We do not own RWBY or any other copyright content. All rights to it go to Monty Oum, Viz Media, and their original owners. All OCs are owned by us.
Writing credits go to Uzumaki Ricky, Monsterhuntergod, Sharad the hedgehog, and Traines, as well as Kima Whitehawk Jordan on Facebook.
Tiger King and Dragon Queen
Volume 1 Chapter 12: Tears of Stone
"Azura… sweetie… are you there…?" Verdant's concerned voice came through the dropped scroll, muffled by the carpet.
However, it seemed as though Azura could not hear her. From what the others could tell, he was dead to the world. Slowly, Azura dropped to the floor on his knees and looked down, seemingly trying to fight back tears.
"Azura?" Ruby asked concernedly.
"I think he's not doing well…" Tai answered.
However, they still got no response from Azura. He was just looking down at the floor, unable to respond. From their point of view, he was as still as a statue.
"Just give him a second." Qrow said easily.
"Okay, okay…" Yang nervously said, backing off Azura just a bit to give him some space.
Slowly, Azura reached over and picked his scroll up off the floor. Holding it up, he looked at it.
"... When is the funeral…?" Azura asked in an almost dead tone, barely restrained emotion easily heard just beneath the surface.
"A week's time." Verdant said, a deep exhale being heard.
Azura nodded slowly in understanding. "Thank you, mother… I love you…" He replied in that same almost dead, just barely emotional tone.
"I love you too. See you then." Verdant said softly.
"See you…" Azura answered simply before hanging up.
"Well… that was eventful…" Ruby nervously said.
"Now is not the time, Ruby!" Yang yelled through her teeth.
"You know I don't handle emotionally awkward moments well!" Ruby yelled back.
"Girls… It is fine… This is not the first funeral I have been to. Nor will it be the last." Azura said in that same monotone as he stood up, brushing off his scroll before putting it into his pocket.
"Where are you going?" Yang asked.
"To pack. I have a funeral to get ready to go to…" He told them stoically, starting to gather everything up to head for the door.
"Are you sure going to it alone is a good idea?" Yang asked.
"Yang, don't invite yourself to a funeral." Tai sternly said.
"No. She just beat me to the punch. It would… be an honor for you all to come with me." Azura said, pausing to catch a hitch in his voice.
"You sure, kid?" Qrow asked, raising his eyebrow.
Azura simply nodded in response, obviously trying to hold back any and all emotion. "I will… pay for the tickets and meet you all at the airport in a week. I need to be alone for a while…" He told them in that same almost dead tone.
"We'll be there. Just… take it easy…" Yang answered with a nod as Azura politely left.
"Take it easy?" Qrow asked in surprise.
"Well, what was I supposed to say to him!?" Yang snapped.
"I'll have you know I'm a bit of an expert on such things." Qrow simply answered.
"Not exactly a good thing to be an expert on." Tai said with an eye roll.
"You have your expertise, I have mine, brother." Qrow answered.
"Let's just… try to get ready. I have a feeling a week will pass by quicker than we'd like." Yang said before heading upstairs.
One Week Later: The Land of Tora Kuni in the Kingdom of Mistral
The titanic airship battled the harsh mountain winds of the throat of the world with the skill and expertise of a ship through an ice pack. Carved into the side and into a great peak of Mistral stood Daikojō, a grand castle city seemingly frozen in time. From the airship they could see the port for which they would land, and indeed the lights and other surface level signs of modernity. However, towering above all of that was a nine level keep, a castle that had stood before the Great War in much the same condition. When they finally landed, they were faced with the arctic blasts from the icy mountain winds, but Azura remained unfazed.
Decked out in funeral attire and swaddled in warm clothes over it along with Azura, who had his blades at his side, the family of four guests tried to deal with the frigid mountain air. The freezing blasts of wind bit into the skin on their faces like the breath of an enraged winter god's roar.
"How do you stand this cold?" Ruby said through chattering teeth, clutching at her scarf to shield her face.
Azura shrugged in response. "When you have to train in this kind of weather from a young age in barely any clothes, you get used to the cold." He responded in a monotone that was barely hiding the emotion he was feeling.
"You're joking, right?" Yang asked.
"I didn't find it funny." Azura answered, walking off the ramp face first into the chilling cold.
Looking at each other, the group shared looks of concern at Azura's behavior. However, knowing that this was not the time, they followed him down the ramp. Soon, a familiar group came into sight for them. Waiting for them at the gate was, to the shock of everyone there but Azura, a tall, thick furred dog braving the frigid mountain winds, waiting like a loyal hound to greet its master.
The dog was over three feet tall at the withers with freshly and finely groomed fur that had turned grayish white with age, obviously incredibly old. For such a large animal, it did not look… imposing. It looked like a lanky, shaggy, and beaten-up carpet that somehow learned to walk. Yet looking into its eyes, it looked like an inquisitive, yet kindly animal.
"Seamus." Azura said simply, nodding briskly.
"Bark." Was the fairly loud and deep, yet somehow subdued and elegant response from the great animal.
The dog then lumbered over to Azura and looked up at him before nuzzling him comfortingly in an attempt to comfort the young man. Giving a sad smile, Azura knelt and petted the hound equivalent to an old basketball player. The canine accepted the pets and scratches before giving the azure shōgun some gentle licks on his cheek.
"Hey, old boy. I missed you too. And I am quite sure I am a bit behind on your rewards." He told the old hound, pulling out a dog treat and gently feeding it to the obviously aged hound.
"Bark." The giant shaggy guardian answered before wolfing it down. The guests of honor swore they did not even see him chew.
"So that's why we stopped at the pet shop." Ruby whispered.
"No, we stopped for a 'pet stop.' Get with the program." Yang answered back quietly.
"We are here for a funeral, Yang." Ruby whispered back.
"Just because it's a somber day, doesn't mean it has to be completely somber." Yang answered as Azura turned to face them.
"Everyone, this is Seamus. He is a Valian Wolfhound and my first dog. I got him as a puppy when I was just four years old." Azura explained to the honored guests as the ancient canine slowly bowed to his master's friends.
"So, it's real?" Ruby asked.
"Ruby!" Yang snapped.
"Yang, it's a dog as big as a small car!" Ruby yelled back.
"No, it is fine. I can see why seeing a Valian Wolfhound in person for the first time can be jarring. But yes, he is real." Azura replied, looking at Seamus and giving him a tilt of the head towards his guests as the dog slowly made his way over to them.
Slowly, the ancient hound meandered his way over to the guests. He then began walking around them while sniffing them, trying to familiarize himself with their scents. Once he had done so, he gently nuzzled into Yang before doing the same to Ruby.
"I would recommend, Ruby, that you don't engage in your usual tackle hugging of squealing joy." A familiar voice said through the wind, revealed to be Quain as he walked from the shadows.
"And miss out on some enthusiasm this high up? Brother, you're so droll." Lazuli's voice answered from a bit behind him.
"How do you people just… appear?" Yang asked.
"Very carefully." Quain cryptically answered.
"That isn't an answer." Yang answered, a hint annoyed.
"Exactly. Tai, Qrow, glad to see you two also have arrived despite your busy schedules as teachers and Huntsmen." Lazuli said, bowing to them in respect.
"It was nothing. With the kid practically being a piece of the decor of Tai's place, it'd be wrong not to come and support him." Qrow answered, "Azura, if you need any whiskey to help you out, just call me."
"Qrow, not the time." Tai replied to his brother-in-law in irritation.
"No, Lord Xiao Long… it is fine. I appreciate the offer, Qrow. Thank you…" Azura replied in a monotone as Ruby and Yang gently petted and scratched Seamus.
"I see that old faithful has some new fans." The chipper sound of Kenshi piercing through the frigid wind.
Azura nodded and gave his twin brother an ever so slight smile as he stepped into view from the biting, icy winds. "Yes, he does. Though can you blame them? He is surprisingly cute for his size." He told Kenshi, giving him a hug that Kenshi gently returned.
"Oh, he's adorable. Hi, Azura. How are you holding up?" Guren's voice replied over the roar of the mountain wind as she stepped out of the darkness.
"About as well as could be expected, Guren." Azura sighed as Guren walked up and hugged him.
"By the looks of it, we should get out of the cold. I don't know if Seamus can keep our guests warm for much longer, Azura." Kenshi said.
Azura nodded. "Agreed. Let us head into the castle and get some warm drinks." He replied as the group began making their way into the massive, ancient keep.
As the boys closed the ancient, thick planked gates behind them, the warmth of lit fires began to soak into everyone. As soon as they felt warm enough, they all began to strip from their winter coverings, servants practically coming from the woodwork to take them off their hands. Once that procedure had been performed with ritualistic efficiency, the serene silence was shattered by the violent disruption of a door being kicked open.
"Oh, son of a bitch…" Kenshi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh great…" Azura sighed in frustration.
"Of all the times…" Lazuli groaned in frustration.
"AZURA!" The familiar form of Red entered the lobby and made a beeline straight for the samurai.
As the bartender strode out into the lobby with a level of confidence to be shocking, his physical appearance was striking. Though not in the usual or even desired reason for a funeral. Hair unbrushed and unkempt, his waistcoat buttoned awry. Either he just got off the bus, dug himself out of a ditch, or he really was just that lazy for such an important day.
"Tai, did you bring popcorn?" Qrow asked, pulling out his flask.
"Why would I bring popcorn to a funeral?" Tai asked indignantly in response.
"Damn. Would be nice to have some right now." Qrow said as he took a swing, ready to enjoy the chaos.
Despite the intense entrance, and his loud exclamation, Red was… smiling. "Hi. How's it going, everyone? Sorry about the door, it was in my way. Anyways Azura, about your father…"
"Red…" Lazuli said in a warning tone.
"I thought it would take longer for funeral preparations. It helps when there isn't a body, I'm guessing. To be fair, when a mountain gets dropped on you, guess there isn't much of a body to find and dress up. Hell, even if it didn't happen, I doubt he would be hard to find, since he barely had anyone with him." Red said all this while still smiling.
"Red, cut it out." Kenshi told his twin's friend with a glare, looking at his brother to see his reaction.
Azura had his head down, his hands slowly clenching into tightly balled fists. His hands trembled with barely contained rage as he took a deep breath, trying to control himself. Which was a losing battle in and of itself in this situation.
"Azura, my guy. I get it. You value strength to do the right thing as much as the old man did. I get that. I'm not faulting you for that even. But do you really think you're a mountain? This peak right here, you know the one your clan built this prime piece of real estate on?" Red continued, slowly starting to walk up to him.
"Red, that is enough!" Lazuli snapped out in anger and concern.
A popping sound could be heard from how tightly Azura's fists were clenched. He was shaking like a leaf in the wind from sheer, unyielding rage. Azura began taking more deep breaths, trying to control his rage as his Aura slowly began to become visible.
"Lazuli, don't get your virgin white knickers in a twist, this is a boys' talk. Azura. How do you think you have that kind of strength? To stand alone as a mountain? My guy, you live in a clan held together like this castle. Nails, glue, iron, all holding together giant lacquered timber beams that have stood the test of time. Yet you seriously think so highly as to believe you can do it alone? Honestly Azura, I knew you valued your pride, but when has your drive for power morphed that into arrogance?" Red said, walking right up to his blue color coated counterpart.
"RED, YOU SON OF A-" Guren roared out, trying to rush at Red to try to kick him in the dick only for Azura to reach out and grab her arm to stop her.
As the others turned to look at Azura, what they saw made their blood run cold. Azura's Semblance had activated, a navy-blue lightning-like aura coming off his body. But, this time, something was different. There was a second, azure-blue flame-like aura mixed in with it as well. Not only that, but the image of a massive, azure-blue snarling tiger with fierce yellow eyes appeared above him in his silhouette. Looking up at Red, Azura's eyes gleamed navy blue and a deep, visceral yellow, like the eyes of an enraged tiger, as Azura growled in fury with his lips curled in a vicious snarl.
"Red…!" Azura growled out, his wrath audible as he tried to rein in his emotions.
With a sharp, impressed whistle, Red stood his ground and answered, "Yeah, buddy? Mate, we could have some alone time, you know."
Taking a long, deep breath, Azura just barely composed himself as he glared at his best friend. Letting go of Guren's arm, he walked out of the room without a word. Before anyone could say or try to do anything else, a loud, splintering crunch was heard. As if someone out in the hallway punched a massive hole in a wall.
"Oh, I'm sorry everyone, I didn't think I'd rile him up that much. Man has nerves of steel, you know." Red said with a cool, sly smile. "I'd personally give myself a seven. Not my best work I have to say."
Lazuli glared at her little brother's friend. "Red, you went way too far with tha-"
However, the pale azure woman's lecture was cut off by twin roars of fury as Guren and Yang charged in at Red. Yang had her fist cocked back to throw a punch while Guren went for a flying kick to the groin. Red easily leapt over Yang, causing her to go careening below him and crashing into a wall. As he hit the ground, Red then dodged Guren's kick, who twisted in midair as she passed him to aim a kick with her second leg right at his temple. Red barely caught her foot, grabbed her by the ankle, and tried to slam her into the ground, only for the redheaded Faunus girl to plant her hands on the ground to stop the attempt and do a handspring to try to kick him in the gut with her other foot. Raising his knee up, Red avoided a near blow to his stomach by raising his knee to block the kick with the lower half of his leg just above the shin.
Ruby stared in sheer disbelief as she watched this display. "... What!? What just happened!? I could barely keep track of all of that without my Semblance!" She yelled in amazement.
"Impressive." Tai said with a slight nod of respect.
"I really wish I brought that popcorn now." Qrow said with a groan.
"Not helping." Tai sighed.
"Never said I was." Qrow answered.
"Ah, Guren. On point as usual I see. The flying kick is new though." Red answered with a coy smile.
"I'LL POP YOUR GRAPES LIKE BALLOONS, RED!" Guren roared as she got loose and backflipped a bit to gain some distance.
"Touchy. I think my work here is done. Though Blondie, you should go check on Big Blue. It's the least you could do." Red said and began to leave.
"What? The fuck are you on about? You come in here like a gigantic dick, and now you're all concerned and shit for Azura!?" Yang yelled in disbelieving fury.
"Starting to look at the situation critically. Good. Knew you were the right person for the job. Anyways, see you all at the procession." Red said with a salute, before stopping next to Qrow. "Oh, and Qrow. Azura gets his whiskey from me."
With that, the sudden, loud, and abrasive intrusion that is known as Red had left. As the adrenaline began to die down, it certainly left a sour taste in the mouths of everyone. Yang, with clenched fists and teeth, took a deep breath. Then, as much as she did not want to do it because of Red, she went to find Azura. Noticing a conveniently deep arm sized hole in a nearby wall, she followed a trail of disturbances to borderline destruction. Eventually, she arrived at a rock garden, with Azura punching and kicking a great pillar of stone at an increasing rate of violence.
"Azura?" Yang asked, her voice ringing through the room just enough to get his attention above the anti-stone prejudice.
Azura punched the stone pillar with a grunt as he looked at Yang for a moment before going back to what he was doing. "Hello, Yang." He replied evenly, going for a four-punch combo and a kick on the pillar.
"Okay, I'm just gonna be honest. I know you're not okay. I'm just here to… be any kind of help I can." Yang explained, trying to keep her own emotions under control.
Clenching his hand into a fist, Azura took a deep breath and put two fingers against the pillar, his index and middle fingers to be precise. Then, faster than Yang could track, Azura closed his fingers into his fist and punched the pillar in the same motion with all his strength. Much to Yang's wide-eyed shock and concern, the pillar was pulverized into pebbles where Azura's fist contacted it.
"Okay, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. I can at least say I…" Yang said with concern, slowly turning around to leave before hearing Azura's own voice.
"It is fine, Yang. I appreciate your concern, but I am okay." Azura told her evenly, trying to calm himself down.
"Azura, can you come clean with me?" Yang asked, turning back around.
Azura clenched his hands into fists and took a deep breath. "Okay… I admit it… I am not fine. I am angry. I am angrier than I have been in a while." He admitted.
"Well, I can't say I blame you. I didn't know Red could be such an asshole at a time like this!" Yang said with clear anger in her voice.
"It is not Red I am angry at…" Azura admitted as he moved onto another pillar.
"Then who are you angry at then?" Yang asked in disbelief and confusion.
"I am angry at the situation I am in. I am angry that some bastard got lucky enough to cause my father's death! I'M ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT I LOST FUCKING CONTROL AND WASN'T THERE TO HELP HIM!" Azura roared out, raining down blows on the pillar with each word before landing a powerful roundhouse kick on the last word that shattered the pillar like glass, leaving Azura panting as he slowly lowered his leg.
"I know how you feel." Yang admitted, if a hint hesitant considering the level of landscaping he was committing to with his bare hands right before her.
Azura simply turned to look at his blonde friend with a raised eyebrow as Yang began to explain. "When I was little, I couldn't have been more than six… it's hard to keep track anymore. It's been so long. Summer… our mother… went out on a mission. She'd been out on so many before that it was a routine in our house. I didn't want to see her go, but I was so excited to have her return and tell me all about the cool Grimm she killed and the adventures she had…"
Azura had a look of concern on his face as Yang continued to explain. "It was days. Maybe a week. But she didn't come home. We were all starting to get concerned when the expected completion time of the mission went by, and she wasn't home. Then a man in green with a cane, Dad told me later he was Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon, came to our house…"
Azura cut her off unintentionally. "You… you actually met Professor Ozpin? What did he say…?" He asked.
"I didn't get to hear. Me and Ruby were out in the living room. Both Dad and Ozpin said it would be best if we didn't hear it since we were so young. It didn't take long for Dad to start yelling. I had never heard him so angry. I don't really remember what he said, but, even then, I knew it wasn't good. After Ozpin left our house without a word, Dad gave us the news. Mom was dead… with no body to bury her…" Yang said, her voice trailing off in a somber tone at the end.
Azura looked like he had been punched in the stomach when Yang told him that. He then walked over to his blonde friend, who was briefly worried about what he would do, before he wrapped his arms around her and slowly, gently pulled her into a hug. Caught off guard for a moment, all Yang could do was wrap her arms around Azura and hide her face in his chest. She flinched for a moment when she felt Azura's hand on her hair but then felt him begin to gingerly and comfortingly stroke her hair.
Normally Yang would get angry at someone touching her precious golden locks without her permission… but this felt different. It somehow made her feel better. As if Azura was trying to soothe her while also, through just the embrace alone, attempting to protect her from whatever else in the world would try to hurt her. Yang nuzzled gently into Azura as she hugged him back.
"C'mon dude, let's go back to the others." Yang said with tears running down her cheeks as Azura hugged her more tightly, then pulled her away and gave her a look.
The look Azura gave her was one guys usually gave with compassion and support. It was one that did not show on Azura all the time. Yang stepped up on her toes slightly and was about to lean in when she heard a throat clearing. Her and Azura turned to find tiny little Guren standing there with her bright red and dark tight-skinned jumpsuit.
"Y'all, we gotta get going before the funeral tomorrow." The short, red tigress told her friends.
"Right, Guren." Azura stated, grabbing Yang's gloved hand and pulling her firmly towards Guren's direction.
"Guren seems mad, babe." Yang stated, only for her cheeks to be beat red. She started to snort from embarrassment, but Azura just giggled.
"It will be fine, Yang. And do not worry, I do not mind you calling me that." The azure samurai told her, giving her the first smile she had seen from him in a week.
Yang smiled happily at that. However, it then turned to confusion as Azura stopped them for a moment. Looking at her, he leaned down and pulled out a clean handkerchief, beginning to dry her tears. When he was done, he smiled and put it away.
"There, much better. A girl as beautiful as you looks her best when she is not crying, Yang. So, let us see a smile." Azura told her, his gentle smile more infectious than the blonde pugilist was expecting as she smiled back.
Guren scoffed in a faint voice.
"What!?" Yang asked with a little snark in her voice and her lilac eyes slightly red.
Guren shook her head and had a small smile, while in her head, she felt bad for her disgust being aloud. "I'm not much of a romantic like my boy Azura is. I'm just admitting it's kinda dumb out loud. You're too lovey-dovey, I guess. That's just me." She looked down and walked faster. She moved her hair away and had to control her breathing.
"What the hell was that all about?" Yang whispered. "Are you sure she's okay?" She added with a hint of snark in her voice.
Azura patted her on the head. "She had to deal with Red being a dick, losing a good teacher, and like she said, she is not much for romance. She only has two exes."
Yang rolled her eyes but still gave Guren a suspicious look behind her back. As everyone began to scatter for the cold, mountain air filled night, Yang noticed Azura walked a bit straighter. A bit freer than the stiff, stony, and clockwork way he had earlier. It really was not much, but she now knew how to get through stone. You did not need big, heavy blows. You needed small but precise ones to eventually bring it cascading down. Tied to her will, Azura's stone mask now had a whole new challenge to try and weather.
To Be Continued…