Chapter 14

Kaka Village Hut

Ragna was too full to sleep. Tao had shoved too much food down his throat. He looked over to Ruby, who was following Rachael's advice, and still sitting in front of the unconscious Weiss.

'It has to be at least three hours now.'

Rachael… while she was cryptic, secretive and pompous, she had never lied to him, but that didn't stop him from rolling his eyes at this stupid idea.

"So uh, I still haven't thanked you for saving me." Said Ruby, talking to Ragna with her back facing him.

"I don't know what you're talking about, kid."

"Doctor Litchi and the Elder told me that you saved me. Thank you."

"Well I don't want or need your thanks. Now stop talking to me, I'm trying to sleep."

"Ugh…" Hesitated Ruby. "I don't think you noticed this, but you sounded a little rude. People might misunderstand you and think badly of you."

"Don't worry. They didn't misunderstand me. And I only rude to brats who disturb my rest."

"Oh." Responsed Ruby, oblivious to what that meant. "So, my name is Ruby, Ruby Rose, what's yours?"

Ragna rolled his eyes. "Is "none of your-… Look kid-"

"Ruby."

"Look kid," Continued Ragna, ignoring the interruption. "You seem like a nice girl, but this ain't a nice world, and I'm not a nice guy. Just because you are nice to someone doesn't mean they will return in kind. Certainly I wouldn't."

"But Tao called you "Good Guy"."

"Well I'm not a good guy."

"So… should I call you Bad Guy?"

"NO!" For some reason, Ragna jumped a little, and he didn't even understand why. "No, You know what, do whatever you want. Just don't talk to me." And then he turned his face away from Ruby, not that she could tell.

An hour later, Ragna began to see a light filtering through his eyelids. Annoyed, he opened his eyes, but before he could yell at the person responsible, what he saw, stunned him.

'What the hell?'

The light source, was emanating from Ruby's head, or more specifically, her face. Ragna couldn't see her face since she was facing away from him, but he was almost sure the light was coming from her eyes.

"Ugh…"

The white-haired girl on the bed began to moan, and the light disappeared.

"Hey!" Ragna called out to Ruby.

"What? What? I wasn't sleeping!" Said Ruby as she had just woken up.

Ruby looked down at Weiss, and saw her moving, she immediately put her hand on Weiss' forehead.

"The fever's gone! Doctor!"

Litchi came rushing in.

"Doctor! Her fever is gone!"

Litchi touched Weiss' forehead.

"What… how?"

"I don't know. I just looked at her. Rachael was right! Weiss going to be alright, right?"

"I have to run some tests first."

While Litchi pulled and closed the curtain around Weiss' bed, Ragna rose from his bed, grabbed his jacket, and exited the hut.

"Where are you going? You're still hurt!"

Ignoring Litchi's warning, Ragna closed the door behind him.

"Alright Rachael, what was that." Asked Ragna, to seemingly nobody.

And she appeared before him out of thin air, with Valkenhayn behind her.

"Just so you know, I did not come because you called me."

"Whatever. So, what's the deal with that girl?"

"A foolish, arrogant and roundabout way of an attend to maintain balance. A band-aid on a gaping wound."

"Great. More gibberish shit. Thanks for nothing. You can go now." Ragna said this while making a shoo shoo motion with his hand.

"Careful, dog. The only thing stopping me from ripping out your throat is Madam's order." Said Valkenhayn with his fangs out.

"Try it, mud." Challenged Ranga.

"It's fine Valkenhayn, no need to stoop to his level. Level us for now."

Valkenhayn bowed, and disappeared.

"As I said before, I didn't come for you. I came to check on the girl."

"Well she's occupied."

"Not Miss Rose, Her." Said Rachel, pointing to the entrance of the village, and the four people entering the village, with Yang in front.

"Hey! We cleared the path! And look who we have as our first visitors!" Said Yang, gesturing to the three people next to her.

The first was a blonde boy with a tail, beside him was a blue hair boy that seemed to be the same age as the first guy, and the person behind them… was that Library girl again. Ragna actually never wanted to see her ever again, but fate seems to have it out for him.

"Rag… Ragna the Bloodedge!" Said Noel when she spotted him.

"Wait… what!" Said Yang, surprised, and Ragna facepalmed.

Kagutsuchi Lower Level Back Alleyway

"Yon…" Said the knight in the featureless white mask.

'Another one?'

But this time is different. The white knight before him was not even trying to hide his power.

'Whatever. In the end, who he is has nothing to do with me.'

"Jin Kisaragi, if you are after the Dark One, do not bother, he is mine pray."

What the hell. Somehow he knew, Hakumen was talking about his brother.

"Ragna the Bloodedge is NOL business, and mine. Hakumen or no, I will show no mercy to anyone who stands in my way."

Hakumen unmoving, and stared at him, seemingly challenging his threat. Responding to the challenge, and enraged, Jin drew his Yukiance, but before the blade could leave the scabbard, Hakumen suddenly moved in front of him, his hand on the Yukiance's pommel, stopping the sword from being drawn. Jin couldn't believe it, and then he felt a punch in the abdomen, and Jin dropped to his knees.

"Enough. This is pitiful. In your condition, even a child can best you."

"I'm not done…" Said Jin, standing up, supporting himself up with the well.

"So you have been chosen. But if you choose to turn that power to your selfish ends, and let power control you, then you shame us both."

"Power? Are you talking about that power of order again? That Jubei or whoever was just uttering that nonsense as well! Order? Balance! Why the hell should I give a damn!"

"If you as you say, don't give a damn, why try to kill Ragna the Bloodedge."

"That's none of your business!" Said Jin, standing up to try to challenge Hakumen again.

"Your arrogance blinds you to the true strength of your opponent. You cannot defeat me. But then again, even you must have discerned as much."

"Do not pretend you know me!"

"You think you are wielding the power of Order? No, even Yukianse? No. you are been wield by them. You are but a child."

"Shut up! You have no idea who I am!"

And Hakumen gave a cold laugh.

"What is so funny!"

"Your anger, how much of that is even yours. A puppet for a Nox Nyctores, the Kisaragi, the Librarium, and now for the world itself. A puppet like you will never defeat Ragna the Bloodedge."

ARCTIC DUNGEON!

Enraged, Jin poured all of his remaining power into Yukianse, and thrust his sword into the ground, and the area around him instantly froze, except for Hakumen, who with a horizontal swing of his sword, dispersed the cold air. Jin, on the other hand, used up the last of his strength, and fell to the ground.

"Major!" Called out a white-haired woman, who rushed to Jin's side with incredible speed, stopping his head from hitting to ground.

Winter looked up at the person who Jin was just fighting, and was shocked.

'What? A featureless white mask? And that nodachi… But… no it can't be…'

As a swordswoman, Winter was quite interested in legendary warriors, and of course, Hakumen was one of them.

'A descendant? Or an impostor. Those are the most logical conclusions.'

Hakumen said nothing, as he picked up Jin's sword, and sheathed it, and then handed it over to Winter.

"Do not touch the sword's handle." Said Hakumen. After that, he just left.

Winter, her hand on her saber grip, waited until Hakumen was out of sight, and then immediately checked on Jin. Blood… spilled out of his chest.

'He's a wanted man, what is the right thing to do, as an Atlas' officer? Call the NOL? But I don't trust that Hazama…'

?: "Are you alright?"

That startled Winter a little. In front of her stood a tall, scruffy man. She couldn't believe she didn't notice someone that huge was there.

?: "Wait.. Jin Kisaragi? My arch nemesis!"

Things may have just gotten worse…

Kaka Village Hut

"So you guys met the Lieutenant on the surfer and she led you here?" Asked Weiss, setting on the bad.

"No thanks to that massage of yours."We're fine, we're just trapped underground right now.". You really think we wouldn't worry after that?" Sun Said to Blake.

Blake: "I just didn't want you to worry and come after us."

"How could I not! Seithr poison!" Said Neptune, angrily.

"But she's fine now, right?" Asked Ruby.

"Yes. The Seithr is gone from her system." Said Litchi. "As for long term side effects, we have to wait and see."

"So you're really Ragna, Ragna the Bloodadge, the highest bounty in history?" Asked Yang.

On the bed on the other side of the room, Noel was charging Ragna's bandages.

"You got the wrong person."

"Captain Hazama and Miss Rachel called you Ragna." Said Noel.

"Ragna is a common name in my hometown. There must be at least ten-twenty Ragnas there."

Blake pulled out her scroll and looked at Ragna's bounty. "The hair does look similar… but the face..."

"Maybe he had surgery. I mean I would, if I looked like that." Said Neptune.

Ragna's eye twitched a little.

"Hey, so who do you think will win in a fight? Me? Or you?" Asked Yang, creaking her knuckles.

"Don't give a-." 'Shit' thought Ragna, watching his mouth in front of Ruby.

"I bet I can beat you." Said Yang.

"Sure, think what you like." And Ragna got off the bed and left.

"Wait! I'm not done!" Said Noel, still holding some of the bandages.

"I don't give a…" He stopped himself again. "I don't need it. And you were doing a terrible job anyway."

As Noel was still in her dumbfounded mode, Ragna walked out of the hut.

"Wow, what a social guy." Said Neptune. "Who said something like that to such a cute girl?"

"And the distraction is gone." Rachel turned to Noel.

"Miss Rachel?" 'Why am I so overly formal and polite?' Thought Noel as Rachel looking at her.

Rachel then turned to the other people in the room. "I'm sure you all know something has changed in the city. I would advice you to leave the city immediately. If you don't. Well, that's your choice."

"Changes… yeah I'll say. Atlas might retaliate. Can you imagine, a war?" Asked Sun.

"Don't be stupid. Atlas wouldn't go to war that easily." Said Weiss.

"I don't know. War is quite a profitable business. And we all know how corporations in Atlas care about profits." Said Blake. She may or may not have intended to try to stir Weiss up, but that's what happened.

"Blake, shut up."

"Why, can't handle the truth?"

The air suddenly became cold, Sun and Neptune exchanging weird looks, while Rudy began to feel panic.

"Blake, Weiss get it already. Please stop…" Pleaded Ruby.

"I'm trying to get her to see the truth." Said Blake, not backing down.

"And the truth is every device you have on you right now is made or invented by Atlas." Said Weiss.

"Weiss, please." Said Ruby, desperately trying to defuse the situation.

CLAP!

Everyone in the room jumped a little with the sudden clap.

"Alright." Said Litchi, with her palms together. "this is a clinic, Miss Weiss here has just recovered from a fever and needs her rest. Come on everyone, visiting time over. "

Blake said nothing, and left the hut first, others soon followed. Ruby gave Litchi a nod of gratitude before leaving.

Outside of the Hut

Ruby walked away from the group, sat down against the wall, and sighed.

"What? You have some business with me?"

'Huh?' Thought Ruby, looking up, and saw Ragna.

"Oh no. Sorry, I just didn't notice you. I'll leave."

"Why? This isn't my spot."

As Ragna proceed to leave, Ruby let out another sigh. Ragna rolled his eyes.

"Alright, what."

"Huh?"

"Oh come on, two sighs? It's clear you want something."

"I… it happened again. My friends were fighting, and I couldn't stop them."

"Then let them fight."

"What?"

"Look, I don't really care, and I don't have friends, so that's was the best, and only advice I got, now so long."

And Ragna just left, leaving a confused Ruby. Ragna kept walking, and walked behind a hut, a shadow was already there, waiting for him.

? "Being around so much youthful energy can really make an old cat feel young."

"Good for you. All I feel is annoyed." Replied Ragna.

"Really? I love this. This must be what having grandchildren's like."

"I met that friend of yours. Could have warned me better."

"Already? I was hoping I still have a few more days to prepare you."

"What can a few more days do against someone like Hakumen?"

"I did say, and I trained you to run. Did you?"

"No." Said Ragna with a Humph. "I beat him."

"Sure you did." Said the old cat, until he realised Rsgna wasn't joking. "What? No… Really?"

Ragna made a "tsk". "I didn't do it myself, if you must know."

"I'm impressed…" Said Jubei. "Like really…"

Jubei looked over to the Huntsmen. "Ragna."

"Huh?"

"Be a little more… thoughtful to em', willya?"

"What? I don't have time to-"

"I'm not saying you should be their teacher or friend or anything, just be a little more… I dunno know… less mean."

Ragna looked at his master like he has gone crazy.

Back at Ruby

Ruby looked over to the hut, thinking about what she should do, when she saw Weiss coming out, and walking towards her.

"I think it's about time we leave." Said Weiss.

"Leave? But you just recovered?"

"I don't trust that "doctor", and if we don't return soon, my sister and your uncle will get worried."

"Yeah… I guess you're right." Replied Ruby. "What do you think will happen now?"

"We'll leave this city as soon as possible."

"What? What about the tournament?"

"There's no way it can continue. I mean, we've got an international crisis here." Weiss pursed a little. "And even though she's just trying to rile me up, Blake's right. And I knew it, I just didn't want to hear it from her, or anyone. If anything, I would be more surprised if a lot of powerful people in Atlas don't wish for war."

"But why?"

"Because it's easy to want war when you can just have poor people and robots do the fighting for you while you make money off of them."

Ruby lowered her head and thought a little on her own.

"No tournament, Yang is going to be disappointed."

"HI GUYS!"

Both of them looked up and saw Sun, Blake, Yang and Noel.

"Open your Scrolls!" Yelled Sun. "There's an office announcement by the Atlas!"

"The CCTS is back?" Said Ruby.

"It was down?" Asked Yang.

"Only for a few hours. It went down sometime after the ship crushed." Said Blake.

"Well, I guess you wouldn't know, but we've been using the Atlas mother ship as a temporary CCT tower, but with the ships crushed, I guess something got damaged." Explained Weiss.

"I thought Kagusushi-"

"Kagutsuchi." Said Weiss, correcting Yang.

"Whatever." Yang annoyed. "I thought the city had its own CCT tower?"

"We don't." Said Noel. "We have our own Grimoire base communication system network."

"Not now! Watch the announcement first!" Said Sun.

Weiss pulled out her Scroll, Ruby stood up and looked over, and saw two middle-aged men standing on two podiums.

"I know there is confusion, but rest assured we are working with the Librarium." Said the middle-aged man in a white uniform, standing on a podium with the Atlas flag.

"General Ironwood…" Said Weiss.

"He said that no one died!" Said Neptune. "Like serious? That's some luck."

"Who's that other guy?" Asked Ruby, pointing to the other middle-aged man with an angry face, in a blue and white uniform.

"Marshal Invictus!" Said Noel.

"Who?" Asked Ruby.

"Let's just say… The number two guy in the Librarium." Answered Weiss.

"The tournament will continue." Said Marshal Houichiron Hazuki.

"Wait what?" Said Weiss, surprised. "Is he… are they serious?"

"But, for those who are too scared to stay in Kagutsuchi, you are free to leave. Atlas ships should arrive in Kagutsuchi before midnight."

"Screw you!" Said Yang. "I'm staying! I'll show you!"

"Show what?" Asked Weiss. "He isn't talking to you!"

"No. he's challenging all of us." Said Blake. "I don't know why though…"

Everyone looked over at Noel.

"Marshal Invictus values strength above all else." Said Noel. "He's severely strict with everyone… like… deadly so… Sorry guys, but I really don't like to speak ill of my friend's father."

"Your friend's father?" Surprised Sun.

"Yeah… I went to the academy with and was best friends with his daughter, Mai."

Neptune: "Wow… You sure have some powerful friends…"

"So, I'm staying, who else is with me!" Said Yang, raising her hand.

Blake lifted her hand, and soon, others followed.

'I still need to know why Adam's here.' Thought Blake.

Weiss, with a sign, also raised her hand.

Atlas Airship

"And cut!" Said an Atlas officer.

"Thank you again for doing this." Said General Ironwood with his hand out.

"I do not require thanks for doing my duty." Said Marshal Invictus Hazuki with a strict tone, took a second to look at Ironwood's hand, and then shook it.

"Right…" Ironwood always thought of himself as a serious man, but compared to Hazuki, he actually looked five times more human.

"Why continue the tournament?" Asked Ironwood. "I know it's not mandatory, but why continue it?"

"When I brought your people's scheme before the Imperator, someone was too happy about it."

Hazuki was being careful, and did not give any details, only Ironwood understood the scheme he was talking about.

"Someone?" Asked a yang officer, staying next to Ironwood, asking the thing Ironwood himself was wondering.

"It was he who wanted to continue. And I want to know why."

"Sure, ignore me. Guess I'm not in the club. And are you really sure you don't know who fired that lasers?" Asked the same officer again.

Ironwood looked over at the young man, and shook his head.

Hazuki looked over at them. "Years ago, when Take-Mikazuchi was used on Ibukido, me, and most people thought was of course it was the Librarium who did it. And so I did a full investigation and found nothing."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Clover!" Warned Ironwood.

"On the contrary." Said Hazuki, turning away. "I expect nothing from you."

Ironwood pitted his hand on Clover's shoulder before he could do anything stupid. Clover took a deep breath, and calmed down.

"My apology, Marshal. A lot of my buddies got hurt during the crush, forgive me if I'm a little… upset."

Hazuki's expression didn't change, and just walked out of the room.

To be continued