A/N: Patrick is immune to the Apathy. It might sound a bit of a 'special treatment' but rest assured there is a reason for this to happen. All will be revealed in time...In due time.
Chapter 37: Unexpected Guest
Mid-March.
Prom Night, as well as the Vytal Festival, is soon upon the students of Beacon. The only thing Patrick is glad about is that the Winter Season is coming to a close. Class is over and Team PASM is walking down the hallways. Patrick and Akira are walking in silence as Selena and Marlene are discussing the Prom Theme Decorations and Music. Marlene still finds it disappointing that Selena is going to be DJing instead of being out on the dance floor, even though she does find it understandable getting dressed up would put exposing her identity at risk.
As they walk, Akira suddenly comes to a stop. Her team takes notice of her sudden behavior, Akira stares at a distance with a serious expression on her face her hand firmly gripped onto her Katana.
"Akira? What's wrong?" Marlene asks.
Patrick knows what she's sensing. He looks in the direction she's facing yet he doesn't answer anything.
"You feeling okay?" Selena asks her.
"Yeah..." Akira loosens her grip on her weapon. "Sorry, I thought I saw something."
The team moves to the Auditorium, the place is being decorated from the prom. Marlene is going over the list while Patrick and Akira are setting everything up. Patrick is helping Selena carry the DJ Set to the stage. Akira is hanging the streamers when suddenly she gets that unsettling feeling once again. Akira grabs hold of her Katana, with a serious expression on her face.
Her team takes notice of her behavior. "Akira?" Akira returns to reality hearing Marlene calling her name. "What's wrong?"
"Uh..." Akira relaxes her body. "It's nothing. Sorry."
Akira picks up the box and resumes the decoration. Even in this calm state, Patrick, Selena, and Marlene still feel concerned for her.
On the next day after classes, Teams PASM and CPER are on the training grounds. Clawdia and helping Peter with another Pretty-Girl-Resistance training, with Selena once again getting all dolled up to try and distract Peter. Patrick just watches this 'training session' with an aggressive dark aura around him. The only thing that's stopping him from ending this training is Earnest using his Mime to trap Patrick in an invisible cage.
Patrick rolls his eyes to Earnest. "You know I'm gonna hurt you for allowing this." Earnest just careless shrugged his shoulders.
Akira is meditating, breathing in deeply, and exhaling a chant. Her body relaxes as she focuses her mind. Suddenly, Akira felt a disturbance. Even in her mind, she had a sudden flash of an attacker. Her body starts to stress, but Akira maintains her meditation. The feeling becomes stronger, and her body slowly starts to move on its own as her hand reaches for her Katana and grabs hold of it.
Akira tries to keep her focus, until the flashing images of her attacker strike, and it causes Akira to counter with a reflex. In an instant, Akira gets on her feet and does a 180 turn with her sword drawn, Akira softens once she sees the opponent she's threatening is Rayla, who is on the floor.
"My word." Akira backs away as Rayla stands up and wipes off the dust from her outfit. "What ill manners. I expected more from you, Mistress Rhysenshi."
"I-I..." Akira sheathes her weapon. "I'm sorry, I-I didn't..." Akira looks to see all eyes are on her, even the imprisoned Patrick.
Everyone turns to the dorms. Akira is sitting on a bed while everyone else is standing before her. Rayla walks in with a cup of tea for her. "What's going on, Akira? You've been stressing out over something for days. Is something wrong?" Marlene asks.
Akira takes a deep breath after sipping some tea. "I'm sorry, I was sensing something off."
"Off how?" Peter asks.
"I don't know. It's like somebody is watching. Waiting to strike at the right moment. I feel it in my instincts." Akira says.
"On campus grounds? Doesn't sound like a Paw-ssibility." Clawdia says.
Selena looks at Clawdia. "What if it's someone who used to be at the school? Like that Kasheer guy."
"I doubt it's him. The presence I feel is highly consoled. He's too reckless and hotheaded to be like that." Akira says.
Rayla turns her attention to Patrick. "Master Patrick, do you sense anything?"
Patrick crosses his arms as he focuses on his thoughts. "No, I don't." Then glares at Rayla. "And stop calling me 'Master'!"
"Maybe you're just having a stressful time, Akira. You should take a break from training and relax for the day." Marlene says.
For the rest of the day, Akira wanders around the school grounds. By nightfall, she is meditating underneath a cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. The whole time, Akira tries to keep her focus but can't relax. Finally, he exhales deeply as she relaxes her body from the meditation pose.
"Maybe Marlene's right. I'm probably just stressed and need to relax." Akira stands up and starts walking back toward the school. Akira stops for a moment, sensing that presence once again. After a moment, she shakes it off and continues moving on.
Akira keeps walking, the feeling becoming stringing. It even starts to make her take it seriously. And then...
Bing!
Akira swiftly draws out her Katana and deflects the Sai that is flying toward her. The sai flies in the air and lands on the ground several feet away, then a being suddenly appears where the weapon lays. Akira is very surprised. The being is a female ninja with long violet hair in a ponytail and bangs that cover her forehead, brown eyes, and her mouth and nose covered with a mask.
"A Ninja?" Akira asks.
The ninja acts swiftly with incredible speed. She draws out her Sai's and charges toward Akira, who manages to block the incoming blow in time. Akira repels the Ninja. While her opponent is in midair, Akira charges up a Chi Orb and fires it. The Ninja acts fast, she throws one of her Sai's to the ground below her, and once she throws the weapon, the ninja instantly vanishes and reappears where and when the Sai is pinned to the ground in the blink of an eye, avoiding the Chi Blast.
The ninja glares at Akira with a killer look. Akira can see that she is outmatched in this fight, and starts running into the school, and the ninja girl chases after her. Akira tries to shake off her pursuiter, but the enemy is swift. She even throws her weapon ahead and vanishes then reappears to where it lands.
The ninja comes in close to Akira. Akira can feel her presence uncomfortably close. On that, Akira draws out her sword and blocks the incoming attack. They are both in each others faces as their weapons are locked.
"Impressive. You certainly live up to the expectations of the Rhysenshi Family." The ninja says.
Hearing that surprises Akira. "How do you...Who are you!?"
The ninja repelled with a back leap and quickly threw shurikens at Akira. Akira deflects most of them, the rest she either dodges or gets hit. When the ninja lands on her feet, she draws out her Sai's and charges after Akira once more. Akira runs into the Dorm hallway. She manages to shake off her pursuiter but she still feels uneasy, she knows the enemy is still around. Just not in sight.
Akira takes slow steps in the hall, sword in hand and ready to strike. The air is dead silent as Akira keeps her senses sharp. There's a slight crack noise and it startles Akira as she turns in the direction it came from and sees nothing. Akira continues wandering around the hall until eventually she gets ambushed from behind and pinned to the ground.
The ninja has a Sai risen and makes the blow. Akira braces for the impact...that doesn't come. Akira takes a peek and sees the weapon is only an inch away. The ninja is looking away, eyes alert. With a swift movement, she throws her Sai back at the hallway entrance and vanishes.
The doors to the dorms open and students are coming out to find out what all the noise was about, but only come out to find Akira on the floor looking alarmed and exhausted. Teams PASM and CPER collected Akira and took her into the PASM Dorm. Akira explains to them what happened.
"A ninja?" Selena asks.
"Yea. I knew I was sensing somebody's presence, but I didn't expect this." Akira says.
"What did this ninja look like?" Marlene asks.
"Her face was masked, didn't get a good look. But her hair was in a purplish color. And she has the ability to vanish, probably her Semblance. Beyond that, I don't know that much about her."
"How odd. What would a ninja be doing on Beacon grounds?" Rayla says. Earnest shrugged his shoulders and then speaks directly to Akira. "'You said this Ninja knows you. Is she an enemy of yours?'"
"Ninjas and Samurais have been rivals for as long as we can recall, but I can't say for certain I've made any personal enemies from any of the Ninja Clans." Akira says. "What's more is how she was able to track me all the way to Beacon?"
Patrick is dead silent. He stands there with a serious expression on his face. "We should probably capture this ninja and get some answers out of her." Peter says.
"I never thought I'd say this but Peter's right." Clawdia says.
The next day, Teams PASM and CPER return to their everyday school life. By the end of the day, they all gathered in the library to form a plan. Akira knows that the pursuiter will attack at night, so that's when they'll execute it. One thing they have noticed is that Patrick is absent during their little meeting. They pretty much dismissed it thinking Patrick's just being Patrick, except for Rayla who believes ditching a meeting to protect one of his own teammates to be terrible manners.
The sun is starting to set. Everyone's all gathered in the dorm. "It's almost time. Everyone remembers the plan?" Everyone nods. But Akira looks to see someone's still missing. "Where's Patrick?"
Selena looks at her Scroll. "He hasn't answered any of my texts. We're just going to have to do this without him."
"All right, everyone to positions." Akira says.
Akira meditates in her usual spot in the courtyard. Even in her trance, she keeps her senses sharp. Her fox ear perks once and a while but comes up with nothing. Once done with meditation, Akira wanders around the courtyard for a bit. She keeps her senses alert for her opponent. Eventually, she picks it up as Akira stands still for a moment and rolls her eyes to the side as the ninja stands afar on a Beacon Tower. The ninja throws her Sai, and vanishes, right at Akira. Akira senses the weapon coming at her and deflects it.
The ninja reappears once the weapon lands. "You're a little rusty for a ninja. Not wise to strike against the night after the first attempt."
The ninja draws out her Sai's. "I'm more elite than you think, Faunus."
Akira's hands grow in Chi Energy. "Oh, I know." Akira unleashes a blast of Chi Energy. The ninja bends over backward to avoid the incoming blast. Once she straightens up, she only sees Akira running for it, then chases after her. Akira lures her opponent through the courtyard. She passes through the first trap. Selena and Marlene ready themselves from behind the lampost, their weapons loaded with Ice Dust/Crystal.
The ninja comes in close, and Selena looks at Marlene and mouths 'Now'. They both shot Ice from their weapons at the same time. When the ninja makes the approach, she jumps at the very last second, and Selena and Marlene end up freezing each other, while the ninja is fully unfrozen and chasing after Akira.
Akira runs past the next trap. The ninja is right behind her until she slams into an invisible wall. Confused, the ninja feels around and finds herself in a box until she's startled by the sound of slamming metal. Earnest runs his hand through the bars making a clanking sound, then locks it and eats the key. Earnest looks at the ninja and taps his finger on his head while proudly smiling.
The ninja gives him a serious glare. She sheathes her Sai's and rapidly throws shurikens right at him at incredible speed. Earnest stands his ground while trying to keep his concentration on the invisible prison. Earnest's Aura is running low. He's unable to summon a weapon since his Semblance is focused on imprisoning his opponent. Finally, his Aura is critical, and Earnest had no other choice but to abandon the Prison and use his Semblance to block the attacks with a shield. the second he does, the ninja makes a run for it.
Akira runs into Beacon, where Rayla is standing out of sight from the outside view. She readies her Steel wires and, in an instant, blocks the doorway in a web of wires. The ninja leaps through the wires her body straight and slim like an arrow and manages to fly right through the hole in the middle and dashes off. Rayla just stands in place watching the ninja until she's out of sight. "My word..." She says in astonishment.
Akira starts making her way to the training grounds. The ninja is right on her tail until Peter stands in her way and manages to grab hold of the Ninja, locking her arms down as well. "Sorry, lady, but I can't let you do any harm to one of my friends."
The ninja attempts to break free from his grip but it's futile. No other opinion, she looks down in defeat, which causes Peter to soften his guard. Then she looks up at him with her lover's eyes. "Come now." She speaks seductively. "A big strong handsome boy such as you ain't gonna hurt a lovely woman like me, aren't you?" Hearing that really hits Peter hard. His face turns red as he falls for her charm. Peter is speechless as he stares helplessly into her eyes. "Aren't you a little curious to see my pretty face behind this mask? Want to feel and taste the sweetness from my lips?"
The ninja leaps her face closer, which causes Peter to mindlessly loosen his grasp. That's when the ninja acts quickly and blasts Peter in the stomach with a couple of jabs hitting his nerve points. Peter immediately becomes paralyzed and collapses. The ninja looks down at him as she chuckles. "You're as gullible as the Abductors." Then resumes chasing after Akira.
Clawida comes out of hiding and looks down at Peter outraged. "Are mew kitten me? I am litter-ally embarrassed to be related to mew!"
Akira arrives in the training room. She stands her ground katana at hand. The ninja dashes in and leaps to strike. Akira braces herself to block the attack, but something unusual happens. The ninja's right hand suddenly freezes, incase in ice. Akira dodges out of the way and the ninja's frozen hand weights her down to the ground. As she looks at her hand confused, her feet suddenly become encased in ice on the ground. She attempts to throw a Sai with her free hand until an arrow hits her hand and instantly freezes the weapon in her hand.
Akira looks at her opponent's hands and feet and sees Arrows pierced to the ground. That's when she realizes what this could be. "I must admit, didn't expect you of all people to come here." Patrick comes out of the shadows as he looks down at the Ninja. "Sakuya."
Patrick and Earnest grab hold of their captive opponent as they and Akira start collecting their members. They all have Sakuya, who is now without her mask revealing her beautiful face, tied up in a chair at one of the dorms, while Patrick, Earnest, and Akira are interrogating her, Clawdia is keeping the subdued Peter in check, and Selena and Marlene are wrapped up in covers shaking while Rayla is serving them some hot tea.
"You know this ninja?" Akira asks Patrick asks.
"Sakuya of the Shadow Tread. A group of elite mercenary ninjas that reside in the deserts of Vacuo." Patrick says
"I see you haven't lost your touch, Shadow Boy. And here I thought you've gone soft being a Beacon Student." Sakuya says.
Patrick gives Sakuya a serious look. "Didn't I recall one of your ninja brothers saying you work for the Headmaster of Shade?" Sakuya doesn't say anything. "Just what are you doing here, Sakuya?"
"I am not here on a job. I'm only here for a simple request." Sakuya says.
"You call hunting me down and trying to kill me a simple request?" Akira asks.
"Nope. Just something fun to do." Sakuya says.
Nobody believes her, they even exchange looks. Earnest speaks to Patrick. 'I SAY WE DROP HER OFF TO THE AUTHORITIES.'
"I can understand you, Jazz Hands," Sakuya says. "And you shouldn't make an enemy of the Shadow Tread."
"She's right. The Shadow Tread is a group you do not want to get on their bad side. Incredibly very few have ever lived to tell the tale of them." Patrick says.
"Well, you can add another group who has lived to tell the tale." Everyone turns their eyes onto Sakuya. "Which is why I came here with a simple request. My clan are in terrible danger." Sakuya turns her attention to Patrick. "And I came here for your aid, Shadow Boy."
Patrick crosses his arms as he stares at her with a serious look. "Give me one good reason why I should believe you?"
Sakuya offers a returned glare as she speaks. "Two words: The Abductors."
Hearing that hardens Patrick's expression on his face. Everyone else is confused, muttering 'The Abductors?' 'As in kidnappers?' Selena actually worries it could be the Abduction Agency. Patrick doesn't move a muscle as he speaks in an aggressive tone. "Leave us." Nobody says a word, they all just do as Patrick commands. Akira is the last one to go out, but she stops by the door to look back in. Rayla encourages Akira to leave them be and so she does, closing the door behind her. "Go on."