You know...
I don't even know how I managed to complete this chapter so quickly!
This is a damn miracle!
So here is the stupid miracle!
One note, we are getting close to the shift where Fen will start being called Naruto.
This chapter is really the turning point as characters are constantly calling him by name.
By Chapter 9, it should be complete.
"Exactly who are you?"
"I am the woman of your dreams, here to make you an offer you can't refuse."
The night was so blissful.
She hadn't had that much fun in a long time. It was such a whirlwind, a blur of tender and rough movements. She writhed on the cusp of euphoria and agony so much…
And she loved it.
Dragging her Naruto into it was all the better. The way he made her body feel after the twins were done…
She could only hope he understood…
Blake did not want attachments. Not right now. Not after everything he made her experience. She just wanted something quick, easy…
With someone she trusted.
The twin sisters were a bonus.
Blake was ecstatic she found him, of all people. Someone she could trust and trusted her in return, despite her mistake. Someone she could rely on, as he was always there for her when they were younger. Fight the White Fang at her side when they stirred trouble.
And someone who Adam would hesitate and be weary around, careful with his actions.
Naruto was someone he respected as an equal in power before the incident, despite their differences. After…
He genuinely feared the fox. Which explained why he tried to recruit him…
"Naruto…" Blake whispered, gently rising in the luxurious bed they had spent much of the night passionately making love with one another.
"He's gone." Melanie's voice echoed, disappointment evident as she answered for the Faunus lying beside her. "Been absent far longer than he should have been. He comes back after the bar closes."
"Suppose something happened?" Militia frowned, sitting up as she was lying opposite side of Blake. "This is… Unlike him. Us, I could see leaving and returning home…"
"But her? No, something happened." Melanie scowled, and her green eyes darkened while sitting up. "But to him?"
"Needs investigation." Militia nodded in agreement with her sister, sliding out of the bed.
Blake narrowed her eyes as the sisters left her side, quickly concluding what had happened. Her stomach turned, and her heart clenched.
Why didn't Naruto return? The sisters' point was valid. He could leave them and return home easily. But her?
She knew he couldn't. So that only left…
Had something happened?
"Come." Melanie tossed a towel to Blake, motioning to an open door in their room. "We will shower together. Faster. We can begin searching for him immediately after."
"Right… " Blake muttered and nodded, now uncomfortable with showering alone with the woman as she left the bed.
With his presence…
Her confidence was sapped, and her ears depressed. She knew she was using him, but…
She needed his strength right now.
After everything she had dealt with.
"And what offer can the woman of my wildest dreams believe she can give me?"
"I can give you anything your heart desires. Wealth. Power. Prestige. Fame. Protection. Family. Whatever you yearn for, I can help you obtain and achieve it. I might not it, but I have connections to someone who can grant whatever wish one wants. All they have to do is obey."
"Should I?" Yang muttered as she lay on her back in bed, holding her scroll with a frown, having woken up.
She had thought about it all night, and still hadn't come up with an answer, even after getting some rest. While she did want to get in contact with Naruto…
Having to call her first was something she did not want to do. Having to hear her voice and deal with her. Knowing their fight was coming up soon…
"Ugh, she pisses me off so much!" Yang tossed her scroll on her nightstand, rolling in her bed in frustration. "Just who does she think she is? Where does she get off telling me what I can't do? Dammit, I know I screwed up, but what the hell? It's like she doesn't want me near Naruto! What is wrong with her? Is she jealous?"
"No, didn't feel like jealousy…" Yang scowled, brushing her hand through her hair and shaking her head. "While it felt weird hearing her proclaim him as hers like a possession, it didn't appear like she wanted him like that. I didn't get the same feeling I get from others when they're jealous… Felt like she was…"
"Protecting him?" Yang sat up in bed, squinting her eyes, thinking about everything before throwing her head back and grunting in annoyance. "Ugh, I don't understand her! She is so frustrating! I don't even want to date him or anything! This is so stupid!"
"He's just interesting and fun to be around," Yang lowered her head, her eyes glimmering. "So not like any of the other guys I meet. Not afraid to speak his mind and stand his ground with me…"
Snatching her scroll from the nightstand, Yang bit her lip and scowled. Rolling through the numbers, she found the number she was searching for and closed her eyes. "Really don't want to do this..."
"Hey, I know you don't want to hear from me, but I need to talk to Naruto…"
"What do you mean you don't know where he is? He's missing, and fire is everywhere!"
"Sounds like you know exactly what to say to make anyone bend their knees. You have a silky smooth, sharp tongue and a body that you know how to use. I dare say you can have any person you want melt in your hands… Even I am at a loss for words…"
"My, what a charming compliment. I know exactly how to coax those words from you… Allow me to show you just what this tongue and body are capable of eliciting from you…"
"Fen and Blake were gone all night…" Vix sat worriedly at their kitchen table, kicking her feet aimlessly at the table as she poked her spoon into her cereal bowl. "They should have been back… Even if Fen went to those girls' place again…"
"Wait, girls' place?" Ben's ears twitched, having typically left at this time for work but called for the day off, citing he wanted to celebrate his son getting into Beacon. "There is a lot of information I am missing here, but if he spent the night at a girls' place…"
"Your boy has been musking for some time, Ben." Ze scowled at her husband, not realizing her son was sexually active, before sighing. "He's seventeen, in good physical shape, and is quite attractive. Of course, he is active. That shouldn't be a surprise. The bigger surprise is that Blake went with him…"
"That's my boy!" Ben clapped his hands, ears perked up, and eyes closed. "Doing me proud, my son! Playing the field while you are young and getting it on! …Now you better be wearing protection like I taught you!"
"We are now on the same page," Ze replied, smiling with closed eyes. "I wish he'd find a good girl to bring home soon, though. I do think it is getting close to time…"
"Give him a few years! Let him play some more! Don't put the chain on him… That was the wrong wording!" Ben playfully argued with his wife before he felt the surge of deadly intent coming from her and knew exactly what he said. "Okay, I've been hanging around Rufus too much. I apologize! You know, that's not how I think! Just that he should enjoy his freedom before finding that one true person to settle down with."
"Better." Ze's intent faded, and Ben sighed in relief before gazing at the door. "He really should be back by now. This is unlike him. Vix, dear, since you are closer to the holo-vision, can you turn it on? The news should be on."
"Yes, Mom." Vix nodded, hardly eating a bite of her cereal despite the chipper mood her parents were in.
She couldn't find the spirit without her big brother present and around her. She knew it would be difficult without him around soon. She knew that.
It would be the first time in her life she spent without Fen. And she didn't know how she was going to take that. And while she was happy, he was going to become a Huntsman and do so many cool things and have amazing stories to tell…
Vix would be alone for the first time. Sure, her mother and father were there…
"What in the world is that scene?" Ben's eyes narrowed as the holo-vision was turned on, and the news was on. "That building was scorched to the ground. What happened? The firefighters look confused…"
"Blake's there!" Ze snarled, catching a glimpse of the camera, and her eyes narrowed, seeing her old friend's daughter gazing upon the scene with two other girls as if they were looking for something. "Why are they there?"
"And where is Fen?"
"I have to say, you sure have your ways to make me squirm. I feel almost compelled to comply…"
"I am known to have a magical touch."
"Yet, my dear, you have failed one crucial aspect. It is why I must decline."
"What?"
"You let me turn the tables on you and get what I wanted from you, Cinder Fall."
"Why did you bring her with you?" Blake screeched, seeing the motorcycle known as Bumblebee come to a stop at the scene, her golden eyes seething in rage.
"Couldn't stop her from coming along no matter what I said." Yang retorted as she stepped off her bike, keeping an eye on the individual that climbed off Bumblebee with her. "At least this way, I can keep an eye on and track of her. No mistakes like last time."
"That does not make it any better!" Blake hissed, her displeasure vividly displayed as her ears lay flat and her eyes shimmered in and out of proportion. "We have no idea what is going on! For all we know…"
"Back off, would you?" Yang snapped back, trying not to fire up at her comments, and she was finding it very difficult to do so. "I came down here to help you find him, and after seeing the news that all three of you generously were caught on film. So let's calm down and search. Extra eyes can only be beneficial."
"Indeed." Militia nodded in agreement, frowning at the ashen hellscape of the burnt apartment complex and the firefighters attempting to salvage anything and see what the damage toll was inside. "We are getting nowhere with this imprudent argument. We must focus on our goal, much as we are displeased with her presence too."
"Yo, can kick your ass through the DJ's booth again if you'd like me to!"
"No time for petty squabbles." Melanie agreed with her sister, pulling down her scroll and gazing at the building. "Got information from Junior. Naruto was last seen leaving the bar with a woman…"
"After what he did with us three last night? What a beast." Militia's eyes widened at that revelation before they turned dreamy. "Ah, my desire for more stamina. A second round would be lovely…"
"Yo, what happened last night?" Yang stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide as she looked at the two twins, but more particularly…
Blake.
They said after finishing with the three of them. She knew he had some odd relationship with them. It wouldn't surprise her if he did something with them again, despite what happened. But hearing that Blake might have been involved…
Boiled her blood!
She was after him!
She was jealous of her after all! This was about keeping her away from him so she could have him!
"Payment," Militia answered simply, a broad smile on her face. "In lieu of lien, as he is often short of it, we give him a discount for the services we can provide… And he delivers us to heaven."
"Oh…" Ruby's eyes were open wide, mouth agape hearing this thing happen before a fierce blush turned her face scarlet. "Oh my. I…"
"Scrub it from your brain, Ruby!"
"Yes, please listen to your sister on this one. There are often things in this world that don't need to be known about." Blake scowled at the twin sisters for explaining before turning to the other, looking irate. "So he left with another woman? That doesn't sound like him."
"It isn't. Junior noted this too." Melanie agreed as she thumbed through photos of her scroll, searching for something specific. "She's relatively new to the underground scene in Vale, so she's not well known, and there isn't much information on her, but she has been spotted. In Roman's presence."
"Roman's?" Militia scowled, crossing her arms over her bosom and narrowing her eyes at the photo shown. "A new woman is at his side? Mute girl must be thrilled to hear that. Must be why she disappeared this last month and no one has seen her. Very unlike her as she loves to live in the spotlight."
"Yes, unlike her." Melanie frowned before pulling the scroll back and starting to text. "I wonder…"
"Think the woman stole Roman from her?" Militia raised an eyebrow at what her sister was up to.
"Only one way to find out."
"Okay, while all this is lovely information, it doesn't get us anywhere!" Yang bit her tongue back at the two, who were casually gossiping about old friends. "Our friend is missing, and we still have no lead on where he is or who this mystery woman is. We need to act…"
"Actually, we have a good idea now of where to start or at least what happened." Militia turned to Yang, scowling at the blonde for her impulsiveness. "For starters, she has been seen with Roman Torchwick. The big crime boss of Vale, if you didn't know, ever since he took over almost four years ago. He runs the underground."
"If she was seen with him, she has a lot of sway and influence to say at least." Melanie slipped her scroll between her cleavage, causing Ruby to blush as she had never seen someone do something like that before. "If she was here for Naruto, she most likely was trying to intimidate him or bring him on board to their team using more sensual methods. What she isn't aware of is that he is quite immune to charm…"
"Don't we know that well…" Militia had the decency to blush and look away.
"So force became the only option." Blake hissed, looking at the burnt building and seeing the devastation left behind. "So, do we have a place to look then?"
"Too many. Roman has many hideouts, unfortunately. Often difficult to track down. Even with the five of us, we wouldn't be able to cover enough ground." Melanie shook her head, placing her hand on her hip. "Need to focus on the ones closest to the area. But we should be very cautious. Do not engage until everyone is present. This woman… Something strange."
"Yes, indeed." Militia agreed, frowning at the sentiment.
"Something strange?" Ruby inquired, noticing the inflection of their tones, and found it curious while Blake and Yang were ready to search.
"Yes, strange." Militia puckered her lips as she reminisced. "Known Roman since we were children. While we despise the man, he is quantifiable. His goals have always been known. He's a simple man with simple goals. Very admirable in some regards."
"But since she has arrived, he's changed." Melanie scowled and narrowed her eyes. "He's no longer as direct in his approach. He's doing things he's never done before. It's almost as if he's acting…"
"Scared." Both spoke at the same time, gazing into one another's vision.
"Doing what he needs to survive," Militia added, not liking the situation. "We need to act fast. Pull a map on your scrolls. We shall show you locations of hideouts in this area."
"Take everyone's number. Contact us if you find him."
"I must say, you are even more than what I had anticipated. I couldn't have thought you would have sleuthed my identity and intentions during our passions and kept a level head. And even now, pressing me to this extent…"
"Just what are you? Elemental power isn't natural here…"
"Here? Dear Uzumaki, what does that mean? You have been dealing with it exceptionally well, and I care to say been unsurprised about seeing it. That is not a normal reaction."
"...Take it for you will. I am ending this fight."
"So am I. For now, I am curious. I think my lady would appreciate someone of your caliber joining us… She'll just have to break you over and over again until you accept you belong!"
"Well, come at me! Let's go wild, as I haven't even begun to fight!"
"Two fires in two days. The first fire seems legit. This one doesn't seem natural…"
"That's because it isn't, my friend. This fire was magical. Our intruder was here."
"You can't be serious! I've been looking for them since what happened to Amber! Hell, I haven't had my morning drink yet because this happened so quickly…"
"And we are quite thankful that you haven't. You may be one of the most admirable Huntsmen I know, but your drinking problem is something I do not approve of…"
"Lay off, would ya! Now what could cause them to suddenly display their powers in this fashion in a place like this? Can't say this would be the place to do it. I would think a more grandiose stage would be to their preference if anything I gathered on them is correct…"
"Self-defense is the most likely answer. They were pushed to use the powers of the Fall Maiden they possess to this extent. And I have an idea of who pushed them that far considering the company I see here."
"I find that hard to believe. Pushing a Maiden, even with half of their power, is a feat for a Huntsman… Are those just children?"
"Those aren't just children… Ruby, Yang, what are you doing here, of all places? Tai, dammit! What's going on?"
"I believe I have the answer considering those two are involved…"
"The Kitsune no Ogami is involved. This may very well be a blessing in disguise."
"How the hell have you survived this long?"
"I'm surprised you haven't fallen over yet!" Fen grinned, his new overcoat seared away, ruined and tattered as it hung, clinging to him as sweat drenched every pore of his body, dampening his usually spiked hair and his ears dropping heavily with it. "But as I said, I can do this for days! I wasn't lying about that!"
"So long as I don't get hit too much…" He added under his breath, noting her durability wasn't up to par with his old body.
Neither was his stamina, but it was more than sufficient. He never had to test his stamina thoroughly in his old body. He just kept going and going and going until he won, was knocked unconscious, or was killed…
Those were the only options.
Did not want that latter one in this scenario, so thankfully, he had a trump card if he needed to play it. Still wasn't quite ready to pull it out. The strain it put on his body was immense, and he honestly didn't like using it for that reason…
It reminded him of when he first went ballistic with Kurama's chakra but somehow even worse. The only difference was he was in complete control…
Needless to say, he didn't want to pull it out here in enemy territory with few escape options. If he had those…
Cinder snarled as she stared directly into the blonde's cerulean eyes. He was stalling! He was taking every moment he could and making this fight last as long as possible! Swerving this fight in his favor as he knew what kind of fighter he was!
No matter what she did, she couldn't score a clean hit on him, but the same could be said in reverse. He was ingenuitive, and several times she was caught in his traps where he laid several severe hits on her. If it wasn't for Emerald and Mercury coming in for the rescue, she feared she would have lost…
And she had the power of a Maiden! Even if it was a partial, it was power that should have put her well above that of Huntsman, and she was already as strong as most Huntsman!
How was he so capable of keeping up even when he was outgunned in terms of raw power? The one hit she landed dealt massive damage, and he still was recovering from the blow as he was in rough shape from it. But he seemed to understand how her power worked as if it wasn't new to him…
And that frustrated her!
This fight had spanned over the apartment complex that she burned down in her fury for him nearly catching and setting her on fire with her own magic! And he chased her down to this hideout where they were storing the Dust she had Roman stealing for her! Like he wanted to continue this fight!
As if it was personal!
"Mercury! I need you to get back on your feet!" Cinder screamed at her partner, who lay near a shipping container spasming on the floor as one of his legs moved uncontrollably.
"Yeah, I'll work on that real soon…" Mercury responded in a stern, sarcastic tone while rolling his eyes. "Maybe you didn't notice that I don't have the proper function of one of my legs! Why don't you ask Emerald for help? Oh wait, I know why! She's unconscious, bleeding out of her ear!"
"You incompetent…" Cinder screamed before a knife caught her attention, slicing into her right shoulder as she reacted and slid back in the nick of time, avoiding the slash for her throat. "You! I will burn you alive…"
Her sentence was cut short as a boot was firmly planted into her gut for a follow as Fen connected, her eyes fiercely determined. His next move was already prepared, throwing not attempting to give her any respite as he turned into the kick, throwing his knife as he went to draw another. He was running low and needed supplies, but he had some left over.
Had to make these last few count.
But the formation of glass forming into her blade, deflecting his knife, made him quickly evaluate his plan of attack. Despite the drain he had put on her stamina, she was still going. Still capable of fighting at a high level.
She was not to be underestimated, even at this point. One blow was all she needed as her one hit with her magic took a chunk of his aura to shield him. His aura. He wasn't sure he could take another blow like that directly and get away with it.
Not if he wanted to leave his trump card intact, as that burned through his aura too…
Glass met metal, and Cinder bounced back from the force Fen put in the slash, causing her to shriek as her blade cracked. It was pointless as she heated it and reforged it anew, making it as strong as before. This annoyed him as the weapon was seemingly the perfect choice for her as it could never technically break.
Forming a bow out of her glass, arrows fired, and he quickly ducked and weaved in and out of the way. Even as they shattered and attempted to realign for a reshot, he avoided them. He swung in close only to hear the whispering in the wind and the gales brushing against his ears and knew it was coming.
He ducked and rolled as flames burst from the ground. With yet another knife throw, he caught Cinder off guard as she hardly had time to dodge as the knife plucked deep into the center of her chest.
Coughing blood, her eyes widened in shock.
This couldn't be! She couldn't die here! Losing here! Not after all this!
This world had to pay! It had to burn, for it had done to her! Be purged by the chaos that was coming!
Her strength fading, Cinder fell to her knees as the hours of battle left her exhausted. Her amber eyes shone brilliantly as she looked up defiantly at the Fennec Faunus as he stood up, taking a deep breath, equally exhausted.
"This could have ended in many different ways," Fen spoke as he looked upon her, his eyes remorseful. "I can see it in your eyes. There is such pain there that I can't even imagine what happened to cause it. I know it can be tough. That this world can be tough, but whatever you think you are doing, I can't allow it. That pain, I understand it."
"Don't act so noble!" Cinder spat, her eyes fiercely piercing into his as she gnashed her teeth before her eyes shifted, and she smugly smirked. "I don't want your pity. You don't know what I've been through. You can sit there and act like you understand, but you don't know the horrors I experienced! So you can fuck off for all I care! Emerald!"
"What?" Fen stumbled back, wheeling around as he reached into his pouch for his last knife to throw at the downed girl.
He had to put her down now. If she was still up and…
But everything started to disorientate. His world was off. He cursed! She was awake, and she had put him into her Semblance! He just had to hope…
A metal clang! Something deflected his knife!
"Take that, you dumb shit…" Mercury muttered, stepping in the way on one leg, getting in the way and taking the knife to his leg, throwing up a middle finger at the blonde. "Finish him, Cinder!"
"My pleasure." Cinder formed a bow and held back an arrow, aiming at center mass and firing it faster than he could react in his disoriented state.
"No!" A voice screamed from above, shattering the glass rooftop.
And roses filled the room, a scythe cutting through the glass arrow.
"What?" Cinder screamed, caught off guard by the sudden arrival of an intruder, her vision obscured by her rose petals. "Who do you think you are?"
"I am Ruby Rose!" Ruby cried out, silver eyes mysteriously glowing as her roses gathered around her, tightly holding onto Crescent Rose as she bore her gaze into Cinder. "Future Huntress! And I will not let you hurt my friend!"
"Emerald, take care of this brat while I…" Cinder barked as she formed yet another arrow, drawing the string back when she hesitated, her eyes widening as she saw something she did not expect, dropping her bow slightly. "You!"
Emerald's head was stomped into the floor by a high-heeled boot holding it in place, leaving her unconscious. A broad smile was held by the person that did it as she wagged her finger and shook her head…
Her Neapolitan hair shifted side to side as she wickedly glared at Cinder, holding out her scroll of an image of her with someone with auburn hair.
"Neo!"
"Ruby now!" Fen barked, seeing the opportunity, knowing he wasn't fast enough and in his state, she was the better choice to end this fight.
He had seen her Semblance and knew what she could do.
"Right!" Ruby burst forward, transforming into a swarm of rose petals, dancing toward Cinder as a sonic crash exploded around her, causing the Dust containers and even Fen to be knocked away.
"What?" Cinder screamed, being blown back by the force of the activation, and saw the petal burst flying in her direction, drawing her bow back up. "No! I will not…"
"You already have!" Fen snarled, his eyes searing into hers as it was the last thing she saw before she was swept into the storm of rose petals and slammed violently into a concrete wall, leaving a massive crater from the force.
And the back end of a scythe came smashing into her skull for good measure.
Not to mention several Dust Containers followed and collapsed on top of her, leaving Fen and Ruby to wince.
"I hope she's still alive…" Ruby shrank at the sight, hoping she didn't kill someone.
"I really don't care either way." Fen spat a bit of blood mixed in with his saliva. "After last night, I just don't care if she's dead or not…"
"Ruby!" Yang's voice carried as she burst from the rooftop with Blake and the Malachite twins following in hot pursuit. "We're here to…"
"Are we too late?" Yang landed and noticed everything had finished, eyes widened at everything she was seeing, and she saw rose petals falling. "You were supposed to wait!"
"And I'm glad she didn't otherwise, I'd be dead." Fen patted Ruby on the head, thankful for her arrival. "Pulled me out of the fire on that one. Quite literally. Now…"
"Naruto!" The Malachites stomped the ground before him, eyes burning as they bore into him. "You are now hereby forbidden to leave our room after our sessions!"
"Okay…" Naruto rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "Guess I earned that one. But this doesn't mean anything. Our relationship is still strictly business."
"Acceptable." Militia nodded and huffed.
"For now," Melanie added, placing her hands on her hip and glared at him.
"You…" Blake hissed, her hair standing on the back of her neck, staring at Fen. "Idiot!"
"What? Oh!" Fen started before he was suddenly caught in Blake's embrace as she tightly squeezed him. "I apologized. "I'm sorry…"
"Hey…" Yang frowned, feeling the jealousy welling within at the scene, her dislike of Blake increasing further.
"I thought I just lost you…" Blake teared up in his grasp, sniffling. "I just found you again, and after everything, I couldn't lose you… You are my family… So just don't do something so stupid, okay?"
"Yeah, I know. Sorry, I worried you." Fen gently rolled soothing circles on Blake's back in their embrace.
Yang's head depressed as she heard Blake's words. So it wasn't that she was interested in Naruto? It was that he was just important to her? Was that why she was defensive of him? Why was she willing to go so far for him?
It did make sleeping with him a little weird, but…
"Now, that was quite the show." A voice clapped and caught everyone's attention, drawing their eyes to a lone figure as a silver-haired man walked from the shadows. "Allow me to introduce myself…"
"My name is Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon…"