["Bloody Stream" - JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE (English Cover by Y. Chang)]
From the darkness…
Strong and silent
Like pillars in the night they break the dawn
Hungry and violent
Scarlet rain falls
Hot and heavy
Show me that you've got the strength to fight
Boy, are you ready?
And so, may love guide your way through every last endless trial
Always tempt your fate with luck and a smile
Watch out for danger left and right it's just like dancing in the dark
You slip through like a knife and cut your way right to the heart
Let your path unfurl and the world will always sing your story
Like a bloody storm
It surges like a bloody storm
When destiny runs through your veins so wild and wet and warm
Fate may pull the strings and who knows what tomorrow brings
But, tonight we stand together!
残り:四の影/ Remnant's Four Shadows
Volume 3, Episode 8: Calm After the Storm (Part 2)
Taiyang had gotten used to having an empty nest, but recently he now had company. Never expected it to be Mrs. Schnee. In a way, she had reminded him of Qrow except having a bit more willingness to be social. Her son, Whitley, was well…a wallflower who was still trying sort his mind over what he wanted. It was good to have company, and Harleen and Toriel even made visits.
"So, you took in those two teens as your assistants?" Taiyang said looking over at Mercury and Emerald.
"Well, yes while also training them." Toriel said chipper as ever.
"What, do you hug the Grimm to death?" Willow joked.
"Trust me, I've seen this woman fight. I've seen her shatter a person's aura with one flick of her finger." Harleen boasted.
"It's just nice to have company in the house. When I sent Zwei to the girls, I was…well all by myself." Taiyang said sheepishly.
A portal tore open getting everyone on edge for a few seconds, and Taiyang was ready with a chair only for Toriel to calm him down.
"You could at least call before you portal to a man's house, Yuki." Toriel said crossing her arms.
Yuki came out with his team, Peach, and Team RWBY. Zwei was in Ruby's arms.
"Toriel, it was supposed to be a surprise vi-" Yuki said only to notice Whitley and Willow's presence. "Am I interrupting something?"
"We were just chatting!" Willow and Taiyang insisted only for Harleen to claim bullshit.
Zwei leapt out of Ruby's arms to greet Taiyang, as Kelly explained why they came over.
"Training? Well then, I insist I lend a hand." Taiyang said as Zwei licked his face. "I used to spar with Yuki's old man quite often."
Training was a fun affair and a good distraction for Kelly to ignore Whitley's presence. Both of them were not ready for a face to face meeting to which Harleen caught this and took Whitley out with her. Toriel was in the midst of sparring with Team RWBY hand-to-hand and promptly handing them their asses. Ruby's attempts at attacking were met with being redirecting to accidentally hit her teammates. Blake tried clones in hopes of confusing only for Toriel to accidentally guess who was the real one with a kick to the head. Weiss smartly backed down, but Yang was defiantly throwing punches.
"How strong are you?" Yang asked flustered.
"Strong enough that Yuki would not face unless he was absolutely sure he could "survive" me." Toriel said as she caught Yang's fist and hurled her into the air.
Using the momentum, Yang used her gauntlet to propel herself back at Toriel only for Toriel to inch her head to side causing Yang to punch the dirt. Toriel pulled her out the dirt like a vegetable holding her by her leg.
"There's a good reason not to be so rash." Toriel warned. "Though, I can't blame you."
Toriel let her go and Team RWBY learned a valuable lesson. Toriel was probably the strongest person they knew yet gave the softest hugs. Yuki had fought Taiyang and proved to the older Xiao Long that he trained well under his father. Lapis was practicing her control over water by forming it from the air before causing it to freeze, Kelly went on a run, Yuki was later working on his programming with Peach, and Ivory was flirting with Taiyang, clearly wanting a go at him. According to her, if he got half his team on his dick, he had to be something special. By the end of the afternoon, Lapis was readying for the date as Ivory did her up pretty.
Lapis stood in a black mini dress, blue flats, dark stockings, a small blue jacket, a splash of makeup, stud earrings, a black shoulder purse, and her hair brushed out.
"The day has come I can finally dress you up again." Ivory said excitedly.
"It's a miracle I don't like a streetwalker." Lapis sniped.
"Love you two, water bitch." Ivory sniped right back.
Yuki tore open the portal as Lapis give Yuki a look of assurance before leaving through it to meet Jaune at his dorm. Pyrrha looked like she saw better days. Her hair was a mess and her bed littered with snack food and empty ice cream containers.
"Seriously? It's been a week, and you're still bemoaning what you never really got." Lapis said dryly.
"You come to rub it in?" Pyrrha asked.
"No, do I look like Ivory? I'm going to say this: Get off your ass and stop crying." Lapis said icily before warming up. "Now, Jaune. You ready?"
Jaune was adjusting his casual tee on his outfit for his date, a leisure suit. As Jaune, Nora, Lapis, and Ren took off, Pyrrha walked over to get Jaune's hoodie and took a good whiff of it.
-o-
[Cues: LAKEY INSPIRED – Blue Boi]
The Nekohaten had dolled up their table to which Lapis owed Yuki thanks for calling in a reservation. They sat around the table with their menus in hand as Shampoo came up in her server's outfit.
"Welcome to the Nekohaten, I am Shampoo who will serve you. What can I get you?" Shampoo asked.
"I'll take fried dumplings, beef fried rice with vegetables, and a bottle of Shadowy Desire Wine. The Azorium flavor." Lapis said as Shampoo wrote it down.
"Pancakes? I can get pancakes here for dinner." Nora said excitedly.
"Actually, Miss. It's a jianbing. This dish isn't sweet and fluffy, a bit spicier and heartier. It's egg and mung bean batter, folded with a spicy sauce, scallions, and a crispy sheet of dough. Meats and cheeses in it are options." Shampoo said as Nora perked.
"I'll take two of them with sausage and molten cheese." Nora said. "With a side of noodles."
"I'll take a bowl of Mistralian Chicken Soup. Don't skimp on the bok choy." Ren said looking forward to Mistralian cooking. "I'll take a side of fried dumplings."
Jaune, who was still nervous of what to pick, asked for a recommendation.
"If you care to start off, I can recommend a plate of our crispy orange chicken over either noodles or rice." Shampoo kindly said.
"I'll have it over fried rice." Jaune said finally making a decision.
Shampoo bowed and went off as Rei delivered the bottle of wine with the glasses. Rei poured them the drinks as Lapis told her to leave the bottle.
"Thanks for the drinks, Lapis." Nora said taking up a glass. "A toast to Jaune finally asking out of girl…even if it's not Pyrrha."
"Jeez, were you two aware the whole time?" Jaune said feeling embarrassed. "It was that obvious?"
"Yes." Ren said dryly as they all took a drink.
The moment left them talking and Jaune realized he was in an awkward being the only one at the table…with family. So, he shifted to Lapis asking about traveling the world with Yuki.
"Not much to really say, we drifted around like wanderers with little in direction. Hide out in various places, blended in schools, and so on. Personally, I would prefer Menagerie's sea. Really wish I had visited there properly." Lapis said pouring a small amount into her glass.
"Jaune, tell me about your si-" Nora said only for Shampoo to roll in with the food. "Never mind!"
To say, Nora went for it was understatement. She wolfed her food down like it was going to run from her. Lapis was a bit guilty of this. Years of being a bit on the starved side made her appreciate food aplenty. Though, Lapis had a bit more control leaving Jaune and Ren to awkwardly eat at a "normal" pace, but it did not stop them from enjoying the meal.
"This is so good." Nora said between bites.
"But of course, a traveling tribe needs to know how to cook." Lapis remarked as Roman entered the scene.
He was merely ordering to go before Nora noticed him. She would have pounced but used a water tendril to stop her.
"He's not your issue." Lapis said in near monotone.
"But…" Nora said as Roman noticed them.
"Lapis. I almost didn't recognize you all dolled up, but you're not with your posse." Roman said as Lapis rolled his eyes.
"Date night." Lapis said tersely. "With him."
Roman laughed at this citing to Jaune that Lapis was going to practically ate his harmless behind alive. Roman got his food was laughing right out the door making to Jaune's pouting.
"I'm not harmless." Jaune said defiantly.
"You would be…if you weren't sitting on a broken Semblance most would kill to have." Lapis said pointedly.
"Well, thank you for showing me how to use it." Jaune said finishing his food. "But what's the deal with Roman? He knew your name."
"That's a story for when you get closer to me." Lapis said only as Shampoo asked who wants dessert.
"Ah yes, I'd like a box of Red Bean Buns to go. As for what we all eat, Egg Tarts and Pumpkin Pancakes." Lapis requested.
"Lapis, are you trying to seduce me? Because it's working." Nora said jokingly.
[Music Ends]
Dessert was a fun way to close off dinner as Nora begged for a bag for pumpkin pancakes to go. When it came to a check, Shampoo explained that it had been paid for which allowed them to leave. As the double date left, a redhead scampered into the restaurant's bar wearing a trench coat.
"I need your strongest drink." Pyrrha remarked.
"What's the issue, Miss?" Rei asked.
"Broken heart." Pyrrha said miserably.
"You know what they say about broken hearts, they can be easily mended."
Qrow had walked in eyeing the lovely redhead up and down as he sat next to her. Rei took one look at Qrow and one at Pyrrha…yeah, she was not going to let end with Qrow taking Pyrrha into a hotel room. At least, she hoped Qrow had some standards.
"It's my fault, I just did not have the guts to tell him." Pyrrha said glumly.
-o-
"Aren't you worried about Lapis? It's getting late." Weiss asked.
"Weiss, Lapis can control water. Everything on the planet is made of the stuff. And if you're asking because of Jaune, it's freaking Jaune. The guy's harmless." Yuki said firmly. "I trust Lapis will be fine. Jealous she might be getting laid while you're here?"
Weiss sputtered and declared that was not the case. Yang snickered at the humiliation as Yuki went back to the couch.
"Honestly, Weiss. You really need to get that stick out of your ass." Willow said chuckling along with Taiyang as they had another drink. "You're not going to make friends if you're so uptight. Do you really want to be like Winter?"
"By the gods, what a prick she was." Kelly muttered.
Kelly did not hate Winter, but she could not tolerate her. Considering she let her father walk all over Puce and did nothing to let Jaccques influence Whitley, Winter was on her shit list…though at the bottom. Willow was also there, but her attempts to fix herself and Whitley pulled her out of there. Yuki's scroll as Serena informed him of a text from Rei.
"Is it important?" Yuki asked.
"Well, she wants you to pick up Pyrrha. She got sloshed at the Nekohaten and she's….trying to seduce Qrow." Serena said as Yuki got up.
"No, Yuki. Let it happen, I want to see the look on Pyrrh-" Ivory said only for Yuki to glare. "Ok, too far…"
Yuki tore a portal and dragged Pyrrha, who looked drunk as a skunk, through it before closing it.
"My hero." Pyrrha said slurring her speech.
"She is well past the legal limits. If Lapis was here, she could…" Serena said only for Yuki to channel the semblance of Lapis.
Heating up Pyrrha's body, most of the alcohol flowed out of her body as steam slowly dropping her blood alcohol levels. Yang had to open a window to get the smell of booze out, and Ruby kicked up the fan.
"I'll carry her home. She'll still to be out of it." Yuki said tearing another portal. "Come on, Pyrrha."
Pyrrha let out a hum of approval before they left through the portal for Team JPNR's dorm.
"Now, Pyrrha. You need some sle-" Yuki said before cut off by a kiss from Pyrrha.
"What I need some dick. And seeing that Jaune won't give me, you'll do." Pyrrha said still tipsy.
Yuki groaned….in frustration before slamming a chop on Pyrrha's neck to render her unconscious. He had removed the trench coat on her before tossing her on her bed.
"Damn it, Pyrrha. Making things so hard." Yuki said before leaving through a portal back.
He did not speak of what had happened carrying her back as he did not want to encourage Ivory to laugh at Pyrrha's misfortune. As he left, a tipsy Nora and Ren were stumbling back to the dorm. Lapis and Jaune who, thanks to Lapis, were not so tipsy, were sitting up on the roof.
"Tonight was amazing." Jaune said as Lapis agreed. "I'm glad we did. Maybe next time, we won't need to double up."
"Oh definitely, you've a keeper at the moment." Lapis said with a surprise air of seduction. "But it's working out well. It is getting late, and I need to call Yuki to pick me up. Thank you for the wonderful night, boyfriend, we'll do this again."
Lapis formed her wings of water and flew off the distance leaving Jaune to walk inside feeling like a millionaire. When he walked into his dorm, he balked to seeing Nora was already on top on Nora riding him. He closed the door and went to Team RWBY's old dorm…to sleep for the night.
-o-
"So how was the date?" Yuki asked as he and Lapis sat on the roof of the Xiao Long-Rose home.
"Quite refreshing and serene. I want to go on another." Lapis said peacefully.
"Well, I guess I may as well seek out my own fortune." Yuki said jokingly. "But I think Pyrrha is taking this too hard. I had to carry her home; she was drunk out of her mind. Tried to get my dick, and then I knocked her out."
"Pyrrha needs to learn that her actions have consequences. We were not sent back in time to help her with Jaune…even if it was never going to happen. We're here to save the world." Lapis said firmly. "And who do you even have in mind?"
"I was thinking just hook ups for now. I don't really want a relationship…at the moment." Yuki said thoughtfully. "I don't know, I just need to sort myself out. I am glad you're happy. All I ever wanted."
"You really keep proving to be a good leader, Yuki. You know I can help with the hookups." Ivory said gently coming up on light platforms. "You deserve it after all."
"You'd never leave the bed." Yuki snarked.
"And we have a world to save." Kelly said flying up on the roof. "And we can't have you distracted."
"So, you don't have the eyes for Yuki, then?" Ivory teased.
"Let's just enjoy the peace we have. We have no idea if Salem's going to pull anything…if she finds out Cinder's dead. And there's the Church of Salem to which we're basically blind to what they are up to." Yuki said worriedly.
"What do we do?" Lapis asked.
"We train for whatever comes. I just have a rotten feeling where Cinder failed to cause a fall, the Church will." Yuki said flatly. "We will train and prep as if Cinder's plan was still a go."
"And this time, we keep Ozpin in the loop." Kelly remarked. "The Church is an unknown to him too. He's going to be very willing to side with us to deal with them."
"And I need to kill that bitch wearing my twin's skin." Lapis said icily.
"No matter what happens, we can't let history repeat in a different way. We'll stop Salem and her cronies, together." Yuki said as they all shared a fist bump.
He made sure to make a call to Ironwood not long after.
"General. I have a small request of you. I'd like access to a few things in your military junkyard. What do I have to give in exchange? I can offer a new security program I've been working on. I call Overseer. It's anti-virus with all the bells and whistles. I don't know if it will keep Watts out, but it will ensure he won't be coming in and out as he pleases." Yuki said assuring him. "It's best you get Pietro to assistant you."
(A/N: For all my issues with RWBY, I did like writing this chapter. The date with Jaune was…cute. Jaune was delightfully out of his zone, and Nora and Ren are always fun to write. For all my issues with Jaune as a whole, he was the character I had the least issues with. No, that was Pyrrha. Pyrrha…seeing that I can't just give her Jaune…has nothing left. It hits hard to realize when a character like Pyrrha has nothing to do. On the other side, I got Team YUKI's team moments where are always a joy. For all their issues and sniping, they all care for each other. As for potential hookups, I'm leaving it up to you.)
[Edit: March 20, 2021 – Small note, but I neglected to mentioned that the Shadowy Desire wine bit was a reference to one of my other fics, Maelstrom of Stardew. I neglected to post this out to you, so here you go.]
Cue the Ending Theme
