A/N: What is up everyone! I am here with the 21st chapter of OOO! Sorry about the late update, I have been busy with life. Plus I am still very excited for Volume 4 of RWBY on October 22nd. It makes me wonder what will happen. Remember, I will be following not only the RWBY episodes with some additions but also the OOO series (The Greeed, meeting Ankh, introducing Kougami, etc., but no Birth [Maybe]).
I know some of you wondering why I haven't updated Kamen Rider Dark Drive: Hyperdimension Road, it is because since they announced Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, I thought it would be cool to do an Ex-Aid x Hyperdimension Neptunia Crossover, and so, it will be on a long hiatus or probably adandoned. I do apologize. However, I am announcing that there will be a new Drive Crossover, The Wings of Drive (Kamen Rider Drive x Sekirei) which will be put up very soon.
Anyways, let us begin the chapter and hopefully this story will be on TV Tropes.
Henshin!
Third Person View
'Thought'
Greeed/Yummies
A week has past since Akira and I defeated the Yummy with Yang's help and now we had four Full Combos in the arsenal. I was currently in Combat Studies as Ankh and Goodwitch were teaching, the former rather annoyed that he still has to continue to teach us. I know he can get pissed easily if you push the wrong buttons but this is one is one of those things that annoys him: teaching a class, as usual.
Right now, Pyrrha volunteered as the role of a lone fighter while Team CRDL would fight against her. I was surprised that she would be going against four huntsmen-in-training.
The horn sounded, and Pyrrha strode out of a dark hallway, lined with dark red strips of light, into the combat arena. From the opposing side, in a similar hallway, but illuminated in a deep blue, Team CRDL strode out, weapons ready.
Russel had a pair of knives holstered on his belt, with a large spool of Dust crystals positioned as a handguard. Dove, however, simply carried a sword, simple in it's design, with a trigger located just beneath the handguard, and a groove sliding down the center of the top half of the blade.
"A reminder: the match will end when the combatant's Aura has been depleted, or if they are no longer fit for battle. You may start when you hear the bell." Ankh's voice sounded but with an annoyed tone, before he strode off into the darkness surrounding the arena. The lights dimmed, so that the arena was the only visible point in the room.
A spotlight illuminated a certain part of the floor, where Pyrrha stood, her weapons at the ready. Team CRDL charged, with the obvious intent of overwhelming Pyrrha with a four on one assault. And had they been paired with any other student, they would have succeeded. Unfortunately for them, Pyrrha Nikos was legendary for a very good reason. Moving with grace, precision and agility, Cardin's team weren't able to touch her. Every swipe she evaded, every bullet she dodged, and she was able to counter long before anybody even knew it.
Finally, it was down to just Dove and Cardin versus Pyrrha. But as Cardin swung his mace, he accidentally struck Dove, flooring him, and depleting his aura to red. Now Cardin was alone.
Cardin charged for one final assault, but Pyrrha was ready. His every move was dodged, with Pyrrha landing another strike in retaliation. Finally, Cardin swung his mace upwards in a rage, desperate to land a single hit on the Amazon. Pyrrha just tumbled away, gripped Cardin's chest and threw him skywards. Leaping after him, Pyrrha slammed the butt of her weapon into Cardin's skull, sending him to the ground with a sickening crunch.
*DING*
The match was over. Pyrrha's aura was still at maximum, while Cardin, Dove, Thrush, and Lark's aura had all plummeted dangerously close to zero. Professor Goodwitch walked up to Pyrrha and Cardin as the Bird Greeed followed behind the professor. I gotta admit, that was pretty awesome to watch. No wonder Pyrrha is considered the 'Invincible Girl', she is a great fighter.
"And that's the match. Well done, Ms. Nikos. With your skills, you should have no problems qualifying for the tournament." She beamed at Pyrrha, who merely turned her head and shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say that the spectacle was merely nothing special.
"Thank you, Professor."
Turning to her scroll, Goodwitch typed on it, removing CRDL's faces from the scoreboard, leaving Pyrrha's mugshot on the screen above us while Ankh finally spoke up after consuming his treat.
"Now, we have time for one more sparring match much to my annoyance," Ankh explained with a scoff, receiving a glare from Goodwitch. Seriously, I am sure that Ankh really hates being a teacher; he rather focus on gathering cell medals than teaching future huntsmen and huntresses. Professor Goodwitch then glanced over the audience, looking for a suitable candidate.
"Any volunteers?" She asked us. No one responded. After a moment, Professor Goodwitch looked towards Blake, who was busy reading a book. I glanced a look at the Faunus Kunoichi, who looked like she hasn't got much sleep for a while.
"Ms. Belladonna? You've been rather docile for the past few days. Why don't you-"
"I'll do it!"
Looking back further into the audience, I saw that the voice had come from Mercury, his hand raised eagerly. Prof. Goodwitch eyed the man with a cautious eye.
"Mercury, is it? Very well, now let's find you an opponent. We have-"
"Actually, I wanna fight… her." Mercury interrupted, pointing a finger at Pyrrha, who was clearly taken aback at this choice.
"Me?"
Goodwitch looked to Pyrrha, then back to Mercury.
"I'm sorry, but Ms. Nikos has already completed her match. I suggest you find a different-"
"Professor? It's okay. It won't be a bother." She smiled. Prof. Goodwitch sighed, and motioned for Mercury to go and prepare. For Ankh, he stared at the silver-haired student with criticizing eyes, the same look when he knew something was strange.
Five minutes later, Mercury emerged onto the arena, but he didn't seem to be carrying a visible weapon. I leaned forward, scrutinizing the silver-haired man, but nothing seemed to be standing out as a notable weapon. Nevertheless, I waited, watched as the combatants circled each other warily, never taking their eyes off of each other. Finally, after a few seconds charged with tension, Mercury leapt forward with blinding speed, swinging his legs at Pyrrha. She easily blocked his kicks, striking back with swipes of her sword, which he dodged and parried with relative ease. Pyrrha slammed her shield into Mercury, sending him skidding back, causing the ground to spark as he slid.
Finally, I understood: Mercury's weapons must have been some kind of weaponized greaves. Any kick would be enhanced by some kind of firearm. In retrospect, they were a lot like Yang's Ember Celica, just mounted on the legs.
Mercury charged again, clearly hoping for more powerful strikes. Pyrrha merely blocked some strikes, and effortlessly dodged the rest, weaving under the kicks with ease. Finally, Pyrrha retaliated, swiping with her sword in a reverse grip. But Mercury simply kicked it out of her hands, the pair watching as it embedded into the floor.
Taking the chance, Mercury reacted first. He kicked out at Pyrrha, but she was just as quick: she raised her hand, and weaved under the kick. Mercury then tried to aim for a straight push kick, but all he hit was Pyrrha's shield. The shot from his boot exploded against the metal, and he backflipped away, landing gracefully some ways away. Pyrrha dived for her sword, quickly swiping it up, and rolling to her feet.
As she lunged for her foe, he merely turned away, and said two words, which surprised everybody present.
"I forfeit."
Pyrrha stumbled out of her lunge, skidding to a halt past him. She looked at him, puzzled while Ankh still had his eyes locked on him upon hearing that.
"You… don't even want to try?" She asked. I found it weird: both their first strikes were clearly easy, trying to see what the other could do to counter. From there, that was when they really cut loose. But for Mercury to forfeit so quickly… something didn't feel right. Hell, even Ankh looked at him with narrowed eyes, the look showing that something wasn't right at all. I know Ankh, if he has that look, he knows something was up.
"What's the point? You're a world-renowned fighter. We're obviously leagues apart."
Prof. Goodwitch stepped forward, as Mercury strutted off into the darkness.
"In that case, Ms. Nikos is the winner of the match… again."
The bell sounded, and Blake jerked her head back, rubbing a tired eye. I sighed: Blake wasn't doing too great, and to be honest, it was starting to worry us. Dark shadows had appeared under her eyes, her bow had drooped slightly, and her eating habits had regressed back to barely realising that food was placed in front of her. When Akira, Yang, Ankh, and I got back from the Yummy battle, Yang told me how Blake was and I was getting worried about the ebony kunoichi. I just hope she can get some sleep eventually.
"And remember, the dance is this weekend. But you all have your first mission on Monday. I will not accept any excuses."
Upon hearing that, old memories came back of my days back on Earth. School dances wasn't my kind of thing… I wasn't all that well when it comes to asking a girl to the dance. And quite frankly, I don't know if I should go or even ask a girl to the dance. Back home, I was a nobody... someone who was left out to try to live his days for the rest of his life with no parents to watch him grow up...
For right now, I should just put that aside and just try to enjoy the upcoming weekend.
Remnants of Desires
Chapter 21: Extracurricular, School Dance, Infiltration
Since class was over, I simply sat against a tree, staring at the clouds that were hovering in the blue sky as the wind slightly brushes my hair. However, I was dwelling in my thoughts.
From what happened in the past two weeks, it was rather interesting as well. Not only I got to see Akira fight in person, we actually got to witness him become Birth and nearly beating Uva before the Insect Greeed escaped. Plus we now have another Full Combo in the arsenal.
That being said, we now have GataKiriBa, RaToraTah, BuraKaWani, and ShaUTa. We still have Gorilla and two Zous but not the Sai Medal since Uva still has it.
However, I was worried about Blake after seeing how she was recently. After what happen after fighting that Yummy from a week ago, she hasn't got much sleep. No doubt that after Kazari mentioning that he is with the White Fang and Roman helping them along with the Feline Greeed attacking again, she was driven to find out what they are planning. Seeing that she was sleep-deprived, it pains me to see her like that.
I let out a small sigh before closing my eyes, basking the small breeze and sunlight. It was rather calm and peaceful. However, I felt someone tapping my shoulder, making me open my eyes and saw Cinder.
"Hello Enrique." She smiles at me.
"Oh, hey Cinder. What's up?" I asked.
"I would like to ask you something if you have time?" she asked, walking away as she waves her fingers to me. I blinked before getting up and followed her.
I followed Cinder before we were now in the courtyard. "So Cinder, what was it you wanted to ask me?" I asked, curious to why she wanted to see me.
The said woman turns around to look at me. "I know we recently met but I was wondering...," her smoldering eyes looked into my own before saying. "Would you like to accompany me to the dance on Sunday?" She requested.
I instantly froze to what I just heard. Not just froze, but surprised as my mind was telling me a couple of things upon hearing her request. She is asking me to accompany her to the school dance tomorrow. I looked at her as she smiled. I wanted to give her my answer but a voice was telling me one thing in the back of my mind.
'Don't…'
It was telling me not to accept it. I don't know why but I feel like I have to agree to it. It was a strange feeling too. "I… I'm sorry Cinder but I have to decline your request…" I answered with a down look.
Cinder looked at me with a shocked and surprised expression. "Why…? Did I do something wrong?"
"I-it's not you Cinder. It's just… It's just something I'm trying to think over. I… I'm sorry," I explained with an apology. I walked to the door and went back to the hallway.
A glum Ruby was resting her head on her hand and staring into the distance before she's startled by someone slamming their palms on the table she's at. She looked to who did it and saw Weiss who was smiling.
"I need you to pick a tablecloth." She slides two squares over to Ruby, both seeming to be similar shades of white.
"Aren't they both the same?" She pointed, confused.
"I don't even know why I asked!" She sighs in a frustrated manner.
Weiss walks away as Yang comes in carrying a massive sound speaker on her shoulder, which bounces her sister and the table she's moping on again to jump in the air when she drops it on the ground.
Yang brushes her hands as she approaches Ruby. "So, have you picked out a dress yet?"
"What's the point? Who cares about the dance if Blake isn't going?" She replied, gloomy.
"Oh, don't worry; she's going," She looks over before getting exasperated. "Weiss! I thought we agreed: No doilies!"
Weiss walks up to Yang, pointing in her face. "If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines!" The girls were then interrupted by the sound of doors opening.
There they saw Neptune and Sun enter and approach the three. "Your dance is gonna have fog machines?" Neptune asked.
Weiss steps up to him with a sweet voice, "We were thinking about it…"
"That's pretty cool."
Sun approaches the two, acting suave to Weiss' ire. "You ladies all excited for dress-up?"
"Pfft... Yeah, right!" She laughed.
"Laugh all you want. I'll be turning heads tomorrow night!" Yang said with a glint in her eyes.
Weiss took notice of the choice of clothing that the two guys were wearing. "What are you two gonna be wearing?"
"Uuhhh... this?" The monkey Faunus gestures to his current shirtless outfit.
Neptune steps up and holds a hand in front of his friend's face. "Ignore him for he knows not what he says." he says to the four.
Sun knocks Neptune's hand away from his face, "Hey, I may have moved to Mistral, but I grew up in Vacuo. It's not exactly a shirt-and-tie kind of place."
"Yeah, we noticed," Yang said, mirroring Ruby and Weiss' looks of being told something extremely obvious.
Upon the quiet atmosphere, the money Faunus decided to speak up as he rubs the back of his head, before asking the girls, "Soooo... what does Blake think of all this? She still being all, y'know... Blake-y?"
"Obviously," Weiss said like it was obvious, turning away and crosses her arms in disapproval.
"I still can't think of a way to change her mind," the red-hooded girl sighed.
"Guys," Ruby, Weiss, Neptune, and Sun looks at her as she starts walking out. "Trust me; Blake will be at the dance tomorrow." She then looked at Sun and Neptune with a grin. "Also Sun, Neptune get Enrique."
The said two looked at each and knew what she meant. They nodded with grins of their own before leaving, in search to find the black-haired huntsman-in-training.
Later, with Blake herself who was sitting at one of the library tables with a holographic screen in front of her. She was obviously more sleep-deprived than ever, barely focusing on what she's seeing... until a small, bright red light appears on the screen. Moving up and down, Blake's eyes follow it down to her hand, then disappears entirely. She looks behind herself, obviously irritated, but no one walking among the tables is her culprit.
Turning back to the computer, she starts typing on the beeping keyboard before the laser dot appears on her hand briefly, prompting her to look around again and still find no one. The red point shows up on the screen, moving around in circles until Blake scowls and pounds her fists on the table. She stands up from her chair and finds the light on the floor, following it blindly through shelves of books until both the dot and its pursuer turn the corner, only for Blake to bump, shocked and shaken out of her more "animal" instincts, into… Yang holding a laser pointer.
Yang was waving with her left hand as her right holds the laser pointer, "He-lloooo!~" she said in a sing-song manner.
"What are you...?" Blake was interrupted when Yang grabs her arm.
"We need to talk." She informed and with that, amid Blake's single cry of surprise, Yang whisks her partner out of the library.
I was laying on the rooftop, gazing at the moving clouds as the wind slightly brushing my hair. I was still surprised that Cinder asked me to the dance but I rejected it. Don't get me wrong, any guy would accept due to her looks but me… it felt strange when she asked me that. A feeling that told me to not accept it, I just don't know what kind of feeling it was.
Ankh on the other hand was in the courtyard, perched on the same tree like always since he doesn't want to be involved with anything that has to do with the school dance.
I heaved a sigh before reaching for the locket that was hanging on my shirt. I pressed the switch, revealing the old family photo again as I stare at it. This made me let out a small smile before I closed it and go back to gazing at the sky. However, my relaxation was interrupted when two shadows loomed over me, causing me to raise my head a bit and saw Sun and Neptune.
"Oh, hey you two." I noticed. "What's up?"
"We need to talk," Sun said.
I got up before looking at the two. "What do you mean?"
"Dude, you gotta have to have a date to the dance," Neptune informed.
"Look guys, I know that the dance is in a couple of days but I don't know if I should go with a date." I responded.
"So you're going to just go stag?"
"Well…" I rubbed the back of my head, trying to find the right answer to his question. Before I can give them my answer, the two grab me my arms. "Hey, what the hell!?"
"We are gonna help you get a date to the dance." Sun said with a grin. "Ain't that right Neptune?"
"Definitely. Let's take him to see Blake."
"You guys planned this didn't you?" I said with an annoyed look.
"Yang was in on it too." Sun answered. This made my eyebrow twitch in annoyance from hearing his answer. I swear that Sun and Neptune are like Zack. Sun being the very laidback and casual side of Zack while Neptune is the flirting, cool, and carefree side.
Two peas in a pod.
The two lead me out of the rooftop to take me to see Blake. By take, I mean they are dragging me along to see her.
"Yang, if you're going to tell me to stop, you may as well save your breath." Blake informed.
Yang sits on the central desk of the empty classroom, cross-legged as the orange light shining across her calm features. "I don't want you to stop; I want you to slow down." She said, worried about her.
Blake was continuing to pace with arms crossed, still irritated. "I don't have the luxury to slow down." She shot back, irritated.
"It's not a luxury; it's a necessity."
"The 'necessity' is stopping Torchwick."
"And we're going to. But first you have to sit down and listen to what I have to say." She pats the part of the desk across from her., gesturing her to sit.
Blake looks away for a moment until she relents and drapes her legs over the desk's edge. "Fine." She muttered.
"Ruby and I grew up in Patch, an island off the coast of Vale. Our parents were Huntsmen. Our dad taught at Signal, and our mom took on missions around the kingdom. Her name was Summer Rose, and she was, like... Super-Mom: Baker of cookies and slayer of giant monsters. And then... one day she left for a mission and never came back," she looks down as she says this, and Blake looks sorry for her. "It was tough. Ruby was really torn up, but... I think she was still too young to really get what was going on, y'know? And my dad just kind of... shut down. It wasn't long before I learned why. Summer wasn't the first love he lost; she was the second. The first... was my mom."
Blake looks amazed at this information as Yang keeps talking. "He wouldn't tell me everything, but I learned that the two of them had been on a team together with Summer and Qrow, and that she'd left me with him right after I was born. No one had seen her since."
"Why did she leave you?"
Yang sighs, then turns to the chalkboard. "That question... Why?" She repeated as she gets off the desk and walks to the chalkboard, picking up a piece of chalk. "I didn't know an answer, but I was determined to find out. It was all I thought about. I would ask anyone I could about what they knew about her."
"Then, one day, I found something. What I thought was a clue that could lead me to answers, or maybe even my mother." she remembered the photo found in the smashed picture frame.
"I waited for Dad to leave the house, put Ruby in a wagon, and headed out. I must've walked for hours. I had cuts and bruises, I was totally exhausted, but I wasn't gonna let anything stop me. When we finally got there, I could barely stand, but I didn't care; I had made it. And then I saw them. Those burning red eyes…" She remembered the Grimm, looking at her and her little sister when they were little.
"There we were: A toddler sleeping in the back of a wagon and a stupid girl too exhausted to even cry for help. We might as well have been served on a silver platter. But, as luck would have it, our uncle along with Mr. Akira showed up just in time." She remembered her Uncle Qrow slicing two Beowolves in half and Akira blasting away a couple before tending to her wounds. "My stubbornness should've gotten us killed that night."
"Yang... I'm sorry that happened to you, and I understand what you're trying to tell me, but this is different." She argued. "I'm not a child, and this isn't just a search for answers! I can't just-"
Yang was still facing the board, fists clenching, feeling upset that Blake won't give up. "I told you: I'm not telling you to stop! I haven't! To this day, I still want to know what happened to my mother and why she left me, but I will never let that search control me." She explained. "We're going to find the answers we're looking for, Blake. But if we destroy ourselves in the process, what good are we?"
"You don't understand! I'm the only one who can do this!" She yelled.
"No, you don't understand!" She turns around sharply to reveal her now red eyes and the sound of flames can be heard. "If Roman Torchwick or Kazari walked through that door, what would you do" she questioned.
"I'd fight them!"
"You'd lose!" She pushes Blake away.
"I can stop them!" She repeated, tiredly tries to do the same to Yang, but she doesn't even budge.
"You can't even stop me!" She pushes Blake again, knocking her to land on the desk. Yang, still angry-eyed, walks toward Blake as she gets up, but then does the unexpected and embraces her in a hug, her eyes going back to their normal lilac color.
"I'm not asking you to stop. Just please, get some rest." She pulls back to look at her partner. "Not just for you, but for the people you care about." She steps away and starts walking past the startled Blake, who turns when she says over her shoulder. "And I'm sure a certain someone will ask you to the dance." She teased before leaving the room.
I was still getting dragged by Sun and Neptune as we were now in the hallway. When Ankh saw me getting dragged by the two, he was laughing in amusement upon seeing what was going on.
I sighed until we came to a stop and saw Yang walking towards us. "Hey Enrique," she grinned. "Looks like you got dragged along for the ride."
I had the urge to facepalm upon her pun. Seriously, her puns were bad not to be mean or anything.
"Where's Blake?" Sun asked.
"She's in the classroom. I had to talk to her about something to help her not push herself upon what happened at the highway." She nodded, jabbing her thumb at the door across from us.
"Alright," Neptune nodded as he and the monkey Faunus drag me towards the door. Once we made it to the door, they released their grips on me and motioned me to enter the room.
I looked at them with an annoyed look before facing the door. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I felt very nervous. This is the very first time that I will ever be asking a girl out to a dance. "I'm not sure that I can do this…" I said to the two.
"Don't chicken out on this," Sun said.
"Sun's right. We don't want a guy like you go stag on a dance." Neptune agreed. "Besides you got this."
Hearing this made me look at the two. They really are good guys to hang out with. Seeing the two, it was like seeing Zack helping me out back in high school. "I… I guess you're right." I muttered.
"Go for it," the two cheered.
Letting out a sigh, I reached for the doorknob before opening the door. There stood Blake as she was looking at the chalkboard. I saw the dark circles under her eyes, showing that she really didn't get any sleep.
It made me worried before when I first noticed it the day after fighting the Yummy. But after hearing that Yang gave her words of advice, I'm sure she can get sleep soon. "Hey Blake," I called out.
The said girl turned her head and saw me. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I'm..." Blake wanted to say she was fine. "A bit tired."
"You look like you haven't had a decent night of sleep," I studied her features.
"I could use a nap."
"A catnap?" I joked awkwardly. She gave a deadpan stare upon the joke. "Sorry that was stupid of me to say," I responded nervously.
She sighed before asking, "Is there something you need?"
I gulped. "W-Well…" I rubbed the back of my head. "There is something I wanted to ask you…" Now I became very nervous as she looked at me, waiting for my question. I took a deep breath before I asked her, "Blake… w-would you like to go to the d-dance… with me?"
Blake became a bit startled from my request as she blushes. "I.. I'll think about it," she answered.
Hearing this made me relax a bit. "I'll wait for you," I responded before heading to the exit. "You should get some rest. Everyone was worried about you… including me."
I left the classroom before I met up with Sun and Neptune. "So? What did she say?" Sun asked.
"She will think about it," I replied. "You guys owe me for dragging me to talk to her." I walked past the two, heading back to my dorm to get some sleep.
With the two, they grinned and did a hi-five. "Step 1, done." Neptune said.
After a couple of days, I was spending most of my time relaxing for a bit until it was almost time for the school dance. Luckily there was no class today either but I was nervous. Reason? This was the first school dance I have ever gone to.
Sure my dad did give advice back when I was little then since he thought it might make me lucky but I have never been to a school dance at all. I simply ignored the previous ones before but this dance, this might be something I should go to.
"First time to a dance?" A familiar voice asked.
I turned my head and saw Akira, arms crossed as he was leaning against the wall.
"Y-yeah…" I admitted. "Never had much of a normal school life in the past. Before Beacon, I… was enrolled in a normal school."
He gave me a pat on the shoulder. "It will be fine, just have fun at the dance." He glanced a look at Ankh who was on his Scroll. "Anko really has to lighten up his mood too."
"It's Ankh!" The Bird Greeed corrected in irritation. He really hates being called Anko.
"Just give him time," I waved off as I opened the closet. I was trying to find out what to wear until I remembered that suit that Kougami gave me when we had to get the BuraKaWani Cores. I reached to the far left of the closet before pulling out the suit.
"Nice suit," Akira whistled.
I chuckled before I made the decision to wear it for the dance. I went to the bathroom and get myself cleaned up. Once I was finished, I put on the suit and adjusted the tie a bit along with the cuffs.
I looked at myself in the mirror for a moment before I let out a small smile and walked out of the bathroom.
"Now that will attract the ladies." A voice commented.
I darted my head to the door and saw Neptune and Sun, who was finally wearing a dress shirt and a tie for once. At least he is wearing something that is buttoned up than having an opened shirt like before.
"Where did you get that suit?" Sun asked.
"Something I got from Kougami a while back," I replied. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Just making sure if you weren't gonna chicken out," Neptune answered.
I sighed before I looked at Akira who was surprisingly fast asleep in his sleeping bag. How did he get there so quickly? I looked at ANkh who just waved off. "Just go to that stupid dance." Ankh said.
"Try not to kill Akira in the meantime, Ankh." I informed before leaving the dorm room.
After a bit of a small walk, the three of us made it to the ballroom. Everyone was enjoying there time as I also noticed Ruby wearing a red dress with black lace, belt, and pumps while Yang was wearing a short, white dress with black heels.
I looked at my two pals and said, "You guys go on ahead. I'll wait here for Blake."
"Alright," Sun nodded before he and Neptune entered the ballroom.
I watched as students were entering the ballroom while I waited by the entrance. Looking up at the shattered moon, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the sight of the moonlight shining the night sky. It was somewhat a nice sight to my opinion.
After 5 minutes of waiting, I looked back at the ballroom and saw most students were already inside, enjoying there time. "I guess Blake isn't coming to the dance after all…" I muttered.
I guess it was better to be back at the dorm than going to a school dance. It was always like this for me, not going to a dance.
I turned around and stepped out of the ballroom with my hands in my pockets. When I looked up, I stopped mid step.
There stood Blake and I have to say this, she is very beautiful. She was wearing a black dress and dark heels.
"Leaving already?" Blake asked.
Hearing her voice finally made me get out of my trance upon seeing her. "You changed your bow," I said as I saw the sequins on her bow. Against the black fabric of the bow, they looked like stars in the night sky. It only added more flare to her beauty.
And her dress. Wow, I never thought I'd ever see her in a dress. It was black, like her hair.
She hooked her arm with mine and turned us back to the ballroom. "Come on."
I nodded before we walked back into the ballroom. I took notice of Yang, Sun, and Neptune giving a thumbs up to me, a grin plastered on their faces. I sweatdropped before looking at Blake. I took a deep breath and decided to act like a gentleman. "May I have this dance?" I asked with my hand out to her, giving her a small smile.
She returned it with a small smile of her own before she got hold of my hand. I gently brought her close as I place my right hand on her waist while holding her right hand in my left while Blake rested her left hand on my shoulder. Her soft hand felt warm, the same feeling when I shook her hand in the previous semester. The music that was playing was soft and slow, very soothing really. We then followed each other's lead, swaying to the music.
It was actually nice to dance with her. It felt peaceful, which is what we both needed after our previous battles against the Greeed and Yummies.
"Where did you learn to dance?" Blake asked.
"Well… my dad taught me," I answered, continuing with the movement. "He may have been a man with beliefs to protect people as well as making jokes but he is also the type to teach his own son to dance. He thought it would be good for me to learn a bit if I ever asked a girl out to a dance to this very day."
She giggled lightly as we continue to dance. As our dance continues, I heard Blake's voice again. "Enrique…?"
"Yes, Blake?"
"What do you believe in when it comes to protecting people…?" She asked. "You mentioned that your father had his beliefs. It makes me wonder if it is the same for you."
"My belief to protect people…" I repeated. "It's because of the people I meet. Every time I talk to them, it gives me another reason to help them hold what they cherish and not let go what they have. Protecting people is something that can be a promise or a task. I reach out to save them from losing what they have." I continued. "To me, I protect my friends because they mean a lot to me. I protect people not as a task, but as a promise to reach out and be there for them. Just like you, Blake. No matter what bothers you, I'll be there to reach out to help you."
She felt touched upon my speech from what I can see in her eyes. "Thank you," she thanked with a smile.
I smiled upon her words. "It's what I do, Blake. Being there for those I care about." I responded with a smile. "I'll always be here to help. If anything, I'll be here to help you out as well."
By sudden surprise, Blake slowly and gently rested her head on my shoulder, causing my heart to race more. "Can-Can we stay like this for a little…?" She asked quietly. Not only that, I noticed her blushing.
A blush crept up my cheeks before letting out a smile. "Sure, why not." I replied as we continue our peaceful dance. I wonder why she is blushing?
More importantly what is this that I'm feeling?
Blake was in her own thoughts, her mind was racing to figure out why she was blushing again. She was no stranger to the concept of love, or even sexual attraction, but to her it was a foreign thought. She had done such horrendous things while in the White Fang, and despite having come to terms with those actions, Enrique having helped her in that endeavor, she used to think that she wasn't worthy of it. She who ran from her precious life. She who ran from who and what she was. She who was still trying to run from that life.
In Blake's mind, she didn't deserve the happiness and joy that came with falling in love, let alone falling in love with one Enrique Alderete who seemed to be a pillar for all things good. While they shared some similarities, mainly their backgrounds as orphans, survivors, they were also opposites. She had run from her responsibilities and tried to distance herself from that life, never wanting to get any closer to others in a bid to save herself.
The dark-haired swordsman however takes his steps, growing up at a young age with no father then eventually growing up with no family; an orphan who stood strong after everything he endured and lost even with the sadness and pain that he goes through. Not only that, but he was the type of person to do what he thought was right and reach out to those who are in need of help. He did his best as he continues his life without running away. Most of all, he seemed to have a bit of hero complex, coming to the aid of any and all who needed it, whether they wanted it or not.
Case in point, Enrique helped her accept for who she is. He reached his hand out to her, helping her see that she is herself. He helped her see that she shouldn't run away anymore.
As Blake pondered on all this, something clicked. The feelings of jealousy that surfaced anytime she found him talking to Cinder or Yang who often teases him. The unease she felt every time she saw either one of the two talk to him. The feeling of warmth she got anytime she was near him. It all finally clicked.
'I'm in love with him...' She finally realized. Never before she thought she would fall in love again ever since she left him. This person, this young man in front of her was the person she is falling for ever since the incident at the docks.
It felt… nice.
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Mind if I cut in?" Cinder asked Blake and me.
Cinder was wearing an elegant black dress as she wore detached sleeve-like gloves, exposing her shoulders. I held back a blush from seeing Cinder's dress. She looked absolutely breathtaking.
I winced as I felt Blake's fingers dig into me, like she wasn't willing to let me go. I looked at Blake for a moment then at Cinder, "Hey, Cinder. Since you're here, guess you managed to find a date, huh?"
The look she gave me was predatory as she answered, "Oh, I've had been asked but I declined them all. I actually came hoping to see you here."
"Uh…" I started, trying to find the right response before speaking up again. "Well… I am here with Blake."
"Only one dance. That's all I ask," Cinder smiled.
Blake didn't want to be rude, but at the same time she didn't want to let me go to dance with another girl. Her frown deepened before she finally spoke.
"Just one dance," Blake allowed.
"Well, it seems your date doesn't mind," Cinder said as she raised her hand. "Shall we?"
I took Cinder's hand and she led me towards the dance floor. I looked over to Blake who had her arms crossed.
With Blake, she walked to her friend Yang who was by the podium. The blonde took notice of her as the cat Faunus was looking at the dance floor. It seems her plan of getting Enrique to ask Blake to the dance worked.
"I thought you'd be happy to come with Enrique," Yang smiled before noticing Blake glaring at something. "What are you glaring at?" Blake pointed at the dance floor and Yang realized. "Oh, I see."
Yang saw what Blake was glaring at. It was Cinder dancing with Enrique. She looked at Blake once more, studying her features before a cheeky grin was shown. "Are you jealous?" She asked.
Blake lightly blushed before saying, "I-I'm not jealous." She denied.
"Whatever you say, Blake." Yang grinned. She knew that Blake has a crush on the young Multi-King. Ever since the fight at the docks last semester, it was clear as day to see that Blake has a crush on Enrique since then. Others noticed it as well and they knew she was into him.
Was she happy that Blake found someone? Yeah. But she also envied Blake. But she was able to get over it, and was happy that her friend was able to fall for him, even if she doesn't admit it yet. Sure she developed a crush on him before.
Knowing that young Rider, he was kind, understanding, and reach out to others. She saw how Ruby was towards him along with the Rider himself towards Ruby. Being good friends, his eyes showed a familiar look whenever her little sister smiles. It reminded him of someone he knew.
And as days went by since, she looked at him in a different way. She went on from teasing him to sometimes flirting with him. And in one thought, she was thinking of telling him her feelings. But after the way she saw Blake look at him, she decided that wasn't the best course. And in that time, the crush of hers just disappeared. She knew that Enrique was starting to fall in love with her partner and it was best for the two to be together.
It was painful and heartbreaking at first but now, now she was happy for Blake. 'I'm happy for you Blake.' She thought happily.
With Cinder and I, we were continuing our dance as Cinder's eyes were looking into my own.
"How is your time in Beacon so far?" I asked.
"It's nice so far," she mused. "Although I never thought I would meet interesting people during my stay."
"Interesting people? Like who?" I asked, curious.
"Oh, like you for example." She answered with a grin.
"Me?" I blinked, making her smile. "How am I interesting?"
She gave a mysterious smile, not giving a verbal answer, like it was something only she would know and would gladly keep a secret. I wonder why?
"And Enrique, I apologize for my… advance towards you a week ago."
"I-It's alright," I waved off as we continued to dance. "It was confusing to be honest."
I notice her turn her head to the time. "I should go." She informed. "Thank you for the dance though, Enrique."
"Your welcome," I responded.
Cinder walked away as Blake approached me, happy that she left. I reached out my hand to the kunoichi, giving her a smile.
She got hold of my hand as the both of us continue our dance together. Blake seemed happy that Cinder walked away and right now it was just the two of us and the music… it felt nice really. Maybe… it isn't so bad being in this school dance with Blake.
As Cinder began her task, she knew that the kunoichi she met earlier has fallen for him. It would also appear that the young Multi-King was beginning to fall for her as well.
However, for Cinder, she needs to make sure it doesn't happen if she were to have him be part of her cause.
She gets what she wants one way or another.
Right now, she was making her way to the Cross Continental Transmit System Tower to get what she needed. She was now wearing a black infiltration outfit, which she had previously sewn together. The outfit consists of a sleeveless jacket, long gloves, stiletto heel boots, a black glass mask, and several straps with containers of powdered dust lined across her pants.
When she made it to the location, she stealthily approaches an armed guard before she knife-hands the back of his head, rendering him unconscious. She then drags him behind some bushes before entering the building.
The moment she entered, some of the guards took notice of her as she approaches. "Excuse me, no one's allowed in this area." The guard informed. However, Cinder continues her approach, making the guard now on alert. "Stop!"
The soldier had no choice but to open fire when Cinder does not heed his warning. However, she manages to overpower him by attacking him before using his gun to take out another soldier that was approaching. She then throws him against the handrail as two more soldiers rush towards her. Cinder's suit glows a bright orange before forging a pair of black blades from fire Dust and trounces the two guards.
In the elevator, two of the guards were looking over a Scroll. "Hey, man, do you know the Wi-fi password?" He asked.
"It's Beacon, but replace the E with a 3 and add a pound symbol to the end." The guard answered.
Once the elevator doors opened up to show Cinder, one of the guards notices the fallen men outside. Both guards grow apprehensive as Cinder casually walks onto the elevator, the doors closing as she turns around with thrashing sounds being heard outside of the elevator. After a couple of minutes, the elevator opens as Cinder was examining the scroll while the two guards were knocked out. "Oh! That's handy." She commented. She pockets the scroll and walks out of the elevator and towards the control consoles.
"A party guest is leaving" Emerald informed via ear-bud.
"Which one?" Cinder sighed.
"Ironwood."
"I guess the general's had enough fun for one night." Mercury added on. "Should we intervene?"
Cinder placed in the Scroll as the monitors lit up. "No, we're done here." As she starts to walk away, she notices the elevator doors opening, revealing Ruby and the Bird Greeed Ankh. Ruby steps out of the elevator slowly, brandishing her weapon as Ankh follows.
"Hello?" Ruby stumbles due to her high-heeled shoes. "Is anyone there? Hello?"
Ankh slowly looked around before closing his eyes. Cinder was wondering why he closed his eyes before her question was answered. "You better walk out of that hiding spot. I know you are here." He informed.
Cinder had an amused look. The Bird Greeed was able to detect where she was. Deciding to make her appearance known, she walked out of the hiding spot now facing the two.
"Where do you think you are going?" Ankh asked the woman in the cat-burglar suit.
The woman looked at the Bird Greeed who has his grip on his weapon while the other was his Greeed Arm. She remembered how she heard that he teaches Enrique and now seeing him more closely, it will get interesting.
"Excuse me? You know, it's not a masquerade party, so why don't you take off that-!"
Cinder, in her disguise, produces a container of Ice Dust and send shards flying towards the two, making Ankh push Ruby out of the way before he used his arm to block the attacks.
Cinder took notice that none of the Dust affecting his red arm, as if it doesn't work. Deciding to change her attack, her suit glowed a bright orange and produced a fire bow and three arrows aimed at the two. While Ruby dodged the attack, Ankh charged forward at the intruder.
He brought his sword up, the woman blocking the attack. As their weapons locked, Ankh stare right into her eyes, as if he was staring into her own soul once again. His eyes widen a bit before a smug grin was shown. "You hold that power don't you?" Ankh grinned. "And here I thought they were mere fairy tales."
Cinder's eyes narrowed at Ankh. The Bird Greeed sensed half of the power she stole years ago. She narrowed her eyes at her opponent before she kicked him back, prompting him to jump away the last second. Ruby swings her Crescent Rose at her opponent, only for the latter to avoid the attack.
The fight continued until it is interrupted by the appearance of Ironwood on the nearby elevator, making Ankh and Ruby notice. Ruby is visibly glad to see him until she notices that the intruder has disappeared.
Ankh on the other hand pointed at the direction the intruder fled, making Ironwood nod. "I believe you two should tell us what happened." He said, hiding the anger knowing that whoever the two fought, infiltrated the CCT. He may despise the Bird Greeed but from what he saw the last minute, Ankh was able to fend off against the intruder.
In the hallway, Cinder discards two bracelets and her mask to change from her stealth suit into the black dress and enters the dance. Two guards following her crush the bracelets underfoot and are visibly confused at the sight of the crowded dance hall.
As she walks in the dance, she noticed her person of interest continuing his dance with a certain kunoichi. Seeing the two smile as they dance. She has to find a way to keep him away from her, make him work for her.
It's only a matter of time before the next phase to the plan begins. Once that phase begins, she will make him work for her. Make him belong to her.
Blake and I continued our dance as it was near midnight. I couldn't help but smile upon seeing how happy Blake looks as we dance. I turned my head a bit and saw my friends enjoying their time as well. However I took notice of Jaune wearing a dress.
A dress.
I had to hold back the urge to laugh upon seeing the way Jaune is dressed. If only I brought my Scroll with me but I left it at the dorm with Akira and Ankh.
After a little while longer, my thoughts were interrupted when I heard a chime go off. I saw the time and it showed that it was midnight. Wow, I never thought I would be in a school dance for that long.
I have to admit though, Yang, Ruby, and Weiss did a good job setting up the dance. For Sun and Neptune, I guess I should thank them. The two gave me some motivation to ask Blake to the dance.
They really are good friends to hang out with. I then took notice of students beginning to leave the ballroom, showing that it's time to end the dance and head back to our dorms.
"Hey Blake, you think we should call it a night?" I asked. "The dance is almost over since most of the others are leaving."
"Right, let's go. Do you mind walking me back my dorm room?"
I nodded before we made our way out of the ballroom.
We walked together as we were making our way to the hall that leads to our dorms. As we were walking, I decided to speak up. "It was a nice time," I said.
She let out a smile of her own. "It was," she agreed. "I… enjoyed the fun we had at the dance."
I smiled, happy to hear she enjoyed her time at the dance. We took notice that we were by our dorms. "Well I guess this is our stop. I had fun Blake." I said. "And I'm glad you enjoyed your time at the dance. Good night."
Before I could head to my dorm, Blake got close to me before she did one thing that caught me by total surprise.
She kissed me on the cheek and said with a blush, "Good night."
The Faunus kunoichi entered her dorm as I was left with no words to say. When she closed the door to her dorm, I slowly placed my hand on the spot Blake kissed. The kiss was more different than Cinder's. The kiss Blake gave me made my heart race uncontrollably, as if it was about to burst.
Just what is this that I'm feeling…?
I shook my head, regaining my senses before I went to my dorm to call it a night.
Blake saw that her teammates were asleep as she entered the room. She decided to change into her yukata sleepwear before going to her bunk. She began to think over what she just did before entering the dorm. She just kissed Enrique on the cheek. She couldn't get over what she did. Just remembering it, her blush deepens from the memory of the sensation.
His skin was soft even warm at the touch. She finally realized she was in love with him and now her heart was racing more after she kissed him on the cheek. She wanted to deny the feeling but she couldn't.
"Well, wasn't that smooth?" Replied a voice, Blake turning to see a grinning Yang Xiao Long. "Seems to me that you were lying when you said you didn't have something for him." She chuckled.
Blake looked away, "Y-You saw that…?" she asked her partner.
"Saw it, heard it, felt it." she chuckled, tapping her friends shoulder. "Now, you just gotta tell him then you two can have some 'real fun' together." She smirked.
Just thinking of what she meant brought a heavy blush to the kunoichi's cheeks. "Yang w-why would you think that?" she questioned.
"What? Don't you want to feel 'more' of him?" She grinned, enjoying teasing her. Blake remained quiet and ignored her, not wanting to listen to more of her teasing. "Still, I still believe you should tell him. Seems Cinder also wants a piece of him."
Blake glared at her partner who went to sleep. She looked at the wall, as she shuffled a bit before she went to sleep.
With Cinder, she was going over the list she had. She went over the file about the young man along with his mentor Ankh. Ankh's combat was far beyond any known huntsmen and his arm was the same arm that Kazari mentioned. The Bird Greeed, Ankh. Hearing how the Greeed were considered the first Huntsmen to exist, it shows that Enrique is learning quick by Ankh every day he trains.
She pressed a few keys, looking over anything about him and saw videos involving his fighting. Each one showed him fighting in different sets of armor against the Yummies. Creating clones equivalent to an army, harnessing the power of the sun, having the power of gravity in his own hands, able to heal and defend against the greatest attacks, to even becoming water. He was literally a one man army with this… and she liked it.
"Hmm… Still…. Where to start? And how shall I get him to join me?" she pondered. But a devious grin appears on her lips. "I guess I'll just have to turn up my charm more on him again."
One thing is for sure, she must have him join her side before that kunoichi confesses her feelings to him.
CURRENT MEDALS:
Taka (x2)
Kujaku (x1)
Lion (x1)
Tora (x1)
Cheetah (x1)
Kuwagata (x1)
Kamakiri (x1)
Batta (x1)
Kobura (x1)
Kame (x1)
Wani (x1)
Shachi (x1)
Unagi (x1)
Tako (x1)
Gorilla (x1)
Zou (x2)
(NEXT TIME)
"This is…" I got out as Kougami handed me a familiar red Core Medal.
"ZWEI!" Ruby cried joyfully, scooping up the canine into her arms and beginning to cuddle with it like it was her firstborn.
"Why would you give them to me?" The Bird Greeed asked.
Next Time: Condor Medal,Zwei, Field Trip
A/N: Well! It's official folks! This is the start of the Lost Feeling that will return to him. What Lost Feeling you ask? You all might know what it is. And the pairing is indeed OC x Blake. If you guys know any pairing names for the two, feel free to put it in the review or via PM. Don't forget to check out my other stories and I will see you all later.
Let's hope this story does get shown in TV Tropes. Stay in the shadows everyone!