So long time no chapter, sorry but this thing went through three major rewrites as i couldn't quite get it right, anyway its done now and i hope you enjoy.

Beurling sighed as the nurse finished wrapping her hand up in a clean bandage, the wound still stinging.

"How is it?" Sgàil asked the nurse.

"It should heal fine, but you won't be able to compete anymore, not unless you want to risk causing further damage to that hand." The nurse sighed as she finished.

"Thanks." Beurling sighed as she stood up from the bed.

"You're welcome, just rest it and it should be fine in a few days." The nurse nodded "You're free to go when you want, just take care of it." The nurse added before leaving the two alone.

"So any news?" Beurling asked as she stood up and picked up her beanie.

"About the fight?"

"Tomoko."

"She's fine, driving the others mad as she wanted to come straight here."

"She's stubborn at times."

"Sounds like she got that from you a bit."

"Maybe." Beurling smiled "So what happened to him?"

"Disqualified, though someone was trying to say you cheated."

"My mother no doubt." Beurling sighed.

"Yes, she's been raising hell over the loss." Sgàil sighed "You think she'll do something?"

"Not sure." Beurling sighed as she looked at her bandaged hand "You think she'll be mad at me?" Beurling asked worried.

"I would have thought your mother being mad at you was a given."

"No not her, Tomoko."

"No, she loves you." Sgàil smiled "It will be fine trust me."

"Ok." Beurling sighed even though she didn't believe the spear wielder.

The two walked quietly to the barracks, Beurling's hand throbbing all the way there, as they came into sight of the barracks Beurling began to feel like a person being marched to the gallows, that feeling didn't improve as she walked through the door of the barracks and started to climb the stairs and were greeted by Maple and the rest of team SHAD waiting for them.

"What's going on?" Beurling asked nervously.

"Just giving you and Tomoko privacy." Maple replied.

"So where's Frenda?"

"Stopping Tomoko from jumping out the window to see how you are." Maple said before she knocked on the door "Frenda you can open the door now."

Beurling saw the blonde open the door with an exhausted and annoyed face "About time, I was about to tie her to the bed to keep her in line." Frenda said before she grabbed Beurling and pulled her into the room.

"Hey, Frenda!"

"Beurling!" the brawler heard Tomoko say behind her, Beurling turn in time for Tomoko to tackle her into a hug.

"Deal with your girlfriend!" Frenda shout before slamming the door.

"Are you ok?" Tomoko asked as she pulled back a bit from the hug and saw Beurling's bandaged hand "How is it?" the faunus asked as she held the brawler's forearm.

"His beam burned my hand." Beurling said only to see Tomoko's horrified face "Its fine, it will be fully healed in a few days."

"It's not fine!" Tomoko shouted.

"Tomoko calm down!"

"How can I be calm when you're injured." Tomoko said letting go of the arm and burying her face in Beurling's chest again.

"Woah, hey..." Beurling said only for the word to die in her throat as she felt Tomoko shaking and began to hear muffled sobs "Tomo, whats…?"

"I was really worried."

"Tomo, we're huntresses, being in danger and being injured are part of the job." Beurling said patting the blonde's head.

"I know." Tomoko said with a muffled voice "It won't stop me worrying."

"I know and I know I will worry to, but calm down a bit ok, Frenda looks like she's about to break something."

"Yeah, I guess I was a bit of a pain." Tomoko hummed her tail starting to wag "Can we stay like this for a bit?"

"Yeah, I'd love to." Beurling smiled "Just stay around me, ok?"

"I was going to."

"No, I mean Gilles, he's likely very upset about the lose so I don't want you alone in case he…" Beurling was cut off by Tomoko's lips meeting hers.

"I won't leave if you don't."

Beurling leaned in and kiss Tomoko back "I can't resist that offer." Beurling said with a smile as she felt Tomoko's tail rest on her hand.

"So what now?" Tomoko asked resting her head on Beurling's chest.

"Huh?"

"With the tournament, are you going back in again?"

"No, my hands to injured, the organizers said they will need to talk to Maple later."

"I'm glad your ok." Tomoko mumbled.

"I'm glad you are to."

(Two hours later)

Beurling heard the door open and Maple entered with a smile on her face as she saw the brawler sat on the bed with Tomoko asleep at her side, the blonde's arms wrapped tightly around her.

"How is she?" Maple asked as she took one of the chairs and placed it next to the bed.

"Tired, she must have really been worried."

"Yes, she was, Frenda wasn't kidding when she said she was about to tie her down." Maple smiled "She kind of looks like she did the first night we were here where you kissed her on the head."

"You saw that?" Beurling said with a blush.

"Sorry." Maple smiled.

"So what's happening with the tournament?" Beurling asked trying to shift the topic.

"Well I've spoken to the professors and they felt it was best for you to two to head back to Vacuo early, Frenda will take your place in the tournament."

"I see, sending me home so as not to cause trouble?" Beurling asked feeling a little despondent.

"I know your disappointed, but with your injury and Gilles temper right now its best if you two left, you can't keep her safe with that hand."

At the mention of Beurling's hand Tomoko squeezed the brawler tighter, Beurling could see Maple smile at the sight.

"Will we at least have time for Tomoko to say goodbye to her family?" Beurling asked running her fingers through Tomoko's hair to help settle her down.

"Yes, you'll be leaving at midday tomorrow." Maple explained before turning her gaze back to Tomoko "How long has she been like that, holding you I mean?"

"Pretty much since I got in, why?"

"Just curious." Maple said as she checked something on her scroll "Though you might want to have a word with Sara when you get back about the date."

"What's the date got to do with it?"

"Aw and spoil the surprise of finding out." Maple smirked "Right I need to go; we'll see you two at dinner?"

"Yeah, and thanks for helping, with everything."

"Anytime." Maple smiled before leaving.

(Next day)

"Are you sure your hand is ok Beurling?" Tomoko asked as the pair walked towards the blonde's home.

"Its just stinging nothing more." Beurling said as they entered the street to Tomoko's home, the pair stopped suddenly as they saw Luna standing between them and the house.

Luna beckoned the pair over and with a hint of concern the pair walked over to the dark-haired girl "How are you two?" Luna sighed once the pair reached her.

"Fine." Tomoko said with a glare at Luna which made the dark-haired girl look at the ground.

"Good to hear and you Beurling?"

Before Beurling could responded to Luna, who looked tiny compared to how she did last time they met, Tomoko spoke again "What do you want Luna?"

"A moment to talk to Beurling if that's ok?"

"What about?"

"Personal stuff."

"What person…"

"Tomoko please." Luna begged in an almost shattered voice, which made Tomoko stop but the blonde just kept glaring at Luna. Beurling felt sympathetic to Luna, she looked like her world had ended.

"Tomoko, why don't you go on ahead, I'll catch up." Beurling said.

"Beurling?" Tomoko asked confused.

"It's fine, I'll be right along."

Tomoko bit her lip like unsure if she should leave or not "Ok fine, just don't be long." Tomoko said before she leaned up and kissed Beurling on her cheek before leaving.

Beurling waited a moment letting Luna begin the conversation "So you two really are dating huh?"

"Yes." Beurling said watching Tomoko walk down the street.

"I can't believe she would be dating a human." Luna sighed "When she was younger whenever she saw a human she would cower, not that she left the house much, which is why I want to know this isn't just some fling with her and you'll drop her after some exotic fun."

"I know you have plenty of reason to worry." Beurling said letting out a breath "But this is real, I want her and I'll protect her whatever happens."

"And what brought this on, fascination?"

"No, I grew up with Faunus, I even have a Faunus niece." Beurling said as she saw Luna's shocked face.

"How did you grow up around Faunus, were thing different in Vacuo?"

"Yes, but that's not how it began."

"How did it?"

"I was born in Atlas, my mum left me on the street to die," Beurling could feel her anger flicker mentioning her mother "A Faunus found me and her family took me in and raised me as their own, they saved me, now I live in Vacuo with my two friends and their little girl."

"I'm not sure I believe you." Luna scowled.

"That's up to you, I can't force you to believe me."

"So if this isn't an exotic fling, then why Tomoko?"

"She makes me feel safe, she's helped me with a lot of things, even stuff she doesn't know she'd helped me with," Beurling said as a smile formed and her heart fluttered as she looked down the street and saw Tomoko and her sister looking at the pair "I'm not putting a collar on her if that what your thinking, if anything she's putting one on me."

"That I would like to see." Luna smiled before she let out a resigned sigh "I'm not sure I believe you and I'm never going to happy about this and I'm not going to pretend to either, just promise me you'll take care of her."

"Of course." Beurling said, at this Luna turned and began to walk away.

"Good, because I'll hunt you down if you don't."

"Luna?"

"Yes?"

"Do you love her to?"

"It doesn't matter now; she's made her choice and while I despise it, it's her life and choice."

Beurling watched the darkhaired girl continue to walk away down the street out of sight, before she turned and joined Tomoko and Aira.

"You, ok?" Aira asked as Beurling reached the two "What did Luna want?"

"Nothing to worry about." Beurling said looking behind her "How's your mother doing?"

"Oh, I'm fine." Came Kelly's voice from behind the two "How's your hand Beurling?"

"It's fine." Beurling said not looking Kelly in the eye.

"Don't worry about it." Kelly said with a smile.

"But…"

"Beurling, your mum's thugs didn't attack me because of you, they've been hounding me for weeks, this was always going to happen, besides she'd gone now." Kelly said placing a hand one Beurling's shoulder.

"It's not going to solve anything though."

"Maybe not, this isn't going to be a quick fix, but I can rest easy knowing my daughter has a good person to watch out for her and made some great friends."

"Mum!" Tomoko whined.

"Would you two like to come in?"

"Sorry we can't." Beurling said quietly "Our headmaster has ordered the two of us back to Vacuo in about half an hour, we are just here to say goodbye."

"I see, well I hope to see you two soon then." Kelly said giving Beurling hug, surprising the brawler "Safe trip." Kelly said before going off to hug Tomoko.

'That was like when my mum hugged me.' Beurling thought before Aria came up to her "Keep an eye on my sister for me, till we meet again." Aria said as she offered her hand.

"She keeps an eye on me." Beurling smiled before looking over at Tomoko, feeling her cheeks warming up and Beurling could see the Faunus blushing to.

"Aw, such an honest soul," Aria said before kissing Beurling on the cheek "Careful sis I might try and steal her."

"Oi, hands off!" Tomoko said breaking free of her mum's arms before pulling Beurling away from her sister who was giggling at the scene.

"Calm down sis, I was just joking, mostly."

Beurling could hear Tomoko growling, Beurling leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the Faunus "Hey, calm down, I'm yours." Beurling whispered feeling Tomoko's tail wagging at her words which tickled her and Beurling was forced to supress a smile.

"Aria, I told you, don't embarrass you sister."

"Sorry mum." Aira said throwing up her hands "But it's just so fun."

"Bully." Tomoko pouted.

"Oh come on its just a little fun, besides I'm your big sis, its my job to do so." Aria said before pulling Tomoko into a hug "You two be safe you hear."

"Don't worry, I've got my knight to keep me safe." Tomoko said before it hit her what she'd just said.

"Ooh…"

"Don't!"

Before either of the two could say anything Beurling's scroll buzzed and the brawler could see they had a message from Tammy telling them they needed to head back soon "Tomoko we need to go."

"Call us when you get back ok?" Kelly smiled.

"I will by mum, bye sis." Tomoko waved, Beurling waved back before walking back to the landing pad with Tomoko.

And with that only one more chapter for this volume.