Another week, and more procrastination on writing the current chapter. Says a lot of my work ethic huh... To be honest I got ill and felt a strong heat throughout my body. No covid but still took my brain away for that dammed eighth chapter. Well, here is an aftermath that will continue for the next few chapters, hope you enjoy!


Chapter 4: Harsh Lesson (RWBY, JNPR)

Trying to salvage the situation, Ozpin picked the dropped mic and addressed the attended students by giving them the rest of the day off. As the students filed out, still shocked and bewildered at the events that took place, a certain pair of teams was busy dealing with the aftermath firsthand.

"Let me go Rubes, h-have to show… bastard… to not… mess with...us…" Yang said while struggling with the small reaper holding her back.

"Please Yang calm down! I'm sure it wasn't on purpose!"

"Wasn't on purpose!? He fucking shot at you!" The brawler stated, her lilac eyes turning crimson.

Ok she's definitely mad… To be fair I would be too if anyone hurt Yang… "I'm fine…" Ruby took a deep breath for her next words. "He didn't hit me, and I am pretty sure it might have been a warning shot…" Yang, along with the rest of her team, gave her cold stares. "Eight-five percent sure…"

"Wow… only a warning shot! That makes things a whole lot better!" Yang said deadpan while slow clapping.

"I mean that there must have been a reason he did that!"

"Why are you so insistent on defending this man?" Weiss asks, perplexed. "I for one agree with Yang…" The furious blond gave a curt nod. "What just happened went against the law. And I for one have no idea what the headmaster had in mind inviting thugs like him into this school."

"Ergh…" Caught between good logic, Ruby's defense of Xreos started to die out. But...but… "He was the one who saved me…" She whispered.

"Eh? What was that Rubes?"

"I said he saved me back during the hunting mission!" Ruby repeated loudly.

"What!? Ruby, what are you talking about?" Weiss questioned.

"I-I didn't tell you the whole story…" she meekly said.

After explaining what truly happened, Ruby gazed weekly at her friends as they processed the information.

Surprisingly, Blake was the first to respond, "I… see. That would explain why you would defend him." Nodding slowly, Ruby smiled a bit at finally getting to her team, only to lose it when Yang spoke.

"I see nothing, doesn't change the fact that he still aimed and shot at you. If anything, it makes it worse." Despite her harsh words, Yang's eyes return to a Lilac color, still with fire, but calmer than before.

Taking the break in the argument to add his two cents, Jaune added on. "Just want to say that I met him this morning and uh…" He struggled a bit as the focus was set on him turning cold. "Uh-that he seemed alright… and more importantly was different to what happened earlier."

"Yeah! I'm certain something happened to Ste-Xreos to be this drastic." Ruby added. "It doesn't make sense to hurt me if he didn't during the last two times we met."

"You met with this guy other times!?"

"Eep!"

Yang made to speak more, till their silent member beat her to it. "Then we confront him." Blake rolled her eyes at the absolute shocked face her partner held and continued. "He said that they would be at the fountain, right? Let's just find them and figure this out."

Silent at her partner's suggestion, Yang gave a curt nod as they moved on with a sheepish Ruby. Yet, as team RWBY moved on, JNPR stayed behind as Jaune gulped nervously.

Pyrrha, knowing the little tells of her not so hidden crush due to the time together, silently gave him a questioning look. Sighing, he signaled Ren and Nora to come closer.

"What's up fearless leader?" Nora the first to ask, also seeing his hesitation.

Gazing to see if their sister team was out of earshot yet, Jaune replied after a bit. "I-I want to take the course."

"W-What!?"

"Keep it down!"

While Nora covered her mouth, Ren addressed the elephant in the room. "You want us to be a part of the new class despite what just happened?"

"Y-yeah...well it's just…"

Taking another breath to gather his courage, Jaune looked determined as he gazed at his team. "I can't-Won't accept being weak… It's selfish but this might bring my skill up, plus we'd be professional hunters as well, right? Seemed to be a win for all of us."

Pyrrha, for her part, took in her partner's explanation. Yet, she knew from his body actions, that he wasn't saying everything. "That's not just it, is it Jaune?"

"No... I don't want to be useless again." Noticing his kind partner starting to speak, he quickly added, "After Ruby and them fought Torchwick at the docks, I felt useless. We're huntsmen and huntresses too! Yet you know what I was doing while they were fighting for their lives?" He waited for a sign of acknowledgement before continuing. "I was sitting in the library reading stupid comic books."

He sighs for what seems to be the hundredth time. "And I don't want to be on the sidelines while my friends risk their lives. Just because I'm too weak to do anything." His voice dropped to a hush volume. "I want to be stronger…"

"Then let's do it."

Gaping at Pyrrha's agreement, Jaune looked up at his partner. "R-really?"

"Yes, I agree that we should have helped more, and if Torchwick and the White Fang are continuing with whatever plans they have...Then I agree with having a professional train us."

Gazing with hope filled eyes, he turned to the totally not together-together pair.

"I'm in with whatever you have in mind, fearless leader. As long as I get a chance at that jerk who hurt Ruby then full steam ahead!"

"I believe in your judgement Jaune, but I would like you to agree to something first."

"Yeah, sure Ren, what is it?"

"If it is too much for any of us…" Ren gazed uncharacteristically intently at the blond knight, "Then I want you to pull us out. We do have four more years at Beacon, this is just another method of increasing our skills."

Nodding, Jaune made to catch up with their sister team, "Of course… I promise to all of you, if it's too much then we quit."


Looking fairly nervous, Ruby and her friends found Xreos where he stated he was, by the fountain having a picnic. Wait...What? Ignoring the weird image, she barely caught her sister getting closer with a relit fire in her eyes.

"OI SHIT BAG!"

Yeah… forgot not to bring an angry Yang to the person who made her angry...Wait "Stop! Yang!"

Despite her protests, it was all for naught for hurricane Yang held no earlier signs of calm as she grew closer to the sitting team.

"Well, if it isn't Rose and her team… did you need something?"

Pausing for a second at the nonchalant attitude Xreos held, but only for a second, as it increased Yang's rage. "Yeah. The reason for why the fuck you shot my sister"

"Shot at. If I had shot Rose, then she'd be in the infirmary now, wouldn't she?"

"You son of a-"

"Yang calm down!"

Ruby, along with Weiss and Blake, finally managed to catch up to the flaming brawler and held her back before she did something drastic. "We came to reason not to fight!"

"I can do both, now let go Rubes."

JNPR sat on the sidelines as RWBY tried to reign in the Y. A small chuckle from Xreos stopped all movement.

"I see… You're here because of the demonstration huh… Well sorry, were not accepting students till after today, give some time to think you know?"

"Oh piss off! Like hell anyone would willingly put up with you, let alone learn from you!" The blond fighter spat out.

"Is that so…" Xreos glanced at JNPR where Jaune shuffled. "Well, what do you want? An apology?"

"W-what?"

"Look … unless you want to fight… We're trying to have a nice lunch… so if you don't mind…"

"What is your problem?" Yang asked increasingly in aggression.

"Well I'm trying to eat a nice meal cooked by one of my best friends, and this group of students are harassing me and my friends…"

"You shot my sister!"

"And this salad is amazing, thanks Reigner." The sharply dressed male gave a polite nod.

"Why…" Xreos looked up from his meal and gazed softly at the silver eyed leader. "Did I upset you Ste-"

"Xreos…" He bit back a sigh, "I believe I said my name was Xreos at the assembly." Brushing off crumbs and dust, he turned to the blond huntress.

"Grab your gear."

"Eh?"

"If you want an apology, you'll have to beat me, cause that's the only way I will."

"You arrogant bastard."

Ruby somberly let go of her sister and moved to the back, as Yang gazed intently at Xreos.

"I'm going to enjoy kicking your teeth in."

"We'll see…"

After calling her rocket locker… Yang wielded Ember Celica as she stood a pace away from Xreos. He held his sword as he explained the rules.

"This is a match to knockout, in a real fight it doesn't matter if you have low aura or not, you must be prepared to continue fighting till your last breath."

"Whatever, get ready!"

"Very well…"

Ruby looked on, sitting with her icy partner on a piece of smooth stone, upset that their "discussion" led to this. Weiss only gave a small glance unsure at what to say to her obvious distraught friend. She took a few moments to think before trying to uplift the glum mood.

"I'm sure it will be fine Ruby… Yang's a bit upset but I'm sure it won't get out of hand."

"Uhuh…"

Sighing at her failed attempt to bring the mood up a bit, the heiress too looked at her teammate as the fight started.

/

Dodging left to right; Yang was having abnormally large amounts of trouble against Xreos. Guess he wouldn't claim to be a teacher if he wasn't somewhat skilled… Angrily snorting, she reloaded her gauntlets and rushed in deciding a close approach was better than range.

"A mistake if your opponent is giving you a hard time from afar when they clearly look better close ranged blondie…" Xreos stated while using the hilt to twist Yang back, slicing her side afterwards.

"Shut up!" The brawler threw a haymaker towards the violet huntsman trying to hit a blind spot, it missed due to the man dropping to the floor like a sack of flour.

"Also make sure you have a sizable plan when facing a skilled opponent otherwise they will use your strength against you" Xreos added as he threw his hands back catching himself while twisting to kick the blond in the stomach.

"Argh!"

"And also, to include the environment for anything to use, honor is for the weak-willed, dumb, and foolish." He quickly grabbed a rock chucking at her feet. Jumping back a bit, it became apparent to the brawler that it was merely a distraction, a revelation that came too late as Xreos rushed in punching her stomach again with what appears to be a pair of tonfa. "And that includes distractions that might be created."

"You bastard!" Fully activating her semblance, Yang's mane and eyes burned as she returned the beating tenfold, a loud crack as Xreos attempted to block the rage induced punch sending him flying with a grunt.

"Boss!"

"What happen to his aura?" Ruby questioned out loud. Receiving only a worried shrug from Jaune as the others ponder as well.

Despite how worried Yang got from possibly injuring a man with no aura, she was surprised on how cathartic beating the arrogant huntsman was. Deciding the "professional" knew what he was doing, Yang gave a deep laugh as she sneered at the damaged Xreos. "Not so talkative now are you! Let's see after a few more hits huh! Unless you want to admit you're wrong!"

Grunting, Xreos tonfa seemed to melt as his earlier weapon took form, a feat that everyone but XREOS paused to look at. "I believe I told you that the match will end in a knockout."

"Whatever" the flaming huntress snorted as she rushed in.

Dodging with far more grace with two broken limbs should allow, Xreos simply dances between the brawler's attacks, and retaliates with his weapon changing form again. "You must also realize your temper less you end in situations you might not like."

"Yeah! Like what!"

"Like this..." with that a bang resonated through the air as Yang gasped out. Clutching her arm, a second and third bang followed, aimed at her leg and stomach. Looking up, Xreos' right arm appeared to be covered in a strange coat of metal, as his pistol molded with it like a brace. Before anyone could say or do anything else, it changed again to tonfa form and was slammed into the Blond's chest, breaking her aura and resonating another crack throughout the courtyard.

A surprise gasp was all Yang had time for as Xreos kicked her away unceremoniously.

/

Ruby and the others looked on with shock filled expressions, broken as Xreos walked towards their fallen friend. Rushing in a swarm of petals, the red huntress took a shield shape in an attempt at protecting her down sister.

"Stop! Please, she's down already!" Ruby pleaded to the man she once saw as a friend with tear filled eyes.

Xreos stopped his pursuit as he gazed into her silver eyes. After a moment of silence, he sheathed his weapon, which turned back into a sword, before sighing and turning back to his team. The pink one shaking her head and making unusual gestures, caused the violet huntsman to stop again.

Another moment passed as he spoke "she'll be alright, Lucy is a medic, she'll be patched up feeling good as new." He gestured towards the pink girl who immediately ran up with an apologetic smile.

"Why!?"

"hmm?"

"Why did you do this…" Ruby asked again but a bit more quietly.

Xreos gave a soft look before breaking contact. Walking away, Ruby barely managed to catch him answering.

"Because despite it being a harsh lesson, I don't want anyone dying from being underprepared."


So that happened. Side note, I did change the dock battle to bring more tension and drama, which as seen here will be refenced quite a bit before I delve into what happened. For now, the first stage has been set, a messaged received, and what is up with "Xreos" sword? Pretty sure mecha-shift can't do that... Find out more next time on Cross Fates!"