Its been a few days since YN made camp after slaying a pack of Beowolves Grimms. During those days, YN have been fighting any Grimms he comes by from one town to another. Not that its all he ever does, he mostly enjoys traveling around. Even though there are faster transportations, he'd rather travel with his horse Riva. Right now, we see and old ruins where YN is taking a knee to catch his breath after recently slaying Grimms as they disintegrated.

YN: God, I need a break...

He gets back up and look around to see if theres any more Grimm near. Believing that there are no more Grimms, he made his back to the town until he sees someone familiar at the trees and when he got scan who it was, he realize it looks to be Ilia but camouflaging to forest color. When she notice YN, she runs away from the huntsman.

YN: Hey, wait!

He chases after her to the forest, but he could rarely see her.

YN: I just want to talk!

He continues to pursue until he realize she's gone. However, YN begins to hear footsteps as he looks around. Still couldn't spot her as the noises gets closer and closer until he turned around and saw her, but felt a sharp in his chest. He looks down and sees Ilia weapon in his chest.

YN: I-Ilia...?

She thrust her sword deeper in YNs chest and hold his neck before she whispered his ear.

Ilia: (Whispers.) Welcome back.

Ilia pulls her sword out of YN chest for him to collapse to the ground. With that, she leaves him to bleed in the middle of the forest. YN couldn't move his body, only his eyes as he sees Riva arrives and licks his face before she unexpectedly speaks.

Riva: Ey, wake up, doofus.

YN: Ah!- oof!

He open his eyes and accident fell off the bed before he realize he's in a bedroom in the inn while Riva has her head through the open window where she tried to wake him up. Rubbing his eyes before standing back on his feet.

YN: (Sigh.) Not again.

Riva: (Nickers?)

YN: I'm fine, just another dream.

YN pats her head to comfort and assure her that he's all right.

YN POV

After I comfort Riva, I realize its already afternoon and Riva is probably hungry. Last night I stayed up for too long after clearing all the Grimms at a ruin not far from this town, so I get to work and feed Riva. There wasn't much to do today so I decided to use this day as a day off by starting with getting something to eat. Thankfully the inn has a place to eat where I ordered a plate of food. Its been quiet so far until the owner spoke after handing me a plate.

Owner: You seem quiet today, huntsman.

YN: Just grabbing a bite and I'll be gone.

Owner: What about your faunus friend? Is she coming to join?

YN: Faunus friend?

Owner: Well yeah, the one with red hair and a pony tail.

Ilia? Since when did she got here? And was she been following me?

YN: Have you seen her? I overslept after staying up last night because of Grimms.

Owner: Well, not since last night while you were gone. Oh, but she also mentioned to hand this to you.

The owner hands the folded paper to me and I accepted it before he left. I decided to eat first before checking it out since I'm starving. Afterwards, I left the table and head back before I open and read the paper.

"Come and meet where you last fought the Grimms. We'll talk face to face tonight." -Ilia amitola

I couldn't tell whether this could be a trap or not. But at least I've already cleared the Grimms over there. Nevertheless, gotta be ready for anything.

Time skip

Nightfall came as I left the inn with my gear on and about to leave town until Riva yells to stop me. I quickly comfort her to calm her down, but I know she does this for a reason.

YN: I know, Riva. Its probably a trap. But I'm gonna take a leap for this without risking your life. If I don't come back, you know how to find me.

She felt sadden and I don't blame her, my dad said that she'll be taking care of me on my journey. Not to mention that we grew together, but I'm not gonna risk her life if this is a trap. I pat her head to comfort her.

YN: Wish me luck, Riva.

She nods before I left to meet Ilia at the ruin. Thankfully it didn't take long for me to arrive. Everything was exactly how it was when I left and yet, I haven't seen anyone around. However, it does feel like there's someone around.

YN: Whoever you are, I know you're around. So if you want to talk, then let's talk.

Ilia: I'll let my weapon do the talking.

Out of instinct, I move aside right before a metallic whip swung around and I look to where it come from.

YN: Wait, we don't have to fight!

Ilia: I don't care!

She's still hiding somewhere and yet she keep attacking with her weapon as I try to evade as much as possible but not without having a few small cuts. The attacks were barely predictable, so I had no choice but to use my semblance the second I dodge the next attack. No doubt she would try to look for me to attacks so I needed to buy time to look for her.

YN: Why did you brought me here if you didn't wanted to talk in the first place?

Ilia: You think words can fix this? You think I can just forget how you were gone without saying a word for 11 years?

YN: Better late than never. I really want to try and clear the air. It’s been what, eleven years?

Ilia: Eleven years without even saying a word and you didn't even think about your friend.

YN: I'm sorry, I was focusing on saving lives.

Ilia: Like how you save people by hurting my kind!?

YN: That's not how I wanted, Ilia. And its not how I wanted now.

3rd POV

Ilia looks for YN as her skin is dark as the night thanks to her semblance. That was until YN found her and knocks her out of the her hiding spot. He found her only by following her voice as they were chatting. They both reveal themselves after stop using their semblances.

YN: Ilia, please. I don't want to hurt you.

Ilia didn't listen and she swings her weapon towards the huntsman who block her attack with his sword. Mostly focuses on dodges and parries her blows.

Ilia: Quit dodging and fight me like you mean it!

Ilia manage to catch YN sword and tries to pull to disarm him. But his grip is strong enough to hold.

YN: And what the hell would that do for you?

Ilia: You left me alone! After my parents died, I was alone!

This shock YN to learn that his best friend lost her parent too.

YN: I... I didn't know.

Ilia: Of course you didn't. I was left alone until I join the white fang.

Ilia saw the opportunity to disarm him since YN got distracted at the moment as his sword fell right next to her.

Ilia: You never cared about anyone but yourself.

YN: Ilia, that's not true.

She ignored him and charges again as she swings her weapon at him. Fortunately, he used his shoulder plate to block as he run towards her, despite Ilia weapon nearly pierce it. Once he got close, YN catches Ilia's wrist.

YN: Enough!

He quickly disarmed her and does a judo throw as Ilia falls on her back. Just when she was about to get back up, she met with a sword pointing at her by YN. Ensuring that she doesn't fight more.

YN: You know I care about your kind, but hurting innocent people doesn't make any better.

Ilia: They left us no choice.

YN: Theres always a choice. You're just making bad ones like any other people.

Ilia: Shut up!

YN: then why did you brought me here? Do you seriously want me to hurt you!?

???: No, you won't.

Before he could react, he a blade lightly touching his neck as he sees a crimson blade. Giving Ilia a opportunity to get back up while YN knows that theres only one white fang who wields a crimson sword.

YN: Adam.

Adam: Why am I not surprised you fell for a trap?

YN: Why am I not surprised you didn't finished me off earlier?

Adam: And miss to see you both making acquaintance after a long lost forgotten friend? I heard what you did back on the ship raid. So I know what you're capable.

YN: If you're gonna kill me, then at least do it while looking at the mans eye.

Adam: Intriguing, but I'd rather not do that to you human. Not interested.

YN: Obviously.

YN let go of his sword and out of speed, he quickly pivot and uses his hidden blade to parry Adams blade away from his neck before side kicking him away. Now they're both distance again each other with their own weapons. Just when they were bout to fight, it was suddenly stopped by Ilia shocking the huntsman with her weapon. Causing YN to collapse.

the last thing he saw was Adam approaching him until Ilia stopped him. Next thing when he opened his eyes, he's met with a fist flying towards his face. Next thing he felt are his arms and legs are tied up on a chair with a rope before the lights turned on. Revealing that he's been taken hostage and his gears are off of him.

???: Oh good, you're awake, now.

He look up and see its the same white fang who went berserk back in the boat.

White fang: You remember me, don't you?

YN: .....

White fang: Silent now, huh? I like that, I can tell you're not gonna be easy to break after I beat you up. I got some scores to settle with you after all.

The white fang start with a swing of a fist directly to YNs face.

Yes he stayed silent while glaring at the white fang and spit blood.

White fang: (Grin.) Oh yeah, I'm definitely gonna enjoy this.

Meanwhile outside of the room, reveals that a group white fangs are in a warehouse including Ilia and Adam where we see Adam is about to depart from the warehouse as its a middle of the day.

Adam: I got other business to be in. So I'm gonna leave. I trust your "guest" is being cooperative enough?

Ilia: Just leave him to me.

Adam: You still haven't answered me on why you want to take him as hostage.

Ilia: Well, you saw his gun and other weapons. There's no way he made it, someone must've made it for him somewhere. Think about it, if we find someone who made them, we could have better weapons.

Adam: Fair. But as soon as you get it out of him, kill him.

With that, Adam leaves the group to head of to meet the other white fangs in other places.

Ilia POV

After he left, I head back to the warehouse while wondering if I made a right call or not until I was then interrupted by noises coming close and I follow the noises until I see a black horse.

Ilia: Oh hey, there.

She got close to me and start sniffing until she rearing up aggressively as I try to calm her down.

Ilia: Whoa, hey! Calm down! I'm not gonna hurt you-

Just then I notice a journal from her saddle that has the same horse symbol YN has on his shoulder. Making me realize the horse belongs to YN.

Ilia: YN? Your YNs friend?

She stops rearing up and nods. She must've followed YN with her sense of smell. Curiosity got the best of me where I carefully pick the notebook from the saddle after patting her head. I open it to see its a recoding log written by him. I quickly made my way to the rooftop of the building so that I won't get interrupt while reading and i

Day 1 of my journey. Its been 8 years since before I begun my journey. During those eight years, I've been training and studying all day. Knowing that I need to learn as much as I can to survive on my own. All I can say now is wish me luck. No telling what's gonna happen.

I turn to the next page to read more.

Day 7 of my journey. I arrive back to my hometown and I saw it was still in ruins. It gave me chill when I got here. I remember how loud it was every morning, now its only the wind that remains and the whispers of the fallen.

Day 15 of my journey. I've stopped by a town to rest, but this town wasn't as I like it'd be. Saw a lot of faunus were being mistreated in this town and it reminded me saving a faunus from a bully. But when I saw a human adult mistreating a faunus kid, I snapped and stood up for him. Of course I couldn't stop them without leaving some bruises on the human.

Day 16 of my journey. Just when I was about to call it a day, I was surrounded by law enforcement. Probably because of what I did yesterday. But I didn't care, so I took on the guy who was a slave trader until he gave up. Hope he learn his lesson that faunus have the right to live how they wish unless he wants to lose more teeth's. But I also learn a lesson as well or at least remember something. I won't just protect people from the Grimms I'll protect people from corruption and help those who need. Whether they're faunus or humans.

I didn't know how long it took, but I kept reading his journal to look deep about his journey, most involves fighting Grimms of how difficult they are to kill while other were about protecting faunus from people who are mistreating them. It was enough for me to understand about YN until I read the latest record.

Day....I must've lost count. But that doesn't matter at the moment. What does is that I found someone I thought I'd never see again. My long lost childhood friend, but the sad part is that she's a white fang. I didn't wanted for us to meet again as enemies. I hope she doesn't see me as one. If theres a chance to talk with her, then I'll take it. I know there's still good in her. I don't know how but I just know it. So if we meet again, I'll talk with her. But if she would try to fight me, I'll still talk with her. I know its not gonna be easy, but its better to do what's right rather than what's easy. There's always hope.

And that was the last of it from his journal and I head back to where the horse is to place the journal back. Afterwards I took a moment to think about YN as I look at my mask. After everything he's done, he's been doing a better job than I am. I still can't forgive what humans did, but YNs is different than any other humans. And nows he's probably getting beat up because of me...

Time skip
3rd POV

Back in the warehouse, YN is still getting beat up with some a lot of bruises and blood. Yet he still doesn't give up.

White fang: For a human, you're pretty tough. But I'll let you rest for a favor.

He leans forward towards the huntsman.

White fang: Tell me about your weapons. Where did you find them?

YN just sigh and lean his head back before headbutting the white fangs face and causes him to bleed from his nose.

White fang: Okay, that's it!-

Ilia: That's enough!

He and YN look at the door and see its Ilia with her white fang mask on.

White fang: Huh?

Ilia: We need him alive. And its clear that your punchings isn't gonna get the intel out of him.

White fang: Well what do you suggest?

Ilia: I'm gonna take him to someone else. See if someone can rip the intel better than you do.

White fang: Hey, I still have some score to settle with him.-

Ilia: Hey, you wanna go ask Adam who knows you're wasting his time?

This made him silent since he knows he's taking too long and he look away.

Ilia: So either you hand the huntsman over or go talk with Adam. Either way, don't waste our time.

White fang: Fine.

He leaves while Ilia unties YN and cuffs his hands before he leave. As they walk, Ilia looks around to see the others are minding their own business and she sees the opportunity.

Ilia: (Whispers.) Turn left.

YN: (Confused.) Huh?

Ilia: (Whispers.) Turn left!

YN: My left or your left?

Ilia: Oh my god...!

She just grabs and pulls him behind one of the boxes to stay hidden before she speaks.

Ilia: Can you still run?

YN: What?

Ilia: Can, you, still, run?

YN: Yeah.

Ilia: Good, there's a vehicle we can use to escape.-

YN: Wait, wait, wait. Why are helping me?

Ilia: ....Because its the right thing to do.