It was now January 9th, the first Wednesday of the new Semester.
Side stepping a strike to the chest, Yang's fist shot out and crammed itself into Ren's solar plexus, "Haha! Gotcha!"
Two months have passed since Cardin's expulsion from Beacon Academy.
He winced, staggered back and clutching his midsection as a gold coated gauntlet intruded his hunched eyeline. Grunting, he flung his head to the side, barely dodging the uppercut as his onyx hair fluttered with the breeze.
After that, the school became more peaceful. Especially after the rest of CRDL, now DRL, stopped bullying the other students and started actually taking school seriously.
Capitalizing on the small opening, Ren leaned in with his palm, touching Yang's side and pumping aura into her body, blowing her out of the arena as she crashed into the hard light dust barrier with the force of a semi truck.
"Gah!"
But, as punishment, they had to do community service in Vale's residential district for at least 5 days a month.
The students regarded their blonde companion with varying degrees of expressions, some winced, others gave pitying glances and a few remained indifferent to it.
Ruby cringed, glancing over the edge of the stands, where the rest of team RWBY sat, watching as the golden haired teen rose to her feet while clutching at her side.
Yang coughed, rubbing the area gently as she walked towards the pink eyed teen. His strike didn't hurt but it felt weird, like something invaded her body...she shuddered.
Gross.
And today just happened to be one of those days.
Shifting his left foot forward, Ren relaxed as he smoothly raised both arms in front of him with one a little more outstretched than the other, his guns now strapped to his waist as he took slow and steady breaths.
"Yang! Are you alright down there?!" Ruby shouted from her seat. Looking up, the older blonde gave a wide smile and a thumbs up, "Yeah, I'm good! He didn't hit me that hard." She seemed pretty fine for the most part, her side stopped aching and that weird feeling was gone too.
"Ren! I've got 20 lien on the line! That's like, 40 pancakes so you'd better not lose!" Nora warned from her seat in the stands as she wiped away her drool and smiled manically at the boy, "YOU HEAR ME!!!"
Cuffing her mouth, Aria's voice boomed from the back of the room, "Yang, you can still get ya get back! The score's only 50 to 45-" taking a quick double take, "Huh?" Her eyes stretched to the skies as she pointed to the screen, "Since when was her aura at 45???!"
Finishing her stroll, Yang looked up at the screen, her face brightening in surprise as she regarded her opponent once more, "Damn, just how hard did you hit me?"
Ren snorted in slight amusement, that attack took roughy 20% of his own aura, "Not that hard."
Yang smirked, "Why do I feel like that's a lie?" raising her guard with a cautious leer.
"You are entitled to your own opinion." Inching closer, Ren took in Yang's form as she did his. Both of them drew closer into arm's reach, their eyes locked with each other in a silent tug of war.
However, it didn't take long for Yang to break.
Flicking her forearm, "Isn't it the guy's job to make the first move!" Yang's flare shot in a downward hook. Lifting his hand, Ren gently redirected the attack to the side, "No," countering with a mean elbow to her collar bone as a jolt of pain ran through her chest, "Not necessarily."
Yang croaked in pain as Ren's forearm whipped across her throat, citing a wretched cough as his other palm rammed hard into her nose, flinging her head back with a bang.
Unrelenting, Ren transitioned into a swift leg sweep, taking the blonde off balance as he readjusted and thrusted both palms towards her exposed stomach. Reacting just in time, Yang flung her arms across her chest and tanked the hit as she rolled into a quick recovery before proceeding to dodge a flurry of incoming bullets.
Ren rushed the girl in a wide arc, a seemingly endless torrent of bullets peppering her trail as he rapidly closed the distance before one of his guns suddenly jammed, forcing him to stop firing.
As he closed in, Yang's cross came with an explosive envy, metallic hand only barely missing the partial pinkett as he maneuvered around the woman's frame, sharpened edges of Storm Flower gnawing at the exposed sides of Yang like a hungry dog.
Grunting even as she backed away, Yang responded with a swift roundhouse kick. Raising both arms to block, Ren's eyes widened in surprise as the blonde's leg hooked around his neck and reeled him in, "Gotcha!" Ember Celica found itself embedded into Ren's stomach, his aura level falling with every hit his unguarded stomach received.
"NOOO REN, C'MON!! DON'T LET MAMA LOSE OUT ON 20 LIEN!! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE BOYYY!!!! I'LL FIND AND STRANGLE YA IN YA SLEE-!"
"Pyrrha, grab her!" Jaune yelled, almost diving onto the arena as the duo clung to the rabid eccentric, her screams of protest met only with the teasing of a tanned teen that served to further fuel her behavior.
Peeking to his left, Yosuke noticed Aria showing funny faces to the ginger, a light chuckle slipping from him despite his better judgment, "You seem to be enjoying this."
Looking back, a smile found its way up the girl's face, "Heck yeah I am!" falling back into her seat, "You know what I can buy with 20 Lien?!"
"Harry action figures?" Toño interjected, snorting at the now flushed face of the eccentric next to him. Aria groaned as she buried her face in her hands at the memory, "Cmon, just forget that already will ya!" "Not a chance."
Cocking her fist, Yang opted for a quick left hook that was swiftly shut down by Ren who stepped back and hooked her fist with the underside of Storm Flower, yanking her into a knee strike to the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of her as she moaned in pain. Stepping back, Ren spun into a low back kick, but Yang raised her shin just in time to block the blow, staggering off kilter with a wheeze.
Taking advantage, Ren stepped in close, pointing his guns at her face and forcing her to raise her hands to block. Smiling, he released both guns, slamming his palms into her exposed sides, "You fell for it." Sending a minor pulse of aura into the girl's body that sent her careening across the stage nearly sliding off entirely.
Luckily this wasn't a match that could be lost by ring out.
Rolling onto her back, Yang sighed at the aura meter, "...Alllright, enough kidding around." It read 31 - 24 in Ren's favor.
Blowing a tuft of golden hair from her face, Yang garnered the attention of everyone as she sprung to her feet and began stretching.
Lightly hopping on the balls of her feet with a light grin etched on her features as she rolled the ends of her shoulders with a smooth lanquidity, "It's time for a little payback." Cracking her neck, the teasing blonde SHOT across the room, her body like a bright yellow smear as it zipped across the stage.
Already meeting him, Yang threw a straight, seeing Ren already moving to block before. The girl slipped into a feint, her fist ramming into his left side with a loud hiss in response.
Rocking to the right, dodging a back hand, Yang landed a devastating two piece to the boy's other side and jaw in quick succession, forcing him to retreat a few feet as she bounced in place with a lingering smirk, "You ready for another round?"
Ren squinted, his body trembling slightly as his liver area burned from the impact. Even with aura an attack like that couldn't be brushed off so easily. Taking a deep breath, the dual wielder raised his hands, he'll have to end things quickly.
The two exchanged a quick glance before rushing to meet in the middle. They threw a flurry of devastating punches, palm strikes and back breaking kicks at each other, neither yielding an inch to the other.
Ren focused entirely on parrying and countering Yang's fists and blasts from her flares; on the other hand, Yang tried to keep her attacks in a tight chain so as to minimize the chances Ren might counter attack.
'Our aura's are just about even, however, she has stamina than I do. I need to keep her at a distance and wear her out!' Stepping past a wide swing from the brawler, Ren pushed a palm towards the girl's head, but to his surprise, she used a shoulder roll to redirect his attack, leaving him open for a blow to the face...
Oh no.
Gripping the boy's elbow with her left hand, "Take this!" Yang rammed her fist into his ribs, repeating the action twice over before hurling the teen over her shoulder, leaving Ren almost suspended in the air as he winced.
Not one to back down, Ren began firing Storm flower as he landed roughly on his feet while bullets upon bullets washed over the brawler's raised guard.
Sprinting through his assault of gunfire, Yang gritted her teeth, it felt like her skin was being eaten by a colony of bullet ants!
Stepping in close, Yang's hair glowed a sunny yellow as the two exchanged blows! Kick after Punch, palm after sweep, everything was either deflected or dodged by the opposition as they paraded the stage like dancers in a gala. Firing yet another flare, Ren redirected Yang's punch just before it could fire off and hit him.
Spinning into a back kick, Ren's eyes widened like pin pricks, 'Where did she-'
"ABOVE YOU!" Taking whoever's voice it was as aid, Ren just barely avoided Yang's gauntlet as it embedded itself into the arena's floor like a quasi missile, kicking up a thick bout of dust.
"I've got you now!" Inhaling sharply, Ren froze at the voice, glancing at the crater a foot before him only to realize- she wasn't there!
"The hanging light!" Failing to raise his guard, Ren braced for impact, his body trembling at the expected pai-
CLICK, CLICK
"...."
"..."
"...."
"W-wait, wait, lemme tell you- buhi!" His shin whipped across Yang's jaw, knocking her out instantly.
Looking at the broken light, Glynda shook her head with a heavy sigh, "That is the end of the match. Winner, Lie Ren."
-.-
"I'm telling you, if I didn't run out of ammo I would have won!" Yang protested, soothing her jaw as they trudged through Beacon's courtyard.
Shaking her head, "Even if you did have, I doubt you would have lasted long enough to win. Your aura was just 1 shy of 15." Blake spoke, showing the blonde a video of the fight.
"Just accept that you lost and be done with it." Weiss added, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms in front of her.
Yang groaned, her shoulders slumping with a heavy sigh, Ruby gave a soft smile as she patted her shoulder, "It's alright Yang, you'll get him next time...Probably."
"Wow...very encouraging sis." Yang drawled, citing a chuckle from her younger sibling, her lips quirking upward into a grin as she ruffled the girl's hair before abruptly pulling her hoodie over her head.
"Hey-Y-yang!" Ruby sputtered, giggling while trying to wiggle free from the girl's grip, "Stop that!" only for both of them to stumble and fall to the ground in a heap.
Smacking her forehead, Weiss sighed, "Idiots."
Team JNPR trailed behind, their leader's eyes preoccupied with the back of a certain white haired beauty as Ren and Pyrrha conversed.
"That technique you used, is it the same one Nora told us about?" Pyrrha posed, curious jades finding neutral pinks.
"Yes." Looking down, Ren's eyes glided over the stone slabs as the afternoon sun slowly dipped below the horizon, "I learned it a few years back."
Returning her gaze forward, the amazon redhead posed yet another question, "Would you be able to teach it to me?" prompting the raven to shake his head slowly, lifting his gaze to see the flaming celestial sinking like a rock in water, "No, I tried teaching it to Nora but it didn't work." Glancing behind him, he watched the eccentric ginger gleefully collect her reward from her fellow eccentric, "It likely has something to do with my semblance."
Sighing, "I see..." Pyrrha's gaze trailed to Jaune who had been oddly silent. Following his line of sight, she donned a half hearted smile, "That's rather unfortunate."
"It is."
"REEEENNNNN!!!" Nora called out at the top of her lungs, instantly drawing the boy's gaze. Waving a thin wad of lien in her hand as she ran towards him, the girl squealed with a nigh maniacal grin, "WE'RE HAVING A PANCAKE FEAST TONIGHT!"
Aria sighed heavily, falling to her knees with an arm outstretched to the retreating figure of one Nora Valkyrie. Her cyan orbs honed in on the silver wad with a sad smile, the sun's light was akin to a golden spotlight that only highlighted the scene further, "Farewell," A fading image of Harry-er her lien smiled back at her with tears in its eyes (?) "My lovely..."
Bonking her on the head, Toño snickered as he and Saya walked by, "Chill out drama queen." slipping his hands into his pockets with a faint smile, "You're just salty cuz she always wins."
The blonde recoiled at the utter blasphemy. Yosuke lips curled into an amused smile as he stopped next to the blonde, silently offering her a hand, "Am not! Yosuke, tell him I'm not!" The tanned teen argued, accepting the gesture and rising to her feet.
Sweat dropping, the blue haired boy averted his gaze, "Well..." He trailed off. 'How should I respond to this?'
"I wouldn't exactly call you a drama queen."
"See! Yosuke agrees with me!"
"Sure, sure, keep deluding yourself Pendragon." Toño waved with a sarcastic tone of voice, a slight smirk finding its way up his face as they walked.
Aria groaned, running up behind the pink giant and flinging her arms out, causing him to flinch and side step her lunge. He'd thought she was going to grab him-
But, from the start, it wasn't meant for him.
"Sayaaaaa~" The blonde drawled, rubbing her face against the cheek of the aforementioned girl with a sniffle, "Toño's being mean." Turning her head, the ever inexpressive gaze of Saya met the pouty eyes of Aria for a few seconds before lifting to meet her brother's miffed orbs.
"Be nice." She said, accompanied by a sneaky grin from Aria who stood behind her, "Heh, not so tough now are ya?" She mouthed, causing the pinkette to don a strained smile, his eyes shouting back, "Shut up."
Yosuke stood a few places behind, visibly amused at the development, 'Teasing him while using Saya as a shield...that's a new one.' He hummed softly as he caught up to the group.
Clasping her hand behind her head, Yang looked up at the setting sun with a soft smile as the three teams made their way towards the academy entrance, "After this, I'm gonna ask Headmaster Oz if I can head to Vale tonight and restock on some dust. Wanna come with?" She posed, glancing over at her teammates who all replied in the negative.
"I've gotta finish Professor Oobleck's essay on faunus discrimination by today." Ruby told with a wince. Hugging herself with a shiver, "If I miss the deadline, he'll make me write an entire encyclopedia."
"So do I." Weiss added, her heels clacking rhythmically as she took measured strides up each stone step.
Stopping at the door, Blake rested her hands on its smooth mahogany surface, "Well, Yosuke and I planned on reading a book in the library tonight, so I can't." pushing it open, she entered the hallway, basking in the soft artificial lights of the massive interior before looking back and frowning in confusion.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yang snorted, a mischievous smile stretching to her ears as she averted her gaze, "Like what?"
Blake narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting to the muttering form of Ruby who's eyes were as wide as pin pricks. Next to her stood a red faced heiress who stole quick glances at the girl.
"What're you..." Blake's eyes widened, face palming in realization, "Guys, it's not like that." looking through the gaps in her fingers at the lilac blonde, "We're not reading....those kinds of books."
"Hey, I didn't say anything." Yang shrugged, her smile stretching even more as she strode by her.
Suddenly, Ruby broke out of her daze when and immediately she screamed, "Filth!!!"
Yang burst out laughing, clutching her stomach while pointing at the amber eyed beauty whose cheeks reddened in embarrassment with a prompt facepalm.
Weiss cleared her throat, "She said it isn't like that you dolt." Chopping the partial redhead lightly in the head.
"Huh, really?" Ruby asked while rubbing her head, to which the Ninja gave a curt nod in response, "Oh, okay then."
"You done?" Blake sighed, looking back at the still cackling blonde. A few seconds of laughter passed before the girl eventually quieted down, "Whew, I haven't laughed so hard in a while."
Rolling her eyes, Blake crossed her arms, "Anyways, seeing as we all have stuff to do you'll have to go alone."
The blonde snorted, "Yeah, I know." Turning around and continuing her trudge towards the cafeteria with her team following suit.
Weiss touched her chin in contemplation as they walked, "You know, I could provide you some when the next shipment arrives."
"For real?" Yang asked, "When's that?"
Humming as they turned a corner, Weiss replied, "I'm positive it will be within the next two weeks."
Frowning, the blonde entered the school eatery with a soft sigh, "Nah, that's too long, imma just hit up to my usual supplier. Thanks though."
-.-
The cool air wafted through the city, caressing the blonde's body as she departed the mechanic bird and made her way into the kingdom proper. The city's nightlife was rather lively yet surprisingly it did little to hinder those who chose not to partake in the fun.
Placing a hand on her hip, Yang regarded her scroll, inwardly hissing at the time.
She wouldn't have time to do anything else other than the main reason she came there. "Alright, let's just get this done quickly and head back." Walking with purpose, the yellow haired firecracker paid no mind to the happenings around her, half a mind in the direction she faced as the other was centered around the device carefully held in her palm.
[Ruby, I already told you, I don't have enough time to get you any cookies.] Rolling her eyes as the message was sent Yang's scroll pinged the very next instant, seeing the crying sticker Ruby sent in response.
It's not that she didn't want to get anything for her, she just couldn't. The next bullhead won't come by for another 2 hours and it takes at least an hour and a half to make it to the residential district from the industrial district by foot.
[I still don't understand why you spoil her so much, she has more than enough treats stashed away in her cupboard.] Ice queen replied, Yang chuckled to herself, stepping to the side as someone passed her, [Well, a growing girl needs their nutrients don't they? Who am I to deny my sister of said nutrients?]
Stopping at a crosswalk, the idle chatter of the stagnant crowd buzzed around her like bees in a barrel, however, the blond simply tuned them out, her face trained on the small icon that indicated 'RedHood' had been typing....
Quirking her brow as the typing notification disappeared, Weis decided to answer the unasked question, [If you're wondering, Ruby is currently panicking while asking Blake to help her hide her stash elsewhere.]
[Thank you, Ice Queen, your words are indubitably insightful.]
[Hey!]
Yang smiled as she exited the group chat, her eyes lingering on the blue screen for a moment before moving along with the crowd, 'Right, dust.'
Deftly returning her scroll to her jean's pocket while ignoring the myriad of pings and vibrations Ruby was no doubt obliterating the group chat with...maybe she should stop to get something for her, she might miss curfew but who cares-
Professor Goodwitch would care.
Shivering at the thought, recalling when she had missed her first curfew...she could still remember the woman's words like yesterday.
"Miss Xiao-long, I trust you won't break the rules again." Glynda frowned, cracking her wand against her palm, her emerald orbs narrowing with a menacing glint, "Have I made myself clear?"
Yeah...she definitely didn't wanna miss another curfew.
"Hm?" Turning her head slightly, Yang curled a brow at the faint voice, 'What's that sound?' Her eyes scanned her surroundings, just now noticing the scarcity of people in the area, '...Am I overthinking it?'
"...An...dum-...JON!" Okay, now she definitely wasn't imagining it.
Pausing, Yang glanced around, the practically empty road grew even more silent as she alone stood in the empty streets. No one was there except her and that voice.
Honing in on a certain alleyway, Yang's fist twitched just the slightest bit as the once broken shouts of the voice gradually became more clearer with each careful stride.
Was someone being attacked? That seemed unlikely, there would at least be a few more screams...but what if the victim had their mouths gagged? What if they were being held down with their voice suppressed?
Taking cautious steps into the quiet alleyway, Yang readied her gauntlets before frowning as they clicked, 'Great, the one time I can't fight this is the situation I find myself in.'
Releasing a soft breath, the blonde retrieved her scroll from her pocket, placed it on silent and placed it back in her pocket in one smooth motion. Peeking out from behind the wall, Yang picked up on a few more voices approaching the many voices at least 20 ft away from her.
"You called her right? Does she know you're out here?"
"What, no! Are you crazy?! If my wife found out I wasn't in Mistral she'd castrate me!"
"Wait, wait, wait. You really told her that you were heading to Mistral as an excuse to meet here?" Another voice questioned.
"How else was I supposed to slip from her?! I owe Gundy, and you know you can't owe that fat bastard anything!"
Hiding behind a pile of boxes, the blonde huntress remained cautious, not quite catching the latter end of whatever the guy said. It seemed like the voices were just some drunkards or something. No one was in danger so that's good at least.
Gods...how much time did she waste on this stupid- "That was a rather dense move Richard...you know she has eyes everywhere." Another voice chimed in to comment as well...though, for some reason, the way those words were spoken sent a chill up the girl's spine.
The oddly calm delivery as well as the sarcastic speech pattern was familiar to the teen. Is he....?
'No way....' Lowering onto a knee, Yang peeked from behind the boxes, eyes slipping past the men in black tuxedos before pausing upon the sight of a ginger haired man in a white jacket and bowler hat.
'Woah, it really is him.' Repositioning every once in a while as the men walked, their acts and banter continuing for another minute or so before they all quieted down.
Yang's gaze narrowed, 'He must've just finished another heist and wanted to celebrate.' watching as the small group of people entered the back door of a random bar.
As the door shut, Yang checked her surroundings before drawing closer to the door.
'C'mon Yang, if Roman Torchwick of all people is involved, then you're definitely gonna need to see this.' Dusting off her knees, Yang began psyching herself up, lilac beacons scanning the empty roads and sidewalks for anyone passing by at this time of night.
The place we as so alive just a minute ago that it felt a bit jarring to experience such deafening silence. It reminded her of one of those crappy horror shows she used to watch.
Exhaling to a pause, Yang moved to the front entrance of the bar, almost exposing herself as she hid away next to the massive windowpanes. Peeking through a place that had a piece of the tint torn off, she saw that the main event himself was seated openly upon a stool, voice going unheard as he chatted with his goons around him.
Glancing around, Yang saw the men talking for quite some time, assuming Roman was telling a joke every other sentence to how he constantly chuckled the more they conversed, the one he engaged with not minding his laughter in the slightest.
Finishing his second shot of a Sex on the Beach (look it up) Torchwick reached for his wallet in his back pocket, gloved hand releasing his cane as the rather large bartender looked on ahead, waiting for the crime lord to finish whatever it was he set to do.
'100 Lien? Either that shot had him seeing stars or this place was steep.' Obviously far too expensive for two simple shots, Yang noticed the ginger flashing his scroll to the bartender as well, almost missing it as he seemed to be hiding the content from his goons as well.
Crossing his arms, the bartender spoke with what Yang assumed to be a curious voice with how his head tilted in his conversation, Torchwick's demeanor moving from relaxed to more serious as he seemingly sobered up almost instantly.
"So, this place is a front for shady people to get info on shaddier people..." Dimming her scroll's brightness to its lowest value, Yang ensured to catch the two locked in a hand shake that Torchwick laughed at.
This will definitely come in handy in the future-
'The hell?!' Did her scroll just flash?! She was sure she turned it off and set everything to silent the SECOND she started this little adventure-
No...she only set her scroll to silent, she never did anything about the flash.
"Shit." Cursing underneath her breath, Yang bolted back to the alley, activating her aura before hopping onto the high ladders and scaling the building with ease, swaying a bit as she crouched atop the roof.
Hearing the doors of the bar below burst open the sound of racking guns and drawn melee weapons violated her ears. She quickly ducked as she laid still atop the uncomfortable roof.
Moving to a crouch, Yang glanced over the edge of the roof, seeing the separated men regroup at the entrance of the bar, their steps light across the asphalt as Torchwick bid his goodbyes to 'Junior', closing the bar's doors before stepping to a goon.
"Did you find them?"
"No sir, whoever they are, they're probably long gone by now." Actually frowning at the news, Roman reached into his pocket, pulling out a small metal case. Unfortunately, Yang couldn't make out what it was.
Placing a FAT cigar in his mouth (guess that answered her question), Torchwick continued, "No doubt it was another one of those pesky huntsmen... It's like they never get tired of dying." blowing a cloud of smoke, his eyes scanned his surroundings, "Anywho, keep your eyes peeled, they might still be lurking about."
Showing a gesture with his fingers, Roman's men followed closely behind, the group marching quietly down the middle of the street off to wherever.
Releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding, Yang regarded her scroll, the clear image of Roman and 'Junior' shaking hands etched into the pixels of her device.
Half an hour later, the blond brawler flopped onto the seat of a departing bullhead, her eyes like lazy beacons as they briefly swept across the empty airship interior.
Reaching into her pocket, she checked her scroll, the color draining from her skin like slime as she slouched to the floor, "Phew.....Talk about cutting it close."
The screen flashed an icon, showing her aura was in the red zone. She only used it to get to the bullhead, but she could handle the consequences later.
Climbing back into her seat like a tired zombie, 'One more minute and I'd be talking to Professor Goodwitch.' The blonde stared at her gauntlets, cocking it with a click as she regarded the rows upon rows of dust lining its golden interior. Well, at least she got what she came for....
The bullhead rattled softly as its engine began to hum along with the calming night breeze. The metal bird took to the starless skies, its ebony brilliance accented by the broken moon's soft glow as it made its way towards Beacon Academy.