Chief A/N: Heyo! I like how all of you enjoyed the last chapter. Gives me motivation to continue writing.
Chapter 13: Girl's Day Out
The day started out pretty normal for Team SNTL as they headed into town. They were going to have a girl's day out since they really hadn't had one in a while. Kira, quiet as ever, remained in the back of the group with Nabuya while Grey and Kris talked up front. "I really don't see what you want me to do." Grey groaned. "Just, mention me in conversation, ya' know? Kinda seed me into his mind." Kris explained.
"I'm not going help you get together with my brother!"
"Come on! Who else would you want to date your brother other than your best friend?"
Grey dragged her hand down her face and sighed "It's Victor's choice on who he wants to date." Kris rolled her eyes and went on "Come on, you know you have some pull in who he dates. I just need a little boost since Miss Four-Time Champion is practically hanging off of his arm." Kira spoke up "They aren't dating. Victor doesn't want to date anyone." Everyone turned and looked at Kira, making her turn red and want to hide in a hole somewhere. "Care to explain how you know that?" Grey questioned as she crossed her arms, arched an eyebrow and one ear perked up while the other remained down.
"Uh, Victor and I were talking and, um, I brought up the two of them and he said that he wasn't interested in dating anyone."
Kris shrugged and crossed her arms, replying "Well, can't give me shit of trying or… using my assets to my full advantage." Kris made a show as she lifted her arms up to give her chest a little more… bounce… to them. Nabuya giggled "Pyrrha has you beat by a LONG shot in that department." Kris dropped her arms and grumbled "I know, I'm just, like, a C-cup and she's damn near double D's. How can I compete with that?" Kira shrugged and suggested "Try just talking with him instead of flirting all the time?"
"And how am I supposed to do that with Pyrrha always hanging off of him?"
"Spend time with him outside of school?"
Grey shook her head and replied "Blake has Victor during that time. Don't know why though." Kris dropped her shoulder and leaned her head back to let out a deep groan. "Man, he's just hanging out with every girl there is." Kris groaned. Nabuya chuckled "Maybe you just need to squeeze yourself into his time?" Kris shrugged her shoulders and replied "I guess."
Grey nudged Kris with her elbow and chuckled "Come on girls, cheer up. We're out to have fun! So let's have fun!" Nabuya jumped into the air and cheered "Yaaay! Let's go!" Nabuya grabbed Kira's hand and started to run off, dragging Kira along with her and Kris and Grey trying to keep up. Nabuya eventually stopped, Kira sitting on the ground as Grey and Kris nearly ran into them. Grey and Kris panted as Nabuya cheered "Look! A new weapon shop!"
The group got themselves together and saw the shop: General Knoxx's Armory. "Let's check it out!" Nabuya cheered as she dragged Kira into the store, Grey and Kris following without argument. The weapon shop looked like any other weapon store with glass cases of basic weapons on one side while attachments and ammunitions dominated the other. The man behind the counter had a marine style haircut that had gone white with an eye patch over his right eye. "Welcome ladies." The man greeted. "Take a look around and let me know if you find anything you like."
Nabuya practically bounced over to the attachments and started looking for something for Mr. BOMBbastic, possibly some sturdier spikes. Kira started looking over the revolvers, possibly to replace her older ones. "What are you looking for?" The man questioned. Kira looked up and noticed the man's nametag read 'Knoxx'. Kira replied "Looking for some new revolvers."
"What kind?"
".357 Magnum."
"Let me see what you've got?"
Kira reached into her jacket and removed her revolvers, placing them on the counter. Knoxx picked them up and started to inspect them. "Not bad. Extended barrels with war axe attachments, balanced very well. Still in good condition." Knoxx observed. "How long have you had these for?" Kira shrugged and replied "Basically all my life. I've needed to keep them up since I can't really afford new weapons."
"I really don't see why you would need new ones, these are still in damn near perfect condition. Do you use speed loaders or manual?"
"Manual sir."
Kira opened her jacket a bit to reveal the dual bandoliers across her body. "Why don't you try speed loaders? They're better when in combat." Kira sighed "I would… if I could afford them."
"Hm… what do you do for a living?"
"Beacon sir. I'm a student there."
"Let's make a deal. I need a hand around here and you could use some extra cash. Let's say about an hour a day during the weekdays and a few more during the weekend. Sound like a deal?"
Kira smiled wide and replied "Of course sir! When can I start!?" Knoxx laughed "Let's start tomorrow. Give you a little free time."
"Thank you sir!" Kira holstered her revolvers and practically ran over to her friends. Kris was inspecting new grips for her katanas while Grey looked at firing mechanisms for her railgun. "Girls! Guess what?" Kira nearly screamed. The two looked at her with raised eyebrows while Nabuya leaned back from behind a stand. "I just got a job!" Kira cheered. Nabuya cheered "Yay! Go Kira! We should celebrate! I suggest cake!"
Kris exclaimed "Congrats Kira. I agree with Nabuya, we should celebrate." Nabuya jumped in "With cake!" Grey chuckled "I'm guessing Nabuya would like some cake. So let's go find a bakery." Nabuya cheered once again "For cake!" The group laughed and exited the store in search of a bakery to celebrate Kira's job success.
After searching for a while they finally found a bakery that had cakes ready to sell. Nabuya went up to the counter and ordered "We'll take… two small chocolate cakes and a large angel food cake." Nabuya turned back and questioned "What do the rest of you want?" The group laughed until Nabuya questioned "No seriously, what do you guys want?" All of them stared at her with questioning looks until she laughed "I'm kidding! We can share!"
The group got their cake and took a seat at a table big enough for their baked goods. "I really don't know how we're going to eat all-" Grey started until Nabuya practically devoured one of the small chocolate cakes. Grey and Kris had their mouths hanging wide open while Kira had a raised eyebrow. "What?" Nabuya responded with her mouth nearly full and then swallowed. "Did you even taste that cake?" Kris chuckled in response.
"I did, and it was great."
Grey and Kira couldn't help but laugh and grab themselves some cake before Nabuya could devour it. The group enjoyed their cake and Grey asked "So Kris, you've been friends with Dev for a long time, right?" Kris nodded and replied "Yeah, why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you could… give me friendly advice about him."
Kris leaned forward and pointed her fork at Grey, replying "Sounds like what I was asking before." Grey responded "No, you were asking me to start trying to push my brother on you. I'm asking for advice."
"Trade, advice for push."
"Ugh, fine."
"Good. Now one of the hardest things about Dev is that thick skull he has. You've really got to drive home that you like him."
"So I have to really flirt with him to notice?"
"Yep."
After the group had finished what they could of their cake (leaving roughly a third of the angel food cake) they decided to head back to Beacon. On their way to their room, they ran into Victor waiting by Team RWBY's door. "Hey there Little Brother." Grey greeted. "What's got you waiting outside Team RWBY's door?" Victor grimaced at the 'Little Brother' comment and replied "Waiting on Blake. We're supposed to get to a movie but she wants to take her time in the shower." Kris stepped up and offered "Care for a slice of cake? We were celebrating Kira getting a job."
Victor shrugged and replied "Sure, what kind?"
"Angel food."
Kris opened the box and slid out one of the pre-sliced pieces, holding it out to Victor. He reached to take it, but Kris jumped forward and smashed the cake into Victor's face. Kris laughed as Victor started to wipe some of the cake off of his face. He licked some of it off and nodded, proclaiming "This is some good cake. Have you had some?" Kris replied "Yeah, but-"
"Well, have some more!"
Victor took what he had in his hand and smashed it into Kris' face. Victor laughed a hearty laugh as Kris started laughing, eventually making everyone else laugh. Blake finally opened the door to see everyone laughing and Victor and Kris' faces covered in cake. "Um, what did I miss?" Blake questioned. "Cake, want some?" Victor questioned.
Blake reached up and swiped a finger across his cheek, then tasted what she had on her finger. "Not bad, now get cleaned up. We have a movie to catch." Blake stated.
"Fine, can I use your bathroom?"
"Go ahead."
Victor walked into Team RWBY's bathroom, leaving Blake alone with Team SNTL. "So you and Victor are going to a movie?" Kira questioned. Blake nodded and replied "Yes, a book we both read has become a movie so we are going to go see it."
"That's nice."
Victor exited Team RWBY's room and questioned "Are we good to go?" Blake nodded and Victor exclaimed "Catch you girls later." Victor took a little icing off Kris' nose as he walked away. "How about we get cleaned up now?" Grey suggested as she opened the door. The team went into their room and Kris went to the bathroom to clean herself up.
Kira took a seat while Nabuya jumped onto her bed and Grey sat on her bed. "So, what else do you girls want to do today?" Grey questioned as Kris walked out of the bathroom. "How about some fighting!?" Nabuya cheered. She looked around the room and Kira responded "Some combat training would be beneficial." Grey and Kris both shrugged, both up for the idea of going out for a good fight.
"Well then let's get our weapons and go!" Nabuya cheered as she raised up her kanbo, Mr. BOMBbastic. "Um, Nabuya… we already have our weapons." Kira pointed out.
"Oh, right. Then let's go!"
The group got up again and headed out into the Emerald Forest in hopes of getting some combat training in. Team SNTL went to the same cliff that they were at when they first attended Beacon. "It seems like forever ago that we were here." Grey stated. "When we hardly even knew each other." Kris added. "And now we're best friends!" Nabuya cheered.
"More friends than I ever hoped to have." Kira muttered. Nabuya hugged Kira and cheered "You'll always have your friends!"
"Thanks Nabuya."
Grey exclaimed "Then let's go!" Grey turned and jumped from the cliff with her team right behind her. Grey drove her broad sword into the rock face to slow her fall while Kris did the same with her katanas. Kira focused her strength into her back and unveiled her wings while Nabuya fired a rocket to slow her fall. The team had gained the attention of the local Grimm with their fall, and a group of Beowolves decided they were easy prey. A Beowolf charged Grey, and was met with a rail gun blast from her weapon, Storm Breaker.
Kris used her Spark semblance and generated enough electricity and fired a lightning bolt that ricocheted between several Beowolves. Nabuya went crazy and began to send Grimm flying into each other as she swung her explosion infused kanbo. Kira charged a small group and began hacking them to pieces as they came close to her. Team SNTL was tearing through the Beowolves at a startling rate, the heavy hitters Grey and Nabuya would devastate Grimm while the speed fighters Kris and Kira delivered quick and deadly blows. The Beowolves began to fall back when four Ursa charged through the tree line towards the team.
Grey charged Storm Breaker and fired a railgun blast, almost firing a hole straight down the Ursa's throat. Grey generated a lightning bolt and threw it, nailing the Ursa in the head and burning a hole into its brain. Nabuya switched her kanbo into its rocket launcher form and blasted the Ursa until its head was nothing more than a bloody stump. Kira raised her revolvers and unloaded all 12 rounds into the charging Ursa until it slid to her feet. The forest was finally silent after the echoes of the fight cut off.
"Well that was fast." Kris muttered. "That's what she said, but yeah, we should have run into more Grimm." Grey proclaimed. Team SNTL kept their weapons ready and headed into the forest in search more fights. It seemed like a long amount of time until something finally decided to rear its ugly head… or heads for this moment. Three King Taijitu rose from the forest and slithered towards the group, ready for a fight.
"You girls ready?" Grey shouted as she readied Storm Breaker. Everyone else took a fighting stance and barked "Ready!" Team SNTL charged the Grimm that opposed them, both sides ready for the kill. The first Taijitu flew towards Grey, but she swung her blade and deflected the Grimm's strike. Kris followed up and drove her blades, Crystal and Striker, into the top of the Grimm's head, but not killing it. Nabuya was fairing a little bit better, constantly striking back against the Taijitu's attacks.
Kira wasn't having as much success against her Grimm since her revolvers and axes barely did anything against the massive beast. The Taijitu reared its head back and struck Kira dead center, sending her flying and crashing into the trees. Kira got up to see the Taijitu readying another strike, but she wasn't going to let the Grimm attack her again. Kira jumped to the side and focused her energy in a different way than simply calling about her Nevermore wings. Kira's shape began to change as she hunched over and growled.
Her teeth turned into razors as her fingers turned to claws and skin turned black. Her legs began to change and talons grew from her feet and a tail sprouted from her. Plates began to form on her back as she reached her intended form, a black velociraptor. The raptor had the usual Grimm skull over the top of its head and plates covered its back, claws and talons white like the rest of its body. The Shadow Raptor pulled its head back and snarled at the attacker, uncaring of the size of its opponent.
The Raptor shot forward and jumped at the Taijitu as it shot forward to strike. The Raptor clawed at the Taijitu's head, clawing at the eyes and causing the Grimm to roar in pain. The Raptor started to tear at the Grimm's throat, tearing chunks of meat out of it. The Raptor ripped and clawed and eviscerated the Grimm as if it was nothing. The black head collapsed onto the ground with its throat completely torn out, prompting the white head to take action now that it's other half was dead.
The white half flew forward in an attempt to strike at the attacker, but the Raptor was far too fast. It struck the ground and turned, clipping the side of the Raptor but barely doing anything. The Shadow Raptor jumped onto the King Taijitu's head and began to claw at its eyes, causing the Grimm to howl in pain. The Shadow Raptor didn't stop until the white head of the Taijitu was nearly torn off, just barely hanging on by the spine. After the Grimm collapsed to the ground, the Shadow Raptor looked to the sky and uttered a shrill howl, signaling its victory.
After the call, the Raptor went to its prey and began to tear chunks off, and eating them in the process. The remainder of Team SNTL had already taken care of their opponents and had seen the entire altercation and transformation. After the Shadow Raptor had its fill of Taijitu, its shape began to waver and slowly resumed its original form of Kira Taseter. She dropped to her knees, looking at the Grimm before her as she felt the mouthful of meat she had in her mouth slide into her stomach. She slowly turned her head to her team, seeing the horrified looks on their faces.
"This is it." Kira thought as she turned back to her kill. "This is the part where I have to start over, where I lose everything." She felt tears begin to form in her eyes, unable to stop the impending sense of doom and sadness that always followed when she went full Grimm. But she felt something much different than the sense of gloom; someone's arms wrapping around her. She felt the person's full weight press against her back and Nabuya cooing "There, there Kira. Everything's fine. Everyone's okay… we're here for you." Kira looked around to see Kris and Grey standing on each side of her with comforting smiles as they started to sit down.
Kira felt a smile make its way across her face as she thought "Is… is this what it's like to be happy? To have people that care about you? Is this… what it's like to… to have a family?" Kira felt tears of joy run down her face as her friends, her family, sat with her in her time of need.
Chief A/N: Well that was a doosey of a chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed it. PM or review any thoughts comments or concerns about the chapter. This is Chief, signing off.
SOVIET A/N: Nothing really to say, other than hope you enjoy it just as Chief said. :D