Hey everyone! I don't know how many times I'm gonna put this in the beginning of a chapter, nor do I care. Thanks for the favourites, follows, and reviews! Thank you! And we've passed 100 follows! Didn't expect this little thing to get that much, honestly!
The current chapter's gonna focus on how Jaune will be more carefree about killing going forward, just like Sam is at the beginning of the Jetstream DLC. I didn't initially plan to make this chapter at all at first, but figured that something needed to be written to bridge his personality in the previous chapter and how Sam is in the end, so I can mix the two correctly.
Note on Author's note : I literally finished this on 11-ish PM on a train. SLEEP CAN WAIT.
With all of that said, on with the show!
1 Year in the United Continents…
On a cold night in Brazil, a train chugged along the tracks downtown. Inside, Jaune gripped the handle of the train tight, duffle bag over his shoulder. As he stood, he checked his phone. A notification appeared on his screen. He tapped on the notification and looked at the info displayed.
Earlier, he had assigned an AI on his phone to do a deep search of the web while he was fighting some small gangs. Needless to say, those gangs barely stood a chance. They were mostly random teenagers with nothing better to do anyways. Now, Jaune didn't kill them, but that didn't mean that they won't eat out of a straw for the next couple of weeks. He didn't see them as evil, just misguided (and fucking annoying).
As for the AI, it took it a long while to find what Jaune was looking for, enough for him to leave the scenes and board a train.
Jaune looked over the intel on his phone. Huh, looks like his suspicion was right. With the Favela Cartel gone, a power vacuum was formed. Jaune didn't need research to find that out. What he needed to find out was who was filling that power vacuum. And the answer to that question was a family from the Japanese mafia, also known as the Yakuza, who were beginning to encroach on Brazilian territory. Specifically, Jaune noted, the family that's known as the Yojima family.
Of course, Jaune wasn't going to let this pass. He won't let evil roam the streets of Brazil. Though once he's secured the country, Jaune planned to branch out. Maybe travel to some of the other Neo-Countries, find some other evil. America sounds like a nice place.
The train he was on stopped. Jaune's body jerked slightly forward from the sudden loss of momentum. Letting go of the handle, he checked the on-board screen showing the current destination. Yep, looks like he's arrived at his local station. He pocketed his phone, tightened his duffle bag strap, and left the train and the station.
As Jaune walked away, he silently lamented the fact that he had to live in a rundown apartment. Vgilantism doesn't pay, after all.
The broken moon shone in the sky as he continued on alone on the sidewalk tonight. That was another thing. Honestly, he had no company here. He was alone.
Strangely enough, he didn't mind. It allowed him to focus more on his goals. And tat goal was the goal he found on the night when his Master was lying on the floor dead in a pool of his own blood.
You see, the Grimm were evil. They kill without a second thought and are attracted to negative emotions. But on that night, Jaune found another form of evil. The ones hiding under human and faunus skin.
It wasn't evil those that those teenage thugs showed, no. Evil was gladly killing a kind man. A man who gave a nobody a place to live, food to eat, and something to train to when no one else probably would.
Really, all he needed was to apply the mindset dealing with the Grimm to humans and faunus. After all, why should he differentiate? They were both evil. And for killing evil, he feels no regret, no matter what it is he kills. That was the mindset he used when he dealt with the Favela Cartel, and the one he'll use from now on. And he won't stop. That was his goal.
As he continued to walk, he noticed a civilian being harassed by two sharp-suited men. They were well-built, tall, and had mean faces. Jaune noted their Asian-looking features as he approached the two of them from behind.
"Hey," Jaune began. He kept his hands in his pockets, yet tensed his body slightly, ready for a provocation "what's going on here?"
"None of yer business." One of the thugs bit back.
Jaune lifted an eyebrow "If you're harassing people for no reason, then it's part of my business."
The second one laughed mockingly "Oh, we've got a tough guy here, eh?" The two of them cracked their knuckles and turned to Jaune. Jaune motioned the civilian to run as the thugs sized the blonde up. "Think you can mess with us?"
As the thugs looked at Jaune, he noted a pin on their suits that read よじま.
'So, Yojima family members, huh?' Jaune thought to himself. He shifted his eyes back to the thugs and smirked. He talked back to the thugs while raising an eyebrow "Kinda pathetic for Yakuza members to pick on civilians, right?"
"Why you-!" The first thug took the bait and punched at Jaune. The former Hunter-In-Training dodged and kicked his opponent in the back. He didn't let up and backfisted the second thug. Said thug was sent flying to the ground.
Jaune rolled his shoulders and jumped back and forth 'And just when I'm coming home, huh?' Jaune sighed to himself. As they slowly got up, Jaune entered his stance. 'Well, at least it's gonna be fun.' Jaune clenched his fist. "Come at me!"
The first thug rushed at Jaune. He threw a wild haymaker aimed straight at Jaune's face. Jaune easily dodged and delivered a quick one-two to the man's chest and finished it off with a spinning kick to send the man back. Oddly, Jaune noted that the man's body glowed slightly while Jaune was hitting him.
'Must be a trick of the light, right?' Jaune thought to himself.
Meanwhile, the second thug went in just as Jaune was finished with the first one. The second one launched a kick at Jaune, who blocked it with his arms. This time, the second thug's glow was unmistakable to Jaune.
'That's Aura! But how?!'
That moment of distraction was all the thug needed. He retracted his kick and sent his other leg at Jaune's legs, sweeping him from below. Jaune was caught off-guard and fell to the ground. Reacting quickly, Jaune backflipped away just as a foot landed right where his head had been. The ground cracked as that same foot glowed in the night.
Jaune stood up with haste. 'There's no mistaking it. That was Aura. And it doesn't matter how they got it, what matters is that they do. And they're just thugs! if the entire Yakuza has it unlocked too…' He could remember how easily he killed the Favela Cartel. One Aura-unlocked man against an army.
Jaune quickly opened his duffle bag and took out Murasama. He tied the straps to his waist with the sheathed blade face down and its hilt pointing upwards.
'I have no choice. I'll have to kill them.' Jaune spoke to himself. 'The secret of Aura can't be passed on in the United Continents.' He rolled his neck, preparing for the fight. 'And besides, the Yojima family are known to be killers. These guys probably are too. All the more reason for all of this.'
He slowly rested his left hand on the hilt of the Murasama, ready to draw-attack the second one of them attacked him. He narrowed his eyes as they drew their weapons too. Knives, from the look of it.
The second thug launched at him, thrusting his knife forward. Before the tip of the knife could reach him, Jaune had already moved. His right hand snapped from his side to the hilt of Murasama, left hand keeping the sheath steady. The blade glinted in the night as its longer length allowed it to cut through the second thug's chest faster than he could respond. The wound sprayed blood all over Jaune. 'Looks like they can't summon Aura fast enough. Amateur. Any Hunter back home would've tanked that.'
The first thug decided to attack Jaune next. Jaune didn't waste any time and parried the next attack smoothly. He pushed the blade back and sliced with Murasama while moving back, his opponent's body glowing from absorbing the blow.
Realising that the thug could tank blows, Jaune decided that he can't let this fight go on for long lest he got found out by the cops. Although the thug could tank the blow, he was still sent back. Hastily, Jaune grabbed the thug's head as he was staggering back and kneed him in the face repeatedly. With the man dazed and unable to summon Aura, Jaune plunged Murasama deep into his stomach. A fatal wound.
Jaune quickly withdrew the Murasama from the thug and flicked away the blood on its blade. Quickly sheathing it, Jaune untied its straps and put it back in the duffle bag. Afterward, he ran away as fast as he can.
These Yakuza may be more difficult than he first thought.
It was a cold night, he noted. He leaned back against the railing on his rooftop and gazed at the night sky. He mulled his thoughts on the current situation. It was good to take note of what's happened in your life every night before you go to bed. Keeps you on your toes.
The Yakuza still believed in the Grimm. That's to be expected. Japanese people usually remember their past very well. That transferred over to the events during the fall of the Old World.
Many members of their family, heck even other Yakuza in general, gained titles based on the Grimm, and that title was something that he strived to achieve. While others may have different ways to achieve them, he believed that their Grimm-based titles are to be written in the blood of others, just like how the Grimm killed countless humans and faunus all those years ago. Be it innocents, fellow members, or rivals, he didn't care. It was the only way to legitimize your position.
Though there is a member that he can think of who oppose this. The person who's rising through the ranks quickly. He won't let that upstart, who always goes alone, take this title from him.
Kazuma…
He shook his head. Getting back on point. He didn't care whose blood was spilled, even one of his own. That's why he's in Brazil right now. The Yakuza have always been seldom to branch out to Neo-Countries outside of Japan. Personally, he didn't see the problem. After hearing about the dissolving of the Favela Cartel, he decided that it was the right time for his family to move in. With a power vacuum still going strong, the Yojima family can come and fill that gap. And with their Aura-Awakened members, the local gangs will hardly stand a chance.
If he can prove himself here, build a powerful empire, no matter the lives sacrificed, then he can become the apex predator of the Yakuza, just like how a Dragon is the apex predator from the Grimm.
Heh. The Dragon of Yojima. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?
The more Jaune researched about the Yakuza, the more horrified he became. Not because of the crimes they committed, but rather on how much of their identity seems to correlate to Remnant and the Grimm. Names like the Mad Beowolf of Shimano, the Ursa of the Hojo (ほじょ) Clan, and many more were prominently featured. Most people scoffed and branded them as delusional criminals, but Jaune felt that it was different. Either they decided to take bedtime stories to heart or they knew the truth of Remnant. Honestly, it was 50-50 at this point.
It became more of a problem when he found out that many of their members had their Aura unlocked. Granted, the ones Jaune fought, cannon fodder, seemed to barely know how to use it, but that wasn't the point. If even the grunts had access to Aura, then Jaune would estimate that their bosses were probably 4th-year Hunter-in-training-level fighters.
Oh sure, other crime syndicates had their own ways to level the playing field. The Favela Cartel was famous for paying off the government and being otherwise very elusive. The American Mob had advanced technology that could only be gained by living in a first-world-Neo-Country. However, Jaune didn't think any of that could stack up against an army of people who were highly trained in Aura.
Even though Jaune knew that it was almost impossible for them to be as good as that, it was the mere thought that shot fear into his heart every time it crossed his mind. He can't let them be that good. Even if it means he'll have to kill them all.
No one deserves to lose someone close to them as he did. He'll attack them first. Defending is useless.
First up, a hideout near the docks. From Jaune's research, it seems to be a smuggling point for Yakuza-distributed drugs.
Jaune made up his mind. He'll kill them all.
Two nights later that, Jaune made his way to the docks. Murasama was strapped to his left while Crocea was strapped to his right. He had scanned the schematics before. Once he goes in, it'll be hard for them to escape.
Jaune saw two men guarding the gate and his hands moved to the hilt of his swords. They seemed to take notice of him as he got closer and closer. They didn't even bother asking what he was here for. They already got the point when they saw his swords. They rushed at him, one with metal gloves and the other with a tanto.
Jaune dodged the first strike, a knife slash, and smacked the thug away. The second thug rushed in, fist cocked at the ready. Jaune shifted his body and let it soar past him. The thug's fist went past where Jaune was at, and the former Hunter-In-Training tripped him over. The thug hit the ground, Aura flashing to protect him from the impact. However, he didn't keep it up for Jaune's follow-up attack, as he didn't think that there would be one. And thus, Murasama pierced true, pinning his body to the ground.
The first thug seemed to have gathered his bearings and rushed at Jaune for another attack. Jaune turned to face him. The thug went for a lunge straight for Jaune's head, who dodged it at the last second. He smacked the thug in the face with the back of his sword's hilt. The thug staggered back. With the enemy dazed, Jaune swiped at the hand gripping a knife with Murasama. It glowed with Aura to prevent it from being cut. However, with that strike, the knife wasn't pointed at Jaune anymore. Next, Jaune shifted his grip for an upwards slash. He followed through, cutting right at the man's left eye. It sprouted blood all over, and with that Jaune knew he didn't have his Aura up anymore. Jaune swiftly changed his grip again and thrusted Murasama straight through the man's lungs.
The thug gasped for breath as Jaune pushed his body away. 'I don't think he can calm himself enough to use Aura to heal.' And that meant that it was safe to just leave him. With that, Jaune climbed the gate and left the two guards behind. 'Time to see what's on the other side.'
As soon as he landed on the other side, men from all sides swarmed him. Jaune found himself surrounded. However, Jaune didn't show an inch of panic on his face. Instead, he drew Crocea from its sheath and gripped it in his left hand while Murasama stayed in his right. He stood still, waiting for an attack. He didn't have to wait long.
As the thugs rushed in, Jaune managed his threats. A parry here, a stab there, dodge an attack to his left, jump a leg sweep, kick an enemy away as he lands, tank a hit, grab that enemy and use him as a shield, stab him through the chest and into another thug, so on and so forth. In the end, the yard was filled with the corpses of Yakuza members.
'Even though they've got Aura…' Jaune thought to himself as he stepped away from the corpses and moved deeper into the docks. 'They don't really know how to use it. They only summon it when they see an attack coming. If they don't see the attack or it moves too fast, then they won't summon Aura. Maybe it's because they don't want other people knowing that they have it? Ah, what does it matter.' Jaune waved the thought away as he arrived at a building. 'I'm done with them anyways.'
Though the building didn't look conspicuous from the outside, after studying the schematics, it was clear that this was the drug den. Jaune took a deep breath and opened the door. Immediately, he was hailed by gunfire.
Jaune summoned his Aura to shield his entire body and rushed in, knowing that if he retreated now then he'd be stuck. He lunged at the gun of the first enemy he saw, cutting it half. He battled his way through the building, mercilessly killing everyone he saw. Some tried to fight, some tried to run, some tried to call for backup. Regardless, none of those were enough to stop him. They were like kids playing with superweapons. They know about Aura, but didn't know how to use it well. But that was what Jaune was here for, wasn't it? So they can never be skilled enough at all.
In the end, after the last thug had been killed, Jaune left the building quickly and silently, like he had never been there. It had only taken him 2 hours, and one of the Yojima family's main braches in Brazil had already been taken down.
However, he didn't count for the CCTV cameras located around the docks.
A low-level thug barged into his office, a thug he didn't even care to remember the name of. "Boss!"
The 'Boss' lifted his head from the book he was reading. He hid his annoyance beneath a calm façade. Bastard didn't even knock. "What is it?"
"Our hideout in the docks was destroyed!"
"Oh? That so?" He lifted an eyebrow "Got any idea who?"
"We have it on this flash drive, Boss." The thug went over to his table and laid it in front of him. He picked it up and waved the thug away. The thug did as he was told, scurrying away and closing the door behind him.
The 'Boss' let out a sigh. What a pain. He plugged the USB into his PC located just below his desk. Flipping a switch on his desk, a screen popped up from his desk. He navigated the PC to view the CCTV recordings on the flash drive and sat back as it played.
'Hmm, blond male, lean build, average height…katana-bastard sword pair…oh, what's this?' He leaned forward on his seat, interest piqued as the man on-screen continued to effortlessly kill his men. All the while, the male's body glowed as it deflected gunshots. 'That's definitely Aura…So you have it too, huh? Well, colour me impressed.'
Could it be one of the other Remnant believers? No, he didn't recall any of them looking like the blonde before him.
'Interesting…' The 'Boss' took out a notepad and continued watching. He wrote down the assailant's habits, fighting style, and quirks. Being an expert fighter, he could pick these up based on only watching a fight through a screen. 'He's very skilled with the style he's using. Maybe a master rank…'
The 'Boss' noted another thing. Throughout the fight, the assailant didn't seem to flinch at the deaths of his enemies. There was a sort of detachment in his eyes when he was fighting. 'He's either a maniac, a person who enjoys killing, or, more likely, someone who's delusional...' With that detachment, The 'Boss' was pretty sure it was the last one.
The footage eventually ended. The 'Boss' put down his pen and pocketed his notepad. He pulled up his phone and called in a subordinate he could trust. "Yes. It's me. I need you to do something…" The voice at the other side of the phone was silent. 'Looks like I've got his attention…'
The 'Boss' spoke again, this time with an authoritative tone. "Put out an announcement for a blonde male with two swords. Say that we're looking for him and if he wants a fight, then we'll give it to him." This allowed the Boss to make that blonde fight him on The 'Boss''s terms. And he was a diligent man. He'd take every precaution. "Tell him that…" He paused, mulling his words. He decided to continue, content with his plan.
"Tell him that Shibusawa of the Yojima family will be waiting for him."
One Week Later…
Inside the Yojima family main hideout, Jaune stormed in relentlessly. He killed all members of the Yakuza in his sight. After he's finished on his current floor, he'll go up a level, and again, and again, until he reaches the rooftop where Shibusawa was waiting for him. He didn't care how many lives it took. After all, what's the worth of a life if it's used for evil?
He gazed at the starry sky. It was a beautiful night, he noted. He heard a door open behind him. "So you came." He decided to break off his stargazing. "Jaune, right?" Shibusawa got off of the railing he was leaning on and turned to face Jaune fully. He took note of the bloodstains on the blonde's hoodie his jeans, and on Murasama. The other sword, however, remained sheathed. "I see you've been busy."
"Spare me the lecture." Jaune responded coldly. After killing the guards downstairs, he finally made it to the rooftop where Shibusawa was waiting. Jaune pointed his sword at Shibusawa "I'm just here to fight you. Nothing more, nothing less."
Shibusawa didn't flinch at the threat. "And the guards downstairs? I take it you fought them too?"
"I did." Jaune replied, and not an inch of regret flashed on his face.
"And what did you hope to accomplish with that?" Shibusawa asked. "Money? Enjoyment? Fame? Glory?"
Jaune didn't answer. Instead, he stared right into Shibusawa's eyes.
'That detachment's still there.' Shibusawa noted as he stared into Jaune's eyes. Looks like his suspicions were correct. '…so that's his motive after all…'
Shibusawa decided to continue "I've already done my fair share of research on you, Arc. You first showed up a year ago and trained under Sakata Rodrigues. Suddenly one night, the day your Master was murdered, you disappeared. That same night, the Favela Cartel fell. The little survivors there were called the assailant relentless. Unmerciful. They said he attacked fast, like a jet stream. Relentlessly, like a dragon. And that man was you."
"They were evil." Jaune said in a monotone voice. "I fight evil so no one will suffer. I don't care how many people I fight for that to happen."
"Ah, so you seek justice, don't you? But I think you're just delusional." Shibusawa answered back "Funny thing is, Jaune, we're more alike than you think."
"Don't lump me in with the likes of you!" Ah, so he hit a nerve. That was his opening.
Shibusawa chuckled. "Heh. Don't sell yourself short. For starters, we both don't care who gets in our way. We'll fight those who stand in our goals." He raised his eyebrow at the blonde. "Don't you agree?"
Jaune didn't answer. Shibusawa decided to press on. "Has it crossed your mind, the lives of the people you've killed?" Shibusawa began circling Jaune. Meanwhile, the blonde kept his eyes trained on his enemy. "Well? That they were people?"
"They were evil." Jaune responded. Shibusawa didn't miss the slight pause before Jaune said that line. "And evil doesn't have to hide beneath the skin of Grimm," the blonde continued "It can hide under faunus skin and human skin as well."
"Is that so? So they were evil, and only that?" Shibusawa countered. The Yakuza began counting off names with his fingers. "Asano Mari, 20 years old. He joined the Yakuza because he couldn't get a job in normal society."
'So what?' Jaune thought to himself. 'That doesn't justify living a criminal life.'
"Takai Katashi, 27 years old. He joined the Yakuza in search of a place to belong. Mae Tsutomu, 37 years old. He joined the Yakuza because he was desperate to feed his starving daughter."
'His..daughter?' For the first time in the conversation, Jaune felt shock and doubt go through his system. 'But he was evil! I'm sure of it! Evil is incapable of love!'
It was the last name that's going to strike the closest to Jaune, even if Shibusawa didn't know of it.
"Eto Toshio. 21 years old. He joined the Yakuza to fund his sister's dreams."
'Sister?!' Jaune's eyes widened at the information and his arm went limp. His footing stumbled. 'I never thought about…No! He's just playing me! He knows about the Arc family! Of my seven sisters! That's why he's saying that! That thug surely couldn't have had one …right?!'
"And so, so much more. You killed them all when you stormed this very building a few minutes ago." Shibusawa stood in front of Jaune again. "So were they really evil, hero? Or is it just a lie that you tell yourself?"
"They made their choice!" Jaune shouted. His body felt weaker and weaker. His voice didn't sound as sure as before. A daughter? A sister? They were evil! They couldn't have had an ounce of good in them!
"Was it choice, or desperation?" Shibusawa answered. "What right did you have to kill them? How do you rationalise that it's right for them to die?!"
"If I hadn't killed them, then they would've harmed somebody else!" he shouted as hard as he can, but even Jaune knew it was weak. 'Why?! I'm the one in the right here!'
"And you can guarantee that?" Shibusawa bit back. Slowly, Shibusawa pulled out a set of metal gloves from his pockets. "You believe that they are evil. The same as the Grimm, even. But from their point of view, you were the one who killed them without a second thought. You were the one who barged into them without a second thought. You killed others who had their own lives. To their families, their friends, doesn't that make you their Bruno, their evil?"
"No!" Jaune vehemently denied. "Never…never…."
Shibusawa huffed. "This is a fucked-up world we live in, Jaune. Where men kill each other for their own beliefs. Our legacy, the legacy of those who fight, the legacy of the Patriots…" Shibusawa put on his gloves and flexed his fingers within them. "Are written in the blood of others, of our opponents, of those who don't fight. To us, people who aren't skilled enough to fight us are nothing. My dream of becoming the Dragon of Yojima has already been written in the blood of others. Your path to justice is flooded with the blood of unjust murders. There is no denying it, Jaune. Embrace it."
"No…"
"Then DIE! JAUNE ARC!"
Shibusawa lunged at Jaune, throwing fast punches back and forth. For some reason, as Jaune dodged left and right, he found that he didn't have it in him to strike back. Right now, his blade felt heavier than ever.
With a roar, Shibusawa finally got a hit in. A straight punch to Jaune's head sent the blonde flying away onto his back.
Jaune struggled to get up, his mind a haze. He shook his head to clear his vision. He got up, even as his blade felt like it was chaining him to the ground. Slowly, he entered the Rodrigues Shadow Style stance. There's no backing out of it now.
He narrowed his eyes. It's time to focus on the fight. Whether or not he'll kill Shibusawa… He doesn't know.
Shibusawa rushed at him again, this time with a kick from his steel-tipped boots. Jaune parried the strike with Muramasa and his opponent's body glowed with Aura. Jaune retaliated with a right swing with his sword, of which Shibusawa parried with his gloved right fist. Shifting his right fist's position, Shibusawa pushed the sword away and grabbed Jaune. With his full force, Shibusawa headbutted Jaune. The blonde was sent staggering back.
Shibusawa continued on the offensive, fast footwork allowing him to close the distance almost instantly. Jaune just barely dodged the first punch. Acting quickly, he rammed Murasama's hilt to Shibusawa's gut. The Yakuza member coughed spit from shock. Jaune hurriedly kicked him away, enough for him to get some breathing room.
Both fighters gathered their senses. Entering their respective stances, they yelled and rushed at each other again.
Jaune dragged Murasama across the floor and swung it in an upwards arc, aiming to cut Shibusawa clean. The Yakuza member dodged and swung a haymaker from Jaune's side. Jaune let go of his sword mid-swing and let it fly into the air. With his hands now free, Jaune quickly parried Shibusawa's attack and sent in a fist of his own. Shibusawa roared and met the attack halfway with his metal fist. Their punches collided and Jaune's fist was sent back due to it being no match to the steel gloves. Jaune flowed with the knockback and did a 360 kick to Shibusawa's chest. The man stepped back from the blow and Jaune rushed in, grabbed Shibusawa's face, and smashed it into the ground.
Jaune leaped back a fair distance and cocked a fist ready. As Shibusawa got up, Jaune yelled and launched himself at the Yakuza head-on. He swung his fist straight at Shibusawa's head. It connected, and the man was sent tumbling further into the ground. Jaune jumped at Shibusawa with an overhead strike, but he was kicked away when Shibusawa did a rising kick Jaune landed on his back with a dull thud. He could hear Shibusawa groaning as the Yakuza gathered himself.
Jaune lifted his head slowly. He saw that Shibusawa's Aura was flashing. He was running out. With determination, Jaune rushed to his feet just as Shibusawa roared and rushed at him. Jaune dodged, Shibusawa's fist flying right where Jaune was moments before. Jaune yelled and pushed Shibusawa to the railing. He could hear Shibusawa's Aura shatter as the Yakuza's back hit the railing. Shibusawa gasped in pain, but Jaune didn't let up. He punched Shibusawa in the face. Shibusawa coughed up blood, and yet Jaune didn't care. He punched the bastard again. And again. And again.
Shibusawa tried to deflect the fifth punch, but it was no use. Instead, Jaune grabbed the arm that was trying to deflect it and pushed it away. With his opponent's guard open, Jaune roared and headbutted Shibusawa. He pulled his head back and slammed his fist on Shibusawa's face. He felt the Yakuza's nose break. With a final yell, Jaune punched one last time at Shibusawa. The blonde released his grip on the Yakuza boss, stepping back. Shibusawa fell to the ground kneeling.
Shibusawa breathed from his mouth. "That..all, Jaune..?" He looked up to Jaune with a smirk. "Come on, boy…You've got no choice now. Kill me…and accept the bloodshed!"
Jaune gasped in breaths of air. His ears rang and his vision blurred. Was this what his life led to? Killing people for flimsy reasons? For'evil'? Slowly, he lifted his fist one last time. Should he? Kill a man in cold blood? Is this the path he wants to take?
Shibusawa grinned as he saw his opponent hesitate. He flicked a switch inside his gloves and spikes revealed themselves on his gloves. With a roar, he launched a punch at Jaune's stomach.
Jaune saw the punch coming and prepared to tank it with Aura. His body glowed with Aura. It was getting closer and closer, right at his stomach. He tensed, ready to absorb the momentum…
Shunk!
'What?!' Jaune thought as he glanced at his stomach. The spikes…The spikes went through! 'How?!'
Then, it was all reflex for Jaune. He stepped back, turning his body and drawing Crocea. Shibusawa, with nothing holding him in place and his body already weak, leaned forward, right into Jaune's sword lunge. Crocea pierced Shibusawa's chest cleanly, its blade peeking through the Yakuza's back. The Yakuza's body fell limp, hanging on to the sword. Jaune reflexively tilted the sword downwards and let the body slide down to the floor.
As the body landed thud, Jaune's consciousness returned. The first thought was, just how did the gauntlet pierce through his Aura?! It was then that he noticed writing engraved on the gloves.
High Frequency Spike Gauntlet
The second thought, however, was far more dark.
And a wake up call.
'Wait...I killed him!' Jaune dropped his sword in shock. "Hey!" Jaune rushed over and shook Shibusawa's corpse. "Hey, you're not dead, right?! Wake up! Come on!" However, the body didn't move an inch. Shibusawa was dead.
'No…' Jaune stepped back, horrified. 'I… I killed him!' Then his thoughts went back to his earlier acts. 'The guards at the lower floors…the docks…the Favela Cartel…Oh, what have I done?!'
They had a life! They were humans! They could've repented! 'How could I?! Shibusawa was right!' Jaune felt his knees hit the floor. He could feel tears start to fall down his face 'I… I didn't have a right to kill any of them…I'm a murderer!… I took them from their families…' He broke into sobs. 'What would my family say? I'm a disgrace…'
Ah, but that was the crux of it, wasn't it? 'Mom, Dad, Sisters, they're not here...If they were, would they have been any different?...No, of course they would've been…Instead, the United Continent's stuck with me, a twisted murderer…I'm useless…'
'…No.' Grimly, Jaune let out a chuckle. 'I…I'm not useless. Just look at the Cartel! And now the Yakuza…' Jaune started to laugh. 'I can fight for justice. And I guess it doesn't matter if I kill some people… After all, what's one more person to a hundred?'
'If this will be my legacy, not the Arcs, nor the Rodrigues, …' Jaune laughed out loud. It echoed through the night. A broken yet delighted sort of laugh. 'Then so be it, flooded with the blood of others.'
Several Yakuza members outside of the Yojima family came as backup a few minutes later. As they entered the rooftop, they saw a blonde man kneeling in front of Shibusawa's corpse with his back to them.
"Hey!" One of them shouted. "Did you do this? Who do you think you are?!"
In response, the blonde man stood from his kneeling position. He turned towards them slowly and gave them what would from then on be his signature shit-eating grin.
"Hey yourself." The Jetstream, Jaune Arc responded. He tilted his head, grin in place and eyes showing excitement. He picked up a katana and a bastard sword from the floor. "Let's dance."
Well, that was a heavy chapter. When's the humour gonna come, eh?
I was kinda torn between naming the chapter Way to Fall, Descent to Madness, or The Only Thing I'll Know for Real. Guess you can see which one I picked in the end!
Before you ask, yes, that was a Yakuza reference. My personal headcanon here is that Kiryuu (yes I spell that with an extra u, if I ever get around to adding him in the story I'll probably explain) eventually finds out about Shibusawa's death and decides to forgo killing. That is, if I even plan to put him in the story at all…
Tell me what you thought in the reviews!
See you next time!