Rinko slowly opened his eyes, his head throbbing with a dull ache. His memories surged back-the chase, the fight, Neo's iron grip around his neck. He instinctively tensed, his body on high alert.His eyes darted around, taking in his surroundings. He was in Cinder's dorm, seated on a sturdy chair. His hands were cuffed tightly behind his back, the cold metal biting into his wrists.Across the room, Mercury lounged carelessly in a chair, tossing a ball into the air and catching it in a lazy rhythm.The casual, almost mocking repetition grated against Rinko's nerves.His gaze locked onto Mercury, his sharp mind already analyzing the situation, but he stayed silent, choosing not to reveal his thoughts.Mercury noticed his movements and smirked, setting the ball aside as he leaned forward. "Well, look who finally decided to join us." His tone dripped with mockery. "Had a good nap?"Rinko didn't respond, his jaw tightening as he focused on remaining calm. Mercury's smug expression faltered for only a second before a chuckle escaped his lips."Silent treatment, huh? Alright." Mercury leaned back in his chair, feigning indifference. "You Schnees sure know how to put on a show. Too bad none of it matters now."Rinko's mind raced.His sword was gone, and without the use of his hands, his glyphs were useless. But his training as an Anbu was second nature. Hidden within the folds of his sleeve was a lock pick-a failsafe he always carried.Rinko shook his uper body in defiance-that's what Mercury thought but infact, he shook his body for the lockpick to fall just right into his hand.Mercury stood, stretching his arms casually, "You can't get out of there, but hey! I'll give you credit where it's due-you've got guts. Dumb guts, but still. Trying to spy on us? Ballsy move." He bowed to Rinko's eye level, his smirk widening. "Too bad it didn't work out for you."Rinko's eyes narrowed, his silence deliberate.He wasn't about to give Mercury the satisfaction of seeing him flinch. Instead, he focused on the lock pick in his sleeve, flexing his wrist ever so slightly to edge it closer to his hand.Mercury tilted his head, studying Rinko. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or maybe you're just thinking about how bad you screwed up." He grinned, leaning in closer. "You're not walking out of here, Rinko. Not alive, anyway."Rinko met Mercury's gaze, his expression stoic. 'Just a little more,' he thought, his fingers brushing against the hidden lock pick. 'Stay calm. Be patient.'Mercury remained oblivious, turning his back to Rinko as he strolled casually to the other side of the room.Behind Rinko, a faint click echoed as the lock gave way.With a deft motion, he slipped his hands free, carefully holding the cuffs to prevent any noise.His pulse quickened, but his face remained composed. The challenge now was timing—he couldn't risk moving prematurely.The door creaked open, and Neo entered first, her parasol spinning idly in her hand. She glanced at Rinko with her usual amused smirk, tapping the tip of the parasol lightly on the floor.Emerald followed.Finally, Cinder stepped in, her presence commanding immediate attention. Her golden eyes locked onto Rinko, and her lips curved into a menacing smile."I trust you've been reflecting on your poor choices, Schnee," Cinder drew, her tone thick with mockery as she stopped in front of him.Rinko maintained his stoic demeanor, hiding his freed hands in a position that wouldn't draw suspicion."So.. How was the match?" Mercury asked while he kept throwing his ball and catching it.Emerald rolled her eyes. "We won, obviously," she replied with a touch of annoyance, leaning against the wall.Neo shot Mercury a smug glance, twirling her parasol before resting it on her shoulder."Of course you did," Mercury replied lazily, tossing the ball into the air and catching it with a smirk. "Didn't think anyone would stand a chance against her." He was referring to Neo.Cinder, clearly unimpressed by the small talk, kept her sharp gaze locked on Rinko. "This isn't the time for games," she snapped, her voice slicing through the casual atmosphere like a blade.Mercury shrugged, catching the ball one last time before setting it aside. "Just trying to lighten the mood," he said, though his smirk suggested he was enjoying the tension.Meanwhile, Rinko's mind stayed focused, carefully watching each of them. He couldn't let their banter distract him-every second was an opportunity.Team RWBY, Dormitory BuildingTeam RWBY made their way down the hallway of the dormitory, their chatter light but filled with the energy of the day's events.As they reached their dorm room, Weiss paused, glancing down the hall toward Rinko's door. A nagging thought tugged at her mind.After lunch, Rinko had seemingly vanished. He hadn't shown up at his usual spot during the Amity Tournament, and even now, his absence felt strange."You guys go ahead. I'm going to check on my brother," Weiss said, her tone calm but carrying a hint of concern.Ruby, Blake, and Yang exchanged glances but nodded, entering their dorm room without question.Weiss approached Rinko's door and knocked lightly. "Rinko? Are you there?"Silence.She knocked again, harder this time. Still no response. Her unease deepened.Without hesitation, Weiss turned the doorknob and peeked inside. The dorm was as neat as ever—everything in its proper place—but there was no sign of Rinko.Weiss sighed, stepping back into the hallway. 'What's going on with you, brother?' she thought before her resolve hardened.Her gaze turned Team JNPR's dorm just around the corner. She needed answers.As Weiss raised her hand to knock, the door opened, and Nora appeared, her expression surprised."Oh—hello, Nora. Have you seen Rinko—?" Weiss started, but Nora interrupted her."I was actually about to come find you," Nora said, her concern evident. "Pyrrha texted me earlier. She and Jaune were walking down the hallway that leads to the rooftops and found this." She held up and showed her the picture of another scroll, "It's got the Schnee logo on it. It must be either yours or-""It's Rinko's!" Weiss exclaimed, her heart sinking.Weiss didn't wait for further explanation. "Take me to them."Nora nodded, sensing Weiss's urgency, and the two hurried toward the hallway that led to the rooftops. Weiss's mind raced. Why would Rinko's scroll be there? What could have happened to him?As they arrived, Pyrrha and Jaune stood near a corner of the hallway, talking quietly. Pyrrha held a scroll in her hand. Both turned at the sound of footsteps."Weiss," Pyrrha greeted, holding out the scroll. "I assume this belongs to Rinko?"Weiss walked up quickly, taking the scroll from her. She recognized it instantly."Yes, it's his," Weiss confirmed, her voice tight. She looked past Pyrrha toward the hallway leading to the rooftops. "Where exactly did you find it?"Pyrrha pointed toward the ground a few feet ahead. "Over there, near the stairs. It looked like it had been dropped-or maybe tossed.""It blends pretty well with the walls, so if we weren't mindful, we wouldn't have noticed it." Jaune pointed out.Weiss's grip on the scroll tightened, her unease deepening. She scanned the area, her sharp eyes searching for anything else out of place."Something's wrong," she said firmly. "Rinko wouldn't just leave this behind."Jaune frowned, stepping forward. "It's strange that he would just leave it there... Something must've happened."Weiss's jaw tightened. "I don't know yet, but we need to figure it out."The others nodded, sharing her concern.Cinder's DormCinder's patience frayed with every passing second as she stood before Rinko, her arms crossed and her flames swirling faintly around her fingers. She didn't bother leaning in or feigning civility this time. Her voice, low and cold, filled the room."I'll make this simple, Schnee," she said, her tone sharp enough to cut steel. "Tell me what you heard, or this becomes far more unpleasant for you."Rinko met her gaze, calm and unwavering. His smirk was gone, replaced with a neutral expression that revealed nothing. "You're wasting your breath."Cinder's flames flared, the temperature in the room spiking as her temper cracked. Emerald and Neo exchanged glances, sensing the shift, while Mercury's grin only widened as he leaned casually against the wall."You're either brave or stupid," Cinder said, stepping closer, her fiery aura growing more oppressive with each step. "Let me guess—brave enough to think you can talk your way out of this. Stupid enough to think we'll let you leave alive."Rinko remained silent, his eyes darting between her hands and her posture, analyzing every movement.Cinder extended a flame-tipped finger toward him. The heat licked at his cheek, uncomfortably close, but he didn't flinch."You think silence will protect you?" Cinder's voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "It won't. You've already lost."Rinko tilted his head slightly, his calm demeanor still intact. "You're wasting time, Cinder. If you were going to kill me, you would've done it by now."That struck a nerve.Cinder's eyes flared, and the flames in her hand erupted into a brief inferno before she caught herself. She took a deep breath, her frustration simmering as she straightened."Fine," she said icily, stepping back. "If you want to suffer before you break, I'm happy to oblige."Emerald took her cue and approached, cracking her knuckles with a menacing grin. "Don't worry—I'll make sure you're begging to talk in no time."Neo's parasol tapped against the floor as she watched silently, her amused expression masking her curiosity about what Rinko would do next.Rinko's mind raced. He wasn't going to let this end here. As Emerald loomed closer, his focus sharpened. He wouldn't get another chance.Emerald crouched slightly, her green eyes gleaming with cruel intent as she smirked at Rinko. "You know, I'm really going to enjoy this. It's been a while since I've had a little... fun."Rinko remained calm, his face unreadable as he carefully shifted his weight on the chair. The metal cuffs on his wrists were already loose; he just needed the perfect opportunity.Emerald grabbed him by the collar and pulled him forward, her grip firm. "Let's see how tough you really are without your fancy glyphs or that Schnee name to protect you."As she leaned closer, Rinko finally spoke, his voice measured and calm. "If this is the best you've got, I'm not impressed."Emerald's smirk faltered for the briefest moment, irritation flashing in her eyes. She raised her fist, ready to strike, but Rinko had been waiting for this exact opening.With a single, fluid motion, Rinko twisted his body, snapping free from the loose cuffs. The metallic clatter of the handcuffs hitting the floor echoed through the tense room, catching everyone off guard.Before Emerald could react, Rinko intercepted her punch, gripping her wrist tightly. Using her momentum against her, he yanked her forward and drove his elbow into her face with precision.PowEmerald staggered, a sharp gasp escaping her lips, but Rinko didn't relent. He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the ground with a controlled force. Thud"Ack—!" Emerald gasped, clutching at his hand in a futile attempt to break free.The sharp click of Neo's parasol opening snapped through the air as she sprang into action, her movements a blur of agility and precision.Rinko reacted instantly, grabbing the chair he had been restrained to and tilting it backward just enough to narrowly avoid the tip of Neo's parasol.The blade-like point whistled past his face, slicing through the air with deadly accuracy.The room erupted into chaos.Cinder's flames roared to life, her fiery aura surging as her temper boiled over. "Enough!" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "Stop playing games and take him down!"Rinko didn't hesitate. He flipped the chair toward Neo, forcing her to sidestep gracefully, her smirk widening as she prepared for a counterattack.But Rinko was already in motion, ducking low and sprinting toward the far wall where he had spotted his confiscated weapons.Mercury stepped in his path with a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at his ribs. Rinko raised his forearm, deflecting the blow, the force sending a jolt up his arm but not stopping his momentum."Sorry, not sorry, Rinko," Mercury taunted with a cocky grin. "But you're dead meat!"Rinko didn't bother responding, his focus razor-sharp. As Mercury followed with another strike, Rinko spun out of range, narrowly avoiding the kick.Before he could press his advantage, Neo darted in from behind, her parasol ready to strike.Rinko reacted instantly, summoning a Glyph beneath his feet as he leapt into the air, hurling his smoke bombs mid-flight.Poof!Thick smoke engulfed the room, eliciting a chorus of coughing from his opponents. Rinko landed squarely on Mercury's back, driving him to the floor with a grunt. Using the momentum, he vaulted toward his weapons, his fingers grazing the hilt of his katana just as the smoke began to thin.The sound of rapid footsteps behind him triggered his instincts. In a fluid motion, Rinko unsheathed his katana, turning just in time to parry a glass sword strike from Cinder.Clang!Sparks flew as the two blades clashed. Cinder's eyes blazed with fury, her strength pressing down on him. "You're not going anywhere, Schnee," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.Rinko, locking eyes with Cinder, pushed her back with a surge of strength before following up with a swift kick to her abdomen. She stumbled backward, crashing into a nearby chair, shattering it beneath her."Rghh—! GET HIM!" Cinder bellowed, fury radiating from her voice as Neo, Mercury, and Emerald lunged at Rinko in unison.Rinko calmly stepped back, his form vanishing into the thick smoke that still lingered in the air. Their attacks hit nothing but empty space."Damn it! Where is he?! Cough—" Mercury growled, shielding his face with his arm against the smoke."There!" Emerald shouted, pointing toward a silhouette.Mercury turned toward her direction, but it was too late. Rinko materialized out of the haze and delivered a crushing kick to Mercury's face, sending him flying into the wall.ThudThe impact reverberated through the room as Mercury slumped, dazed. Before Mercury could recover, Rinko flung a kunai that struck his sleeve, pinning him to the wall by his arm."W—what?!" Mercury grumbled as he attempted to pull his pinned arm.Neo advanced next, her parasol snapping open as she pressed forward with precise and deadly intent. Her parasol's point jabbed toward Rinko, but he sidestepped fluidly, weaving past her attack. In one swift motion, he closed the gap, driving his knee upward toward her jaw.Neo reacted instantly, flipping backward with acrobatic grace. She countered with a sharp kick aimed at Rinko's head, her leg cutting through the air.Rinko raised his arm to block the strike and, in the same motion, threw another kunai. This time, the kunai struck the hilt of Neo's parasol, wrenching it from her grip and sending it clattering against the wall.Neo, momentarily disarmed, widened her eyes in surprise. Rinko capitalized on the opening, landing a solid punch to her abdomen. Though her aura absorbed most of the damage, the blow still caused her to stagger and grit her teeth in pain.Refusing to falter, Neo gripped Rinko's arm tightly, locking him in place. Emerald charged from the side, her twin blades gleaming as she aimed for Rinko's unguarded flank.Rinko twisted his body sharply, wrenching his arm free from Neo's grip just as Emerald's blades came slashing down.Sparks flew as her weapons scraped against the tiles where he had been moments before.Using the momentum from his turn, Rinko lashed out with a kick aimed at Emerald's wrist, forcing her to drop one of her blades with a loud clang.She hissed in frustration but immediately spun around, slashing horizontally with her remaining blade. Rinko ducked beneath the swipe, fluidly pulling a string from his pouch as he shifted positions. In a blur, he looped the string around Emerald's ankle and yanked, causing her to lose her balance and crash to the ground. Neo, recovering quickly, lunged forward to re-engage. She threw a flurry of punches and palm strikes, her movements unpredictable and relentless.Rinko blocked and parried as best he could, stepping back to create space. Suddenly, Mercury ripped free from the kunai pinning his sleeve, his eyes blazing with anger. "You're so dead!" he roared, launching himself into the fray with a powerful spinning kick. Rinko barely evaded the strike, leaning back as the kick sailed past his face. Mercury's foot slammed into the wall, leaving a dent, but he was already following up with a barrage of rapid kicks, each one faster than the last. Rinko kept his focus sharp, using his strings to wrap around the last smoke bomb hidden in his pouch.With a flick of his wrist, the bomb shot out and detonated in the middle of the group. Poof.The room filled with another thick cloud of smoke, obscuring everything. "This again?!" Mercury growled, his voice muffled by the haze. Through the thick smoke, Neo and Emerald moved cautiously, their eyes darting through the haze. Every step was calculated, their senses heightened, searching for any sign of movement.Suddenly, there was a faint, metallic snap.Rinko pulled a string.Before they could react, nearly invisible strings shot taut in every direction.Neo, Mercury, and Emerald were caught off guard as the wires wrapped around their limbs, yanking them violently to the ground.Thud!"What the—?!" Mercury growled, struggling against the tight restraints. The strings bit into his aura, rendering his movements sluggish and strained.Neo's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing with cold fury. She twisted her body, trying to break free, but the precision of the setup left her immobilized.Emerald cursed under her breath, the strings digging into her wrists as she clawed at them. "Where is he?!" she spat, her voice filled with frustration.Rinko stepped through the dissipating smoke, his katana in hand and a cold, calculating look on his face. The faint glow of the strings glimmered under the room's dim light, revealing the intricate web he'd set up."You underestimated me," he said simply, his voice calm yet laced with an edge of defiance.Cinder's flames flared as she took a step forward, her amber eyes narrowing. "Clever... but do you really think this will stop us?"Rinko's grip on his katana tightened, his stance steady. "Yes," he admitted. "And my target is you."With a sharp tug, he pulled the strings tighter, drawing pained grunts from his ensnared opponents.Cinder's frustration boiled over. "You're playing a dangerous game, Schnee."Rinko smirked faintly, his confidence unwavering. "And yet, I'm still standing."Rinko could have escaped, slipping through the chaos and finding his way to safety.But he knew better.If he ran now, Cinder would hunt him down, just as she had before. No, this time, he was done running. If they wanted him, they'd have to earn it. He's ending this.His grip on the katana tightened as he stared Cinder down. "You're not leaving this fight unscathed," he muttered, his voice steady but brimming with resolve. Cinder's smirk deepened, her confidence radiating off her in waves. "Bold words from someone who doesn't stand a chance." She surged forward, her glass sword clashing against his katana with a deafening clang.Rinko held his ground, his stance firm as he pushed back against her overwhelming force. Sparks flew between them as their blades locked, her strength pressing him closer to the edge. But Rinko was ready. With a sudden shift, he sidestepped, letting her momentum carry her forward as he slashed upward. Cinder twisted in time, her aura flickering as the tip of his blade grazed her shoulder. "Lucky hit," she growled, her eyes narrowing as she retaliated with a fiery blast aimed at his chest. Rinko leapt back, spinning mid-air as he threw a kunai. The blade flew true, forcing her to deflect it with her glass sword, but the brief distraction allowed Rinko to close the distance once more. "You're only delaying the inevitable!" Cinder sneered, her flames intensifying. Cinder met his slash as there was yet another spark from the blades they held.Rinko had no illusions about victory. His focus wasn't on defeating them outright but on ensuring they'd be too battered to chase after him."You're all so predictable," he muttered, sidestepping another fiery slash from Cinder's glass blade.Cinder's fury erupted in a roar as she slashed at him with relentless precision, flames licking the air with each strike. Rinko, ever calm, deflected with his katana where he could, his movements calculated to conserve energy.As her onslaught drove him back, Rinko collided with a nearby shelf. His sharp instincts kicked in, and he ducked under a horizontal slash that would've cleaved him in two. Grabbing a gleaming trophy from the shelf, he swung it with all his might.CRACK!The trophy slammed into Cinder's face with a satisfying impact, knocking her back a step as she snarled in rage."My... my trophy!" Mercury groaned from the floor, his disbelief cutting through the chaos as he struggled against the strings holding him.Cinder staggered briefly, her flaming aura flaring wildly. Her amber eyes burned with unrelenting rage as she wiped a trail of blood from the corner of her mouth. "You're going to regret that," she growled, her voice dripping with malice."Don't count on it," Rinko retorted, his grip tightening on his katana as he readied himself for her next move.Her frustration boiling over, Cinder unleashed a torrent of fire in a sweeping arc. The heat surged through the room, igniting part of the shelf and scorching the walls.Rinko leapt back just in time, the air around him crackling with heat. "You're angry," he noted coolly, sidestepping the flames, "but anger makes you sloppy.""Sloppy?!" Cinder roared, her aura intensifying as she charged again, her attacks growing more frenzied.Rinko parried the first slash and ducked under the second, narrowly avoiding the blazing edge. He pivoted to his left, using the small space to his advantage as he sought another opening.His goal was clear: don't die, create distance, and leave them licking their wounds.Rinko shifted tactics, deciding that offense was the best defense. With a burst of speed, he dashed toward Cinder, grabbing Neo's parasol from the corner mid-stride. Without hesitation, he hurled it directly at her. Cinder's reflexes kicked in as she deflected the parasol with ease, her glass blade shattering the makeshift projectile. But the distraction had served its purpose. By the time the parasol clattered to the floor, Rinko was already in position. With a sharp yell, he brought his katana down in a powerful downward slash, aiming to exploit her momentary opening. CRACK!The strike hit Cinder's aura, the impact reverberating through the room as the shimmering barrier around her flickered violently. She staggered back, visibly shaken, her aura visibly weaker. "You little—" Cinder hissed, her rage mounting as she steadied herself, gripping her sword tightly. Rinko didn't let up.He followed up with a swift upward slash, forcing Cinder to block hastily. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, but Rinko pressed harder, using his momentum to keep her on the defensive. "Getting sloppy again, Cinder," Rinko said, his voice cold and calculated. Cinder growled, her flames intensifying around her. She lashed out with a fiery kick, forcing Rinko to leap back to avoid being incinerated.As he landed, he noted her labored breathing and faltering stance. Her aura was strong, but she was burning through it too quickly. "What's wrong? Running out of steam?" Rinko taunted, his voice cold yet deliberate as he took slow, measured steps toward Cinder, his katana held low in a menacing stance.Cinder felt a flicker of fear—a rare emotion for her—but it only fueled her rage further. Her grip on her glass sword tightened as the heat around her began to rise, flames licking at her arms and shoulders like a blazing inferno."Don't you dare look down on me!" she snarled, her anger boiling over.With a burst of power, she levitated into the air, fiery energy swirling around her. The room trembled as she raised her hands as an orb formed slowly, preparing to unleash a devastating blast that would obliterate Rinko and everything in her path.Rinko's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the threat. He knew that if she launched that attack, there would be no escape. Acting on instinct, he surged forward in a sudden burst of speed.In a blur, Rinko closed the distance, his katana discarded as he lowered his center of gravity and slammed into Cinder with all his might.The force of the tackle sent them both crashing to the ground, the flames in her hands sputtering out as she hit the floor with a grunt."Get off me, you—!" Cinder growled, but Rinko didn't give her the chance to retaliate.Using his momentum, Rinko grabbed her wrist and pinned it to the ground, twisting it just enough to force her to release her grip on her sword. The glass weapon shattered into shards as it hit the floor, its energy dissipating."You're not blowing anyone up today," Rinko muttered, his voice low and laced with menace.Cinder's snarl turned into a scream of frustration as flames erupted from her free hand. She aimed a point-blank blast at Rinko's face, her fury blinding her to his next move.Rinko reacted swiftly, ducking his head just in time to avoid the flames. In one fluid motion, he drew a kunai from his pouch and drove it into her palm with precision.Stab"AHHH!" Cinder screamed in pain, the fire in her hand extinguishing as her control faltered. The searing pain forced her to release what little energy she had left."Cinder!" Emerald yelled from the corner, they were incapable to fight in their form, tied up in a firm grip by the strings Kakashi pulled off.Rinko straightened, flicking dust from his shoulder as he took a few steps back, his stance calm yet ready for any sudden retaliation. "That should do," he muttered, his voice calm but cold.Cinder clutched her injured hand, glaring at him with a mix of pain and unyielding hatred."You'll pay for this," she hissed, though her voice was shaky, lacking its usual venom as exhaustion and pain overwhelmed her. Rinko scanned the room, his eyes darting from Mercury, still pinned to the wall, to Emerald and Neo, incapacitated but slowly stirring. Assured they wouldn't be an immediate threat, he grabbed his sword and his attention back to Cinder. Ignoring her threat, he reached for his scroll, patting his pockets with growing unease. His brow furrowed. "What...?" He searched every pocket, his movements growing frantic. He checked his pouch, hoping it might have slipped inside. Nothing. "No scroll," he muttered under his breath, realization dawning. His jaw tightened as his gaze snapped back to Cinder. Gripping his sword, he pointed its gleaming edge at her neck. The sharp blade hovered inches from her throat. "Where's my scroll, Cinder?" His tone was ice, cutting through the tension in the room. "I'm warning you." Cinder's eyes flared with defiance despite the blade so close to her skin. She bared her teeth. "Tch—" Before she could say more, a deafening crash resounded as the door to the dormitory blasted inward, careening across the room and narrowly missing Mercury. "S-shit!" Mercury said in disbelief as the blasted door almost slamed to his head.The noise froze everyone. All heads turned to the source of the commotion. Standing in the doorway, her rapier gleaming in her hand and an icy fury in her eyes, was Weiss. "Rinko!" she called sharply, her voice cutting through the smoke and chaos. Her gaze swept the room, her anger clear as she took in the scene—the toppled shelves, the shattered glass, and the beaten forms of Cinder's group. The room fell silent, save for the faint crackle of dying embers in the air.[End]