The party walks through the night streets of the Independent Merchant Republic of Fuhren. The Grimm are in their human disguises. Ruby is carrying a sleepy Neo on her back. Blake is watching from the side with a slight pout.

They pass by a sewer grate and Ruby's nose twitches. She stops and looks down at the sewer grate. Her nose twitches a few more times.

"Oi." Hajime calls out as he looks back. "You coming or what?"

"Sorry, just thought I smelt something fishy." Ruby continues following.

...

...

 The party arrived back at the Guild and Will is talking to Ilwer.

Ruby is sitting on a couch with Neo on her lap, her chin is resting on the shorter girl's head. Neo blinks her eyes a few times, before they start to droop. But then she quickly blinks them, trying to stay awake.

Blake sits next to the two with Tio on the other end of the couch. Yue and Shea sit across from the four, while Hajime sits in his own chair.

Ruby is snacking on some cookies with a face of pleasure. A few crumbs fall onto the sleepy Neo's hair.

"Pray forgive me, Ilwer!" Will says. "I've burdened you greatly..."

"Don't be ridiculous." Ilwe says. "I'm just glad you're home safe. I don't think you'd make it back alive."

"He just got lucky, that's all." Hajime states.

"And we also need another status plate." Ruby says with a mouth full of food.

Tio smiles at Ruby.

"You got it." Ilwer nods.

An hour later everyone is at an Inn, sharing the same room this time. They've got four beds in the room. Blake and Neo are on one bed already in their pajamas, in their Grimm forms.

On the side of the room Hajime is looking out a window. Ruby is at anther window, in her human form, and she's looking up at the moon.

Tio is looking at her status plate. "You're sure it was all right for me to receive a gold top-rank status plate?"

"Mm-hm. Of course." Yue says.

"Now we all got gold rank." Blake states.

"Oh, I got it!" Shea sits up and turns to Hajime. "You promised, Hajime-san!" He doesn't respond. "You're so mean! You promised me that if I worked real hard, you'd show me all the touristy places in Fuhren!" He still doesn't reply. "Hajime-san?"

Hajime is distracted by a couple shady people looking out from an alleyway.

Tio then speaks up. "I heard this city was a great center of commerce, but it seems there is more to the city than that."

"Meh, no matter who might come after us, I'll kill 'em." Hajime says.

"No matter who, you say?"

Ruby stretches as she walks away from the window "I'd kill anyone too, I don't care if they're some regular grunt or even a god, kill 'em." She then yawns.

Tio gets up with a stretch as she paces a little, looking down at her status plate with a big smile. Ruby then walks over to Neo and Blake's bed, as she changes into her grimm form.

Ruby smiles viciously. "I like this form so much better than my human one."

Ruby then plops down between Neo and Blake as the two smile. Ruby closes her eyes for a moment, till she hears Tio clear her throat. Ruby opens her eyes as she looks down the bed. 

Tio taps her fingers together as she looks at them with a longing look. Ruby lets out a sigh, before patting her stomach. Tio smiles happily.

"Yay!" Tio yells as she launches herself at Ruby.

Ruby screams in panic, as Neo and Blake roll away. Tio lands on Ruby, shoving her breasts in her face. Tio laughs as she hugs Ruby tightly. Ruby starts to pat Tio on the side.

"You're can be so cold at times, but you have such a warm heart!" Tio giggles, but then lets out a questioning hum as she feels Ruby go still.

Tio sits up and puts a hand on her mouth. Ruby's eyes have swirls in them as her soul leaves through her mouth. 

"Oh my..." Tio mutters.

Yue's lips purse as she stares at the dragon. "Perv..."

Hajime lets out a sigh as she shakes his head.

Everyone gets ready for bed as Hajime blows out the candles. Tio lays her head on Ruby's stomach as she closes her eyes. Neo and Blake hug Ruby from the side.

Ruby lets out a few soft snores as she sleeps, but Neo, Blake and Tio stare at her sleeping form for a few moments. Before they all close their eyes.

Ruby's eyes open and she finds herself in a dark void, with swirling dark red in the distance. She stands up and looks around in confusion, her red eyes on high alert.

"You've been doing well my dear." Salem calls out, making Ruby spin around.

Salem herself sits on a soft of throne made from bones. She sips on a glass of wine, before lowering it and licking her lips. Ruby lowers her guard as she lets out a sigh.

"Mistress Salem." Ruby gives a small curtsy.

Salem chuckles as she sets her wine glass on the armrest of her throne. She then crosses her arms under her large bosom as she looks at the Grimm Girl.

"You've been making fast progress." Salem gives a soft smile. "Recruiting powerful allies, and toppling powerful enemies." Ruby's brow slightly furrows as Salem continues. "I'm preparing a soft of Challenge for you."

"Challenge?" Ruby questions as she tilts her head.

"Don't worry my dear, it's still a bit ways away. But It'll be a surprise." Salem picks up her wine class, as her wings furrow out behind her. "I'll need to see if you're ready for the harder challenges ahead."

Ruby crosses her arms. "Nothing can stand in my path."

Salem stops mid drink and glances at Ruby. "There's much you don't, my Dear Apostle. Their are powers much stronger then you can imagine. Foes who could wipe out a country if they so chose too."

"They will all fall below my feet." Ruby steps forward in determination. "I will find my sister, and I will protect her. Nothing and no one can stop me."

Salem grows a small smirk, which she hides behind her wine glass. "Keep that motivation, you'll need it."

Ruby's eyes snap open and she finds herself back in the Inn. She blinks a few times, her eyes adjusting to the morning light. She lets out a hum as her lips purse.

She looks to her left and sees neo snuggling into her arm. Then she looks her to right and sees Blake softly sleeping as she uses her arm as a pillow. Then a silent giggle comes from Ruby's stomach. She looks down as sees Tio drooling as she uses Ruby's flat stomach as a pillow.

Ruby glares at Tio, before sighing. "I'm to comfortable to move."

Ruby lays still for a while, before she gets up as Hajime and Shea head out. Ruby gently places Tio back down on the bed, as Neo and Blake yawn and do a little stretch. 

Then a few minutes later, Neo is looking out the open window, in human form. Blake is sitting in a chair with some book she bought called "Ninja's of Love."

As Blake reads she leans closer and closer to the book, as a blush grows on her face. She rubs her thighs together as her ears twitch.

Ruby does some stretches and quick yoga as Yue walks over to Tio, with a riding crop in her hands.

Yue slaps Tio in the ass with the Riding Crop and the sleeping dragon moans. Yue frowns a little and looks at Ruby, who is doing the handstand scorpion.

"Just hit her again." Ruby says and moves into a Tripod Headstand with Lotus Legs.

Yue nods and slams the Crop harder onto Tio's ass. The girl just moans again.

"When were you planning on waking up?" Yue asks the dragon. "We're going shopping."

Ruby moves into a one handed tree pose. She looks down, but something shuffles in front of her, and she looks up to see Neo hitting a pose.

Ruby stares at Neo for a few moments, while the Ice Cream girl smiles up at her. 

"That is a weird pose." Ruby mutters.

Tio stills doesn't wake up and Yue slaps her again, this time she does get up.

'I'm starting to regret impaling her in the ass.' Ruby says in thought as she gets off the ground and changes into her human form. She then helps Neo off the ground.

Neo giggles as she sways side to side beside Ruby. Blake lets out a hum as steam starts to flow off her burning red face.

Tio stretches as she gets off the bed and starts to take off her clothes as Yue walks over to a window and looks out it.

"Hurry up, Tio, we've been waiting on you." Ruby says with a glare.

Tio moans. "Such malicious eyes!"

Ruby then gains a look of despair. "You take the fun out of things." Blake walks over and pats her on the back.

An hour later the group is at the market. Blake is looking at fishes at a stand, Neo is with her. Ruby is looking at some flower and other baking items.

Yue and Tio are looking at some fruit.

"Yue, surely you're not happy about this?" Tio asks and she picks up a fruit.

"You mean him and Shea?" Yue asks as she picks up a fruit.

"Indeed. In recent days, it seems there have been some developments between them."

"I'd be happy to hear that."

"You would be happy that another woman is growing close to the man you love?" Tio asks Yue.

"She's not just another woman. She's Shea." Yue says.

Ruby walks between some stalls, with some bags of baking stuff in her hands, and she comes across a jewelry stand.

Yue and Tio buy some fruit.

"Here's your change." The stall owner hands Yue some coins. "Thank you kindly."

"At first, she was always clinging to Hajime, and her ulterior motives were obvious to the point of annoyance." Yue says. "But after knowing her for a bit, I understood something."

Ruby, Neo and Blake regroup.

"What, exactly?" Tio asks Yue.

"She always gives everything her all." Yue says. "She'll work hard for the things she treasures, for the people she loves. Good or bad, she faces it head-on. Shea likes me, too, just as much as she likes Hajime. She doesn't like me in the same way, but she likes me the same amount." She smiles and turns to Tio. "Isn't she cute?"

"Let's go!" Ruby calls out to the Vampire and Dragon.

Yue and Tio follows after Ruby. Ruby walks up to Blake. "Blake."

Blake turns to Ruby. "Yes, Mistress?"

Ruby's cheeks gain a red tint and she hands Blake a necklace. "I got you this."

"Hmm?" Blake grabs the necklace and looks at it. "Oh, it's beautiful, Mistress!"

The necklace is the bottom jaw of a cat, with a gold chain.

Blake puts it on and smiles at Ruby. "I'll cherish it forever!"

Ruby smiles, but Neo appears beside Ruby and pouts as she gives Blake a light glare.

"Oh, Master!" Tio calls out. "Do I get a great treasure?"

"Not for your horny ass!" Ruby glares and Tio moans.

"Oh, what a great feeling!"

Ruby sighs and looks down.

A few minutes later, Yue and Ruby are walking down the street. With the rest being a little father back.

"I find it strange Hajime actually went on a date with Shea." Ruby points out. "Not that I don't like the girl, but she's just a bit... aloof."

Yue glances up at Ruby. "Hajime's heart bleeds for her. Under all the rough exterior, is nothing but a sweet kind man." She smiles happily.

Ruby's brow furrows as she remembers all the times she and him got into a fight. Even one that happened the night before, which let to Ruby biting him on the head.

Ruby then lets out a dry chuckle as she sweat drops. "Are we talking about the same guy?"

Ruby looks down at Yue, but only sees an outline of where she should be. Ruby lets out a questioning sound and looks around, finding Yue in front of a clothing shop.

Ruby lets out a questioning hum as she walks over. She sees Yue staring at a wedding-like dress. Then her eyes land on a red dress next to it. Ruby just raises an eyebrow as Yue suddenly looks up at her. Yue then gains a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Ruby's eyes widen in horror.

A few minutes later Yue is standing outside a fitting room.

"Come on, sister." Yue calls out.

"I-I don't know Yue..." Ruby mutters from the other side of the cloth.

"Come on, I'll even try on a dress." Yue calls out.

"Not helping..."  Ruby lets out a sigh. "Fine, b-but don't tell Hajime..."

Ruby steps out of the fitting room, with a small blush. She's now wearing the red dress that was in the window. 

Yue's eyes lighten up as she grows a small smile. "Ruby looks beautiful."

Ruby shuffles for a moment, before smirking and putting a hand on her hip. 

"I-I guess I can pull a dress off!"

"Then we'll get it." Yue says with a smile.

"Eh?" Ruby looks down at her in shock.

A few minutes later Ruby is sitting in a chair, as Yue takes a turn in the dressing room. Ruby is back in her normal clothing as she lets out an annoyed sigh.

"I'm ready." Yue softly calls out as she steps out from behind the curtain. "What do you think?"

Ruby smiles brightly. "Woah, Yue, you look amazing!"

"Think Hajime will like it."

"Uh... maybe?" Ruby shrugs as she leans onto the arm rest. "If he doesn't I'll beat him up."

Yue smiles as she nods. "Then I'll get it. Okay, one more dress." She walks towards Ruby.

"Eh... EH?!" Ruby yells in panic as Yue holds her hands up.

A few minutes later Ruby is shuffling around behind the curtain.

"Okay, I do like this dress better, but do I really have to do a pose with it?" Ruby calls out.

Yue nods as she's back in her normal outfit. "Yes."

Ruby lets out a sigh, then suddenly the leaps out of the curtain and points her hand out. "I will rule the world and eat all the cookies!" She gives a bright smile.

"Pff..."

Ruby stomps a foot. "Don't laugh!"

Then following that, Ruby and Yue exit the clothing shop, with Yue carrying a bag. They find the other three waiting for them. 

"You two ready?" Tio asks, and Ruby nods. "Good, we found a nice little cafe down the street."

"Oh, I hope they have cookies!" Ruby smiles brightly.

Then they all head down the street and arrive at the cafe. with Ruby and Blake at their own table while Neo, Yue and Tio share one.

Ruby and Blake smile at each other as they hold hands.

"Here you go miss." A server sets a tea cup on the table.

Neo smiles as she eats some ice cream.

"I see, so Shea needs both you and Hajime." Tio says. "But what about Hajime, then? Do you not think she will steal his heart from you? You must see how incredibly charming she is."

"I want Hajime to find more things he can treasure." Yue states. "But I'm the only one who's special. If she thinks she can steal him, then she can very well try. What about you, do you think you can steal Ruby from the others?"

"Well, I certainly don't want to pick a fight with Blake and Neo. As long as she continues to abuse me, I am very happy."

"You pervert."

Tio chuckles.

Neo then smirks and tugs on Tio's sleeve. The dragon girl looks down at the ice cream girl. Neo points at Ruby, then Blake, then Tio, then at herself. Then she proceeds to make very suggestive hand signs.

"Neo, you pervert." Yue deadpans.

Blake blushes brightly.

"Oh, my!" Tio nearly shouts.

A little while later. 

Neo finishes another cake and starts to drink some tea. Ruby and Blake are enjoying a fruit cake together.

"What a wonderful time this has been." Tio lets out a giggle and Neo nods.

The three girls then drinks some tea, when suddenly the wall next to them blows open and sends rubble everywhere. A man flies through the wall and smashes the table in front of the three girls.

Ruby and Blake just glance over with a raises eyebrow.

"I thought I sensed you five." Hajime says as he steps through the whole in the wall, Shea stands beside him. He's holding a man by the back of his collar.

"Huh?" Shea questions. "Yue-san, Tio-san and Neo-san? Oh, even Ruby-san and Blake-san. What are you all doing here."

"I could ask the same of you." Yue says as she lowers her tea cup. "This is a bit much for a date, don't you think?"

"Hajime, have you become embroiled in some sort of trouble?" Tio asks as she stands up.

Hajime drips the man he's holding. "We saved a little Merfolk girl from a bunch of slave traders, but they took her away again."

"We must help then." Blake frowns as she turns to Ruby, and the girl sighs.

"Where is she now?" Yue asks.

"I can't find anyone who knows." Hajime informs. "We were just torturing the information about their hideout out of one of them."

Shea then speaks. "So we figured we'd make an example out of these guys and take out all the gangs involved in this business!"

"Will you help us?" Hajime asks as the five.

Neo nods with determination.

"Seems he's found something else he finds important." Tio says to Yue.

Ruby stands up. "I guess we better get going then." She smiles sadistically "I'll have fun torturing these people."

"I'll help." Yue says as she stands up.

"I shall help my Mistress then." Blake states.

"Alright, let's split into four groups and search for Myu." Hajime states. "I'll go with Yue. Shea, you're with Tio. Ruby you go with Blake. And Neo I hope you can handle yourself?

Neo nods and another Neo appears beside her and also nods.

Then a few moments later, a explosion rocks a building. Inside Ruby and Blake are causing a lot of trouble.

Ruby laughs as she rips a man's arm off and he screams in pain. "Yes, let me hear your screams!" She laughs.

Blake cuts down a couple men trying to grab her. "Keep your dirty mits off me!"

A man tries to grab Ruby from behind, but he freezes in fear as Ruby turns around. Her eyes shine red as she smiles sadistically, flesh and blood dripping from her chin.

The man screams in horror, and tries to run away. But Ruby lets out a high pitched scream, causing him to cover his ears in pain. Only to be tackled from behind as blood is splattered on the wall beside him.

In another part of town Neo is walking down a hallway with blood dripping down her umbrella. She's also humming with a smile on her face.

Then a group of men run around and corner and they stop. Neo stops and stares at them. She brings a finger up to her chin with a questioning look.

"It's just one girl, how hard can this be?" A man asks.

Neo then gains a sadistic smile.

"Uh, she's kinda creeping me out." One of the men say.

"Pft, do you see how short she is?" Another man says. "No one that short is scary."

Suddenly ten other Neo's appear around the main one, all with sadistic smiles. They all lean forward on their umbrellas, eyes shining.

"I think I wet myself." A man says in horror.

All Neo's charge at the group and they all scream in terror.

Back with Ruby and Blake.

Ruby opens her mouth and flames come out of her mouth, burning a group of people in front of her. Blake kicks a man into the wall, then grabs another by the head and slams him into the ground.

Ruby runs up to a cell door and looks in. She sees a group of scared Demi-human kids. But then a small Nevermore perches on her shoulder, and lets out a caw. She then lets out a hum.

"Think you can handle it from here?" She glances back at Blake.

Blake stabs her blade through a man's chest. "Yes, Mistress."

Ruby smirks. "Good."

Inside a large auditorium a curtain rises, showing Myu inside a large round tank filled with water. Myu hugs her knees that are to her chest.

Suddenly she hears a thud on the tank and it startles her. She looks up to see the man who is the boss of the people who kidnapped her, putting his foot on the tank.

"Go on, cry! Scream!" He yells at Myu. "If you can't do that, then put on a little show for them!" He raises his cane. "Don't you dare give me trouble, you useless idiot!"

Myu lets out a yelp and covers her head in fear.

"I should be saying those exact words to you, asshole." Hajime's voice rings out from above.

The boss looks up to see Hajime in the rafters, next to him is Ruby in Grimm form.

"You?!" The man yells.

Hajime and Ruby jump down onto the stage. Hajime falls onto the boss. "You bastard..." The boss says, only for Hajime to shoot him in the face three times.

People in the room start to scream in fear and Ruby just takes a deep breath in.

"Deal with them." Hajime motions to some guards running towards the stage.

"Gladly~"

Ruby smiles and twirls her scythe around before charging towards the guards.

Hajime breaks the tank holding Myu.

Myu opens her eyes.

"Hey. Myu." Hajime says as he steps in front of her, to block the carnage behind her. "How are you always soaking wet every time I find you?"

Tears form in Myu's eyes and she lunges at Hajime. "Big bro!" She hugs him and Hajime hugs her back. He then turns so her back is facing where Ruby is ripping the spines out of the guards.

Myu then leans back and smiles at Hajime, he gives her a smile back. "Myu, close your eyes for a sec, okay?" He asks.

Myu closes her eyes. "Okay!"

"We're leaving Ruby!" Hajime yells out.

"Aww, I was just getting into it." Ruby whines as blood drips off her clothes.

Hajime rolls his eyes and he uses an air platform to get far above the city. "You can open them, Myu."

Myu opens her eyes and sees the city below her, she lets out a laugh.

"Wow!" Myu yells out. "We're flying!"

"We're not really flying, but..." Hajime starts. "Anyway, you're gonna get to see some real nice fireworks."

"Fireworks?"

"You ready? Say 'boom'!"

"Boom!" Myu shouts.

A large mansion blows up near the castle; Myu gasps.

"Well? Surprised?" Hajime asks. "Those are fireworks."

Myu leans into Hajime's chest. "Fireworks are scary."

Hajime looks out and Myu gasps as a large dark cloud appears above the city. A dragon made of lighting flies out from the cloud.

"Something came out of it!" Myu points out.

"Yeah, we're gonna destroy their hideout." Hajime says.

Four red flares go off in the sky and the lighting spell spits into four and crashes down below the flares.

A couple minutes later Hajime regroups with the rest of the party. The Grimms are in their normal forms.

Hajime sets Myu down as Yue approaches. "Her name's Yue. She's my lover."

Yue approaches Myu and grabs her, turning the girl around so she faces her. "No fair. She's so cute. You did such a good job, Myu. Good girl."

Tears form in the Merfolk's eyes and she starts crying into Yue's chest. The rest of the party approches.

"What's this?" Shea questions. "Did you do something mean to Myu-chan, Hajime-san?"

"Please, you think I could bully her?" Hajime asks.

"I don't think I could" Ruby mutters.

Though a certain dragon hears the Grimm. "If you want to bully someone, bully me!"

"Shut it, you perv." Ruby glares at her.

Tio hugs herself and starts moaning. Ruby sweat drops as dark lines appear on her forehead. 

"Oh, that's our pervert--I mean Tio." Hajime introduces.

Hajime then points at Ruby. "And she's my best-friend, and under that scary look is a sweet girl."

"I'm not a sweet girl!" Ruby stomps her foot on the ground. "NEVER call me sweet if you know what's good for you!"

"Yeah, you're right. You're just a cold hearted Psychopath."

Ruby nods with a smile. "Thank you."

Myu turns to Hajime. "Thank you so much, big bro!"

"S-Sure." Hajime sweats a little. "Look, could you stop calling me 'big bro'? Just call me Hajime."

"Okay, then you're Papa!" Myu states and Ruby starts laughing.

"Wait, don't tell me, that's how merfolk say 'big bro' or 'Hajime' in their language?"

Myu runs forward and hugs Hajime. "Nope! Papa means Papa!"

"Why 'Papa'?" Shea asks.

Myu looks back. "Because I don't have a Papa! So big bro can be my Papa!"

"Please, can you not call me Papa?" Hajime asks the little girl. "I know I look older, but I'm still only 17!"

"No, you're Papa!"

"Fine, you can call me 'big bro'! I won't complain anymore, so just stop calling me Papa!"

Tears form in Myu's eyes. "No! You're my Papa, Papa!"

Ruby laughs and walks over to Myu and Hajime. Myu smiles up at Ruby. Ruby kneels down to the girl and pats her head. "You're such a cutie."

"You can be Auntie!" Myu states with a big smile, shining as bright as the sun.

"Ack!" A metaphorical arrow pierces Ruby's heart. She coughs up blood, before she looks at the girl and Myu smiles at her brightly. Ruby stares down at Myu for a moment, before putting a hand on her head.

"If anyone touches a hair on her head, I'll kill them and their entire country." Ruby smiles as she continues to pat Myu on the head.

"Hajime, I want a baby." Yue calls out.

"Me, too!" Shea then says.

Blake then blushes. "Mistress, I know want a baby."

Neo nods, vigorously.

"Mast, I, too, am fully prepared." Tio says as she hugs herself. "let us engages in procreat--"

"You really like to joke a lot, don't you?" Ruby questions.

"Why are you only admonishing me?!" Tio yells in disbelief. 

...

...

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5-2-2026

4500 words