Weekday 4:00
In Forever Falls the sound of sliced air could be heard.
Slash
Slash
Slash
Jaune was swinging a weighted Crocea mor, his form solid he had been doing this without stopping for five hours. " 998,999, 1000" yelled Jaune doing his final set before falling to the ground exhausted. Griping his hands he could feel a warm sensation on his hands, turning the over he wasn't surprised that they were bleeding.
Doing his best to stand up he walked over to a small stream to clean his hands, once he'd done that he used his aura and sighed as the pain in his hands disappeared, he was so focused he didn't sense the person behind him.
Unaware Jaune was surprised when his vision went black, but he calmed down when he realized who it was. " Guess who " smiling Jaune he put his still wet hands on her hands. "Hey," said Ruby swiping her hands away, chuckling jaune turned around "Hey Ruby," said Jaune greeting the young reaper with a hug, blushing ruby returned it with equal gusto. Separating jaune asked surprised
"Why are you here, Ruby, didn't your team have plans to go to Vale". shaking her head Ruby began " Weiss had plans with Johnathan so they decided to stay and I decided to hang out with you" she cutely said her eyes lingering on him, while he didn't seem to notice the obvious flirt.
Jaune heart cracked a bit "Well I would love the company " he said while giving her a genuine smile. Slightly annoyed Ruby could only give an exasperated sigh "So what do you have planned today" asked Ruby curiously "Nothing much I've finished my physical training, all that's left is my aura study" said Jaune. "Oh," said Ruby surprised ". Chuckling he gestured for Ruby to follow him toward his camp.
Walking through the forest, Ruby kept pace behind Jaune her eyes glued to his figure, she couldn't help but note how much he changed in just 3 months into the second semester. His body was more muscular now but still showed signs of development, his more noticeable features were his large forearms and muscular back.
" I wonder what stage he's at" thought Ruby. Subtly, she activated Her aura to see his core just out of curiosity, but what she saw startled her. Instead of his aura freely flowing out, it was compacted into a formless mass with tiny branches that spread throughout his body.
"Well ruby we're here," said an enthusiastic Jaune
To say Ruby was surprised would be an understatement instead of a small hut stood a Vacuo yurt. As Jaune began to explain Ruby's grip tightened around Crescent-Rose her mind going back to Beacon and her team.
For the past 3 months, she kept her team at arm's length, besides Yang, her team, and anyone else who disapproved of Jaune's transcripts. It was tough at first with Yang trying to keep Ruby close, away from him but she found a way to manage her time with her team so Yang didn't suspect anything.
" Ruby you listening?" Asked Jaune when he spotted her spaced-out look. "Oh...y-yeah I was listening," said Ruby quickly nodding. Jaune shook his head slightly " (sigh) ok, well would you like to watch me practice my aura " said Jaune offering his hand.
Ruby's heart skipped a beat at Jaune's offer, she knew that showing your aura arts to others was the ultimate form of trust for hunters " I would love to" she said taking his hand her voice soft her bright silver eyes meeting his bright cobalt blue.
Walking to a clearing Ruby couldn't help but admire her surroundings the black bark of the Dracaena trees was tightly packed together forming a natural fence that kept grim out. " okay I'm ready" said Jaune wearing nothing but sweatpants and a black tank top.
as he stood in the center, Ruby decided to sit opposite from him her aura activating, pushing outwards. he began circulating his aura, and he then created two medium-sized spheres of aura around him.
" whoa," said Ruby amazed by Jaune's weaving skills, pushing his arms forward the two spheres shot out to twenty meters before stopping abruptly " I guess that's their max distance," thought Ruby. Calling back the orbs he began shifting their form into several shapes each one being more complex than the last.
Sending aura to her eyes she saw the process of Jaune's aura, unlike most huntsman who weave smaller strands of aura to construct their techniques, jaune seemed to simply manifest the object without the need to prepare the technique.
Sweating he began extending his arms, he then opened his palm recalling the two spheres. the two spheres soon gather in his palm forming one solid mass of aura. He began transforming the shape until it looked like a sword, " almost there " said Jaune as he began forming the guard.
Once he finished the grip he couldn't help but admire the blade, the handle was a foot long with the blade being 3 ft long and 4.5 in wide. Reaching out jaune grasped the handle before giving a pained grunt feeling a burning sensation travel through his arm.
Ruby saw the pained expression on Jaune's face noting how quickly his face calmed and then focused. Her gaze looked to his hands watching as his hand seemed to darken before stopping at his elbows. Her worried gaze returned to his form noting how his body seemed to be covered in small cuts except his hands. Standing up as Jaune dematerialized the blade, she walked up to him in a burst of petals surprising the young man.
" whoa ruby," said Jaune as the young huntress snatched his recovering hands. Ruby's eyes were glued to his arms as they began healing the darkened skin going back to normal but the scars remained. Turning his hand over she noted how rough they were, almost like the smooth stone.
looking up at him with a stern glare" Jaune have you been overtraining again " she said her voice unusually stern. Looking away "N-no," said Jaune nervously, looking back he saw her look intensify "Jaune," she said slowly, sending a small shiver down his spine. "I may have overdone it just a bit" Ruby's glare intensified "How long" she asked her voice shaky "How long," she said her silver eyes shadowed by her bangs.
Looking away he scratched his head " Since the beginning " he said Ruby's head immediately shot up her silver eyes giving a small glow " Are you "insane!!!" she said smacking the taller boy's shoulder "You could ruin your hands then what will you do" she said her voice anxious. "Please Jaune I know you wanna improve but is this the only way" she said burying her head in his chest. " Ruby i..." began Jaune, before a cracking sound caught his attention. Looking back they saw cracks forming in a section of the trees before it collapsed.
(BOOM)
"Grimm," they thought, there were nine grimms four of them were Beowolfs while the other four were Ursa's. Leading the pack was a huge mantis grim known as razor-claw, most of its body was covered in hardened bone-like plating the only parts that weren't were its abdomen and joints but its most defining feature were the four arms it had each one deadly by design.
"Ruby I'll answer any question you have but first let's deal with them," Jaune said, as he began circulating his aura. "Alright, but you better start talking," Ruby said in a stern voice. Soon eight of the nine grim began charging towards the two huntsmen, ruby then disappeared in a flurry of rose petals appearing above two of the Ursas, and then in a swift motion, she removed their heads from their bodies.
They didn't get the chance to roar as they fell to the ground lifeless, not giving the two Beowolves a chance to act, she twirled the crescent rose changing it into its rifle form then in quick succession she fired.
(BANG)
(BANG)
The shots landed dead center leaving nothing but a headless corpse.
Watching this scene Jaune looked in awe at her skill, smiling he turned towards the other advancing Grimm. Sending aura to the tip of his toes he gripes the ground and vanished in a blur of speed, meeting them head on jaune sent aura to his arm and spears the first Ursa then proceeded to lift it and slam it into a Beowolf creating a 5-inch crater in the ground but leaving his back exposed.
Taking the chance Ursa 2 slammed its claw into his back creating a deep vertical gash from shoulder to hip. Grunting Jaune withstood the blow before pivoting his foot he launched off the ground and then elbowed the beast's chest creating an indentation about 5in deep.
He turned towards the last Grimm to finish it, but he paused for a second seeing fear in its eyes. taking the chance the beast ran away, but before it could get any farther A white blur slammed into it creating a huge dust cloud.
(BOOM)
When the dust settled both Ruby and Jaune looked in shock, as a cold shiver ran down their spine. In front of them stood the 5-meter grim claw planted firmly into Beowolf's head, raising the body it began eating it, and the sound of tearing flesh echoed through the forest.
Looking towards Ruby jaune gave a small nod they turned towards their foe.
End of part 1 hope you enjoyed the next installment if you have any suggestions I would be happy to hear them