AN: Two chapters this month like I said. Let me tell you, I'm quite tired. Hard to type when other stresses are piling up, but here it is. I won't say much more as I want to go ahead and dive in. I hope you all enjoy the chapter. See you in the next one.
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The Calm Before II ~ White Thoughts
Weiss took a deep breath, letting the scent of the pillow envelope her. The bed was soft and though it was not as relaxing as her own, it was sufficiently comfortable. A comfort that was added to by the silence of the room. Hinata had managed to get them a thin wall to separate the bedroom from the common area. Through the use of seals, the sounds from the other room had been all but eliminated.
Weiss briefly wondered why they couldn't have gotten one of the many shinobi around them to put that wall in earlier, but she let that thought pass. Well, Weiss knew that 'let' was a strong word. She wasn't letting any thoughts pass. She could just hardly focus on them. Weiss took another breath. The pillowcase smelled fresh. She knew it had just been cleaned, but the slight smell of soap was mixed with that of outside. She assumed it was dried on a clothesline but before her thoughts could stray further down that line her prevailing thoughts dominated her mind once more.
Weiss was at a loss. And this was rare. She had been hurt when Naruto rushed to Hinata the moment he'd seen her. It was silly of her, really. She knew he was taken by Yang already. Despite that, she had had some small bit of hope that his attentions would one day rest upon her.
Those thoughts no longer lingered in her mind. Weiss did not foresee Naruto leaving Hinata and his home. It saddened her but she had expected Yang to feel far worse. She had been prepared to comfort the other girl, what with her being the only other person who could truly relate. That, however, is not what occurred. Weiss bore witness to something far more bizarre in her opinion. She saw her friend smile and welcome her greatest relationship threat into her life.
Yang laughed and chatted with Hinata as if the woman was an old friend. Weiss could see that the pale-eyed woman was not nearly as comfortable being around Yang as Yang was around her, but Hinata did not shy away from her. It hadn't always been that way, of course. Hinata had seemed particularly cautious of Yang when she first showed up but one private conversation later and she'd acted as she did now.
What could have possibly been discussed? Weiss couldn't truly fathom it. She'd talked to Winter about it and her sister was similarly confused. Winter didn't understand why Yang was so cordial in the first place. Weiss was aware that was simply Winter's bias, however. She still disliked Naruto even though he hadn't done anything to earn her ire since their initial arguments after arriving here.
Weiss sighed, heard the door in the next room open, and lifted her head from her pillow. Yang's voice was loud enough to penetrate the wall of the room as she announced her return, but everything after that was muffled. Weiss wondered if Naruto was with her but chose not to dwell on it. It had nothing to do wit her in the end, after all.
She set her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. Not even five minutes later, the door opened, and someone stepped in. Weiss glanced up and saw Yang. The blonde looked about until their eyes met and she smiled. Weiss simply could not understand how Yang could be so… content.
Even without considering the situation with Naruto, there was so much going on for them right now. Trapped in another dimension with no concrete way home and a looming threat of godly devastation hung over them like a dark cloud. Yang was separated from her sister and her father had just died. She should have been grief stricken. And yet…
Weiss couldn't fathom it. And nor could she hold her thoughts at bay any longer. "Why are you so cordial with Hinata?" Weiss asked.
Yang blinked. "Well, that's one way to welcome someone back I guess." Yang stepped around Weiss's bed and sat on her own. It was situated next to Weiss's, so Yang was able to speak with her face to face. Weiss, a little annoyed at Yang's deflection sat up and faced her.
"I'm serious, Yang."
"I know. Thanks for looking out for me, Weiss. I know what I'm doing though."
"But what are you doing, exactly?" Weiss leaned forward a bit and Yang sighed.
"If I tell you, I need you to promise you won't yell. I'll cover your mouth if you try." Yang said. Weiss's face scrunched up and she suddenly had the terrible thought that Yang might intend to stay here with Naruto. Loathe as she was to admit it, it made a frightening amount of sense. They didn't know if they could make it back to Remnant and they couldn't very well ask Naruto and Sasuke to come back with them on what could potentially be a one-way trip if they did find a way back.
Weiss had tried not to let some of her darker musings be anything more than fleeting, but Yang's words made her think. Ozpin was dead. Naruto and Sasuke likely wouldn't return to Remnant. It was entirely possible that Salem had killed their loved ones after they vanished. On the slim chance the woman hadn't, they didn't have a way to stop her now even if they went back.
It was a thoroughly depressing train of thought and Weiss hated that she could understand. "Yang…I know you must be grieving, but you can't truly mean to remain here."
"What? Weiss, I'm not thinking of staying in the EN." Yang said.
"Oh… That's good. What is it then?" Weiss sighed in relief; glad she'd merely jumped to conclusions.
"I'm going to share Naruto with Hinata," said Yang.
"I see. That's… wait, wha—!" Her outburst was cut off by Yang leaning forward and conversing her mouth as promised.
"Quiet! What did I just say earlier?" Yang said. Weiss spent the next few seconds mumbling into Yang's hands. It was nearly a minute later when she finally stopped talking. Slowly, and with a look of suspicion, Yang removed her hands from Weiss's mouth.
"You can't be serious Yang!" Weiss's harsh whisper made Yang flinch, but little else. She knew she would have to bring this up with Weiss eventually. Yang just hadn't expected it to be right when she got back from discussing it with Naruto.
"I am."
"But… but why?"
"Well… she technically had first dibs. This seemed like the easiest way to solve everything."
"I don't believe that for a second, Yang! You can't expect me to believe you're happy about this. He would be cheating on you! And you're encouraging it!"
"Well, not really cheating if I give him permission," she chuckled with a smile.
"Yang!" Weiss was positively scandalized.
"Fine, fine. You're right. I'd be lying if I said this is what I wanted," Yang said. At least not with Hinata, she thought. "I'd prefer to have him to myself… and the thought of him with someone else stings… but there aren't really any other alternatives. You know he's important here. Politically and militarily. Even if he wanted to come back with us, he couldn't. The Hokage wouldn't let him. And I don't think his conscience would either.
"But I have faith that he and Sasuke will find a safe way to traverse between our dimensions. I want to keep my relationship with him."
"That doesn't explain why you would share him," Weiss said.
"Weiss… say our relationship truly lasted. Do you think they'd allow his wife and thus, his children to be from another dimension? He comes from a once prominent clan apparently. I imagine they'd like to ensure that lineage continues in their world. And I'm not all that interested in moving here. At least, I can't foresee that right now. So… I can share him or never have him at all."
"But… but…"
Yang smiled at the other girl. "I can understand your confusion. Let's just say I've kind of had this in the back of my mind since I found out about Hinata. I've had some time to work this out in my own head… and besides, I like women too. Hinata's pretty hot." Yang took great pleasure in watching Weiss's pale skin shift into the color of a tomato.
Weiss opened her mouth but all that came out was incoherent noises. Yang's smile turned into a smirk. She'd broken her.
"You… do?" Weiss asked, slowly.
"Mhm. What, you never noticed when I would flirt with you?" Yang replied and marveled as Weiss went redder than she'd thought possible.
Ozpin opened his eyes as his heart rate calmed. He let his head rest against the wall of the alley Oscar had hidden himself away in; his breath coming shallow and fast. Even after all these times, he never could stop fearing those last moments before his death. It was always a terrifying experience. And now, he knew, he would have to experience it at least once more. Ozpin sighed wearily and wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his palm. He looked down at his hands. His once pale skin was now tanned, and his fingers were smaller. He wasn't quite a child, but he was no adult either.
If he could guess, Ozpin was sure he wasn't even of age to be in Beacon yet. A frown crept onto his face. Of all the times to be reborn into the body of a child, this was not it. There was too much to accomplish. Ozpin took a deep breath, steadying his emotions before they caused his thoughts to ruin rampant.
His death at Salem's hands had always been a possibility. It wasn't outside his calculations, but he'd hoped Naruto and Sasuke would have already finished their business before his life became forfeit. Without them around, Ozpin was unsure if his fall had been the sole casualty. He desperately hoped it was. Slowly, Ozpin stood from the ground and stepped from the alley into the street. He needed to try and contact Qrow or James before Oscar awoke.
Yang waited until Weiss got ahold of herself before setting her scroll down. She knew it was mostly useless here in the Elemental Nations, but she could still play some of her games and go through her pictures. She'd busied herself with just that while Weiss had been freaking out next to her. Sure, the younger woman had hardly done anything but go red in the face and stare off into the distance this whole time, but she'd been entirely unresponsive too.
"Inconceivable…" Weiss whispered.
"You good, Weisscream?" Yang asked.
"You did not seriously just make such a foolish inquiry…" Weiss glared at her and Yang chuckled. Weiss hadn't even reacted to being called Weisscream. If that didn't tell her everything she needed to know, nothing would.
"Well…" Yang shrugged. Weiss sighed.
"So, you plan to share him with Hinata. Because you think she's… hot. Among other things." Said Weiss.
"I'm not sure I like that you make it sound like her looks are what's most important." Yang said.
"I just can't fathom you putting as much thought into social status as you have."
"Hey!"
Weiss rolled her eyes. "You usually act before thinking. Are you really that surprised?" Yang opened her mouth to dispute that statement but shut it a moment later and just pouted. "Don't be a baby, Yang."
"You're being awfully rude for someone who was a tomato just a few seconds ago." Said Yang. Red dusted Weiss cheeks and she cleared her throat as she glanced away from the blonde.
"Yes, well… you caught me unawares with your response."
"That I like girls? Or that I flirted with you?"
"Anyway! How are you going to get them to agree to this?" Weiss asked.
"Well, they already have. Hinata was a tad reluctant but said that such a practice wasn't entirely unheard of here. In fact, Naruto is a prime candidate for such a thing. As for Naruto himself, he was just stunned… but he was all for it if Hinata and I were happy with it."
"This is unbelievable…"
"So you've said," said Yang. Not that she didn't agree with Weiss. She'd been surprised with Hinata's agreement herself. It had taken the other girl far less time to think it over than she ever expected. Yang had been expecting weeks of work. It had only taken Hinata a day or two to agree. Her love for Naruto must have been tremendous and it made Yang wonder how much they'd gone through together.
The speed with which her plan was progressing pleased her though. Now she didn't have to try and juggle getting Hinata onboard alongside the much more prudish Weiss. Yang couldn't even begin to imagine what she'd have to do to broach the subject with her. She was sure the scandalized look on her face would be at least partially worth it though. For now, however, she'd let it go. She'd dropped enough bombs on Weiss just now as it was. There was no point in adding this to the list.
"Wait… you told me to tell Naruto how I felt while you were with him. You said it was for closure… but you'd seemed so confused when I thought you were rubbing it in that you were with him. Had you… planned on trying to share him with me?" Weiss asked.
Yang stared. She was startled, at a loss for words, really. She'd underestimated how sharp Weiss was. And to be honest she hadn't expected the girl to remember such a short conversation from weeks ago. Back before their lives got flipped upside down.
"…And here I was wracking my brain for a way to tell you that…"
"Yang I ca—"
"Ah, ah!' Yang wagged a finger before her, cutting her off. "No. I don't want to hear your response right now. Weiss, I'm betting you'd say no now just because you're shocked and scandalized. I never intended to tell you right now. I'd hoped to warm you up to the idea more. So don't say anything. I just want you to give it some thought… maybe join the three of us on outings sometimes. Just… see how you might like it."
"…You're crazy." Said Weiss after a moment.
"I've been told that too," Yang smirked.
"What would my sister think…? She hates Naruto. And now his girlfriend is asking me to join his harem…?"
"More like my harem than his, honestly." Yang replied. Weiss did not see it that way. Even if it fit in the oddest of fashions. "Besides, who cares what Winter thinks? It's your life. You live it how you want."
"I wanted him to myself."
"Sometimes compromises must be made," said Yang.
"I do not think that saying is supposed to fit for something like this."
"Well, I beg to differ."
"That's unsurprising. You're uncouth," Weiss scoffed.
"Weiss, you're just trying to avoid thinking about this by bickering with me. Can we stop? I want you to give this some real thought."
"I just don't understand how you could possibly want to share your boyfriend."
"I don't!" Yang hissed, leaning forward almost as though she was ready to strike at her. Weiss leaned back in turn, her eyes a bit wide. "I told you I'd prefer to have him to myself! I would really. Even back in Remnant when I suggested you confess for closure, I don't think I could have gone through with actually asking you to join us… regardless of how I feel about you. Why are we even talking about this again? I already told you this isn't what I wanted!"
Weiss blushed prettily, her lips parting to speak. She let a sigh pass them instead and took a deep breath before trying again. "Then I don't understand why you don't just fight for his sole affections. Disregard the rules of his world. Yang, he's your man!"
"Because he won't choose me that way, Weiss!" Yang said, her words quivering and watery. And though her words were a whisper, Weiss felt as though the other girl had shouted. She had not quite seen Yang like this. Even when she thought Naruto had lied to her, Yang had been more put together. Weiss tried to say something, anything, but her head was too jumbled. Yang continued uninterrupted. "His home is too important to him. He has too much history here. Weiss, Either I do this, or I lose him. And I figured I'd at least give you the chance yourself. If I'm already going to be sharing him anyway, what's the difference between doing it with one girl or two? Especially if I've already been attracted to one of them for a while."
Weiss pursed her lips and looked away from the other girl. She felt a little guilty for digging like she had. Yang would clearly be upset about this. How could she not be? But she was always good at putting up a front. She was probably better at it than anyone else on team RWBY actually. The Fact she'd exploded at all was proof that this whole thing concerned her more than she let on.
Weiss wondered how scared Yang was of losing Naruto. They'd only been together for a short time. If the circumstances weren't what they were, she might have thought Yang extremely immature for caring for him so deeply already, but the man had already done so much for Yang that Weiss could kind of see how the feelings would develop quicker. Naruto was a special man. Clearly, Yang could see that.
"Fine… fine, I'll think about it. I apologize for upsetting you, Yang."
"Thanks… and s'okay. It's not really your fault. Maybe now I can finally talk to someone about all this."
"Of course you can. We're teammates… just stop calling me Weisscream."
Yang snorted, and though she still sounded wet, she was smiling.
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That's the chapter. A very Weiss and Yang centric chapter. No Naruto characters in this one at all,. In fact. We take a very brief glance into Remnant to see Oscarpin planning to contact his confidants and that's about it. I hope you're all looking forward to next chapter.
If there are any questions you all have, feel free to leave a review. If you want some sort of more in-depth discussion, then go ahead join the discord. Peace out.
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