Don't forget to spare a comment or a stone, if it pleases you.
Without any further to do, enjoy!
---------------------------
(Thousands of Years Ago)
(?'s POV)
The sun over Patch was lazy and gold, spilling through the leaves of the trees behind the Xiao Long house and painting the porch in shifting, dappled shadows.
It was a homely feeling, one she has felt since she was a kid, and has stayed with her even since
The air hummed with bugs and the distant, rhythmic crash of waves on the cliffs close to their home. It was the kind of peace you could feel in your bones
The only other sound was the soft, metallic Shink of a whetstone on steel.
She leaned against the porch railing, a glass of iced tea sweating in her hand, and just watched him.
Akira sat on the top step of the entrance, his back to her, all that fierce focus of his poured into the simple act of sharpening his blade. He was using her father's old whetstone for it
He'd been quiet today. But then again, Akira was always quiet.
It wasn't the brooding kind of quiet, or the sullen kind. It was just how he was, he spoke louder with actions
Even when she declared her love for him, he didn't do so by telling her, he just kissed her and that was it
Now that they are home, she remembers all that happened a week ago. The frantic leftover energy of the city, the leftover jitters from the Breach
It all just… washed off him. He'd been the still, silent centre of that whole nightmare, the pillar of support for everyone there.
He carried then all to safety, and by all, she means everyone in Beacon and Vale.
She knew he was skillful, but for him, to fight for hours against hordes of Grimm by himself, it showed just how powerful he truly was
From day one in Beacon Academy, he showed and masterful prowess in all forms of combat. Hand-to-Hand, weapon usage, gun usage (Though he didn't carry a gun with him)
Even Professor Goodwitch found a kindred spirit in him, for his discipline and similar Semblances. Even if he showed a prowess and understanding of it that even left the Combat Teacher wide-eyed
Her eyes drifted from his hands to the faint, disappearing line on her left shoulder. A remnant left on her shoulder from the breach
Her mind drifted back, not to the scary parts, but to the parts that were already becoming legend
She remembered the chaos. The streets of Vale choked with Grimm, the deafening roar of that damn dragon circling above, making more Grimm just by existing.
She'd gotten cut off from her team, holding a line to protect a bunch of civilians when she got jumped. White Fang Lieutenants, good ones, not the canon fodder they usually dealt with. And then he showed up. The big bad boss of them all, Adam Taurus. And also, her partner Blake's ex, wasn't that a twist
His presence was like a cold wave, and his blade was already glowing red with that bastard's Semblance of his. He moved like a red streak, too fast, aiming to kill everyone and everything that stood on his way.
She was one of those targets, and she actually charged like a mad bull, pun obviously intended, against the bull faunus.
Like the reckless girl she was, she was utterly defeated, yet she still trying to charge. And Adam, with his Semblance at full power, was going to maim her.
Then, the air shifted. The sound of the fight stopped, and Adam's movements stopped completely before he could cut a limb or two from her
Akira like the knight in shinning armour that he was, appeared just in time to protect her.
Really, Jaune could use a lesson or two from Akira on how to be a knight.
In one second, he was standing between her and Adam, his back to her, his katana still in its sheath. He hadn't even drawn it.
Adam's swing, all that rage and stored-up energy, just stopped dead in the air, stopped by Akira's Semblance, Telekinesis. His sword separated from his body, floating right beside him
The red glow around his sword sputtered and died like a doused match, nowhere to go.
Adam strained, muscles bulging, but his arm was locked solid, held by something an invisible force that stuck him in place, mid-swing
Akira didn't even look at him. He was looking at the other Fang guys, and they just froze under that red gaze of his.
He lifted his empty hand, a casual little flick of his wrist, and they were thrown back into a busted-up storefront like ragdolls, out cold. Akira had just disposed of them like they were nothing
Then he turned his head, just a fraction, and looked at Adam. That was it. No words. No big threat. Just a look.
And Adam Taurus, the big, bad bull of the White Fang, actually flinched. He showed a hint of fear. All that fight just drained out of him. Then, Akira released from his hold, and then released his katana right at his feet
She could remember that exact moment
"If you want to die, pick the sword up" He said
And Adam, for all his bravado and hatred for humans, couldn't muster a single word. He stared at the sword, then at Akira, and bolted.
He actually made one of the most powerful terrorist in Remnant run in fear. She wishes her scroll still worked for her to record it
But the big show wasn't over. The dragon was still up there, a black stain on the sky. Akira moved and then stood in the top of a building, staring into the Grimm Wyvern's red eyes.
Akira's hand finally went to his katana. He slowly drew the blade, and it was the first time since she'd met him. It was a black blade, like, completely black with a large temper line.
Ruby would probably gush all over Akira's blade, she's been trying to get see it since the beginning of the school term
...Wow, that came out wrong. But still, Ruby would probably like that, she's been having a crush on Akira, since he became her first friend in Beacon. She will have to talk it to her on a later ocassion
Then, Akira moved. He made a step forward, and then banished. The air got thick around him, one of the trick he showed her back in their training days. The dragon turned its huge head, those burning eyes locking onto this tiny, stupid thing moving toward it.
Akira stopped right in front of its face. He just made one, single, precise cut through the air in front of it.
Then, a line appeared, even parting the cloud behind them. A thin, black seam in the world, connecting his blade to the dragon.
The giant Grimm hung there for a second, totally still. Then, along that line, it started to come apart. The evil energy pouring off it, the stuff that was making more Grimm, just got cut off at the root.
After a dozen of seconds, since the Grimm was quite big, it completely banished. But that didn't stop the Breach.
Vale was full of Grimm, the rogue robot-soldier of Atlas and the White-Fang members that took the chaos to inflict as much damage as possible to the people of Vale. So after ending the big bad dragon. Akira moved.
For hours, he fought against the Grimm, against the White Fang members, against the robots from Atlas.
He rescued civilians, wounded Huntsmen, and moved them to safety. Then went back into the action. She was one of the people he took to refuge, since her Aura had completely depleted after healing her wounds.
Then, morning arrived, and everyone stared to the back of the man that saved thousands. Sitting on top of mechanical remnants of robots and debris.
He was the Hero of Vale because what else do you call that? But he never talked about it, he never bragged even if people applauded him on the streets
She figured that for him it was just a job that needed doing. He was always like that, solving problems, helping people selflessly.
It is one of the reasons she fell in love with him, apart from the obvious. And she had quite the competition for his heart.
Luckily for her, he seemed to have a thing for strong girls
A soft click brought her back to the present. Akira had set his blade aside, its edge now perfect. He didn't turn around.
"Your father's oil is quite good. But the stone is glazing. It needs to be dressed again"
She smiled and pushed off the railing, going to sit beside him on the step, her shoulder pressing against his. She handed him her tea. "I'll tell him."
He took the glass, his fingers brushing hers. His skin was always cool. He took a sip, his red eyes scanning their peaceful, sun-soaked yard. "It's quiet today."
"It is," she agreed, leaning her head on his shoulder "By this hour you usually have the fan-girl that I have to kick out or the sponsor that wants you to be their brand image"
Even since the Breach, he has been staying with her family, since he didn't had any other place to stay, and Beacon was closed for repairs. It became a well-known topic in Patch, and sometimes fangirls who discovered where their home was located came to try and talk with her Akira.
Of course, she kicks them out with good old Lefty and Righty
Leaning against him. She felt his solid build, under his shirt. He like many Huntsmen was quite build, but the feeling of safety he gave was quite something. Especially when he is holding her in his arms.
She suspects her father already figured out that they've been having intimate encounters, but he actually likes Akira, so he let's it go
They sat like that for a while, not talking. Just leaning into each other's presence. He even leaned down a little for her to rest he head into his full shoulder. He is cute like that
"Ruby's new weapons magazine came in," he said after a while, his voice a low rumble she felt against her cheek.
She snorted. "Yeah. She's probably figuring out how to strap a grenade launcher to Crescent Rose without losing a finger."
"She already has a anti-materiel rifle placed after I helped her. But to add a grenade launcher. Hm, it could work if she added an expanding mechanism into the shaft"
Yang laughed. "You're as bad as she is." She looked up at his profile. "You gonna help her?"
"If she asks." He turned to the sky, like looking for something "You hungry?"
"Depends. You cooking?"
"I can provide a feast for my lady"
She grinned. " 'A feast for your lady.' You sure know how to make a girl feel special."
He finally turned his head to look at her, and a tiny, almost-there smile touched his lips. It was like seeing sunlight at the bottom of a deep well. "Well then, I better get started with that then"
It was basically his version of a sweet nothing.
And for her, it was enough. She doesn't need to worry about anything else, because with him by her side, she is the safest woman in Remnant
----------------------------
(?'s POV)
The school hallway was a text, and Kasumigaoka Utaha was its most dedicated reader.
Every giggle, every sidelong glance, every hushed whisper was a line of dialogue, a piece of character development, a plot point in the endless, mildly tedious slice-of-life series that was Soubu High.
Most of it was filler.
Today however, as has been for a couple more months, a new and fascinating subplot had been introduced.
The buzz was unavoidable. It clung to the air around the staff room and the second-year classrooms like a potent perfume.
The subject: Yoshioka-sensei, the new literature teacher that arrived a couple of months back, and his now-legendary classes of literature
She has in passing how he talks and behaves in class. Cordial, polite and knows a lot about literature.
His classes are also a topic of conversation between her fellow classmates.
She heard a lot about how he seemed to change the mentality of those rich students that like to spend their time wasting mommy and daddy's money
That is, without saying, how his appearance started rumours all around him. And even she could objectively say his appearance is quite good for the eyes
Platinum hair, crimson eyes, and sharp features to complement. It was a cliché protagonist look, really. The kind of design a rookie illustrator would overuse for a mysterious side character.
But in person he does look quite nice.
Now, going back to his classes, many have speculated he hides a troubled past beneath his handsome facade. Something about the way he speaks just made rumours of his past circle through the school's social groups.
But where there's smoke, there is fire.
And this was just what she needed, this was backstory material.
This was the kind of prose you gave to a centuries-old vampire reflecting on his existence, or a war-weary mecha pilot gazing at the stars.
Her writer's instincts, usually languidly amused by the banality of high school life, were now fully alert. She tried to decipher the truth from myth, see if she could piece together a narrative for the popular teacher that she could use for herself
This was a potential source material.
But rumours could only go so far. And she needed something more personal, and exclusive. So she decided to ask him himself
She found her opportunity after school, a chance encounter engineered with the effortless precision of a seasoned editor placing a comma.
She was returning a book to the staff room
A flimsy pretence, but a useful one she could use for any situation. As she approached, she saw the subject of her inquiry through the open door.
Yoshioka-sensei was at his desk, one hand in a paper the other in a pen that he skillfully swirled in between his fingers.
Looking at him now in person, she could now see why many girls in her speak so much about him.
The light that hit from the window just made his appearance look even more dignified. He made even something as mundane as grading papers look cool
And from the side, she could the red-eyes that many girls talked about, mumbling about how colourful they look. And indeed they did.
Hiratsuka-sensei was nearby, watching him with a mix of fascination and shyness that Utaha immediately catalogued for later potential use
Utaha, immediately started looking for any hind she could use. His posture, his fingers, the way he moved through the papers.
She decided that everything in him could be of use for a new character for her novel. A dozen tropes flickered through her mind. 'Reincarnated hero. Amnesiac assassin. Time-traveling survivor. Fallen angel on sabbatical'
Each one was deliciously absurd, and yet, somehow, he could be added into any of the tropes by himself
That is, without his classes and attitude into the mix. She heard he helped a girl being bullied by her classmates, a glasses girl that was being bullied by a mixed group of boys and girls.
That showed that he was a teacher that took action, not like most teacher that just let students suffer by themselves.
And even if some of the families of the bullies had influence, it seemed to do nothing against a simple teacher.
Which just made the rumours of him bigger
She returned to the present, seeing Hiratsuka-sensei said something to him, pulling him from his work
He talked to her a little bit, nodded at her from time to time, an amicable expression of his face.
Seeing the interaction between the two, she thought that maybe there was something going on, but after a couple more of words the two left to their own devices
A slow, knowing smile touched Utaha's lips. This was far more interesting than any rumour about his looks.
The boring high school setting had just introduced its most compelling character yet. She didn't need to know his secret yet. The mystery was the point.
The question wasn't who he was. The question was, what genre did he belong to? And more importantly, how could she, as an author, use him?
As she walked away, a title formed in her mind, a potential concept for a new series: The Teacher Who Stands in the Doorway of Dawn and Dusk.
Yes. That had a certain ring to it. She would be watching him very, very closely. Not with a schoolgirl's crush, but with a writer's hungry eyes, ready to take notes
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Third Person's POV)
Three girls walked together down one of the quieter corridors of the school, the kind lined with tall windows that let in slanted afternoon light and made the polished floor gleam.
Classes had finally ended, and the usual post-classes chaos faded behind them as they moved away from the main stairwell.
The girl with golden eyes and light blonde hair that's lightly permed in the back and curled into spirals over her shoulders with two small buns on both sides of her head held by red ribbons walked in the middle, hands tucked into the pockets of her blazer, posture relaxed but regal. She tilted her head slightly toward the others.
"Finally," she said, voice carrying that effortless mix of boredom and amusement. "I thought history would never end. The teacher kept droning on about some ancient war like anyone actually cares about that sort of thing"
The girl on her left the one with dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail nodded "Even though the teacher seemed to drone off in the middle of the class, that isn't a indication that you can doze off, Saki-sama"
The blonde girl gave a small nod, arms folding neatly across her chest.
"I guess you are right, even if the teacher is boring. Speaking of… how about we go shopping this Saturday? There's that new boutique in Shibuya, apparently they just got in those limited-edition bags everyone's been talking about. We could make a day of it. Lunch, café, the whole thing."
"I could use a new pair of shoes" The dark brown haired girl nodded
The golden haired girl turned to the quiet girl beside them, she had upper-back length blue hair that has square bangs hanging over her forehead with chest-length hair strands on hanging either side and purple eyes, though her eyes can't be seen thanks to the lenses of her glasses.
"How about you, Aya? Need anything? Don't worry about the price, I'll buy it for you"
"Umm.... I could go for a new skirt, I guess. Though If I could ask, didn't you buy a lot of clothes last weekend, Saki-sama?"
"I need to always look like I'm about to attend a royal audience. I should always dress appropriately to show just to remind the peasants around me that presence matters." She flicked her hair over one shoulder with casual grace. "If I'm going to be seen, I might as well be seen properly. It's practically a public service"
"If you say so, Saki-sama" The girl with dark brown hair stated
Aya beside her nodded
"Of course I say so," The Golden haired girl admitted without hesitation. "There's power in being looked at. Especially when they can't look away"
They turned a corner, footsteps echoing softly in the emptying hallway. A pair of second-year girls passed by in the opposite direction, heads close together, voices low but not quite low enough.
"…Did you see Yoshioka-sensei today? He was wearing a new shirt, it seemed to be a size too short 'cause it strained with his chest
"I know, right? I wonder what would he look like without a shirt. Do you think he's single?"
The blue-haired girl's step faltered just for half a second.
The dark-brown haired girl noticed immediately. She slowed, turning her head slightly toward her friend.
The golden-haired girl's sharp gaze flicked sideways, catching the sudden stillness.
The blue-haired girl had turned fully now, watching the two second-years disappear around the corner. Her expression hadn't changed much but her fingers had curled slightly at her sides.
The dark-brown haired girl tilted her head, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"You really have a crush on that teacher, don't you?"
The blue-haired girl's cheeks flushed—sudden, unmistakable pink against her pale skin. She looked away quickly, hair falling forward to hide part of her face.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about," She muttered, voice smaller than usual.
The blonde girl raised one eyebrow.
"You just froze like a deer in headlights the moment his name came up. If that's not a crush, I don't know what it is"
The blue-haired girl huffed, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. "It's not like that. I just… respect him"
The dark-brown haired girl stepped closer, gentle but insistent.
"It's okay Aya, after what you went through, it's okay to have a crush on him"
The blue-haired girl exhaled through her nose, shoulders dropping a fraction
It all began a couple of weeks ago
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Some Time Before)
The school day had already wound down.
Most students had scattered, some to clubs, some to the gates, some to loiter in the courtyard with friends. The hallways were quieter now, the usual clamor reduced to distant echoes and the occasional squeak of indoor shoes moving around
Fujisaki Aya walked alone. Her usual companions, Saki and Rin, were absent.
Family business, they'd said. Something important enough that even Rin's stoic presence had been pulled away for the day.
Aya didn't mind. She was used to solitude. She preferred it, most days. Sometime even Saki-sama required a lot of patience to deal with
She adjusted the strap of her bag and turned down the corridor toward the back exit, the one that cut through the old storage building and let out near the side gate. That way she could go back to her house without having to give a full round around the school.
She didn't see them until it was too late.
A group stepped out from behind the corner, five, maybe six. Girls mostly, with two boys hanging at the back like reluctant muscle. At the centre stood a girl with short brownish hair that ended bluntly at the nape of her neck, thin eyebrows arched in permanent disdain and gray eyes
Sagami Minami.
Aya froze mid-step.
Sagami's face turned into a smile slowly
"Well, well. Look who's all alone today." Her voice carried that same lilting mockery Aya remembered from years ago. "Where's your rich toy? Did the princess finally get bored of playing dress-up with the charity case?"
Aya's fingers tightened on her bag strap.
"Saki's not a toy" she said quietly. "And she's not here. Leave me alone."
Sagami laughed, short, sharp.
"Oh, listen to her. Defending her master even when she's not around to pat her head." She took a step closer. The others fanned out behind her, blocking the hallway. "You really think you belong here? With her? You're nothing without that money shielding you. Just a sad little pet."
Aya lifted her chin, voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
"She's my friend. Not my master. And I'm not a pet."
Sagami's smile twisted.
"Friend. Right." She glanced at the others. "Hear that? She thinks they're friends. Cute."
One of the girls behind her snickered.
Aya took a step back, her face blushing with rage as she took a deep breath
"I'm leaving."
Sagami's eyes narrowed.
"No. You're not."
She nodded once.
The two boys moved.
They were fast, faster than Aya expected. One grabbed her upper arm, the other her wrist. She twisted, tried to pull free, but their grip was iron.
"Let go—"
They dragged her.
Not far, just around the corner, behind the storage building where there were no cameras, and teacher usually didn't went around
They shoved her against the brick wall.
Sagami stepped forward, casual, like she was inspecting merchandise.
"Glasses off," she said.
One of the boys reached up, snatched Aya's frames from her face, and tossed them to the ground.
Sagami lifted her foot.
Crack.
The lenses shattered under her heel. She ground down once, twice, twisting until the frames bent and the glass crunched into powder.
Aya flinched, but couldn't help it.
Sagami crouched down until their eyes were level.
"You're nothing without her, you know that?" she whispered. "Just a pet. A stray she felt sorry for. You should behave like one"
She straightened.
Leaned toward one of the boys, the taller one with the buzz cut. If she remembered correctly, he was a top member of the baseball club. Sagami seemed to whisper something into his ear
He nodded.
Then he slapped her.
Open palm. Hard. The sound echoed off the bricks.
Aya's head snapped to the side. Her cheek burned instantly, hot and stinging.
Sagami smiled wider
"See? You can't even fight back. Pathetic. If your rich master was here, maybe she'd save you. But she's not. And you're nothing."
One of the girls at the back shifted uncomfortably.
"Minami… maybe that's enough—"
Sagami whirled on her.
"Shut up. Or you're next."
The girl shrank back. The other one beside her looked away.
Sagami turned back to Aya
"Hold her."
The boys tightened their grip.
The tall one raised his fist this time
Aya closed her eyes.
The punch never landed.
A hand closed around the boy's wrist—firm, unyielding.
Silence.
Aya opened her eyes.
Yoshioka-sensei stood there.
White hair catching the fading light. Crimson eyes calm. Expression blank except for the faintest tightening at the corners of his mouth.
The boy tried to pull free.
He couldn't.
Akira didn't raise his voice.
"There is nothing more cowardly" He said quietly, "Than hitting someone who does not want to fight back"
The group stared.
No one moved.
Akira released the boy's wrist. The boy stumbled back a step.
Akira's gaze swept over them—slow, deliberate. Every face. Every detail.
"I heard everything" He said. "I already know every one of your faces"
He looked at Sagami last.
"After class. Principal's office. All of you."
Sagami opened her mouth, then closed it.
Akira stepped between them and Aya.
"If you don't show up" he continued, voice still calm "I will find you. And the punishment will be worse."
The boys exchanged glances.
Then they ran.
Sagami hesitated, pride warring with fear, then followed.
The girls scattered after her.
The place emptied in seconds.
Aya slid down the wall until she sat on the ground, knees drawn up, shaking.
Tears came then, silent at first, then louder. She hugged herself, shoulders trembling.
Akira crouched in front of her.
He didn't speak right away.
Instead, he reached down, slowly, and picked up the broken glasses.
The frames were twisted. One lens cracked clean through.
He held them out to her.
Aya looked up through blurry eyes. She reached for them, hesitant, expecting jagged edges.
They weren't.
The frames were straight. The lenses whole.
"Eh…?"
Akira placed them gently in her palm.
"Take care," he said softly.
She stared at the glasses. Then at him.
He stood.
"Let's go to the infirmary first and then we will go to the office later," he added. "Give a statement. They will not touch you again"
He extended his hand to her, placed her glasses, now looking directly at him, she took his hand, noting how big and firm it felt.
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Present)
When Saki and Rin found out later, Saki had gone white with fury. No one touches her friend and thinks they can get away with it
She'd already started making calls, pulling strings, ready to bury the bullies under all consequences money could buy.
But it seemed that it wasn't necessary.
By the next day, the tall boy was expelled. Sagami suspended for three months.
Her friends, those who hadn't joined the physical assault, given short suspensions for association.
Word spread fast.
Even more when one of the expelled boy's fathers, a mid-level politician, tried to interfere… and then suddenly withdrew all support for his son
No one knew why.
But Aya did
She'd seen the look in Yoshioka-sensei's eyes that day.
Calm.
Certain.
Absolute.
And from then on, whenever he passed in the hallway, whenever she heard about him in class, whenever he passed nearby, her heart did that stupid, fluttering thing.
She never said it out loud. She didn't have to, as her friends instantly knew from seeing her
Just then, footsteps approached from the far end of the hallway.
The mentioned tall figure of the white hair, crimson eyed teacher walked toward them, carrying a stack of papers under one arm.
The golden-haired girl's lips curved mischievously.
She stepped forward before anyone could stop her.
"Good afternoon, Yoshioka-sensei."
Akira paused, inclining his head politely.
"Tenjouin-san"
The Golden-haired girl offered a small, formal bow.
The blue-haired girl froze, eyes wide, cheeks scarlet.
Akira's gaze moved to her.
"Fujisaki-san, how are you doing?" he asked gently.
She stammered, voice barely above a whisper.
"I—I'm good. Thank you, Sensei."
He nodded once, small, reassuring.
The golden-haired girl, still smiling spoke up.
"Once again… thank you. For helping my friend that day Sensei"
Akira shook his head slightly.
"It was nothing. Just doing what any teacher should."
The Golden-haired girl's smile sharpened just a fraction.
"Most teachers would've let it continue. Until it stopped on its own… or went further."
Akira considered that for a moment.
"Then they would be bad teachers."
He then gave a slight bow and continued down the hallway
The three girls watched him go.
When he was out of earshot, the golden-haired girl turned to the blue-haired girl, still flushed and still staring after him.
"I get it now," she said softly. "Why you have a crush on him."
The black-haired girl ducked her head, smiling despite herself.
"Yeah…"
The golden-haired girl placed a hand on her shoulder.