The Dying Light of a Borrowed Star

Real quick I'm working on updating and editing this story because I've been focusing on TBONTB due to it's popularity. I'm gonna try to get the next two chapters of this story and HOTEE before I post the next chapter to that on which should give people time to put final votes as poll will close as of the posting of ch 18 on that one.

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I do not own DARKER THAN BLACK or RWBY they belong to their respective owners

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Skip to next bold writing to go straight to story. This will be a quick overview of Hei for those who are only RWBY fans or aren't to in to DTB

This story is going to be a crossover between DARKER THAN BLACK and RWBY with Hei from darker than black finding himself in the world of Remnant.

After a minor change to the events at the end of the second/third season of DTB. Hei uses his power to control the state of the energy in the gate to create a new world for everyone instead of the Pavlichenko's. With Hei being the creator he excludes himself from that world and resigns himself to whatever fate comes his way.

Now to give some perspective on for those RWBY fans that haven't read or watched DARKER THAN BLACK, (Hei, BK201/The Black Reaper) in relation to his abilities and his standing compared to the cast of RWBY. he is described on the official wiki as being, a genius. A master tactician who is very resourceful with everything from the environment to the clothes on his back and even his own blood.

He is also described as showing physical prowess bordering on supper human, with running speed, dexterous agility/acrobatics, muscle flexibility and strength being way above what a human should be capable of. (in the middle season/Guidin, his body is put under enough pressure to crush organs and kill a person but he breaks into the concrete a little, causing cracks under him and walks it off after the gravity power is lifted).

He is also not a contractor but is just as good at pretending he has no emotion that everyone thinks he's one including the "Syndicate" The underworlds version of the CIA or MI6. This would make him the perfect spy/infiltrator and no one would be able to read him unless he gets mad or sad enough to lose control. Both of which end with him either draining several square miles of all electrical power or to make him shed a few tears without actually sobbing.

His personalty is going to be the more caring side he showed when he was with Yin his most stable love interest. Not to be mistaken with a romantic side I mean it in the sense he will show more emotion as opposed to apathy. His personality will still be pragmatic and cold, hiding his real emotions and being straight forward with his "fake" personality while being brutally honest and indifferent to everyone when he uses his real personality.

As for the cast of rwby I'll keep them as they are in the show with slight changes to how they grow as individuals.

The story will follow cannon but It will focus on events from Hei's perspective for the most part. I won't try to squeeze Hei in because then he'll replace someone else so I'm going to add him in doing his own thing.

He'll do what he does because He wants to and he has nothing to lose in a new world. He's a realist not an idealist. He's In it for himself and if you're part of what makes his world go round he'll protect you. If not don't try and take anything from him because he will kill you.

~ STORY STARTS HERE ~

"thoughts"

"Speech"

words with implied meaning

Regular text

"Disembodied voice"

"Memories/other"

~ 0 ~

Prolog

~ song- Tsubasa wo Kudasai ~

~ The Ether ~

"If my wish were to come true right now"

"I'd wish for wings"

"On my back like a bird's"

"well I guess that's what I get for trying to hold on to everything."

"I want to spread my wings"

"And fly in the sky"

"I want to make my wings flutter"

"In a free sky without sorrow"

"I just wanted to see them smile. one last time. To find Her, but I can live with this."

"That thing I dreamt of as a child"

"I still dream of it, unchanged, now"

"I would've been happy just staying with you, watching the stars together with my telescope."

"I want to spread my wings"

"And fly in this sky"

"I want to make my wings flutter"

"In a free sky without sorrow"

"But I guess you were with me the whole time… huh."

Hei chuckled softly gripping his chest. He slowly opened his eyes. The only thing to greet him being an endless darkness. In actuality It was more a lack of light and color than a substantial mass of black. He chuckled to himself. The definition of black is the complete and total lack of anything so he supposed it was actual black that he was seeing.

He took a breath watching the abyss with a disinterested gaze. He felt weightless and his clothes moved around him as if he were under water but there was nothing pressing against him. "Am I sinking, or floating?" he thought apathetically.

Looking down he brought up his hands finding it hard to wrap his head around what he'd just done.

When the gate had started resonating with Yin He'd made the hardest decision in his life. The gate was going to bring forth a further evolution in her and it was happening at that moment. He knew the world wasn't ready for something like what she was becoming.

He'd told Suou and July that they wouldn't have to worry about anything. That they'd be safe where they were going. That everything would be okay for them. The corners of his lips fell. Thinking back he swallowed the knot in his throat remembering the promise to Yin. He'd promised that he would stop her a long time ago, but… he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to kill her. So he'd done the only thing he could.

He used the power of BK-201. The power his sister had given him.

An influx of knowledge and images had spilled into his brain. Memories that weren't his but his sisters. How to use the power properly. It's true capabilities. The mathematical equations though complicated and slow going were doable in his head.

The energy coming from the gate had flooded his being ravaging the area surrounding him just as he completed the mental calculations and forced his will on the gate. If he was honest with himself it had felt like all his worries washed away as he used the power. Every second he gained more control and felt… lighter. Suou was crying and Yin was looking down at them while everything faded to a clean and empty white.

So many things had passed through his head while he sat there in what he thought was the light at the end. The most prominent of which was his realization of what the feeling of liberation was. That feeling must have been what contractors felt. Power. Power and a mind unhindered by conscience, obligation or guilt. Just the drive to accomplish a goal which he had just done.

He closed his eyes covering his face as he leaned back floating in the vast nothing. He remembered looking up reaching for the source of the light, an invisible force pushed away the dark but he could feel something pulling at his clothes dragging him back. The contractor part of him, the part that was Bai screamed to make some kind of deal to save himself, but everything he'd done. The actions he'd taken to get to where he was flashed through his mind. Reminding him of all of his deeds. Crimes against friends and foe alike. Crimes against the Innocent. Crimes against humanity.

He grit his teeth holding onto the shame, the guilt, the pain. Letting the emotions drag him away from that internal voice that screamed to fight. He felt his mind swim and his body ached as he let his hand drop. The light faded with each passing second somehow sensing his lack of will to go on. The weight of his actions crashed down on him, dragging him further away from it's quickly diminishing brilliance. He was pulled so far down the world around him faded into something darker than black.

A strong empty feeling that brought a bitter taste to his mouth filled him. It sent him to his knees and he felt bile rise to his throat. He closed his eyes his lips curling up in a tortured smile. He swallowed the bile and glared at the emptiness below him. "Serves you right Black reaper." He punched the darkness below him. "After everything you've done."

He staggered to his feet opening his eyes to the vast void once again. There was no source of light but he could see all around him as far as he could tell. He imagined it's what one would see should they find themselves in a dream with nothing in it.

His feet started carrying him forward as he lost himself in thoughts of the past while staring into the vast emptiness in front of him loosing track and sense of time altogether.

~ 0 ~

As the last of his memories played through his mind everything came full circle to where he was now and he paused looking up. Not a thing about his surrounding had changed, but his legs were aching.

Grunting he fell to his knees with a wince. A lot of time must have passed for his legs to be screaming their protest to being used any further. His chest hurt to or more so his lungs. He collapsed to the ground falling to his side with a pained gasp. His exhaustion was a near crippling indicator of the amount of time that had passed it must have been days or the equivalent of wherever he was. He grit his teeth choking back a gasp of pain as he reached up pushing himself off the invisible floor lifting his head up. He felt a disturbance in the area around him. A change in air pressure or something similar to when someone opened a door or a window causing the air to shift. He stood up slowly sensing a presence behind him.

He never tensed. He was to tired to do so and it didn't matter anyways. Whatever had found him was well within it's rights to do whatever it saw fit with him. He was done and he couldn't fight back if he wanted to. Well he could with the power his sister had given him but what was the point?

He sighed slouching forward letting his joints lock as he sagged down in on himself. deciding to pay little mind finding no point in reacting he just grimaced. "Like I have anywhere to be. Besides whats one dead monster in the grand scheme of things?"

A grim smile came to his lips as the thought registered to him. "God. Just how many people have I killed just to be close to my sister? How many have died for reasons that ultimately amounted to nothing but a bad decision Just so I could find a rumor about her." He lifted a hand to his face rubbing his eyes. He sighed quietly to himself.

Oh, there were a few he'd helped. The lucky few that he came across under certain circumstances. Those that had nothing to do with the syndicate or lived long enough to lose everyone's attention. But there was no avoiding the fact his hands were stained with blood, and rivers of it.

He sighed in resignation. "So many in the wrong place at the wrong time or stuck in a game much bigger and more dangerous than any one person could imagine." He quietly mumbled.

There would be no greater justice than to wander this dark emptiness reliving the moments he'd killed every one of his victims until he lost his mind.

If someone or more likely a god of retribution had decided to end him… who was he to argue. It wasn't his place to do so. He could only accept what came his way and work with what he had. "After all I'm only human."

A twisted grin played across his face. "I don't even have the excuse of being a contractor." He started chuckling mirthlessly. "I really am the worst kind of person."

The presence behind him drew closer. Two slender arms wrap around his chest as a head lay against his shoulder. He felt a calm feeling wash over him and the pain in his body fade away almost instantly.

"Don't be hard on yourself Hei. You did what you had to because you wanted answers; And to protect the people you love."

A few strands of silvery white hair flew in his peripheral tickling his cheek. He smiled weakly and sighed hanging his head. "No Yin, not all of it. I…" a slender finger covered his mouth as two soft lips pressed against his cheek. Not in a kiss but in a gentle show of affection.

"Hei, listen to me. We can't be together. not with what I am now. We're too different, but I want you to be happy so I'm going to give you a shot at a second chance."

He turned his head to look at Yin and wondered how she could even do that. She gently let go of him and floated around to the front of him looking deep into his dark blue eyes smiling softly. "The light of BK-201 still shines brightly. All that needs to be done is to cast It's light on a different world." She said warmly while pushing the corners of her cheeks up in a forced but very real smile.

Hei's eyes widened a bit and then closed scoffing lightly before taking a breath. "So, you're saving me again huh. Only this time it's goodbye? Isn't it?" He asked in his monotone voice, a slight warbled slipping through as he clenched his fists opening his eyes. Yin tilted her head nodding as she cupped her hands around his face leaning in slowly. Their lips met in a soft tender kiss this time with passion behind it. As she pulled back she had a forlorn look in her eyes but she crossed her arms behind her back floating just out of his reach, a small warm smile on her face.

"Goodbye Hei. I love you and I truly wish we could have made a family together, but." She sighed wistfully. "I think this is for the best."

He made a face and swallowed the words he'd been about to say. A sad grimace spread across his face as the world distort and his consciousness began to fade. "Pleas Hei, for me. Try to be human."

Those were the last words he heard as his vision began to swim and his vision faded to black. His eyes closed and he felt himself fall backwards dropping into nothingness once again.

~ CH. 1 ~

~ The Beauty & The Beast ~

Colors and images slowly drifted through Hei's mind accompanied by sounds and abstract concepts like emotions. Black hair and burning red eyes were very prominent but he couldn't put a face to them. It was a man though that he could make out. It seemed like countless years passed by in a second. He felt like he was drifting between waking and sleeping while sinking through murky water as if dreaming while suffering from a fever. Then everything started to swirl and fade to a dim gray. He opened his eyes to see a tall figure in very ornate armor looking down at him with an eclipsed sun hovering behind it. The light coming off of it was brighter than the surrounding dark sky but it had a darkness to it's core.

"It's time to awaken."

Were the words that passed through his head as a low humming noise filled his ears.

~ 0 ~

A light humming filled the darkness accompanied by a constant low rumble. The muffled sound of voices and shushing carried lightly on the air as a loud thud resounded within the dark compartment followed by an aluminum vent crashing to the floor. The loud noise resonated throughout the compartment with a loud echo and Hei's eyes shot open this time for real. A dark red glow slowly faded from his irises as he silently rolled on to his left knee getting behind one of the large crates lining either side of the compartment.

He looked around the edge of the crate near the ground, because let's face it no one looks up or down unless they have a reason to. From his vantage point he saw two people silently drop in through a ceiling vent. A young man followed by a young woman. They hit the ground with light thuds and stood by the broken vent cover.

They were both dressed in strange yet not at all unrealistic clothes. They were things you could find in a store but not something your average person would wear. The tall young man wore a black tux with red markings. An intricate white symbol with a red rose adorned the back and he wore a bone white mask sporting similar red marks on it and… "Is that a katana?" Hei thought with an uneasy feeling welling up in his gut.

"With a weapon like that he's either in a gang or he's a contractor. normally someone wouldn't walk around with such an obvious weapon unless they had no reason to feel worried about carrying it."

His eyes narrowed as his gaze drifted over to the young woman. She was beautiful with soft yet striking features and amber eyes that clashed beautifully with her light milky skin tone.

A pain shot through his head and he grabbed his temples. An image of a pale dark haired amber eyed beauty flashed through his mind. He didn't remember exactly where that memory came from but it fit his line of work. Killers always seemed to have the striking features. He knew from years of personal experience with the syndicate a pretty face was usually an assassin or an extremely annoying contractor.

"She looks timid and her eyes aren't dull. She could be both, like Suou's old friend." He mentally sighed with memories of annoying blonds and dark haired government employees flashing through his mind. "She could be an agent too."

Hei shook his head slightly and continued observing the girl. She wore a more revealing female version of casual formal, with tight fitting shorts that resembled slacks. Dark purple leggings that faded to black covered the rest of her slender legs. She wore two inch heels and a sleeveless white dress shirt with a black vest that rested just under the swell of her breasts that sported a tux tail. She also had arm warmers and ribbons wrapped around her forearms all topped off with black bow on her head.

"Hmm, not exactly inconspicuous and definitely…" He shifted his weight slightly his heavy coat just barely sliding across the ground. He stopped when he saw her bow twitch slightly. His eyes narrowed when her shoulders tensed a fraction of a second later. "Or misleadingly conspicuous and effectively inconspicuous."

He figured he could take them out if he had to. The girl looked skilled but not experienced and her weapon looked heavy. "I'm sure I could dodge circles around her. Now, as for the guy."

He eyed the young man again as they began walking forward. "Hmm, he looks much more experienced if the way he carries himself is any indicator, but a weapon that long has a major drawback even if he can swing fast all it takes is getting inside his guard and a quick slice across the throat would do the job."

Hei took a long slow silent breath and relaxed. If it came down to a fight he'd be ready for it. Looking at the vent he started thinking and quickly examined the compartment around them finding sleek metal. "I can end this quickly if I have too."

He grabbed his wrist feeling the familiar bump and touched his belt fingering the device next to the buckle. "I have my wire too." He slowly felt around his chest counting six handles, a small smile coming to his lips. "If they attack they're dead regardless of the direction it goes. After all the one with options wins."

Just as he started to stand up the girl spoke and Hei crouched back down, listening intently. The girl glared at her companion clenching her fists. "Why are we going to blow up the train we don't need to Adam! There are Innocent people on here." The young woman hissed in a hushed but angry tone. She had a distressed look on her face as if suffering from conflicting emotions.

The young man now identified as Adam didn't even look at her and responded with cold indifference as he took a few steps into the compartment. "All the people on this train are working for the Schnee Dust Company. Or support them by buying their products. Products gained through the abuse of our people. They deserve to die for the suffering our people have been through at the hands of humanity."

Hei rose an eyebrow in bewilderment at the venom in the boys voice. And the use of the word humanity. He had to be a contractor with the way he differentiated between the two, and yet no contractor would show such emotion like that so easily.

~ 0 ~

The young girls face fell and she looked down as Adam turned to her. She could feel his eyes on her judging her and she nodded. Adam turned back speaking quietly. "Blake the Schnee family is responsible for all of this and we have a chance to strike back at them."

Blake looked up in resignation. "Yes. I understand Adam." Her body went limp, her drive leaving her as she followed him.

Hei's eyes narrowed recognizing that look. The look one gets when they're about to turn away from everything they've ever known because they feel something wrong. That kind of conviction was dangerous. She just went up a couple of notches on the danger scale, but if he played his cards right he could turn her against the other guy. Contractors were pragmatic after all.

While Hei was contemplating exactly what he was going to do he realized the crate in front of him wasn't actually a crate at all. It started to unfold and stand up. What it folded out into was a sleek metal structure accented with glowing red lights. He backed away from the machine as it turned to the two at the back and raised its arm with a gun. "Halt. Intruders. Surrender and wait for an officer t-." the machine was suddenly cut in half by a red blade.

Hei's eyes widened as he covered his face flipping backwards and jumping high into the air to the ceiling of the compartment. He manipulated the particles around his shoes magnetizing them to the ceiling for a split second which was just enough to get a good angle. He took in the scene of more boxes unfolding into machines before jumping off and landing behind the wall the machines forming in front of the other two.

Using his powers to manipulate the particles around him he create a dead zone of sorts. In the past he'd learned that sensors and cameras didn't pick him up as easily when he covered himself in the altered particles. He didn't use it often though because the mental calculations needed were taxing but it seemed so much easier to do so now. So take that and add the two other targets in the compartment, the chances of him taking priority to the machines was highly unlikely.

When he landed behind the machines he crouched looking up and watched the two readying themselves. His eyes wandered to the red blade wielded by the young man. Seeing the katana cut strait through a robot wasn't anything special compared to most of the things he'd seen people do, but they were usually using powers or had a special carbon blade made for cutting through steel. Although lots of experience with the sword could give you an edge when doing seemingly impossible feats meaning this guy was nothing to sniff at. He'd have to reevaluate just how dangerous these two were.

~ 0 ~

Across the line of security drones the two readied themselves. Blake had seen the man leap from behind the robot Adam had cut in half her eyes following him as he jumped off the ceiling hiding behind one of the Schnee company security bots. She hadn't caught his face most of it being covered with a dark sleeve. All she'd made out was dark raven hair and a glowing red eye. The man was acrobatic, that was for damn sure and he moved fast. Faster than she could and that was dangerous considering she was a speed oriented fighter herself. Faster than her partner though that remained to be seen.

She looked at Adam and he tilted his head slightly, acknowledging he'd seen the man too and was thinking the same thing as her. He nodded a fraction of a centimeter that was unnoticeable to the human eye in the dim light. They were going to have to take him out and she was torn about it. He almost definitely wasn't a civilian but she didn't know the man from Adam. For all she knew he was an innocent huntsman hired to protect the cargo.

She clenched her fists getting low as her hand moved to the handle of her weapon Gambol shroud. She gripped the handle tightly adjusting her hold as she drew it taking up a stance. She nodded back as she kept her eyes on the man in the back. Adam took a small breath then suddenly lunged for the nearest security bot attacking head on tearing them to pieces while Blake took out the ones that got behind him.

~ 0 ~

Hei watched with morbid fascination as they took out the robots one after another with surgical precision and no wasted movements. It was impressive to say the least. It might be a tougher fight than he'd anticipated. Akin to fighting the hit squad of April, June and July. The two worked well together. Reaching into his trench coat he pulled out his mask and a knife getting ready for the rapidly approaching confrontation.

"Two versus one. Huh. They're nowhere near as deadly as the Russian or American agents they sent after me." Memories of massive fights taking him across towns and through buildings quickly came and went as a grim yet comfortingly familiar grimace spread across his face. "Thank god neither of them are like Mina."

With the last robot falling to the ground bisected perfectly Adam and Blake turned to him. They checked him out raising their weapons. The two slowly stepped closer to him readying their arms.

He got into his usual loos stance raising his knife, eyes narrowing behind his mask. Looking at the girl he tightened his grip on his weapon and took a step back. "I can try and take advantage of the girl and use her to try and get out of this."

He quickly changed his gaze to the boy Adam, holding his knife up. "My second option is to play off Adams hate for the Schnee, whoever they are. Though It'll probably get the girl even angrier than she is and she'll lash out at me." He sighed and relaxed his muscles. "fighting my way to the entrance they made and escaping seems like the most logical choice."

Yup his options weren't looking to good right now and his best bet for a non confrontational option would be the girl. The odds of that working were slim to none considering that in their eyes he wasn't supposed to be there one way or another. He definitely wasn't an ally but most likely was an enemy.

Taking a deep breath Hei slowly raised his free hand open in a playacting way. "Look I don't want any trouble. I'm just hitching a free ride. No need to get violent."

Hei saw the girl, Blake hesitate, loosening her grip on her cleaver like weapon. "It worked?" He thought wearily. Then he noticed she wasn't moving… at all. His eyes widened behind his mask when he heard a light tap and he felt the air around him shift . He bent his legs getting low pushing back. Leaning to the side he spun into a standing back flip and kick.

His shoe caught Blake in the chin snapping her head back knocking her into the air rattling her brain. She nearly blacked out as she landed on her back causing her to drop her weapon and grab her head moaning in pain. She hadn't been able to bring her aura up in time not expecting the counter.

Hei pushed off of the floor with his hands somersaulting in midair landing softly and silently on his left leg as he drew himself up leaning back. He watched the girl moan, rolling onto her side as she rubbed her back and chin. Looking up he saw the fading image of her where she'd been standing by the guy. "Damn it. She is a contractor." He cursed under his breath. "She must have noticed me from the beginning and been playing me this whole time."

His eyes widened and he spun to the side throwing himself into a cartwheel as Adam swung at him. The katana slashed a small cut on the bottom of his bullet proof coat as he cartwheeled around the boys unguarded left side. Their eyes met as Hei came back up despite both their faces being covered.

~ 0 ~

Adam swung his hips and shifted his weight pulling his shoulders around to swing the blade back around but a sharp pain shot through his left leg. He stumbled and slashed sloppily at the man who kicked in his left knee but the man Jumped off him just narrowly passing over the horizontal slash. The man took a few steps back but turned to glance over his shoulder noticing his distance to the wall diminishing quickly.

Blake groaned and looked up at the masked man in fear. He'd floored her with a kick that was aimed as a repelling move. She dreaded finding out what a full offensive one felt like. This man was dangerous, easily a trained huntsman. "Adam be careful he hits like a train I think he's a huntsman!"

"I know!" He shouted back making her recoil. "He just kicked my knee and It hurts like a bitch."

Blake had been drifting apart from Adam due to his extreme beliefs and the fact he lashed out at her despite her concern for him hurt. He was still her mentor and partner though. She didn't know how to respond anymore and just fell back on the age old place filler. "Are you gonna be alright?"

Adam grinned. "Humph." He rolled his head cracking his neck. "It's nothing my aura can't take care of, I'll be fine Blake."

~ 0 ~

Hei was cursing his luck under his breath. "Shit. so those two are both contractors and if this AURA thing is his power, and it can heal him… shit. Just great."

Blake looked towards the man and stood up while grabbing her weapon. To Hei's surprise it mecha-shifted to a short katana and a cleaver combo. Hei raised his knife again and got low to the floor, ready to dash or jump as needed.

~ 0 ~

Adam watched the man and grit his teeth favoring his right leg. He'd down played how much the kick had hurt and took note that the move wasn't just a distancing tactic. This man aimed to inflict as much damage with as little energy exerted as possible. The bastard had used him as a god damned spring board to get distance and hurt him at the same time.

While Adam was in thought Blake lifted her weapon up and rushed the masked man. She quickly closed the distance between her and Hei swinging her cleaver at his head while bringing her katana around to hit his hip. Her eyes widened in shock and awe as he jumped, spinning in the air just between her two attacks. He got inside her guard and swung his knife at her throat cutting it cleanly along the jugular. Her eyes bulged as his knife cut clean through her artery and she gurgled as the wound opened up.

Hei's eyes narrowed as black mist not blood sprayed from the wound and the girl faded just like before. His right eye caught movement drawing his gaze to take in the full range of motion. His eyes widened in surprise. The girl had done a cartwheel to get in his blind spot and moved into a back flip trying to catch him with the same move he'd just used on her.

Adam saw Blake catch the masked man off guard and rushed forward to end him. Whether Blake hit him or not. He couldn't do anything from a point of no balance like that and he'd either get kicked and then bisected or doge the kick just to get cut in half a split second later. Adam grinned and rushed forward with a yell of anger. "Ruahhhh!"

~ 0 ~

Hei saw what they'd just done and cursed under his breath before a cruel grin spread across his face hidden behind his mask. It all happened in a split second. Faster than Blake or Adam could comprehend the masked man had gone into motion. Hei touched the ground with his left foot bending backwards while twisting his head to the right dodging Blake's kick by a hairs breath.

Using the downward momentum, he spun and brought his already raised arm, with knife in hand, to the back of his head angled just enough to cause Adams blade to change trajectory ricocheting as it came down at him. The strike missed him by a good two inches.

Blake finished her backflip and her eyes widening as she brought her arms up to shield herself as the masked man continued his spin raising his right leg to catch the side of her head with a vicious spinning back kick. Her aura lit up and she felt it dip quite a bit. The force from the hit sent her flying knocking her against the opposite wall. She barely got her aura up in time to shield her back on impact feeling the protrusions from the cabin dig into her back. Her vision swam as she slid to the floor dizzily with a groan.

Adams eyes widened behind his mask. He was about to yell out to Blake but he grit his teeth and braced as the masked man slashed at him with his two pronged knife. There was far more weight and force behind the swing than a small weapon like that should have been capable of.

Adam stumbled back as he watched the man continued his spin, moving faster than even he could move.

He planted his foot and used the sudden stop to transfer the kinetic energy in his stumble to his hips and swung his sword up from the low position it was in, putting his hips into the attack adding all the extra force to increase the speed hoping to catch the bastard mid stride but it was no use.

Hei saw the blade coming up at him and moved forward twisting his body to match match the blades angle,sliding his legs together and folding his arms across his chest, falling slightly to the right and dodging under the slash just barely. A few strands of hair being the only thing cut.

He threw a hand out keeping himself upright and stepped forward planting his foot firmly shooting up pulling back his free hand as he lunged at Adam. He grabbed the young mans head in a full one hand grip hold and took a step getting right up next to Adam who was speechless with disbelief.

Using all the added momentum of his initial jump and everything building up to this he stepped passed Adam and threw the man down so hard his head snapped back hitting the ground first. Adam's head slammed into the steel floor with a loud crash the rest of his body hitting the floor so hard he bounced back up before coming to rest on on his side writhing in pain and disoriented.

Hei continued his movements with another step tumbling forward into a dodge roll, jumping forward covering the remaining distance to the broken vent before springing up and spinning around with his knife raised. He eyed the two he'd just incapacitated. He noticed they were both recovering slowly. Very slowly. To slow to be a threat. They groaned in pain and he lowered his knife.

Adam managed to roll to his hands and knees. He coughed spitting out a little blood before wiping his mouth. A couple yards from him Blake sat up slowly and gingerly grabbed her head wincing as she looking over at Adam.

"You okay Blake?" He asked in a gruff tone, spitting more blood out the side of his mouth before looking over at the masked man who was eyeing them with a calm and relaxed posture.

Blake nodded and then looked towards the masked man as well. "Yeah I'm alright."

Adam grit his teeth eyeing the man who had just as good as beat them in less than ten seconds. "Who the hell are you and why are you trying to stop the white fang!" Adam shouted in barely contained fury.

Hei watched them with a disinterested expression behind his mask wondering who the white fang was, and why these contractors seemed so emotional. Were they even really contractors? They seem to emotional and unprofessional. If they were contractors how could they not know who he was. The whole underworld has been after him for the past 5 years. His eyes widened remembering what Yin had said.

"Hei, listen to me. We can't be together. not with what I am now. We're too different, but I want you to be happy so I'm going to give you a shot at a second chance… The light of BK-201 still shines brightly. All that needs to be done is to cast It's light on a different world."

Looking down at the two in front of him he put his knife away. He stood as tall as he could, straightening his back and letting his shoulders drop. He'd taken them down without any real cost. It had taken some effort to not get touched but they didn't need to know that. As far as things went he won and he had control of the situation. "Tell me. Who are the white fang?" He said in his monotone voice charging some particles in the air around him. Blue electricity sparked streaking across parts of the compartment making some of the destroyed robots twitch increasing the intimidation factor for the two.

Adam scoffed and Blake growled quietly but both eyed the very metal floor they rested on before exchanging worried glances and then they looked back at Hei. Blake spoke with an angry and disbelieving tone. "How do you not know who the white fang are!"

Adam nodded in agreement, tightly wrapping his hand around his blades hilt. "We're the ones who fight for faunus rights to equality." He adding in a condescending tone.

At that comment Blake closed her eyes and turned her head away slightly, a small frown coming to her face. Hei noticed and wondered just how far apart these two must have drifted in ideology. One was a akin to a religious zealot and the other a questioning follower of a flawed faith. He didn't have the desire nor the patience to deal with either he just wanted information.

He sighed looking down off to the side quickly concluding that he'd never herd of the group before. That was saying something considering he was part of the syndicate for over five years and ran from the entire underworld for five more after that. Maybe he really was in a different world. Was it so hard to believe. After all hadn't the Pavlichenko's tried to create one and hadn't he done just that as well.

He frowned. "I guess that proves you don't have to be a god to create things. That's not a comforting thought." He pictured all the people in the new world praying to a god that didn't exist. He sighed audibly. "Whats to say our world wasn't made in a similar way." he paused shaking his head. Down that train of thought lay headaches and sleepless nights.

He relaxed taking in the two before him with a disinterested gaze. His power started drawing from the energy in the cart causing the air around them to glow a dark gray with the concentration of negatively charged electrons. The light in the cart started to dim. The warmth left the air making the two shiver and suddenly feel weak.

~ 0 ~

Adam dropped his blade, his hands twitching uncontrollably as he fell on to his side. He struggled and looked over at Blake. His eyes widening behind his mask.

Blake was terrified. She could feel her aura being drained and the air around her was getting colder. She was laying on her back. Her hands were wrapped around her neck pulling at her collar and rubbing her throat. She could barely breath. Her eyes bulged slightly and saliva started dripping from the corner of her mouth.

The two looked up in terror at the man? The gray glow around him was drawing in all other light and warmth like a black hole.

Blake and Adam both felt the drastic changes and inescapable pressure choking them as their bodies went into mild shock. Being faunus they had a deeper genetic connection to their more primal instincts than humans on average and thus they could feel an instinctual fear as if they were in the presence of a predator. One that should be avoided at all costs.

"This killing intent." Blake's eyes widened further. "No. This unmistakable indifference towards us. This power." She struggled to her hands and knees gasping for breath. "He doesn't care. Were just in his way."

Blake could feel the power flowing off the man in front of her, if he was indeed human. There were many semblances in existence but one that took the light, warmth and life itself from the world. That drew from others very souls and had this inhuman pressure to it. Only one word came to her mind. "Monster."

This person was like a force of nature. His ink black clothes coupled with his black hair and that hauntingly familiar white mask with a red frown on it. She gulped. "Grimm."

Adam couldn't look away from the man. He knew Blake could feel the exact same thing as himself. He pushed himself to his knees dragging his sword to him. He grit his teeth looking into those deep dark eye holes. Fear easy to see on his face despite the half mask. The figure seemed no more than a normal man when he spoke earlier. But now. Now with that cold indifferent voice. Like death itself. Adam could picture a monster beneath that mask.

The gray cloud warped and coalesced, darkening as it wrapped around the man. A dim blue light beginning to emanate from him. "Is that his aura?" The two faunus thought at the same time. That's when Adam and Blake saw it. As the light faded to darkness in the compartment, even without their faunus heritage they could see the glowing eyes behind the mask. They were a dark blood red that shone brighter the darker the compartment grew. The darkness washed over the compartment encroaching on the last source of light in the room. The blue glow around the man and the evil red glow behind that mask.

The two of them could hardly breath with the change in pressure. Shivers ran down their spines as the shadows tugged at their clothes. They both would swear later that they could hear whispers as the air whipped passed their ears.

~ 0 ~

Hei looked at the two in front of him and thought about what he was doing. Tearing them down after bringing them to their knees. He squared his shoulders back and flexed his hands, gray electricity sparking between his hands.

"Beat down those who appose you, and gain respect. Instill fear in those who would harm you, and you gain reverence."

He remembered those words well. But he couldn't remember where he'd heard them.

He continued drawing energy from the surrounding environment like the compartment and the destroyed robots thinking back to everything he'd learned about his power when the gate had activated. His sisters memories resonated with his and the details on how to better use her powers became a little clearer. It was similar to learning a trick like using your fingers for the nines in your times tables.

"It's the ability to control and alter particles on the molecular level. Even altering reality is possible given a large enough power source or having the mental capacity and fortitude to calculate the technicalities of molecular structures. A regular human wouldn't be able to utilize this power to it's fullest potential due to emotions and pointless thoughts hindering their ability to calculate and envision what they needed or wanted It to do. A super computer would technically be god with this power."

He gave a sad smile behind his mask and thought about Yin. "This power isn't something someone can control and still be human." He gave a dark tired chuckle, loud enough for Adam and Blake to hear.

"There's no such thing as good or evil. Only power and those who don't know how to use it. Humans were never meant to have absolute power. Because absolute power corrupts absolutely. So why? Why did she give it to me?"

~ 0 ~

Adam and Blake's eyes widened, hearing his words.

Suddenly the roof of the compartment was torn off in a horrendous screeching of metal making Adam and Blake flinch in pain as light and the warmth of the afternoon sun to flood in. The warmth from the sun provided a pleasant relief after the cold draining confines of the compartment but it was short lived however.

A giant mecha security bot in the shape of a scorpion had been the thing that destroyed the compartment. It was currently aiming a laser cannon at them. Blake's eyes widened even further as her hair whipped about her face in the wind. Adam clenched his fists around his sword staggering to his feet, cursing his shaking hands as the cannon readied to fire.

He could stop it if he could steady himself and activate his semblance. He tried to take up his stance but he stumbled to his knee and groaned in pain at the sharp twinge in his leg as a numbness from the kick earlier spread.

Blake's eyes widened in terror. She felt her legs give out and she looked on in defeat. It wouldn't have been much of a problem if they were in good condition but the man in the mask hit like a train and whatever he'd done had drained them considerably.

She griped her fists tightly and looked head on into the cannon.

~ 0 ~

Hei reached out with his power feeling it resonate stronger with the energy that the machine gave off. It reacted stronger than anything he'd ever pulled from before sans the gate. It was almost like instead of electricity or gas it used a purer fuel source. One that could be converted easily. It was almost like it was connected to the gate in some way.

Adam drew his blade holding it as high as he could from his downed position. He looked at Blake and tried to slide over to her wanting to protect her even if it might not work. He almost fell over halfway to her and his eyes widened when the robot's canon lost all its power. The machine crashed to its knees and fell over lifeless slowly toppling over the side of the train crashing to the forest below.

Adam and Blake's gaze moved to the man who was standing there his head tilted slightly to one side hand outstretched to where the machine had stood.

Hei took a deep breath and stopped drawing in energy as he turned around looking over at his current companions. Their mouths were hanging open in amazement at what he'd done to the machine. It inspired awe and terror at the same time. He stayed quiet and tilted his head in the other direction.

They flinched at his action wary of his movements. The overwhelming pull and pressure from before was gone but the power around the man was still very much so present. Adam sheathed his blade struggling to his feet taking up a quick draw stance.

Blake followed suit wobbling to her feet, her head was still swimming from earlier as well as the lack of oxygen but she was rapidly recovering. Her aura would have already assisted in her recovery from something minor like loss of breath or dizziness but when he'd drawn on the energy in the compartment he'd somehow drawn from her aura as well and it was slow in reacting now as if her aura itself was tired. Only now was she recuperating. It was far more rapid than usual as well despite the sluggishness she felt from her aura though. Soon she and Adam were almost good to go with only the physical injuries still hindering them which were more on the concussive and bruising side of things than crippling.

Blake narrowed her eyes and lifted her weapons holding them at her sides. She glanced over at Adam and crouched when he nodded, readying Gambol. Her finger twitching by the mechanism to mecha shift it into its pistol form.

Adam leaned forward fingering the trigger on his sheath. He looked dead into the glowing red behind the mask as his grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. "You think that scares us!" Adam shouted with a firm tone, trying to hide his fear.

~ 0 ~

Hei let out a small exasperated breath, his eyes becoming half lidded in annoyance. "I'm not trying to scare you I just want you to leave me alone. I don't care what you're doing here. I have no interest in killing you either." Hei turned profile raising his left arm keeping the sword wielding red head in the center of his vision.

"But If you keep pushing… I will kill you." The dim blue light started coalescing around Hei's hand, his head tilting down. "Your choice."

Adam clicked his tongue Dashing forward as Hei released the built up energy. The energy shot out in a scatter shot remiss of a shotgun blast. The air warped and parts in the metal floor disintegrated or warped.

Hei's heart rate jumped but he kept himself still "What!" He hadn't expected much more than a flash of light maybe, at best a longer range to electrocute the boy enough to act like a taser gun considering his control over particle velocity and plasma combustion was so low. He only understood enough to electrocute organic material directly in contact with a conductor or within a foot of his reach.

"The only time I ever did anything more destructive without knowing what I was doing…" Hei's eyes widened behind his mask and he clenched his fist, lowering it to his side. "...It looked like "A" bombs had been detonated all over south America."

He grimaced and released the rest of the energy harmlessly into the air not wanting to do anything irreversible.

Adam grinned as the energy that had connected with him was absorbed into Blush. "You know." Adam re-sheathed his blade as he began to glow a deep red color. "No matter how strong you are. If you use any kind of attack, I can turn it right back at you. Now Blake!"

Hei's eyes widened even further as the information was revealed to him. He stepped back and looked to the girl he'd neglected to keep an eye on. She was charging him.

"Damn." He jumped back as the girl rushed him slashing at his torso. He fell back into a flip but something blunt and heavy connected with his face cracking his mask. His vision blurred as he hit the ground rolling to his side springing back to his feet. "Shit."

The girl had used her power to make a solid shadow clone to get behind him while he'd focused on the boy. He drew a knife lifting it quickly as the girl readied herself.

Hei narrowed his eyes holding his free hand in front of him at the ready. He watched the girl carefully as a clicking noise met his ears followed by a loud blast. He spun around dropping on his haunches, his hair flying in the wind as the cart flew along the tracks. A few strands flying away on the wind as the buck shot spray passed over where he'd just been standing.

If Hei had to gander a guess he'd say the boy with the red hair was glaring at him from under his own mask if the way his jaw clenched and teeth ground together was any indication. He was glowing even brighter than when he'd last looked at him and the red marks on his getup were glowing the same deep red color as his blade. His swords sheath was smoking like it had just fired the shot too. "This world is gonna take some getting used to." He sighed internally. "I just hope it's not gonna give me as many headaches as mine did."

Adam cursed in his head. This guy just wouldn't go down. His reflexes were faster than anything he'd ever seen and his reaction time was unnatural. The way he moved to avoid blows and the fluid way he'd moved after getting hit by Blake. It was like everything was choreographed. He moved flawlessly, meeting that perfect balance between effectiveness and energy expenditure while keeping momentum and flow between motions at maximum.

Hei took a deep annoyed breath glaring at the redhead through his cracked mask. His cold blue eye met the mask of the young man who's mouth dropped slightly before breaking into a smirk. It was like seeing the mans eye had helped him remember his opponent was only human and could be killed.

Hei cursed under his breath and stood up again brandishing his knife at the girl behind him making it spark with electricity to keep her at bay while holding eye contact with Adam. "Look. I don't want to fight. You have no reason to fight me either. Just leave me alone and I'll leave you to do whatever it is you came here to do."

Adam scoffed getting angry. "Do you really expect me to believe that. Why would you be on a Schnee shipment cart if you weren't private security or working for someone? Whats even more ridiculous is that you expect me to believe that you don't know what a faunus is."

Hei slowly let his arm drop and put away his knife relaxing his posture in a show of non hostility. You attacked me. If you stop I will to." A sigh escaped him as he gave an annoyed look from behind his mask. "Frankly. I really could give a shit if you believe me or not because its the truth. If I wanted to, I could kill you right now..."

The words Yin had spoken in their last meeting ran through his head and he looked down.

"Try and be human."

"How exactly does one be human? What even is human? Technically speaking even contractors are. They're just more psychopathic and pragmatic. Sad thing is I can't even use that as an excuse for my actions. Yin said I did those things for the people I cared about and I am human so what does that mean? Being human for me is being a selfish greedy monster. Everything I ever wanted was to be close to the people I love and look what I did to accomplish that."

He closed his eyes but continued to listen for any sounds of movement from either. "But there are lots of different humans. I mean Suou wasn't even born human and she still showed humanity at the end. Maybe I should try something different." He thought back to all the things he'd done to make people happy.

Like getting Mao those treats he liked. Bringing Yin with him on assignments. Lighting up that park for that scientists daughter. Exhausting himself to humor others at functions he infiltrated. Cooking Suou's favorite food that one time. Saving July instead of leavening him for dead. Saving that annoying detective from her superior.

A small smile pulled up the corners of his mouth. "I think it's time I started trying to be a better person. Maybe that's how I can be human."

A resigned look fell over his face as he looked at the redhead and he sighed. "But I leave the choice to you."

~ 0 ~

Adam grit his teeth in fury drawing Blush from Wilt. "Do you think you're better than me! That I'm not worth the effort! WHY DON'T YOU JUST FUCKING DIE!"

Blake's eyes widened. The man Had told them twice already that he didn't want to fight. He was trying to avoid this conflict and even backed off when he downed them the first time instead of finishing them off. Now here he was disarming and Adam was trying to kill him. Granted who would believe someone didn't know about faunus or the white fang but still.

"Why won't Adam listen?" Blake's blood ran cold when she took in what was behind the man. He was standing Right in front of the passenger portion of the train. There was at least 200 people in those other compartments. INOCENT people who had nothing to do with any of this. Most probably didn't even use dust passed house hold appliances and power.

"NO! Adam you can't!" Blake held her arm out as her partner drew his blade, glowing with the captured energy from before. He didn't stop. Without thinking she ran and jumped between him and the man standing in front of the passenger cars holding her hands up. A terrified expression on her face as her old mentor and lover raised his blade and swung it with a furious roar. The overwhelming energy rushed towards her and she closed her eyes waiting for the end to come.

"Why? Why. Why cant everyone just work together." Old memories of waving signs at protests and trying to spread the message of peace and equality flashed through her mind. Then Adam had taken over and changed the way the White Fang operated. she'd left home to be more active. However, over the last couple of years things had slowly spiraled out of control.

Protests had turned from peaceful rallies to violent demonstrations. Peace and equality had been exchanged for fear and dominance. Friendship and understanding replaced for retribution and reparations.

As the hum of energy from the beam became deafening a tear ran down her cheek The warm loving faces of the two most important people in her life filled her thoughts. a small sad smile played across her lips. "I'm so sorry."

Just as she felt the flux of energy in front of her a hand rested on her hip.

~ 0 ~

This was it. On one hand he could dodge and completely avoid getting hit in which case the girl would die as would quite a few people in the passenger cars behind them. This had no negative consequences for him. He'd just watch some people who didn't matter to him die on top of the girl who'd attacked him. Nothing really to lose in that instance.

"I could jump and use my wire to swing around and get the boy from behind. All threats gone and no traces pointing to me even being here. Just Two terrorists fighting and one dying of a heart attack after his fight."

"But on the other hand…" If he just held out his hand he could fill the charge of the negative particles in the energy and disperse them harmlessly. This would save the girl and the people in the carts but leave him open to an attack from behind as well as make him lose the element of surprise for a quick assassination.

"Damn it Yin. You always did have the simplest requests which turned out to be more trouble than anyone would initially think."

Hei put his hand on the girls hip pulling her back while at the same time sliding his hand in her pocket pulling out the cards he felt. "Don't know if this is money but hey, new world different currency can't hurt to be prepared."

When he touched Blake It startled her and she looked up seeing the white porcelain and cracked hole revealing his glowing red eye as he stepped passed her holding his arm out. She looked to his hand and her jaw dropped.

Blake stood mesmerized by the energy. It was spreading out like when you put your finger on a water hose. The ted beam of light was changing colors and dispersing into little bubble like particles reminiscent soap bubbles in the colors of the Aurora lights over Mantle in winter.

As the wave died down and the last of the particles dispersed the man put his hand down stepping forward. "I'll say this one last time. Stop." Hei clenched his fists, an annoyed look coming to his face as electricity sparked around him. "Or I'll kill you."

~ 0 ~

Blake watched the man step closer to Adam and her grip tightened on Gambol Shroud. Adam was completely focused on the man and a thought crossed her mind. She frowned, her hands gripping the hilt of Gambol Shroud tightly she didn't want to kill the man and she didn't think she could but she didn't want Adam to get hurt either. The sad truth however was that she didn't think she could go back with Adam to the white fang. She looked away over her shoulder and her eyes widened. She made her decision.

~ 0 ~

Adam was afraid. No he was terrified. His prowess with a sword was nothing to sniff at and he knew it. The hunters and specialist the Altesian government had sent after him had been tough but he could best most and counter if not hold his own against the strongest they'd sent after him. Winter Schnee was on that list as the strongest he'd faced and he could fight her to a standstill.

He sheathed Blush again taking up a ready stance as he looked into the older mans eyes. He'd never gone up against someone like this though. This guy was faster than anyone he'd ever faced. He couldn't cover as much ground in the way the Schnee bitch could but his acrobatics as well as his ability to counter and dodge were better than anyone he knew of.

He hit hard as well. There was no doubt in his mind that the man could kill with his bare hands even without his semblance. Thinking about that brought up the question of what his semblance was. It could draw energy from anything and build it up. It could disperse energy as a weapon or harmlessly considering how he stopped his counter. It was like a more versatile version of his own.

Then there was the electricity. The man had no dust on him that he could see, and yet. There was no mistaking it. He could conduct and emanate the high voltage plasma. This man was beyond deadly. His threat earlier was nothing to disregard.

"What do you want!" Adam yelled, trying to sound confidant. "Why are you interfering with our plans?"

Hei shook his head and shrugged. "Like I said, you attacked me. I don't even know what you want with this train or what it's carrying." Hei put a hand on his hip and leaned on his right leg.

Adams grip on his blade loosened looking at the man dumbstruck. He shook his head in disbelief drawing his sword, pointing it at Hei. This train needs to be destroyed now and I need the cargo so I can't let it reach town." Adam leveled his blade close to his chest gripping the hilt with both hands shooting at Hei Who narrowed his eyes readying himself.

"Don't kill him!"

Just then the train lurched causing Hei to stumble. He manipulated the particles around his feet to keep himself standing firmly while Adam stumbled and slipped passed Hei falling to his knee propping himself up on Blush.

Hei spun around his eyes widening as he saw the black haired girl getting farther and farther away from them. "She'd cut the coupling link. Clever girl."

Adam reached out a hand to her quickly shrinking form. "Blaaaaaaake!" The train disappeared into the distance leaving the two on the rapidly decelerating cart with the remainder of its cargo.

Adam fell to his hands clenching his fists. "You. This is all your fault!" Adam gripped Blush and spun around raising his blade but all he saw was a hand and then a sharp pain exploded just below his jugular before everything faded to black.

~ 0 ~

Hei looked down at the incapacitated man with a grimace. He was sure the girl had shouted at him when yelling about not killing the other. If he was gonna try to be a better person not killing was going to be a part of that he guessed. Shaking his head he crouched down and searched the unconscious man.

He stood back up holding a device that looked like an advanced cell phone and another stack of cards with numbers on them but this one was much larger and the numbers were bigger. There was also a wallet with nothing but a single phone number with the word Cinder scribbled next to it.

He pocketed them and looked down at the man before throwing out his hand and jumped off the elevated tracks as a zipping sound fill the air.

~ 0 ~

P.S. …smile