"I got to say, you lot were more help than I could have guessed." Leaning back in her chair, Joanna smiled while holding a steaming cup of coffee. Her blonde hair loosely pulled back into a ponytail. "I appreciate it. We both appreciate it. The people of Mantle are going to have one less thing to worry about while they sleep now."

"We're just happy to help." Kagami lightly shrugged with a smile. In her hands, a warm cup of hot chocolate with foamy whip cream on top. "If you asked us again, we'd do exactly the same."

"Maybe a little less chaotic, but we would." Cheyenne agreed with a nod as she sipped her coffee. A bit of milk lightening the color of the liquid.

"The four of you are going to make fine Huntresses one day." Much like her partner, Azure was much more relaxed. Her shoulders were easy and she even seemed to smile a bit more. Her hat resting on the table next to her. Breathing out, she took a gentle sip from her coffee.

Sitting next to her leader, Elise smiled as she dropped sugar cubes into her coffee which already had creamer in it. "That is what we want to be. Though we might want to start getting paid for the jobs we do."

"Not as long as we got my mother's credit card." Kris grinned while drinking straight from a coffee pot. "She makes too much lien and spends too much lien to even notice our expenses."

"That sounds... a bit illegal." Joanna tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. "But okay." She softly shook her head. "Okay." She brought her cup to her lips while looking away. "I'll pretend I didn't hear anything."

Lightly laughing, Azure shook her head while brushing her blue hair behind her ear. "What are you planning to do now? You said you were passing through before but stopped to help."

Glancing between her friends, Kagami smiled before looking up. "We're heading home. To my home. To Vytal."

"Interesting." The detective nodded slowly. "I wish you the best of luck then. I hope you can make it there without causing too much trouble."

"And if you ever need anything and you're somewhere on Solitas," Her blonde partner leaned forward. "You know who to call."

"We will." Cheyenne nodded at her before glancing over as the bell by the front door rang. Seeing who entered, she smiled.

"Ah, Mr. Ombra." The owner and old man at the front desk smiled. "Your wife said you were coming."

"Yeah, sorry I'm late. I tried to hurry as much as I could, sir." With his dark facial hair neatly trimmed, the man who entered stood as tall as he could with his arched spine.

"You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Sojiro." His smile brightened.

"Right..." He nervously tugged at his shirt. "Sorry, sir. I mean-" He cut himself off with a frustrated groan.

Shaking his head, the old man stepped around the counter and gestured for him to head back. "We'll get there. Don't worry." He patted his shoulder. "Let's start you off on dishes, shall we?"

After saying goodbye to the duo of sleuths, team MACE had one more stop to make before heading off. Working on cleaning up the half destroyed warehouse, Captain Caesar half smiled as she heard footsteps behind her. Standing up straight, she patted her hands off while turning around. "I figured you were going to show up again soon. Mind telling me how this happened?" She gestured towards the rubble.

"I wouldn't know." Kagami smiled back with a shrug. "You'd have to ask Detective Sholmes and Detective Watts. I heard on the news they're the ones that finally put Rey away."

"Of course." She shook her head. Breathing in, she glanced up. "I'm glad you're okay. Not just from your encounter with Rey, but also Astro. Though I am slightly concerned about the reports I heard about him. Did you..." She trailed off some.

"It wasn't me. I don't even know what happened." She corrected her. "My friend was the one that wanted revenge for me."

"So you ended up being the bigger person." The orange haired captain nodded in approval. "I had faith you would be. I know how much you've grown." Pausing for a moment, she thought to herself while glancing around. "You're leaving now, aren't you?"

"We never planned to stay here for that long anyway. Kris is saying goodbye to Jess right now." Kagami slouched a little. "I wish we could have met again on different terms. Not like this."

Sighing, she nodded back. "I understand. I still wouldn't mind saving a spot on my squad for you. I could help you get into Atlas Academy so you can finish your training and everything. The view from up there is stunning too."

"I appreciate the offer, I really do, Captain Caesar, but what you do, despite how great it is, just isn't for me." She reached up to rub her arm. "I like what I have right now and I wouldn't change it for the world."

Nodding, she stepped over and held out her hand towards her. "You have a good heart. Don't ever let anyone change that. Ever. And you know," Julia smirked. "Maybe the next time you and your friends are here, I could call for some time off to show you around Atlas. I really have to insist on seeing the view above the city. It's amazing."

"Next time then." Kagami smiled while grabbing her hand and firmly shaking it. "You can show us the city in the sky when we come back."

"I just can't believe you!" Jess shouted while whacking her younger sister on the head. "Stupid! Reckless! Careless! You're just like-"

"You." Kris let out a chuckle while rubbing her head with one eye closed.

"Like dad." She grumbled back.

"Mother always said you were like him." She flashed a smile while crossing her arms.

"Christmas..."

"Jessica."

Taking a deep breath, the older redhead reached up to rub her face. "Just please... be more careful."

"Do you not have any faith in my friends?" The younger sister tilted her head. "They'd protect me with their life. Kagami would do anything for me, just like you."

"It's not that I don't believe that." Jess shook her head. "I just... I worry, Kris. You're still so young. You have so much more to learn." She took a step closer. "And now you're running off again and we still don't have long distance communication back up."

"Hey..." Her expression softened. "Hey, come on." She then grunted, her older sister's arms wrapping around her. Letting out a sigh, she relaxed and embraced her back. "I'm safe with them. I promise. And for the first time in my life, I'm actually happy."

"Christmas..." She hugged her tighter.

"I know,I know." Kris closed her eyes. "I think about you and worry all the time too." Taking a deep breath, she then shoved her older sister away. "But no more of this lovey dovey stuff! It's gross!"

Chuckling, Jess brushed herself off. "Agreed." She smiled before crossing her arms and sticking her hip out. "So what's your plan to get to Vytal anyway?"

Looking away, she nervously laughed. "Well, you see..."

Later that night, the four girls accompanied by Baren were in a small fisherman's boat sailing away from the continent of Solitas and towards the island of Vytal. Looking over the edge and at the water, Elise blinked as the ship rocked back and forth. "We're going to die." She mumbled rather bluntly.

"Nonsense." Baren waved her hand while calmly sitting on the deck. "We'll be fine. I've sailed through way worse waters in ships in way worse conditions. We'll be fine."

"I'm just surprised that man was willing to sell it for so little. I was expecting him to want a lot more." Kris placed her earmuff headphones on and began to play some music quietly. "But I guess it all worked out in the end."

"Plus it'll be a peaceful trip and I am tired." Kagami smiled as she sat down with a relaxing breath. "I just wish those two sisters weren't in the trouble they are now. But I'm exhausted and really could use some sleep. Especially before..." She trailed off.

"Hey. We're here for you." Cheyenne patter her shoulder gently.

Glancing up, the jadette smiled while reaching up with her right hand to grab the Faunus' hand. "Thanks."

Looking to the side, Baren narrowed her eyes at her young student's right hand. "Kagami." She turned her head to fully face her. "Where is the ring I made you?"

Going stiff, her face paled. Gulping, she slowly turned to face her. "W-Well..." She stuttered while reaching up to scratch the back of her neck. "O-Okay listen, it wasn't my fault. I mean, I planned to do it, but I didn't purposely do it. I needed a way to stop Rey and it was the only plan I could think of at the moment." She spoke quickly while gesturing with her hands.

Narrowing her eyes more, the old war shifted her boy in her direction. "Kagami. Did you break one of them?"

Going silent, she slowly and reluctantly nodded back.

Before anyone could even respond, Baren was standing. Her right leg stretched out as Kagami tumbled over the safety railing and into the water below.

"What the hell?!" Elise shouted while stumbling over to look over the side of the ship. Her eyes wide. "You know she can't swim!" She quickly turned back to face the one armed woman.

"I know." The pinkette rested her arm across her chest. "I'll get her in a moment."

"Wh-What...?! What do you mean you'll get her in a moment?!" Kris shouted while holding out her hand. "She's going to drown!"

"She'll be fine." She waved the young girl off.

"How... did she not die while training with you?" Cheyenne blinked in bewilderment.

"Just because I am unorthodox doesn't mean I'm a bad teacher." The old warrior began to step towards the safety railing of the ship. "My methods are just fine. I've trained some of the best fighters, thank you."

"Can you just go get her!?" Elise waved her arms rapidly around. "She's going to drown!!"

Rolling her eyes, Baren scoffed a bit before bending her knees and calmly jumping off into the dark sea.

With a shaky breath, the dark brunet quickly went back to staring at the water. Her eyes closely watched the ripples in the water as they washed up against the side of the boat. "She's crazy..." She softly mumbled. Her hands gripping the railing tight. The light of the moon shining against the sea.

After a few moments, the surface of the water broke as water splashed up. Once again on the ship, Kagami laid on her back with her wet hair sprawled out. More annoyed than anything, her brow twitched slightly as she stared up at the night sky. "Can I explain myself NOW?" She took a deep breath while sitting up.

"No." With water dripping off her, Baren walked calmly back over to her spot and sat down. Her left arm resting across her chest. "I don't want to hear it."

"But-" She held up her hand.

"No." The old warrior locked eyes with her. "But understand I no longer have the time or resources to create another. If you destroy the other one, you're going to be out of luck."

"I understand." She glanced away while lowering her head. "I... I am sorry though. I really didn't mean to." She bit her lip while gently rubbing her fingers around the black ring she still had. "I really am sorry."

"I know you are." She smiled back as the jadette glanced at her. Lightly nodding, she closed both her eyes and reached up with her left hand to ring out her wet hair.

"Hey, are you um..." Elise trailed off while stepping up beside her soaking wet friend.

"I'm fine." Kagami looked up with a smile and a soft chuckle. "Things like this happen all the time. Well, this is the first time she's tried to drown me. But you know, there's a first time for everything." She chuckled a little more while her shoulders bounced lightly.

Staring at her, she let out a heavy breath of air and shook her head. "I'll never understand the relationship you two have." Eyeing her friend, she then smiled softly. "Oh, um, uh here." She tensed up slightly before she quickly slipped off her brown bomber jacket. "You can at least take off your wet clothes and wear something dry." She smiled while now wearing her green flannel.

"Heh, thanks. Wet clothes in the cold is never fun." She nodded before taking off her jacket and long sleeve shirt.

Watching from the side, Kris blinked a few times before she reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "I can't believe this..." She closed her eyes while shaking her head. "Are you... do you... ugh, I don't even know!" She shook her head more while rubbing her face.

"That... was a bit rash, don't you think?" Cheyenne looked over at the old warrior.

"Hardly." Baren smiled. "I've told you, I know limits and I don't cross them."

"But..." The Faunus sighed and shook her head. "I know. You're the wisest out of all of us. You wouldn't do something if there wasn't a reason."

"Oh, no. There wasn't a reason for kicking Kagami into the water." She chuckled with a grin. "I was just angry. Those rings weren't easy to make."

Looking back at her, the light brunette stared with wide eyes for a moment. "So you... okay." She sighed again. "I can't imagine what training with you would have been like."

"I could always tell you old stories of her training." She moved her left hand to her hips. "There's plenty to tell."

"Wait what!" Now wearing Elise's jacket, Kagami scrambled to her feet. "Hold on! I don't like the sound of that!"

"Too late." The pinkette straightened her legs and leaned back. "We have plenty of time to kill."

"Well now I'm interested." Kris walked over and sat down. Sliding her earmuff headphones off, she grinned. "Let's hear some tiny Kagami stories."

"Wait, wait! Don't I get a say in this?" The jadette held out her arms.

"Nope." Elise let out a laugh while patting her back. "You don't." She winked before sitting down.

Well there was never really a place to put this in and explain, but it was always important to me while writing Ebony and Ivory's family.

Their mother was originally a worker in the mines and their father was a top tier Atlas soldier who would patrol the area. The two of them met and would end up talking a lot and he eventually he started giving her special treatment. One of the male Faunus working in the mine got very jealous over this and assaulted their mother one night and impregnated her. Furious with this, their father attacked the Faunus only to be stabbed in his spine and seriously injured, almost paralyzed. Not wanting to deal with everything regarding it, the Atlas military covered it up and discharged their father. Both of them then moved to the slums of Mantle where their father slowly regained his strength and chose to stay with their mother and raise Ebony and Ivory like they were his own.

I was able to mention a few parts here and there about this, but could never find the right place to fully explain it. I hate not being able to do that, but I find it very important and something that's worth knowing about them. So here all of you go.

Happy late New Years! Please be nice to everyone!