And we are in the big chapter 90. Let's keep the streak alive!

Beta: CrowSkull

The Blind Huntsman

Chapter 90

Volume 3, Episode 9

The Beginning

Kai felt his leg bounce up and down as he sat in the Bullhead that was shortly about to land discreetly in a secluded part of Vale near the festival itself. It was a considerably smaller Bullhead, one that if he stood up in straight he would be able to touch the ceiling with the top of his head. Winter was strapped in beside him, he could feel her body practically press against his as the ship maneuvered and came to a quick yet safe halt. He sucked in a deep breath as he felt the ship finally touch down with the ground and his senses immediately go to work on what they could sense on the outside of the ship and beyond. Winter tapped his knee, indicating to him that now was the time.

Exhaling the breath he sucked in, he angled his face down toward his hands which cupped a mask he made out of metal. He brought it up and it clicked as it fits around his face. Say what you will about Atlas, but they knew how to make gear that benefited all of their soldiers. Kai could breathe easily with this new, black mask on. After showing Ironwood how he made the mask after being offered a slab of concrete, Ironwood had a new mask made for him in less than an hour. It really was amazing how quickly they worked, and now Kai was going to put it to the test.

"Keep your hood up and stay close to me," Winter said as she drew up her own hood, helped him with the straps, and got out of the ship with him. She was wearing all of her normal gear underneath some casual clothing. Being the former face of the SDC, it made sense that she'd want to hide her face as well, or at least the distinct white hair that was more often than not connected to the Schnee family gene pool. "We will move quickly and not attract attention to ourselves. We will be allowed access to the restricted sections of the main tents of the festival by an agent we have in the White Fang. Once we are in, let him go. His position would be compromised but his job would be done."

"Understood," Kai said as he reached to the mask to take it off only for Winter to catch one of his hands.

"No," She said, shaking her head. "It is not uncommon for some people to wear masks during a festival, and we cannot afford to have you get recognized as well. Your face is still plastered on many social media platforms when it comes to the upcoming huntsman of the next generation."

"Ugh," Kai groaned, annoyed. Winter knew that it wasn't directed toward her, and knew exactly what it was like to be famous without wanting the attention. "Alright, I'll follow your lead then."

It was more of a habit that he grabbed onto her arm as they started making their way out through an alley and onto the public street. Winter quickly noticed but didn't seem to mind. It was just what he did when he was walking with someone, being blind, it just made it easier to rely on someone else to be your eyes every once in a while. It saved him mental strength, and just in case there was about to be a big battle he thought he'd need every bit of it that he could get.

"Talk to me," Winter said suddenly. "Make it seem like we are just part of the crowd."

"So what do you think about the Vytal Tournament so far?" Kai asked, immediately following her lead. "I heard that Team JNPR won the first round against Team RWBY."

"It was quite the exciting show to behold," Winter replied loudly, and with a voice that was so uncharacteristic, it almost made Kai laugh. "Rick Violet displayed skills I did not expect and was able to match the natural talent of Weiss Schnee, not to mention that blonde boy on JNPR, I certainly did not presume he had the intelligence required to think of such a plan that ended up working so spectacularly."

"Hmph," Kai huffed loudly. "It was a surprise to me as well, but it seemed to work out in their favor anyway. And the rounds after that? It feels like the tournament just started, yet it is already getting into its final rounds."

"Well, we were warned that there would be fewer rounds than usual this year," Winter pointed out. "With all these threats seemingly coming out of nowhere and at the least opportune time as well, it doesn't surprise me."

They kept their cover of a conversation active for about seven more minutes. They spoke about every round of the tournament that they were able to. Kai didn't even know what happened in most of them, but it felt good knowing that his friends seemed to be having a fun time, though it made him sad knowing that his own team never got the chance to participate in the tournament either, and because of him as well. He shook such thoughts out of his head when Winter tapped on his shoulder with the hand that belonged to the arm that he was holding on to.

"Are we here?" He asked in a much more quiet voice.

"Yes," Winter whispered back.

In response, Kai slid his sword out of his coat and strapped the scabbard to his waist. After letting go of Winter, he felt his senses flow about through the surrounding area. In front of them, there was a tent flap that was being held open by a thin-built man who ushered them in with some urgency.

"Get in here already," The man said as he tore off the White Fang mask he was forced to wear. "From here you two are on your own. I'm not a fighter."

"That's fine, leave," Winter said, waving a hand at him dismissively. "We have no need for you anymore."

The man was more than happy to oblige to her demands. The tent flap flapped close behind him as he scuttered away. Kai scoffed to himself and let his hood fall to his shoulders and sensed Winter takes the extra layer of clothing she had on and throw it to the ground. Her sword flicked out a moment later. "Ready?" She asked him once she was all ready to go.

"I am," Kai said, sliding Silver Ebony out of its sheathe with a hiss of steel. "Are we going in loud or quietly?"

"That will be up to what we are up against on the other side of this flap," Winter said as he prodded the flap with her hand, holding it open for him. "Do not be afraid to go loud if the situation calls for it. Roman has to be around here somewhere, he needs to be."

"Got it," Kai cracked his neck, eyes flashing black for an instant before thinking twice about it. He'd save the power of his eyes until he absolutely needed it.

Stepping through the opening Winter made for him, he charged through and pinned the faunus on the other side to the ground. His hand reached up to his face, tearing the White Fang mask off and tossing it to the side. Before the man could scream, he slapped his hand around his mouth. He couldn't see it, but the man's eyes were widened in fear as he looked at him, recognizing him as Stone Face.

"Stay quiet," Kai said as Silver Ebony pressed against the man's side. "I am going to take my hand away from you now, and you won't scream. You know what will happen if you do."

He felt the man nod against his hand. His eyes looked up to Winter Schnee as she hovered around them to their left. Kai slowly pulled his hand back, but kept his knee pressed against the man's stomach so that he couldn't move.

"Y-You're Stone Face," The White Fang member swallowed nervously. "You're working with Atlas now?" He eyed his tail, wrapped around his waist. "You're one of us, why are you working with them!?"

"I am not one of you," Kai said, painfully driving his knee deeper into the man's stomach, causing him to groan in pain. "Now tell me where Roman Torchwick is."

"I-I can't-"

Winter's saber stopped right in front of his eye. Kai could feel the blood within the man's face recede. "You will tell us where he is." She threatened. "We are not inclined to waste time. You have one more chance. Do not waste it."

"O-Okay," The man finally understood that his live was in danger, he swallowed another nervous lump of spit before giving up. "I don't know exactly where he is, but he's close. I know he's around her. He keeps moving, barking orders around. You should be able to hear-"

Crack!

The man lost consciousness the moment his head bounced off the ground after Kai punched up. Winter pulled her sword away and nodded at the boy. "That was all we needed," Kai said, feeling the need to explain himself. "We know he's here now."

"I wasn't questioning your method," Winter pointed out. "This is a mission, and you didn't even kill him. Bind him to the ground with your semblance and let's keep moving."

Kai nodded and did what he was told. He manipulated the stone beneath the ground and bound his arms and legs in seconds. It was easy to do that with someone who wasn't conscious, less so when they were constantly resisting. When he was done he followed Winter through the next tent flap.

The two of them slowly crept into the room. Is was dark, very dark. It didn't pose a problem to Kai but it did for Winter, she could barely see what was in front of her. Any faunus in the White Fang would be able to see them since they were faunus, so Kai took the lead and moved ahead of her since he didn't even need his eyes to be able to know what was around him. He switched the grip on his sword to reverse as he came up to the next White Fang member that was on their way toward them. Kai caught the man by the back of his head and clamped his hand over his mouth, pushing him down to the ground and keeping him there while Winter kicked him in the side of the head, knocking him out.

After sharing a nod with her he kept moving forward, his senses concentrated and focused. It wasn't a lot of ground that they needed to cover, and he gestured to Winter. Around seven people were in the next tent flap, and one of them just had to be Torchwick. Kai wished he encountered Roman enough to be able to know exactly which one was him, but sadly he hadn't met him enough times.

He tilted his head toward Winter and gripped his sword with both hands, and he received the permission that he needed as she clicked her sword and ejected the second saber that was attached to the main weapon. She looked at him and nodded, taking the lead as she cast a glyph underneath her feet that followed her wherever she moved.

Silver Ebony swung through the air the second he heard Winter get struck in the back of the head. Roman. He just knew it was him. He jumped back from his attack and Kai helped Winter back up to her feet with a quick burst of air. "Roman!" He shouted, their mission already losing its stealth factor so quickly.

"Hey, hey, calm down," Roman said, holding his hands up in surrender and ordering the other members of the White Fang to do the same. "I gotta say, I'm surprised you found me so quickly. Although I knew you were coming from a mile away. You're not the only one who can bribe a few people."

"Tch," Winter winced as she touched the back of her head where she was hit. Thankfully, it came back clean. "You're lucky we're not here to kill you, Roman. Surrender and come with us, make it easier on yourself and all that works with you."

"Mm, okay."

Winter and even Kai blinked their eyes, immensely confused.

"Okay?" Kai asked, not even feeling the anger that spiked up anymore. "What do you mean okay!?"

"I mean okay, I surrender," Roman said with a laugh. "Even if I wanted to fight you, I really don't think that these idiots and I would be able to take you on. Hell, they're not even faunus."

Kai sniffed the air to see if Roman was right, and it pained him to have to admit it. The men he was smelling weren't faunus, hell, they weren't even fighters. All of their hearts were beating so quickly it was strange that they weren't having a heart attack. It was clear that they weren't White Fang, they were probably members of Roman's own gang.

"What is your goal here Roman?" Winter asked, still aiming her saber at him. The glyph that she had charging underneath her feet calmed just slightly, but only slightly. "This is unlike you. Nothing we have on you told us that you'd be willing to do this."

"Then your sources are shit," Roman frankly laughed. "I was really hoping that you'd pick up on that breadcrumb trail though and I'm happy to see that it worked. And the fact that you brought the kid with you makes this all the easier. Now c'mon, get those cuffs on me and bring me to that fancy ship Ironwood has, I'm sure he'd be ecstatic for a mission completed so easily and without a single drop of blood spilled."

"This is weird," Kai said aloud. "He's telling the truth. He wants to be captured. Why?"

"It's like I told you before kid, I ain't so happy about working with Cinder. What she's planning isn't going to be good for business. I do have a condition for this though," Roman said as the end of his cane flipped open, and he aimed that cane not at them, but toward the thin wall of the tent that leads to the outside. "I want a pardon after all this is done. A full pardon. I am not turning myself in so I can be put in prison for the rest of my life."

"And if we refuse?" Winter asked. "You said it yourself, you can't beat us. Even that surprise attack didn't do much against me."

"Oh, that was just me testing another option, it didn't work of course." Roman shrugged. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you little shits. Sitting in this spot, pretending like I'm barking orders around and convincing my men here that this is for the greater good. But about my conditions, well, if you guarantee me that pardon I'll just shoot my cane here."

Kai stepped forward to stop him, but when he heard the safety on Roman's cane flick off, he stopped. "Not another step there Stone Face, or should I call you Metal Face now? Meh, I know about your semblance and you need to move in order to use it. So sit tight right there and don't do anything, its for the good of a few dozen people give or take on the other side of this wall."

"You-" Winter clicked her mouth shut when her scroll went off.

Roman smirked at her. "Go on, pick it up."

Winter answered the call and held it up to her ear for a moment, scowled, and then put it on the speaker once the one on the other side of the call gave her a direct order.

"Torchwick," General Ironwood greeted coldly.

"General," Roman tipped his hat to the man. "I don't think we've met yet. How do you do and all that. So, you know my conditions,"

"What is this?" Kai asked, interrupting.

Winter clapped a hand on his shoulder and held him back. Kai growled and didn't move, even though he desperately wanted to.

"You want a full pardon?" Ironwood said. "You will have to earn it. What can you offer us that would make me feel inclined to offer one of Cinder's most important allies a full pardon?"

"I found out what Cinder is going to do," Roman said, his smile disappearing and his body shuddering the moment the words came out of his mouth. "And it's not pretty. What Cinder is going to do is something that all of us feel. Don't believe me? Ask the kid if I'm lying."

The scroll was pointed toward Kai. The unasked question was answered as Kai shook his head, almost sad that Roman was actually telling the truth since that only meant one thing.

"If you tell me these things and are willing to work with us directly," Ironwood visibly let out a long sigh. "I may be willing to pardon you for your crimes. However, you will be banished from Vale and Atlas respectively."

"Deal," Roman said without hesitation, lowering his cane and using it to help him stand. "I don't want to come back to either of those shit kingdoms anyway. Alright, guys, you can get on out of here, I'll handle the rest."

The other men in the room scattered away, likely never to be seen again. Ironwood hung up, and Kai and Winter didn't bother to try and stop them, they weren't the goal of the mission here. When Roman dropped his cane, Kai closed the distance between them immediately and wrapped Roman's wrists in stone, binding them together instantly. "You're lucky," Kai whispered to the man as he took off the mask, his sweat dripping down his face as he glared the man down with his blind eyes.

"I wish I was lucky kid," Roman replied. "This was my worst-case scenario plan. Keep that in mind as you escort me outta here and back to the ship. Hell, I really hope you'll be able to get me there in the first place."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Where's Neo, why isn't she here?"

"Oh, she's being used elsewhere, I don't know what for." Roman shrugged. "She'll pop by some time though. Don't worry, maybe the two of you can become friendly with each other after what's about to happen. In desperate times, enemies can become the greatest of allies. Remember that kid, learn how to drop the sword every once in a while."

"Kai," Winter placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. "Don't let him get to you. This was unexpected but not something we are entirely unprepared for. I'll take him back to the ship, stay here in the meantime, and make sure that Roman wasn't telling a truth that only he knows."

"Fine," Kai said as he stomped away, sheathing Silver Ebony with a slam.

"Disappointed he doesn't get to hurt me, is he?" Roman asked, laughing as Winter took him out of the tent. Bystander's eyes immediately locked onto them, but right now Winter didn't care. If anything, this would be good for their image.

"Shut up," Winter said, painfully yanking him along behind her. "You better hope the General keeps his word."

"Oh, he will if he knows what's good for him, and that's not a threat," He quickly added when Winter glared at him. "It's just what he needs to do is all, and that's how I can trust him to keep his word."

"And the second final round of the tournament will be underway shortly!" Oobleck announced through the small microphone connected to massive speakers all over Amity Arena. "There is no need to wait long! For it will begin immediately and- Oh, what's this?" He questioned, breaking character for a moment to regard a sudden ping that sounded out throughout the entire stadium.

"It seems that we have a surprise competitor?" Peter said, just as confused as Oobleck was. "Well, this is the first time in the history of all Vytal Festivals, but it seems that we have someone joining us in this second round, someone who, to my knowledge, wasn't going to take part in this tournament."

"Peter." Oobleck covered the mic with his hand as he turned to regard his friend. "This isn't supposed to happen."

"I know my friend," Peter replied. "But we can't just ignore it now that we've mentioned it."

"Hm, you are correct," Oobleck said with a soft nod. "Though this is extremely unexpected. The headmaster was quite adamant about him not taking part in this tournament and yet…"

"Let's go along with it for now, shall we?"

"I suppose so."

"Apologies for that pause in commentary, we were just discussing some things. However, let me officially announced Team KRBR's official involvement in this Vytal Tournament!" The crowd went wild, screaming and cheering for someone that they'd been hoping would take part in this tournament ever since it started. "And as you seem to already know, it is the leader of Team KRBR himself, Kai Matsuoka!"

Peter gestured to his ringing scroll and Oobleck understood immediately, taking the reigns as Peter stood up to answer the call.

"And there he is, coming out onto the stage at this very moment!"

He could see him down there, waving to the crowd as they all screamed and cheered and chanted his name. Kai Matsuoka truly was famous for his dream of becoming a huntsman and fighting past the disability of being blind. It was hard to take him out from all the way up there in his little booth, but there was no doubting it was him once the cameras were on him.

"And his opponent shall be… let's see here," The dial spun and spun, and even Oobleck himself was holding his breath as it flickered through Coco, Nora, a boy named Zach, but in the end, it landed on a ginger-haired girl. Oobleck winced when he saw that, Kai Matsuoka was a poor choice to test Penny on. "Penny Polendina!"

There was cheering for her as well, but it was much more polite and forced than before. It made sense, Kai was of Vale even if he was born in Vacuo and on top of that he was a faunus. Against an Atlesian in any competitive tournament, he would always get the favor of the crowd.

"Bart!" Peter screamed suddenly. "Stop the fight!"

Oobleck looked at his friend strangely. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Kai Matsuoka is currently on a mission to apprehend Roman Torchwick is what's wrong!" Peter screamed.

Oobleck widened his eyes and took a second look. It looked like Kai, but what Peter was saying and the way he was saying made him worried as well. He nodded his head and made to press the button next to the mic to begin speaking again and order a full sweep of the arena, however, something stopped him.

A gun fired bullet struck his hand going completely through it. Oobleck screamed in pain as he saw part of his hand get blown off entirely. His aura turned on immediately but he felt himself get kicked in the side of the head. Peter reached for his weapon, but a red arc of energy slice through it before he could pick it up, rendering it useless.

Adam Taurus stomped into the room, flanked by Emerald Sustrai. Mercury Black was pressing one of his feet against Oobleck's chest, pinning him to the ground.

"Adam Taurus," Oobleck choked as he stemmed the bleeding in his hand. "You certainly chose an interesting time to show yourself."

"Silence, human," Adam said, never taking his eyes off of Peter. "Get down on your knees old man. You may have caused me trouble when you were younger, but right now while disarmed the only thing you'd be doing by attacking me is getting yourself killed. You don't stand a chance."

"Do you want to test that theory, boy?" Peter asked, clenching his fists.

"Peter, don't," Oobleck groaned out. "He fought evenly against Qrow and Winter and even held his own for several minutes against Malikai and the headmaster himself. We don't stand a chance, surrender."

"Listen to the Doctor, Peter," Mercury taunted. "This one isn't even a fighter, he's more of a teacher than anything, you should know that."

"We've done our research," Emerald said, staring into his eyes. "And I'm sure you know about us. Against all three of us, you're nothing."

Peter Port looked like he was going to keep fighting then and there, but looking down at his bleeding friend who was already being pinned down, he had to swallow down his pride. He didn't want to get his friend killed, and so he dropped down to his knees and raised his hands. Emerald stepped past Adam and tied Port's hands behind his back and instructed him to move to the corner of the room. Mercury did the same with Oobleck and moved him next to the other teacher.

"I don't understand," Oobleck said as he let himself get tied up. "If you're here," He looked at Emerald. "Then how is Kai Matsuoka appearing there?"

Emerald smirked. "I am not the only one with an illusionary semblance, and hers is much more versatile than mine. I can't use my semblance against a whole stadium of people, I'd give myself a brain hemorrhage before that happened."

Before Oobleck could pose another question, Mercury gagged him and then moved to gag Port as well. Next, he went on to apply a tourniquet to Ooblecks destroyed hand. Once he was done with that, he turned to Adam and nodded his head, taking out his scroll and began to Livestream what was about to happen in the arena before them.

"Do not stop recording," Adam ordered. "No matter what."

"Yeah, yeah," Mercury sighed. "I know my part, you don't have to keep reminding me."

Ruby, Blake, and Orchid all sprinted to the edge of the railing just over the arena itself. The three of them clashed with it so hard it was amazing that the railing still held as they all looked over it, shocked and confused at what they were seeing.

"Kai," Orchid was the first to utter his name. "Kai is really here, what the hell… what the hell is happening!?"

"I don't know," Blake said, looking down. "But I thought… why is he here? He shouldn't be here."

"Kai!" Ruby exclaimed, banging on the protective shield that stopped her from jumping into the arena. "Kai! Kai!"

"I don't think he can hear you," Orchid said. "But… I don't understand. Didn't Ozpin specifically say that Team KRBR wasn't going to participate in the tournament? Did he lie to us?"

"He had to have," Blake said, scowling. "The fact that he got to be there and we didn't can't just be a coincidence."

"But I don't understand…" Ruby said, the gears in her brain working together. "Kai wouldn't agree to something like this without at least letting us know beforehand. He wouldn't do this to us, he cares about us too much. Not without a reason, and there is no reason for this. I mean, just look at him!" Ruby pointed. "He's laughing and smiling and waving to the crowd. That's how he was years ago, not now… he isn't like that now. He changed, and now all of a sudden he's acting like nothing bad ever happened to him."

"You're… right," Blake said, slowly coming to the same conclusion. "Kai wouldn't act like this, he couldn't force himself to do this even if he tried."

"I like to think that I know him, all of me's," Orchid added. "And I agree… something is wrong here, I can feel it."

"Me too," Ruby said, glaring at Kai as he walked to the center of the arena. "Something is very wrong."

"Ruby!" Yang's scream caused Ruby to turn around and owlishly stare at her sister.

"Yang?"

"Ruby!" Yang was out of breath by the time she finally made it to her. "Shit, I didn't think I'd actually able to find you. Tell me, where is Kai right now?"

Ruby blinked, confused. "Isn't he right there?"

"No, I mean where did Ozpin tell you he was going to be kept?"

Ruby's eyes widened at the realization. "You know?"

"Just answer the damn question!" Yang screamed, scaring Ruby. Yang never screamed at her before, at least not with such panic in her voice.

"I-Ironwoods ship or Beacon's basement." Ruby finally answered. "Yang?"

"Shit…" Yang's eyes sagged as some form of realization came to her as well. "Guys… Kai just left on a mission today. Qrow told me that over the scroll, he even sent a video of him getting on bullhead with some Specialist from Atlas and went down into Vale."

"What!?" Ruby, Blake, and Orchid all screamed. "T-Then that means…" They looked over the railing once more, this time narrowing in on this Kai's face. He was finally facing them now, and he actually stared right at them.

He was looking at them. His eyes were locked onto there's.

Kai Matsuoka was supposed to be the blind huntsman.

"That's not Kai." One of them finally pointed out.

The imposter smiled at them and blinked, when their eyes opened again, one was pink and the other was brown.

And there we go with another big set up chapter. This should be interesting. It was a bit brief, but trust me, there's going to be a lot that happens next chapter. A much longer and more detailed chapter is on the way. Just trust me, it's gonna be awesome for me to write. It always feels great to be able to write out these plans that I've been thinking about for such a long time. Finally, making it this far? Oof, it really feels good. Look at how far we've come boys and girls. My little omelets. Look at how far we've come.

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