RWBY: Innocence

Redemption

The camping grounds were surrounded by massive sharpened logs that acted as the walls of the encampment, joining at a massive wooden gate. Each tent was made of a sturdy tarp and held firm. The biggest tents were used for the staff and the dining hall, but the smaller tents were used for students' sleeping areas. The camp itself was surrounded by tall Pine trees that almost blocked out the skies.

The early morning air was cold enough to send shivers across the skin of any creature. The camp was eerily silent as students practically shuffled around, talking in hushed whispers. Even the surrounding wildlife seemed to be quiet as if anticipating something momentous. Every student was talking about something different to each other, but each conversation was centred around the recent event that had occurred last night. No matter from where they were standing, every student was watching the small tent reserved for Ozpin's nephew...

Inside the tent, a hospital bed was placed in the centre. The body on the bed was covered up by a small, soft and silky blanket. The body's arm was wired up to a heart-monitor which let out occasional beeping sounds. Sleeping next to the body in a chair was Yang who had given in to her desire for sleep. The room was completely silent...

"Uh...My head..."

In an instant, Yang was wide awake. She leaped to her feet and hollered out:

"Ozpin! He's awake! Come quick!"

Within seconds, Ozpin came striding through the room.

"Headmaster Ozpin, if you please Ms Xiao Long..."

Yang hung her head apologetically and mumbled:

"He's awake, Headmaster Ozpin..."

As Ozpin stood at the side of his nephew's bed, he watched as Kenzo slowly awakened. He slowly rose his head from the pillow and looked from left to right. Blinking a few times, he slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes, letting out a loud and deep yawn. Kenzo winced as a ray of sunlight shot his face from the open gap of the tent door. He then looked up:

"Uncle...Ozpin?"

Ozpin placed his hand on Kenzo's shoulder and smiled at his nephew with tears in his eyes. Yang bounded up to the bed and stared excitedly at Kenzo with a wide smile on her face.

"What happened?" Kenzo asked feebly.

Ozpin removed his hand from his shoulder, allowing Yang to throw her arms around Kenzo and smother him with kisses. Kenzo smiled and attempted to return a few of the kisses, but couldn't keep up with her rapidly moving head.

"You were gone for a long time. I sent out many students to find you, but only Team RWBY found you. Many people reported seeing you flying across the sky or traversing the forests..."

Ozpin waited for Kenzo to cry out in surprise or gasp with shock, but no sound left Kenzo's lips. He scratched at his neck and breathed out through his nose.

"Yeah...I know..."

Ozpin continued:

"What happened to you is still very much a mystery, but we do know that the creature that you became-"

"Lazarus..." Kenzo interrupted, "His name is Lazarus..."

Ozpin stared at his nephew in confusion for a moment, but quickly remembered the day when Torchwick battled his nephew and let out a sound of acknowledgement.

"Anyways, Lazarus was born out of a genetic mutation..."

Kenzo's eyes widened and shot forwards, accidentally shoving Yang aside.

"Mutation? What do you mean?"

Ozpin closed his eyes, took a deep breath and spoke:

"When you saw Yang being injured by the Ursa, you became so enraged that your blood started to increase in temperature. Your Semblance was activated, but the heat of your blood interrupted the process and caused a mutation in your cellular structure..."

Kenzo put his head in his hands and let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. A mutation born out of pure rage had transformed him into a cold-blooded monster that feasted on war...

"He never meant any harm...It's just his nature..."

Ozpin looked at his nephew with a quirked eyebrow.

"Why do you keep talking in third person? It's not your nature, it was just a-"

Kenzo held his hand out to stop Ozpin from speaking.

"Lazarus is a different person. He has his own thoughts, feelings and personality. He's different from me..."

Yang held Kenzo close to her chest and kissed his cheek.

"Darling..." She whispered.

Ozpin remembered the classic Remnant fairy tale of the monster known as Lazarus. The beast would kill people, destroy towns and do as he pleased. People planned to rebel, but a wise old hermit told them that if they waited long enough, Lazarus would die. It happened and his death was celebrated...

"Why is he called Lazarus?" Ozpin asked his nephew with a curiosity that only a concerned family member could possess.

Kenzo shrugged his shoulders and kissed Yang back.

"He just is..."

Ozpin nodded and walked over to his nephew once more. Planting a kiss on his cheek, Ozpin was about to leave when Kenzo clutched at his sleeve and tugged hard.

"Uncle...I want redemption..."

Ozpin stopped and asked:

"Redemption?"

"Redemption for what I've done to you...I should never have run away and now...I want to redeem myself...I will become the best Huntsman in all of Remnant, no matter what!"

Ozpin blinked in surprise. What he had just heard astounded him. Kenzo wanted to be a Hunter? It wasn't possible...

"I'm proud of you...Come out when you're ready..." Ozpin responded and left the tent.

As Kenzo slumped back into bed and held out his arms. Yang, understanding the request, got into bed with him and cuddled up next to him.

"I love you..." She mumbled with her face buried in his chest.

"Heh...I love you too babe..." Kenzo responded with a confident smirk on his face.

At this point in his life, Kenzo was on top of the world. Having Yang in his arms was an incredible feeling and to hear her claim her love for him was a godly sensation. Now that he had the love of his life in his arms, Kenzo felt like the most powerful man in the world.

"So, do you really mean it?" Yang queried, "About being a Huntsman?"

Kenzo ran his fingers through her long and silky hair and smiled sweetly.

"If it means that I will be able to protect everyone I love, then hell yeah..."

Yang chuckled.

"Including me?"

"Obviously!"

Yang let out a laugh and planted yet another kiss on Kenzo's lips. Judging by the sweet taste of her lips, Kenzo predicted that she was wearing some kind of flavoured lip-gloss. It tasted like strawberries...

"Did you wear that tasty stuff on your lips just for me?" Kenzo asked her.

"Well, what do you think?" Yang asked in a seductive manner.

Kenzo then sat up and chuckled, staring at the shining gap in the tent door.

"Right...It's time..."