God Why am I so BAD With Updates. Again way to long for a chapter. But Hey I seem to write a bit more on this chapter and good news. while I start summer class to graduate sooner they are all web so i can finally stop pulling my hair out with finals and just take it easy. Other news I saw a few people pointing out my crappy spelling, and I agree. It's just hard for me since i have dyslexia. But if this chapter has more then a few mulligans I will get a friend to double check my double checks. Well more to say down below. I want to thank you all for reading and being my motivation. Enjoy!
Swords, Bells, and Games
The night before Jaune thought about his predicament. Ever since he got captured by the Fang he was experiencing mixed emotions with the girls. When he was in the barracks or the pub stories of the Fang would circulate around. Tales of gore and horror mostly, making captured soldiers fight against each other to the death only for the winner to be eaten for their strength by the Fang was just the tips of the gossip passed around. And while the memories of the Fang slaying his squad was still fresh. Especial that hammer girl caring off Ren with a disturbingly happy grin. His time here was nostalgic. It felt familiar like he was with his friends or family.
Moving from his chair he walked over to his bed to sleep, passing the mirror in the corner. He saw his reflection seeing the many scars over his body filled him with rage and disguised. Signs of how weak he was. His weakness that caused not only his own failure by those around him. Regardless of how he felt, or his new servitude he wanted strength.
Jaune looks at the opening in his shirt, faint shade of red appear on the edge of the cloth, the cut on his chest was shallow, yet the sting of pain reminded him it was there, another mistake. A few drops slid down the edge of Pyrrha's wooden sword, still in combat position the Spartan waited. Eyes still on the knight. A hint of a smile was seen on her face. She was impressed with his reaction time to only get a graze from her greeting. Most far worse when she fought or spared.
Taking his own stance, the girls studied his body going over every detail. The strength in his grip, the position of his shoulders, to the swaying motion of his hips moving up his core to keep a fluid form. Glancing over to the other Pyrrha saw the sign to continue. Advancing slowly this time, Jaune now fully alert moved to meet her.
They began slowly taking test swings and strikes at each other. Jaune shown to have a keen defense and awareness of his opponent, yet his offence was just about average. Making predictable swings and thrusts at the openings Pyrrha left for him to take. Completely different to how he fought in the cave, he was fighting with basic military drills. Using his shield to block then strike never using his full body or allowing himself to dodge. Pyrrha pushed past his guard, bashing his swinging arm with her shield interrupting him, sweeping his legs with hers, and even using her elbow and knees to hit his open body.
Jaune backed away with a few new light marks on his body and face. After a few rounds he started to finally take the hints although Pyrrha made sure to punish him if he failed. Slashing or smashing his failed strikes or miss reads. The other girls watching now gaining an understand of his basic style and habits.
The match was getting to the end as Pyrrha had not taking a direct hit, while Jaune was feeling the damage taken by the constant light assault on his body. Pyrrha baiting him again raised her sword in the air to swing down. Taking the chance Jaune parried her sword with his, knocking her arm back from the force, following through he shifted his body swinging his shield arm back aiming his elbow at her face. Making her jump back to dodge. Continuing the flow Jaune pivoted completing the spin facing the girl again thrusting his sword to land a stab. Expecting shock or surprised on her face it appear on his as Pyrrha was waiting. Grasping his arm with both hands she moving her body into Jaunes sliding her foot against his while lifting him over her shoulder. In an instance Jaune saw the world spin before hitting the ground, with no time to recover Pyrrha rolled on top of him, her sword against his throat and a smile on her face.
Jaune let out a sigh of defeat letting his body relax. Taking the victory Pyrrha removed her sword and sat happy on top of the knight. "While I'm happy you final started using more of your body in the fight towards the end you still need to be aware and attack more often with less predictable patterns. Your defense is mostly solid but you need to dodge instead of taking the hit. Our last fight you used these strategies but now you seem less, skilled." Pyrrha finished being blunt with the knight.
Pyrrha looked down at the knight waiting for his response watching his chest rise and fall, muscles peeking out the open cut on his shirt. She was enjoying the experience. But she was more interested in his words. Sighing, "Well I didn't know what to expect, but I guess even with your disadvantage you had control the whole time."
Pyrrha as well as the others were curious to what he meant. "Disadvantage? What are you talking about?" She asked tilting her head.
"From what I could tell you each have your own style, you use a weapon that can change from short to long range. Being forced to use a different weapon on top of holding back messes with your rhythm and pace. The last time we fought you were so smooth and decisive it was hard to even keep up." Pyrrha blushed slightly at his compliments of her skill, Jaune did not notice as his eyes were closed remembering their fight.
Jaune continued, "So this first training was to show just how much of a gape there is between me and the rest of you, right? But can you show me your best?" The girls had to give Jaune a little credit for catching on to the first lesson so quickly but that changed when he asked to see Pyrrha go all out.
Pyrrha's vibrant smile faded as her completion turned a little pale. She got off of Jaune and backed away from him. Jaune had never seen her like this and judging how the other were reacting it must be something personal.
Pyrrha replied with a hint of panic in her voice. "Why do you want to see my best, it's clear you have skill but ways to go. You don't need to see it."
Curious Jaune pressed on. "True, but if I see your best then I have a goal to work towards."
Seeing that Jaune would not back down she reluctantly agreed. The rest of the team looked on worried for their friend.
Years ago Pyrrha was asked to be part of training matchs with other members. It was the hope of the trainers that seeing her fight would motivate the others to get better. She was ask to not hold back and fight. Complying she shocked the watching members as she won the fight with easy. Beating multiple opponents at once. After the training members that would be running up and asking her question and advice would shrink away. She could see the envy and fear behind the fake smiles. Instead of bringing people closer, it pushed them away. Since then she and the others refused to fight with other members.
Taking their stances Jaune felt a familiar pressure from the girl, an image from back in the cave came to mind as he readied himself. In an instant she moved into his blind spot bashing his shield away before slamming him to the ground, a hand on his throat with a blade hovering over his heart.
Jaune struggled to understand what had just hit him but he saw a glimpse to her true strength.
Pyrrha gasping released his throat and jumped off him, dodging his eyes she waited to hear from him. Expecting the usually look of fear she waited.
Jaune coughed as his airway was no longer squeezed.
"Mind doing that again?" He asked with a true smile.
This caught Pyrrha of guard normally when she got serious her partner would have a terrified look in their eyes, and would be moving back to get away, but Jaune had no fear in his eyes instead it was full of determination, taken a stance he got ready for round two.
Pyrrha was quite happy to see he did not coward before her even blushing a little.
"Besides, would it not be weird to be afraid after just a little training, I fought you serious when you wanted to kill me." Her blushed stopped as she turned away from him laughing lightly.
The other girls were happy to see Pyrrha return to her chipper mood she even sounded excited.
The hour past quickly as Jaune was repeatedly tossed and smashed into the group, though it surprised everyone how quickly he got up again.
With a final grunt Jaune sat up from the recent flip. Pyrrha smiled leaning down to help the knight up. She let out a small giggle as he dusted himself off. Tilting her head down when he brushed his rear. She stopped hearing a cough with four pairs of eyes staring at her.
"Well that's it for my training now its… MY TURN!" Ruby interrupted Pyrrha with an energetic jump between the two. Taking Jaune's hand (which did not go unnoticed by the other girls) she dragged him out back to her work shop, where she had a table and map with pieces set up. The other girls took a seat under shade taking a drink, bite to eat, and books for Blake.
Jaune looked at the table confused, "Ruby, I thought we were going to train not play a game."
"It's not a game!" Ruby stomped the ground adding to her statement. "This is a strategy board." She pointed to the table.
Jaune continued to look confused.
"Ugh, come here." Ruby grabbing his hand again pulled him over to the table. Weiss and Yang glared at the action.
"This is our battlefield." Waving her hand over the map, "These are our soldiers." Presenting a piece that looked like a small knight with sword raised. Jaune took the piece in his hand impressed by it detail.
"Welcome to strategy training." Ruby them went off explaining all the details and rules to the ga… training.
(Basic run down is that it's like fighting in the Civilization games. Different units that have so many spaces to move and attack. Their goal is to take the enemy base with a time limit or it's a draw.)
Rubbing his chin, Jaune looked over the board checking the rules off in his head. "So we win when one of our forces takes the enemy base, right?"
"That's right." Ruby nodded secretly happy that someone was playing her favorite game with her.
"Then let's get started." Jaune smiled taking his seat across from Ruby. She smiled back tipping the hour glass around.
The girls sat around their table eating some of the snacks that were prepared for the long lasting game. While this was meant for Jaune it was also training for Ruby.
Minutes passed as each took their turns moving pieces back and forth, slowly taking each other's army.
Both had similar strategies to their fighting styles, Ruby would like to attack fast then retreat leading Jaune into range of her firing units. Jaune would let his stronger defense units take the hits letting his other units to out flank Ruby's archers. The game was a little quite at first each constraint on their moves.
Till Ruby gloated for breaking Jaune's defensive line, igniting his competitive side. Were he then crushed her advance laughing as her pieces fell before her. Both smirk as the game heated up. But like any war there were times of prep so not a lot of action was happening.
To occupy this time Ruby would ask Jaune some personal questions, which to the girls surprise he answered. Something about Ruby reminded him of his younger sisters which disarmed him.
They would talk about their favorite snacks, the latest in a childish short story that would continue every few weeks. Jaune filled Ruby in to all the latest issues as they were rare to come by for her.
Annoyed by how friendly the two were getting Weiss spoke. "What's so great about two incompetent hero's with useless powers?" Which only made Ruby and Jaune look at her in a pity expression. Annoying the girl more. Drawing attention away from Weiss. Ruby asked another question. "So Jaune you had any pets growing up? We have a dog, he really smart but he is with my uncle right now."
"Well, yea I grew up with a few animals around our house although we each only got one. It was some weird family tradition for an Arc to have an animal companion. And I picked a cat." Blake's bow twitched at the word cat, drawing her from her book to listen. The other girls peaked at Blake seeing how she would reacted. Jaune leaned back in his chair stretching his back, before continuing. "That was a mistake."
The Yang covered her mouth shacking a little, as Jaune continued. "Never have I seen a more annoying and self-centered creature." Weiss had a shitty grin hidden poorly by lifting her napkin to her face. "Every time I wanted to bond with her she would run away and disappear for a few hour to a few days. Then she would come back and start mewing for me to feed her." Ruby and Pyrrha turned to Blake with a blank expression as now Weiss and Yang were trying their best to hold back their laughter. Blake's knuckles turned white gripping her book. "And don't even get me started with her wild tantrums."
At this point Blake slapped her book shut, before storming off saying something about getting another. Weiss and Yang were at their breaking point till.
"But honestly, I would never ask for a better companion." JAune said smiling.
Ruby looked a bit confused, "You just went off on how horrible she was to you and you still liked her?"
"More like loved really." Jaune replied rubbing the back of his neck.
The girls grew a faint blush, looking to the path Blake took seeing if she heard him.
"Don't get me wrong, she was a hassle at times, but I actually liked how she was so self-reliant. My sisters that choose dogs would have to spend hours caring for them and if they forgot to play with them would have to deal with a hyper dog for the night they would be attached to their hips always whining if they were gone for a few minutes. And while she would run away when I wanted to play or bond. Other times she would sit on my lap as I read or studied, she would even go on my desk and try to swipe my pen as I wrote." Jaune chuckled remembering how many of his reports would get ruined by her.
"Times when I fell ill got she would sit on my chest purring softly almost lulling me to sleep. And over time she would follow my around everywhere, sometimes climbing on top of me to get my attention."
"What was her name?" Ruby asked
"It's kind of funny but the day I saw her she was the only one that had a bell around her neck. I asked why and the owner said it was to know where she went off too. So I called her Bell." At this point Yang jumped out of her seat running off to the house. Jaune looked at his fellow blonde, shrugging and not questioning the quick sprint.
"When I called her that, she looked at me with her yellow eyes. They were so beautiful. She then jumped on my shoulder and started to purr." Jaune finished.
At this point Blake came walking back from the other side of the house her face in a new book but was able to find her way back to her seat without any trouble.
Jaune and Ruby continued their game. Yang came back and whispered something into Blake's ear. She then got annoyed by whatever she said as she glared at Jaune.
Getting close to the time limit, they started to make more rash moves. Near the end Jaune had just lost a good chuck of his army to Ruby's. She was about to claim victory having encircled the remained of Jaune's army. Till she noticed a piece she thought would be flanking her was moving to her base.
Panicked she started to move her units back to give chase. Till Jaune was just outside her base ready to claim it next turn.
Smug with his victory he watch Ruby looked at the board from different angles to find a way to stay alive. With a sigh she lowered her head and made her way over to Jaune.
"Good game Jaune, it was close but this is the last turn." Ruby in a defeated tone raising her hand to shack his.
Reaching for her hand Jaune tried to confer her. "Come on Ruby it was a close game you almost had me but I wi…"
Jaune saw in a flash as Ruby moved past his hand grabbing his base off the board she turned to the knight smirking. "I win."
"B-but" Jaune stuttered.
"I said when one of our force takes the base we win, I'm part of my force and I took your base. Ruby smiled triumphantly. Jaune was flabbergasted while the other girls laughed at the turn around.
Seeing as she was right he lowered his head. "So is this about things being out of my control or by paying attention to the details?" Jaune asked.
"A-actually it's about expecting the unexpected!" Ruby stuttered not looking Jaune in the eye.
Jaune looked to the others to see them face palm or trying to smile.
"Whatever, so what the next part? Something to do with range weapons or something?" he asked hoping to continue the training and forget his defeat.
Ruby looked over to Jaune with stars in her eyes, "YES! On to the weapons!" Ruby happily grabbed Jaune's arm pulling him in to her work shop. Again Weiss and Yang frowned at the act and slowly made their way to the door, peaking in to see what they up too.
Inside Ruby was showing Jaune the blueprints to a standard fire arm. Explaining how mixing the right chemicals cause the metal ball to shoot out the barrel. At the target. Both girls got upset as Ruby and Jaune moved closer together.
Blake looked to Pyrrha who only shrugged, as the two girls suddenly rushed away from the door. Moments later Ruby came out holding a stander rifle with targets. Placing the targets towards the woods Jaune picked up the rifle and aimed.
Before he could get a shot off Ruby wacked the back of his head. His stance was sloppy offering no support, his grip was weak so the kick back would make him drop it or hit himself.
Letting Ruby guild his body she hugged his back lifting his arms and moving his feet to a proper stance.
Yang did not like the sudden closeness with her eyes going red.
Weiss was standing next to Yang her arms crossed with her foot tapping the ground.
With a few slight adjustments and Ruby leaning her face on Jaune who both blushed from the contact. Jaune got off a few shots each hitting the outside of the target.
Looking up at the sky and the position of the sun Pyrrha called over. "Alright Jaune, Ruby, times up. So who wants to go…"
"ME!" All three girls shouted angrily while glaring at Jaune.
Well that was a lot of fun to write I seriously can't wait for the romance and flirting chapters they are going to be so much fun. So what do you all think of this chapter? I hope I caught the spelling errors.
Side note I was reading some other RWBY crossovers and I got to say i Really like the Bloodborn, Bleach, Fairy tail, Halo are all good. I'll post a link in the next chapter when i see more.
So i got this idea for a Bleach x RWBY story that no one else got and am wondering if i should put some time into it or focus on this story?
I never wrote so maybe working on another story would give me a pallet cleaners of sorts. But just pointing out there.
I want to thank everyone for reading and to those that comment, review, fav, and follow. I hope you enjoyed this chapter The next one will be out I want to say in a few days since i got a tiny break. But THANKS AGAIN SEE YOU ALL SOON!