Laying across her pink fleece covered bed, Katie let out a heavy sigh as she let her head sink into a rather fluffy pillow. Snuggled up against her right hip was her small chihuahua, Coco, her hand gently stroking his back as he breathed in and out. "What is it about her?" She groaned, slowly reaching up and rubbing her eyes. "What could it possibly be?"
"Is something the matter, Miss Katie?" A man in a suit asked, standing at her doorway. He did not need to be here, he knew that and she knew that. The blonde could very much handle herself. But being Sanguine's daughter, she was spoiled to no end.
Letting out a heavy exhale, she rolled over onto her side to look at him. Coco growling softly as he shifted around and nuzzled himself up against her back. "Do you have a girlfriend?" She paused for a moment before waving her hand a bit. "Or you know a boyfriend, or whatever."
Biting his tongue to not groan, he slowly shook his head as he moved his arms behind his back. "Sadly not. There was a few times back in the military but that didn't last very long."
Katie sighed again, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Well, there's this boy who I have had my eye on for years, but he just won't notice me. And earlier he brought another girl over and we sat and talked. But ever since I saw her, I just can't stop thinking about her."
"Jealousy perhaps, Miss Katie?" He raised his eyebrows. "I know if I saw a woman I loved with another man I wouldn't stop thinking about what I'd do to him."
"Un hunh." She shook her head. "That's not it. I'm not sure what to call it..."
"Maybe you found her attractive?" His brows raised more, his voice filling a questioning tone.
She was silent for a moment, thinking quietly to herself before she let out a muffled scream, her face hitting her pillow. "That's not right either! Agh!" Her fingers slowly dug into her comforter.
Hearing a harsh growl coming from Coco, the man quickly took a step back. "Alright, alright. Calm down, Miss Katie. No need to get upset. How about you give me a description and a name, and I could send Master Tenebris out to go search for her. And figure out who she is and everything else you would like. And while we are waiting, I could go get you some strawberry ice cream and have young Eri Sin come in and comb your hair perhaps? Mrs. Sanguine is still busy with organizing a few things."
Sniffing softly, Katie rolled over and slowly sat up while rubbing her eyes. "Yeah... yeah. That sounds nice."
"Good, good." He quietly exhaled as he grabbed the door knob. "I'll be right ba-" He was cut off, the door swinging open on its own.
There, standing in the middle of the doorway was the infamous purple haired criminal dressed in his violet colored boxers. "Guess who's back, bitches?" Dion grinned, holding at his arms as he glanced around. Sweat forming on his body just from standing. "Where is my beautiful blood sucking queen?"
Deadpanning, Katie let her mouth hang open for a moment before she pulled out her scroll and pressed a few buttons while holding it to her ear. "I'm telling mommy you broke into my room again and raped me." She held out her rand, checking her nails as he scroll rang.
"Whoa whoa whoa, I haven't even been here two seconds." He held his hands against his chest. "Don't you love me?"
"No." The guard said plainly, shoving him away before slamming the door shut in his face. Sighing, he lowered his head. "Damn pervert..." He muttered.
After team MACE had left Keegan's home, the dog Faunus let out a heavy exhale as she collapsed onto on end of the couch. At the other end, Dino was sitting with his legs up and toy gun in his lap. Shifting around, he slowly set it aside as he crawled over to her, gently nudging her shoulder as she opened her eyes.
"Huh? What?" She flashed a sleepy smile, reaching up and rubbing his head. "Oh, don't worry about them." She sat up, yawning as she rubbed her eyes. "They won't hurt you."
Staring back at her, he let out a silent sigh before raising his hands and began to sign with them.
Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes and glanced away. "They're just a bunch of kids who think they can help. And we're getting nowhere at the station with this and the chief doesn't even seem to care..." She groaned, reaching up and rubbing her face. "And things are getting worse and worse, so I... I had to accept help. I don't want to because I'm putting their lives in danger, but this has gone on long enough. Too many civilians are getting hurt. Too many people are being killed." She exhaled.
Shaking his head, he reached over and shook her shoulder a bit before smiling softly, his tail waving back and forth a bit as he moved his hands.
Keegan sighed again, reaching over to pull Dino up next to her while rubbing his shoulder. "I can't protect everyone, Dino. I would love it if I could. But at some point if I'm not careful, one of those girls could get hurt or even worse. I can only be in so many places at once."
Letting out a huff of air, he pushed his head into her chest, holding his hands out in front of himself as he motioned one last thing.
Chuckling softly, the female officer flashed a smile with her canine teeth showing. "I've had plenty enough sleep, you dweeb. The purple around my eyes is makeup and a fashion statement. Don't you want me to be one of those cool moms?" She winked, only to laugh softly as he picked up one of the many scattered tennis balls and threw it at her.
The following morning, a couple hours into officer Keegan's shift, the canine Faunus was relaxing in her squad car on the side of the road. Exhaling softly into her cup of coffee, she shut her eyes as steam rolled up and across her face. Setting it down, she reached up to rub her eyes while leaning her head back. "I can't believe you decided to work with a bunch of children..." She let out a quiet groan before her body straighten at the sound of her radio.
There was a couple seconds of static followed by some fidgeting until a female voice spoke through. "Any available units. We have a ten thirty-nine. There is a fight in progress in the five hundredth block of south Wall Street. Suspects are armed and dangerous."
With her brows furrowed, Keegan quickly snatched up her radio, pressing down on a button. "This is unit four twenty-two. Can you describe suspects to me?" There was a silence. Static echoing in the car.
"There are reports of four girls and a man." Her voice suddenly came back on. "Witnesses are reporting him as wanted criminal Tohopka Tenebris. No confirmed sightings though."
Breathing heavily, she reached over with her left hand, buckling herself in as she pressed the button on her radio. "Ten four. On my way." She moved both hands, flicking on her lights and siren at the same time as she docked her radio. She couldn't help but groan as she reached up, rubbing the side of her head. "I hate these girls."
Moments before, as Kagami, Cheyenne, and Kris were walking forward down the street, Elise was walking backwards and facing them. "Okay, okay, but listen. I'm telling you. Zucchini-"
"Sanguine." Cheyenne quietly corrected.
"-bites people on the neck. That's the only way her semblance works. What if, now I'm just throwing this out there," The brunet waved her hands. "What if we all wore metal chokers?" She smiled brightly, glancing around. "Huh? What do you think? Brilliant, right?"
Slowly shaking her head no, the leader of team MACE couldn't help but faintly smile as she rubbed her head. "I think you might want to go back to the drawing board with that one."
"Oh, come on! Why?!" Elise held out her hands.
"Because it sounds stupid maybe!" Kris narrowed her eyes. "Now I like chokers, but this is just stupid!"
As the two bean to bicker, the group walked passed an alleyway. Standing down it a few meters and leaning against a wall hidden in the shadows, Tohopka "Hmmm..." He glanced at his scroll, raising an eyebrow before looking back up. His eyes locked on Kagami. "You match Miss Katie's description yet... you don't at all." He waited a few seconds, standing up straight as he walked out of the alley and began to quietly follow. Eavesdropping on the four girls as they continued.
It wasn't until the brute had followed for several minutes did his shoulders square. Slamming his foot down on the ground, he caused a small shockwave while he pointed forward. "Huntresses!" His voice boomed, causing each girl to stop and glance back at him.
"Huh?" Elise raised both eyebrows, confusion washing over her face. "We... we didn't say any-"
"You don't have to say it, you cowards!" He threw down his arms, his black spiky hair swaying as he puffed out his chest.
Tilting her head to the side, Cheyenne stared at the man. "Um, do you not own shoes? Or shirts?"
Spotting the lion mane wrapped around his waist and lion paws draped over his broad shoulders, Kris' brow twitched slight. "Can I punch him?"
"Nooo." Elise quickly raised a hand, holding it in front of the redhead's chest. Sighing, she looked up at the dark skinned man with dozens of tattoos. "What do you want sir-?"
The young farm girl was cut off, the sound of her leader literally dying of laughter filling the air. This made the three girls each step back, watching as Kagami hunched over with her hands on her knees. "You look so stupid!" She suddenly shouted, her friends taking another step away with wide eyes.
Suddenly flustered, Tohopka's black eyes glazed over as he snarled. "You d-damn... who the hell learns to write in Vytal symbols anymore!?"
"Huh?" Elise let out, her voice quiet and high pitched.
"That guy's tattoos!" The jadette slowly stood up straight, chuckling some as she rubbed her eyes. "It's written in a ancient writing that's native to Vytal! He literally labeled the parts of his body just in an ancient language."
"Oh." Kris blinked, tilting her head as she watched the man become more flustered.
Cheyenne did the same, faintly laughing to herself. "You know, originally, those looked pretty intimidating. Now they really don't at all."
"Heh." Elise stared for a moment before she too burst into laughter. "What?! Did you think you would never meet someone who could read those?!"
Growling, Tohopka flashed his teeth as his eyes darted to Kagami who was still snicker. "I know see why Miss Katie couldn't stop thinking about you. She was right to question your place. And now I see why..."
"Um, guys." Cheyenne took a small step back. "I think this is that big bad body guard that Sanguine has."
"Ohhh crap." Kris' expression faded from her face as her arms dropped. "I guess maybe infiltrating isn't our thing."
Stepping towards them, the dark skinned man cracked his knuckles before popping his neck. "I am going to bring you back to Madam Sanguine in pieces." He snarled, suddenly lunging forward with great speed.
Blinking ones, Kagami reached behind her, drawing her sword and holding it in a reverse grip as she stepped in front of her friends, blocking. But somehow, it didn't work at all. Halfway through her motion, Tohopka changed his. He dropped down, sliding his left leg underneath hers to throw her off balance as he brought his right leg around, striking her torso and sending her off to the side.
Watching as the jadette slid to a stop on her knees and the people in the area begin to run off, Elise growled to herself as she pulled out her baton. Tohopka eyed her for a second from the corner of his eye, smirking to himself. The brunet bringing her right arm around to strike, only to watch as he casually ducked down in the nick of time.
Bringing her left knee up to hit him in the jaw, she merely stumbled as he grabbed her right ankle, pulling her off her feet. Bringing his right arm down, he rammed his elbow into her stomach, sending the young farm girl crashing into the ground as he stepped back to look at the redhead.
Kris had both weapons in her hands, both her arms behind her as she ran towards him. Staring at her like he was sizing up her movements, he smiled and took a few steps towards the road. The young girl taking one last step before she threw the curved edge of her weapon by the chain at him. A perfect shot to his left arm. It wrapped around his forearm, the chatter of chains tightening hitting Kris' ears as she pulled back on her weapon. Expecting him to fly towards her, she stumbled and grunted as nothing moved.
Tilting his head to the right, he pointed back with his right hand at a lamp post that was perfectly lined with his left forearm, the chain locking them both together. "Seems you caught something else." He grinned, grabbing the chain with his right hand. Waiting for him to pull on it, Kris was prepared to let go and let her weapon hit his face. Though, he never did.
"What? Do you think I'm that stupid?" He shook his head, loosening the chain just enough to get his arm free before bolting forward. Still looking at Kris, he suddenly stumbled, a blast of ice Dust hitting his right foot. "Damn it." He stopped in his tracks, looking around. "I forgot about the fourth one."
Cheyenne's heart fluttered a bit as he locked eyes with her, making her gulp. This time, she took aim again, her rifle set to red. Not even halfway between her moving her finger and squeezing the trigger, Tohopka was already on the move.
He shattered the ice around his foot, but instead of continuing forward, he stopped dead in his tracks and let the blast of fiery red Dust explode in front of him. "You were aiming for what now?" He teased, watching a look of shock come from the sharpshooters face. How did he know not to keep moving forward?
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around to see Kagami running across the street towards him. He stood still for a moment, letting her get closer before he side stepped, her blade barely missing his face. It was close enough he could feel the wind rushing past it. "Charge and slash? Really?" His brows rose as he grabbed her right wrist. "Don't you have any original moves?" He brought his foot up, nailing her in the side and forcing her to release her weapon as she was pushed away.
Quickly turning around, he threw the sword in the direction of Cheyenne. The weapon lodging itself into a car she was next to. Startling and making the Faunus stumble even more. "This is too easy!" He roared, turning around to glare at Kris who was running towards him with only one candy cane weapon.
Growling, she gritted her teeth while tightening her grip around her weapon. "That's enough! You stupid-"
"Bastard? Now that's not a very nice word to think about calling some." He chuckled, watching the confused expression on her face. With that, he lunged himself forward grabbing a hold of her neck. As she struggled and kicked, he shook his head. "You have a very vulgar mind to think of such words." He tightened his hold, turning around as he threw her.
The redhead's body slamming into Elise who was stumbling to her feet only to be pushed back down with a grunt. Groaning, she sat up and rubbed her head while look at Cheyenne. "What are you doing?! Shoot him!"
"I... I can't." The Faunus took a small step back, biting her lip as he stepped towards her.
"What do you mean you can't!?" Kagami stood up, one hand wrapped around her torso. "You hit forty out of forty moving targets each time we go to a practice range!"
"I... I don't know! Okay!" Panic filled her voice as she turned to the side, placing her hand against the side of the wall. Tohopka immediately backed away, even before the shop began to crumble and fall. Only a few pieces falling on him before he backed away enough. Running on top of the small pile of debris she made, she jumped over the brute, landing and rolling into a crouch before standing up on one knee between Kagami and Kris.
"Hmph." Tohopka turned around, facing the four girls. Slowly, he began to walk back towards them.
Coming within a few meters of them, he stopped to the sound of sirens. A few seconds later, a police car came to a screeching halt on the side of the road. Quickly stepping out, officer Keegan was glaring with cold eyes as she stepped between him and MACE.
Scoffing, the dark skinned man crossed his arms while pushing out his chest. "Now what do you think you're going to do? I've killed plenty of your kind." He began to grin. "I've killed a close one of your kind too."
"And I've figured out your secret." Her jaw tightened as she glanced back at the four girls. "Are you okay?" Seeing them all nod, she looked back at Tohopka, his eye twitching slightly as he balled his hand up in a tight fist.
"What... what does he do?" Elise quietly asked as she stood up.
"He thinks he's all that because he has muscles and speed. He thinks just because he's killed more people than bones he has in his body he's on top of the world. He thinks he's intimidating because people are afraid of him. But I know the truth." She narrowed her eyes as she began to put up her hair.
"I'm going to rip your beating heart out..." He gave off a sicken snarl.
"Huh?" Kris tilted her head, retrieving both her weapons.
"He has the ability to read the mind of the person he is looking at." She glanced back at them. "He knows what move you're going to make the second you think it. Even before your body has time to respond to your own thoughts. And he counters it. Every time." She looked back at Tohopka. "But that ends today."
The dog Faunus reached into her pocket, pulling out a red bandana and tying it over her eyes. "Four years ago you killed the Captain of the Vale PD in cold blood. And for that, I seek retribution." She pulled the knot tight, lowering herself blind folded into a stance.
"Well tell him hello for me when you see him!" He shouted, charging towards her. He brought his left arm back, throwing a punch in her direction. Though, her body slid away, a white shadow following behind her before disappearing. He scoffed, sending a kick followed by another punch. The same actions repeating themselves an irritating look began to grow across his face. He groaned, pulling out his scroll and pressing a few buttons. "Madam... we have some issues."
Slowly shaking her head, Elise glanced at her friends. "Hold on, what's happening?"
"I think... I think that Keegan isn't thinking as she fights?" Kagami raised an eyebrow. "Do police officers normally have semblances?"
"Normally they become Huntsmen or Huntresses." The brunet muttered.
"So what does she have then?" Cheyenne raised an eyebrow. "Her body is moving without thinking? That's sort of like an ultra-" She was cut off.
"Copyright!" Kris snapped, waving her arms. "Can't use that!"
"Well what about mastery of self move-" Kagami started, holding out a hand before being cut off as well.
"Nope! That's taken too!" She held up a finger.
"Then what are we supposed to call it?" Elise groaned.
Kris shrugged, looking around. "Just moving without thinking. I mean, she blindfolded herself. If she can't see what he is doing, she won't think of ways to counter him. Which won't allow him to read her mind and to counter her counter. So her body just sorta moves on its own when it senses danger or a threat or something. I guess... that's what that white shadow coming from her is for." She blinked a few times, eyeing the officer who easily dodged between blows.
"Well, if he's focused on her, we can help Keegan out and strike him down." Kagami eyed her friends as she stepped towards where her sword was lodged into a car, yanking it out.
"Not so fast." A demonic voice sent chills down each girls spine as they turned and looked behind. Standing there with a hand on her hip, Sanguine kept her eyes locked on the leader of team MACE. "And to think, you pigs are actually causing him trouble." To her right, Katie had her arms crossed, coldly glaring with her dog in her arms. To her right, Eri licked her lips, staring at the young group of girls. And behind them, Dion seemed to be bouncing for joy as he looked around in purple cargo shorts and his black gloves.
Sanguine sighed, rolling her eyes at him. "Scatter them." She demanded, eyeing the two blondes who both nodded back to her.
Jumping back and away from sharp ice shards raining down upon her, Cheyenne gritted her teeth as she skidded backwards to a stop with her right hand placed on the ground. Quickly looking up, she barely had time to catch her breath before ice spikes shot up from the ground, forcing her to retreat to the side in a stumbling lunge.
"What? Too fast for you, you pretty little thing?" Dion whistled, stretching out his fingers as he wiggles them around. The ice Dust filled pockets on the back of his gloves glowing a bright blue. Licking his lips, he watched as she regained herself. "You know, I think I want some venison tonight." He smirked, bolting forward.
Growling softly, the Faunus had her eyes shut for a moment as she tightened the grip around her weapon. "Why are you such an idiot!?" She shouted, her face going red for a moment. Raising her arms, she took aim, blasting away ice balls with red Dust shots. The explosions creating a fog like steam to wash across the two.
"Shit." Flipping his purple hair from his face, the icy villain glanced around with squinted eyes. "Aw, come on! Show yourself! Coward!" He looked around quickly, hearing the sound of a rifle firing before grunting heavily as his shoulder to elbow was encased in ice from a heavy impact of Dust.
Giving off a battle cry as the steam faded, Cheyenne came down with both her feet colliding with his chest, sending him backwards and into the ground where the ice on his arm shattered like glass. As he gasped for air, she raised her rifle again, switching the gear to a purple mixed with black color. Taking a deep breath, she slid one foot back, firmly planting herself in place as she gently squeezed the trigger. The recoil of her weapon once she fired making her grunt softly.
Rolling onto his side and blinking a bit, a few strands of hair fell across his eyes as he spotted a purple and black blast coming at him. "Damn it!" He hissed, quickly bringing his right hand upward with a flick of his wrist, an ice wall forming and protecting him. Though once struck, the barrier exploded into small fragments, each levitating in the air with gentle movements.
Exhaling heavily, she let her shoulders roll back a little before dropping as her brows furrowed. As Dion rose to his feet chuckling, she change the lever on her rifle, setting the Dust back to red. Though once there, she didn't remove her hand from the it. Instead, she quickly switched it to yellow and locked it in place.
Scoffing, the purple haired man shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. "You know, you almost had me there for a second. Let's not do that again, missy." He shook his finger. "No more fooling around." He ran forward, his gloves glowing blue as a pair of ice claws formed around his hands.
Gritting her teeth, the deer Faunus began to step back, dodging each of his swings as he came closer and closer. As he brought both his arms back, she took a deep breath, sliding underneath his legs just as the ice claws clashed together. Quickly standing back up, she rushed over into the field of low gravity ice shards, striking a window of the building next to her as pieces of glass fell to the ground. "Sorry." She quietly whispered, looking back up at Dion as he gave her a confused look.
"You think some fear of cutting my feet will stop me from getting close to you?" He raised an eyebrow, reaching down and touching his feet as a set of icy shoes formed, followed by covering his fist in ice like boxing gloves. "You're nothing but a stupid girl!" He ran forward, Cheyenne struggling to dodge between blows until his foot caught her chest, sending her out of the small anti gravity field.
Coughing as she sat up, she didn't even bother standing as she took aim with her rifle. "Sure. Stupid..." She exhaled, smiling softly as she began to squeeze the trigger to fire.
Cocking his head to the side, Dion eyed her weapon to see it marked on yellow only to suddenly freeze. "Oh shit..." He glanced around him, the shards of ice melted into water from the broken glass on the ground and the sun. Groaning, He went to encase himself in ice, only too quickly look at his gloves. The Dust reserve empty on both. With wide eyes, he quickly fumbled through his pockets, attempting to reload his gloves but too late.
An electrified blast shot one of the floating masses of water. Sparks instantly dancing from it to the next and so on until the entire area was covered. Soon enough, Dion could be heard giving off a scream, his ash covered and blackened body falling face first onto the ground as a puff of smoke escaped his mouth.
As the fight between the Faunus and the purple haired criminal began, another fight began to brew. This one between two arch enemies. A young, rebellious, redhead girl from Beacon pit up against a demonic blonde who wishes for nothing more than bloodshed and previous two times the two had met, the odds were greatly in the latter's favor, but this time, the scores were about to be set even. This time, Kris was prepared.
Letting out a wicked screech, Eri Sin flicked her wrist as three incredibly sharp needles shot out like claws from either of her gauntlets. Keeping her fingers spread wide, she bolted forward with immense speed. She began to grin, flashing her teeth as her hands balled up into tight fist and she jumped into the air for a downward strike.
With her breath hitching, Kris jumped backwards to dodge, holding her caned weapons like tonfas. She watched the blonde strike the sidewalk harshly, seeing cracks begin to form from the impact before she shot to her feet again in a mere instant and charged again. Quickly sweeping the area, she dodged and rolled to the right, rising back up as fast as she could before ducking back inside an alley way.
"What? You think you can hide from me?!" Crazy began to flash over her red eyes as she stepped around the corner. Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye, she raised her arms and interlocked her blades to stop a downward slash of Kris' weapons with their blades extended. She smirked, slightly amused as she threw her arms down and sent her foot forward into the younger girl's chest. "This is where you finally die!" She shouted, sliding her blades together before running forward.
On her knees, she glanced up and quickly spun her weapons into a reverse grip while standing up. Gulping slightly, she crossed her arms and shielded her face. Slash after slash descended upon her from the weapons so sharp they could slice straight through aura. There was no easing up, no sense of mercy, no regret.
Eri attacked with all she could, only jumping back and retreating once she began to softly pant. Still smiling like the devil, she let out a quiet and hushed chuckle and she jabbed her weapons into the ground. "I'll let you finish yourself off." She snarled, only to blink once in confusion as her summoning circles didn't appear. Pulling her blades from the ground, she moved them around only to notice not a single spec of blood was on them.
"Do you really think I would fall for those stupid gauntlets a third time?" Kris asked, standing up straight with torn and tattered clothing. Her fedora covering her eyes. "I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time." Pulling off her red trench coat by the collar, she flicked her wrist and sent the dozens of toys hidden inside it flying onto the ground scattered. After that, she dropped it, letting it fall to the floor as she reached up, pulling off the shredded remains of her sweatshirt and sweatpants.
Underneath was what appeared as a metal armored motorcycle jacket and pants colorized with red, green highlights, and black underneath. "You think you're so fancy with your special little blades that cut through everything. Well, news flash," She twirled her candy cane weapons, green eyes locking with red eyes. "There is barrier Dust lined all throughout this outfit. And with my aura igniting it, it makes your puny little blades just like normal ones." She reached up with her thumb, flicking her fedora off her head. "This is the part where I kick your ass."
Staring for a moment, the blonde's face slowly changed from pure wicked to a heavy and ragefully anger. Growling like a Grimm, her hands tightened into fist so tight her veins could be seen on the back of her hands. "You young, ignorant, bitch!" She hissed, flicking her wrist as her blade retracted. She then began to throw punches, projectile needles zooming through the air.
Smirking, she raised her left arm and extended her pointer and middle finger while still holding onto her weapon. Moving those two fingers upward, a few tiny helicopters and toy planes gained red and green glows as they began to rise from the ground. She quickly threw her arm, the small trinkets colliding with the projectiles and causing a small explosion.
Losing her usual cool, Eri flicked her wrist underhanded and outward. Two needles attached to wired shooting out and lodging themselves onto either side of the redhead. She took a deep breath, jerking her body forward as she was sent hurtling through the air at her.
Eyeing both wired, Kris immediately went to twirling her weapons. The bladed extensions coming down and slicing away at the wire. Know she had no way to stop herself now, she dropped down and slid underneath her opponent, retracting the blades on her weapons as she fired several shots into the blonde's torso, sending her into the air and back down into the ground coughing and stumbling. "Had enough?" She narrowed her eyes at her.
Breathing softly in and out of her mouth, she glared coldly back at her and flicked her wrist. Her claw like blades extending once again. "This isn't even close to over..." She snarled, her upper lip twitching. In the distance, the muffled cry of a sorry to say criminal pierced her ears, making her roll her eyes before she lunged forward.
While one half of team MACE was having some good fortune with their fights, the other half of them definitely weren't having the same luck.
Setting her dog down at her feet, Katie slowly shook her head while standing across from Elise on the sidewalk just adjacent from where Dion and Cheyenne were beginning their fight. "I should have know the second I saw that green haired freak where her heart really was." She muttered, pulling out two tanto sized wakizashi. Both of them carved from Grimm teeth with artistic marks etched into them and lined with power Dust. The blades of both weapons heavily serrated. "It's a good thing I sent Toho out here. Who knows what would have happened. She could have corrupted my precious little Nihil."
"Sure." Elise slowly nodded, keeping to herself the true intentions of the young man. Biting her lip, she glanced around. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She was thrown into a raised into evil like Nihilus and Maya both were. And she could find their good nature, so why not her as well. "Listen, you know, you know you don't have to do all these horrid things your mother says, right?" She took a step towards her, holding her baton tight in her right hand.
"Huh?" The blonde young lady raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her dog before looking back at the brunet. "What in Remnant are you talking about?"
"I'm just saying." She smiled her usual smile. "My friends and I have helped someone escape from evil before. We can do it again. You don't have to keep doing all these awful things. You could come with us. And we could find you a nice little place away from all this chaos?"
Blinking a few times, she stared at her blankly before she scoffed, the sound slowly fading away into a chuckle. "You, you really think I would just leave? Because I'm young and was forced into killing my old man? Oh boy, you truly really are a naïve little girl who didn't even get to graduate." She shook her head softly.
With her brows furrowing, she brushed back a few strands of her brown hair behind her ear. "What? Why would... listen. We can help you out of this. Let you grow up to who you want to be. You don't have to keep up this whole evil act anymore."
"Oh, but it's not an act." She spun her duel weapons around, slowly pacing around her. "Do you honestly think I would be wanting to do anything else but this? This is the real world, not a fairy tale, so wake up and smell the dead roses. Just because you want to be a Huntress doesn't mean you'll get to go to an academy because you're so talented and love what you do. And just because someone is a Huntsmen doesn't mean they won't turn around and rape and kill someone someday. The world is cold and unforgiving. It's never done a single thing to help benefit my ambitions, and even has the nerve to punish what I love to do. Good does not always win.
"Though, honestly, there isn't even a thing as good and bad. It's all a made up lie and twist of truths and opinions. It's a concept. A figment of your imagination. Morals don't even exist. All they are is little facts you are raised to believe. They don't even matter. If something is good, then it preserves what you believe. If something is bad, it destroys it. That simple. And everyone has different beliefs and morals, making multiple possibilities of good and bad out there. Which in a sense, makes everything you do is good, and everything you do is bad.
"So you can go on ahead and play this hero, but just know, just because you're special, doesn't mean something special will happen to you. People are dying every second, but you don't seem to be trying to help any of them or supporting their loved ones. Family members all across Remnant are ill and dying, and despite how much their families pray, they still end up suffering as they die. And in the end, when humans and Faunus have had their run, when everything has finally turned to ash, it won't matter how good you were or how many lives you saved. Nothing will matter as our existence fades away into nothingness. So in that case, why don't I just have a little fun?"
Staring back at her with the most confused yet concerned look in her eyes as her brows furrowed, Elise swallowed thickly as she gripped her weapon and balled up her fist. "How... how can you even think like that? Who could have possibly hurt you so much that you would think like that?"
"No one hurt me." Katie smiled, scoffing as she rolled her shoulders back. "The day I felt my old man's heart beating in my hand and his warm blood spilling across my arms simply opened up a few doors in my mind and helped me see a few things clearer. It doesn't matter what I do, nothing matters, and nothing ever will."
Taking a few steps away, the brunet gulped, her hands trembling slightly. How could someone be such a monster? It didn't make sense to her. How could someone even think like this?
"What? Do I have you startled?' She purred, chuckling softly as she licked her lips. "First, I think I'm going to kill you and let Kagami see your remains before doing the same to her. How does that sound, sweet heart?"
Feeling a chill rush down her spine, she exhaled with a shaky breath, lowering her head as she closed her eyes. "I would never let you..." She mumbled, disappearing into a cloud of smoke.
Raising an eyebrow, the blonde watched as the smoke faded away to show no trace of her. Blinking once, she cocked her head to the side before hearing her dog yap behind her. Smirking, she spun around, bringing both her short blades in a downward slash.
Elise yelped, quickly jumping back just as one of the blades slid across the arm of Kagami's hoodie she was wearing. Thankfully, the material keeping to its name as it came out of the attack without a scratch. Same as the brunet.
"Oh? What is it, dandy lion?" Katie spun her weapons into a reverse grip, sprinting forward. Her body shifting from side to side without a pattern, her movements reckless as she took swing after swing.
Happy with her agile state, she went from blocking one wakizashi to the next with her baton. The sharp serrated bone sometimes biting deep into the hand to hand combat weapon only to be roughly jerked out and suffer another heavy blow after another.
The two seemed rather evenly matched, movements somehow lining up just in the nick of time. Both of them waiting for the other to slip up just for a second so the other could take the lead. But none of that happened. Instead they kept going. Blow after blow, deflect after deflect. A never ending cycle until...
Katie's small brown chihuahua's, Coco, teeth suddenly sunk deep into Elise's ankle, making her scream as she stumbled back, the dog's jaw still locked onto her leg. "That's my boy." Katie smiled, nodding to herself before quickly taking several swings at Elise's torso, sending her back as her dog released it's bite and walked back behind his owner.
Heavily coughing, the young farm girl pushed herself to her knees, struggling to catch her breath. "Man... Kagami was right... you really can feel the force of the blows even if it doesn't cut through..." She groaned softly. She then gasped, feeling a hand grab her neck and pull her up.
"This may sting a bit." The blonde smile, pushing her head to the side to open up her neck. Giving the brunet no time to respond, she bit down on the soft and tender part of her flesh across her neck, letting her teeth sink in as she watched the girl slowly close her eyes and fall limp. Dropping her onto the ground, she put one of her knives away, kneeling down beside her with one of her weapons in her right hand in a reverse grip. "Hope you have some good dreams." She teased, grabbing the blade with both hands.
Before she could plunge her hands downward, a blast of heavy wind shot the weapon from her hand. Blinking, Katie slowly stood up while raising an eyebrow at a deer Faunus. "Excuse you. You're interrupting me."
"Good." Cheyenne raised her rifle, switching it from a green to a darker blue. "You can keep your hands off her." She fired another shot, striking the blonde's hand again and encasing it in ice.
As her teammates each fought their own separate battles, Kagami was pushed back farther into the back streets of the city. Rolling from a dodge only to quickly block in a kneeling position before pushing back with her feet and jumping away from another slash.
Not even so much as bother to talk, Sanguine held a long saber in her right hand along with a short dagger of similar design in her left. She would calmly bring the larger blade around, forcing Kagami to block with her sword before making her retreat with a swipe of her smaller blade. Each motion swift and elegant, almost like she was dancing with each step she took.
Exhaling through her nose, Kagami narrowed her eyes and switched her grip from hammer to reverse as she ran forward. Quickly side stepping to the woman's right, she jumped on top of a car, quickly sliding and circling around her as she sliced at her feet.
The blonde woman stumbled, falling backwards. Releasing her weapons, she caught herself with her hands behind her back. Immediately bringing her feet back underneath her as she grabbed both the dagger as saber. Seeing she was going to need one hand free, she pressed the two hilts together and twisted, bolts interlocking as they connected. Keeping the shorter blade on top and the longer blade on bottom, she ran forward, slashing upward.
Gritting her teeth, the jadette presses on the blade of her sword as she blocked, using the momentum of the blow and her own strength to haul herself up and over the woman with a quick swing.
Letting her swing follow through, she spun the double sided weapon around and moved the longer blade behind her back. Blocking the younger girl's strike before jumping forward a few steps and turning around. "You know, you're not half bad with that sword." She stood up straight, swapping out the blades in one quick twist as she held it behind her back with her right arm down.
"Wish I could say the same for you." Kagami muttered, lowering herself into a low stand as she readjusted and tightened the grip on her sword.
Nodding, she smiled slightly. "I can see why my daughter couldn't stop thinking about you. You obviously don't look like a hero, but you definitely have the heart and soul of a Huntress."
"Guess I should take that as a compliment?" She cocked her head while raising an eyebrow.
"Only if you wish." She grinned back, staring at her as the two fell into silence. Quietly waiting to see who would attack first.
A soft breeze brushed across the city street, blowing leaves and trash as the two kept eyes locked. In the distance, a few birds could be heard crowing followed by a rustle of trees as they flew off. In that moment, Sanguine took two quick steps forward, slashing upward with the long blade as she reversed her grip, bringing it downward after.
Kagami blocked both strikes, the metal grinding against metal with small sparks. Exhaling, she moved one foot back, using her strength to strike vertically. As the woman blocked it, she twisted her body around, sending her foot into her chest.
Grunting softly, the blonde skidded back on her feet, glancing up with a slow nod and a smile. This time, as she lunged forward she went for a jab with the shorter blade, the jadette narrowly missing it as she jumped back. Following through with a downward strike which the two interlocked weapons at.
Shoving her back as hard as she could, she let out a huff of air, taking several quick steps towards her as she shot her Celtic sword forward like a spear. The woman simply stepping to the side as she turned around the blade and drove her elbow into the side of the young girls head.
Watching her stumble away, Sanguine separated her two weapons. The saber in a hammer grip in her right hand and dagger in a reverse grip in her left hand. "A few more years of training and you might actually pose a threat." She started to walk towards her, her hips swaying.
Shaking her head, Kagami blinked a few times as she looked up, quickly stepping to the side as the saber blade came centimeters from her face. With her back turned to the blade, she stepped back up towards it, outstretching her arm and resting it against Sanguine's neck. "I should be treated as a threat."
"Duly noted." She nodded back, eyeing downward to her left hand that held her dagger close to her side. Seeing the jadette's eyes trail to it, she began to smile. Even more so as the younger girl began to pull away. Sanguine doing the same as she stepped back.
"You know, you're definitely not like all the stories I've heard about you." The younger muttered, slowly walking in a circle as did her opponent. "You at least seem to have some sense of honor when fighting."
"You have me wrong. All wrong." She twirled her weapons around, putting away the saber as she switched the dagger to her right hand. "I'm nothing but a monster. I'd rather win on my own than have both of us stabbed."
Sighing slightly, she shook her head while gripping the hilt of her sword tight. A second later, she was running forward and jumping into the air, coming down with her sword above her head. Her arms coming down heavily only for her blade to strike concrete as she side stepped away.
The older woman wasted no time, slicing at the girl's aura on her wrist and making her release her weapon just as she brought her left foot up and struck her in the side, sending her stumbling away.
As Kagami regained her footing, she was met with a hand around her neck, shoving her up against a wall as the tip of the dagger pressed up against her abdomen. With one eye shut, she grinded her teeth while glaring forward.
"I told you. I'd rather win on my own terms. My way." Sanguine smiled, forcing the jadette's head to the side as she slowly sunk her teeth into her flesh.
Grimacing, her entire body tensed up in pain as she fell to her hands and knees, her limbs trembling as her eyes shot opened wide. With her breath hitching, she felt her vision twisting. This was bad, and she knew it. All she had to do was keep this woman away from her neck and seemingly failed at that.
Groaning, she closed her eyes just as a small flicker of hope flashed through her mind. Slowly reaching up with a shaky hand, she grabbed the bleeding part of her neck with her left hand, her fingers digging into her skin. The markings on her arm slowly began to glow, the fabric slowly chipping away and falling off. Gasping, her body fell to the ground, her breathing heavy.
With raised eyebrows, Sanguine blinked a few times before groaning as she put her dagger away. "I don't know what you just did, but that's not happening again." She reached down, grabbing her left arm and pulling it behind her as she kneeled onto her back. "You can struggle all you want, but that iron will of yours is what's going to let you be mine."
Too exhausted and drained from suffering from the blonde's semblance, not to mention using hers, Kagami couldn't even put up a fight back. All she could do was lower her forehead onto the concrete, trembling as she felt a set of fangs pierce her skin again.
Watching as his boss and allies appear and scatter the four girls, Tohopka couldn't help but faintly smile with his beastly teeth while panting softly. "That should make things more even." He scoffed, looking towards the police officer that seemed much more winded than him. "You sure you can keep up, dog?"
"Quiet, you scoundrel." Keegan exhaled heavily, sweat visibly forming across her bandana. She reached up, wiping off her nose as she lowered her head down. "I can keep going for as long as I need to." She heavily breathed out again, her movements followed by white shadows.
"We'll see about that." The brute of a man grumbled, charging forward. Each footstep thudding across the ground as he raised his fist. Flashing his teeth in a snarl, he began to throw punch after punch at her, the Faunus simply dodging side to side with immense speed and a white shadow trailing behind.
With her brows furrowing underneath her bandana, she slowly tightened her right hand into a fist, sending it straight into Tohopka's stomach. The large man spat out, taking a few steps back with his arm wrapped around his torso as he grimace.
Growling, he looked up, wiping his face as he clenched his fist. "That's enough!" He shouted, heading head first towards her again.
"Don't like meeting your match...?" She began to pant a little more, her shoulders rising and falling a bit. Taking a deep and shaky breath, she ducked down underneath his fist, bringing her head up and striking his chin.
He grunted, his head snapping back for a second before he brought his leg around, it striking her arm which blocked the kick as she pushed herself forward, pulling her right fist back and sending it forward just in time for him to bring his left arm back, their fist colliding with a heavy impact before the two jumped back.
Grinding his teeth, Tohopka glared. "You know. I think I do remember your little friend I killed." He scoffed, staring at her. "Captain Duane. Eight years on the force. Endless service hours." He began to grin, leaning forward. "What did I do to him again? Ah, that's right. Not many people are beaten to death just by a set of fist. Could you even make out his face?"
Clenching her teeth, Keegan bit the inside of her mouth. "I know you don't remember, you scum... you couldn't even care less about the people you kill... all you're trying to do is get into my head by reading my thoughts at the hopes I'd slip up..."
"Oh look, the dog actually learned something while at the academy. Did they teach you to lay down and roll over dead?" He stretched out his shoulders, breathing in and out softly.
"You wish..." She took a step forward, freezing for a moment as she grimaced. "Damn... damn it..." She dropped to one knee, heavily breathing as her sweat dripped onto the floor. Reaching up, she pulled the bandana around her neck and kept her hand holding onto it.
Blinking, Tohopka tilted his head with his brows furrowed while staring at her. He then scoffed, smiling as he leaned his head back and chuckled. "You act like you can keep working on and on forever but you really can't. You're damn semblance eats away your aura and strength like butter on a hot pan." He started to chuckle more.
Breathing heavily, Keegan clenched her teeth as she slowly stood up and glared back at him. Her attention quickly being taken away as she heard a scream from behind her. She turned around, eyes wide as she saw Cheyenne rolling across the ground as her aura chipped away from a heavy strike From Katie her twirled her duel wakizashi.
"You should pay attention to your own fight!" He called out, just in time for her to turn around to see both his feet strike her chest, sending her flying backwards and skidding across the ground on her back. Groaning, she laid there with one knee up and her arm across her head as she breathed heavily.
"Of-Officer Keegan!" Kris shouted, panting herself as she ducked underneath a swing from Eri's claws before jumping back. It was at that moment she spotted Elise out cold on the ground and Cheyenne struggling to stand. Gulping, her shoulders dropped a little. "Shit..."
"Looks like this is the end for all of you." Katie chuckled, walking up towards Cheyenne with a demonic smile as her dog strolled up beside her. "And we're going to start with a sappy little deer Faunus." She smiled, staring down at her as she slowly looked up with wide eyes.
"Enough!" Sanguine's voice echoed as she stepped down the street. "We've done what we've needed to do."
Groaning, her daughter rolled her eyes as she turned around. "Mommy, whhhy? I'm not done-"
"Yes. You are." She demanded, eyeing the unconscious Dion before looking at Eri and Tohopka. "Let's go. Now."
Groaning, Tohopka slowly began to back away from Keegan. "Next time, you're roadkill, dog." He spat out, snarling a bit.
Just as unpleased, Eri glared at Kris before slowly retracting her blades. "Don't think this is over. I'll have your head."
As the four began to walk away, more sirens could be heard getting closer in the distance as Katie pouted and petted her dog, Coco. "Mommy, I don't understand. Why couldn't we kill them?" She groaned, he chihuahua growling a bit back.
"Because, sweetie, sometimes, there are things far worse than death." Sanguine flashed a smile, her eyes glazing over and flashing red.
Half an hour later, Elise, Cheyenne, and Kris were all sitting on a bench as several police cars began to pull out and leave the area. Stepping up to them was a male officer with a pen and notepad. "Listen, we've looked all over. Wherever this friend of yours is, she isn't around here."
"That's wonderful..." Elise lowered her head into her hand, groaning from a headache.
Gulping some, Cheyenne looked up. "Um, is Officer Keegan okay?"
"She should be fine, knowing her she'll be early to work in the morning as always." He folded up his notepad, putting it away. "You three are very lucky none of you were injured in this. Gang fights are not the place for children."
"Yeah, we've been getting that a lot lately." Kris rolled her eyes, now wearing her shredded and torn red trench coat again.
Shaking his head, he turned around and waved them off. "If you meet any of these people ever again, make sure you call the authorities." He scolded, stepping into his squad car and driving off. In the backseat of his car, Dion Ysus was glaring at the three girls the entire time they pulled away.
After a few seconds of silence, Elise took a deep breath while standing up. Flinching slightly in pain from where Coco had bit her. "Come on. We need to go find Kagami."
Glancing around, Cheyenne softly sighed as she stood up. "You don't think she was kidnaped again, do you?"
"No, it was only the four of them that left." Kris stood up, her shoulders slouched. "And they went off in the opposite direction of where Kagami and Sanguine were fighting."
"You know, I want to stab Zucchini." Elise grumbled, slightly limping as they began to walk down the sidewalk. "And her stupid daughter."
Rolling her eyes, Kris reached over and rubbed her shoulder. "Don't worry. It could have been any of that Katie bit and put unconscious. It's not your fault."
"Sure as hell feel like it does." The brunet groaned, rubbing her face as she heavily breathed out.
"Yeah, it'll feel like that for a while." Cheyenne mumbled.
The group of three girls then suddenly stopped, a figure stepping out from an alley. It wasn't until the girls realize who it was did they let out a sighing relief. The outline of green and black unmistakable.
"Oh thank Oum." Elise smiled brightly, stepping towards Kagami. "Where the hell have you been the past thirty minutes? We've been worried sick! Though I was out for a good portion of it but that's not important." She exhaled, rolling her shoulders back. "I'm just glad you're okay..." She trailed off, noticing the four puncture wounds on the side of her neck.
She took a step back towards Kris and Cheyenne, her eyes wide as she reached up and touched the two holes in the side of her neck. "Kagami..." She gulped, biting her lip.
Slowly looking up, hidden behind strands of her green hair, the jadette glared with bloody red eyes swirling in madness. She grinned, unlike any grin she had before as she reached up, grabbing the hilt of her sword. "I'll give you twenty seconds to run." Her voice was slightly distorted as she glanced around. "Twenty... nineteen... eighteen..."