Chapter 27 The Dance of the Past
(Yoko POV)
"Remind me again why we have to dress up?" I asked as Weiss got out our outfits.
"A Vytal Festival Dance is not a simple dance like all others, it is for tradition, and you are going into a suit," Weiss said.
"Even if Yang has to knock me unconscious?" I asked.
"Even if she has to knock you unconscious twice," Akira said.
"I don't even think that could be possibly accomplished," Shawn said as he took his suit from Weiss, "Or survivable for the matter."
"Come on," Raven said as she was waiting at the bathroom for Yang and Ruby to be done changing, "What's wrong with it?"
"I just haven't worn a suit in a long time," I said, "It would feel funny having one on now. I'll be training for a while."
It was a few minutes already as I was hacking away at an Ursa dummy when I heard someone walking in.
"Are you okay Yoko?" Akira asked.
"I don't want to go back in a suit," I said, "what if she's here and recognizes me."
"You mean your sister, right?" Akira asked.
"Yeah," I said, "I don't want to go back there, ever."
"I can tell," Akira said, "but then again, how could she recognize you with a scar on your face?"
"You do have a point," I said, "Do you think we could dye my hair and fur to a brown color?"
"I don't think that would be a good idea," Akira said.
"Find someone who looks like me to take my place?" I asked.
"I highly doubt we would find someone in a short amount of time," Shawn said walking in with Raven, both were already in their formal attire.
"What's really the problem anyway?" Raven asked, "After all, I'll be hiding from my apparently benevolent father anyway."
"I could almost be disowned by my parents since I no longer live up to their standards with the sword my father gave me," Shawn said.
"And you know what my past was like," Akira said.
"What do you mean?" Raven asked as Akira was locking the doors and shutting any open windows.
"Seeing how I was once a member of the White Fang, my uncle is hunting me down" Akira said in barely a whisper, "My Uncle, Livius, is now the leader and putting it to shame. If I had a chance, I would change it back to what it once was." It was easily noted how she had growled out her uncle's name.
"A symbol of peace between human and Faunus," Shawn said which Akira nodded to agreement.
"You already told me," Akira said, "Maybe it's time to finally tell the rest of our team the story."
"Yoko Rayne is a way I can hide myself from my family. My real first name is Yoko, the middle name I was given is Alexiel," I said, "I have a twin sister, an Arctic Fox Faunus named Yuki. I ran away from home before I applied for combat training. And this scar on my face, it wasn't any accident; I did it to myself so they wouldn't find me."
"That is brave for you," Shawn said, "You've decided to cut off as many ties to your family as possible, taking greater lengths with your name and scar. I've wanted to cut off ties to my family and the best I've done is forsake the sword my father gave me." With a swift flick of his wrist, Shawn held Summer Feather in his hand, "I no longer care about what my father wants from me anymore. And Summer Feather is now physical proof of that now."
"Are you really planning on hiding your weapon up your sleeve to a dance?" Raven asked.
"Of course, I'm going without a date, and the few people who know about the Shoyurens know about the potential life they could gain at ease," Shawn said.
"Because?" Raven asked.
"The Shoyurens were known to be excellent tailors and seamstresses, the first few who could efficiently weave Dust into fabrics and their designs, my parents only distantly know the Schnees due to our different species but my parents own a company that does the weaving and tailoring now," Shawn said, "although I have to admit the work has begun to look sloppy now, and even if I wanted to fix it, my parents have been using androids specifically made to take their places in the sewing and Dust embedment. Besides, I barely had been trained with the skills to do so, my father tried to dedicate my life to being a huntsman."
"So, what are you planning to do then?" I asked, slightly remembering how my grandfather made Lien by getting lucky in casinos and a lottery then in investments with everything sealed so we would still have enough without lifting a finger.
"I'll become a huntsman, but not for my father's sake, but to help everyone, and possibly find safer, easier ways to weave dust into clothing without having to cut corners," Shawn said, slipping Summer Feather back up his sleeve.
"I understand, I want to help people to, but it's both my parents and Yuki detest the idea," I said, "Maybe I should use my semblance and change my eye color."
"Wouldn't it be obvious you are hiding from someone, because from what I remember when you were attempting to get the device off of Akira's back, you used Kitsune Spirit to use the fire you needed rather than Dust. Also that five extra tails appeared which if you used it now to change your eye color, and at least one extra tail appeared, people would question about it. Then again you could always pin your fox ears back and hide it in your hair, I would suggest tucking in your tail because it would hurt less but your tail does appear to be a little too fluffy to make it unnoticeable."
"If that is what's best," I said looking at my team, "then I'll endure the pain of pinning my fox ears back."
(Akira POV)
Even in with how Yoko looked, he still seemed stiff, distressed. It was interesting to see him without his fox ears, even having his hair in a short ponytail, revealing his human ears.
"I know, I look ridiculous," Yoko said.
"No, it's lovely," I said, "You're a handsome fox, you know that right?"
"Stop trying to flatter me," Yoko said.
"I'm not trying to," I said, "come on, just one dance, it couldn't hurt right?"
"Fine," Yoko said.
While Yoko was attempting to remember how to waltz as I was self-teaching myself by following him. I could feel how his tenseness was slowly disappearing as he began to enjoy it.
"Are you having fun?" I asked.
"It's the first time I had fun dancing, how about you though?" Yoko asked.
"It's my first time dancing and I'm having fun," I said, "Looks like the raven and the lark are enjoying themselves too."
When Yoko looked at the direction I was, he saw Raven and Sky talking and laughing in a corner of the ballroom.
"So what should we do then?" Yoko asked, "We can't spend the entire night dancing."
Before I could answer Yoko, Professor Goodwitch was on stage waiting for complete silence so she could make an announcement, "Everyone attending this ball, for years, huntsmen and huntresses from all parts of the world have gathered to celebrate their victories and win battles. Today however is different, a day to celebrate the present. As you have known, it has been rumored that there is someone special here to perform a song. Presenting, Yuki Kasai."
I could sense Yoko tense up again as Yuki, an Arctic Fox Faunus with the tail to prove it who was also Yoko's fraternal twin sister, performed her song. I've already heard Weiss singing before, and in all honesty, Weiss should have been the one singing on stage, not Yuki. Once the song and two encores ended, she spotted Yoko and began heading in our direction no matter what we did to avoid her on the dance floor.
"May I cut in?" Yuki asked, I could tell she was forcing herself to speak in a 'cute' high pitch that was hurting my ears.
"Can you wait until the next song is over?" I asked.
"Of course," Yuki said walking off to get refreshments.
"Thanks Akira," Yoko whispered.
"Least I could do for a teammate," I whispered back.
"Any other plans on how to avoid her?" Yoko asked.
"Not really if you plan is to avoid her for the rest of your life," I said, "you'll have to face her eventually, and she isn't as easy as a beowolf."
"There is nothing I could do though," Yoko said, "unless someone has a semblance that could make me think she is a beowolf."
"Even if someone did have a semblance like that, I doubt they would agree to do it," I said, "She's almost as well-known as Weiss, which could make things worse seeing how you are siblings."
"That's the least of my problems," Yoko said.
"Then just pretend you have no clue who she is then," I said.
When the song ended and Yuki returned, I excused myself to get some punch for Yoko and myself. I just hope nothing bad will happen.