Hello guys and let's give a warm welcome to 2024! AHA! How are you all? Did you spent your holidays with your family and loved ones? Is everything going good? I truly hope so! So, originally I wanted to make this chapter longer like a lot however I wanted to end it before the month's end too...welp, I had to divide it in two parts essentially since the latter part will also trace the path to the end of the first act and boy, I am cooking here. I'm also playing a lot of Tekken 8 and Godfather Harada truly made one of the best Tekken ever made, this is literally an homage to Jin's character! The game's a lot fun too! Anyway, I think it's time to cut the presentation since the chapter is already short (Sorry again for this ;-;)
Sitting on the edge of the top of the Beacon's main tower, the blue haired man looked down at all the civilians swarming towards the coliseum ready for the second day of the tournament. His sharp cold eyes were like knives for how big his killer instinct was, as his mind already imagined all these humans slaughtered on the spot…however, he repressed these thoughts. His lord did not order him to kill them….yet.
"Look at them. Look at these humans who foolishly follow their emotions. Truly a plague that we must eradicate, isn't it…" Suddenly the man spoke, his left hand clenching various times. "Mister Adam?"
From behind the man, the White Fang's Faunus froze on the spot for a mere instant. 'This monster…' "Even if that means you should die too, human?"
In that moment, a bloodlusty grin appeared over the blue haired man. "Oh please, I pledged my life to my savior. If I must die by his hands, I gladly let him take it"
"..." Adam narrowed his eyes under the mask. "That is such a depravated love, Legato"
"Love?" The blue haired man now known as Legato let out a chuckle. "This isn't love, Adam. I don't know love" He looked down to the civilians once more, his eyes focusing on a happy family laughing. "Love, attachment…I simply don't get it. For me, there's no need of emotions"
"Then you enacted your plan only for nihilism, right?" The Faunus put a hand over the hilt of his sword. Somehow, he felt connected to Legato in a way.
"I feel you might know the answer already, Adam" Legato then stood up, looking at the masked Faunus with a soft somewhat distant smile-like expression. "After all we are the same, me and you. Humanity made us into monsters, and we monsters will put an end to their road"
"Same, huh…" Adam remained silent, his eye hidden behind the mask looked at Legato with disbelief before he let out a groan. "...We'll see about that, I'm doing this for my people. I hope you did not forget it, Legato Bluesummers" He then disappeared behind the tower, leaving Legato alone.
Yet, the man smirked. "Oh trust me Adam, I can do everything but forget is not among these…" He then looked at the humans once more, a little smile on his face when he noticed a certain black haired man. "Am I right, The Punisher ?"
Bullet 6: Lessons learned, but don't miss the beat, BABY
New dawn, a new day for our heroes and a new day means a new day of the tournament: The 2v2. However, while the coliseum was filled with several students and civilians as well came to watch the matches between the huntsmen and huntress in training, Weiss and Winter were currently sitting in the school's garden at a table drinking some coffee, the intention of catching back with everything was clearly there.
"I apologize for not getting proper time to hang out with your teammates, Weiss. My outburst back in the courtyard had some unforeseen consequences." Winter said, looking at her coffee as she confessed.
"It's alright, Winter. I probably would have reacted similarly." Weiss admitted.
"I suppose certain things can't be controlled even with a military discipline." The older Schnee let out a sigh as Weiss finished her drink. However, her trained and steel glance locked on Weiss. "Speaking of which, how are you doing training wise with your semblance?"
Weiss's eyes sparkled when she heard Winter's question. "Oh well, I've finally gotten glyphs down to the point where their inversion effect doesn't happen as frequently, I've all but mastered propulsion and gravity well glyphs- Oh, and I started to use time glyphs as well—" All excited, Weiss started to list off everything until Winter raised an hand, interrupting her sister.
"And summoning?"
"I…" Weiss gulped. "I still haven't gotten that." She admitted with a long sigh, looking down.
Winter acknowledged it with a nod before standing up. "Well would you like to try practicing?" She asked. "I'd be more than happy to help you out."
"You would?!" Regaining the excitement, Weiss seemed rather eager. "I- Um mean, yes! Of course!"
"Excellent." Winter smiled a little. "Let's start now. I'll start by showing you an example and then we'll take it step by step."
The crowd's loud shout echoed through the entire coliseum as the first 2v2 match was selected in real time: Coco and Yatsuhashi from Beacon vs Emerald and Mercury from Haven. As the four students were getting ready to step in the arena, in the covered area reserved for Ozpin's group an interesting discussion was brought up.
With the seats placed in a half circle, Ozpin, Glynda and James listened to Vash explaining his encounter with the mysterious Nicholas D. Wolfwood…and his knowledge about Knives. "Nicholas D. Wolfwood, you said?" Sitting on his seat and holding his cane with both hands, Ozpin looked at Vash who stood before him, his eyes watching the arena behind the glass-covered VIP area. "I never heard this name before in any report made by Qrow. Are you sure he truly meant what he said?"
"...I do" The Humanoid Typhoon made a slight nod, the right hand clenched. "In all these years, he is the only one who truly knew about who was talking about…"
"And he said 'Knives' is coming…" James held his chin with the right hand. "But then why he said that to you, Stampede?"
"..." Vash remained silent on that question, making James irritated. Noticing it, Glynda spoke for defend her adoptive brother, knowing that Ozpin didn't told James the truth.
"James, Vash has been wanted since Lost July. He could have found out about Knives in that period, and the powerful members of Remnant's crimeworld knows about Vash and Knives" She put on a lie, keeping a poker face while saying so. "Maybe this Wolfwood is a member of the underground and wanted to warn Vash to protect his leaders?"
"A nice supposition, Glynda" Taking the ball she kicked, Ozpin kept the game on. "With no information about this man, we must follow this hypothesis before we get new clues regarding his identity and how close he is to Knives"
James looked at the two, his stern face showing little emotions at the sight of their facade before sighing. "We'll still continue to search for the next Maiden"
At this, Vash widened his eyes as he turned to meet the other adults. "You…what?"
James narrowed his eyes to Vash. The man was showing his side as a general, a side of his persona that would do whatever it takes to assure victory. "Is it wrong to assure the best change we possess right now against them?"
"Of course it's wrong!" The blonde haired man said, gently yet harshly moving away as he pointed his mechanical index finger at Ozpin. "You promised, Ozpin!" Vash almost spitted the word as he glared at the headmaster who closed his eyes solemnly.
"It is not my intention to break it, Vash. You know it" Ozpin began to talk, looking back at Vash. "Of all things, this is the only one that I don't want to do if there are no other options. You know that too"
The voice faded- no, everything faded for Vash, even his body faded completely as he stood in the middle of the dark. Blinking, he looked down to see that his body trasmutated into the body of a young boy—no, his childhood body sitting in a royal garden of sorts. Around him, a boy looking just like him and four girls were playing together, laughing like they grew as a family.
Family.
"Hey Vash, come on! Let's play!" Said the boy who looked just like Vash with a smile as he held his right hand to the Humanoid Typhoon.
"Come on Vash!"
"Come here Vash!"
"Let's play together, Vash!"
"This time you'll be the daddy, Vash!"
The four girls giggled together as they called Vash to them, mimicking the boy as they held their hands towards Vash.
"Vaaash~!"
A slow melody coming from an invisible piano echoed around the children, whose smiles slowly became hollow and somewhat akin to Grimm. Their arms got longer and thickers, as if they were growing only to catch Vash who began to step back.
"Vaaaaash~!"
"N-No…this…this can't be!" Vash muttered through his teeth before clenching his fists. His eyes widened when the arms were going to catch him up when he suddenly began to run.
He ran. And ran. And ran. And kept running away. But the arms always managed to speed up the necessary to keep up with his run.
"Vaaaash~" The voice of the boy who looked like Vash echoed in his ears, forcing Vash to put his hands over them.
"N-No! Stop! This…this is not real!" He screamed, his eyes closed, before he kneeled down. In the dark, he can be safe, no sounds nor sights can be felt…..
"But you're hurting me…" However, his voice could still be heard. The hand grabbed Vash's chin only to force him to look up at the face of his twin, who had a cruel smile on it. "After all I am real, and I'll be here soon…"
Vaaaaash~!
"Vash!" Glynda's voice made Vash snap back to reality as he noticed that he was sitting on one of the seats and she—no, everyone was by his side. At the sight of his brother seemingly awake, Glynda made a thin smile and sigh of relief. "Thank Oum you're alright—" …until he moved his mechanical arm and moved Glynda away only to hastily get up.
"No!" He almost shouted, until he blinked twice while looking around the room, a few drops of sweat slowly fell from his chin while his breathing was not stable at all, as he panted heavily.
"Vash" Ozpin called out, his right hand trying to make contact with Vash. "Are you alright, Vash?" He asked, worried about the Humanoid Typhoon's health.
Looking at the hand held before him, Vash's light blue eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, widened a little. "...Kh…" Gritting his teeth, Vash clenched his natural hand into a fist before he went outside of the room.
"W-Wait, Vash!" After getting back on her feet thanks to Ironwood, Glynda called Vash until she tried to go after him. However, Ozpin's staff was put before her as the headmaster shook his head. "Ozpin…!" Glynda tried to speak, however she stopped when she saw Ozpin's eyes. A calm, cold, collected and rational glance almost hidden by his shades.
"Leave him be, Glynda" He stated, lowering the staff only for being "scolded" by James.
"Ozpin, are you crazy? That was something worth of get shot in my military!"
"Good for you that he is not with your soldiers then, James" The Beacon's headmaster stated, both his hands placed on the cane's handle. "Leave him be for a bit. He…I think he's stresses just like us"
Looking out the window, Glynda just saw that the Vytal tournament's match just ended with the victory of Emerald and Mercury from Shade.
In the RWBY room in the dormitory, the leader of the team and her sister were fighting a war of attrition. They were against the evil general known as Qrow Brawnen, and Ruby grit her teeth as she glared intently at him. "I'll never lose to you!" She proclaimed, putting a thin smile on Qrow's face.
"I wouldn't be too sure, kiddo." Qrow chuckled, also with that same glare.
"YAH! TAKE THAT!" Ruby exclaimed when a character on the screen- her character- was KO'd by Qrow's character with a shoryuken-like attack.
"Soaring Ninja Wins, Total Annihilation!" The game shouted, crushing Ruby's hope and dream as she pouted, giving the controller to Yang. "My turn~!" The blonde grinned as she took the controller into her hands, shoving Ruby away. Looking at her uncle, Yang smirked. "Come on, go to character select because today I'm all fired up~!"
"Alright fireworks, if you want so badly to lose" Qrow smudged back at Yang until something crossed his mind. After they picked the characters, he suddenly asked. "Hey, would you kids like to hear a story?"
"Would we ever!" Ruby leaned forward eagerly as he and Yang started their match up in the game.
"So there I was... In the slums of Mistral. I had to find information and my partner Shiro was nowhere to be found, so taking it to a local inn. I was ready to ask about it, when I saw it... A sight that made my knees weak, I fell to the ground utterly defeated. When I saw the Innkeeper's skirt length!" Qrow remarked as he won the match in the game and Yang angrily threw a pillow at him that he caught, since this story made her lose ALL the focus she had.
"You're the worst!" Yang grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Hey now, you know that's not true." Qrow chuckled. "I'm a member of THE Team STRQ, the best team to have ever graduated Beacon. For us there was only perfection" Qrow stated before he pulled out a photo, showing it to his nieces: His old team photograph. It was quite dirty and ruined after years from its original take, to the point a side of it is completely burned. For what it was saved, the photo showed a young team formed by two women and men: Summer Rose, the leader of the team who was standing on the edge of the photo's side, covering her strangely faintly red face with the hood of her white cape; On the other side of the photo, Qrow was standing with his Harbinger resting on the shoulder, a smirk on his face; and in the middle of the photo stood Taiyang Xiao Long with his arms crossed and a cocky smile on the face with another woman close to him, a woman whose face was notably covered by Qrow's thumb, a woman which Yang stared at her for a second before Qrow put the picture away.
"You girls are just starting to get into the swing of things when it comes to this line of work." Qrow complimented.
"Heh, well I mean yeah, I mean didn't you hear about all we did this year?!" Ruby smirked confidently.
"We took down the White Fang, Roman Torchwick and crime's at an all time low!" Yang explained.
"Are you so sure?" Qrow asked. "I mean think of it this way...crime's stopped all together."
"It has hasn't it? I've not heard of any incidents since the tournament's started." Yang mused.
Qrow scratched his chin, nodding. "Precisely. Crime doesn't just stop like that unless something big happens. You cut off one head of King Taijitu... But the other one's calling the shots now." He then explained. "It's what General Ironwood can't seem to get through that thick metal head of his."
"Yeah..." Yang looked down until she blinked before looking at Qrow. "Wait, is that why you got into a fight with Weiss's sister?"
Qrow let out a sigh at the mention of that, taking a sip from his flask. "Look, I was just very annoyed with Ironwood's methodology so I took it out on her."
"Well can you apologize to her?" Ruby asked. "She is my teammate's sister."
"Look, kid. When you get to my age you'll see that things aren't just as easy as a simple 'sorry'." Qrow made air quotes before he stood up. "I'll..." he took a deep breath as Ruby was still pouting. "I'll try and apologize or something. But you both should know you've got a long way to go before you're as skilled as I am. A week out there's about as good as one of your semesters in here"
"Sheesh, and to think that we also fought together with Vash the Stampede himself" Yang crossed her arms and groaned, although the mention of the Humanoid Typhoon's name made Ruby realize something.
"Wait a second uncle Qrow" She said, looking at Qrow. "Vash told me that you and he have known each other since a lot, and the last time you talked was years ago…when did you meet him?"
"Wait, for real?" This made Yang curious.
When he heard Ruby's question and Yang's interest in it, Qrow managed to hide a groan by drinking from his flask. Then, he sighed. "...Yeah, I know Spikey—I know Vash. Met him like five years before July during a job, and since then we became friends"
"Wait, then why didn't you tell us that?!" Both the sisters said at the same time, making Qrow roll his eyes.
"'Cause you already saw what kind of a guy Vash is," He said as he shrugged. "I mean, would you believe that the Humanoid Typhoon is actually a silly guy who enjoys donuts, a drink and total pacifism?" Qrow smirked a little when both Ruby and Yang couldn't find an answer. "Knew it" Walking towards the door, he looked at his nephews one more time. "Look, I'll be around, but mostly with Oz, so in case I never see you two again for the rest of this thing, good luck" And with a smirk, he left the room and headed towards the main avenue.
And it was there when he stopped moving at the sight of a certain blonde haired guy glaring at a strange black haired man dressed in black. "Spikey…?" He muttered, and yet the blonde haired man moved his head towards Qrow.
"Qrow?"
"Remember Weiss, it's as I instructed. Set the glyph down and focus... Focus on the enemy you wish to summon and how overcoming them helped you to grow." Winter stated as Weiss was holding the glyph but stopped as she lost focus.
"I'm trying!" Weiss stomped her foot down.
"Then why aren't you coming up with any results?" Winter asked.
"I... I don't know." Weiss looked away.
"Is there something bothering you. Possibly father?" Winter teased.
"No, it's not that." Weiss shook her head vehemently.
"Oh? Then why haven't you been answering his calls? Surely if you're not bothered then you would just answer his call."
Weiss let out a sigh. "I just don't want to talk to him. I don't need him getting in my face every little thing I do."
"True that you don't need to interact with him. But you do need his money." Winter smirked.
"Huh?! H-How do you know about that?!" Weiss was surprised.
"Lucky guess." Winter mused. "Hey, may have done the same to me when I was your age."
"I... I tried to pay for lunch yesterday but my card was declined."
"How embarrassing." Winter commented, hiding an amused smile for a second.
"I know!" Weiss stomped her foot down.
"You could either keep ignoring him and struggle... Or maybe actually talk with him about why you decided to become a huntress..."
Weiss was now gritting her teeth as she created a glyph to try and summon.
Winter put a hand on her sister's shoulder as her aura shattered. "Your emotions can give you strength, but you must remember to not let them control you. Take my incident earlier as an example for what not to do—" In that moment, Winter's Scroll made a noise, forcing the older Schnee to look at it. "...I'm afraid it's time for me to leave."
"W-What happened?" Weiss asked, looking at her sister.
"Orders from the general. He wants me to return to Atlas as fast as possible" She said, looking down a little.
"Already…?"
Winter nodded slightly. Weiss made a sad expression before bowing slightly to Winter. "Thanks Winter, it was a pleasure seeing you." Weiss smiled to her sister before the two shared a hug.
"Likewise, sister." Winter hugged her a little tightly and glanced down at something out of the corner of her eye, a slight smile forming on her face before the two started away from the gardens. As the two walked away a small summoned sword dissipated into a snowy fog.
The gunman was casually sitting over a bench of the campus's entrance right where the heliport for the Amity Colosseum was, as currently various people and their families from all across Remnant were looking at the matches by the wide Scrolls holograms while childrens were playing around.
With his arms resting over the bench's back and his sunglasses inside his jacket, Vash's head was facing the sky above, although his eyes were closed.
"Don't run so much or you'll bump into elders!"
"The juniors this year are truly leagues above their seniors"
"A lovely weather for be fall, isn't it?"
All around him, people were enjoying their little moments and their extras as well. "..." No word came from Vash as he opened his right eye, yet his thoughts filled his mind. 'Ahh…you can really lose yourself in the blue of the sky…'
The figure of a smiling black haired woman flashed in his mind. His right eye flinched a little. 'Rem…smiling too…how long it had been since I recalled your smile. Bet you didn't think you'd see me either—' In the middle of his thought train, Vash couldn't see the brown bolt striking right onto his face as he fell overhead behind the bench, causing a few adults to come over, noticing that a ball was struck into his face.
"M-Mister, are you okay?!" One of them asked before looking at a group of scared children with one of them, a small leopard-faunus boy, still stuck into his kicking pose. Proof of him being the culprit.
"Uuuh….hi?" The boy said awkwardly, seeing and feeling that all the adults' eyes are locked on him.
"We said to not play soccer, Aoi…" One of the children said to the faunus boy.
"Shut up" He said to them, but suddenly the boy's mother, also a young leopard-faunus woman, called him out.
"Aoi! Go and apologize now!"
"Gh…fine mom…" He sighed before walking towards the knocked Vash. "S-Sorry mister, are you okay?" Waiting for Vash's reply, the boy moved a bit closer towards Vash…just for him to suddenly get up and run towards the children, the ball was still stuck on his face.
"KYAAAH!" The boy and his playmates screamed and began to run away only for Vash to keep following them. He was actually holding the ball with all but his mouth, causing him to speak all muffled.
"Feafly aggafk! Fofdefarr gead! (Deadly Attack! Dodgeball head!)" Vash said with the ball held by his mouth. "Fa fiffle seffich wut fwong fuffwisios fessiche so fussort fe sall! (A simple but strong suspicious technique to support the ball!)"
"What is that?!" The children comically shouted, not understanding what Vash said.
Dropping the ball and grabbing it with the left hand, Vash laughed a bit. "Did you like it? It is one of my deadliest attacks!" He joked, winking once.
"..." The children looked at each other until all of them smiled at Vash. "It was awesome! Do it again mister!"
"Maybe the mister has something else to do, come on" One of the parents of a child said, until Vash shook his head.
"Now now, it's not a problem for me, truly" The blonde haired man said, beginning to spin the ball over his finger as he looked at the children. "Alright, who's ready to play?"
"Yaaay!"
"Taaake this!" Assuming a striking position, Aoi smirked as he kicked the ball which flew away and landed before a certain man in a business suit. "Ah!" The boy said as Vash put his hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'm going," He said with a smile, walking towards the man. "Hey, pass it please" Vash asked, going midway between him and the man who took off his black sunglasses.
"Who knew that you're also good with kids, Needle-Noggin?"
"...!" Vash looked surprised for a second, recognizing the man. "Wolfwood…!"
The undertaker nodded slightly, walking towards Vash and reached him. "Yup, that's my name" Putting the sunglasses inside his jacket, Wolfwood held the ball towards Vash. "Up for a walk?"
As he took the ball, Vash looked at Wolfwood with a mix of seriousness and resentment. "Why are you here?"
"If yesterday you heard me then we were already done with it" Wolfwood replied, smiling at the children as he tossed the ball to one of them. "I'll tell you, but not with 'em" He gave a small nod towards the children.
Vash easily acknowledged what he meant, so after giving the ball back to the kids the Humanoid Typhoon began to follow Wolfwood as both walked along the streets of the campus. Pulling out a cigarette and lit it, Wolfwood breathed deeply before letting out a cloud of smoke. "Now, remember what I said yesterday? About the guy in common who wanted to adopt the kids of the orphanage?"
Putting on his sunglasses, Vash glared at Wolfwood. "Cut it, where is he?!" Vash called out.
"Hoi hoi, can't you let me talk at least? Why do you want to know where he is?"
"Because I've survived this long so I can send that guy to hell!" Vash revealed, his eyes showing a murderous intent for a second. "He…he killed people I loved. And he'll pay for that"
"...I see" Wolfwood's eyes, hidden by the sunglasses, shone a little as he looked at Vash's figure. "And so, what? You will pull the trigger when you see him?"
Surprised, Vash glared at him. "That's—"
"Spikey?"
Both the men turned their heads towards the only one who called Vash in that way, with the latter calling him. "Qrow…?"
Turn out to the next bullet: Crime and Punishment
