Chereads / W H I T E // Naruto X Rwby / Chapter 20 - Moving Forward

Chapter 20 - Moving Forward

Weiss' Unconsciousness: FlashbackIn a heartbeat, she was transported to her childhood, where the world was painted in hues of innocence and laughter. She envisioned her younger self, vibrant and carefree, playing alongside her twin brother, Rinko, who was equally young six years old."Rinko! Wanna play together?" Weiss called out, her voice brimming with excitement."Sure!" Rinko replied, a broad grin spreading across his face."Haha!" Weiss giggled, her laughter ringing like a sweet melody in the air.The scene shifted, and they were now eight years old. The atmosphere was filled with the smell of freshly opened books and the sound of scribbling pencils."Here, Weiss, let me help you with your studies!" Rinko offered, handing her his neatly organized notes."Thank you, Rinko! You're the best! I lost mine somehow..." Weiss replied, her eyes sparkling with gratitude."You're in good hands! I gotcha!" Rinko flashed her a thumbs-up, his confidence shining like the sun.Suddenly, the vision morphed again. They were eleven, peeking through the slightly ajar door of their father's office. The air was thick with tension as they watched Winter and Jacques engage in a fierce argument, their voices raised and sharp as blades.Weiss's heart ached as she saw her sister and father fighting. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned to Rinko, who instinctively wrapped his arms around her in comfort."Don't cry, Weiss. It'll be okay," he whispered softly, holding her close as she sobbed into his shoulder.The memories faded, replaced by another moment, now when they were thirteen. This time, it was a day marked by heartache, the day Jacques decided to distance Rinko from their family."Rinko! Please don't go..." Weiss pleaded, her voice trembling as she clutched his arm, desperation etched across her young face."I'll be back for you, Weiss... I promise," Rinko replied, forcing a smile despite the sadness lurking in his eyes."Promise?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper."I promise!" Rinko grinned, ruffling her hair playfully, but it felt like a fleeting moment, a final comfort before the storm.As Jacques took Rinko away, Weiss reached out, her small hand grasping for her brother, but he was pulled from her grasp, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.Time-shifted once more, and they were now fifteen. The two years had changed Rinko, wrapping him in a cold demeanor that chilled Weiss to the bone."Hello, sister," he said, his voice devoid of warmth."Rinko! Welcome back!" Weiss exclaimed, rushing towards him, her arms outstretched for a hug. But he halted her with an icy stare."Sorry, Weiss. I don't have time for you. I'm here to get Father.""O-oh... O-okay. But at least you're back! Wanna go to my room after you're done? I want to hear about your adventures-!" She was cut off, the excitement draining from her."Like I said, I don't have time for you." His words were sharp, slicing through her heart like a dagger.Weiss's chest tightened, the hurt welling up as she noticed the pain hidden deep within Rinko's eyes. "You liar..."Rinko stiffened at her retort, caught between his facade and the truth he refused to acknowledge."You said... you'd come back for me..." Tears threatened to spill from Weiss's eyes."YOU'RE A LIAR!" she shouted, spinning away and racing back to the manor, her heart shattered into a million pieces."Wait, Weiss..." Rinko's voice cracked as he reached out for her.. his fake mask crumbling, revealing his real self..but it was too late.Jacques emerged from around the corner, casting a glance at his daughter running away, tears streaming down her face.Rinko's expression hardened, a mask of indifference sliding back into place as he greeted his father with forced composure."Hmph," Jacques dismissed Weiss's distress with a wave of his hand before stepping toward the front door of the manor. Rinko followed, the distance between him and Weiss stretching further as they prepared for another cold trip into the world of business."Let's get going, Father. We have an important business trip coming up..." Rinko said, his voice a hollow echo of the brother Weiss once knew."Right." Jacques nodded curtly, and they climbed into the car, leaving Weiss behind, her heart heavy with unspoken words.Years slipped by, and they were now seventeen. Weiss, on the cusp of adulthood, stood at the door, ready to leave when Rinko's voice echoed from the second floor."I hope you trip on your way out! Wish you the worst of luck!" he called playfully, his smug grin infuriating.Weiss turned to face him, her frustration bubbling over. "You're an insufferable piece of rust, you know that?""At least I get to own the company. Enjoy suffering as a Huntress!" He turned away, retreating deeper into the manor, leaving Weiss with a swirl of anger and hurt.With a shaking sigh, she slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the empty hall as darkness seeped into her vision. The weight of memories crashed over her, suffocating and overwhelming.Suddenly, the room spun, and Weiss felt her strength fade. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed, the world around her fading to black as Rinko's voice gradually got louder.Mountain Glenn"Weiss... Weiss! Wake up!" Rinko's voice called, filled with worry, as he gently shook her.Weiss groaned, blinking as she tried to push herself off the ground."Ugh..." She rubbed her head, the painful memories crashing back all at once Mountain Glenn, the train, Vale.She remembered the Faunus beating her and tossing her around like a ragdoll, her muscles still aching from the fight.She gritted her teeth, glancing over to see the Faunus who'd defeated her now unconscious on the ground and missing an arm, a sight that eased the tension in her shoulders."Did... did you do this, Rinko?" Weiss asked, her voice wavering as she looked up at him.But what caught her off guard was the look in his eyes look she hadn't seen in years. It wasn't the cold gaze of Jacques' protege, the ruthless heir to the Schnee Dust Company.It was the worried eyes of Rinko Schnee, her brother from years ago, the one she used to play with, the one she'd prayed would come back.Without another word, Rinko pulled her into a hug. "I'm glad you're okay," he murmured, relief in his voice as he sighed.Weiss froze, emotions bubbling to the surface as she glanced over at Yang, who was sitting nearby, resting but giving her an encouraging thumbs-up.Seeing Rinko's genuine worry felt like something inside her had unlocked a dam that had been holding back years of pain, loneliness, and longing. She could feel her composure slipping.Her hands slowly moved up, returning Rinko's embrace as she clung to him, fingers twisting in the fabric of his polo.She could feel the tears welling up, unstoppable now. Her voice was barely a whisper as she choked out, "You're back... Rinko, you're really back."Rinko-Kakashi-paused, confused by her words.But something inside him seemed to recognize the depth of her relief. A memory from Klein's old stories stirred in him about the conflict between him and his younger twin.He took a deep breath as if his heart instinctively knew the response."Right... I am back, Weiss."A small, trembling smile broke through her tears as she sniffled."You dolt!" Her grip tightened, and she pulled back just enough to punch him lightly in the chest, though her touch held no strength.Rinko smiled, wrapping his arms around her again, not saying anything but just being there, reassuring her.Yang watched them from the corner, her expression soft as she observed the siblings reuniting. She didn't know the full story, but seeing Weiss finally let go of her burden was more than enough.Outside The Train"HYAH!" Ruby's scythe flashed as she slashed through the final Grimm that dared approach the train, its remains disintegrating into the air.Blake and Oobleck took a moment to catch their breath, scanning the area with focused gazes. The coast was finally clear. The defeated White Fang members lay sprawled across the ground, unconscious and restrained by a thick rope Blake had quickly retrieved from the train's storage."Phew... Mission accomplished, ladies," Oobleck panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead.Blake exhaled deeply, glancing over the tied-up captives. "That was... quite a piece of work.""You did awesome, buddy!" Ruby grinned, scooping up Zwei, who promptly showered her face with enthusiastic licks."Ah! Oh-Stop it, Zwei!" Ruby giggled, trying to dodge his licks without much success.Oobleck chuckled, but his eyes flicked back to the train. "Now, let's check on your other teammates-" Oobleck was interrupted by Yang's voice."We're fine!"Just then, Weiss, Rinko, and Yang emerged from the top of the train, silhouetted against the sky. Rinko had an arm around Weiss, steadying her as she found her footing, while Yang seemed to be handling herself just fine, her usual confidence shining through.Yang leapt down, landing gracefully. Rinko followed, holding Weiss securely as he jumped off the train, landing smoothly beside Yang."Glad you could join us," Blake greeted with a nod, relief evident in her gaze.Weiss took a steadying breath, nodding back. "Thanks... glad to be here." She shot Rinko a grateful smile as he finally released his supportive grip.With the team regrouped, they stood together, feeling victorious."Well, I'd say the mission went off without a hitch. Mission accomplished, gals!" Oobleck chimed in, clapping his hands together. "Since we're close to Vale, our scrolls should have signal. Sit tight while I contact Ozpin to send reinforcements to pick us up." With that, he turned to make the call, stepping away from the group.Relief washed over Team RWBY and Rinko as they all sank to the ground, the tension and adrenaline of the mission finally fading.Rinko, almost instinctively, reached into his pouch, pulling out a familiar book and flipping it open.Weiss raised an eyebrow, catching a glimpse of the title. "Seriously? You're reading that trash again?" She shot him an exasperated look, refering to the porn/drama/action novel Kakashi was holdingRinko paused, offering an innocent smile. "Uh... I'm just here for the plot," he lied, clearly trying to keep a straight face.Weiss rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on the back. "You're such a terrible liar!"The lighthearted exchange seemed to lift the remaining weight off her shoulders. Team RWBY couldn't help but notice the change in Weiss, the usual strictness in her tone softening to something more familiar and warm."Did we miss something?" Ruby whispered to Yang, leaning in as both Ruby and Blake cast curious glances toward Weiss and Rinko as they leaned to Yang for answers.Yang chuckled, leaning back against the train. "Nah, nothing big. Just our resident ice queen finally thawed out a bit." She closed her eyes, looking thoroughly pleased with how things had turned out.For the first time in a while, there was a sense of genuine peace and camaraderie between them all, as they basked in the quiet triumph of their success.[End]