Chapter 6: Rot
Crocea Mors brandishes itself, despite the weapon being far older than any occupant in the room, its edge remains honed, and the material still holds true. Jaune made the first strike, attempting to drive Yatsuhashi through. Everybody had been taken aback as the battle began so unceremoniously. RWBY had been slow to begin, but JNPR quickly rushed Yatsu down to aid their leader. Sparks fly, and blades rend the metal flooring underneath their shoes leaving gashes upon the floor, as the indomitable Yatsuhashi holds off the four students with ease. Fulcrum, the massive curved greatsword thick enough to shield its wielder, long enough to strike from safety, and held as though it was not the massive weapon it really was. The blade projected an area of denial for Jaune's blade that he simply could not overcome even with their help.
That is until Crescent Rose yanks Fulcrum out of its guard, and Myrtenaster's cylinder winds up and runs straight through the opening, slicing into Yatsu's aura.
Fulcrum is brought up, Gambol Shroud weaves itself around Fulcrum, restricting it from being brought down upon Ember Celica that roars in great swathes of flame.
Yatsuhashi smiles and readies the greatsword against his shoulder as he slides to a halt, sparks gliding from his boots creating a horrendous metallic squeal that causes Blake to tense in pain. "Good. Good. I was expecting less. The Vytal Festival is coming up this year. You guys will be quite the contestants. Give it another year, and you folks will be taking our place."
Ruby readies her great scythe, the barrel pointing towards Yatsu's legs as she smiles boastfully. "Yeah! We can beat Roman Torchwick in a fight!" The teams ready themselves for another clash. Yatsu then holds Fulcrum with two hands and assumes a high stance the blade held over his head precariously yet dangerously..
"Well, let's see more of that expertise at play." Yatsu calmly asks as he begins a slow heavy charge towards the teams.
It was Jaune who noticed the iridescent sheen on Yatsu's armor, the green flower trickling peridot buds as he ran. His legs freeze up and he watches his friends charge forward. "Ruby, go low! Pyrrha High!" He calls out at the last second; the two teammates in question seem taken aback, but nod in trusting Jaune. Ruby, for her part, drops and slides, firing her scythe to propel her form forward. Weiss creates speed glyphs to let the young leader propel beneath Yatsu at brilliant speeds. Pyrrha runs forward, throwing Akoúo̱ towards Nora, and shouting for a boost, Nora readies the shield as Pyrrha jumps and lands on the shield gracefully as Nora throws the two up and with a hefty smack against Pyrrha's shield sends her barrelling down onto Yatsu.
With the impromptu combined rush, Yatsu smiles as he readies his greatsword and prepares his thick plated armor. The sword is brought high and collides against Miló, Crescent Rose slams into Yatsu's shins. Jaune starts to run forward, as Yatsu's legs are thrown back but his aura holds strong; Pyrrha grits her teeth as Yatsu's strike sends her flying away and Ruby slides to her feet some ways behind. Both recover, but look around in a confused state. Bewildered for a few precious seconds. A subtle use of Yatsu's semblance to wipe memory.
Yatsu stabs Fulcrum into the ground to recover his posture, the boots slam onto the steel floor, and he readies himself for the next wave of first years. Weiss, Blake, Nora. The exchange was quick. As the three were expedient, yet forceful, Yatsuhashi's guard held true against their assault. He cleaved to them, fighting like a mad dog. The sword blocked any true damage the three could put upon him, and his hands, knees, elbows, and even head, were struck forth to damage, toss, and abuse the three aside his armor shedding peridot buds all the while. They staggered behind him as Yatsu marched forth towards Jaune. Jaune who stood with only Yang. and Ren.
Jaune rushes forward with Crocea Mors ready. His shield was placed between him and Yatsuhashi, as Pyrrha had advised. Yet he could not remember what happened next. Jaune blinks, he falls flat on his floor. His aura had barely recovered from combat classes earlier this morning, and judging from the stinging pain in his arms and chest, it was likely that his aura shattered for the second time. He blinks and clutches his breastplate, gasping for air that stung his lungs. Yet he freezes when Fulcrum embeds itself next to his head. He looks up to Yatsu's tired eyes that taunt him in a teasing manner. "Guess I can't expect much when you're fresh out of combat class, huh?" His smile only grows as he glances at the two teams moving to surround them.
They all knew why he was not put into the ground by the overwhelming numbers yet. Every clash against him, he fought like his life was on the line. Whereas on the other hand the reluctance to attack his back, the respect to err away from dirty shots, and to respectfully combat him in smaller groups at a time despite the two teams far outmatching him in speed. The students knew, and Yatsu, the Agent, knew that as well. It's what they were trained to see since they first joined a combat academy. He outclasses them yet they could simply overwhelm him, and yet they were unwilling to use their strengths as a team to overpower him.
At least, Jaune figured that out after watching and giving his attempt. All the while Velvet had taken to taking pictures of everyone as they fought, smiling and standing up. The exchange lasted hardly a minute, yet everyone had grown weary from exerting so much energy in such a short span. A few seconds pass of everyone glancing at each other nervously, the heavy breathes of battle hang just above the silence in the room. Just as the spar begins to continue, someone's voice erupts through the tenuous silence of the training room. "And just what do you think you're doing to my new students, Agent Yatsuhashi?" Everyone lowers their weapons, and turns their eyes to the newcomer.
A mauve man with purple hair, cold calculating eyes, and a black business suit. His arms are crossed disapprovingly, and he furrows his raised brow. A second passes. "Well? I'm waiting for an explanation."
"Ah. Just figured I'd have a go with this year's new students. Just some friendly sparring, no harm in it." Yatsu scratches the back of his head as he returns to that gruff demeanor before, no longer the amused and friendly giant that the teams had been clashing against just seconds ago.
"As much as I'd like to buy that excuse, I understand that half of these students aren't granted access to this depth of the Academy. It's well past your authority to drag students to the Information Department." Yesod explains plainly and simply. His voice is cold and it cuts through the air, stiffening the freshman teams as Yatsu merely offers a shrug and Velvet giggles nervously. "For that manner, you two have been moved to the Safety Department. You should be dealing with the drunk over there, not heckling my new students as well as Malkuth's…Matter-of-fact, that would likely mean–" Yesod's lecture cuts short he seems to raise a suspicious eye as the door to the training room erupts with a boisterous Control Sephirah.
"Hello again! Team RWBY! Yesod! Ah lovely Yatsuhashi, Velvel!" Malkuth had practically abused the door open as her hand had tapped the button to open the door several times after the door had already opened. Malkuth meanders in, readying her beloved duck-shaped yellow pen and thoroughly used clipboard. "So that's where my new students are! Glad to see the teams getting along together! Yesod, have you settled them in well? Make sure there's no fights with the Clerks?" Malkuth gasps before continuing. "Have any lower departments found them yet?"
"No, no, and no. You were supposed to be taking Team RWBY to my department today by 11:30. It is nearly 11:42. And now Team JNPR, the students to be assigned to you tomorrow, are two floors deeper than their current security level is allowed. Can you explain to me how this could have happened?" Yesod lowers his arms disappointedly. He states every transgression against any rule he could think of, and yet no anger rose in his voice unlike Professor Goodwitch's, indeed there was only disappointment and that grated the student's ears far more than outright anger ever could. And despite that Malkuth maintained her smile, albeit furrowing her brow. Enthusiastically, she takes to the scolding and returns it with glee.
"Oh, of course! Though I do believe Netzach's new Agents over there, Yatsuhashi, and Velvet are to blame for this whole debacle. A minor misstep caused upon transferring agents to different departments. I imagine they had taken the opportunity to–" The argument had quickly turned into a droning noise for many of the students. Only Weiss, Blake, and the Agents could barely listen to the talk of policies, rules, legislations, and whatever antics the two Sephiroth could come up with to belittle each other. It only stopped when Velvet managed to interrupt in between the two's debate by exclaiming that the Headmaster gave them the greenlight to do the whole thing. Much to everyone's relief, the two finally looked to each other in agreement.
"Well, it seems you've had your fun. Now let's file your reports, and get the show on the road!"
"Well, now that you've wasted everyone's time. File your reports, and proceed to your next directives."
Malkuth and Yesod glared at each other once more, Malkuth with an enthusiastic glee, and Yesod with cold apathy. Regardless, the two gathered their students and continued to glance at each other with slight tension before they finally collectively glared upon the half of CFVY. The two agents clearly being the source of their ire for this exchange. "I'll be making a complaint to the Headmaster about this behavior. We can't go around bashing our students about before they can even pass the Agent exams." Yesod finishes as he takes Team RWBY away.
"Ah-ha. I'll let you folks bid your farewells. But please understand that today will be a very busy day for you and your team, Jaune. As for Yatsu and Velvet, well, like Yesod said, it's hardly the time and place to spar when Yesod is already putting Team RWBY through the wringer today!" Malkuth encourages the team, yet eyes the Agents. The teams collectively eye each other with worry as the Sephirah begin to lead the teams away leaving Yatsuhashi and Velvet alone in the training room.
"Coco loves them already, you think?" Yatsu looks at Velvet who nods.
"Yes, They are a good replacement. Even JNPR could have replaced us at their current state, that Jaune guy is real superb! If a bit lackluster in actual skill."
"Bah – I could barely lift Fulcrum when I was a first year, Give him a month or two, he'll grow."]
Author's Note: I'm sorry for the long wait and the incredibly short chapter. This was a difficult chapter to write alongside school, and family problems rose as soon as School started alongside my mother's heart attack. I'll try to write as much as I can for this Summer before the whole thing starts up again.
