Chapter 21!

Sorry for the wait, college isn't for the faint of heart.

I don't own RWBY.

Enjoy!

Team DHLA

Growth and Family

The Forever Fall Forest

Daien sat crisscross on a large rock in the middle of a clearing, his eyes closed with his hands, palms up, on his knees. Strife and Fury lay in front of him. A Beowolf slowly walked out of the tree line.

Daien didn't move.

The Beowolf slowly walked up to the rock.

Daien didn't budge.

The Beowolf raised its clawed paw, ready to end Daien's life.

Suddenly Daien was behind the Beowolf, his closed fist resting against its back. Using his Semblance Daien blasted the Beowolf almost in half. As the monster lay dying, Daien knelt next to it, "Return to the void from whence you came and tell thine brethren what you have met here." He said, his words carrying a reverence that nigh exceeded that of faith. "Still practicing the old ways?" A female voice inquired. "Darkness can't be destroyed, only purged." Daien said as he placed his palm on the Beowolf's forehead. "So you believe, Young Tree." The female voice said. Daien used his Semblance, and put the Beowolf out of its misery. "So I was taught and so I have seen, Mentor." Daien said as he stood and turned to his visitor.

Standing before him was a Faunus woman in her late forties, early fifties. Her hair was a deep blue with the occasional bit of grey and hung halfway down her back in a tight braid. She was tall, just a hair taller than Daien, and she was fit with the body of a woman twenty years her younger. She wore a blueish grey top with matching bottom that left her midriff bare. She was barefoot except for five silver toe rings on each foot. At her sides hanging on a leather belt were a pair of ancient looking barong knives crossed with breech loading pistols. Her eyes were a piercing amber and carried the look of wisdom. A furry blue cat tail swished about behind her.

"What are you doing here, Young Tree?" Daien turned and climbed back to his perch. Resuming his previous position, "Meditation can quiet a restless soul, and my soul is screaming." Daien said. "Why is your soul so agitated, Young Tree?" She asked. Daien's features contorted in a pained grimace, "I'm-"

*snap*

Without warning both mentor and student had their firearms trained on the bushes. "Come out! Or I swear I'll fill you so full of holes you'll whistle in the wind!" Daien shouted, gaining a quick glance from his mentor. "Don't shoot!" Shouted a female voice that Daien recognized. His muscles relaxing and his heart rate slowing, Daien lowered his weapons. "What are you doing here?!" Daien shouted, "I said not to worry!"

"I know, I know!" Lilac said stepping out of the brush, "But Dax said you were upset and at first Chichi was really really worried, but then she wasn't, something about trusting you." "Thanks Chichi, you're a diamond in the rough!" Daien thought. Lilac continued to hurriedly talk as she walked, "And Dax was angry, then worried, then guilty I guess? And then he was angry again, then he just mellowed out and said 'give him space'." Lilac was now right in front of Daien, "And I tried! I tried to stay calm! But I couldn't! And nothing anyone said helped! And and..."

Lilac was on the verge of tears as she continued to speak, "I was scared! You scared me!" She said hanging her head a little. Tears started to gently fall down Lilac's cheeks. "I-..." Daien put his hand on Lilac's shoulder, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. I just needed some time to clear my head. I'm sorry." Daien said, letting Lilac cry into his chest. "Don't leave, please! Don't leave me alone! I just got friends, I can't lose them! Not now! I can't go back, I can't." Daien felt his heavy heart get heavier.

After about twenty minutes Lilac had cried herself out. "Thanks" she said, peeling her face from Daien's chest. "I'm sorry. " Daien said, wearing his heart on his sleeve. "It's okay." Lilac said removing Daien's hand from her shoulder, "I'm just not used to this. Having friends, it's new to me." A silence filled the air that was interrupted when the clearing's only other occupant cleared her throat. Daien and Lilac looked at her, "Hi!" She said giving a little wave.

"Oh! Uh, sorry." Daien said straightening. "Lilac, may I introduce Lady Sanguine Hisui, 'The Devil of Vacuo'. M'lady, this is Lilac Rampuri." Daien said. "It's very nice to meet you. I'm glad my Young Tree has found such a wonderful friend." She said offering her hand to shake. "Likewise." Lilac said as she shook Hisui's hand somewhat awkwardly. When the two separated Lilac leaned toward Daien and whispered, "Is she your mom?" Daien sputtered, "Wh-What?!"

"Pfffft, Aha ha ha ha ha!" Hisui held her stomach as she laughed. "She's laughing. She can kill, skin, and stuff a Grimm in the time it takes most people to brew a cup of coffee, and she's laughing like a madwoman." Daien thought. "N-No, no he is not my son. Although I would be happy to have such a wonderful child, that blessing is not mine." Hisui said once she had stopped laughing. "Oh, then, how do you know her?" Lilac asked.

"She's my mentor. She found me and my brother and saved us from the streets. She gave us a roof over our heads, food to eat, and taught us to use our strength and skills." Daien said. "Not only that, but she gave me a code of honor by which I live everyday." "With mixed results!" Hisui said, a stern look on her face. "Excuse me?" Daien said, slightly taken aback. "Young Tree, I taught you to defend those around you, not to beat the stuffing out of bullies every chance you get!" Hisui snapped. "How do you-"

"I've had an old friend keeping an eye on you for awhile now, Young Tree, and he sees everything!" Daien took a deep breath and stood at attention, "I stand by my actions, Ma'am, and I would do it all again in a heart beat." Daien said firmly. "Darkness cannot be destroyed, only purged through fire and pain." Hisui took a few steps toward her student, "Then you have chosen to substitute your own ideals for the teachings of your mentor?" Daien didn't flinch, "Yes, Mentor!"

Hisui's expression softened and gained a glimmer of pride, "Then my Young Tree has finally become a man." Daien was surprised, "I'm a what?" He thought. "The time has come." Hisui said, reaching into a pouch on her belt. Daien jolted and then dropped to a kneeling position. Out of the pouch, Hisui produced a set of two strange, small keys on a wrought iron ring. "Nine years ago, I found you and your brother and on that day I taught you the first lesson on your path. On that day I also sealed the weapons of your parents with a set of special locks." Hisui set the keys in Daien's hands, which slowly closed around them, "Your parents weapons are yours now." Daien opened his hands and stared at the small ornate keys in them, "Ma... Da..." Daien whispered harshly, fighting a losing battle to control his emotions.

Daien clipped the key ring to his belt and stood up straight, a look of utter and profound pride plastered across his face, "Thank you, Mentor, I am..." Daien trailed off as he grasped desperately at the right words to describe what he felt, "... Honored." He finally said. "We are no longer mentor and student, my Young Tree is a man and, in the traditions of our people, I can no longer call you by that name." Hisui said with a sad sort of smile. Daien put his right fist in his left palm and bowed deeply to Hisui, saying, "My name is Daien. It is an honor to meet you, Great Tree." Hisui was surprised for a moment before smiling and returning the gesture, "The honor is all mine, Daien."

As they straightened up both former mentor and former student had tears in their eyes. After wiping her eyes on her sleeve, Hisui asked, "How is your soul now, Daien." "At peace, for now." Daien gave her another quick bow, "Thank you, Great Tree, I must return to my team, to whom I owe an apology." Hisui returned the bow, and said, "May the Flame be with you and the Stars guide you." "And may He bless you and reserve your seat in the Sky." Daien said before turning and walking toward Lilac. "That was..." Lilac said somewhat speechless. "Thank you." Daien said. "Thank you for being here and for coming to find me."

"You're welcome." Lilac said with a smile, before moving to say goodbye to Hisui. "It was... Where'd she go?!" Lilac said, staring at an empty clearing. Daien let out a laugh, "Come on, let's go home. I'm beat."

Aaaaaand that's chapter 21!

Favorite, Follow, Review, I would really love some feedback.

Thanks!