New Chainsaw Man chapter out. The War Reaper omake makes me wonder about other RWBY girls getting pacted. Could you imagine Control devil pacted with Weiss, for example? Especially pre character development. Ditto Justice Devil to Blake 'I hate racists' Belladonna.

By the way, I should probably clarify something. When I asked about harems last chapter, I didn't mean that Denji ends up with more than one person. I meant that more than one girl would be interested in him and Denji's possible reaction when he finds this out.


Winter Schnee was many things. A sister, a Specialist, and, as much as she hated it, a Schnee. No matter how far she went and how much Jacques publicly disavowed her, the legacy of her family would follow her everywhere.

She still remembered those days when she'd first first joined the military. So many of her fellow soldiers looked at her with suspicion, assuming her to be nothing more than a spoiled brat who'd gotten her position through Jacques' connections. She'd more than proven her worth in both the combat arena and in the field, though it didn't stop a few of her fellow soldiers still insinuating that she got her position through less than reputable means.

It was why she was so thankful to have been put under the employ of General Ironwood. He didn't care about her past or anything besides her skills, something that earned him the respect of many of his soldiers; and the ire of those who realized their connections and prejudiced views would get them nowhere. She'd seen more than a few soldiers leaving their careers or asking for transfers when they realized they wouldn't get their way.

Needless to say, she was deeply loyal to the man. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that she would lay down her life for him if he asked.

But even then this was...unorthodox. A recruitment mission. She was hardly the first pick to something like this. While she had the respect of those under her command, Specialist Erdtree and Specialist Ebi were better at recruitment and negotiation than her. She was admittedly lacking in that regard. Years spent under Jacques' 'parenting' had made her particularly despise the double meanings and honeyed words common in upper society.

And yet, as always, she agreed. General Ironwood framed this as a request, not an order; a rarity for the man. She also knew it was truly a request and not simply an order framed as one. The general didn't mince words when it came to what he wanted, even when it made him enemies. She respected that about him. Too many would kowtow or speak lies just to keep an uncomfortable status quo.

Her mission: recruit one Denji Hayakawa to work for Atlas, either under the academy or, preferably, under General Ironwood's command specifically. Normally it wouldn't have been an issue, but right now said young man was working for Headmaster Ozpin.

The relationship between the general and the headmaster always confounded her. In the surface one could argue that they were, at best, rivals. They disagreed at the best of times, had fundamentally different worldviews. and at times appeared diametrically opposed to one another. And yet despite that the two men had a friendship that stretched back decades and the general took general offense when Specialist Cordovin had made a disparaging remark on the headmaster's beliefs.

Apparently something like this - poaching each other's talents - was common in their position. She wouldn't pretend to understand, and personally it reminded her just a bit too much of Jacques' business dealings, but apparently Ozpin had done the same to him in the past. She only hoped that Weiss wasn't one of the students he'd somehow poached, though she wouldn't disagree that the farther away from Jacques her sister was, the better.

Winter crossed her legs and looked down at her scroll. The bullhead was just a few minutes out. Denji Hayakawa, age 17. Ostensibly Mistralian in origin, though from what she heard when Weiss ranted about him, he had no idea where it even was on the map. As far as she was aware his true origins were a mystery.

Weiss has been a surprising font of knowledge on him. She claimed to despise the man for reasons ranging from his lack of manners to his poor grades in class, and yet she talked - well, ranted - more about him than that Jaune fellow who'd unsucessfully tried to court her. He must have done something truly heinous in Weiss' eyes to earn such lasting scorn.

Denji wasn't at Beacon, which was a mixed blessing. While it meant that she wouldn't have to poach him literally from under Ozpin's nose, it also meant that she wouldn't be able to see Weiss. A true shame, though work came before pleasure.

She tapped her scroll and the next page appeared. This one contained a short video of what could only be described as a chainsawed monstrosity cleaving its way through hordes of Grimm. This was why General Ironwood wanted the young man so badly. While skilled combatants were part and parcel for Huntsmen, this Denji was an oddity. Despite his lack of training he was as strong as entire teams and Weiss, amidst all her ranting, admitted that he'd single-handedly saved her from a Goliath; a creature that would be considered a hassle for even a fully trained Huntsman, nevermind a student.

What could he do with training? That was the question the general asked himself. Ozpin was defensive whereas the general believed that a firm and powerful approach would be the key to stopping Salem. This Denji was an oddity, but one that could benefit them heavily if used the right way. His raw power tempered by training and discipline could make him one of their most valuable assets.

His mission, which the general found out after Qrow let it slip, was to thin the herd of Goliaths around Mountain Glenn. Were it anyone else she would've assumed it was a suicide mission or a deliberately impossible task, but the general had assured her that if the headmaster had sent this Denji to do this alone then he must have honestly believed in his success. Ozpin wasn't the type to sacrifice soldiers, the general claimed.

Winter hopped stepped off the Bullhead and its automatic flight system called it back to the nearest port for refueling and repairs. Trying to recruit someone in the middle of a mission was hardly an orthodox method, but she knew better than anyone that relationships forged in conflict were stronger than any chain. He might be more receptible if he understood who he was signing on with.

It didn't take her long to find him; the sounds of revving chainswaws and maniacal laughing was a dead giveaway, "Come on, just die already!" Denji - the Chainsaw monstrosity - shouted as he rode a particularly large Goliath like a horse. Barbed chains shot from his arms and he used them like reins to control the Grimm's charge, making it barrel through a pair of smaller Goliaths.

Well, time for her to muck in.

Winter summoned a Manticore and rode atop it, "Denji Hayakawa, I am here to assist!" He looked up, face unreadable due to the metal replacing flesh, but he seemed to catch on quick enough.

Seeing him in action firsthand was both a gruesome and enlightening experience. His fighting style, it it could even be called that, was undoubtedly crude and haphazard, and yet Weiss' stories of his capabilities were no exagerattion. His chainsaws were sharper than any weapon she'd ever seen and no matter what hits he took he always got back up. Even having his midsection gored by a Goliath's tusks only elicited a complaint about how how inconvenient it was.

The rest of the Goliaths fell soon enough. Winter hated to admit it, but he'd done most of the work. Well, at least it explained the general's insistence on how valuable he was. She could definitely agree now that she'd seen it firsthand.

"Finally done." Denji groaned and revered back to a human. It was an odd sight, but like any self-respecting Huntsman she barely paid it any mind. What kind of Huntsman would be afraid when they were trained to fight Grimm?

At Beacon, one Yang Xiao Long suddenly sneezed and felt offended.

"Indeed. You fought well."

"Thanks." He looked at her with a somewhat blank expression, "The old man didn't say anything about someone helping. No offense, but I ain't splitting the reward. Saving up for something special."

"Don't worry, I'm not here for that." She laughed under her breath. If he was so tempted by lien then this would be simple, "General Ironwood of Atlas is an old friend of the headmaster and he sent me here to assist you as a gesture of goodwill. I am Winter Schnee. I believe you know my sister, Weiss?"

He blinked then suddenly stood ramrod straight, "Oh shit, you're the big sis! I heard all about you!"

"Good things, I hope." She smiled. She wasn't good at being charming, but she could be polite.

"Oh, yeah! Totally! I just..." He looked her up and down. Not leering - she was used to such things in her early days - but actually trying to get a picture of her in his mind, "Wow, you're way more badass than what even Weiss said; and she said a lot."

"Hm." She looked up at the sky, "Is your mission complete?"

"So far. I only had to kill ten of those elephant things for the job. These were my last three." She raised a brow. Ten Goliaths in one day? Very impressive, "Sorry you got here too late, I guess."

"It's fine. Would you be amenable to sharing a bullhead with me back to Beacon? I have to visit Weiss anyway.

"If you don't mind, sure."

The bullhead returned after a few minutes and they sat across one another. The young man looked distinctly out of place on the sleek silver interior with his torn up clothes and blood splattered skin, but she paid it no mind.

"Mr. Hayakawa, can I be frank with you?" She crossed her right leg over her left and leaned forward.

"Uh...sure? And call me Denji. Only put a last name in cause the old man said I had to have one."

"Why are you working for Ozpin, Denji? Is it just for the money?"

"I guess." He shrugged. "Didn't really have a lot of options when I got taken here." Taken? Was this an unwilling journey, then? The old man found me after I killed a bunch of those Grimm things and he said he could offer me a roof over my head and money if I killed more of those. It's actually not that different from, uh, my old job. Assholes don't die permanently and there's always more where they came from."

"Indeed." The Grimm's endless hordes broke down many a Huntsman, "I shall be honest. I didn't come here just to assist you. General Ironwood sent me here with an offer: work for Atlas instead." He blinked at her, evidently surprised, "Your capabilities are exceptional and we believe that with proper training and guidance you could be one of our most powerful assets against the Grimm."

"Wow, uh..." He rubbed the back of his head, "That's, uh, really flatterin' and all, but I...I gotta say no."

"I see..." She breathed in softly. She had a 50/50 expectation so it wasn't too disappointing, "Could I at least show you the contract? I can assure you the terms are more than generous."

"It's not for me." He sighed, "If it was was just me then I'd be pretty tempted, not gonna lie, but it ain't. There's, uh..." He played with his hands, "I got kinda like a friend, kinda like a little sister, with me. Name's Nayuta, she's eight. She's super smart, hell of a lot smarter than me, and I'm savin' up so she can study to be whatever she wants. College is even more expensive here than back home cause of the Grimm. See, my life was always crappy before. I want her to have a normal life."

"I...I see." She blinked, surprised as how fast her heart was suddenly racing. He referred to this Nayuta as a friend and little sister, but his tone was unmistakably that of a father worrying for his daughter's future. It was...something she'd only ever seen and not experienced for herself. Jacques desired control, obedience, and his only worried were ever on whether they followed his plans.

"Yeah, so that's why I gotta say no."

"But as I said, the terms are generous. I'm sure that-"

"It ain't just that," he cut her off, "I heard that Atlas place is rolling in cash, but Nayuta...she likes it here. She's made friends with Ruby and every single times she takes the dogs out for walks she beelines for Blake. I hear Blake screamin' in joy every time." He shook his head, "So to just pack up and tell her she's gotta say goodbye? I can't do that to her. No way."

Her heart sped up once more and she clenched both her hands. What was wrong with her? "I see." She exhaled softly. General Ironwood wouldn't give up, not so easily, and she wouldn't either. She wasn't going to fail this mission.

"So hey, could I ask for some advice?" he asked suddenly, ""With Nayuta, I mean. Figured you'd be good since you're just like me, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Taking care of your little sister. Weiss won't stop talkin' about how awesome you are. What I heard you two got pretty shitty parents, so you had to step up."

"I...I suppose." His smile was so warm and fatherly that her face flushed.

"So you know what it's like when ya gotta worry about someone else. I just...I want Nayuta to have a better life than I did. She's smart as hell and the only thing I'm good for is killin' shit. I want better for her than that. Like you and Weiss, yeah?"

Her heartbeat's tempo reached a fever pitche and it took all she had not to slump over from the strain. This young man, the same age as her sister, had devoted his life to his daughter. He'd given up his own happiness to provide her with a normal life. It was so...so admirable that she almost fainted at the thought of it. How could this young man do more than someone who'd wedded their way into riches and power?

"And it's just you two? No...older sister in the family?" Or a wife.

"Nah. The way Nayuta's born was...kinda special. We ain't even related, so there ain't no big happy family in the picture." She wasn't even his blood and yet he was sacrificing so much. In Atlas, bloodlines were everything. Children were less offspring and more extensions of the parents' wills in high society. And yet here he was, providing for a child that he had no obligation to.

He would need help with that, certainly. And would it not only be proper if she offered such aid herself? He had asked, after all, and she did have experience with Weiss. She was perfect for the job, if you thought about it.

The rest of the trip was quiet after that. To her surprise, Weiss was already there to greet her, "Sister!" Weiss walked up to her excitedly only to grimace when she caught sight of Denji walking out after her, "I'd heard from the headmaster that you came to assist Denji." The headmaster knew? Well, so much for keeping a low profile.

"Yo," Denji greeted casually.

"Your sister is chasing after Blake again. While I disagree with my teammates extremely odd dislike of dogs, it's still her right."

"Nah, they're just playin' around." Denji waved her off and walked away before Weiss could start on a rant.

"Honestly, that buffoon." Weiss looked back at her with a smile only for it to immediately drop, "Sister, are you alright? Your face is flush! Are you having a fever?"

"I-I'm fine, just have to freshen up in the bathroom." Her undergarments were uncomfortably...moist.


Winter has a daddy kink confirmed. Hey, she was raised by Jacques then ended up working for Ironwood. Sadly, neither of those two could fulfill her true fetish: seeing someone be a good dad and placing their kid's desires over their own.

Really though, Yang would've been the perfect girlfriend for the guy. She's emotionally smart, badass, and had to also raise Ruby after Summer's death and Taiyang being depressed. Too bad she's the one person in the entirety of Remnant scared of the Chainsaw Man.

Next chapter is either Kobeni's misfortunes or Blake being targeted by Nayuta. We'll see.

Questions:

1. So would you guys be interested in the 'RWBY girls contract with Devils' idea? If so, which character and which devil? Let's keep it humorous and light to avoid things going down the Fujimoto route. Also, it doesn't have to be just team RWBY. Nora might be funny. Or Pyrrha pacts with future devil because she's that desperate to know if confessing to Jaune won't blow up in her face.

2. In addition to the above, should I have at the very least Ruby bonding with Yoru as canon to future segments? I'll tone down her psychosis so she won't be as obviously crazy, but we could still have some fun; especially at Yang's expense.