There's a well-known phrase among Hunters: The couple that fights together survive together. There are generally two interpretations of this saying; one, much darker than the other, is that when one partner falls the other will to. This is because the emotional strain on the survivor, having lost their lover, will attract more Grimm than the pair had previously been dealing with. If they had been struggling to fight before then now, with their numbers halved and opponents amassing, death is almost certain. A hunting couple would respond in kind that the partnership is not a requirement for their survival but an aid to it, when fighting back to back with the one you care most for you will fight better than you think possible. Not only that but you are skilled in collaborating with this person; you understand them. You can tell when they're waning and you have to take up slack, they can see the sweat on your bow and know it's do or die. In practice both sides are typically correct, a good and loving partnership can nurture the seed of success for many years; but a crack, or some misjudgement on the part of one can easily lead to the death of both. You ride a long and strong high with the shade of death looming twice as dark over you.

Velvet and Yatsuhashi were well aware of this phrase and, well over a year into their relationship, they were beginning to reap its benefits. The 8th of April, a late Spring night, they had steeled themselves to train for the upcoming Vytal festival; deep in the woods of Forever Fall. The cracked moon was overhead, obscured every so often by a passing grey cloud. Buds were beginning to sprout on the trees, red leaves a pinkish shade as they slowly gained their red colouration; Yatsuhashi only noticed this when the moon was hung above… well, and when he was neither watching over his partner or facing a wave of Ursa and Beowulf. Velvet found herself less focused on the natural beauty, it puzzled Yatsuhashi… over the time they'd been together he'd seen her photography practice; the opportunity to photograph buds blossoming in moonlight seemed like her kind of thing.

Walking side by side, Velvet's ears pointing high and her faunus eyes shining in the dark, he gently coiled his hand into her grasp… well, subtlety as he could being so much larger. Her fingers delicately coiled around his, scanning the grounds before them once more. The moon broke the clouds overhead, Yatsuhashi could see now. She broke into a sigh; closing her eyes and leaning against him. Just as he could sense a disturbance in her, she could tell he was worried about it. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little tense tonight. It's been a little while since we've done this; I can't help feeling a little… rusty. Having to take that break after the last mission, missing the Dance. One thing after another and now we're jumping straight into the tournament? It's just a little much. I'm sure I'll bounce back soon."

He shifted, fingers going from interlocked to his left arm wrapping around her, sword in the crook of his right shoulder; keeping an eye on their surroundings but equally attempting to comfort her. Feeling comfortable he looked down to her, smiling as he held her close; "I'm not the type to suggest something rash, let alone disobeying Coco but… do you think letting loose with your weapon might help? Cutting loose as they say. It's just you've been doing hand to hand a lot and well…"

He saw a devilish grin, dark brown eyes staring up at him… ears tickling his neck. "My my, who are you and what have you done with Yatsuhashi? Suggesting that I go against Coco's orders as leader? You say you aren't the type, and then you go and do it? Such a bad influence on me." She elbowed into his side, poking the very buttons she knew would cast him bright red. "How scandalous, me using my own weapon? How could you even suggest such a thing?"

Team CFVY had a pecking order of sorts, Coco could easily embarrass anyone on the team, Fox could embarrass Coco with ease; he could yet rarely so to Velvet (albeit with some prodding from Coco herself). The only one Velvet could really embarrass was Yatsuhashi, perhaps he was the only one on the planet who she could toy with but over the years she had learned to open the subtle cracks in the giant's armour; like a squirrel opening a spikey-chestnut, first struggling but soon perfecting the teqnique. Velvet however… was one of the easiest people in the world to embarrass; even stoic Yatsuhashi could do it, albeit he had taken some time to fully grasp how.

He lowered himself, shifting his grasp and lifting her against his giant chest; "Ah, you're right. I guess I'll just have to carry you." It was brief and blunt, as Yatsuhashi normally was, but at the same time it was a little too much. The feeling of his hand, leaning into his chest and the ease of the motion… it dyed her face scarlet, fitting for her name. She managed to push herself away from his chest, sitting on his arm and attempting to focus on scouting the area. Her hand reached down to her box, she had brought it… did it not make sense to use it? She had plenty of pictures still in the dorm, even if she did use them up… and she could always take more. Perhaps, just this once… it might be worthwhile to disobey Coco's orders. She was certain it would at least make her feel better; let her feel powerful… train without bursting her knuckles and wrecking her shoes.

Pondering on it for a moment longer, she traced a finger around his collarbone; "Perhaps… a small act of disobedience would do me some good. Just a tiny infraction to show off to my boyfriend and feel a whole lot stronger…" She gently shifted in his grasp, crouching on her toes in the centre of his open palm. Brown eyes scanning the dark, a broad smile on her face. He couldn't help but smile to, keeping his eyes and ears open and clouds passed overhead. He took slow steps as he wandered the forest, allowing her to analyse the surrounding area. Forever fall was where the new hunters started out yes, but any confrontation with grimm could prove dangerous naturally. Every so often she'd clamber back up his shoulder, peering behind him and being quite embarrassingly close; hair brushing against his ear. It was a minor thing but the closeness… it meant a lot.

He was mid step when he noticed her ears twitch, she nodded ahead of him. In the dark he could almost make out something semi-bear shaped. He didn't try to analyse it, he trusted her judgement more than his own. She leant on his shoulder, whispering into his ear; "I see six, four Ursa Minor and two Ursa Major. I want you to toss me, aim for the treeline… I'll nod as a signal." Yatsuhashi nodded back, lowering and tensing his left arm; it was a practiced technique, lobbing her in to land some good strong kicks on the opponent. Break their defences and attack from the inside.

He took a deep breath, light was beginning to radiate from Velvet's hands, she nodded and with that he threw her. She flipped through the air with all her acrobatic practice, cyan light forming around her hand and shaping into gauntlets. She was starting with Fox, it made sense, those pictures would be easy to retake. The clouds parted as she broke through the canopy, coming down with all her weight on one of the beast's head; dislocating from the shoulders crashing to the ground, a deep tear showing its red insides. At this the remaining three minor and two major began their assault, a major's right paw swinging down toward her only to meet and shatter a gauntlet... just in time for Coco's minigun to form in her hand. The recoil shook her, as it would all but Coco using it one handed, turning as she blew hole after hole through widening in the pack. Now Yatsuhashi wanted in, taking his sword in both hands he rushed forward, plugging the blade straight through a Minor as he charged forward; thrusting it sideward and sending the beast (Split in two) careening into a tree. He felt something press against his back, a frame he knew well, and saw a blue light glowing in the polished orange of his blade. Velvet had managed to call upon his weapon. One minor and two major, one injured, remained.

Or so he thought; "More are coming, Beowulf Beta are closing in from your right." Allowing a half glance he could not see them, the moon hand passed once more overhead… but Velvet's weapon was lighting the clearing. They could do this! With a roar he brought down his blade; nicking the Ursa's face yet the shockwave blew through it and fissured the ground bellow; the beast's lower half cleaved in two it dropped to the ground. Velvet behind him thrust the sword forward, impaling through the minor's chest as it jumped her and shattering the skull of the major. She scanned right again, turning to face the hoard as he did; "There are at least twenty. I… I can't tell if there are any Alpha, there might be more be-

Yatsuhashi gently nudged her with his shoulder; "We'll be fine. We're strong enough for this." He lowered a hand from his sword, she took it, he blushed. "I…um, meant to launch you again but this is fine."

She went redder than him, ears pricked up even higher "O-Oh, I mean we can but-

"N-No no, this is nice!" Yatsuhashi accidentally boomed, raising his sword to slice at the oncoming hoard. It was like a mirror… a lopsided mirror, which produced bunny ears and blue light on one side, but a mirror none the less. They sliced through beowulves like butter, the pair eventually thrusting into the centre of the crowd, chopping off limbs and decapitating the wolves. This would come to an end however as Velvet's weapon faded mid swing, Yatsuhashi pulling her back as the sword disappeared mid-slash and plugging his sword into the beast's chest. She nodded, their grasp released, and velvet raised her fists. So much for clean knuckles. As Yatsuhashi would loose powerful slices, tearing through as many as three Beowulves at a time, Velvet would jump over his slice; in the aftermath beating back the crowd before ducking beneath him again as he prepared to swing once more. At one point she used his shoulders as a springboard, pushing into the crowd and letting her heel breach the eye socket of the Alpha… she had finally sighted it. Diving back Yatsuhashi lunged forward, catching her by the backside in his left. With the dropping of the Alpha came the dismantling of the pack, Velvet leapt from his hand and knocked back the last encroaching wave. There was no fear between them, the Grimm had no attraction to the prey, they were routed and spread. Searching for easier pickings surely. Velvet looked down at her knuckles swollen and opened in places, looking down another theory was confirmed… she had lost her left shoe in taking out the alpha. She wasn't particularly interested in retrieving it.

She hopped over to Yatsuhashi, her tried not to laugh, extending a hand again. She took a seat, checking him over for scratches… he had couple little nicks, a line across the centre of his nose was a little worrisome. Clambering up she gently wiped it with her cuff, planting a kiss on his forehead. He holstered his sword, taking her in both arms. "Want to go back?"

"Mhm," She let herself recline against him.

He gently nuzzled into her ears, turning as the moon came into view oncemore; "Alright, I'll carry you."