Hey Everyone! Johno 343 is back with a new chapter today, this will still continue form last chapter, hopefully it will be a joy to read for you guys!
Like always, please give us more pointers to improve the story, every chapter counts!
Enjoy everyone! This one is Beta-read and changed by Bugdevil!
Arc 3: Re-start, Chapter 10: My Answer (Part 2)
Beacon
"You're listening to Beacon radio!" Riza laid quietly on her bed. She had enough strength to turn her radio on, but reading or writing were out of the question. The only thing she could do... was listen to the radio.
"I'm your host, Holly Cruz, for the lunch break of this fine Thursday morning!"Holly said with a seductive voice. Riza's eye twitched as a couple of male students walked past team JNPR/LARJ's dorm.
"Just one more day guys and the weekend will be here to grace us all with its divine presence, so just grit thy teeth and wait till then haha, just kidding! Everyday is a Friday here at Beacon radio. For all you exhausted students out there, today we have an even more special treat, the cafeteria is serving choco swirls pudding right now! Get as many as you can ~"
"Hahaha... I can see Lucy eating the whole thing right now." Riza smiled.
RWBY, AKJA, JNPR and Juge looked on in disbelief as Lucy scarfed down her 25th pudding.
"Uhhh..." Ruby tried to comprehend what was going on.
"Ruby, just one reminder. Never follow my leader's example." Juge shook his head as he watched the pudding massacre. Jasna however was rooting for her.
"Woooo! GO LUCY!"
"In other Beacon news, there are openings in clubs for the freshman that will be available to everyone by the end of this semester. Be sure to join one of them. Joining a club really has its perks. Enjoy your youth while you have it!" She encouraged everyone who was listening. "Please forgive the self-advertisement, but we here in the radio club always have room for more members too. Please join us ~"
"A club?" The fox faunus wondered on that though. "I might see into those... it'll be nice to have a club to join... as long as there are no 'faunus haters there'." By now she was getting agitated about her wound and not being able to move. "For the love of god!"
"And... oh?" Holly paused as ruffling sounds and a faint 'What's this?' getting Riza's attention, in fact most students had gone silent.
"Listeners I've been given some rather 'interesting' rumors, apparently someone has spotted a Beowulf running into the Emerald Forest."
"That's it?" Riza said dejectedly.
"I know, your thinking 'that's it?', right? But here's the interesting part: Onlookers who saw this have given a strange description. That someone is riding that Beowulf!" Holly shouted "That's insane, not to mention that person must be crazy and have balls of steel to ride on a Grimm!"
...
Everyone in the cafeteria had gone silent, the only sound that was being made was Lucy still eating her pudding. Ren had quickly looked at Nora who was daydreaming with her mouth opened wide. She noticed him look at her. "What's up Ren?"
"For a second I thought you went for another ride on a Grimm." Ren explained.
"I also can think of someone who likes to use Grimm for travel... air-ships are not his friend though." Antonio chuckled in Juge's general direction.
Juge on the other hand... put the pieces together.
'Heheheh... that complete idiot.' Juge thought as he swallowed his food, listening to all his friend's speculations.
Beacon Academy - Ozpin's Clockworks Office
Everyone looked at Alexis laughing her head off, Glynda watched on in disgust. "Honestly, he got that sickness from you Alexis..."
Alexis giggled in happiness and laughter, tears rolling down her face. "That's my Akkey."
Port wiggled his moustache as he looked at Ozpin "Headmaster?"
"Let her have her fun, she has needed a good laugh." The gray haired man assured the professor. "But it does seem that you and your brother think much alike Alexis Mayhiro."
"Pwwwwh hahaha! He's got nothing on me Headmaster. I rode a mama Ursa once."
"Yes, I remember that very clearly Alexis." Goodwitch glared at her "Need I remind you what happened after that joy-ride?"
"Come on Glynda, I said thank you over a billion times already, what else do you want from me?" Alexis calmed her laughing as she looked back at her former partner. "I even 'thanked' you properly in my own way, remember?" Oobleck spat out his coffee and some of the other teachers coughed. Ozpin however remained unfazed.
'Interesting.'
Glynda's eyes squinted and she slapped her staff on the table. The sound made many of the present people turn pale. "What you did back then was just-"
"Ladies!" this time it was Valkin was that spoke up "As much as I want you to continue." he grinned suggestively. "We have much more important matters to discuss, like about what happened at test."
The two huntresses looked at each other before looking away.
"Understood."
"Yes."
"Very well." Ozpin took a long sip of his coffee before setting it down on his table "Shall we start the meeting?"
Goodwitch, Mayhiro, Port, Oobleck, Valkin, Peach and the other teachers of Beacon were seated around the circle like table. Everyone was looking at the director.
"I heard what happened at the end." Alexis carefree persona turned into a much more serious one. "Oobleck, what happened to your sense is what I can't understand. With that much coffee running through you, your senses should have been through the roof." She crossed her arms and looked at him.
"Ah... well... you see... I was rather-" the green haired man was tongue tied as Alexis' green eyes bored into his. "I-"
"Ease up on the lad, lassy." Valkin intercepted. "You put your anger to waste on poor Oobleck here." The old man placed a hand on his shoulders. "Everyone was on the edge when the Grimm started to attack. Let's start from there, Ozpin you said there wouldn't be any signs from Grimm on the mountain."
"Indeed, that's what I thought was the case, but as everyone could see, I was proven wrong. A simple lack of information paired with a history of no incidents in that area." He sighed. "I've made mistakes before, Valkin, I'm not perfect."
"Understood. I'm not putting the blame on ya." He shrugged.
"But what really irks me is why would there be Grimm, even though all of the previous times it was quiet? What is the cause?" A professor said with a worried voice.
"Not what, but who?" Glynda entered the conversation. "That's were things get a little more complicated. It started with rumors and actually ends up being true."
"That's preposterous!" Port gave his word in. "It must have been someone that lead the Grimm there. How could anyone believe that Grimm were just sleeping on that mountain and all of a sudden decided to wake up?!"
"Port is right, the airship would have been able to spot anything from the air. There is only one reason this could have happened happened." Alexis green eyes slowly turned to Valkin "And you have one conclusion, don't you, old man?"
"Alexis, manners!" Glynda scolded her before she recomposed herself and gave Valkin a glare. "But she is right, you're hiding something from us aren't you?"
"Indeed." He finally spoke. "And I have one thing in mind 'T&W'."
"..." Glynda as well as the other teachers looked at the smith. Ozpin continued sipping his coffee.
"From what I can gather from Ozzy and the events that took place, I racked my brain for a theory, but it's a little far-fetched." He added mumbling under his moustache.
"No matter Valkin, we can take all the leads we have. Right now we need to know who is responsible for this incident." Ozpin looked at them "This will not be gone over without proper actions."
"Aye."
"Before we start, I want to get off topic here." Alexis spoke up, gaining her colleagues attention. "Valkin, what happen at the Base camp?" She started " I won't go any further until someone gave me a clear explanation on that." She jerked her thumb to Goodwitch "This one won't give me a straight answer!"
"I said, when everyone is here you fool!" Glynda seethed at her. "Why won't that simple sentence get into your thick head?"
"And I keep telling you miss Goody two shoes that I won't stop until I get an answer! 24 years of knowing each other still won't process in your mind, huh?"
"Don't remind me." She dead panned "But, saying that... I could have saved myself the trouble."
"Exactly."
"Ladies." Ozpin stopped them "You can go down memory lane later on."
"Right then! It's a simple short story. Someone infiltrated the camp in order to steal the student's weapons and equipment that we kept locked up for safe keeping. We have a mole... someone is giving them info on us." Numerous voice echoed in Ozpin's office.
"Is it one of the teachers?"
"Can it be a student?"
"No way, everyone was checked out before entering here."
"Silence." Ozpin spoke in a calm fashion "I would like to deny the fact that we have an insider amongst us, but unfortunately I cannot deny the fact that it could be one of the students here in Beacon."
"Impossible!" Oobleck rebutted. "Simply dreadful, why on earth would they do this?!"
"Their purpose is unclear, but it's not only the White Fang and Roman Torchwick that are wreaking havoc in this time of peace." The director spoke. "But many other organizations are lurking in the shadows as well. Once they come into light, their intentions will be clear, until then we will keep a close eye on every student year."
"Agreed." The teachers nodded.
"I'm satisfied with that answer. For now anyway..." Alexis stretched her arms as she gave a hum of relief. "Let's get onto the main act of this meeting. Valkin, you said you had a wobbly theory?"
"Indeed young lady." The old man cleared his vocal cords as he looked at every single teacher in the room.
"Everyone has heard of T&W Industries correct?" The old man started off with a question.
"If my memory serves me correctly." Professor Port said. "It's exactly like the Schnee dust company. It's one of the largest companies in the world of dust mining. Though they have different fields of interest."
"Correct Port." Valkin smiled. "But like with the Schnee company, there are always concerns about what 'business' is to them."
"Tell me something I don't know." Alexis rolled her eyes before Glynda hit her with her riding crop. "Ouch woman!"
"Hush you."
"As history has told us, Glass Mountain was once inhabited by Grimm of all kind. Even the rarer ones." He gripped the table lightly. "It was even rumoured to have one of the 'Seven Cardinal Sins' or Nanatsu kādinaru, some might also know them as the Les sept péchés cardinaux, rest there."
"My word." Oobleck stared in shock. Even the two rival looked on in concern. "But those are just legends. Finely crafted indeed and founded on many original beliefs, but definitely just fairy tales."
Ozpin stayed the same. 'Interesting.'
"That's one thing that still gives me the shivers. Nobody knows how they came into existence..." Alexis muttered as she cleaned her glasses. "There are a bunch on theories on them. But none of them a proven to be true."
"I've heard stories of hunters and huntresses that have claimed to have encountered them, but… one can only be sure if they saw it with their own eyes." Port crossed his arms.
"Right, getting off track here." Valkin waved them off. He too was interested in discussing about some of the most dangerous Grimm that ever walked the world, but now wasn't the time. "Ozpin, You told me about a certain team entering one of the buildings werentcha?"
"That is correct. They have found nothing of use I fear." The headmaster replied before Valkin gave a short bark of laughter.
"...you never believed them, didn't you?"
"In most cases you can only believe what you are told, but your eyes can say more than words Valkin. I was taught that." Ozpin took a sip of his coffee. "But for now I'm riding on your theory."
"Sure." Valkin sighed. "I'll cut to the chase. When T&W became a global industry like the Schnee company, they managed to avert the public eye from Glass Mountain, but those who did watch closely soon discovered that the Grimm infested area was on the decline on a fast, but almost unnoticeable rate."
"Valkin, you're not saying...?" Glynda interrupted him "They are responsible for it?"
"That's not all Glynda. There is something that proves it better than words." The old man threw a dozen polaroids onto the desk, the teachers instantly started picking them up and looking at them.
"Those… cages…" Alexis gasped "Where did you get this?"
"It wasn't easy, but I had a good source."
Kirk sneezed.
"Judging by the size of them I'd say it's enough to keep a large Grimm inside it… at least 5 or more. And they were all deep inside the mountain?" The green haired man commented. "This is truly disturbing!"
"That's not the mos-"
"Valkin. Discuss what's needed to be discussed." Ozpin intercepted his incoming sentence. He leaned over his cup and spoke soft enough to only be audible for Valkin. "Some things should be treated very discreetly and I'll deem if it is acceptable to say them here."
"'dat so?" Valkin grinned at the gray haired headmaster with a hint of defiance.
'I guess he doesn't want them to know about what was in those tubes… not just yet.'
Valkin held his hands up in a defeated pose. He held onto the remaining photo in his hands.
"So in summary, I believe T&W are responsible for the Grimm attack yesterday, be it consciously or indirectly. And unknowingly the man that tried to steal the student's weapons has used their facilities against us, unless he is related to T&W as well."
"Then it's settled." Ozpin spoke up as he walked around the table. "There is darkness creeping behind the light of peace. We may not be able to stop it, but we can surely prolong the status quo for a bit. And as the ones responsible for Beacon Academy, we must protect the students here, as well as make sure that they are ready to face whatever comes their way."
The Teachers nodded in understanding to the headmaster's words.
"Keep an eye out for any irregular activity among students and report on it immediately." Ozpin had gone back to his desk.
"That's all. Thanks for listening." And with these words everyone was dismissed.
Team RWBY dorm
"And that's the whole story guys." Weiss repeated her story to her teammates as they sat around her. Ruby was looking like she had just read a sad story.
Blake was looking at her in a mix of amusement and shock. It was almost funny how feeble Weiss had been about this topic, but it was a rather big surprise that she regained her courage because of Riza, a faunus of all people. The heiress opinion on that kind was not very positive in general...
Yang however, was half listening and half on her scroll.
"W-w-weiss… youuuuuuuu!" The Heiress's eyes widened as Ruby started crying dramatically into her school uniform's sleeve.
"Ruby! What's the matter!?"
"You… you really do have a kind heart after all ~" She snivelled with a small smile. Weiss squinted at her.
"That's rude. Are you saying I wasn't kind before?" '
You're starting to open up' the voice of Inari echoed in her head. "D-do you mean, 'opening up to others'?"
"Yeah!" The leader of RWBY wiped her nose on her sleeve. "Your were so distant to everyone, even at the tea party you only made small talk. Would i have known what bothered you..." Ruby looked genuinely sympathetic at least. "I am happy that you found someone to talk to. That's what friends are for." She smiled. "But next time you have to depend more on me too!"
'We're friends right?' Weiss fiddled with her pendant. "I'm glad..." she whispered almost inaudibly.
"So how do you feel now?" Blake asked her.
Instead of the usual 'I'm just fine, there's no need for you to be concern about me.' She replied. "I feel… better, though I still have to clear things up with Mayhiro." Weiss smiled "This was not like me at all, huh?" Some of her attitude returned now. "I can be confident now… and return as the best teammate that team RWBY will ever have."
"Here we go again." Blake snickered, Ruby giggled as Weiss furrowed her brow.
"Excuse me, for you information Blake I have a perfectly no intention of falling behind. As a huntress and a Schnee it is only natural for me to stand up after I tripped!" she huffed as her 'heiress' persona came back. A silence wafted into the room before Blake shook her head without care, followed by Ruby laughing herself into a frenzy.
"…" Weiss would usually have scolded them for being childish, but she decided to let it slide, just this once.
"Honestly…" she smiled at them.
Yang smiled as her lilac eye looked at them before looking back at her scroll.
…
Conversation Between Sun Dragon and Servant Boy
[Whatever Fluffy said to Princess, it worked. You mind giving my thanks to her? She was really bringing down the mood for the past few days.]
[I can do that Yang, but do you really have to message me over that? We just ate together a good 10 minutes ago. I'm currently at the nurse's office, Lucy didn't heed my warning and is sporting a stomach ache now.]
[What? Don't sweat the small details. Is it that annoying talking to me?]
[No! I'm happy talking to you of course, but this... 'flood' is starting to make it hard for me to keep up with other important messages.]
[As long as you don't mind I won't either. You have to adjust to the city life some more country boy.]
[I am trying...]
[I'll teach you about some chat tactics later. But because you are busy I'll keep it brief now. Can't keep you distracted from your leader's groaning.]
[That would be most appreciated.]
[On one condition.]
[…and that is?]
[We have dinner together! My treat.]
[Are you sure? Maybe we can split it amongst all of us...]
[No. You. And. Me. No one else.]
[Not even Ruby?]
[Don't bring my little sis into this, just us. If you don't I'll keep spamming you!]
[What time?]
[7:30, I heard they making something special for the early birds!]
[Interesting, I'll see you then... oh Lucy just puked.]
[Gross, too much info there! Don't ruin my appetite for later. See ya.]
[Till then Yang]
Yang smiled as he laid back on her bed and relaxed. "It's the least I can do for buying that stuff for me." She mumbled as she turned to her side. She watched as her 3 teammates where talking about the test yesterday. That was one heck of an event, but right now she didn't feel like joining in. Maybe later.
"Hehehehe… it's a secret."
…Meanwhile at the medical wing….
Juge was contemplating Yang's messages, but he didn't laugh to himself...
"Sorry Jugey ~" Lucy smiled sheepishly as she wiped her mouth.
"No… harm done Lucy." He forced a smile.
Honestly he wanted to puke as well. Remains of Lucy's lunch were spread on his lap. Having no idea what to do he was forced to take in the warmth and the stench. "Oh god."
"That's why I didn't want you to be here, are you stupid or something?" Juge's head turned towards a voice that was new to him. He turned around and was faced… with nothing.
"Huh?" He looked confused.
"Down here idiot!" His brown eyes looked down instantly to see...
A small girl with dark pink hair.
She had green eyes and a standard nurse's outfit, however, these details didn't come to the young Velmón's mind.
"Excuse me young lady, but do you think you can get the nurse for me?"
"HAH!?" The dark pink girl's voice rose as she quickly pulled out a large paper fan from out of nowhere. The boy's eyes widened as she quickly smacked him across the face, leaving him stunned. "What what what did you say brat? Next time you say that, I'll shove it up where the sun doesn't shine." She seethed as she once again pulled out a large towel. "Clean yourself up, that stench is terrible." She pinched her nose and looked away. "I'm going to get a mop and a throw-up bag in case she does decides to hurl some more." As she walked away, Juge was in pure silence.
"What just happened?" he tried to come up with the best possible explanation, but it wouldn't come to him.
Rubbing his hurting cheek he noticed that she left him a towel to rid himself of Lucy's lunch. The red-head origin had fallen asleep on the bed next to him without caring about her own mess. Not wasting any time he quickly gathered the towel and wiped the dirt away. "At least I can move now… but it's..." He wasn't sure what to do with the towel now. And he still needed to change his clothes. Biting his lip, he could see and hear both teams of RWBY and JNPR not to mention his own team laughing at his demise.
'They will never know of this! I'll swear that Lucy will keep quiet about it... even if I have to make her!' He quickly nodded before throwing the towel into a nearby bin. A Velmón's pride could even triumph over Juge's usual calm personality.
"That was quick." Juge heard the voice again. Looking down he saw the same girl. Maybe she was actually the nurse...? "That was one big mess she gave you."
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Juge replied. "I don't mean to be rude, but I haven't seen you before... nor have I seen someone with a height like yours."
"…tch. Everyone questions your height here. This world wasn't just made for huge people, you know?" She looked away and gritted her teeth. "Whatever, the name's Reiko Utage. I'm a senior nurse that applied for a job here. And of course this stuff happens on my first shift." She looked back at him "Nice to meet you I guess." It was hard to tell if she was sarcastic or actually just polite.
"Juge Velmón. The pleasure's all mine. I am sorry for questioning... your height."
"Just never mention it again. Everyone gets exactly one try." Reiko replied while pointing her fan at him. "How's your friend doing?"
"She's fine. She passed out face down, so there's no need to be alarmed." He assured her as she nodded. Wait what was he doing explaining her condition to the nurse? There was something wrong here...
"Right, right. That saves me the trouble of flipping her over, not that I would mind." she whistled. "So..."
The silence as very awkward "Oh right, give me a second, I'll get you some track pants for the time being. And while I do that..." Reiko threw a mop and slid a bucket of water in his direction. "Clean up after your girlfriend, will you?"
"Pardon me, Lucy isn't my girlfriend, she's my team leader." Juge said with wry smile. He looked at the mop. "May I also ask why-"
Before the heir to the Velmón family could speak the child-like nurse had left to get him some clothes. He was left alone with his sickly looking captain who just woke up again. "Jugey... I'm gonna hurl again..."
"Oh god, Lucy!" Juge cried out. "Please hold it in!"
Outside team LARJ/JNPR's Room.
Jaune Arc paced back and forth outside his dorm room, he knew that Pyrrha was inside doing whatever she did in the afternoon, but usually it would be time to train with her. It was Alexis in the morning, then it was with his most trusted comrade in the afternoon, it was tiring for him. Not that he was complaining. At least not more than was reasonable.
"Ahhh... what do I do?" He grumbled. Neither Ren or Nora were helping him. They too were both inside the dorm. "Man I should have listened to her in the first place, is that it?"
"Jaune." His eye opened as a voice beckoned him to turn around, as if in a trance he obeyed only to see some kind of paranormal ghost behind him. To his relief it was just the phantom boy of AKJA. "You okay?"
"Hey there little buddy. I'm having some problems with my team." Kirk nodded.
"Cardin bullying you again?" His eyes flashed as he seamlessly pulled out Bigshot his trusty sniper-rifle from out of nowhere. "I'll shoot his legs."
"No!" Jaune cried out and moved his arms pleadingly to calm down one of his best friends in Beacon. "Not that, but thanks for anyway, it means a lot." Kirk seemed to calm down as he returned his weapon to his bag "Then?"
"It's Pyrrha... she's mad at me for skipping class." Jaune admitted.
"But you were there?" Kirk said in confusion.
"Yeah, after everyone had left me behind." He answered back. "This must be something about the intention behind it more than what I did?" He crossed his arms and closed his eyes while thinking. "...but now she isn't speaking to me... and I have no idea what to do!" As he lost his composure he started rubbing and scratching his head more and more aggressively.
Kirk looked on in pity before nodding to himself. Without the man in front of him knowing, he slid his hand into his bag once again and pulled out a large scroll. "Jaune... give her this."
"Huh?" Arc said in confusion, looking at the scroll as he gently took hold of it. "What's th-"
"Don't look!" Kirk said in a hurry. "Just... give it to her... say it's from you... and tell her that you were wrong and that you should take thing more seriously from now on. She is the one person that would understand you." Kirk pushed it into his chest. "Must go." These few sentences were apparently exhausting him already. Admittedly that was almost the longest string of words he had ever uttered.
"Wait... where have you gone these past days?" Jaune asked a little sad. "Both you and Akashi haven't have talked to me in a while..." Though he got that message from Akashi recently, so that might change soon.
"Been busy. I'll be back soon. Promise." Waving off Jaune he ran ahead, leaving him all alone.
Turning back to his room, he swallowed the lump in his throat before knocking on his door and then entering.
As Jaune entered the room he instantly saw Ren and Nora tending to Riza who was wanting to change positions. Juge and Lucy were still in the ward after Lucy 'incident', but those people could wait for now. His gaze quickly found her looking at the blue sky, it was becoming afternoon, but the sun hadn't set yet. The huntress noticed him looking at her, but didn't respond to him.
"..." Jaune nodded as he swallowed again. He walked slowly towards her. The other 3 in the room had stopped what they were doing (much to Riza's distress) as they watched him walking towards her.
"Pyrrha." Jaune spoke in a soft tone.
"..." Pyrrha wanted to say something, but she kept quiet. Jaune shook his head, it wasn't the time to chicken out now. He was riding on what his blue haired friend gave to him.
"This... this is for you." He held out the scroll to her, her green eyes slowly turned around before seeing him hold something out to her.
"..." she gently took the large scroll form his hands and took of the rubber band holding it together. It rolled out to the floor.
Jaune was stunned. Whatever was on it... certainly also stunned her.
"J-jaune... d-did you do this?" she asked in a whisper as she covered her mouth with her hands.
'Say it's from you.' Jaune mustered the courage to answer, he trusted his friend.
"Yes... I did it."
Why did it feel so wrong?
"Jaune... this is amazing!" She exclaimed while standing up. " I mean, there's a few places to work on, but this is beautiful!" she turned the scroll around.
Team JNPR was drawn onto the scroll, it looked like a master piece, but like she said, it needed a few rough edges to be worked out. "I didn't know you had such skills!"
"Hahaha... it's been a secret talent of mine. Like, really secret..." Jaune lied. It was even a secret to himself until three seconds ago... "Pyrrha, I know I should have known better than to slack off. Right now everyone is trying their best to become top in beacon, if I - the leader - show signs of bad habits, then what hope do my teammates have in becoming better... or something." He wasn't really sure how to put it. "I'm sorry for letting you down and I'm sorry to my team for letting all of you down."
"That's all I wanted to hear Jaune." Pyrrha smiled back. "Apology accepted!"
Jaune scratched his cheek while looking down on his feet. Ren and Nora didn't seem to have minded this whole drama in the first place, but at least Pyrrha was satisfied.
"YAY! Team NORA is back!" Nora cheered loudly, but as she was doing so, she let go of Riza in turn... Her wound re-opened, causing the blood to seep into her uniform.
"AYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Blake's bow twitched and instantly ran out the door, freaking everyone in the room out. "Blake?!" Ruby ran after her with her exceptional speed, followed by Weiss and Yang.
The hooded figure which was obviously the missing member of LARJ, Akashi Mayhiro, kept his eyes clear of any obstacles in his way as he ducked under another branch.
"Okki Village is coming up I can feel it!" The young Mayhiro smirked and crouched lower on the Grimm he was riding on. The Beowulf had surprisingly had not defied the Mayhiro's order, which made him happy, it was one less problem to handle.
As the Akashi weaved through another set of tree and large clearing was seen in front of him, the rider of Grimm made way towards it, and soon saw familiar houses and buildings "Okki village, how I missed you!" Akashi shed some manly tears at the return from a really unnecessary detour. If he ever saw his dad again he would have to slap him on the head for sending him back without a map.
"Then Getting to Beacon will only take 3 hours, I can make it by nightfall!" He grinned as he ran past the houses last he used to play around when he and his big sister played with another. A few onlookers turned around and screamed.
"GRIMM!"
"Don't be scared, it's all good!" Akashi assured them as he ran past them with blistering speed.
"Akashi you crazed hooligan!" And old man waved his stick at the retreating figure. "You're the one that's been riding it on the radio!"
"Sorry old timer!" Akashi saluted him as he looked in front of him.
Only to do a emergency roll with the Grimm in tow as a flying figure attacked him.
Smoke emerged from where they stood a second ago. The Grimm started snarling at the provoking attack. Akashi squinted his eyes at a figure rising up inside the smoke. Akashi dismounted from the Grimm.
Once again, the Grimm stayed instead of attacked or running away.
"…I can't believe that the radio was actually telling the truth." A mature yet somewhat cocky voice came from the plum of smoke. "I just had to see it for myself."
"Interesting, and I guess that was your way of saying 'hello' wasn't it?" Akashi replied back in a serious yet calm voice.
As the plum of dust went up into the air, the figure was revealed. A women well in her late 20's walked out of the crater, she wore a skin tight blue dress with no sleeves and the rim was all covered with some rips and tears. Her boots were thigh high, also dipped in blue with steel boot caps protecting her toes. But what was more interesting were her arms. They were covered in strange tattoos. Her hair was short and her eyes matches her dress in colour.
"I was on stand-by at my former location, so once I had heard about someone riding a Grimm around the outskirts of Vale I took a gamble on a nearby town and it looks like my efforts played off." The blue haired girl stared at the cloaked Akashi, who opted to stay silent.
The woman walked towards the edge of the crater. "You will-" She was about to say something probably menacing when she suddenly tripped and hit her face full force onto the ground.
"...eh?" He stared at her.
"..." She got right up with the same facial expression as before the fall.
"A-are you alright...?" Akashi asked.
"I am very healthy." She answered coldly while blood was dripping down her forehead.
'What a weirdo.' Akashi thought. And that came one from the number one weirdos on this planet.
Apparently she was fully contend on erasing the memory of what just happened and glared at him.
"Oh come now, let's not be hostile to each other." The man opened his arms wide. "Well how about we exchange names first?" He pointed at himself. "Akashi Mayhiro, Beacon student." Akashi stated.
"…Interesting, A Beacon student." The teen looked and smiled friendly at her reaction. "I'm Maryjane Hart. I was once a student... but it does not matter now." Her face was pretty stiff and it didn't seem like she was fun to talk to on parties either.
"That's fine Maryjane." Akashi stayed in place. "But why are you here in my village? You couldn't just be here to find look for a Grimm riding guy."
"…True. That would be pointless to come out here for. All the way here." Mercury nodded. "Since we're both hunters... Why don't we spar?" Only now did she reveal some kind of emotion. The idea of fighting him made her liven up for some reason.
"I refuse your offer Mary." Akashi bowed down. "I'm sorry."
"What?" Maryjane squinted her eyes. Honestly, no one turned down a sparring fight with her. "Why is that, Akashi Mayhiro?"
"I don't have my weapon with me." Akashi stated. "Well… it is being delivered tomorrow, along with other stuff as well."
"Really?" Maryjane continued questioning him. "Then mind explaining how you got that Grimm to be so submissive to you?"
"Oh." Akashi turned around to the Grimm, who was still here, but it was looking at the sky and sniffing something. Mayhiro turned back to him. "While working in my new weapon, I had time to see how my semblance could help me, so a did a bit of research. I think I have improved a lot... these types of Grimm are no sweat to me." That explanation was really lacking even from his point of view. Truth was that he had no idea why the Grimm obeyed him. This one was probably just brain-damaged or something after he was hit with that tree-branch.
"I see, then allow me to rephrase my offer for you." Maryjane tried again. "I challenge you to a sparring match without weapons, seeing how confident you are into your combat abilities."
"My hand-to-hand skills might be a little good, but you should see that blonde chick at Beacon!" Akashi spoke "She may look cute, but she's really powerful with her fists." Akashi started smiling. "She is just one of the many I need to beat to become the best!"
"I see… that's an interesting goal you have their Mayhiro" Maryjane nodded as she started walking out of the hole "So, what do you say?"
"I've got to get to Beacon before nightfall… but I guess." Akashi unhooked his cloak as it fell to the ground revealing the boy wearing black and orange Hakama and a skin tight sleeveless shirt. His brown hair fluttered in the slight breeze. "A warm up with someone skilled would prove where I stand."
"That's the spirit." Hart encouraged him as she knelt down and punched her fists together. "Show me that you can back those words up with actions. I don't want to waste my time." She was only looking alive when she talked about fighting.
Akashi looked at his black/orange armoured arm and clasped his hand together. He started stretching his muscles as he eyed his opponent who was doing the same before switching into his fighting stance.
"Ready."
"Ah." Akashi crouched slightly before looking at her directly. "Ready!"
The sound of the wind rushed over them before it stopped, neither made their moves, they were both waiting for the right sound.
"Jackson! Dinner time!" The yell resounded from somewhere inside the village.
The two Hunters moved in on each other.
Beacon Academy - Infirmary
"Right then" Reiko sighed as she tucked Lucy into the infirmary bed "It's seems she emptied her stomach of all the Pudding, the floor is nice and clean now. Thank to you Mr. Velmón."
Juge rolled his eye. Of course he couldn't leave a floor dirty… especially in that kind of state. "Don't mention it."
(Insert Music: Kuroko no Basket 2: Kitchen)
Reiko shrugged her shoulder as she wrote on a clipboard. "That should be all for today… I guess."
Before the two could respond, the door of the infirmary ward burst wide open revealing none other than JNPR and RWBY, however Blake stood in front of them…holding...
"RIZA!?" Juge shouted in surprise, Reiko snapped into action.
"Get her to the bed! Now!" Blake nodded with a disgruntled expression on her face she laid her comrade down. "What happened?"
"I got carried away and drop her by accident!" Nora was looking quite guilty. "I didn't mean to hurt her!"
"Shh…calm down the lot of you!" Reiko yelled. "Now how is she?"
"She passed out a few moments ago!" Blake said "Please, do something..."
"Right, Velmón!" Reiko turned towards him "Your my assistant for now, in the office there should be a sewing kit and a some white bandages, get 'em to me stat!"
"O-okay!" Juge nodded, there was no doubt she was trying to save a person. The young nurse ripped open the clothes that covered her stomach and she cursed loudly as she saw the once white bandages wrapping around her stained in red. "Shit, she lost a lot of blood…"
"I'm sorry Rizaaa!" Nora hid her face behind her hands and leaned against Ren's chest, the man was comforting his friend. Apart from Blake the rest of RWBY watched in concern, the fox faunus was unresponsive.
"How could this happen from a simple drop...?" Weiss looked unsure.
They watched as the small nurse took a pair of blades from underneath her dress and carefully cut the wrappings in half. "Right, you there apply pressure to her wound at least it'll stop it from opening farther." Reiko told Blake. She nodded as she placed her hands on the wound. "Riza, don't let go okay?"
"She'll be fine, anyone who comes here is under my responsibility." Reiko assured her "Unless I am dying myself, nobody will die around me!" She applied some sort of anaesthetics so Riza wouldn't suddenly wake up mid-operation.
"Miss Utage!" Juge arrived back with a sewing kit and wrappings.
"About time!" grabbing the needle and surgical thread, she effortlessly threaded the needle through and made a small knot at the end. "Okay, you can slide your hand back until we sew her wound back together." The B in RWBY nodded as she moved her hand back wincing at the wound she was seeing. Reiko carefully applied pressure to her stomach as the needle pierced her, quickly she poked the needle out of her side.
"I'm gonna be sick…" Ruby turned green.
"Don't be throwing up in here. I had a girl that ate 25 puddings according to the blue guy here." Reiko spoke. "If you really have to, there are a couple of spare puke backs on my desk. But it would better if you just left. This isn't one of those hospital shows..." Reiko ran her mouth while doing her work with full concentration. The chatter was apparently a way for her to reduce stress.
Yang made Ruby turn around and hugged her as she watched on. "Poor fluffy…"
Time ticked by as Reiko finished sewing her up, Juge passed the new wrappings and held Riza up as the small nurse wrapped it around. Reiko wiped the sweat of the forehead and gave a determined smile as she checked Riza's pulse.
"...she's fine now, her pulse as gone back to normal."
"Thanks goodness." Nora said close to tears.
Blake still looked at Riza as she watched her.
"It's better if you guys relaxed, I'll give you an update on her via blue boy." Reiko smiled. Team RWBY and JNPR nodded as they headed outside, however Blake and Juge stayed behind. As the door of the infirmary closed Juge sighed.
"What happened?" the young Velmón turned to Blake.
"When Pyrrha accepted Jaune's apology, Nora accidentally let go of Riza to celebrate. The force made her wound reopen. I just can't imagine how such a small impact could open her wounds so easily..."
"….." Juge looked on. Reiko looked at both of them.
"This girl wasn't in real danger, it was wise to come here fast though.." She nodded in approval. "Still whoever let her leave the nurse-bed so early was a failure of a doctor! Didn't any of you notice that she was in pain?"
The two students looked at each other.
"I... she was definitely hurt, that's why I told her to return to her dorm room, but she was acting tough..." He now realized that Riza never really showed her pain much. Had she been playing it down all this time? Remembering their conversation this morning she had even joked about it...
"I think she hid it from us on purpose. Maybe this is part of her pride..." Blake took a guess. "It's not easy to show weakness. Especially for us..." The last words where only a whisper.
"I didn't catch that last part, what did you say?"
"Nothing." She waved it off.
The little pink-haired nurse stretched and went to clean her hands off. "So anyway... are you part of her team?"
"Oh no no!" Blake shook her head "That girl wearing a cape, the one in white and the other with long blonde hair are my teammates. The two girls in bed and Juge are a team, though their forth member is gone somewhere." She concluded.
"I see! Actually I was supposed to check up on a member of team LARJ later... seems she came to me instead." The nurse laughed dryly. She then turned around and pointed at the young hunter. "Velmón was it? You've been a big help to me." The nurse grinned at him. "Have you ever thought of being a doctor?"
"Not really, but my father has made me study on medical procedures many times miss Utage."
"Miss Utage?" Blake repeated. "Juge she is just a ch-" Reiko's green eyes flashed in anger as the feared paper fan appeared from out of nowhere hitting the black haired huntress on the head. "Ouch!" She held her forehead in surprise.
"Hmph!" Reiko growled. "Don't call me a kid, you brat. I am 28 for you information!"
"Wait! WHAT!?" The pain on her head was blown away by that unbelievable information.
"My growth spurt never happened, alright?!" Reiko face turned red in a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Let's just drop the conversation, or I'll tell everyone about your little 'things' blacky."
"Wait…!" Blake's yellow eyes suddenly became small, her body tensed up as well. "How... I'll stop… just don't…"
"….." Reiko shook her head with a sigh before looking back at the young Velmón. "How long are you going to stand there?" Flicking her hand away she smiled. "Thanks for you help, you can go now. I'll look after your teammates, I doubt they would be coming back today. Hush hush ~"
"Right." Juge gave a small bow. "I'll leave my friends in your care, see you later." he nodded to Blake while leaving the office.
"See you." Blake looked as he left.
"I'll contact you , not the other way around!" She yelled after him. The brown haired hunter nodded without a word and exited the infirmary. Blake and Reiko looked at each other before the pink haired nurse smirked.
"How long have you been hiding it?" Blake looked around the infirmary, she made extra sure that Lucy was sleeping tightly.
Blake nodded before looking her dead in the eye "It's since I left them."
Okki Village - Main square
Maryjane appeared in front of Akashi, the former hammer-user smirked before blocking a incoming leg kick to his sides, gripping Maryjane's leg tightly he sweep her remaining one Maryjane knowing his next move applied more force into her captured leg, sending Akashi flying. Akashi shook his head as he jumped off the ground and skidded to a smooth stop. Wasting no time Akashi ran after Maryjane. "A full force attack! That's something interesting!"
'Not yet.'
Maryjane ran towards Mayhiro both cocking their fist ready for the impact. Soon as their fists collided a slight shockwave coursed though the ground. The two combatants smirked before executing fast moving punches and kicks, the blue haired huntress delivered an upwards kick with her knees against Akashi catching him off guard. The hunter from Beacon swore he heard his jaw crack, biting though the pain Akashi placed his palms on Maryjane's vest pushing her back slight. Not holding back Akashi jumped to preform a quick roundhouse kick to Maryjane's face that was supposed to send her flying into the wall of a nearby building.
"…ugh." Akashi grimaced as he fell into his fighting stance and touched his hurting jaw. "That was lucky of me... luck is also a skill." His eyes widened as he saw the huntress barely being pushed into the wall. Her feet were grounded into the earth so strongly that she had left holes in it.
Maryjane left the wall and dusted her shoulders off, giving a 'not bad' nod. He returned to his stance.
"Interesting, really interesting Akashi Mayhiro." Maryjane rubbed her head before shaking it slightly. "But your jaw… might should be looked at by a doctor."
"Later, getting injured is all a part of fighting." Akashi grunted running towards Maryjane.
"Let us continue then!" Maryjane smirked as she waited for her time. Akashi grinned as he leaped off the ground cocking his leg for another assault, but Maryjane just smiled before stepping back, creating a small distance from him.
"This is where our differences come into play." Maryjane delivered a brutal right knee to his gut, then followed with another kick sending Akashi higher into the air. The fighter kept going with her onslaught, making Akashi go on the defensive trying to protect himself, but to no avail. Maryjane disappeared before showing herself on Akashi's left side. "Too easy!" Maryjane yelled as she sent Akashi crashing into the ground creating another shaking in the earth. Maryjane landed a good distance taking a quick breather.
Akashi coughed out the dirt the enter though his mouth, stirring in the ground he jumped back to his feet the hunter stretched out his pain. "Geez… at least the gravity change on myself protected me, but just barely." Spitting out a small amount of blood Akashi nodded before emerging from the dust.
"This feeling behind your movements... gravity. You make yourself lighter to heighten speed and then you increase the gravity behind your punches for stronger impacts." Maryjane easily analysed his fighting style. "But is that all you got? I expect more from your gravity punches." The blue clad huntress adjusted her white glove while seemingly staring into his soul.
This woman was extremely fast and strong. Almost superhuman. And it didn't look like she was using her semblance or dust at all! "Tell me something Maryjane, Are you a huntress?"
The short-haired woman nodded before jumping into the air with one leg outstretched. Akashi protected his chest with his arms, and the two soon began another intense close combat exchange.
Beacon Infirmary
"Urgghhhh.." Riza moaned lightly as she stirred in her bed, then her blue eyes fluttered open and she saw Blake and some little girl talking. "What happened? Blake?"
Blake instantly turned around with a relieved expression. "Thank goodness, you're awake."
Reiko sat on top of a stool and assessed her from an eye to eye view "How do you feel?"
"I feel like something is tight in my stomach." The fox fauns rubbed her head "Did something happen to me?"
"You were dropped and your wound re-opened." Reiko grabbed something for Riza's desk and scribbled something on a clipboard. "Luckily your friend here got you to the infirmary in time."
"Blake..." Riza moved her head to look at Blake "Thank you."
Blake's yellow eyes softened as she gently grabbed her hand. "I only noticed it recently... but every time I looked at... I was reminded of someone."
"Hm?" Riza tilted her head.
"But only when I saw your waist I was finally sure." Her eyes moved towards Riza's stomach area. "That scar close to your navel... do you remember how you got it?"
"...?" Riza's mind was still a little fuzzy because of the anaesthetics, but she started to grasp Blake's words. "It was a childhood injury... back when I travelled through the country with my mother." She mumbled. Blake nodded.
"You made a trip outside the Misty Forests once, right?"
"Yes I did... but how do you-?" Suddenly her eyes widened and she got up. The pain made her sink down again though. "O-on that day I encountered another girl when I got lost. These guys dragged me into an alley out of sight of the guards... They were anti-faunus activists." Riza stared at Blake. "But then a group of other children appeared and attacked those bastards... most of them were faunuses too." It was slowly getting clear where this was going.
"I was part of that group, as you've probably already guessed. But the important thing is what happened after that." Blake sat down on the hospital bed. "We saved you because you were a faunus in need, but that wasn't the end of it."
"Those kids wanted to protest for faunus rights..." Back then it was much worse for faunus then it was now, which is to say that people back then were just more open with their hostility. "The protests were sabotaged by anti-faunus groups and it turned into a bloody battle. The police didn't get it under control fast enough."
"Typical. They also apprehended mostly faunus and almost none of the human aggressors..." Blake clicked her tongue, but then got back on track. "Anyway we were fighting other kids and when it got too violent we made a run for it. They were too fast and too many and we didn't know where to hide..." Riza nodded. Now she remembered the rest of it.
"I was really thankful for your guys help and when you cam running through the streets I couldn't help but let you inside our hotel."
"It was pretty luxurious... the ones chasing us would never have expected us to get in there. Back then I didn't understand how a faunus could live in such a fancy hotel either."
"..." Riza was quiet.
"Anyway you saved us back then. I remember how your mother came in with her eyes wide open at seeing a bunch of children sitting on her bed, plundering all the snacks." Blake smiled at the memory.
"Mother... she was not even upset." Riza's fox ears went down. Remembering her mother's cheerful days hurt her inside. "You stayed at the hotel for several days until everything calmed down."
"It was quite nice... but we couldn't stay there forever. And you were leaving town the next day."
"So you were with those kids. I never knew." Riza looked nostalgic.
"That's not all. I asked if you remember that scar."
"Of course I do. Like I said that other girl shielded me... Wait.." The blonde girl shook her head. Something wasn't right.
"I can't blame you for remembering it wrong. It really did seem like I was the one shielding you." Blake closed her eyes. "But in reality you were the one who jumped in the way of the knife. I just held you when you fell and the attacker was standing behind me. You went back from the air-port despite what your mother said. Just to listen to my selfish wish..."
"I don't... remember." These memories were really fuzzy. She didn't even remember getting stabbed with a knife. From her memory she had just cut herself while falling to the ground that day.
"Don't worry. I just wanted to say thank you... since that day. Who would have thought that we would meet at beacon Academy of all places?" Blake laughed.
"I am sorry for not recognising you..." Riza played with her hair while looking dejected.
"Don't apologize. I didn't recognise you until a few minutes ago either. You've really grown up since. You aren't the crybaby you used to be." Blake winked.
"H-hey!" Riza glared at her. "I wasn't a crybaby!"
"You were a real little princess. You cried because you got your white dress dirty until your mother washed it for you and gave you that spare blue one."
Riza jerked back, because of the detail in which Blake remembered those few days. There was nothing she could say to counter it.
"A-anyway you and that one boy were so oblivious, you didn't even know what a watermelon looked like!"
Now it was Blake's turn to grit her teeth. "I... I definitely knew what it looked like! It's big, green and round."
"You say that now, but when I shared our melon with you, everyone thought it was a mutant cucumber." Now Riza started to giggle. Eventually even Blake joined in.
While this was happening, Reiko smiled at the two lost friends. "Well... this is certainly heart-warming for this faunus to see."
Instantly Blake and Riza pulled back before looking at Reiko in surprise. "...what?"
"Oh?" Reiko ruffled her hair before two cat ear popped out "I'm a faunus too, though my ears are floppy so they merge with my hair, not that I mind showing them, but I do like it that way." She rubbed them happily.
The two girls looked dumbfounded.
The young nurse sighed before looking at both of them "Right, Blake was it? Time for you to head for dinner, you've missed most of the the day by sitting here, you can come talk to patient number two some more after you've eaten."
"Thank you miss Utage, but after what I saw-"
"It's my favourite today. Tuna!" Reiko's mouth drooled. Seeing that made Blake furrow her brows. How could she reject her in that kind of atmosphere.
"...maybe I can handle a little bit." She said.
"You can go Blake. I'll be fine, besides I have to be with Lucy when she wakes up, she still can't sleep if no one is in the same as her. Since that time when Akashi played the prank on her in the closet..." The blonde huntress pursed her lips.
"Riiight..." Blake held suppressed a grin. "Lucy is an interesting one, isn't she?"
"If only her attitude in general was more like when she fights." Riza slowly laid back.
"Right then kids. You go ahead black one, while I file these report about vomit girl and our crybaby."
"Don't call me that!"
"But your friend just said the same thing."
"That was when I was a kid!" Riza yelled angrily while the nurse chuckled to herself, checking on Lucy in the process.
Blake waved them and then left through the sliding door.
Okki Village - Outskirts
Kick, right punch, uppercut, leg sweep, back of the head, chest.
"I said it before, but Beacon is pretty amazing Academy." Maryjane used her forearm to block Akashi's kick to the head. "But I can say that I'm the best it has to offer." Akashi jumped to avoid a leg sweep using the momentum of his spin he channelled the aura straight into his right leg. Maryjane simply ducked under it.
"Got ya!" Akashi grinned as his stopped his movement. Using the remaining force he had, the hunter changed directions. His heel connected with Maryjane's back creating a web-like crack underneath her on the ground. Maryjane mouth opened a little as the air escaped her, but she didn't budge. Akashi admiring his work jumped back giving Maryjane time to recuperate. "There's something off about her..." Akashi saw Maryjane rising and straightening her back. "You want to continue?"
"Don't be overconfident Akashi Mayhiro, I've still got more reserves!" Maryjane flicked her thumb at herself. "Fight me some more."
"Yeah!"
Brown, black and blue collided all around the field, Akashi's fist connected with Maryjane's face while Maryjane right heel connected with Akashi ribs, neither of them giving in, passing the pain the two continued to strike one another until an opening was found. Akashi squinted his eye for a second before seeing an opening on Maryjane chest, taking a chance the young hunter planted his fist into the blue huntress. It was his best punch. He had laid into everything he got. And with the help of his semblance the force was increased a lot.
Maryjane was hit against the ground and a crater appeared around her from the force of the gravity.
"GHH!" Akashi cried out in pain as the pain and exhaustion caught up to him, there it was. His limit. All he had to do, was break past it now.
From the smoke his opponent rose and now finally she revealed a smile. "That last one was not half bad. You made the trip worth it. Can you show me even more?" She wasn't even breathing heavily.
"Seriously?" The brown-haired teen rubbed his bleeding fist. "I already ate the poison, might as well take the rest of it too!" He prepared himself for another round.
Beacon Mess hall - Evening
Ruby, Weiss, JNPR and AKJA sat together as they tucked into there chicken soup. However the mood was far from normal.
"Will Riza... will she hate me now!?" Nora asked while swirling her soup with two spoons.
"I don't think Riza is the type to hold grudge. You will have to apologize to her later." Ren assured her. "Have your soup or it'll get cold."
"Okay…" Nora stopped her circling motions before slurping her soup "It's warm."
Alex had hers in silence as she listened to the small talk going on, but her mind couldn't take the images that she saw. She got…
"Alex?" Jasna called out to her. The black haired girl glared at her in response.
"What!?"
"You're bending your spoon." Jasna pointed down at her hands. Alex looked down and saw that she was right, her spoon was now in an obtuse angle.
"...sorry... I will pass on dinner." Alex pushed her soup away and got up "I'll see you at the dorms later." Without waiting for a reply she headed out of the mess hall. The orange haired brawler shrugged before seeing Kirk one space away from his team. Even though it made Jasna happy that he listened to her (about keeping a distance), she couldn't help but see that he was reading something while having his soup.
"Hey, pipsqueak. What are you reading?" Jasna's voice echoed in his ears. "It better not be lewd pictures again!" If it was lewd stuff she should probably 'confiscate' it. Reaching over she snatched the book of him, the blue eyed hunter looked on without a emotion in reaction.
"Jasna, that was rude of you." Antonio reprimanded his friend who in turn pushed his head away.
"Hush Anto, just look. It's book about... guns." Jasna looked at the article. Her facial expression turned doubtful.
"Top 10 sniper rifles in Remnant." Antonio blinked a few times.
"A gun magazine!?" The wild girl of AKJA said before looking at her turquoise haired punching bag. "You are reading a magazine? And it doesn't involve sexy ladies?"
"Yes."
"Bullshit!" Jasna rebutted as she held the book by it's spine as started shaking it. "This is just covering up the real pictures!" The girl continued to shake the book, but nothing came out of it. Expect for one slip of paper. "Ah ha! See Anto!?" She pulled Antonio over and got excited. Why was she trying to prove it to him? "He was perving on girls just look at this-"
"Form of order. Delivering a L115A3 AWM 'Collateral despair' to your nearest gun shop." Antonio picked up the slip of paper and looked over it "And it seems that Kirk here is in the process of filling it out."
"Kirk, you are buying a sniper rifle?" Jaune asked interestingly.
"Yes." Kirk repeated.
Pyrrha held out her hand to Antonio who gave the paper to her. She mused over it before she gasped in shock.
"Kirk! Do you know how much this is!?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?" She exclaimed. "It's 34,000 lien!"
Interestingly, both Weiss and Jaune spit out their soup, followed by Ruby burst out laughing as she saw soup come out of the young heiress's nose, then Nora as she copied what Ruby did.
"I have the amount." Kirk said simply.
"You." Weiss wiped her mouth clean "You have 34,000 lien?"
"Even more."
"From where?"
"Secret." Kirk kept a straight face.
"I don't believe you..." Jasna eyed him. "Prove that you have the money!"
Kirk said nothing, but in response he pulled out his ever trusty camera and flicked it on. He accessed his files until he came across his destined picture before handing it to his teammate who swiped it off his hands. Her purple eyes widened as she saw Kirk's mountainous pile of green bill like a skyscraper. Anto looked over and whistled as well.
As soon as 'pass Kirks camera to everyone' was done, it was returned to him by Jaune who was still in shock. "Magazine, please?" Kirk said in a small voice.
"Sure Kirk" Antonio returned his slip and book back to him, this was followed by Jasna snarling and grabbing him by the shirt. "Jasna!?"
"I bet you, he got all that money by selling those pictures to other perverted freaks like himself, huh?" She hissed at him. Kirk remained emotionless. "Answer me!"
"Jasna, please remain calm. Kirk wouldn't do that." Anto tried to mediate. Though even his standard smile couldn't hide the doubt on his face. This was Kirk after all.
"If that is your source of income you better pay all the girls back for using them. You know, as compensation." Jasna gave him a dangerous smile. "Now where is it?"
"Jasna…" Anto was growing in impatient. "Let him go now. He can't breath."
"No Anto, he's living off of their beauty!" Barked Jasna. "I won't stop until he pays them compensation, which is all of it!"
'Isn't that just the same as if the girls sold those photos themselves?' Anto started sweating. At least Jasna let go of Kirk so he could talk.
"No." Kirk rubbed his throat. "Not panty shots, not as a main source."
"But you still sell them!"
"Only to those close to me." Kirk stated. Not far away another wave of soup left Jaune's mouth forcibly. "I know it's wrong, but I can't help it. I can tell between right and wrong."
"Then tell me how did you get the money." Jasna stared at him while grabbing his shoulder.
"…No." Kirk for the first time push Jasna away from him, breaking free from her grasp. "My life... none of your business. Stay out of it!"
"Why you!" She cracked her knuckles, ready to beat Kirk into the ground, but Antonio held her shoulder back like she did before.
"Enough of this nonsense Jasna. You know I won't stand for you abusing a teammate to peer into his personal life." For once Antonio seemed very serious.
"But his pictures!"
"The panty shots are his admittedly terrible hobby, but let me ensure you that they are not the source of his income." Anto let go of the quivering Jasna. Apparently stronger words were necessary. "I know his secret!" He declared.
"What!?" Jasna looked surprised. "Tell me!"
"My apologies, dear Jasna, but I swore that I wouldn't tell what Kirk's job is. Frankly I believe it's a wonderful job Kirk, you shouldn't be afraid to tell others."
"…" The sniper stayed silent as a very small red blush appeared on his face.
"Anto ~" Jasna whined before kicking him in the shins. "Fine, I'll get to the bottom of this myself! Mark my words!" The orange brawler glared at her partner before storming off to wherever she was going to. If someone listened very carefully the might have heard her talking something about getting a magnifying glass and fingerprint spray.
"Whoa…" Ruby sat there in shock as she watched the drama unfold.
"Well at least it's somewhat entertaining." Weiss commented before finishing her soup. For her that amount of money was nothing, but she was still surprised to see the small guy posses it.
"I didn't know you were rich buddy!" Jaune spoke to his friend. "When were you going to tell me this?"
"I was going to... ask if you wanted to come... to a resort with me... and Akashi when he gets back." Kirk smiled "Juge and Antonio can come too... when we have semester holidays."
"I'd be honoured Kirk." Antonio bowed slightly.
"Do I!" Jaune almost cried tears of happiness before patting Kirk on the back. "You really are a good friend."
"Ren." Kirk almost forgot him "Wanna come?"
"Sure." Ren said unexpectedly. "It'll be nice to relax."
Unsurprisingly he didn't ask the girls, because he expected them to reject the idea.
"Hey, hey, Weiss, hey!" Ruby nudged her side.
"No."
"Awww come on. We can't fall behind the guys with the fun levels!"
"How about you pay for your own ticket then?"
"What's the use of having a rich teammate if they don't share?" Ruby pointed her spoon at Weiss.
"The point is that you shouldn't rely on other's money!" Weiss used a fork to block her spoon. "Why don't you ask your sister?"
"Yang won't lend me any money after the disaster crisis of '98."
"I don't think I want to know what you are talking about... where is Yang anyway?"
"Huh?" Ruby scanned the table. "Actually I have no idea."
On the other side of the mess hall
"So, how was it looking after pudding girl?" Yang sneered as Juge's face fell into a shadow. He took a bite of his lasagna. Anyone who came in early had a large portion of cheese and meet in a neat stack. Yang watched as Juge looked at it before shaking his head and eating it anyway.
"Don't remind me..." Juge sighed. "Have you ever had someone empty their insides on you?"
"Yeah, Ruby did that a couple of times when she was young." She too had the same face as Juge. In unison they both said:
"I wanted to throw up right after that."
"Hah jinxed!" Yang weakly punched his arm which made him almost let go of his fork. Luckily he could avoid the Antonio-Jasna scene from a few weeks ago. The last thing he needed was to get something into Yang's hair... again. "So… where did you get your weapon. Monty Consumption?"
"Morte Consumptis." Juge corrected her.
"Yeah, that's it!" She grinned "Where did you get it? Did you make it like everyone else? I never saw anyone making a whip from scratch."
"It is hand built, but not by me. You could call it our family heirloom." He noticed her amused look. "Don't underestimate it though. It can carry two types of dust. Fire and Ice, but the really interesting thing is that I can fuse the two to create... we call it white fire."
"I saw what you did with those Nevermores. They became white ice and turned into white flames." Yang looked at her hands. "Wouldn't it be sweet if I could use that kind of power while punching enemies? They would be running like chickens."
"Indeed." he smirked. "But Double poussière: Flammes de congelation, in your hand could spell disaster for all of us." He added, not entirely joking.
"What, you think I'll go mad with power?" Yang blew air between her teeth. "I don't get mad that easily you know?"
Juge raised one brow.
"Okay… sometimes."
Juge raised the other brow.
"Most of the time."
Now he raised both of his brows.
"Now you are missing the point!" She hand-chopped his head. "Only if someone hurts my baby sister or touches my hair… or throws something into it." Yang leaned closer to Juge and gave him a teasing look.
Juge gulped before Yang started laughing. To cover it up, he took another piece of the dinner to his mouth. "It comes down to this. You have a nice weapon there."
"Thank your for the compliment." Juge applied force to the knife cutting through the food. "But your Ember Celica is something to be proud of as well, you know?"
"Well, I don't fawn over weapons like Rubes does." Yang shook her head with a grin. "But I do look after it every week and you saw how many custom made bullets I buy. Not to mention how much it eats out of my wallet." She said the last part in a small voice. Juge decided not to pick up on that.
"Coincidentally you reminded me to buy bullets for my gun as well." Juge thanked her.
"Don't mention it. But I thought that thing isn't a real gun to you?"
"It's just a memento... but a memento that can shoot a Grimm between the eyes." Juge made one of his rare jokes. And this one was actually somewhat funny.
"I was right… you are an interesting person Juge. It's almost a shame you are not my servant anymore." She faked to pout.
"Easy there Ms. Long, that was a one time deal." Juge assured her. " I won't make the same mistake again." He was referring to both her hair and his pride.
"I know." Yang sighed as she rested her head on the table pushing her finished dinner away. "But it was funny… bossing people around and seeing you actually do it." She said. "The only reason I made you my servant was, because I wanted to know if you were like our team's princess."
'Really? If I remember correctly you just grabbed a random magazine and used it as reference.' He wouldn't speak those thoughts aloud though.
"...but I was wrong. You are much different than that."
'I... can take that as a compliment... right?' Juge nodded to her. Today she was so nice to him.. he felt bad fro letting himself get treated by her.
"You want to catch some ice cream Yang?" Juge stood up. "It's on me."
"I don't mind." Yang gave a wide grin before following behind him.
Okki Village - Outskirts
Akashi groaned as he sat on the ground. "I guess you were holding back all this time, huh?" Akashi exhaled before looking at his armour covered hand again. There were cracks and bend pieces in it already.
"I still have a ways too go." The hunter in black got up again.
Akashi's eyes widened as Maryjane took advantage of his rest and appeared behind Akashi's back, leaving him barely enough reaction time. His forearm blocked Maryjane's spin kick, but the reinforced power of Maryjane no longer holding back made the attack more painful, even through the armour. Pushing off the attack, Akashi glared at her. Maryjane again showed the faint smile as she beckoned him over.
"Gravity change: Lightweight!" He declared. This time he was putting some strength into it.
Their punches and kicks met in a flashes, exchanging fierce strikes to the others body, only to be blocked or dodged. Akashi aimed a strike to Maryjane's face, but she ducked down, countering it with a sharp uppercut, sending Akashi into the air. As Akashi flew a few feet off the ground, Maryjane chased after him, cutting him off mid-flight to strike his back with a raise of the knee, and then send him crashing into the ground below with a punch to the stomach.
Akashi was helpless to the strike, groaning in pain as his body struck the ground. Maryjane was not far behind the descent, free-falling towards Akashi's body in an attempt to smash into him. Akashi waited until his opponent got close enough, then he lifted his body with his hands, spinning his body along the ground to kick Maryjane as hard as he could while she was falling. The kick connected.
"TAKE THIS!" A scream escaped his lungs.
The blue-haired huntress had blocked the attack with crossed arms in front of her chest, but she was sent flying a few meters before regaining he balance.
"Good… but this way you are not going to defeat me. It's way too early for a wet ears hunter like you." Maryjane inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly once. After that she looked fine again.
Akashi coughed and even that hurt his lungs. "Wasn't this sparring in the first place..?" He asked with a pained smile. Seeing Maryjane shrugging off his attacks like that hurt his pride more than his body ever could.
He got up forcing his shaking body to straighten. His mind forced the shaking hands to calm down and they formed fists. There was one more move he could try. One more chance to prove his worth...
While wiping the sweat and blood from his face Akashi started walking towards the huntress.
"Then come at me!" Maryjane ran towards Akashi at a high pace. The young Mayhiro was doing the same. Colliding into each other, the two skidded to a hold throwing their best fist/kick each other.
"Gravity Change: IMPACT!" Akashi yelled and suddenly the earth around them was pushed deeply under. A field of forced gravity hit both of them full force. The sudden change slowed down Maryjane's punch, but Akashi had lightened his own body weight beforehand. With his superior speed he spun past Maryjane's fist and kicked her into the side. The impact was strong, but due to the enhanced gravity she couldn't fly away.
For a second the young hunter could have sworn to see a painful reaction on her face.
'It... worked..!'
Akashi eyes widened as blood cells ruptured in his lungs and he coughed out a mouthful onto the ground. His vision faded as he lost all feeling and slumped into the ground. So this was the price for going past one's limit.
"I lost…." The teen fell to the ground and closed his eyes. The world was turning dark fast. 'I will become stronger.' Were his last thoughts before fainting. That was his answer.
Maryjane panted hard as she knelt to the ground after the gravity dissipated. "This was... enjoyable. I want to fight you gain... with your real weapon." Her blue eyes stared at Akashi's face. Another big breath to calm her adrenaline filled body down.
"So this is where you went." Maryjane heard that familiar voice from behind her. "We take our eyes off you for one minute, and you go running off into some remote village."
The huntress slowly turned around to see a thin female with suntanned skin and dark-red eyes. She had blonde, free flowing hair and bangs as well as two long locks on each side. She wore two brown gauntlets over her arms as well as brown combat boots. A large rifle was strapped to her back.
"Tahli." She muttered in exhaustion as she rubbed her ribs.
That was Tahli, as Maryjane said. The woman looked past her companion towards the crumpled Akashi. "Did you...?"
"No, that's one thing we don't do in public." Maryjane spoke in a indifferent tone. She reverted back to her emotionless expressions. "If this had been a fight to the death, I am sure he would be dead now."
"Hm, this one was interesting, huh?" Tahli raised an eyebrow. "It's rare to see you make this kind of pained expression."
"I'm not in pain." She rebutted.
"I see…" Tahli walked over to her friend and slightly tapped her ribs.
"Ungh...!" Maryjane tried her best to not change her facial expression. Two tears gathered at the edges of her eyes.
"Oh? Are you sure you are okay?" Tahli asked sweetly.
"...mmmmmnnn... bully..." Maryjane whispered while looking away.
That made the dark-blonde huntress laugh in surprise. "Hahaha so cute. I don't bully people. Just be honest with me from now on, okay?" Her red eyes looked at Akashi before walking over to him and kneeling down. She gently rolled him over to get a good view of him. "You really pulled a number on him."
"He fought back with all he got. I am satisfied."
Smirking she checked his body for any mortal wounds. "He doesn't seem to be hurt too much. Over-exertion... and a few scratches." With a whistle she pulled out his belongings. "Only a water flask? This is a curious one. But he is kind of cute too." She pulled him up on her shoulders and walked over towards the village.
"What are you doing Tahli?" Maryjane asked while following her.
"We can't leave him lying around. He may not be hurt too much, but he should at least rest. One of the villagers might know him." The dark-blonde woman walked at a steady pace.
"I see."
"This is your fault, so you will be the one to apologize. Especially to the guys back at the compound."
"Gh!" Maryjane gritted her teeth in distress and then ran into a low-hanging bar sign.
"...are you okay?"
"I'm... fine." The blue-haired huntress said while holding her bleeding forehead.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Are those tears?"
"No!"
"I'll get you a band-aid later, so don't cry." She laughed.
"Not crying!"
(End music)
See you next time!