Chapter 2

Blake had just concluded a rather steamy chapter of Ninjas of Passion after nearly an hour of reading and she loved every moment of it, sitting beneath a tree, enjoying the sight, sound, smell of everything. It was such a place of conducive peace and quiet that someone like her may even be tempted to never leave... she pondered on the thought, only if she had company to spend eternity with, oh how sweet it could be. She turned her head to the left, just a few inches away; lay Beacon's clumsy and lovable knight, the air slightly whistling as it exists his lips, his chest plate rising up and down in rhythm with every breath.

Her gaze lingers on his peaceful face taking in the sight of his golden locks, to his well defined facial features, and finally to his lips, oh how easy it would be to steal a kiss, she giggled as quietly as she could imagining the reaction of some of her friends if she ever said she did. It was plain as day that Pyrrha and Ruby were interested and the faces they would make would be priceless and the cherry on top would be Jaune himself would never know.

Still to experience such a thing that people only hear in fairytales or novels, and few ever manage to make such a kind of love bloom in this harsh unforgiving plane of reality. Even more so for someone like her, living in a world where the powerful majority would deny her people of even the simplest act of respect or dignity. Being in the White Fang had shown her how cruel the world could be to those who try. Either would be called traitors to their own kind, and they would be separated, love unfulfilled all because of something so petty, but just because the mind wills it doesn't mean the heart will always follow and people still try.

Love is a cruel mistress, she will have her ways, and you have no other option but to obey.

Following that thought, she recalled a particular scene she had just read and the setting is almost uncanny to the one in the book. It was too tempting to let slip by.

So she got on all fours and stalked her way in front of Jaune. Her hand gently caressed his locks and her hand tracing his face, she leaned forward and...

Within the dream world...

The dreams he has been having were like watching small episodic segments, and they were of one particular boy. And that boy had an uncanny resemblance to the statue out near the fountain in Beacon; He had a slightly dark shade of hair than him and had dark emerald eyes But Jaune wasn't sure, there was almost no way.

The boy was in all honestly, like him, he did what he could to help around the village, but was also pretty much the coward of the town. No matter what would happen he never even put up a fight. Jaune sometimes watched helplessly, as the boy would get lynched for doing the right thing, most of his playmates slowly abandoning him one by one out of fear of being hurt as well. It was like a sick horror show of his past, but there was something different.

While he accepted it and would just be more discreet and stay in his secret places, this boy still would walk around, head held high, all smiles. There must be a reason to this.

In his free time he would brush up on the stories about his ancestors taking on legions of Grimm, Known and Unknown, having so much charisma that could uplift even the lowest of morale. Though the oddest thing was is that... there was no existing recording of that particular ancestor's first name that made the Arc name legend.

But the more he thought about it, it must have been some kinda over blown rumor. Yes, his family records have shown that they were all outstanding hunters of their time, also taking the record of most heroic sacrifices in a single name... which is most likely the reason why most people forgot about it, so many died out during their exploits, from heroic last stands, pissing off a powerful warlord, to failed rescue missions.

Except one... the man who started the Arc legend.

His final fate was unknown to all, the only recorded history being that he led the charge in the battle that pushed back the creatures of Grimm that led to humanities' current stalemate against the foul creatures.

"Here we go again... another beat down waiting to happen", Jaune said wearily. The boy was again facing off against six of his usual aggressors; Jaune wondered what the reason could be this time.

"Wait a minute, something is different this time. What's that behind him?" Jaune had noticed, something small quivering, and something like a... furry tail behind the boy.

"What is wrong with you guys! Do you guys go so low now as to pick on girls too!? Does that make you feel tough?!" The boy shouted out to the bullies hoping to make them see reason, not as if that ever worked at all.

"Oh not you again... Do you really want another serving of our fists? Get outta the way, beating you up has gotten boring." the apparent leader of the group sneered, rolling his shoulder in anticipation.

"P-please...Just leave me alone... I D-Didn't do anything wrong. I was just... getting some f-f-firewood." stuttered the hooded girl.

"See! please just leave her be!", the Boy pleaded but the boys were getting impatient so they just decided to force their way through but the Boy adamantly got in their way, he tried to push them away but they were too many. The girl was getting more frightened and despite having a rule not to hit people, The Golden Rule and all that. But these guys were going to attack a girl! Self-imposed Pacifism be DAMNED! He had enough!

Then the boy threw his fist out of desperation and managed to deck one of the hooligans.

"Oooohhh he decked Jenkins ahahaha..."

"He is never gonna live this down"

They jeered at the unconscious form of the boy named Jenkins, What kind of friends are these!?

"Lookie here, you got lucky, so you wanna try being tough? you actually gonna put up a fight now? Hah try not to bore me" the leader mocking him

"C'mon hit me!" the man leaned forward exposing his chin. And as soon as he did, the boy thrusted his fist so fast he managed to bash a couple of teeth in.

"You are going to PAY FOR THAT! GET HIM!", The brute seethed with anger, and they began to surround him with intent to pummel him to the dirt...like so many times...again.

"BUT YOU TOLD ME TO!" The boy cried out and then... came the familiar sensation of fists, knees and kicks. He clammed up using his hands to protect his head but deep inside he was smiling. Mission SUCCESS! Now how does he make the hooded girl notice? Damn... another half-baked plan!?

The boy looked at the hooded girl as she watched in terror, but she noticed his glare at her, like... it was telling her to run. She was more confused than terrified now, why would someone willingly allow themselves to be hurt like that, nobody has ever done this for her, no sane person would do this.

But her time wondering was cut short as the leader of the group finally laid his gaze on her. He menacingly walked towards her, enjoying the fear she gave off. She at least would not give them the pleasure of begging or crying. She resigned herself to her fate.. Just like she would, numerous times before...

The boy desperately tried to get out of his position but the constant kicking prevented him from moving.

"Dammit please, Someone", The boy didn't mind getting hurt but he never wanted to watch someone else getting hurt.

"Hey"

"Another one? Piss off before we beat you up too!" The leader turned around only to be met by a swift kick in the face.

"The girl clearly doesn't like you, but then again, with your looks, I highly doubt anyone would think otherwise.", In a deadpanned voice.

"That voice...Raziel! Your back! I thought you wouldn't be back for another six months!?"

Raziel was the same age as the boy with Black ebony hair and a slightly pale complexion, and dark-purple eyes. Having just started recently in his family's warrior training, his build was only slightly more toned than his best friend.

"I asked your mother to send letters to keep me updated as well since my BEST FRIEND ISN'T very honest with his letters, seriously how could I continue my training knowing my bro is getting beat up by the idiots-six" Raziel replied.

The others bullies gathered around their leader and Jenkins, the one who got decked first woke up with a vengeance, while the boy rolled over and Raziel helped him up. "You seemed to have finally broken that stupid rule of not hitting other people. About time..."

6 vs 2

There was only a slight lull before the fist went flying again.

The boy finally gaining conviction to fight back was doing reasonably well, for a punching bag only moments ago, his body was sore but he was glad his buddy was here.

Being beat up on multiple occasions on a frequent basis made his body memorize his enemies' movements and went with the flow but the damage he accumulated slowed him down anyway so he weaved when he could and tried to get some blows in, by now he was almost running on fumes.

Raziel having more experience in brawling and having learned only the basics of his family's kicking(savate) and elbow technique(Muay Thai), he was doing a far bit better but was still taking too many hits.

There is a saying that "quantity is a quality all on its own", the Best friends knew that. But for some reason, they were smiling the whole time.

The girl having been completely forgotten, was already past terrified and going thru pure frustration a vein almost bursting from the side of her head... it was almost sun down now, she would get scolded by her parents for taking so long, she just wanted to get firewood, then she got chased around by scary bullies for no reason, then a boy tries to save her, and then...then... her mind went blank...

Something snapped inside the timid girl

She removed her hood and cloak, revealing her strawberry blonde hair, fluffy foxy ears and a bushy tail, with a cute face and Crimson red eyes... okay... maybe not so cute at the teeth grinding in frustration as she slowly walked towards the brawl.

"Stupid...stupid…STUPID!" she roared in frustration and charged into the fray

"Huh? Why are you still here!? You had all the time to get away!" The boy said with an expression of shock before he received a blow to his right cheek.

"Maybe she's as crazy as us..."Raziel laughed a bit before he was double teamed, one kicking him in the gut and another giving him a head butt.

So it became 3 vs 6...

The girl fought with such tenacity that maybe the boy didn't need to interfere after all. She clawed, bit and kicked with such feral rage that they never would have expected in her. Her more primal side guiding her predatory instincts, but she was no fighter and began to tire.

The battle continued on for a short while, the 3 fought bravely covering each other with ferocious determination... but was ultimately... pummeled into the dirt.

"You three are all broken in the head I tell ya!, Freaks!" The leader screamed while hobbling away with his crew. all of them littered with bruises and cuts… bite marks too in assorted places, courtesy of our cute foxy faunus.

The 3 groaned in pain while lying in the dirt, but for some reason they still felt okay despite the pain. Their bodies covered in dirt, scratches and bruises.

They remained silent just feeling the moment

Then the girl spoke up, "why?..."

"..We lost?" finished the Boy as he chuckled, immediately grasping his stomach area reeling from the pain.

"Why did you do, what you did?",the girl clarified her question.

"Because it's the right thing to do." the boy said passionately

"Because it's the right thing to do." Raziel said lazily at the same time.

"You always say that, how many times have we been in this situation?"Raziel continued.

"too many to count? But you never seem to get tired of it" the boy said sheepishly

Raziel moved his hand and flicked his finger at a bruise on the side of the boys head, the boy cringed in pain,

"I'm not some saint like you, I'm a greedy person, I protect the people I care about only and maybe then some if I feel like it and you are my brother in everything but blood. Of course I'd never tire of it. Well foxy it looks like it just didn't happen to be your day..." He gestured towards the girl.

"Hahahah...hahahaha...hahha"the girl laughed loudly, she couldn't remember when she had laughed like this. she couldn't believe there were people like this too. These two were idiots, in a good way. She liked them.

"Oh my, we never asked for your name?",the boy thought fully mentioned

"Illiana Yuki"

"Well, I'm Raziel Ironheart"

"And I'm Elias Christopher Arc, and Illiana would you like to be our friend?"

"Hahaha, Elias, no need to be so formal, we fought together already. Of course she is, unless I'm mistaken Illiana"

"No you're not wrong, Of course I'd love to be your friend, Elias, Raziel" Illiana said cheerily despite the pain she felt.

"well I think it's time we picked ourselves up" Elias noticing the sun almost making its way below the horizon.

So the three helped each other out, arms over each others' shoulders, leaning on each other, making their way back to their homes. And a mighty scolding did all of them receive but despite it all… they were still all smiles...

Jaune witnessed all of this, and he was in turmoil, tears flowing down, fists clenched so hard. He was happy for Elias, one of his ancestors since he had true friends so early on and he knows he feels jealousy but he can't help it. He was so alone during his childhood days. How nice it would have been to also have someone by his side during those times, through thick and thin... just like he witnessed.

His thoughts suddenly stopping as reality pulls him out again from slumber.

As Blake was mere inches from his face, she noticed tears started flowing down his face, his body was tense and his breathing became erratic and labored like he was in a nightmare.

Blake shook Jaune up, hoping to wake him from whatever it is he is seeing. And after a moment or two his eyes flickered to life but his ocean blue eyes seeming to have lost some of its shine.

"Jaune, are you okay?" Blake asked gently looking into his eyes.

"Blake? yeah I'm doing okay...*sigh*..." he calmed his breathing and continued," I'm pretty sure this place was my secret hideaway, so what are you doing here?" he asked curiously, putting a little bit of his usual cheer.

"I noticed you wandering off somewhere and decided to follow you. By the way did you plant all these flowers? They seem to be really well taken care of..."

"Yep, just so you know this place wasn't going to be a secret forever, I was going to bring all of you guys here once the whole place is fully taken care of, there are some places I still need to work on" Jaune gesturing to some places that are filled with weeds and rocks.

Noticing Jaune had more or less calmed down she asked what was on her mind, "If that's what you intend, I don't mind keeping it a secret, so long as I can drop by every now and then, but Jaune, are you really okay, it seemed like you had a nightmare...", she asked with concern

Jaune smiled sadly, "No... it wasn't a nightmare, but what I dreamed of kinda just made me Jealous." he began embracing his knees trying to hide his face.

"Jaune I know we barely interact with each other, but despite that, I would like to think that we're friends, will you talk about it?"she said softly.

Jaune looked up and looked her in the eye, her eyes concerned and expectant of an answer. Jaune seemed to have a predisposed weakness towards women, and it didnt help that the women around him were all gorgeous in their own right.

"Okay..."

So Jaune opened up a little about his past, and she saw slight similarities between their past and saw how different they approached their respective trials. But one thing is strongly evident

They were never treated fairly, just by being who they were...

Blake could feel herself wanting to know more about the real Jaune, behind the sheepish grin which seems to be his automatic defense.

"But I'm sure it's not as bad as what you had to deal with. So who am I to complain"
Jaune stood up and patted his pants. Giving a hand to Blake she obliged and also stood up.

"I mean after seeing you without your bow, your cute cat ears in full display, I really honestly thought, who could hate someone so beautiful? But the world is weird like that" He unleashed the real weapons-grade Jaune Arc Killer Smile at her. He turned around and began walking to Beacon

Blake's mind went blank. The words repeating themselves over and over as her mind was on MELTDOWN. "HOW does he DO THAT!?" if he acted that way more often then he would really be a lady killer but I guess it's kind of a good thing he doesn't. Hmmm it's kinda complicated...

Jaune turned around and noticed Blake spacing out, he called out to her... no response... Pyrrha seems to be displaying this behaviour too and it always seems to happen after a honest opinion. "Did I say something so outrageous or unbelievably cheezy? Or was I that boring?" he thought. He waved his hand in front of her.

"Remnant to Blake? Ozpin we have a problem… do you copy?..."

Blake suddenly snapped out of it and she went on full-blush and this was further pronounced by her pale complexion.

"Oooookay, It's my turn to ask Blake, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm ok, just lost in thought", she replied really quickly

"If you say so, If anything is bothering you too, I'll always make time to hear you out, alright?",Jaune offered warmly

"I may just take you up on that offer, but for now I think it's about time we head back"

Jaune's stomach rumbled

"And maybe have some breakfast too...shall we?"Jaune added

Blake nodded her head and the two of them made their way back. Both enjoying the silent walk back, there was nothing awkward about it; they just enjoyed each others' company after having bonded, just a little bit.

The seed has been sown, fate altered, the unseen hand working its machinations...

Author Notes: Razyangel here! This will be a very long fanfic so I am going to try to build a more natural start for the Black Moon since these two normally dont interact, it was difficult not jumping the gun on the romance, I have no idea how the others do it. Besides Thats what we have Boris the red for and his work FAUNUS IN HEAT. GOD BLESS his soul. Any who, the next few chapters will more or less set the premise and capabilities of Jaune of this fanfic, the vale festival, tournament and stuff and look forward to how Blake, The Sanctuary,The Dreams influence Jaune in more ways than one. It will be progressive. And the Dream sequences will fast forward to Elias, Raziel, and Illiana in their training days as hunters, the grimm wars, and the last segment... The Damned Expedition to the and the lore like how Crocea Mors came to be, The Origin, and "The 100" and my personal ranking Grimm beastiary I have planned! Beowolves and Ursa? Death Stalkers and Nevermores? these are just fringe grimms crossing over muhahaha. and of course our veritable villains I did not forget about them.