Raven knew she'd been lying to herself the entire time. Survival of the fittest meant survival of the smartest. If she was actually living by that philosophy, she would've thought twice about Adam; he wasn't some scrappy, angry adolescent anymore, he was a true warrior, unafraid of death but unwilling to submit to it. He held the No. 2 for that reason. He'd earned it.

But what about the blond one? What has he done to show his earning of the No. 1? Completion of training was only half of the requirement, the other half being a true mystery, one the Afro Samurai repeatedly refused to share.

So what was it?

She stepped out onto the road, just as the No. 1 walked along. Her scarlet red eyed glared at him through her mask, and he glared back.

"Master, shall I take charge?" Takimoto asked, sensing the inevitable clash of blades. Jaune stepped back, deciding it was the best course of action.

"You refuse to face me yourself, like a coward." Raven's hand reached to grasp her blade as the mechanics of her sheath circled through it's blades.

"He refuses to fight you out of logic. When you're cut down by the No. 1, it's over. You'll be gone, spirit and all." Takimoto drew his longsword and held it forward, gripping tightly with one hand. "Even Ozpin's aware of this."

"That's just an excuse. If you're truly worthy of that headband, you'll-..." Raven froze and stumbled back. Her breathing was shaky and she took a step back. Jaune knew her body language was expressing fear, but why?

"If he's worthy, he'll continue his journey." That voice. He had missed it for so long.

"Master Afro." Jaune turned around and found himself facing the elder samurai. He bowed, showing the respect he still held for the man.

"Run along, Jaune. This is just a minor obstacle..." The samurai bowed in return. "...And family buisness."

Raven was seething and gritting her teeth. She grabbed her mask and immedietly threw it off, making Jaune turn to her. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the familiar, yet older, face he'd seen before.

"You're the one she was looking for. You're Yang's mother..." Afro, for the first time in countless millennia, went wide eyed in surprise.

"A mother..." Afro stared at his daughter's eyes, and they softened. "You never told me..."

"This isn't about that useless child. I want that headband, old man!" Afro looked down at his successor.

"Is she still in Beacon?"

"Yes. She's doing very well." Afro nodded, already adding it to his to-do list.

"Very good. Allow me to deal with my daughter, alone." Jaune nodded, and motioned to his guard to follow.

Raven acted quickly, rushing forward and drawing her blade. Jaune barely acknowledged her as he brought his shield up, and effortlessly used her momentum to throw her off balance. Afro acted quickly and delivered a roundhouse kick which sent her flying back into a tree.

"This is between us, Raven. He leaves." Raven glared at her father, feeling more rage build up within. She had her focus completely on him now.

"Old man..." She rushed forward, and met his blade with her own. Her eyes widdened as she pressed down, trying to overpower him; that sword he weilded, it was the one that shattered the moon. Fear replaced anger as she realized the situation; he was getting serious, and that was never good.

"You want the headbands. But you'll never reach them." There was no tone in his voice, other than complete, brutal honestly. "You're not worthy."

Their blade-lock soon broke, and they jumped away. Afro took a relaxed stance, while Raven held her sword tightly with both. She was panting in fear; never in their years of training, had she ever seen him use Rokutaro's blade. But she knew about it, and had known for a fact that his essence was embedded deep within it.

Two great spirits working hand in hand, the original No. 1, and his son. This was what leveled the armies that rallied against him, this is what drove humanity to near extinction, and brought about the coming of Salem as she was now.

Raven felt her knees about to give out on her.

"Tell me, what do you really want. Why you really failed." Afro walked around her, sheeting his blade and lighting a cigarette. "Those headbands would only cause you trouble, and you know it. So tell me..."

Raven thought for a moment. She didn't have to, she already knew the answer to that question.

"Danger... too much danger." She felt herself cave in. "They'll only cause chaos and destruction like you did! They have to be destroyed!"

Afro felt the atmosphere between them change. No longer was a portion of that mask she wore, obscuring her true self. She was afraid.

"They're life, Raven."

"They are a curse! Innocent lives are being taken by Adam as we speak, and you're content to let this happen!"

"But are they truly innocent?" Raven swallowed. "Were your men, who you encouraged to steal, kill, and destroy others weaker than them, innocent? Are they innocent when they want to kill for a strip of cloth?"

Afro took one last drag from his cigarette before dropping it. He glared at his daughter, unimpressed with her argument.

"They are life, because they expose us all, without bias. A man can say he'll never kill, but when the opportunity to become god is presented, they'll do whatever it takes to become that. To destroy the headbands, would be meaningless in the end. Wolves in sheep's clothing would find another way to expose themselves, and kill for power."

Raven shut her eyes, trying to push tears back. He was right. In whatever twisted way, he was right. Even if she were successful in her quest, it would make no difference.

Afro caught her as she fell to her knees and sobbed. He hated having her like this. Almost as much as her.

They sat motionless for a while, saying nothing until Afro pulled back and wipped her tears.

"They'll have to meet eventually, but it won't be for a while." They stood slowly, and Raven nodded. "Now, dry your tears, and let's get you home."

0-0-0

Can you feel the twist here breaking bones? No?

Well I'm not making an M. Night Shyamalan joke, not every single one of his movies have twists. Get your facts straight.

But yeah. Another chapter done! Leave your reviews!