And here we are again! We are going to be speeding things up a bit this chapter, just you wait and see. The quarter finals are pretty much over, and that means that the semi finals will be starting soon.

Masso2010: Neo just did some Neo things, and no there isn't actually going to be a pairing before Beacon starts, that MIGHT change, emphasis on the might. But not anytime soon at least.

Oblivious Ninja IJ: Yeah, Neo does that. It's something we all love about her.

Arctech: It's no problem man, I honestly feel the same way you are. Also for your first review. You managed to make me laugh a bit when you said i somehow managed to make half the chapter just an ice cream relaxation arc and still made it entertaining. I just have that kind of effect, looking back at how I wrote about 9 months ago I can see that I improved a lot, I don't think I would have been able to pull it off before now.

Thank you everyone for the reviews and the votes! I appreciate it!

Current Poll results: [ENDING NEXT CHAPTER, VOTE NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T!]

Ruby Rose- 67

Yang Xiao Long- 67

Orchid Rosa- 29

Weiss Schnee- 26

Blake Belladonna- 25

Neo- 24

Pyrrha Nikos- 22

I've started a new story by the way guys, it is just one chapter in and it is going to be delving into a genre I haven't tried my hand at yet. Go take a look!

The title is 'Detective Grimm' and the main character is… you'll find out as soon as you read the summary, it is my first story that I will not be having an OC in. Even if it says so in the characters section of the summary.

Beta: Crowskull

The Blind Huntsman

Chapter 27- Volume 0, Episode 25

True Self

"A murder? In the middle of the festival?" Malikai asked, eyes wide with shock and anger. "Who was killed?"

"A Huntsman." Qrow answered for him somberly. "I made it just in time to be there for the poor bastard as he died, I wasn't able to see the killers face since he had a hood on, but he had a crimson sword, and a White Fang mask."

"A Huntsman was murdered by the White Fang?" Malikai almost didn't believe it, but he knew that there was just some unknown people out there who were extremely skilled in their own right just out there in the world. He used to be on of those people after all.

"Correct, we saw what happened on the cameras. Here, let me show you and it should answer some of your questions." Albedo said as he brought up a remote and turned on one of the televisions in the office. Without a word Malikai nodded at him and tracked his silver eyes on the screen, narrowing when he saw the murdered Huntsman simply standing and enjoying a cigarette while facing a view of the Kingdom of Mistral.

A few seconds later, someone in all black fell from the ceiling behind him. The person must have been using the rafters or using some kind of equipment to travel along the ceiling. The Hunter didn't hear him, so he must have been adept at stealth.

All he saw was the back of the would be murderer, on the back of his black coat he saw some sort of white emblem on his back, with another design of a rose with a stem layered over the white emblem, and traveling down to the middle of his back. He narrowed his eyes as he saw the person place a hand on the hilt of his sword and slowly unsheathe it. The insignia on his back glowing red along with his sword, and in one fluid motion, and a burst of black and red energy, the Huntsman found himself being nearly cut in half, his aura being completely bypassed by the strong semblance that the White Fang agent just displayed. A small flurry of blood colored rose petals flowed around the man's wound before dissipating.

As the man died, Qrow came in his bird form, transforming into a human and attacking the White Fang agent. After a few short exchanges, the White Fang agent escaped by jumping out of one of the windows, being caught by a black ribbon after just a few seconds of falling. Qrow could have chased them, but decided against it and tried to save the dying man. But he was dead before Qrow could do anything about it.

"We've identified the man who killed him to be Adam Taurus, the insignia on his back has been seen many times in Atlas when their camps were being raided." Ozpin said as he shut off the television, earning back the attention of all of his subordinates.

"He's a Hunter killer," Albedo continued for him. "This particular Huntsman wasn't particularly fond of the faunus, so that must have been what got him targeted."

"But what is the White Fang doing killing someone in the middle of this year's Vytal Festival?" Malikai asked. "Especially in an arena full of huntsman and huntresses in training, with not a small amount of fully training Hunters. Hunters protect all people, human or not, attacking this place won't give them any positive fame."

"That is what I hope is the case as well." Ozpin started as soon as he stopped talking. "It may be harsh, but I hope that the murder was just that; A murder. The Huntsman was a racist, which made him a target of the White Fang, they must have sent Adam Taurus for his well known nature to have the skill of a fully trained Huntsman, he is regarded as extremely dangerous."

"So what do you want me to do?" Malikai asked finally. "Why do you need me here? You know stealth isn't my thing, I could try to find this guy now, but I doubt that he would hang around here after doing what he just did."

"My thought exactly, but we can never be too sure." Ozpin said.

Malikai arched an eyebrow, and leaned against a wall. His silver eyes staring blankly at Beacon's headmaster. "Explain."

"Straight to the point, as always." Ozpin smirked slightly, before his lips turned back down into a thin line of neutrality. "Very well, I'll get straight to the point. I have reason to believe that there might be a terrorist attack during this festival."

That earned Malikai's full attention. His family was enjoying the festival, as were his son's friends. His silver eyed glare was enough indication for Ozpin to explain the situation to him more in-depth.

"I need you to go on a mission, not a long one. You should be able to return tomorrow morning for your sons match. I'll make sure of it." Ozpin said with a smile.

"My son is going to be the first match again? What a randomizer you have going on." Malikai said with a roll of his eyes, but his appreciation was left unsaid, and he didn't need too. Ozpin was able to read Malikai that well, they were close allies at one point in their lives.

"Quite, I will permit you to see your family, the choice to tell them about your mission will be yours of course. It shouldn't be anything to be worried about, just a caution procedure." Ozpin explained.

"And what is this mission going to be?" Malikai asked next.

"I want you to go into the kingdom of Mistral, and to Haven if you must, and learn about any White Fang activity. If you do, interrogate them and find out what they are doing in Mistral. You may use whatever means you deem necessary." Ozpin briefed him without missing a beat.

"I hope you realize that I might not be able to do this in the eighteen hours there's left until my son's match begins." Malikai pointed out.

"Of course I don't, but I will not be making the mistake of barring you from seeing your son's match, and besides, even if I did you would just watch it on a television." Ozpin said with a smug smile when Malikai scoffed at him, proving his point.

"Fair enough, I'll get started right away, after my son's match is done tomorrow I'll focus on the mission. I'll send you whatever I find out through our scrolls." Malikai said as he turned to leave the room. "Is there anything else any of you need me for?"

"Actually, I have something I need to talk to you about." Qrow spoke up, and made to follow him out. "Something in private if you don't mind."

"Sure, just come with." Malikai said as he left the room, pausing for just a second just in case Albedo or Ozpin had one more thing that they had to say to him. When that second ran out and Qrow caught up with him, he shut the door behind him.

"I'll be upping the security around here, we don't want any more assassinations to take place." Albedo said as he already got to work on one of the other computers.

"As you wish, I only hope that the security won't be needed." Ozpin said as he took back his seat, and begun to do his own work.

"As do I Ozdick, as do I."

"..."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Malikai asked his long time friend beside him, accepting the gift of a drink from his flask and downing about half of it in one go. The stress of being a Huntsman already coming back to him.

"It's about Raven, we didn't really get to talk about her when you came through her portal." Qrow said as he took his flask back, and downed the rest of it in one go before putting it back in his coat pocket.

Malikai sighed and leaned farther forward over the railing into the cold air of the approaching night. He knew this talk was going to come eventually. He could still remember the time he came through Raven's portal, and the shocked expression that was on Qrow's face when not only he, but the current Spring Maiden stepped through the portal. It took a bit of convincing to get Qrow to let Malikai and Vernal through, but after a while, he managed it. They have had that unpleasant talk awaiting them ever since then.

"What do you want to know?" Malikai asked him finally, a soft expression on his face.

"I already know why she saved you, she doesn't act like it, and she thinks she is fooling everyone. But she still cares about some people. It's a very short list of people, I can count all of them on one hand, but I know you are on the list. You were the first to create a bond other than myself and our family. You've managed to keep the bond ever since, even after you broke up." Qrow said.

"Hm." Malikai hummed, vaguely remembering the times he shared with Team STRQ almost thirty years ago. It feels so long ago now… he is getting close to retirement age. Not that it mattered at all, he still had too much to do before he can hang up the sword.

"So it doesn't surprise that when she sensed you being in danger, she came by to save you. That is some debt you have to pay off to her." Qrow pointed out.

"I don't owe her anything." Malikai claimed. "I already did what she wanted, taught one of her apprentices almost everything I could teach her. Now I just want to stay with my family.

"I get that, and I agree with you." Qrow said with a snicker. "But you know Raven is not the forgiving type, when she finds out that your broke the deal you made with her…"

"I can beat her, if that is what it takes. Her empty threats to harm my family are not scaring me." Malikai said, his expression and demeanor now much more hardened and intimidating.

"Yeah… that was one of the things I wanted to talk about with you." Qrow said with a sigh.

He thought long and hard about it, about whether or not he should tell Malikai about Raven and her secret training of Kai. He's known for a while, it was part of his mission since Malikai was presumed dead to look after Kai, even when he didn't know he was there. Imagine his surprise when he saw Raven Branwen, his twin sister training him in the night. Teaching him ways to fight, actually smiling around him even. It was like she was being a mother to him. Which was odd, because she wasn't even a mother to her own daughter.

He feigned ignorance when Raven came to speak with him, just like he has with Kai, who thankfully hasn't asked him if he knew that Raven was training him already. The kid seemed to have figured it out himself anyway. He wasn't exactly subtle about it when he overheard Kai asking his father if Raven had a twin sister. Which nearly made him laugh out loud and blow his cover.

He knows that Raven cares for Kai… somehow, but still. He knew his sister. She wasn't cut out to be a mother, trainer and teacher sure, but could not be trusted with kids.

"What is it Qrow?" Malikai asked, the few moments of silence passing by and the sudden sound of his friends voice brought Qrow back to reality.

Well, might as well get it out there… "You think Raven might still care about you? In that way I mean?" He said something that was completely out of left field, surprising Malikai and even himself with his own words.

"What?" Malikai asked, confused.

"I mean, she saved your life, she still cares about you in some way. Maybe she had a relapse or something." Qrow said with a shrug.

He just couldn't do it, Malikai was already going on a mission, and he was already going through a lot of stress. Having another child at the age they are at now must have been amplifying that stress even more. Telling him that his dangerous sister was secretly training his son? Yeah, in the end, he convinced himself not to do it.

Malikai actually snickered, before blowing out into a fit of laughter that Qrow was quick to join up on. He hasn't heard Malikai laugh like that for a long time. It was nice to see his friend in such a state of joy.

"Qrow, no offense, but I don't think Raven is even capable of feeling emotions like that anymore." Malikai said after he recovered from his uncharacteristic fit of laughter.

"None taken, I've already been thinking about that years already. Honestly it surprises me that she even has the ability to be nice every once in a while." Qrow said, nudging Malikai in his elbow with his as they let out a few more chuckles.

"Thanks Qrow, I think I needed that." Malikai started. "I never thought I would find myself working under Ozpin again, especially after… what happened with Summer." His demeanor shifted completely to one of rare sadness, Qrow did the same thing a few seconds later. Both of them remembering their friend and leader respectively.

"Well… for what it's worth," Qrow placed a hand on his friends shoulder, showing a manly display of affection. "I'm glad to have you back Mally."

Malikai scoffed, and backed away from the railing, his back quickly being turned to Qrow. "That nickname was never clever." He said in a barely amused tone as he walked away.

"Bye to you too!" Qrow exclaimed with a wave as Malikai flipped up a very specific finger at him as he walked away.

Once he was out of sight and out of earshot, Qrow clutched his head with both hands and sighed. Cursing at himself for not being able to tell one of his best friends a very important piece of information! How hard was it? Not at all was the answer to that question. He had one thing that he wanted to do, but after replaying the possible courses of events in his head over and over again, he just ended up going against the decision to tell Malikai what Raven was doing with his son.

Kai didn't know what he was getting into, he must have figured out by now that Raven is the first wife of Taiyang, and that she was the mother of Yang, one of his best friends. Then when Yang was just a baby, she abandoned her daughter and husband both for reasons still unknown to this day. That she was incredibly dangerous, easily on par with Malikai himself, even better then he was if he was being completely honest.

Yet, while knowing all of that, Kai still was accepting training under her.

Why…?

"Damnit Kai, if I knew you would become this much of a pain in the ass, I would have never started caring about you." Qrow said right before he turned into a bird, and flew off to his favorite bar in Mistral.

Luckily that place also had an Inn for him to stay at, and if he was playing his cards right, maybe a woman to accompany him.

It was about five in the morning, Kai woke up early to get a training session in. He started feeling his body get just slightly softer in the few days he has honored his mother's wishes to slow down on his crazy training regime. But now that he knows that his training won't even work unless there was Grimm around, all he needed to do was focus on what he was weak with. He was already strong and fast, now he was just practicing stances, certain slashes with his swords, and even some hand to hand combat.

Yang and Taiyang warned him to at least get somewhat good at unarmed combat. If he were to ever lose his weapon, get disarmed, or just not have it with him at the time of being attacked. It would be good for him to know how to fight using his fists. He had a few matches with Yang while using his fists, and it went about as well as he expected. He has been barring himself from using his powerful semblance during most of his sparring matches and training sessions since he won't always have the ability to use it. He could only use fire when fire was present, unless he used the device on Silver Protector. Water was not around that often, but could be found in a lot of places, rock was literally everywhere, so that was nothing to worry about, and the same with air.

Today however, was sword training day. He has been trying to use that same attack he used against Weiss Schnee the day before. To no avail of course, it happened in the spur of the moment. To his knowledge, the attack was definitely a ranged one, he felt something warm behind his eyes, and then Silver Ebony somehow absorbed that warmth and then something just told him to just slash at the air toward Weiss.

It must have been instinct, his body knowing it can do something while his brain didn't. Other than what was previously stated. He just got the feeling that he needed to do it and then bang, it just happened.

"What are you doing training this early in the morning?" The voice of his partner in one of her more intelligent personalities asked him.

Kai sensed her approaching before she was even in the same area he was in. But that didn't mean he was any less happy to see her. "Hey Orchid, how are you doing?" He asked.

"I have a headache, my liver still hurts after being punched there multiple times, and I can't find my glasses." Nerdy Orchid reported as she plopped down to the ground in a criss cross sitting position.

"You need glasses? I never knew." Kai said as he sat down with her, he was about to take a break anyway, and his sword arm was getting sore. He might as well end this training session early since he doesn't know if he is going to have an early match or not again today.

"Only I do, sadly. You know what I am referring to correct?" Nerdy Orchid asked him, squinting her eyes to get a better look at Kai's blindfolded face.

"Yeah… I don't think we've spoken that often, this version of you I mean." Kai said as he scratched the back of his head.

Orchid simply rose an eyebrow, showing her interest in what he had just said, before huffing and shaking her head with a snicker. "I believe you are correct. The bubbly and excitable Orchid Rosa you know most isn't the true Orchid Rosa I will have you know."

Kai's eyes widened his eyes slightly after hearing that, and then he felt a pang of sadness in his mind. "O-oh… I see."

"Don't feel bad about it, we've argued and argued for years about who the original really was. I like to believe that I am the original, that is what I hope, since I am the one who wakes up with my body every morning after all." Orchid said, brushing down her skirt with her pale hands as she leaned her head on her knees. "I think I have been dubbed the 'Nerdy' Orchid too, which doesn't help anything."

"You're all still Orchid to me, Orchid." Kai said with a kind smile, turning his head to face his partner. "I knew what I was getting into the moment you decided to lead me even though I could still see using seismic sensing."

They both shared a laugh after that.

"Sorry about that, the Orchid you know that most is just like that. Calls herself the Flamingo Goddess whenever she is in control." They shared another laughed again, but this time Orchid wasn't nearly as happy about it. Soon they both quieted down, Orchid leaning against the wall they're up against and digging her face into her knees a little more.

"Kai… I think I'm the original." Orchid choked a gasp.

Kai listened carefully, he didn't really know what to do in situations like these, but he could sense that his partner was getting increasingly sad with every passing moment. She must have been feeling this way for a while, because he was able to catch hints of it every now and again.

"I don't know if I am… and they're screaming at me right now, saying that I'm wrong." Orchid said as she clutched her head, and tears began to flow out of her eyes. "I-I barely ever get in control of my own body, they are mentally stronger than me, I remember still remember the first time I lost control. Forced to watch and listen to my own body through my own eyes do things I wouldn't do really."

"Orchid." Kai spoke up, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Look at me."

The Orchid claiming to be the original looked up from her knees, looking Kai in the eyes through his blindfold. Even though he couldn't see her, it still spoke volumes that he would at least pretend to be looking at her, with how badly he wants to actually use his eyes so he could see his friends it pains him to know that his partner is feeling this way, but he isn't even able to see if his words and actions work or not.

"I… I don't know if you're the original," Orchid flinched. "But you are the first one of your personalities to tell me that you are, I have no idea if you are the original, and I can't really ever be sure unless you all come up with a definite answer." Orchid looked back up to him, desperately hopeful. "But… since you were the first one to claim that you were the original, then for now… I'll believe you."

Orchid Rosa, the true Orchid Rosa smiled brightly at him, her tears all but disappearing. Kai could feel the tremble in her body and before he knew it he was pinned into the ground, hands around his neck and he felt the breath catch in his throat before it could reach his lungs.

"NO!" A violent Orchid personality screamed at him. "She's not the original, I am!" She trembled again, giving Kai the chance to pry her hands off from around his neck and kick her off of him. Standing back up and catching a punch that was thrown at him.

"Why do you believe her of all people, we're best friends aren't we!? How could you betray me!?" The Orchid he has known the longest asked him, tears staining her cheeks as she wildly threw punches at him.

"Orchid stop!" Kai exclaimed, but to no avail.

She trembled again, this time gripping her head in pain as she fell to one knee, but lifted her head back up as she gave her partner a manic toothy smile that spread from ear to ear.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Psychotic Orchid screamed at him, and without her weapon, made to tackle Kai to the ground.

Kai dodged out of the way, sensing her heavy footprints and kept dodging. Even if her aura protected her, he didn't want to fight his partner while she was like this. Not when he cared about her as much as he did.

He sensed Orchid tremble again, and for a second he dared to hope. He ran up to her to try to grab her by the shoulders and shout her name like she told him to do when she gets like this. But as soon as he got close he found a hand slapping his face hard, sending him sprawling into the floor, he wasn't able to activate his aura in time, and found himself trying to wrestle Orchid off of him again.

"裏切り者！" (Traitor!) The Orchid who speaks in a different language screamed at him as she tried to claw at his face, but Kai deflected each and every one of her strikes and pushed her off of him, this time it was him on top and pinning her hands to the side of Orchids head. Both of them panting heavily as they struggled against each others strengths.

Desperately, Kai took his hands back and slammed them down on Orchids shoulder, ignoring the pain on his face when Orchid ripped off his blindfold and scratched at his face, drawing blood. He didn't want to activate his aura and have her claw her own nails off, it was a risk he was happy to take.

"ORCHID!" He screamed at her, his blind silver eyes boring down directly into Orchids eyes. With another tremble, the original Orchid from earlier came back into control, and immediately started crying.

Kai slowly got off of her, and let her push her face into his chest. Tears staining his sweater as he hugged her back, letting her get it all out while saying how sorry she was for doing that.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean too… I'm so sorry." The true Orchid cried into him, her hands clutching tightly at his shirt as she bawled her eyes out into his chest.

"It's okay… It's okay, I'm here for you Orchid, I'm your friend. I'll never leave you alone." Kai said as he stroked her hair, letting his chin rest atop of his partners head as he felt his own tears start to form in his eyes.

"P-promise?" True Orchid asked him, magenta eyes staring up at him after she adjusted herself so that she was hugging him, but looking up into his eyes.

"I promise you, I swear that we'll always be friends, nothing will ever change that. I'll always be there for you, no matter who you are." Kai proclaimed, smiling at her with the kindest smile Orchid as ever seen, his own emotions being shown to her through his exposed eyes.

"Y-you know… they say that eyes are the windows to the soul." True Orchid said as she wiped away her tears. "You have a very kind soul."

Kai was a bit taken aback by this, he forgot that his blindfold was ripped off of his face during the scuffle he had with his partner. He reached a hand to touch the area around his eyes, feeling skin and hair instead of the white cloth he has grown used to wearing around his eyes. He can sense the torn pieces on the ground a few feet away from him, he shut his eyes instinctively and kept them shut. They were in a public area after all, the faded scars around his eyes were nearly forgotten as he kept his eyes shut and helped Orchid up to her feet.

"Thanks… I just do what I think is right." Kai said a little sheepishly as he kept his eyes closed tightly, he didn't bother going to pick up the white blindfold that his mother bought him from that clothing store a few days ago. It was useless now.

"Thats already more than my dad did." True Orchid said with a soft giggle, which actually sounded like it was genuine this time. Kai chuckled along with her, but then Orchid looked over to the torn blindfold a few feet away from them, and a downcast mood was set upon her.

"I'm sorry about the blindfold, I actually thought it looked good on you." Orchid said with a sigh, looking back into Kai's closed eyes.

Kai waved her concern off as he started walking away, grabbing her hand to take her with him. "Don't worry about it, I still have my other one, that one felt better anyway. It was warmer."

"That's because it was black silly." Orchid pointed out, not minding the hand to hand contact one bit.

"I still don't know what black looks like Orchid." Kai said with a laugh, earning a playful slap to his shoulder which only made him laugh a little harder

"I know you're blind Kai, I'm not as forgetful as my other personalities." Orchid said with a snicker. "Before you ask, darker colors absorb heat, and lighter colors reflect it. You went from black to white before, so you must have felt more chilly up there right?"

"Actually… yeah, I did. Just a little bit." Kai said with an impressed nod of his head as they stepped out of the training room. "You really are Nerdy Orchid huh."

That earned him another slap on his shoulder. "Shut up, I hate that designation." She said playfully.

"Just Orchid it is then." Kai said as he let go of her hand, earning a chill running up his arm as their shared heat faded away in seconds. "What time is it right now?"

Orchid took out her scroll and glanced at it. "Around six in the morning now, just a little after. Why?"

"Just checking, I think I might catch up on some sleep now if I can." As if on cue, Kai yawned loudly, his mouth stretching as his mouth opened wide. "Yeah, a nap sounds fun right now."

"You know that the matches start early today right? The first match starts at nine am today." Orchid pointed out.

"Really? Oh gosh, I really need to take that nap then." Kai said with a disturbed look on his face, earning a chuckle from his partner. He was about to walk off in a random direction to go find the hotel he has been staying at. But then realized that he actually didn't know which direction he needed to go in. He lost his sense of direction once he left the training room with Orchid.

Embarrassedly, Kai turned to Orchid with a nervous smile on his face. A question he wants to ask, but can't quite get it out of his mouth.

"What is it?" Orchid asked, noticing his hesitation.

"I… er… forgot where the hotel was… could you lead me?" Kai asked sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

Orchid laughed once more, so much so that with a tremble, she changed personalities again. Her laugh sounding more and more like Kai was used to before today as she went back to the personality that he knew the most.

"Sure! I've always liked leading blind people!" Excited Orchid exclaimed as she hooked her arm through one of Kai's, and begun leading him.

Kai let out a soft sad smile as he let his partner lead him, thinking about the time they became partners, it feels so long ago yet it was just a couple of months ago. Now that he knows the truth about who the true Orchid was, he was going to do his duty as a partner, and a friend to make sure that every version of Orchid that he knew would know that he would be there for him. Even the one that always screams that she wants to kill something.

"Also, Kaizy?" The Bubbly Orchid called to him as they walked, her magenta eyes looking at him from the corner of them.

"Hm?" Kai hummed.

"Thank you… for being my friend." Orchid said, unlike any other time before ever since he has known this version of Orchid, she sounded truly happy. Like nothing was forced at all and she had a massive weight lifted off of her shoulders.

Kai smiled and let one of his eyes open up, revealing a white pupil before shutting it again.

"Anytime, partner."

Orchid beamed at his response, but couldn't shake the feeling that something really smug just happened.

"Did you just reverse wink at me?"

Wow guys, this was an emotional chapter. I know this is much shorter than what I usually update with, but I just couldn't just keep going after that last line. I could have, don't get me wrong, but after about half an hour of thinking about it, I decided that the chapter was already finished. Besides, I promise you guys, next chapter is going to be one to remember. You'll see what I mean, and it is also going to be much longer. I did plan on ending this chapter much differently, but things happen, and plans change.

Please review and let me know what you think of the story so far!

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