Late update, but real life is keeping me busier than I would like due to some unforeseen circumstances. Hate when it happens, but have to deal with it when it does. Anyway, hope you like the chapter anyway.

Chapter 25

Yang had seen many things in her time as a huntress, many more during her time in Menagerie.

There were a lot of humans that passed by, and several men and women that chose to stay at Blake's side for a plethora of reasons. Blake took on apprentices often, but many of them didn't stick around for very long. Most of those that stayed were decidedly female. There were only two males of especially high rank living in the household, and Yang was almost positive that this new person, a human male at that, was lucky to have received Blake's approval at all.

Yang was curious, of course, and her nature got the better of her.

"You know, you've turned away almost twenty guys this week, right?" The blonde deadpanned as she tended to the woman in front of her.

"All of them were village Faunus." Blake pointed out.

"The number of people is the point, not the heritage." Yang said, carefully washing Blake from head to toe, paying special care to the sore spots that training always inflicted. Ren had managed to get a few lucky strikes in, impressing Blake, and astounding Yang. Still, others asking for training had managed to do so before as well, only to be turned away after successful matches.

Winning was not the qualifier that Blake looked for, but the cat Faunus wasn't keen on sharing exactly what the component was. Only that she expected all of those in her household to have and maintain that mysterious quality. It made Yang wonder why Blake decided to agree at all. "What makes him so special anyway?"

"He's not special." Blake said with a chuckle, her eyes slipping closed. "That's why I chose him."

"Because you always let dudes run around in the house." Yang said sarcastically. "Especially new humans, who happen to be guys. Yeah, totally your style Blake."

"The men that seek me out often times aren't men, only mere boys." Blake said with a shrug. "Old enough to mate, but hardly seasoned enough to hold any actual position of authority. They're eager to prove just how worthy they are…honestly, it's just tiring." Then, she smirked to herself. "True men of merit seek my father's training. Normally, they have mates, and have proven themselves responsible. They don't seek battle, but rather, to become worthy leaders in the community."

"Yah, but Ren won't ever have that kind of power, not here anyway. So what gives?"

"Honestly?" Blake murmured conversationally. "He chooses to walk a slippery slope. I find that very interesting."

"Yeah, if you say so." Yang clicked her tongue as she gently tweaked one of her lover's cat ears. Twisting it carefully and gently in her grip, she murmured her reply upon a hot, breathy whisper. "That still doesn't answer my question though. Why him, of all guys?"

The cat Faunus raised a brow, glancing over her shoulder to the Blonde holding the wash cloth. "Shouldn't you be happy that you're getting what you wanted out of this as well? You've kept your promise, and as such you'll be receiving that payment you seek. It's a fair trade."

"That's not the reason, Blake." Yang said, twisting that Faunus ear just a little more tightly, her hot breath ghosting over the sensitive fur. "We both know that isn't it, and it wouldn't ever be."

"Ren is a huntsman, and he carries himself with humility." Blake began, swatting that troublesome hand away. "He's not a young man with something asinine to prove. He believes he will benefit by learning the ways of Menagerie hunters. In that way, he's no different than the rest of you. Obviously, my father will not train him. However, I don't have the same reservations about humans. I have plenty of time to teach an already skilled hunter a few new methods." Blake explained. "He's not completely green, not like others I've come across."

"True, I guess I can give him that." Yang answered, looking at one large bruise that hadn't yet healed. The purplish color slowly fading as the hours drifted by. It would be gone before the day was done. "He nailed you good."

"A painful right hook, that's for sure." Blake said, wincing slightly as Yang ran her fingers over the bruise. "It's not as powerful as yours, but it has some merit. He's a fluid fighter."

"Blakey, the only one around here who can match me fist-to-fist is Yatsuhashi, and that's just because the guy hits like a truck without his aura." Yang grinned then as she bent down to kiss the swelling mark. Blake seemed to appreciate the meaningful act, simple and unspoken though it was.

"Ren should adapt well to the Faunus way of fighting. I sense that from him." Blake replied softly. "You shouldn't worry so much, Yang. You know just as well as I do, injuries like that don't last for long"

Concern dissipated in lilac eyes, a slightly playful glint taking up residence where the worry once festered. "So, according to you, it had everything to do with Ren's fighting, and nothing to do with his good looks?" Yang laughed conspiratorially. "Can I really believe that?"

"He's a looker, I won't deny that." Blake agreed. "It also occurs to me that more human males are needed to help propagate your kind here on the island. I understand humans don't have the same sort of innate desire to breed that a Faunus might. Still, it begs the question, how are you humans to find your own proper suitors when eligible Faunus men won't even give you the time of day?"

"Maybe because when they do look at one of us, they realize just who we answer to?" Yang supplied thoughtfully. "Ever thought of that?"

"You are my warriors, highly trained, easy on the eyes, worthy mates, humans or not." Blake said, her eyes skimming Yang's body, no small amount of appreciation lingering over the finely sculpted figure of the blond brawler. Lust simmered just beneath the affection. "I won't let any rabble off the street have a go at you. No, you're best suited to strong gene pools. Men and women of equally powerful make. If they cannot look me in the eye and ask for my approval, then obviously they are unworthy of even your consideration."

"Aw, but the meek ones are always so fun to toy with." Yang grinned.

"Perhaps, but, would you have actually bedded one of them?" The Faunus half growled in a playful show of possession. "Have I become that disinteresting over the years? You have a need to look for playthings elsewhere?"

Yang smirked, shaking her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Blakey, you know that. I said yes to become your mate for a reason." She sunk low in the hot pool of water, moving to embrace the dark haired Faunus. "I like this whole free spirit thing we've got going on, me and the girls…and you…" The blonde closed her eyes then, taking comfort in the fact that Blake was in her arms on this night, and not any of the other young warriors seeking to gain Blake's affections. "I just don't want to complicate any of that with people I don't know. That's all."

"Yang, so long as you do not stray from my influence, you will always be my mate." Blake told her, smoothing out unruly blonde hair that threatened to drown her in a sea of silky gold. "We of Menagerie, are a people of the wilds. We have no choice but to be, and what is normal here is not normal elsewhere. You and I are mates, body and soul, unless you choose not to be...that's a promise I didn't make lightly."

"Then you're stuck with me forever, you know." Yang said pointedly.

"Trust me, Yang." Blake said with a laugh. "I know all too well."

"Things are going to get busy..."

"Perhaps."

"And messy…"

"Mmm, but it's to be expected." Blake murmured thoughtfully. "With the remedial training beginning soon, I fully expect to have my hands full." Then she smirked, realizing that Yang, too, would be burdened by the weight of village matters. "By extension, so shall you."

"Me?"

"Yes you." Blake said pointedly. "You will also have to work hard as an example that humans can conform to our battle tactics. I know you aren't as light on your feet as some, and you're hardly the tactician that other huntresses tend to be. However, your loyalty and steadfast motivation will come as a blessing, giving courage to those who feel as if they have nothing to offer, and little to show for their efforts...you know that feeling quite well, and as you know, I see that as an asset, not a fault."

"I've been thinking about that a lot, you know. I feel like we're about to bite off way more than we can chew. White fang delinquents and a Schnee in the same group." Yang noted humorously. "How do think that'll work out?"

Blake reclined more fully in the water, fingers twirling in the heated liquid thoughtfully. "I don't think anything of it as of right now." she said, allowing her fingers to swirl patterns onto Yang's thigh as it just ghosted the water's surface. "Time will tell what sort of situation I'll be dealing with, but at this moment, I choose to act with due caution. Besides, I expect my White Fang brethren to respect my authority, their lives depends on their loyalty..."

"I don't think I like the sound of that." Yang muttered. "It's just so...dark, thinking of it like that."

"Perhaps, but what other was is there?" Blake closed her eyes then, tired as she was, and as vexing as the truth could be, she kept them closed. "People in Atlas want some sort of compensation, and the price is quite heavy. Sadly, given their culture, I don't find it unfair, just mildly depressing."

"Yeah, but still...there's gotta be something else we can do."

"Ah, but the question is, would I even want to try?" Blake swallowed hard, not liking her own answer. "The answer is no, I wouldn't. Even if I can't amuse their cruelty at this time, I do respect Atlas for who and what they, as a culture, deem fit...I don't have to agree with it, to see the merits."

"But…you wouldn't actually let them kill Faunus, would you?"

"If my brothers and sisters of the White Fang choose to act with disrespect to human lives and human property, how am I to expect humans to change their ways and accept us as equals? Violence begets violence. Vengeance offers vengeance in kind. If Faunus fail to follow the laws of the kingdom in which they live, I cannot protect them from the government."

"That's really harsh..."

"Such is the way of the world." Blake said in her usual, unimpressed monotone. "If my father and I have no other alternative, well, the wellbeing of the entire Faunus populous must come before favoritism. White Fang brethren or not, I would choose the greater whole. That's just the way it is."