Back again.
Took a while.
Had another story to get off the ground...
Took a break as I need some rest...
Had my house got broken into...
The usual, all good on that front, though, so no worries.
Played Arrowfell, meh, bought RWBY After the Fall and Before the Dawn, and am reading AtF moment.
As of right now, WildFlowers is winning the poll, and looks and looks like it will be getting the focus for the month of August.
But it has been a tight race with Fairy Tale, so can't say for sure.
So giving both stories one more update this month so it can sort itself out.
Anyways, to the story.
Enjoy.
This bow was a stupid idea.
She hated it. It itched. Her ears were getting sweaty and matted as it was too hot for them…
Why did she even think it was a good idea to keep it on after purchasing the clothes? The purpose for it was complete. She snuck into a place where Faunus weren't allowed…
No, that was the point. If anyone recognized she was a Faunus beforehand, she wouldn't be allowed into certain places, which could cause issues. It was best to avoid them.
And it made anyone looking for her from the White Fang besides those that knew her that much harder to identify, along with her change of outfit.
Both of their outfits had cost most of the rest of their money, along with a few materials so she could sew later. She refused not to have her family crest on her clothing somewhere. She knew it made her identifiable, but…
It was essential to Blake and Naruto oddly understood. He was interested in trying to find a way to patch and repair his headband and keep the spiral on the back of his jacket, as apparently, that was his family's crest.
So she agreed and would help sew the symbol onto his new white overcoat that almost looked like a flowing cloak…
The fact they both bought white overcoats was not lost on her, for she picked up a tailcoat. It was almost amusing that they went the same route. But that was where the similarities stopped as she picked up a simple black crop top and black fitted pants with a white buckled belt. The long thigh-high purple boots with gold trimming were the most expensive thing they picked up, but…
She needed something with purple in her attire…
It was a requirement. She didn't know why. But she needed it. It was mandatory…
She liked the color and desired them the moment she saw them. Naruto even said she was drooling when he found her holding them up like a sacred object…
Her bow flattened…
Did she really do that? She didn't recall…
What she knew was Naruto had a difficult time finding anything he wanted. He was complaining the entire time about the lack of orange…
He refused not to have something orange on his person. Blake understood this after her fiasco with her boots…
So he was mildly upset that he had to settle on a simple zip-up shirt as it was the only thing in the store that was orange to go over loose-fitting black pants. It did allow him to keep that mesh shirt underneath and did allow her a peak of that marvelous, muscular form…
For being short for their age, at least here on Remnant…
He was more well-built than anyone else, that was sure! And those abs…
Blake flushed! No! No, no! She could not prove him correct! Reading smut did not lead to…
"Yo, something the matter?" Naruto's voice caught her at the most inopportune time as they walked down the streets of Vale. "You look quite red. Are you getting sick? Wait, is the bow making your head overheat? Take it off! You don't have to wear it constantly, ya know!"
"I'm fine!" Blake pushed Naruto away as he tried to pluck the bow from her head, thinking that was the cause of her issues. "Just thinking…"
"Mah," Naruto regained his balance with no trouble before tilting his head, an amused smile gracing his lips and making them quiver. "What ya thinking about that would make you go beat red? Only thing I could think of is…"
"I have a lot of things on my mind, thank you very much! And you are at the center of most of my problems, you know that!" Blake hissed, and Naruto only laughed, earning him a scornful gaze from the Faunus as she hunched her shoulders. "I swear, you are the most frustrating person I have ever met! Do you even have any idea of what it is you are getting yourself involved in?"
"No, not entirely!" Naruto chirped, giving Blake even more fits as her bow lay flat and her eyes dilated. "Look, I don't know much of anything about this place. All I know is I feel there is a lot of suffering… For a lot of different reasons. I can feel the negativity in the air hovering over this place and every other place on this planet… And I want to fix that, ya know?"
Her bow gently began to raise back up as her facial expression softened. Seeing the shift of tone and the glint in his eyes, Blake could feel he meant what he said. Something within her resonated with it. But she still found it hard to believe…
"I kind of have to find a place to start, ya know?" Naruto continued, scratching the back of his neck as he gazed off and around at the people nearby. "After hearing what that girl you seemed to know on the docks had to say, it gave me at least an idea of what your people go through. I get it. And while I'm not sure what I can do about it right now, I wanna learn. Travel around and see everything so I can better understand and help people along the way. Those Grimm seem like a nasty portion of where a lot of negativity is coming from, and I want to help out there too, ya know?"
Tilting her head awkwardly, as he just kept saying things that seemed second nature to him but were not common to hear from others, a genuine smile pursed on Blake's lips. Then lightly laughing, she shook her head. "Seems to me you just want to travel…"
"Hey now… That is only part of it, ya hear!" Naruto huffed indignantly, crossing his arms for part of his plans being discovered, which only made her snicker more. "I mean it! While I'm stuck here, what better way is there to learn than traveling from place to place? Taking the people and cultures? Seeing everything firsthand? And if I just so happen to discover a way home on this adventure, cool. Got a way back after settling things up here."
"You would seriously not go home at the first chance if an opportunity presented itself?" Blake blinked owlishly, finding it difficult to comprehend as in the same position she knew she would. "All because you said something that only a few people were there to hear you say?"
"Damn straight, I would! I mean what I said, and I'm gonna follow through, ya hear!" Naruto loudly proclaimed, scaring a few people that they were passing by. "You may not get it, but I am Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm not gonna just leave until I do exactly what I said I was gonna do! I feel people in need in this place, and I'm gonna help them! That's just who I am, and the code I live by, and I'd be damned if I'm gonna change it now."
Startled by his inflection, the dead-set glint in his eyes, and his determined expression, Blake was awestruck and perplexed simultaneously. This enigma known as Uzumaki Naruto was indeed something else. There really wasn't anyone like him here, that was for sure.
However, Blake's now twitched as a low murmur caught her attention. And her eyes dilated, seeing a small gathering of people looking at them oddly. Whispering about what they were talking about and why the blonde was so passionate.
One girl, even though he was proposing to her, making her flush a deep shade of scarlet.
"You're making a scene…" Blake muttered, her eyes darting wildly around, gritting her teeth as the last thing she wanted was to draw attention. "Could you not?"
Naruto only chuckled, seeing the small crowd, and grinned. "Well, I am good at getting attention, ya know…"
"I've noticed! Stop it!"
"But I'm… What's the word Sakura always used… No, not that one… Magnetic, yeah! That's the one! I have a magnetic personality, doncha know!"
"You are the worst!" Blake threw her hands up in the air and stormed, no longer wanting to deal with attention seeking alien, and was done with it.
"Nani! Hey, wait!" Naruto recoiled at her action before rushing after her frantically. "Don't leave me! "I need a guide! I don't know where or what anything is here! Please, I'll make it up to you!"
"All the fish! Now!"
"Okay, we spent most of our lien, but…"
"Now!"
"I'm on it!"
Today was turning out to be an amusing day.
She couldn't help but enjoy herself as there were always plentiful activities to do. Whatever she wanted, she could do it!
Freedom was so lovely!
The first thing she wanted to do was to check on her wonderful partner in crime, but alas, he seemed busy making plans.
Ugh, plans! How she despised them! Life was so much better living in the moment with spontaneity!
And a little chaos here and there made it all the sweeter.
But she sighed and let him be. She knew the importance of planning a job. It was an essential aspect of their role now that they had reached the top…
That they were the Alphas of Vale…
And no one stood in their way…
A scowl crossed her face as a burning amber reflection seared into her vision and made her shiver.
Well, almost no one. That particular roadblock blocked their path, and she did not want to cross it.
It frightened her.
The horrors she saw within those reflections made what she had been through seem…
Heterochromatic eyes shimmered before she closed her eyes.
No, she did not want to relive the past.
It was burned and buried in ashes. She left it that way, and it would stay that way.
Ugh, now she was in a bad mood! That woman just left her with a foul attitude as she didn't like her or how she took time away from her partner…
He was her partner, not hers! Get from him, dirty witch!
A shake stand! Yes! She knew this one! It had been some time since she stopped here! She needed a shake! It was one of her comfort dishes…
And, oh, she hoped those delinquents were still in the area and tried to stop her! It would give her pleasure to break their faces and show how much had changed in nearly ten years! The pain she would deliver upon them would be exquisite!
She shivered, and a sadistic smile crept on her lips at the mere thought!
Trotting to the shake shack, her eyes gleaming at all the possibilities, she giggled maniacally. Others didn't seem to react or react to her strange expression as she stepped in line and then glowered.
A line! Preposterous!
She waited on no one! Did they not know who she was?
A loud yelp followed as the man in front of her fell to his knees as she skipped past him, and the lady before her mysteriously tripped on a wandering black and white cat with blue eyes that soon disappeared into the shadows like it was never there in the first place. She simply placed her card on the shack's counter while her eyes twinkled, her hips shaking side to side as she used her parasol like a cane.
The vendor knew precisely who he was dealing with, did not say a word about the strange coincidences that happened before his stand, and processed her card as if he magically knew her order.
He, in fact, did as she routinely visited the shop, and if she was paying meant she was in a good mood…
It was best to keep her that way less there be any trouble.
A grin crossed the tri-colored hair lady's features as her shake was made and presented to her, adorned with all the toppings and accessories to go along with it.
It was perfect! Just like she liked it!
She would only mildly inconvenience the shop honor for being a few seconds late for the presentation!
"Ah!" The vendor cried as his shack was flipped over as the lady strutted away callously, sucking on her shake without a care in the world.
Her eyes gleamed with sadistic glee as she giggled to herself.
Oh, this day was so much better now! If only she could do that…
What was going on over there? A lover's quarrel? A proposal?
Oh, she wanted to know! This looked juicy! Ah, these two looked to be polar opposites of one another!
A brooding, silent type and an outgoing, energetic blonde! Usually, those gender roles were reversed, but this was interesting too!
What was he even talking about? None of it made any sense. Blah, blah, blah! Too many words. Don't care for any of…
Wait, no… Traveling the world! Listen to him, black-haired girl! Go see the world! Take the opportunity! Freedom at your fingertips! Do whatever you want! Don't let it escape you!
Freedom is everything!
Where are my signs? Did I leave them at home again?
No, wait! Don't walk away! You fool! He is offering the world! Take it!
No, no, no! Don't sprint this way!
Did… He avoided me? While moving as fast as he was?
Was this kid a Huntsman? At his age? His movements seem far more deliberate and apt than a trainee…
"Ah! Sorry about that!" Naruto's voice echoed as he stopped on a dime, stepping to the side and grimacing as he almost tumbled over her., bowing in forgiveness. "I was in too much of a hurry there, little lady! Stupid me, pay attention! …I was that small just a couple of years ago. I know what it's like to be run over all the time…"
For one of the few times, she gave this person a pass and waved off the near accident. It was odd, but…
There was something unusual about him. She pursed her lips as she couldn't quite put her finger on it before frowning at the comment as she tilted her head at the awkward blonde before her. She never liked anyone bringing up her height, but in this case, she couldn't help but listen. This kid was as tall as she was only a few years ago?
That was quite the growth spurt…
But even then, he was really short of his age group. Other guys his age were still almost half a foot taller, and those on the short end were still a few inches taller…
More so, there was this strange…
"Naruto, would you… You are the most frustrating person I know!" Blake scowled as she crossed her arms, nearly standing at the same height with him. "At least you have proper manners and apologize. I swear, we're sorry. We'll be going now…"
"Yeah, my bad! Really sorry!" Naruto scratched the back of his head and gave a half-hearted chuckle that earned him a furious glare from Blake as the two started to walk. "Well, where should we start? If I'm gonna have to get you all the fish, I'm gonna need to hit a big bounty first…"
Her eyes snapped toward them as she heard that word.
Bounty?
They were collecting bounties? That meant they were going after criminals or Grimm. Either way…
Clicking her parasol open to block the sun's rays, her eyes shimmered as she slowly trailed after them and carefully listened to what they had to say. She would follow these two and find out what they were up to as it piqued her curiosity, and it sounded like something fun to do.
No one noticed her…
No one ever did. Except today.
He noticed her. Saw her and avoided her…
Shaking her head, she grinned as she listened to their plan. Oh, how they were about to learn a cruel lesson about this world. Some things were meant to be left alone, and this was one…
Going into the dark underbelly to find the beast was something they should have never dived into, and she would make certain they paid for their rash actions.
"How did you know of this place?" Naruto pursed his lips as night had fallen, and he looked up at the neon sign that spelled out the name Juniors on it. "We only made that stop to that bookstore that you weirdly knew about…"
"Might not have been here personally, but I know of the Xiong Clan," Blake informed Naruto, knowing he would be unaware of any of this information glancing over at him as she took her attention from the bar. "Or at least what is left of them. They were once a notorious crime syndicate here in Vale until a few years ago when they mysteriously went under. In that time, a new mob head and master criminal has risen to the top, taken control of the underground, and just so happened to be the top bounty you picked out."
"This Roman guy?" Naruto frowned as he remembered discussing the bounties they should be pursuing, and Roman was at the bottom of the list. "So, what are we doing here if he's not our priority? I'm all for going after a big payday and weakening the crime syndicates, as that doesn't fly. Okay with minor theft and the like, as got to make a living, but making it into a business… Wait…"
"Naruto?" Blake turned her full attention as Naruto seemed to panic once more and was worried again as the last time he had a sudden realization like this…
He flew to the moon.
"Is being the Hokage akin to being a glorified mob boss?" Naruto gripped his temples in horror as he began to think about the functions of the two jobs put together and did not like what he was comparing.
"Ah… What?" Blake faltered and nearly stumbled, not comprehending what the issue was and why Naruto was so overworked about this epiphany.
"Oh, it really is! We send people out on so many various jobs! Raise kids from a young age and take them in under our wings… Teach people to be assassins! The Hokage is just a mob boss!" Naruto threw his back, wailing in despair.
"Okay…" Blake blankly stared at Naruto, unsure how to process what was going on.
And after a full minute of his moans, a tick mark developed on her head, and she gnashed her teeth. "Naruto!"
"Ah! Scary face!"
"Whatever this Hokage is," Blake gritted her teeth, her eyes blistering with annoyance at the blubbering fool in front of her. "Is just not the same as mob boss, okay? You are just connecting things that are similar in your head. First off, you are a ninja! Of course, assassinations are going to be part of the job! That's just what ninjas do!"
"Well, along with mowing lawns, catching cats, escorting merchants across the world, roughing up bandits, saving princesses… True story, by the way…"
"What do ninjas do in your world? Never mind, don't want to know!" Blake spat in disgust as Naruto began to name all the jobs he had to do as a shinobi and growled. "Let's just get this done. We're looking for Militia and Melanie Malachite. Their bounties, while not the largest on the list, are still a decent size and get us started on the hunt for Roman along with this place…"
"Apparently, there is a history between him and the Xiong clan. Had to use a source I didn't want to use, but I trust him enough not to give out information on me as he's in a similar position." Blake added before her bow twitched as a caw caught her attention, and she slowly tracked what looked like either raven or a crow flying past them, and a roar of an engine being cut soon followed.
"You really are a cat. That's a bird… Ow!" Naruto blankly stared at Blake, seeing her track the bird before gripping his shoulder as she slugged him. "Okay! I will not make that joke again! I see it's a sensitive topic!"
Blake only hissed in indignation, refusing to respond. He would learn one way or another about culturally appropriate jokes and when to make them! …Even if she occasionally made them!
"Yoohoo!" A voice echoed, and much to Blake's horror, a familiar face she recognized from the hospital as a blonde bombshell strutted toward them.
"Friend of yours?" Naruto tilted his head at the incoming blonde and then looked at Blake as he obviously didn't know anyone here.
"How ya doing?" Yang grinned toothily as she placed her hands on her hips and closed her eyes.
"Out having an otherworldly experience!" Naruto chirped, grinning right back and matching the energy she was giving out.
"Oh, that sounds awesome! Might wanna join in later if you have time after I'm finished here!" Yang winked at both, leaving Naruto and Blake to question her motives and what she was doing.
"Is she hitting on us?" Naruto leaned in and whispered to Blake. "I've only been hit on once before, and it was awkward. I didn't realize it then, but I agreed to have a kid with her and…"
Blake only blankly stared at Naruto, blinking as she needed to know about what he was talking about while realizing just how oblivious he was…
It was pretty obvious they just got hit on! It was extremely blunt! She would have told her straight up no if it wasn't for Naruto's sheer lack of…
"But…" Yang interrupted Blake's train of thought as her expression took a more serious tone. "Ya might not want to go into this bar tonight. Things are gonna get pretty wild in there, if ya know what I mean. Not in a good way, trust me."
Naruto blinked, attempting to comprehend what this girl was saying. It took a moment as her lingo was bizarre for him, and he swore he needed Ino or Sakura to translate for him, but for some reason, it clicked for him. He didn't know why, but he understood her. Just from her expression alone, he felt he knew what she was here for…
A fight was about to go down, and she didn't want to bring others into it.
"Ah, well, I guess we aren't the only ones." Naruto turned to Blake and then tilted his head. "I know you said that it was often that Huntsman and Huntresses competed for the same bounties and had to share them, but I didn't think you meant it so literally, ya know…"
"Yo, what?" Yang took a step back in surprise, hearing what her fellow blonde told his partner.
Blake only rolled her eyes. "She's not a Huntress. She's not even officially one in training yet as she's only enrolled to a Huntsman academy…"
"How do you know that?" Yang roared, her eyes flashing red as she stepped forward, raising a clenched fist and ready to start a fight there and then. "Yo, I don't like people knowing things about me without good reason…"
"Well, you shouldn't be making a scene in the middle of a hallway when leaving a hospital, now, should you?" Blake shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes, startling Yang once more. "You were so loud I had to peek my head out of the waiting room to see what was going on and hear you and your family talking about it. Maybe you guys should learn to lower your voices a little, and you won't be discovered so easily. You think about that?"
"I feel like I'm being targeted here too, ya know…"
"You are."
"That stings…" Naruto blanched as Blake's golden eyes pierced into his cerulean. "But you aren't the first person to tell me that… And probably not the last…"
"Were my family and I really that loud?" Yang muttered, dropping her head in embarrassment, her eyes shimmering before she yelled in frustration and stomped the ground. "Ah, Oum… Dad really was right… That sucks! I hate it when he's right about something!"
"Probably been right about a lot of things…" Blake muttered before frowning as she looked inwardly and at her own hands, despite the glare she got for her words.
"You… Nevermind!" Yang waved off her frustration and stomped past Naruto and Blake. "I need a drink, and then I'm gonna do what I came here to do! So do what you guys came to do or whatever!"
"Just don't get in my way, ya hear!"
So they were planning on going after her partner…
But not at the moment, it seemed. They were gonna work their way up to him.
She only grinned.
This would be a perfect way to gauge their abilities and see just what they were capable of. See if they were an actual threat to her and her partner. If they were, she'd stroll in after the mess and take care of business…
If not, well, she'd let them have their fun for now before taking care of them later. Save their torment for later.
Oh, and if those sisters got wrecked, she could lord it over them as she watched them get thrown in jail before helping them escape again!
It would be so wonderful to hold that over their heads! They already owed her so much now after all they put her through!
Ah, it was good to be the Queen of Crime of…
"Ya know, I know you are there."
What? How?
Turning around, she blinked at the sight of the blonde kid again. She then turned around to see he was standing beside the girl.
Doppelgangers? An illusion?
Whatever it was, it was impressive! She did not notice he had used it and snuck up on her!
"So, why ya been following us all day?" Naruto asked, tilting his head as he furrowed his brow at the heterochromatic young woman. "I know I nearly stumbled over ya, but that ain't enough reason for ya to pursue us. Gotta to be more to it. So what gives?"
She only rolled her eyes and shrugged off his words. Of course, he would just talk to her. It was all everyone did. No one ever understood she couldn't respond. That all she could do was gesture and, if she felt like it, pull out of her communication board on her scroll.
But where was the fun in that?
"Yeah, can tell something isn't quite right with ya." Naruto stroked his chin, frowning at her reaction and how the woman shrugged him off. "You're feelings have been all over the place, and I can't get a gauge on ya at all. You are a weird girl. Ya know that?"
He could feel her emotions! Who was this? He could make illusions or clones of himself and feel emotions! Pick a Semblance! You don't get two!
That was bullshit!
"Yo, hold on! Please don't get angry and point at me! I don't even know what your problem is! This feels like Blake being mad at me all over again for something I have no control over!" Naruto cringed at her response as she stomped the ground and pointed at him with squinted eyes.
She had every right to be! If this was how blondie typically was, the black-haired girl deserved her pity! Even the freedom to travel the world wasn't…
Okay, maybe it was still worth the sin of his ignorance, but…
"Yo, what's with all the gestures?" Naruto blinked as he watched the tiny lady wildly signal with her body, yet never once speak. "Hold on, can you not speak?"
Did you just figure that out? Talk about oblivious blondes! Talking to someone that hasn't responded verbally this entire time and only has been responding with gestures…
You are an idiot! That girl needs to run from you! Save herself! No traveling is…
"Oh, that must have been difficult for ya. I'm sorry it took me so long to put that together. I feel dumb now." Naruto looked flustered and lowered his head in shame. "Can't imagine the pain it would be not to be able to speak to other people as that's one of my favorite things, ya know. That kind of life, well, I think I understand ya better now! And ya seem to get around pretty well without the ability to do it, so that's something! I'm honestly impressed!"
She blinked awkwardly.
What was this blonde?
She kind of felt sorry for her assertions and thoughts earlier. He didn't have the most elegant way of speaking, but it was passionate. It almost made her feel something she hadn't in quite some time…
What was this feeling?
It wasn't anything she was familiar with. Nothing she got when she was around Roman. No, it was something different altogether…
"Hey, I think I can do something about that." Naruto scratched his chin for a moment before he got a gleam in his eye. "Hold still for a second."
What do you mean, hold still…
No touching without permission!
Were you raised in a barn?
This is unacceptable! Killing you…
Why did your eyes shift to orange? Too many Semblances! What are you? What is this feeling? My throat!
It burns!
"Get off me!" She roared, driving her parasol into his stomach, his eyes widening as a click functioned and he staggered back.
Her eyes widened as she dropped Hush, her hands reaching up to her throat as the blonde figure staggered back and gripped his stomach.
"A hidden blade!" Naruto grunted, biting his lip at the sudden sensation of feeling before hissing as he closed the wound in his stomach as he could feel Kurama's chakra at work, even if the fox wasn't there and aided it by.
His eyes trailed to the stump of his arm, absently frowning as to why he wasn't able to regenerate his arm, but alas, he concluded there was either too much damage to it at the cellular level, or there were simply some things he could not recover with his newfound power.
Maybe with enough mastery, one day…
He wasn't Hagoromo, after all. His version of the technique wasn't anywhere as effective as it. An emergency heal at best…
"Okay, perhaps I should have waited for permission." Naruto grimaced as he held onto his stomach, still feeling the stab wound. "Forgive me. I can see how that would have been construed as something else… Ya okay?"
Her eyes shimmered, misted with tears as she held her throat in both hands.
She couldn't process what had just happened…
What did he just do?
What did she just do?
No, that should never have been possible. No, the doctors said she would never be able to despite how much her father forced her to try…
Without another word, she picked up her parasol and glass shards built around her, catching Naruto off guard. He stepped back as she faded out of existence, almost as if she shattered into thousands of pieces, looking confused at everything that had transpired.
She quickly hid behind a nearby fence, her hands still wrapped around her throat as tears poured down her cheeks as she made the most superficial noises.
Just grunts and groans.
But they were noises she was never able to make before.
Each one hurt as she had never used her vocal cords before, but…
She… Could speak.
Her eyes shimmered as the tears kept rolling, unable to process what she was currently feeling. And the white stripe in her hair began to broaden and thicken as she massaged her throat.