W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby

Chapter 63: Cargo Ship



Inside the ship, Selene closed her leather-bound journal with a quiet snap, her latest entry meticulously penned. Weiss stirred from her light nap, blinking as she adjusted her posture.
Meanwhile, Rinko remained engrossed in Ninja of Love: Volume 1, rereading its pages with an amused smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
He muttered under his breath, seemingly entertained by the story's over-the-top romantic escapades.
Selene stood gracefully and approached the cockpit. "Sir, when will we arrive in Mistral?" she inquired politely.
The pilot, a middle-aged man with a rugged yet kind face, turned halfway in his seat. "Any moment now. You can already see the houses from here."
Rinko perked up, stretching his arms lazily before approaching the front window.
The skyship descended gracefully, its engines humming softly as it approached the expansive landing pad of Mistral's upper-level Cargo Transportation Station.
The bustling city sprawled out beneath them, its tiered architecture blending nature and civilization into a seamless masterpiece of art and commerce.
His sharp eyes spotted Mistral's iconic terraced design and ornate architecture.
The ship's movements gradually slowed as they prepared for landing.
The ship touched down smoothly with a soft thud, its engines powering down with a low hiss.
The ramp extended with a metallic clank, allowing the passengers to disembark.
The pilot stood from his seat, adjusting his cap. "Alright, kids. You're free to roam around while I handle the cargo process with station officials. Standard protocol," he informed them, tapping his scroll. "Or, you can stay onboard-your call. Once we're cleared, we head straight for Vale. C'pshh?"
Selene nodded gracefully. "Understood."
Rinko stretched his arms again, already feeling hungry. "Maa... I'm starving. Wanna head out and grab something to eat?" he asked, casting a glance at both Selene and Weiss.
Selene adjusted her pristine gloves. "I believe some fresh air and sustenance would be wise."
Weiss, still shaking off the remnants of sleep, ran a hand through her snow-white hair. "Fine... but nothing too common," she murmured, regaining her composed demeanor.
With that, the trio descended the ramp, stepping into the lively streets of Mistral's upper levels.
The Streets of Upper Mistral, Afternoon
The upper district of Mistral buzzed with life-street vendors calling out their wares, artists crafting sculptures in open plazas, and performers playing traditional string instruments near the city's ancient-looking fountains.
Ornate bridges connected elegant buildings adorned with hanging lanterns, giving the city an enchanting, timeless atmosphere.
Rinko inhaled deeply, savoring the mix of exotic spices and freshly baked bread wafting from nearby food stalls.
"Now this is what I'm talking about.." he slowly exclaimed, already scouting for a promising place to eat.
Selene, ever composed maid of the Schnee Family, surveyed the bustling environment with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "Stay vigilant," she reminded softly. "Even in a city of culture, shadows may hide in the light."
Weiss, brushing off her lingering sleepiness, adjusted her combat skirt and eyed a quaint restaurant tucked beneath a canopy of flowering trees. "That place looks... decent," she remarked, tilting her head toward the cafe's cozy outdoor seating area.
Rinko grinned. "Good enough for me."
They made their way toward the establishment, unaware that sharp eyes were already watching them from the distant shadows of the alleyways.
Hidden figures exchanged knowing glances.
Both cloaked figures nodded on one another.
As they approached the restaurant, the familiar hum of adventure stirred faintly in the air-an omen of things yet to come.
The soft glow of hanging lanterns illuminated the wooden interior, adorned with intricate carvings reflecting Mistral's rich culture.
The gentle strum of a distant string instrument added a calming rhythm to the air.
Weiss sighed softly, appreciating the tranquil atmosphere. "Ahh... I like the ambiance here," she admitted, allowing herself to relax for the first time in what felt like ages.
Rinko gracefully gestured toward a window-side table. "Shall we sit there? It offers a pleasant view," he suggested with polite warmth.
The trio settled into a cozy corner of the restaurant by the window, where they could observe the vibrant streets of upper Mistral.
Soon they placed their orders. Their server returned promptly with steaming bowls of Mistralian cuisine and a pot of aromatic herbal tea.
As expected, everything was exquisitely prepared.
Some Time Later...
The meal progressed peacefully. Weiss sipped her tea with delicate poise, while Selene dined with quiet elegance.
Rinko ate slowly and thoughtfully, savoring each bite. He set down his chopsticks and took a sip from his teacup, glancing toward Selene with mild curiosity.
"Selene," he began gently, his voice calm yet inquisitive.
She looked up from her cup, her ever-poised expression softening just a little. "Yes, Master Rinko?"
"This wouldn't happen to be your first time outside of Atlas, would it?" he asked politely, folding his hands on the table.
Selene paused, her gaze lowering slightly. For a brief moment, her composure wavered, touched by something distant.
"No... it isn't," she admitted, her voice quiet yet steady.
Weiss, intrigued, set down her teacup with care, her attention now fully on Selene.
"My family... originated from Mistral," Selene explained, her tone thoughtful. "Both sides of my grandparents lived here long ago... but after they passed..."
She exhaled softly, her eyes drifting toward the bustling streets outside. "My parents decided to leave. They thought starting anew in Atlas would help them escape... old memories."
A reflective silence followed, only filled by the soft chatter of other patrons and the distant hum of the city.
"Do you... miss it?" Weiss asked gently, her voice tinged with genuine concern.
Selene's lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. "I was very young when we left. My memories of this place are faint... but being here now, it feels... familiar, somehow."
Rinko nodded thoughtfully, his gaze steady yet understanding. "If this place holds meaning to you," he offered kindly, "we could spend some time exploring. There's no need to rush."
Weiss gave a supportive nod. "We're already here... It wouldn't hurt to reconnect with your roots, if you'd like."
Selene blinked, momentarily taken aback by their kindness. Her serene facade melted into something warmer, more genuine. "Thank you... both of you."
The serene atmosphere shattered in an instant.
The bell above the restaurant's entrance chimed, and the door creaked open.
Two cloaked figures entered, their faces obscured beneath dark hoods. Their presence immediately dampened the lively chatter inside, drawing uneasy glances from the few remaining patrons.
Rinko subtly adjusted his seat, his hand lowering near his thigh where a hidden kunai usually rested - a force of habit.
Weiss and Selene exchanged wary looks but remained still.
The cloaked figures strode confidently toward their table, their heavy boots thudding against the wooden floor.
"Enjoying your meals, aye?" a familiar, taunting voice drawled from beneath one of the hoods.
Rinko's eyes narrowed dangerously. That voice...
Weiss's breath hitched, recognition dawning on her as well.
Selene stiffened, clutching the briefcase in her lap like a lifeline.
The figure stepped closer, slowly lifting a distinctive cane into view. Its polished finish gleamed under the dim restaurant lights.
"Enjoy your last supper," the figure sneered, venom dripping from every word.
Before anyone could react, the restaurant's front window erupted in a deafening explosion.
BOOM!
Glass shards sprayed outward into the street, sending bystanders screaming and running for cover.
Smoke and fire engulfed the interior, swallowing the cozy ambiance in an instant.
Rinko, Weiss, and Selene were already in motion. Their auras flared instinctively, forming protective barriers against the blast.
They rolled through the haze, landing gracefully outside the restaurant and the scattering debris.
Selene's sharp eyes darted around as she flipped open the secure briefcase she'd been guarding.
In one swift motion, she tossed Myrtenaster toward Weiss, who caught it mid-air with practiced precision, the blade snapping open with a metallic click.
Without a word, Selene flung a sheathed katana toward Rinko, who seized it in a fluid motion.
He pulled the blade free with a sharp sching, its polished edge catching the glimmer of nearby lanterns.
Weiss's grip tightened around Myrtenaster, her expression twisted in disbelief. "That voice... It can't be-"
"Roman Torchwick," Rinko finished grimly, his sharp gaze fixed on the shifting smoke. His blade gleamed in readiness.
The wind carried the soft clatter of boots against broken wood as the figures emerged from the shattered entrance.
Standing at their center, removing his hood with a dramatic flourish, was none other than Roman Torchwick.
His signature smirk played across his face, eyes gleaming with malicious amusement.
Beside him stood Neopolitan, silent as ever, her mismatched eyes glinting with cold calculation.
She tilted her head with a knowing smirk, her parasol resting gracefully on her shoulder.
"Well, well... isn't this a pleasant surprise." Roman twirled his cane lazily, its hidden mechanisms clicking into place. "Fancy running into you two again. Small world, huh?"
Weiss's grip on Myrtenaster tightened, her gaze steeling. "Torchwick... I thought you were-"
"Captured? Dead? Oh, sweetheart." He laughed, voice dripping with mockery. "You of all people should know by now... I have a knack for survival."
Neopolitan silently drew her parasol, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Rinko stepped forward, his katana gleaming under the dim light. "Why are you here, Torchwick?"
Roman feigned thoughtfulness. "Business, of course. And maybe... a bit of unfinished personal matters." His smirk widened. "But I must admit... running into the last of the Schnees? That's just serendipity."
Without another word, Neo dashed forward with inhuman speed, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
"Scatter!" Rinko ordered, and in an instant, the battle ignited.
Selene pulled out her parasol as she dashed towards Neo.
Neo herself, dashed towards Selene.
Their parasols clashed.
But Neo was staggered back due to Selene's unexpected strength.
With one swing, Selene pushed back Neo as she gracefully landed on the concrete floor.
Neo's grin widened as the tip of her parasol revealed its deadly tip point.
While Selene's face was unreadable. "Hmph, what a nuisance." She raised her umbrella towards Neo as the point of her umbrella was a gun barrel. She soon shot shotgun metal-pallets.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Selene's arms were so strong, one arm is enough to withstand the recoil.
With an acrobatic flip, she landed in a crouch, her parasol spinning like a shield against Selene's relentless fire.
Selene advanced, her steps precise and calculated.
Her unreadable expression remained calm, her every movement exuding elegance despite the ferocity of her attacks. Neo tilted her head, intrigued by this formidable opponent.
Meanwhile, Rinko and Weiss charged at Roman Torchwick, who lazily spun his cane as if bored by the confrontation.
"You're eager. I do love a spirited welcome," Roman quipped, sidestepping Rinko's swift katana slash. With a flick of his cane, he fired a Dust-charged shot directly at Weiss.
Weiss reacted instantly, summoning a glyph beneath her feet and launching herself into the air, narrowly avoiding the blast.
As she descended, she cast a series of Ice Glyphs, sending sharp icicles toward Roman.
"Nice try, princess!" Roman deflected the projectiles with precise swings of his cane, only for Rinko to reappear behind him in a blur of speed.
"Too slow." Rinko's blade sliced downward, forcing Roman to dodge with a desperate roll.
He straightened with a snarl. "Alright, you little upstart... playtime's over." Roman lunged forward, his cane glowing with another charged shot aimed squarely at Rinko.
The street erupted into chaos-a whirlwind of gunfire, spinning steel, and deadly precision.
Neo and Selene continued their elegant yet brutal duel, neither giving an inch.
Weiss summoned more glyphs, launching herself from platform to platform with blinding speed.
She closed in, thrusting Myrtenaster toward Roman's exposed side.
Torchwick parried at the last second, cursing under his breath. "You kids never know when to quit, do you?"
Rinko smirked coldly as he circled behind Torchwick. "You're about to wish you hadn't."
As Torchwick swung his arms to parry Rinko's slash, the ground beneath him suddenly froze. Weiss had encased his feet in ice, throwing him off balance.
This momentary hesitation was all Rinko needed. With swift precision, he landed a devastating slash across Torchwick's chest.
"Arghh!" Torchwick groaned, his grip tightening around his cane as his aura flickered weakly.
He smashed his cane into the ice trapping his feet, breaking free and narrowly dodging Weiss' barrage of fire.
"Lucky hit," Torchwick muttered, glaring at Rinko.
He retaliated by launching a fireball toward Rinko, but the attack was easily dodged with a casual sidestep.
BOOM!
The blast exploded behind Rinko, sending debris from the crumbling building down onto Selene.
As she locked in a tense struggle with Neo, the falling rubble crashed on her with a deafening sound.
Bam.
"Selene!" Weiss shouted in panic.
Rinko turned, pausing to glance at the wreckage where Selene had been.
"Oops, looks like your maid got crushed. How unfortunate." Torchwick grinned.
But just as the words left his lips, the ground trembled, and the massive boulder shifted.
To everyone's shock, Selene emerged from the wreckage, lifting the giant boulder effortlessly before hurling it straight at Neo.
Neo's eyes widened in disbelief as she leapt out of the way just in time.
Rinko and Weiss stared, caught off guard by Selene's raw strength, and even Torchwick couldn't mask his surprise.
"What a brute!" he exclaimed, incredulous.
'Just like lord 5th..' Rinko-Kakashi-thought that sent a shiver in his spine.
Without wasting another moment, Rinko's focus snapped back to Torchwick. His eyes narrowed as he closed the distance between them in an instant, his movements fluid and deliberate.
Torchwick barely had time to react before their weapons collided with a sharp clang.
The two were locked in a furious exchange of strikes, their weapons moving faster than the eye could follow.
Torchwick's cane whipped through the air, its metallic shaft striking with precision, while Rinko's katana cut through the space between them with deadly elegance.
They danced around each other, every movement calculated, every strike an attempt to break the other's defense.
Sparks flew with each clash, the sharp screech of metal against metal echoing through the area.
Torchwick's cane was heavy with the force of his blows, while Rinko's katana moved like an extension of his will, every cut flowing seamlessly into the next.
Rinko was quick, his blade an almost invisible blur, but Torchwick was no slouch.
From behind, Weiss stepped into the fray, her presence almost a whisper before she unleashed a barrage of ice shards towards Torchwick.
The shards flew through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed to slow him down and give Rinko the upper hand.
Torchwick's eyes flicked to Weiss for only a moment, but that was enough for Rinko to press his advantage.
With a swift pivot, Rinko's katana slid past Torchwick's defenses, grazing his side with a deep cut.
Torchwick's aura flickered.
"You're too slow," Rinko taunted, his voice laced with cold amusement.
Torchwick growled, twisting his cane to block Rinko's next strike while narrowly avoiding another barrage of ice from Weiss.
He countered with a quick swipe of his cane, forcing Rinko to retreat a few steps, but the trio had already created a rhythm.
Every strike, every movement was a symphony of aggression and skill, each combatant pushing the other to the edge.
Rinko's katana clashed with Torchwick's cane in a rhythm of calculated precision, while Weiss supported from the sidelines, her ice slowing the man down, buying Rinko precious seconds to close in.
But Torchwick's focus shifted as he caught a glimpse of Neo. She was locked in a brutal struggle with Selene, who, with each swing, seemed more like a gladiator than a maid.
'I thought this was supposed to be a simple 2v2! I wasn't counting on their maid being a powerhouse!' Torchwick cursed silently. His thoughts barely had time to settle before Rinko's blade cut through the air, forcing him to sidestep just in time.
Torchwick countered with a vicious swing of his cane, but Rinko was already on guard, parrying the strike with a practiced motion, the force of it sending him stumbling back.
As Rinko regained his stance, Torchwick's eyes flicked toward Selene, who was now in the midst of a fierce clash with Neo.
Torchwick's instinct kicked in, and he intercepted the strike aimed at Neo, his cane meeting the umbrella with a loud crack.
But the sheer force of Selene's strength staggered him back, and he grinned in disbelief.
"Jeez, kid-what have you been eating?" Torchwick muttered, but Selene's only response was a silent, calculating glare.
He turned to Neo, his voice low and urgent. "We're retreating."
Neo's eyes flickered with reluctant agreement.
Torchwick stepped back, his cane poised as he launched himself into the air, aiming it to the ground.
A puff of smoke exploded around them, obscuring their figures as they vanished in the haze.
"Weiss, don't let them escape!" Rinko shouted, just as Weiss gathered her energy.
"HAGHH!" With a determined shout, she unleashed a massive wave of fire, sending it surging toward the dissipating silhouettes of Torchwick and Neo.
But before the flames could close in, the figures of Torchwick and Neo vanished completely into the smoke, leaving no trace behind.
Weiss' attack hit nothing but air, the flames vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.
Her anger simmered beneath her calm exterior, frustration evident in the tight set of her jaw.
"They're gone..." Selene muttered, her eyes narrowing as she observed the empty space where the enemies had been moments ago.
Weiss bit her lip, her gaze flicking to the shadows where their foes had disappeared.
'Not fast enough,' she thought bitterly.
"Hm..." Rinko murmured, his tone cool and indifferent.
Rinko smoothly sheathed his katana, his sharp eyes still scanning the area for any lingering movement. "It was only a matter of time. They're good at vanishing when they need to."
Weiss let out a soft growl of frustration, clenching her fists, but Rinko's calm demeanor reminded her they had still won the battle-if only just.
Suddenly, Rinko turned to Weiss and Selene, his expression unreadable but firm. "We need to move. The police will be here soon, and their presence will only complicate things further."
"B-but..." Weiss hesitated, her mind still replaying the fight, unwilling to accept that Torchwick and Neo had escaped.
"Miss Weiss," Selene interjected gently but firmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We need to go. Now."
Weiss exhaled sharply, forcing her frustration down. "Fine," she muttered, shooting one last glare at the empty streets before turning to follow them.
Rinko nodded approvingly and took the lead, his steps swift and purposeful. Selene stayed close, her gaze sharp and alert, her senses heightened as they vanished into the dimming afternoon shadows, leaving behind only the scorched remnants of their intense battle.
High above, perched on the rooftop of one of Mistral's weathered buildings, a lone figure watched the scene unfold with keen interest. His sharp crimson eyes tracked their movements until they disappeared into the maze of alleyways.
"Were those... Schnees?" The familiar, gravelly voice of Qrow Branwen broke the stillness. He lowered his flask after taking a thoughtful swig, his expression darkening with suspicion.
He'd arrived just moments after the chaos ended, drawn by the distant explosions while scouting for potential Huntsmen to aid in the search for the Spring Maiden.
What he hadn't expected was to see not one but two Schnees-Rinko and Weiss-locked in battle against none other than Roman Torchwick and Neopolitan.
Qrow muttered under his breath, piecing together the implications.
The last he'd heard, Weiss Schnee was in Atlas, tangled up in the mess with her family and their company. But Rinko Schnee? His presence was far more puzzling.
His skill with a katana and that calculated intensity in his eyes... definitely not someone Qrow would expect to see here.
"This... just got a lot more interesting," he mused, flipping his cloak over his shoulder as he rose.
His grip tightened around Harbinger's hilt as he considered his next move.
If the Schnees were involved in whatever was brewing in Mistral, things were about to escalate faster than he'd anticipated.
Without another word, Qrow leapt from the rooftop, disappearing into the city's labyrinthine streets-ready to follow the trail and uncover just what the Schnee siblings were up to.
[End]


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