HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
So yeah, I'm doing the author's note first, just because I have a bit of an announcement. While I wouldn't say I'm putting this story on 'hiatus' I am going to hold off on updating this for a while, probably until December or early 2019. There are two main reasons for this, first is that I've been doing rapid updates for this series in particular and I have plenty of other stories that desperately need some TLC (large understatement, I know). Reason two is that this will give me a chance to cover my ass while RWBY Season 6 is still coming out, making sure that I won't screw anything major up against its expanding canon (might need to go back and adjust this story and 'BlazBlue: Cross Tag Isekai' where appropriate).
Well, since I've got you all here, let's address the reviews I got last chapter now.
Shadowedge27: The mechanics might work a little different, but all will be explained.
Wlyman2009: Compared to the games, I'm going EASY on his wallet.
Lovnag: Considering the last time things went well for Ragna the world was literally reset… maybe!?
The Unplanner: A nice and long theory, thanks as always.
Guest: NOOOOOOOOOOO… maybe.
Wide Brimmed Hat: *Sees the Hiatus note* Put the dog down… and walk away…
Guest (2): I mean... It's still up in the air.
Star's Keyblade4114: It was a lot to write in, but I'm glad you liked it.
With that done, I present my first Halloween special on FanFiction. I hope that everyone enjoys and I'll be seeing you around.
Crimson XII: The Grimmest Night
"I think you need to move the banner up a little," Yang instructed to Ragna, right as he was making his way off of the ladder after pounding in the final tack with his hammer.
The Reaper gave a reluctant sigh as he made his way back up the steps while he and the rest of Team RWBY prepared for that night's party. Despite being a somewhat… controversial celebration, just about the entire school was excited for the party and many had been bragging about their costume ideas during class. Doing so however had garnered the attention of Professor Port who insisted on offering criticism of any costume designs he overheard to give them more realistic proportions, claiming that it was his job as the academy's Grimm Studies instructor.
"Now you have the banner lopsided towards the left, make sure it's completely level this time," Weiss Schnee instructed Ragna as he was about to climb down for the second time.
"Yeah, yeah…" the Reaper groaned as he climbed up once more and began taking the nail out. "It's not like the damn thing has to be perfect anyways…"
"But Ozpin told you that you have to throw a really good party if you want to keep that room, right?" Ruby reminded as she set up the many tables that would hold the refreshments for the party goers. "So if you want to keep it we need to make sure tonight goes as well as it can and that means we can't overlook anything, because considering your luck-"
"Something's bound to go wrong anyways; I believe he knows that well enough," Jin's voice interrupted as the swordsman made his way into the mess hall. Immediately Team RWBY shifted from the energetic to the defensive as they all thought back to last Friday's match. If Jin noticed their change in composure (which for a swordsman of his standing was likely), he didn't comment on it. "I was wondering if you needed any last minute help with the decorations, after all you only have a few hours before the party."
"Actually yeah, you can set up this damn banner for me; these girls are taking this thing way too seriously," Ragna said as he tossed his younger brother the hammer he was using while Jin snatched the tool out of mid-air. Leaping off the ladder, Ragna gave Jin room so that he could go to work. This was starting to surprise Team RWBY as the two seemed to acting much more… natural around each other. "So… about Tsubaki…"
"I asked her," Jin informed passively.
"And?" Ragna pressed his brother.
"I… I think she said yes," the younger sibling responded, an answer Ragna hadn't been expecting.
"You… think?" he repeated.
"With how flustered she was it was difficult to tell," the blond admitted, leading Ragna to give a small chuckle. "Something you find funny?"
"Yeah, that people say I'm clueless about women when they have you for comparison," he mocked.
"First off, yeah you are clueless Ragna," came Yang's voice from behind the Reaper, causing him to scowl at the insult he'd gotten. "Second, did some happen between the two of you? Jin's been here a full minute without acting like a total creeper."
"...That's between my brother and I," Jin told her. While he remained secretive and standoffish, Team RWBY couldn't help but notice the slight edge of malice his voice was starting to lack. "Have preparations been very hard?"
"You've got no idea; I wanted to try and keep things simple but you give Yang an inch suddenly she's got a mile," the Reaper explained with a sigh, earning a light punch to his arm from the other blonde. "Hell, it's a miracle that we're still under budget at all."
"We are?" Ruby asked from afar. "I thought that Yang said- MPHMPHPM!"
...In instances like this Yang might've shown some potential as a speed semblance user as she was suddenly across the room covering Ruby's mouth, trying to keep her younger sister from babbling. Ragna had a sinking feeling in his gut and looked to Weiss in concern as she was the budget keeper for this party.
"I might've made a small donation towards the party," she informed, leaving Ragna to give a sigh of relief as he realized that this had already been handled.
"S-See!? We're still safe," Yang said, trying to keep her front up with a bright smile, making Ragna all the more suspicious.
"Did Weiss give us the extra money while we were still in the clear or only after you spent too much?" the Reaper questioned, leaving Yang to pale enough to where her skin tone was akin to the Schnee heir's. Ragna turned to the silver haired girl. "Tell me she didn't go overboard…"
"No more than usual, but I didn't mind," she told him truthfully. "I can do this much for my friends at least."
"...Thanks then," he told her, as he decided to leave it there for now. Shifting his attention, he looked to Blake who was byfar the quietest person here… In fact he doubted he'd heard two words from her before she'd gotten here and started working on the photo backgrounds; haunting decoration where students could get their pictures taken with several props and a backdrop to set the mood. With his brother now setting up the banner in his place, he then headed over to help his Fanus friend. "Keeping busy?"
"Trying to," Blake said though Ragna couldn't help that she was acting even more reserved than usual.
"Something's up," he noted in a much lower voice, squatting so he could help adjust some of the set pieces.
"Don't be mad at me, but I don't think I'll be going tonight," she whispered back as she continued to work.
"After all the work you put in for my party that you aren't even going to? You got my respect," Ragna told her with a small smirk which was returned by Blake's small smile. "Still, sucks that you won't be there tonight. Is this a you-know-what thing?"
"...Actually this is more of a me thing," Blake admitted, her expression turning dark. "I don't like to talk about it."
"Fair enough," Ragna told her. With all of the secrets the two knew they were keeping it was standard for either of them to let an issue drop easily… most of the time. "Pretty sure we ordered a couple of dishes with fish in 'em…"
"Are you trying to tempt me to go the party?" Blake asked as she was sure whether to be annoyed or worried that Ragna might be playing her weakness.
"Nah, but I could set some off to the side so I can send some back with Yang if you want," he offered.
"...I'd like that," Blake told him earnestly.
"Thought you might," the Reaper said before he rose to his feet to let Blake resume her work. "Just a couple of hours to go…"
"Yeah, you should probably go and get changed," Ruby said to her friend. "Gotta look the part if you're going to be hosting this thing, right?"
"Don't I already though?" he asked giving a nonchalant shrug as he looked over the other tables.
"Ha, nice one," Yang said with a smirk. "Seriously though, go get into your costume."
"...Uh…" Ragna tried to come up with something to say, some sort of response as he simply scratched the back of his silver hair.
"Wait a minute," Weiss said as she stopped what she was doing and approached Ragna, carrying a scowl with her along with the other girls. "You don't have a costume? And you're expecting to lead this schoolwide party without one?"
"I mean… in my defense I usually just wear black and red anyways," Ragna told them with a strained smile. Now even Ruby had her hands on her hips as she leaned forward and tried to look authoritative. "I'll… I'll just leave my jacket behind, that should be enough of a change."
"Weiss," Yang began with authority as it was clear she was acting like she hadn't heard Ragna. "How much room do we have left in the budget?"
"Certainly enough for one costume," Weiss said, not breaking her glare from Ragna.
"Enough for one Master of Ceremonies costume?" Ruby asked, as aggressive as her sister and partner.
"If we shop wisely," the Schnee heir confirmed as all three girls were surrounding their friend like a pack of wolves.
"All right, all right, you win," the Reaper sighed as he realized there was no way out of this. "Let's just finish up here and we'll-"
"Oh no you don't," Yang said to him, pointing a finger directly in his face. "YOU'LL finish up here while WE go and grab your outfit."
"...Now you're not making sense, why wouldn't I go with you when I'm the guy wearing the damn thing?" Ragna demanded.
"Because you lost all right to choose your own outfit when you didn't think to make one yourself," the blonde told him as the three began to head off in a huff, not giving Ragna any time to protest. "Come on Blake."
"I… I'll keep working here thanks," she told them before turning to the deflated Reaper. "Ragna's going to need all the help he can get."
"That's what keeps getting us all into trouble, isn't it?" Weiss sighed as the girls left him the building, already discussing plans for his costume.
"...You were saying something about my clueless nature around women?" Jin questioned as he climbed down from the ladder, having finally set up the banner with the exact precision they had insisted it needed.
"Shut up…" his older sibling groaned. From a short distance away, Blake could only give a small smirk as she watched on as the innocent party.
Meanwhile -Team JNPR's Room-
"I didn't think that you'd go through the trouble of dressing up for this Ren," Jaune said to his teammate as he opened the Holy Knight costume kit he'd brought from the store and looked inside. Everything was there from the white plastic full plate armor to the white underclothes and cape. "You're usually so quiet, I was thinking you'd just try and stay in tonight."
"I felt like I could put together a decent costume," Ren said as he continued looking over the instructions to put together a cheap plastic bow that he'd recently purchased. The truth was he hadn't planned on too large of a clothes change for his outfit, but he knew that if he combined the right type of bow and arrow set along with his old knife he could use that to pay a small homage to the father he'd lost along with his home.
"By the way have you seen Nora? I thought she'd be more excited than anyone to have the excuse to dress up," Jaune noted.
"If I had to guess, she's probably changing in the girl's bathroom as we speak… into what though I have no idea…"
"...Didn't you go with her when she went to pick out her outfit?" Jaune asked, remembering the prior events of that weekend.
"You're assuming I remembered every costume she looked at while she tried to make up her mind," Ren reminded, thinking back to Nora's nature. "...And the costumes I had to fight to keep her from trying on."
"...That checks out," Jaune had to admit as he began unbuttoning his shirt, right as the door burst open. "Ack! A little warning!"
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA! I'VE ARRIVED AT LAST!" Nora declared as she stood triumphantly in the doorway as… there's no easy way to say this, she came dressed up as an orange Power Ranger. (Tokusentai! Tokusentai! TOKUSENTAI!)
'Sure is Amane in here,' Ren thought to himself.
"Aw Ren! You barely dressed up!" Nora said with disappointment as she looked over her partner. "I told you that magician costume would've been perfect!"
"...The short shorts are what killed that idea," he decided to inform her, causing Jaune to cringe as imagined something he clearly didn't want to. "I suppose all we're waiting on now is Pyrrha."
"Who should be around shortly; she said she'd just take another minute in the girl's bathroom," Nora said before looking at Jaune who had finally put on his costume's armor. "Nice! Very heroic there leader!"
"I mean… I'm trying to look the part at least," Jaune said, his tone telling them even with all of the work he'd put in and the progress he'd begun to make that he was still weighed down by his self doubts.
"Well I'd certainly say mission accomplished then," came a warm voice from behind the blonde. Jaune turned to face Pyrrha with a smile, but when he saw her he swore his jaw had hit the floor. "Ah… ah…"
"...I thought you were going as a huntress…" Ren noted, even his normal calm and collected face showing much surprise.
"And whoever said that?" the red head told her team with a teasing smile.
Ragna's Room
'It's just about that time… wonder what's taking them so long,' Ragna thought to himself with a sigh as he laid on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. With Jin and Blake's help, the three had managed to finish setting up their decorations rather quickly and without much incident. While he could only hope that the others wouldn't immediately find some issue with his work, the Reaper had felt a small amount of pride with how the decore had come out. Now he just had a half hour before the party began and there was still no sign of Ruby and the others.
"I guess with any luck they'll be late and I'll be left to wear what I usually do," he thought aloud with a bit of smirk as he closed his eyes. It was getting dangerously close to the time of the party and while Ragna wouldn't normally care about such things he felt that he had something riding on this event. Normally this would be where something went wrong and try as he might, he knew that how little the chances were of something going awry his luck would always find a way to completely screw him over.
"Maybe I'm just being too damn paranoid… think I've thought of just about everything," he grumbled to himself as he closed his eyes and tried to force himself to relax with some meditative breathing he'd been taught but never really used. A deep breath in… A slow breath out… A deep breath in… A slow breath out… A deep breath in…
His red and green eyes shot open in a scowl.
He smelled roses.
Never a good sign.
"I see you're lazing about as usual," came a rather dignified sounding voice, even more so than Weiss's. Sitting on the chair by Ragna's desk was a small girl dressed in black gothic attire. She long hair with blonde pigtails tied together with a black bow. Her eyes were a deep crimson, much like his own right one.
"Tch… dammit Bunny Leach, you gotta bother me now of all times?" Ragna hissed, keeping his voice low so that no one out in the hallway could hear him. "What if someone sees you here, what then?"
"You concern is unneeded, as if I could possibly be careless enough to let myself be seen by such children," the enigma told him, Ragna flinching at the volume of such declaration.
"Keep your damn voice down!" he again demanded in whisper. "Now matter how big an' idiot you think anyone is, they still got eyes and ears you pretentious blood sucker!"
"And you keep assuming that I've come completely unprepared," the girl told, evidently bored unimpressed by their conversation thus far. "I've already put several powerful sound blocking seals on your room to prevent anyone from hearing my dignified tones or your barbaric grumbles." Ragna shot her a look of murder as he proceeded to get further insulted. "As for keeping anyone from seeing me, I took a more… let's call it a more crude method."
Out in the Hallway
Kagura stood frozen just outside of Ragna door, unable to move as he looked at the entry way into the Grim Reaper's quarters. For all of the crap he continued to give him about spending the majority of his time with the all female cast of Team RWBY, he never thought things would end up like this.
"Out in broad daylight too… he's got some balls then," he muttered to himself, finally forcing gaze to break from his stare and heading back to his team's room to ready himself for the party,. His entire walk down the hallway, he had to force himself to avoid looking back at Ragna's doorway with a sock over the doorknob.
Back inside Ragna's Room
"Y… You did what?" the Reaper asked in terror, his face getting paler than he usually was… before flushing deep red with a mix of embarrassment and rage. "DAMN IT RACHEL! THE HELL!?"
"Just because I put those seals up it doesn't give you a reason to yell directly in my ear; your voice is already grating enough when you keep it at an indoor level," the mysterious girl now given the name Rachel told him.
"You're giving me reason to yell with all of the crap you're pulling on me!" Ragna shouted again, knowing he couldn't fix the sock on the door until he could get Rachel to leave. "Why in god's name are you bothering me now anyways; don't tell me you're just bitter I didn't give you a damn Happy Birthday?"
"I'd like to think you just did, even if said delivery was laughably poor," Rachel noted.
"Bite me."
"A poor statement."
"Then suck it."
"Are you even trying now?"
"...Forced Vampire word play," the Reaper finished moodily.
"Honestly…" Rachel sighed at his behavior. "I've noticed that you've been letting yourself become rather lax lately and I've been growing very concerned that you're forgetting your position."
"Then quit worrying; I know what the hell I'm doing," Ragna told her seriously. "...Also I'd like it if you could ever decide to quit stalking me."
"Stalking you? Do you of think me as some kind of deviant, you mongroul?" she insultingly asked him with a glare in her eyes.
"You… don't want me to answer that," Ragna warned her truthfully, though this did little to improve Rachel's mood. "Besides, I didn't really have much of a choice when I made the damn 'deal' to come here. When I so much as hinted that I didn't want to do this Qrow and Jubei looked like they were both ready to kick my ass."
"You're still calling it a deal then, are you?" Rachel noted, almost with a tone of curiosity. "Does that mean you still expect Qrow to deliver on his end like you're attempting to deliver on yours?"
"Is that what this is about? Why not just lead with that?" Ragna asked with a scowl, hating how complicated Rachel always had to make the simplest of things. "Look, Qrow may be three sheets to the wind ninety percent of the time and nursing the mother all hangovers the other ten, he might hit on anything with a chest and thighs, but he hasn't steered me wrong yet… I trust 'im."
"I see…" Rachel said as she seemed to think Ragna's words over. "You are an odd judge of character."
"Only cause I've got such an odd bunch to judge in the first place," the Reaper reminded. In a rare occurrence, Rachel seemed to giggle slightly at his comment. "Did I just get you to laugh? You sure you're feeling okay?"
"Oh hush you, I just happen to find what you say amusing once every blue moon; you should take that as a high honor," she told him quickly going back to her more insulting side.
"...You've been around me long enough to know that sure as hell ain't happening," Ragna told her bluntly.
"Hmph, then I suppose that you haven't any further claim to be graced with my presence," Rachel told him, keeping her small smile just the slightest bit smug. "I suppose I'll be off then."
"Rachel, wait…" Ragna's voice for once was even and calm, not laced with aggression or snarkiness. Turning back to the taller man, Rachel watched as he scratched the back of his head. "I mean… I don't have a gift for or anything, not that you'd take one from me…" A true point. "But… Happy Birthday."
"So you can attempt to be well mannered when you actually try," the young vampiress noted, her smile gradually dropping its smugness. "...I suppose I've no choice but to appreciate the effort. So… Thank You Ragna, for showing you have a sliver of decency."
'Friggen' Tsun,' the Reaper thought to himself… right before his smug grin returned in full. "So is this a big one you're hitting? How old are you this time? Five hundred? A thousand? Two thousand?" Rachel's smile was gone, now returned with a burning glare aimed squarely at him. Without another word, she teleported and was gone only leaving behind the faintest smell of roses.
"All in all, I'd call that one a win," Ragna thought to himself aloud with a smirk… right before hearing a knock on his door.
"Ranga, I'd like to come in now," came Yang's voice, though oddly it sounded much more reserved than it usually was. "...If you're not… busy in there… If you are I can just leave this out here for you."
'Shit, the sock,' Ragna thought to himself as he remembered Rachel's method of keeping other students out. Knowing that just being silent would hit the Reaper with more problems, he headed to open the door with only a single plan in mind; play dumb. "What's got you so flustered?"
Flustered was a good word for it as Yang's skin tone seemed just a touch redder than it normally was. She looked like she'd been surprised when Ragna had opened the door and come out fully clothed… and it looked like she was trying to glance behind him to see who could possibly be in his room. If he hadn't needed to feign his innocence at that moment, Ragna might've given her a smug grin.
"What's up with you?" he asked, though knowing quite well what the reason must've been. Pointing Ragna's gaze to the doorway, his eyes landed on the sock in question. Its design indicated it was most likely to be worn by a male and it clearly wasn't from any pair that Ragna currently owned… something Ragna knew he could work with as he showed Yang a disgruntled look. "C'mon, this is me we're talking about; some sick asshole probably just left that there as a joke." 'Jeeze, I've been coming up with a lot of these half-truths lately.'
"Oh! You're right! I mean, of course you're right, you're not that type of person," Yang said, though Ragna could easily see that she was having something of a girlish laugh as she pulled the sock off the doorknob and the threw it past Ragna into his room so she wouldn't have to look at it or think about what it implied
"Thanks… I think," Ragna said with a slightly confused response. "Where are the others?"
"Would you believe it that Blake's in our room with a stomach ache now of all times!?" Yang demanded with growing anger. "After all of the work we all put in she has to get sick right before the party!"
'Must be her cover story,' Ragna thought before deciding he'd add to the cover. "Yeah, I saw that she was kinda off after you guys left… maybe she had a bad batch of fish in her tuna sandwich at lunch. Just let her rest, we can do something this weekend to cheer her up."
"That doesn't exactly fix this, but I guess you've got a good point, not much we can do now," Blake told him as she handed Ragna a dark bag. "Anyways, it was short notice but we managed to find you an outfit for tonight."Put it on quick and we'll get this show started! I gotta head back to the bathroom and help Weiss and Ruby get ready."
"Right, I'll…" A sudden realization hit the Reaper as he took the bag. "Wait, how are you sure I'm the right size for these?"
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Later!" Yang said as she once again showed potency for using a speed semblance as she decided to GTFO (you know what I mean).
"Yang!" Ragna called after the blonde, but again to no avail. Shaking his head at the sight, Ragna closed the door and looked at what he'd been given to work with. "...If I say I tried it on and it doesn't fit, I don't think those three have any room to protest… Nah, might as well humor them and see how they look."
One thing Ragna didn't exactly get with this outfit was where the girls had managed to find this suit, he felt like a biker just trying all of the black leather on with black artificial fur over it. To be fair there was some red markings around the chest almost looking like dark claw marks while made it seem more Grimm-like than what he'd been already planning to wear. The main appeal to this design had to be the Grim Mask he was given, slim and only covering his upper face, but very foreboding especially with horns sticking out of the top. In addition there was even a small black cane included to complete the Master of Ceremonies look that his outfit needed.
"...I don't think I look all that menacing… but then again I don't think I'm really supposed to," he decided before hearing a knock on the door. Giving one last sigh, he grabbed his cane and rested it over his shoulder.
"Door's unlocked," he called to whoever was on the other side, expecting either Yang or Ruby in their huntress attire. the door opened and instead revealed Weiss in her… Grimm dress. "Holy…"
Though it was likely through the effect of a rare form of manufactured dust, Weiss had dyed her hair from its regular pale grey to a startling black. Instead of her regular white attire, she had instead elected to wear a black long dress with black stilettos for shoes and a black furry scarf around her neck. She'd applied makeup to her face and made it pale white while adding red paint to symbolise a Grim's Mask with Makeup and worked her scar into the design.
"So… what do you think?" she asked, giving a small twirl not in a self-flattering way but so Ragna could see everything Weiss had done to the dress. Ragna hadn't responded and only continued to stare.
"You… you look…" Ragna tried to say when crossed her arms.
"Honestly, if you're having that much trouble finding your words…" Weiss sighed in disappointment. 'Maybe I should ask for a second opinion.'
"Gorgeous."
"...Eh?" she asked, looking at Ragna with surprise with a bright blush on her face.
"It's uh… it's a flattering look for you," the Reaper said as he scratched the back of his head, knowing what he'd just said might've been laying it on a little much. "I really like your costume… suits you nicely, like a Grimm Queen almost."
...Weiss's internal embarrassed scream had just returned in full as she was currently more red than her team leader's (even through the make up)… in fact mixed with all the black she was wearing, Ragna swore she was flying his colors.
"Um… well I… I suppose then every Queen must have her Knight," Weiss continued, trying to retain her composure and shooting Ragna a smirk. "You did promise me a dance after all."
"Yeah, and I'll deliver… permitting that-"
"Oh! I like the fur on you, it adds to your mane!" came Yang's voice, interrupting the Reaper and Weiss's moment. Both of them turned to her with different reactions; Weiss with annoyance and Ragna with nothing but confusion.
"The hell…?"
"Introducing the Golden Paladin!" Yang said as stood with her arms up in the air to mimic a hawk.
"And the Crimson Valkyrie!" Ruby declared, crossing her arms with her hands making 'peace signs.' "AND TOGETHER WE ARE-!"
"THE HEROINES OF THE BURNING ROSE!" both declared in unison. Both wore a dress armor consisting up tight fitting breath plates, armored leggings with half skirts covering them, capes of their respective colors, and armored headgear positioned around their faces.
'...Did they just make armor sexy?' Ragna thought to himself, somewhat disappointed that he was thinking along similar lines to Kagura.
"Told you I'd find something to knock your socks off!" Yang said as she approached Ragna and tapped a few times on his Grimm mask. "So you like the outfit?"
"...It'll work on short notice," he promised gruffly, adjusting the fur which was starting to cause his neck to itch. "Leather suits aren't exactly my thing."
"Could've fooled me, you look right at home in that outfit," Yang declared with a smirk. "And what do you think about the Burning Rose?"
"...I could get used to it," he told them both and earned two smile. "C'mon, let's get this thing started."
"RIGHT!" Ruby declared. "Lead on Master-of-Scaremonies!"
"...Please tell me that's not going to be a thing…"
The Party
As would be expected for a party of this nature, not a lot of those in attendance had gone as Grimm and had instead tried to dress up as some over the top Hunter or Huntress stereotype. The few people that had gone with Grimm outfit designs often times went clothes made to look like the creature's parts like Ragna and Weiss and rarely wore a full on costume (those students that had made costume more often than not found them bulky and more than a little stuffy). That being said, everyone was dressed up and the spirit of the event was certainly there in large supply.
Inside the crowd, Tsubaki stood alongside Azrael and Noel, waiting for when Jin and the rest of her team would show. The dress she wore was one loosely based off a white Greek design with a leather garter belt, sandals, and a small green ivy crown. Noel's dress was very similar save for the fact that hers was tinted sky blue. Azrael had put the least amount of effort out of any costume, simply slapping a Grimm Mask over his face as wore his regular clothing.
"Shouldn't the party have started by now?" the Mad Dog asked as he eyed the buffet which hadn't been delivered that long ago.
"Mind your manners," Tsubaki scolded him, not stopping in her search for Jin and his team. "I'm sure the party will start soon enough, just hold off until then will you?"
"Grr… people are already drinking punch," Azrael muttered as he noticed a couple of the students standing by the punch bowl while serving blood colored drinks, making small talk, and laughing at each other's jokes. '...Odds are that thing's going to end up spiked with something by the end of the night.'
"Well go over there and start drinking then, or are you too afraid to go and talk to anyone?" Tsubaki questioned aggressively as she glared at the Mad Dog, leading Azrael to give a mean snarl. "Honestly, you just can't get along with anyone here without asking for a fight."
"Tsubaki?" came Jin's voice, apparently having arrived in the short times that she'd taken her eyes off looking for him. Jin was dressed in a black swordsman's kimono, with loose pants and wooden sandals. Despite dressing as a swordsman, it was clear he was going as a grim with half of a jagged mask covering the right side of his face. "Oh, I didn't know you were coming as a huntress…"
"I… thought you were coming as a hunter," she admitted. Tsubaki had already been a little nervous about coming with Jin to the party in the first place, and even a mix up this small was enough to worry her.
"Well I don't see why this should be a problem," Jin admitted, seeming to adapt to the change rather quickly. "I suppose I could take my mask off if it continues to bother you."
"No, I think that's fine," Tsubaki told him as she smiled and tried to relax. "I'm happy to be here with you at all…"
"Aw, nice to see you too lovebirds haven't changed much at all from your academy days," came Kagura's voice from behind Jin.
"We're not lovebirds!" Tsubaki shouted in denial as Jin sighed and facepalmed at his teammate's annoying claims. "And why aren't you dressed up? You're just wearing what you normally do!"
"Because I think everyone knows how heroic I already look dressed in my regular getup," Kagura said with a wink to some nondescript girls (basically the shadow NPC's) who then gave a blush. "And I couldn't go hiding this face behind a Grimm Mask, could I-MPFHHH?"
"Here, take mine," Azrael growled as he began thrust his own mask upon Kagura with just a single hand. "I just came here for the food anyways…"
"At least honest about it," Noel sighed from beside Tsubaki. "Are you sure we have enough food? Maybe I can make more and-"
"Oh don't even think that for a second darling!" came Amane's voice as the dancer gave an eccentric laugh. Oddly enough, he almost looked masculin in his plated samurai mail with his hair done in a long ponytail. "I'm going to make sure everyone here dances the night away!"
...It was at this point everyone made a note to mind their distance in case Amane tried to use his odd semblance on them.
"It sounds like a lot fun!" Celica commented. She was dressed in a purple corset and shirt set with a large hat to signify her role as a witch. "I can't wait to for this party to get started! I hope Ragna will get here soon, then maybe we can get the first dance together!"
"...All things considered, you may have to wait in line," Jin declared hollowly. "After all, I'm sure that he'll be taking the first few dances with Team RWBY."
"Aw, still jealous Jinny?" Kagura said as he finally managed to take off the mask the Azrael had slapped on his face, throwing it expertly over his shoulder into the waste bin behind him.
"Don't call me that," Jin demanded with an icy scowl. "And I believe I could ask you the same." He tried not to smirk at the wince he'd given to Kagura with his words.
"Hey, who's the total babe over there?" the group heard one of the student say from the crowd. "That redhead dressed up like a Grimm?"
"Dude… I think that's Pyrrha Nikos!" another student informed.
"You're kidding! A celebrity like that isn't going as a Huntress?" one of the female students exclaimed.
"...Honestly, I think she still looks pretty hot," another student admitted, only to get slapped by his date.
Much like Weiss had been, Pyrrha was wearing a black dress but hers was intentionally torn with sharp edges further down. She didn't have a mask or white makeup, but she had applied plenty of eyeshadow. Around her neck was a fake bone necklace to give a tribal look and her shoulders were plated with Grimm skulls. Give her a spear and she'd look exactly like a tribal huntress.
"...Target acquired," Kagura said with a smile on his face. "I think I know who I'll be getting my last dance this evening from."
"Hmph, just try not make a fool out of our team," Jin commanded, though he personally felt what Kagura did was his business. "...It looks like the show's about to start."
Ragna entered the room accompanied by the three present girls of Team RWBY, though it seemed like only Jin had noticed as the students continued to chatter.
"I got this," Yang said with a smirk. "HEY! ARE YOU ALL READY TO PARTY!" The response was a collective cheering from the students. "WELL WE'RE ABOUT TO GET GOING, BUT FIRST GIVE IT UP FOR THE GUY THAT SET THIS WHOLE THING UP!"
"What? But you all did more work than I did," Ragna muttered as he scratched the back of his head.
"So what? Enjoy your moment!" Ruby said as the crowd gave another cheer for Ragna… though it wasn't nearly as loud as the one Yang had gotten. Scratching the back of his head, Ragna made his way forward for the opening address.
"Alright, everyone listen up cause I'm only going to say this once. You'll all notice that Goodwitch isn't here.." Violently swinging the cane, he pointed it at the crowd with a harsh scowl upon his face. "But so help me god if any of you do something stupid, you'll be begging that she was here to begin with!"
'That's… not how you open a party,' Weiss thought with a bit of a cringe.
"Food's on the table, pictures are up for two Platinum Lien a pop, and we've already got a DJ to take requests. Wait in line, don't double dip, and keep it in your pants so we'll all make it through tonight without regrets."
"...Worst… opening… ever," Ruby commented from behind him, causing a harsh blow to the Reaper's confidence.
"...Just don't screw this up," he muttered as a last send off before nodding to the DJ who began playing music, and the party was in full swing. "Dammit, I hate speaking to crowds…"
"Really, I thought you were a natural," Yang told him sarcastically.
"Yare yare daze…" Ragna sighed, right as Yang grabbed his arm. "Eh?"
"Come on! You're not just planning to leave now that you've started the party, are you?" she asked with a smirk.
"...Had I know that was an option from the start I might have," he admitted. "So, you want to dance?"
"Normally it's the guy that asks the girl, but you move a little slow for me," she said waving to the others as she proceeded to drag Ragna off… though interestingly enough he didn't protest.
"I guess I'll head for the cookies then," Ruby said, using her speed semblance to dash after the food. Weiss considered going after her to make sure she didn't go out of hand, but the present situation seemed to require a different approach.
Down below on the dance floor Ragna was… managing.
"I take it Weiss didn't teach you how to do the more modern dances," Yang noted as Ragna kept moving just a bit out of rhythm with everything else.
"Big deal, it's not like anyone cares what the hell I look like," Ragna muttered as he moved, trying to keep a hold on his cane and keeping it from hitting any of the other students.
"So… did she only show you slow dances then?" Yang teased, giving Ragna a flirty smile.
"...Let me guess, your next question is how close we were dancing, right?"
"Aw, take the wind out of my sail's why don't you?" Yang responded in defeat.
"And that makes my next response: none of your damn business," he told her, indicating he wanted the subject to end.
"Spoilsport," she said a slight insult as the two continued to dance. "Are you having fun at least?"
"...If you are, then I guess I am," he told her without making eye contact. "Though…"
"Though what?" she asked, only for Ragna to shot a small smirk back.
"I think I'd be having more fun getting into another doubles match," he told her. Now it was Yang's turn to smirk.
"I'm holding you to that this friday."
On the other side of the room Jin stood off to the side, far from the crowds. He was leaning against the wall with Tsubaki standing beside him, not having left his side thus far. He was looking to his brother dancing with Yang in towards the center, not taking his eyes off of them. Eventually, he gave a small smirk.
"He still can't dance," he muttered, before finally breaking contact and turning to Tsubaki. "Sorry, but I don't think I'll be dancing tonight either."
"I… see…" Tsubaki said, trying not to show disappointment. "But if you weren't going to, then why did you ask me to this party?"
"...In all honesty I came to support my brother," Jin told her. At this news, Tsubaki's lip twitched for all of a brief second and Jin noticed it. "...You don't have to hate him for my sake… I've already moved on from what he's done."
"...Even so, I can't forgive him for hurting you like that," she said as she scowled at the dancing form of Ragna. "He knew he'd hurt you if he went chasing revenge on his own… and he still left…"
"That may be and I used to think he'd only done that because he thought that I'd slow him down… but lately I've had some time to change my thinking on that subject," he turned his attention back to his brother. "Tsubaki, remember that what you made me promise you when we first met years ago?"
"You mean… that promise?" Tsubaki asked as she smiled a little at the memory. "That you'd be my older brother, right?"
"And keeping that promise, let's say that you were attacked and I told you to run while I defended you…" Jin was silent for a long moment. "Would I be doing that because I thought you were weak or… that you were important to me and I wanted to protect you?"
Tsubaki didn't say anything.
"Azrael brought something to my attention months ago; that you would have failed in your entrance exam if Ragna hadn't stepped in."
"Yes… that's true," Tsubaki admitted with shame.
"...Ragna also thought it would be a good idea if I invited you to dance tonight. He said you'd… that you wanted me to ask you."
"He… he did?" Tsubaki asked as she looked to Ragna, this time not with a scowl, but just trying to figure out what the hell he was thinking.
"Can you do me a favor and try to get along with him a little more?" Jin asked, before thinking back to the conversation that he and his brother had after their match on Friday. "I still need to try and stop him before it's too late."
"...I can do that," Tsubaki promised before she turned to Jin. "But in return, do you think you can be a little nicer to Noel? You've… always had a problem with her, but you'll never tell us why…"
"...I can try," Jin promised, and Tsubaki took that news with a smile.
"...Also, you owe me a slow dance later," she decided.
"...That's fair."
Team RWBY's Room
"...We does my hearing have to be so good?" Blake sighed to herself as she laid in bed with a groan. The party wasn't that close to the dorm rooms, but thanks to her gifted hearing she could hear the music blaring from far away loud and clear. "Honestly…" Figuring there was nothing else for it, she rose from her head and grabbed her towel. She was about to leave for the showers… before realizing she'd almost forget something. Turning to her weapons resting by her bed, she debated for a long moment whether or not she would need them… before hurriedly grabbing them and heading for a bit of self pampering.
The Dance
Back on the dance floor the first song had finally ended, much to Ragna's relief; dancing around so much with the fur was starting to give his neck a bad rash. "That's done with… now what?"
"I… say we should get off the dance floor; probably before the next song starts," Yang told him, a response that Ragna hadn't been expecting.
"Hang on; normally you'd try and keep me here for as long as you could so I can't play wallflower… what's so different about this time?"
"Well I-" Yang tried to begin, before the music began to play. ...The slow music.
"A romantic song, eh?" Ragna noted before looking at Yang. "So… you don't want to slow dance with me?"
"I-I-It's not you," Yang admitted with a slight blush. "I mean.. It's really just-"
"You can't slow dance, can you?" he questioned, causing Yang to freeze. At such reaction, Ragna gave a wolf's smile. "And… seeing how you insisted that I go with you to the more upbeat dance…"
"...Please don't," the blonde begged.
"Karma's a bitch," the Reaper snarkily returned. As he slowly approached her and-
"There you are!" Weiss voice cut through, stopping them both. "Sorry Yang, but I need to move in here." Before Ragna could ask what move in meant, the Schnee heir made her way between the two of them and looked at Ragna, offering him her hand.
"Uh… go ahead?" Yang said, very confused but still ready to take the ex-machina. "I'll… go see Ruby then."
"Make sure she doesn't eat all of the cookies," Ragna called before turning his attention to Weiss. "So care to explain what-?"
"Why Ragna, I'd love to dance with you! Thank you for asking me!" she declared, far louder than she had to over these softer tones. Knowing something was up, Ragna glanced around until his eyes landed on… Jaune.
The leader of JNPR had been heading over towards the two, most likely to ask Weiss to dance with him, but Weiss declaration at Ragna's 'proposal' had stopped him in his tracks… and left him standing there looking awkward. The Grim Reaper felt sorry for Jaune sure, but at Weiss's pleading look he decided he'd have to make it up to him later. Putting his cane inside one of his belt loops, he took Weiss's hands.
"Talk," he whispered as the two began to slow dance.
"I've gotten about three different invitations from Jaune to this dance and I have to keep telling him no," she told Ragna back, clearly infuriated. "He's clearly not getting the message, even if I have to be direct about it."
"C'mon, I'm sure he means well…" Ragna noticed… before seeing something out of the corner of his eye. Amane Nishiki was approaching Jaune. 'That can't be good…'
As the two of them danced on, neither heard what Amane was saying, but it was clear Jaune was a little scared being cornered by the dancer. The two talked for a couple good minutes, but when it was over Jaune gave one last look to Ragna and Weiss… before heading over and talking to Pyrrha. Ragna still didn't know what was going on as Jaune talked to her, but after just a few words Pyrrha's eyes seemed to light up.
"...I'll be damned."
"He's dancing with Pyrrha?" Weiss asked as the two did in fact come onto the dance floor… though it was clear that Jaune needed to be lead for most of the slow dance. "Remind me to thank Amane later…"
"Jaune's not that bad, is he?" Ragna had to ask.
"...I guess he's not…" Weiss admitted.
"And it's not like he's not trying his hardest," the Reaper again defended.
"It's just… I don't think Jaune's the one for me… He's just not my type."
"Okay, that's something I can believe a bit easier… so what are you looking for in a guy?"
"Why are you asking now?" Weiss asked Ragna with a bit of a protective scowl at her privacy.
"What, you're not worried I might find out that I meet all of your standards are you?" Ragna asked with a smirk.
"...Are you worried that you'll fall terribly short?" Weiss asked in return with her scowl.
"Well do you have a guy you like at least?"
"...I don't really know… maybe," Weiss finally admitted, before moving forward and resting her head on Ragna's chest. "...This fur itches."
"I know, right?" he muttered as he continued to move, keeping Weiss close to him. As the song finally began to wind down, Ragna was about give a small bow to Weiss… before noticing that several couples were exchanging small kisses, either on the hands, cheek, or even lips. "Uh…" Hell, even Jaune got a friendly peck on the cheek from Pyranha… before promptly fainting. "Er…"
"I mean..." Weiss tried to say as the two looked at each other. Ragna was nervous, but he decided that if she didn't mind... Weiss didn't come closer, but she didn't seem to shy away either as the distance closed. He had almost touched her when…
…
…
…
...
'...Fucking roses.'
He noticed the threat out of the the corner of his eye. Pushing Weiss away, the girl gave a yelp as she landed on her rump the instant before his head was completely doused by the punch bowl. A few of the student shrieked at the sudden event while those standing by the punch bowl (like Yang and Ruby) looked like they'd seen a ghost.
"It… it's like it just leaped on top of you," Ruby said with terror as she headed over to Ragna with napkins from the table trying to dry him off as he just stood at the center of the mess with an angry scowl. "Ah man, it's all over you…"
"I know," he said bluntly, and with more venom than he meant. Shaking his head, he turned to Yang… before seeing that many of the students were starting to get drunk. Much like Azrael had though, some had spiked it. "Dammit, keep running this thing and keep everyone in line while I'm gone, I'm going to get a shower."
"R-Right," Yang told him as she brought a few small paper towels over to clean up the mess. If Ragna hadn't known exactly what had caused that, he might've been annoyed at the alcohol he was smelling… along with.
Ragna took a long sniff of his costume's fur and gagged. It smelled like a wet dog but somehow a hundred times worse. Noticing the trash bin he finally ripped it off, not content to have a rash and have his nostrils assaulted.
Meanwhile -The Dark Outlands-
"Bored, bored, bored, bored… Just when I was hoping for something interesting here I am being put on cat-sitting… dog-sitting… everything-sitting," a man out in the woods sighs to himself. He's dressed in a well made formal suit complete with a tie and a dark long coat. His dress shoes have metal plates over them and he has a hand resting on his prized fedora as he walks through the dark wood lands. "Urk… As if my allergies alone weren't enough, this damp air is NOT good for my suit. How can anyone stand to live in these mudholes?"
"I'd keep those complaints to yourself if I were you, I doubt that our potential allies would like the way that you're talking about them." The owner of this voice was also something of a mystery; a young lady in a red dress with dark hair covering one of her eyes. "And knowing the Fanus, I imagine hearing you won't be that difficult."
"Like I care, I've been twiddling my thumbs here for too long already, and what? I'm supposed to wait here until I hear orders? If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this was either some form of punishment or that she actually doesn't like me."
"You think that our leader actually cares about you, snake?" the woman asks before laughing. "I can't tell if you're a comedian or completely delusional?"
"Oh I'm very in touch with reality… that's why I have to take my little laughs where I can," he says in return. "Honestly, I'm already holding onto so many cards and who gets to go for the big show? That pain in the ass Torchwick who can't even stand up to some prissy little wannabe and a hag that's clearly past her prime… not like you were much help there either."
"...I'd watch it if I were you," the woman advised as she brought her hand up, setting it alar. "I can turn you to ashes anytime I want."
"Hah! That's an amazing lie, you almost had me there…" the man said with a cackle, opening one of his eyes and revealing a snake like pupil. "We both know that little powers of yours isn't complete yet, since you happened to botch that job too…" He smirked. "Even if it was fully yours… who could say?"
"Are you doing nothing but getting on our nerves? We're approaching one of our important phases and all you can do is sit here, complain, and make a mockery of all of us."
"When you make it so easy, can you really blame me for not helping myself?" he asked again. Deciding she was done with him, the woman turns away and begins to head back. "Have fun in school kiddo! I'm sure Auntie picked your favorite lunch…"
The figure saw the flash of fire ignite her entire arm and he didn't care. Dodging deftly to the side, the allowed the trees behind him setting off a small forest fire.
"Temper temper," he said now only to himself. "And to think, she's the easy one to deal with. There's no dealing with Torchwick or…" He shuddered in disgust. "THAT freak… speaking of which, he hasn't been around very recently, even if he's suppose to be their leader… Yet another reason I hate babysitting; it means someone else isn't doing their damn job."
Beacon Academy: Student Dormitories
'Taking that shower was a good idea…' Blake thought to herself with a relieved sigh as she exited the bathroom with a damp towel over her shoulder. Her hair and clothing was slightly damp from the water and her ribbon was looser than it usually was, but she felt more than relaxed enough to not let it bother her. This was already a stressful day for her and showering before lying in bed with a good book sounded like just the thing she needed.
Even given the distance she was from the festivities, she couldn't help but overhear the music blaring and the cheers and screams of the party goers. It sounded like the celebration Ragna had put on was in full swing and would continue to be quite some time. Normally she'd take ear muffs to help her focus on her reading… but given her ear's locations it would have been difficult to do without giving away her identity.
'No matter what I do I think I'll be in for a long night,' she thought to herself with a sigh. 'It's just one day of the year… I think I can try to manage through this much… '
Sighing, she made her way through the dormitory halls and headed to her team room ready to try and tuck in for the night. Stopping in front of the door, she went to open it only to realize that she'd locked it on her way out… and she didn't have her key.
"Great… now what am I supposed to do?" she muttered aloud as her forehead slumped against the doorway in defeat. That was when she heard footsteps approaching her from down the hallway. Turning to the source, she looked up and striding towards her-
…
…
…
…
...
...Blake's blood went cold.
...Her yellow eyes grew wide in terror.
...Her lips quivered uncontrollably.
A figure dressed completely in black clothing holding something in their left hand that looked like a familiar weapon. Spiked hair as red as blood and dripping from a recent kill making it even more terrifying…
And a slim mask made to represent the monstrous Grimm in him, shaped like a eye shield to cover the terrifying pupils that lie beneath.
"Blake?"
She couldn't even hear her own name through the overwhelming fear, her vision almost seemed to go dark as her heart was pounding so hard it was deafening. She stuttered something incoherent, little more than a string of terrified noises as she took a terrified step back.
"What's wrong?"
A hand reaches towards her towards her, menacingly and wanting to choke the very life out of her lungs. Sweat beads rapidly form on her brow as she takes another trembling step back… her hand brushes against her weapon snapping from terror to panic.
"BLAKE! DON'T!"
...Her gunshots and screams rang throughout the hallway.
-Meanwhile-
Rachel sat in the center of her garden's countless roses, sipping finely made tea as an older man stands off to the side in a butler's uniform, remaining vigilant and ready should the need to assist her every need arise. It's a common setting for the two… but, something seems off. Setting down her cup upon her saucer, the two are startled as the tea set she'd so delicately placed showed a horrid cut on it.
Back in the outlands however, the suited man looked up at the broken moon and gave the smallest of smirks… holding onto knowledge and abilities that any mortal couldn't dream of having.
-Beacon-
...Click ...Click ...Click ...Click
Even after she'd emptied an entire clip, even after the figure had stopped moving towards her, a terrified Blake couldn't help but continue to squeeze the gun's trigger. The figure that she'd just filled with lead stood motionlessly before her, the bullet wounds starting to let out little trickles of crimson blood.
Clack
The object the person was holding fell to the floor clattering useless against it. A small trail of blood started to emerge from the person's mouth as their legs slowly gave out and they fell forward.
"The… hell…?"
Those two words alone broke Blake from her earlier daze. Now a different type of terror alit her face as the figure fell forward, landing face first on the ground with a dull thud. The impact sent the mask flying from it wearer's face and clattered to the ground. Now out of her fright induced daze, looking at the object told her the terrifying truth that it wasn't the mask she dreaded so; it was far too rounded and the red painting on the front was of a ridged much less elegant style and the horns were actually a part of the mask. The object the person had dropped wasn't a sheathed black katana like she had thought, rather it was a black walking cane that a gentleman would carry. Dropping her gun to the floor, she rushed over to the limp body and turned it over, her mind wanting to be careful but her body too frantic to listen.
...The face confirmed her second nightmare that night… she'd shot Ragna. The Grim Reaper's eye and mouth were close almost like he was sleeping, but the bullets wounds continued to leak his blood.
"N...No…" she said, her mind painfully coming to terms with what had just happened. Despite his body and clothing slowly soaking his own blood, Blake put her ribbons covered ears to his chest and tried to listen for his heartbeat… only to be met with harrowing silence. "No… NO… R-RAGNAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Blake couldn't remember that last time she had cried, not like this. Slumping her head over her friend's chest she continued to cry as Ragna lay dead on the floor. The only person that had ever learned her secret, one of the few people she could truly see as her friend, a person that a always said that he'd have her back… only to get gunned down by her.
"...Urk," she heard a light groan come from Ragna's mouth, his features harshly wincing as he looked at her with a single red eye. It shouldn't have been possible, not with how many bullets she'd put in him and how many vitals she'd obviously hit, but his movements made it clear that Ragna could still be counted amongst the living. "...Was my costume that good?"
As expected, such words weren't the sort to put Blake's mind at ease. As Ragna slowly forced himself to get up though a pained wince, he noticed Blake slowly back away from him. Her eyes a lit with terror as she looked at the Bloody Reaper, still traumatized with what she'd just seen as he mind raced. Dense as he was, Ragna now knew this wasn't the time for joking…
"Blake…" he started, his tone hollow and his voice raspy. Blake just stared at him, to startled to even look away. She was ready for him to blow up her, to utter deserved crassness, to call her name, something.
"Are you alright?"
Ragna had just been shot by her hand, even if he was alive it was quite clear he was in terrible pain and still bleeding out all over the floors… but he wasn't mad at her far from it, Ragna was worried at her.
Blake collapsed her knees, unable to move and unable to stop crying. Ragna knew that he'd have to give her time to come to terms with what she'd done… but knowing his luck, someone might've heard those shots and time might've been something he didn't. Seeing that she was in no position to move, he placed his arm under her and began to carry her bridal style. The contact caused Blake to freeze, but not for long as he Ragna held her close… almost to protect her.
"Sorry about this. You can kick my ass later if you want," he muttered as he carried her off to his room. "For now I gotta move quick."
Even though she was covered in his blood, Ragna set the cat fanus on his bed and went so far as to put the top blanket over her so she'd have something to give her comfort. Blake herself was still frozen, thought about Ragna being shot rushing through her mind… along with those of who she thought he'd been.
"I'll be back soon, I promise," Ragna said after he'd situated her. Grabbing out his scroll from his desk, he began to furiously type as he practically sprinted for the janitor's supplies.
Yang, I need you three to take charge of the party… I got caught up in something…
He had no idea if he the message was going to even reach her, but the last thing he needed was the entire team head down and see that blood puddle. Undoing the lock on the Janitor's supplies, the Reaper quickly grabbed what he needed and started cleaning the macabre sceen… thinking it was fortunate that blood was easier to get out than whatever Noel's cooking was. He'd just managed to get the last trace of it out when his scroll buzzed.
This is your party you know. What's happened?
Shit, excuses… Ragna knew that Yang couldn't accept an 'I'll tell you later' and let him miss out on the festivities. Hell, the only reason she hadn't pressured Blake into going to the party was… Heading back to his room, Ragna managed to come up with an alibi that would save him.
Found Blake collapsed in the Hallway, looks like she took a shower , but got locked out. Threw up in the hall and got some on my costume. I brought her back to my room, but don't tell anyone; you know this is the last thing I need after that sock incident this morning.
It was a good lie, filled with enough truth to get him through, the as Ragna opened the door to his room he got another unintentional truth added when he heard Blake vomit. Thankfully she was close to his trash can, but a few bits still missed and hit the floor. Shaking, Blake tried to get back into bed but had trouble putting her head onto the pillow. Ragna headed over to help, but just touching Blake seemed to cause her to shiver.
"Hey, hey, it's me," he said as softly as he could. Blake then looked at him with terror still in her eyes as she saw Ragna's stained red hair and his bleeding clothes; time to fix both of those. Grabbing his regular black hakama, he started heading to the showers to get all of the extra red off of him. Right before he turned the water on, he got another message from Yang.
Are you sure we shouldn't come back? Weiss has a key to our room and we can move Blake back.
To which he responded:
I'm sure, I just got her to lie down and start to recover. Think she's got some kinda a fever dream and moving her could just make her throw up again. Leave Blake and her mess to me, I need you three handle the party and the drunks. Sides, I can't head back if my costume is ruined, can I?
He didn't even give the water time to warm up before he threw himself in, trying to get blood off him and the punch out of his hair. Knowing he had to head back to Blake, he only spent a few minutes in the shower before dressing himself. Luckily his healing factor had pushed the bullets and healed in that time. His time spent on his hair hadn't yielded perfect results, but at least it was no longer crimson and now showed as a light pink. Checking his scroll he saw that he had a message from Yang.
I should be there, but if you really want to make sure she's safe, I won't stop you. Just make sure she's okay… even if you have to stay up with her all night.
Ragna's response was two words long.
I promise.
The Next Morning
Blake gave a pained groan as she slowly opened her eyes and let out a low groan. Her mind felt a strange mix between muddled and searing with hot pain. Her vision was blurred, but it slowly started to adjust and… she realized that this wasn't her room.
"Morning," came a tired but familiar voice. Blake turned and saw Ragna sitting on his desk chair. "Feeling okay?" Seeing him here brought back the events of yesterday, and Blake slowly turned her head away with guilt. "...I'll take that as a no."
"...Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Blake asked as she slowly found her voice, still not able to look at her friend. "After all I-"
I get the feeling it wasn't me that you were shooting at," Ragna interrupted. "Besides I'm fine; wasn't the first time I've been filled by lead and I'm pretty damn sure that it won't be the last either… I ain't that easy to kill." Blake didn't respond, so the Reaper tried again. "If you're worried about your team, I think they're okay. Told 'em you got looked out, threw up, so I took care of ya. You've still got an out."
'An… an out?' Blake thought in her mind.
"Let's just keep what happened between us, I doubt anything good will happen if word of this got out," he told her. "Maybe we can…" Ragna paused as he noticed Blake was tearing up again. "...What is it now?"
"I… I can't keep doing this…" she said, trying to speak through her tears. "I...I've held onto so many secrets… I've j-just been running… A-And I could've killed you… I… I can't do this…"
"Blake," the Reaper began before standing from his chair. He then headed over to his bed and sat besides Blake, putting a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "...I… You don't have to do this alone. Even if I don't know everything, I know that whatever the hell it is you're hiding it ain't enough to drive me away… I'm ready to hear you out whenever you want."
"I…" Blake tried to say, but it was hard for her. "I…"
That was when Ragna wrapped his arms around her, holding her as close to him as he could. Blake froze, not out of something as trivial as embarrassment, but out of the warmth of the hold. Ragna truthfully didn't have any idea what the hell he was doing… he just knew Blake needed someone to listen and he'd have to do his damndest to fill the role.
"I'm not letting you go through this hell alone Blake… You ain't getting rid of me that easily…" The only response Ragna got was the cat fanus beginning to cry once more, this time into his shoulder while he continued to hold her close.
Later -Team RWBY's Room-
"...Did anyone else manage to get some sleep?" Ruby asked her team once the girls had finished changing into their school uniforms. Breakfast would begin soon and classes would start shortly after… but the girls had a more pressing concerns.
"Not much," Yang sighed with guilt. "Blake's supposed to be my partner and I couldn't even tell when she was sick… and what did I do? I left Ragna to pick up the pieces."
"You can't blame yourself for that, we all thought it was just a small stomach ache," Weiss told her. "And as for Ragna… I think when it came down to it he'd rather be taking care of her than hosting that party anyways."
"You don't understand, this was a big chance to get him to have some fun for once and we blew it," Yang sighed. "He's always helping us and this party was a big chance to pay him back… but he barely lasted ten minutes in there. All we ended up doing was helping him plan it and I had to keep driving him over on it."
"We can still make it up to him… can't we?" Ruby said, first sounding determined, but then actually questioning what she was saying. There was a small knock on the door and despite being in a somewhat dour mood, she headed to open it hoping that there was some news from Ragna… only to see Blake with him.
(Cue Blazblue ChronoPhantasma Stardust Memories)
"Blake! Y-you're alright!" she exclaimed.
"Easy," Ragna muttered, holding his arm out to give Blake some room as she returned to her team's room. "She had a pretty bad night so give her some room, yeah?"
"Blake…" Yang began as she got to her feet and headed over to her partner despite Ragna's warning. It wasn't good, she saw that Yang's face was red and that her eyes were puffy from crying. "Are… are you okay?" A dumb question, but what else could she say? Blake didn't say anything for a long while before she slowly closed the door behind her.
"...I'm… I'm sorry for keeping secrets," she finally said her voice low and her head held in shame.
"...Secrets?" Weiss repeated. That's when Blake slowly brought her trembling hand upwards, having some trouble before they finally latched onto her bow. She took a deep breath, but it was clear she was scared.
"I promised I'd have your back," Ragna said from behind her. "You're not alone here…"
The three watched with wide eyes as Blake's bow slowly became undone as the cloth parted from her head and slowly drifted to the floor. Where the piece of fabric had once been were Blake's black Fanus cat ears… left for everyone to see.
"You… you're a Fanus?" Yang asked. Blake slowly nodded. "And that's what's been worrying you?" Another nod. Before Ragna could protest, Yang walked forward and wrapped her arms around her partner. "Dummy… you never had to hide that from me." Once more Blake froze, but this time it was for all of a moment before she slowly returned the embrace.
"You didn't have to hide it from me either, Fanus or not you're still Blake to me," Ruby said as she came in and hugged from the side. Weiss seemed to hesitate for all of a moment before shaking her head and joining in the team ground hug herself. Ragna remained to the side and simply watched, crossing his arms with smallest of smirks on his face.
'It might just be the first step… but at least that's the hard part out of the way,' he thought to himself. "...Good luck." Blake caught up on those words and slowly turned her head to face him. The Reaper was giving her that same warm smile that she'd only seen a few times before as he was heading for the door… before Yang stretched her arm out to grab his jacket's collar and force him into the group hug. 'Of course.'
"There's… there's still a lot that I have to tell you about, and not all of it's very good," Blake admitted.
"You'll just have to tell us a little bit at a time then," Yang informed. "However long it takes, we're all willing to hear you out."
"I'm in agreeance as well," Weiss told her. "I'll support you as both a team member and your friend."
"Yeah! Team RWBY always stands together! Right Ragna?" Ruby asked, turning to the Reaper who wasn't exactly uncomfortable in the center of the group hug.
'Aren't I on Team RAIN?' he thought to himself before deciding that had become something of a moot point long ago. "Yeah, I'm here too… however much that's worth."
"It's worth everything, really," Blake told him as the group embrace slowly ended. She picked her ribbon off from the floor and was about to put it on, but Ragna stopped her.
"Don't. You've already come this far, might as well go all the way," he advised. Blake looked at the fabric before smiling and pocketing, deciding she wouldn't be needing it. "Besides-"
"If anyone has a problem with me being a Fanus you'll kick their ass, I remember," Blake finished for him with a smirk with was returned by Ragna's smile.
"Though… don't go telling that to Azrael. He might try to bully you just to get a fight out of me," the Reaper admitted as he scratched the back of his head, while Yang gave a small snicker.
"C'mon, I think it's time for breakfast," she said before coming up with an idea. "Oh, I'll try to find something light so it's easy on your stomach! Come on Weiss!"
"Y-Yang! Hold on! I-!" Weiss gave Ragna a pleading look as the blonde proceeded to drag her off, to which he of course had to return with a smile that was equal measures sweet as it was sadistic. 'That little-!'
"That's really not necessary," Blake tried to say, but doing so far too late. With a sigh, she turned to Ragna. "I should probably stop them; the last we need is for them to wreck the whole cafeteria on my account."
"I think they'd managed to do that anyways honestly," the Reaper admitted as he knew what Yang could do when she was motivated. "On the plus side, any chaos they cause will keep attention off of you, right?"
"...That's true," she said giving Ragna one last thankful smile before following after her team, leaving the two team leaders alone.
"So… still don't think that you're a total softy?" Ruby asked teasingly as she gave Ragna a playful nudge in the ribs.
"...You kidding shorty? I'm as much as a hardass as ever," he told her sarcastically as he leaned down with a challenging smirk.
"Shorty!? Who are you calling short!?" Ruby demanded as she leaned forward with a cute scowl.
"I call 'em like I see 'em, deal with it," Ragna told her with a toothy grin as the two friends continued to challenge each other's gaze. "C'mon, let's get something to eat… maybe there's something left from that buffet I couldn't enjoy."
"Probably not going to happen; Azrael, Nora, and the students sort of tore through everything we set up," Ruby admitted, remembering the events of last night. "And with me and the cookies…"
"Well that checks out," the Reaper muttered, slumping his head forward and knowing his own luck all too well.
At Ragna's sigh, Ruby had a feeling that he'd been through more than enough lately and that he needed some cheering up… and only one idea came to mind at the moment.
"...Thanks for helping Blake out… and the rest of us,""she said getting Ragna's attention. As he brought his head back up, Ruby got close to Ragna and gave him the tightest hug she could. Not the most intimate or (dare I say it) sexiest way of thanking him… but it was certainly enough for Ragna's face to light up. Forcing himself to get over his own awkwardness, he gave a small and slightly nervous smirk as he returned the embrace.
"Trust me… You four are helping me out more than you could ever know."