Chapter 4: The Selfish Blizzard.
The morning after the initiation, Weiss was peacefully asleep in her bed and had just woken up from the sunlight, when Ruby sat in front of her with a whistle in her mouth.
"AAAHHH!" Weiss cried in shock as Ruby blew her whistle.
"Good morning team RWBYA!" Ruby declared as Weiss looked about the room only spotted Ruby, Blake and Yang.
"Not good morning team RWBYA, Ruby! Aoihi is not here!"
"That's because Aoihi has his own personal dorm, Weiss! He's Ozpin's ward, remember?"
"Fair enough." Weiss sighed as she then looked at the other girls with annoyed expression. "Now! What on Remnant is wrong with you?!"
"Just trying to get things going!" Ruby replied cheerfully. "Now! First order of business! We must decorate our room!"
Weiss was stunned.
"Wait! What?! Why?!"
"Because as a team, we're going to be sharing this dorm." Yang remarked a smug grin.
"Not to mention we all still need to unpack." Blake remarked in addition, leaving Weiss spluttering.
"Well! If that's the case, why does Aoihi get his own personal dorm instead of being here with us?!"
"From what I was told, Aoihi had been living in his dorm since age 13, and as Ozpin's ward, practically lives here at Beacon." Ruby explained as Weiss sighed in defeat.
"Alright! I suppose that I have to put up with this." Weiss replied with a sigh, as the four girls began to clean and decorate their room.
After some time, the four looked at the room and weren't happy.
"This isn't going to work." Weiss said as she saw the beds piled on one another.
"I have to agree." Blake replied, "It does seem to be a bit cramped."
"Maybe we should ditch some of our stuff." Yang suggested.
"Or we could ditch the beds and.. uh… ah! Replace them with bunk beds!" Ruby soon thought out loud as she smiled at her idea.
"Uh.. that sounds incredibly dangerous to me." Weiss stated, trying to shoot down the idea.
"And awesome!" Yang chimed in with a grin.
"Does seem to be efficient." Blake remarked as Weiss was still hesitant.
"Shouldn't we put it to a vote?"
"We just did." Ruby remarked much to Weiss's dismay as they then dashed forward and attempted to make bunk beds.
"Okay… um… this doesn't exactly look too stable." Weiss remarked meekly at the messy sight of the 'bunk beds.'
"But the idea is not bad." Yang put in with a smile. "I mean, we have more space now. Maybe if we failed at making bunk beds perhaps we could ask Ozpin for permission to get a proper set of bunk beds?"
Weiss scoffed dismissively.
"Ozpin won't listen to us! I just know it!"
"Well! Good thing we do know SOMEONE who Ozpin will listen to without a doubt." Ruby stated with a mischievous grin. "Time to see our teammate Aoihi!"
Darting out of the door, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang zoomed down the hall and stopped at Aoihi's door.
"Aoihi!" Ruby soon cried out as she knocked on his door. "Yoo-hoo! Aoihi!"
Suddenly the door opened and Aoihi's head popped out of it.
"Okay! Ruby! You got my attention! What is it?!"
Ruby was taken aback by Aoihi's blunt reply.
"Sorry! But we need some help. Our dorm doesn't exactly have space and we kinda failed at making bunk beds."
Aoihi let off a sigh.
"Okay. So you need someone to convince Ozpin on letting you get some proper ones?"
"Basically." Yang replied as the boy in blue nodded.
"Okay. I can get right on it. Feel free to come in."
So they did and the moment they stepped in, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang gasped in surprise.
"WHOA! Your dorm's BIG, Aoihi!" Ruby remarked.
"You got a kitchen?!" Blake exclaimed.
"And a TV?!" Yang chimed in surprise.
"And your katana and scabbard on the wall here has Atlesian technology?!" Weiss added in amazement as Aoihi sighed.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! And yes! As Ozpin's ward Beacon IS my home, so I have to have a living space of my own to accommodate to my way of life. As for Azurestorm, my Sword and scabbard, Weiss. Yes, it's got some Atlas technology. Now please! Settle down as I contact Ozpin."
So they did. As Aoihi began to contact Ozpin, Weiss glanced at Ruby, who was in the kitchen looking through the cabinets. The girl in red beamed with a smile as she snatched a few cookies that she had found. Upon seeing this Weiss started to question it all, Ruby's ability to lead and her maturity. The white haired girl began to scowl as she glared at Ruby.
"Ahem!" She soon sounded as Ruby ate a cookie. "Ruby! Ask first!"
"Well! Excuse me for having a cookie craving!" Ruby replied with a huff, as Aoihi soon finished the call and heard everything.
"Ruby! Go ahead and take the entire pack. I can get more later."
Ruby eagerly took the entire pack as Weiss looked at him, appalled.
"You're just going to let her take the ENTIRE pack?!"
"As I said, Weiss, I have plenty of money and I can EASILY get myself more later." He then glanced at the entire team as a whole. "So, Ozpin is okay with having bunk beds in your room. But catch is, it'll have to be purchased by your four."
Weiss huffed, realizing what this means.
"Great! Looks like I'LL be the one who's paying then! Tch! Such childish nonsense these bunk beds are!" She then glared at Ruby. "This is YOUR fault! You're so childish, Ruby! Absolutely childish and immature! I should team leader! Not you!"
Yang and Blake were about to rip Weiss a new one, when Aoihi beat them too it.
"Childish? Is that what you think of Ruby, Weiss? Because if so, you're being a massive hypocrite."
Weiss glared at Aoihi darkly.
"You unruly boy! Take that back! I am the heiress of the SDC! I am the BEST here at Beacon Academy! Better than everyone EVEN you!"
"No I won't!" Aoihi soon said firmly with a glare just as cold and dark. "Weiss Schnee, at Beacon Academy, you're JUST another student! NOTHING more! And for your information, I say you're a hypocrite because you ARE! Much like the stereotypical rich brat you are, you whine, cry, and throw a stupid tantrum when things don't go your way! You think the world revolves around you and refuse to acknowledge the harsh truth that it doesn't! If anything, as leader, you will fail and die pathetically. Reality is that Ruby is FAR better suited than YOU."
Weiss snarled at Aoihi's words as they struck her hard in her heart. She then let out an angry scream as she looked at Aoihi in rage.
"YOU UNRULY BOY! HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH THINGS TO ME! I'M THE BEST! THE GREATEST! THE STRONGEST OF BEACON ACADEMY! YOU'RE NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL! I'LL PROVE IT TO YOU! TO ALL OF YOU! MARK MY WORDS!"
As Weiss soon stormed out of Aoihi's room and slammed the door, Ruby, Yang, Blake all gave each other nervous looks.
"She's not going to do anything stupid, is she?" Ruby asked meekly as Aoihi looked at her expression along with Yang's and Blake's
"Maybe we should keep an eye, just in case." Yang replied to her sister.
"I concur." Blake added. "Weiss, did act irrationally just now, but she's still our team mate."
"I think that would be wise, you three."
Aoihi soon remarked softly. "With how pompous Weiss is, it's not too far off from her attempting to fight a Grimm alone to just prove a point."
Ruby groaned at this factor.
"Classes haven't even started yet and I already have to worry about the safety of one of my teammates."
"At least you care enough to worry." Aoihi remarked to his team leader. "I can see why Ozpin picked you, Ruby. Your selflessness is massive. And you do care for others. Weiss on the other hand is plagued with too much selfishness, which is why I called her childish. For she genuinely expects EVERYTHING to go her way. Leading ISN'T an excuse to boss someone about, it's about taking the role and responsibility for the safety and security of others into your hands. As team leader, it's your responsibility to ensure that the plan you make ensures that everyone gets out safely, Ruby. It's much to bare, but me and the rest of your teammates in team RWBYA are here to help you."
"Thanks, Aoihi." Ruby replied with a smile, before she frowned. "I just hope Weiss doesn't do anything stupid."
"Well just in case, let's all get our gear on now and follow her to ensure that she doesn't."
"Sounds like a plan." Yang responded as Blake and Ruby nodded in agreement.
Within the Emerald Forest, Weiss was in her battle attire and with Myrtenaster at her side. She was walking through the forest, looking for a Grimm to take down on her own to prove her point.
"Too weak!" She said as she saw a Beowulf. "Too slithery." As she saw a Snake Grimm. "Ah! Just what I'm looking for!" The Grimm she had her eyes on was a Deathstalker. Grinning she got into position and charged at it.
"HIYYAA!"
But her attack did nothing as the Death Stalker simply deflected it and sent Weiss back flying into a tree. As her back landed against it, she whimpered in pain as the Deathstalker came closer and closer. Realizing that Myrtenaster was not in her hand, Weiss began to panic as the Deathstalker came closer and closer. As of now she realized it was BIGGER than what team JNPR had destroyed during the initiation, and this made her shiver in fear.
"Someone! Please! Ruby! Yang! Blake! Aoihi! Anyone! Help me!" She didn't care about her pride at this point, she just wanted her life to be saved.
As the Deathstalker was just mere inches from her a bullet from a handgun fired and struck the Deathstalker in a weak spot causing it to wail in pain. As it backed up, Weiss looked up and gasped in awe as Aoihi lept over her, dressed his his battle attire which he was wearing the day before. He landed infront of the Deathstalker and began to slash it with numerous and speedy strikes. He dodged every attack effortlessly, before releasing a battle cry and preforming one final slash.
As he then sheathed his katana, Weiss looked at Aoihi in awe. Never seeing someone as powerful as him before. He edged slowly to her before giving her a stern look as he politely helped her to her feet.
"That was very foolish of you, Weiss." He stated in a firm tone.
"I know." Weiss replied with tears in her eyes. "But thank you all the same." She then hugged him unable to resist it at this point as her heart raced. "You're so right. I'm not cut out to be leader."
"But you're not nothing in team RWBYA." Aoihi replied kindly. "Even as team leader, Ruby can't do everything alone. As her teammates, it's our duty to support her and ensure that her burden isn't carried alone."
"I understand." Weiss replied as she soon broke from the one sided hug with Aoihi before turning around and seeing Ruby, Blake and Yang run in.
"Phew! Dang! You were fast, Aoihi!" Ruby said out of breath. "Please tell me Weiss is okay!"
"I am thank you very much!" Weiss stated in a snooty tone, before looking at Ruby with a small shimmer of thankfulness in her eyes. "I think I understand now. I grew up in a place where I got everything I wanted and expected to be as such. I'm too focused on myself rather than the people around me. A team leader is SUPPOSED to care about their teammates. So for that, Ruby, I'm sorry for how I acted."
Ruby could only smile and hug Weiss in a thankful and cheerful way.
"It's okay, Weiss. I forgive you. I'm just glad you're not hurt. You're a teammate and I can let anyone of my teammates face things alone. We'll get through it all, together as a team."
As the hug ended, Aoihi, Blake and Yang nodded in agreement as they looked at Weiss and Yang.
"Alright! Once we're out of this forest, I'll buy the bunk beds." Weiss replied with a smile. "Admittedly, I can't help be truly concerned with the state of our makeshift ones. Like! Seriously! Hello! One of them is LITERALLY hanging from the ceiling! That doesn't seem to be safe to me."
"I would have to agree on that." Yang stated.
"Me too." Blake replied. "No offense, Ruby, but that is just… um… weird. Also! It would be nice to have those books back."
"None taken!" Ruby replied cheerfully.
"I can see if I can help with the construction of the beds." Aoihi remarked as Ruby beamed even wider.
"All right! Team RWBYA is finally going somewhere right! We'll be a great team yet!"
They all smiled at this and were about to state some more comments, when the ground began to shake.
"Whoa! What is that?!" Blake asked as she stumbled some.
"I don't like this!" Yang stated.
"Whatever it is, it sounds big!" Aoihi remarked with a frown as five teens then saw the source of the shaking ground come before them.
"Whoa! That's…" Yang uttered.
"A very big…" Blake said.
"Very massive…" Weiss shuddered.
"Ursa." Ruby finished as the Ursa roared at them.
Aoihi immediately took a picture of it on his scroll and sent it to Ozpin.
"Aoihi! What are you doing?!"
"Sending the image of this Ursa to Ozpin." He replied to Ruby. "I'm trying to see if he knows ANYTHING about this Ursa." He soon got a reply that made his skin crawl. "Oh boy. This Ursa is NO ordinary Ursa. It seems according to Ozpin, this Ursa is perhaps a VERY old Ursa, like close to several thousands of years old! Like ages that Grimm don't even usually last for! Grimm who last THAT long are usually branded as Legendary class Grimm."
The four girls gasped at this information as the Grimm roar.
"SsssSilverrrrr EYESssss. Mmmussstttt dddddestoryyy fffoooorrrrr mmmmyyyyy missssstresssss."
Hearing the Grimm actually somewhat speak, solidified the seriousness of the threat to team RWBYA.
"If this Grimm can somewhat say words, then who knows how high it's intelligence is!" Ruby exclaimed to her teammates. "Aoihi! I don't know what your semblance is. However can I trust you to help us in this fight? We'll need ALL of Team RWBYA to defeat this thing."
Aoihi nodded in response to his team leader. His smile was ALL that Ruby needed to see for his answer. Relieved to have Aoihi's assistance, Ruby smiled as she and everyone else soon drew out their weapons.
"Okay then! Team RWBYA! Let's kick some Grimm Usrsa butt!"
Smiles on everyone's faces said it all as they dashed forward towards the legendary Ursa. Using his twin handguns, Spark and Flare, Aoihi preformed a pincer attack with Blake who is using Gambot-Shroud in its own gun form. Weiss then made a glyph as Ruby and Yang jumped from it, doing a joint attack they thought up as sisters.
"HIYYAA!" They screamed in unison as their strike caused the Ursa great pain.
Next up, Weiss trapped the Ursa in ice, allowing everyone to get quite a few slashes, stabs and punches in before the Usra broke free. Blake then use her grappling hook form of Gambot-Shroud to swing Yang who then used her semblance to get a GOOD punch in on the Ursa. The Grimm then landed against one of trees as Ruby led a final charge. However, trouble came as Aoihi saw a stopped.
"Guys! Wait! It's going to…" But it was too late, the Ursa stomped the ground with its front feet and the force was strong enough to send the four girls stumbling onto the ground.
"Ruby! Yang! Blake! Weiss!" Aoihi's heart raced as he saw his four teammates on the ground and groaning. As the Ursa roared, his mind flashed to a moment that happened 7 years prior, when he was just a 10 year child.
"Why won't you let me kill him, Ryo?! Why?! He's a freak! A vermin!"
"He's MY son, Theodore! Aoihi's my son! I WON'T let you kill him all because he's different, you scoundrel! He's just as human as you or me!"
"Then it seems you're just as impure as him! Die then, you fake huntsman!"
"DAD! NO!"
"SLASH!"
As the memory came to an end, Aoihi's breath hitched with fear as he saw the Ursa edge closer to his teammates, who were still trying to recover. He then looked to his feet as another memory shined in his mind.
"Don't let anyone say otherwise, Aoihi. I know you have what it takes to be a huntsman, my son. I know it. You're just as determined as me and your mother. Perhaps even more so than the both of us combined. I know you can go far, I know it."
"Are you sure dad?"
"Of course! You picked up the kendo basics your mother taught me pretty quickly as well as my martial arts. I know it! Perhaps you can be the one to truly master the dust your grandfather attempted to make, in inspiration of one of our ancestors supposedly had."
His heart raced at the memory of his father's encouraging words sounded in his brain. Aoihi KNEW what he must do as he screamed and charged at it.
"It's my weakness, but it's also my strength. My curse, and yet my blessing. My semblance of too many contradictions. The fire in me never seems to die from how much pain and suffering I face, and yet here I am now, being just as contradictory to my usual way of pushing people away to save myself from being hurt, all because I can't stand to see another person near me die again. It honestly sticks, this determination. My Blazing Will."
With a loud scream of determination, Aoihi's hair began to turn blue as his irises began to glow a bright Azure. His aura began to surround him a little bit like a blazing flame as he then activated ALL of the dust in his sword's cartridge at once to mix it. To everyone's surprise, it ignited the blade into a blue flame, as they watched him in shock. With a scream of determination, Aoihi's speed and strength increased by tenfold and he was a complete blur as he slashed and slashed the Grimm. With a final battle cry, Aoihi beheaded the Ursa, as its remains caught fire and soon evaporated.
"Is is…. Done?…" That was all that Aoihi could say as he collapsed and fell to the ground.