Chapter 18 Lonely Fire
(… POV)
"I can't believe it Adam I really, really can't," I said jumping up and down.
"Calm down kid, remember why you didn't succeed the last mission you went on?" Adam asked.
"I know, I know," I said, "Besides I get to see Mistress Akira again! I haven't seen her ever since she left and what if I get to see Lady Blake too?"
"Kid, don't talk about it like that," Adam said.
"I know, you miss Lady Blake a lot," I said.
"You do know what solo missions are right?" Adam asked.
"Of course, it's a mission where you are by yourself," I said.
"Good job, because this is a solo mission," Adam said.
"WHAT?! I didn't even pay attention," I said slumping.
"Don't worry, a simple recon mission, enter Beacon with no way of being noticed as a member of the White Fang and find Akira and Blake," Adam said, "Good luck. And please remember to cover up that shirt of yours."
"Don't worry, I will," I said putting on a cloak.
(Ruby POV)
It's been at least hours, I know Yoko is doing his best to make sure that Akira will be okay. She only flickered into and out of Wolf's Wrath, but it was only seconds though, mostly because Yoko has been whispering into her ears…I kinda want to know what he's telling her…although I probably won't be able to ask Blake.
"Weiss, could you possibly use your Ice Dust to help out with this, I need to keep this cooled so I won't burn her skin," Yoko said, "Just around the device."
"Okay," Weiss said, "Sorry Akira if you get frostbite."
"She won't the fire will make sure of that," Yoko said, "I'll be certain of that."
And with that, more several hours have passed, Weiss always using her Ice Dust to make sure nothing would burn. Raven, Sky and Shawn would take turns, getting more Dust for Weiss, getting assignments we were missing; Weiss would make sure all of us would finish them on time, or tonight for that matter.
Every new sound coming from Yoko was either to ask Weiss to ice something or something else that was somewhat helping him to concentrate. It didn't matter how long it took, eventually everyone else excluding Yoko, Akira and Weiss had already finished the assignments as they continued on through the night. The only light were from the few candelabras around the room and from Yoko. And then eventually I fell asleep.
(Blake POV)
Finally Ruby fell asleep. Looking up, Yoko seemed frustrated.
"I don't get it, how are we suppose to keep her calm when we get this thing off of her?" Yoko asked, "She's already activated Wolf's Wrath."
"Akira what is this?" I asked.
"What do you mean Blake?" Akira asked.
"The box, why do you always carry it around?" I asked.
"It's a big secret, I can't tell anyone yet," Akira said.
"Not even your best friend?" I asked.
"Okay, but do you promise to never ever tell anyone?" Akira asked.
"I promise," I said.
Akira then opened the box, revealing a rib bone from a moose sitting on soft fabric.
"It's a gift from Grandfather, when he took me to the woods," Akira said, "No matter what happens, as long as I have this, I'll be fine."
I remember that, when we were little, she showed me her moose bone, her most prized possession. I remembered that day when they tore through her room after she ran away, not even coming close to finding it or the box.
"Shawn, can I go to your dorm room, I need to find something," I whispered to him.
"Find what?" Shawn asked.
"I can't tell just yet, but it might help Akira calm down a bit," I whispered.
"Okay," Shawn said as we slipped out of the room, "So what are we looking for."
"Not we, I have to find it alone," I said.
"Then why am I tagging along then, I knew something was wrong about this," Shawn said.
"I just need to find something Akira has, it is probably the only thing that will help her at the moment they are trying to remove the device on her," I said, "But I can't get in without help from you. Akira is chained to the bed while Yoko is trying to get the device off of her and Raven is already fast asleep. You're the only other member left in Team ASPR who is both awake and has nothing to do at the moment. Just trust me on this…okay?"
"Fine, but if anything happens, it is your fault," Shawn said as we reached his dorm room.
At that moment, Shawn showed me where Akira kept most of her belongings, after checking through a few things, at the side of the bed that touched the wall, was the box. Holding it close to myself, I was relieved she still had it.
"So did you find it?" Shawn asked after peeking out of the bathroom with something in his hand and a few of his tail feathers partially cleaned in the other.
"I did," I said getting off of the bed, "we should head back now."
"What's inside the box?" Shawn asked.
"Something that Akira holds very fond memories of," I said as we went back inside.
(Yoko POV)
"So how is she doing?" Blake asked walking in with a box.
"No changes at all," I said, "What's with the box?"
"Don't ask why," Blake said sitting in front of Akira, "I know you know well enough what is inside this box, I've kept this secret well enough for years, Akira, if your conscious self is still in there, can you remember what is inside?"
And just as if it was normal for them to know about this box, she took it in her hands, opened it and held something close to her, she was calming down at least, and her eyes were back to being their normal sea-green. Upon closer inspection it was a moose rib bone which she was holding between her teeth and in her hands as tears slightly slipped down her cheeks.
Just a little more and finally, the last bit was removed so Professor Ozpin could have a closer and more thorough inspection of it.
"Akira, it's off now, so please, wake up," I muttered into her wolf ears as the sun was rising and everyone else was waking up.
(Akira POV)
My vision was kinda groggy when Yoko finally told me it was over as the restraints were being undone. I felt the breeze on my back at the one place I have never felt it before. Sighing in relief, I was glad it was finally off, there is probably still something to remind me how it once was there, it doesn't matter now. I was finally free from it.
"So how are you feeling?" Yoko asked.
For once, after letting that question sink in, I had realized how much of my emotions were being held back by that device. For once, giving him a comforted, genuine smile I was glad.
"I'm better than ever," I said.
"Good because we need to get you to start controlling your Wolf's Wrath," Blake said dragging me into whichever training room was empty.