. Adam now has plot purposes and won't be wasted. Aleister just told Ozpin he's working on it. Could be a while before anything happens.

Guest13: He normally doesn't. You seem to have spotted some foreshadowing. Neo might get revenge and be sad about losing her toy, but wouldn't cry. No one likes shots, not even dragons.

Guest: What? You don't want Shiage Hamazura? To complete the protagonist trio? Mikoto could handle all of Atlas, but a lot less uses against Grimm besides shooting lightning and iron sand. I doubt she's going to show up anytime soon. Oh, god! Yang and Worst team up against Accelerator? Even he may fall to that.

TheLastSterling: I was actually thinking it has to be a magic side person if I wanted to add someone else. Only for the reason that magic brought them here and magic is needed to help break the veil between worlds. Leivinia would be pretty funny to watch stand up to the others. Heaven Chancellor doesn't cause pain. He's a nice guy.

Christianlukebustillo: 1) It's not ending soon. 2) Good question and there is a good possibility he won't come back. 3) Grimm Dragon would be attracted to Touma obviously.

LL: That's what those guys do. Touma has a way of changing people, even criminals. I never said Aleister isn't up to something. He just doesn't want to lose his projects.

WiliamZ0: The Dragon scenes are great, but you can't use them often. Silver Eyes vs Dragon Strike. The final showdown between light and monsters. There is also the possibility the dragon eats the light. Accelerator telling Ozpin all about Aleister? That sure would be fun to write. I'm sure Touma and Accelerator will talk about all the fun they had on their trips. Secret late night rendezvous between Blake and Touma? I'm sure it's going to end up with Tsune finding them in a compromising position.

Guest: Just look up SilverFang88. He's really easy to find. I plan to address Blake not telling the others this chapter.

SlothDGod: The might Grimm sloth that is the sign of the end times? It will be when Nora and Last Order team up.

hollowichigo12: This chapter is more of a wrap up for the arc. Not quite as action packed, but lots of stuff discussed. I want to limit characters, as there are still many RWBY characters I have yet to use. Yes, Winter meeting Accelerator is planned. I'm not perfect, I admit that. I do this for fun so there will be those kinds of slip ups. It's the reason I have betas who fix A LOT of problems. You should see my first draft compared to what I post.

Guest: From what has been shown, Othinus is more powerful.

Mr. X: 1) SilverFang made me save her. 2) Because by the time the attack reaches his arm, the dragon stops it. 3) She SAID she's 29. 4) The horrible hidden meanings. 5) Maybe. 6) Tsune will take pictures obviously.

Prof. Pancakes: Other people have said it was a good impact. But, you have a point. Less supernatural stuff prevents it from showing off its true power.

Plague: SilverFang made me save her.

Moongaze14: Nice.

Guest: Wow, really? It's been that long?

Sigmundr Rumare: ACIP was my first project. SV is what I learned from it. I laughed at that name.

Jose19: He is a bag of wasted potential.

A certain guest: Nah, there isn't that much lore. Raven likes strong guys and probably won't mind that Accelerator is a little scrawny. Aleister, the most powerful piece on the board. Everything is part of his plan. That's an interesting idea. Aiwass shows up just to mess with people.

G119: Yes, Her eyes are super-duper magical.

Oofer-Gang: Maaaaaaybe.

Rajarshi Sarkar: Neo is both here and not here. She only reveals herself when you think you are safe.

UltraHydra: Actually, here it might be a good thing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Toaru Majutsu no Index or RWBY.


"T-talk?" Touma stammered. "A-about what?"

This wasn't him being oblivious. There was only one reason why Blake would have visited him in the middle of the night. She wanted to talk about what happened against Adam and the White Fang. The others didn't seem to know about what happened, even Ruby. Though from their earlier conversation, Ruby might have seen… something. He gulped as he stared back at Blake. Her face was impassive and her amber eyes were transfixed on him unblinkingly. He shifted uncomfortably.

Blake waited a few minutes before speaking.

"I… want to thank you… and apologize."

Touma blinked in surprise.

"Apologize?" He asked, confused. Those words were the last thing he expected.

"You know about my history with the White Fang," Blake explained, sitting down at the edge of the bed, her expression slowly shifted from being unreadable to obviously sadden. "Why I joined them. Why I believed in their cause." Touma nodded. "When they started robbing dust with Torchwick, I went off alone to try to prove they weren't involved. I wanted to believe they weren't involved. Once it became clear they were, I wanted to stop them. It became an obsession, and it took Yang, Weiss, and Ruby to snap me out of it. I hadn't been able to sleep, I spent all my free time looking for them and clues on their next target, barely eating. My mind and body were being pushed to the limit."

She was glad he didn't speak. His expression spoke volumes, though. Unlike Blake, he couldn't hide his feelings. There was sympathy there, but also more. She was glad about that. Sympathy was the last thing she wanted. He wanted to know more about her history before making any judgments. This was already more than most people would have given her. He was letting her go at her own pace and to tell him what she wanted to when she was ready, and she was grateful for that. She had time to prepare for this, but that didn't make it any easier. The words were hard to speak out loud.

"Yang helped me." The corners of Blake's lips twitched upwards. "She showed me what was wrong with what I was doing and forced me to slow down. I hadn't done anything reckless since then… at least until we first met." She sighed. "I'll admit it. I was quite reckless. I fooled myself into thinking because I hadn't actively gone searching for the White Fang, it was okay to spy on them when their activities fell into my lap. The results, as you know, were a complete fiasco. You saved me." For the first time, Touma opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of it, and closed it again. "You think I should have learned my lesson, right?"

She chuckled weakly.

"When I saw them at Relotem, hurting innocent civilians, I just snapped." Blake's hands tightened on the sheets until her knuckles grew white. "I ran forward to investigate instead of regrouping and making sure we had an escape route. Especially since you aren't technically a Hunter." She continued before giving him a chance to protest. "I know you can take care of yourself, but in most people's eyes, you are a civilian. Your power works on Aura and Grimm, not rifles. If a stray bullet hit you…"

"Wouldn't be the first time." Touma tried to remark casually.

Blake raised an eyebrow at this but decided not to comment.

"You followed me, despite the risks." She pointed out. "Even when I tried to make you stay behind."

"I'm pretty stubborn sometimes," Touma admitted. "I wasn't going to stay behind when people were getting hurt right in front of me."

Blake smiled this time. Truly smiled.

"I know. We were both being stupid, but it was better than letting someone die." Her face darkened, and she gripped the bed again. "I didn't expect him to be there, though."

"Adam Taurus." Touma stated.

"You've met him before… haven't you?"

Blake could only recall saying Adam's first name. The fact Touma knew his last name meant they had at some point crossed paths. At the very least he must have heard about him from someone else. She was curious about how much he knew about him.

"Only briefly," Touma admitted. "When I was at Mt. Glenn, he stopped by to check up on the progress. Roman made sure to keep him away from me. From what I had seen, he doesn't like humans."

"No. No, he doesn't" Blake paused. "The fact that he was willing to spare you was already somewhat of a miracle. Do you know why he did that?"

"Not a clue." Touma shook his head. "I never really got to talk to him." Blake hummed in thought at this. "But I'm kind of glad I didn't. What I saw of him…" He trailed off.

"He's changed," Blake admitted and then took a deep breath. "This brings me back to my apology and the thank you that I wanted to give. He was there because of me. He had to have been. It couldn't have been a coincidence. Because of me, you were nearly killed just because you wanted to help. I can't apologize enough."

"Stop!" Touma held up a hand. "You have nothing to apologize for. You can't blame yourself for what others do. Everyone is free to choose their own path. If someone goes off the wrong one, all we can do is give them a chance to find another. So, Blake, you have nothing to apologize for."

"But-…"

"Nothing!" He repeated firmly.

A smile graced her lips.

"Then how about a thank you?" Blake asked. She looked directly at him. Without waiting for his answer, she continued. "Thank you. For fighting by my side, for standing up to Adam when my determination wavered, for defending me… thank you."

"It wasn't anything special," Touma muttered, quickly looking up toward the ceiling. The way her eyes softened, the moonlight lighting her face, the gratefulness in her voice, Touma didn't trust himself to maintain eye contact. There were certain reactions a sixteen-year-old boy had that could not be fully controlled. His face felt hot at the very least, and he shifted his lower body. "I did what anyone would have done."

"No." Blake leaned forward, forcing him to look at her directly in the eye. "It was not nothing. It meant a lot and barely anyone would have done it. Most people would have fled immediately or given up after seeing how strong he is. You did neither. So please, do not make light of your actions."

"I…" The glare she was giving him made it impossible to argue. "Sorry."

"That's better." Blake huffed and sat back down at the side of his bed. "So I realize you probably have some idea, but there was a reason Adam's appearance affected me so much."

"I figured he was either a friend or teammate back during your time in the White Fang." Touma guessed.

"More than that. He was not only my friend but also my mentor..."

Touma's eyes widened.

"…And I loved him."

The silence in the room was heavy.

"Well… the old him." Blake looked at the floor. It was too dark to tell, but Touma could swear there was a bit of water in her eyes. "He wasn't always like what you saw. When we first met, he was kind, strong, optimistic and yet was realistic in his ideals. He originally wanted nothing more than what I do now. For Faunus and humans to be equal. A world where we didn't have to fight each other and unite against the Grimm. We were going to change the world. Then…" Her words got stuck in her throat.

Something warm pressed down on her shoulder. Touma had reached out his left hand, being careful to avoid his right, and rested it reassuringly on her. It was a simple gesture. Nothing more, and yet it calmed her down.

"Thank you." When he removed his hand, she continued. "As time passed, he started changing. Becoming more willing to kill in situations where he could have easily done otherwise. All those times he called it self-defense, but I heard a few people say otherwise. Then he went on a mission up to Atlas. It was supposed to be a peace summit between the old White Fang at the SDC. While there were occasional clashes, there were never large scale fights or loss of life. We were under the impression the bad PR was getting to them, and they wanted it to stop. Finally, there was a way to improve working conditions and treatment for Faunus. We were optimistic…"

"Someone set up a trap?" Touma whispered, and Blake nodded.

"I was on a scout mission to determine if we could use a path as a supply line, so I don't know the details. What I do know is only Adam, and one other person came back alive. The other person died from his wounds. I don't believe the Schnees actually ordered it, but rather someone at the company who worked with Atlas Security and ambushed them. Adam was hospitalized for weeks." Her knuckles turned white again as she gripped the side of the bed. "He changed after that. The kind man I knew faded away and I couldn't do anything. He snapped at people, grew more violent, and killed anyone who got in his way. The mask he wears was never taken off after that. Eventually, it became too much, and I tried to leave."

"Tried?" Touma frowned. "But you did leave."

"I tried multiple times before succeeding," Blake corrected him. "A couple of times I was about to leave but stopped and went back. I thought I could change him back to the man he was before. To help him overcome his trauma. It didn't work. I failed." She stood up and looked out the window for a moment. "If anything, it's almost like he became dependent on me. He would chase any other members of the White Fang away if they got close. He would always want to keep me close by. It was always under the pretense of training and watching over me. And now, I finally understand it, thanks to you... He wanted Blake. Not me, but the person who represented the past. The time when he still had hope." She grabbed her arms. "I don't know what to do. I didn't expect to see him again this soon. I ran away in the middle of a mission, Touma. I abandoned him."

"It sounds like you did everything you could," Touma reassured her. He would have gotten up, but the painkiller made him a little dizzy if he tried. "You didn't abandon him, Blake. You got out of an unhealthy situation. We aren't omnipotent beings. Just people. We can't do everything."

"Would you have tried to save him?" Blake asked. "Would you have been able to?"

"I would, and I don't know." Touma shrugged. "I will never give up on someone, but I can't be everywhere. There were people I couldn't save, and there will continue to be. But there is one thing you have to remember." Blake cocked her head. "He's alive. You're alive. We are all alive. As long as we are, there's a chance to change. There's still a chance to save him. He's not too far gone yet. He didn't try to kill me immediately, a human as you put it. That's saying something, isn't it?"

Blake remained silent at this, but her mind was working in overdrive. The fact Adam did try to let Touma live was a miracle in itself. Adam didn't care about humans anymore. He wanted them to serve Faunus. For them to become slaves. He didn't want equality anymore. And yet he was willing to keep Touma alive if he moved aside so Adam could reach her. There was a chance it was because finding her put him in a good mood, but maybe there was more to it. Could Touma have possibly done something during his time in the White Fang? The only way for her to know is to question some of them. Which wouldn't be possible anytime soon.

"That's… possible." Her lips had grudgingly formed a small smile at his optimism. "It does give me hope. I may not love him like I used to, but I want to help him. Even if it takes him a lifetime to make up for all he's done."

"Does… the rest of your team know about him?" Touma asked hesitantly.

"I told them about him," Blake replied. "Though only the fact he was my teacher, and I left the White Fang on a mission with him. I was… too scared to tell them all of it."

"I think you should," Touma told her. "As your friends, they would want to help-"

"That's the problem!" Blake cried out and then slammed her hand on her mouth. If she wasn't careful, she might alert Tsune, and that would be a major issue. "I know they would help, and that they would be worried for me, but Adam's an elite fighter who would cut them down if they got in his way. I… don't want to lose them…"

"It's better for them to know," Touma pressed on. "Being kept in the dark is only going to cause more problems. Once they find out, it's going to ruin the trust between you. Be honest. Tell them why you are scared. I doubt any of them will laugh at you. Shoot, Yang may even stop making puns and be serious."

Blake let out a small chuckle.

"Maybe." She sighed and walked over to his bedside before sitting down again. "Look at me. I came here to tell you everything because it got you involved, and now you're cheering me up."

"It's actually kind of nice to know what's going on around me," Touma said. "I'm used to only knowing half, if even that."

"Yeah…" Blake went quiet for a minute and just enjoyed the silence. "I have to confess. There was another reason I wanted to talk to you privately."

"About…?" Touma knew what it was. The air had grown heavy. Blake stared at him and he raised Imagine Breaker. Her head slowly nodded. "I don't know." He stated honestly.

Blake opened her mouth, and there was a flash of anger in her eyes.

"I'm not trying to lie to you!" Touma interjected quickly. "It's just that I literally don't know what IT is."

That was all it took for Blake to calm down. In hindsight, she felt kind of stupid. When she thought about it, his answer was actually reasonable to her question. Just because something was from his world, doesn't mean he would know everything about it. A monster like that couldn't be natural anywhere.

"Can you tell me about it?" Blake asked, rubbing her arm. "All I know about it is what I saw. You lost an arm, a… monster came out and nearly ate Adam. It was immune to Dust rifles and vanished inside of your arm." She paused. "Then your hand just reformed. I literally saw it break apart from the ground and reform on that severed stump without even a scar. I didn't mention it to Tsune, because there was no proof you lost your hand." She shivered. "The memory still causes chills."

"I wish I could tell you more," Touma said honestly. "All I know about it is what I have seen. The first time, I didn't connect it to losing my right hand. We were fighting a man whose power allowed him to manipulate reality based on his imagination."

"…What?"

"Long story, but it involved magic," Touma explained quickly, not wanting to waste too long on another subject he really didn't know much about. "He could conjure blades, guns, explosions, just from his imagination. We tricked him into thinking I wasn't human after he cut off my arm. Due to his fear and subconscious, he imagined me as a monster. The result was the first time that head emerged."

"It kind of looks like a dragon." Blake pointed out. It reminded her of the mythical beasts she read in stories. "Can we just call it that from now on? For simplicity?"

"Sure." Touma shrugged. "Don't really have a better name for it. There have been a few other times it's happened. Everytime it only attacked the person I was fighting. It never actually attacked any of my friends or me."

"So it's on your side then?" Blake asked.

"I don't think it's on anyone's side, Touma admitted. "If my hand is a host for it or something, it might be protecting itself."

"But you controlled it," Blake pushed. "You told it to stop attacking, and because of that, Adam's alive." She took a deep breath and looked down at the ground. "That's actually another reason I need to thank you. Even after he tried to kill you, you spared his life."

"I won't kill someone," Touma stated firmly. "What happened there… I'm not sure how to explain it. It's kind of… like something else forced it back? It didn't want to return but sort of… submitted? I guess that would be a good word?"

Blake pondered this for a moment.

"Could it be your power or something?" Blake half asked, even if she was muttering to herself. "Maybe your hand, the Imagine Breaker, is some kind of container… seal, for this dragon. Then your power is what brings it back."

"I really don't think I have any power, but it's as good of a guess as any." Touma replied.

"How often have you seen it?"

"Less than half a dozen times, I think?"

"Was any of those times different than the others?" Blake asked. "I don't know… different colors or something? It seemed to start off transparent but grew more opaque the longer it was out."

Touma remained silent.

"Something happened. Didn't it?"

"There was one time something else happened," Touma admitted. He hesitated, not wanting to diverge who was involved. It revolved around a friend of his, and it really should be her story to tell. However, Blake had been honest with him about what led up to Adam showing up, even though it was hard for her. The least he could do is be honest here. "A friend of mine was in trouble. Her power was running amok and threatened to swallow up everything around her. The power she was giving off was too powerful for my hand to negate-..."

"But your hand negates things instantly." Blake interrupted. "Grimm, our Aura, Dust, it's all instantaneous."

"I don't understand how everything works," Touma admitted. "What the rules are. However, if I touch the source of something supernatural, yes… it will be erased. If someone shoots a continuous beam like fire or electricity at me, I can only negate what reaches me. There's a limit to how much I can negate at once. Well, my friend hit me with a power I couldn't erase fast enough and it blew off my hand."

Blake stared at him. The fact his hand had a limit was new information to her. It didn't seem like the Grimm were even close to that power to him. His world seemed to have scarier things than Grimm there.

"So… what happened?" She asked.

"It wasn't just one," Touma continued ominously. "There were like… eight."

"…Eight?" Blake's voice came out as a whisper.

"All different colors and shapes," Touma added. "None of them were the one you saw. They were also much, much more solid."

Blake actually sat down at this.

"…There's more…" She muttered and trailed off.

"They saved my friend," Touma reiterated. "I can hardly complain about what they look like." He rubbed his wrist subconsciously. "They feel like they are alive somehow, and I don't know what would happen if they turned against me. I try not to rely on them." A small smile was forced into his lips. "Besides, having my hand blown off hurts."

Even Blake chuckled dryly.

"I suppose we can't really choose our powers here either." Her eyes noticed him touching his wrist more often than was needed. "Is something wrong?"

"I feel something like… I don't know… something crawling beneath my skin?" Touma answered. "Just… maybe it's a side effect of Tsune's medicines."

"I see." Blake stood up again. "Thank you for telling me this. Do you want to keep the dragons a secret from the others?"

"I… yes," Touma answered, and continued when he noticed Blake tilt her head. "I don't want to worry them, and it's not like they would know anything more than you or I do." Blake nodded in understanding. Regardless of her wishes, she would respect his. However, something came to mind.

"I think someone may know about them… or at least may have glimpsed them." Blake informed him.

"Ruby?"

"No, well… yes, she may have but hasn't admitted it." Blake shook her head. "Another student, Fox, mentioned something that coincides with what I saw."

"Fox?" Touma vaguely recalled him at the breach. Coco had pointed him out, but he couldn't recall having a conversation with that guy. "How would he know?"

"He's blind," Blake explained. "Yet his Semblance allows him to fight. He can see the Aura of people. When he saw you… he mentioned something about a monster living inside of you."

Touma stared at her.

"Most of us thought he was insane." She admitted. "Now? I think he caught a glimpse of the Dragon."

"Oh…" Touma scratched his head. "I'm really not sure what to say to him. You think he would believe me if I told him the truth?"

"Maybe?" Blake shrugged. "I don't think much will come of it. Just… don't expect to be good friends with him. While he has nothing against you, I don't think he would want to stay in the same room as you." Touma nodded. It wasn't like there was much more he could do. Then something occurred to him.

"You know…" Touma started off conversationally. "You mentioned to me before you weren't much of a talker, but I feel like we talk quite a bit."

One of Blake's eyebrows rose slightly.

"If there's something to discuss, I talk plenty." It was lucky for her it was dark, or Touma might have noticed her cheeks redden ever so slightly. "It's just… due to how we met, there was much we needed to discuss. Plus, you seem to understand my situation a lot more than others did at the start. Yang and I have talked about my past a bit too. She's brash, but I can trust her completely."

"It's good to have friends like that," Touma agreed. "Two of my best friends back home, we argue a lot, get in fights, but if I ever get in trouble, they would have my back." He scratched his wrist subconsciously. "I also have to thank you and your team too, now that I think about it."

"Us?" Blake was surprised by this statement.

"You all have really helped me… along with Accelerator and Last Order adjust to life on Remnant. Things could have been a lot worse if you guys didn't go out of your way to help us."

"I think you helped me more than I helped you." Blake pointed out.

"The first time was kind of my fault due to Roman using my power to suit his needs."

"I was the one who acted rashly and infiltrated the White Fang by myself."

They booked stared at each other until they couldn't take it anymore and laughed.

"Okay, we were both at fault, agreed?" Touma asked.

Blake nodded and smiled.

"One last thing," Blake suddenly stated. "Before I leave, I wanted to make you an offer, away from the others, especially Yang. She will take it the wrong way."

"An offer?" Touma asked. Nothing they had discussed would have led to this. "What do you mean?"

"Please let me know if there's anything you want," Blake explained. "As a final thank you."

"I told you-…" Touma started to say, but Blake put a finger over his lips.

"I know and I respect that you don't want anything," Blake whispered. "This is something I want to give. It doesn't have to be anything big if you would like. I know you aren't the type to ask for something extravagant. It would just help ease the burden in the back of my mind."

Her fierce amber eyes told Touma she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Something I want?" He mumbled, and Blake moved her hand.

His first thought was just something small, like a book, but there weren't any specific ones he could think of. The only stuff similar to what he read back home was some comics Jaune had. He could just borrow those. Touma wasn't materialistic either, so there weren't any physical items he could think of. Maybe a home cooked meal? That was an option. Though Beacon's food tended to be high quality, nothing beats a good meal made by a girl who cared about you. He was about to say this when the words caught in his throat. His eyes traveled over Blake's body, and his ears began to burn when he realized what he actually wanted. Embarrassment forced him to look away from her.

"What?" Blake asked, tilting her head.

"…nothing." Touma mumbled.

"Tell me." This was not a request from her.

"It's really nothing." Touma protested, still looking at the floor.

"Then why are you unable to look at me?" Blake demanded, and then her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh… I guess you are a boy after all and my request did sound… suggestive." This time it was her turn to avoid eye contact in embarrassment.

"That's not it!" Touma's eyes darted upwards at her words. "It's something else… I'm just not sure if it's appropriate."

"I promise to overlook your lack of understanding of social norms in our world this time." Blake recited as her lips twitched. In all fairness, Touma was trying to learn and she gave him credit for that. All of them did. Accelerator? Well, they had kind of given up on trying to get him to be civilized.

"Well…" It wasn't like Touma could really refuse now after what she said. His request would either be accepted or rejected. If rejected, maybe he could go back to the home cooked meal thing. Assuming Blake wasn't too mad at him. "I was kind of wondering…"

"Go on..." Blake told him, trying to sound kind though she was extremely curious about what he was about to ask.

"Could… I feel your cat ears?" Touma said hopefully.

Blake stared at him in silence.

"I know it's a stupid idea!" Touma cried out quickly, waving his hands, trying to dismiss what he just said. "It's just ever since I arrived, I kind of wanted to know if they were similar to animal parts back home. My roommate has a cat and it really doesn't like me… I think? And I saw yours back when we first met and thought they looked cute and I kind of wanted to feel them. Is it really rude to ask that? If so, I'm sorry, I can think of something else…"

While Touma continued to shove his foot in his mouth, Blake's mind slowly processed his words. It wasn't taboo for someone else to touch a Faunus part. What was rude was if they did it without permission. It really varied from person to person in all honesty. Someone like Sun would be more open about this than a member in the White Fang. Since she was hiding her heritage from the majority of the school, this really never came up. There was no doubt Touma's request was unusual, but not as extreme as the words that were flooding out of his mouth made it seem. It wasn't like what Cardin did to poor Velvet before Jaune stepped in that one time.

Blake slowly reached up and pulled the end of her bow.

Touma fell silent almost instantly as the bow fell to reveal a pair of black cat ears. Blake leaned forward so that her head was within an easy touch range. The shell-shocked boy raised his left hand slowly, still unsure whether this was actually happening. Blake rolled her eyes at his hesitation.

"Go ahead. After everything you've done, this is only a pittance. I don't mind if it's you, just be gentle. They are sensitive."

Touma couldn't believe his luck. His friends back home would kill him if they ever found out. Part of him felt like he had to brag to them if he ever got home. The other part wanted to take this secret to the grave of what happened between him and Blake. Slowly, he set his hand down on Blake's right ear and softly ran his fingers along it. The fur was just like he imagined it; soft and smooth like silk. At the same time, they were warm. They were part of Blake's body. Index's cat back home felt similar, but maybe it was because Blake's ears were larger, they just felt more… complete? Not wanting to waste this opportunity, he continued to slowly move his finger along her ear.

"Prrr."

Touma's hand froze.

"Did… did you just purr?" His asked uncertainly.

"No!" The force of her tone implied she wasn't telling the truth and just wanted to drop the subject. She pulled back and stood up immediately, regaining her composure. "Yang must never know about this. Understand?"

"Err-…?"

"Understand?"

"Yes." Touma answered meekly.

"Thank you." Blake's expression softened. She knew he would keep his word. "Sorry for reacting like that… it's kind of embarrassing." She paused and looked at the clock on the wall. "I do need to get going though. The longer I'm here, the greater the risk of getting caught." She stated. "Plus, we don't want to give Yang more time to let her imagination go wild." Touma chuckled. "Before I go, there's one last thing I want to do."

"And that-…?"

Touma never got a chance to say anything before Blake leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his forehead. Every thought in his mind just burst like a balloon and his words stuck in his throat. Amber eyes met his own as the catgirl leaned back, the moonlight only amplifying her beauty. Part of Touma wanted her to stay, but his brain was still fried. Blake walked to the door and opened it silently. Before she disappeared through it, she turned back.

"Thank you again… for everything."

The door shut and it took Touma another couple of minutes to rejoin the present.

"Does… does she actually like me?" Touma asked the empty room, still refusing to believe what just happened. He shook his head and slumped back into the bed. "No, can't be. Maybe that's just how girls thank people in this world. It's not like it was on the lips…"

His voice trailed off as drowsiness overtook him. The excitement finally wore off and exhaustion hit him like a truck. The medicine in his bloodstream probably didn't help keep him alert. Another minute passed and not a single sound disturbed the dark room.

Until the empty air in the corner of the room shattered to reveal a pink, white, and brown girl.

You really are dense, Neo thought, shaking her head in a combination of exasperation and anger.

There were a lot of things for her to think about. She knew the cat slut would try to sneak in tonight. Their conversation was made out in the open and Neo heard it clearly from behind her illusions. She had been waiting in the room most of the night for Blake to make her move. Part of her wanted to jump out and surprise them, but the conversation grew somewhat suspenseful. There was a lot to consider about what she learned, along with what would be needed to pass to Roman. These dragon things hidden in his hand might be an important piece of information for their plans later.

Then, of course, there was the goodbye that infuriated her.

As she left the room, Neo vowed to make sure he was marked as hers.

Naturally, due to the private and serious nature of this conversation, the illusion girl wasn't the only one listening. Touma's Scroll was lying on the bedside stand and captured everything. The man on the other end listening leaning back in his chair, sipped some coffee, and debated what he should do next.


While everyone had been off on their mission, Neo had been stuck on Beacon. Her only companion was Last Order and the two of them were under the hawk-like gaze of the old hag of a teacher, Glynda Goodwitch. It was like she didn't trust Neo alone with Last Order when there had been plenty of previous occurrences where that was the case. After all, Neo was on her best behavior. She needed to get a little freedom to explore some of the less traveled corridors in Beacon for important reasons, not to mention Accelerator's threat hanging over her. Being a bloodstained smear on the walls wasn't her life goal.

Besides the teasing of those Huntresses in training, teasing Touma, teaching Last Order a few interesting things when the others weren't looking, Neo was proud of her efforts to hold herself back. No one had been killed or seriously maimed and she even got to smack the blonde bitch in the face during a match in front of the other students. If she was lucky, there would be another opportunity to do that. Or with the Faunus girl who was trying to get close to her property without permission. The fact both of them were alive was a testament to her kindness.

Again, she was on her best behavior.

So there was no reason why she should be stuck in a stuffy classroom with Last Order and Glynda, who kept glaring daggers at her. For some strange reason, Glynda didn't trust her, and it annoyed Neo. She couldn't do what she was supposed to until all eyes were off her. In all fairness, she had slipped around on her own to do things, like grab ice cream from the kitchen until Touma brought her some. Ozpin probably knew about it and as long as she didn't do anything outrageous, overlooked it.

He was a very laid back headmaster. If Roman gave himself up, Ozpin probably would let him teach at Beacon.

Neo laughed silently at that.

"What's so funny? MISAKA asks as MISAKA looks up from the game in surprise as you are losing."

Neo only shrugged and looked back down at the game, aware Glynda was watching them again from her desk. She was grading papers for one of her classes, so Neo and Last Order were stuck in her office. To pass the time, as Neo wasn't allowed a Scroll yet, Last Order suggested a game from her world. It was called Othello and seemed like a pretty basic game. All it took to play was a simple eight by eight board and some white and black chips. The four squares in the middle alternated between white and black and each turn they put down a chip. Any chips from the other player sandwiched between two of the player who just set one down got swapped. The winner was the person with the most of their chips. Neo instantly determined the corners were important and took care to take them.

The first game was close but Neo won by quite a few chips.

Turns out Last Order was a sore loser.

"Again! MISAKA demands immediately as MISAKA doesn't like to lose."

Neo shrugged and let her go first. This time, understanding the finer points, Neo crushed her completely. Last Order only had 5 of her tiles at the end. In a combination of anger and disbelief, she flipped the board.

"How are you so good?! MISAKA demands as MISAKA knows a first-timer couldn't possibly be good. Remnant doesn't have this game and MISAKA just told you the rules!" Neo pulled out her tablet and typed a short message.

'Git gud.'

"MISAKA challenges you to a rematch, and this time MISAKA will win!"

'Sure.'

None of the games went much better for the poor girl. Neo tended to be merciless and hated to lose. At one point, she was just seeing if she could take the entire board, but no matter how close she got, she couldn't get them all. The game was not really designed for that. If her opponent had been someone more skilled, Neo might have enjoyed the mental challenge. As of now, Last Order wasn't very good because of her age. All this game did was distract her during the time she was forced to be in this prison. At long last, Glynda looked up.

"It's almost time for dinner to be served." She informed Last Order and Neo. "Can I trust you two to behave yourself until then?"

Neo responded with a maybe, earning her another glare.

"MISAKA will make sure to watch over Neo, MISAKA replies as MISAKA makes a snappy salute. MISAKA is used to watching over people. Accelerator would be lost without her!"

Neo snorted, and Glynda almost smiled.

"Okay. Just… try to stay out of trouble."

"MISAKA needs to drop off her game back at MISAKA's room." Glynda nodded, letting Last Order and Neo finally leave. "Accelerator is a lot better than MISAKA, MISAKA informs you, as MISAKA can't wait to see you lose."

Neo smirked and formed another illusion in the air.

'Can't beat me on your own?'

"MISAKA will have her revenge!"

Neo spent a good amount of the time they took to get back to their room needling the poor girl. Her reactions were priceless and she was way too easy to tease. One thing Neo couldn't understand was how childish jokes could affect her, but stories of mutilated Grimm didn't faze her. She supposed being a companion of someone like Accelerator, who could tear people in half, caused her to grow used to it. It was kind of weird in its own way, but Neo couldn't really find fault with it. She was the same way as a kid. Surviving on your own in the streets tended to make you grow up. That, or you find yourself trampled under someone else.

They got to the room and Neo started making her way to her freezer. Ice cream was one of the few pleasures in life from her childhood. The reason she liked it so much was that it tended to make things better. Being poor, it was a rare treat, until she learned how to steal without being caught. Her mom left the world when Neo was very young, but the memory of the first time her mom gave her ice cream still lived in her mind. Sadly, it was tainted shortly after when robbers broke into their home. That was the first time Neo killed someone. There wasn't any choice. For the first time, she felt powerful. A small girl living in the slums being pushed around by all the bigger kids was now on top. It didn't matter how small you were. If you were willing to go that far, people quickly learned you weren't someone to mess with.

That day started her down the path she was on now.

In all honestly, Neo enjoyed beating up people. It was an exhilarating feeling. Skilled at combat, an Illusion Semblance that let her escape and sneak up on anyone, and intelligent, there was no wonder Roman sought her out. He was the closest thing to a dad she ever had. He taught her everything he knew, and she excelled at it. Never did she dream she would be in a school for law-abiding Hunters and Huntresses, babysitting a little girl from another dimension.

Life was weird.

"Neo? MISAKA asks, as MISAKA pulls on your sleeve to grab your attention."

The sudden touch caused her to jump, and her hand was already moving to jab the neck of the little girl before she managed to stop herself. Last Order seemed unfazed by her actions.

"You've been staring at the freezer for five minutes, MISAKA points out. Can't decide what you want?"

Neo rolled her eyes and shook her head before closing the lid. It was true because she had become lost in her own thoughts. The fact she even thought about her past was unusual. It had been years since the last time she did. Beacon was affecting her, and it wasn't for the better. Her senses would grow dull if she didn't encounter people wanting to jump her. She might even have to volunteer for combat classes to keep her skills sharp. The other kids may be inferior to her, but she can use it as light exercise.

To cover herself, she tilted her head and looked questioningly at Last Order.

"Do you mind if we stop by Team RWBY's room? MISAKA asks. MISAKA left a book MISAKA wanted to finish reading today."

'Can you access their room?' Neo asked curiously, using her tablet.

"MISAKA's scroll has a guest pass Weiss set up for me, MISAKA replies as MISAKA puffs out her chest to show her importance. It won't be long, MISAKA promises."

Neo shrugged nonchalantly, but the moment Last Order's back was turned, a huge grin appeared on her face.

With all of Team RWBY off on a mission and only Last Order, not the most observant person, around this was the perfect opportunity for a little fun. She moved over to her desk and opened a drawer. A small vial of green liquid vanished into her pocket before Last Order could notice anything. Neo gave the OK sign, and the two of them left. Last Order started going on about the book she was reading, even though Neo turned her out. It seems she was used to not being listening to or just didn't notice. When they reached Team RWBY's dorm, Last Order held up her Scroll, and the door slid open.

"MISAKA will only be a second, MISAKA promises." She started going through a pile of books on Blake's desk, and Neo took the opportunity to slip away toward the bathroom.

Leaving an illusion behind her in case Last Order turned around, Neo slipped through the door silently and looked around. The bathroom was kept clean and Neo started rummaging around looking for her target. At last, she found it, a basket filled with shampoo. Now the question was which one should she choose? There wasn't much time before Last Order found what she wanted. Neo disregarded the rose scented one. It most likely belonged to Red and, while Neo didn't like her, there were bigger fish to fry. The insanely expensive ones probably belonged to the Schnee girl. Again, Neo ignored them. That left several other bottles. Deciding it didn't really matter which one, as it more of a surprise that way, she pulled the small vial of liquid out of her pocket and poured it into one of the bottles. She closed it up tightly, shook it vigorously, and put everything back the way she found out.

Then she left to join Last Order, who finally found what she was looking for.

"Look what MISAKA found, MISAKA brags as MISAKA holds up the interesting belt." Held in her hand was indeed a belt, but Neo's eyes traveled specifically to where the belt buckle would have been. There was a crystal there and even Last Order noticed it. "Isn't this a Dust crystal? MISAKA asks as MISAKA is unable to keep the interest out of her voice." Neo still didn't understand why Last Order kept saying what she was doing or feeling, but it did make things easier to recognize. "Is Dust normally attached to clothes like this?"

Neo shook her head.

Dust infused clothes were a thing, though you saw it more in Atlas than anywhere else. It strengthened clothes without adding weight like armor did. Aura kind of negated the need for it. They didn't provide a lot of protection. They merely made the clothes more resistant to tears and there were already synthetic materials that did that. Dust infused metal was another thing. Atlas had been experimenting with Dust being added to the smelting process of metal ore to make nearly indestructible metal. The data on how they are doing this was top secret and Roman had been planning to somehow steal the designs and pass it on to other Kingdoms. They were sure to pay a pretty penny.

Well, that was until Cinder showed up and made him her errand boy.

"Well… what do you think it is?" Last Order held it up for Neo to observe.

Neo examined it closely. From what she could see, instead of the belt buckle, there was a small container for the actual crystal. The straps didn't seem to have any other function besides support. There was a button on the side of the buckle case and countless thin wires were visible from behind the glass. The crystal was obviously a power source. The question was, what exactly did it power?

Neo gestured to put it on.

"Are you sure? MISAKA asks hesitantly. This belongs to Weiss."

Neo nodded and gestured again.

It wasn't like Last Order would get in trouble. She would apologize, act sad, and everyone would forgive her. If Neo tried to use it, everyone would immediately accuse her of being a thief. Probably out of jealousy because she was so attractive and had an active lifestyle. Girls were so petty, especially that blonde bimbo and kitty cat. Last Order would have to be the one to actually take and use that belt. Her personality would cause her to admit to taking it immediately and protect Neo from any retribution.

There was also a chance it could blow up.

Which wouldn't be Neo's fault at all.

'Press the button on the side of the buckle,' Neo suggested, pointing to the switch after Last Order put it on.

"Nothing happened, MISAKA reports feeling disappointed as MISAKA was hoping something cool would happen." She twirled around on the spot, trying to see her back.

Neo was also disappointed. Weiss must not have finished… whatever it was. Bored now, she left the room and Last Order was quick to follow, leaving the belt device on.

"What do you think the cafeteria is serving today? MISAKA asks."

Neo remained silent. She didn't really care.

"I hope it's spaghetti, MISAKA adds."

Again, Neo didn't respond and kept walking.

"Though hamburgers are nice too, MISAKA continues."

Neo's lack of response was finally getting to Last Order.

"Sadly they decided ice cream was unhealthy and got rid of all of their entire stock on campus, MISAKA lies evilly as MISAKA tries to see if Neo is really listening or not."

Neo's footsteps faltered for a moment.

"So you were listening! MISAKA declares triump-…OW! MISAKA cries as MISAKA rubs her forehead. What was that for?!"

Neo had flicked her and then explained herself with her floating illusionary wording.

'Never joke about that.'

"Sorry, MISAKA apologizes. MISAKA just wanted to see if you were really ignoring her or just not responding." Last Order darted forward. "Last one to the cafeteria is a rotten egg." She started running and turned a corner.

"Oomph"

Last Ordered collided with someone and fell backwards.

"Ow! Did MISAKA get hit by a truck…Penny?!" She stared in surprise as her eyes focused on the ginger girl in front of her. Unlike her, Penny didn't move at all. There was a significant size difference along with the mass difference. After all, Penny was secretly a robot designed by Atlas with Aura. Only Ruby and Last Order knew that though. Neo and the others did not.

"Hello, Friend Last Order!" Penny responded cheerfully, as she reached out a hand to help Last Order up. "I didn't expect to see you today. How are you?"

"MISAKA is great, just bored, MISAKA admits. The rest of her team is out with Team RWBY and JNPR, so it's just MISAKA and Neo. Ah!" Her eyes widened as she realized something. She reached back and grabbed Neo's sleeve and tried to pull her towards Penny. That worked about as well as one would expect, and she eventually gave up. "This is Neo, MISAKA says hurriedly as MISAKA is slightly ashamed she didn't introduce her first. She's part of MISAKA's team. Neo, this is MISAKA's friend, Penny."

"Hello, Neo!" Penny greeted with a beaming smile. Neo examined her up and down for a moment, torn between annoyed at the predicament and disgust at how happy this random girl seemed. Penny tilted her head. "You look familiar."

Neo shrugged.

"Neo's really strong, MISAKA brags. Not as strong as Accelerator, but really strong. She even beat Yang, who helped stopped the Breach."

"Wow, you must be strong," Penny agreed. "Are you going to be participating in the Vytal Festival? My team is going too."

Neo and Last Order shook their heads. There were several reasons why they weren't going to participate. One, Touma and Accelerator didn't have Aura. Kind of hard to have matches that use Aura to determine winners with one team not having it. Two, it was a pain and neither Accelerator nor Neo wanted to do it. Third, Last Order couldn't fight so they only have a three man team and they need four.

"Shame," Penny said dejectedly and then brightened up. "You'll be there to cheer me on, right?"

"Of course!" Last Order replied immediately.

'What happens if she fights Team RWBY or JNPR?'

Neo actually didn't care that much. Penny beating up Yang would be nice to see, but really Neo didn't care who won. She just wanted to add a little wedge between the two girls.

"MISAKA will cheer everyone on, MISAKA states unabashedly. Everyone can always have a rematch next year, right?"

"Of course!" Penny assured her. "We will all do our best, regardless of who we are up against. The point of this festival is to promote unity. We can also use the matches to improve ourselves."

Seriously, Neo couldn't believe how upbeat this person was. However, her interest was piqued when Penny leaned down to whisper into Last Order's ear.

"Thanks for keeping my secret."

"MISAKA has not told anyone, MISAKA promises."

Neo would find out the secret eventually. It wasn't like there was anything else to do.

"Are you staying long? MISAKA asks eagerly. Ruby would be happy to see you."

"Sadly, no." Penny shook her head and looked as if she wanted to. "General Ironwood needed to see Ozpin about something relating to the festival and I came along."

Neo's ears twitched at this important information.

"Who's he?" Last Order tilted her head in interest.

"That would be me."

A large, well dressed, and clean-shaven man came into view. He wore a white overcoat, with a gray undercoat, black sweater, a red necktie and a white glove on his right hand. His suit pants shared the same color as his overcoat and were tucked into silver boots accented in gray. Like all Atlas personnel, they were devoid of many bright colors. Since Atlas was up north, snow was common for most of the year, which meant colors only made them easier targets. Especially for the White Fang up there. Atlas had a long history of Faunus discrimination and even now, there were a lot of loopholes for employers to exploit.

The SDC was just one of many.

"Penny," The man said sternly. "What have I told you about wandering off?"

"Sorry, sir!" Penny replied immediately and looked down at the ground, knowing she did wrong.

"Now, now." Ozpin appeared behind him, holding a coffee mug. "She's still young, and kids will be kids. We should give them a little freedom. Good afternoon, Miss Order, Miss Neopolitan. I would like to introduce you to General James Ironwood. He is the Headmaster of Atlas Academy and a high ranking general of the Atlasian Military. "

"Good afternoon, Headmaster! MISAKA replies. Good afternoon, General Ironwood."

Neo didn't say anything. She still didn't trust Ozpin completely. He seemed like he knew more than he let on. Accelerator also caught onto that. However, James' eyes never left her.

"Pleasure is mine," James said to Last Order, eyes still on Neo. "Miss Neopolitan. Ozpin finished briefing me about your… situation. I have to say, I'm not entirely convinced."

Neo shrugged.

His opinion was nothing new to her. She doubted any of the higher-ups at Beacon truly believed she reformed. Glynda certainly didn't, and Neo knew Ozpin was spying on them. James had even less reason to trust her. He had been after Roman for years, yet always came short of catching him. Neo, as Roman's right hand, was bound to push a few buttons. Maybe she could do something to entertain herself at his expense. The opportunity came from an unlikely source, but Neo took it in stride.

"Oh?" Penny asked, looking between James and Neo. "Do you happen to know the General, Neo?"

Neo nodded and created her illusionary response in midair with bright pink curvy letters.

'He kept chasing after me, but I had to reject his advances. The age difference was too much.'

Her words were greeted with a moment of silence.

"Oh…my?" Penny covered her mouth and her face turned red. Last Order didn't fully understand the situation and tilted her head slightly. Ozpin choked on his coffee for a moment. James' face turned red like Penny's.

His expression was from anger.

Neo dug the knife in deeper.

'I was already seeing someone, and yet he wouldn't take no for an answer. We had to move to Vale to escape him.'

Penny and Last Order gapped at her and Ozpin was biting his lip to hold back the laughter.

"You are a criminal!" James exploded and slammed his fist on the wall. "You and Roman Torchwick!"

'Former. I'm going straight now.'

"Like I can believe that," James snorted, calming himself down. "You and Torchwick have caused untold damage. Your very presence here could be part of his plan. I'll let you know this. I was put in charge of Vale security since your boss's little escapade and I'll be damned if something like that happens under my watch."

'Didn't Roman steal things from under your nose in Atlas?'

It was worth doing this just to watch the general's blood pressure rise.

"Miss Neopolitan, I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from discussing your previous employer." Ozpin stepped in to prevent the argument from escalating. "If you truly wish to turn over a new leaf, you should show respect to our allies. That is the entire point of this festival. We wish to encourage unity among all kingdoms. Besides," The hint of a smirk formed. "I would hate to tell Mr. Kamijou that you were acting out when he returned. I'm sure he would be most upset."

Neo glared at him and decided it was better not to continue. She crossed her arms though, to show him how she felt.

"Mr. Kamijou?" Penny whispered. "He's the one Ruby mentioned before?"

"Yep! MISAKA answers brightly. He's also the one who brought Neo to our side."

"That's very impressive."

"The Savior always tries to save others."

"Well, Ozpin." James turned to address him directly. "I think it's time Penny and I headed out. We've kept you occupied long enough. Thank you for listening to our concerns."

"It was no trouble, James," Ozpin replied. "We are all on the same side after all. Sharing information is the least we can do."

"Come along, Penny." James ordered.

"Right away, sir." Penny turned to Last Order. "It was great seeing you again, and we might meet again soon when the tournament is about to start. I didn't know you had your Aura unlocked now. Did Ruby help you?"

"What?" Last Order looked confused at Penny's words and Ozpin froze. James noticed this and turned his attention back to the little girl and ex-criminal. "MISAKA never had her Aura unlocked, MISAKA states confused. MISAKA asked once before but was advised MISAKA should wait a few years as it can be an intense process."

"But I was sure you had Aura when we collided," Penny continued, sounding confused herself. "My sensor…I mean I honestly believe I'm detecting Aura from you."

"MISAKA swears she never had her Aura unlocked, MISAKA says honestly. Ask Neo." For once, Neo decided not to try to antagonize people here and nodded. She was also curious. "See?"

"Pardon me," Ozpin said and knelt down next to Last Order. He stared at her for a moment before putting his hand on her head. He frowned before standing up at last. "It's not Aura, but she definitely has a protective shield around her that resembles it. I'm curious how that's possible."

"What?" James looked like he had been struck in the face. "This little girl created an artificial Aura?"

Neo blinked.

The belt! She realized. That was the only option that would explain what was happening. Last Order never had her Aura unlocked, and Neo would never have activated it for her. That Schnee actually managed to create artificial Aura with a Dust crystal? How? A shield generator would require a much bigger conduit. This could be worth billions!

Neo reached down and clicked the belt buckle off and Ozpin raised an eyebrow.

"So that device is what caused this?" He asked. "Fascinating."

"How…?" James shook his head and knelt down. "Miss Order, was it? Can you tell me how you came across this belt? Did you make it or did someone give it to you?"

"MISAKA's friend Weiss made it, MISAKA says proudly. MISAKA… might have taken it without permission though, MISAKA adds quietly as MISAKA rubs her foot on the ground. Please don't tell."

"Weiss?" James asked. "As in Weiss Schnee?" Last Order's eyes widened in surprise but then nodded. James' expression and tone became noticeable kinder. "Don't worry. Weiss and I have known each other since she was around your age. I'm sure she won't be mad at you. May I see it?"

"Umm… MISAKA really shouldn't as it's not MISAKA's."

Neo actually stepped forward.

'Sorry. We can't give something this valuable to Atlas without suitable compensation.'

"I don't believe you have any say in this." James told her coldly.

"Now, now." Ozpin put a hand on his shoulder. "If this tech was indeed invented by Miss Schnee, she should be the one to discuss it with us. I'm not going to deny this could be a revolutionary breakthrough. When she returns, I'll make sure to let you know. I'm sure she will be happy to go over it in detail."

"Yes, of course." James stood up and regained his composure again. Military training at its finest. "I look forward to speaking with her when she returns. I'm sure her sister will be more than happy to come along. Miss Order, if you would be so kind as to pass on my offer to meet up when she returns from her mission?"

"Yes, MISAKA promises. I'm sure Weiss will be happy to demonstrate her invention. Though, MISAKA really should return it to her room."

"Thank you." He motioned to Penny, who gave them once last wave goodbye and followed the general.

Neo stuck her tongue out as they left.

"He's just a little impatient sometimes," Ozpin remarked conversationally. "He's pretty good at seeing the big picture."

Neo shrugged. Just because someone was good at a job, didn't mean she had to like him.

"I do suggest you return Miss Schnee's belt," Ozpin added. "It's not polite to take things without permission, even with good intentions."

"MISAKA is sorry, MISAKA apologizes. MISAKA will return it immediately."

"Then I'm sure to see you both around." Ozpin sipped his coffee. "It's good to see you behaving yourself, Miss Neopolitan. Keep this up, and I'll grant you permission to join your team on another mission."

Well… Neo didn't expect that.


Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish I ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter. All mistakes are SilverFang88's fault even if he didn't review this chapter. He remains with us in spirit.

Favorite Ship Names:

Touma and Yang: Fistbump / Punchline/ Imagine Dragon/ Love at First Punch/ Hair You Go Again / Shotgun Wedding

Touma and Weiss: Cool to the Touch / Princess and the Pauper / Shattered Mirror

Touma and Ruby: Blossoming / Thorny Rose / Speedy Rescue / Innocently Indecent/ Nectar of the Gods/ Klutzy Couple/ Knuckleheads

Touma and Blake: Nine Lives / Bad Luck / Kami-Nyaan / Equality

Touma and Velvet: Bunny Couple / Rabbit's Foot/ Lucky Number Zero/ Camera Shy

Touma and Penny: Android's Dream / Faulty Electronics/ Lost Change

Touma and Ren: Lotus Fist

Touma and Jaune: Better Luck Next Time/ Lifesavers/ Brothers-At-Arms

Touma and Nora: Glutton for Punishment / Divine Sparks

Touma and Pyrrha: Babe Magnet/ Dense Armaments

Touma and Coco: Black Coffee/ Stylish Illusion

Touma and Fox: Eye-Caramba

Touma and Glynda: Teacher's Pet / Promise Lands/ Dunce Cap/ Cougar vs Dragon

Touma and Ozpin: Broken Replay Button/ Unknown Paragons

Touma and Summer: Dragon Sunbathing/ In The Heat of Battle

Touma and Adam: Chronic Crusaders/ Prick and the Pauper

Touma and Emerald: Shattered Illusions / Illusion Breaker / Portmanteau Poverty

Touma and Twins: Triple Threat / Cerberus

Touma and Cinder: Through the Fire and Flame / Fire Demons / Sinner and Savior/ A Match Made In Hellfire

Touma and Neo: Uncertain Flavor / Breaking Reality/ Stockholm Slasher Romance/ Silent Curses / There is No Spoon

Touma and Roman: Corruption of the Innocent

Touma and Salem: Burning Witch / Light and Shadow / Shattering Darkness/ Grimm Chances of Survival / Darklight

Touma and Summer: Summer Break.

Touma and Raven: Alpha and Omega/ Feather for Brains

Touma and Qrow: Misfortune Squared / Bad luck Charms / Misfortunate Misfits/ Drunken Shenanigans / Handy Dandy Bad Luck Deflector

Touma x Kali: Cat in the Cradle.

Touma x Tsune: Love Hurts

Accelerator and Weiss: Cold and Calculating / Ice Vector / A Frosty Reception/ Porcelain Complexion

Accelerator and Yang: Road Rage / Short Fuse / Way of the Dragon/ War of the Red Eyes / Push Button to Die

Accelerator and Ruby: One-Way Rose / No Brakes / Rose Manipulation

Accelerator and Blake: Twilight Arrow / Chain and Sickly / Chasing Shadows

Accelerator and Nora: Shattered Bones / Broken Dreams / Nerve Impulse/ Going the Distance

Accelerator and Ren: Tranquil Fury/ Remaining Sane

Accelerator and Velvet: White Flash / Hopping Mad / Unsuspecting Prey

Accelerator and Glynda: Fix and Destroy

Accelerator and Summer: Fast Forward to September

Accelerator and Penny: String Theory/ Broken Toys/ Science Experiments / Singularity

Accelerator and Sun: Sunny and Sullen

Accelerator x Neo: Bad to the Cone

Accelerator and Adam: Charging Bull/ Rabid Animals

Accelerator and Mercury: Killer Moves/ Fade to Gray / Chemical Bromance.

Accelerator and Emerald: Red Eyed Killers/ After Image

Accelerator and Coco: Fashionable Disaster/ Fashion is a Science/ White Is The New Black/ Death by Chocolate

Accelerator and Pyrrha: Opposites Attract/ Copper Aftertaste

Accelerator and Raven: Yang's Nightmare/ Fallen Feathers

Accelerator and Neo: Sadistic Streaks

Accelerator and Roman: Stolen Smarts

Accelerator and Salem: Wicked Grins/ Red Eyes, Take Warning / Highway to Hell

Healthcare: What the fuck is this shit?