Chapter 37

Shiko

A simple workout.

The workout consisted of raising your leg high into the air and balancing on one leg.

A common workout among Sumo Wrestlers for a thousand years. One that allowed them to slam into another four hundred pound man and barely move an inch.

Not only does it serve as a full leg workout, but works to strengthen the core muscles of your body.

Overall, an absolutely amazing leg workout for any fighter.

Considering how much sumo wrestlers do such a workout, its no surprise that a Rikishi prepared to take a hit never falls.

Truly, the most impressive thing about a sumo wrestler, is their immovability.

And so, Hans decided to do this workout after waking up. It required immense flexibility to perform shiko. Especially a completely straight-legged shiko.

Imagine his surprise at seeing Neo perform the workout with just as much ease as he did.

'Do you practice a Martial art?' Neo looked at him puzzled.

'No. I did do ballet for a while.' That makes sense. Not only does ballet do wonders for your legs, but improves balance, co-ordination and footwork.

'Would you like to learn one?' A hum came through their link, both stood on one leg performing the shiko in silence.

'What would you recommend?' For Neo, her prior experience in ballet, something like taekwondo specialising in kicks would be a good one. Equally, Muay Thai would also make for a good fit.

For Neo's small build, when unarmed, her greatest weapon would be her elbows and knees.

'I've gotten a lot stronger since our souls linked you know.' Thats even better. With her small build, wielding his strength, she could easily maneuver around most attacks along with her flexibility and deliver devastating counters with his strength.

'I'll teach you Muay Thai. It uses, punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes. Now, copy my stance.' Lowering my leg from the shiko stance, I lowered my centre and raised my right fist just above my eyes.

Slowly, I used shadow manipulation, raising my semi-functional arm opposite my other fist.

'Observe.'

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Doing maintenance on Crescent Rose while drunk is apparently a bad idea.

Well, all the bandages on my fingers are proof enough of that.

I need more whiskey.

Maybe I should try some others. But... where can I get other Alcohol? I'm underage, so I can't buy them myself. Stealing-

No. I haven't fallen that low. And I won't fall that low. Ironic, considering I borrowed Qrows flask.

So what do I do?

Qrows a no go, he's not likely to stop me taking his alcohol, but he won't indulge me either.

What to do, what to do...

.

.

.

.

.

Guess I just have to bear with it for now.

Let's... let's go visit Mom.

I sat up from my bed, standing up, my balance was still off... ugh... I feel sick. I guess... visiting mom will have to wait.

Gotta nurse this hangover.

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Returning to our room, finding Ruby vomiting in the toilet was a surprise.

But not exactly unusual.

When alcohol becomes a very regular part of your diet, or drank in excess. You can expect hangovers. Carefully, I pulled her hair back to make sure she wouldn't get any vomit on her hair.

"How are you feeling?" I felt her head shift slightly, probably trying to look at me but just settled on the toilet seat.

"Tired, nauseous and my stomach hurts." Hm. The usual signs of a hangover.

"Alright, use your hands to pull your hair back. I'll get you some painkillers and coffee. Five sugars with cream, right?" A slow nod of her head as she raised her hands.

Off to the coffee maker.

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"Ladies and gentlemen! Today is the briefing! In two days, we put an end to the grimm! For good! Salem, Queen of the grimm, resides on the dragon Isle! We shall end the age of Grimm! And bring forth the age of man! Do you hear me?" The general shouted to the lines of soldiers.

"YES SIR!" The unified shouts of his recruits brought a smile to his face. Yet there was a nagging thought in his mind...

How many would survive?

How many would be scarred for life?

How many would come back, minds and bodies permanently changed?

Feeling his metal hand, he couldn't help but regret that it had come to this. But...

At least, this was the finale.

The end of the era of shadow, bringing everything into the light.

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Yang, was sober.

For once in a long time.

And recently, she learnt her mother was here. And so... she needed to know.

Why... why did she leave them?

As if possessed, the once bombastic bombshell lifelessly walked to her Mother's ward.

"Ren... yang seems a bit... lifeless. She's kinda like a ghost!" Ren nodded, looking at his former classmate. What a toll it had taken, he no longer even recognised the girl.

The grimm were vicious creatures.

But they aren't the most wicked beings. No. That title, belongs to one creature. And one creature alone.

The human.

To think, that the grimm had someone controlling them. Could it be, that kuroyuri...

"Hey ren... do you think she'll be alright?"

"That depends on her mother."

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"Mom." Those were the words that Raven hadn't heard in years. Words so unfamiliar to her, that they may as well originate from a different world.

One of kindness. Something that she lacked.

"Raven." There was the voice she expected. An angry one, a frustrated one, one that she deserved. She was no mother, just a woman who had abandoned any and all blood relations.

And for what?

"Why... why did you leave?" Her broken voice, what... happened?

Everything was fine, wasn't it?

Leave... That, that was when she saw Salem. When she watched Salem thoroughly trounce Summer.

Decapitation didn't kill her.

Total destruction didn't kill her.

Silver eyes didn't kill her.

So... what was there to do?

"I... lost hope." That was all. I foolishly believed that if I left, Yang might be safe. Not only that... it... it disgusts me to think about this, but... but if Salem went for Ruby.

I... I...

"You... lost hope. And... just... abandoned me? Really!?" Yangs eyes glowed red, her hair burning a bright yellow before she struck my cheek with all the force of a speeding truck.

That... was deserved.

Reeling back another punch, I braced my aura and just before i could catch it.

My heart stopped.

I swapped. The familiar and disorienting feeling of having swapped.

"Summer..." I thought she was dead? No... I couldn't have known... not... not when...

I ran, like a coward...

"Shhh, its alright yang. I'll speak with Raven, just, take a seat." There she sat, in my own hospital bed, embracing my own daughter.

A better mother than I ever could have been.

Clearly shocked, yet compliant. Yang sat on the side of the bed, whereas I stood here in the open.

"First thing I wake up to, my daughter punching her mother. I know I've been gone for a while, but you couldn't have messed up that badly, right?" Summer had placed both hands on either of Ravens cheeks, looking her directly in the eyes.

"Tell me, Raven. What happened?" The mothers firm and focused eyes stared into the cowards shaky pupils.

"I... I ran. I ran away from it all..." Summer said nothing before letting go.

"Give up. Fighting, I mean. Stay here, get a home with Yang and sort all of your feelings out. As I see you now, Qrow would beat you." Raven wanted to refute that, but even thinking about the schnee beating her so soundly, removed any confidence she once had in her abilities.

"Alright." Summer turned back to her friend, a kind smile on her face.

"Good! Now, wheres Ruby?"

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"For the battle at Salems Castle, you must deal with the grimm pools. Or Salems army will continue to spawn without limit. You should be able to pull them into your shadow when you get close enough. However, the pools are incredibly destructive. If you were to touch them in your current state, you would lose whatever it touched."

Hans calmly considered that, dodging an elbow from Neo.

'Cut the snakes head off. Destroy the enemy barracks.'

"Another thing I must mention, Salem possesses immortality."

'There's no such thing as true immortals. At least... according to Alucard.' Dodging another elbow from Neo, I thrust my elbow and stopped it a few centimetres from her face.

'Aw, I thought I'd at least land a hit.' Neo crossed her arms over her chest, turning her head with a small pout.

'I have over a hundred years of experience. You're not going to beat me easily. Or land a punch.' Being as blunt as possible, I wanted to establish that.

'In a few days, we'll be attacking Salem. The Queen of Grimm. I take it you'll want to deal with the... owl?' Neo nodded, absently staring at the ceiling with a grin on her face.

'Take your time, don't get impatient... I'd... rather you didn't die.' Neo's head snapped straight to him, staring him in the eyes with a loving smile.

'I couldn't leave you all alone like that.'

"Ahem." Both of us turned, finding the... former, headmaster. He's... remarkably difficult to notice.

"It's good to see you two preparing for the coming battle. I figured I would see how Hans was doing after his... petrification." I could believe that, if he didn't look so tired.

"I'll deal with the grimm pools." A moment of panic crossed his face, before immediately calming down.

"I would ask how you knew of them, but I trust you. I'll leave them to you, after though, I'll need you to help Summer deal with Salem. I'm... I'm not sure how you should... kill her."

Thinking back to that... thing... gave me an idea.

Not a pleasant idea by any means.

But an idea nonetheless.

"Alright."

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Its a shorter chapter, but i want to leave more suspense for the final battle of RWBY.

Well... technically.

Anyways, see ya