The storm raged on outside, a relentless howl that battered the walls of the house and rattled the windows. Inside, an uneasy silence had fallen. Everyone had succumbed to exhaustion, their bodies and minds battered from the events of the day. They had no choice but to rest, though the danger beneath the cellar lingered in their thoughts, gnawing at the edges of their subconscious.

They would leave at dawn, braving the storm to escape this cursed place, but for now, someone had to stay vigilant. Grimm never truly slept.

Now they know what really killed the people of the farm—the Apathy.

They lost the will to live.

The will to move forward.

Thus, they were stuck in an endless loop of lethargy. They just stayed in their beds until they stopped. Even breathing became a chore.

But, Rinko and everyone don't have a choice at the moment. Storms are as strong as ever, and they will have to sleep in the house whether they like it or not.

Selene had done her part, securing the cellar door with chains and wedging a refrigerator in front of it. She'd double-checked it, her cautious nature refusing to leave anything to chance, before finally settling down with the others.

The living room had become a makeshift sleeping area, with mattresses spread across the floor. Team RWBY huddled together under blankets, their faces pale from the lingering effects of the Apathy but calm in their slumber. Maria had claimed the old, creaking couch, her cane resting by her side.

In contrast, Qrow had isolated himself. He was slumped over the counter in the kitchen, a heavy bottle of liquor his only companion. His snores were faint but steady, a testament to his drunken state. The events of the evening seemed to have bypassed him entirely, the alcohol dulling whatever sharp edges the day had left behind.

Rinko, however, remained awake, seated in a chair by the window. He gazed out into the storm, his sharp blue eyes scanning the chaotic swirls of snow and darkness. His body screamed for rest, the residual effects of the Apathy clawing at his willpower, but he refused to yield. His muscles ached, his breaths were shallow, and his eyelids grew heavier by the minute.

Yet, this was nothing new to him. Once, as Kakashi, such exhaustion had been an almost constant companion. He'd grown accustomed to leading through fatigue, pushing himself beyond his limits because others depended on him. But here, in this new life, his limitations felt heavier, sharper, as though the weight of his new role threatened to crush him.

His memories of the day were a whirlwind: Adam's attack on the train, the endless Grimm that swarmed them, the crash that nearly took Ruby's life, the freezing march through the blizzard, every step a battle against the elements, and the Relic of Knowledge, almost slipping through their fingers.

It had been close—too close. If not for Ruby and her silver eyes, they would have been overrun.

His fists clenched tightly at the thought, his knuckles turning white. They had faced death head-on today, and it had been a bitter reminder of how fragile—and resilient—this team, this family, truly was.

His gaze drifted to the others, settling on Yang. She lay beside Ruby, the two cocooned in blankets, their faces soft and peaceful in sleep. Yang's presence stirred something deep within him, a warmth he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years. She was the first person outside his family, outside the elemental nations, who had managed to chip away at the walls he had built.

He clenched his jaw, the ache in his chest growing sharper. Losing her—or anyone else here—was a pain he couldn't bear to imagine. He'd lost too much before—Rin, Obito.. Sensei.. and the sting of that loss had never truly left him. The thought of going through it again... no. He wouldn't let that happen.

He shifted in his chair, rubbing his temple as he tried to quiet his thoughts. Leadership wasn't new to him, but it had never been easy. As Hokage, he'd carried the weight of an entire village on his shoulders. He'd made mistakes—but he'd learned to own them, to embrace his flaws and grow stronger because of them.

And now, as Rinko, he found himself in a similar position. These people relied on him. They trusted him. He couldn't afford to falter, no matter how tired or unsure he felt.

The storm outside continued its relentless assault, but Rinko remained steadfast, his gaze flickering between the window and his companions' sleeping forms. Protecting them wasn't just a responsibility; it was a promise—one he intended to keep.

"Never again," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the storm. "I won't lose them. Not this time."

The storm's roar continued its relentless assault, but it wasn't enough to mask the soft rustling behind him. He didn't turn immediately, though his keen senses noted the subtle shift of someone rising from their bed.

"Rinko," a familiar voice called softly, tentative yet steady.

He turned slightly in his chair, his tired blue eyes meeting Blake's amber ones. She was sitting up now, her blanket pooled around her waist.

"Blake?" He raised an eyebrow, a trace of concern flickering across his face. "You should've been sleeping."

Blake offered a small, apologetic shrug, avoiding his gaze momentarily. "I... I know. Sorry. It's just... I can't sleep."

Rinko sighed, turning back to the window. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair, the silence between them stretching long and thin, punctuated only by the howling wind outside.

Blake hesitated before speaking again, her voice softer this time, almost hesitant. "That name... Rin. Was... was that her?"

Her question caught Rinko off guard. He stiffened slightly, his gaze shifting to her again, searching her face for any sign of judgment or prying. Instead, he found quiet understanding and curiosity.

"Yeah," he admitted after a pause, his voice low but steady. "That was her, alright."

Blake's amber eyes softened as her memories pulled her back to a moment at Beacon, Rinko's voice echoing faintly in her mind.

Flashback (Chapter 31)

"You know," Rinko began, glancing at her as they walked, "you remind me of someone I used to know back in where.. I'm from. She had that same strength, that way of looking deeper, beyond the surface like you are."

Blake's brow rose, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Really? From Atlas? I didn't expect that. Who were they?"

He paused, memories surfacing-ones he hadn't visited in a long time. "No, not from Atlas but.. somewhere along my journey. Her name was Rin," he said softly. "A friend I respected more than she ever knew. She... showed me what it meant to trust someone, to let them in. To value friendship, even when I thought I didn't need anyone."

His smile was a little distant, touched by bittersweet memories, he continued,"It was her way of reminding me that sometimes, the people closest to you can be the ones who help you see the real you, past all the walls you've put up."

Blake fell silent, clearly reflecting on his words. "I suppose that's true. Even if it feels... risky sometimes."

Rinko nodded, his gaze softening. "Yeah. But without risk, there's no reward."

Blake's expression softened, a quiet understanding passing between them. "Sounds like she meant a lot to you."

"She did," Rinko replied, glancing back down at the book in his hand. And, for a moment, he let himself remember-before the memories faded back into the background

Current Time

Blake's gaze lingered on Rinko, her expression thoughtful. "You've been carrying her memory with you this whole time," she said softly, breaking the silence.

"I have," Rinko replied, his tone steady but tinged with quiet sorrow. "It's not something you just let go of. People like her... they leave a piece of themselves with you."

Blake nodded slowly, her amber eyes reflecting a deep understanding. "I think... I can understand that."

Rinko studied her for a moment, his expression softening, though the weight of his memories remained evident in his eyes. Finally, he offered a faint smile, one that carried both warmth and exhaustion. "Get some rest, Blake. You'll need it for tomorrow."

Blake hesitated, her ears twitching slightly as she glanced back at him. The words she wanted to say lingered on the tip of her tongue, and after a brief pause, she finally spoke, her voice sincere. "Rinko... Thank you for saving me."

Her words caught him off guard. He blinked, surprised by the sudden gratitude, before a warm, albeit weak, smile spread across his face. "Don't mention it," he replied gently, his tone carrying an unspoken promise of protection.

Blake lingered for a moment longer, her expression softening further before she finally laid back down on her mattress. As she pulled the blanket over herself, her ears lowered, she closed her eyes while the storm outside became a distant hum compared to the steady reassurance she felt knowing Rinko was watching over them.

Rinko kept his vigil by the window, the faint sound of the storm outside his constant companion.

As the minutes stretched into hours, the living room stirred. Selene rose from her spot on the floor, quietly stepping over the sleeping forms of the others. She approached Rinko, her expression calm but determined.

"Master Rinko, your turn's almost up," Selene said in a hushed tone, nodding toward the window. "I'll take over now."

Rinko glanced at her, his silver hair catching the dim light from the storm's occasional lightning flashes. He didn't speak to her immediately.

Selene crossed her arms, her eyes sharp. "We agreed to rotate. You've been up long enough. Go lie down before you keel over."

Rinko chuckled softly, though it lacked true humor. "Fair enough," he said, rising from his seat. As he stepped away, he paused and glanced at her. "Wake Weiss next. She's more observant than she lets on."

Selene gave a small nod. "Understood."

As Rinko made his way to the mattress laid out for him, Yang stirred. She blinked up at him, groggy but concerned. "Rinko... everything okay?" she mumbled.

"Yeah, just switching shifts," he said, kneeling briefly beside her and brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Get some sleep."

Yang nodded sleepily, pulling the blanket tighter around herself as Rinko settled down.

An hour later, Selene roused Weiss, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. Weiss opened her eyes, instantly alert despite her exhaustion. She nodded silently and rose, taking Selene's place by the window.

This exchange continued throughout the night. Blake took the next shift, followed by Ruby, who insisted on pulling her weight despite the dark faint circles under her eyes.

The storm had finally calmed, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. The soft orange glow of dawn broke through the skies, illuminating the desolate Brunswick Farms. Ruby, despite the lingering effects of the Apathy, instinctively woke Rinko, her small hands shaking him lightly.

"R-Rinko... Get up..." Her voice was hoarse, her exhaustion evident in the faint bags under her silver eyes.

Rinko's eyes opened immediately, as if he hadn't been fully asleep to begin with. His gaze turned to Ruby, taking in the visible strain on her face and the slight tremble in her shoulders.

Without a word, he pushed himself up and moved to the window, peering out at the pale light breaking through the dissipating clouds. Ruby watched him in silence, swaying slightly on her feet.

"Hm... it's dawn," Rinko said quietly, his voice low and steady. He turned back to Ruby, his blue eyes meeting her tired silver ones. "Wake everyone up. The sooner we leave here, the better."

Ruby hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on him as if trying to summon the energy to say something. Finally, she nodded, shuffling off to wake the others while Rinko moved toward the living room.

The house creaked under his footsteps as he approached the counter where Qrow was slumped, still asleep, a nearly empty flask clutched loosely in his hand.

"Qrow," Rinko called firmly, shaking the man's shoulder. "Wake up. We're leaving early."

Qrow stirred sluggishly, cracking one bloodshot eye open to squint at Rinko. "Oh... Rinko. It's just you," he mumbled, swatting lazily at the younger man's hand.

Rinko sighed, pulling his hand back. "Come on. We need to move the wagon and attach it to Bumblebee. Let's go."

Grumbling under his breath, Qrow pushed himself upright, the flask slipping from his hand onto the counter. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.." His words were slurred but carried a begrudging respect as he stood, wobbling slightly before regaining his balance.

The two men stepped outside, the cold morning air biting at their skin.

They headed to the other shed, positioned at the other side of the village. Rinko and Qrow opened the door as they went in.

The wagon sat near the edge of the room, its wheels caked with mud. Rinko immediately moved to one side, gripping the edge of the wagon firmly. "Grab the other side. We need to get this thing moving," he instructed.

Qrow muttered something incoherent but complied, positioning himself opposite Rinko.

With a combined effort, they began pushing the wagon, the wooden wheels creaking in protest. The silence between them was broken only by the sound of their boots crunching against the dirt and the occasional grunt of exertion.

House

Back inside, Ruby and Weiss had made their way to the kitchen. The cabinets were nearly bare, but the two girls scavenged whatever supplies they could find.

Weiss rummaged through a dusty shelf, pulling out a small sack of grain and some canned goods. "It's not much, but it'll have to do," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ruby, dragging her feet slightly, opened another cabinet and froze. Her tired eyes lit up as she pulled out several bottles of alcohol. "Weiss, look at this," she said, holding one up.

Weiss glanced over, her brows furrowing. "More alcohol? That's not exactly what we need right now," she said, but there was a flicker of understanding in her tone.

Ruby set the bottles on the counter, her expression grim. "We can't leave this place like it is. Not after what we've seen... and felt." Her voice was quiet but resolute.

Weiss's gaze lingered on Ruby for a moment before she nodded. "Agreed." She retrieved a bottle and inspected it, her icy blue eyes narrowing. "This should work."

Outside

Yang and Blake emerged from the shed, pushing the freshly repaired Bumblebee toward the center of the village.

Yang's movements were slower than usual, her exhaustion evident in the way she slouched slightly.

Blake walked beside her, her expression unreadable but her ears drooping slightly as she glanced back at the house.

"It's ready," Yang called out to Rinko and Qrow as they brought the wagon into position. "Let's get this thing attached and get out of here."

Rinko nodded, stepping aside to secure the wagon to Bumblebee. His movements were precise, and efficient, despite the weariness creeping into his limbs. Qrow leaned against the wagon, watching with a mix of amusement and fatigue.

Maria, sitting nearby, continued flipping through a journal she had found, her mechanical eye flickering slightly as she squinted at the pages.

Selene, carrying Weiss's dust cases, approached the group, her face set in a determined expression.

"We're ready," Selene announced, setting the cases into the wagon.

As the final preparations were being made, Ruby and Weiss emerged from the house, their expressions steeled. Ruby carried the remaining bottles of alcohol in her arms, while Weiss held her rapier at the ready.

"What's with the bottles?" Yang asked, her brow furrowing as she eyed her sister.

"We're making sure this place is left behind for good," Ruby replied, her voice unwavering despite the exhaustion that weighed on her. She turned to Weiss and gave a small nod.

Weiss stepped forward, casting her rapier into the ground. With a flick of her wrist, a controlled burst of fire ignited, catching the alcohol-soaked wood and spreading quickly.

Flames licked at the walls of the house, climbing higher as smoke began to billow into the morning sky.

The group paused, watching the fire consume the remnants of Brunswick Farms. The heat from the flames contrasted sharply with the chill of the morning air, and for a moment, no one spoke.

"It needed to be done," Ruby said quietly, breaking the silence. Her silver eyes reflected the firelight, filled with a mixture of sadness and determination.

Rinko watched the smoke rise, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Ruby, then back at the flames. "Let's go," he said simply, turning toward Bumblebee.

The group climbed into the wagon while Yang climbed to Bumblebee, their faces marked with fatigue and solemnity as they left the burning ruins of Brunswick Farms behind.

The smoke trailed into the sky, a grim reminder of what had transpired, yet the rising flames seemed to carry the remnants of their dread away.

As the early sunrise painted the horizon with shades of gold and amber, its warmth kissed their faces, gradually dissipating the lingering effects of the Apathy.

Though their exhaustion remained, it felt duller now, more manageable, as though the fire had burned away some of the hopelessness they had carried.

"Ugh... I forgot to refill my flask," Qrow muttered as he stretched in the wagon, his voice gravelly. He glanced over at Ruby, who sat silently nearby, her hands fidgeting. "Ya know, that was some perfect rum you wasted back there," he joked with a weak chuckle.

Ruby's tired silver eyes shifted to him, but she said nothing. Her gaze fell to her lap as she idly fiddled with her cloak.

Qrow noticed her silence and raised an eyebrow, his humor fading. "Ah... sorry," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was just—never mind."

Ruby shook her head, her voice soft as she replied, "I-it's okay, Uncle Qrow... It's just... something happened while you were asleep... drunk..." She trailed off, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Qrow frowned, straightening slightly as he studied her face. "What did I miss?" he asked, his tone quieter now, more serious.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, each hesitating to speak. Maria, who sat toward the front of the wagon with the journal in her hands, broke the silence with an audible sigh.

"You missed quite a bit," Maria said bluntly, not even looking up from the pages she was reading. "For starters, we encountered Grimm in the cellar while you were too drunk to be of any use."

Qrow winced at her sharp words, guilt flickering across his face. "Grimm? In the cellar? What kind?"

Ruby finally spoke again, her voice shaky. "Apathy... and a Chimermage. They were down there, Uncle Qrow. A whole group of them. We barely made it out."

Qrow's expression darkened, his body stiffening as the weight of her words sank in. "A Chimermage?" he echoed, his voice low and grim. "You're telling me one of those was down there? And a pack of Apathy?"

Ruby nodded, her hands gripping the edge of her cloak tightly. "It was... horrible," she whispered, her voice trembling. Remembering the gooey tentacles wrapped around her head. It sent a shiver down her spine.

Qrow's expression darkened, the weight of her words sinking in. "No wonder..." He looked at the others, noticing their drawn, weary faces, and sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. I should've been there for you. All of you."

Rinko, seated near the front beside Maria, glanced back at him. His tone was steady but firm as he said, "What's done is done. We made it through. Focus on staying sober for the next fight."

Qrow nodded reluctantly, running a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah... yeah, you're right." He leaned back, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon as he muttered, "Still... Apathy. Those things..."

"They weren't the worst part," Weiss added quietly, breaking her silence. Her arms were crossed, her gaze distant as she sat beside Selene. "It wasn't just the Grimm. It was the effect they had on us. The hopelessness. The despair. It was... suffocating."

Blake, who had been walking alongside Bumblebee, chimed in. "We almost didn't make it out. If it weren't for Ruby... things could've been much worse."

Ruby looked up, startled, her face reddening. "Me? I didn't do much..."

Blake met her gaze, her voice calm but firm. "You did more than you realize," she said, offering Ruby a small, encouraging smile. "When the rest of us were ready to give up, you kept us going. You kept our spirits up."

Ruby's cheeks flushed even deeper, but there was a quiet warmth in her eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, though it was hesitant. "I just... I couldn't let everyone fall apart."

"You did more than hold things together, Ruby," Rinko interjected, his tone steady, yet there was a softness to it that didn't often show. "You're the reason we're still alive right now."

Ruby's gaze dropped briefly to her hands, but her smile grew a little wider at Rinko's words, a small spark of pride flickering in her tired eyes.

For a moment, Ruby didn't know how to respond. But in that moment of silence, she realized that despite the exhaustion, the horrors they faced, and the weight of it all, she wasn't alone. She didn't have to carry it all by herself.

And for the first time since the chaos of the Apathy hit, Ruby allowed herself to breathe, her smile a little brighter as the sun rose higher in the sky.

After a while, Maria snapped her journal shut with an audible clap. "Well, I'll say this much—between the Apathy and a Chimermage, you kids have been through more in one night than most hunters deal with in a month," she said, her tone blunt but oddly approving. "You've earned a good nap after this mess."

"We don't have time to nap," Weiss said, adjusting her hold on a dust case. "We need to reach Argus as soon as possible."

"Agreed," Rinko said, nodding toward the path ahead. "The sooner we're away from this place, the better."

Ruby looked back at the faint smoke trail on the horizon. "Do you think we did the right thing?" she asked softly.

Qrow followed her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Burning the farm? Yeah, you did the right thing, kid. That place was already lost."

"Still..." Ruby's voice faltered, and she shook her head. "I just hope no one else ever has to see what we saw."

"You made sure of that," Maria said. "That fire will keep anyone from poking around in what's left."

Ruby gave a small nod, but the weight of the experience lingered in her eyes as the group continued their journey, the sunlight gradually breaking through the shadows of the morning.

Maria turned to the trees as she tossed the book she'd been reading as it hit the snow

It was a journal owned by the owner of the estate.

The Brunswick's.

It was a tragic tale.

For a long while, no one spoke. The only sounds were the crunch of gravel & snow under Bumblebee's wheels and the distant chirping of birds as the morning sun rose higher, bringing with it the promise of a new day.

[End]