"There is no way Scarlet would come to you!" Red yelled.
One of the men took the gag off and the other helped their boss to his feet.
"Tell him," Blanche whispered.
Scarlet hung her head as she stared down at the ground.
"Why? I was going to take care of everything."
"She's bored with her lazy and boring life. She came to me to escape. I honestly didn't think you would catch me off guard. I was so... surprised."
Red didn't hear anything he said. His eyes were focused on his girlfriend. She looked unhurt. She looked more upset and ashamed than anything.
Are you really that surprised? Said a small voice in his head.
Red ignored the fact Blanche was standing there.
"Are you just the type to line up behind whoever is strongest? Scarlet?"
He stepped forward.
"Red!"
He didn't turn around to the voice of his other girlfriend, Akairo. He was angry. He felt betrayed by the one person who would understand him above any one else on this planet. This wasn't the first time. She left him once before after pretty much telling him he wasn't brave enough.
Red knocked out one of the men who tried to get close enough. Akairo stood about ten feet away. She wondered why Blanche looked like he was close to being beat to death. What worried her the most was the murderous look on her boyfriend's face. Red shoved away the guy holding Scarlet.
Akairo watched as Red ripped the ropes off of Scarlet. She gasped when Red grabbed Scarlet's chin to make her look at him. Akairo and Scarlet never once feared the timid huntsman but this time... Akairo felt fear for the first time. The way he looked. It terrified her.
"After everything I did! I got hurt and saved your life... This is how you treat me? I loved you! I cared for you and worried about you. Then you go behind my back to run to him?"
"Red-
Red turned around to glare at the red haired Faunus. She swallowed hard and stayed quiet.
"I hope it was worth everything for you. I had trusted you so much. Don't come back here."
Red shoved her into the wall by Blanche.
"I wish I let you die at that bank that night. I should've listened to everyone. Blake was right about you."
Akairo covered her mouth. The look on Scarlet's face looked the same: betrayal.
"I will get Ash-
"No!" Red bellowed.
Akairo jumped.
"I won't let you subject him to the horrible shit he is about to do!" he screamed pointing at Blanche.
"I-
"Crimson would be fucking ashamed."
Blanche looked at Red then back at Scarlet.
"How did you find out?" Blanche asked.
Red said nothing and walked away. He grabbed Akairo's hand and they were gone.
X
X
"Are you ok with leaving your son with them?" Blanche asked.
Scarlet nodded.
"I want him to have a very normal life. As close as I can get for him."
Blanche shrugged and walked up to his men. Scarlet stared at him.
Red really did a number on him. He went in for the kill without a second thought. He has changed a lot. He is so much stronger than I had thought but... he's hardly ever home and I don't travel with him.
"I'm surprised you came so easily. I was expecting more of a fight."
She glared at him.
"I would rather just not talk right now."
He shrugged.
"I get that. When you are more comfortable and a little happier I have some things to show you."
She raised her eyebrows at him but he only smiled.
I don't know why I'm here. Why am I here? What is it that I'm looking for?
Scarlet stared at the giant train. Blanche claimed he owned it and it didn't seem like a lie. It looked privately owned.
"Are you fine with leaving?"
"Yea."
X
X
Red staggered into their safe house with the weirdest look on his face. No one knew what to say to him. He had blood on his hands and his clothes. It was hard to tell if it was his or someone else's. Akairo shut the door behind her until it clicked softly. Red was up the stairs in his room.
"What happened?" Jazmin asked, "Where is Scarlet?"
Akairo took a few steps forward then fell to her knees. She started sobbing in her hands.
Yuri walked passed her to go for Red but she grabbed his pant leg. He looked down at her. In all the years he had known her, he had never seen such sorrow in her eyes. It almost broke his heart as she shook her head. Soon, loud noises came from upstairs like Red was in a frenzy destroying his room.
Jazmin looked over at Blake.
"Did... Did you have something to do with this?"
Blake looked angry but he shook his head.
"I have no idea what is going on."
Blake walked over to Akairo and knelt down.
"Baby girl, what happened?" he whispered as he rubbed her back.
Akairo sobbed and said something that made no sense. Her words were almost incoherent.
"I can't hear you."
"She left with Blanche!" she screamed and shoved Blake back onto the floor.
Jazmin made a face.
"There's no fucking way!" she screamed.
"Believe it because it happened! I watched!"
"Where is Ash then?" Yuri asked.
"Red wouldn't let her take him."
Akairo grabbed at her long red hair and started pulling while screaming.
"Akairo no!" Blake screamed.
Yuri and Wyeth jumped in to help restrain the broken down Faunus but she was almost too strong for them.
"I can't believe this," Juno said.
She watched as Jazmin sat on the couch with a devastated look on her face.
X
X
About a week later, Red and Akairo returned back to the house they once shared with Scarlet. They carried in Ash with them and had explained Scarlet had went abroad to study for school and she would be back when she was finished. At first the young boy was upset but he was ok once he realized they were staying with him.
The relationship between Akairo and Red was strained badly. They both lost someone that meant everything to them. They still had each other but they had been with Scarlet for a long time. It felt odd without her there. Terra made sure not to mention marriage or anything else while the hurt was still fresh.
The two of them had closed themselves off from everyone else including Yuri.
Akairo started taking her medication again because she couldn't help the heartache and she would be more dangerous to everyone around her. Red took four months off then returned to work. Akairo made sure she never left Ash's side and even enrolled him in school when the time came. Ash helped take the pain away until he was gone or asleep then she was forced to stay awake with her thoughts.
She couldn't shake the feeling like Scarlet didn't leave on her own free will. She never wanted to talk about how that night went with Blanche.
I wondered if he offered her a way to bring Crimson back. I know we had our problems but I don't think she would've just left us like that.
She laid in her bed. She reached over almost hoping she would feel Scarlet's hand there...
It was just cold sheets.
This has to be all my fault. All my fault. All my problems. I caused all of this.
"Akairo."
She sat up quickly to see Ash standing in the doorway.
"Why aren't you asleep?" she asked wiping away tears.
"Are you sad Mommy is gone?"
She nodded. Ash took her hand and hugged it against his chest.
"Mommy always said she will be back. She will be back."
Akairo smiled and hugged him.
"I can't wait."
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too," she whispered.
More tears stained her cheeks but she felt better somehow.
Scarlet will return. I just have to wait.
Akairo sent Ash back to bed and headed down stairs. She walked into the kitchen to see Yuri and Blake standing there. She never heard the door open.
"Why are you here?" she snapped.
The coldness in her voice surprised Blake.
"Are you two just going to pretend? Are you not going to look for her?"
Akairo rolled her eyes.
"Scarlet made her choice. If she wants to return... I will be waiting with open arms and hoping for an answer."
"That isn't you," Blake said.
"I'm not myself. I won't be for a while."
She sat at the table.
"You think she went on her own free will?" Yuri asked sitting down next to her.
"It's not wishful thinking or anything but no. I don't think she did."
She looked at Blake.
"I know you hate her but I need her back."
Blake saw the pleading in her eyes.
"You and Red are perfect together."
Akairo ran a hand through her hair.
"For the longest time I was angry and jealous even though I was the one who suggested we ask her to be with us. I was angry because I knew what they had before what he had with me. Part of me felt like I would disappoint Crimson in some way. She needed someone to love her. We decided to love her."
"You shouldn't have done it to make someone else happy."
She shook her head.
"She knew she was third wheeling the whole time but I always reassured her. I saw how happy she was with us. With me. I can't sleep. I miss holding her next to me. Watching her read her books and the way she got mad at her TV shows when things didn't go the way she wanted. I miss the stuff she cooked and the things she talked about even if I didn't understand them.
"She was my whole world literally twenty four seven. When Red was here, I loved sitting between them. Watching movies. Making cookies and cooking. Even the love making wasn't lustful it was love. Everything I felt with them is the things I have been missing my whole life. No matter what her mistakes are, they're mine too."
Yuri looked at Blake. He looked defeated.
"I have people all around the world. As long as she is safe, that's all I ask."
She stood up.
"I want to lay in bed. You two can leave."
"Can I get Ash tomorrow?" Yuri asked.
Akairo gave him a weird look.
"They miss their cousin. You guys have been hiding away lately so..."
"That's fine."
The men let themselves out. Akairo drank a quick glass of chocolate milk and then headed for bed. She stared out the window at the shattered moon and stars.
I hope you can feel I love you. No matter the past... I see you in the future. The future with us.
She finally fell asleep for the first time in weeks, peacefully.