RWBY: Moon Reflection

The house was cloaked in an uneasy quiet, broken only by the rhythmic chirping of crickets outside. It was late into the night, and the dim glow of a bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the room. Crimson lay still in his bed, his face pale, his breathing steady but shallow. Bandages wrapped his right hand and forearm, while his left leg was propped up with a splint. His siblings, Ruby and Yang, sat beside him, their small faces etched with worry.

Yang clutched Ruby's hand tightly, her earlier bravado gone. Ruby's big silver eyes glistened with tears, but she didn't cry—afraid that the sound might disturb her brother. Yang stroked a strand of Crimson's hair back from his forehead, whispering, "You'll be okay... you have to be okay."

Outside the room, the adults gathered. The doctor, an older man with graying hair and a tired expression, stood near the door. Taiyang and Qrow listened intently, both of them visibly shaken.

"I've done what I could," the doctor began, his voice low and calm. "I removed the wood splinters from his hand and disinfected the wounds. Fortunately, they didn't reach deep enough to cause permanent damage, but they'll take time to heal. The broken bones, though…"

He paused then continued "His right hand has multiple fractures in the fingers. It's as though he gripped something far beyond his strength and didn't stop even as the bone fractured" He held up again, Thinking about the boy's left foot. "And his foot. Both the muscles and bones were injured, these injuries are consistent with extreme pressure, far beyond what anyone could experience or sustain normally."

Taiyang rubbed the back of his neck, his face lined with exhaustion. "But… why? How could someone break his bones while gripping something?"

The doctor sighed, thinking again before answering "The human body has limits. For example pain, it is supposed to be one of them—a signal that prevents us from causing ourselves irreparable harm. But this boy... it's as if he doesn't recognize those limits. Either his pain tolerance is abnormally high, or he isn't feeling it at all."

Qrow shifted uncomfortably, memories of the earlier scene flashing in his mind. He had seen Crimson's bloodshot eyes, his trembling frame, and the sheer desperation in his expression before he collapsed. "He didn't flinch, not once," Qrow muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Even when his hand was bleeding, and his body looked ready to give out... he just gave me a glance, not even a groan"

The doctor nodded grimly. "Such resilience is as much a curse as it is a gift. Pain exists for a reason, and ignoring it is..." He trailed off, glancing at Qrow and Taiyang with his unspoken concerns.

"He wouldn't have survived, if not for his aura. I assume one of you unlocked it for him?" the doctor added.

Qrow nodded hesitantly. "I did it. It was the only thing I could think of"

"Well, it saved him" the doctor said. "Without his aura protecting his internal organs and mitigating the worst of the damage, he would have died right there."The weight of the doctor's words hung heavy in the air. Taiyang looked tired, guilt flickering in his eyes. Qrow rubbed his temples, his usual composure cracking.

The doctor packed up his supplies, his expression hardened as he spoke "I know it's not easy raising kids in a world like this. But I have to remind you, make sure they don't wander into the forest alone. He's alive now, but luck won't always be on his side."

With that, the doctor excused himself, leaving Tai and Qrow alone in the hallway.

____________________________________

Back in the room, Yang and Ruby remained by Crimson's side. Ruby had fallen asleep, her head resting on the edge of the bed. Yang stayed awake, her gaze fixed on her brother's face.

Tai entered the room quietly, sitting on the other side of the bed. He ran a hand through Ruby's hair, his expression softening despite his exhaustion.

Yang looked up at him. "Dad… is Crimson going to be okay?"

Tai hesitated before nodding. "The doctor said he'll recover, but it'll take time."

Yang bit her lip, her guilt evident. "It's my fault. If I hadn't—"

Tai interrupted her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yang, what happened out there wasn't your fault. Crimson made his own choice, just like you did. What's important now is that you all learn from this. No more running off into the forest. Promise me."

Yang nodded slowly. "I promise."

Qrow appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a thoughtful expression. "He is the toughest kid I have ever seen" he said, his voice lighter than before, though the underlying tension remained.

Tai managed a faint smile. "Yeah. Too tough for his own good."

The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day's events settling in. Ruby stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible in her sleep.

Crimson's breathing remained steady, his face peaceful despite the bandages and splints. For now, he was safe, and the family would take solace in that.

____________________________________

Crimson stood amidst a grotesque battlefield, the ground beneath him soaked in blood and shattered bone. The air was thick with the metallic tang of iron, and the silence was broken only by the occasional crunch of broken fragments beneath his feet. Above him, the sky stretched in an oppressive black void, devoid of stars, save for a single moon. Its pale light bathed the world in an eerie glow, casting long, distorted shadows over the carnage.

Yet Crimson's focus was not on the carnage, nor the otherworldly glow of the moon. His attention was fixed on the figure standing before him.

A demon exuding an aura of profound power, his presence alone suffocating. Kokushibo stood tall and regal before him, his long, spiky black hair tipped with red flowing in an unfelt breeze. His six eyes gleamed ominously: the top pair replacing his eyebrows, the middle pair engraved with kanji declaring his rank, and the bottom pair glowing with predatory focus. The cracked, intricate pattern of his irises seemed alive, a sinister contrast to his pale, dignified visage.

His attire, a purple-and-black hexagonal-patterned kimono over black umanori-styled hakama pants, only heightened his majestic presence. At his side hung his katana, an abomination of flesh and eyes that pulsed faintly, as if breathing. The scabbard, too, seemed alive, veins running its length in a mockery of humanity.

Kokushibo's gaze pierced through Crimson, the weight of it pinning Crimson in place. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and resonant, echoing with a cold authority.

"Do you enjoy playing human?" Kokushibo asked, his tone neither mocking nor kind, but filled with an ancient weariness. "Tell me, does their fragile existence satisfy you?"

Crimson didn't respond, his jaw tightening. His fist clenched ever so slightly, but he steadied himself, refusing to break eye contact.

Kokushibo took a slow step forward, the fleshy katana at his waist emitting a faint, guttural hum. "You cling to humanity, to weakness. But it is not who you are. It is not what you are."

The demon tilted his head slightly, as though studying a futile struggle against an inevitable fate. "You were once more. Do you remember the power that coursed through your veins? The raw strength, unburdened by mortal frailty?" His six eyes narrowed in unison, a predatory glint flashing within their depths. "You were not made to crawl among them. You were made to stand above them. To devour them."

Crimson's breath came in slow, measured intervals, though his mind roared with conflicting emotions.

Kokushibo's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a growl. "Stop this farce, this human act. It does not suit you. You wear the chains as if they are your salvation, but they are your cage. Shed them."

The demon unsheathed his grotesque katana in one fluid motion, the blade glinting in the moonlight, its embedded eyes swiveling unnervingly to lock onto Crimson. Kokushibo pointed the blade toward him, its fleshy form pulsating in anticipation. "Grow your fangs again," he commanded. "Embrace what you are meant to be. Or shall I tear this façade from you myself?"

Crimson's heart thundered in his chest, his mind racing as memories flickered at the edges of his consciousness—fragments of something distant and unspoken. He felt the weight of Kokushibo's words, the temptation of power they promised, the bitter reminder of a nature he had buried deep within himself.

But Crimson didn't move. His eyes focused on Kokushibo, he took a deeper breath and calmed down before smiling.

"Just as I pursued power in the past, I want to pursue what I abandoned once" Crimson spoke calmly as if letting the demon comprehend his words "In this life, I am keeping my humanity."

Kokushibo's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Ah. So you still resist." His six eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. "Good. Let us see if your resolve is stronger than the truth you can not escape."

The demon sheathed his blade and closed his eyes as the darkness engulfed everything.