A/N: I honestly don't know yet how things will play out. People have been asking me and sending suggestions for the direction of the story but, if there's anything I've learned about writing over the years, it's that no matter how much you plan it out sometimes the story will just write itself. You never know where it will all go until you finally put it down in writing. So yeah, I cannot answer on any questions regarding relationship and pairings or whatnot. This started as a White Rose, but it can end in anyway, even without a pairing.

5 Years ago...

"Ruby? Wake up."

The young girl of 19 years wearing red and black pajamas tossed and turned on her bed. A bed that was, after 4 years of precariously dangling above another bed being tied to the ceiling, almost just about to finally give way. She wasn't the lightest of sleepers, habitually tossing around her bed, talking in her sleep and dropping on her roommate below all sorts of assorted personal effects she had on hand when she falls asleep. The 21 year old maiden wearing a white nightgown had gotten used to her roommate's nightly shenanigans probably around a year since they started sharing the same room. At first she was annoyed at the hours of lost sleep as she dealt with the constant waking in the middle of the night to push off assorted weapon parts, books and even clothes, but she eventually learned to sleep around all the noise and chaos. She had to, as she was the only one being kept up at night since their two other roommates either slept like a cat or snored like an old man.

"Ruby…"

The white haired maiden just smiled despite the mild annoyance. She looked at the face of the sleeping girl in front of her. The girl furrowed her eyebrows at every time the white-haired tried to get her to wake up. She turned back and forth on her bed like a little kid throwing a fit at her mother. She had eye bags up to her chin and a small drop of snot hanging out of her nose. Her hair was all greasy and disheveled having not taken a bath the night before. Her pajamas were crinkled and folded at places, obviously having been dressed by someone else. Her top was folded up exposing her bare midsection and her bottoms barely covering up her underwear. It was, in the mind of the white haired girl trying to rouse her from slumber, very unlady-like. Then again, this unlady-like and tomboy-ish behavior was one of the things that attracted this young lady of snow white hair to the girl of jet black and rosy red in the first place.

"Ruby… that's why I told you to get away from Yang and that 6th glass of wine…"

"Urgh…"

Hanging on by Ruby's bedpost was a bucket full of… the things she ate and drank that night. It was the graduation party for the seniors of Beacon, students who were now full-fledged huntsmen and huntresses and ready to take on the world before them. This was the last night in school for many of them. The party last night was not simply celebratory but also a party of farewells, as many of the fresh graduates were already leaving the following day to take on their futures. Some were eager to go on their first official missions as licensed hunstmen, others keen to return to their homes to see their families again, and some even revealing that they'd just like to travel and see where the winds take them. One could imagine the amount of tears of goodbyes that were also mixed with the sweat of rocking to blaring music and all the alcohol chugged down people students just a few years above the legal drinking age. For everyone, this was either an excited welcome for the future's opportunities, or a cautious reminder of its uncertainties.

For Weiss Schnee, it was the latter. For Ruby Rose, the former. It was in those 4 years in Beacon that an unlikely pair of freshmen from different upbringings, of clashing personalities and in possession of opposing outlooks on life found something greater than a simple team partnership. Greater than friendship. It was here that for 3 years they fostered something that neither of them knew could ever happen to them, but it did, to the non-surprise of their circle of friends.

"Weiss… have you told her yet…?"

Weiss looked behind her. Coming out from under her blankets was their Faunus teammate who, in Weiss eyes, was probably too perceptive for her own good. Blake sat down on her bed as she put on her ribbon and her slippers. Her partner, Yang Xiao Long, was still snoring on her bed below. Weiss gave out a quiet but exasperated sigh.

"Never could find the right time… or the right place…"

"Well you should. She deserves to know. You… can't just run out on her. She… cares about you too much. Much more than anyone. Ever."

"… I know. I just… don't know how she'll take it. I'm… not leaving because I want to but because I have to. I can't drag her into this. There's no telling what will happen to me or my family when this is all over. She… doesn't deserve to be part of the fallout…"

"… Did your parents say anything?"

"My father doesn't really care, I'm sure. My mother… well let's just say that I'll never be able to go back to my family and start what must be done if she knew. Even then, even if everything goes to hell, I doubt she'd still consent. Old fashioned, she is."

"… Weiss…"

"Hmmm?"

Blake fidgeted in her chair, trying to find the words to say for the guilt she had felt when she started believing that she pushed Weiss in to this in the first place.

"… I'm sorry. If… if I knew this was what you had to do to make things right then… I'd have done it myself. I wouldn't have dragged you into this…"

"Blake we talked about this before. Even if you wanted to shoulder this by yourself, the Schnee family would have found out, and I'd have joined you eventually."

Weiss looked outside the window. The autumn breeze slowly and surely carried down the yellow-orange leaves of the trees outside as various students busied about the plaza in front of the dorms. Many of them carried their luggage and weapons, ready to head out to the airfield to take them out beyond the halls of learning. All of them had friends and teammates, waving goodbye with tears in her eyes. Weiss looked back to the footboard of her bed, her own bags completely packed with Myrtenaster in its carrying case. She had packed the night before, after Ruby had fallen asleep from her alcohol-fuelled partying with a hangover headache more painful than taking a full blow from Crescent Rose to the skull.

"At least if it was me, well, someone in the Schnee family needs to own up to the company's… sins."

"Sins that are not yours to bear Weiss."

"Perhaps not, but if my father won't bear it, then who? Blake… 3 years ago I adamantly refused to accept the truth you tried to show me. I was in denial. I only accepted it 6 months ago when I couldn't turn away from it anymore. The fact of the matter is that the Schnee family has blood and suffering on its hands. Someone has to wipe it clean, no matter the cost."

"Will… your father see?"

"… I'll make him see it. If he won't… then he'll see what happens when his own family is forced to bear it themselves."

"And what about Ruby? You know what your decision will do to her right?"

Weiss looked at Ruby, now curled up like a baby in her bed and sleeping soundly. Weiss stared at the most important person in her life, with the full realization of what may happen when the truth breaks free."

"She'll probably hate me. Heck... I might lose her forever. But... I'd rather lose her than have her suffer the indignity of what my family will eventually go through. Eventually... eventually the Schnee name will probably be dragged into the mud and mean next to nothing. Reputations ruined, names sullied by mere association. At worst, me and my family will go to prison. At best, I will be worth nothing, with nothing to my title and nothing to my name. Ruby..."

Weiss ran her hand over Ruby's hair. Sticky from sweat and grease. The typical hair she always had. The hair Weiss had grown accustomed to, and would not have any other way.

"... deserves better than that."

Ruby, eyes half open, mumbled in her sleep as she groggily sat up from bed. Weiss and Blake immediately ceased talking and looked at their team leader, whose clothes were already riding up her chest and exposing more than any young lady should.

"Ruby! Fix your shirt!"

"Weisssssssssss."

Weiss immediately grabbed Ruby and pulled her shirt down to more decent levels as she rubbed her eyes. Ruby, exhibiting her usually speedster self despite the throbbing headache, tackled Weiss as they both stumbled to the floor with Weiss on her back and Ruby on top of her. Ruby buried her face on Weiss' less than ample chest as Blake's eyes rolled back in their sockets. Despite the noise, Yang was still sleeping like a log.

"Ow! You dunce!"

"Your favorite dunce!"

"I... uh... suppose..."

Weiss porcelain white skin blushed a bright shade of pink at Ruby's words. Blake's eyes rolled even farther back that you could see her optic nerves. In spite of it all, Yang was still asleep, having drunk enough alcohol that night to cause liver failure. Having had enough of the sight, Blake quickly changed to her regular everyday clothes and jumped out the window, after giving Weiss a signal that its about time for her to spit it out. Weiss nodded at her, a face bearing a sordid mix of joy from Ruby's Yang-like hug and worry for the burning realization that she had to come clean with the truth.

A truth that Weiss knew, deep down inside, would mean things can never be the same again.

"Ruby... get dressed. We need to... uh... we need to talk. In private."

Weiss pushed her off as Ruby struggled to get on both feet. Ruby was a lightweight drinker, being 2 years younger than any body else meant that she had less time to get used to the occasional alcoholic beverage that everyone else had started drinking before her. Her legs wobbled as she held herself up on Yang's bedpost and nursed a throbbing headache."

"Ugh... man I... so this is what a hangover feels like..."

Weiss took two tablets out of her pocket and handed it to Ruby.

"Ruby... drink these two with a glass of water. In the bathroom. Get dressed okay like I said we need to talk."

"Heh. Thanks Weiss."

Ruby planted a kiss on Weiss' cheek before she willed herself and her lethargic body into the bathroom. For the 3 years they've been together Weiss still found herself taken aback by Ruby's surprise attacks. She blushed slightly at Ruby's impromptu act, but shook her head in an attempt to get it out of her mind. She knew she needed to steel herself. With Yang still asleep, Weiss decided to change into her normal attire while Ruby fumbled with herself in the bathroom. Like any heiress worth their dust she had already done the proper morning duties the moment she woke up. Ruby had a tendency to forget a few of those regular morning necessities, especially when it was weapon maintenance day. Weiss, finished dressing, covered her luggage with her sheets to prevent Ruby from seeing them for the time being. Ruby would come out of the bathroom a few moments later, looking all refreshed in her usual red hoodie.

"So Weiss whatcha want to talk about? Nothing much to do since we're no longer students and all that."

Weiss knew that her teammates didn't have any immediate plans to leave Beacon. While a lot of graduates were opting to leave the moment morning broke, the school itself allowed its new batch of huntsmen to stay for a week while they think about their future before the new school year started. In the graduation party Ruby had mentioned about taking lessons as a new huntress from her father before going off on her own. Yang herself intended to continue searching for her mother while doing huntsman jobs along the way. Blake and Weiss, of course, had their own plans they didn't mention to the half-sisters. Weiss herself limited her drinking that night as to prevent any slips of the tongue that might give away her plans.

"Let's... let's take a walk while we talk. To the roof of the main building."

As Weiss reached for the doorknob, Ruby instinctively reached out to hold Weiss' other hand. Weiss felt an electric shock race up her arm and into her heart as Ruby put her fingers between Weiss'. A certain heaviness weighed in on her chest, both from the excited endearment she had for her partner, and for the guilt that had been weighing it down. Weiss unconsciously tugged pulled her hand away a little, something she realized she had never done before when holding Ruby's hand. Ruby as well felt her pull away.

"Weiss? You... you okay? You've... uh... never pulled your hand away before..."

"I... I did? Er... sorry. Guess I'm just nervous. Fresh graduate and all, and people are gonna look at us."

"You really need to loosen up a little Ms. Schnee. Also you never really cared what people thought of us being together. I remember that one time when a bunch of freshmen were looking at you funny a glyph-"

"Oooookay that's enough of that Ruby Rose! Let's get going."

Never before had Weiss had such a feeling of wanting to let go of Ruby's hand. It took her quite a long time to realize that, in reality, she felt no greater happiness than to be holding the hand of Ruby Rose. Only now, she felt that she didn't deserve to, with what she was about to say. If she pulled away for real, Ruby would realize that something really is wrong, and she'll never have the chance to be truly honest with what's about to happen to both of them.

Both girls went out of the dorms hand in hand. Coming out of the building and into the central plaza, most of the graduates who were on their way out were already gone. Most of those that remained in the plaza were undergraduates who didn't even bat an eyelash when the two of them came out. When they first got together they were a hot gossip item for much of the student body who couldn't get enough of the idea that the heiress of a global corporation would be in a relationship with the youngest ever admission to one of Remnant's most prestigious combat schools. At first most people were genuinely surprised and some asked more than enough questions to tick Weiss off, but eventually as the issue subsided no one really cared about seeing these two girls walking around hand in hand.

"So Weiss what are your plans? You... uh didn't really want to talk about it last night."

And it begins. Ruby popped the question as they walked in front of the cafeteria.

"Well... hey Ruby, you remember that big food fight we had in here with JNPR? The one where we all almost ended up in detention?"

"Yeah. I remember the moment you hit that pillar and got knocked out. I had to actually catch you so the pillar wouldn't crush you..."

"Ruby... you did know I was actually awake when you caught me right?"

"You... were? Wait... did you..."

"Heard everything you said."

Ruby's face flushed a deep red like a rose, so much that if this was a cartoon steam would be coming out of her ears. Weiss tugged on her hand trying to get her out of her state of shock.

"C'mon Ruby. Let's take the elevator up."

The two girls approached the elevator in the lobby of the main building. The roof itself was not the highest point of the building but was the base floor that formed the root of the tower that housed Headmaster Ozpin's office. It was at the top of the 10th floor, a fenced off area that was unofficially declared as an exclusive zone for the seniors to hang out in, like an unwritten rule. Weiss gazed nervously around her on realizing that she and Ruby were alone in the elevator as it ascended. With every floor passed she could feel the more and more cold sweats drip down her brow to her cheeks and to her chin. Her other arm quivered as she held her hand in a fist. In her mind she recited her glyph casting chants to keep her mind off. All in all to keep herself calm for the inevitable words she would have to say. Before she knew it they were there, on the roof. As they stepped out into the open Weiss' snow white hair flailed with the wind while Ruby's shorter brunette strands swayed calmly along her face. The roof deck was deserted, with the occasional bird standing on the railing and a couple of fallen leaves littering the floor. The chain-link fence made clinking sounds as the autumn wind pushed on them, the only sound they could hear. They were alone. Weiss herself was somewhat glad, because whatever happens here, at least no one would bear witness to the result.

"Nice breeze we got here huh Ruby."

Weiss was the first to step forward. She tugged on Ruby's arm but felt resistance. Tugging again while looking forward it felt as though she was pulling against a pole. She looked back. Ruby looked down on the floor, her hoodie covering most of her head, averting her eyes and face from Weiss gaze. Her arm was outstretched to Weiss' but did not follow. He feet were firmly planted on the floor. A sudden downcast atmosphere grew between them.

"Weiss... you haven't answered my question..."

"Ruby..."

Ruby lifted her head and looked Weiss dead in the eye. Weiss was taken aback by her forceful approach, as Ruby was never one who was known to look someone straight in the eye. When she did, however, you knew it was something serious.

"It's about your plans isn't it? Why you brought me here... Weiss... I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you. The way you were fidgeting around in the elevator, I've seen it before. Many times actually. Weiss... we made a promise to be honest with each other. On a pinky swear."

Ruby held up her right pinky finger. A pinky swear. Most people would find a gesture like that childish, but for Ruby, it was a sign of absolute trust. She had only ever done it with Yang before, and Weiss was the second and last person she made a pinky swear pact with.

"I know. I'm sorry. Let's do it there, on the rail."

The two girls approached the the spot where the fence was low. Both girls leaned towards the bar, looking at the world below as they let their hair flow freely with the wind.

"Ruby... I'm sure you know that my family's company has more than a few... skeletons in the closet. You've read the reports coming from Blake."

"... yeah. That your father uses Faunus in... less than legal ways. No offense."

"Ruby... it's not just my father. It's... more than just him actually."

"Hmm... well the reports Blake had said it's been going on a for a while. I guess probably since before you were born?"

"... yes. Before I was born. Before my sister or even my father was born. Heck even before the grandfather I never met was born..."

"You don't mean..."

"It's been going on for more than a century."

The issues that the Schnee Dust Company has been having with the Faunus labor force was common knowledge. What wasn't common knowledge was for how long, how heavy handed their tactics were, and how much they've gone to keep things secret.

"Some time ago Blake showed me some documents alleging that my grandfather had been in the forefront of moves to silence Faunus uprisings back in Atlas, starting with the company. At the time I knew that my father dealt a heavy hand to the Faunus in the workforce, but I didn't believe it stretched all the way to my grandfather. I... did a bit of searching through the archives with Blake's help. That's when I learned just how far back this stretched. Just how much blood was on my family's hand. Even then it was just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more buried in my family's closets. So much... suffering and injustice."

Ruby went in front of Weiss and clasped her hands within her own.

"You know I'll support you all the way Weiss no matter what. Anything you need, any help I can-"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND RUBY!"

Weiss shouted a lot when they were freshmen, but she had become much more subdued as the years went by. In the last year in fact, she had barely raised her voice for anything, much less shout. Especially on anything concerning Ruby. To hear her shout, Ruby felt a shock go through her system that she almost let go of Weiss hands. Instead of letting go, however, she held it even tighter.

"Ruby... when all this comes to light, everything will come crashing down. You... that's why..."

Weiss pulled her hands away and placed it on Ruby's shoulders. She bowed her head in front of the befuddled Ruby Rose. The autumn wind, which was so lively when they came, had suddenly died.

"Ruby... this has to end. We... have to end. For your sake..."

Ruby had taken more blows to her body than any average human or Faunus could ever survive. She had taken enough hits from both and Grimm and enemy fighters to take out an army. But this... it felt like a dagger had pierced straight through her aura like it was paper, straight into her heart. She could not move, utter a word or even form a coherent thought. Time had frozen in the words that Weiss had spoken. It took nearly a minute of full silence before Ruby could even speak.

"Weiss... why..."

"Ruby... I took a job in my father's company but... it's just a cover. Blake... she's going to help me uncover as much of the family's sordid past as can be. When I have enough evidence to prove it all without a shadow of a doubt... I'm confronting my father with it and demand that justice be done after a hundred years of suffering. If he refuses, then the media will be the first to learn of the scandal that will rock global business and politics for years to come."

"Weiss I-"

"We have a lot of enemies Ruby! Human and Faunus alike! Regardless of how it comes out, the family name will be dragged into the mud! The media will have a field day with facts and gossip side by side! Lawsuits! Probably even a criminal trial! However it plays out there will be nothing left! Not just for us as a family, but everybody associated with us! I can't..."

Weiss fell to her knees as a tear came down her face. Ruby tried to hug her but she pushed her away. Weiss couldn't even make herself look at the girl in front of her.

"I can't. I won't. I won't let you go down with my ship. You deserve more. You deserve better. I would rather die than make you a part of the tragedy that's about to unfold!"

"Weiss..."

"You have a bright future ahead of you. Me? I don't even know what will happen in the end. My family could be ruined. I could end up in prison. With all the death threats my family receives in a week, the truth might even force someone to finally go do it! It could be my father, my mother, sister, even me! Hell it might even be you!"

Weiss bowed her head on the floor as she pleaded for Ruby's understanding. A Schnee on her knees. This was a sight few people could even fathom, much less witness before them. Schnees were always taught to hold their heads up high in a matter befitting their status. It was ingrained in their psyche growing up. To have a Schnee on her knees, begging, was a breach of nearly a hundred years of conditioning. It had to be done, Weiss knew in her heart of hearts, for Ruby's sake.

"Ruby I beg you please. I... I love you too much for you to suffer with and through all of this. So... please... get out while you can..."

Too much to bear. Too much to comprehend. The dagger twisted itself in Ruby's heart. Ruby stood up and ran for the emergency stairs. Her footsteps echoed through the stairwell as she sprinted down, leaving Weiss to the deafening silence of the rooftop. Weiss could not even get herself up to stand. She was just there, in silence, prostrating herself to a girl who was no longer there. She was in this position for nearly a whole minute after Ruby left before she managed to sit herself, barely, by the door of the stairs.

"This... this is right. She... she may never forgive me but... she'll be safe... she'll move on. She's... a strong girl. She doesn't need me."

Weiss did all she could to rationalize her decision. For a full half hour she sat there, as the wind started to pick up again, before she found the strength. When she did get up, all she could manage was a trudging step towards the long, long elevator ride down to the ground. It was already around lunch time so the building lobby was empty. She dragged herself past the back to the dorm. Again passing by the cafeteria, she could hear the laughter and banter of the younger students through the windows, and with it her attempts to block out her own memories. Memories that were once treasured, now painful. Nearing the dorm entrance she passed by Ms. Goodwich who was reprimanding some new arrivals to the school. Weiss couldn't even make herself greet her mentor properly. If this was any other day, she would have received a dressing down from Ms. Goodwitch, however being a very astute woman she could already tell something was really troubling Weiss and decided to let it go.

It was in their dorm room hallway that Weiss met the other person she really wished she wouldn't have to face, but she did.

"Yang..."

Before she could speak another word, Weiss felt the sharp, stinging pain of searing metal strike her jaw. She found herself flung to the wall on her right, hitting her head on the wood. If this was any other person she'd have drawn Myrtenaster and glyphs would be popping up everywhere, except this wasn't just anybody else. She knew deep inside that she probably deserved what she got.

"... I know you're getting picked up today. Grab your things and get out."

The fire in the blonde girl's hair started to go out. She passed by Weiss who was still reeling from the blow to her jaw, and headed down the hall.

"... if you were anybody else, I might have killed you, but you're... no... were my friend, and I owe you at least this much. I'm warning you... don't ever get close to my sister again."

With that warning, she had disappeared round the corner. Weiss once again picked herself up and headed into her room. There was no sign of Ruby having come back yet, as Crescent Rose was still leaning by her closet. Not wanting to linger, Weiss grabbed her luggage and her weapon and headed for the terminal. Alone. With no friends to accompany her or to say goodbye. Her bags in tow, she passed by the front of the statue towards the terminal. She noticed a hole in the pavement halfway between the terminal and the statue, which still had singe marks over them. She knelt on one knee to inspect the person-sized crater in the grown.

"I guess they never got around fixing this mess. The place where we first met... heh."

"Feels just like yesterday, doesn't it?"

Weiss literally froze when she heard the voice. She had believed the moment she came down from the roof that she might never hear that voice again in such a calm and soothing manner. Weiss looked up and saw Ruby, rose petals flowing off of her cape, staring off towards the terminal as a Schnee Dust Company Bullhead began to descend on the landing pad. Weiss tried to say something, but she could not squeak out out any words from her mouth. All she could do was hang her had and trudge past Ruby, towards the ship, and towards an uncertain future.

"Weiss."

Weiss again paused, thinking she was was going to get a few harsh words before she left for Atlas.

"Weiss... go get em. Make it right. For the Faunus. For your family."

Ruby slowly started to walk back towards the school. Weiss too began to walk towards the Bullhead. Two girls, so similar yet so different, walking in opposite directions. Both girls smiled their widest smiles as tears streamed down their faces.