6

Dinner in the fridge, will be home late.' Messages like this have become a norm in the past two weeks. After Yang saw that Ruby was gradually getting ahead she pretty much disappeared from the house. She would come back late at night, leave early in the morning, then sleep through the classes and disappear again. Yet she always found the time to cook both the breakfast and dinner for Ruby. Ruby herself would always chase Yang down at Signal to make sure she was okay. 'Training', that was her answer every time. In response Ruby upped her own pace and after some time the reports about spontaneous forest fires and unexplainable locazided hurricanes that would turn trees and stones to dust started raining down the Patch forest control. Not that they bothered to do anything about it. All of the incidents were happening a good distance away from any settlements and weren't that big anyway. They weren't hunters, running around the forest filled with grimm chasing ghosts wasn't their problem.

Ruby got ready to head out. Today's goal was to go above 348 kills. Or at least she thought that was what Yang meant when she left her a small piece of paper with this number written on it. She couldn't just call her and ask to clarify. Neither of them were using their scrolls during their little hunts because the monitoring app for their aura could be used to track them down. It was a good thing during proper missions but they really didn't want to explain to their dad, why they were in the forest at night, on the different sides of the island.

-BBW-

One more week has passed and… "Yang! You have to tone it down!" Ruby half screamed and half pleaded to her sister.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Yang poked her head out of the kitchen to see what got Ruby upset this time. Instead of answering, her sister pointed to the tv.

"-and in the latest news. A natural disaster response team had arrived on the Island of Patch to see the damage done by a large forest fire on the north side of the island. The fire claimed around twelve acres before it was contained. Two of the firefighters received small burns and one suffered smoke poisoning. Thankfully no lives were lost. The fire was most likely caused by a lighting strike but the Council of Vale showed concerns over the matter due to the increased tension with faunus movement White Fang. This is Joane Lotus and now we move on-"

"See Yang! People got hurt because you were careless!"

"They will be fine." Yang rolled her eyes. "You are just whiny because I'm still ahead."

"It has nothing to do with that! We are huntresses! We protect people! Not cause a mess and wait for them to clean it up!"

"Somebody is a sore loser." Yang continued to tease Ruby. "Fine, if you are having that big of a problem with it, I'll keep close to the coastline. Do you think there will be grimm sharks?"

Ruby seemed to be satisfied with Yang's decision, she let the issiu go and focused on the more pressing concerns. "Ugh.. I don't know anymore, I've been trying to snipe some of the water grimm but there aren't many around the coast. I'm having trouble finding any decent packs too. Just solitary ursas here and there, that's it!"

"Heh, you think we cleared out the island or what?" Yang went back to the oven.

"Where are we going to practice?! Nobody will let us go to the mainland!" Ruby ran up to her with a slightly worried expression.

"Puhlease, I don't think even our old man noticed us going away all the time." Yang laughed a bit afterwards.

"He actually did. Cried himself to sleep because his little girl grew up too fast." Ruby added with a small smile. "He thought you were going partying and stuff."

Yang continued to mix the dough and added a bit of sugar. "Hmm… I was invited a few times but I had more important things to do." She dipped her pinky in the dough and then licked it. It was ready. Now just to bake it.

"What's the occasion anyway? My birthday was over a month ago. Is somebody coming?" Ruby asked, curious as to why Yang decided to bake a cake out of the blue.

Yang's expression became a mix of worry and determination. After a few seconds she responded. "Because now I'm ready."

"Ready for what?" Ruby said, quite confused.

"Ready for a rematch."

Ruby signed in exasperation. "You are still hung up over that? It was just a spar, why are you so obsessed with it?"

"Because I'm the big sister! I should be the one to protect you and not the other way around! Instead you probably treated that spar as a joke and held back!" Yang answered in a heated tone.

"But I didn't want to hurt you…" Ruby felt quite guilty for upsetting her sister. Even when they had spars before Ruby's aura was unlocked, Yang didn't hold herself back. At least not too much.

"So what? I can deal with a few scratches! I didn't need you to pity me because I was weaker!" Yang snapped at Ruby. Her eyes turned red for a few moments until she took a calming breath. "Rubes… I need this. I know you probably don't see it that way, but I need to know that we are still in this huntress thing together or I have to train harder."

Ruby looked Yang in the eyes for several long seconds before she slowly nodded. She didn't really understand what was wrong, but if Yang thought that having a rematch would help then she'd do it. Yang slowly hugged her. "Thanks, Ruby." She whispered into her ear. "I know you don't like fighting people but this is important for me."

-BBW-

Friday afternoon near the cliffside at the southwest side of the island. That was the place and time they agreed to. It was Tuesday and Yang was getting itchy. Sure she made quite a progress in the last weeks but her sister had much longer time and she definitely didn't just sit on her bum and wait for her to catch up. All that sweat, every bruise, every sleepless night and scores of dead grimm… will it be enough to breach the gap between us? Regardless of her misgivings she would fight tooth and nail. She wouldn't run away. If her life was to forever chase after Ruby… well, there could be worse goals. Sadly, the weeks of neglecting every activity not related to becoming stronger were now catching up to her. While not a straight A student, Yang was comfortably in the top ten across her year. Even her father, who left them to their own devices most of the time, tried to talk to her about it. She brushed him off, saying that she had more important things to deal with, but it was fine now.

"Hey kiddo, how's it going?" A slightly slurred voice called out to her as she was packing her notes. Great… first Tai, now Qrow…

"Eh, I'm alright, would like to chat but I have some plans, be sure to drop by the island! Ruby misses you!" Yang hurriedly answered. She wasn't running away from Qrow. She actually needed to do as much homework as possible so she had some time to go out later. Even if the two of them thinned down the grimm population on the island, it didn't mean there weren't any to hunt anymore. Yang believed that the ones left were the stronger and smarter ones. And there was no better teacher than a good challenge.

"Right… I actually wanted to talk, can you sit down for a sec?" It wasn't really a question. He blocked the doorway and pointed at the nearby chair. Yang could try to fight her way out… probably. She didn't really know how good her uncle was. She knew he was an elite huntsman and most likely was even better than Tai. In the end she decided to see if he had any actual reason to bother her. …and I really don't want to deal with all the headaches that I would have if I burned down the school… thoughts for later.

Yang crossed her arms and frowned at her uncle. "If you want to lecture me about life, then you are the worst person to do so." Qrow proved her right in the same moment by taking a large sip out of his flask.

"Do as I say, not as I do… or something like that, I don't remember." He quipped back with a smirk. "Calm down firecracker, this is more about me than it is about you." He still had an easygoing smirk but there was a slight edge in his eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Yang asked, now worried. Qrow may not have been around all the time but he was family, one of the three-ish she had.

"Hey hey, it's not like I'm dying suddenly." He laughed at Yang's sudden change in demeanor. "I'm just quitting teaching and going back to the field."

For a second I thought that his drinking habits finally caught up with him…"Hah, just make sure not to get chewed on too often!" Yang stopped frowning and tried to lift a mood. Although she wondered why he singled her out like this.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it off you little brat." Qrow took the jab in stride before becoming a bit solemn. "I'm telling you this because… you will need to take care of things. I did all I could to help Tai but duty calls. So, you know, make sure he doesn't break down again." Qrow finished with a tired sign.

"Oh, so I had to take care of myself and Rubes and now I have to watch him too? Is that it?" Yang exploded at the sheer audacity. "What about, 'screw that'?! When do I get to do what I want to?! Am I to babysit him when I go to Beacon or what?! He is a huntsman for brothers sake! It's not fair!"

The oh-so familiar red eyes glared at Qrow. "The world sucks, that's the simple answer." He tried to reason. "The long answer is that you can either try to get by," He took another sip. "give up and become one of the many reasons why it sucks," Oh, so will even bring Raven into this, huh, "or you can try to change it." mom…

Yang kept glaring at him, waiting whether or not he would add something else and thinking about the things he just said. After the awkward silence reached the five seconds mark she broke it. "Tai can take care of himself! Ruby… Ruby will try to change it and I will be there with her when she does!" With those words she pushed past Qrow and was about to leave the classroom when she stopped. "Just… don't say goodbye… see you around, Uncle Qrow." And she left the classroom.

-BBW-

Dust. Check. Amo. Check. Aura. Full. Calibrations… Ruby was getting ready to head out from Signal. Usually she would be halfway home but today she had to double-check all of her equipment. It was Friday. Dad and the rest of the school staff would be going out to a bar to have a proper farewell with uncle Qrow. Meaning she and Yang would have all the time they needed to spar without interference. Ruby was worried. As the days closed in, Yang became very distant, locking up in her room and actively avoiding Ruby in breaks between classes. She had to help Yang. Yang said that this fight will help her. So I will give it all I have!

When Ruby got home she found a note from Yang. 'I'll be waiting' it read. Ruby quickly heated up some leftovers from yesterday and got ready to leave again. She also packed a first aid kit and took a couple of bottles with water. She gave Zwei a few pats on the head and scratched him behind the ears. "Make sure to keep an eye on the house for now." After an affirmative bark she was on her way towards their agreed place.

She decided not to run. Yang would scold her for exhausting herself before the fight. It started snowing. Rather late for the first snow in winter but she barely gave it any mind. This would be their first fight in a long time. No dad, uncle Qrow, or anyone else. Just like when they were younger. For all her misgivings she felt rather excited. Besides, if she held back on Yang what would happen to her when some monster didn't? She had to help her sister get ready! After some time she reached the place. It was a large clearing with one side of it being a cliff over an open ocean. Ruby has been here a few times before. The place was beautiful during summer, especially when the sky was clear. Now? The snow was already two inches deep and the sky was getting darker every minute. Yang was already there. She was sitting on the ground near the middle of the clearing. In a two feet radius around her there was no snow.

"Hey" Ruby called out.

Yang perked up and looked around. When she saw Ruby she got on her feet and stretched out a bit. "So… you came." Yang sounded… uncertain? She thought I'd ditch her or what?

"Of course I did! I promised to come! And you said you needed help so.. I'm here!" Ruby said, voice full of determination. She was now standing opposite of Yang, about thirty feet between them.

"Yeah.. so, do it."

"Ehm, do what exactly?"

"Again with this, Rubes? Summon your pets or whatever they are and let's get going!"

"Um…Don't you want to warm up a bit?"

"Please… You know my semblance. I'm always warm." Yang said boisterously. "Fine, if you don't want to start then I will!"

Yang activated her semblance and fired one shot into her own palm.

I, who shall awaken

She felt… something, pushing down on her, making her feel small and weak. Then the heat came, it was her secret pleasure when Yang would heat up the room in winter and everyone's curse when she would make summer utterly unbearable. But now it was different. She stood quite far from her and yet she felt like she was in front of the bonfire.

Golden dragon who devoured the flames of the sun

Yang continued. The pressure now became almost crushing, like a predator was bearing down on her. Ha! And you were worried you wouldn't be able to catch up!

O fable, come to life

She felt lighter, stronger.

Let the wolves howl, let the petals dance

The beast was no longer looking down at her. It was about to face the storm.

Ruby looked at Yang. The snow was melting across the entire clearing except the one that was under Ruby. The grass under Yang's feet already burst into flames and now she was standing on an expanding patch of scorched earth.

The petals were floating around her, trying to cover all of their makeshift arena. When they got close to Yang's half they would start burning and turn to ash. Yang herself stood amidst embers and sparks.

Ruby brandished her scythe.

Yang entered a boxing stance.

Crash of a large wave was followed by a clash of metal.