Here we are again.
Closing in on the end of the first arc.
I've taken a bit of a break this week from writing Hushed Dreams.
Started a new story, and it's already eight chapters in...
Kind of went insane on it.
I'm thankful for all those that support to the story.
Sorry if I don't get back to everyone.
Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Don't give me that look…
There was no choice…
If there was…
Gah, you think accepting Father's demand was simple, you idiot?
This must be done! Then maybe we can…
No, you're right. What needs to be done is horrible. They don't deserve it. The Schnee girls' father is as likely terrible as my father.
Wait, how do you know that name? Drunkard hates the Schnees and constantly bad-mouths them?
Hah! Hang on! Tell me more! Anything you got!
Hold on! What do you mean by no? Naruto! We need this! In this dire moment, you are abandoning me! Shame! Shame!
Trivia fussed with her signs, looking livid over the scroll's screen as she fumed at the blonde-haired boy. She was still using basic signs and having to charade quite often to express her intent, but more often than not, she got her point across.
He was adept at learning and reading facial features and her mood. He'd probably learn better in person than over this stupid screen but alas…
Limitations…
Then again…
She couldn't call him when he got out of the shower and admire that glorious sight. Seeing his chest and abs glistening with the light reflecting off the water just right…
Although maybe he wouldn't detect if she cloaked...
Trivia flushed as she snickered and lightly kicked her mattress at this thought. Oh, that was so naughty! Where did that thought come from?
But she liked it! Liked the thrill of the idea! Oh, and what if he caught her?
Oh, what possibilities of what could happen?
Could it end up like one of her novels? Could she be swept off her feet, put up against the wall, and…
What?
No! There was no such look!
What does that mean? You know what that look is? Are you making an accusation, blonde boy?
Wait, cut this nonsense! The information! About the Schnees!
Need it! Please! Know it won't be much, but…
Make it worth your while! With your help, we can do this! We can make a plan together! You can sneak in and help me!
Don't like that you scrunched up your nose like that! Come on!
Yes! Excellent!
Cracking her knuckles, Trivia beamed at an exasperated Naruto over the scroll. With the two of them together, they could make this work!
They had to make this count!
"Need lien." Naruto found Tai in the living room as he checked his scroll, pocketing it before bringing his attention back to the man of the house. "Need to go to town. Need paint."
"Paint?" Taiyang looked incredulously at Naruto as Kali walked out of the kitchen with a frown, her ears twitching. "Okay then? Dare I ask why?"
"Job," Naruto said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Need lots."
"Naruto." Kali repressed a hiss as she narrowed her eyes, suspecting he was up to something. "How much is a lot of paint? And what is this job you have that requires it?"
"Five cans?" Naruto responded by turning to Meow-sensei nervously, scratching his head and laughing. "House painting?"
"Naruto..." Kali swore, knowing he was lying and knew he was planning to do something he shouldn't. "I have the distinct feeling this isn't good. What are you hiding?"
"It's for Trivia," Naruto added as he smiled and laughed sheepishly.
Golden eyes dilated and focused directly upon him, enhancing her feelings on the matter further.
Her eyes then snapped immediately at the other adult in the room.
"Here you go." Tai pulled out his wallet, withdrew, and counted his lien before handing a bundle of bills to Naruto. "That should be enough."
"Yatta! Thanks, Pops!" Naruto grinned as he bolted to the front door and waved. "Thanks! Out!"
"Be back before midnight!" Tai exclaimed as Naruto booked it out of the house and cupped his hand over his mouth. "Don't get caught either! Don't want to try and have to explain whatever it is you are doing!"
"What?" Tai turned back around to find two golden eyes aggressively burrowing into him. "I don't see the issue here."
"You don't see the issue here?" Kali repeated Tai's words to him and mocked him before hissing. "You are allowing him to be a degenerate delinquent, and you don't see the issue? Just about to let him go out and obviously do something wrong?"
"What's worse is that he has been mistaken for a Faunus several times already, so that's good going on your part! Just add to our problems if he is caught, why don't you?" Kali ranted, her eyes gleaming with heat.
Having the decency to look somewhat ashamed, Tai sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "Okay, you have valid points there. I have overlooked his physical traits that stick out as more Faunus-like. That's fair, and I will take the blame there. But I think you are missing the bigger point."
"Sure, there will probably be some deviant behavior involved. He's thirteen. Can't tell you how often I got into trouble around that age. It's perfectly normal, so the fact he's being upfront about it is more reassuring." Kali's eyes narrowed at Tai's words and was about to lash a response out when Tai continued, his eyes looking out the window as he watched Naruto dash toward the direction of Patch. "But he's doing this to help his friend. Most likely in desperate need if they were talking on the scroll all morning."
"So in all, whatever he's planning, his heart is in the right place. All he wants to do is help the girl." Tai commented before meeting Kali's gaze.
Keeping it steady and steadfast.
Kali scowled and crossed her arms, still not approving, and sighed. It was more palatable when he put it that way. Still not the wisest decision, but it was something she could see her daughter doing when she was older, so would she get in the way?
No, she didn't think she would…
It was the right decision. Just in an odd childish manner…
"You're right." Kali exhaled, and her ears curled in annoyance. "I just worry as it seems every time those two get involved with one another… Trouble seems to follow."
"Oh, I forgot about that." Tai paled, and he grimaced, remembering the last time they had spent together. "This could be bad."
"Um, I might need to make a few calls to some old friends at the station just in case…"
Where was he?
He said he had the materials over a few hours ago. How long did it take for him to get here? Was he traveling on foot?
Oh, that was precisely what he was doing. Trivia, you fool! You forgot Naruto still doesn't understand how simple it is to use an air taxi from Patch to Vale! He's taking the difficult way here!
He didn't run into any Grimm along the way, did he?
No, don't let it be so! He was capable! He should be more than strong enough to take care of a Grimm on Patch!
With an Academy nearby and many Huntsman within the Kingdom's walls, there shouldn't be any troubling Grimm on the path to Vale…
Should there?
Oh, was texting enough? Naruto knew enough to know what she was sending him. Hopefully, he was okay and just busy.
Did he even know how to text?
Trivia frowned and cursed.
Of course, he wouldn't! He had to have someone show him how to figure out how to answer the scroll video call! Texting on the device would be beyond him…
Wait? Did he text back?
Did he understand that feature?
Why did he understand that feature? How did he understand that feature?
A jumbled mess of digits and letters…
Trivia sighed, and her head fell. At least it was a response letting her know he was okay! She expected too much from him to understand what he was doing completely.
A knock at the door caught her attention. A snarl adorned her face, but she took a deep breath as she typed a message to Naruto. It was most likely one of the maids or the butlers.
It was show time.
"Lady Trivia, your parents request your presence. Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, sending her message, she slid her scroll into the matching purse her mother had picked out. Her father was considerate enough to allow her to have her scroll with her.
Maybe he finally had enough sense about him to realize she was incapable of speech?
Rolling her eyes at the thought, Trivia slowly strutted to the door as glasses appeared and formed around her. They began to shift around her very being until she let out a depressed but silent sigh as she looked into the mirror to gauge herself.
She felt disgusted. This wasn't her…
This was…
Friend?
A second form strolled beside her, frowning as she stood slightly beneath her, pink hair shaking her head. She silently mouthed, looking upset, and placed her hand over Trivia's chest, feeling her heart.
Her heterochromatic eyes staring into her now brown eyes.
Neo then waved to the door as she wandered over and hid in the corner, sliding into a seat and crossing her arms. All the while staring at Trivia, scowling, and occasionally making rude gestures with her mouth.
Trivia slumped as she slowly walked to and opened the door. She understood the meaning quite well…
The maid gasped audibly. Her eyes widened as she was unsure of what she saw before her.
A taller, brown-eyed Trivia walked out her bedroom door and slowly made her way to accompany her parents.
Must appear like her parents wanted her. The perfect daughter they always wanted.
Well, almost perfect.
Her throat burned as she gently brushed the tears away, a seething hatred burning within as she looked upon the proud look of her father upon seeing her and the soft smile of her mother. She clenched her fist and repressed the trembles she felt.
And from within, she heard Neo's voice telling her to move forward.
Trivia made an oath.
She would live free at whatever cost it took.
She would never live like this again once she gained her freedom!
Vale still perplexed him.
He found his way better through the streets now that he had been through a few times. But it was not somewhere he was accustomed to, and he wasn't sure where anything was.
Naruto was only lost once, trying to find his way to the Vanille Estate outside their front gate.
Not to mention he was still unsure of half of anything anyone said and could only read a portion of the signs. He'd only have to thank Meow-sensei for being able to understand what he could and being patient with him!
Naruto knew he wasn't the most talented when it came to studying and picking up knowledge like this.
Despite the many frustrations it had caused him, he was giving it everything he had. It was necessary as he couldn't get around without understanding everyone.
Also, he didn't mind picking up and learning code or Sign Language, as they called it, from Trivia. It was helpful to have, and frankly, he was learning it before. It also kept a small memory of his lessons of being taught by Kakashi when he used it, and he cherished those.
Huh, now that he thought about it…
Trivia's copy always had pink hair…
He did like pink. It looked good on her too. Like really good...
"Hey, kid, move along." A man in a black suit guarding the door, probably a bouncer.
"Heading to a friends…" Naruto muttered in response as he pulled his scroll out of his pants pocket and showed it to the guard. "Lost. Lives around here. Trying to call."
"Don't loiter for long." The man in the black suit nodded and said nothing more as he returned to his duty.
Naruto figured a kid possessing one of these tools either meant their parents were influential or they were working on becoming hunters, as they were called now. Either way, he left him alone.
Looking at his scroll, Naruto noticed an odd prompt on the screen. Pressing it, he frowned as he muttered in his language in frustration. "Yo? What do you want of me now, thing? Don't understand you! Supposed to be like a phone, but it is not like one!"
"From Trivia?" Naruto blinked as he saw the girl's name and squinted at the screen before him. "Hold on, is this one of those text messages Ayame talked about receiving from her friends? I see she was asking if I was okay. Am I late?"
"Dammit, I am!" Naruto cursed as he fumbled through the scroll and tried to figure out how to send a message back. "Ah, how do I… Did I send a message?"
"No! Come on! How did I do that?" Naruto complained and shook his scroll, gesturing madly at it. "How did I do that? I want to let Trivia know I'm here!"
"Ugh," A voice from within the premises drew Naruto's attention inside the manor and to the drive-through circle. "Glad we came in when we did. It's been a long flight… And now there is an animal at the gate yelling obscenities on a scroll?"
"Vale is certainly moving in a progressive manner, I shall say." A man with white hair, a twitching mustache, and a white suit stated as he stood out of his limo, waiting for the rest of his family to exit as their driver assisted them out. "Well, at least Jim isn't inept and knows where they belong. Outside, working for us."
Naruto scowled as he heard a ding on his scroll. Oh, he already didn't like this man from what he understood of the language. If only he were the target…
Oh?
"Now come along, dears." The man motioned as a young white-haired girl around Yang's age slowly stepped out of the limo. "Must be prompt and courteous at all times. Quickly now."
Oh?
Naruto's heart skipped a beat. His cerulean eyes sparkled.
A second older sister, that had to roughly be his and Trivia's age, stepped out of the limo.
And she was the most gorgeous young lady he had ever laid eyes on! Sakura, move over! He found a new love!
Pale, pristine, and soft skin! How smooth it had to be? How much care had she taken for it? Those brilliant icy blue eyes that could freeze hearts from afar with her stare! That elegant hair bundled gracefully behind her head…
She was perfect!
Oh, he must get her name! Maybe Trivia could help him?
"Come along, Weiss. Winter." An older and still magnificent version of what he had envisioned his new crush would become spoke as she stepped beside the man, dressed impeccably well for the occasion, with an even more petite boy in front of her that looked to be Ruby's age, gently walking beside her. "Klein. Could we get a photo before we enter?"
"Ah, yes! In front of the manor would be a lovely photo!" The man agreed with a grin beneath his mustache. "A memory of when the Schnees visited the Vanilles."
All the blood rushed from Naruto's face in anticipation of what was yet to come.
No, no, no.
He didn't want this to happen. Not to her! He just claimed her as his true love! She was perfect!
That feminine but strong figure!
That silky smooth hair!
Those frigid eyes…
Dammit, why did this happen?
Why did he have to do this to help his friend? Wasn't there another way to get her privileges back? Why was her family so rigid and severe with her? Couldn't there be something else to be done instead?
"Me and my mouth, ya." Naruto groaned before waving at the guard and giving him a thumbs up that all was alright as he walked ahead, preparing to execute Trivia's plan. "Had to say something…"
"Although if I rescue her from it, maybe…"
Trivia scowled as she fidgeted and looked about.
Their servants were a little active for her tastes. How was she planning to set off her plan?
Hopefully, when the party was in full swing, it would be easier to sneak off unnoticed and drag the Schnee girls with her…
And pray Naruto found the location.
"Ah, Jacq!" Jim greeted the Schnee Dust company head with a firm handshake as his servants led his rival and his family into the dining room, which had been converted for the evening into an extravagant ballroom. "It has been some time. You look spry as ever. Heard about the incident. I can only imagine the devastation."
"On our checking balance!" Jacques rolled his eyes in frustration and shook his head. "Just how much Dust was lost because of the incident in the mines! Such a financial disaster!"
"Of course," Jim responded with a slight nod in agreement. "But I could only imagine replacing the workers would be a chore. Not to mention safety protocols and…"
"Bah!" Jacques waved Jimmy's worry with a debonair grin beneath his mustache. "Workers are easily replaced. Those that talk about safety can easily be replaced by someone who wants that job more. Problem solved."
"Not that the mines will be open any time soon after the incident. Too unstable." Jacques scowled. "But enough about that! I was unaware you had a beautiful daughter, Jim."
As her father nervously chuckled, Trivia forced a smile. She took a step forward beside her mother and gently bowed as she was brought up, knowing she had to be presentable and show proper manners. It wasn't like she didn't realize how…
She was hardly given the opportunity to show that she could use them. She scantly was seen with them in public. It was like they didn't want anyone to know about her. It explained why she was always left inside her room during parties such as these or alone when her parents attended these events.
It gnawed on her mind, and she wanted to reach inside her purse and grab her scroll.
Wanted to know where Naruto was and change the plan…
To maybe get her out of here instead.
Trivia knew better. She was twelve. What could she do? Where could she turn? Furthermore…
Would her parents let her go?
"Ah, it looks like I'm looking into a mirror, Carmel." Willow addressed Carmel with a dazzling smile as she looked at the woman and her daughter. "You must be so proud. I'm surprised you haven't brought her to other events before."
Trivia felt vindicated but kept her mocking in check as Carmel flushed mildly at the compliment. "It's more complicated than that, I'm afraid. Trivia was born with complications, so we often keep her home."
Repressing a scowl while her throat seared, feeling a scream building from within, Trivia took a breath. She knew it was pointless to scream as no sound could emanate from it, even though it sometimes felt so good.
Instead, Trivia mockingly signed to calm herself down. Complications, she said? Is that what they thought of her?
The very thought drove her…
"Oh?" Trivia's head snapped to the butler standing next to the siblings as he frowned, watching the young girl before turning and asking a question to her mother. "By chance, one of the complications left your daughter mute?"
"Yes. She is unable to speak." Carmel was startled by Klein's assertion as Trivia's eyes narrowed and focused on the man.
He recognized her signing? He knew Sign? Oh, that would be an issue once she contacted Naruto...
This night was going to be much more complicated than she thought it would be.
The guard here was very lax.
Trivia mentioned staff being hired to guard the premises for the evening as it was a big party with major clientele. Her father wanted to be safe after all.
But he snuck in relatively easily, so was it guarded well?
He wanted to congratulate himself, but he honestly didn't see anything that felt out of place besides a few bouncers at the front door and the one at the gate. He had bypassed them easily and made it into Trivia's room. He felt anyone with a lick of training could have done the same…
So there was no feeling of accomplishment. If he was pretty sure if he taught the basic concepts of stealth he had learned at the academy to Blake and Yang, they could probably have gotten most of the way here without issue…
This watch was lame.
"This is where Trivia wanted to meet," Naruto muttered as he slowly walked to the door and pushed it ajar ever so slightly so he could gauge what was happening below. "Party is in full swing."
"Guess I'd better…"
"Ah! Where'd you come from?" Naruto jumped away from the door startled after a second head poked underneath his to look outside the door before frowning at the pink-haired construct. "Better yet, how did I not see you in here before?"
Neo tilted her head at Naruto, understanding nothing he said. However, his reaction was gold and caused her to laugh maniacally, making him twitch at the creation before him. She then slapped back at his hands after being flicked in the head by his middle finger, looking quite annoyed. "Stop that!"
"What the plan? Got the stuff here."
Neo's eyes flashed and sparkled vividly, seeing Naruto pull out a scroll and knew what it meant, clapping in glee upon seeing it. She then pranced around him with splendor in her step, spinning in circles around him, all while laughing with boisterous bravado.
It all left Naruto bewildered by the sight before him. He then took a breath, exhaled, and shook his head. This still wasn't the oddest encounter he had experienced. One of the more bizarre ones for sure, but…
But he had dealt with stranger from his personal friend group…
Given the oddity of how it was acting now and what had happened in the ice cream parlor, Trivia was quite repressed…
His chest swelled and ached. He knew that feeling of masking one's true feelings. While never shy to show what he felt now, it was a different story when he was younger…
Suddenly, Naruto was thrown out of his thoughts and surprisingly back on track. Neo pointed forward toward the door with a nefarious grin cocked on her lips. She then beckoned for him to follow as she pranced toward the door and began to move out, almost as if she didn't care about her surroundings.
"Okay then…" Naruto muttered as he followed Trivia's construct, moving far more cautiously as he wasn't supposed to be here. "This is gonna be something."
"Whether that is good or bad is yet to be seen…"
Things were slowly filtering out and working as she had hoped.
The adults were congregating and talking primarily about their inane subjects. They had separated into two groups.
The men talked about business. She believed it was about how well the Dust economy was expanding, given the tone of her father and the Schnee man leading the discussion. Given they were the two biggest rivals outside the Mistral Trading Company and its assets, she was not surprised…
She hated knowing those facts. Why did she pay attention to her father's conversations in the study around her? It was almost like he was trying to pass on his wealth of knowledge to her. Like he cared…
The women were gathered together, with the majority of the children. The conversation was quieter and challenging to gauge, but it was far more civil and peaceful than anything the men discussed. Most likely because they were drinking responsibly and had their children around…
But that posed a problem for her. How was she going to deal with the Schnee girls? The little one was glued to her mother's hip. There was no way she was getting the boy! The mother was practically carrying him, if not holding him in front of her the majority of the night…
Wait, where was the eldest? She wasn't with their mother or father?
How did she lose track of her? Stupid party! She lost focus…
"Pardon my intrusion," An unfamiliar voice spoke beside her, causing Trivia to turn and realize who it was. "It seemed you wandered away to get away from the festivities as well."
"I tire of these events my father drags us to." She spoke as she turned her attention and watched everyone aside as Trivia had been doing earlier, a frown on her face as her gaze gently befell her mother and her siblings. "Even though this is a family event, it doesn't feel like such. I hardly get to see father, and it is almost always for business occasions such as these or training to become his successor."
Trivia gazed at the gloomy Schnee curiously, a frown twitching on her lips as she looked away. She exhaled as her gaze turned to her mother and then to her father.
She didn't entirely understand her position, but she emphasized that she knew all too well where they were coming from and expressed similar frustrations. At times she only wished…
To be treated like she belonged. Like they were a family.
Withdrawing his scroll from her purse, Trivia tapped on it before revealing a message to Winter.
Want to get out of here?
"How?" Winter curiously glanced at the suggestion, knowing the girl couldn't speak, before puckering her lips in confusion as she gazed at the room. "Servants are everywhere. I don't think we could get out of here without being…"
"Oh." Winter's eyes widened momentarily, seeing Trivia vanish before her eyes. "You have a Semblance too? ...Can you perhaps use it on both of us?"
Trivia sighed. At the very least, she would get one Schnee today to humiliate for her father. And she would get some freedoms back again…
So why was there this unsettling void fluttering in her stomach?
"I see our fathers have similar tastes." Winter gazed at an ancient tapestry as they passed by the décor on the second floor, rolling her eyes. "Relics are important for history, and tapestry is meant to be used for decorating… But it doesn't match anything. It doesn't belong."
It's an eyesore, that's for sure.
"I can't say I disagree with the sentiment." Winter nodded in agreement as, given the context, it stood out, looking around the manor. "In a proper setting or in a museum, I'd say it would belong."
Trivia shrugged as she honestly didn't care. She wasn't too interested in the relics her father had acquired over the years and strewn about the house like trophies. They meant little to her and proved how uninterested her father was in anything other than his ego.
She winced, recalling one of the severe disciplines she received for breaking pottery in her games with Neo when she was younger. Remembering being hauled out from under the couch, fearful of his reaction, and held up by her ankles.
Some things hadn't changed. Fear was still present. Only…
Now a bitter resentment had built along with it.
"I take it you aren't a fan of history or the arts?" Winter summarized, gauging her companions' reaction as she walked with her.
Trivia shook her head, a mild sneer on her face as she looked at the garish relics scattered about her house. She then nastily mocked a spit at them.
Nothing more than useless trinkets that remind me of my relationship with my father.
Upon reading the message, Winter's eyes glazed over for the briefest moment. She turned her head and closed her eyes as a grimace adorned her features. She then exhaled and softly looked down below at the state. "I see… We have that in common."
"Fathers that will do whatever it takes to make profits yet invest none of that time at home." Winter scowled as she looked directly toward where the party was being held. "If only Mother could see what I've seen recently and realize it before it's too late…"
Trivia stopped, her eyes drawn to the heiress. That was not what she was expecting. She was expecting a pompous, prissy, stuck-up brat. But so far, Winter had been anything but. Arrogant and prideful, sure. That was to be expected.
Naruto had called her those a few times despite her vehement denial. Perhaps those traits were inherently learned from children of those like their fathers?
Lowering her head and silently mumbling, she didn't want to do this. Didn't want to trick the girl into this…
If her father was anything like hers, it would be horrible.
She wished that fate on no one.
But what choice did she have?
Neo? Why are you out here, friend? Wait…
Naruto? Hold on, that sign? No! The plan!
"What is this?" Winter looked confused as shards of aura-infused glass scattered before them, tentatively stepping forward as her eyes darted around warily. "It looks like the same effect as your illusion from earlier, but I didn't sense you cast it? But that would mean…"
"What?" Winter felt something snap around her ankles as she walked through it, her eyes widening as if something was wrong. "What's going on?"
A dose of pink liquid poured down and splattered as the plan had been enacted.
And Winter found herself rolling on her knees. Her stomach swirled, and she felt like vomiting. She felt someone shove her, but at that very moment, she felt something yank her, and her entire world was now spinning.
But hearing an odd noise, she loved over and saw…
The shattering form of a huffing Trivia, drenched in pink paint, next to an oddly placed log drenched in the paint.
Multi-chromatic eyes shimmered as her aura crackled around her, staring into icy blue eyes widened in shock at everything that had suddenly happened around her.
Trivia snarled.
This is the real me. The one hidden and kept away from the public eye due to my parents' shame.
Go tell your father what happened here…
And make sure he knows I did it because of my father!
Winter's eyes snapped at the wide arm gesturing Trivia as she glared at her, spitting paint upon the ground. Nervously standing back to her feet, glancing at the proper form of the girl her age, a glistening understanding crossed her eyes before she quickly darted down the stairs.
Trivia sighed as she watched the heiress retreat back, dread filling her. She sacrificed everything to make a point to her father…
She twitched in irritation as she heard a clap and saw the slight smile of a grimacing Naruto, having watched her and knew the consequences of her actions.
Shut up, blonde boy.
Did you buy anything to get this stuff out, or am I screwed?
Chapter 21 Preview:
Trivia sobbed silently as she lay in bed, not caring about the tray of food on her dresser.
What was the point? She didn't have a choice in any of this! She was confined to this room, alone besides Neo to comfort her. But nothing her friend did mattered.
This was all her choosing. She chose this path because she refused to bend to her father's will.
And she would do it again. What point was there if she didn't have a choice? Instead, she made a choice and saved that girl…
At least she wouldn't suffer a similar fate from her father. No one deserved that…
Coming soon...
A sneak peek of a few concepts I have in the tank.
A Fairy Tales Promise - A Naruto/Ruby ship with a mental/summoning link between worlds.
Wildflowers - Naruto/Blake ship that is a retelling of Fox of Remnant without Fate and Weiss involvement, not as a Faunus.
Fire and Ice - Naruto/Weiss ship. Naruto reincarnated as a Faunus.