Welcome to the beginning of the 2nd Arc.
...I'll be honest.
I took most of this week off to recover, so nothing really was done.
Had a break-in the day I updated this and left for work, and well, I just felt I needed to rest...
So played Arrowfell, found it meh, ordered the other two RWBY books, and started After the Fall.
Wrote the second chapter of Fire and Ice and writing WildFlowers at the moment, which looks like it is gonna win the poll for next month.
So I'm gonna work on a chapter or two for Hushed before the end of the month to keep the updates fresh and rolling after next month.
Getting to reviews slowly.
Probably gonna do them here for a while, make it an open forum for now.
Guest: No, the word Blake used was demon, something that Naruto was called (something we do know from Mizuki) at the very least behind his back, and he probably caught it a few times to his face. As for the other Bijuu, you will have to stay tuned for quite some time. I have plans, and I'm not spilling them. Whether they will be released in Hushed Dreams or the eventual second book of the tale Autumn Roses, you will have to find out.
akirathewolflord: I appreciate the compliment! Actually, I have read Dragon Bones and Blood from her before, so I am at least aware of her works, although it has been quite some time since I've read those books. No plans on abandoning this project! Plenty of chapters still have left to go, have an entire plan mapped out with a second book planned after, and I'm not afraid of telling people that. And those issues, well, I always work to improve on them... I always have them! Much as I like to eliminate them, they are always there even after multiple scans after my edits! I still find more, even weeks after updating a chapter, and just grind my teeth going, "I check that so many times... How did I miss that?"
Ghost of The Drive-In: Yeah, Kali would be the one to worry about. Might be part of the reason for my choice in Fire and Ice, as Naruto's mom really fits and feels like someone Kushina would approve of raising him.
The Blind Ficus: Thank you!
Dasgun: :o
codywhite162: Appreciate it! Gonna ignore the Fire and Ice stuff here, as that's for that story...
Monster King: Thank you, my friend! Still got it going, chapters are still all the way to September at the moment!
Jebest4781: Glad you are enjoying it. Hope that continues!
Anyways, hope you enjoy.
"He's a child, Oz!"
"And how many young do we conscript annually to become Huntsmen and Huntresses?"
"That's to protect Remnant! This is to fight Salem! To use him as a weapon! I cannot condone this!"
"That is already what he is, Qrow. From the ancient text that has survived, that is what his kind was meant for…"
"Yeah, well fuck that! I'm not gonna draw him into this war! He deserves a choice!"
"Unfortunately, he has already been, whether he likes it or not."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"We both know that Salem desires the Maidens' power to gather the artifacts. She has made that abundantly clear in her actions in the past, and no doubt will move again when she marshals enough strength."
"Yeah, and with the brick shithouse that can absorb Dust straight into his veins on her side, she's already got a powerful ally on her side. Who knows who else she'll gather if she's got someone like that?"
"Precisely, which is why at the very least, we need to treat the boy with the same priority as a Maiden. If Salem discovers his existence and that he has a Sacred Beast within him, she would do all she can to destroy him or, more than likely…"
"Persuade him to her side…"
"Qrow, I understand why this troubles you. I know this is much to ask, but the child at all costs needs to be brought here. To us. The consequences otherwise could very well be catastrophic as we don't know the destructive power of the Sacred Beast within him."
"Oz, this is…"
"I know. But it is what needs to be done…"
"No, it doesn't."
"What?"
"Choice is always what matters. And Oum be damned if I'm not letting him decide his fate. It should be in his hands! The kid has a sound head on his shoulders, and when the time comes, if the decision has to be made, let him make it!"
"I see, very well. Do as you see fit. I trust your judgment as I always have, my friend. Good night."
"Yeah, that's what this will be. A good night. I need a heavier drink than this…"
"You think she'll notice?"
"We're talking in here, and she hasn't even winked. I think we're good, Rubes."
"Will Gama-chan be fine?"
"He's a trooper. He'll be A-okay."
"Okay, you ready little guy?" Ruby whispered as she gently planted the giant toad onto her sister's pillow space that her head didn't occupy while she snuck out of the room with her sneaking partner guiding her. "Do your stuff."
"Ah…" Yang yawned as she lay sprawled out on her bed, slightly adjusting, rolling, and switching sides as she enjoyed her sleep too much…
Suddenly something very rough and clammy pressed against her cheek. And a loud croak followed.
"EEEWWW!" Yang's scream echoed throughout the house.
Naruto and Ruby burst into laughter as the door flew open. Yang furiously charged out to see the two standing outside her door.
A burning aura overtook her body, and her lilac eyes shifted to red as the nine-year-old screamed bloody murder and leapt at the two as they rushed downstairs. "NARUTO! RUBY!"
"I WILL CRUSH YOU!"
"Maybe if you answered when I called you for breakfast twenty minutes ago, things like this wouldn't happen, young lady." Tai sat on the couch, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. "Or having done the dishes like they were supposed to do last night, seeing as it was your night."
"Wait, no! It was Ruby's night last night!" Yang stopped mid-stumbling charge downstairs and defended herself. "I just did them three nights before, so it would have been Naruto and Ruby's turn!"
"Um, that makes last night your turn, genius." Naruto snorted as Ruby snickered at her sister's inability to keep track of time and days. "I'm terrible at keeping up with things, but you are somehow worse than me! We got to work on that more than anything else. Otherwise, people are gonna make fun of you!"
Yang's eyes heated up further as she snapped her attention back to Naruto, her aura burning. Her eyes widened as she counted her fingers, and she mouthed off in frustration. "I hate you all! You all suck so much!"
"Shut up, frog!" Yang turned to the stairs, hearing a croak before narrowing her eyes and seeing Gama-chan sitting beside Zwei, happily wagging his tail before yipping at her. "Don't you join in on this too, Zwei! Bad boy!"
"You're supposed to be my dog!"
"So, how was school?" Naruto chirped as he shifted through several letters, hitting the post office before arriving at the elementary school. "Or are we still not on speaking terms, Firecracker?"
"Fine!" Yang nervously croaked as several of her friends giggled as they glanced in their direction.
More specifically, at him…
"Ruby, hurry up…" Yang muttered while flowering at her departing friends in embarrassment. "Oum, since they found out he's my brother…"
Naruto tried and failed miserably to hide his grin from hearing her mumblings. He made an impression.
But those kids shouldn't have picked on Ruby and made her cry on her first day of school! So when he scolded them, an older brother of the kids, supposedly from Signal, stepped in to show off not to bully his family and friends…
So Naruto put him in his place as he refused to tolerate it. And after that, he tied him to a tree for further humiliation as he refused to relent and was still spouting trash despite two black eyes. But because he was thrashing about and there happened to be a wasp nest right where he was tied up that Naruto was unaware of…
How was Naruto supposed to be aware that there was a nest, or that the idiot was allergic?
The Huntsman father wasn't thrilled hearing his son was embarrassed while Tai tried to smooth things over with the apologetic mother. Things escalated from there, and…
Naruto trumped a Huntsman in broad daylight, to his adoptive father's chagrin.
It made it much easier to smooth things out when they realized they were utterly humiliated and put in their place in front of their peers. Heard the kid dropped out of Signal too. Sad, but…
Probably wasn't fit to be a Huntsman, anyways. Best he quit now and get his priorities straight and pursue another career.
Naruto rubbed his chin and pondered as another question popped into his mind. He wasn't sure how the father made it to being a Huntsman if he easily trumped him…
Yang grimaced as the girls kept their sparkling eyes on her brother's dazzling form while the sun beamed off him just right. Hearing several giggles, her eyes burned, and she threw several shaded glares at her friends. This was so much like her issue with a certain Faunus, and she didn't like it!
Why did her brother have to be so magnetic? She already had to share her time with him enough as it was!
"Sorry!" Ruby hurried over to them, carrying her backpack, huffing as she was still packing things. "Was talking to my friends and lost track of time!"
"It's alright." Naruto grinned and ruffled Ruby's hair, flustering the girl before handing her a letter from the stack. "You got a special letter, my adorable red rose."
"Oh, Blake's letter!" Ruby happily snatched it from Naruto's hands as she swung her backpack onto her back and happily tore into it, beginning to read it. "Gotta write back to her!"
"There is a thing called scrolls or phone lines." Yang rolled her eyes at her sister as she crossed her arms as they left the school, heading out of Patch and toward home.
Naruto chuckled and shook his head, watching Ruby scan her letter and skip with each step. He knew how much it brightened her day getting the letters and looked forward to them, despite now having a few friends at school.
"It's something more as they talk over the lines." Naruto looked over at Yang as she stepped in stride with him. "They share stories. Write poetry. Just share with one another. It's adorable."
"Yeah, whatever." Yang rolled her eyes once more, uncaring as she zoned out the involvement of a particular rival still in her life. "So long as Ruby is happy, I'm good with it."
"Ah, look who's growing up!" Naruto one-handedly glomped Yang around her shoulder, making her uncomfortable, and her aura burned around her.
"Shut up!" Yang pushed Naruto off her, making him stumble momentarily and lose his grip on the letters. "Gah, don't lose those! Who knows... Wait, this is…"
"That's mine!" Naruto tried to grab the letter, seeing exactly what she had picked up, and it was the one letter he wanted to keep secret until they got home.
"It's from Beacon!" Yang proclaimed as she snatched it up, knowing exactly what it was with sparkling eyes.
Ruby's attention was drawn away from her letter and to Yang as she saw the unopened letter and hopped up in joy, recognizing it as well. "It is! It is! Yay! Open it! Open it!"
"Come on! We're supposed to wait…"
"Please!" Ruby and Yang simultaneously begged as their eyes shimmered, and they glanced up at Naruto pleadingly.
He was helpless against their look, and they knew it! Biting his lip, Naruto snatched the letter out of Yang's hand and ripped it open in annoyance before letting out a soft sigh. It was precisely what he thought it was. "Well, you two got what you wanted…"
"It's official. I've been accepted into Beacon."
"Yes! Let's go!"
"Alright!"
Tapping her fingers against her desk as she wrote notes on a sheet of paper, two colored eyes rolled to the back of their skull in boredom. Her textbooks lacked information, as usual.
Aurelia's lessons became quite droll long after they neutered what they could teach her.
Trivia sighed as she leaned back in her chair, gazing longingly out the window.
Today was a dull day overall. Nothing had changed in these last few years for her, at least at home.
Father only displayed caring for her occasionally. He barely even attempted to talk to her anymore, which she took as a positive. He only expected her to answer summons and adhere to the rules. But his eyes felt empty when she gazed into them…
Almost as if he had…
Mother checked on her daily. Warmth still infused her gaze. She had come to accept that while there was love in her actions, Trivia did not understand them. Nor did she want to or care to bow to them.
In the end, she would make her own path. Not follow the path created for her.
She got her scroll back so she could call Naruto whenever she wanted, so she didn't have to wait for him to come here. Of course, Father wiped it and constantly monitored it to keep his number from it. However, she had remembered his info, so it was no trouble keeping up with their communications. Changed the number several times, but he had to realize she was the one that had the information, so he couldn't stop it.
So instead, he hired more servants and guards around the premises, having a distinct feeling they were meeting in private.
Trivia laughed. Little did he know he was right. Or how useless his watch was when they could easily slip by them every day.
She preferred his visits over his calls now, despite having access to her scroll again. Even more so after he was occasionally unavailable to see her, thanks to embarking on expeditions with that weird professor or the occasional trip to Menagerie.
Now that Aurelia could hardly do more than gymnastics, she needed more physical training elsewhere, and well…
Naruto could give her some combat basics while she found her style. She liked mixing her flexibility into it. And anything she needed from the outside, he could acquire it for her. As long as he knew what it was and it was reasonable for him to obtain.
Her smile spread across his face at the fact that some of her recent requests made him uncomfortable. But she wanted to know what he would be willing to do for her, and it seemed he would get her those…
The ninja book was so naughty! Oh, if only…
A knock at her door made her roll her eyes as she heard several unlocks of her bolts. Like those things could hold her back if she wanted to leave.
"Lady Trivia," The voice of Penn, the family's loyal butler announced himself as he skewed the door ajar so he didn't intrude upon her presence in the chance she was indecent, for she was still a lady of the house. "It is dinner time, and your Father has requested your presence."
Joy this was to be. This must be the rare occasion to appease Mother and attempt to look like a family.
Sighing as she stood up, she knew it was wise not to dally and get this over with. Should continue to appease them for the time being. At least until it was close enough to time, but she honestly wasn't sure if her plan would succeed…
Regardless, Naruto would be there soon for their daily session.
Trivia's eyes sparkled, and she sported a smile as she trotted down, adjusting her white blazer over her brown blouse while following Penn.
Then the fun would commence!
Adjusting the black-rimmed goggles on his head, Naruto wiped some dirt from his cheek and grinned as he glanced at his sparring partner. "One of these days, I'm gonna get you! You know that!"
Taking several deep breaths while wiping sweat from his brow with his left hand, Taiyang chortled. "You are much closer than you think. These constant spars have kept me from getting rusty…"
"If anything, they've made you better." Qrow pitched in as he leaned against a tree, watching the scene with an amused smirk.
"When did you get here?" Naruto and Tai both jumped, the former pointing an accusing finger at the old bird while the latter frowned as he hadn't sensed his teammate's arrival.
"'Bout five minutes ago." Qrow yawned and fanned his mouth. "Long enough to see the kid was pushing you back and making you work for it. Several times it almost seemed like you were about to activate your Semblance. And given this is just hand-to-hand, no weapons being used…"
"Ah, no need to go any further!" Tai cut off Qrow with a nervous laugh while scratching the back of his head. "Naruto, isn't it time for you to head into town? I think Ruby has something to give you before you leave!"
"Ruby has something for me?" Naruto tilted his head, ignoring what the two men were talking about just moments before as he focused on what his little sister could have for him; he placed his hand on his chin and thought about it. "Oh, wait. She must have finished her letter! Better get mine, too, so we can send them to Menagerie together."
"Ah, that's what it was about." Tai beamed in understanding before shaking his head. "I can get her as she's been sending letters to Blake back and forth. But you were just out there with this dusty old bird last month."
"I resemble that." Qrow threw a glare at his brother-in-law. "And why wouldn't he keep in contact with her? She's his apprentice in his arts. She wanted to learn the ninja way, so he keeps sending her material to train with. Kid is a good teacher for her. Was even training her on Oobleck's fruitless little expedition out to the ruins there."
"Wish I got to hang out with the Beacon kids a little more, though. That one girl kept side-eyeing me after that dinosaur Grimm. What was it called? A Tyranim? Whatever! When it attacked, and we took it out together, that brown-haired girl kept glancing at me as if she wanted to say something, but we never got a chance due to the meddling Professor." Naruto scratched his head with a wide grin as he recalled the adventure.
"Probably should get moving." Qrow motioned to Naruto, who raised his eyebrow at him. "Kid, look at the time."
"Gah! I gotta get going!" Naruto blindly panicked and frantically sprinted to the cabin. "There is no way I'll get everything done fast enough and not be late! Last time I was late, what she did to me was horrible!"
"Ruby! Letter now! Life depends on it!"
"Not my fault you forgot the time and the dishes!" Ruby's voice resonated from within as Tai and Qrow watched the scene with growing sweat drops.
"And you pranked me earlier for forgetting! You jerk!" Yang's belligerent voice roared along with several thuds.
"Ow! No throwing things in the house!" Naruto responded just as belligerently. "I have a lot going on and just returned from an expedition, Firecracker! What's your excuse? Some boy at school caught your fancy?"
Yang's indignant scream filled the cabin, followed by several more thuds.
"Yang, no!" Ruby pleaded while intervening. "Dad will be mad if you throw that!"
"This is my family…" Tai palmed his face in despair as Naruto burst out of the front door and fled the scene.
"Our family." Qrow patted Tai on the back, trying not to laugh before turning his attention to the fleeing blonde. "Kid! Did you forget one of your most basic abilities?"
Skidding to a stop, Naruto awkwardly paused as he caught what Qrow had said. Then he cursed and slapped his forehead. "Shit! Been too busy to think about using them!"
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Two clones popped into appearance, and one ran back to the cabin as the other sprinted ahead after taking a package. Naruto waved and smirked at Qrow as he kept rushing forward. "Thanks! Talk to you later!"
"Yeah, see ya, kid." Qrow returned the wave with Tai as Naruto faded into the distance before murmuring. "That kid, I'll tell you, is something else. A wiz at picking up things for combat. But in daily life…"
"He's lacking in many areas still." Tai shook his head and smiled as the clone inside screamed, as Yang's roar ignited again. "But that will come with time. After all…"
"He's only just learning some of these things that should have been taught long ago."
"Ow! What was that for?" Naruto bemoaned as he slid into a familiar room using the technique Kakashi had taught him long ago, only to grab his right peck as it was pinched. "I was only a few minutes late! That was not necessary!"
Trivia crossed her arms, frowning as she looked a full head above her into Naruto's eyes and nodded. It was proper punishment for not being prompt and…
What was this new attire? Ugh! She would have to address this atrocity immediately!
A nearly all-orange jacket with only a black zipper lining! Just as an abysmally bright shirt underneath with no color to accent it! At least his pants were predominantly black with orange highlights on the cuffs and belt.
The black fingerless gloves, which he had for a little while now, and shoes weren't an issue outside of wear and tear. She would definitely need to make sure he had nicer ones in place of the shabby ones he had on. Or make sure he had several pairs so they didn't look so disgraceful!
And why did he have those goggles? Tactical advantage was the only thing she could think of, but she understood why he wasn't wearing his old headgear…
Had to let go of the past and move forward.
She expressed her feelings on the matter, and Naruto frowned, still rubbing his peck. "What do you mean my style is awful? I take offense to that, dammit! Orange is the best color around!"
"Pink is second best!" Naruto argued and stared down into Trivia's heterochromatic eyes, who huffed and placed her hands on her hips, shaking her finger at him. "Ah, whatever! You never got my style!"
"What do you mean you're taking me shopping soon? I don't have the lien for that!" Naruto's eyes bugged out before shrinking and focusing on the tiny one before him. "You drained my wallet the last time we did that…"
"Don't you look smug about that!" Naruto growled as Trivia shook her hips and smirked before she slowly trotted to her dresser, picking up a parasol she had leaning against the dresser as glass shards formed beside her, creating a familiar shape.
The weather wouldn't hold for long, so she wanted to be prepared.
Neo waved as she took on Trivia's brown hair as Trivia transformed into her outside disguise, swaggering back toward Naruto, offering her hand to the blonde. Naruto narrowed his eyes but took her hand nonetheless. "Oh, this isn't over."
Trivia tilted her head, smirked, and closed her eyes as she nodded, earning her a beady glare from Naruto.
Oh, yes, it was. She would have it her way. If he was to be her partner in crime…
Style and appearance were essentials!
"That storm came by faster than I thought it would," Naruto muttered as he fluffed some rain droplets from his hair, a clone dispersing as he used one to transform into his own parasol to mimic Trivia.
Trivia nodded as she placed her parasol beside her dresser before carefully taking off her sneakers and neatly putting them in their proper place. She frowned, noting the minor wet stains they left, as the maids would notice when they came to clean in the morning as they were ever so observant.
Even her blazer was mildly damp, and that would be caught.
She sighed. This was how her father knew she was escaping her room nearly every day and why he hired goons to guard the premises. It didn't stop them unless he was going to hire a Huntsman full-time…
"How much longer do we have?" Naruto broke Trivia out of her thoughts as he leaned against the dresser, a grim expression on his face. "April is fast approaching, which means you will turn sixteen shortly. Do we know if that school has semesters, or do they accept people anytime?"
Trivia shook her head as she sat on her bed, frowning. Her birthday was on the first of the month, so time was short, and she still didn't know these things as her mother did not inform her, and she could find scarce information about Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy besides its prestige.
She knew the drunk had done some investigating but had heard nothing back about that either. She could only assume it didn't turn out well. Trivia leaned back, expressed her frustration.
"Yeah, Qrow couldn't do much with what he had. Had no authority to go in." Naruto sighed and shook his head. "The only shady thing he could find about the school was that a few post-graduates later became operatives of Spider. Nothing to indict the Academy on as that organization works underground and can recruit through various methods."
Tilting her head oddly upon hearing this information, curious about how Naruto stored knowledge in his head as this was something he could easily remember, Trivia rolled her eyes. She then mouthed off in annoyance and expressed frustration.
"Hey! Dates are tricky, okay? I'm sorry I forgot your last birthday! I remembered it was coming up this time!" Naruto countered, flustered by Trivia as she signed at him. "No, I don't owe you! I had to sneak into the adult section and get you that book! No! I'm not doing it for the sequel! Stop nodding your head!"
"Back on topic!" Naruto angrily redirected the conversation, taking a deep breath. "We need to get some things worked on and moving. Qrow has been talking to Aurelia, and she has written a recommendation letter for you. However, there are some other things needed to gather before we send it in. And if we send it at the right time…"
Seeing Trivia sign a question, knowing Aurelia had talked to her privately, Naruto nodded. "Yeah, they usually don't accept students below seventeen but are known to make exceptions. I think someplace like Atlas or Haven would be best for you to get away from here…"
Trivia shook her head. Her eyes glistened as she held out her finger and pointed it straight at Naruto.
He immediately frowned as he knew what it was she wanted. "That's not a wise idea. That's still here in Vale, right in their sphere of influence. At least outside the Kingdom, you'd be…"
Trivia nodded as she continued to point at Naruto and smile. Meanwhile, Naruto frowned as that would make things quite a lot more complicated.
She knew exactly where she wanted to go. She knew he had helped get his stuff in order and sent it in and had just received his acceptance letter and was waiting for the next school year to start, which was quite some time from now, given it didn't begin until November and March had just started….
If she was going to try and break free from this unwelcoming home and choose her own fate, she wanted someone she knew around. And that meant…
Trivia wanted to attend Beacon.
She wanted to team with her partner, who always stood by her side.
Chapter 25 Preview:
No…
This would not be how this ended.
She would not let this be how her story was written!
Trivia Vanille was tired of others writing her story!