A/n: Sorry that I haven't updated this one in awhile, I hope I didn't lose too many of you. I'm going to be a Senior in college in about two or so months so I had to catch up on so much of my prerequisite work to be able to advance to the next year, but I don't think there'll be many interruptions so I can write more….probably.
The classroom of students were silent, only the sound of combat could be heard. The sound of steel hitting steel was practically deafening as the sound permeated throughout the room.
However, the match going on could hardly be called combat.
Shirou winced as he watched the bout, not because of the brutality of it. No, far from it. The War had exposed him to so much that no amount of violence unnerved him at this point. Shirou was disgusted at how Jaune fought: perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration, but Shirou had visibly cringed as he watched every move the blonde made.
"You're doing it again." Rin said. "But I can understand, how is he this bad?"
Shirou didn't respond, his mind immediately just listing off more and more of the faults he was seeing.
He was keeping his shield too low.
If he was hit, he'd raise the shield too high which would block his view.
He was falling for the most obvious of feints.
His counterattacks were flimsy and were way too easy to read.
He was so bad in fact, that his opponent: a boy by the name of Cardin Winchester, was toying with him at this point. A boy, who Shirou was sure that his main plan of attack was to hit something until it died. A brute who applied his strength in every scenario he could.
Jaune let out an undignified yelp as he took the brunt of a blow right into his shield, and was sent flying. "Get up." Shirou muttered to himself. Cardin had rushed after the boy, and threatened to bring his mace down on Jaune.
"Jaune, move!" A sudden shout, and Jaune only barely managed to avoid the blow that would have flattened him.
"A reminder to those in the stands to refrain from coaching those in combat." The sharp tone of Glynda Goodwitch cut through the classroom. Her emerald eyes locking onto Shirou–No, behind him. "No matter how dire the situation may seem."
Shirou glanced behind him. Pyrrha seemed to shrink slightly after being reprimanded, but still met Shirou's gaze with a shy wave.
"Didn't think you'd be the type to coach during a spar."
"Can you blame her, Emiya?" Rin asked, not once removing her gaze from the bout. "In a school full of competent fighters, Jaune can't even hold a candle to Ruby, who isn't even supposed to be here."
"Rin." Shirou groaned.
"I know, I know." She defended. "I'll be nice, but c'mon Emiya." Rin held a hand out towards the area as if to make a point.
Jaune was panting, hard. He was tired after being thrown around, and if the display above him was to be believed he was dangerously low on Aura. Shirou could already tell how it was going to go.
His back was against a wall, and he was desperate. There was only one way it could go. He'd try for one last attempt at turning the fight around, but given Jaune's lack of fighting ability…
Jaune and Cardin clashed. The larger male had thrown him away with little effort, in fact he was smirking. Jaune stood up with shaky legs, his shield thrown aside as he rushed at Cardin with a fierce battle cry.
"It's over." Shirou stood up from his seat, and began his descent down towards the arena. He bid Pyrrha and Rin farewell, and made a beeline for Miss Goodwitch.
He hoped she didn't have too much for him to do this time. She always seemed to have some work for Shirou, but perhaps she'd only been gauging his work ethic. Glynda seemed like the type of person to do that, stern but caring, honestly kind of like Saber.
By the time Shirou had gotten down to the arena, the buzzer that signaled the beginning and end of a match had gone off. Jaune was on the floor trying to fight off the pain in his abdomen. He sighed, no sane fighter would try to charge someone with that much of a weight and reach difference between them. Not unless they were sure they the more skilled of the two, or unless they had a plan of attack.
Jaune didn't seem to have either during the fight.
"As you can see." Glynda began. "Mr. Arc's Aura has fallen into the red. In a tournament style duel, this would mean he is no longer fit for battle, and that the official can call the match."
Shirou supposed he would make himself useful, and walked over to Jaune with the intent to help him to his feet.
"You okay?" Shirou asked.
"A little sore." Jaune replied.
"Mr. Arc." Their attention was once again on Glynda. "It's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your Scroll during combat. Gauging your aura will dictate when it's appropriate to attack, or if it's time to take a more defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf now, would we?"
"Speak for yourself." Shirou's ears did not miss Cardin's remark, but he hoped Jaune's did.
"C'mon Jaune, let me help you til the pain goes away." Shirou offered.
"I'm fine, Shirou." Jaune assured. "Thanks though." Then walked off.
Shirou sighed as the bell signaling the class' end sounded off. He met Rin's gaze, the white haired girl simply shrugged and made a gesture for food. He nodded, hopefully the cafeteria was serving something she'd like. Shirou had yet to go grocery shopping for the week.
"Mr. Emiya, a moment." Glynda called out to him. Shirou gestured to Rin, a signal to go ahead. Though, it wasn't like she needed it as Ruby had practically latched onto her the moment the opportunity arose.
The Hooded Huntress in Training waved at Shirou. He smiled and offered her a wave of his own before watching them leave. Shirou returned his attention to Glynda who seemed to be waiting for him.
"You wanted to see me?" He began.
"What are your thoughts on the students of this class?" Glynda asked.
"They're all competent fighters." Shirou answered. Some more than others, excluding himself and Rin. The only student among his peers that seemed to be ahead of the curve was Pyrrha.
"I suppose that's a fair conclusion to reach." Glynda circled him, her eyes lingering on the arena that had been used throughout the class. "What're your thoughts on Team JNPR?"
"They're one of the better teams of our year." Shirou stepped up beside Glynda. "They've yet to work on their teamwork, but once they do they're going to be force to be reckoned with."
Glynda fell silent. Shirou could see that something was on her mind, but did not press further. No one in Team JNPR seemed to have glaring faults, all save for one. His eyes seemed to lock onto the arena much like Glynda. The last match of the class no doubt set off alarm bells in her mind.
"Can I go?" Shirou asked, wanting to distract Glynda for at least a moment.
"You may." She replied. Shirou took this as his cue to leave, and headed for the door. "Oh, and Mr. Emiya." Shirou turned back to Glynda. "You're excused from Doctor Oobleck's class this afternoon. Professor Geel asked for you, he asked me to pass this message along to you. The details of his request will be sent to your Scroll, for now please enjoy your lunch."
Shirou nodded to the blonde Professor, and wished her well as he left. Not long after Shirou felt a buzz in his pocket. A single message from Professor Geel was displayed on the screen.
It was just a text with a location.
Shirou simply put his Scroll away, and continued for the Mess Hall. As he did, he began to reflect on his time here at Beacon. It had only been a few short weeks, barely two months if his estimate was correct.
Two months in a foreign world that was not his own, but it was also two months where he had some semblance of peace. Two months of having Rin by his side once again like the early days at the Clocktower.
Shirou couldn't help but smile. Rin was with him, and they were acting as if nothing had happened. He supposed that was just the kind of person she was.
As Shirou's eyes met the mess hall entrance, he could only hope that this peace he was enjoying could last longer. Maybe his luck was starting to turn around, after all nothing too bad had happened since initiation.
Shirou pushed through the doors, just in time to watch as Rin Tohsaka slammed her fist into the face of Cardin Winchester.
No one at the table was sure when Weiss had gotten up, but no one had missed the moment Weiss' fist had connected with Cardin's jaw. The rest of Cardin's team was in shock much like the rest of the mess hall.
Weiss immediately reached for the girl seated at the table with Cardin and his team. Then tried to bring her away.
"Hey!" Cardin boomed, he stood up glaring at Weiss. The white haired girl met his glare with her own, and held a hand before the rabbit Faunus that she had grabbed. "You think this is over? You think you can land a cheapshot and then walk away? Who do you think you are?"
"Someone who isn't afraid of some idiot." Weiss spat. "What? Big man can't take a punch? Even Jaune can handle more punishment than that."
Cardin swung, but Weiss had stepped into him and sent him flying back with a push. Metal crumpled, and Cardin was left reeling on the ground. His Aura flickering as he rolled about in agony.
His team sent him a worried glance, but seemed more concerned with Weiss and all took a step to surround her.
They did not get close.
All of them had stopped in their tracks the moment three broadswords had planted themselves in the space before them.
"All of you, back away." chills ran down the spines of those that had heard the warning. Shirou Emiya had approached them, a silent fury raging underneath his usual taciturn expression. "Are you hard of hearing? I said back away!" Shirou's tone was icy, a warning that violence would follow if they did not follow his instructions. As if the new swords that ominously hovered in the air above him were not telling of his intentions.
The eyes of those that remained of Team CRDL would shift from the blades to their leader who was hanging onto his consciousness by a thread.
The doors of the mess hall burst open, revealing Glynda Goodwitch and Peter Port.
'Mr. Emiya, stand down!" Glynda exclaimed, her riding crop pointed right at him. The swords that were in the air suddenly enveloped with a purplish hue. Some of the senior students recognized it as the Professor's Semblance.
"You're late, Professor." Weiss called out. Then turned to the Faunus girl. "You're going to be alright."
The girl was too stunned to speak, and only nodded. Shirou on the other hand was still scanning the males that had tried to attack Weiss. They were all busily checking on their leader.
"Peter, could you handle the rest?" Glynda asked. The older Professor nodded, and walked off. Glynda on the other hand kept her gaze locked on Shirou and Weiss. "Both of you come with me."
Weiss looked to the table. "Make sure she's okay." she mouthed, then walked off with Shirou.
It took a moment for the tenseness in the air to dissipate, they didn't know if it was from the fact that Shirou wanted to retaliate with what seemed like lethal force and was now gone, or from Weiss' actions.
All that they knew was that their appetites were gone, and that there were now two more spots open at the table.
There was a pregnant silence over the pair. Glynda had taken both Shirou and Rin into a room, a small bare room that barely gave them enough space to sit parallel one another. Shirou had a feeling that this was where the "rowdier" students got placed to cool their heads.
Rin hung her head, her knees pulled close to her body. She was deep in thought. He'd seen her like this before.
"Talk to me." Shirou began.
Rin turned away.
"Rin…" he tried again. "I know you don't do things for no reason. Please help me understand, so I can help."
"You can't help, Emiya." She pulled her legs closer. "Just butt out."
Shirou inched beside her, and simply sat there. He would just need to wait, it was always just a matter of time with Rin. He saw her simply drilling a hole into the floor with her gaze, he would watch the slight tremble in her hands and how she chose to ball them up to hide it.
"Did I ever tell you…about Sakura?" Shirou quirked a brow. "The world of Mages is cruel. I know I don't have to tell you that, but…"
"It's okay, take your time."
"Sakura was given away, Emiya." Rin revealed. Shirou flinched when Rin's knuckles turned white. "My own sister, given away to those monsters. And for what? Some flimsy alliance?"
Shirou was at a loss. Sakura, meek and mild mannered Sakura was Rin's sister? It didn't make sense to him, at all. Shirou waved the thoughts away, he'd deal with them another time. "Rin, what does this have to do with Sakura?"
Rin took a breath, the back of her hand tracing over her eyes. "I saw her in that girl, Emiya." Then her brow furrowed. "I just moved, I was so angry that someone had the gall to do that to her."
"Rin." Shirou reached out. "It's oka-"
"No it isn't!" She snapped. "For years, Emiya. I treated her as if she was a stranger, I believed that fraternizing with her would hurt the pride of the Tohsaka family. After all, she wasn't family anymore. Then mage tradition made it clear, if I reached out it would be war between the Tohsakas and the Matous."
Shirou watched her speak, she was at war with herself. Rin Tohsaka was breaking down in front of him. She was speaking not to him, but to justify the actions she had taken all those years ago. Rin was feeling years of guilt, and between himself and her Rin was the more observant one. So she must've seen the signs of abuse marred on Sakura's body like he had albeit earlier.
She watched it happen, and she did nothing.
A familiar concept to Shirou.
He grabbed her by the wrist. "Rin." he said, then put his arms around her. Rin struggled, telling him to release her, and even resorted to hitting him. But Shirou simply fought through the pain, and once he embraced her and stroked her now white hair.
Rin Tohsaka cried.
It was sudden to him, but to her it was more akin to a dam bursting. Shirou could only imagine how it must have felt to do that. He knew guilt, and Rin had helped him come to terms with it. Shirou walked through fire, ignoring those dying around him. Rin ignored someone who was suffering through the fire in the shape of Sakura.
"You don't have to carry it alone anymore." He found himself saying.
Rin's grip on him tightened, and she sobbed once more.
Blake Belladonna found herself wandering the halls of Beacon alone. Her head was on a swivel as she noted each of the faces she passed by in the halls.
She felt disgusted with herself, at least that was the name she gave to whatever this was she was feeling. Truth be told her mind continued to replay the scene from the mess hall. They were just making idle chatter as they ate their lunch. Then their attention was directed to the shriek of pain across the room.
Then Weiss happened.
That was the part she was having trouble accepting. Weiss Schnee, the Heiress to arguably the biggest beneficiary of Faunus labor in the world. Had slammed her fist into the face of someone harassing a Faunus student.
Not only that, she gave attitude to the time Professor Goodwitch took to arrive.
All of it shook her. The Schnee Dust Company didn't care how many Faunus suffered in their mines. They don't care how many died, and they didn't care how they were treated so long as they got the job done.
Yet.
Weiss' actions proved contrary to that thought. It was beyond vexing at this point.
"Don't think too hard." Blake reminded herself. "You're going to hurt your head." She took a breath. They were training to be Huntsmen and Huntresses, helping people was part of the job. It was most likely just Weiss doing what anyone would have done.
Then a thought occurred.
Then why didn't anyone do anything?
When that girl cried out, she was halfway across the room. Their table had heard it loud and clear, then why didn't anyone do anything to help?
Why didn't she?
"Now, Miss Scarlatina." A voice snapped Blake out of her thoughts. Before her was Professor Port, and before him was the Faunus girl from earlier. "If an incident like this happens again, you are free to defend yourself."
"It's alright, Professor." She assured. "It was just an off day. Coco and the others weren't around to straighten them out, everyone knows I'm not the most intimidating student."
"Regardless." The portly man continued. "If this happens again, there will be consequences for the perpetrators. You have my word."
The girl smiled. The Professor wished her well as he saw her off and they parted ways. Then they met eyes, Blake stood like a deer in the middle of the road. She was unsure of what to do now.
"H-Hello." Blake managed.
"Hello." The girl greeted with a slight bob of her head. Though she didn't seem like she wanted to linger in the area.
"I'm Blake."
"Velvet." She replied. Blake felt good that she finally had a name to the face. "You're new?"
"Yes, I am."
"I see." Said Velvet. "I suppose I'll be going then, please excuse me Blake."
"Wait." Blake called out. "Are you free today? I was hoping to introduce you to a nice Cafe I know."
Blake didn't act in that moment, but she could help now. Velvet's gaze softened, but she was still somewhat hesitant. Blake could understand.
"C-Could I bring a friend?" Velvet asked.
"Bring all the friends you need." Blake needed to make her feel comfortable. She flashed a smile. "I hope you like tea and coffee."
Shirou could only sigh as his body weight rested on his forearms. To him, planking wasn't more than a nuisance. His body was so used to such extreme physical exercise, that he wasn't even breaking a sweat.
"You're honestly impressive." Professor Geel had spoken from across the room. "Most people would be crying on the floor."
"It's not too bad." Shirou admitted.
"You've been at this for nearly an hour now." He let out a sigh, and walked to the desk in the classroom he'd called Shirou to. "Get up, I know better than to prolong something that doesn't count as a punishment to you."
Shirou got up and dusted off his forearms. He could feel the assessing glance of the man before him.
"Who trained you?" The Professor asked.
"Mostly self taught, but I suppose you could say I had a teacher of sorts." Shirou internally scoffed at calling Archer his teacher. He never taught him anything, but the skills he had were from him. So if Shirou was being honest, the situation was just plain complicated.
"Know why you're here?"
Shirou shook his head.
"It's because you're talented." The Professor continued. "So talented in fact that I think the knowledge you have in your head is wasted." He handed Shirou a stack of stapled papers from his desk. Shirou glanced at the first page, his eyes quickly skimming over the words printed on it. "The Headmaster gave me a suggestion. He said that: we as educators often don't see the hidden talents the youth possess."
Shirou continued to skim over the document, then realized what this was: A Training Regiment. Though he supposed he should use the term loosely. The paper was basically telling him to nudge the teams into focusing on their weaknesses.
"Professor, I'm not opposed to the idea." Said Shirou. "But why need secrecy at all? Shouldn't this be your job, so to speak?"
The Professor simply circled the room. "During my days of service to my Kingdom, I was placed in command of a unit of fifteen. We were given the same training, but some of us excelled at different things." He looked to Shirou. "The ones who figured out what we excelled in weren't our superiors, but ourselves. Being around one another so much made us notice more things about one another. What I'm saying is that while I could, I chose to let you do it."
Shirou deadpanned at the explanation, perhaps Professor Geel wasn't as stoic and difficult as he initially thought.
"I thought it a perfect chance." he continued. "At the end of the week I'll be leaving. My duties as an active Huntsman have called me to duty. Don't misunderstand, this is a test for you as well Emiya. Your goal is to select two teams and improve their overall performance as a unit, and if you're successful then you pass my class."
"This seems like a bit much, doesn't it?"
"If you have any grievances, take them up with Professor Goodwitch." Shirou's eyes widened. She couldn't have, could she? "She was the one who suggested to all your Professors to make you work for your place here."
She in fact did.
"You have until midterms, wherein I will have a practical exam for all the teams." said Geel. "Prepare them for every eventuality, and we'll see if your effort pays off."
Shirou sighed. "Yes sir." he hoped the others were having a better time them he was. Professor Geel still had nearly an hour and a half to keep him around, and the militant Professor was sure to use up every second.
"Now you're off to Professor Peach." Shirou blinked at the statement and let out a confused "eh". "Your services are no longer required, so I'm pawning you off to Thumbelina. You better get going, I heard she has a lot of equipment that needs moving."
Shirou had a slight suspicion that some members of the faculty were a little too excited that they had an assistant to help them out now.
Rin Tohsaka sat silently in one of the back rows of Professor Oobleck's class. She spun her pen in one hand as she watched the green blur that was her teacher zoom about. She wouldn't lie to herself at this point, but Sakura suddenly entering her thoughts was out of character.
Rin bit her lip, the memory of that girl's pain filled expression just made her snap.
The last time she'd seen Sakura was the day she and Shirou had left for London. Sakura, Fujimura-sensei, Shirou's friend Issei, and even Ayako Mitsuzuri had seen them off at the airport. It was a simple affair, Shirou had shared a few words and had entrusted his estate to Sakura.
Rin was thankful in that regard. Shirou had done so much for Sakura throughout all those years.
"Mr. Arc!" Oobleck's booming voice snapped Rin out of her thoughts. "Good to see you finally contributing to the class! This is excellent! What is the answer?" Rin noted Cardin's smugness behind the blonde, right beside the fading mark by his jaw.
"The advantage…." Jaune stammered for a moment. Pyrrha in the row below her had cupped her hands around her eyes. Rin decided to pitch in for a moment, considering how badly he was humiliated in class earlier.
Rin waved and pointed to her eyes.
Jaune raised a brow. "Sight lines! They had better sight lines compared to the other army."
"Wrong." Oobleck simply said.
Oh well, Rin supposed there were worse things he could've said in place of an answer.
Like Binoculars.
Rin chuckled to herself, there was no way anyone could ever be so idiotic as to think that binoculars were valid answers in why a war was won.
"Mr. Winchester, perhaps you could share your thoughts on the matter."
Cardin simply shrugged. "All I know is that it's easier to train an animal, than a soldier." Several low grumbles resonated throughout the classroom. Some people didn't seem to take too kindly to that statement.
"You're not the most open minded of individuals, are you Cardin?" The retort came from someone that many people didn't think could speak up in that manner.
Pyrrha Nikos sent a glare across the room over to where the burly bully was seated. One that he was all too willing to return. "What? You got a problem?" He asked.
"Do you?" Rin spoke up. Cardin seemed to be fighting the urge to avoid eye contact with her. Seems that the brute at least knew better than to try and start something with her. "Pyrrha, the floor is yours."
"The answer is night vision." Pyrrha kept her gaze on Cardin as she spoke. "Faunus are known to have near perfect vision in the dark. However, the general was inexperienced and tried to ambush the Faunus in their sleep."
Rin smirked, then looked over to Cardin with her head resting atop her propped hand. "Maybe try listening more in class, Cardin. We wouldn't want you to turn out to be a failure like General Lagune."
Cardin snarled and stood up from his seat.
'Idiot.' Thought Rin.
Oobleck had caught Cardin before he could even stand up to his full height. There was always something about pushing people's buttons that Rin enjoyed. However, her favorite person to tease was currently not present.
Nor was the B of Team RWBY.
"Over here!" Blake called out, her hand outstretched and held up high with a light wave.
A sense of relief washed over her as she saw the rabbit Faunus from class enter her field of view. Velvet had meekly approached her, and trailing behind her was an absolute giant of a man.
"Hello, Blake." Velvet greeted her, but Blake's attention was still on the giant that Velvet had brought along with her. "This is Yatsuhashi, my partner."
Yatushashi offered Blake a bow, a gesture that she returned. She couldn't get over how tall this man was. Blake lightly shook her head, snapping herself out of her stupor. "Uh..shall we?"
Velvet nodded and walked with a noticeable pep in her step. Blake supposed she felt safer with Yatsuhashi around, and with good reason. She doubted anyone would at least consider if it was worth messing with the rabbit Faunus with the giant around. Blake couldn't help the soft smile that made its way to her lips as she pushed through the door of the cafe, the scent of coffee and cinnamon lingered in the air as usual.
"Wow…" she heard Velvet from behind her. She stood wide eyed and her head swiveling from side to side as she took in the scene before her.
"First time I came here, I had the same reaction." said Blake, while she wasn't lying per say her awe was just a bit more subdued. Blake scanned the room and saw the familiar caned man behind the register serving a customer a drink to go. "I wanna introduce you two to someone."
"Well well, I suppose I've turned you into a regular." Graham smiled as Blake approached the counter. "This is what? Your fourth visit this week?"
"What can I say? This place has style." Blake shrugged. "And I've only been here two other times, Graham." She turned to Velvet. "I wanted to introduce you. Graham, this is Velvet and her partner Yatsuhashi."
"Nice to meet you." the older man held out a hand, one that Velvet hesitantly took. Though once she was holding onto Graham's hand, she seemed to be calmer. "You two are certainly welcome to come here as much as you like."
"I'll be sure to." Velvet replied and then turned to her partner. "I haven't even tried anything and I already wanna bring Coco and Fox here."
Graham chuckled. "Why don't we get you settled."
"Wait, we haven't ordered yet."
Blake placed a hand on Velvet's shoulder. "Just relax, Graham knows what he's doing." Blake turned to Graham. "Is the usual spot open?"
"Your name is practically engraved on the seats." Graham chuckled. "Mind bringing them over, Blake?"
Blake simply flashed a thumbs up, and led Velvet and Yatsuhashi up the stairs and out into the patio. She saw how Velvet's gaze would take in all the sights, much like how she had done during her first visit here a few days prior. It was strange, this cafe felt so safe to her. There was no trace of discrimination here, a safe haven tucked away in the middle of the concrete jungle that was Vale.
"Are you feeling better, Velvet?" Blake asked.
"Oh! Yes, thanks for asking." Velvet replied. "This place is so quaint, I can't believe I've never been here before." Blake supposed the Faunus that were scattered among the tables inside had a hand in helping put Velvet at ease. "Yatsu, can we come here during the weekend too?"
"We'll have to ask Coco."
"That's practically a "yes" already." Beamed Velvet. A good thing considering her state earlier. Velvet was akin to a kid in a candy store, and this was on the atmosphere alone. Blake propped her head atop her hand as she watched the rabbit Faunus take out a camera and begin snapping pictures.
"I wonder what she'll be like when Graham gives her the drink." Blake thought.
Shirou Emiya was always the type to help someone in need, and while there were times that he was aware that his rather generous nature was being taken advantage of Rin made it painfully clear that he did matter, that his wishes mattered too. Despite everything, he did like helping people and he saw nothing wrong with it.
Perhaps that's where his occasional feelings of dread would arise from.
"Mr. Emiya." The voice of Thumbelina Peach sired him from his thoughts. The Plant Sciences professor moved over to his side with a few long strides, being extra careful to not step on the plants Shirou had been helping her move into her office. "I think this will be all for now, thank you so much Mr. Emiya."
Shirou nodded at the beaming Professor, and before excusing himself moved a few plants to the sides to make a path for himself and the Professor if she ever decided she needed to leave her office.
Stepping out into the hall, Shirou glanced down the length of it. The hall that led to the many offices the teachers would use were empty, though he supposed no student would be looking for any of the Professors at…he checked his Scroll. "8:32 P.M." he sighed, he'd missed dinner and if the five messages Rin had sent him were any indication then she was going to give him an earful.
Perhaps even a reinforced fist.
He grimaced at the thought. Rin's reinforced blows hurt, even if she was just hitting him lightly. "Maybe I can bribe her with some ice cream." Shirou thought aloud, then continued with his stride.
As he passed the training area, he heard the strained grunts and thudding of the dummies being tossed about. Shirou spared a passing glance, and saw a blur of a person demolishing the training course.
During his time at Beacon, Shirou had been made aware through Rin that one of their classmates namely Pyrrha Nikos was something of a prodigy. Shirou had traced her weapons during Initiation and had managed to catch a glimpse into her history. From what he could see from Miló and Akoúo̱, Pyrrha was practically a gladiator. She fought in tournaments, and was very good at it.
Seeing the display in front of him he could understand how Pyrrha had reached her level of prestige. She dodged and counterattacked with such an ease that it made Shirou somewhat bitter. Thoughts of "Why couldn't I move like that during the war?" entered his mind, but kept watching.
Normally, Shirou would have just been impressed with her skills then moved on. However, he lingered as the red haired spartan continued to face off against her faux foes. Pyrrha dodged and struck with a type of force that Shirou would liken to an amateur. No, that wasn't fair to her skills. Pyrrha was no amateur, but the way she was moving wasn't mirroring her skill as a warrior. Her eyes were on her opponents but her expression seemed so far away.
Shirou realized that the girl before him wasn't training.
She was venting.
She was frustrated, and the only way she knew how to deal with the feeling was to let out her aggression on a target. Though, if Pyrrha's expression was any indicator, then she wasn't feeling any better.
Pyrrha let out a vocalization as she cleaved the faux foe in two, then let out a sigh as she watched it vanish in a flash of blue light.
"Again." She said.
Round 7 Initializing, confirmation to start required.
"You're making sure we get our money's worth, aren't you?" Shirou called out. Pyrrha had visibly flinched as she heard his voice. The rest of the system seemed to have shut down without Pyrrha's confirmation for the next bout, or at least that's what Shirou thought happened. He didn't really understand the technology, all he knew was that the training area had been refurbished after his and Rin's sparring match ended up totalling a large part of it.
"Shirou, I didn't hear you come in." Pyrrha replied.
"I didn't want to break your concentration." said Shirou. "You look troubled, something on your mind?"
"I'm just blowing off steam as they say." Shirou ignored how unnatural that sounded coming from Pyrrha. She was often so well spoken, and now she was trying to use idioms? She gasped. "I'm so sorry, did you want to use the system too?"
Shirou chuckled and held up a hand. "No, it's fine. I was actually just passing by, and then I saw you."
"Oh." Pyrrha suddenly felt self conscious, lifting an arm that had Akoúo̱ equipped and covered her somewhat exposed midsection. She mentally scolded herself, in her frustration with Jaune Pyrrha had walked off and made a beeline for the training room and stripped herself of her uniform, revealing the scarlet sports bra she wore underneath then immediately went for the holographic throats of her training dummies.
"Would it be too forward of me to ask for a spar?" Shirou asked, already shedding his coat. "I'm sure you'd have a better workout against an actual competent opponent."
"I accept." said Pyrrha, and moved back onto the training mat.
"Great." Shirou smiled and stepped onto the mat with her. His hands shone with a flash of teal light, and his fingers tightly wrapped around the grips of the blades that rested in his hands. It had felt like an eternity since he'd fought with Kanhou and Bakuya last.
Pyrrha eyed the blades in Shirou's hands, they weren't completely foreign to her. He'd used them during initiation, and once during a sparring class where Professor Goodwitch had him spar.
She remembered that class vividly. Ruby had nearly jumped out of her seat when Shirou had materialized them and began raving about a robbery and fight. She didn't quite understand what Ruby had meant and simply politely nodded, on the other hand Weiss; the person most closely associated with Shirou simply remained neutral, but a flash of recognition lingered in her eyes, Pyrrha even dared to say she looked at them reminiscently.
That day Shirou had been paired against an upperclassman that Professor Goodwitch had selected. Shirou had been polite, as did the senior but his performance had been anything but. Within the first fifteen seconds Shirou had disarmed his opponent, and then offered the chance to pick up their weapon.
Pyrrha had no doubt in her mind that Shirou had used these blades extensively. That among the dozens of weapons she'd seen Shirou pull out of thin air, these were the closest things Shirou had to a weapon of his own.
Despite this, Pyrrha felt the sides of her mouth tug upwards. When Shirou wielded those blades he was at the apex of his skill as a combatant. To have him bring out those blades against her made Pyrrha giddy.
"On your mark." Shirou said.
The pair quickly stepped forward, their weapons colliding. Pyrrha could feel the reverberations flow throughout her shield. Pyrrha shoved Shirou back. Miló morphed into its javelin form then notched it into Akoúo̱. Pyrrha fired off several shots, her javelin thrusted forward multiple times in rapid succession.
Shirou stepped back, lifting Kanshou and Bakuya to deflect Pyrrha's onslaught. Shirou internally cursed his inability to perfectly record the history of the weapons of his pees, the fact that most of their blasted weapons had firearms incorporated into them just made them partially incompatible with Unlimited Blade Works.
Planting a foot behind him, Shirou threw Kanshou. It whizzed through the air, but Pyrrha had deflected it with a thrust from Akoúo̱.
Kanshou flipped through the air, and snugly landed back in Shirou's hand. He smiled as did Pyrrha. "Again." said Shirou as if giving her permission to let loose and come at him.
"I'll happily oblige." Pyrrha clashed with Shirou once again. Their blows deflecting from their weapons, the pair were in a stalemate. By their third exchange Pyrrha had increased the rate at which she was thrusting Miló, she hoped she'd get Shirou to go on the defensive so she could utilize her advantage with her longer weapon.
But Shirou did not back down.
Every time Pyrrha attacked Shirou, he would respond with a blow that deflected hers. She was honestly impressed, every strike Shirou offered her was an attack. He was attacking in tandem with her, and their blows would just so happen to collide.
"You're good." Shirou had said, and swung.
"As are you." She replied, and then stepped into her next thrust. Shirou's strike connected with her shield. Pyrrha had lowered herself and dropped her weapons, her hands quickly grabbing onto Shirou's wrist and threw him over her shoulder. Shirou to her surprise had landed on his feet.
Pyrrha had barely managed to raise her arms up as Shirou had sent a kick barrelling towards her. Pyrrha's forearms stung, she watched as Shirou slowly brought his leg back to the ground as he watched her.
"How about we end this soon." Shirou offered.
"Getting tired, Shirou?" Pyrrha teased.
"Quite the opposite actually." Shirou circled her. Pyrrha had armed herself once again, and adjusted the space between herself and Shirou.
"If you're not tired, then why stop?"
"I don't want to get too into it." Upon finishing his thought, Shirou rushed Pyrrha. The red haired spartan retracted her javelin into its xiphos form and dueled Shirou using her shield as a response to the second blade that Shirou would swing in her blind spots.
Shirou's knee met Akoúo̱, but Pyrrha had pushed him away once again. Shirou fell to the ground and slid on his back. Pyrrha had an opportunity, but Shirou had somehow launched himself into a kick from his position on the floor forcing her back.
Akoúo̱ clattered to the ground. Pyrrha glanced at her now fallen shield and debated diving after it, but forsook it in favor of defending against the attack of Shirou's ivory blade. It skid over Miló's surface, Pyrrha saw the ebony blade come into view as she repositioned.
Pyrrha's free hand flexed, but she froze almost immediately as the blade came closer towards her face. Pyrrha's head shot up just to narrowly avoid being cut on the tip of her nose, then her legs had given out.
Or more accurately Shirou had made her knees buckle with a kick.
Pyrrha was stunned, and looked down at her hands. The familiar black tint flashed, and her confusion worsened.
"I wouldn't move too much if I were you." Shirou's voice snapped her out of it. Then and only then did she notice Shirou's ebony blade pressed against her neck while it's partner was pointed right above her ribs.
"It didn't work." Pyrrha muttered.
"What didn't work?" Shirou asked. He threw her a questioning glance, then released her the moment after. He dismissed Kanshou and Bakuya and held out a hand, one that Pyrrha took as she rose.
"I…"
"I know the feeling." Shirou chuckled. "A plan that seems foolproof, only to have it fail is infuriating."
Pyrrha chuckled as well, at the same time feeling a bit relieved that Shirou didn't realize she meant her Semblance. The fact that she had made contact with both Shirou's blades but couldn't move them with her Semblance was baffling.
"I want a rematch." Pyrrha found herself saying, heat rose to her features the moment she saw Shirou's surprised expression (She was also a bit too close) and gasped. "I-I'm sorry!"
Shirou let out a hearty chuckle, and held out a hand. Pyrrha looked at the offered appendage and then back to Shirou's smile. "Sure Pyrrha, I'll take you on whenever you want."
"That would be grand." Said Pyrrha and took his hand.
"I'm glad you're looking more like your old self." Shirou continued. "Is there anything I can help with? You looked really troubled while you were butchering the program." Pyrrha's face fell slightly as she reminded herself of why she'd gone to the training room.
"I'm somewhat at a loss, Shirou." Pyrrha found herself soon after seated at the bleachers with Shirou and told him what was bothering her. From Jaune's secret to Jaune's outburst, and all throughout Shirou remained silent as she spoke.
"He wants to be a hero…" Shirou muttered.
"That's what he said." Pyrrha nodded. "He just needs help Shirou, but he doesn't want it. I don't know what else to do." from their exchange and from living with Jaune, Pyrrha had realized that being here at Beacon and to have the opportunity to become a Huntsman was everything to Jaune. Despite his lackluster performance in nearly every subject on the prospectus, he continued to persevere, but even Pyrrha knew that there was only so much determination could accomplish.
That was why she wanted to help him, to help her first real friend in Brothers know how long.
"Let him fail." Shirou said.
Pyrrha recoiled at the thought. "Shirou, he's my friend. I can't just give up on him."
"I didn't mean it that way." Shirou raised his hands. "I just meant give him what he wants, Jaune wants for you to leave him alone. For him to get this done by himself, so give him what he wants. Make him realize that what he's doing is idiotic, and if he's as bad as you say he is then he'll realize it soon enough."
"Are you sure it'll work?" Pyrrha asked him.
Flashes of the Clocktower appeared in his mind, scenes of Rin rushing after him as he took assignment after assignment. Flashes of Rin battered and bruised, scenes of him nearly getting disemboweled only for Rin to come and use her Magecraft on him as he clung to life. Scenes of her tear stained face holding onto him by his collar.
"I'm sure." Shirou nodded. "I know of a stubborn fool that wanted to do the impossible, and with help from those that mattered to him he learned of a better way." He turned to Pyrrha and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just be sure that someone is there to catch him if and when he were to fall."
"I see." Pyrrha replied. "Thank you, Shirou."
"Don't men-"
"Emiya…" A chill ran down Shirou's spine, his neck seemingly fighting against him from turning to the source of the voice. In the doorway was Rin Tohsaka, a sickeningly sweet smile decorated her features as she approached. "I kept messaging you, and you didn't pick up. I guess I didn't need to be worried, but you nearly missed our training session."
Shirou gulped, every instinct in his body telling him to run. Even more so when he sensed Magical Energy flare up from Rin.
"I want to work on my hand to hand tonight." said Rin. "Judging from how sweaty you and Pyrrha are, I'm assuming you already had a headstart on training." Rin raised a fist. "Well then Shirou…"
My turn…
A/n: So this chapter is somewhat slower, I'm pretty sure everyone knows what happens during the Jaunedice arc. Personally its my least favorite arc in RWBY cause it doesn't focus on the main cast and instead focuses on Jaune who at this point in the story wasn't really too interesting. So I wanted to work on the other characters too.
And since canonically the Jaunedice arc takes place over the course of a week or two I want to give other people arcs too, like with how I'm setting up Velvet as an important character with Blake and Shirou with Pyrrha (I got something planned here)
So as always, please review cause I like reading those and maybe share this with your friends cause more people reading this couldn't hurt.