A Cosmic Journey
A/N: Happy Monday All! Or maybe not-so-happy, but hopefully this chapter goes a little ways towards making it better. Anyways, before we begin, I wanted to address some new reviews.
Gobert600: This story will have pairings, and there will likely be a pairing for the MC. That said, I'll probably wait before getting to any of these, considering that the majority of the cast is currently in their young teens, if that. So for realism's sake, mentions of romance will likely begin kicking in once puberty and hormones become relevant.
The Crowned Reaper: A part of me is also disappointed that Roman and Neo won't be taking the spotlight, at least for this story. When I get around to writing another story, those two will definitely be at the top of my list. And I also noticed the lack of SI's involving Ren and Nora, so hopefully I do the duo and concept justice.
Gizmo Gear: Thanks for the support, and glad to see the enthusiasm. Always a pleasure to be reading whatever comments you've got.
Guest: That's definitely a viable tactic in guerilla warfare, and one that I wouldn't put past either side of extremists to have pulled in their history. Most parties however are likely considering the threat of mutually assured destruction, and probably hesitate to resort to such measures casually.
… … …
Chapter 4: Fall Seven Times
Chapter Date: 09/16/19
"So you're from Vacuo?"
"Born and raised in the Wastes. People think that's a derogatory term, but most people living there actually refer to the region as the Wastes."
"What's it like on the other side of Remnant?"
"Well, I can't speak for the other end of Sanus, but Vacuo is pretty much always scorching, with a side of dry. Anyone and anything surviving out there gets the superlative of 'pretty tough to kill.'"
Back and forth the conversation went between Nora and Sun Wukong. The two chatterboxes would be fast friends given both their proclivities in canon. For now, Ren and I remained silent, though compared to trying to figure out how on Remnant this occurred, Ren just looked happy for a reprieve from Nora's antics.
"So Sun, what brings you to Wind Path? None of Mistral's combat schools are around here," Nora commented.
"Wind Path is the hub for most, if not all, the exotic and illicit goods supplied to Anima's smuggling route. Since weapons and materials are scarce in Vacuo, and I was planning on travelling to Mistral for combat school, I figured I'd hit two Nevermore with one stone."
"But you mentioned earlier that you were 'pretty broke,' and that buying a Huntsman-quality weapon would be beyond your current means." Ren finally spoke, for the express purpose of putting Sun in an explanatory bind.
"Did I say that? I meant that I don't have a lot of Lien, but I'm not completely broke either." Sun chuckled the same way as when he'd been caught eavesdropping on Blake and Ghira in Volume 4. 'He's hiding something. But what? Better to just progress naturally and see what comes to light.'
"Well, if you're looking to get enough Lien for a weapon, we might have a suggestion, so long as you don't mind speaking with some morally grey individuals. Preto Reyes is the boss, and pretty trustworthy when it comes to taking bets and honoring payments. He's reliable, albeit not the most morally upstanding."
"Ha ha, guess I'll be in good company then," Sun laughed, his tail fidgeting with the pocket of his jeans.
"Well, it's back to the bookie who may or may not be a crime boss." Nora sounded cheerful for someone who just suggested returning to Preto. Ren and I both sighed at her statement, then motioned for a confused Sun to tag along as we walked back the way we came.
Along the way back to the Wanderer's Reprieve, I noted bits about Sun as he continued divulging. Growing up in the war-torn kingdom had imprinted upon him an early dose of pragmatic reality. Although he never fell to a life of crime, he wasn't above the liberation of food and clothes better used in others' mouths and hands. Also of note was the boy's wanderlust, something clearly displayed in canon.
Arriving back at the restaurant, Nora, Ren and I took a collective deep breath while Sun looked on, first in confusion and then in apprehension. "Is this guy that scary?"
Ren beat me to it while I was thinking. "It is not that he is frightening, though he is. Rather, we three are rather inexperienced committing any illegal acts, so we're preparing ourselves against any potential nerves or anxiety." Sun dipped back to confusion, which I quickly realized might be his default expression while with us.
"So you're nervous…about getting nervous…while dealing with a guy you said is friendly enough?" At our ambivalent headshakes and hand gestures, Sun nodded. "Nothing to worry about then!"
Without another word, he strode into the building, leaving even Nora dumbstruck for a moment before we scrambled after him. By the time we caught up however, he was already in front of Preto's table.
"So I hear you're the guy to come to for any bets?" Sun began without preamble, as Preto gave an unreadable glance at me.
"…I have such a reputation, yes," Preto replied slowly, before facing Ren, Nora and I. "Seriously? Are you just bringing kids out of the woodwork?"
"This," I gestured over to Sun, "was completely unplanned, and something that I pray will not be happening again for a while. Regardless, are you still taking bets for the Tournament?"
"I am, and you'll be happy to know that almost no other individual has bet on Pyrrha Nikos, save for a man so intoxicated he was barely conscious. I'm sure you know how well that speaks to the odds of your wager," Preto elaborated as the rest of his table laughed.
"Put me down for whatever they bet as well," Sun responded, tossing a pouch of lien over to Preto with his tail, shocking all present. Opening the pouch, Preto looked at the lien, blinked, then drew the pouch closed again.
"To be clear," Preto slowly replied, "You want to bet all of your lien on the same individual as these three, without knowing anything about the situation?"
"Eh, they seem trustworthy to me, and Kouzai here definitely sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Besides, scared money doesn't make money."
"Neither does stupid money," muttered one of the men, only to receive a plate to the face and topple to the ground.
"Never disrespect a potential client," Preto said over the man's groans. "Very well then. The books needed a bit more balance anyways."
"Problem solved then," breezed Sun. "I've placed a few wagers before, so I assume you'll be the ones bringing the good or bad news once the tournament's over?"
"Correct, though I warn you about a potential issue before then." At our bewildered expressions, Preto continued. "I saw no need to inform you three earlier, but as your friend here is a faunus this information becomes pertinent. Recently, a trafficking ring has sprung up in Anima, with Wind Path being a hub for such trade."
Shock covered our faces, but it only got worse. "Their…merchandise, are faunus."
Nora gasped with a hand to her mouth, Ren's eyes narrowed, and I let out a hissed, "Sons of bitches!"
As for Sun, he'd gone white as a sheet, tail drooped flat against his jeans.
"Quite," Preto remarked. "I've no love for such deplorable individuals in my territory, and have provided information to city's authorities on their movements. However, they are admittedly competently organized, and remain elusive to capture. Nevertheless, I'm sure they'll find their number is up soon enough. That said, I'd recommend not making any dramatic displays with your friend while in town, for his sake."
"Why now?" I asked.
"Who can say? Some claim such actions are in response to the White Fang's recent violent acts, others decry that such atrocities have been occurring all along," Preto considered. "It hardly matters why such scum have organized, only that they have, and clearly have buyers who'd likely consider your friend prime merchandise."
'Both Sun and Blake would be screwed if anything happened to him, not to mention the rest of Team SSSN.' I nodded. "Thank you for the information. We'll stay vigilant."
"Respect breeds respect, and you've given me that, while these brain-dead respirators have neglected to do so." Preto took a dainty sip from his cup. "I'm also curious if your little gambit will pay off, and am eager to pick your brain for the reason behind such confidence."
"Sure, why not." I tried for all intents and purposes to look like I wasn't fearing a personal chat with a crime boss.
Wandering out of the restaurant, Nora, Ren and I instantly closed ranks around Sun, who looked far twitchier than I'd ever seen him in the show. 'And for good reason too.'
With unanimous agreement, we set out for the nearest decent hotel. Keeping our heads on a swivel, Ren quickly got us a room despite our age after explaining the basics of our situation. Once inside the room, a simple one-bed affair, all four of us sighed in relief, no one more so than Sun.
"Avoiding the gazes of Faunus traffickers could be simpler than we believe," Ren began noting, glancing at Sun. "For example, if we have Sun tuck his tail into his jeans, or barring that, get him baggier pants or even a long coat, he would look just like any other human."
Both Nora and I considered the idea's merits, as Sun coughed in response.
"Yeah…about that…I don't think hiding my tail or swapping my clothing is gonna do much to hide me from these traffickers since, well…I think I stole from them." Sun let out the words as we gaped at him.
"When?" asked Ren.
"How?" Nora followed up.
"WHY?" I finished.
Sun rubbed his head, further tousling his hair. "I blew into town yesterday, and was actually completely broke from travelling. I'm not proud of it, but I lifted a little food. And when I also came across two thugs in the seedier part of town, loud as all get-out about putting 'filthy faunus' in their place, I figured I'd do Remnant a service and…appropriate their wallets for myself. I didn't think anything would come of it, but…"
"It's possible they were traffickers, if the sum of lien you accumulated from them is any indication," Ren finished, face grim. "This is…unfortunate, given that we visited that area of town twice today. Is there any chance Preto would inform the traffickers? He did mention that even criminals have honor in business."
"He also blatantly called them scum, among other things," I countered. "If Preto wanted to sell us out, he could've just kept us there and called them in. Instead, he let us leave, with information about them to boot. It'd be counterproductive if he wanted to see Sun captured."
"It doesn't matter. No more risks for you from here on out, got it Mister?" growled Nora, teal eyes glaring up at Sun's blue ones. The noticeable height difference height failed to aid him in the slightest as he nodded. "Good. We need to figure out what to do starting tomorrow."
"Our goal in Wind Path remains unchanged; to use our funds to acquire weapons," Ren explained. "We've encountered…resistance on both fronts, but the process remains straightforward. Assuming our bets have favorable results, our funds will solve themselves."
"Meaning we should get back to finding proper weapons," I finished the thought. "With the extra objective of keeping Sun safe. The best way to do that is probably to leave Sun here while we go searching for a blacksmith or arms dealer tomorrow. We can leave our stuff here to lighten the load, and with Sun here there's no chance that it'll get stolen. Anyone have objections?"
Sun opened his mouth, glanced at Nora's suspicious glare, then thought better of it. "Great! We'd better tuck in then, considering we've got a day of searching…well, another day of searching ahead of us. I'll take first watch."
"Count me in for the second shift then," Sun remarked. At our looks, he appeared almost offended. "Hey, I'm not letting you three literally lose sleep helping me when I could help. Besides, the more watches there are and the longer I'm on watch, the less time I'll be in a bed with two other guys."
'He's not wrong,' I conceded, taking my place by the window while the rest prepared for bed. 'Though he'll have to get used to being close to just guys for long periods soon enough.'
Staring out the window, ears straining for any out-of-place noises, my mind was awhirl with thoughts. 'This is…this is some heavy stuff. Faunus trafficking? Even the SDC wasn't that explicitly bad in the show, were they? And more importantly, if Sun stole from these guys the first time around, how was he not caught, and why was it never mentioned? Shit, if I lived through what he did, I'd have plenty of motivation to be angrier than his chill self.'
Answers didn't come easily, and neither did sleep once my shift ended. Despite my concerns or feelings of foreboding, however, I eventually drifted off.
… … …
"You're sure this guy's the best around?" Nora questioned skeptically. The three of us stood inside a dusty but roomy storefront, broken or incomplete arms and armor lining the walls. Stranger still, however, were the small bands of metal littering every surface in the room, including the floor.
"The best, definitely. The most reliable? Eh…the most unstable? Oh yes. His skills are first-rate, but business is almost nonexistent since almost no one can get past his…eccentricities." Alarms ringing in my head, I bent down to examine one of the metal bands, turning it over in my fingers. The curves, the filigree…
"It's a ring," I said, looking around the room in growing dread. "They all are."
"YOOOUUUU!" shouted a voice, and we spun to glimpse a fairly short man by one of the doorways. I say glimpse, because he lobbed three lumps at us. Difficult to see in the unlit room, we reacted instinctively to the projectiles. Ren dodged his by mere hairs, while I used Burst on my arms and caught mine, skidding a few feet from the sheer weight of the lump. And Nora?
"FORE!" Swinging Motlyn, Nora drove the lump towards the wall, crashing with a thunderous sound against one of the incomplete shields and embedding the lump in its surface. As Ren sighed and I began counting the potential lawsuits, the man came out from the cover of shadows and gave us our first decent look at him.
First was that this man was old, and I mean old. A magnificent white beard made up for being bald, somehow looking soft yet curling up and away like so many tongues of flame. His face sported numerous wrinkles, but had eyes burning with vigor and more than a little hint of something else. Adding to the contradictions was his wheelchair, looking to have been a long-term arrangement if the man's leg scars were any indication. Believing this man to be a blacksmith would've been impossible if it weren't for his enormous arms, biceps like watermelons and shoulders larger than our heads. Said giant arms wheeled the man over to the indented shield, examining the dent before reaching up and casually plucking the lump of metal out.
"Good form," the man grunted, wheeling to face us. "Now what're you here for?"
"We seek you out as potential clients, after hearing talk of your skills," Ren explained, the man pausing for a moment. "Are you Weylin, Sir?"
The man glared at each of us, and I struggled between looking away like any sensible person, or holding the gaze of what seemed like a wild animal.
"I am." The man relented, but instead of feeling superior, I merely felt relief. "If you're serious about my smithing, I've got a test for you first."
"OOH, is it to find the real ring among the copies?" Nora questioned, as I paled. 'I'm awful at spot the difference puzzles, so something like this-"
"NO!" Weylin shouted, shaking the room and rattling the loose metal. Bringing his hand to his chest, he fiddled with a small chain hidden behind his beard, and I glmipsed a metal band. "No…this is the real one, and no one's taking it from me. Not anymore. I made sure of that."
Weylin's tone gave us pause, before he grunted again. "Wait here." Turning the wheelchair around, he wheeled out of the room as silence fell again.
"I believe I know some of his eccentricities now," Ren deadpanned. "Having met the man, you're still set on commissioning him?"
"Well, we've already established a rapport with Wind Path's Dark King, so working with one slightly-intense, slightly-insane, blacksmith isn't too much of a stretch, right?" Ren seemed apprehensive, but didn't press the point. 'It may be a bit darker than what they dealt with in canon, but if it guarantees Nora and Ren, and by extension me, are as equipped as we can be, it'll be worth it.'
"Y'know, after thinking about it, I don't think I need some test to do work for you three. What say we drink in commemoration, and I'll get started." Weylin wheeled back into the room, balancing a serving tray with two goblets of dark liquid, which he grasped and raised in the air. "Now, who's drinking with me?"
He received no answer, response, or anything hinting our souls were present. Such silence resulted from the goblets he carried.
They were very clearly skulls.
"Well? I'm strong, but these old arms can't keep these up forever." Weylin grinned. "Who wants to-"
"OH HELL NO!" Nora hefted Motlyn in her hands, as Ren hovered his hand over Nanakusa for a quick knife throw. As for me…
"This is definitely the test. Do we drink whatever's in there, or refuse instead? Is it to choose one of the goblets? More importantly, why am I even considering this? He's holding two skulls, ones he likely 'acquired' and carved himself!'
I was about to give my own sharp retort when some pieces fell into place. Against my better judgment, I asked, "Are those the people who stole that ring from you?"
Ren and Nora threw baffled looks my way, as Weylin's grin took on a sinister edge. "They were. Does that bother you?"
"So much so that I wanna run away screaming, but I'll disregard that for now." I shut away my emotions, noticeable fear included. "What happened to the owner of that ring? It looks too small for you."
His eyes added to overall dread his expression induced, like two orbs of madness. "She left, and left this behind. It's all I have left of her."
I sighed. "Last question then. Do you regret what happened?"
The man's face dimmed, and sanity flowed back into his expression as his eyes gazed off. "No, not the act itself. But I do regret what I did after."
Turning to me, he said, "So what's your choice? Make no mistake, you're dealing with a murderer, moreso than any other weapon-maker. If I make a weapon, dust, if I make armor, it's done with the understanding that it'll shed blood, and some of it won't be Grimm or animal. You wanna protect Remnant from monsters? Try the ones lurking within your walls first."
'I know that better than most on Remnant. Without any Grimm on Earth, the only monsters are humans.' I pointed at the skulls. "One last question. Are those clean?"
Weylin's eyebrows merely lifted as he nodded, while Ren's jaw dropped. Nora straight-up fainted. Swallowing rising bile, I walked towards Weylin, and reached for one of the goblets. 'In for a penny…'
Only for Weylin to bring both goblets to his mouth, tilt back, and waterfall their contents. All conscious jaws dropped as Weylin drained their contents, smacking his lips. "Ah, that's good wine."
Noticing our gobsmacked faces, his expression became quizzical. "Did you want some? Personally, I'd offer, but think of the trouble I'd get for getting underage clients drunk. What am I, crazy?"
'Use words!' "You, but, skulls, test…" 'There we go.'
"What, these?" Weylin lifted both skulls. "They're just for shock and awe, a screener for anyone squeamish at non-Grimm violence. I won't have pansies using my work!"
"So the skulls are merely decorative then?" Ren questioned as he lifted Nora into his arms. "Those aren't the remains of people you've killed?"
"No, they definitely are," Weylin corrected, causing Ren to nearly drop Nora in shock. "I make that clear to every potential client. You," he said, looking at me, "were put off by the sight, but went for it anyways. That tells me you're willing to put others' burdens, including these two, before your own principles. You, and I guess by extension them, I can work with."
Then his eyes softened. "Word of advice though. Don't be so quick to darken your soul for the sake of others. Not yet, at least."
"Anywho, since you three have little else but your clothes and weapons, I'm assuming you don't have any ideas or schematics on what you're looking for yet. Come back when you have something and I'll start running you all through the process. Good? Then scram, I've got nothing to do!"
As Ren and I left, still bamboozled, Nora stirred in Ren's arms, then flinched as her eyes shot open and looked for me.
"Kouzai! Don't drink the scary skull blood! Wait, did you drink it already? Are you a vampire? Are you going to drink my blood?!" Flailing her arms to ward me off, she inadvertently slapped Ren in the face. Pausing, her arms sought out the victim of her strike, eyes still on me. Both hands felt Ren's face and pulled at his cheeks, before Nora slowly turned to look up at Ren.
"Did you rest well, Nora?" Ren asked, oblivious to Nora's reddening expression.
'Three, two, one…'
"AAAAHHHH!" Nora literally flopped out of Ren's arms with nothing but core strength, righted herself and landed on one foot before curling into a fetal position crouch, head between her legs in her arms.
"Is there a problem, Nora?" Ren asked, confused. "If you're still feeling unwell, I wouldn't mind carrying you further. You're very light after all."
"Gbrlbmll…" Muffled mutterings drifted from the embarrassed ball that was Nora Valkyrie. I squatted down beside her, right by her ear.
"So, how did it feel to wake up in Ren's arms?" I whispered mischievously, enjoying the flinch Nora gave, one eye peeking out from her shell to confirm that I knew. Before she could respond, I straightened and turned to Ren. "So, what now?"
"Now, we return to the room and Sun, and finalize our weapon concepts for Weylin to begin creating upon our return. The sooner that we have our weapons, the sooner that Sun can be safe from danger." Ren's face was unchanged, but his body exuded slight tension. Nora and I exchanged glances, then set off after Ren as he walked back to the hotel.
'I wonder what's shaken Ren's ironclad emotional control.' I considered. 'He's usually an unbreakable wall of calm. The only times he started losing control were during…Volume 4…'
I trailed off as we neared the hotel, a small crowd gathered outside. Nearing the entrance, the sight of broken glass and bullet casings filled our lungs with unease. Pushing inside, we ignored indignant shouts in favor of rushing upstairs. Reaching the floor our room was on, the group of uniforms made it clear what had happened. Reaching our door, two officers standing outside stopped us.
"This is an active crime scene, all non-involved individuals must remain outside of the perimeter so-" The man speaking didn't get any further as Nora and I pushed into the room, Ren pausing long enough to present our room key before joining us.
The room looked beaten to hell, with clear signs of a fight. Furniture overturned and smashed, scrapes lining the walls and what looked like bullet holes embedded around the room.
'Damn…'
"Excuse me, but I repeat, this is an active crime scene and you're currently standing in the middle of the evidence. Now, as I understand it this is your room, so if you could come with us, we'd like to-'
The man was cut off a second time as the three of us rushed out of the room, Nora yelling back, "SCREW THAT! Our friend just got kidnapped!"
"We need to split up and cover as much ground as possible. They're definitely travelling either on foot or by car, so stick to the roads." My mind was running in overdrive. "Call as soon as you see Sun or any traffickers, but make sure to stay clear. If these guys beat Sun, they're not people that we should fight separately."
Exiting out of a side entrance, we nodded to each other as Ren ran towards the rundown area of the city, while Nora dashed into the industrial section. I sprinted into the commercial area, blazing past crowds and looking for anything suspicious. Luckily, my search was going quickly. Unluckily, that also meant I was finding nothing. Frustrated, I ducked into one of the alleys, used Burst on my arms and legs, and started climbing up the alleyway building. Hauling myself onto the roof, I went rooftop running, using the aerial view for a better look.
"A parkour dream right fulfilled. If only I wasn't in the middle of a life-or-death stakes situation!" I growled, jumping to a lower rooftop. "Damnit, why didn't Sun contact us on his scroll?...Dust, he's broke, he wouldn't have one!"
Then, by some miracle, I caught a glimpse, just a glimpse of a bound and gagged body being carried by two men down another alley. I looked for further reinforcements, finding none. 'Two guys? If I ambush one, I could take the other…'
Remaining silent, I traversed the rooftops, used Burst on my arms and leapt off the roof. Clenching Protector and Conqueror, I bit back a shout of fury as I fell, and brought them down one after the other on the back man's collarbone. The first impacted against Aura, as the second shattered his Aura shield, the man dropped like a sack of potatoes groaning on the ground. Viciously kicking his face, I turned to face his partner, who dropped Sun to the ground, and pulled out a sword.
"Back the fuck off if you wanna stay in one piece, kid," the man growled. "We're doing the world a favor, putting these animals to work."
"The only animal here is you." I used Burst on my legs, dashed forward and swung Conqueror, before the machete blocked it. Both weapons grated against each other, and I saw the machete had chips in it signaling a lack of Aura reinforcement. The thug swung with all of his might and knocked me back. Now at a distance, I closed in again, only to see the man draw a pistol and fire. With no time to dodge at point-blank range, I bolstered my Aura shield just as the bullet impacted my shoulder, grunting as the force spun me around. Gritting my teeth, I steered into the skid and used the momentum to swing Protector, using Burst on my arm as I cracked the man across his skull, his Aura shattering as well.
"Okay, now to-ARGH!" I stumbled forward, pain exploding at the back of my skull, staggering as my Aura dropped significantly. Whirling around, I blinked past stars to see the attacker fire another shot, hitting me directly in the chest as I was blown off my feet, my own Aura shield shattered.
"I leave for two minutes," A kick to my face ruined my attempt to sit up, "and you both get laid out by some brat? No wonder why everyone thinks we're a joke." A kick to my ribs sent me rolling across the ground, clutching at my side. From the ground, I saw a figure reach down to pick up Protector and Conqueror.
SNAP
CRACK
Both bamboo weapons fell in pieces, as the figure drew closer. A yank on my hair had me forcefully rising, to meet the face of the third attacker, with sadistic eyes and a malicious smile. I glared as he looked at my body up and down indifferently.
"You appear human, so I'm confused why you're helping this Faunus scum here." He gestured back to Sun, who was stirring from being dropped. "Y'see, given his stature and Aura, he'd have been a rare find anyways. But he had the nerve to steal from my colleagues, then gamble it away."
My eyes widened as the man chuckled. "Yeah, we heard about your visit to the Dark King. He keeps all bookmaking matters tight, but he can't stop people inside the restaurant from…divulging information. Add the fact that our little access cards are trackable, and finding this one was easy."
Twirling a card around, I saw a sickle 'C' circling a faunus head. Muffled shouts drew my attention, as Sun looked back and forth between the man and I frantically. "Ah damn, awake already. We better get moving again. Oi, get up!"
Releasing my hair, I fell back onto the ground as the man walked over to clock Sun across his face, then sling him over his shoulder. Close by, the other conscious thug supported his mostly-unconscious partner as the two began stumbling away.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot," the man holding Sun said conversationally. Turning back to me, he added, "The next time any of our group see you, we'll peg you as a race traitor and kill you. Ciao."
Turning away, blinding pain had my eyes near-screwed shut. However, I was just observant enough to see Sun's dazed eyes from the man's back as he walked away.
It took an eternity before they left my sight.
… … …
"You're quite fortunate, son. I've seen and heard similar confrontations ending much less favorably. We thank you for doing your civil duty and trying your best to stop such a heinous crime, but please leave it to the professionals. We'll get to the bottom of this. For now, your job is to rest up and get better." The officer who interviewing me took his leave, and I leaned back on the hospital bed, glancing at Ren and Nora, both appearing none too pleased.
After losing Sun, I'd laid in the alley before some officers arrived, citing reports of gunshots. Taking me to the hospital, I was given aid while answering some of the officers' questions. I managed to swing the conversation from our flight from the hotel to information on the trafficking ring. Apparently, they called themselves the Cleansers, which helped explain the sickle 'C' on their cards. In the middle of all this, Ren and Nora rushed into the hospital after receiving the call from my scroll. Now, I sat there as Ren looked near the boiling point.
"So after you said to remain at a distance and call in as to our whereabouts, you proceeded to fight multiple armed kidnappers, and got beaten for your troubles. Does that sound like the summary of events?" Ren asked between clenched teeth. At my meek nod, he sighed, then pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Why did you do that, Kouzai? You're usually the patient one, at least compared to me, and even I would've waited," Nora added with disappointed eyes. I swear that hurt more than the hits I'd sustained after my Aura shield shattered.
"I…I can't really say," I replied, frustrated with myself. "I just saw Sun, trapped, and I just couldn't hold back out of anger and fear. And there were only two at the time, which I thought I could take."
"Foolish, considering you've yet to experience fighting multiple opponents, at least before today," Ren stressed. "You're now injured, and a person of interest in an investigation. You should count yourself lucky your Aura sustained itself for those last few blows to mitigate the damage, or else you would surely have fractures and possibly even brain damage. Thankfully, your wounds will likely heal within the next few days, so we can resume searching in the meantime."
"About that…," I responded weakly. "Maybe we should leave the investigating to the police at this point. We've searched the relevant districts and came up empty, and their group is more formidable than a few Grimm at a time. We've done our part."
Silence fell in the room, and I looked at Ren. The boy's face looked haunted, like all the building irritation had vanished, and left some hollow husk in its place.
"You want to…leave things…to the police?" Ren asked slowly. "To sit back…let others risk themselves for our mistakes? To abandon Sun when he needs us?!"
"No, I do not want to let things be!" I countered hotly. "I want to find Sun, and I want to free him. But damnit, this isn't a game! If we continue searching, our lives are on the line, and we might even put those captured faunus at risk. Isn't that something to take caution about?"
Fast as lightning, Ren's fist whipped my head sideways, before Nora held him back with a shocked expression. "What are you doing?"
Ren's face was like thunder. "You think I don't know that lives are at risk? This has never been a game, for any of us!...at least, that's what I believed. Are your convictions towards saving lives really so fragile?"
At this, I glared back at Ren. "No, they are not. I believe in saving people, as many as I can." 'More than you could know.' "But what about the big picture? Do you really think any of us, or even the three of us can do more for these faunus than Wind Path's police or even Preto's men? Do you really think that just one person can make such a tangible difference with their own two hands?"
Such words seemed to cut through Ren's anger, his expression slowly becoming solemn, his voice a whisper. "I have to. I have to believe in making difference with even just one person. That's what being a Huntsman or Huntress is."
"And you're not alone. None of us are. A group of people, as small as three, can shape others' lives for the better," Nora insisted, grasping Ren and I by our hands. "Isn't that something we all believe in?"
My expression was frozen. 'Is it really that simple? Can I really believe it takes just one person to make a difference? All this time, I've tried to help Nora and Ren, and even Sun, get on the right path because of my presence on Remnant. I thought I was just trying to set things right and set myself up to survive in the end…maybe I do believe in change, in being able to help people along if you have the right knowledge, if you're willing to watch over them." My eyes narrowed, and my jaw set. "No, I do believe, and it's time I show that."
"It's a sad day when I'm receiving life advice from someone so much younger than me…" I shook my head, face softening. Only for Nora to chop my head.
"Hey! I'm only a few months younger than you! No need to lord it over my head!" Nora exclaimed indignantly. "Now c'mon, we need a plan here and mine always get shot down."
I rolled my eyes, gesturing for both to sit. "Okay, I made sure this room was bug-free earlier in case we needed to talk, which I guess is a little late to mention. Nonetheless, I have a plan."
Stringing together ideas I'd stumbled upon and spitting them out, I waited for their reaction. Ren was the first to recover.
"Your plan is asinine," he deadpanned as I winced. Clearly, he was still annoyed at me. "But…a few modifications would make it more possible."
As Ren gave his suggestions, Nora jumped up and exclaimed, "I'VE GOT IT!" After some shushes from workers outside of the room, she gave her little tweak to the plan we'd put together.
"Are we sure this'll work?" I questioned. "This is a lot of assumptions and risks."
"We've never doubted ourselves before, and we won't start now," Nora stated confidently.
"I believe the merit is worth the risk," Ren added. I sighed, then chuckled as Ren and Nora gave me confused looks.
"It's nothing, it's just…I make stupid plans, Ren corrects them, and Nora makes them stupidly crazy. Business as usual." At this, Ren and Nora grinned as well, before we all steeled ourselves. "Alright, we don't know how long we have to save Sun, so we'll have to act as soon as possible. By nighttime tomorrow, we're going to tear a trafficking ring down."
'Hey, crazier words were spoken in the show, right?'
… … …
… … …
"Ren, are you sure you're okay now? You were really angry at Kouzai earlier." Ren glanced down at Nora and patted her head, a habit formed over the years.
"I'm fine, Nora. The stress just piled up on me, along with some uncomfortable thoughts I had." The two were on a bed in one of the hospital's hospitality suites, compensation by Wind Path's police for their room being a crime scene. Together, but not together-together, as Nora would say. Despite any thoughts he-no, getting off track. He felt Nora wordlessly asking to confide his thoughts in her, like he had done for her, and sometimes Kouzai.
"It's about Kouzai's decisions while in Wind Path, but after thinking on it, such a trait has been present since we first met." He knew that Nora was giving her undivided attention. "Dealing with Preto, volunteering to…drink with Weylin, even fighting those traffickers alone earlier. He seems patient, but in certain matters, he displays a frightening intensity towards constant improvement and results. And I'm beginning to see that many of those matters relate to us.
Instead of waiting for new stock, or working towards having sufficient lien, Kouzai made an illegal gamble with the city's crime lord, so we could receive our weapons sooner. And again at Weylin's. I know that he respects life, down to his choice of blunt weapons. But to even think of engaging in such a reviled act, merely to acquire quality weapons? He places the group's needs above his own, including those of his soul. That…is unnerving."
"But what if he just wants to protect himself?" Nora argued weakly. "It's horrible to say, but what if he wants weapons so badly to protect himself. A-and he has those journals that he never, ever lets us see, like he's got some terrible secret. I know it feels wrong to think of him as selfish, but it's better than suggesting he's…broken."
Both sat silently contemplating. Most aspiring huntsmen or huntresses sought to become so because of a desire to do good, but often with a corresponding selfish desire borne from tragedy. If their friend was so selfless in his pursuit to help, did that make him more selfish? Or a product of even greater tragedy?
… … …
A/N: Aaand done. Whew, the fun never ends, right? For both writer and character. I thought for a while how to integrate events into the story without contradicting canon or leaving myself open to being disproved in the next season of RWBY. The White Fang's violent rise, and the natural pushback, was a natural hook with many avenues to write about.
Now for the stinger above. Much of the fun of fanfiction comes from reading about our favorite characters acting in situations not addressed in canon. As SI's tend to focus on events surrounding themselves, getting perspectives of canon characters can be difficult at times. Having the stinger, however, lets me get a snapshot of canon characters reacting to these exact events. I think adding these to the fic will be an interesting addition, so look forward to these as well. But fear not! Our little bonuses-I mean, omakes, are still kicking. Enjoy.
OMAKE
"Could you explain once more what the purpose of the visit is, Ms. Goodwitch?"
"As you are quickly approaching the age for potential enrollment in a combat school, Professor Ozpin and I thought it fitting that you might enjoy a trip to Signal Academy, Vale's most prominent combat school. Such an experience might benefit any deliberations you might have in which school to attend." As the bullhead landed, Glynda turned to me and smiled. "I also have a surprise for you."
The door began lowering as she continued. "Your time at Beacon, while obviously a very beneficial learning experience, has lacked those who you could call peers. So I arranged for some special guides during our tour around Signal Academy."
My eyes widened upon seeing a head of short blond hair, blue eyes and stubble.
"They are the family that Professor Ozpin considered requesting to take you in when we first met."
"How could I forget?" I asked, holding back a twitch as a waterfall of sun-kissed hair with lilac eyes came into view.
"They are a professor of Signal Academy, along with his two daughters, one your age, the other two years your junior."
The door almost touching the ground, the last head finally appeared, with dark, red-accented hair and the first pair of silver eyes I'd ever seen, tucked into a body that practically vibrated in place.
"Please meet Professor Taiyang Xiao Long, Yang Xiao Long, and Ruby Rose."
Eleven-year-old Ruby squealed excitedly and streaked out of my vision before a hand grasped my wrist. Instinctively channeling Aura, I saved myself from a dislocated arm as Ruby raced off the Bullhead with me in tow.
"Ohmygosh, this is amazing! Dad told me and Yang about a kid living at Beacon, and when he said you'd be coming to look at Signal I was so excited! YouhavetotellmeallboutbeaconIhavesomanyquestionsaboutbeaconandyou-"
"Geez Rubes, let the guy get a word in before going full motormouth on him." A thirteen-year-old Yang was one merciful inch shorter than I was currently, not that it affected her supreme confidence. "So you're Mistralian then? Or is it just your name? I'll find out. In the meantime, I've gotta figure out a nickname for you, something that screams Xiao Long humor."
'The kind with horrible puns?' Ruby and I groaned in solidarity with one another.
Behind us, I heard Glynda engaging with Taiyang. "So he's the kid, huh? When Qrow and Oz told me, I thought they were playing some elaborate prank. I mean, Glynda Goodwitch with a child, one that fell out of the sky into her lap?"
Glynda twitched, preparing to administer telekinetic reprimanding, before Tai smiled and backed off to show he was joking. Sighing, she let a slow smile come to her face as she looked at me. "It has certainly been an…interesting course of events. While certainly unexpected, the last nine months have been lovely and rewarding." A tug on my arm interrupted my eavesdropping.
"What's with the standing? Let's head to my family's house first, we've got fresh cookies to eat and stories to tell!" Ruby exclaimed cheerfully. I paled at the thought of having to fake my way through amnesia with fragmented fake memories again.
"And later, I'll show you the sparring ring at Signal. You can even show off some of the moves you've learned while living at Beacon," Yang added, a glint in her eye. Common sense dictated that if we sparred I would likely die.
'Is it too late to get back on the bullhead?'
… … …
A/N: I repeat, no romance in the immediate future. But like this SI in Mistral deals with Ren and Nora, a Vale-centric fic, specifically one closely weaved with Ozpin and Glynda, naturally encounters the most badass sisters on Remnant. And their dad.
-SE
Next Chapter Date: 09/23/19