Here is the next chapter, early again, as tomorrow is just gonna be busy, and I'll have no time.
Apologize if I haven't responded.
Been on break (outside a short spell where I updated Torn to Oblivion since I've been playing Genshin and had to wait for the patch) and dealing with quite a few things in my daily life that need to be taken care of.
Spinal surgery is probably on the table at the moment as well... Which is lovely.
Did some last-second editing for this chapter as I realized I left something out in the last scene.
Anyways, hope you enjoy.
So they finally had come for her.
And they sent the Prep School's headmaster for her, of all things. Couldn't bear to see her again, could they?
Neo grimaced. There was nowhere for her to hide, was there? She had no place to go as no one would accept her but here. So they didn't need to send anyone anywhere else.
She had been so isolated all her life she had no friends. No family besides them that, in the end, the only place for her was to go back or…
"I am sorry," Tai's voice resonated, looking straight at the one dead in the eyes sternly. "You are right, it is very late, and it is a school night, so my girls need to get their rest. I met Trivia a couple of years ago when there was an arrangement between her and Naruto to meet with one another. But to say she's here is a bit absurd, Lady Browning."
"We can forgo the formalities. Beatrix is perfectly acceptable or, if you would, Lady Beat as I am well known by." Beatrix replied, her gaze lavender gaze meeting Tai's unflinching as he held a prim and proper stance, a faux smile held on her lips that made all shudder as she stood at the door's threshold. "And I know she is. I have it on good authority she was spotted in Patch in Jim's priceless car talking to your young son there in the middle of town before driving off? Shall I give more evidence, or is that enough to suffice?"
"Perhaps that her illusionary cloaking isn't as good as she thinks it is, and I can see straight through it?" Lady Beat's eyes trailed over and past Naruto's form on the stairs as he stood at the top with Neo poking her head out behind him.
Neo threw her head back in surprise, looking down but unable to see a shimmer through her disguise.
The headmistress could see through her illusion? But how? Naruto couldn't! Even from the quickest glance, it seemed his father couldn't even detect that she was there!
So how was she able to tell that she was?
"That's my sister Neopolitan," Naruto commented as he looked down at the elegant woman, attempting to reason with her. "She kind of gets freaked out by visitors, so she uses her cloaking Semblance to hide…"
"You're a poor liar." Beatrix simply as she stared straight into his ceruleans. "Your voice, expression, and tenseness give it all away. I know who it is, and by all legal rights, she is to come with me. Her parents assigned me guardianship while attending my school, so I am Trivia Vanille's caretaker."
"Oh, well, that settles it." Naruto grinned as he looked around, confused. "Trivia is long gone. I only know of Neo."
"That's not how this works, Naruto." Taiyang inhaled deeply, his eyes skimming toward Naruto pityingly before crossing his arms and facing Beatrix. "I do not feel inclined to hand her over. You don't have a warrant to enter, and I don't see documentation…"
"I dare not intrude," Beatrix spoke confidently as if she was well aware of the circumstances. "But if it is documentation you seek, very well."
Tai's face fell flat as she withdrew a small slip of paper from a purse she held strapped to her shoulder. She met Tai's gaze, her gaze ice-cold and unfeeling.
Neo knew what it was as she watched the man look at the paper. Her entire presence trembled.
But it was not out of fear or sadness.
She was outraged!
Furious!
She had made her choice! She would have chosen to live with the crimes she committed if it meant her freedom! But yet again, it was all swept under the rug, and now she was supposed to accept their decision! To stand for it!
That was what Trivia Vanille would have done! It was not what Neopolitan would do.
Remembering the location of the Dust in Naruto's room, she swiftly retreated to it and retrieved a vial. Running downstairs with fury, glass shattered as she reappeared and snatched the paper from Tai as he went to hand it back to the woman.
Pulling away from them, glass shards built around her as she held the paper outstretched and crumpled in her right. And clutched in her right, she activated her aura and pulsed it through the Dust vial. But that wouldn't be enough. She needed a trigger. Or, in this case…
Smashing the vial open, the Dust violently reacted in her hand, searing it with some of the flesh in her hand. The pain did not matter and felt rewarding…
Her eyes simmered and teared, but she wasn't done. She tossed the paper into the air. Her gaze fixated on it.
Suddenly, a soaring phoenix condensed from the shards, burning from the Dust ruptured vial and blazing with such intense heat that flames seared around it. And the paper crumbled to ashes by merely flying past it.
Then Neo's focus shifted, as did the flaming bird's, and focused on the woman that was her so-called caretaker. And with a single finger, it obeyed her command, swooping toward her target.
"Neo, what are you doing? Not here!" She heard Naruto's voice, telling her not to act rashly, but she was laser-focused on her target.
She knew better, but she did not care!
This woman was trying to take everything she wanted.
She desired!
And she would not stand for it!
This was her choice!
She wanted her freedom, and she would fight for it!
Tai immediately dove out of the way as the phoenix flew dove at the woman with the speed of a hawk.
Yet despite being in a doorway, she almost effortlessly and elegantly let it sweep beside her without so much as a burn or cinder scorch her as it flew outside.
Neo's eyes burned brightly upon seeing this, scowling as she watched her phoenix double around. It would not miss twice!
Her eyes widened at what happened next!
The purse!
It connected to Phoenix's neck as it turned around in mid-flight and cracked its neck! And shattered and exploded into a shower of flaming shards!
As the cinders and flaming glass shards erupted in an inferno in front of the house, Beatrix turned her back to them as if they were nothing to behold. Her gaze was steadfast on Neo. She seemed almost…
Amused.
"I applaud the effort." Beatrix let her words exquisitely roll off her tongue. "But do you really think I would bring the official document, my dear child? I am not so foolish to do such a thing as I knew there would be some… Resistance."
"I would call that more than resistance, ya know!" Naruto barked, his eyes flickering at what he just witnessed his friend did, and his eyes shifted to Neo's rigid form, and worry began to fill him. "Yeah, that's clearly the sign of someone that's been pushed around and finally lashing out! Why don't you back off, lady?"
"Child, if you only knew… The lengths I would go…" Beatrix's voice was low as a whisper, but Neo's eyes squinted as she heard her and saw the woman sigh unpleasantly. "This farce has persisted long enough. If you must know, I came here as a courtesy. The police are on their way, and I simply wished to avoid the inevitable and take her so they don't have to do anything messy and avoid any charges being pressed."
"Yo, what?" Naruto snarled, his body snapping rigid as he felt his heart skip a beat. "You… That ain't right! What is wrong with ya? We did nothing wrong! She, while didn't do things in a legal manner…"
"Was very much living in an abusive home, and we have evidence to back that." Taiyang frowned as he stepped forward, stepping in front of Naruto as he could see how upset he was getting and feared the worse as tinges of crimson and scarlet were forming within his eyes.
This could end badly as he had been having difficulty with his anger, and even he admitted something was about it since having come to this time.
"Then file your complaint and case to the police, but it will hardly matter as she has legally been removed from that situation to a different one," Beatrix responded, almost flaunting her smile at Tai and making the man scowl as she finally turned her attention back to Neo, who was trembling in her spot, gazing upon the woman. "Dear, as you've been listening to all this, I believe you know the consequences of your actions have caused. Now come along, dear. We wouldn't like this to get ugly, now would?"
"Neo trying to kill you isn't ugly?" Naruto had descended the stairs and stood before his friend, unwilling to let her go with this woman, his cerulean eyes passionately emblazoned. "Yeah, not letting her go anywhere! She doesn't want to go with ya, woman!"
"I would have you use her given name," Beatrix nastily replied, lifting her nose at the young man from the lack of respect. "And there isn't a choice. If she wishes not to be taken by the police escort that follows shortly behind and have things escalate here when they arrive, I suggest she comes with me."
"After all, her community sentence will be served at my Academy," Beatrix added with venom, and her lavender eyes pierced into Naruto's growling figure. "So she should be grateful that her father is so lenient so she isn't put behind bars and allows her record to remain clean. And I will be certain to inform them she is here and not to issue a warrant to search and seize her."
Neo felt cold as she heard those words.
So it was either go with her and go to jail? Those were the only options?
So despite everything…
She was still going to be trapped without a choice in the end.
Was her freedom for naught?
"That's not fair!" Naruto still stood before her, shielding her as she could feel his anger and could see her crimson building in his cerulean eyes as they dilated and turned more cat-like and his whisker marks thickened. "Yeah, what she did was a crime, but everything I've seen them do is equally so! I can't shit by and let this happen, so you just aren't going to take her, ya hear!"
"I'll protect my friends no matter the cost, so you are gonna have to come through me to get her!" Naruto let out a low growl as his eyes stayed cerulean despite the tint of scarlet on the edges but held a determined glint within. "By Oum, you better believe it! You aren't touching her!"
Those words…
A warmth spread through her as she gazed upon Naruto, hearing them.
A gentle smile spread across her eyes fell on his determined face. A strange, tingling sensation joined the warmth and jolted throughout her.
She couldn't quantify it. She didn't know what it was.
But what she did know as she saw his father stand at his side, supporting his decision…
Neo couldn't let him get hurt before of her.
So she absorbed every last detail of his face.
She wanted to remember every last bit of it in case this was the last…
No, she wanted something more…
Standing beside him, she placed a hand on his chest. Using it to hoist herself a little higher with strain, she stretched on the tip of her toes and…
Planted a soft, ginger kiss on his right jaw.
Neo smiled regretfully as Naruto looked down upon her, his eyes shimmering as her eyes filled with tears…
Sorry…
This is goodbye.
Turning from him, Neo walked to Beatrix and picked up her parasol from the coat rack by the door.
"Neo, no, we can…" She heard Naruto's voice plead, but she made her choice as she faced Lady Browning, even with tears streaming down her cheek.
She'd face her with as much determination as she could.
This was her choice, and she would face it without regret. To protect him from her.
"Very good," Beatrix smiled condescendingly, motioning for her to follow. "Right this way, Trivia."
Even if it meant costing her freedom.
Little did she know, a small black crow was flying overhead urgently toward the cabin.
Naruto was furious.
No.
He was positively seething.
This was unacceptable!
They were going to try and pin the blame on him with no evidence? Of all the…
The police had come by not only to make sure Neo had gone with Beatrix but to implicate Naruto in the theft and in colluding with her! That he was the mastermind of this, and he had coerced her and deluded her into making these decisions!
That was not what this! How could they even…
Words couldn't even describe his rage!
She had come to him with her plans from the start! Even their first meeting was here, escaping the house and enjoying some free time away from her room and family's inane rules! To be herself!
They had no evidence, and Neo's scroll had been stomped and pitched into the ocean, so there was no hope of them finding it. But the mere thought they were going to try and push this narrative that he was the villain here when what her parents had done to her…
"Fuck all of you!" Naruto bellowed as he felt his rage boil over, slamming his fist repeatedly into a tree in front of him before letting out a pulse as what felt like thunder cracked around him. "You are all so full of shit!"
Like many others, it snapped and gave way in time, and he turned to the next and continued to unleash his frustration upon the world. He wanted it to be them he was smashing, breaking their faces in.
Or that elegant snob woman!
The police officers for not using their brains!
The fox for not telling him a damn thing!
These trees weren't doing it for him! They broke too quickly, and he could…
A growl caught his attention, and his eyes snapped over to it.
Ursa? Several of them too.
A grim smile adorned his lips as he looked at the foul beasts.
Perfect.
They would do as stress relievers!
Rushing out toward them aggressively, not recognizing that his first few steps were on all fours, he swiped at the first with his left. His hand snapped against the Ursa's jaw before it could react, twisting its head and dropping the bear Grimm sending it tumbling to the grass below smoking.
The next roared and lunged forward, trying to jump on top of Naruto in an attempt to maul him with its mighty forearms.
But he was quicker and reacted. He was on its back nearly instantaneously, his left hand driving through and piercing into the back and through the chest of the Grimm. It stopped cold and fell to the ground, smoking as the final two roared, charging in as Naruto freed his hand from the corpse of the Ursa.
With a single backhand, both were knocked back as a wave of chakra like a claw repelled them. One flew into and through a tree as the other skidded against the ground.
It was that poor unfortunate one that was quickly regaining its footing that found the strange chakra appendage wrapping around it, gripping its body and slamming it through yet another several trees and finally pinned to the ground. It was mercifully put to an end as Naruto landed and stomped its head in.
And outstretching his hand, an orb of malevolent, violet chakra began to form in his right as crimson feral eyes focused on the last Grimm that started to regain its awareness.
It was the last thing it saw as the Ursa tried to get back to its feet before the orb shredded it to smoke as Naruto landed on top of it, driving the ball of chakra straight down and shattering the earth itself to dust beneath it into a crater.
A hollow shriek followed as Naruto raised his head and screamed to the sky, letting his frustration out. The skies responded with another thunderous crack as clouds formed overhead.
"Kid!" Qrow's voice called out in alarm, drawing Naruto's attention toward him. "I know you are upset and angry at everything, right? I am too, and as is everyone else! We can figure this out together…"
"But we need you to calm down!" Tai's voice resonated nearby, his blue eyes shimmering as he looked upon Naruto in worry at what he was seeing and spoke with a calm, collected tone. "You are drawing on a lot of the fox's aura. You have to start pulling back before you lose control."
Upon hearing this, Naruto looked at his hands and saw they had morphed. Turned more claw-like in nature with the nails extended.
And they were coated in the fox's crimson chakra.
Fearing the worst, he looked behind him, and his fears were confirmed.
A chakra tail swung with a second, beginning to bubble and take shape.
Eyes widening at the sight of the fox's chakra overtaking him, Naruto started to take steps to calm himself. Deep breaths. Relaxing thoughts. Thoughts of friends and family.
But…
The rage burned. And it continued to fester and interfere with his thoughts.
Overwhelming his mind.
And the second tail forged behind him.
"I-I can't hold it back! Naruto roared as he fell to his hands and knees, trembling as tears of anger and fear flooded him, clawing the ground beneath him.
Naruto couldn't restrain the fox's power. The intensity of his emotion was too much, and now it was taking control.
Ever since the Valley of the End and crossing to this period, he had less control over it.
There had been something wrong with the seal since coming here, and he had far less control over the Nine-Tails chakra then before. And it felt like it was gradually asserting more force into the seal, trying to break free...
"That ain't good!" Qrow yelled, prepared to draw Harbinger if necessary, having brought in a feeling it might be needed. "Kid, you need to fight back against it as best you can! We'll do everything we can to assist!"
"What can we do?" Tai questioned as he dropped into a defensive stance as the heavens cracked above. "If he can't control it…"
"Naruto!" Ruby wailed as she ran straight for her big brother, tears streaming down her face and roses built behind her like a sonic shockwave.
"RUBY!" Three voices simultaneously screamed as she jumped toward him, Father and uncle quickly tried to stop her but could not reach her in time.
Only for silver light to engulf everyone around her.
"Everyone is so upset." Ruby sniffled, solemnly sitting cross-legged with her head down, her new pink bangs covering her misty eyes.
Yang cried out in frustration as she paced back and forth, sneaking into Ruby's room during the commotion to help calm her sister. And now…
She was upset, too, having heard everything that happened downstairs before the police left, and then Naruto angrily stormed off. They listened to a quiet discussion below between Uncle Qrow and their dad, but after a thunder crack, a sudden storm built up, and what sounded like an ominous roar…
They, too, had left the house.
"Ugh, why did all this have to happen?" Yang ranted and raved as she threw her arms in the air. "She was really nice and not bad at all! And why do they think Big Bro could do such things? He is not like that! He's not, you jerks!"
Ruby quietly sat as she listened to her sister's rant, sniffling.
Scared about what happened to her new friend and her brother's girlfriend.
Worried about her family as she hadn't seen everyone upset in such a long time. Not since…
Mom didn't make it back home.
Ruby trembled, no longer listening to her sister as she continued to yell.
Was it all going to happen again?
Was Dad going to go unresponsive?
What about Uncle Qrow? Was he going to disappear a lot again, only to appear and yell at Dad?
And big brother Naruto…
Whose positive energy and hope filled a void…
Left by mom…
Was he going to disappear like Mom?
No! She couldn't lose someone else important to her!
She had to do something!
In a flurry of roses, the door flew open as Ruby came crashing through it. She had only just awakened her Semblance and had no control over it yet. She hadn't put any time into training, for it just happened…
And Dad seemed sad when she did…
"Ruby!" Yang cried out, startled by her sister's actions. "Dad told us to stay…"
"NO!" Ruby resonated, her silver eyes flashing misted with tears. "I'm going! Not losing big brother!"
"Not losing anyone else!" Ruby exclaimed, filled with determination as she blasted down the stairs in a blur of rose petals.
Ruby heard her sister echo her name, giving chase as she went through the front door. She would not catch her. She couldn't catch her in tag…
Now she had activated her Semblance…
Her mother's Semblance…
Another crack of thunder.
Silver eyes glowed unnaturally as they looked up into the clouded sky, frowning. It was clear earlier, but that crack was really close…
Was that where they were?
Bursting that way, feeling very tired as she never used her Semblance this much before. Her silver eyes filled with tears widened.
They were here!
But what was wrong with big brother?
Why was he coated in an evil red aura and trembling like he was afraid?
Was he in pain from it? Was something trying to possess…
Ruby remembered the story Naruto told her and Yang. Tears streamed down her eyes as she knew what it was now…
The Fox Demon!
It was trying to take over! He was overwhelmed by emotions, so it took advantage!
No! She had to do something!
Mom would!
"Naruto!" Ruby wailed, flinging herself toward him, arms open with one last burst of Semblance as she felt an intense burning sensation fill her being.
This was all she could do. But maybe it would be enough.
A hug from her mom always comforted her when she felt upset. Maybe that was what he needed too?
Why was everything slowly turning whi…
Deep breathes.
Calm, relaxing thoughts.
Don't relapse.
Control is mine. I'm not letting it go.
Every part of my body hurts.
Steam is coming off my body.
It's almost like the fox's chakra was…
Purified.
He didn't feel any sense of its malevolent chakra, and what was left was a surge of chakra that was slowly leaving him in a very painful manner. His very skin was hardening...
Like it was turning to stone.
Yet, what was this feeling? It felt almost surreal, and he wasn't sure how to describe it. It felt...
Natural?
He refused to panic and continued to take calming breaths, refusing to move as he felt his skin harden and even the muscles within calcify. Something within him was telling him to stay calm. Almost a soothing presence, guiding him and telling him what to do.
A voice? No... A feeling.
Whatever it was, he listened to it. Was instinct? Was it something else?
He wasn't sure, but he closed his eyes, he took it all in and focused on the foreign feeling. Letting his chakra meld with it, guiding it to where it needed to head. Trying to let it evenly leave his body...
And the strange chakra that he felt within him slowly was released throughout his body. He felt the hardening recede until there was nothing left, and he sighed in relief. Staying calm worked, and whatever that feeling was, it was correct.
He just had to stay calm.
Something rustled within his arms. Looking down into his grasp to see Ruby unconsciously nuzzling against him, squeezing him with the last bit of strength in her body for a hug, Naruto smiled and combed his hand through her hair.
What did you do?
How did you do it?
And again, why is that crescent appearing on your hand once more? Does that mean…
It's there. What do these mean? None of the professors know anything, but why do I feel like they are connected?
Oh, Pops and Qrow are here.
"Under control now…" Naruto struggled to smirk, having difficulty catching his breath. "Whatever that was, put the fox to rest. Little Red is full of surprises."
"Why did you two just share a confused look?" Naruto added after a pregnant pause, and the two shared a concerned glance.
Qrow was the one to break the silence as Tai gingerly knelt before Naruto, taking Ruby from his cradled arms. "Many, many reasons, Kid. After what we just saw from both you and her, there is a lot to discuss right now."
Tai was only able to nod, glancing at his daughter in his arms before over at Naruto. "With what we just saw happening to you after what Ruby did, it's difficult to explain. Just starting from the beginning, where her mother's gift is only supposed to affect the Grimm… So why would it have any effect on you and the fox in the way it did? Then what followed with you can hardly be described as normal... Your skin was gathering warts and turning into stone before it just suddenly, I don't know, turned back to normal?"
"With the strange markings around your eyes for the briefest of moments." Qrow finished, relaying all the details of what they had witnessed.
Naruto's head snapped, and his skin paled, hearing what he was told.
What did that even mean?
Just what were Ruby's mother's powers?
Where did Grimm come from?
And how did they all have some connection to the Fox?
...And what was this about him turning to stone? That actually was happening!
"Wait... Did you say strange markings around my eyes?" Naruto frowned before gently looking down at his right hand, knowing it was there moments before when he checked on Ruby and then himself. "What just happened..."
"May very well be connected to these marks?"
Chapter 30 Preview (Something Light-Hearted Despite who it is...):
"Did you just mock my appearance and mannerisms in a single shot?" Naruto twitched and gnashed his teeth at the massive fox before. "Yeah, not taking this from a giant fox that looks like its mother got fucked by a rabbit, long ears!"
Oh, so original. Come up with that on your own?
"Eat me!"
Don't want to ruin my diet with a dose of idiocy. Might be contagious.
