Author's Note: Grid… is… calculating. Alright, to think I made it this far to chapter 3. I did not expect to even get to chapter one or even two, but here we are at three which is pretty damn amazing if you were to ask me.

Curious on what program I am using to type this story on? Just some old fashion Google Docs, yeah, I know, pretty boring right? Well, I'm just sticking to it since it automatically saves any text once I type with.

That and I am typing from a google chromebook, sssh, so yeah, my options are very limited at the moment.

By the way, did anyone finish playing Demon Slayer on the ps4? I did and it was such an amazing game, the visual graphics made me crave for more stunning art styles.

Chapter Three: The way of the beast

Blake sighed, rolling her shoulders as she crouched down at the entrance of Jaune's burrow. Entering through the hole, her amber eyes scanning through the dark path, before reaching the main den room, which had sunlight sneaking through the cracks above the ceiling.

The burrow, which had a bunch of leaves, dirt, sticks, and mud making up its structure on the outside, was surprisingly cozy on the inside. The den was well organized, stocked with an abundance of food such as meat, fruits piled high above flattened leaves, and animal skins draped neatly over self made wooden racks to dry. It was clear that Jaune A. took great pride in his so-called kingdom, even down to the smallest details.

Not only that, but she also saw a trash pile in the corner of the room, some ripped wrappers of brands of snacks and food she recognized, and as for drinks, Jaune used wine jars, as well as some alcohol bottles to fill with fresh river and rain water.

Judging by all these bottles, the person Jaune spoke of, about a few weeks ago was probably a drunk. A good for nothing drunk that finds little kids in the forest, and don't bring them to safety.

"Tch," Blake clicked her tongue before looking around, "Jaune, I'm back." she took out a sack. Her face slightly flushed.

"I brought back… the goods."

Jaune Airbolt turned his head away from the fresh fruit in his lap, a twinkle appeared in his eyes as he jumped up before rushing towards her. "Hahahaha! Good job, Black! About time those rodents pay up towards their king!" taking the sack from Blake's hands, he opened it up before peering inside.

Seeing the sack full of nuts, acorns, and other treats caused Jaune to giggle in glee.

Blake pouted, "Did I mention those squirrels were rough? Pelting me with some tiny stones when I came near? Fine by the way… and It's Blake, not Black. Blake Belladonna."

"Huh, oh yeah, that's what I said," Jaune waved her away, lapping an acorn up into his mouth with his long tongue, before crunching down, "Blek Beddyfilliona."

A shadow was casted over Blake's face as she sighed, her name wasn't hard to pronounce. Maybe Jaune has a hard time understanding certain words or phrases? Maybe that's why up til now he couldn't say her name? Or… he was just pretending to not understand, but…

Considering the fact that he lived up in the forest all by himself without anyone to properly teach him or give him guidance, she'll give him the benefit of a doubt.

Sure he had his mother, the lovely female boar to teach him, but still, she was a boar.

He needed a human, faunus… a person to actually guide him.

As for the no good drunk? He taught Jaune at least his name, so that was good, but Blake doesn't have high expectations that he taught Jaune anything else.

Safe to say that Blake disliked the drunk.

No, she does not know what he looked like or his name, but considering a person who had multiple chances to save a child in the woods several times, but didn't do it in the end. His character was probably not worth mentioning.

Jaune, who was chewing on his rewards, glanced over at Blake who took interest to his honey pot, slathering some honey onto a leaf before bringing it to her lips.

These past few weeks with his invader, known as 'Beck Shekaronaedonna' , have been interesting. Hell, even fun! Besides showing his magnificent den, and a stroll around his kingdom, he even got her to do his chores of getting food from his loyal subjects!

But still, she's far from the title of Jaune's awesome minion, but her company… was nice.

Better than talking to the, who does she call him? the drunk? and even with all the other animals. Unlike them she understood him, took to listening to his tales with perked interest.

As proud as he was, what came with it was loneliness. He had his mother, and the drunk, but when he was young, he saw the way the other boars and even the other animals looked at him.

He felt their disgust, he knew he was not like the others, but… it hurts in a way.

Hell, those dumb animals didn't even dare to approach him unless he kept challenging them in fights. But only after he conquered them did they really start to listen, but for this intruder?

She was different.

She willingly talked to him, listening to what he had to say.

He liked the different, very much.

On the other side, Blake peeked over her leaf, seeing Jaune stare at her, she gave a small smile.

Ashamed that he got caught staring, he snorted before looking away. His boar face tinted pink. He cursed to himself, damn mushy feelings. Making him, the king of the forest, soft! Crap! Get yourself together tough guy!

Snorting some more, he went to take another bite from the sack when a hesitant voice came over.

"Jaune," Blake began, her voice determined but gentle, "we need to talk."

The boar-headed faunus glanced up, his tusks glinting ominously in the fading sunlight. "What is it?" he grunted, his voice deep and gravelly.

"Your home here, it's impressive. You've done well for yourself," Blake said, gesturing around the burrow. "But you can't stay in this forest forever. There's a whole world out there waiting for you, and I think you would flourish if you gave it a chance."

Jaune paused before sighing, "Not this crap again…"

"Come on, Jaune. You have to listen to me here, there's more to life than just this forest," Blake insisted, meeting his gaze steadily. "You have so much potential, Jaune. But you're limiting yourself by staying here. Aren't you curious about what the outside world is like? Don't you want to explore new places besides your, uh, kingdom?"

"Ha!" Jaune barked a short, bitter laugh while spreading his arms. "You think I'd leave all this behind just because you say so? Blek, this is my home, my kingdom, my grounds and my territory, why should I abandon it now?"

Blake sighed, her ears drooping slightly. She knew how attached Jaune was to his kingdom, and she didn't want to push him too hard. However, she also couldn't deny the fact that Jaune needed to leave here. He had been cooped up here, acting like an animal when he wasn't. He was a faunus, a person, he can't be stuck here in the forest all his life.

"Look, I understand how important this place is to you," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "But if you come with me, you'll experience so much more. Your kingdom will always be yours, Jaune. The forest will always be your home. But sometimes, growth means taking a step outside of your comfort zone."

Jaune stared at Blake for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he let out a deep sigh, his sack now dropped to the floor as he shifted his sitting position.

"Fine," he grumbled, his tusks almost scraping against each other as he chewed on his words. "I'll think… about it. But don't expect me to make any promises!"

Blake smiled, relief flooding through her. It was a small victory, but it was a start. "That's all I ask, Jaune," she replied, her ears flicking contentedly on her head, "Just give it some thought. You won't regre-"

Suddenly pausing, her ears twitched, a low howl echoing through the den from the main entrance of the burrow. The sound sent shivers down her spine, and her hand reached down, the grip on her weapon tightened instinctively.

"Did you hear that?" she asked Jaune, her voice barely more than a whisper. He cocked his boar head to one side, his blue eyes narrowing as he strained to listen.

"Yeah," he replied, his own voice hushed.

"Sounds like trouble's coming our way, a bunch of them too." Jaune continued, his eyes never leaving the entrance of the burrow. He slowly stood up, grabbing his katanas and strapping them securely to his waist.

Blake nodded in agreement, her heart slowly pounding in her chest. "We should be ready for whatever comes our way." She unsheathed Gambol Shroud, the familiar weight of the weapon providing her some comfort amidst the uncertainty.

As they prepared themselves for whatever was approaching, Blake couldn't help but think about their earlier conversation. The thought of Jaune finally considering leaving the forest behind filled her with hope, but she also knew that it wouldn't be an easy decision for him.

"Jaune," she said softly, hoping to offer some reassurance before they faced the unknown. "No matter what happens out there or even in the future, remember that you don't have to face it alone. Someone… I'll be by your side. You don't have to be alone."

He looked at her, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. For a moment, the tough exterior he had built around himself seemed to crack, revealing a vulnerability that touched Blake's heart. And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the vulnerability vanished, replaced by steely determination.

"Enough talking, let's do this," Jaune growled, gripping his katanas tightly. Together, they stepped out of the burrow and into the forest, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The shadows cast by the towering trees above seemed to dance in the flickering light of the sun. Blake's ears prickled at the distant sound of rustling leaves, alert and ready for any sign of danger. Jaune standing beside her, tightened his grip on his katanas as the tension hung heavy in the air.

"From ahead?" Blake whispered, her cat-like eyes narrowing as she tried to pinpoint the source of the sound.

Jaune nodded, his thigh muscles tensing beneath the deer fur pelt. "Growling now, and… getting closer.."

Blake strained her ears, filtering out the natural sounds of the forest until she could discern the distinct, guttural growls. They were still some distance away, but their menacing presence was unmistakable.

"Is it Grimm?," she murmured, caution taking root in her heart. "We need to move, now."

"Got it." Jaune replied, adjusting his stance. His eyes darted around their surroundings, seeking out any potential dangers that lurk the path through the dense foliage.

As they sprinted through the underbrush, Blake couldn't shake the image from her mind. If it was grimm, then how many and what type were they? Inwardly, she cursed herself for getting nervous. Now's not the time to shake in her boots.

"Stay close," Jaune commanded, his voice firm yet laced with concern. "And keep your weapon ready! I don't want to deal with your damn corpse! If you die, I'll resurrect your ass just to kill you again for dying in such a lame way, Blacki Didorra!"

"Right," Blake replied, smiling a bit at his concern. She gripped gambol shroud tighter as she pushed herself to keep pace with him. Her breath came in ragged gasps, adrenaline fueling her every step. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let fear consume her. If they were going to survive this, they needed to rely on each other, and she refused to be a burden.

As they burst into a clearing, Blake pulled Jaune behind a tree, pupils narrowed, they were grimm, their ghastly forms manifesting from the shadows like wraiths. a pack of beowolves, their dark fur bristling and their eyes glowing red with malevolent intent. She could see their muscles rippling beneath their hide as they snarled.

"Jaune," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "These aren't just ordinary beasts," she murmured. "They're grimm."

"Grimm? Is that what you call them? They're Demons," Jaune corrected her, his voice heavy with disdain and hate. "Spawned from the darkness. Damn monsters… killed my mother when she tried protecting me from them." He clenched his jaw, eyes flickering over the encroaching pack, each growl sending icy tendrils down his spine.

The beowolves, upon sensing negative emotions turned their way, and began growling.

"They noticed us," Blake's grip on gambol shroud tightening. She observed Jaune, noting the tension in his shoulders and the steely determination in his eyes.

"You know what? Fine! You want to convince me to leave the forest, Black, then you'll need to show me how you fight!" Jaune barked, his katanas gleaming.

The beowolves prowled closer, their guttural snarls reverberating through the forest. "But know this, Black, you have to show me what you can do! Prove to me that you are worthy to stand beside me in this fight! I won't follow anyone who is weaker than me!"

"I understand," said Blake as she and Jaune stepped away from their cover, in plain sight now. Her eyes never left the advancing pack.

Walking forward, the grimm communicated with one another, as each of them spread out in the clearing until both Blake and Jaune were surrounded.

"We're surrounded, back-to-back?" she suggested, and Jaune nodded in agreement. They took their positions, weapons raised, each prepared to fight as the beowolves began to close in around them.

"Let them come. I was born ready!" Jaune growled, raising his katanas in a defensive stance. "We'll show these demons what we're made of!"

"Watch closely," she whispered, a feral smile curling her lips.

Suddenly all the beowolves charged towards the two.

Blake and Jaune gave out a war cry, meeting them head on.

As the closest beowolf lunged, Blake sprang into action, her movements swift and graceful. She parries another beowolf's attack with ease, in a quick movement slicing through it.

She caught a glimpse of Jaune in her peripheral vision, his katanas slicing through the air like twin bolts of lightning, decimating the grimm into the ground.

Blake dodged and weaved around the closer grimm, her blade slicing through their dark forms as if they were nothing more than smoke.

"Watch your back!" she called out to Jaune when she noticed a beowolf lunge for him from behind. With a swift flick of her wrist, gambol shroud changed forms, shooting towards the creature's feet, tripping it up and giving Jaune the opportunity to finish it off.

"Thanks," he grunted, dispatching the beowolf with a flourish of his katanas. "Now let me show you what a real beast can do!"

Jaune closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as he centered himself. When he opened them again, there was a fire within, burning with a ferocity that Blake had never seen him have before. He moved with purpose, each step deliberate and precise as he advanced towards the beowolf that jumped towards his direction.

"Beast Breathing," he whispered, his voice carrying on the wind. "Third Fang!" leaping into the air to meet the grimm with his arms crossed.

The beowolf sent a claw to which Jaune dodged.

Spinning and kicking the claw away, Jaune snorted, vapor escaping from his jaws, "Devour!" he swung his katanas, carving a path through the grimm's throat, decapitating it.

Nearing the ground where two beowolves reached out for him, Jaune spun while descending in mid air. "Beast Breathing - Fifth Fang: Crazy Cutting!" he called out, his blades slashing in all directions in a series of untamed, sinuous motions that left the grimm reeling back into chopped up pieces, whatever left of them crumbling to dust as they fell.

As Jaune spun in the air while using his technique, Blake couldn't help but be mesmerized by the sheer viciousness and power of his movements. His movements were wild, each stroke of his katanas leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, but she could also see a sense of violent elegance in it.

It was like an actual beast of nature.

Wild, but free!

"Jaune!" she called to him over her own fight, her voice filled with admiration. "Your fighting is incredible!"

"I know it is!" He yelled, acknowledging her praise, but his focus remained on the remaining grimm that encircled them.

Jaune slashed another grimm apart, with a deep breath, he prepared himself for the next attack.

"Beast Breathing," he murmured once more, his eyes narrowing as he stepped back, dodging a claw. "Second Fang: Slice!"

In a blur of motion, Jaune stepped forward, deer pelt fluttering in the wind at his speed, his katanas were lifted above his head before slicing them down through the grimm with devastating precision. He moved onto the next demon like a whirlwind, each slash and parry bringing down another foe until the very ground seemed to shake beneath him.

And so both Blake and Jaune fought, side by side, their blades singing a deadly duet as they cut a swath through the remaining encircling pack. The darkness was alive with the sounds of battle growls and snarls, the clash of steel, firing of bullets, and the hiss of the wind as it whipped through the trees.

"Last one!" Jaune shouted in glee, his eyes locked onto the final grimm that snarled menacingly in front of them. "First Fang: Pierce!"

The demon used it's arms to try block the attack, but it was futile.

Mustering everything into the single attack, Jaune charged, his katanas stabbed forward, piercing through the demon's arms then through to its chest.

"Black!"

"Already on it!" from behind the howling beowolf, Blake appeared, and with one swift stroke, the grimm was beheaded, soon turning into dark essence that dissipated into the air.

"Is it over?" Blake asked once she landed, her breathing heavy as she surveyed the battlefield

Jaune nodded, his arms crossed over his chest. "For now," he replied, his voice barely audible. "But they'll be back. They always come back."

The wind gently whispered through the trees, their once menacing shadows now softened in the wake of the defeated grimm. Jaune's heart swelled with pride and relief, but beneath the triumph from the battle, a pang of sorrow threatened to surface.

"... Alright, Black," his proud tone fading, "You fought good, you win, I'll… join you."

His gaze soon drifted to the nearby critters that had gathered due to the sound of the battle, their tiny eyes wide with awe and terror as they watched the king.

"Huh? Oh right…" Blake saw something in Jaune's eyes that made her walk over to him and hug him.

Jaune kept quiet as his head was nestled against Blake's chest, his eyes closed, feeling and hearing her warm heartbeat.

"Jaune," Blake said softly. "I know that leaving this place won't be easy for you. This forest has been your home for so long, and I understand that these critters mean everything to you."

"Tch," Jaune grunted as he sniffed at Blake's bosom, "More like punks who refuse to meet their king when he demands it…"

Hearing a chattering sound, both Blake and Jaune looked down to see a few squirrels approaching, the other animals stayed back as they watched.

Jaune bent down, his fingers absentmindedly stroked the fur of the puny rodents who climbed up and perched themselves on his body, their heartbeat racing against his touch.

The weight of the decision that lay before him suddenly grew heavier, threatening to crush him, to the point where even tears can be seen in his eyes.

"Black," Jaune began, his voice wavering as he spoke. "What if... What if it's not enough? There are already animals who despise my looks. I don't give a damn about them, believe me… but, what if others start hating me too because of it?"

"It hurts," Jaune's voice soon became that of a whisper, "to be alone…"

"Then we'll find another way," she replied, her hand reaching out to grip his arm reassuringly. "But even if they don't like you, then don't worry, there are others, believe me. There are people out there who will accept you for who you are… just like me."

"And if they do don't like you," Blake paused before saying in a playful tone, "then I'll kick their ass."

Jaune gawked before letting out a huge laugh.

He stood up, slinging an arm over Blake's shoulder and pulled her in.

Blake was stunned, but quickly smiled, her head resting against his head.

A heavy sigh soon escaped his jaw as he looked down at the critters from the distance, each one watching him with a variety of emotions. Sure, they were jerks most of the time, but they were his family, his friends, his responsibility, but perhaps, in leaving, he'll make them happy without his pig face around to boss them.

"Alright," he whispered, the word barely audible as it left his lips. "I'll go with you, Black. But know this, I'm not doing this to be all mushy and soft, I'm doing this, uh, to become stronger. Yeah, that's it! I'll be the baddest badass that ever walked out the forest lands!"

Blake giggled, "Sure, sure, and thank you," she said. Her voice filled with warmth. "I promise, Jaune, I'll be there for you and with you, every step of the way. We'll face this journey together."

"Yeah, together… by the way, can I bring all my stuff with me?"

"Only some." a stern voice told him, refusing to allow him to bring the whole burrow with him.

"... Hm! Fine!"

-A few months later-

"RAAAGH! DIE! MONSTER!"

"JAUNE, STOP! THAT'S NOT A MONSTER! IT'S A BULLHEAD!"