Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo while RWBY belongs to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth

Chapter 22: Yellow Belly

Jaune landed on his butt after Tatsuki punched his shield. The kinetic energy behind it sent Jaune flying. He lets out a cough. Tatsuki sauntered over to him, looking less impressed with each step. "You are leaving a lot to be desired, Jaune. We've been at this for weeks and you still haven't improved. Your melee attacks are child's play and your hand-to-hand makes Ruby look like a pro. You are now being distracted."

"I-I know, I know!" Jaune said, sitting up. "I just…I just have a lot in my mind. Cardin, school, and…other things."

Tatsuki glances over to the other members of JNPR, currently occupied by her teammates. "You mean like how you faked your way into Beacon?" She questioned.

Jaune paled in shock before flashing Tatsuki a nervous grin. "Wh-what? What are you talking about?"

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Tatsuki asked sharply. Jaune flinched at her tone. "Do you think my friends are stupid? The teachers? Our headmaster?"

"N-n-n-no! I-I-I-I-I…" Jaune stuttered.

"If students like us were able to see it, then I'm sure our teachers have, let alone headmaster Ozpin." Tatsuki said. "Of course, that would pegged the question as to why they allowed you to be here. Perhaps there is potential, but you're not taking this seriously." Tatsuki sighs. She squats to be at Jaune's level. "Look, Jaune. What you are doing here is nothing compared to what's out there. And, if you keep being an encumbrance, you're gonna get your ass handed to you and you're gonna need someone to save your sorry hide. Do you want that kind of burden over your head? That you are the cause of their injuries…or worse?" Jaune didn't answer her questions. He hanged his head in silence as he mulled it over. Tatsuki straightened herself up. "We're done for the day. Think about what I just told you." She leaves.

"Jaune, are you okay?" Jaune only sighs. Pyrrha's brows knitted in worry. "I've got an idea. Come with me!" Pyrrha said. She grabs Jaune by the arm and drags him along towards somewhere.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Stupid essays…" Cardin grumbled. He just got back from some mandatory after school class with Selena O'Hare since him and his team 'had' to do that essay during the Dust project. 'Someone like O'Hare shouldn't be here teaching about Dust, she should be in the mines, where she belongs,' he thought as he relaxed on the windowsill of his dorm. 'Speaking of, why do we even have these classes? Dust, science, history…They have nothing to do with fighting Grimm. Hell, I'm better than some of those losers in class, I shouldn't need to be in combat class. I should have skipped a year too. That opportunity is wasted on that red runt…'

He feels a presence above him, where the roof is. He recognizes the Aura Signatures. 'Jauney-boy and that redhead know-it-all…What are they gonna do? Make out?'

"Pyrrha, I know I'm going through a hard time now, but I'm not that depressed." 'It might save people the headache,' thought Cardin. "I could just be a farmer or something…" 'You're definitely the King of Compost.'

"N-no! That's not why I brought you up here," Pyrrha said. "Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters," 'That's an understatement,' "so... I want to help you!" 'Sorry to break to you, but the dork is a lost cause.'

"Wh-what?"

"We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!"

"You think I need help?" 'What you need is a miracle.'

N-no! No, that's not what I meant."

"But you just said it."

"Jaune, everybody needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made it to Beacon! That speaks volumes of what you're capable of!"

"…You're wrong. I-I don't belong here." 'That's the statement of the century.'

"That's a terrible thing to say! Of course you do!"

"No, I don't!" Jaune shouts. "I wasn't really accepted into Beacon..."…What?

"W-What do you mean?"

"I didn't go to any combat school. I didn't pass any test! I didn't my spot in this academy. I lied! I got my hands on some fake transcripts…and I lied." Cardin tunes the two out as he pieced together everything that has happened over the last several weeks. His below average fighting skills, his lack of control over his Aura, and his squeamish attitude.

"Just... leave me alone. Okay?" Jaune said.

"If that's what you think is best..." Pyrrha said softly. Cardin could sense the redhead leaving.

'So Jauney-boy cheated his way in. This is gonna be fun…' Cardin smirks. After what for Pyrrha to leave, he climbs up to the roof from his window. "Jaune, Jaune, Jaune…"

"C-Cardin? W-Where…?" Jaune stuttered.

"Couldn't help but hear from my dorm," Cardin told him. "I gotta say I've never pictured you as the bad boy type."

"Cardin, please don't tell anyone!" Jaune pleaded. The bully loved the look on his face. He decided to toy with him some more.

"It takes guts, I'll give you that much. It would be ashamed if you were found out and it would all have been for nothing," Cardin mused. "That is unless you do me some favors."

"F-Favors…?" Jaune questioned.

"You know: You do me favors and I don't rat you out. It's a win-win," Cardin said.

"I…I…" Jaune looked as though he wanted to protest, but could find the courage to do so.

"Good. What I need you to do now are to write that history paper Dr. Oobleck gave us for me and the Dust essays me and the boys needed to write. I'll give you more to do tomorrow." Cardin walks back over to the roof edge. "And, don't worry, Jauney-boy. Your secret is safe with me. We are friends after all."

Cardin climbs back down to his room, leaving Jaune to his regrets.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day, lunch time…

"Would anyone like to try my new sponge cake recipe?" Orihime offered. She presents the cake to her friends. The golden dessert is coated with a white frosting and topped with strawberries. Yang, Ruby, and Weiss eyed the delectable cake. Orihime takes out a knife to slice a piece, revealing its layered insides of more frosting and—

"What's that red stuff? Cranberries? Cherries? More strawberries?" Ruby asked.

"Actually, it's red bean paste," Orihime revealed. Ruby's smile immediately dropped. "I thought it would make the cake a little more unique. Do you guys want some?" Ruby, Yang, and Weiss politely declined, making the excuses of 'already full' or 'watch their weight' and the like. "Oh, okay then. What about you, Ren-kun?"

"Sure." Ren takes the plate and takes a bite. Nora tries to not throw up.

Orihime beams a smile to the crystal blue sky, feeling the calm breeze flowing through her hair. "Being with friends in weather like this…Today just can't be any better."

"Hey, where is Jaune?" Ruby asked, looking around for the male blonde.

"Ichigo is not here either…" Rukia commented. Uryū looks at her for a second before returning to his lunch.

"Huh, you're right." Yang said. "Have you guys noticed how strange he has been acting today?"

"Who, Jaune or Ichigo?" Ruby asked.

"Both, I guess. But, I was really talking about Jaune."

"Really? Like what?" Orihime asked. Tatsuki ate in silence, listening.

"Like how he hasn't talk to any of us and that he's always has his face in a book," Yang said. "Heck, he hasn't tried to flirt with Ice Queen here."

Weiss crosses her arms. "I don't see how that is an issue. And who are you calling 'Ice Queen'?"

"Ren, you're his roommate. Do you know what is going on?" Ruby asked.

Ren thought for a moment. "I don't know." And that was it, though its clear that it does bother Ren.

"What about you, Pyrrha? You are his partner," Weiss said.

The Spartan's vivid green eyes looked uncertain. "…Well…" She was interrupted by a ding. Orihime pulls out her Scroll.

"Oh, it's a message from Arc-kun." She reads the message. "He…wants to talk to Ishida-kun personally."

"Say what?" Yang inquired. Uryū, having to have heard his name, looked puzzled.

"…Sure, where is he?" He asked. Everyone looks around for the missing blonde before Ruby pointed him out.

"He's over there." She informed.

Uryū gets up from his spot and heads over to Jaune. "Be sure to ask him what's up!" Yang told him. Tatsuki continues to watch.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You want me to do what?!" Jaune questioned.

"It'll be funny!" Cardin insisted. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Guys like him are desperate for it."

"I don't think Uryū is the desperate type," Jaune said. "And does he even swing that way?"

"Just do it, or I'll have a talk with the headmaster," Cardin threatened.

Jaune fidgeted as he waited for Uryū Ishida, as a part of another 'favor' from Cardin. 'Bad idea…this is a bad idea…this is a really bad idea… this is a really, REALLY bad idea!' He panicked. 'Why can't I just do their essays? I really don't want to do this.'

"Mr. Arc?" Jaune jumped at Uryū's voice. He whips around to face the Quincy. "What is it that you need to talk about?"

"Uh…ah, h-hey, Uryū," Jaune chuckles nervously. "How-how are you doing?"

Uryū blinks once. "I'm doing well. Isn't there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Y-yeah…Um s-so…uh…" Jaune lets out a heavy sigh. "Uryū, I am so sorry for what I am about to do."

"Okay…" Uryū said.

"I just don't know what to do and one thing led to another and I just wanted to say I'm sorry!"

"Okay?" Uryū said, getting confused.

Jaune started rambling. "I mean it's not really something I do, but I-I really don't have a choice in the matter."

"Um Gottes willen, what is it?" Uryū asked. Jaune grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him in for a kiss on the lips. The action stunned Uryū into silence, his mind trying to comprehend what is happening. Meanwhile, their friends look flabbergasted.

"Whoa mama…" Ruby commented. Blake took some pictures. Many other students in the area stopped whatever they are doing to stare.

As for team CRDL, they are laughing their heads off. "I told you he was gay," Cardin laughed.

"Which one, Jaune or the Ishida guy?" Lark asked.

"I'd say both," Russel said. The four continued with their laugh.

Jaune finally breaks away from the unresponsive Quincy. Uryū remained silent until his face changed from shock to rage.

"Well, that was a thing," Keigo responded as he and the rest watches Uryū chase Jaune around courtyard as the latter profusely apologize to the former.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was near the end of last period when Jaune hid his face in his arms, privately wallowing in his self-pity. Pyrrha moved beside him. "Jaune, can we talk?"

Jaune dared to lift his head. "About what?"

"You know what I mean. What has been going on with you today?"

"Nothing is going on. Trust me…" Pyrrha notice how her leader would glance at a certain bully cautiously. Pyrrha connected the dots on her own.

"Jaune, does Cardin know what you have told me?" Jaune's lack of response was Pyrrha's answer. "Jaune, is he blackmailing you? Is that why you've been acting strange? Why you did that to Uryū?"

"What, Cardin? Noooo. Never. He and I are…best buds." The forced smile was almost too painful to see. "They're nothing but dares…"

"Jaune…"

"I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone."

Pyrrha sighed to herself before turning to one of her other teammates, Ren, who is looking through a book with Ruby and Yang. "What is that?" she asked them.

"The Big Book of Grimm," Ren answered. "It's a new textbook filled with recent updates about the creatures of Grimm."

"They're so cool!" Ruby squealed. She turned a page. "Whoa, look how freaky this one is."

Pyrrha looks closer at the image. "The Nuckelavee? I think I've heard of it before."

"From what it says, it's surprisingly elusive, despite its size," Yang said. "And apparently, it's a fusion of an Imp and a Dullahan."

"A fusion? There were accounts of such a phenomena occurring." Pyrrha recounted. "I think there was one where four King Taijitu were fused together by a parasitic Grimm."

"I bet you could beat that, huh Ren? Ren?" Ruby asked. Pyrrha peers over to the green ninja. It looked as though he paled two shades lighter as he stared at the image. Pyrrha could see his hands trembling slightly and if it wasn't for the faint sound of erratic breathing, the Spartan would've thought he stopped breathing. And his eyes...His soft pink eyes are widened and glazed over in pure horror. She can feel his Aura wavering and she knew Ruby could feel it too, judging from her worried look. "Ren?"

"Ren, is everything alright?" Pyrrha asked him, her hand hovering over his shoulder, debating whether or not to touch him. Jaune sits up, visibly concerned for the slighter male.

Nora appears out of nowhere and promptly slams the book shut. "Oop, look at the time! It's almost time to get the heck out of here! Ren, please get our stuff while I put this away. Be back in a jiff~!" She zips away.

"Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked the green ninja, almost motherly.

His Adams apple bobbed as he swallowed roughly. "I'm fine..." Ren said softly.

Jaune watches as the ninja of his team silently gather his and Nora's stuff. When the blonde first met him, he was amazed how he handled himself, despite his weaknesses. The duel from yesterday proved that Ren is capable and Jaune admired the ninja. To now see him like this made Jaune realize something. Ren, and possibly Nora, lived outside the Kingdoms. If the stories he heard were true about the villages outside of the protection of the Kingdoms, then the duo must of experience some awful, scary stuff. His brows come together in worry as he watched Nora and Ren leave; the girl looks like she is worry for the ninja too. Jaune frowned sympathetically at the revelation.

Cardin, however, grins.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The suffocation is back. That black, heavy, hazy, suffocating nothingness. Ichigo… And that damn voice is back. Ichigo…Shut up. Ichigo…Shut up. Ichigo…Shut up. Ichigo…Shut up. Ichigo…Shut up. Ichigo…Shut up! Ichigo…Shut up! Ichigo…SHUT UP!

"Ichigo!" Ichigo blinks back into reality. Ichigo reminds himself of where he is. He, Uryū, Keigo, Tatsuki, Weiss, Ruby, and Yang are at a Mistralian restaurant called Donabe. They're situated in a room for big parties.

"Ichigo, are you feeling all right? You've spaced out again," Ruby said. She has a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.

"Uh…Yeah, I'm fine," Ichigo said.

"Try telling that to your chopsticks," Yang said. Ichigo glances down at his eating utensils, now snapped in two in his right hand.

"Huh…" was all Ichigo said before he went and grabbed a spare pair from their table. All the while, Uryū eyed him closely.

"Geez, what the heck is going on? Everyone's being weird today," Yang said as she idly tapped her plate with her own chopsticks. "First Berry Boy, now Jaune." Uryū jabbed his chopsticks in an eggroll at the mention of the blonde's name. He places the eggroll in his plate.

"…Still mad about what Jaune did earlier?" Ruby asked.

"No, what gave you that idea?" Uryū wondered sourly.

Keigo scoffs. "I don't see the big deal. It's not like that was your first kiss or anything. If I remember right, you got your first kiss from—" He yelps in pain from having Ichigo kicking his shin.

"It was an accident," Ichigo said. He looks at his partner, "Why are you getting all bent out of shape? I thought you're not bothered by stuff like that."

Uryū rolls his eyes. "I'm bi, not desperate. How would you like it when someone you barely know suddenly kisses you in the lips out of the blue?" Keigo opens his mouth. "Don't answer that." Keigo closes his mouth.

"Still, it does ask the question about Jaune..." Weiss trailed off. It finally hit her. She turns to her childhood friend. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

"By what?"

"That 'bi' thing you just said. What does that mean?"

Before Uryū could give Weiss an answer, Keigo did for him. "It means he wouldn't care he popped a cherry to a dude or a chick." Ichigo nearly choked on his food, Tatsuki pinched the bridge of her nose, Uryū looks ready to murder Keigo, and the girls, even Ruby, stare at the brunette with their jaws dropped. "What?"

"Shut up for once, will ya," Tatsuki said.

Uryū pushes up his glass. "While rather uncouth, what he said is the truth. I'm attracted to both men and women. However," He gives Keigo a look. "My 'cherry' is still intact."

"Don't tell me you're against that sort of stuff," Tatsuki said to Weiss. "Of course, I wouldn't be surprised since most Atlas elites are known for being prejudice."

Weiss cast her eyes at her food. "It is a bit…unexpected. But," She looks at Uryū in the face. "If it's you, then I'll just have to accept it." There was a slight hesitancy in her voice that Uryū did pick up, but he doesn't hold it against her. He smiles.

"Thank you," He said.

"Well shit, looks like you can beat the stereotype," Yang commented with a sly grin.

Weiss huffed. "What's that supposed to mean? Everyone can't help who they fall in love with."

"What about you, Tatsuki? Ah! You don't have to answer! I'm just curious!" Ruby said.

"It's no biggie. And to answer your question, I'm pan."

"'Pan'?"

"It means I'm cool with anything, regardless of gender." Tatsuki said.

"How is that any different from being bisexual?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah, I guess what I said was a bit too vague. What I meant is that I don't care if my significant other is male, female, transgender, genderfluid, or anything."

"Oooooh," Ruby said.

Keigo rubs his nose. "Yeah, our group is pretty diverse."

"Sooo, who made you realize that you swing both ways?" Yang asked Uryū. "Was it the guy that stole your first kiss?"

"NO!" Uryū and Ichigo shouted. A Cheshire grin creeped on Yang's face and the two men blushed in embarrassment.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jaune lets out a sigh as he typed the finishing touches for the last Dust essay for team CRDL. He looks at the big clock at the other side of the building. It's almost 7:00 pm and the Beacon library would be closing in less than an hour. He stretches out his arms and lends back in his chair to stare at the ceiling. He lets out a quiet sigh. 'Why am I doing this?' he finally asked himself. 'I faked my way here so that way I could become a warrior like my great great-grandfather did. Now look at me. I'm essentially someone's lapdog.'

'Maybe…It's not worth it.'

"Jaune?" The sudden sound of his name startled him out of his seat. He looks up to see Ren.

"O-Oh, it's just you," Jaune said. He gets up from the floor. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you are ready to come to dinner," The ninja answered. He makes a sideways glance at Jaune's work, a holographic screen with Jaune's typed progress and a textbook nearby. "Do you need any help?"

The blonde boy quickly sat back down. "N-N-No! It-It's okay. I-I got this! I need to finish this, so I may not be able to be in for supper. You guys can start without me!" He briskly flips through the pages of the textbook before returning to the screen to type away. He didn't hear Ren move, the lithe male ever light on his feet. The next thing he knew, the ninja was seating across from him, staring at him through the transparent screen. Jaune's fingers slowed to a halt. "What do you want?"

"Can't I worry for a friend?" Ren asked.

"We are friends after all."

"…Friend," Jaune muttered.

Orihime skipped into the Beacon Library, a book held close to her chest. She paused when she was about to walk by a table. "Oh, Arc-kun and Ren-kun, what are you two doing here this late?" Orihime asked.

"Uh, I'm just finishing up some school work. Ren is here to keep me company," Jaune answered. He tries to not to make eye contact with Ren, knowing full well of his concern for the blonde swordsman.

"That's nice," Orihime said.

"What about you? What are you doing here?" Jaune asked.

"I'm here to return this book," Orihime said, showing them the cover. "Ta-da! Great Grandma Baba's Exotic Pastries! It's filled with yummy old Atlesian styled desserts. Like this one, the makowiec. It's a roll of sweet yeast bread filled with poppy seeds, a perfect pastry for holidays like Heaven's Day and Rejuvenate Week. It says that you could replace the poppy seeds for minced walnuts or minced chestnuts, but I think it would be more interesting to add onions and gelatin."

Jaune sweat dropped. "I see…"

"Ren-kun, will you please take this book back to the cooking section for me? I need to talk to Arc-kun for a bit," Orihime asked, handing over the book in question. Ren nods before getting up and taking the book. He then heads over to the section some ways away. The gray-eyed woman takes a seat beside Jaune. "Is everything okay?"

"Why is everyone asking me that?" Jaune snapped.

"Because everyone cares about you," Orihime answered calmly.

Jaune sighs. "Do…Do you think I have potential?" he asked.

Orihime smiles at him. "Tatsuki-chan told me when she met you, your Aura wasn't activated. After Nikos-san awakened it for you, Tatsuki-chan told me that your level of Aura reminded her of someone."

"Who is it?" Jaune asked.

"Kurosaki-kun." The blonde's blue eyes grew wide. Orihime nods. "Kurosaki-kun's Aura was awakened not long after his mother died. Since then, everyone back at home knew that he had the potential to be a Huntsman. He had the tenacity, the skills, the will, and most importantly, the courage to face his fears."

"Fears? What's a guy like him afraid of?" Jaune asked. He couldn't imagine a tough guy like Ichigo Kurosaki, the Grimm Reaper of Beacon Academy, to be afraid of anything.

"He has the same fears as any of us here," Orihime said, "The fear of the unknown, the fear of death, and the fear of loss. The last one is what he dreads the most. He had lost his mother to a Grimm and his cousin lost her arm protecting him. Even now, whenever my team or anyone else he knows goes on a mission, you could practically feel his fear for our safety. In turn, he uses those fears so that way he could have the courage to fight. Not just protect us, but fight alongside us. And we'd do the same for him."

"Wow…" Jaune said.

"Just because we're here to become brave warriors, it doesn't take away the fear," Orihime said. "We fear every day. It's up to the person to know how to face those fears." Their moment was cut short when they heard a loud crash from somewhere in the library.

Jaune and Orihime jump from their seats and runs towards the source. They go around the history section and find Ren at the end, on the floor staring at something. They move closer to see that the ninja looked even paler before and looks like he trying not to have a full blown panic attack as he started to hyperventilate. "Ren, what's wrong?"

"Are you hurt?" Orihime asked, kneeling to Ren's side. The ninja clasps his hands over his head and pulled his knees closer, trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. Orihime and Jaune turn their heads at what Ren is terrified by. Before them is the shadow of a large Grimm with a humanoid torso stuck to the body of a horse. The Nuckelavee.

"A Grimm?" Jaune asked. "There's a Grimm here?"

"Impossible…" Orihime said. She concentrated on her Aura Sense to find the Grimm. There is no feeling of hollowness in the library. "Arc-kun, you stay here with Ren-kun and try to calm him down. I'll go have a look around."

"O-okay…" Jaune said. He kneels beside Ren, saying some words of solace, as Orihime searches. She noticed a beam of light, likely from a flashlight, from the direction she thinks the 'Grimm' would be. She walks passed a few sections before find the source on top of the shelves. She grabs a nearby ladder and climbs up. Up on the topmost shelf is a small, cardboard cutout of the Nuckelavee and a flashlight is glaring behind it. She takes the cutout and turns off the flashlight. 'Who would do such a thing?' Orihime wondered. She returns to her two underclassmen. Ren had seemed to calm down a little, especially since Orihime took the cutout and turned off the flashlight, the hellish silhouette is gone.

"What did you find?" Jaune asked.

"This," Orihime said, showing him the cutout. Jaune stares at the cardboard.

"That?" He wondered as he takes the cutout. He looks it over.

"Somebody probably cut this out and used it to scare Ren-kun, knowing that he would be here," Orihime responded. She fell to her knees in front of Ren. She places her hands over his shaking ones. She felt Ren tense up. This reaction reminded Orihime of Uryū, who wasn't keen on physical touch either. She removes Ren's hands from his head and keeps them in her own hands. "Ren-kun, you are okay," She told him, firmly and calmly. "The Nuckelavee isn't here. It never was here. You are safe. You can calm down now. That's it, you're doing well. Now, breathe in and keep it for 10 seconds. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10. Good. Let's go again." Ren does it and as he did so, a pink sheen flows over him and his color saturated. When his color returned, Ren became calm.

"Whoa, what was that?" Jaune asked.

"Was that your Semblance?" Orihime asked. Ren nods. "From the look of things, it helped calm you down." Ren nods again. "Do you want us go with you back to your dorm?"

"…if you want," was Ren's soft reply.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Guardians of Remnant ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The three exited the building and made their way down the stairs. Jaune stopped his descend midway. "Arc-kun?"

"I still have some work to finish. I'll get back when I'm done," Jaune said.

Orihime smiled sympathetically. "All right. Don't be late. Come on, Ren-kun." The look Ren gave him was a concerned one. The blonde smiled a little, almost chuckled. Just a minute ago, it was Ren who needed consolation.

"Don't worry, I promise," Jaune said to Ren. The ninja still seemed hesitant, but he gave in and leaves with Orihime.

When they are gone, Jaune looks at the cardboard cutout of the Nuckelavee. Just who would do something so malicious? It was at that moment, Jaune heard some faint chortling from the side the library building. He walks down the stairs and turned around the corner. There he finds team CRDL. "Cardin? What are you guys doing here?"

"Just enjoying the show," Cardin said.

"Show? What…?" Jaune looks through the window near them. He could see the history section, where Ren saw the shadow of the fake Nuckelavee. He looks at the small cutout before looking at team CRDL in disbelief. "You guys did this…"

"Yeah, and?" Russel said.

"But why? What did Ren do to deserve this?" Jaune asked. He could feel his anger bubbling deep in his gut.

"I was just making sure he knew his place. It was a total fluke that he got me out of bounds during yesterday's duel," Cardin said. "Not surprising, since he had to go and save your sorry hide."

'If you keep being an encumbrance, you're gonna get your ass handed to you and you're gonna need someone to save your sorry hide,' Jaune remembered Tatsuki telling him.

"But, that still doesn't make it right."

"Heh. He's not so tough. Why is he even here if he's so scared of some stupid Grimm? What a baby."

Jaune's anger was reaching a boiling point. "You guys have no idea what he had gone through. Unlike us, he lived outside the Kingdoms."

"S'not our fault." Jaune clenched his fists hard, almost drawing blood. "Whoa, someone's angry. What are you gonna do? Punch me? Kick me? I like to see you try and have you be the one black and blue. By the way, I hope you're done with the Dust essays I gave you, because now I need you to go get me some rapier wasps the greenhouse."

"Rapi-Why do I have to listen to you after the stunt you pulled?" Jaune roared.

"Oh, so you don't care if I told the teachers about you faking your way in?" Cardin asked. Jaune's anger was immediately snuffed out. He had almost forgotten why he was even listening to the bastard. Seeing the change in attitude, Cardin smirked. "That's what I thought. Have a good night, Jauney-boy." He and his team walk away. Jaune is left behind, his anger no longer aiming at Cardin, but himself.

'I'm pathetic.'

…I'm an awful person for doing that to Ren. It actually hurt me to do that to Ren. I wanna hug him so bad!

In my headcannon, Blake is a fudoshi.

Also, there is not gonna be any Jaune/Uryū. Obviously, this was orchestrated by Cardin at Jaune's expense.

Next Chapter: In Spite of Fear