Chapter 16

Quick A/N: This is the longest chapter I've written yet.

~ Friends, Enemies, Pets and an apology ~

Blake POV:

"Mhm..."

Ah, what? Something's tickling me. I get away from it, moving a little to the side. It's gone for a bit, but it reappears.

I feel soft touches on my legs, going down little by little, it starts tickling again.

I get out of the grip again and move further away, leaning on a side over a dark hole. What a weird dream.

"Mwah..."

I feel something wet touch my toe... wait, wet? I snap my eyes open and look down. I see Crystal, holding my feet in her arms, while her lips keep kissing my toes lightly. What is going on?

"Crystal"

No reaction, I move my leg away, this time a little bit harder. But she only follows it again, gripping it tighter and going back to kissing the toes and even adding her tongue in the mix, licking between them.

"Crystal!" I say louder, hoping it would stop.

But there's still no reaction, but because I didn't move away, she seems to smile and appreciate it, for she uses her tails on my other leg, while she licks from bottom to top, all the while prepping it with longer and more thorough kisses. Okay, this is enough, this isn't her.

"CRYSTAL!" I shout loud, seemingly effective as Crystal snaps out of it and looks around confused.

She looks towards me, tilts her head to the side, she looks so sleepy. And I am supposed to be the cat?

"Look down"

She looks down as I said, her eyes go wide and she gets startled, falling off the bed in the process, while normally somebody would let out an 'ouch' or any kind of pained sound, I hear none from her, it's quite convenient at times that she can't feel pain, no more annoying toe-stubbing into random places. Anyways...

"You okay?" I ask, even if there's no need for that.

"Yeah... You?" She asks me back, still not getting up from the floor, I can only see her tails on the bed, I move closer to her the bottom of the bed, slowly revealing her to me. She looks so apologetic.

"I am fine, what was that?" I inquire curiously. It's not like I hated what she was doing, it was just too sudden and too random.

"I did warn you yesterday, that I might unconsciously 'please' somebody in the morning, when I had a great time the other night, sorry," She says, still looking apologetic.

"But... We didn't have... Sex? How did you have a great time?" I ask confused.

"Did I say anything about sex? I specifically said that I had to have a great time... Thanks for the vote of confidence, Blake, it seems I can only have a good time if I have sex... Being called a friend doesn't seem to count..." And now she looks sad... I mean... You can't really blame me for jumping to conclusions.

"Come on, Crystal, cheer up, I am sorry for thinking about it, it's okay, my own fault for misunderstanding you"

She looks straight at my eyes, nods, and smiles. Good... Doesn't feel right when I make her sad, or when she's sad in general.

"Yeah, it's fine, nothing too serious anyway, so..."

"Are you going to get up from the floor?"

"Oh... yeah, right, let me do that"

She gets up, then looks at me, then her eyes travel down to my feet.

"Sorry for that..."

"It's fine, but what was that?"

"I already tol-" I cut her off.

"No, not that, I mean why do you do it at all? I don't think something like that is very common"

She pauses in thought, her tails going up to her shoulders, in what I assume is a subconscious action.

"Honestly? I don't really know" She finally answers me.

"You... Don't know?"

"Yep, two years ago or so, one day I just randomly got woken up, in a very similar situation like this one. Between a woman's legs, with her feet in my arms and my face close to them, licking and kissing them. At first, I was startled and fell off the bed just like now. But the woman didn't wake up unlike you, so I don't think she even knows what happened, I never told her, nor have I ever seen her after our time. But anyway, I was extremely confused, what was I doing, I asked myself a few times during that very same day, but eventually, I lost interest in it, thinking that it was the first and the last time. But I was wrong about it, it happened again and the second time, it happened with the woman waking up, but... She was more... uh..."

"Promiscuous?" I finish for her.

"Yeah that's the word, thank you, anyway..."

Wow... Thank you for inadvertently calling me frigid...

"She let me continue, before I woke up by myself, seeing her lust-filled gaze at me and my actions, it took me a moment to realize what I was doing again, so I tried to apologize, but she thanked me instead, saying that it was quite a way to wake up. I 'fake' agreed, trying to keep the conversation going, because internally I was puzzled, I didn't understand anything. Basically, after a few more times like these, I lost the confusion and just accepted it, but it didn't happen with every woman I slept with and sometimes didn't even happen with the women that it did before. So I didn't know what caused it. But then there was this one girl, she was barely older than me, I think she was the age I am right now. She had a kink for feet, which I didn't know about at the time. But because of me doing it to her in the morning, she was really happy that I did something like that, she told me that she was 'scared' to show her inner self's love for feet, so, finally feeling like I have somebody to talk to about this, I told her everything, she was also confused, but she came up with a great idea. We had sex several more times, we recreated our first time, multiple times, adding and removing something different each time, and it happened a few times, while it didn't other times. So she had the revelation that it might have something to do with my mental state, if I liked something, had a great time, or something along those lines. I just want to give back during the morning. And that's what I went with... But I have no idea why my 'sleep-walking' state chose feet, instead of... well literally anything else, maybe because it knew that it might've been too invasive to go for something like breasts? I have no idea. But there you go, there's your answer"

Well, that's a lot to take in... So if I were to sleep with her in a bed again... I'd wake up to it every time... I don't know, if I want that, sure, it felt nice, but every morning? It's too much.

"Is that too weird?" She asks me worried.

"No, no, it's fine"

She doesn't seem to believe me. What do I do? Ah... I hope this isn't a bad choice.

"I somewhat liked it, it wasn't bad, it was just too sudden..." I finish saying, regretting it immediately.

"You did?" She asks me happy, I guess it worked?

"Yes, definitely" I nod for assurance.

"Sweet, want me to continue?"

What?

"What?"

"Oh, I don't mind doing it anymore, I even started liking it months ago, now if it happens, I know that I liked whatever happened the day before, so to me, it's a good sign. Plus, I think that I might like feet in general now since I seem to look at them when I pass by a decent looking girl"

Too much information.

"N-no there's no need for it" Why did I just stutter?

"Are you sure? It's fine if you feel like you're taking advantage of my... condition... whatever it is. Then don't, as I said, I love doing it, plus this time, it'd be my first time doing to a friend, so I feel like it'd be worth it"

Why is she looking at me with puppy eyes, what is going on right now?

"Uh..."

"You don't want to?"

This is not fair, putting me on the spot like this. If I accept, she will be happy, but I will need to... suffer? Through that, if I reject her, she will be sad and dejected, thinking that I told a lie when I said that enjoyed it... Even if it was the truth... Well somewhat.

"Okay?" I answer Crystal, uncertain, but she doesn't seem to notice, since she just starts beaming.

"Yay, move back to your previous position and relax"

Ah, whatever, I've given up at this point, let's just do it for a few minutes and move on with our day. I doubt it will be that enjoyable... At least this time it's with my consent... Even if that consent is questionable at best.

I do just as she instructed me, but I also put my head down on the pillow and look up, not wanting to see this.

I feel Crystal climbing up on the bed, even while looking up to the ceiling, I see her head... It seems she got on her knees in front of my feet. She took one of them in her hand... I guess it begins.

"You have cute and at the same time beautiful feet. I'm not surprised that I latched onto them" I hear Crystal saying while lightly sliding her finger on my sole, it's a little bit ticklish.

"Mhm," How can I answer something like that?

I definitely wasn't expecting Crystal's response to my lackluster answer.

How am I supposed to feel about her pressing her lips against my toes?

Flinching slightly wasn't the right thing to feel and do, apparently.

"Relax, don't worry, I won't hurt you," Crystal says to me... That's not my concern, whatsoever.

"Your feet are quite adorable, definitely one of the best I've seen"

"Crystal... That's weird" I can't help, but say it out loud, while my heart is starting to pound. What on remnant is going on?

"How come?" Crystal says, I can hear the pout in her voice.

"B-Because, it's just feet?" I let out, stuttering slightly again.

"What's weird about that?" Crystal genuinely confused asked back. "I'm just trying to make you feel better about what's happening, if you don't feel nice, then what's the point? Besides a lot of people like feet in the way that I seemed to have started to like them. But not a lot of people say it out loud... But I guess that's with almost every kink out there"

I guess that's a decent point? But... I don't think there's a lot of people that just say something like that so openly.

"So... You said that you liked it when I did it before, but what part did you like the best?"

Why are you asking me that... Can't you just continue with what you're doing?

I guess she saw my peril because she stopped her fingers' movement and slithered closer, coming into my view.

"Listen, Blake, I can stop if you feel uncomfortable, I don't like it when people don't enjoy something that I wanted them to enjoy... That's why I am asking you if you liked something better than other things. Communication is important in this"

That... is understandable and a great thing to hear, it actually made me relax a little. Her resumed massage on my sole with her finger is also slightly helping.

"I-I understand... But I don't know, because of how sudden and unexpectedly it happened, I barely had the 'feel good' idea in my mind, I just wanted to wake you up"

"Mhm, well then I will do a few things, then I will ask again, okay?"

"Yeah..." This is way more complicated when I expected. In the books, it just goes straight to the point and it's done...

Crystal slinks back, to be in front of my feet again. I lay in wait, however, I don't expect her next question.

"Blake, kitten, can you please look at me while I do this? I mean I am okay with you being a pillow princess, but I'd rather feel my friend's eyes on me during it all"

"Okay... I will try" I stop looking at the ceiling and meet Crystal's eyes, she smiles in appreciation and goes back to looking at my feet.

Crystal slowly reapproached my feet and took my right foot in her hand. She ran her thumb along my toes with one hand, and along the crease of my sole with the other hand.

I stare at Crystal's face to gauge how she's feeling about the whole thing. But I only see admiration and affection... She's actually enjoying this wholeheartedly... Why did the thought of her starting to do this begin because she acquired the fetish for feet instead of like 'what happened the other night before', just pop into my mind?

While I was lost inside my brain, my attention was ratcheted back towards Crystal when I felt her lips wrapping around two of my toes.

Crystal immediately retracted her action when she noticed my flummoxed expression.

"Didn't like it?" Crystal asked worriedly... How does she look like a kid who's lost their candy? What is today?

"I just wasn't expecting it... You can continue" Why am I still agreeing to this, this feels weird, but at the same time, strangely okay.

Crystal resumed kissing my toes some more. This was still kind of weird conceptually. But when I avoid thinking about it that way. It's quite enjoyable, for different reasons that I don't want to think about right now. But the most prominent was the dynamic in all of this. I am literally having someone kissing my feet. What better way to feel stronger than somebody, who seems to be normally unbeatable and out of reach?

No, don't think about this, just stop thinking and let it happen. I tell myself and try to do that.

Crystal had begun placing little kisses up and down my foot, from the toes to the sole, to the top. The whole time, she never lost her excited expression, it's like she could watch my feet forever... I shudder, feeling something that I shouldn't. Involuntarily letting out a soft moan, I start panicking, there's no way she didn't hear that.

But she doesn't call it out and keeps kissing my feet over and over... Did she actually miss it? Doubt it, her senses are too good for that... So she's just kind about it, not wanting to put me on the spot... That's kinda heartwarming in a weird way.

Crystal ran the tip of her tongue along one of my toes. My face twisting a little, I feel her stop for a moment and try it again, this time I don't react. She seems to be feeling for my reactions. Crystal is determined to explore me and my likes. "Maybe tongue was a bit too much right now" I hear mutter quietly.

Crystal decided to return to placing kisses. I like this a bit more. I see Crystal slightly putting on a smile, seemingly pleased with herself for finding something that I seem to enjoy.

She decided to slip a couple of toes into her mouth again, to see if I was into the idea. But at this point, I had given up hiding the fact that I was biting my lip at this point.

why is this starting to feel good? And why I am starting to feel it somewhere where I shouldn't... It's just feet, none of this makes any sense.

"Mm," Crystal let out her own moan, making me feel it even more. She sounds pretty nice. She frees my toes and starts her questioning again.

"So, I see that you like when I kiss your toes lightly and put them around my lips, but it didn't seem like you liked me dragging my tongue over them, but I still have to ask, is that correct and should I continue? Or should I try something else?"

I need to stop this while I still can before it gets out of hand... but...

"Something else?" I ask, half confused, half intrigued.

"I can worship your beautiful feet, this was just... I guess foreplay?"

This was just the start? And what does worshipping entail? I don't know if I want to know...

"What do you mean by worship?" Why did I just ask that, what's going on with my mouth?

"Should I show you, or should I answer?"

I gulp out of reflex... No, I still want to stop this, so let's try and do that.

"Let's stop, I had enough for now," I say as much conviction that I can muster right now, I hope it doesn't make her sad. But I didn't expect her beaming face at my rejection.

"Well, of course, everything is as you ask, after all, no way would I want to make my friend do something that she doesn't like or feels bad about. We can do and try anything at any time that you want and the same goes for stopping. Besides, I liked this, even if it wasn't as long as I wanted it to be, but I am just glad that you let me do it at all"

Anything? I... I don't think I made the right decision stepping into Crystal's world... anything... I shudder just from the implications. Let's stop thinking about it before my mind spirals into many questionable thoughts... Or are they still questionable at this point? With Crystal, it seems a bit redundant... I wonder if there's anything she hasn't tried... Why am I getting curious about my friend's sex life? Seriously, what is today?

Crystal stands up, holding her hand for me, I take it and also get up with her help.

"We should get some tea, I am quite parched" Crystal says to me out of nowhere.

"Mhm, let's go" I answer after a moment.

She nods at me and goes to the door, opens it, and immediately closes it. I look at her confused.

"What happened?"

"I think I saw..." She stops mysteriously.

"What did you see?"

She opens the door again, showing me what it is that she saw.

"A lost child and I am not ready for the responsibility"

I look at the 'lost child' that is the monkey Faunus, who's looking back at Crystal not amused.

"Seriously? A child?" Sun asks Crystal.

"Oh, look, Blake, he didn't disagree with being lost... He might not look like a child, but his brain sure does work like one" She says smirking.

Well, that was pretty funny, the look of shock out of realization on Sun's face was even better.

"Come on, leave the kid alone, let's just go get something to drink"

I shake my head and say to Crystal.

"Sure" She answers back and we walk past the stunned child.

"Are you coming or not? I don't want to hear complaints because of you going missing" Crystal shouts at him without looking back.

"Ah, yes, wait for me" Sun shouts back and follows us.

I guess being a kid is his role now since he doesn't even refuse it anymore.

Crystal POV:

Well, this morning didn't start as I expected, but it was definitely pleasant. Now if it wasn't for this monkey, I could've actually had a good time with Blake.

But he's just following us everywhere, why is he doing that?

"Seriously, why are you following us?" I ask again, only to receive the same answer.

"Because I can"

"Ugh, for the hundredth time, that's not an answer"

"Sure it is, I want to follow you, so I do it"

"Ugh... FIne" I say and move further away from them.

"She's not the easiest person to talk to, is she?" I hear Sun quietly whisper to Blake.

"You have no idea" She whispers back.

"I HEARD THAT" I shout back at them.

Sun pauses in his step "How did you hear that?"

I stop myself... Wait... Hehe.

I turn around and walk back to him.

"Do you really want to know the answer to that?"

"Yes, it makes no sense, you should've been too far to hear us whisper"

"Are you sure? You won't like what I have to say" I continue mysteriously.

"Uh... Yes, now I definitely want to know" He excitedly answers again.

"It's very simple... Because I can"

I turn around and continue walking, smirking in victory.

"Wait, that's not an ans- Oh..." He realized what I just did.

"She played you good" Blake whispers passing by the stunned Faunus, making me smirk even more.

After a few moments, I hear Sun running back behind us trying to follow us again.

"Fine, you win this one, but you won't get away next time," He says challenging me.

"Oh really? Try me, big guy, there's no way you will ever best me" I challenge him back.

He gets right into my face "We will see about that, be ready, I will win the next round"

"Ha, never"

Blake looks back and forth between us two.

"You two..." She tarts saying, making us both look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Both of you are acting like children," She says and continues walking.

I blink a few times, then turn to look at Sun again, annoyed.

"Look what you did, it's your fault that she sees me as a kid when it's your role"

"How is that my fault? You're the one that accepted my challenge"

"Ugh, you're insufferable"

"I can say the same about you"

I grit my teeth, can I just knock this gorilla out, I think carrying him like a bag would be easier than hearing him talk.

"Would you two just stop?"

I turn to look at Blake, who's far away from us.

"What did she say? She's too far, I couldn't hear her" Sun asks behind me.

"... She said that you suck and that I am better," I say and run back to Blake.

"Yeah, right, you wish" He retorts and follows me.

I turn around to look at the monkey Faunus while I continue running to Blake.

"What?" My staring at him prompts him to ask me.

"Look, what's that behind you?!"

"Eh, what is it?" He actually looked back... Well, not my problem.

I slow down my speed and throw my leg out, he trips and faceplants to the ground.

"Oops, I guess it was in front of you, not behind you, my bad, are you okay?" I ask innocently.

I only hear him grumble, he stands up and looks at me irritated.

"That doesn't prove anything"

"Sure it does, you have no chance against me"

"Just you wait, I will get back at you eventually"

"Dream on" I mockingly answer back.

He freezes, looks, and points behind me "Uhm... Behind you"

"Yeah, like I'd believe that"

"No, seriously, behind you, dude"

"Nuh-uh, I am not turning around"

"Well... It was nice knowing you" Sun jumps away.

What?

"Crystal!"

"Eek!" I get startled, turn around and see Blake looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"Yes, Blake?"

"Did you forget why we left the hotel?"

"Um..."

"It was for tea"

"Ah, right"

"Do you see it anywhere?" She continues to ask me.

"N-no?" I answer uncertainly.

"Exactly... That was an hour ago... What happened to being parched? Because all I see is you and Sun wasting time"

I gulp, is this what friendship feels like?

"Bu-"

"No buts, let's just go, you can play around later" She seriously says.

"Yes, mam" I salute her.

She just rolls her eyes at me and continues walking after turning around. So I follow.

"Wimp," I say quietly.

"What do you want from me? She's scary" I receive an answer.

"Agreed..." I say looking to my side, seeing Sun walking beside me again "But you're still a wimp"

Narrator POV:

While they were walking around Vale, doing nothing, in particular, the most notable activity was visiting a restaurant, one more day passes. And this time the trio are seen in the same restaurant yet again, but this time there's no happy, cheery mood, right now it's serious.

Crystal sits near Blake, while Sun sits in front of them.

"So, you want to know more about me..." Blake finally starts speaking.

Crystal is seen blinking repeatedly, is that why he followed us and I had to pay for him two nights? She thinks.

"Finally, she speaks! Nearly two days and you've given me nothing but small talk and weird looks!" Blake gives Sun a firm look "Yeah, like that, also left that fox to annoy me" He points lightly to Crystal.

Blake and Crystal roll their eyes, but while Blake closed them and after that looked at him sadly, Crystal was just looking to the side, she can already feel that it will be the same talk she had with her the first night, so there's no point in hearing it twice "Sun... Are you familiar with the White Fang?"

"Of course! I don't think there's a Faunus on the planet who hasn't heard of them. Stupid, holier-than-thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks, if you ask me!"

Blake sips her drink while listening until she speaks up "Well you're looking at two of them"

Sun promptly goes cross-eyed and chokes on his drink, making him put it down and wipe his mouth as he holds up a hand to process this information "Wait a minute, two of you were members of the White Fang?!"

"No, I was a member, Crystal is the one that didn't know about White Fang for the longest time"

"But... You're a Faunus" He says to Crystal. Crystal looks at him like he's an idiot.

"Yeah, I know? What do you think these two tails don't remind me every day?" She says by grabbing her tails and putting them on the table for show.

"I... That's not what I meant" Sun tries again.

"Well and I don't want you to know anything about me, so that's as much as you'll get"

"Fine..." He turns his attention to Blake again.

"So you were a member of White Fang"

"Yes, you could say I was born into it"

And at this point Crystal lays her head on her tails and zones out, she will wait until Blake pokes her or something. She does wonder where Penny might be, she hasn't seen nor smelled her in these two days. While she thinks about Penny, she gets snapped out of her daze by Sun's voice.

"So... Have you told your friends any of this?"

Blake only looks down and doesn't say anything.

"Yeah, she has" Crystal finally says something, making them look at her.

"But I haven't?" Blake asks confused.

"I mean, since I am only one friend, not multiple 'friends', so I guess you technically haven't?" Crystal ponders.

"That... Yeah, I did tell you this... I might've..." Blake looks to the side.

"You might've?" Crystal asks after not hearing an answer.

"Nothing," She says, ending that conversation.

"Okay...?"

Blake sighs slightly out of relief, there's no way she can tell her that she forgot about their talk due to her mind only trying to think about the time in the morning.

"So, what are you two thinking of doing?" Sun asks the two, but he only looks at Blake, since he realized that she holds all the power in this.

"We are going to try and track down, whoever it was that robbed dust from that shop" Blake answers.

"Okay" Sun opens his mouth again and tries to go for another question, but the trio's conversation gets interrupted by a waiter girl.

"Here's your bill!" She says cheerfully, oblivious to the fact that she just ruined their serious conversation.

"6/10, who's paying?" Crystal asks after saying her numbers, but since the girl doesn't ask about it, she won't explain.

Blake and Sun stare at Crystal after that question.

"What...?" They look at her more intensely. Crystal realizes what they want from her.

"Oh, come on..." She begrudgingly pays for the trio and is the first one to stand up and starts walking away. The other two follow after her.

"Hey, hey, wait for a second!" Crystal stops after she hears the girl shout after her. She turns around, the other two do that as well.

"Yes?" Crystal asks the waiter "Did I pay the wrong amount... I do that sometimes" She mutters that last part to herself.

"No, everything is fine"

"Then... What is it?" Crystal asks confused, but that confusion shortly disappears and turns into understanding, the moment she sees the girl, biting her lips while checking her out.

"Oh, the little girl wants to play? I don't think you can handle me" Crystal says, she can always find time for some fun after all.

"Oh, I think I can" The waiter steps closer to the two-tailed Faunus who raised her eyebrow.

"Well, if you think so, why don't you give me your num-" Crystal gets cut off, by feeling her ear get grabbed, while it doesn't hurt, she is startled by the suddenness of the action and stumbles slightly.

She looks at what's going on, only to see Blake moving out of the shop, with her ear held being held, she was forced to follow. She looks at the girl left behind and waves apologetically.

"I know that you... Like having a great time, but we have more important things to do"

"Yes, mam... Quick question though, how do you keep sneaking up on me? I should hear and feel something like that, but this is the third time you startled me in these two days"

Blake pauses in her step for a moment but continues "I don't know" But she has an idea on why that might be, she will explore her hypothesis a little bit more later.

"Well, whatever" Crystal shrugs her shoulders, while the people look at her being dragged by the ear. She would've let this continue, for she didn't care. But she heard them insulting her, which was fine.

But one of them, that seemingly liked Faunus, muttered something bad about Blake "How can she do something like that to that Faunus? And she isn't even fighting against it, how many times did it take for her to do this, for the Faunus to stop resisting?" While it came from the right mind, it still felt bad hearing something negative about her friend.

"Blake? My ear"

Blake looks at Crystal ears, sees her arm, and promptly lets her go with a quick "Sorry"

"It's fine" Crystal answers back, straightens up, and without looking at the people that were watching them. She grabs Blake in a bride carry who lets out an involuntary sound not expecting anything like this to happen. Crystal jumps on the rooftops, Sun that was silent just watching everything happen, also does that and follows them.

Blake goes to question Crystal, but she sees her face, realizing that she must've heard something. So she says nothing and just waits to be put down.

Crystal jumps down in an alley after running between the roofs for a while. She lets Blake down, who steps on the ground.

"Hehe, sorry for that" Crystal apologizes.

"It's okay, but a heads up next time would be great, okay?" Blake answers.

"Of course"

Crystal hears Sun jump down from the roof, she turns around and starts mocking him.

"Wow, you're slow"

"Ha-ha-ha" Sun exaggeratedly answers back.

"Don't begin you two" Blake states.

"Fine..." Crystal answers back.

The Faunus trio is then seen walking down an alley.

Sun with his hands behind his head "So, what's the plan now?"

Blake contemplates for a bit "I still don't believe the White Fang is behind these robberies. They've never needed that much Dust before."

Sun with wide eyes answers "What if they did?" lowering his arms and pacing in front of Blake as he continues his theory "I mean... the only way to prove that they didn't do it, is to go to the place where they would most likely go to if they were to do it, and not find them there! Right?"

"The only thing is, I've no idea where that would be," Says, Blake

"Well, while I was on the ship, I heard some guys talking about offloading a huge shipment of Dust coming in from Atlas" Sun continues.

"How huge?"

"Huge. Big Schnee Company freighter"

"Of course, it's Schnee, again" Mutters Crystal, only gaining one look from Blake, before she asks Sun again.

"You're sure?"

"Positive"

"Well, then, let's go," Crystal says and starts walking. But she doesn't hear any footsteps beside her.

"Crystal" Blake finally gets the fox's attention.

"Yes?"

"Wrong direction" Blake deadpans.

"Oh..." Crystal scratches her cheek "Yeah, I guess it's not my time to shine, you lead the way" She says and gets behind an amused Blake.

Sun goes to say something, but he only gets jabbed into his side by Crystal with a warning to 'shut it', while he internally laughs, on the outside he doesn't say anything.

And so, the trio makes their way towards their target in silence.

Crystal POV:

I lay flat on my stomach with Blake here, on a rooftop overlooking the shipment of Schnee Dust containers.

"Did I miss anything?"

Blake looks up as Sun drops down to her right "Not really. They've offloaded the crates from the boat. Now they're just sitting there."

S"Cool." Sun holds out two of the green apples in his arms "I stole you some food!"

"Oh, you actually did something useful!" I try to take one, but his hand moves away, I give him a look, he only stares back "Fine, I didn't want it anyway"

I look back at the 'action' down below.

Blake gives Sun a questioning look "Do you always break the law without giving a second thought?"

Sun defensively counters "Hey, weren't you in a cult or something?" Blake delivers a glare at him "Okay, too soon!"

Just as he says this, the winds blow all around us, and we look up to see a Bullhead's searchlights flashing around for a landing spot, descending in the middle of the cargo containers and extending a ramp for a black hooded individual with a metallic fanged mask to come out of.

"Oh no..." Blake mutters.

"Is that them?" Sun asks.

Blake stares straight at the bloody wolf on the back of the man's outfit "Yes... It's them"

White Fang soldier motions with his rifle to the other White Fang members coming from the aircraft "All right, grab the tow cables!"

"You really didn't think they were behind it, did you?" Sun asks Blake.

Blake staring sadly at the scene answers in defeat "No. I think deep down I knew. I just didn't want to be right." She closes her eyes, only to open them suddenly when she hears a new voice.

"Hey! What's the holdup!?" A man I know quite well know shouts, the soldiers look up Roman gesturing widely and coming down the ramp "We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment, so why don't you animals try to pick up the pace?"

"This isn't right. The White Fang would never work with a Human. Especially not one like that." She stands up and unsheathes the Katana of Gambol Shroud before walking off the edge of the roof.

Sun shouts alarmed "Hey, what are you doing?!"

Blake falls to the ground in a crouch, then continues to hide behind one of the containers, peeking around the corner to see Roman berate a White Fang member holding a coil of rope.

"Well, that was pretty cool" I comment.

"Seriously, what is she doing?" Sun asks the air.

I turn to face him, see him holding the apples still "Give me one of those and let's go" He turns his eyes to me, then sees me pointing my hand at the apple, knowing it isn't the right time, he gives in and gives me one. I nod and jump down near Blake.

I don't hear Sun following, either he is waiting for something, or he's just an actual wimp, well not that it matters, with me here, none of them stand a chance anyway.

I look at Blake from behind her and wait for her to do something, I take a bite of the apple, mmm, delicious. And she starts moving, I get ready to join in case I am needed.

"No, you idiot! This isn't a leash!" As he's looking around, Blake suddenly appears behind him with her blade at his throat "What the- Oh, for f-"

"Nobody move!" Roman gets interrupted mid swear.

The White Fang soldiers ready their guns and equip their swords in response.

"Whoa! Take it easy there, little lady."

As the White Fang closes in on her, Blake uses her free hand to go for her bow and remove it, causing the ribbon to fall away as her Faunus ears are shown to the world.

"Brothers of the White Fang! Why are you aiding this scum?"

The White Fang members lower their weapons a little at this development, unsure of what to do when Roman laughs.

"Oh, kid, didn't you get the memo?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together!"

"Tell me what it is or I'll put an end to your little operation."

Suddenly, the air is filled with more turbines blowing the wind wildly around the holdup.

Roman looks up "I wouldn't exactly call it a little operation..."

Two more Bullheads are hovering above the heist, and as Blake watches in horror, Roman smiles and manages to fire his cane at Blake's feet, resulting in a large explosion.

Blake, dazed but relatively unhurt on the ground, quickly rolls and runs out of the way of Roman's continued attacks, flaming missiles destroying cargo behind her as she flips and uses her semblance to dodge then retreats behind more containers.

Roman approaches slowly "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty..." He's interrupted when a banana peel lands on his head, causing him to toss it aside then look up and growl at the assailant eyes widening

Sun: "Woohoo!"

Sun leaps from the container above Roman and drops down on his's face feet-first, rolling up and readying himself to fight. Oh, he actually has some moves.

"Leave her alone!" He shouts once he landed.

The Bullheads open to let more White Fang members descend on the scene, standing by Roman as he gets up and surrounding Sun. Well, I guess it's time for me to join the fray.

Roman mocks Sun "You are not the brightest banana in the bunch, are you, kid?"

"Ha, even the criminals think you're a kid, but even if he isn't the brightest, he does have back up" I call out and walk towards them while chewing on my apple.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up" Sun answers, smiling.

Roman's eyes widen "It's you... What are you doing here?"

"Well, you know me, Roman, I enjoy taking long walks with an apple in hand"

"This night just keeps getting better, doesn't it?" He remarks annoyed.

"I suggest you surrender, for you already know what will happen if you try this... But I mean that wouldn't be fun, now would it? So be my guest, entertain me"

"Ugh... Get the monkey, ignore the two-tailed one" Roman commands and the White Fang members go after Sun, they throw me a look but follow their order.

"Roman, Roman... How did it come to this? You ordering my kind? When you're the one that's under the command of others... And you're just making me bored here, telling them to ignore me..."

Roman just grits his teeth but doesn't say anything.

"You're really not fun tonight. Well I guess I will just have to entertain myself"

I start walking closer to him, he backs up slightly.

"You're not going to attack me, are you?"

"You and I, both know that it's something you want to happen," He says irritated.

"Oh, you're learning, how about that?"

While I talk to Roman, I see his eyes widen at something that's happening behind me, but even without his eye indication, I can hear somebody walking up behind me and readying his attack.

"No, stop!" Roman yells, but it's too late, as I only grin at Roman while I get cut by a sword, right through my left shoulder.

"Ha, got her! This was too easy, I don't know why you ordered us not to attack her, she didn't even use aura"

Roman just shakes his head at the dead man and rightfully so.

I hear Sun screaming behind me and trying to come and help me. While I hear Blake only comment on how I will be adding another soul to my list from where she is right now. And she's right.

"AAAGH!" The man who attacked me screams in confusion as he doubles down on the ground in pain. This scream makes others look at what's happening. The White Fang members seeing their fellow members in such a state, forget about Sun and surround me.

"No, no, stop, forget her, listen to me" Roman shouts, demands them to listen. But they are in frenzy.

I smile maniacally.

"Roman... Doesn't seem like it's working" I comment lightly. He only looks at me, then at the White Fang soldiers and tsks loudly.

"Blake! You can have Roman, I got myself an audience!" I shout.

"You didn't have to tell me, he was mine, to begin with!" Blake leaps into action, attacking Roman. I stop paying attention to that fight, I trust Blake to have this under control. Now it's time... (For some fun).

I look behind me for a moment, seeing that the Fuanus that attacked me has bled out, well, so sad.

"I don't particularly like killing my own kind... I do it only in self-defense, so I am not going to attack you first, so you still have a chance to back down" I give them advice, hoping that at least some of them would listen. But the 8 members that are around me, don't back down. I shake my head in disappointment.

"Well, then, bring it, let's see how long you can last" I taunt instead.

Just as I say that three of them attack me immediately, I shut down my smell, touch, and taste senses completely off, letting my hearing and eyesight, increase in effectiveness multiple times.

They move so slowly, I take out two of my knives and get ready for it, just as the three make it to me, I dodge two of their swords, slice through their throats, dealing them a quick death... Well as quick as it can be. And I let the last one impale me through my stomach from behind. He cheers for a moment but falls to the ground screaming in pain the very next moment. I go to my knee and slice his throat, to put him out of his misery.

I stand back up and look around, seeing that the other 5 are beginning to fear me, while I can't feel it or smell it now, I can hear their heartbeats go erratic. It's such a beautiful sound, but I still prefer when the heartbeats that fast during sex instead of this. But it is the second-best option.

"Last chance, no more after this, if you attack me, you will perish just like the ones before you, so you should listen"

This time, two of them, drop their weapons, but the other three even with fear settling in, are in their 'revenge' state as I like to call it.

"This truly didn't have to go down this way, one of you made the smart choice, throwing away your lives is a bad idea"

"Shut up! You'll pay for this"

"Ha, very original, I've heard that one plenty of times"

"Y-you're crazy"

I roll my eyes "Yes and I am a part of a terrorist group..." I sarcastically answer back.

"Ugh" And they attack again, this time there's no need to let them hit me, I finally activate my aura, even if it's pretty underdeveloped, it still helps. And I wait for them again, but this time they attack me in succession, instead of all at the same time. I parry one sword with my knife, then the second one with my other knife, which sadly breaks, I will have to buy some new ones, these are getting dull. But as the third comes in for an attack, I drive my knife straight through his neck, with a little bit more I could cut his head off, but that'd be too much.

I take my knife out of his neck, just in time to block the other two attackers, that went for my back again. I sweep both of their legs with my tails, throwing them on the ground, and in their moment of weakness, I slice their throats in one single motion. I look at them as life leaves their eyes.

I shake my head in disappointment, they should've just listened, (But it's better this way, so much fun), I disagree, (Yeah, well, nobody asked for your opinion), whatever.

I turn to look at the two who surrendered, they see me bloody and try to run, but instead drop to the ground out of fear. I turn my senses back to normal and turn back to look at what's going around in the battle. Sun is about to get hit by Roman, I get ready to move, but I hear somebody shout "Hey!" That's... Ruby? I pause in place.

Ruby appears on the rooftop overlooking them, Crescent Rose extended and ready for action.

Roman having lost interest in Sun, waves "Well, hello, Red! Isn't it past your bedtime?"

Wait, that smell... Penny, definitely, yes! I have another opportunity to talk to her after this.

Penny approaching Ruby asks "Ruby, are these people your friends?"

Ruby looking behind answers "Penny, get back!" While her attention is diverted, Roman snarls and fires his cane at her, launching the young Huntress-in-training back from the explosion's force and sending her scythe flying away "AAAAAH!"

Roman gives off a professional-level evil laugh at his attack on the young girl. Penny turns her head toward the criminal and gives her first glare, walking forward while Ruby tries to get back up.

Ruby: "Penny, wait! Stop!" She raises her hand in a futile attempt to stop her.

Why is Ruby trying to stop her? Am I really the only one that realizes how deadly Penny is? I know for sure that I couldn't beat her without my semblance when I couldn't say the same for any members of Team RWBY... Well perhaps if I only leave my eyesight active... But that's debatable.

"Don't worry, Ruby. I'm combat ready!" Yes, you are girl, go get them. I had my fun, so let's just watch this. I sit down on the ground amidst the bodies and just relax, while also lowering my other senses by half and let my hearing take in everything on its own.

I see her backpack mechanically open up, and from its dark depths comes a single sword that extends and multiples into several blades hovering over Penny's back. Leaping from the rooftop with the weapons acting as wings, she sends three of her swords to knock two White Fang soldiers down before even landing on the ground, where she proceeds to fling the swords at one enemy, impale another to a wall, create a barrier of spinning steel against a running attack, leaping over a goon with her swords in tow, and finally making a wheel that she throws to knock multiple Faunus off their feet.

She is so freaking badass, my friends are so amazing.

"Whoa!" Sun mutters in amazement as he runs off to safety.

Three Bullheads come from the skies and open fire on the battle, but Penny merely forms a shield and launches two of her swords into the wall behind her, which in turn pull their wielder back with their strings. When her swords swirl around her again, she commands them to open their points and build up a large glowing ball of green light. With a punching action, several bright lasers crack the pavement when they fire at the transports and slice each one in half, causing several of the White Fang members inside to fall and letting Ruby watch as Bullheads fall in pieces behind her.

I whistle out loud at that, now I know for sure, I need to get my own weapon, like what is that? It's insane.

I see Ruby stunned, she turns back to Penny as she aims her swords at the remaining Bullheads holding the crate of Dust and pulls back on their wires, tugging the aircraft with them.

"Whoa... How is she doing that?" Ruby says in awe.

Seeing the Bullhead's flight fall under Penny's control, Roman grimaces and turns to run towards the last transport.

Penny, after her large green pupils dilate for a second, pulls with all her might on the strings, and the aircraft crashes into a stack of crates, causing an explosion as a result.

Roman watching from the safety of his escape "These kids just keep getting weirder... And yes, I know you can hear me, the biggest weirdo out of all of them" With his observation made, he uses his cane to close the doors, and the jet lifts off, flying away from the lost battle.

I shake my head in pure amusement, he just doesn't learn, well whatever, it's not the last time I see him anyways.

I stand up, seeing Blake walk closer to me, but she stops a little bit further away than I'd like, I tilt my head in confusion.

"The blood, you need a bath"

I look down and chuckle "Yeah, I guess I do, I warned them, they didn't listen"

"Mhm... You're quite deadly..."

"Thank you"

"That... Never mind, let's go" Blake stops herself from saying something and turns around, starting to walk.

"Yeah, I need to do something myself"

"And that is?"

"Talk to Penny"

"Ah, yes, you did mention that you were there, I guess the second friend she mentioned when talking to Ruby, was you"

"Yep!" I say happily.

"Penny that was amazing, how did you do all of that?" I hear Ruby excitedly question Penny.

"I told you, I am combat ready!" Penny salutes.

"Right... right, you did" Ruby gives up, understanding that she won't get a better answer.

"Penny!" I shout, running in front of her, ignoring Ruby altogether.

"Crystal, it's great to see you!" Penny answers with as much enthusiasm as I am feeling right now.

"Crystal...?" Ruby mutters slowly, I feel her eyes on me "Why are you so bloody? Are you injured?" She asks me worried.

I roll my eyes, turn around to face her "The blood isn't mine, Ruby"

She pauses for a moment and only lets out an 'Oh'. I resume ignoring her and turn to Penny again.

"Penny, where were you all this time? I tried searching for you, I even tried tracking down your smell, but I couldn't do it"

"I was just walking around Vale, we probably were too far away from each other"

I guess that makes sense? "Understandable, but now that we are here, let's talk"

"Yes, let us do that!" She answers excitedly.

Narrator POV:

Ruby goes closer to Blake, Sun standing near her. "Hi, Blake. How do they know each other?... And is it true what she said about the blood being from others?"

"Hello, Ruby, Crystal was there before us when we bumped into Penny. And it's true, she killed some White Fang members"

"Hmm..." Ruby looks back at the two-tailed Faunus who's happily talking with Penny, even though she looks like she bathed in blood... And for some reason, Penny doesn't call her out on it.

"I suggest you keep your opinion to yourself, she can most likely hear us" Blake advises her captain.

"What? How? We are so far away and she's not even paying attention to us"

"Experiments, that's all I will say"

"Oh..." Ruby looks back from Blake, to Crystal, she didn't expect to meet the Faunus's eyes, so she jumps slightly in place. But just as it suddenly happened, Crystal went back to her conversation with Penny.

But she abruptly stops. Making Penny look at her in curiosity.

Blake also sees that's something wrong. She walks closer to them, Ruby and Sun with nothing left to do, follow the cat Faunus.

"Crystal, what's wrong?"

"The police is coming, I have to go" Crystal answers Blake.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Ruby asks confused.

"Right... A person with blood all over her... Very smart idea to stay..." Ruby gets a little bit embarrassed by the obvious answer.

"Okay, we will meet up later, go get new clothes," Blake says without much trouble, she understands completely.

Crystal nods "Bye, Penny, Blake, see you later" She looks over at Ruby and Sun "Bye, kiddos, 'not' see you later" And starts running away, but stops for another moment, turns to look at Blake "Don't let Weiss go easily" she continues running, jumping up on roofs to not be seen by people.

Ruby gets sad at Crystal's remark "She's still mad at me, isn't she?"

Blake looks at her captain "I... I don't think so, she's more hurt than mad, she is definitely mad at Weiss though, just like I am"

"How can I fix this? If I'd known that asking Pyrrha for help would've ended so badly, I would've just kept my solo assault on her, trying her to talk to me"

"Time... that's all you need and perhaps an opportunity" Blake answers.

"Opportunity... I will make one myself, I don't want to wait, for who knows how long"

"Mhm," Blake simply hums at that.

As Police arrive at the place, the four of them sit down after having been questioned for a while, Ruby sees Weiss and Yang show up, so she stands up.

Ruby starts speaking quickly to explaining the situation "Look Weiss, it's not what you think, she explained the whole thing. See, she doesn't actually have a bow, she has kitty ears and they're actually kind of cute..."

Weiss, however, ignores her and squares off with Blake.

Blake calmly looking her down "Weiss, I want you to know that I'm no longer associated with the White Fang"

"Stop! Do you have any idea of how long we've been searching for you?" Weiss pauses "Twelve hours. That means I've had twelve hours to think about this. And in that twelve hours, I've decided..."

Yang, Sun, and Ruby look on, worried.

"I don't care" She finishes.

"You don't care?" Blake asks.

"You said you're not one of them anymore, right?"

"No, I haven't been since I was young-" Blake calmly answers, but gets interrupted.

"Ah-bahp-bahp-bahp! I don't want to hear it. All I want to know is that the next time something this big comes up... you'll come to your teammates. And not some..." Weiss looks at Sun behind Blake as she catches herself "Someone else."

Blake would've normally let this go with only this, but she heeds Crystal's advice.

"That's not enough, Weiss"

Weiss looks at Blake, not expecting that.

"W-What do you mean?"

"You can't just brush something like this off, by saying 'I don't care' and continue like it never happened. If you do something wrong, you need to apologize, only then will it prove to me that you learned from your mistakes and are mature enough for me to continue co-existing with you, being called an animal by a teammate, a friend is not something I'd like a repeat of"

Weiss only stares at Blake, while Blake only patiently waits for the word she wants to hear.

There's a stalemate, the other two members of RWBY worriedly looking between the two, while Sun feels completely out of place, strangely enough, he misses the fox, at least with her it was always fun, unlike this sad atmosphere that he doesn't do great in.

Blake after having enough of waiting, shakes her head disappointed and turns her back to Weiss, and starts moving back to the boxes so she could sit down again.

"I am sorry. I am sorry for bad-mouthing the Faunus, I am sorry, okay?" The Schnee finally put her pride down and apologized, with red ear tips.

Blake turns to look at Weiss, with a little bit of surprise on her face. But she finally, lightly smiles and nods.

"It's just what I wanted to hear. I am sorry, too, for saying that you're like your father and other things I said" Blake holds her arm out.

Weiss looks at it for a moment in confusion, before realizing what Blake wants.

The Schnee holds her own arm and connects it with Blake's. They shake it and release it after.

Blake looks at Weiss "We are back at square one" Weiss smiles and nods. The moment is serious for a second more until Ruby screams:

Ruby waving her arms wildly "Yeah! Team RWBY is back together!"

Weiss as the five gathers with each other points accusingly at Sun "I'm still not quite sure about how I feel about you!" Sun laughs nervously in response.

Ruby looks around "Hey, wait a minute... Where's Penny?"

Crystal POV:

Okay, I got myself some new clothes, I can go back to meet up with Penny and perhaps Blake if I haven't missed her, pretty sure she'd be going back to her dorm with her team... Instead of the hotel room with me. Well it was fun while it lasted

As I get to the scene, I look on from the rooftop, just as I expected, seeing RWBY and Sun, but... Where is Penny? I turn up my eyesight and look around, nothing, I turn up my nose, but yet again, I can't smell her, what is going on. Where is she?

I start running around the place, trying to see if I can catch at least a whiff of her smell, but nothing... Damn it, she just disappeared again. Did something happened? No way, she's strong enough, there should be no problem, but none of this makes sense.

I am not giving up, I know I can find her, I am not letting her get away again, just as I finally got to talk to her.

Narrator POV:

Crystal is seen dashing through rooftops, right above the car that her target is inside.

From the darkened back seat of a limo, Penny watches the group of friends reuniting with each other, she also catches a glimpse of Crystal standing on the roof, then jumping away.

"You should know better than to go running around in a strange city," The driver says to Penny.

Penny lowering her head, saddened, answers "I know, sir."

The car started, it drives off "Penny, your time will come..." The driver says again and continues "In fact, it's sooner than you think, Ironwood has a mission for you, here's the file" The driver gives Penny the documents on her mission.

Penny opens the file, not expecting to see what she saw, her eyes go wide for a second, but the surprise quickly goes away, to not bring attention to herself.

"T-This is my mission?"

"Yes, Ozpin asked Ironwood for some help, Apparently, there's a thorn in Ozpin's side. He wants that person gone, but only after she gives information"

"What... Are her crimes?"

"She blackmailed her way into Beacon, killed a lot of Atlas soldiers and many Schnee employees, but the biggest crime and the reason Ozpin asked for Iroonwood's help... She seemingly has kidnapped a presumed dead, professional Huntress and that's the information that you're tasked to achieve"

"I..."

"Do you understand, Penny?"

"Yes, sir!" Penny answers.

"Good, now buckle up, it will take several minutes to get to our destination"

"Okay..."

Penny looks down at the picture and the name in the document and slides her fingers over it. sadly.

Crystal Rose, Two-tailed (Previously Nine-Tailed) Faunus. Criminal level- Extremely dangerous.

Previously: Kill on sight, approved by Jacques Schnee, James Ironwood.

Now: Get information out of her by any means necessary, approved by Jacques Schnee, James Ironwood, Ozpin.

Basic target information: Aura levels - low. Intelligence - low. Knowledge - low. Battle prowess - Immeasurable, DON'T FIGHT HER, run if it comes to that point. Weakness - Emotions, use them against her.

"Friend" Penny mutters quietly, dejected.

Unbeknownst to Crystal who's frantically looking around for Penny, she has just lost a friend and gained a reluctant enemy.

Meanwhile, somewhere else.

Roman walks into a large warehouse with a shadowy interior. He goes over to a table and places down a case of mysterious contents, sighing in tiredness and frustration.

"How very disappointing, Roman"

He turns around suddenly when he hears the voice, which he didn't want to hear, and their noisy entrance "Whoa! Hehe... I wasn't expecting to see you guys so soon..."

Of the three figures before Roman he can see, only one of them and only her head, containing yellow eyes and flowing dark hair "We were expecting... more from you."

Roman laughs a little before getting serious "Hey! You were the ones who suggested working with those stupid mutts from the White Fang"

Cinder chuckling darkly in response "And you will continue to do so." She summons a fireball in her hand and steps out of the darkness with her two companions, a gray-haired man, and a mint-haired, tanned woman "We have big plans for you, Roman. All we ask is... a little cooperation"

"Yeah, well, perhaps including something else in those plans, would be a great help," Roman says exasperated.

"Oh? And what may that be?"

"Putting your two-tailed pet on a tighter leash, I don't need her ruining more of my plans"

Cinder pauses for a moment, then grins evilly "So, my little foxie was there? I guess I can't blame you too much for screwing up, after all"

Cinder Fall holds an evil little smile, thinking about what's to come.

~ End of Chapter 16 ~