Yo! Everything this chapter is done by Bugdevil, the next one will be one by me, i hope you guys really like this one, he put a lot of effort into this one!
Arc 2: First Steps. Chapter 4: Team Spirit
Beacon Academy - Dorm rooms
After the creation of teams all students took the next step in their new campus life. Occupying a dorm room. In a desperate struggle of rock-paper-scissors team LARJ managed to get the southernmost room, which had a good view on the courtyard as well as the lush green forest.
The sun was lighting up most of the space and revealed four beds, one in every corner of the room. They were empty.
"Huwwaaaaah ~" Lucy yawned as she rubbed her face deeper in a soft, fluffy pillow. A hairy pillow...
"Mhm..." Riza slowly opened her eyes. The sun was a little blinding, so she held her hand in front of her face. After adjusting to the brightness she sat up and stretched a little. She felt something similar to an arm falling asleep when she had been lying on it for too long. But the sensation came from deeper. Her eyes looked down and she saw... "Lucy!?" The red-head was sleeping on her tail again! After Riza's sudden yelp the other girl awoke slowly and rubbed her eyes.
"Morning ~~"
"Don't you 'Morning ~~' me, why were you sleeping on my tail again?" she glared at her friend who was plastered with band-aids. Lucy put one finger at her forehead, emulating a thought process.
"Because it's fluffy ~"
"That's not what I-" Before she could chew out Lucy someone else awakened. Mayhiro was lying face down on the carpet too.
"Whuzz zat noise...?" he sounded drowsy and when his face raised one could see two playing cards sticking to it. Parts of her memory about the events of last night started to return.
'We played all night?' she wondered when she fell asleep.
Now that Akashi had awoken he was getting up fast and stretching his body. One could almost see his energy bar fill up with every movement.
"So in the end it was a draw." he exclaimed smiling.
"What was?" Lucy was as bubbly as always.
"You forgot? We played cards to determine who gets the best corner of the room! The one with the shade and perfect view." he pointed at the bed in the furthest right corner.
"I still don't get why it was so important to you two." Riza shook her head while brushing her tail.
"It's the best strategic position in the event of an enemy raid." Juge was leaning against the wall sitting cross-legged. He had probably been sleeping that way too.
"What kind of enemy raid do you expect in our dorm room...?"
"You never know. It's how I was brought up. Always find the most favorable position when you camp." he rubbed his forehead. "But I guess that's not necessary here." he smirked and got up too.
"Haha, I just wanted it because it looked more comfy." Akashi added.
Lucy was still not getting up immediately. Sleeping on the floor wasn't very comfy. Last night she wanted to play cards as well as soon as she saw them fighting for the bed and somehow Riza got dragged into it too. After the 12th round it became evident that the one who cared the least, her, was getting all the victories. So she said that the others could have it, but the guys were hurt in their pride to get such alms, so it turned into a fierce battle at who could beat Riza instead of a battle royale. At some point Lucy fell asleep and the last thing Riza could remember was Juge and Akashi talking about card tricks.
"Wah! There is drool all over my tail!" Riza said with disgust. She felt icky now.
"Sorry ~"
"Why don't you just shave that tail, renard? It would be way easier to wear normal clothes that way too." Juge was only half listening and gave his two cents while looking through his bag.
"W-w-wh-wh-what are yous saying!?" Riza suddenly backed away to the wall and held her tail in a protective way. She was blushing fiercely.
"...huh?" Juge looked at her with a quizzical look.
"You... pervert." her eyes were tearing up.
"HUH?!" now the boy in blue was the one backing away. "Where did that come from?"
"Jeez Juge. How tactless of you." Akashi tried to make a serious face, but it was obvious that he was holding back a laugh.
"But I-"
"So meaaaan. Don't bully Riza ~" even Lucy was joining in. Not knowing what to do Juge turned away.
"I didn't know it was such a touchy subject. It was all from a practical view-point."
"Would you like it if I told you to run around half naked?" Riza asked. She was apparently more shocked than angry.
The teen didn't know what to say to that. Did he really say something so extreme?
"Well that aside." Akashi finally found a heart and intervened. "Who's gonna get the bed now?"
...
A few minutes later they had all calmed down and were unpacking and decorating. In the end Lucy claimed the bed. The leader had the last word she said... or something. As compensation she gave pockys to the losers.
"There is so much stuff on your quadrant." Riza looked amazed while watching the other three's spaces. Especially Lucy's.
"My home is wherever I am ~"
"I am pretty sure that saying doesn't mean to bring literally all of your home with you..."
The red-head had brought a bunch of stuff ranging from books to posters and almost a whole music station. Riza could count at least four music players just on stand-by.
"All done!" Akashi was making a pose while pointing at his new sleeping place. Somehow he managed to give it a hut feeling! Looking at his quadrant one could imagine it being cut out of a forest hut and glued into the room. The signature hammer was hanging on the wall, only attached with two nails.
"That looks dangerous." Riza warned him, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Oooh what's that Jugey?" Lucy's eyes were sparkling as she awed at Juge's quarter.
"You mean this? It's called a DeNoiser." he was holding a device that was attached to some headphones.
"A... what?"
"It's a machine that absorbs all noise from the surroundings and is stopping all kinds of sound-waves. It's used for meditation purposes, but can be used as a calming field as well. It is also used to protect people who have jobs that are loud enough to damage their hearing in long term..." Lucy's words were flowing like a river all of sudden and surprised everyone.
"Re-really?" Riza started sweating.
"Yes. It is extremely expensive! How did you get it?" her eyes were sparkling.
"It was a present from my uncle. He taught me how to meditate in times of inner turmoil. This thing can be used with headphones or as a room quietener."
"Can I borrow it?"
"Sure. But I think you would prefer to listen to music?" Juge tilted his head while handing it to her.
"Absolutely ~ I can combine it with my stuff. I'll be able to blend out aaaall the outside noise to perfectly concentrate on the music." her facial expression told them that she was in heaven.
"You aren't going to use it in class are you?" Riza smelled a scheme. No reaction. "You are already using it?!"
Juge laughed and put his bag behind the bed. The rest of his quadrant was extremely spartan. No pictures from home, no personalization.
"You are going to live here for 4 years. Aren't you going to make it at least a little like home?" Akashi wondered.
"This is exactly like my home." Juge answered without remorse. Apparently he wasn't leading a very comfy life. "Heh. I am joking of course!" he pulled out something from his bag and hung it onto the wall. It was a scroll with words on them and pictures of animals.
[Bear the burden (bear picture)
Protect the sheep (sheep picture)
This is the lion's den (lion picture)
Caution around its lair little hare (rabbit picture)]
"... ... ... ..." All three were quiet for some time (in Lucy's case it was probably because she wasn't paying attention).
"My father didn't allow me to put this on my wall at home, but here I am free like the wind." his smile was honest.
"That's great dude..." Akashi regained his voice.
'He is not what I expected.' Riza shook her head while putting her own stuff on a little dresser. It was a picture of some other faunus.
"Who are they?" Akashi asked curiously.
"My parents." her answer was short and lifeless. The picture showed the three of them together in a garden sitting at white tables. Riza looked really small. Maybe 5 or 6 years old.
"I also brought a picture of my parents, but there is not much space around here. Maybe I should just leave it in the bag." Mayhiro scratched his cheek.
"I think you shouldn't let it gather dust in there." again her voice was cold. Akashi looked at her for a few seconds, mustering her intently.
"Sure. You are probably right." he somehow manged to cram it between a few other things on his small table.
Not noticing the awkward atmosphere Juge looked at the clock. He then proceeded to stretch a little, inhale deeply and yell "It's 8:55! We have to get to class!"
"What?! I don't even have my uniform on yet!" Riza panicked.
"Never mind that!" Akashi was grinning. "Let's race to the lecture hall Juge!"
"Feeling confident today?"
"This time I won't be stopped by that crazy chick." They both started running and left the room in a hurry.
"Lucy we have to change, now!" she pulled off the headphones and closed the door. 3 minutes later they were dressed in the academy's uniform. It was pretty standard, but in Riza's case there was an opening in the skirt for her tail.
"Aw you are cute Riza ~"
"This is not the time for that. Aren't you supposed to be our leader? Half our team has already left us behind." she sighed.
"It's fine. Introduction lessons are always boring ~"
"You already came late for the initiation ceremony."
"What happens once happens twice ~"
Riza grabbed Lucy and threw her over her shoulder. "I won't let you embarrass us, leader."
"Woohooo ~" Lucy made happy sounds while being carried towards their first lesson.
Beacon Academy - Lecture hall 1
Professor Port was a corpulent older man with a fabulous mustache. His hair had turned gray and his round cheeks gave him a friendly aura. Despite the fact that he was trying to push awkward jokes whenever he could most students weren't disliking him. The real problem was his endless rambling about his youth though.
Weiss Schnee in the first row was getting severely annoyed by certain fools. Ruby was drawing childish pictures, balancing her stuff on her fingers and even picking her nose. One row behind her Akashi was sleeping and snoring right into her ears.
Her facial expressions reminded one of a tiger that was about to jump an annoying bird that had been picking its tail for too long.
Riza and Lucy were sitting next to Jaune and his team. She would have loved to wake Akashi up, but that would have been a lot noisier.
Way further up was team AKJA. Antonio and Kirk were sitting at the left rim, while Jasna and Alex had all the bench to themselves. Jasna was barely staying awake, but Alexandra was seriously listening to the lecture. Antonio tried to ignore Kirk's constant attempts to take pictures of sleeping girls.
When the professor asked who was a talented hunter nobody except Weiss was raising their hand.
'It must be hard to be so arrogant.' Alex pondered.
Professor Port released a caged Grimm, a Boarbatusk to be exact and told Weiss to eliminate it. It was a boar like Grimm with four red glowing eyes and bone armor all over its body.
"Interesting." Juge said while watching the fight intently. Ruby was distracting Weiss several times. She wasn't concentrating enough and it lead to her losing her weapon. The professor didn't seem to mind much.
Riza's expression became somewhat dark.
"Don't worry she is fine." Phyrra next to her whispered that. Riza didn't seem to be concerned with that though. But indeed Weiss regained her momentum and used her glyphs to stop the Grimm and stab it in the defenseless belly.
Lucy was clapping and Port congratulated her. The lesson ended with that.
"She will make a fine huntress once she learns to control her emotions better." Juge said to Akashi. The brown haired teen was yawning. He missed most of the fight, but still nodded.
"Yeah. Her shrill voice will probably kill more Grimm than her rapier though."
They stopped at the corner, because Ruby was talking to someone. It was Ozpin.
"Is she right? Did you make a mistake?"
"That remains to be seen." Ozpin said this with a smile.
"Let's not eavesdrop on them." Juge whispered and the boys left. When they reached the outside they could see Weiss talking to Professor Port.
"I think I should have become the leader of team RWBY."
"Preposterous!"
Juge's hand went through his brown hair. "Looks like we are in a tight spot."
"Maybe we should just go back." Again they returned to the other corridor. They almost bumped into Ozpin.
"Ah the young Velmón and Mr. Mayhiro. Your start at this academy has been rather rough I would say."
"Not at all." Juge shrugged.
"Nothing I can't handle." Akashi smirked.
"Youth." Ozpin took a sip from his mug. "How was your first day, gentlemen?"
"It is interesting. Reminds me a lot of the training and lessons at home." Juge said truthfully.
"Is that so? How is your father doing?"
"He told me to deny you any information about him, sir."
"Yes, that's just like him. Travis Velmón was always that type of man." Ozpin smiled wryly.
"My mother told me to tell you that he gained weight." Juge winked.
"I will remember that. And you Mr. Mayhiro?"
"It's... not that fun, yet."
"I assure you it will become more interesting even for you. Your sister told me a lot about you and that fight against the Doppelganger showed promise."
"His sister?" Now Juge got curious.
"Professor Mayhiro teaches Grimm defense and offense systems at this very academy." Ozpin elaborated. Akashi started sweating.
"O-oh yeah. Sis is a professor." he seemed to be a little unsettled.
"A great huntress. Sadly her eyesight has decreased due to an illness and now she is unable to engage in combat." The headmaster of Beacon took another sip and started walking down the hallway. "Have a nice evening young men."
They nodded and left for the dining hall.
Beacon Academy - Dining hall
This hall was the loudest place in the whole academy towards the evenings. Students of all years were sitting, talking and eating with much vigor.
The conversations ranged from teachers to the newest issue of certain magazines.
"Man Ms. Reville sure is sexy."
"I can't find my sword anymore..."
"You probably forgot it at the sparring ground."
"That's where I looked first!"
"Today's meals aren't that great."
At one certain table sat 4 teams, eating away. Team RWBY was kind of split today. The atmosphere between Weiss and Ruby was so awkward that Yang and Blake decided to sit between them and then Jaune and the rest of team JNPR joined them. Next to Weiss sat Alexandra and Antonio. Jasna was not far away gulping down tons of meat. Nobody had seen Kirk, but his presence was ghostly at best.
Juge and Akashi entered and were waved over by Lucy and Riza.
"Where have you been? We were blocking your seats." Riza was apparently over the events of this morning, as she let Juge sit down next to her.
"Sorry about that, Ozpin stopped us."
"The headmaster? What did you do this time?"
"Relax fluffy." Akashi laughed while putting his tray down.
"We only talked about the academy... what's with Lucy?" Juge mustered the red-head staring into space.
"She has been like that all day thanks to your... DeNoiser thing."
The boy took off his short white scarf and prepared to eat. "She will get bored of it soon."
"So... Juge was it? You are a pretty good hunter." Jaune was talking to him all of a sudden.
"Hm? I... guess so. Why do you ask?"
"N-not that I really have any need to, but would you perhaps, maybe teach me a few moves?" he seemed nervous.
"Isn't that what we are here for? To learn new techniques to defeat Grimm?" Juge stared at him. The blonde boy was certainly not the prime example of a hunter, but he seemed to have genuine interest in becoming better.
"I think it would be a wonderful idea if we taught each other some things." Phyrra was joining the conversation.
"I must admit I am very interested in seeing more of your skill." Juge smiled towards Phyrra's idea. Riza spun her fork through the noodles with an unreadable expression.
"Don't you guys find it weird that they make us fight Grimm in such a tight space?"
"Professor Port could easily eliminate a Boarbatusk that went rampant." that one came from Blake.
"That old man?" Akashi was putting a whole potato in his mouth.
"Appearances are always misleading." Antonio said this while cutting his food with elegance and accuracy.
"Though he is kind of a big talker." Blake added.
"I hope I will be next..."
"Hm did you say something Riza?"
"I hope I will be the next to kill a Grimm!" she stabbed the meatballs with her fork.
"..." Juge glanced at her, but didn't say anything.
"Choco pudding ~~" out of nowhere Lucy put a spoonful of the brown pudding into Riza's mouth.
"Mmphmmh!" Riza shook her head in surprise, but then gave in to the sweetness.
"And another ~" Lucy repeated the action.
"I- I don't want any Lu-Mmmgh!"
"Is it really that good?!" Ruby's eyes sparkled.
"You want to be fed too, my baby sister?" Yang was grinning widely and shook her own pudding in front of Ruby.
"I'm not a child anymore, Yang!" Ruby pouted.
On the other end of the table.
"So how are you holding up? You were put into the same room with that pervert after all." Weiss was talking to Alexandra.
"About that..." she looked at the girl with the long red scarf who was eating rather unrefined. "Jasna is keeping the boys under her iron rule."
"Really?"
"Yes, you noticed that Kirk isn't here? She forbid him from eating dinner, because he tried to take photos of me sleeping." Alex seemed to be happy about her teammates way of thinking.
"That sounds marvelous. So you are behaving?" she questioned Antonio.
"As well as I can." he said this while nodding his head.
"I can't believe they make men and women share a dorm room. What are they thinking?"
"I agree. It would have been easier on me if I could live in a guys room." Antonio whispered this almost inaudibly.
"Hm?" Jasna looked up. Her ears must have been from the devil himself.
"I said it is problematic for the girls who are being harassed by males. Luckily some of them can defend themselves." in an instant he switched gears.
"'amn 'ight! We have to defend us 'nst u pigs!" Jasna was talking with a full mouth again.
"Please dear Jasna. What have I told you about table manners?"
"First swallow, then talk. Got it."
Alex tilted her head. 'Who is the pig exactly?'
"Follow Ms Schnee's and Ms. Wilfred's example." He was pointing at the two who were eating with perfect manners.
"It's only natural. Etiquette is part of a heiress' training." Weiss said with confidence.
"Yes. Just like m- I mean I've learned this from my mother." Alexandra almost slipped up.
"By the way. Didn't Ozpin call you 'Wilhelmine'?" Jasna got closer to Alex. Weiss looked up.
"That's right. I almost forgot, because of the leader thing." she mustered Alex again. The girl averted her red eyes.
"I think they misspelled my name when I entered. You know how bureaucracy is."
"She is right. You wouldn't believe how many people spell my name with a 'z'." Unexpectedly Antonio came to her help.
"Is that not how you spell it?" Jasna asked with a grin.
"How many years do we know each other exactly?" Antonio gave her a playful sigh and they both laughed. Alexandra joined in on purpose.
"It seems your team is alright aside from that pervert. You are quite lucky with your leader as well." Weiss took a sip from her cup.
"Ruby, Jaune, Lucy... there is a pattern. Is Ozpin picking unlikely leaders on purpose?" Alexandra agreed.
"I feel like the odd one out too, but for different reasons." Antonio said.
"What do you mean?" Blake asked him from the side.
"Ruby, Lucy and even Jaune... they all have the capabilities to become great leaders. Two of them are very skilled fighters too. I lack in both departments to my own dissatisfaction." he said it with regret, but his blue eyes weren't telling the same story.
"I saw you in action, I think you would make a great leader." Blake showed more concern than expected. Antonio kept quite for a bit.
"I'll follow Anto, even though he is a monkey. But monkeys can learn a few tricks too." she slapped him on the back which made his fork miss his mouth and instead hit Jasna's scarf.
"..." Jasna stared at him.
"..." Antonio started sweating without losing his perfect smile he slowly moved away.
"ANTO!"
"Please excuse me ladies, I have to attend to some business." he managed to say this before running away.
"They are like brother and sister." Akashi was laughing at the scene.
"You think that's how siblings work?" Weiss looked at Yang and Ruby quarreling over small stuff. "Maybe."
Not far away Jaune was talking to Phyrra and Juge.
"I am just saying that they may pick someone randomly next time."
"Don't worry. Professor Port was just testing us."
"That's exactly what I'm scared of!" Jaune mumbled. Phyrra put one hand on his shoulder.
"How about all of us have a little sparring tomorrow after lectures?"
"That sounds good." Juge nodded.
"W-well if you two really want to." Jaune flexed his arms. "Maybe I can show you one or two tricks."
"That would be nice." Phyrra said while laughing.
"Sparring?" Ruby somehow managed to pick up this one word from the conversation and was all into the idea. Yang spun her glass on her finger.
"Cool."
"I'm in!" Nora could be heard from the other end of the table. She had been bombarding Ren with a monologue for 20 minutes straight now. "You'll come too, right Ren?!"
"Uhm... sure Nora." the black-haired teen was finished eating and had listened to the others politely.
"This is getting big." Akashi had also finished eating and gave a thumbs up.
"Then we will all meet on the backyard behind the track field tomorrow." Juge set the time.
Riza who had been force fed several puddings and thus lost all appetite for her actual meal looked at them with doubt. "Have you guys asked a professor or the headmaster for permission?"
Everyone turned quiet.
"I... might know someone who can help us with that." Akashi scratched his head.
"Really?"
"Yes." he grimaced. "Though I'd rather avoid her."
Beacon Academy - Lecture hall 2
The next day they had their first "Grimm Defense & Offense systems" lesson. The name was ambiguous and so was the professor. She was wearing a disheveled green sweater and a tight black skirt that went down to her knees. Her hair was long, blonde and only tied loosely. She wore edgy glasses with a red frame and looked like she had just been thrown out of bed.
Later a certain group of students would find out that this suspicion was quite close to reality.
"Morning students." Her groggy looks were close to her groggy voice.
"She looks sleepy..." Riza shook her head.
"It's nice to meet you and stuff... my name is Alexis Mayhiro and I will teach you how to fight Grimm... among other things."
"Among other things?" Alexandra let her head sink in disbelief.
"Mayhiro?!" Riza stared at the teen next to her who had sunk so low in his seat that the professor could not see him.
"Quiet fluffy!" he warned her.
"So... who thinks they know how to attack an Ursa inside a forest setting while being almost dehydrated?"
'She instantly went into the lecture?'
This was the direct opposite of Professor Port's lesson who tends to talk a lot and never quite gets to the point. And this very specific setting made most students speechless.
"Nobody? What about you there symmetrical bangs boy." she pointed at Antonio.
'So rude!' Riza's eyes went empty.
"I do not really know how to act in such a peculiar situation, but maybe one should avoid fighting at all when being dehydrated?"
"Wrong. That's not what I asked sym-bangs."
'She is too lazy to finish the nickname already?!' Weiss' eyes also went white.
"Next question then. If you were..." she continued to ask students questions.
'She doesn't even tell us the correct answer?' Even Juge rubbed his forehead.
The strange lesson went on and eventually professor Mayhiro started to explain some things to her students. Looking past her personality she really seemed to know what she was talking about. After such a mixed lesson the students where dismissed and the professor laid her head on the desk as if she wanted to fall asleep again.
Akashi and the others walked over to her. The young man tried to hide his face while at the same time standing in front of everyone.
"Hm? I don't give personal lessons. Wait till the next official lecture." Her lazy aura was almost infectious.
"We are here for something else... sis." Akashi gave up and showed his face. Prof Mayhiro's face went through a miraculous transformation. Her eyes widened, her lips seemed to get fuller and color returned to her cheeks.
"Akky!" she hugged him hard and tried to kiss him all over the face, but he somehow managed to press her away. "I've missed you so muuuuch!" she rubbed her cheeks all over him.
The collective expression of surprise was overshadowing everyone's faces.
"S-stop it sis! Not in front of everyone." Akashi did his best to get this human octopus to let go of him.
"Not in front of everyone he says." Yang stifled a laugh.
"Is this really our professor?" Riza facepalmed.
"Boo. I see my cute little brother for the first time in months and this is how you treat me?" she faked to pout.
"I'm sorry sis, but we wanted to ask you a favor... let's celebrate our reunion later. We will see each other almost everyday now..." his voice seemed hoarse all of a sudden.
"A favor?" she asked and finally let go of her brother. Akashi dusted off his body.
"We want to spar on the academy grounds. Would you supervise us?" Akashi made a pleading gesture, but stayed far enough away to escape any sudden grappling attack.
"Hm mhm mh. I don't know if that's allowed. You could hurt each other. Also this academy was created to make you into fine hunters and huntresses. People who fight Grimm, not humans." it was plain as day that she was just pretending to worry and was actually waiting for Akashi to make a deal.
To everyone's surprise Lucy stepped forward. She wasn't wearing her headphones for once. "Pretty please ~~" she looked deeply into professor Mayhiro's eyes. They seemed to reflect each other and multiply the blue until it tinged the whole world in a sapphire color. An odd bond grew between them almost instantly. Lazy attracts lazy, it was the law of attraction.
"Aw you have such cute friends Akky!" she hugged Lucy.
'This is too close! Students shouldn't get so close to the staff.' Weiss was pulling her hair.
"Does that mean...?"
"Of course I'll help my dear little brother and his friends! Just tell me where you are going to play and I will be there."
"We are not exactly playing..."
"Thanks sis. We have to go to the next lecture now, so see you!" Akashi used the momentum to flee the lecture hall. Everybody else followed his disappearing silhouette with their eyes. Then as if snapping out of it they also started leaving hastily.
Only Lucy stayed behind, because she was still being hugged.
"You won't leave me now, will you?"
Lucy yawned and leaned her head against Alexis' huge chest.
Beacon Academy - Lecture hall 1
"I think we lost Lucy back there..." They whispered while sitting on the seats further back.
"Sacrifices have to be made." Akashi shrugged it off. "She is our leader after all. And a leader always sacrifices for her subjects."
"What a convenient take on leadership." Riza's brow twitched.
Professor Port was in the middle of another story about his youth and how he took on his first mission as a hunter. His mustache was flapping about vigorously. Most students had empty faces and just stared straight ahead. A very basic skill one developed early on in forts of education such as this.
"... and the girl screamed quite a bit, because she had never seen a Grimm before. But using my reassuring signature smile I managed to calm the innocent maiden..."
Ruby and Jaune had started a battle of drawings. Apparently Ruby had better artistic skills as Jaune seemed to be about to give up. Surprisingly enough Weiss did not seem annoyed or at least she didn't intervene. Something had happened between her and Ruby in the time from yesterday's dinner to the current lecture. Maybe she accepted Ruby more as a leader.
On the highest seats one could see Jasna polishing her gauntlets. Antonio and Alexandra were about the only ones who seriously listened to Port at this point. Even Juge was writing down theories instead of paying attention. Kirk didn't seem to have the energy to take pictures today. His eyes were small slits and his skin pale. He resembled a half-starved dog who left its tail hanging.
"What's wrong with him?"
"I think Jasna didn't let him eat breakfast either. He must be low on nutrition." Juge didn't look up.
Riza wasn't exactly sorry for the guy. He most likely did something perverted to deserve this treatment. After a good half hour of monologuing, professor Port finally decided to involve the students again.
"So seeing how yesterday we got such promising results, I will ask again. Who thinks they have the potential to become a greater hunter or huntress?" His friendly face conveyed encouragement. This time nobody raised their hand immediately. "No volunteers? How about you Mr. Arc?" he looked at the distracted Jaune who suddenly rose from his seat in surprise.
"Y-yes, sir?"
"Splendid! If you would come to the front then young man." The expression of nervousness on the blonde boys face was pitiable. Somewhere from behind him a guy named Carden started whistling. His buddies laughed.
Before he actually made his way to the front Phyrra stood up too.
"I'm sorry sir, but I want to test myself today. Could I come to the front instead of Jaune?" Port looked at her curiously.
"Oh my. If you insist I think we can-"
"Me!" suddenly a loud voice butted in. It was Riza. She had stood up from her seat and was carrying quite the scary expression. "I want to finish this Grimm."
"Riza..." Juge focused his attention on her.
"Now, now not everyone at once!" Professor Port laughed. "I'm sure we will find another opportunity for you. Miss Nikos came first."
"No!" her voice wasn't the usual tender, sometimes resigned one, but cold and somehow angry. "I can't wait." Most students stared at her now.
"It's fine, if she wants to go, I have nothing against it." Phyrra shook her hands in a placatory way.
"If you are that eager... please come to the front then." the professor seemed confused, but did still not catch the seriousness of the situation. Riza briskly moved to the front of the hall and looked at the rattling cage that had been prepared.
"Look closely everyone, today we are going to watch Ms. Inari fight a cunning little foe. A young Taijitu!" He broke the lock and out of the cage slithered a snake like creature. It was a Grimm that almost reached up to Riza's waist. The Grimm had two heads at the ends of its body. One was white and one was black. Red glowing eyes scanned the area.
"What's that?" Jasna cocked her head and leaned towards Antonio.
"A Taijitu. It seems to be quite small and young. I saw Lie Ren fight a much bigger one at the initiation in the Emerald forest."
"What have you been doing instead of searching for me?!" she punched his arm.
Down on the mock battlefield Riza got into position. It was hard to see her face behind her hair, but Juge thought he had seen a malicious grin. The Taijitu was angry and started to vent its frustration by curling around the faunus girl. It hissed with both its heads at different directions.
Riza pressed a button and her staff extended into a spear. Ryuyari. She watched the Grimm's movements and waited for the attack. Whoever made the first move because of impatience would be at a disadvantage here.
"From the left!" Akashi yelled. And truly the white head sped ahead to bite into the blonde girl's pale neck. She spun around and rammed the blunt side of her spear into the snake's throat. The force made the body jerk back. At the same time the black head attacked from her now defenseless back. Or so it thought, because Riza was now able to use the sharp side of the spear to swing around. With the edge of the blade she managed to cut deeply into the black head's jaw and make it spit out painful sounds.
"Oho!" Professor Port was apparently amused.
"That was pretty easy." Akashi said kind of disappointed.
"It's not over. A Taijitu's main offense is not its heads." Juge watched the fight arms crossed.
In that moment the curling body closed in from all around Riza and started strangling her body. Some students gasped. The pressure was increased every second and would eventually break all her bones. Riza couldn't move her spear, as it was pressed against her body, but she managed to make it retract into a staff.
"You dirty snake..." the staff fell to the floor under the tightening Grimm. With a kick of her leg Riza activated it again and fell forward. The spear's blade cut through the Grimm's body and loosened it a little. She then grabbed both ends and ripped some of its body apart with her bare hands.
"Woah... what a beast." The remark came from Carden of course. He and his team were smiling with contempt.
The bleeding and twisting snake grim fell to the floor. In that moment the faunus caught her spear and rammed it into the attacking white head. Now the beast was pinned down and had only one wounded head left.
"Magnificent. Quite the accomplishment to free yourself after the Taijitu got a hold of your body." Professor Port was clapping and already finished with the subject, but Riza didn't respond.
She left the spear in the Grimm's body and went to the black head. With a dark aura she raised her foot and... stomped on the black head repeatedly. Again and again until there was only a wobbly mass left. She then ripped out her spear and sliced the Grimm again and again.
"That's quite enough now Ms. Inari, it is already dead." Now even Port was getting flustered.
"You stinking, rotten creature... I'm going to kill you, mutilate you...!" Riza's voice was filled with anger and disgust. She didn't let up from the slowly dissolving corpse.
"Enough." Port had appeared behind her and grabbed her arm to stop her. For a second, no just a tiny split of a second it seemed like she would resist the professor and pull her arm out of his grip. But then she gave in and stopped her movements.
Port let go of her and cleared his throat. "Uh-hum. Well the excitement of a fight to the death can result in some kind of nervous breakdown. Nobody judges you, young miss." After those words the bell rang and ended the lesson. Towards the students "Remember to look into the books I have told you about and I will see you tomorrow."
Riza walked out of the classroom as fast as possible her head lowered and hair fluttering behind her.
"What's gotten into her?" Akashi said with a clueless expression.
"..." Juge stayed quiet. He was pondering on something.
"Anyway that's it for today. Better go to the place we promised to meet sis, right?"
"Go ahead without me. I'll come a little bit later."
Beacon Academy - Track Field
The track field was not the usual kind with four lines going in a big semi-circle, but instead it resembled a straightforward course. It was built in a way that allowed all kinds of modifications, from muddy ground to sand to even stone plates and parkour. Using it without permission would be punished harshly.
The group made up of Jaune, Phyrra, Akashi, Ruby, Yang, Nora, Ren and Jasna arrived at the promised meeting point. Antonio, Juge and Riza were still missing. Blake, Weiss, Alexandra and Kirk weren't interested.
When they arrived they were greeted by professor Mayhiro and... Lucy. She was still being hugged. They both looked like they had been napping in the afternoon sun for some time.
"Hello everyone." she yawned and got up slowly. "Do you want me to activate the track field?"
"You can do that?!" Akashi looked surprised.
"Sure." She pulled out a electronic key-card from her cleavage. "Which course would you like?" With a 'click' sound the card went into the console.
"What do you mean 'course'?" Jaune tilted his head in confusion.
"Whatever. I'll just press a random button."
"Do you really have permission to use this thing?!" Akashi started sweating.
"I got this card, don't I?"
"Answer me sis!"
"Boo. You don't trust me? How terrible of you." She pushed a button and the course changed to a wasteland with dry and lifeless ground and some rock formations.
"That. Is. So. Awesome!" Ruby yelled and her feet almost left the floor from excitement. Everyone looked at the construct with awe. Jasna was the first to jump on one of the rocks.
"This feels like the real deal!" Her smile was widening.
"Well it's not. Those are just randomly generated metal formations covered in..." Alexis gave a lengthy explanation that nobody could quite follow.
"This feels so real though ~" Yang was already sliding down a sandpile. "Let's get this started. Come over here lover-boy." she indicated Jaune to come over.
"I... uhm... okay." he moved onto the sand platform.
"The most important thing in a fight on unknown territory is to..." she activated her golden gauntlets. "...win!"
"Ahaha... really?" Jaune's hysterical levels where rising rapidly. "In that case I don't even need training." he gulped and backed off the platform. Phyrra appeared behind him and gave him a sympathetic look.
"Come Jaune show me what you can do with your sword."
"Wouldn't you rather see my shield? I can turn it into a sheath." they started talking intently.
Ruby activated her scythe Crescent Rose with joy and spun it around. "Whoooo wants to be my enemy?" she asked in a fake deep voice and made a hand motion that said 'come at me'.
"I'll take you on!" Akashi faced her with fiery eyes.
"I like that look on your face." Both of them made poses. Ruby got into a defensive position while Akashi was preparing to jump.
"Feel my iron hammer of-" In the moment he went for the jump Lucy appeared next to him. "-eh?" he tripped and fell into the sand.
"Where's Riza, Aka ~?" Lucy wasn't present in professor Port's lecture. Akashi got up instantly and dusted his clothes off.
"I don't really know. She was acting strange in the last lesson and I think Juge went after her?" Lucy stared at him with her dull blue eyes. "Don't worry, they will come here soon." he grinned brightly.
"Okay ~" Lucy agreed. "How about a two on one?" She stood next to Ruby.
"Comrade!" Ruby was happy.
"You guys... I won't go easy on you!"
Beacon Academy - Rooftop
Riza was staring at the slowly descending orange sun. Her eyes were open, but she still couldn't see. Her mind was in the past. She had lost it again. But this burning feeling in her... a flame that could not be extinguished, a thirst that could not be quenched. It was lit by only one glimpse of those red monstrous eyes and every dead Grimm was like one droplet of rain on a burning tree. It would never stop burning, but it felt like a small relief.
Her fox ears and tail where hanging down as she looked over the campus. Somewhere down there the others were enjoying themselves. Now that everyone had seen her outburst they would probably hate her. Again.
The metal railing was cold in her hands.
"You are quite stupid, renard." A male voice. From someone behind her.
"Stop calling me that... why are you here?" She didn't turn around. he was probably standing at the roof entrance.
"Why do you think?"
"To lecture me." It seemed pretty obvious. She wasn't in the mood for games. The sound of footsteps made her turn around. Juge Velmón was not standing at the entrance, but right beside her at the railing. "How did you-?" She jumped back.
"I dislike sunsets."
"...?" The sudden change of topic confused the faunus girl.
"They signify the ending of a day. But I love sunrises." He smiled slightly.
"I don't get you." She sighed and gave up.
"But I think I can understand you somewhat." he didn't look at her, but just viewed the landscape.
"I doubt it." her face was returning to depression.
"I've seen it many times. Hatred for Grimm. It comes in many forms." He supported his head with his hand while putting his arm on the railing. "Revenge for loved ones, revenge for losing a body part, disgust and a sense of ridicule towards nature's cruel sense of humor."
"Oh? So what do you think of me? Am I in one of your fancy categories?" Her glare was intense.
"Yes." he didn't even hesitate. "For now."
His words weren't making any sense.
"...so what? I don't care what others think. My reason doesn't matter. As long as we can kill Grimm I am content."
"But are you?" He finally turned his head towards her. "You may have lost something irreplaceable to those creatures, but does that justify your actions? Do you think killing them will improve your life? Losing yourself in your hatred for them?"
Riza looked away. She was angry and confused at the same time. Tears were gathering in her eyes.
"I... don't know!" she exclaimed painfully.
"That's a good answer." Juge patted her head with his leather-gloved hand. She only now noticed how big he was. "Nobody does. Not even the greatest hunters know if they are doing the right thing." he leaned his back on the railing, watching the roof entrance.
"Do you know...?" Somehow she felt the need to ask this man. Question his motifs, his legacy.
"I do not." his eyes were closed. "Even a Velmón only fights because he must. Our clan is very traditional, but we are not all content. Some still search for an answer." It seemed like he had wanted to say 'I still search for the answer.'
"There you two are. This academy is quite enormous. What an irresponsible task that was given to me." Antonio appeared at the entrance. Despite his words he still had his perfect smile. "Oh? Not only the beautiful Ms. Riza, but also Juge Velmón." he cupped his chin. "Did I interfere with something?"
"O-of course not!" Riza went flailing around.
"Of course not." he repeated her words with a little snicker. "I was sent to get you two for the sparring by Akashi. He was worried about Ms. Riza." The fox faunus looked down at hearing those words.
"Well I'll be going then. Remember, I am not saying you did something wrong, but you will have to find your own answer." Juge went down the steps without another word, leaving the other two behind.
"It may not be my right to say this, but I am sure Lucy and Jasna are feeling lonely without you. I also would like to enjoy your company some more." he bowed and made a pose reminding one of a chauffeur that waited for their boss to enter the car.
Riza tilted her head in amusement. "Fine. Have you ever considered becoming a butler instead of a hunter?"
"Not at all. Do you think the Grimm are in need of some man-servants?" he acted playfully shocked. Riza had to laugh.
"Maybe if we put you into a maid outfit instead...?" they descended the stairs while joking around. After Juge's speech and Antonio's words she felt a lot better. Insecure as always, but at least someone was waiting for her.
Beacon Academy - Track Field
After the appearance of Riza, Juge and Antonio the situation got even messier.
"Now Jaune! Attack me with all you've got." Juge was not even holding Morte Consumptis in his hands. The blonde boy was holding his sword a little awkwardly.
"Are you sure? I don't want to... hurt you..." he didn't sound too sure.
"Don't worry. I am confident in my ability to dodge." Juge looked at him with serious eyes. Jaune gulped and raised his sword.
"H-here comeeees!" He started running, sword raised over his head and swung it down. Juge didn't move even a millimeter. The swing missed and the sword got stuck in the ground.
"..." Jaune fell to his knees. Phyrra helped him up.
"You are too nervous. Maybe we should use inanimate objects first?"
"Yes... inanimate. Like all the Grimm out there." Depression was oozing out of Jaune's body.
"Stand up ~" Nora appeared and grabbed Jaune's arms spinning him a little.
"Wawawaaaah!" Jaune lost focus. Nora proceeded to pull out his sword and throw it to him.
"What are you-!" Phyrra was shocked. But somehow Jaune easily caught the sword while spinning and accidentally took a swing at Juge. The young heir to the Velmón clan barely managed to dodge the blade and even had to pull out a dagger to block the end of the blade.
"N-not bad." Juge adjusted his blue vest.
"I... I did well?"
"Yahoo ~" Nora cheered and ran all over the place back to Ren who was breathing exhaustedly. "Ren, Ren did you see? He went all like 'Waaaawaaa' and spun like a top. He reminded me of you somehow when you go all jump, kick, swooosh!"
"Yes Nora. That is amazing." he rubbed his neck. They had been sparring for a some time now. Nora's swings were brutal.
On a different rock formation...
"So whenever you get into a predicament, just use Anto as a living shield." Jasna was teaching Lucy and Riza some important things. Maybe.
"Please do not." Antonio was only a small distance away and yelled that at them before returning to the task at hand. He was talking to Ruby about her Crescent Rose's functions.
"It's also a high velocity compact sniper rifle!"
"Amazing. I can barely imagine how you managed to build the barrels for the reloading chambers. And your aim must be impressive considering you do not use a visor." Ruby stared at him with her mouth wide open.
"You... you understand me!"
"Ahaha I was very observant when the weapon-smith created my umbrella." He stayed humble.
"Want to compare our accuracy?" Ruby pointed at a bunch of targets on the rocks.
"If you wish." He pressed a button on his black umbrella and the tip turned into a barrel with a reticle. Ruby stabbed her scythe into the ground, aiming the top at the targets.
They both stayed perfectly silent.
Somewhere Yang yelled something to Akashi.
That was the signal. They both shot at the two targets next to each other. A small explosion created smoke and they had to wait for the wind to blow it away.
The right target(Ruby) had a giant hole inside its middle. "Bullseye!" she pumped her fist.
The left target(Antonio) had a small hole a little to the left... and the right... and the top.
"Ooooh you have spread ammunition?"
"Indeed. Sadly it lacks in accuracy, so you won Ms. Ruby." He clapped his hands.
"Hm. But for a spread to hit this accurate from such a distance is quite amazing." She didn't seem to feel like the winner yet. "Another round, but this time only one bullet okay?"
...
As those two were continuing their contest Akashi and Yang where going at it.
"Left, right, left, right." she was hopping around like a light-footed boxer and dodged Akashi's swings. Every hit was devastating the sand and rocks. "Come on Akky. Is that all?" she stepped behind him and swiped his feet. But he managed to roll it off and hit her from the side. Yang blocked the hammer with her right gauntlet. Because of Akashi's unfavorable position the blonde girl managed to deflect his attack.
"Now this stupid nickname will catch on. Oh boy." his smile was a little forced.
"Wanna go at it a little more serious?" she winked.
"Don't you regret it!" He gathered aura in his hammer and went into gravity mode. Yang proceeded to shoot him with her shotgun gauntlets immediately. Akashi used his hammer's gravity field to keep the projectiles down.
"Now that is interesting!" Yang was doing a cartwheel to the left and then pushed herself off the ground to kick at Akashi's side. The boy ducked and grabbed her leg. She seemed to have anticipated that move though, as she already punched at his chest. At the same time the boy used a one-handed swing to bring his hammer's blade towards her. She blocked it with the other gauntlet, but now her balance was totally off. They stopped in that awkward position.
Yang's gauntlet was 5 centimeters away from Akashi's chest ready to shoot. The hammer had pressed down the protecting gauntlet and its blade was pointed at Yang's chest.
"Okay, okay that's a draw." They both let go of each other.
"That's to be expected. Ain't we holding back?"
"Yes I am. I don't know about you though." her smile was bright and confident.
...
A few meters away Riza and Lucy were fighting(?) too. More like Riza was trying to talk her into it.
"I want to see how you beat that Doppelganger. To be honest I didn't think you were that strong." Her bluntness was not supposed to be mean-spirited. Lucy was not hurt, but she wasn't getting into it either.
"But it's so exhausting ~"
"Haven't you been lazing around with professor Mayhiro all day?"
"Not lazing. Keeping her entertained."Lucy nodded seriously to her own claims.
"Lucy is the best! I wish she was my little sister too." Alexis was lying in the grass close by.
'She is so different from lectures...' Her metamorphosis was almost scary.
"I heard you fought a Taijitu ~ Was it tough?" the red-head was distracting from the fight again. But that reminded Riza of what she had done.
"I... lost my cool." she mumbled. Her friend looked at her for a few seconds and then pulled out her pack of pockys. She held it out towards her with a smile. Riza chuckled at the always similar reaction to every problem. She pulled out the bar-like sweet and noticed something. "This is the last one."
"..." Suddenly Lucy tensed up. The pocky was stuck and the faunus couldn't fully pull it out. Riza could literally see Lucy's thought process on her face. She was torn between friendship and her love for pockys.
Now Riza's fox ears twitched. She had an idea. "How about we fight for that last pocky?" a sly sparkle appeared in her amethyst eyes. The pack was laid on a rock close by and Lucy went into a serious stance.
'Almost no openings... she is serious.'
"Ready? Steady. Go!" Alexis played announcer. Riza looked at her with a bewildered expression, but that was a mistake. Lucy didn't hesitate to attack immediately.
"Ghn!" Riza barely parried her black sword with her spear, but the white one was already incoming. With high flexibility she managed to backflip over the second swing. Before landing she stabbed Ryuyari into the ground and used her momentum to spin on the handle. That way she came flying back at Lucy with a kick.
"Eh ~?" The red-head looked surprised, but in the next instant she was gone.
"What-?" Now Riza was the one being shocked. Lucy was extremely fast, but the fox girl's ears where good. She could hear Lucy's footsteps at her side and pulled out the spear to deflect a swirl of attacks. Like a whirlwind she was attacked by strike after strike until her arms felt numb from the vibrations. To get back some control she spun her spear backwards and deflected one of her opponent's katanas to the side with the lower spear half. The second one was blocked and Riza then managed to hit Lucy with her shoulder.
"Ouch ~" her best friend fell backwards and barely regained balance in time as Riza followed up her attack with a kick. Lucy blocked it with her left arm, but the impact made her loosen the grip on the katana.
"Chance!" the faunus girl grabbed Lucy's arm and twisted it only slightly, so as not to hurt her and sure enough she let go of the sword. But the head-phones wearing huntress was not fully helpless. She spun with Riza's hand and unwound herself, striking her remaining katana at Riza's defenseless back.
"Wind slash!" The impact of the back of Lucy's sword made Riza topple over and slide over the ground. It was painful, but due to it being the back of the sword it didn't actually hurt her.
"You are... pretty good." Both girls obviously held back a great deal. Riza didn't even activate her spears trident form and Lucy wasn't activating her aura ability. They went back into a fighting stance.
And then a burning tree hit the battlefield next to them.
"...huh?"
...
In the meantime Jasna had been playing around with the control panels. Some of the track had turned into forest territory.
"Oho! Are those real?" She stared at them until she got an idea. Releasing the blades from her gauntlets she slashed at the first tree next to her. They cut through it like butter. "Too easy. They ain't real." Disappointed she hugged the falling tree and carried it over to where Antonio and Ruby where chatting. A sadistic smile crossed her face.
"Hey Anto!" The boy turned around and was obviously surprised to see Jasna carry a whole tree with her bare hands. "Catch." she said with a wink.
"Wait, are you serious, dear Jasna?!" Even the always calm and collected Antonio showed a hint of concern. But it was too late. The tree requisite was already flying his way. Ruby next to him activated Crescent Rose, but Antonio pointed his umbrella at the incoming makeshift weapon and pressed a button. A rope of some sorts was shooting out of the tip and pierced through the 'tree'.
Following was a interesting combination of jumping and throwing. With fine balance he had jumped backwards onto the rock platform and then thrown his umbrella at the open territory between the sparring groups. The umbrella accelerated unnaturally and then stabbed into the ground. The tree still connected by the rope was pulled towards the anchor-like umbrella and flew away from the two.
"Woah!" Ruby's mouth went wide open in amazement. "How did you do that?"
"It wasn't a real tree. I could see the markings of paint." Antonio had one eye closed and smiled wryly.
"Aw you saw through it. I bet you could have taken the hit without a problem." Jasna put her hand behind her head and whistled.
"That's not the problem here, dear Jasna. Please do not throw things at people. That tree copy might very well have hurt an unsuspecting person. Like me."
"B-but even if it was fake, how could you divert its trajectory...?" The girl in a red cape was still not satisfied.
"That... is my special ability as you might call it. Similar to your speed or Ms Schnee's glyphs." He adjusted his well combed hair. "It's just a little sleight of hand."
"Ooooh." Ruby made an understanding expression. "Sorry, I don't get it."
"Friction. That man can control friction." A voice appeared behind them and was revealed to be Alexandra's.
"Ah Ms. Wilhelmine. Didn't you say you were not interested?" Antonio greeted her with a bow.
"Actually yes, but I am searching for our team's personal pervert. He escaped his confinement and is now running free." Her glare was cold and scary.
"Not again. I will beat 'm up if he is taking pics of cute girls again!" Jasna bumped her fists.
"About that... what exactly do you do with the photos you confiscate from him?" Alex crossed her arms.
"Those? I am keeping them of course." Jasna smiled brightly.
"Wha-!" This very direct answer made the black-haired girl lose her facade for a second.
"Don't worry! I ain't sharing them with those pigs." Her thumb pointed at Antonio behind her.
'The pig' and Alex sighed in perfect unison.
"Aaaaaah!" A yell made them turn around. The fake tree had caught fire for some reason and crumbled in the air.
...
Akashi and Yang were hitting it off rather hard now. Obviously they were both not the types to hold back.
"Hahaha dodge!" Yang shot several salves from her gauntlets. Akashi was actually able to dodge them because of his gravity manipulation. His body was extremely light right now. "Got you!" Despite this boost Yang was still extremely fast. She appeared behind Akashi and punched him in the back, followed by a roundhouse kick. The teen flew towards a cliff, but anchored himself into the ground with his hammer before crashing into it. "Is that all?" she cracked her neck tauntingly.
"Hehehe." Akashi grinned despite what happened. He held up one hand and opened it slowly. Golden locks where floating to the ground.
"!" Yang's eyes widened and an expression of extreme anger appeared on her face. Akashi was a little surprised when she literally exploded with a glowing aura that made her hair even more golden and her eyes red.
"H-hey I am sorry if I went to fa-" But Yang was already in point blank range to him. Akashi hadn't been able to follow her speed at all. The punch barely grazed his cheek and burned the air behind him. Additionally a burning shot-gun shell was skipping past his ear. Scared by that Akashi used his gravity hammer to to stop her next punch. The increased gravity made her slow down enough to be dodged again. "You seriously tried to kill me just now!"
Those words had some kind of effect as Yang actually stopped her motion. In the next second her aura disappeared and everything was normal again. She rubbed the back of her head and looked apologetic. "Sorry 'bout that. I might have lost control for a second."
'Note to self: Never touch Yang Xiao Long's hair.' It was one of those advices that were engraved into people's heads. With blazing iron.
Fire was also something that erupted from a huge projectile flying past the two. Yang's stray attack had managed to light the fake tree on fire.
"Uh-oh." They watched the flying burning destruction.
...
The impact came out of nowhere and didn't really give any of them time to react. The parts of the 'tree' scattered into shrapnel that spread in all directions. They were also on fire.
Lucy's eyes were sparking and she analyzed the trajectories of every single piece. That way she would be able to dodge them perfectly. But what about Riza and Alexis?
Alexis was in a angle that made it impossible to be hit and her eyes weren't good enough to react accordingly anyway.
Riza noticed the inferno closing in on her, but wasn't able to do anything. Even if she spun her spear fast she would only be able to deflect half of the incoming projectiles. 'No no no no!' The glowing, fiery pieces, like small scale meteorites were closing in rapidly, reflected in the faunus girl's eyes. The adrenaline inside her body made the scene feel like slow-motion. Not being able to move she would be hit, skewered, impaled by fiery spears...
An old memory surfaced, from a day of the past, a day she had sealed inside her head, to forget and to remember.
Glowing red eyes. Burning claws like comets of destruction.
A Grimm so terrifying its presence alone would inadvertently scar one's psyche.
'No. NO! NononononNO!' Her head started spinning and her limbs went cold.
"RIZA!" And in this moment of confusion one voice could be heard. A gentle voice that she got to know for such a short time. Lucy Stripes.
"?!" The girl had jumped in front of her. To protect her with her own body. Instead of protecting herself. Lucy's read hair was swaying in the wind. The shards of death were closing in. A weak smile aimed at her friend formed with her lips...
"Not again! NEVER again!" Riza snapped out of it and something clicked inside her head. She saw the flames... and beyond the flames! The fire started to swirl and change shape. Riza hugged Lucy and pressed her to the ground. But the shrapnel was glowing from green flames and disintegrated centimeters before the girls. The whole burning construct was exploding into green fire and then turned to ash.
When they opened their eyes nothing was left. It was as if it never happened.
"What the-?" Akashi and Yang had appeared on a higher platform and looked down to check if they were hurt. "That was a really bright fire. And now the thing is gone?"
Riza got up with a wobbly head and pulled Lucy onto her feet. Alexis stood behind them holding some kind of device in her hands.
"Looks like I didn't need to do anything." Her eyes were calm.
"Did you...?" Riza asked her unsteadily.
"No way. That was something entirely else." The professor shrugged. She was mustering her blonde student closely.
Shortly after the others appeared.
"What happened?" Juge asked immediately. After everyone explained their part they somehow pieced together the events.
"Shit. I almost hurt you two!" Jasna's voice was filled with regret and she hugged Lucy and Riza.
"I-it's alright. Nothing happened."
"Looks like we went overboard." Akashi and Yang apologized too.
"Now, now. Nobody got harmed and in the end it was really just my fault. Had I merely destroyed the tree instead of redirecting it none of this would have happened." Antonio made a serious expression.
"Alright this is annoying me." Alexis scratched her head and grabbed all four of them. "You guys will just help me clean up this mess - and hide the evidence - so we can forget about this and return to our normal lives. It's getting late anyway, so the others can go."
"Did she just say 'hide the evidence?" Alexandra looked worried.
"Sis, you so weren't allowed to use this place..."
"Shut up and help me Akky. Your big sister could lose her job you know." With ape like motions she grappled onto Akashi.
"Get off of me!" he shook his body to loosen her grip, but without good results.
"Uhm... I could help?" Ruby volunteered.
"Nope. Only the ones at fault should be punished." Alexis adjusted her glasses all business like.
"I think Weiss Schnee wanted to talk to the whole team RWBY." Alexandra told Ruby and Yang.
"Are you two really okay? Maybe you should get some rest. People sometimes don't notice their shocked state immediately." Juge was already escorting Riza and Lucy to the academy.
"I... still got homework to do!" Jaune added.
"Really? Me too!" Nora laughed and clapped Jaune's back. "Let's all do it together, right Ren?" And thus team JNPR disappeared as well.
Jasna, Antonio and Akashi remained.
"Wait where is Yang?!" The brown-haired boy scanned the area.
"She went with her sister."
"Okay everyone. I want you to help me clean up this place and look if anything was damaged..."
Beacon Academy - Dorm Rooms
Way later that evening Akashi finally returned to the dorm rooms. The rest of team LARJ was relaxing inside the room already.
"Thanks for leaving me behind guys." he sighed.
"A little workout wouldn't harm you." Juge smirked.
"Riiight." he hung his hammer to the wall on the loose nails.
Riza was sitting on her bed quietly staring at the ceiling. Something had happened when they were about to be hit. She couldn't really tell what, but it felt like it was connected to herself. It probably had to do with that memory. Why was she remembering this stuff more and more often recently? Possibly because of her contact with Grimm. The hatred was strong, but she could barely remember the incident. Seeing even such a glimpse of her despair back then was unnerving.
Whatever it was, she had not seen the last of it.
"Mhmhmm ~" Lucy was listening to music again, using Juge's device with her headphones. She didn't seem to feel any emotional turmoil after the events of this afternoon. Her selflessness had left a deep impact on the fox faunus once again.
Something was growing inside her... something other than hatred and a feeling of being lost.
A fizzing sound went through the room and everybody looked at Lucy. The headphones had started crackling and then smoking.
"Lucy, you are on fire!" Akashi's strangely put words gave the situation something comedic.
"Eeeeh?" she pulled of the device and looked at it. The sounds where increasing and it suddenly plopped open, emitting smoke. "They are broken ~" her eyes filled with tears.
"W-well that's sad, but I don't really needed them anyway, so no reason to cry..." Juge tried to comfort her, but instead she rammed him and threw him on his bed.
"Can you repair them? I never had such a wonderful enclosed dimension!" The red-head was pushing the head-phones against him and gave him a hopeful stare.
"S-sorry, but I wouldn't know how... maybe my uncle could..." he tried to gently push her off of him, but they lost balance and Lucy tripped over to Akashi. They bumped heads and the teen lost the grip on his hammer. It hit the wall and somehow activated it's gravity effect.
"This is ba-" With a deafening sound the wall crumbled under the pressure. The pieces rained down on the person that sat behind it on the other side, Lie Ren.
Jaune jumped up to his bed with a scared expression, while Nora poked the buried Ren. Phyrra looked at the mess from afar.
"Uh... hi?"
...
Even later that evening the staff had looked at the mess. Glynda Goodwitch had been informed as well and Team LARJ was scolded. Akashi's hammer was confiscated for the time being until further notice. For the time being team JNPR and LARJ would have to share rooms.
Ren had meanwhile been dug out from the rubble. His shoulders where hanging with pain and exhaustion. Surprisingly another body was found.
"Kirk D. Fire?" Juge tilted his head.
"When did he come in?!" Jaune looked at him curiously.
"He was taking pictures of Phyrra behind her bed." Nora said this as if it was natural.
"O-of me? Why didn't you tell us?" Her hair was not the only thing glowing red for once.
"I am sorry for the complications. Do you think we could live together for a while?" Riza felt really apologetic despite it being Lucy's and Akashi's fault.
"No, that's fine. It feels like a big sleepover, doesn't it?" Jaune grinned charmingly at the two new girls that had joined.
"Yeah, we could,like , play games and stay up all night." Nora was already lying on Lucy's bed, shaking her legs, in team LARJ's room.
"Sounds nice." Akashi nodded and picked up the knocked out turquoise haired boy at his feet. "I am going to return him to his owner now." he waved and left the room... double-room through the original LARJ door.
...
Out in the hallway Akashi went around a corner and lightly slapped Kirk awake. The small teen opened his beautiful eyes fast. Apparently he had been faking his sleep.
"Save?"
"Hopefully. Do you have the pictures?" Akashi whispered in a conspiratorially tone. Kirk raised his hand forming a circle with his thumb and index finger.
"Good merchandise."
"How much?"
"Discount for regulars."
"Awesome. You are a true friend." They exchanged two brown packages. Akashi looked inside his. "Great stuff."
"Thank you for patronage." Kirk looked at the ends of a few money bills.