Fangs of the Exiles
Rated M
Rwby
Summary:
Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.
A/N:
Chapter 18: What Remains of What We Were-3
The commotion coming from the academy would soon alert the White Fang. Even Adam Taurus wondered why the plan was taking so long. According to what he had been told, Salem was supposed to obtain the relic while he destroyed the school, solidifying his authority as the high leader.
He'd remain patient though; even his ascension to power wasn't an overnight thing. Surely, things would be taken care of soon enough and he'd have his victory. Still, like a child on Dustmas, he felt his eagerness tickle him as the sight of Haven crumbling at his feet brought him nothing but pleasure.
"Taurus...!"
The armed members turned toward a clearing where a sight truly jarring made their jaws drop. Adam himself couldn't help but grind his teeth once the figure came into full view under the luminescent moon above her.
"S-Sienna?" for a moment there was a slight sense of trepidation in his voice. "How are you alive?!"
While most would snarl at the fear etched on their victim's face, there was only a resounding smirk on the lips of the former commander of the White Fang as she stepped forward. Her golden eyes flashed with judgment; a determination to reclaim the throne that was stolen from her.
"Didn't you know, Adam? Cats have nine lives..."
The bull Faunus quietly erupted into a chuckle that intensified into a substantial roar of pride.
"It appears that I underestimated you, Sienna. But," he raised a hand, signaling his soldiers to aim their weapons at the former head. "I'll make sure you stay down this time! Men, ready your weapons and fire on my mark!"
Sienna figured this would happen and yet, all she cared about was killing Adam. All she cared about was seeing his blood flow as his eyes rolled back in death but, she underestimated the number of grunts she'd encounter.
If I time my movements just right, then maybe I can take him with me. She readied her whip.
"Aim..."
Here we go.
Adam felt a gust of wind from behind and swiftly turned to block an incoming attack with his sword. However, he was disappointed to see another Faunus smiling back at him, ready for another strike. The soldiers were unsure of what to do as some of them aimed at the agile vulpine. Refusing to be humiliated, Adam took another swipe at the boy who dared to challenge him but missed his tail as he leaped back to Sienna Khan's side.
"You are so selfish!" he yelled back at Sienna as she took down several members.
Soon, they were back to back, surrounded by the White Fang on all sides.
"And reckless. And foolish. And all around so predictable."
"Excuse me?" she hissed. "I thought you were asleep at the inn!"
He shrugged lazily before concentrating again on the approaching Adam Taurus.
"That your guy?"
"Yes. But, are you sure you can take him?"
"I don't have to. I was just stalling."
Sienna was about to ask 'for what' when the main door to the grand hall suddenly blasted open with the burly Hazel staggering to his feet. Everyone was surprised, even the formerly confident Adam who watched his associate dust himself off.
"What's going on?" one of the grunts asked.
"None of your concern," An irritated Hazel replied.
Sienna eyed the fox suspiciously.
"Was that your distraction?"
"Nope..." he shook his head, staring blankly at the scene in front of him. "I was referring to that."
Pointing behind him, Sienna looked on to find a young woman with long raven-black hair and cat ears standing above them all. Her eyes were similar to hers but it was clear to Sienna that this person wasn't someone whom she could identify immediately.
"Adam!"
The usurper turned around, recognizing the voice all too well. Behind his Grimm's mask, the young man looked up, seeing that all too familiar long hair flowing in the skies above.
"Blake?"
Before Hazel was unceremoniously forced out of the hall, there was plenty of action going on within the walls of Haven's Grand Hall.
Pyrrha Nikos rushed after Cinder Fall, slashing at the overconfident woman with fury in her eyes. If Qrow was going to rob her of her vengeance on Raven, then she could at least take it out on the next best thing. She hadn't forgotten that Cinder nearly killed her. Thankfully, she was only wounded but, the injury suffered what felt like forever to fully recover from.
Cinder had to admit that she was impressed with the level of ferocity exhibited by the girl. While their first battle was a tactical affair, this one was nothing short of kill or be killed, and she savored it. Each slash of her spear was expertly blocked by Cinders' blade. However, the impact of each attack could be felt even after the initial strike.
She's grown stronger since last we fought... But, not strong enough!
Tired of the retreat, the woman slipped under Pyrrha's thrust only to land a solid blow with her cloaked hand. The hit landed firmly on the stomach, forcing the air out of Pyrrha's lungs. More strikes and patronizing slaps followed as the girl tried to regain herself. Whatever power Cinder possessed, it was perceived poorly until she felt a boot drive itself into her chest, knocking her to the ground.
"Not so tough when your lapdog isn't around to save you are you?"
Pyrrha gasped for air and silently thanked the gods once she was able to breathe normally again. On the other hand, Cinder aimed her blade at Pyrrha, pretending to be sympathetic towards her struggle. Despite her anger, Pyrrha managed to stand back up and continued fighting with her uncoordinated approach, which made it easy for Cinder to predict her every move and counter it.
"Leave her alone!"
Both would look up to find Jaune thrusting his sword in between the two, narrowly missing Cinder by mere inches. Before she could compose herself, both members of JNPR rushed after her.
"Jaune?"
"I'm here to back you up but, you need to focus and fight your fight!" he scolded before slashing at Cinder, keeping her unbalanced as she tried to avoid being sliced or stabbed.
"But..."
"Do you think Aganju would want you being rash and undisciplined?"
That stopped Pyrrha dead in her tracks.
Jaune's words of wisdom truly hit her where they needed to. In a matter of moments, she allowed herself to feel but, it was only enough to keep her motivated to win, not to exact revenge. There wasn't much time to focus heavily though, as Jaune's war cry filled her ears. She rushed off to join him, hoping to even the odds.
Meanwhile, Weiss was struggling significantly against Vernal who'd halted every attempt for her to convoke her knight. The time it took for her to summon it, Vernal just had more time to close the gap between them, reclaiming her advantage. By now, the Schnee was on the defensive, barely able to fire her dust off with precision due to Raven's lieutenant moving at an accelerated pace.
"I'm not letting you take the easy way out!" Vernal laughed as Weiss kneeled again to try and bring her guardian back to the battlefield after firing some fire dust to hopefully stall the girl. Even without it being a direct hit, she figured that the medium wall of flames should be enough to slow the girl down. Sadly, Vernal once again closed the distance, trapping Weiss' rapier with her chakram blades before shooting electricity into her.
The scream of suffering echoed throughout the hall, pulling Jaune and Pyrrha's attention from their opponent.
"What's the matter? Are you going to let her die too?"
Jaune growled. "Stop messing with us!"
Pyrrha realized the gravity of Cinder's words. She had been caught off guard and ambushed by Raven, and now Cinder was mocking her for it.
"If that's what you want..."
The sword suddenly flashed sending tiny shards everywhere, forcing the pair to shield their faces. When they could see again, both stared at the flaming spear in the woman's hand, neither prepared for what came next. Cinder then pushed the two back with her maiden powers before turning her attention to a crawling Weiss. The air then became difficult to breathe for her as a sharp pain coursed through her midsection.
Everybody who was fighting stopped to see what'd happened.
With swelling eyes, Weiss could only watch as the smoking weapon slowly began to fade away, helpless to stop the intense pain pulsing through the hole in her side. The last thing she remembered hearing was Jaune's voice, loud and terrified.
"WEISS!"
Jaune ran as fast as he could to catch her but, it wasn't enough to prevent her from collapsing hard against the floor. Still, he cradled the unconscious girl's body, praying that she'd open her eyes. He would soon find himself joined by Ren and Nora. In the meantime, Ruby Rose, who had her hands full with Emerald's semblance, suddenly noticed what was going on.
First, she discovered Jaune and the rest of Team JNPR, save for Pyrrha, trying futilely to revive the girl. Looking to her right, she then saw her sister and Roxanne struggling with Mercury even with the two-on-one advantage. With Qrow growing more and more exhausted and Oscar still new to the fighting game, there weren't many positives to work with.
Even worse, an enraged Pyrrha Nikos had started charging at Cinder blindly, sending Ruby back to the moment at Beacon. She remembered helping Aganju to the top first and it was only within a few seconds that he was able to prevent Pyrrha's death at the hands of the woman. However, with the news of his end, there was nobody to stop it this time.
Unless...
Fear for the girl's life suddenly triggered something in Ruby as her eyes began to glow just as brightly as they had at Beacon Tower. It encompassed everything and everyone in its glow before a gunshot was heard, forcing Ruby into a slumber. Still, the damage had been done as Cinder dropped to her knees, clutching her left arm in pain.
This was the moment Pyrrha needed. Without hesitation, she rushed over to her beaten opposition. Unfortunately, a piercing pain shot through her previously injured foot, causing her to stumble just enough to miss cutting her head off, only succeeding in cutting the glass mask that covered her missing left eye.
While she checked her heel, ensuring that she wasn't injured all over again, Cinder had more than enough to recover. Now, she was pissed as she flared her powers in outrage. She booted the vulnerable girl in the stomach; she wanted the spartan to see the face of the one destined to finish her. Dazed and confused, Pyrrha suddenly felt that heeled boot stab into her belly.
"Did you think you had a chance against me? You?!" She watched as the girl labored to wiggle out, clearly devitalized from her adrenaline rush. It was rather sad if Cinder was being honest. Not once, but twice now she tried to combat her. It was like a mere mortal challenging the gods themselves; unfair in all senses of the idea. "You're just a failed maiden with a death wish!"
There was still a spark ablaze inside though.
"If I die today so that my friends can defeat you, then it'll be worth it."
"What? No talk about destiny? Do you miss the dead mutt that much?"
Pyrrha said nothing, only a voiceless glower was her response.
"Then, I guess I'd be doing you a favor by sending you to see him in the afterlife, wouldn't I?" She tsked several times before smiling that infernal grin. "No. I'm going to make you watch as I pick off your little friends. One by one."
"N-no..."
Cinder let that smirk grow more and more into a crazed smile of delight toward Pyrrha's begging. Oh, how she relished the feeling of domination over those beneath her. She took her exit while everyone continued to watch Jaune cry over the unconscious girl while trying to resuscitate her to no avail.
The only one not preoccupied at the moment was Oscar who was busy handing a fearful Lionheart a proper beating of his earlier teaching. Using his cane, the boy managed to send the headmaster down the flight of steps into Hazel who'd been observing things ever since his arrival. When the cowardly male crashed into him, he simply picked him up, annoyed among other things.
"You're letting that boy make a fool of you..."
Leo informed Hazel about Oscar's identity, which made Hazel lose control. The previously gentle giant was now threatening the boy who had Beacon's former headmaster inside him. While his attacks were effective against Qrow and Ren, Hazel accidentally gave Nora enough electricity to hurl him out.
All of this paled in comparison to the bigger threat:
Cinder, along with Vernal & Raven, was on her way to retrieve the relic.
Outside, Adam Taurus couldn't believe what he seeing.
Standing before him was the object of his twisted affection. His most loyal victim stood before him with a determination in her glare that made her both familiar and unrecognizable.
"Blake?"
"Who is that?" Hazel challenged, not liking the fact that there were more nuisances to potentially deal with.
"Stand down!"
The soldiers all pointed their weapons at the cat-girl only to be stopped by Adam himself. Rather than just refuse, he began laughing at such a ludicrous demand. Whatever had happened on Menagerie, either it had ignited a spark of defiance in her or knocked a few screws loose.
"To think I went through so much trouble to find you only to have you deliver yourself to me."
"This isn't what's right for the Faunus. Stop what you're doing and we can end this peacefully."
Both Aganju and Sienna watched as the girl whom they saw as timid and closed-off was now standing up for not only her kind but for herself as well. Being in school together, the fox would notice that outside of missions, Blake was typically a loner, like him but, this was a welcomed change.
"You're wrong, Blake..." Adam interjected, his sword pointed at her. "...and you can't stop us!"
However, this did not deter Blake in the slightest.
"No! I can't; not by myself!"
"That's why she didn't come alone!" another voice rang from the distance.
Several of the faunus watched as Sun Wukong led a mini-army of their kind; Aganju couldn't help but smile at the sight of seeing so many of his people united for a major cause like this. It was overwhelming, yet, the fox wouldn't this amazing moment deter him from the task at hand.
"Who's there?"
On the other side, another group emerged, this time led by a face that Sienna never imagined seeing again.
"Your brothers and sisters!"
"Ghira?"
"Sienna? I heard you were dead!"
The two former high leaders stared in shock at the mere sight of each other. For Ghira Belladonna, this was nothing short of a miracle that she was standing in front of him considering the reports. Opposite him, Sienna gazed at her predecessor with newfound respect. That respect caused the feline Faunus to grin softly upon seeing the normally passive man taking action.
"False news, old friend!" she bowed respectfully."Still, it is good to see you again."
"Likewise," he returned the gesture.
The visual of so many faunus was a comfort to the rogue pair, but it was a fear-inducing sight for the White Fang members who looked like they'd seen ghosts. From their neighbors to former co-workers, it was as if the whole island of Menagerie came to defend Haven. Shields and varying weapons in hand, the men and women made it clear that they were prepared to fight for their voice; no longer would Adam Taurus be allowed to have that role.
No longer would he be lionized.
"Make no mistake brothers, these are our enemies and we will not let them ruin-"
The male's attempt at rallying his troops was interrupted when several spotlights suddenly appeared around the campus. Their covert plan had now been exposed.
"Adam Taurus!" His name reverberated throughout the night. "This is the Mistral Police Force. Lower your weapons and surrender peacefully."
"How?!" he roared as Blake dropped from her vantage point. "How did you do this?!"
Cool and calm, she stood to her feet, staring down at the monster who once gripped her with fear.
"Adam, it's over..."
There was no way out. No retreating. No defeat. They were trapped in a corner and just like a wounded animal he grew desperate There was no other option except...
"Then it's over for all of us."
Everyone froze in their tracks as he held the remote that would activate the bombs. This was when Blake knew that, in the face of the monster she once feared, she was making the right choice. He didn't care about her. Even now, he didn't care about the faunus. The truth was as clear as the sky above; Adam only cared about what Adam wanted.
It was always about his unquenchable thirst for power.
As he clicked the button, he was taken aback to see that nothing happened.
No beeps.
No explosion.
Nothing.
What?! He snarled, clicking the trigger repeatedly, to no avail.
"What is wrong with you? Are you trying to get us all killed?" one of the soldiers huffed only to be grabbed by the insane man.
"I am making humanity pay for what they've done!" he spat, rage spilling from the dam of composure he spent so long trying to maintain.
Having enough of this nonsense, Blake spoke up once again.
"We sent someone to confirm your explosives and once we did, she disarmed them." Unknown to Adam, a chameleon faunus by the name of Ilia appeared from the shadows, holding in her hand several colored wires to the charges set all over the main hall of Haven. "As I said, Adam! It's over..."
No. It couldn't be. Not like this. He was supposed to win; this victory would solidify his opulence as well as quench his thirst for vengeance, right?
"No..." he muttered. "NO!"
Reaching for his sword, Adam Taurus rushed to what he deemed as a thorn in his side. At this pace, he'd destroy her, and thus, he'd destroy this farce of a rebellion. He could still win if he just took out Blake Belladonna.
Adam observed the fox and monkey faunus positioned before her. He was certain he would eliminate them as well. However, his "beloved" Blake intervened and pushed the boys aside, making herself vulnerable to his attack. He realized too late why she had done this as he made a strike, only to hit one of her constructs rather than run away.
Blake managed to hit him with a double-axe handle before launching a knee straight to the jaw. He slid across the hard concrete, dropping his sword in the process. Both Sun and Aganju looked on, impressed at how far the girl had come.
"Wow..." the fox muttered, eyes blinking in astonishment.
"They don't call her Belladonna for nothing!" Sun draped an arm around his neck.
A glare from Blake quickly made both boys regret their heroics though as Aganju flinched, standing straight while Sun hid behind him, afraid of being on the receiving end of another Belladonna-endorsed slap. Aganju didn't fare well either, his tail and ears stiffening as she drew closer. Even facing death couldn't prepare him for whatever the feline had prepared to dish out.
"I didn't ask for you two knuckleheads to save me!" she jabbed his chest threateningly only to hug them both in gratitude. "But, I do appreciate it."
Ghira, Kali, and Sienna watched in approval... well... The women did at least. Ghira, on the other hand, was preparing another 'I REALLY don't like you' speech for the two boys who seemed to be gaining affection from his daughter; a typical father.
However, the reunion was cut short when a bruised Adam made it back to his feet.
"Kill them!"
His order did not fall on deaf ears as those loyal to him opened fire while the others attacked at close range. Blake and the others began to fight alongside their brethren. But, when a pumped Aganju grabbed Cerberus to assist, he was stopped by Sun.
"What the hell-?"
"What are you doing?" the blond asked.
"Helping...?"
"Dude, you need to help out your friends inside! We got this!"
"Huh? But what about-?"
His protests were silenced by the hand of Sienna on his shoulder. Her warm eyes told him what he needed to do, much to his disdain. He wanted to help out the tigress and his people but, she shook her head.
"We can handle this. Right now, you're needed there most of all."
Against his judgment, Aganju nodded and gave the shorter woman a big hug before rushing past the fighting around him. Even Hazel didn't bother stopping him, much to Adam's irritation.
Nearing the top of the stairs he spotted something that proved that he was indeed needed.
Back in the academy hall, an exhausted Pyrrha staggered to her feet as best she could. Physically, she was still capable of fighting, but her mind was another story entirely. Once again, Emerald was plaguing her with visuals and illusions designed to break her focus and sanity. While the others fought, she couldn't shake the images of the boy she'd grown to care for being taken from her repeatedly. Over and over, she was forced to watch that horrific scene of him being impaled. His cold lifeless gaze would suddenly turn to her, as his broken form would crawl toward her, neck twisting in an ungodly manner.
Petrified by the vision, Pyrrha could only curl up in the fetal position.
"You let me die..." his body began decaying; skin peeling back with each inch he drew closer. "Why didn't you save me?"
His eyes never blinked as those words echoed in her mind.
If this was hell, she'd go insane. Each time she dared to peek, his appearance would deteriorate more and more until his face and finger were nothing more than pieces of flesh barely sticking to the bone. She wanted nothing more than to scream but, even her voice failed her as the demented imagery continued for what felt like an eternity.
She failed him...
First at Beacon and now Mistral?
Outside of the grotesque fantasy, Emerald pulled her weapon, stalking closer to the helpless girl fruitlessly searching for some form of escape. Hatred coated her heart, not only for Pyrrha's attempt to end Cinder's life but also for something else. She pointed the barrel of her gun at her prey's head, ready to end this. Surely, SHE would be pleased, right?
Emerald would never know the answer to that question as footsteps ripped her from her thoughts. Red eyes traveled upward to see cold violet orbs fixated on her. Noticing a sword in each of his hands, Emerald wasted no time in backflipping away, creating enough space to avoid his strike. His ears stood up straight, as did his tail while his eyes glared at the girl.
"What? But you were...!" she stammered, not believing what she was witnessing. Was she in her illusion? That had to be it! "You can't be here!"
The vulpine said nothing, alternately focusing on the trembling form of the girl behind him.
With a cold glare, he dared the green-haired girl to test his patience. Placing Cerberus back to its glaive form, he sheathed it before trying to snap her out of the spell induced upon her. Her eyes were now tightly knit to prevent whatever she saw from entering her display again.
"Pyrrha...?"
Though his voice was gentle yet she didn't budge from her spot.
He tried to plead with her again only to receive the same result.
Risking outright backlash, Aganju allowed his tail to brush against her, ignoring the stares of everyone around him. All that mattered was that Pyrrha would be alright. The soft fur made her flinch at first but, she didn't resist the touch completely.
"It's me, Aganju."
"H-He's dead..." she whimpered.
He reached over to her, slowly lifting the girl into a seated position while whispering something in her ear, something she only told one other person, besides Jaune.
"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."
It was the statement she used to unlock the blond's semblance but, there was a deeper meaning behind it. In this case, she felt a warm sensation flowing into her, settling her chaotic emotions a bit. It did the job as Pyrrha's shivers began to subside little by little while she rested against him. She heard a heartbeat, a sign that whoever was holding her, they were indeed alive. It certainly sounded like him and she didn't feel the haunting presence anymore.
"Agan?"
"Hey there..." he whispered.
"It is you..."
He nodded, before finally noticing his surroundings.
Judging by the looks of things, everyone was still staring at him as if he'd grown a second head. After the month he's had, he chose to just awkwardly wave before helping the spartan girl to her feet. Though she was still on wobbly legs, she had enough wherewithal to take slow steps while the battles resumed.
Once they were in the clear, Jaune soon joined them allowing his aura to flow into the girl while she sat against the wall.
"Is she going to be alright?" the vulpine asked with concern.
"Yeah. I'm giving her some of my aurae to amplify her own. In the meantime, you should get down that tunnel. Cinder and Qrow's sister Raven are down there trying to steal the relic."
Raven's here?! ...With HER?!
His gaze darkened several shades at the thought of both women who hurt his friends and loved ones being in the same place. He resisted the urge to smile evilly as he stood up only to feel a hand weakly grabbing his own; he didn't have to look back to see who it was.
"Don't go..."
"I'll be back. I promise you."
Reluctantly, Pyrrha released what little grip she had on her friend, allowing him to run off. Mercury and Emerald were too preoccupied with both Yang & Roxanne. She was still in shock to see the boy alive. Why? Her earlier encounters with Salem began to creep into her, forcing her to focus on fighting the pair of combatants just to avoid the wrenching reach of the ghastly woman.
As the battle raged on, nobody stopped Aganju from jumping down the shaft. Despite the time that'd passed, he could tell they were close by. As the presence of bloodlust filled his nose, he knew that a battle had been waged; They didn't know that it would gift him a crack against the victor.
[Haven Academy-Vault]
"Thank you, Vernal..." Raven whispered as she watched Cinder's frozen body fall into the abyss.
After a fierce battle that cost her the life of her most trusted lieutenant, the tribe leader wanted nothing more than to return to her home with the tribe with the relic and leverage over Salem's forces. It was her plan all along, though she never counted on Vernal being a casualty in the process. Still, the girl did what she could to protect the secret that only they knew within the tribe.
As a last form of kindness, Raven Branwen gently shut the eyes of her fallen comrade; the daughter she'd come to love. Then, came the next step, gaining the relic of knowledge. Remembering the instructions told to her, Raven placed her hands on the door watching as giant golden wings began to fold into one another. One by one the gilded feathers disappeared until all that was left was a sandy location with a glowing blue lamp resting only feet away
As she stepped forward to claim her prize, Raven could feel she wasn't alone. Her suspicions rang true when the sounds of someone landing filled the majestically hollow underground. Looking back, she found those burning eyes staring back at her with hatred and vengeance. Wait...
Raven knew hatred when she saw it, and this was nothing like that. This was pain and confusion mixed with justifiable rage.
"Surprised to see me?"
Raven never got the chance to open her mouth to speak as her prodigal son rushed forward with murderous intent. It had been a month since their last encounter; one thought to be their last. A shocked and confused Raven found herself on the defensive as what appeared to be wild and uncontrolled strikes were actually in perfect coordination.
Whenever she'd go left, his broad yet speedy slash would force her to go right and vice-versa. He was showing her that the previous match was only due to an unforeseen advantage.
His gaze was intense with rage as the woman who birthed him soon processed that this was no twisted fantasy. Aganju lived. Aganju was fighting her. Most importantly, Aganju was her to kill Raven Branwen.
"How did you survive?!" she yelled leaping back into the broken gate.
He said nothing though. The time for questions had long been passed and the only answers he desired would come in the form of her blood for what she'd done. Not just trying to end his life, but for the past. Thanks to Sienna finding and aiding him, he'd learn several hidden truths as to why he was abandoned; all the more reason to finish her off.
Raven was not about to let that happen, at least not without a fight. With just a tiny opening, she used her katana to open a gateway, her trump card during their previous two battles.
Where did she go? The faunus was fed up with her running.
He wasn't a fool though.
Some part of him wanted to believe that Raven had run away but, his nose wouldn't let him believe such a foolish notion. He'd clutch his sword firmly in his left hand and close his eyes, inhaling and exhaling softly.
A portal appeared as anticipated. Unlike when she did it during their first encounter, it wasn't from behind. The right side was where it came from. A vicious slash at his neck merely pierced his cheek and drew a small amount of blood. She was sent sliding along the luminous floor by a roundhouse kick, which he executed with the foresight to deliver.
"YOU BRAT!" she roared, eyes blazing with a red fire around them.
This was a surprise, to say the least. But, Aganju remembering a lesson taught to him by the tigress simply smirked. He'd battled a maiden before and he could do it again. Using his semblance, he chose not to hold back.
A crimson aura surrounded him as his scleras turned black. His iris was now completely blood-red like her own, Raven couldn't mistake it this time.
He does have Salem's eyes!
They'd clash, again and again, neither one gaining the upper hand over the other. Even when Raven went full power, Aganju would simply match her blow for blow, though he'd receive a few cuts and bruises. It wouldn't matter so long as her corpse lay before his feet.
Minutes of the stalemate only resulted in heavy breaths echoing off of the stone walls.
Mother and son glared at one another, neither willing to admit defeat. After using her maiden powers twice now, Raven was nearly spent. On the other side, while Aganju had a good tank of aura left, this was the most he'd ever exerted such power.
Despite this, their mutual stubbornness refused to let them concede, not with this much on the line. To concede would be a fate worse than death at this point, and both weren't willing to pay that price. Aganju then watched as the pale woman crouched slightly while sheathing her sword. Looking closely, he knew what she was doing.
"Battojutsu?" he growled in amusement.
"I can't afford to take you lightly anymore..." she coldly snarled.
"So, I finally earned your respect?" his lips contorted in a twisted grin, sending a tiny shock down the woman's spine. "The great Raven Branwen finally sees little old me as a threat? THIS is how you measure my strength?"
"Whatever it takes..."
"And what of her?!" his monstrous tone echoed from the stone walls around them. "Is that how much my sister's life was? Was she nothing more than your lackey?"
"Don't you ever disrespect Vernal!"
"Or what?!" he roared with every ounce of rage he could muster. His bloody eyes glistened with streams of tears that fell down as he tilted his head menacingly. "You've already made it clear what you're prepared to do... Why pretend that you care now, 'mother'?"
For the first time since his arrival, Raven hesitated. Her eyes cast to the dirty floor while her brain scrambled to form an answer. This was another wraith of her past standing before her yet she continued to convince herself that his presence was a hindrance to her life.
"Fine... I'll play your game."
When she looked up, the darkness that once cloaked his form began to vanish, leaving only the taller fox. He reached behind him, drawing his blade from its sheath in preparation to strike. Gone was the rage that drove him, leading her to resume her resolve. They both clutched the hilt of their respective blades, drawing the deciding factors to the ready. Whoever's sword connected first would win. More significantly, no matter who was the victor, some truths would remain.
Power vs Vengeance.
Mother vs child.
Whatever strand of their marred past remain was about to be severed.
Just as their blades were about to find their marks, neither expected to see a large mass of yellow hair.
The cold steel stopped just short of slicing the girl into pieces as the abrupt cognizance forced them to know who was standing in between them. She didn't flinch when faced with the possible death that could've come. She simply stood there, small droplets splattering the floor beneath them.
"Yang?" both called out, surprised.
Slowly lifting her head, Yang Xiao Long turned her head to a worried Aganju, fresh tears coating her smile.
"...I made it."