Chapter 49: Aftermath

On a dim room with just a single bulb illuminating the figures that were gathered. Though their faces were barely discernable, and remained unseen, These were the gathering of the sinners.

"Tch... Aergia, Corvus died again..." Said the Old man as he twirled his white mustache. He looked like a traditional business man, And on his rapier was the traditional insignia of the Schnee family.

He was the 'Sinner' of Envy.

"It's not my fault! Ozma was there! I miscalculated his remaining powers. He's quite crafty for a weakened Old Man." Aergia argued back as she glared towards the Old Man's Direction, She was still pissed that her creations were easily shattered by Haruki's women.

"It's all part of Lord prides plan... I wouldn't question his grand scheme." Eris chimed as she calmly drank her tea.

"Where's The Other two?" The Burly Old Man who was wearing a blindfold on his eyes chimed in, He was wearing a traditional Eastern Dougi. His muscles were nearly bursting out from it. It exuded Power. There was a tattoo on his shoulder saying, "Thousand Blades" On Mistral's ancient language.

He was the 'Sinner' Of Wrath.

Eris sighed towards the Man's Question, She doesn't know where the two other sinners went to but, "I could guess where they are... They are probably flirting around like usual."

"Might as well start without them... So, That boy you fought, was he really that strong to fight equally with you?" The man in the suit asked.

Eris Nodded Her head and smiled affectionately as she reminisced, "Yes, as a matter of fact... That was the best match I've had in my life... It was a new experience."

Aergia scoffed, "If you didn't take your precious time we would have gone back earlier, our objective has been achieved before he went and powered-up! Touma! Show it please..."

Eris shrugged her shoulders, She couldn't help it, She wanted to see the extent Of His Path of The Shura.

The Burly Old man brought out the Relic Of Knowledge and showed it towards all of them, "I replaced it with a replica, I doubt that they would even notice..."

Eris nodded, The mayhem they caused in Vale was just to mask Touma stealing the Relic of Choice.

"Hehehehehe Ozpin is such an idiot to hurriedly go to the carnage, Leaving the Vault unguarded... I guess all those hard work undercover payed it's toll huh Touma?" The man in the suit teased him.

Touma stretched his muscles and yawned, "Yeah, it's pretty limiting... I'm the sinner of wrath you know! I was extremely bored!"

Eris chuckled, "Well I suppose you deserve your well earned break... You're coming with us next time..."

Touma smirked, "Oh! That's going to be fun... I can't wait to meet Him..."

Eris looked at the Man on the suit, "And as for you Nicholas? You're going back to atlas next, with your disguise of course. You can't be strutting around with that appearance you'd get noticed... Aergia Needs the data from those new Atlas Mechs they're going to showcase at the Vytal Festival in a few months.

Eris then Put down Three dossiers on the table, "These Three kids... Their semblances would aid Aergia on her research on expanding our Army, and making them more powerful."

The pictures showed Jaune, Nora, and Sun...

Touma and Nicholas slowly read the files, "But Two of these semblances are pretty weak..." Touma said disappointingly.

Aergia laughed and a crazed expression emerged from her face, "Just because they're weak doesn't mean they're not useful! You just don't see the bigger picture..."

Eris then clapped her hands, "Alright now that we're all caught up, Let's go... we have some planning to do."

They all Nodded at each other, Then the lights went out, Every figure in the room disappeared. It was as if no one as there in the first place.

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A few days After the Battle In Vale.

Haruki finally woke up, He slowly opened his eyes. He saw a familiar ceiling. He thought to himself... 'Oh yeah... it's finally over', He touched his fore head with his right arm. He massaged His temple.

He tried to move his left arm but it won't budge, He noticed Emerald was laying there and His left arm was wrapped around her waist.

Emerald was busy playing her game on Her scroll, So she didn't notice that Haruki has already woken up. He pulled her close and embraced her.

Emerald uttered a Yelp.

"Hey little lamb, How long was I out?" He asked. Emerald Smiled and said "Haru! you're finally awake! you were asleep for three days."

He neared his face and opted for a kiss and said, "Huh, that must be the reason why I missed you so much."

Emerald rolled her eyes and blocked his mouth with her other hand as she continued playing her game.

"Your breath stinks~ Go brush and freshen up!" She said as she pushed his face away. Haruki pulled her close and tickled her, so she would let her guard down.

"Ahh!! I died!! That was my last life! You cheeky bastard~" She poked Haruki's abdomen. She tried to find his ticklish side. "I tried so hard to get to the boss and you just ruined it... I have to start over!!"

Haruki laughed as he tried to stop Emerald, His muscles were still sore after all, he used Path of the Shura and Absolute Domain together. "Ow ow ow!! You shouldn't bully an injured man like this you know..."

Emerald smirked, " Injured? we scanned and found no abnormalities. Just some sore muscles. Here and Here." She poked the spots were it hurt the most.

Haruki raised his arms in submission, "Ow! I give up little lamb, cut me some slack..."

She wrapped her arms around Haruki and kissed him on the cheeks, She giggled. "Hehe, Bad wolf that's the only thing you're getting for now. So Hurry and freshen up. Who knows you might get to know me better..."

She winked at Haruki and Buried her face onto his chest, She snuggled up close. Closing her eyes, as she felt very comfy.

She let go, and continued playing her game, Haruki was left in the air waiting for something to happen.

He looked towards her direction, she just smiled.

Haruki thought to himself, 'Huh? NANI!? Where's the action? Where's the puff puff action!?'

He tried to kiss Emerald again but she just turned her head away as she continued to play.

'Huuuuuuhhhh!? What is going on?' Haruki thought...

Emerald sighed and said, "Freshen up stud..."

As if he was given a boost in strength, He gained a massive burst of energy! He was prepared to swim the ocean for this. But sadly humans have limits, even if he had massive amounts of energy, muscle sore is still muscle soreness...

So he laid back down his arms spread as he looked towards emerald and groaned.

She was laughing her ass off, "Hahahahahahahaha!! Haru, are you an idiot?"

Haruki gave her a smile filled with self mockery, He looked towards the window and saw the clear blue sky, The clouds slowly drifting towards him.

'Oh, Woe is me! Woe is me! I wanted to see and explore the Galaxy... But human limitations prevented me from flying towards my sweet senorita...'

( A.N.: This is a reference to the song Junkie Love by Slowdough. This scene just Reminded me of that song Haha. Even though it's extremely unrelated.)

Cinder came out from the kitchen holding food and she saw Emerald laughing at Haruki, She overheard their talk as she was cooking. She wanted to join in but, if she did the food would be burnt.

So she could only giggle at Emeralds own mischievousness. She gently placed the food on the small table beside Haruki's bed.

She sat on the side of the bed and hugged Haruki.

"I'm glad you're okay..." She then continued to lay lunch on the table, Emerald helped as she paused her game.

"I bet you're quite hungry... I made some food, I hope you like them." Haruki then saw the bandages on Cinders hands. Clearly she wasn't used to this, but her efforts were transmitted to Haruki.

He felt warm inside, He pulled Cinder close. He buried his face onto her neck. "Thanks babe..."

Cinder wrapped her arms around his back and kissed him on the side of his head. "C'mon let's eat."

When they looked towards emerald she was already stuffing her mouth with food.

Haruki and Cinder laughed. Emerald tilted Her head, "What? you guys were taking your sweet time! I'm starving!"

Haruki picked up the food and ate. As he chewed, Unexpectedly Cinder had talent on cooking.

"Wow, It's good!" He said as he put more food on his plate.

Emerald giggled, "Ain't that nice Cinder! Practice finally paid off!"

Cinder embarrassedly brushed her hair aside.

Emerald then told Haruki all about Cinders efforts, She also told him about Cinders failed dishes. She showed him the images of those on her scroll.

Cinder tried her best to stop emerald, but she was on the other side and by the time she got there it was too late.

They all laughed, But Haruki wanted to know where Neo and Pyrrha were.

Cinder said that they were called to his office to talk about something. Haruki's expression darkened.

He looked towards Cinder and asked what happened after he fainted. Cinder told him that Qrow and Merc carried him off to the airship.

The attack of the sinners were all over the news it won't be weird if Salem got a whiff of the news. They would probably be called to action.

Cinder then continued, "After they laid you in the Medic bay, Ozpin told us to tell no one about the real reason for the attack, Ozpin told them that a huge legion of Grimm came and attacked the Place.

Right now the security in Vale and Beacon is extremely tight so Mercury was reluctantly sent back to Roman's headquarters, The two would be hiding from the authorities.

We on the other hand are in lockdown, no beacon student is allowed to even go past The industrial district.

Even after the semester finishes, He would have us remain here. Extra precaution he said...

Also the atlas Army is here, a little earlier than predicted. As of Now The Four Kingdoms are in lockdown only a select few probably know of this incident."

Then Cinders expression turned grave, "Also, Haruki especially you, are not allowed to go anywhere unless sanctioned by Ozpin. He said that you are the only one who could probably protect these students in case the worst happens..."

Haruki Frowned, This was the opposite of what he wanted. He thought to himself, 'I would probably be stuck here until this is over.'

He looked at the two and said, "If Salem knew that Ozpin himself took part in the battle on Vale. She would take this chance to take down beacon... Hell, probably take down Vale itself..."

The two nodded, "So Haru... what do we do now?" Emerald asked worriedly.

Haruki couldn't shake the feeling from his head, Aergia said something about a reward...

"For now we wait, If Salem gives us orders we will have to report it to Ozpin. Also Cinder Darling does Ozpin know you have half of the fall maidens powers?" Haruki asked.

Cinder clenched her fist and Shook her head, "Not yet, I told no one... also I don't think Qrow recognized us, or is he merely pretending?"

Haruki breathed a sigh of relief and formulated a plan, If he wanted cinder to be safe, He needs to convince Ozpin to let her be the next fall maiden, not Pyrrha.

But if that fails... He is prepared to do the ugly stuff, the kind no one should know...

Then he remembered to ask about Winter, "By the way, where's winter?" Cinder and Emerald looked at him weirdly.

"So you two are on a first name basis huh?" Emerald said as she narrowed her eyes.

Haruki gulped, it was at that moment he knew... He fucked up.

"W-well you see... I'm just wondering how she was doing you know... She was after all part of our team." He said as he wiped the sweat on his forehead.

"Mhmm, Quote unquote 'Part of our team'." Cinder added as she raised her eyebrow.

"If you're worried about her, don't worry you two will be seeing each other much sooner. For now she went back to Atlas, She wanted us to tell you to Take-Care-Of-Yourself..." Emerald said emphasizing on the last part.

"She would return with Headmaster Ironwood, Along with his military posse."

Emerald continued.

*Creaaak* the door opened and Neo and Pyrrha walked inside.

Neo immediately dashed towards Haruki's location.

Pyrrha on the other hand wobbly walked towards his location.

They hugged him tight.

(Sigh, finally you're awake! So many things happened while you were sleeping!)

Haruki nodded his head, "Yeah, Cinder and Emerald already briefed me on the matter. You two just cane back from Ozpin's office?"

Neo nodded, (He also wanted us to relay to you some information.)

She looked at Pyrrha who still buried her head on haruki's chest.

Pyrrha looked up, Haruki noticed that she was exhausted. Her eye bags were barely covered by the foundation she applied. Haruki brushed her head gently, there's probably a lot that was bothering her.

He could already guess the other, Ozpin probably asked her to become the next fall maiden.

Haruki sighed, He gripped his blanket. Firstly he decided to listen first. and after that if he still doesn't like what he heard... He would storm into Ozpins office, injured or not.