A/N: Would you kindly read this note?
Its brief, don't you worry, and contains important information therein.
Sorry for the delay; wanted to make this a longer chapter for you all; I've been writing intensely as of late to keep my mind off things. Its helping..for now; taking the edge off, as it were.
Good news, my sister, who lives with me, has been cleared of cancer, as have I. The bad news? I need several more tests for other things, my cholesterol's too darn high, WHICH MY DOCTOR OH SO KINDLY NEGLECTED TO TELL ME and my liver and kidney readings are both elevated, to say nothing of my vitamin levels. Coupled with my chronic fatigue, there's clearly something wrong, but they can't seem to figure out what.
I'm beginning to think I was just born broken, and this is my lot in life. Either way, I aim to persevere while I still can.
Still, here we go. FOUR chapters for this story in ONE MONTH. Hope you enjoyed them; I'm utterly exhausted.I wanted, and still want this to be good story, not a simple "Naruto bangs a, b, c, d, yadda yadda yadda." His actions have consequences; his words and will shape the world around him; I wanted every chapter to reflect that.
Hopefully, I succeeded.
RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros, but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. Roman was a delight to write in this; in part because he's radically different from how I usually portray him. As was Ann. She gives off serious Velvette levels of sass this chapter.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
Hazbin Hotel references are for entertainment, tributes, and tastefully done; I own nothing~!
Also references to Epic the Musical...a.k.a the Monster song and one for the Lion King.
You all know them well~!
"So lemme get this straight. This bastard's the reason Mistral didn't enter the last Vytal Festival?"
"Quite so, Qrow. Yet in the last three years, the continent of Anima has not only reclaimed vast swathes of land from the Grimm, but expanded their reach. Now that the Vytal Festival has come here, he's flung open the doors of Haven Academy and intends to enter a great many teams in the upcoming festivities. I'd appreciate any intelligence you can gleam on Spring, but...
...yeah, I get it, Oz. He's trained some powerful people. I'll put a few feelers out, see what the guy's like. You coming to Mistral yet?"
"Not just yet, Qrow. This "Headmaster of Hell" seems rather wary of me."
"Gee, I wonder why."
~Qrow and Ozpin.
Awaken the Girls
Mornings were the bane of men and women everywhere.
It didn't matter how powerful you were.
They absolutely sucked.
"I wanna fight!"
Case in point.
'Yaaaaang!'
He muffled a groan into Raven's shoulder. "Your daughter is awake."
She buried her head into his chest with a growl of her own. "Before sunrise, she's your daughter."
Says the former bandit queen?!
Naruto screamed internally at said daughter's antics, rolled over, glanced at the alarm clock -entirely too early!- and promptly buried his head into the first pillow he could find. It was a brief reprieve. Something -someone!- landed on his back and nearly knocked the wind out of him. He didn't see so much as feel the tiny fists shaking his shoulders; urging him to rise, begging him to get out of bed, DEMANDING that he pay attention to her now, now, NOW right this very instant!
Under any other circumstance, he might've indulged her.
Not this week. Any week but this week, frankly. Nope, not happening.
"Lets not, sweetie." he mustered a halfhearted smile for her sake as he closed his eyes again. "Daddy's sleepy."
And he was! In the run up to the Vytal Festival, now mere months away, he was utterly exhausted. No amount of smiling could best paperwork or the logistics that came with running an international tournament, let alone the sheer logistics and Dust required for Amity Colosseum...it was staggering.
Not only were the transfer students expected any day now, but he was evidently expected to liaison with the other Headmasters in turn; supposedly Ironwood of Atlas, Theodore of Shade, and Ozpin of Beacon were keen to meet with him. Perhaps that was his own fault; he'd pointedly avoided communicating with them since he usurped Leonardo.
He was even getting overtures from the White Fang now for crissakes!
He'd never met Ghira or Kali Belladona not once in his life and frankly he didn't want to; it sounded like a headache waiting to happen. Peaceful organization they might still be -much to Raven's singular displeasure- but he had a sinking feeling that they wanted something from him, just like everyone else. Also his fault there, given most of Remnant thought him to be a Faunus. He couldn't even send Pickerel or Malachite to shoo them away for fear that it might reflect poorly upon Haven.
No, no, no. That was a matter he must attend to personally. Which meant even more work; ergo, more shadow clones, and the massive migraines they always brought.
Honestly, being Headmaster was more trouble than it was worth sometimes.
"Daaaaaad!"
So yes, right now, sleep. Very much wanting...
"You said we could spar today!
...and not getting.
Precocious little four-year-old!
"Five, actually." Leave it to Kurama to play the devil's advocate when he was half asleep. "Her birthday's just before the tournament, remember?"
Five, then. Semantics!
At least Winter and Roman knew better than to rouse him at the crack of dawn; they were older, more patient, and actually valued their lives, as did Neo and the-still-skittish Cinder on occasion.
Not so Yang. She proved that by pulling his hair.
Raven muttered a far less pleasant threat under her breath as she tucked her head deeper into his chest. "Disturb me at your own peril, daughter of mine...
That got a pause out of his adoptive daughter. Raven didn't make idle threats. She might actually cut Yang's hair this time.
Alas, their reprieve didn't last.
"Hey, Weiss. Any chance you could use your glyphs?"
"Whyever would I do that?" he almost -almost!- smiled when he heard a familiar prissy voice scoff at her. "I don't fancy getting a spanking."
Yang whispered something to her. He never knew what; he was too sleepy to care. Whatever it was, it got a reaction.
"Yang Branwen," he heard rather than saw Weiss facepalm. "You are a horrible sibling and I love you."
"Better than Winter?" He could practically hear her smile.
"I'm not saying that within earshot."
He heard a shimmer of aura and felt himself be hoisted out of bed. Huh. Not bad. Four-going-on-five and she'd already achieved near mastery of her glyphs; enough to lift then launch him across the room. His back struck the cold wooden floor with a grunt. He was so proud. Unfortunately, said pride was overshadow by all this unyielding grumpiness.
"Ren, Pyrrha! Quick! Help us tackle Dad!"
A soft sigh was his only warning before the little gremlins jumped him.
Blue eyes snapped open.
This meant war.
(.0.0.0.)
Vanessa awoke to an aggravated shout, punctuated by an explosion. "It seems the children are awake."
Ann stretched with a smile an a languid sigh. "Yuuuuuup."
Willow joined her. "I suppose we should help...
(.0.0.0.)
Yang loved combat day.
She loved, loved, LOVED it.
Loved it more than anyone or anything!
Wednesdays were the one day of the week where Weiss, her, Pyrrha and Ren got to jump Dad. It didn't matter how they attacked him, ambush, directly or from afar -she'd never forget the Pie incident as long as she lived-so long as they made a good show. So much fun! And sometimes, if they did really well, they got all kinds of rewards. She wondered what today's would be.
It was a punch.
She dropped flat onto her back with a yelp and kicked upward, diverting the blow before it would've send her sprawling into the garden. It didn't stop Dad for a second; he stomped down, forcing her to tumble aside and throw a punch of her own, to no avail. He caught -caught her!- and whipped her into Weiss, sending them both sprawling into the dirt. Pyrrha took her chance to swipe at his ankle, only to meet a similar fate.
Lie Ren -or Ren as Yang preferred, because who wanted to call their brother a liar?- alone managed to stand his ground and hold him off with with a flurry of quick strikes, but no more.
In short order, all four of them lay sprawled atop one another, dizzy and dazed. The entire time, Yang wore the biggest smile.
Life was good. Why wouldn't if be; she was Yang Branwen Uzumaki and she had the best damn parents ever.
Also three moms! Well, four technically, but Auntie Anora didn't count. Rumor was Dad hadn't brought her into the family because Nora and Ren were best friends. Sure, she wouldn't mind having ANOTHER other mother -tongue twister!- but Ren and Nora kinda liked one another, so she wasn't getting in the way of that. It was kinda cute, really. She still thought boys were icky but Ren was her brother, and she wanted nothing but the best for him.
Roman was a cool big brother, but Winter was stuffy, Cinder was skittish and Neo was...well, Neo. No telling what she was thinking on a given day.
She was kinda jealous of the big kids in all honesty. Roman and Winter got taught differently, as did Cinder and Neo And then there were the Haven students. Team SLVR was apparently a shoe-in to win the Vytal Festival this year some said. She'd seen Shiro. Guy knew how to fight and that Semblance was absolutely broken.
And there was Weiss. Weisss. Weeeiiiss! Four-year-olds had to stick together. Her and Pyrrha too~!
Speaking of ambushes...
"Cowabunga!"
Yang looked up as someone vaulted off the roof above.
Oh, right. She'd forgotten about Nora. They'd had a sleep over last night.
Dad hadn't forgotten. Even as the tiny ginger's shadow fell over him, he whirled, whacked Weiss on the head to stun her when she tried to sneak up on him, and caught the ginger's handheld hammer in a glowing golden palm with a smile. "What did I tell you about shouting before you attack?"
She blanched "Aw, crapbaskets."
"Language, young lady."
His foot arced up.
Aura crackled loudly.
Nora went airborne with a squeal.
Ren sighed, "Reckless as ever, it seems.
"There's a certain charm in that, wouldn't you agree?"
Double crap. Yang felt all the blood drain from her face. When had Dad gotten behind them?!
Then there was no more time for thought; the four of them were in the fight for their lives.
Weiss tried to summon a Grimm and got her feet swept for it; that brief distraction allowed Renny to drive a heel palm into Dad's shin only to be greeted by an elbow to the gut that left him folded in half. Pyrrha pivoted and drove her practice blade at his exposed flank, only for Dad to bend backwards in a way that shouldn't have been possible and smashed a heel into the back of her head, launching her headlong into Ren.
And then he went after her.
By sheer skill or luck, Yang somehow managed to block the first punch by crossing her arms; from there, she gave herself up to the momentum that followed; letting it launch her backward to gain some much-needed distance from her smiling sire. She kicked away from him and raced back in, dragging her right against the ground, letting friction build up in her palm until it sparked-
Dad blinked in surprise. "Well, that almost reminds me of a chidori...
Chi-what now? No, it didn't matter. She had him this time!
"Eat this!"
Lightning leaped forth from her fingers as her maiden powers manifested, lilac eyes blazing in all their glory. She gathered up all her strength and flung it his way in a vicious bolt of blue.
Dad didn't deign to dodge. That was her first and only warning. She should've known better.
Rather than retreat, Dad did something with his hands, and caught the bolt between his palms. His boots bit into the dirt but it didn't hurt him, didn't harm him, didn't even get a grunt out of him. Yang balked, baffled by the sight, eyes growing wide, body unable to move as he swept his still-sparking palms around across his stomach and-ohSHIIIIIII...!
Dad -Naruto!- flung two fingers forth with a triumphant shout and the lightning surged forward right at her.
In all fairness, she didn't see the impact, but she sure as hell felt the shock that followed on her aura.
Okay, getting hit with redirected lightning sucked. Her hair was gonna be frizzy for a week!
.
..
...why was she seeing so many stars? Ooooh pretty colors...
Dimly, she watched Dad whack Weiss over the head, and pin Pyrrha underfoot before catching Ren by the scruff of the neck. Dangling him before his face like a naughty dog, he held out his free arm and-
"Wheeeeeeeee!" Nora finally came crashing down from the sky and landed in his outstretched limb. "Whoo!" up went her arms as she giggled. Lets do that again!"
"Let's not and say we did." Dad dropped the excitable girl and covered his mouth to stifle a yawn. "I'll call this a passing grade-Ow!" He barked a laugh as Ren drove an elbow back into his face, forcing him to drop both him and dart backward Nora to defend himself. "Alright, then! Round two it is!
A quick one-two-three punch should've ended things then and there. Surprisingly...it did not.
Against all odds, her little held his ground and fended him off.
Pink eyes slid shut, long dark hair lofting about his head like a halo as he swayed left, right, then left again. He didn't stop there. Two fingers flitted out, nudging a punch aside, then a palm, now a heel that would've sent him spinning into the dirt, and all this without moving from where her stood.
Weiss climbed to her feet, favoring her left leg a she got the hell away from the father and son duo. "How on Remnant is Ren doing that?"
Pyrrha limped their way, dragging a dazed Nora with her. "That shouldn't be possible...
Yang had a far simpler term for it. "Awesome!"
They all knew Ren was special -almost as special as her- but this...this was new. Was it his Semblance? She didn't think so. No, this almost felt like...
Was this chakra at work? Dad said he had it, that he might manifest a Bloodline Trait even, but he'd never shown any signs...until now.
Nora cupped both hands to her mouth and hollered her support. "Go, Renny! Kick your dad's ass!"
It was the right thing to say, but also so very wrong.
Lie Ren made the mistake of opening his eyes for a moment, just a second and that broke his concentration. Dad showed no mercy; he swept his son's legs to knock him off balance, caught him by the throat while he was still in the air, slammed him down and stomped on his chest for good measure to hold him there. Aura flexed and crackled, but held, just shy of breaking.
And yet for all that, his grip was gentle, his grin gregarious.
"Well done!" he released his neck to ruffle his hair, grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet. "You've be faster than me at this rate!"
Yang beamed. That settled it; Wednesdays really were the best,. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
And then today got even better.
"Step aside, children."
Her head whipped around so fast she nearly broke it outright, wearing the biggest smile.
"You've had your fun with the rest," Mom, fully dressed at last, descended the stone steps from the porch and drew her sword in a lazy sweep. "Now face the best."
She giggled a little despite the stars still dancing before her eyes. Heh. Mom with her puns.
Dad granted her a grin. "Finally feeling up to it, are you?"
"Shut up and fight."
He raised his hand made a come-hither motion her way, uncaring as Ren and the others scarpered to the sidelines. "Whatever you say, dear-
Her blade slammed into his palm with such force that the ground cratered underfoot.
Dad didn't budge, but his smile DID split his face as he regardded her. "Lovely."
His counter slammed into Mom's blade in the form of a flying punch that sent her rocketing backward into -then through!- one of the building walls with an audible crunch.
Yang winced a little despite herself. A powerful punch like that would've put her down for the day. But not Mom, she was up again in a moment, blood-red aura crackling about her body as she climbed out the hole she'd made. And like her, she too wore the biggest smile.
Dad mirrored it. "Feeling rusty, are we?"
A dust shell slammed into his smiling face, kicking up a fiery explosion.
Her good eye gleamed with bloodlust as she adjusted the eyepatch over her scarred face, stabbed her blade into the ground, then reached up to her false arm. The metal limb flexed once, expelling a plume of steam as she slotted a fresh dust round into the chamber just above the wrist. Then another. And another. A fourth, now.
"That all ya got?" she cracked the barrel back as she stretched her neck ever so slightly to the right. "And here I thought you'd take the gloves off."
Dad didn't deign to retort; he simply stalked out of the smoke, weapon in hand.
Raven met him halfway with a savage smile.
All hell broke loose.
Yang and her siblings ducked for cover as their surrogate parents collided in a whirlwind of steel and skin. Fists flew, blades blurred, all of it a wild whirl, a devastating dance of death they could scarcely hope to follow. She was a Maiden for crying out loud and even she could scarcely see their movements; the sight of it made her feel small, reminded her how far she had to go...
...and it hurt, ya know?
Thank goodness for barrier and silencing seals; if they didn't, half of Haven would've heard them by now.
Abruptly the tableau between them broke with a headbutt, sending Mom stumbling back; the second she did, Dad struck like his namesake. He kicked out her leg, snatched up her blade as she fell, and subsequently swept it down to tickle her throat. His smile was sharp. Toothy. Vicious.
"What have we learned?"
Mom gripped the blade with her metal hand and forced it closer to her throat, drawing sparks against her aura. "To never surrender."
Even as Naruto processed her words Willow appeared behind him and thrust her saber at the back of his head. Somehow he saw her coming, but even then her sudden assault forcing him to relinquish Raven's blade and duck away. The second he did, Vanessa and Ann were on him in a flourish of motion. The latter actually managed to land a kick to his ribs; one that launched him back toward Mom, who kicked herself off the dirt -she'd been faking it!- and quite suddenly, it became a free-for-all, no holds barred.
It was insane.
If their duel had been a devastating dance before, then what followed was a wild waltz. Yang liked to think she was fast, strong even, but this, it was like watching four people doing their damndest to murder one another. Without aura, someone would've lost an arm by now or worse and they just weren't stopping. Every moment only ratcheted up the intensity, their attacks become more and more aggressive as brawl dragged on.
Yang couldn't help but drool at the sight; was this what it felt like, watching Hunters fight?
Pyrrha grinned. "I want that."
So did she. To have that kinda power...
Even if Weiss and Nora and Ren were spellbound by the sight, she knew what she wanted-andohhhthatlookedpainful!
A fist crashed out and sent Raven sprawling; separating her mother from the pack. Uh-oh. That was a big no-no. You never got separated from your team in a fight-
"RASENGAN!"
Well, there went mum. Out cold.
Willow flung up a glyph to slow Dad, but he barreled right through it; Ann and Vanessa both struck out at his exposed flank as he did, only for him to rear back, grab each of them by the wrist and reel 'em in like a pair of fish until-
KLONK!
Ouch. Aura could protect you from a lot, but you sitll felt the pain; especially when someone smashed your head into another.
Case in point, her other mothers reeled back, seeing stars.
Naruto swept their legs and left them there, rounding on Willow in an instant. He blurred forward.
"Wait, wait!" She flung up her arms to ward him off at the last second. "Not the stomach! I'm pregnant!"
"...?!"
The fight ground to a halt, as did dad's fist, mere inches from her torso.
Weiss gasped. "What?!"
Her cry broke the spell; Ren and the rest rushed forward and Yang with them.
Dad grabbed Mama Willow by the hips and swung her around with a laugh; she held on for dear life, only settling down once he lowered her back to the ground. Mom had recovered by then, she had a strange expression on her face as she joined them, to say nothing of Mama Vanessa and Mama Ann.
...why did it feel like she was missing something here?
Weiss looked like she might have questions as well, but Willow's words quelled them.
"I think its going to be a boy this time." The Schnee Matriarch laid a hand over her still-flat stomach and another on Weiss' head. "I'm going to name him Whitley."
"That sounds wonderful!" Huh. She'd never heard her prim-and-proper sister squeal like that. "I can't wait to tell Winter!"
Ren sighed wistfully. "Well, it'll be nice to have a little brother."
Another one with chakra, more like. Yang stomped down a pang of jealousy. She already had superpowers; she shouldn't feel this way. But she did. Ren had held up against Dad, which meant he'd be upping his training, and now with a baby on the way...? He was already so busy...
Dad didn't seem to sense her dismay; or if he did, he ignored it and drew Willow close. C'mere, you.
Yang squinted. Wait, were they-they were! She gagged! "Eeewww! Dad! We're right here!
"So you are." Willow laid her head against his chest. Might wanna change that."
No need to tell them twice, Yang and her siblings beat a hasty retreat.
Dad's laughter chased them into the house and up the stairs.
(.0.0.0.)
Come afternoon, the news had spread to the older children.
Winter took it well of course; she'd nothing to fear.
The others...reacted in varying, different ways.
Roman for instance, didn't give a flying fig; the boy had more pressing concerns.
"So? How do I look?"
His adoptive son had taken after him in both substance and style, donning a red-lined white suit bearing a series of with long black pants and black shoes. It paired rather nicely with his accessories, a small gray scarf, black gloves bearing buckled sleeves, and a black bowler hat with a small feather notced into its red band. He'd also parted his hair just so to cover his right eye and acquired a cane to match him, not that he needed it. What was that cane of his called again? Melodic Cudgel? He supposed he should count his blessings. At least Roman wasn't wearing pure red like him.
He'd grow into that gaudy getup in time, he was sure of it.
Someday, this boy would be an absolute terror.
How little he knew.
"Not bad." for now, he feigned chuckled at Roman's new ensemble and granted him the praise he sought. "Not bad, kiddo. Not bad at all. You might want to invest in a dagger or two, maybe a pistol as well, just in case of an-ambush!?"
Speak of ambushes and they shall appear; no sooner had he said the word then he felt a familiar weight settle against his back as something -or rather, someone!- landed on his shoulders. A sigh parted his lips as bright hair tickled his face and sure enough, when he looked up, he found himself gazing into a pair of mismatching eyes hanging upside down, just shy of his face.
"Neo, what did I say about jumping on me?
She didn't respond and only nuzzled closer. Clingy little gremlin. He allowed it, knowing how she was. She might not be able to speak just yet -despite his best efforts to remedy that- but the fact that she wasn't afraid of him despite his...eccentricities was something to be rewarded.
"Did we sleep well?"
She nodded, setting her the long mane of brown/pink hair -why she'd dyed it, he'd never know- swaying with a pleased look.
"And you had a god breakfast?"
She beamed.
"Good girl." he patted her head, ignoring the fearsome pout she wore. "Remember what I said; you're still young you need to rest after using your semblance, it takes a lot out of you."
Her head bobbed in another nod; only then did he notice a certain absentee student.
"No Cinder today?" he picked up the diminutive illusionist and looked past her, idly noting the absence of a certain fiery girl. "Ann said she'd be here today."
Roman waffled a hand with a selfsame smile. "You know how she is. She's shy."
Translation: she was too afraid to be here.
Cinder Fall. Shy. If it sounded absurd, it was. Had he known what that poor girl would've become without Ann's timely intervention, he would've guffawed. Even after three years now, she was still spooked by him; afraid to even be in the same room as he. She got on well enough with the others, but every time he drew near...well. It made him feel bad, ya know? He wasn't trying to be scary...
"But you are," Kurama prodded him. "Its high time you accepted that."
Maybe he should. "I'll have a word with Cinder later. Now where's Winter? I thought she-
"Here!" His latest prospective student all but threw herself out a window above them, alighted on a glyph in midair, and landed neatly beside Roman. "My apologies. I was with mother."
Well, he couldn't blame her for that. Willow's pregnancy was the talk of the house. He'd let her lateness slide just this once.
Roman waggled an eyebrow her way. "Hey, toots."
Winter elbowed him so hard his aura actually flexed in response.
Naruto tolerated it with a smile. "Now, let's pick up where we left off yesterday, shall we?"
Neo wriggled out of his grasp to join Roman and Winter; together, the three of them plonked down in the grass, sitting with varying degrees of eagerness.
"There are four things every Huntsmen, or Huntress," he conceded with a nod to Winter and Neo, "Must have. Do you know what they are?"
The trio looked amongst themselves and shrugged.
He conjured his staff to hand, tapping it down with a sharp thud.
"Smarts! Speed! Style! And above all...Strength. Not simply strength of body or the mind, but of the spirit." he thumped his chest with a fist for emphasis. "A strong heart will see you through when all else fails, when your weapon breaks down, or your aura falters, even if your body gives out. Do you understand?
Winter raised her hand first. Roman and Neo were a hair too slow.
Naruto jabbed his staff her way with a pleased laugh. "First question goes to Miss Schnee!
Sure enough, she glowered at him, reminding him of Jacques. "Why're you always smiling? Its scary."
Hmm. Perhaps it was better that they learn this lesson when they were younger, before they entered Sanctum. His grin grew in response to that pleasant thought. "Allow me to answer your question with another question, Winter...what purpose does a smile serve?"
The little Schnee tilted her head. "...I don't know? That's why I asked you in the first place."
"Go on," he waved a hand at her and crouched down. "Think about it."
Her pale brow furrowed. "Because it makes you seem strong?
Roman's face lit up with realization. "I get it! Its because-
"Shhh." he held up a finger to silence him.
"I'll tell you something I once told Vanessa not so long ago." he crouched down before them and laid a hand atop Winter's head, idly tussling her snow-white hair, just as he did the same to Neo's multicolored mane. He spared Roman for the sake of his hat, but not his words. "Just because you see a smile, don't think you know what's going on underneath. A smile is a valuable tool. It inspires your friends, keeps your enemies guessing and ensures that no matter what comes your way, you're the one in control.
Roman beamed. "And you're strong; because you're always smile."
"Precisely!"
Quick as a flash, he whirled away from the children, tapped his cane into the ground, and planted both hands atop it. He paused, then pivoted with a smile. Kids enjoyed rhymes, right? One sprang to his mind. He'd really spent too much time with Vanessa; that semblance of hers was rubbing off on him...
...might as well make a game of it~!
"Tell me, is a Huntsman struck with guilt when he kills? Is he up in the middle of the night?" he preened a little when his children listened intently. "Or does he end the lives of madmen to protect his friends and then sleep knowing he has done them right?"
Roman's hand shot up a split second later. "The second one!"
"One point for Roman!" he thrust his staff the boy's way, drawing a pleased laugh from the ginger. "Now, then! When the Father threatens councilmen to protect his children, is he going insane? Or did he learn to be colder when he got older and now he saves them the pain?"
Neo waved her scroll in hand, revealing the "2" she'd drawn within. Clever girl. Roman must've told her that story already.
"Correct~!" he granted her a bow, reveling in her smile, another life he'd sworn to save. Ah, but Winter was scowling at being left out and so he pivoted once more, "When a man comes round and puts his enemies in the ground, is he scared that he's doing something wrong?" His head tilted just so, pearly white teeth flash in the afternoon light. "Or does he keep them in check, so they must respect him and now no one dares tick him off?"
Winter's hand slammed into the air.
"Miss Schnee~!" he jabbed his staff her way with gusto. "Your answer?"
She knew he was having her on, but it didn't stop her response. "The latter, sir."
"Bingo!" down came his staff again, scratching a third line in the dirt. "Now then, one last lesson, a final question, winner take all. The prize will be anything within my power." his words had them perking up, but that wasn't enough; he drew in a deep prolonged breath, deliberately drawing out the tension, watching his three charges lean forward, rapt with attention. "Does a ninja use shadow clones to kill sleeping enemies because he is vile? Or does he throw away his remorse and save more lives with guile?"
Three hands rose in unison. A tie. The children scowled amongst themselves, irked at having been cheated out of their prize.
He swept in and crouched before them before they could start squabbling.
"The lesson here is this." he tapped each of them ever-so-gently upon the shoulder with his staff, like some ancient monarch knighting warriors from long ago. Judging by the looks on their faces, the symbolism wasn't lost on them. "Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves." he looked each of them in the eye, holding their gaze until they nodded. "Deep down, you three know this well. Yang and the others may be too young to understand, but you do, don't you? If someone is trying to kill you, to crush you, to take away all that you have, what do you do?"
"We kill them." Winder declared.
Roman smirked in response. "Kill 'em harder."
Neo hooked her thumb back and made a savage slicing motion across her neck.
"Good." A flicker of parental pride stirred in his heart. "I'm glad you understand. Now, then!" with a twist of the wrist, he collapsed his staff and banished it from view. Since the three of you tied in our little contest, we'll make it a compromise. I'm willing to hear out a request from each of you. One each!" he held up a finger before they could get any ideas. "Now then, what'll it be?"
Their faces lit up like fireworks.
(.0.0.0.)
Raven watched the scene below from the open window, wearing a bemused smile.
A distant bird's cry caught her ear, rendering said smile a scowl.
She transformed and took flight.
It couldn't be him...
...could it?
(.0.0.0.)
Neo was a simple girl; she had simple wants and simple needs.
Sure, she wasn't normal, but who was in this misfit family?
Certainly not her!
By that very logic she knew she was broken. Not just her voice, but her mind as well. She had two sides to herself. Trivia and Neo. Papa embraced them both. He loved her for who she was, flaws and all and treated her just like anyone else
The irony wasn't lost on her; she, who had once been thrown away by her parents, now had a better family than they could ever be. She had brothers and mothers and a father and SISTERS! So many sisters! Phooey on her old family! Her new Papa understood both sides of her. He appreciated her, even when she dyed her hair and was trying to find a way to give her a voice after all these years, despite the fact that she'd been born with none. He gave her EVERYTHING without asking for ANYTHING so it was only fair she give him everything in return.
But now that the lesson was over, her request made, and Papa on his way to work, she found her mind whirling.
Why wouldn't Cinder come to practice? Was she plotting? Scheming? If she was...
Maybe it was time to pay little miss "skittish" a visit.
"Oi, you." Roman quirked a ginger brow her way. "I know that look. What're you up to?"
Neo made a series of short, sharp gestures.
Roman got them. "Fair enough. Whaddya say, Winter? You game?"
The Scnee looked away with a scowl. "Against my better judgement...yes."
"That's the spirit." He laughed and clapped her on the back. "We'll make a baddass bitch out of you yet."
Winter sputtered indignantly. "You most assuredly will not!"
Neo skipped away with a smug smile.
(.0.0.0.)
Rogues and ruffians, the lot of them.
Once upon a time, indeed, not so long ago, Winter would have turned her nose up at this lot and considered herself well rid of them. Now...
.
..
...now, she didn't know what to think.
By rights, she should've run away a long time ago. Yet here she was. She wasn't stupid; she knew Mother was besotted with the man who had murdered Father; the same man who had not only taken them under his wing and taken to teaching her -and now Weiss!- but blessed them with a soon to be brother as well. Escape was impossible. She knew that now; she wasn't even entirely certain she wanted to escape.
Yes, by rights, she shouldn't be here at all.
Indeed, by rights, she was as much a rogue for associating with them.
Then again...Roman was a rogue. And rather handsome in that new getup of his-gah!
She balked at he path her mind had taken and shook her head. Lies! Tricks! Treachery! Base and debauched thoughts!
But what was the harm? They were not at all related to one another; indeed, they didn't share so much as a drop of blood between them.
He was one of the Headmaster's Orphans; a derogatory term used by council but one he'd come to embrace, as had many of them. They were being taught -trained!- by a living legend, all at his own expense. And unlike Father, he let them chart their own courses in life. What was that, if not gratitude?
Which brought her back to the matter at hand. If Cinder was so foolish as to ignore the hand that fed her, or, gods forbid, bite said hand, then she would pay.
If, in her cowardice, she ever threatened the Family she wouldn't have to worry about the Smiling Monster or Roman, or even Neo.
Her blade would find her first.
(.0.0.0.)
The world was his oyster.
Roman took a certain pleasure in ribbing Winter as they neared Cinder's room; for all her pride and prissiness, she really was just too easy to rile up. That was half the reason he did it at all; but what he really wanted was for her to rib him back, to give as good as she got and then some.
He wasn't disappointed; little miss perfect could be quite sassy once you got her out of her shell.
In all honesty, he wasn't sure how felt about her. It wasn't like things with Neo; the runt might not be his blood, but he considered her the sister he'd never had.
Winter...not so much. Was she an adversary? A friend? Maybe even a rival? None of these things? Right now, he couldn't tell.
But until he did, he'd keep poking her, keep prodding her, and certainly keep teasing her!
Dad had given him this chance; the opportunity make more of himself than he could ever be. In unlocking his aura that day he'd done more than unburden him; he'd shown him his potential. He wouldn't waste it and die to a Grimm like some gutter-trash garbage.
Life was looking up.
Yesirree, the world was his oyster.
He aimed to crack it wide open and plunder the pearl inside.
(.0.0.0.)
Cinder wanted power.
She sought it, craved it, had to have it...
.
..
...but she couldn't do get it.
No matter how hard she tried, her fear always held her back. She wanted to be rid of it, really, she did!
They were just too scary!
Even now, three years after the fact, thinking of the Smiling Man's face -Mistral's Monster!- made her seize up. Everyone else had embraced the madness, but she didn't know how to; didn't know if she could. Protective or not, she wasn't blind to just how insane everyone was. No, that was an understatement. They were all batshit crazy!
So she hid herself away, refusing to have her aura properly unlocked, for fear of what might follow.
She buried her head in her bed and clutched onto her pillow, hiding a whimper within. "I wanna go home...
But she didn't know where home was, didn't know who to trust.
Her fingers bit into her pillow, creating wisps of smoke.
A frustrated shout built in the back of her throat.
The pillow burst into flame.
Cinder reacted instantly; flinging the thing down to the floor with a shriek.
The door to her room slammed open, revealing an alarmed Ann. "What just happened?!"
Cinder turned a sheepish look to the pile of ash at her feet, wringing her hands. "I think I just unlocked my semblance...
Roman poked his head into the doorway, shepherding a baffled Neo and Winter besides. "Smells like smoke in here...what did we miss?"
(.0.0.0.)
Freedom was lovely.
Dare she say sensational?
Weiss luxuriated in it; almost as much as the book she was reading. Not fancy art or poetry as would've been expected in the Schnee Manor, but something she liked, something she enjoyed, something she was interested in.
Humming to herself, she turned to another page, bright blue eyes regarding the contents within.
This manual Mother and Winter had put together for her truly was fascinating; she'd never thought to try some of these Dust applications, let alone mingle them with aura. Yes, she was expected to study and get good grades, but beyond those she was free to choose who she would be. And with techniques like these...
Something clicked in the back of her head and she understood what she was reading. Perhaps...?
Humming happily, she set aside her book and brandished Myrtenaster.
Alright. Focus. She could do this-no, she would do this!
She slammed her rapier into the ground.
And a white glyph answered.
(.0.0.0.)
Life was grand.
Pyrrha couldn't think of any other way to describe it.
She could go where she wanted, do as she pleased, train to be the very best, like no ever was.
With family aplenty and Parents to watch over her, she could focus wholeheartedly on getting stronger; Anchored in the certainty that one day she would be known far and wide as the invincible girl. And one day not long after, she would meet the love of her life.
But that's a story for another day.
For now she was content to enjoy her childhood.
After all, she knew it wasn't a role she would have forever.
(.0.0.0.)
Ren aspired to greatness.
He was meant to achieve it; he just knew it.
Such was all he'd ever wanted; to be strong, to make Mother smile, to see Father proud.
Even now he recalled his words to him on his fourth birthdayL
"You're special, son. The only other person in this world who has chakra. Someday, you'll be even stronger than me; you'll be legendary."
Heroes were legends.
Ren rather liked the sound of that; almost as much as he liked the idea of having a little brother. Whereas most might have felt jealousy at the thought of a younger sibling,
He embraced the notion.
A baby brother...little Whitley.
Oh yes, he very much liked the sound of that.
(.0.0.0.)
Renny was being weird again.
Nora considered herself something of an expert on the matter; after all, she'd known him for as long as she could remember.
Renny was life, Renny was love, Renny was her reason for being. Renny had been the first friend she'd ever made, from way back when she could barely crawl.
She liked him, you know?
Sometimes she saw Mom looking at Uncle Naruto the same way; not that it changed anything. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like when she and Renny were that age. Sometimes she wondered about other things. Castles and cakes and weddings...
Hey! She was four going on five and he was the only boy in her life, alright? Cut her some slack!
Well there was Roman, but Roman liked Winter so ewww.
She tried not to think about that.
Instead she chose to focus on other things, things such as her bestie-better-than-the-restie sitting before her, legs tucked beneath him, hands on his knees. Renny didn't even seem to notice her with his eyes closed. And besides!
He was glowing!
Not much, but enough for her to notice; even from here she could see the faint blue sheen of energy outlining his body; it wasn't his aura, that was pink. This...this was something else. She wondered what it was.
She squinted at him "Whatcha doing?"
He didn't budge from his position. "...Meditating."
"Oh, okay." that made sense, sorta. "Doesn't look comfy."
"It helps to calm the mind." The corner of his mouth twitched in a slight smile as he felt her gaze upon him.. "Would you care to join me?
"Can I...?" She fidgeted, kicking a shoe against the dirt. "I'm not very good at sitting still."
"That's alright." he patted the space beside him. "We can sit together."
Nora liked the sound of that and was happy to comply. "M'kay!"
Renny was Renny, her friend, her best buddy, her all.
And if anyone tried to hurt him?
Nora smash.
(.0.0.0.)
One does not simply walk into Haven and demand a meeting with her headmaster...
.
..
...well, unless you were Qrow Branwen.
Maybe it was just his luck, or bad luck knowing his semblance. Either way, they let him in without a fuss.
It was a muggy afternoon going on evening and the Headmaster's secretary, a lovely redheaded woman with bright green eyes who seemed strangely familiar, took his name with a smile and waved him through without a word. He didn't dare stop to make conversation with her. There was a sharp gleam in those green eyes. Way too sharp.
He felt her gaze on his back all the way to the Headmaster's office.
Weird. Had he done something to piss her off?
Probably nothing.
The first thing he noticed about the place was the way Leo's old office had changed; you could tell a lot about someone -just about anyone, really- by how their workplace. Leo liked his books for instance, and the relative untidiness of his office often reflected that.
Theodore was more of a free-spirited sorta guy in everything he did, while James was...well, James. Jimmy Irondick was too damn spartan for his own good and 'ol Oz...well. Even after living for centuries he still liked his towers and Beacon tower with its grand elevator and endless gears reflected that.
But here...well, it was different, he'd give 'em that.
The new guy's office was both warm and sunny, and while he'd kept Leo's old desk situated before it, that was where the similarities ended. His eyes were inevitably drawn to the bookshelves, or rather, a lack thereof; in place of them hung photos of several students, Huntsmen and Huntresses alike. Teams, maybe? He wasn't sure; if they were, he'd never met hem.
Off to the right he spied a great number of weapon stands and dust crystals mounted on the walls. He couldn't help but notice the training dummies too-one to each of the four corners of the room- each of which looked like they'd seen some use. All in all this looked like the office of a man who lived and died for his students, a warrior ready and willing to lay his life on the line for his charges, and a damn sight stronger than Leo.
That wasn't to say he trusted him of course; he didn't, heck, he hardly knew the guy.
Fatherly, that was the best word he could think to describe him.
Next he made note of the Headmaster himself.
'Huh. He looked like a strawberry pimp.'
Nothing against him of course, an he wasn't so soused as to say that sloud, not when it risked pissing the man off. Huntsmen and Huntresses were meant to be colorful, the better to attract attention and inspire hope in those they were sworn to defend.
Hope. Yeah, right.
He had hope, once upon a time.
That sorta thing was in short supply these days, with Salem on the move.
Still, this guy wore red. Why? So no one could see him bleed in a fight? Or was his bluster just for show like Lionheart?
He'd be the first to admit Leo had never been the best combatant compared to the rest of them, but he'd been a brave bastard; braver than most even, given that he was willing to fight monsters beyond his ken. Which made it all the stranger that he suddenly abdicated one day and threw it all away...
.
..
...to this guy.
Now, his replacement guy might be the real deal, or he might not be. Either way, it wasn't his concern. He had a job to do, and the sooner he got it done, the sooner he could get back to looking for Yang. Then again, maybe this bugger could help.
Just maybe.
"Hey, pal." he coughed into a fist. "You gotta second?"
Haven's headmaster jolted and looked up from his paperwork.
Tired blue eyes met his, whiskered cheeks wearing a selfsame smile, one that brightened at the sight of him. Huh. Another Faunus. He hadn't been sure if the whiskers were tattoos or not. That explained why the White Fang were so riled up here in Mistral; the peaceful organization hadn't gotten anywhere with Leo, but if his successor were to endorse them...
"Sorry, festival paperwork! I always have time for Huntsmen." Haven's headmaster plucked a blue-green bottle of wine out from a cabinet in his desk. "Care for a drink?"
And just like that, Qrow felt his opinion of Haven's Headmaster climb just a little higher. "Sure. Never too early for one."
The door slammed open behind him. Qrow whipped around, clutching Harbinger's hilt.
It was all for naught.
"Daddy!"
A little redhead girl rushed in, ignored him entirely, and glomped onto the blond's leg.
"Found you!"
Haven's Headmaster sighed. "Sweetie, daddy's working. I told you to stay with your Mother."
"I'm so sorry!" The same sensual secretary he'd seen before darted into the room and swept the tiny rehead into her arms. "She got away from me."
"Don't worry about it." He kissed her forehead. "I'll see you tonight."
Pyrrha flung up her arms. "Love you!"
He laughed and ruffled her hair. "Love you, too."
Qrow watched both mother and daughter go and subsequently felt his heart twitch. Kiddo was only a year or so older than Ruby. "She one of yours?"
"One of mine, yes." The Headmaster hummed, amused.
Qrow nearly choked on his own spit. "One of...? How many you got?
"More than I can count these days." he chuckled at some unspoken joke. "More every year."
"How do you deal with 'em all?" he accepted the glass as the head swig of his flask. "Askin' for a friend."
"With great determination." He raised his glass to the women we love. "Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em."
Qrow mirrored him and drank deeply. "I'll drink to that." It burned going down, causing him to thump his chest. "Ack! Strong stuff."
"Vacuoan Rose. It packs a punch, or so I'm told. Now is there a reason you've come all the way from Vale to see me?" those bright blue eyes went lidded abruptly, startling him. "Or should I say you've come home after all this time...?"
Qrow's heart thudded in his chest. "How'd you know...?"
"Its your accent." he tapped a finger to the table. "Mostly Vale, but its got a hint of the Mistral Hinterlands in it."
His scowl deepened. "Thought I got rid of that."
"You did, for the most part. I just have an ear for details, and an eye. H e chuckled a little at his own joke before barreling on. "Besides, I've made it my business to know both the names and faces of every Huntsman and Huntress in Mistral both above and above board, students included. Despite your origins, you're clearly not one of mine...
"I ain't," he conceded with a nod.
...which means you hail from somewhere else. Somewhere -or someone- that sent you here."
What to tell him? Oz was -and had been- thinking about bringing him into the fold for some time now, but he'd wanted to do it himself, personally. The old wizard wouldn't look kindly on him spilling the beans like this here and now; Which begged the question. How much did he know?
The bemused blond stared at him for a long, piercing moment, then laughed suddenly, startling him anew.
"Wherever are my manners?" he offered him his hand. "Naruto Uzumaki. And you are...?
He accepted it without a second thought. "Qrow Branwen."
Naruto's smile died an ugly death.
There was more to it than that; he felt it a sudden tensing of his palm as their fingers touched and the hand holding his briefly tried to crush him. Those bright blue eyes suddenly seemed sharper somehow; sharp, and thrice as deadly. The temperature in the room plummeted for a moment only to come roaring back thrice as hot. He tugged at his collar, grimacing a little.
"As I live and breathe!" when the Headmaster's smile returned that toothy grin no longer reached his eyes. "A true huntsmen has entered the fray. Its an honor to finally meet you. What brings you here?"
Wasn't hard to read between the lines of his smile, and he din't necessarily like what he found there. "Thanks. Truth is, I'm lookin' for someone in Mistral."
A blond brow quirked at him. "Right before the Vytal festival? You have either poor or impeccable timing. I hope your search is going well?"
"Somewhat." He sensed a landmine in that smile of his and steered away from it. "So I hear you're finally letting your kids fight?"
"I wouldn't say finally," Naruto poured himself a drink, "They've been fighting for some time now, just not in tournaments."
Against the Grimm, right. Qrow got the hint and his impatience got the better of him. "How much did Leo tell you?"
Naruto's smile soured somewhat, but it remained, perhaps was a warning...or a reminder not to test his limits.
Shit. He shouldn't have said that; nothing to do but charge forward now.
"Leo was old, and tired." Naruto offered him the bottle. "He entrusted me with a few secrets before he left. Stories, really." their eyes met over the green-blue glass. "Fascinating stuff. Do you believe in fairy tales?"
Qrow knocked it back, but didn't rise to the bait. "You know where he went?"
"No, and I'd not tell you if I did." The new Headmaster took it in return and poured himself another drink, which he downed easily. "If he was smart, he fled somewhere far, far away from here."
He couldn't tell if he was lying or not. "You still haven't answered my question."
Naruto hummed. "And you haven't answered mine."
Silence stretched between them.
So that was his game. Take refuge in audacity, was that it? "Do as I say, not as I do, huh?"
"Something like that; I prefer to lead by example. I'm older now, ya know." rather than drink again, the Headmaster steepled his fingers and laid his chin atop them. "And unlike Leo, I only hand out second chances, not thirds or fourths or fifths. I used to have so much mercy. Now? You get one warning. That was it."
He snatched the bottle out his grasp and quaffed the rest of it outright. "And how do your students feel about that?"
Haven's Headmaster didn't even flinch. "The students of Haven and Sanctum are my children. I'd rather they know how to defend themselves properly before they fight for the judgmental masses."
Spoken like a a true overprotective parent. "You gotta let 'em leave the nest sooner or later, bub."
"I will, and when they do, they won't just fly; they'll be the ones to soar.
Couldn't fault his logic there. "...fair enough."
"Good." The gleam in Naruto's gaze told him he'd blundered into a trap without realizing it, but where? "I'm so glad we agree."
"Don't be." he lifted his chin a little to stare him down. "We've got a pretty good roster this year."
"As do we." he looked past him, as though searching for someone. "You might find yourself surprised. Speaking of which, will your Headmaster be in attendance for the festivities?"
Qrow decided to remain evasive. "Might be. He's a busy guy."
"As are we all." he could tell the Headmaster of Hell didn't buy that for a single second. "You know, you never did say who you were looking for."
"No, I didn't."
"I see." his tone said he saw much more than that. "Would you be a good bird and deliver a message to your Headmaster for me? Please tell Ozpin I look forward to making his acquaintance.
"I'll do that." Ohohoho, he certainly would. That and more!
"Thank you." whiskered cheeks dimpled in a bright smile. "I believe our conversation will be a rather enlightening one...full of all sorts of...Knowledge."
Qrow felt his blood run colder than a Schnee's bank account. Shit. No way you could miss the way he emphasized the last word there. Did he have the Maiden? Nevermind that, did he have the Relic? Granted, he didn't see it hanging on his hip or anything, but if it was here, if it was out of the vault...!
He laid a hand on Harbinger's hilt. How fast was he? He'd never seen the bastard fight. Could he take him? Should he?
Screw it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. He gripped his weapon. "You didn't tell me what else Leo told you."
Much to his surprise, Naruto didn't rise to the challenge.
"No, I didn't." The Headmaster of Hell threw his own words back at him, stood with a smirk, twirled his staff once, tucked it under his arm, and walked past him without a care in the world. "One last thing." A glowing eye peeked over his shoulder. "That's a rather fascinating semblance you have, there. Luck-based, I presume?"
Qrow grimaced at the grim reminder of his curse. "Yeah, bad luck and nothing but."
Naruto squinted at him, reminding him of a fox. "Is that what you believe?"
He paused. "What're you talkin' about?"
"You just happened to see someone near and dear to you, then had the good fortune to find me shortly thereafter." a blond brow waggled his way. "I'd call that good luck, yet here you are, acting like you're cursed. Maybe you should hate yourself a little less and focus on what you do have. Perhaps then your Semblance would stop biting you.
The words struck Qrow like a slap in the face; there was power in perception, he knew that. But to say the problem lay with him?
He touched a hand to his chest and felt his aura sizzle restlessly. A scowl worked its way across his haggard face.
"I don't hate myself...
"Yes, you do. Very much so. I can see it plain as day." A hand settled on his shoulder. "Take it from someone who knows. Semblances are more than a rowdy reflection of our Aura; they're a manifestation of our very soul." Five firm fingers bit down, holding fast, preventing him from pivoting away. "I think yours could use a few more friends; maybe even a wife. Enjoy life. You'd be amazed by what she has on offer."
"Like I have any time for that." he shrugged him off. "I'm too damn busy to raise a family."
"Then you should make time," came the soft rejoinder. "You only live once."
...maybe he had a point there.
Qrow felt something shift in his soul just then, like a key turning in a lock as though a voice somewhere deep inside him cried with a resounding: "FINALLY!"
He lurched backward, clutching his heart, eyes bulging, breath coming in short rasps. "What in the...?!"
"That's a very special semblance you have there, Qrow Branwen. Don't waste it."
He looked back, but remarkably, the Headmaster was nowhere to be seen.
All that remained was an open window, creaking in the breeze.
Ah, shit. He'd forgotten to ask him about Yang.
Wait. How did he know he'd seen her...?
His gaze narrowed in quiet concern.
"Oz ain't gonna like this...
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto descended the stairwell to Haven with a spring in his step.
Midway down said steps, he caught sight of a familiar bird winging by and smiled. Right on cue. The moment he held out his arm, it banked toward him and streaked his way with an angry cry. Powerful talons bit into his arm, grinding angrily against aura as they sought purchase and found it easily.
He welcomed the pain; it centered him. "Your brother's come home to roost, it seems."
Raven huffed and hopped onto his shoulder with an indignant squawk, jabbing his cheek with her beak.
"Don't worry, he ran a hand over her feathers. "I've already marked him; I'll be keeping an eye on him with the Vytal Festival this close."
Naruto Uzumaki believed in many things.
Coincidences were not one of them.
They would be ready.
(.0.0.0.)
Dad found her by the pond some hours later.
She heard him coming before she saw him, he didn't bother to hide as he slipped through the trees.
Yang wasn't sure if it was one of his shadow clones or the real deal; regardless, he found her all the same.
She tucked her knees into her chest, wriggled closer to the shore and tried her best to ignore him-tried being the operative word, because he stopped behind her and didn't budge. A moment passed, then another. She kept staring straight ahead, and he kept standing there. Nothing changed, until finally...
"How's my little Sunflower?"
She refused to answer.
"Sulking, are we?"
"Nuh-uh." she buried her head into her kneepads and refused to look his way. "You're the one sulking."
He chuckled softly, but made no move to approach her, much less mess with her hair.
"Fair." she heard his footsteps shift ever so slightly. "Wanna talk about it?"
...not really."
She shouldn't feel this way. Shouldn't be jealous. She already had so much, it was selfish to want more.
But when he didn't budge, she knew she'd have to say something. "Did you want something?"
"Are you concerned about the new baby?"
She looked away with a huff. "Nooo."
"Yang." his tone had her wilting.
"Its just...Ren's your real kid." she picked up a stone and cast it across the pond, frowning a little when it skipped once, only to sink. "You took me and Mom in, but we're not your blood and now you've got another brat on the way with the Schnee...
She threw another stone, this one skipped twice and the ripples spread further.
"You're already so busy...
On her third attempt, the pebble didn't bounce at all, further reflecting her lapse in concentration.
...and it just feels like you aren't around as much-ow!" He flicked her forehead, cutting her words off with a yelp. "What was that for?!"
"For being foolish," his head tilted, "You thought I'd cast you aside because another kid is on the way? I taught you better than that. Don't think such foolish things."
She recoiled, rubbing her scalp. "What's next? You gonna tell me Mom and the others are pregnant, too?"
The silence that followed was suffocating. Yang blanched. They weren't, right? Surely not, right...?
"Tell you what." he said suddenly, distracting her. "Hit me and we go to the park."
She perked up despite herself. "Which one? The park-park, or the waterpark?
A pause followed, and then: "Which would you prefer?"
She peeked over her shoulder at him."More training?
"Ha! We're talking about parks here, Yang.
"Hmmm...then I want the waterpark!"
He beckoned. "Come at me, then.
Yang needn't be told twice.
She vaulted as she'd never vaulted before, not at him, but past him, letting her momentum carry her up and past him into the trees in a torrent of movement. She vaulted from branch to branch, bounding from bough to bough, darting in and out of sight in a grinning streak of gold.
Dad didn't even deign to open his eyes, nor did he watch out for her. Mama would've called that pride. Papa was strong enough to get away with it.
She kicked off a branch and launched herself at him in a flying kick. He swept out an arm to block, only for her to grab his bicep and use it to vault upward at a different angle, flinging herself at him in a storm of fists and feet. His eyes widened in momentary surprise, his telltale smile faltering for a moment. Only a moment.
She used that moment to slug him right in the face.
It was a perfect punch; the very definition of surprise.
Naruto's head snapped to the side, a sole grunt of pain her only reward.
Bemused blue eyes blazed a baleful red. "You call that a punch?"
Little Yang gulped. "Aw, crapbaskets...
She lashed out again, but this time he was ready for her; his head swayed left, right, then left again, easily evading the blistering barrage-then she saw the telltale twinkle in his eyes. For all her speed, she was just a second too slow and he was way too fast; she had time enough to slam her aura into place and guard her face-
"Rasengan."
Face plus ground equals pain, apparently.
Who knew? Not her. She'd always been bad at math.
Stunned and dazed, she didn't even feel it when dad picked her up. A hand settled itself against her forehead and she gasped as she felt his chakra rush over her.
"Owwww!"
"You're only four, Yang."
She huffed, rubbing at her tummy. "So? I'll be five soon."
"So you're a lot stronger than I was at your age." He ruffled her hair with one hand. "I couldn't do half of what you're doing at this point. But you?" in that moment, his smile outshone the setting sun. "You're doing just fine."
She peeked up at him through her messy hair, eyes shining, and not just with tears. "Really?"
"Yes, really." he smiled. "Dry your tears, Yang. We're going to the park."
She grinned and pumped a fist into the air with delight. "Yay~!"
This was her life, and if anyone tried to take it...
She would be ready.
(.0.0.0.)
Qrow wasn't ready.
Not for this, not to make this call, not for any of it...yet he had to.
Tipsy though he might be, he knew what he'd seen; part of him almost he wished he hadn't seen it, but damnit, he did.
He had been staking out Haven's Headmaster from afar for awhile now; an eye in the sky watching the estate as the sun crept lower in the sky. Hours had passed with no sign of anything. He'd been on the verge of giving up and flying back to the hotel when a door opened out near the veranda and someone stepped outside.
There she was.
His niece.
Yang.
He'd already seen her once and lost her; to find her twice in one day beggared belief. He didn't know the specifics, didn't know where Raven was, or if she was even alive; but that HAD to be Yang; she was a dead ringer for her mother. He'd nearly flown into a telephone pole when he first saw the little firecracker; it took all his restraint not to dive down, change back, and snatch her up on the spot.
Instead he'd landed on a nearby roof and watched her sit for a while, stunned, unable to do anything but balk.
And that was before the so-called Headmaster of Hell-bastard lived up to his name!-made his appearance.
What was he to her? A guardian? Relative? Kidnapper? Didn't matter. He had to tell Tai and the others.
Drunken fingers fumbled for his scroll, dialing in a number he'd memorized by heart.
It rang once and was picked up immediately, good on Ozpin for that.
"Hey, Oz." he spoke quickly before the voice on the other side could interrupt him. "You ain't gonna believe this. Are Tai and Summer with with you? They are? Great. Put them on speaker."
The scroll tightened in his grasp as he pivoted in place, ruefully regarding the beaming blondes below. He squinted at them through the binoculars, grimacing now as Yang hugged the whiskered bastard after their vicious spar. Who the hell did he think he was, hugging his niece like that?! His hand itched for Harbinger, but he knew rushing in now would only make him look like the bad guy. No, he had to play this smart.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he took the plunge and sealed his fate. "I found her." He rasped out. "I found Yang. She's with-
He was still speaking when the Headmaster of Hell looked up and despite the distance, stared him right in the eye.
The smile that split his face was terror incarnate as were the words that followed as he read his lips:
"I SEE YOU."
Qrow backpedaled with a hiss, hastily adjusting his binoculars in a vain attempt to recover.
.
..
...
Gone.
When next he looked, neither Yang nor Naruto were anywhere to be seen, so where...?
Was his mind playing tricks on him once again?
Had he imagined that scare just now?
"Qrow?" Ozpin's voice trickled through the scroll, reminding him of where he was. "I didn't quite catch that."
"Sorry, I saw something-
A golden palm came flying out of nowhere, closed around his face, and levered him into the ground with incredible force, rendering his words a startled squawk. Breath burst from his lungs, only to be stifled as yet another a hand closed around his throat. Instinct kicked into overdrive and the binoculars went flying into the gloom, forgotten as he grappled with his adversary.
What the hell was he?! He was too damn bright-literally! Couldn't see a thing!
Against all odds, he somehow managed to hold onto his scroll in the tussle; right up until his attacker closed their fingers around his exposed palm and squeezed. A stone-crushing grip ground his knuckles together agonizingly as his aura shrieked in protest...but held.
The scroll did not.
With an ear-wrenching crack, it shattered in his grasp, peppering him with shards of plastic and circuitry. That soon proved the least of his concerns. A fist slammed into his gut and folded him over, bringing him down to his knees. Squinting through a haze of pain, he looked up and found Haven's Headmaster loomed over him, shining like the sun. Against all odds, Naruto was still smiling; somehow, that made him seem even more ferocious, horrifying even as he spoke to him.
"Damnit, Branwen." he shook his head with a sigh, setting his blond bangs swaying in the breeze. "And here I though we could be friends."
A boot slammed down into Qrow's face.
Darkness swept in.
A/N: Qrooooow why you do this?!
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(Previews)
Yang tilted her head. "Soooo...I have an uncle? Why is he tied to a chair? Why does he have a sock in his mouth?"
Qrow howled imprecations into his gag and thrashed against his bindings, to no avail.
"Ooooh, that's why."
Ren, my friend!" Roman slung an arm around his shoulder. "You and I are the only men in this menagerie of women. We gotta stick together.
Easy for you to say, Roman. You're older.
"Wiser, too!"
So, you thought you had all the pieces right where you wanted them.
There are so many moves I've yet to play.
You should've stayed away.
"Alright, kiddo. Time to talk."
Nope! The Smiling Man was scary!
Little Cinder squeaked. "Can we not?"
Ann sat beside her, hemming the poor girl in before she could bolt.
Cinder looked to Naruto, back to Ann, then to Naruto again.
Did these two not realize how scary they were?
They terrified her.
Showtime.
Naruto took a moment, adjusted his smile in the mirror, then paced to the door and flung it open.
"Hello~!" he sang happily. "You must be Kali and Ghira. Do come in. Oh, is that your daughter?" he sketched a bow to the little girl clinging to Ghira's hand. "My Yang's about the same age. I think she's hiding somewhere around here...
"Hi!" she poked her head over his shoulder, grinning ear to ear. "I'm Yang!"
Little Blake tilted her head, startled by the display. "Hello...?"
Kali smiled softly. "She's an energetic one...
Class is now in session!
Naruto's staff came down with sound and aplomb, conjuring a shockwave in its wake to silence all before him. He planted both hands atop it and leaned forward to smile at his captive audience. More than a few students shrank back at the sight of that smile, all but on the verge of hesitating int he face of his power.
Now that just wouldn't do.
He'd brought them up to be braver than this.
Perhaps they needed a little...encouragement to get going.
"No takers?" he tutted in faux despair. "Very well. Let's sweeten the pot then, shall we? First team to land a hit gets a spot in the Vytal Festival.
A few perked up at that.
It was a start.
Unless, of course, you're a bunch of cowards and cravens. If so, you have no place in this school.
Motivation acquired. They blitzed him.
"Team SLVR." he greeted them at a glance. "Shiro Wan, Lin Fucshia, Victor Farrow, Rory Andrews. By all means, come in! He granted each of them a smile. "How are you settling in?
Team HCIN, welcome. Heather Shields, Caroline Teal, Ivy Altham, Inigo Nash. Tell me, how do you feel about entering the Vytal Festival?"
Team CBLT. Carmine Escalados, Bertilak Celadon, Lali Choi and Caroline Teale. I take it you're here to enter the Vytal Festival?
You're some kind of masochist.
"Nonsense.
Flynn Pickerel, Vanessa Nikos, Anora Valkyre, Maria Calaverra. He had a fine staff here, and with Ann recently acquiring her license, they would be finer still...
Naruto's grin gained an edge as he took the hit and felt it grate against his aura. On a whim he feigned weakness and dropped down to a knee.
He had trained them far too well to ignore an opening like that.
They were upon him a second later.
Vicious little gremlins!
It is indeed a dark day, when a good man...or woman...should go to war. For there is no wrath greater, no fury stronger, no hatred purer, than one so kind and so caring, should they take up the sword.
For there will be no kindness, no forgiveness, NO MERCY."
"Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and drown the sun when a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies, night will fall and the dark will rise when a good man goes to war Demons run, but count the cost. The battle's won, but the child is lost."
"I'll give you whatever you want! Please! Just let me live! I'll pay you double, two times-
Three times.
"What?"
Three times you tried to kill me. Did you think I'd forget? And now you want mercy...? No. What happens in Mistral stays in Mistral...
He rather enjoyed visiting the orphanages these days.
Not those filthy hovels employed by the now-defunct Hana Guild but proper places for children to live.
No, no, no! This won't do at all! You can't keep them cooped up in here all day, you have to let them outside!
The Headmaster's Orphans, they were calling them.
Had a nice ring to it, ya know?
Yang would be the first to admit she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but she didn't have to be; because she knew her strengths and her weaknesses. Besides, she was the strongest. Wasn't pride, that, just the honest truth. She could fly, punch people, and shoot lightning at fools.
Life was goooood.
"Miss Illia Amitola, was it? Welcome to Sanctum."
The girl beamed and her skin flushed with glee. Literally.
"Well, well." he laughed a little. "Another Faunus! By all means, come in!"
Phone call for you, headmaster.
My thanks. He set it to his ear and smiled. Naruto speaking?
...you don't know me, but I know you. The signal was grainy; the figure almost indistinct. Pity his eyes were sharper than most.
Who you are is immaterial to me; you're even less entertaining than dry cereal.
"You think this is a joke?!" The man on the other end -Watts!- sputtered spectacularly, black mustache bristling like some great hungry caterpillar. "I'll show you suffering-
The image on the other end crackled; he sneered at it. "Oh, no! Your signal is buffering!"
"I'll destroy you! You little-
The scroll winked out.
"I'm afraid you've lost your signal.
He closed down his scroll, pushed back his chair, and began to hum under his breath.
"Let's begin...you're gonna wish I never came along...
If I became the monster and threw my guilt away......would that make us stronger, would it keep our foes at bay?If I became the monster to everyone but us, and made sure we were safe again...who would care if I was unjust? Then I'll become the monster! I will deal the blow! Yes, I'll become Mistral's MONSTER! Like none you've ever known!"
"You call yourself a Headmaster?! What is wrong with you?! How can you be so broken inside...to shatter our lives, our team, and then rub it in our faces like its something to be proud of! All with that damn smile on your face! I'm gonna make you pay for what you did! Do you hear me?! Well?! SAY SOMETHING!
...please stop shouting. You're scaring Yang, and I don't even know who you people are."
It was not the response he wanted. "SAY THAT AGAIN! I DARE YOU!"
Blue eyes widened. "...you're Taiyang, aren't you? I'm so sorry."
Too little, too late. He saw red.
EDIT: Hey, thanks for reading!
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