[Ryu] "come on Jaune"
Jaune and Cardin were on the stage having a mock duel for show in miss Goodwitchs class and already, Jaune seems to be losing, he's exhausted and he most certainly can't seem to keep up with Cardin. When Jaune looks up at his opponent, Cardin laughs at him. This guy... I'm glad I didn't end up on a team with him now.
Jaune however, manages to gather his strength, charging forward swinging his sword towards his mace wielding opponent, only for him to jump out of the way. Jaune looked back, surprised as Cardin sent his mace barreling into Jaune's shield, sending it, and Jaune, flying. Across the stage. He's only got his sword now, and against that mace, of he wants to win he's going to have to go on the offensive without being hit which, no offence to Jaune, seems like it would be pretty hard for him or, go on the defensive and wait for Cardin to reveal an opening which, in his current state, would be pretty hard as well.
Jaune and Cardins weapons collide, becoming locked with each other. They struggle with each other for a moment but with Cardins clear height, weight and strength advantage, the stalemate doesn't last very long with Cardin towering domineeringly over Jaune.
[Cardin] "this is the part where you lose!"
[Jaune] "over my dead-!"
He was cut short as Cardins knee found its home in Jaune's gut, causing him to drop his sword and stumble back, falling to the ground in pain. Cardin raises his mace above Jaune's head, about to to slam it down but the buzzer rings, saving Jaune from that pain. The light comes back on and miss Goodwitchs voice resounds through the room.
[Glynda] "Cardin, that's enough!"
Cardin relents his onslaught and backs off, walking from the stage as Miss Goodwitch enters it while tapping her tablet.
[Glynda] "Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament-styled duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and that the official may call the match."
Jaune is still laying on the ground in defeat when Miss Goodwitch turns to face him, looking at her tablet.
[Glynda] "Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your Scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf, now, would we?"
[Cardin] "speak for yourself..."
I'll beat you to ground if you keep doing stuff like that Cardin, I really will.
Miss Goodwitch turns to face the rest of the seated students and looks as if she is going to make an important announcement.
[Glynda] "Remember, everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away! It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!"
The Vytal festival huh? A chance to really see what I can do with the finished product of my Dragons fang. I looked over to see how the rest of my team were reacting to the news of the festival. Yang was punching the air, Weiss fists were shaking in anticipation, Blake was... Blake and Ruby was shaking her entire body excitedly while squealing softly. I smiled at her when she looked over and she reciprocated warmly. Though we haven't really had the time to go on another "date" I think we've still gotten closer through other things.
The bell rings, cutting off my train of thought and surprising me a little. I look back over to Jaune but he's still sitting there with Pyrrha by his side looking sad.
-
In the lunch room, I'm sitting with my team and team Jnpr while Nora is telling a story with avid detail, although, as Ren continuously corrects her, her details seem to be a little off.
I'm more concerned with what's going on at another table.
[Pyrrha] "Jaune, Cardins been bullying you since the first week of school!"
[Jaune] "who? Cardin Winchester? Nah.... he just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes!"
[Ruby] "he's a bully."
[Jaune] "*scoffs* Oh please! Name one time he's bullied me."
The group went on to name multiple times. Knocking his books from his hands on the way to class, clicking Jaune's shield making it extend and getting him stuck in the doorway, shoving Jaune in one of the rocket propelled lockers and launching it outside the school.
[Jaune] "I didn't land that far from school!"
[Pyrrha] "Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask."
[Nora] "Ooh, we'll break his legs!"
[Jaune] "Guys, really, it's fine! Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me; he's a jerk to everyone."
Everyone looks looks over to where I've been looking the whole time. Cardin and his team are bullying a rabbit Faunus girl; tugging on her ears as she cries in pain while they laugh.
[Faunus] "ow! That hurts! Please... stop.."
[Cardin] "*laughing* I told you it was real!"
[Russel] "what a freak!"
I'm done, my clenched fists hit the table causing the others to jump slightly as I stood up and started walking towards the group of bullies.
[Ruby] "Ryu?"
[Blake] "...?"
[Pyrrha] "what is he-?"
I walked up behind the group.
[Ryu] "hey Cardin"
[Cardin] "wha- oh, it's you Ryu, what do you want?"
[Ryu] "I was hoping you'd let go of her and walk away without this turning into anymore of a scene."
[Cardin] "was that a threat?"
[Ryu] "you know what I can do to a king taijitu. Bully that girl anymore and I'll do the same to you."
[Cardin] "oooh, scary. What girl? All I see is a beast. What? Don't tell me you feel pity for an animal? Was your mother a beast like her?"
[Ryu] "who my parents were is none of your business. Now, I'm going ask civilly one more time. Let her go."
[Cardin] "*Smiling* you know, just cause you were some big shot in he initiation doesn't mean a thing now. We've all gotten stronger. Especially me!"
He reached out his hand to grab me but I reciprocate, grabbing ahold of his wrist and twisting it, immediately bringing him to his knees.
[Ryu] "you're not the only one who's grown in strength. Don't get too cocky."
[Cardin] "g-get him!"
My head starts to sting and my eyes start to burn as the fight starts. Ignoring it, I block Russell's left handed punch with my right arm, twisting and delivering a hard knee to the gut with my left leg. Following this, I shot my left foot backwards, kicking Sky in the stomach sending him careening across the floor. Dove and Cardin both try to hit me at the same time punches aimed straight towards my face but I simply duck below the fists, sending my own into their stomachs, winding them.
[Ryu] "ghk.."
The pain in my head and eyes became sharper, more fierce, before finally dissipating. I look over to the Faunus girl.
[Ryu] "you okay?"
[Faunus] "uh-huh..."
[Ryu] "*smiling* that's good. Well.. see ya later I guess."
The whole cafeteria was stunned silent as I left the room feeling it would be too awkward to just go and sit down again like nothing happened. So, I decided to head black to the dorm and prepare for the next class.
-
At night, while I was trying to get to sleep, I noticed Blake uncharacteristically shuffling around in her sleep. Well, as she got up, I pretty much realised that she was never actually asleep.
[Blake] "Ryu?"
[Ryu] "..yeah?"
[Blake] "can you come with me for a moment?"
What could this be about? She's piqued my interest now and I'm awake so I might as well go with her and see what's up.
[Ryu] "sure, what's up?"
We walked out of the dorms and towards a balcony where no one would see us. Blake stood in front of me looking over the balcony with her back turned to me, the light from the broken moon silhouetted her quite beautifully.
[Blake] "Ryu. What's your opinion on the Faunus?"
[Ryu] "hm? I guess.. I don't really have one? I mean, they're people right?"
[Blake] "and the tails? The ears? None of that bothers you?"
[Ryu] "if I had white hair and wore fancy clothes would I still be me?"
[Blake] "what?"
[Ryu] "tail - no tail, Faunus or human, they're just, themselves aren't they? It doesn't really matter what they look like."
[Blake] "that- yes, I agree. Now, my second question. What do you think of the white fang?"
[Ryu] "well, from what I can remember, they were a group of Faunus rights activists, until.. someone else took over leadership and they started attacking shipments and people."
[Blake] "I suppose that's right..."
[Ryu] "well, I'm sure they can't all be bad now."
[Blake] "what do you mean?"
[Ryu] "there are bad humans and good humans and vice versa in any group right? So that'd imply that the same goes goes for the white fang."
[Blake] "*smiling* yeah..."
Blake started to undo her ribbon, revealing a pair of black cat ears atop her head.
[Ryu] "ah"
[Blake] "it was good what you did earlier in the cafeteria."
[Ryu] "I-"
She walked up to me, kissing my cheek as she put her ribbon back on and left me on the balcony, speechless.
