Jaune woke up expecting to find Yang in his arms like she was the night before. Instead he found a pillow that carried the scent of her shampoo and the sweat along with the other smells of last night.

Remembering the actions they underwent last night Jaune felt a subconscious and certainly goofy looking grin spread over his face as he felt the ring around his own finger. Getting up he felt that same grin drop when he remembered that Tai may die later today.

That told him where Yang was, she was probably getting ready to say goodbye to him in some way. He headed for the main house and saw the remains of the party with several people still hungover or passed out.

Jaune noticed the time on the clock read as just after noon and he shook his head with another grin unaware that he and Yang had been so intense as to enable him to sleep in that much. Then he remembered that he also killed one of his friends the day before and felt his frown fade again.

Tai was of course not in such a state since he didn't drink last night. He was sitting outside in a chair with his wife at his side surrounded by his hounds that somehow knew that they might be losing their master soon.

Jaune hesitated to approach feeling the intimate silence that Tai and Cinder were sharing staring into the early afternoon sun. His hesitation was in vain as Tai must have heard him giving Cinder's hand one final squeeze before rising up and walking over to Jaune.

"Walk with me son" he said leaving no room for Jaune to argue with him.

The hounds stayed with Cinder a few even climbing into the chair with her feeling her downtrodden state. Jaune felt a small smile cross his face at the sight of the loving hounds.

Jaune and Tai kept walking as Tai spoke. "Jaune I don't plan to die today" Tai started. "But I am humble enough to know that I may, if I do then there are some things I need to say to you" as Tai spoke he stopped grabbing Jaune's shoulder and turning to look him in the eye.

"Jaune, I am glad you found your father, but I never want you to forget that as far as I am concerned you are a son to me, if anything happens to me today I want you to withdraw from the tournament" Tai said holding up his hand to preempt Jaune's attempt to speak. "I can't put Yang and Ruby through losing both of us" He said revealing the wisdom behind his words.

Jaune nodded in agreement having never thought about it like that before. "Tai" He said, pausing to make sure he phrased the next sentence right. "Tai I want your permission to marry Yang" Jaune blurted, trying not to sound as awkward as he was.

Tai smiled broadly, reaching down and grabbing Jaune's hand holding up the ring. "I noticed that," He said proudly. "So did you two finally stop pretending you weren't in love?" Tai asked, not waiting for an answer.

"Of course you two have my permission, in fact I was about to ask you to do just that if I died today, well I would have asked you to wait a little for her to mourn but afterwards I mean" Tai said not going on since Jaune understood the rest of what Tai would have said.

Jaune and Tai turned back to look out over the vast plains of Tai's land. "Ren might have a claim to the land by name but I don't think he or anyone else would refute you and Yang stepping up in my absence" Tai said as Jaune somberly stayed silent. "I am putting a lot of weight on you with this," Tai conintuned. "But I know that you will be able to handle it." as they stared out over the plans that Jaune was beginning to understand may soon be his to care for they heard someone running behind them.

They turned around to see the messenger at a sprint stop in front of them. "What are you still doing here?" He demanded of Tai.

"The match isn't until this evening," Tai said, only to be corrected.

"No you moved it up to right now" He said, turning and running back to his speeder as Tai and Jaune did the same.

…

The crowd's roar faded fast when instead of the famed Tai Yang Xiao Long his daughter stepped out into the arena. Yang slipped on her helmet and stepped further to the starting line as Adam did the same.

Yang didn't need the force to sense the anger in Adam's posture. "So your father sends his children to die for him?"

The source of Adam's outrage now clear, Yang answered. "No, but his children have come to kill for him"

Adam's posture shifted showing his rage subsiding to respect. Reaching for his belt he drew the weapon that was supposed to be his trump card over Tai. A pure Beskar blade cost a small fortune, well it cost more than that since Winter had it purchased piece by piece in secret. And to then have it made by one of the few smiths willing to work so fast and with discretion. She was gambling on Adam winning the tournament and she was gambling hard, if he lost then they were going to be in a financial wreck for a few years.

Yang looked at the blade for a moment before shaking herself from the momentary realization that she was about to enter into a life or death battle with one of the most dangerous people in the galaxy.

…

Jaune and Tai sprinted through the crowd tossing people aside that didn't move fast enough as they ran for the arena. They heard the crowd roaring and lulling as the fight was going on. In desperation Tai drew one of his blasters and fired several rounds into the air. That cleared the way for them as they pushed faster in the direction of the battle.

They made it within sight of the battle zone itself as they began to run down the stairs to the edge. Tai was too busy clearing the way but Jaune's eyes were glued to Yang as she tried to keep Adam far enough back for her pistols to be of use. Jaune knew her well enough to see her reaching for her jetpack and cringed as Adam lashed out with his grappling cable wrapping it around Yang's neck or more to the point, her helmet.

As she lifted off he yanked her back down and ripped her helmet off. She hit her knees and on her way back to her feet she tried to aim with her left hand pistol albeit sloppy from the disorientation of having her helmet ripped off.

Adam's blade swung up, parrying the left pistol away and came back down severing Yang's right arm from the elbow down. Stepping to his left and making a left hand turn the blade switching to a reverse grip and as he finished the turn drowning out screams from Jaune and Tai as his sword slipped between the plates of Yang's armor and ran straight through her heart.