And… begin! Hey, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of A Simple Mission Rebirth! I'm going to start school soon so I may as well get this out of the way before I lose time. I'm actually following my dream of being a game dev so in a couple years, you might be playing something I put my heart into. FanFiction is still going to be a hobby but I might be putting my writing ability into something I can sell. Hell, I even have a few ideas for stories already. Anyway, enough about my life, let's get onto the reviews. To Joby: No, I don't think this fic will have anything Naruto in it. It's High School DXD and RWBY. I mean come on. There's going to be references to other anime (including one that could lead to the world's cruelest joke) but Naruto isn't one of them. To Accelerator Chan: Well, Salem's faction might play a part in the story, maybe at the end, but there plans for Cinder, Mercury and Emerald so far. Actually, I was actually planning to make Summer Rose and Salem the same person, just corrupted as Hell, but I decided to scrap it for something else. To the random guest that keeps reviews every few days: It's more than likely I'm gonna leave out Volume 4, mostly for story reasons because RWBY kinda needs a reason to go back to Japan. I have watched it though. To Plasma Dragon 312: Please refer to World of Remnant Reborn 1 for reasons behind Team RWBY's weakness to Fallen Angels. To Vld: Oh, Yang's in there. You may want to go back and shift the alphabet to the left. To Dragon Rider 66: Yeah, its rushed quality was intentional since Raven was rushing it before she had to leave to stalk our main characters. To AJ: No. Raven is writing her own journal. Anyway, that's it for now. Let the training montage to begin!
Load Game… Start!
Chapter 14: A Simple Training Session
"You know, I was expecting a log cabin in the woods, or some camp site, maybe even a tree house." Yang mumbled to herself. "Never expected a freaking mansion."
"It's more like something akin to a summer home more than anything else." Rias pointed out as the mansion started to come into view.
"Meh, I've seen bigger." Blake and Weiss said in unison. Weiss' eyes widened before looking at Blake in disbelief. Blake realized what she just said and blushed.
"Er. I mean, I broke into some really big mansions in my day and…" Blake tried to explain.
"Ruby-sama, why is Yang-sama carrying our peerage's luggage?" Pancakes inquired. "I am more than capable of being a 'pack mule.' I assume the term 'pack mule' is used in the correct context."
"Really wish you didn't call me that, Yang." Issei wheezed out. They were currently hiking in the mountains, making their way to their home for the next ten days. They used a Summoning Circle to teleport to the mountain, but they still needed to hike the rest of the way, which wasn't great considering no one had time to change into anything other than their school uniform. "And why am I carrying mine, Buchou's and Akeno-san's bags all by myself!? Seriously, it can't just be clothes in there!"
"As I said before Issei. You need all the training you can get." Rias reminded her Pawn, while sitting on top of her luggage. "And it's more than just clothes. It's books, training equipment and various other items that are necessary if we want to defeat Raiser. Now, hurry Issei. We're burning daylight."
"And quit complaining." Yang said. "We still have a long way to go. If you're gonna be like this the whole way, I will shove a sock in your mouth. It's not a lot."
"Says the girl with super strength before even becoming a Devil." Issei deadpanned quietly.
"…I'll help as well." Asia spoke up, having had enough of seeing Issei struggling to carry the large amount of luggage.
"It's okay, since Issei won't be able to get stronger if he can't do this much." Rias told her Bishop.
"Still, it's such a nice day." Ruby said, wearing a backpack with Zwei riding in it. "It would be nice to come here without anything else bothering us." Rias winced while Akeno looked up and glared.
'Tell them!' Akeno's eyes yelled out.
'I will!' Rias' eyes called back.
'When?' Akeno communicated non-verbally as she rolled her eyes.
'I don't know. Just… I need to prepare a will and STOP MAKING UP EXCUSES YOU IDIOT!' Rias yelled mentally at herself. Pancakes noticed Rias struggling not to punch herself in the face. Pancakes made a mental note to ask if she required assistance.
"Buchou, Rose-chan, Penny-san and I gathered some herbs. Let's use it for the meal tonight." Kiba said as he and Penny caught up to the group.
"These look pretty rare." Blake noted. "I think a few of these can be used in tea. Where did you find it?"
"Well, Knight Blake…" Penny started as she, Kiba and Blake walked past Issei, who was starting to slow down.
"Come on, Issei! You're gonna be left behind at this rate!" Ruby called out.
"I'm trying my hardest, dammit!" Issei called back.
"…See you later." Koneko said as she walked past Issei, carrying more luggage than him, though not as much as Yang.
"Oh, I am not going to be left behind! Uoryaaaaaa!" Issei cried out with a determined expression on his face, speeding up and racing ahead of everyone, with Rias trying to stay sitting on top of the pile of bags Issei had to carry.
"What the-!? Just a second ago he was barely keeping up!" Yang exclaimed.
"Never underestimate the determination of a pervert." Ruby said before deciding to catch up with Issei. Everyone else just looked at each other before shrugging and running the rest of the way to the Gremory Clan mansion.
(Gremory Mansion)
"Yep, still seen bigger…" Weiss and Blake breathed out as everyone arrived at the mansion doorstep. Blake, again, blushed as she realized what she just said and hoped nobody heard it.
"You know, you'd think this place would be more… dilapidated." Yang muttered as she stared at the wooden mansion.
"Usually, it is blended in with the scenery using demonic-powers, but it has appeared since we will be using it." Rias explained as she jumped off the pile of bags, after Issei collapsed under its weight when they all went inside.
"Well, it's gonna be home for the next couple of days so we may as well settle down." Ruby said as she let Zwei out of her backpack. As soon as Zwei got out, he looked at Koneko and tilted his head. Said Rook fought down all her urges not to run away.
"Well, we should get changed." Blake suggested, also wanting to get away from the corgi.
"Blake's right. These clothes will only just get in the way." Rias said. "Issei. Kiba. You two change down here while everyone else will change upstairs, understand?"
"Of course Buchou." Kiba replied.
"Help…" Issei squeaked out as Ruby and Asia were freeing him from the pile of bags he was currently burried under. After he was freed, the women went upstairs to get changed.
"You really think we should help Rias?" Yang whispered as they walked upstairs. "Or… that Rias even wants our help? She didn't really seem all that excited when you did that, uh... bet." Ruby stopped, eyes downcast.
"It's not like I haven't thought about Prez's words… and that I could die soon." Ruby replied softly. "But like I said before a thousand times, I can't just stand by and watch. Not when someone's happiness is at stake."
"Well sometimes you need to." Rias appeared, interrupting. "You might get in the way."
"I won't." Ruby said with a determined look on her face.
"What makes you think that?" Rias retorted. "You're the youngest out of all of us, and you barely can even control your own power."
"That's why you're training me in the first place!" Ruby called out. "Why don't you want me in the Rating Game, anyway!? I can defend myself!"
"But can you defend yourself against a High-Class Devil?" Rias challenged. Ruby wasn't sure herself if she could stand against Raiser, but damn all if she wasn't about to try!
"W-Well… neither can you!" Ruby exclaimed. "You just let everyone else do the fighting!"
"Just because I don't fight often doesn't mean I can't fight!" Rias said, voice rising. "But at least I can defend myself against Fallen Angels without getting myself killed!" Ruby's eye twitched at that. "At least I earned my King Piece!" Ruby then started shaking as she clenched her hand into a fist. "At least I didn't let my friends die!"
"SHUT UP!" Ruby yelled out, her eyes turning red as a cyan-coloured energy flared around her body. The energy she was emitting was choking everyone inside the mansion as the girls stumbled back. "SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!"
"Wh-What's happening!?" Yang exclaimed as she covered her eyes. "Ruby!? STOP!"
"Ruby! Calm down!" Rias called out, falling onto her rear.
"Why should I!?" Ruby growled, tears running down her face, just on the edge of letting her power take control. "You tried to stop me from helping Asia! You keep telling me I'm not ready! You keep stopping me left and right and its pissing me off! So, do tell, Rias-sensei! Why shouldn't I kill you right now!?"
"Because this isn't YOU!" Rias shouted out. And, just as fast as it activated, Ruby's power shut down.
"H-Huh?" Ruby squeaked out before collapsing onto her knees. Yang quickly ran up and hugged her sister.
"I'm… I'm sorry Ruby. It was just… I'm sorry." Rias apologized as she slowly stood up.
"Wh-What just happened!?" Ruby cried out. "What was I doing!? What was I thinking!?"
"Ruby-san! Something's wrong with Pan-san!" Asia exclaimed. Everyone turned Pancakes, who was writhing on the floor, screaming.
"NO! STOP! NOT AGAIN!" Raynare yelled out, her eyes filled with fear. "PLEASE! NO MORE! STOP!"
"What in the…" Akeno muttered as she stared at the tortured Fallen Angel.
"P-Pancakes…" Ruby said softly as she crouched down and tried to calm her down. "Pancakes, it's ok-"
"No!" Raynare said in horror as she started to crawl away from Ruby. "No. No! GET AWAY FROM ME! Please, don't go… near…" Raynare then drifted off as her eyes became dull again. "Hm? What is this?" Pancakes muttered tonelessly to herself as she felt something wet on her cheek. "Is there a leak in the ceiling?" She then realized everyone, even the boys who came up to see what all the commotion was about, were staring at her. "Is there something troubling you about me you wish to discuss?" Pancakes asked as she tilted her head. Everyone just continued to stare at her before looking at Ruby, who was shivering on the spot.
"…We should probably start training." Yang suggested. It was met various noises that resembled agreement.
(Session 1: Ruby: The Power of Suffering with Rias)
"Okay, I've been putting it off for a while, but I think it's time for you to control your… unique power." Rias said. Ruby nodded meekly, now wanting to control her power more than ever. They were currently in a clear area, with Ruby in her battle outfit while Rias was in a school tracksuit. "Okay, now, I don't fully understand it, but from what I can tell your power draws from others suffering, or at least the people you're close to. You know, physical and mental trauma. You draw power from them, including me."
"WHAT!?" Ruby exclaimed. "What kind of power is that!?"
"That is the Power of Suffering." Rias muttered. "Though, from what I found out, it shouldn't affect your personality at all."
"Then what happened!?" Ruby shouted out. "I… I don't wanna lose control again! I-I… I don't want another Pancakes..." Ruby sniffled.
"And that's why we're here." Rias reassured, putting a hand on her apprentices shoulder. "Now, I don't know how I can help you directly, but its probably safe to assume it's similar to the Power of Destruction since, well, Destruction and Suffering go hand in hand." Rias said, stepping back and putting her hands on her hips. "Now, our first training session will be focusing on how to channel this energy without... flipping out. Close your eyes." Ruby did so. "Let your demonic energy flow through you. Take deep breaths." Ruby concentrated. Suddenly, her energy started to flare around her. "No, not like that. You're just letting it out wildly. Try and focus it within yourself."
"Ugh, this isn't working." Ruby said she dispersed her energy.
"Yeah, I admit, I have no idea what I'm doing." Rias admitted as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "My brother might be better at teaching this kind of thing, but I doubt he'll teach you."
"Well, there has to be something…" Ruby muttered to herself as both Kings started thinking. Rias snapped her fingers.
"Maybe we need to stress you out." Rias suggested. "Of all the times you tapped into the Power of Suffering, you were under an immense amount of stress. Maybe if we stress you out, we can figure out how you can control it."
"B-But… I-I'll…" Ruby stuttered out, hugging herself protectively as she shivered on the spot. "I might… I can't…"
Rias took a deep breath, and let it out as her face hardened. "If you don't control this soon, you will hurt someone." Rias stated sternly. "Or at the very least break them. Now." Ruby's eyes widened before diving out of the way of a large ball of Devil energy sent by her mentor. "Come at me like you want to kill me! Because I won't show mercy!"
"You didn't tell me to bring Crescent Rose!" Ruby exclaimed as she jumped back.
"The whole point of this is to stress you out!" Rias said with a smirk as she went into a battle stance. "Also, your sister told me you aren't very good without your scythe! Now, let's see if we can't correct that!" Ruby groaned before charging at Rias. Rias quickly dodged a right hook before sweeping Ruby's legs, causing the Red Reaper to land flat on her back. Before Ruby could recover, Rias picked her up into the air by her collar with her left hand and placed her right hand on Ruby's face. "Say your prayers." Ruby's face started to heat up as she realized Rias was going to blast her face off.
"Like. HELL!" Ruby shouted before grabbing Rias' arm, which she used as leverage to kick her in the stomach. Rias let go, allowing Ruby to jump, plant both her feet on her fellow King's stomach and kick, sending both in opposite directions. Rias quickly recovered and channeled her Power of Destruction and shot out a hail of softball-sized bullets at her opponent, going towards their target at lightning speed. Ruby quickly sent her Semblance into overdrive as she used it dodge every single one as she ran at Rias, only to have a punch go straight to her gut before getting an uppercut to the chin, with Rias using her wings to boost the height of the attack. Ruby landed her face when she hit the ground.
"You had enough?" Rias taunted, trying to increase Ruby's stress. Ruby only picked herself off the ground and dusted off her clothes.
"Does it look like I had enough?" Ruby growled, eyes flashing red before becoming silver.
Rias just smirked.
(Session 2: Weiss: Semblance with Ruby)
"You know, we never really seen what happened to your Semblance ever since we became Devils." Ruby pointed out, covered in cuts, bruises, bumps, and a black eye, as she and Weiss went into the mansion. Weiss had recently finished training with Kiba and Issei, and was feeling thirsty while Ruby wanted to visit Asia to heal her wounds.
"Well, when I used my Semblance at the Church during the Asia Rescue Mission they didn't appear any different." Weiss muttered. "Maybe my Semblance didn't get affected."
"Well, why don't we test it out?" Ruby suggested. "After I get a check up with Asia, I'll go and help you find out what it is."
"Well, I was going to Akeno for some magic advice, but this might give us the advantage in the Rating Games." Weiss said with a nod, figuring it wouldn't hurt.
Unless it did. Then that would be a problem.
After Ruby healed up, and Weiss grabbed a bottle of water, they went outside and into a clear area. "Okay Weiss. Make a glyph." Ruby said. Weiss took in a deep breath and quickly created a glyph in front of them. Ruby's eyes narrowed as she walked up to it and studied it. "It doesn't look any different from your other ones."
"Because it's just a base glyph. It doesn't have a function other than show a Schnee can actually create them." Weiss explained.
"Yeah, but it still doesn't look any different." Ruby said before coming back to Weiss. Weiss nodded. "Make another one." Weiss emitted a lady-like grunt and created another base glyph. "Er… make a different one?" Ruby said, still not seeing difference. Weiss then created a time dilation glyph. "No. How about just go through every glyph you know."
Weiss' eye started to twitch as she created glyph after glyph after glyph, going through every single glyph she could perform. She was actually starting to get frustrated.
"No. Again." Ruby said, standing at the centre of the newest glyph.
"That's nearly all of them!" Weiss called out.
"'Nearly'?" Ruby repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Huh?" Weiss cursed at herself for revealing the little imperfection in her repertoire of glyphs.
"There is one more. But you may want to stand back." Weiss said in a stern voice. Ruby quickly nodded and went back to Weiss.
'Okay. Just calm down and do what you've been taught.' Weiss thought as she took a deep breath. She then created a summoning glyph, but it was flickering as it started to form. "Come on… come on…" Weiss muttered to herself, trying to make it stable.
"Put more power into it." Ruby suggested.
"Don't tell me what to do." Weiss said, some sweat going down her face as she closed her eyes in hopes of being able to concentrate. "I can do this."
"It doesn't look like you can." Ruby noted, seeing her partner struggling to completely form the glyph.
"Well I can!" Weiss yelled at Ruby, not noticing her glyph was starting to gain a red tint to it as it electricity started to spark from it.
"Uh… Weiss?" Ruby said as she saw the glyph start to change. "Um… your glyph…"
"I'm working on it!" Weiss shouted out. Ruby was now starting to get worried as the glyph started to shrink.
"Weiss!" Ruby called out in panic, causing Weiss' eyes to snap open.
"WHAT!?" Weiss yelled out, before another red-tinted glyph appeared underneath her, both vanishing in a flash.
"Huh!? Weiss!" Ruby exclaimed, looking around frantically before seeing Weiss appear on the first glyph she created. Both disappeared as soon as Weiss reappeared. "What the…"
"Oww…" Weiss said, dazed before shaking her head. "What just happened…?"
"I… I think you channel some of your Devil energy into your glyph?" Ruby guessed. Weiss narrowed her eyes before creating another summoning glyph, though there was still some difficulty. Then she and Ruby took a look at its design. Various runes and symbols loved the edges and interior, neither of them could read in a circular pattern, with Ruby's symbol in the middle. It looked familiar, though. Almost like…
"It's a Summoning Circle." Weiss realized. She paused, looking at her hand as if it would reveal the answers of why, before quickly creating another glyph and stepping into it. Again, she vanished and appeared on her first glyph, both of them dissipating after being used.
"Weiss, you can teleport!" Ruby said, excited with the new development.
"No… I think that… I'm summoning myself." Weiss muttered, wincing at the irony. "I can create Mini-Summoning Circles…" Suddenly, Ruby gasped as an excited expression appeared on her face.
Weiss quickly recognized that expression, and couldn't help but smirk.
The little dolt had an idea.
(Session 3: Penny: Team Attacks with Yang)
"I have heard of this in school, Rook Yang." Penny said. Currently, she and Yang were inside the mansion having a break and their King had tasked them with (what she personally considers) the most important job in their peerage.
Making up Team Combination names.
"How about Enabler!" Penny happily suggested. Yang blushed. Apparently, there was a rumor that was going around that she, Ruby, Blake and Weiss were in a relationship with each other, and people had decided to take it upon themselves to create ship names. There were even ship names in case three of them were dating each other, a name for her and Ruby's imaginary incestuous relationship and, of course, all of them dating each other. No matter how much they denied it, Pollination shipping lived on as long as the boys (and the occasional girl) masturbated to the image of them in a circle eating each other out.
Or sucking on a girl dick. Hermaphrodite RWBY was a bit too common for Yang's taste.
Anyway, Yang waved her arms in Penny's face. "No!" Yang quickly exclaimed as she quickly stole the list of names they've made up so far and quickly crossed out the name, repeatedly, till there was a hole in the paper. "Anyway, I think Ruby already made one up for me and her."
"Well, we still have Burning Roses and…" Penny then paused as she realized something. "Actually, we only have two names. Enabler and Burning Roses."
"How about… Hot and Fast?" Yang suggested, before covering her mouth. Where the Hell did that come from? "No, wait! Don't put that down! Erm… Rosilocks? Rosilocks sound good, right?"
"Rosy… locks…" Penny sounded out slowly to herself before nodding. "Affirmative. Both Rosilocks and Hot and Fast are written down."
"Don't put 'Hot and Fast' down!" Yang yelled out as she stood up before sitting back down and groaning. "Ugh… those rumors are worse in Kuoh than in Beacon… Let's go back to Pancakes…"
"Affirmative. Let me read what we have so far for her." Penny said. "Daraku Yellow with you, Broken Black with Blake, Impure White with Weiss, and Unnatural Beauty, with me. We need one for King Ruby…" Yang and Penny simultaneously winced, knowing this was going to be tough considering Ruby and Pancakes… relationship.
"Okay, first and foremost, Rubycakes is out." Yang stated. "And so is Fallen Roses. They're both lazy. So… what can we make up…"
"Hm…" Penny muttered before snapping her fingers. "Strawberry Pancakes?"
"No. That's still lazy." Yang said with a sigh. "...Crow Petals?"
(Session 4: Pancakes: Studying with Blake)
"…What does 'Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia' mean?" Pancakes asked without looking up from her book about phobias.
"The fear of the number 666." Blake answered, who also didn't look up from her book, reading about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
"Thank you."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Do I have it?" Pancakes asked. Blake then just showed her a piece of paper with '666' on it for a few seconds.
"No."
(Session 5: Issei: Everything with Everyone)
As soon as Rias announced training was finished for the day, Issei stepped into the mansion, covered in various injuries and dirt.
And promptly collapsed onto the floor.
"I fucking suck."
(Dinner)
"Wow! This all looks really good!" Ruby exclaimed as she looked at all the dishes in front of her. Various meat, fish and vegetable dishes were set on the table and Ruby had no idea which she should start with.
"I am glad you enjoy my cooking, Mistress." Pancakes said with a bow as she ate a rather small helping of her own cooking.
"Ara ara. Pancakes turned out to be a really great help in the kitchen." Akeno said. "And thank you, Buchou, for catching all the meat and fish earlier."
"You're welcome, Akeno." Rias said before using her chopsticks to pick up some rice. "Can't let everyone else do the work after all."
"I have to admit, I kinda missed feasts like these from back home." Weiss admitted. Blake, however, wasn't paying attention as she drooled at the sight of the largest tuna she has ever seen.
"Well, let's all eat up! We need this if we want to take down Raiser." Yang called out as she dug into her dinner, making small talk with the others.
"Yeah!" Issei cheered out, happy to be eating the Queen's cooking. "Akeno-san, you are the best! I'd even want you as my wife!"
"Ufufu, you are embarrassing me." Akeno said with a blush as she gave Issei more food.
"You sure are enjoying this, huh, Issei?" Ruby teased. "Plus, what about Pancakes? She cooked too." Issei stopped eating for a second before nervously laughing.
"Well... her cooking's great, all things considering." Issei muttered.
"Yeah, gotta admit that." Ruby mumbled to herself. It wasn't every day your murderer cooked you dinner.
"...I also made this soup." Asia quietly spoke up, showing Issei and Ruby the onion soup she made. She looked like she was about to cry due to only herself grabbing a serving.
"Oh! Sorry, Asia." Ruby apologized as she and Issei got themselves a serving of onion soup as well and consuming it in an instant. They had to admit, it was really good.
"It's good Asia! It's the best! Give me another one!" Issei said, causing Asia to smile.
"It is!? I'm so glad..." Asia exclaimed before mumbling to herself. "Then now I can become Issei-san's..."
"Hm? What was that?" Issei said, not quite hearing the last couple of words Asia mumbled to herself.
"N-No! It's nothing!" Asia nervously said before she quickly went back to eating.
"Now, Ruby. From today's training, what have you found out?" Rias said, wanting to know their progress.
"Well, for me, I… need to do a lot of work." Ruby answered. "Between controlling my Power of Suffering and generally improving myself, I need to work on new Team Attacks with Yang, Penny and Pancakes. Also, tomorrow I'm planning to create a new one for Weiss and Blake. And since we're gonna work together, I'm also planning to work with your peerage for Team Attacks as well. So far, I have an idea for Issei, me and Yang but that's about it. And that's not to mentioning juggling the idea of creating a few new weapons for your peerage and-or modifications for my peerage's weapons."
"It seems you've got your work cut out for you." Rias said, impressed by her fellow King's various plans and ideas that she created in just a few hours. Ruby blushed and scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Okay, now Issei. What have you learned?"
"…I'm the weakest among us." Issei sighed sadly.
"Yeah, that was kinda obvious." Weiss admitted.
"Are you just finding out about that right now?" Blake deadpanned.
"We kinda already know." Yang muttered.
"I assumed it was public information." Penny stated.
"Is this why you stated that you 'fucking' suck? If the act of 'fucking' is being used in the correct context?" Pancakes questioned.
"Yes. That's for sure." Rias answered plainly. Issei sulked.
"Hey, Issei, you're not that bad." Ruby said as she put a hand on Issei's shoulder. Issei just chuckled humorlessly. "You just didn't get a chance to show what you have."
"Yes, but that just isn't enough." Rias stated. "Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko have lots of battle experience even though they have not participated in the game, so they can fight if they get used to it. And almost everyone in Ruby's peerage live in a world where things like that-" Rias then pointed at the scythe which was also a customizable, high impact sniper rifle known as Crescent Rose as Ruby used it to feed Zwei a whole chicken. "-Is used every day. And Pancakes is still a very good fighter even with her… slight problem. But you and Asia don't have any experience yet. Even so, Asia's healing ability and your Boosted Gear is something that can't be ignored. Even the enemy knows that. I want you to have at least the power to run away."
"R-Run away!?" Issei exclaimed. "Is it really that hard?" Rias just nodded.
"Running away is also a part of the strategy." Rias explained. "Retreating to form a new formation is also a professional way of battling. There are ways to win a match like that. However, running away with your back facing an enemy is something quite hard. If it's an enemy with roughly the same strength as you, it is easy, but showing your back to an enemy who is far superior to you is basically asking them to kill you. So being able to run away from such enemy will also be a part of your strength. So, I have to teach you and Asia the time you have to run away. Of course, I will also teach you how to fight the enemy head on."
"Yeah, and don't count me out in teaching you." Yang called out. "You need some hand-to-hand combat training, because from what I seen you're just swinging your fist around."
"Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have something to defend yourself with just in case." Ruby said. "I'll go ahead and start working on a weapon for both you and Rias, Asia."
"Hm? Why me?" Rias asked, eyebrow raised. "I said I could defend myself."
"Just relying on one form of attack isn't going to cut it most of the time." Ruby replied. "Having a few surprises wouldn't hurt."
"Well, you guys are right…" Issei muttered before sighing. "Roger that."
"Yes." Asia said with a nod at the same time.
"…Okay. I'll let you create a weapon for me." Rias said after a bit of thought.
"Cool. Hey, does Hell have any ore or metals I can use?" Ruby asked.
"Yes." Rias answered. "I'll try and get some of it in before our ten days are up."
"Okay. What is it called?" Ruby said.
"Hellainium." Rias said plainly. There was a silence at the table as soon as the name was said. "…Yeah. Devils… kinda don't need ore so… we got lazy on the name. Though, I think I can get Styxium too…"
"Welp! I'm full!" Yang announced as she stretched and rubbed her stomach. "Man… that was a good meal…"
"We should prepare for bed." Blake suggested, not noticing her whiskers and tail appearing on her body. "Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaa-" Blake yawned before covering her mouth. She blushed as a few chuckled at the table chuckled.
"Blake's right." Rias said, before she had a bit of a mischievous smile appeared on her face before quickly hiding it. "Let's take a bath after everyone's done with their meal. It's an outdoor bath, so it's wonderful."
"That sounds heav-urp!" Weiss started before covering her mouth just in time, causing everyone to sigh in relief. "I mean, that sounds really great right now." Weiss corrected.
"Yeah. All my muscles are sore from training today." Ruby said as she stretched. "So, what order is it…" Ruby trailed off as she noticed Issei staring off dreamily into space as his nose bled freely. "Uh…"
"If it's an outdoor bath, then it's a place to peek!" Issei mumbled to himself, not realizing he was talking out loud. "Peeking is the right way for an outdoor bath! Yeah, it's a sin not to peek if you are born as a man!" Issei shouted out… before Weiss threw a ladle at his face.
"NO WAY IN HELL, PERVERT!" Weiss yelled out.
"I'm not going to peek, Issei-kun." Kiba said with his ever-winning smile.
"That's because you can control your lust much better than he can." Yang deadpanned.
"Oh, Issei. Do you want to peek at us while we are taking a bath?" Rias asked, a mischievous smile on her face.
"P-P-P-Prez!?" Ruby exclaimed.
"WHAT!?" Weiss shouted out in disbelief.
"Excuse me?" Blake said, wondering what was wrong with the other King.
"RIAS!" Yang yelled out, her eyes flashing red.
"King Rias, are you promoting voyeur and-or exhibition fetishes?" Penny inquired.
"Is that inappropriate?" Pancake asked in a dull and confused tone, tilting her head to the side.
"Then how about you bathe with us? I don't mind." Rias chuckled out.
"WWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!?" Team RWBY and Issei exclaimed as he wiped the blood coming from his nose off his face.
"I'll take that as a 'yes' from your peerage, Ruby." Rias said, causing Team RWBY to panic. "How about you, Akeno?" Rias asked, ignoring the overreacting teens.
"I don't mind if it's Issei-kun. Ufufu. I might want to wash a gentleman's back." Akeno said, a small blush on her face.
"Is this for real!?" Ruby and Issei exclaimed.
"How about you, Asia? You should be all right if it's your beloved Issei, right?" Rias asked. Asia, who was bright red at this point, just nodded just because she didn't want to be left out and to get closer to one of her saviors.
Issei, who was now trying to restrain Issei Jr. as he tried to free himself from his confinement. 'How unguarded can the girls from this club get!?' Issei thought before shaking his head. 'No! Resist your urges, Issei, or they're gonna hate you forever. Especially Ruby. Resist your urges, Issei, or they're gonna hate you forever. Especially Ruby.' He chanted to his deteriorating self-control.
"Lastly Koneko? How about it?" Rias asked her only Rook.
"No." Koneko automatically responded as she ate through the comically large pile of food she had.
"Then it's a no. Too bad, Issei." Rias chuckles with a naughty expression on her face as Team RWBY just wiped the sweat off their brow.
"Guess I'll just have to-"
"...If you peek, then I will hold a grudge against you forever." Koneko interrupted Issei's mumblings as Yang cracked her knuckles, causing the pervert to sweat profusely.
"Issei-kun, let's have a naked bath together. I will wash your back." Kiba happily offered.
"Shut up!" Issei yelled at the Prince of Kouh. "I'll seriously kill you, Kiba! Hey wait, no! Stop pulling me! KIIIIIIIIIIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
(Some time later…)
"Why can't I sleep tonight…" Ruby whined quietly as she headed to the kitchen for some warm milk. It was probably past midnight and Ruby was in her pajamas. No matter how hard she tried, she just could relax. "Maybe it's just nerves for the Rating Game." Ruby told herself. "Rias' happiness, and my life…" She muttered as she stopped and stared at her hand before shaking her head. She then noticed something out the window.
"Issei, what are you doing out so late?" Ruby called out as she ran outside, having spotted Issei punching a tree. "I know we did some night training but it's, like, 2am. Don't tell me Prez put you up to this."
"No. Actually, I told Buchou to let me train alone." Issei said before picking up a bottle of water and taking a swig before he continued punching the tree with everything he had. "I have to! I am the weakest one here."
"Yeah, maybe, but that doesn't mean you have to stay up late." Ruby said, trying to comfort her friend. "Go to sleep."
"I don't have to, I know." Issei replied. "I want to. I have to protect Buchou and Asia after all." Ruby could only sigh.
"Well, punching a tree isn't going to help." Ruby said, causing Issei to stop. "Plus, we still have nine days and staying up so late isn't going to help in the long run." Issei just sighed.
"…Buchou said a Pawn can kill a King, right? Just like in a game of chess." Issei muttered. Ruby just nodded. "But… a Pawn can only move one or two spaces forward while a King can move one space in any direction. I don't know about you, but when it's down to just a Pawn to defend a King against another King, I guess that second King wins, right?"
"Maybe. Or it becomes a stalemate." Ruby said before smirking. "But, like I said before, 'You gotta have a bit of luck if you wanna make a game fun.'"
"Ruby, where are you going with this?" Issei asked.
"I'm just wondering… what if we manipulate that luck." Ruby replied. "Make it our game instead of a fair one?"
"…I'm not following." Issei admitted, staring dumbly at her.
"That's not important right now." Ruby chuckled out before looking into Issei's eyes. "What you do need to know is that I have a plan."
"Amongst all of your other plans?" Issei asked incredulously. "What exactly are you thinking?"
"Nothing really. Except…" Ruby said before looking up to the night sky and taking in the cold night air. She honestly had no idea if the plan she had in mind was going to work or if it was even possible. So many things had to happen that required it to work.
But, she had faith in her friends. They didn't make it this far out of pure luck after all.
"Tell me. Is RxD a good name?"
Save Game… Quit!
Whew! Done! I… really need help with Team Attack names for Pancakes and Ruby. And I actually had to search up alternate ship names and various other things just for jokes. And this chapter would've been longer but I decided to just end it here. To be honest, that last scene was supposed to be later but I had no idea how to end the chapter so I threw it in. Anyway, that's it for now. See ya whenever!
UknownHero signing off, my friends!