RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 100: Biwa

The morning sun peeked through the frost-covered windows of Atlas Academy as Ruby and Yang energetically debated the importance of Crimson's appearance for his upcoming date with Pyrrha. This was his first date ever, and the sisters had taken it upon themselves to ensure everything went perfectly—or at least, perfectly by their standards.

"You can't just wear your Atlas uniform!" Ruby protested, hands on her hips as she glared at Crimson.

"It's practical, formal, and presentable," Crimson replied flatly, his voice betraying his weariness from their relentless enthusiasm.

Yang threw her arms in the air. "You're hopeless! It's not a mission briefing; it's a date! You've gotta make an effort!"

"This is my best," Crimson argued, gesturing to the uniform he was already wearing.

Yang rolled her eyes dramatically. "If that's your best, you were going to be single for the rest of your life if not for Pyrrha"

For two hours, the sisters argued, critiqued, and debated every clothing option Crimson owned, as if choosing the wrong outfit would spell doom for the evening. By the end, they'd forced him into a dark button-up shirt, a casual blazer, and tailored pants. Crimson complied reluctantly, his usual calm exterior masking the fact that he was inwardly exhausted.

As the clothing debate wrapped up, the sisters immediately pivoted to planning his itinerary. Yang and Ruby rattled off ideas ranging from scenic walks to visits to cafes with "just the right atmosphere." Crimson, however, silently questioned whether he should have sought advice elsewhere.

By the time evening arrived, Crimson stood on an Atlas street corner, waiting patiently. He turned his head at the sound of Pyrrha's voice and froze for a moment. Pyrrha Nikos, the invincible champion, had traded her combat armor for a high-neck blouse, a pleated skirt layered over fitted trousers, and a Cossack hat that framed her red hair. She wore light makeup, subtle yet striking.

"You look... stunning," Crimson said sincerely, his tone steady but warm.

Pyrrha's face turned red as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you," she murmured, her nervousness melting away under his genuine praise.

Crimson led her to a quiet restaurant where they enjoyed a pleasant meal, exchanging stories and laughter. The conversation flowed naturally as they moved to a nearby park. They spoke about their interests beyond huntsmen duties. Pyrrha confessed her love for singing, though she admitted she was too shy to perform in front of others. Crimson admitted that she already knew his likes; his fondness for meditation and his fascination with symbolic art forms.

"You still meditate?" Pyrrha asked curiously.

Crimson nodded. "Whenever I have free time. I'm also working on making a musical instrument to play again."

Pyrrha's eyes lit up. "That's amazing! What kind of instrument?"

"You'll see soon," Crimson replied with a rare, almost playful tone.

As night fell, Crimson walked Pyrrha back to her dorm. Before parting, he leaned down and kissed her gently. "Good night, Pyrrha," he said, his voice soft but steady.

Pyrrha stood frozen for a moment, her cheeks aflame, before quickly saying, "Good night, Crimson!" She rushed inside, her heart racing with happiness.

When Pyrrha entered her dorm, she was ambushed by Team RWBY and Nora, who pounced on her like eager vultures.

"How did it go?!" Yang demanded.

"What did he say? Did you kiss?" Ruby added, her excitement palpable.

Pyrrha blushed furiously. "Why don't you ask Crimson yourselves?"

Ruby shook her head. "Crimson's no fun with this stuff. He'd probably just say, 'It was fine.'"

Yang smirked. "Yeah, one-word answers. Boring."

Even Blake chimed in, her book resting on her lap. "He's not exactly the type to give a play-by-play."

Despite her embarrassment, Pyrrha relented, recounting the date in vivid detail as the girls listened intently, teasing and cheering throughout her story.

__________________________

The next day, Crimson entered the training room, only to be greeted by Ruby, who was practically bouncing with curiosity.

"Heard you are making a new musical instrument, is it done? Can you show us?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Crimson glanced at her and smiled faintly. "It's done now. I'll show you."

Before he could stop her, Ruby called out to the rest of the team. "Hey, everyone! Crimson's got a new musical instrument to show us!"

In no time, not just Team RWBY and the others but also the Ace Ops, Penny, Winter, and even General Ironwood had gathered in the room. A few curious soldiers lingered nearby as well.

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Crimson raised an eyebrow at the growing audience. "Don't you all have something better to do?"

Ironwood crossed his arms, a small smile tugging at his lips. "They're all free for now. Show us what you've been working on."

Crimson sighed and opened a metal case, pulling out a polished Biwa. Its wooden body gleamed under the light, the strings taut and ready to play.

The moment Team RWBY and the others saw it, their expressions changed. Ruby's face paled. Yang's jaw dropped before she groaned loudly.

"No way," Yang said, standing up. "I can't believe you actually made that thing after... everything." She turned on her heel and walked out.

Qrow shook his head, his tone sharp. "I don't want to hear that sound ever again." He followed Yang out.

One by one, the others who had witnessed Crimson's battle in the Infinity Castle excused themselves, their faces uneasy. Even Pyrrha, though apologetic, admitted she couldn't stay and listen.

Ironwood frowned, confused by their reactions. "What's going on?"

Crimson glanced at him. "They're overreacting. I think the relic traumatized them."

Ironwood's eyes narrowed. "Relic?" His curiosity deepened, but he decided to ask Qrow about it later.

With most of the audience gone, Crimson began to play the Biwa. The haunting melody filled the air, each stroke of the plectrum carrying an eerie resonance. The sound was both beautiful and unsettling, sending shivers down the spines of those who remained.

When he finished, the room was silent. Ironwood finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "It's... strange. But there's a sense of calmness to it. It has a special atmosphere."

Crimson nodded. "That's why I made it. I enjoy the atmosphere it brings, it is pretty calming."

Winter, however, stood stiffly, her face betraying her discomfort. She looked between the two confused as she thought to herself [Calmness? Enjoy the atmosphere? It felt like something out of a horror story.]

Crimson gave a small shrug. To him, the Biwa was something he enjoyed in both of his lives, and a reminder of discipline and patience. To everyone else, it seemed to be something far more unnerving.

As he packed the instrument away, he made a mental note: perhaps he'd keep the Biwa performances private from now on.

_________________________

Sometime later, General James Ironwood sat at the head of the meeting table, his hands clasped tightly in front of him as he stared at Qrow Branwen, who lounged lazily in the chair opposite him. Winter Schnee stood to Ironwood's right, her stance formal, though her eyes betrayed a spark of curiosity.

"Thank you for coming, Qrow," Ironwood began, his tone even but heavy. "There's something I need to understand. Earlier, during Crimson's... demonstration with the Biwa, I noticed the reactions from you and the others. Many of you left immediately after seeing it, and it wasn't subtle. I am curious to know why."

Winter turned her attention fully to Qrow, her own curiosity piqued. The reactions during Crimson's performance had been unexpected and intense, leaving her with unanswered questions.

Qrow raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I figured this was about that," he said, his tone dry. "How much did Crimson tell you about what happened? About the God of Harmony?"

Ironwood frowned, leaning forward slightly. "Not much. He's given me bits and pieces, but nothing substantial."

Qrow let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Figures. That kid doesn't talk much. If you're basing your understanding on what Crimson told you, then you don't know a damn thing."

Winter's gaze sharpened, and she exchanged a glance with Ironwood, who nodded for Qrow to continue.

"Alright," Qrow said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I'll tell you what the relic showed us and what Crimson went through. But let me warn you—it's not pretty."

For the next several minutes, Qrow recounted the events. Ironwood's expression darkened with every passing moment, and Winter's usual stoicism faltered as her lips pressed into a tight line. The vivid images Qrow described hung in the air like ghosts, haunting even those who had only heard the tale secondhand.

When Qrow finally finished, the room fell into a heavy silence. Ironwood sat back in his chair, his hands resting on the table, his expression grim and contemplative. Winter, standing rigid, looked paler than usual, her blue eyes wide as she struggled to process what she had just heard.

"I didn't know," Ironwood finally said, his voice low. "I couldn't have imagined it was that... horrifying."

Winter nodded slowly, her voice quiet. "To endure something like that and remain standing... I don't know if I could have done it."

Qrow snorted, shaking his head. "That's the thing. Most people couldn't. But Crimson? After everything he went through, he rebuilt that Biwa, of all things. I don't get it. That sound—it's burned into all of our memories, and not in a good way. We saw it through the relic, but he lived it. I don't know how he can even stand to look at it, let alone enjoy playing it."

Ironwood's expression hardened as he nodded. "Crimson is... one of a kind. His strength isn't just physical—it's something deeper. Something I don't think any of us can fully understand."

Winter glanced at Ironwood, her gaze thoughtful. She didn't speak, but in her mind, the thought was clear [If I were in Crimson's place, I'd still be having nightmares about that sound and everything it represents]