Cinnamon kept her eyes closed as she felt the burning sensation of rubbing alcohol rushing into the gaping hole upon her arm. Her lip upturned slightly as she fought back the urge to hiss in pain as the antiseptic bubbled and frothed around the edges of the wound.

"You don't have to keep it in around me, Cin," the man holding the rapidly emptying bottle above her injury said softly. "They wouldn't dare approach us after seeing that little encounter."

Cinnamon exhaled harshly through her nose and shook her head, before finally opening her eyes. The man before her looked exactly as she remembered him from their last encounter, though he was wearing considerably more clothing than during that particular event. His hair was a deep red and styled into a series of messy spikes, and his eyes were of a thoughtful and innocent emerald green. He wore a black jacket and mesh top underneath, equally dark pants, and a red sash at his waist to match his hair. A long, muscular, dark orange and black-spotted scaled tail extended from the back of his waist and curled slightly as about two feet of the appendage rested upon the dirt floor of the tent. The extra limb was thicker than the man's legs, and she knew it to be incredibly heavy.

"Daisuke," Cinnamon began in a weary voice, "you don't have to keep fawning over me and looking heartbroken every time I suffer a scratch. I'm a big girl, and I can handle myself. I'm letting you pamper me just to keep you from worrying yourself into a literal sweat."

Daisuke placed the half-empty bottle onto the desk beside Cinnamon and worked to gently rub at the woman's arm muscles as he tilted his head slightly downward in shame.

"I know, I know, but… there's more to this than physical pain, and you cannot tell me otherwise. I know you, and I know when you're not okay. Adam lies dead, and we no longer have to tiptoe and pretend to only be associates. Is that not cause for happiness?" Daisuke questioned as he let one of his hands slip down into Cinnamon's. She took his fingers in hers and offered him a conflicted frown.

"It is, yes, but… it came at a massive cost," Cinnamon offered. She fell silent for several moments, and Daisuke waited patiently as he rubbed at the back of her hand with his thumb. "He failed to kill the Schnee girl, and though I always knew it was likely to happen… I lost Amitola entirely, and that stings more than I anticipated it would."

Daisuke made a pained noise as he breathed out and moved in closer to Cinnamon. The woman didn't fight him as he looped his arms around her back and pulled her into a tight hug. After several seconds, she leaned forward from her place upon a wooden stool beside the desk and returned the gesture.

"…the lines have been drawn, it seems. I'm sorry that you need to suffer through so much personal pain for the sake of the Fang… but the fact that you're willing to keep going is what makes you twice the leader Adam ever was, already," Daisuke reassured as he pulled back slightly to look at his companion with pity. His eyes closed rather quickly as Cinnamon chased his motion and planted her lips to his in a passionate kiss. The woman moved a hand up to the back of Daisuke's head as the gesture deepened, and then rested her forehead against his as she sighed softly.

"And the fact that you were willing to play along while Adam was still alive makes you a man better than any other I've ever known, and one I honestly don't deserve. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am that you had to suffer through all of that," Cinnamon admitted.

"It… wasn't easy," Daisuke replied as he momentarily looked away, only to lock his eyes on Cinnamon's fierce orange pair seconds later. "But I love you. Getting as close as you did to him was necessary. Without that, we wouldn't be in the position we are now, to start making our next move."

"No, we wouldn't be," Cinnamon agreed as she dipped in for another kiss, only to let her hands slip from Daisuke's back as she folded them into her lap. "And I love you, as well."

Daisuke let his own embrace fall as he reached for a roll of gauze atop the nearby desk with a satisfied smile.

"So… what is our next move?"

"…one even more unpleasant than I thought it would be," Cinnamon said as she watched Daisuke begin to work at wrapping her arm in gauze. His motions stopped immediately, and she could feel his expression falling into sadness once again. Cinnamon refused to look up, as she didn't think she could handle what she knew she would see.

"…you're leaving again," Daisuke said with full confidence as he shook his head. "You've only just returned, and we can only just now be together in earnest, and you're leaving again."

"I'm doing what I must for our people," Cinnamon insisted in a harsh tone as she looked up. She found exactly the hurt expression she expected in her lover's face and couldn't stop herself from mirroring it with her own. "Daisuke, I'm sorry, but things have changed just now with this attack on our camp, a-"

Daisuke raised a hand as he looked away, and Cinnamon fell silent. Slowly, he let it drop and returned to bandaging Cinnamon's wound as he spoke once again.

"I already know. I'm not going to question you, and I'm not going to complain. I can't, when I know why you're doing this- it's because you believe in what we're doing with all of your heart. We both knew that leading the White Fang would come with sacrifice, and I knew that committing myself to you wouldn't be easy. I just… wish it was a little easier, for both of us," Daisuke admitted as he applied two metal clamps to the gauze to seal off the wrapping. "I'll be here waiting, and doing whatever you need me to do, in the meantime."

"It shouldn't be like this," Cinnamon said in a voice devoid of all passion as she inspected her arm. "You deserve better. We both do."

"Since when does anyone ever get what they deserve?" Daisuke asked plainly. "When will you be back?"

"A few days, I think," Cinnamon answered as she stood up and flexed her arm. "I wasn't planning on it, but I need to make a trip to Kuo Kuana."

"Kuo Kuana?" Daisuke echoed as he raised a brow. "Why there? Recruiting again, o-"

"No," Cinnamon interrupted as she stretched each of her arms by pulling them across her chest and then rolling her shoulders. "It's… a very, very long story, but I'll tell you everything once I return. Time is of the essence right now, and I want to be there by morning if at all possible."

"I'm sure you will be," Daisuke offered as Cinnamon approached him once again. "Best of luck. I'll be thinking of you."

Cinnamon upturned her head slightly to lock Daisuke into another kiss, before breaking away.

"And I'll do the same. Hold down the fort, while I'm away. It seems you've been doing a wonderful job at it thus far, but just make sure that that Tyrian individual is heavily guarded," Cinnamon warned.

"Of course. Don't let me keep you any longer. We'll have plenty of time to talk once you get back home," Daisuke offered.

Cinnamon spared the man one last, contemplative look for a few seconds before offering him a sad smile. She walked out of the tent without another word, and Daisuke watched her go with a forced smile of his own. Almost immediately after Cinnamon left, he walked to the center of the tent and braced his hands on either side of the desk as he hung his head and heaved a sorrowful sigh.

"So, two rooms, right? Otherwise, you might find Mr. Suave over here humping your leg in the middle of the night."

"Two rooms," Blake agreed as she followed Amaya down the upstairs hallway of the inn.

"I'm not even dignifying that with a response," Neptune added as he shook his head and took another sip of his apple juice. "I've been nothing but nice to you, and I would never touch Blake like that."

"That was a response, dumbass," Amaya sassed as she shoved a door about halfway down the hall and let it fly open into the wall of the waiting room. "And you'll need two more for Kali and Qrow? Or are they sharing?"

"Two more," Blake replied quickly. "It's not like that."

"Gotcha," Amaya answered as she stepped aside and nodded toward Neptune. "Take the one next to this. No charge for any of you, and if you need anything, just poke your head into the stairwell and yell. I'm usually downstairs. Anything you can think of right now?"

"I hate to ask, but there is… one thing," Blake said as she raised a finger. "We don't exactly have spare clothing at the moment. Is there anything I could borrow from you, just for tonight and tomorrow, until we get the chance to go shopping?"

Amaya snorted with laughter and flashed the other faunus a devilish grin. "Yeah, sure, but my tits are way bigger than yours. As long as you don't mind it being baggy, I'll find something."

"I don't mind at all," Blake offered with a nervous grin. "Thank you again, really. We'll find a way to make this up to you."

"Pff," Amaya replied with a wave of her hand. "Whatever. I'll go get you something."

Blake nodded and turned her attentions to Neptune, who was busy draining his glass. "I'll come by your room in 20, once I take a shower and change, alright?"

"Yeah, sure," Neptune replied in a defeated tone as he raised his empty glass. "See you soon."

The boy watched sorrowfully as Blake closed the door, only to jump as Amaya snapped just to the side of his face.

"Hey. Loverboy," the older woman said as she put her hands on her hips. "Don't look so crestfallen. I mess with everyone who walks through these doors, and if Blake had any other last name, she'd be getting it worse than you."

"Really?" Neptune asked with obvious surprise. "So I didn't blow it by hitting on you?"

Amaya rolled her eyes and huffed, before shaking her head and causing her mismatched locks to shake wildly.

"Oh, I love the attention, honestly. You're just an easy target, because your confidence is paper thin. You don't have much luck with women, do you?" Amaya questioned as she tilted her head.

Neptune hissed as he sucked in a breath and looked down at the shorter woman as though she was carrying some sort of disease.

"I… fine. No, I don't," he admitted with a groan.

"That's because a cute face and charming smile can only get you so far. You've got a good head on your shoulders, otherwise you wouldn't be supporting Blake at great personal risk," Amaya pointed out as she lightly pushed a finger into Neptune's forehead. "Use more of this, and less of this," she instructed as she transitioned her hand down to grab Neptune's crotch.

The boy froze up with wide eyes at the contact and didn't resist as Amaya used her other hand to take the empty glass from him.

"I… u-uh, I don't…"

Amaya released her grip, and finally pressed her finger to Neptune's lips to silence him.

"Like I said- more brain, less balls on display. Intelligence is sexy, and you've got looks going for you. Pair 'em, be honest, and realize that you don't have to make a move all the time. Maybe try letting people come to you. Right now, vomiting the horny trash on your mind is just off-putting. Save that for when someone shows interest, and stop initiating so often," Amaya advised as she patted Neptune on the shoulder. "If you stop trying so hard to get your dick wet, it just might happen. Sometimes, it's nice to just get to know a girl before you make an ass of yourself. Got all that?"

"I… yeah, I think so," Neptune replied with a nod. "Thanks for the advice."

Amaya merely nodded and began to make her way down the hall. Neptune watched for several seconds, before cupping a hand around his mouth and calling out.

"Hey, Amaya!"

The woman turned her head slightly as she stopped walking, though all Neptune could see was a curtain of purple and crimson hair.

"…can we maybe start over, tomorrow? You know, get to know each other a bit without me being a moron?"

Neptune let his hand drop as he watched Amaya's head turn once again while she resumed walking.

"Whatever makes you happy, kid. And stop staring at my ass!"

Neptune's cheeks flushed as he followed the request and rubbed at his neck.

"…it is a nice ass, though," Neptune mumbled quietly to himself as he stepped into his room. The place was relatively bare save for a bed made with dark red sheets, a desk and matching chair, a corner lamp, and attached bathroom. Neptune moved to sit upon the bed and occupied himself with replaying Amaya's words in his mind until a knock came upon the door sometime later.

"It's me!" Blake called through the wicker portal.

"Come in!" Neptune advised.

Blake entered the room wearing an overlarge black t-shirt with 'EAT ME' written upon it in dark red text and a black skirt that reached only just above her knees. Neptune fought back the urge to laugh despite his sour mood and took out his scroll as he allowed himself a half-smile.

"…she's definitely got a personality," the boy pointed out as he began to filter through his texts.

"Among other assets," Blake agreed as she sat down beside Neptune. "Are you okay…?"

"I'm fine," Neptune reassured quickly as he spared Blake a look. He returned his attention to his scroll with just as much speed and cleared his throat. "I've got something for you. Y'know, the gift from Sun?"

"Right," Blake replied as she folded her hands in her lap. "I've been wondering about what it could be, honestly. Is it as dorky and endearing as I'm hoping?"

"Way worse," Neptune warned with a full grin as he cleared his throat upon finding what he was looking for. "A certain someone wrote down a list of things to read to you every night before bed upon our arrival in Kuo Kuana, for as long as you're apart."

Blake's cheeks immediately flushed scarlet, and she raised a hand to rub at and attempt to cover her embarrassing blush.

"He… did?" Blake asked as she failed to fight back a smile. "Neptune, you really don't need to read those, it's the thought that counts, and it's going to be awkward and embarrassing for both o-"

"Nope," Neptune cut in as he wagged a finger. "I promised I would, and I'm Sun's wingman. What kind of wingman would I be if I backed down from something this important?"

Blake took several breaths and ended with a long sigh as her ears twitched in anticipation. Finally, she nodded and gave Neptune her full attention.

"Okay. Ready as I'll ever be."

"…Night One," Neptune began before clearing his throat and returning his eyes back to the compiled text. "Blake- I already miss you more than words can say. I know being back here probably fills you with some pretty conflicted feelings, so I thought I'd remind you of some of the better memories we made along the way. Tonight's a simple one- our first kiss. You told me you wanted to throw caution to the wind and do our best to get to know each other on a deeper level after a series of some really rough events. After all this time, I think we've done that, and gotten to know ourselves a little better, too. Hopefully you remember it as clearly as I do, and you can fall asleep tonight replaying it in your mind. Also, Neptune, if you read this ahead of time and laughed about how lame it is, you suck. Hey, wait!"

Blake laughed lightly as her friend finished reading and closed her eyes as the memory played out in her mind as clearly as the day it had happened. A warm feeling rushed through her as she shrugged her shoulders, and then opened her eyes once again to regard Neptune with a furious blush.

"Neptune… thank you. You're incredible," Blake praised as she leaned into her friend's side and let her head fall upon his shoulder.

"Hey, whoa, Sun's incredible, not me. I'm just the messenger," Neptune protested, only for Blake to shake her head as she sat up once again.

"You didn't have to do this… but it definitely helps, and I appreciate it greatly. I… need to go and spend some time alone before I literally die of embarrassment, but… please, don't ever doubt yourself. You're a good man," Blake offered as she patted Neptune's free hand and slipped off the bed. "Goodnight."

"'night," Neptune called back with a shallow wave as he watched the door close behind Blake. Neptune flopped back onto the mattress with a heavy sigh and let his scroll drop to his chest while shaking his head.

"…women."

Author's Note:

For anyone wondering, no, the Volume 7 chapters won't be following a pattern in terms of perspectives- they've just fallen that way as of the last few. As of right now, it's looking like-

71: All Sun's crew

72: All Sun's crew again

73: Ruby's crew and Blake's

Also, the story is now kicked up to an M rating because Amaya.

-RD