A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?
This chapter is...shorter than I like; as mentioned before I don't have as much free time to write these days. Sorry...
As ever, reviews are fuel for this old man. Just wanted to thank you all for the feedback.
Every bit of it helps. Really, it does.
Still trying me best to crank out daily updates despite my hectic work schedule. Hope this warms someone's heart.. As ever, reviews are my fuel. Without them, I can't find any inspiration; no inspiration, no writing. So by all means, speak up!
Next, this chapter has multiple scene breaks. That's intention. Hope it doesn't bother anyone overmuch.
Alright enough about me! time for the good 'ol Q&A! Here we go:
Q: Oh, boy...Em ain't gonna like that kiss.
A: She will not. She's about to like what follows even less.
Q: Things are getting tense! If Cinder finds out what they can do...
A: Naruto and Emerald have been careful to conceal their powers; so long as they keep their emotions in check, there won't be any flare ups.
What could possibly go wrong?
And really, what can she do? She only has Mercury for support. Adam and Illia won't do her bidding.
Q: MOAR ROMANCE! WE DEMAND IT!
A: Well, if you're going to shout about it...
Alright, then. I think I've kept you all waiting long enough, no?
As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Now get ready for some humor, some chaos, and...more than a few surprises.
"The Wrath of a Maiden is a fearful thing indeed...
~?
Love is a Crime (Interlude)
Emerald wanted to cry.
She had only ever shed tears three times in her life.
Once, when she'd first met Naruto as a little girl. Twice, when he caught a wasting disease and nearly died. Thrice, when she finally realized her favorite blond buffoon would never, ever forsake her. And yet this particular even threatened to be the fourth. Frustration boiled in her stomach like tar, creating a seething cauldron of wrath; one that threatened to boil over at the slightest provocation. It was only her ironclad sense of self control -and the fact that Naruto was watching her- that prevented her from losing her self control and flying across the room at him.
For you see, her hate wasn't directed at Naruto.
"Opzin, you can't be serious!" The words hissed through clenched teeth, eyes flashing with scarlet fire. "This is insane!"
"I'm afraid I am quite sane, miss Sustrai." the Headmaster was a man of many words, but in this moment he appeared genuinely contrite for his actions. "I know this decision may upset you-
Her hands slammed down on his desk.
"YOU THINK?!"
"But be that as it may," He seemed to sag behind his desk. "This is necessary. I called you up here personally to speak with you on the matter of Maria Calavera."
Those words weren't lost on Emerald. Just her. Not Naruto, not Blake, not even Pyrrha. They were all safe and warm in bed, utterly unaware of the conversation taking place here tonight. She suspected they would take the news in stride when she broke it to them, as they did all things. Did they all already know? Or had Ozpin brought her up here because he knew she would fight this tooth and nail. Probably. Surprise, surprise! He was right.
She steeled herself. "We don't need a fifth member!"
The old bastard barely batted an eyelash. "Be that as it may-
Blast it. Time to change tactics. "It'll throw off our team dynamic!"
"Exceptions like this have been made before." he countered her with ease. "A fifth teammate or even a sixth is not so unusual thing; it has happened once or twice throughout history. Take the story of Team QRRTZ for instance. They became the stuff of legends.
Quartz? Her interest was peaked for a moment before her anger stifled it. Never heard of them. Didn't care.
"I don't want to hear a history lesson!"
Ozpin looked at her, then. Really looked at her. Not that. Anything but that. Emerald couldn't stand pity. She loathed it. Pity was for the weak. They weren't weak.
So why was this happening?!
"Whyever not?" Ozpin quirked a brow. "We can always give miss Calavera a false surname. It wouldn't do for the world to know who her true identity is...or would you rather see her hunted yet again?" when she winced, he pounced with another verbal assault. "They cut out her eyes, miss Sustrai. I'm told it was quite horrific. She'll suffer that fate a second time. Can you condone this?"
"No...
"You're afraid of losing your partner, is that it?" he steepled his fingers and leaned forward in the face of her fury. "I understand the two of you are...close."
"Yeah." she turned her head, spat upon the floor. "And that bitch kissed him."
Ozpin quirked a brow. "Does that make you angry, Emerald?"
Emerald bit her lip until she tasted blood. Her silence proved answer enough; because the headmaster looked strangely satisfied.
She still hated every bit of it.
"I don't want this!"
"And I didn't want Amber to kill herself!" Oz's voice rose in a sudden shout and he slammed to his feet, startling her. "Do you think I wanted any of this?! That I don't regret diminishing myself so?! Being unable to stand against Sa...no." Misery flashed across his face a moment later. "My apologies. I shouldn't have raised my voice. Forgive me." he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed a bit of sweat from his forehead. "I've been under a lot of stress lately and I'm afraid I'm not feeling all that well."
He really wasn't. The old man looked pale. That...was oddly worrying.
Worry wormed its way through her anger. "You gonna be alright? You look like shit."
A bitter chuckle stole itself from his lips. "Your concern is appreciated. I will be fine...in time."
Silence stretched between the two of them.
"Consider this." He held up a finger. Your team is comprised of two master thieves, one of whom can steal Semblances, the other a mistress of illusions. Now both of you command the power of a Maiden. No small feat, that." she tried not to preen and faltered under the less-than-subtle praise, but the immortal was already bulling on. "Then you have miss Nikos' magnetism, as well as miss Belladona's clones and ties to the White Fang. Now a Silver-Eyed warrior joins your ranks. Do you understand?"
...I think?"
"I'd hoped you might." The headmaster circled the desk to stand before her. "You're a combat team if I've ever seen one. You were born for this." His hand came down on her shoulder. "It is my firm belief that the five of you could very well save this world."
Maybe so, but it didn't change things.
Emerald knew she was no hero. At the end of the day, she was a coward. She'd rather run than fight. Naruto was the brawler. Not her. She could also tell when someone was buttering her up for something; she just knew it. But what? Abruptly, realization dawned and she knew what he intended.
"Hell no!" she jerked back. "Don't even think about it!"
"You and Maria do share a resemblance." Ozpin's grin proved chagrined. "You could claim her as a cousin of sorts...
"And what do we get out of all this it?" she crossed both arms before her bosom. "You're forcing a lotta stuff on our team lately. I think we deserve more than we've been getting."
"I see. His shoulders slumped. "Its all about give and take with you two, isn't it? Perhaps I should have expected that."
"Blame our upbringing." red eyes flashed with flame. Now, sweeten the pot or we walk."
Oh gods, she'd lost it. She was threatening a headmaster. She could go to jail for this. No! Focus! Be brave! Ageless eyes met hers and she refused to falter. You had to show strength when you came to bargain. Even the slightest hint of weakness could cripple you. So she lifted her chin and stood her ground. Seconds passed. Nearly a minute, now.
Incredibly, the headmaster backed down first.
...what would you ask of me?"
Ha! Got him!
Emerald knew what she had to do. Didn't mean she liked it. Stupid war. Stupid everything. She was tired of fumbling in the dark, tired of looking over her shoulder, of reacting to this danger. In the past, if someone gave them trouble, said someone was taught a lesson. She'd wanted to stay out of this life, but with each passing week it became more and more apparent that they Someone had to keep Naruto safe. Not just from their enemies, but himself. And the only way she could do that...
"Tell me everything." she said at last. On a whim she added yet more. "And I want team CFVN brought on board later. They're trustworthy."
"Done." Ozpin answered quickly. Almost too quickly. "Anything else?"
"And personal training. From you."
"My, my." A rueful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Such a willful girl. You rather remind me of my daughters."
Emerald blinked. "You have kids?"
"Had." the old sage pulled out a chair. "By all means, sit. I'm afraid its quite the long tale."
Emerald complied and made herself comfortable. When Ozpin offered her a drink, she accepted it. This was meant to be a simple life. Why could nothing be simple?
She didn't speak. Instead she listened as Ozpin told his tale. He'd been right. It was a long one; a very long one indeed. By the end, she was grinding her teeth.
Someone...would pay for this.
She just wasn't sure who.
(.0.0.0.)
"Coco...I need your help."
"Sure thing, sugar lips." her favorite fashionista sprawled out on her bed. "What brings you to my humble abode?"
"Coco, this is a dorm. A small, tiny dorm."
The brunette tipped down her shades to expose cheery eyes. "Aaaand?"
Must. Not. Kill.
Emerald willed herself to breathe and not think of the earth-shattering secrets that had been revealed to her. It was...well, it was a lot. Frankly, she knew Ozpin wouldn't have revealed half of his plight to her if he wasn't so absurdly confident in their abilities. He believed wholeheartedly in what he'd seen. Could Naruto kill an Immortal? Could he kill this Salem woman? She wasn't sure she wanted him to try. But the threat remained. If they were going to be hounded the rest of their lives for this power- and she was beginning to think they would be- it was best to nip that in the bud.
With that in mind, she intended to live her life while she could.
...how do I get a boy to ask me out on a date?"
"Ha!" the girl's grin was positively wolfish. "You've come to the right place!" An arm slung around her shoulders, sealing her fate. "Right this way, my apprentice! Where's your boy at?"
"He's got an appointment to keep." it was a lie, but she was good at lying by now. She always lied...even if she wasn't best pleased at the moment. Naturally, her displeasure stemmed from many things. For one she had another challenger. Not for long. Not if she had any say in it.
"Perfect!" Coco clapped once. "You came to the right person. Ain't nobody better than me when it comes to fashion." that arm around her shoulders tightened, locking her in place. "We can put your hard-to-get act together later~!"
Emerald twitched. "I'm already regretting this...
"Nonsense!" the brunette sang and spun her around. "Now lets get you ready for your date~!"
Her closet swung opened, revealing an array of dresses and skirts.
Emerald blinked at them. "...what are those?"
"Uh, your outfits? You didn't think you were going out in that, did you?"
Thief's Respite flashed out in a whirl of green.
"Velvet, grab her!"
(.0.0.0.)
...Emerald? Are you mad?"
"No." she tossed her hair. "Why would I be mad?"
Naruto winced. "Because you look mad. Really, REALLY mad."
His partner stalked past him in a swirl of silk. She didn't walk. She absolutely flounced.
"Why would I be mad?"
Uh-oh.
He knew that tone all too well by now. She wasn't just sulking. She was brooding about something. A broody Emerald was a dangerous Emerald. Her right hand kept twitching, trying to reach for Thief's Respite; though it was currently contained in her locker. Something told him he didn't want to stick around once she got her hands on it. Worse, he had absolutely no idea what had irked her in the first place.
She'd been like this for the better part of three days now, and for the life of him, he couldn't see why.
"Huh." Behind her, Maria did a little twirl, admiring herself -and her much younger body- in a fresh new uniform. "Always did wanna try my luck at a huntsman academy...
Emerald absolutely snarled and stormed off.
At a loss, Naruto followed her to class.
But he didn't give up.
(.0.0.0.)
"Did I do something to upset you?"
Emerald's pencil snapped in her grasp.
"Gee, I dunno." the soft, saccharine tone of her voice was all the warning he needed. "Whatever could you have done to upset me?"
Naruto wanted to bang his head against the desk; it was only the promise of detention that stopped him. Port was many things, but even he'd notice if they started shouting.
"That's what I'm asking!" he lowered his voice to a hiss. "What's eating you?"
She glared at him through slitted eyes. "Figure it out yourself. You're good at that."
He looked to Blake and Pyrra, but found only confusion there. Maria looked nothing short of contrite.
Blast it. Why did girls have to be so damn complicated!
(.0.0.0.)
To his credit, he confronted her again after Port's class.
"Look," he began, "if this is about Maria-
"Its not." she slammed her locker door so hard the whole thing rattled. And the wall behind it. There were dents in the door where her fingers had gripped the metal.
"I'm starting to think it is."
She growled.
"Leave it, Naruto."
He followed her to Miss Goodwitch's class.
Needless to say, mistakes were made. Many mistakes indeed.
As luck would have it, they were promptly forced to face one another.
A/N: As ever, reviews keep this old man writing.
Felt right to focus more on Emerald this chapter, and save the Date for the next.
Hope this made someone's day.
Looking forward to chatting with you all! Hope you enjoyed!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Revieeew... Would You Kindly?
As ever, enjoy the previews! And of course!
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
(Preview)
Coco hooted. "That's my girl! Now go in for the kill! Now make way! Fashion police coming through!"
Emerald scarcely had time to squawk before she found herself hauled off.
"C'mon, girl! We've gotta get you dressed!"
"Not agaaaaain!"
Emerald nestled closer to him.
Naruto jolted a little. This close he could feel the heat of her body agains this...
"How was it, living a normal life? Are you wiser now? Did you enjoy it?"
Naruto pinched the brow of his nose. "What do you want?"
Cinder smiled. It was not a pleasant smile, Mercury thought.
"Uh, boss? You're scaring me."
I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you! Really!"
"Little late for that, don't you think? Time to take your lumps."
R&R~!