24

Blake knew exactly where to find Yang. Ever since the big reveal of her and Ruby's relationship, Yang started spending lesser and lesser time with the team, and more time in the academy's gym. Her partner hardly spoke with her these days, offering grunts in response when asked anything. She also chose to avoid eye contact with her sister, and if she did somehow happen to let her eyes stray to Ruby, they would be filled with grief, resentment, and last of all, anger. Something Blake thought the over-protective sister would never be able to feel towards her younger half.

The chances of Yang's palpable anger being the cause of her avoidance looked to be quite logical. Opting to spend her days in the gym until her aura wore thin and she was on the verge of blacking out, lugging her heavy and drained body back to the dorm where she dropped off to sleep the minute she felt the cool sheets against her heated skin. What's more, avoiding them somehow restrained her from decking anyone, and getting into trouble, which would, in turn, enrage her more. Venting her rage out on a bag ladened with sand appeared to be the only relief she got. This one-sided indenture spanned on for a week, now bordering two.

'The irony in that.' Blake scoffed as she slowed her sprint into a walk when she made it to the gym's entrance. An uncomfortable warmth pooled under her scarf, causing her to fiddle with the black cloth as a steady ripple of heat swept over her. 'What's she doing in there...?'

Beads of moisture settled on Blake's forehead the instant she entered the mini-coliseum. Stepping inside the gym itself was the equivalent of stepping into an overheated sauna. Unbelievably warm and silent save for the rhythmic pounding of fists on a solid mass. Tons of training equipment haphazardly occupied the concrete floor. Torn up mats, twisted barbells, weights broken in half, and disturbingly enough, one of the punching dummies was missing its head.

Blake idly rubbed her neck the longer she stared at it.

In the midst of this miniature heatwave/wreck stood Yang, her bandaged hands tirelessly battering the poor sandbag. Black tights with an orange stripe down each side clinging to chiselled glutes, paired with a black sports bar, Yang's basic workout attire. Tanned, muscular flesh blessed Blake's sight, waves of perspiration rolling over each sinewy ridge and onto to the floor below where they added to the dark puddle beneath her bandaged feet. An orange scrunchy fastened generally loose, blonde locks in a messy ponytail, keeping any strands from hindering her vision.

"Yang." Blake made an effort in getting her attention.

No response. Yang continued to ignore her, driving her fists harder into the sandbag.

Blake expected as much, so she was prepared to go all in if need be. "Yang, I know you can hear me."

Still nothing.

Blake sighed. "Fine, I understand you're still mad at me."

"Mad doesn't begin to explain how I feel." Yang whirled on Blake, hot fire crackling in her eyes.

"Ah, so she finally acknowledges my presence." Blake snorted.

"Don't test me, Belladonna." Yang snarled. "I noticed your aura the second you stepped foot in here."

"Yet, you paid me no mind."

"I'm not in the company of talking to people who sleep with their partner's younger sister."

"Yang, you can't still be possible be mad at me for that!" Blake shouted, flinging her hands.

"And, why not?!" Yang strode over to the faunus. "Why can't I be upset that my so-called partner went behind my back and slept with my sister! Why can't I be upset that after all that, my partner forms a relationship with my sister!" A relationship that should've been hers, Yang caught herself almost saying.

"Look, Yang, I didn't come here to fight with you-"

"Then, you shouldn't have come here in the first place, this is a gym, after all." Blake was dismissed as Yang went back to the punching bag.

"...You are so damned pigheaded..." Blake spat.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me!" Blake strode over to Yang, her heels echoing in the gym. "Believe me when I say I'd rather be somewhere else than in here with you."

"Leave, then! No one's stopping you!"

"That's where you're wrong." Blake moved closer, face almost touching Yang's. "Ruby is the only reason that I'm here, using energy that could be put to better projects than trying to talk to you."

"So, what, talking to me is a chore?"

"When you're like this? Yes!"

"I don't have time for this." Again, Yang dismissed her and went back to the punching bag.

Blake growled something primal. "Listen to me, you idiot!" She roughly spun around Yang.

"Watch it!"

"I came here in hopes that you would've calmed down enough to talk to me." Blake walked forward, forcing Yang to take a step back. "But, you're so damn stubborn, that you would rather spend your days in a sweaty room, punching an object that can't feel anything!"

"Would you rather me punch you?"

"At least that would be one way of us communicating!" She yelled. "I rushed over here to come to get your selfish ass, but you would choose to ignore me rather than hear me out." Blake roughly jabbed Yang in her chest.

"Selfish!? How dare you?!" Yang turned the tables this time, going on the offensive. "How am I selfish for wanting some space to myself?!"

A failed attempt as Blake had an answer ready.

"You are selfish! You avoid your teammates—your own sister—because you can't accept the fact that I'm dating her." Another jab. "You're selfish because, instead of working this out with your team, you hideaway in here days on end." A slap, this time. "You're selfish because you think you're the only one affected in this situation, selfish enough that you can't see how much the team is falling apart, how sad Ruby is because the sister she loves so much isn't talking to her."

Yang's back collided with the cold concrete of the wall, no longer able to get away from Blake.

"And, you want to know another reason you're selfish?" Blake let her head fall on Yang's wet chest, fighting back tears. "Because you can't be happy that you're partner finally has a shot at love."

Yang stared at the mass of raven locks on her chest. A shot at love. Yang sucked her teeth. If Blake only knew that wasn't the reason she was so pissed. 'Damn it.' "Blake, I... I'm not upset at you for having a chance at love." 'I just wished it weren't with my sister.'

"Why won't you talk to me, then?!"

"I can't tell you that... it's personal."

"Very well, we'll talk about this some other time." Blake stepped back. "Ruby needs you in JNPR's dorm because she had a nightmare. Pyrrha's there tending to her."

"What does she need me for?" Yang still grasped for straws of stubbornness. "She has you."

"Damn it, Yang!" Blake grit her teeth. "Don't you think I wish I could be the one she needed right now, but I can't! I tried to comfort her, both me and Pyrrha, but it barely worked. She's still, no doubt, shaking like a leaf." Blake grasped the fabric clothing her torso, close to her heart. "Do you know how painful it is to see the one you love in a state like that? It hurts, Yang, it hurts even more when you can't do anything to help them, it makes you question your worth." She wiped her eyes. "All I ask is that you come back with me, and make sure the person you said you love more than life itself, is alright."

"A nightmare, you say?"

"Yes, it scared her out of her sleep."

"Take me to her."

In JNPR's dorm, Pyrrha was perched on her bed as she cradled Ruby in her arms, gently rocking her. Ruby's body quivered, a twinkle of ever-present fear lingering in her eyes. Pyrrha doubled her efforts to comfort her beloved. She couldn't bear to see Ruby in such a frightened state. For such suffering to befall a soul as genuine and innocent as Ruby's; it was stomach churning.

Pyrrha pulled the smaller girl nearer to her, tucking Ruby's head under her chin and more into the warmth of her neck. 'Just how terrifying was that nightmare?'

The gentle administrations seemed to have finally helped as the fragile physique in her arms heated slightly, though Ruby's body still shook a bit. A soft tug on Pyrrha's armour captured her attention. Looking down, silver orbs stared her straight in the eyes. Even though her touches soothed Ruby somewhat, that fearful tremble in her eyes refused to melt.

"Ruby..." Pyrrha tenderly spoke, trying not to startle the girl. "Are you feeling any better?"

In response, Ruby hid her face in the amazon's heated neck, her red and black mop tickling Pyrrha as she nodded her head.

"Would you like me to let you go now?" Pyrrha's remained gentle, like that of a mother ensuring her child everything would be okay when truly, everything was far from alright.

Mother.

"N-No, could… could you hold me, just a bit longer?" Fresh tears poured from her puffy eyes as she remembered her mother, how cruelly she'd slain her in that night terror.

"Of course." Pyrrha closed her eyes, humming a soft melody as she willfully obeyed the plea.

Some time passed with Pyrrha rehearsing the ballad her mother would sing for her whenever she encountered her own frights. In her strong arms, Ruby teetered on the margin of sleep and awake, her half-lidded eyes fighting to stay open, but the melody was so soothing, so warm. No longer could she resist the pull of sleep as her lids slowly fell close, then…

The face of her dark counterpart flashed before her eyes the second it became dark. A gruesome smile on its face.

Ruby's body jolted and her eyes snapped open in the previously warm embrace, the cold returning like a bucket of ice water doused on her. The slight motion didn't go unnoticed by the champion.

"Ruby-"

"P-Pyrrha... y-you could never hate me, r-right?" Ruby stammered before anything else could be said.

"Never, Ruby. I sincerely doubt there's anything in this world that would force me to hate you." She'd said it countless times before, but if it was the closure that Ruby needed, she would say it until the day she breathed her last breath. "Why would you think that?"

Ruby said nothing more, she'd already said too much, even if it was only a sentence.

*Thump! Thump!*

"Shh, shh, calm down, Ruby. It's only Blake and Yang." Pyrrha reassured Ruby when she let out a cry. "Come in."

Yang stepped into the dorm still wearing her gym attire. Blake followed in after, closing the door and locking it. This wasn't their dorm, and she didn't exactly have the right to declare it off limits, but this was a moment only for the four of them.

Slipping out of her temporary safe place, Ruby wobbled to her feet like a newborn babe, her footsteps hesitant as she stumbled over to her sister. "Yang." Ruby breathed out, arms raising shakily, getting ready to wrap them around the tall blonde. Yang didn't disappoint as she met Ruby halfway and returned the hug with fervour. "Yang! Yang! Yang!" Ruby chanted, basking in the scent that was Yang's. Welcoming like Spring, and strong like the earth, with a hint of muskiness underneath.

Free of their wrappings, Yang's powerful yet light hands massaged her hair. "There, there, it's alright. Everything's gonna be okay. Alright? Everything's gonna okay. Big sister's here, now." The boxer whispered.

Blake stood back, observing. It was a much needed moment between the two siblings. She'd already interfered enough by messing up their nearly unbreakable bond when she revealed that she'd become Ruby's girlfriend, and taken her chastity at the same time. Two bombs dropped on the sister who'd been there for her since day one. Blake wisely chose to keep her position near the door.

"You hate me, don't you, Yang?" Similar to the question she'd asked Pyrrha earlier, Ruby asked her sister.

"Ruby, I-"

"Please, don't hate me! I'm sorry for not telling you about Blake!" The loud outburst caught Yang by surprise. Ruby dug her blunt nails into Yang's exposed back. It wasn't painful, really, just uncomfortable. "I'll do anything to make it up to you, as long as you promise to love me like you did before!"

"Ruby!" Yang shouted, halting any further hysterics. "Remember what you told me when we were younger?" Ruby shook her head, negative. "You said, 'You can never truly hate family, you're just mad at them for an unknown amount of time.' When you said those words, there was a look of conviction in your eyes, like they were your life force, the only reason for you to go on. After hearing you say that so many times, even I started to believe it. So, no, I don't hate you." Yang paused for a moment, swallowing every ounce of her stubborn pride.

"And… and, I'm sorry for the way I acted before when you told me about your relationship with Blake. I should've been more supportive of you two." She had to force down the bile that made its way up her throat. Sorry? She was, her behaviour was that of the brute Weiss always called her. Supportive? It would take some time before she could come to terms with Blake being her sister's girlfriend, and have to control her own impulses. "Now, can you tell me what's wrong?"

"R-Right…" Ruby took a few deep breaths before she spoke up. "I had those nightmares again."

"Again? You mean like when we were younger?" Yang eased Ruby off of her front and carefully guided her over to the bed where Pyrrha sat, reckoning it best if she stayed close in case of another episode.

"Yeah, but they're worse now." Ruby looked at Blake. "Do you remember our first day as a team, and you found me awake?"

"Yes, why?"

"It was the same nightmare, and can you recall when I woke up screaming?"

"I do." Blake frowned. "It was that nightmare again, wasn't it?"

Ruby nodded.

"Woah, woah! Back it up a minute." Yang took on an affronted stance, hands akimbo as she stared at Ruby. "You woke up screaming, yet you never told me anything? Why?" Her stance softened, as did her voice.

"I... didn't want to bother you."

"Ruby, it never bothered me as a kid when you would sneak in my bed when you had a nightmare, why would it bother me now?" Yang stooped down, resting her hands on Ruby's knees.

"The nightmares... whenever I had them, they always had Mom in them."

"Okay, but what's so bad about that?"

"Mom would usually..." Tears slowly rolled off her face as she forced herself to explain. "She would... she would... d-die... right in front of me."

"Is... is that what your nightmares are about?" Yang asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to worry about me. The nightmares started a month after mom died and I guess I was too scared and stupid to say anything." Ruby clutched her head. "Argh! I should've said something! Maybe this wouldn't be happening if I did."

"Hey, hey, don't beat yourself up about this. It was an honest mistake, both on your part as well as mine. I should've known something was wrong."

"How could you when I said nothing? I'm sorry, I was just scared, and I didn't know what to do...!" Ruby's vision began to warp and distort, where Yang stood now she saw it standing there, that sadistic smile on its face. Ruby fell back on the bed, scooching back until her back hit the wall. It followed her on the bed, crawling over to her.

'Come on. This is your time to tell them.'

'N-No. I won't let you control me.' It smiled, visage fading back to Yang who was worried out of her mind.

"Ruby, is something wrong?"

"N-No, I'm fine."

"It doesn't look that way."

"I'm fine, Yang. Nothing to worry about."

"Perhaps, some rest would be beneficial. If you like, one of us could stay with you." Pyrrha suggested.

"That won't be necessary. I just need to take a walk to get my mind off things." Ruby crept off the bed. Sleep was one thing she wanted nothing to do with, the chances of ending up in that nightmare again were too high.

"Do you want one of us to come with you?" Pyrrha asked.

"I'll be fine by myself." She collected her hoodie and slipped it on.

Reluctance was clear as day on each of their faces to leave Ruby on her own. "Promise us that you'll tell us if anything happens?"

"I promise." Blake watched as Ruby bypassed her, unease bubbling in her gut.

"Where are you going?" Yang asked when she saw Blake diverting, instead of coming into their room.

"To find Weiss."

"Oh, well, alright." Yang closed the door, leaving Blake to do her thing. 'I hope Ice Queen gets her ass chewed out like I did.'

'I need to calm down.' Ruby lumbered through the hall, eyes unfocused.

"Watch where you're going!" A boy yelled after Ruby accidentally bumped into him.

"I'm sorry!" She hastily apologized before a scream almost ripped through her throat. There it was again. That creature standing in place of the boy, sneering at her. Ruby didn't give it a chance to talk as she bolted; running to the one place she could breathe easy.

"What's her problem...?"

Cinder lounged in her room, rocking a chair on its two legs as she stretched her legs out on the sill, arm slung over the back of the chair while she idly stared at her reflection in the black gem between her fingers.

"Did everything go according to plan?" She asked, no need to turn around as the door opened.

Neo smirked, eye colour switching.

Cinder held up the gem, hands glowing faintly. "Excellent." She commented, now staring at Neo's reflection. "It's time to see how resilient my little gem is." Cinder licked her lips, phosphorus eyes burning.

Weiss ensconced herself within the walls of Beacon's amphitheatre, staring listlessly at the empty stage. She evaluated herself, and her actions during the last week's mishaps in the silence.

'A week, going two. Such irony.' Weiss snorted. 'Am I being petty, I wonder. Alienating my partner, and Blake, because she had enough guts to do the one thing I couldn't. I wonder, would Winter be angry at me? Scold me for giving up so easily.' She pinched her nose bridge, frustrated. 'This is what I get for giving into such emotions.' Regardless of the situation, Weiss found it in herself to smile. 'But, I don't want to lose this feeling. I feel happy like I'm a normal person whenever I'm with Ruby. Blake must be elated whenever she's with Ruby. She's able to experience the joy of Ruby first hand.'

"Penny for your thoughts?" Blake's voice cut through her internal monologue.

Weiss glanced to her rear, Blake's statuesque form looming above her tiny frame. "Ah, Blake."

"We need to talk."

"If this is about the way I've been acting as of late, I apologize. It was immature of me to ignore you, and Ruby, rather than it out with you." Weiss cocked her head slightly at Blake's furrowed brow. "Was that not what you came here for?"

"No, well, partly, yes."

"What seems to be the problem, then?"

"I'm surprised you actually said anything to me, it was a lot harder to reason with Yang."

"She didn't listen, did she." Weiss sighed. Typical stubborn Yang.

"Not at first, no. I had to play below the belt for her to even acknowledge my presence." Blake exhaled. "Is there any reason you're so free with your words?"

"I've been reevaluating myself these past days. It was ignorant of me to think that Ruby would remain all by her lonesome while I came to terms with my feelings. And, I may have acted irrationally when you disclosed your sex life to us." Weiss winked. "Just make sure you take good care of her, or not you'll find yourself single again."

"Well, I could have gone about it a better way." Blake froze, smiling shortly after. "We'll talk about that little fact later."

Weiss rose a brow. "You're not angry?"

"Why should I be? I can't stop people if they like Ruby, it's the same with Pyrrha." Blake shrugged.

"I see." Weiss tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I'm to assume you're here because of Ruby?"

"Yes, I'll explain it to you on our way back to the dorm." Blake leads Weiss to the door, holding it open for her, ducking behind her once she was out.

Ruby flopped down on the concrete bench in the gardens, breathing ragged and panicked. She leaned, slicking back her heavy bangs as she gazed at the night sky.

"What's wrong with me?" She asked, staring stuck on the starry sky as if it held the answer. "It's becoming worse. My nightmares are becoming night terrors, my sanity's beginning to slip, and I don't know what to do. I can't risk telling anyone because I don't want to burden them with my personal issues." Ruby clutched her head, tears pooling in her eyes. 'I wish you were here.' The tears ran freely down her face, meeting on her nose bridge before the fell off the tip of her nose and onto the ground.

Soft crying that wasn't hers echoed from within the trees behind her.

"I-Is someone there?" Ruby asked, using the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe her face. "Hello?"

She used the bench as a stepping stool to hop over the hedge. "Is someone in here?" Ruby called out again as the sobbing became louder the closer she drew to the source. 'I don't remember here being so dark.' The crying grew clearer, signalling to Ruby that she was close. She hopped over some tree roots, pushing a few tree branches out of the way.

The sobs sounded from directly in front her, beyond the foliage of crowded tree branches.

"Hello?" Ruby cleared the somewhat blocked pathway by breaking some branches. Reaching the other side, she saw a girl dressed in a white frock, sitting on her haunches. Her black hair reached her waist, and her skin an unhealthy shade of grey. 'Grey skin?' The girl let out another sob, indicating that the cries Ruby heard earlier belonged to her.

"Um, are you alright?" Ruby inched closer, hand hovering in the air. As soon as she made to touch the girl, she whipped around, revealing hollow eyes and tears of blood pouring from the black sockets. "Ah!" Ruby shot back, the branches she'd broken jagged points scratching her face as she fell.

The girl rose, a crooked smile in place as she turned to Ruby, displaying her stainless white dress despite having been on the mucky ground. "Poor, poor, Ruby, so innocent and pure." She moved her bare feet forward, long black hair falling off in clumps, and shortening into a messy mop of black and red. "Always eager to help others." The white frock disappeared in tendrils, replaced with the same hoodie and jeans Ruby wore. "Yet, so naive." Two white orbs rolled into previously vacant sockets, gold irises burning with disdain as they stared at Ruby.

"You shouldn't be here, it's not possible!" Ruby scrambled away as her darker self-approached, but only served to trap herself further.

Its smile changed to a scowl. "You're such a freaking pain. Always saying stupid things." The smile returned. "Oh, you've never seen me without my hood, have you? Here, have a closer look."

Ruby's breath hitched as her sadistic copy materialized, sitting on her lower stomach. "Gorgeous, aren't I?"

"What the hell are you?" Came Ruby's rebuttal.

It frowned and sat up straight.

"What part of me being you, didn't you get?"

"You're not me!" Ruby roared. "You could never be me!"

"Why's that?" It took on a bored expression, experiencing this same speech over and over again.

"You're dark, corrupt! You feed on the terror of others like the monster you are! I'm nothing like that! It's like you're the opposite of me, a shadow." Realization dawned on Ruby. "That's what you, aren't you. A… shadow… of me."

"Ahahahaha! Yes, you finally get it!" Shadow Ruby cackled, rewarding Ruby with neck snapping back slap, a bruise forming instantly.

"How..." Ruby touched her cheek.

"Despite me not having a true physical form, I've grown enough to able to inflict some matter of pain on you." Shadow Ruby grabbed a fistful of Ruby's hoodie in her hand, bringing their faces to close until their noses touched. "I loathe you, Ruby Rose. I absolutely abhor your existence, and while I may not be able to kill you yet, I grow stronger day by day." She ran her tongue over her teeth, those gold eyes spiteful. Shadow Ruby trailed her hand down Ruby side, stopping where the gem shard happened to be lodged. Then, she squeezed, digging her nails into the tender flesh. Ruby cried out in response, writhing to buck her copy off. "Rejecting me only solidifies my existence, strengthening the hold I have over you."

Ruby grunted, the pain like a thousand needles of fire.

Shadow Ruby cackled in sadistic glee, easing some of the pressure she put on her weaker half's wound. "You know, you could've gotten rid of me while I was still the stages of manifesting, but you let me fester into something hideous. That's why I say you're naive." She bent her head, raking her lips up the column of Ruby's neck. "Thinking you could tame your darker nature on your own, but falling short in the end."

Revulsion.

Bile rose in Ruby's throat as her clone touched her in such an intimate way.

"You're physically strong, I'll give you that, but mentally, that's where you lack." Shadow Ruby gripped Ruby's hair, forcing her to look at her. "I'll give you one last chance to get out of this pain-free. Accept me now, or die in the long run."

"I'll take what's behind door number two," Ruby smirked.

"Defiant until the end, foolish." Shadow Ruby lurched forward, roughly pressing her lips onto Ruby's, gold remaining open to savour the look of despair in her opposite's face.

Ruby almost hurled this time, disgusted by the kiss. Bitter, acrid, and spiteful. These were the only words she could think to describe the forceful liplock. Ruby summoned what little strength she had, ripping her arms free from their wooden cuffs, and shoving her clone away from her. She wiped her mouth, spitting out the vile taste.

The creature laughed, running its tongue over its wet lips. "I can see why Blake keeps you around. You taste quite delicious."

"Don't you dare speak her name!"

Shadow Ruby smirked, starting to float off the ground. "With that imposter gone from your mind, your head is my personal playground of terror and nightmares, and once the time comes for me to take control of your body, I'm going to have a field day torturing the ones you love, starting with your precious kitty cat." She jeered Ruby on. "I'll let your soul reside in me, so you can watch through my eyes as I wreak havoc." She burst out in loud hysterical laughter before a whirlwind of leaves blew around her, and she disappeared.

A whisper in the wind.

"Prepare for true terror."

"Ruby's not back yet." Blake stated upon entering the dorm, Weiss stepping in after her.

"No."

"Did you try her scroll?"

"Of course, I did, but she didn't pick up." Blake grew worried.

"I'll try her on mine," Weiss stated, about to call Ruby when the door opened again, and Ruby stepped in.

"Ruby!" Yang jumped off her bunk, and rushed to her sister, crushing her in a hug. "Where were you?"

"More like what happened to you." Weiss touched her cheek. "Your cheek's swollen, and it's bleeding. Your clothes are filthy and torn."

"Rubes, what the hell happened?"

"Nothing, I fell down." Ruby tore her face away from Weiss' intruding touches and shrugged her way out Yang's hold.

"Ruby, don't blame this on a fall. It looks like someone used you as a punching bag." Blake shifted towards her, concerned.

"Blake, not you, too..." Ruby sighed.

Blake pulled Ruby into her chest, slinging her arms over her shoulders. "Of course, me too, Ruby. You come in here, looking like someone took their anger out on you. A swollen cheek with blood and grime all over you." Blake bit her lip. "I knew one of us should've gone with you."

"You can't blame yourself for this. I just got careless."

"So, someone did beat you."

Ruby went quiet.

"We won't do anything if you don't want us to, just tell us what happened."

"I got into a scuffle with a stray dog, that's all." Ruby lied.

Blake looked back to where Yang and Weiss stood, knowing they didn't believe the lie either.

"Alright, Ruby. Go take a shower, you're sleeping with me tonight."

"Okay." Blake removed her arms, allowing Ruby to get her nightwear. She watched as she vanished beyond the bathroom door.

"I think," Blake turned to Yang and Weiss, "we're in for a storm."

Their faces told the raven-haired girl they agreed as well.

Ruby returned later to a dark room and sleeping teammates. As ordered, she slipped into Blake's bunk, arms fastening around her waist and drawing her close the second she touched the bed.

"Get some sleep, you need it." Blake murmured.

"Okay."

Ruby would not get any sleep this night, nor would she for many more to come.

Atop a rooftop, a cloaked figure stood, bathed in the moonlight. They stared at their scroll, a scowl pulling their lips. The figure snapped the scroll shut with a loud 'click'.

"That idiot, what has she gotten herself into now." They removed their hood, displaying violet tipped hair. "Back to Beacon. Such joy."

AN: Apologies for taking such a long time with this chapter.

Shit just got Persona in here! Quick! Where's Yu and his Investigation Team so they can stupidly say "Don't say it!" There's a lot to this thing, but it's easier to call it that. By the way, there are two things I would like to mention. One is, chapters 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12 have been edited. I suggest you go read chapter 5. Two is, I don't know if I'm going to follow what happens in Volume 3. There's a couple of reasons for this decision. I don't want to get rid of Pyrrha, and I kinda don't want to get rid of Cinder either, and there's always a chance of someone else dying too.