Without You

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY or Naruto. Rights are held by their respective owners.

Ten seconds.

That's how long Kakashi had been staring at Ozpin for. The professor had a laid back appearance, standing quite casually as he sipped his coffee. Like clockwork, the man greeted the applicants and congratulated them on their success within the forest.

But there was one within the group that had drawn his interest. Ozpin regarded Kakashi with thinly veiled curiosity. The ninja watched the man with caution.

"...Yes, Ms. Rose. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid I must deprive you of your friend for a moment or two." He gestured his mug to Kakashi who hung back slightly from the group, simply content on observing.

Ruby closed her mouth, no longer rambling to the headmaster about the exam. Instead, she turned to the boy next to her and said in a questioning tone, "Kakashi…?"

"I'm afraid so. There's a few minor details to discuss." Ozpin assured.

The others had all been guided back to the academy by the deputy headmistress Glynda Goodwitch. Ruby tentatively nodded, looking back and forth between Ozpin and Kakashi.

"Oh, alright." Kakashi gave her a slight nod. "I'll see you later, Kakashi!"

And with that, she dashed inside the academy to find her sister and her partner, leaving only the two of them overlooking the cliffside.

Both men waited for the door to close before staring back at one another. The wind blew the duo's white hair but neither of them moved first. Finally, Ozpin gathered his cane and sipped one final time.

"Come with me, Kakashi…"

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

Walking to Ozpin's office was painfully silent, at least to the man himself. If the masked teen was at all bothered, he definitely didn't show it.

On the way there, the headmaster had time to ponder about the boy who sauntered a few steps behind him. He had a few theories on Kakashi; none of them left him feeling good.

When they reached the elevator, the older man saw Kakashi tense up and yet made no comment.

They'd have time for questions in a moment.

Ding!

"Welcome to my office." The room was grand. The walls were mostly windows, allowing lots of light to brighten up the entire area. Kakashi couldn't help but feel nostalgia as the room reminded him greatly of the Hokage's office.

Finally, Ozpin took a seat behind an elegant desk and sighed. The headmaster placed his elbows on his desk and clasped his hands.

"So, Kakashi," he began, "Am I correct that Kakashi is your name?"

"Kakashi Hatake." The ninja saw no harm in revealing this information to the man. Likely, he already knew who he was based off of what Ruby told him before.

Ozpin nodded, sipping his coffee.

"I must admit to my confusion, Kakashi," the headmaster began, "For you see, I do not recall receiving an application to Beacon from one such as you."

"I sent no such application, sir." Kakashi stated, with a flat tone.

"I know," the older man leaned forward. "Which leads me to ask you what you were doing in the Emerald Forest."

The ANBU captain felt the sun set upon his skin from outside the window. He watched the clock tick away, second by second. Finally, he turned his eye back to Ozpin directly.

"Is there a reason for these questions or am I free to go?"

"You may leave at any time. Forgive me though if I show concern for my students when they interact with a trained assassin of mysterious origins." Ozpin let his mouth form into a small smirk.

Kakashi's single eye narrowed. He reached behind his back and grasped the hilt of his sword.

"There'll be no need for that, young man," the headmaster placated calmly. "You are not the only man in this room with blood on his hands, and I'd hate for either of us to have more by the time the day is done."

Reluctantly, Kakashi let his hand drop to his side.

"What do you want?" he asked plainly. The ninja was done with these games. If the headmaster wanted him dead then he was going to make him work for it. Not because he cared for his life; simply out of spite.

Besides, this man clearly knew Kakashi was some kind of ninja. Or at the very least an 'assassin'. There was no need to try and trick him otherwise.

"Fine, I won't mince words." Ozpin put down his mug and stood up. "I'm offering you a chance to join my school. You showed your skills in the Emerald Forest and I'm willing to recognise that and grant you a place here at Beacon."

Kakashi scoffed behind his mask. "I don't need your school." He crossed his arms and glared at the professor. "I'm not like those kids in the forest." Kakashi said this, remembering the innocence of Ruby.

"Maybe not, but there is always more to be learned. And Beacon Academy is the most prestigious academy in the world." Ozpin moved around his desk, clicking and clacking his cane.

"You would allow an 'assassin' around those school children? A killer?!" Kakashi raised his voice up an octave. What kind of security was this? Is he stupid or something?

"I have a feeling there's more to you than a mindless killer, Kakashi. Am I wrong?" Ozpin continued his slow march to the ninja with a gleam in his eye. "And you look much younger than those so-called children."

The ANBU captain rose up to his full height and yet the headmaster was still much taller. "Why would I join you?" Kakashi narrowed his eye at the other man. "There's nothing you can offer me so give it a rest."

"Friendship." Ozpin reached his hand out to the young ninja who looked at it with disgust. "And a fresh start. Accept my offer, and you can start a new life here at this academy."

Kakashi just stared at the hand. Slowly, the disgust disappeared and his face fell back into his emotionless mask. What really was there? Konoha was destroyed along with its Hokage. Even if it survived, what was left for him?

Everyone was dead.

An hour or two ago, he'd tried to end his life but now, he was perhaps going to try and build a new one.

Was it worth it?

He grasped the hand in front of him and gave it a firm shake. There was only one way to find out.

Kakashi, however, made a mental vow. He would try and start a new life here at this academy, but if it ends in more pain, he'd end this man himself for giving him false hope.

"Fine."

"KAKASHI!~" Ruby yelled in glee as the door opened revealing the fourteen year old with messy silver hair. Kakashi carried a small pillow and sleeping bag under his arms and plopped both articles down on the floor.

"Hey!" Weiss interjected, "What's he doing here?!"

His singular eye lingered on Ruby before snapping to Weiss. Idly, he noticed that she too had a scar over her eye yet it seemed she could still see out of it.

"Ozpin has given the order that I join your team." His voice was flatter than paper but it got the other girls' attention. Blake and Yang perked up from their beds. Beds that were definitely NOT safe to be sleeping on.

'Is that bed hanging from ropes?'

"You could say that with more enthusiasm, you know…" Yang mumbled in the background while brushing her hair.

"REALLY!?" Kakashi flinched as Ruby yelled in his ear.

"Yes, Captain!" The ANBU member fell to his knee and bowed his head. Inside, his pride grated at him for this demotion, but Ozpin was clear that Ruby was the team leader.

As such, he obeyed.

"U-uh…" Ruby looked to the others for help but they were all as confused as she was. "You know you don't have to do that, right?"

'What's up with this guy…?' the other girls thought.

"Shinobi rule number twenty seven: A shinobi must always show deference to their commander." Kakashi recited. These words came easily to him. The shinobi rules were as natural to him as breathing.

"Uhm, okay…" Ruby poked her index fingers together, "So, like, does that mean you have to do what I say, or something?"

"Ruby!" Yang yelled.

"What? I'm just asking!" she said quickly.

'Just asking, my ass,' the blonde brawler thought, but she backed down and continued to brush her hair. Blake soon lost interest and went back to her book while Weiss crossed her arms and looked angry at having to share a room with a boy.

Kakashi continued to kneel and recited, "Shinobi rule number one: A shinobi must follow their commander's instructions."

She wouldn't make him do something stupid, would she?

"Aha~!" Ruby proudly exclaimed, "Then I order you to stop following the shinobi rules and be a normal person!" The girl pointed her finger in victory at Kakashi who couldn't suppress an eye twitch.

He gritted his teeth behind his mask and stood up.

"Yes, Captain." He spat the last word but it was hardly noticeable.

'This is never going to work out.' Kakashi laid his pillow and sleeping bag in the corner of the room where he found enough space and sighed. 'Friends,' he rubbed his eye, 'what was I thinking?'

As far as he could tell, there were no other ninja here. Not here, not anywhere. Nobody had recognised his headband. At first, he took it for not caring but not a single soul mentioned Konoha and he had very good hearing.

The former ANBU captain - and hadn't that stung? - had begun to remove his armour. Almost reverently, he gently moved his hand across the gray material. It was riddled with scars just like his own body. Next was his arm guards and his gloves. And finally his sandals.

With his armour off completely, he focused on removing his weapons. It felt like he was retiring, which was true in a sense, though shinobi never truly retire.

This day was the last day these weapons would be used in service of Konoha. From now on. they were purposeless.

Like Kakashi.

He sighed. All this pointless grandeur. He laid his body on his rolled out sleeping bag and propped his head up with his arm. Kakashi couldn't help himself and looked over to see what the girls were doing.

Strange.

He'd shared rooms with all sorts of comrades but never all girls. Jaded eyes glossed over. They'd all die soon enough anyway.

"Kakashi! Want to play?"

Suddenly shaken out of his stupor he replied, "What?"

"Never have I ever~!" Ruby smiled. "C'mon, come on!" She pulled at the ninja's arm. For whatever reason, Kakashi let her lead him over to the team and sat on the bed opposite to Blake and Yang. Weiss was with the two of them, though begrudgingly.

"So," Yang began, "I figured since we all don't know each other, we should play Never have I ever!"

"Isn't that a drinking game?" mumbled Blake, still flipping pages in her book. She looked thoroughly disinterested in whatever Yang was planning but didn't speak out against the idea.

"I'm not getting in trouble if you snuck alcohol into the school!" Weiss objected.

"Relaaax, Weiss." Yang drawled, "Unfortunately, I don't have any drinks, but we don't need drinks to play."

Kakashi watched this byplay and was confused. Games were childish. So he said as much.

"Games are childish. Ruby should simply order us to say our likes and dislikes, hobbies and dreams for the future."

The four girls looked at him like he was from another planet.

"So…" Yang drawled, "Never have I ever..."

"Never have I ever!" Ruby yelled.

Kakashi shook his head. He wished he was on a mission. This was completely out of his comfort zone.

"So, a person says something they've never done and if you've done it, you've got to raise your hand." Yang explained to the group.

"This is dumb," Weiss picked at her nails.

"I'll start!" Ruby declared, "Never have I ever stolen from somebody!"

Dramatically, she looks around the room. Surprisingly, Kakashi, Yang, and Blake all have their hands up.

Weiss feels her face scrunch up in aloof disgust, "Hmph. It seems that I share a dorm room with a bunch of thieves."

Kakashi felt nothing at being called a thief. What kind of shinobi doesn't know how to steal?

"I guess I should ask something criminal, considering the company I seem to be keeping." Weiss looked unimpressed but rolled her eyes and stared at her flawless nails. "Never have I ever killed somebody."

Surprisingly, Kakashi raised his hand.

Weiss was positively abhorred. "What the hell?"

The other girls couldn't believe it either. Personally, Kakashi didn't know why they were freaking out. All four girls were looking at him like he was crazy or something.

"What?" He looked at the group with lidded eyes. There goes his new life. Erased in a nanosecond because of some stupid question in some stupid game. He knew he shouldn't have participated.

"What do you mean 'what'?" screeched Wiess, "I was being sarcastic when I asked that question and you raised your hand!"

"So, you've never been to war. Wasn't the whole purpose of this activity to find out more about the team?" Kakashi retorted. He was about ready to give in and go to sleep.

"War?! You can't have gone to war! You're like fifteen!" Even Blake immediately dismissed that claim.

"I'm fourteen, and some of us weren't lucky enough to live a lifetime of peace." Kakashi shook his head and started heading towards his sleeping bag. "Whatever. You can finish this silly game of yours without me. I'm going to sleep."

Ruby just looked at him sadly from her place on the bed.

"Kakashi Hatake..." Ozpin said slowly to himself. He was in his office watching a recording from the Emerald Forest. When the video ended, it proceeded to loop again and again on his tablet for the old headmaster to watch.

"Ms. Rose saved you from a deadly fall, didn't she?" The video was of a camera that had a patchy view of the broken bridge. On it was Kakashi who was being pulled off the edge by Ruby Rose.

Ozpin paused the recording and used his two fingers to zoom in on Kakashi's face. He sipped his mug of coffee.

"What kind of assassin tries to commit suicide?"

A/N

People seemed to like the first chapter. Here's a second.