Soon, the rain had cleared and the early morning sun was visible, the light glistening off the damp exterior of the buildings around the place. Neo had managed a few hours of sleep, but in her cramped position, it wasn't the best thing for her health. She felt incredibly weak, already thinking of the grandiose breakfasts she'd be enjoying with the White Fang, and the over the top parties which happened on most nights. Those days were over, and her black and white view of the world was finally shattered. Ushered in was an age of gray, of understanding and of learning, about herself and others. She saw the true nature of Cinder and Roman when she left that wretched place, and she was willing to bet that they kept her mostly out of the loop for this exact reason: she wasn't a faunus that could be caged so easily with promised pride and glory.

The fact that those she looked up to didn't have faith in her when it came down to it caused her to feel down in turn, but her lack of ice cream eyes didn't mean she was entirely useless. Maybe, on the off chance that the blonde would be willing to forgive her for her mistaken assault, she could spur Yang and the rest of team RWBY to do what was right. For now, however, she needed to get to Beacon Academy without sparking any suspicion of who she was.

The past always came back to bite, but Neo could choose whether or not it truly hurt her. The fact that she was entrusting what her future was believed to be in the hands of someone like Yang was evidence enough that she was clearly losing it. It didn't matter - in her head anyways - as she knew that fighter better than anyone did, being known to stalk the people she would inevitably try to kill, to learn about them and their abilities. Though, for Yang, she went just that little bit further.

Her thoughts bounced around in her head until she realised she had been walking the whole time, barely functioning as it was, though these thoughts of redemption and owning up to her mistakes spurred the small woman on, giving her purpose and a new lease on life. She might not have been able to mask her dual tone hair to try and make the confrontation a little easier on herself, but the ice cream would have to deal with it just as any other human or faunus would if they were in her position.

Removing her soaked gloves and holding them by the thumbs, Neo saw the looming entrance of the academy, the gates imposing on her tiny frame. A gulp later, and she made her way inside, biting her bottom lip softly and clutching onto her parasol a little tighter than normal. This place gave her chills, and not for any good reason.

The half-brunette made her way inside, looking around frantically, paranoid of being caught out by anyone and ultimately being sent to the police, which would be the worst case scenario. If she couldn't apologise and make up for her mistakes, what good for imprisonment do her, let alone the people she owed? All of these twisted thoughts plagued her mind, which used to be so void of things such as doubt or worry. By becoming the way she was, taking the beatings from Cinder and Roman, Neo had become more human all of a sudden.

She was scared for her dear life - what if her mere existence meant she was a target by the organisation she had just left? The woman was soon snapped out of her thoughts by a sight she hoped would have been saved for later - Ozpin. The headmaster of the academy, taking an early morning stroll, and though he was a man of exceptional experience, he too needed such calm moments like these, to reflect and to make sure his thinking was in check. He certainly noticed Neo, but didn't react immediately, only turning to walk toward her when she was completely inside the school's gates.

"Ah, there you are. Mind coming with me?" He asked ever so politely, knowing of this woman and her crimes. Perhaps the decrepit state she was in softened him a little, but he would not be fooled so easily. Not wishing to cause a scene, or create even more trouble for herself, Neo nodded and began walking with Ozpin, the hunter with a cup of coffee in one of his hands. He had half an eye on the half-brunette, not knowing what she was capable of when she had nothing to lose.

They proceeded into the academy, and up they went into Ozpin's own office. Only the most important people and highest achievers ever made it to this room, so it made Neo wonder why he would bring her here of all places. Of course, she didn't know the inner workings of Beacon, but she did have a rough idea in her head.

"So, what brings you here, of all places, to Beacon Academy?" Ozpin asked, seating himself down in his chair after showing the short woman to hers. Neo sat quietly, and didn't utter a word in reply. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, but she couldn't for the life of her form a sentence despite not being locked in combat. The headmaster noted this, as she frowned lightly. "Hmm, alright. Are you okay?" His question was a little out of no where, but at least this time, he got a short smile and a nod from the ice cream.

"Good, good. Can you tell me, how long has it been since you've stepped foot on these grounds?" Again, Neo didn't answer. Her hesitation was evident in her lightly shivering firm, which in all honesty was valid. She hadn't slept properly for a good while now, and her health was taking a turn for the worse. "You see, no matter who comes onto these grounds, we will see them, and their faces. I know you've been here, girl."

Neo blinked a few times, her eyes flickering with pinks and browns, though Ozpin raised his hand and closed his eyes. "If you don't tell me anything, I'll have to hand you over to the police, who, as you may know by now, aren't the friendliest bunch. Please, do yourself a favour, and just speak." The woman looked horrified all of a sudden, and quickly, she looked down at the ground.

Standing up with her hands in the air, she walked around the table to be at the headmaster's side, wanting to whisper into his ear, as per her hand gesture. Nodding lightly, Ozpin allowed this.

"I... I am here to... Apologise, for what I have done, and what I might have done. I must... Talk to Yang Xiao Long." Her speech was almost silent, the softness nerve tingling to anyone else, and after she moved away, the headmaster looked ahead, sipping his coffee.

"Hmm... Perhaps it is because of the way you are right now, or perhaps I am getting old, but... I'll let you speak to her. After, however, you get some rest. There's a spare room just outside my office, you should be fine there." A hesitant nod came from Neo, as she proceeded to do just that. Nothing in her head stopped her, not even the desire that the other side constantly beat into her skull. Her body fell onto the makeshift bed, and it was asleep in seconds.

•-•

Several hours went by, a dreamless sleep the half-brunette had as she stretched from her slumber. Her back and arms cracked, as she wiped her eyes. For now, she was feeling much better, but her goal had still not been reached. Neo got up, promptly leaving the spare room and descending into the academy proper, where many a student was walking around in what seemed like a break time.

Suddenly, however, she sighted a golden mane which she knew quite well after all this time, and began walking toward it. Perhaps she could set everything on course for her own plans, to take down the White Fang and give them all payback for what they've done, but as soon as she got close to the lone blonde, she groaned as she felt a sharp pain in her knee, causing Yang to turn around.

"Huh? Are you okay?" Yang offered a hand to the half disgruntled woman, though once she saw the coloured locks... The blonde immediately pulled her hand back, eyes wide open with a mixture of both anger and rage. "What... Are you doing here..?" Her voice was menacing, and she did not mess around with it. Neo tried to raise her arms in defeat, but Yang would not have it. "I've been wanting a rematch, bitch, so we're going to do it right here and now!"

Suddenly, Neo dodged a punch which she was sure was going to knock her out immediately, but her eyes were flickering with their familiar colours, her other side tugging at the strings for the moment. It wasn't fully functional, but the adrenalin seemed to pump it into action. Yang kept them coming, and the half-brunette kept dodging, until leg gave out and forced her into the floor, groaning in agony. This caused the blonde to pause for a second, but already her eyes had gone red, her form practically glowing with the anger she had felt since that day.

Without another word, she pulled her arm back and finally landed a punch on the devilishly quick woman, knocking her out and giving her a black eye for her effort. If Neo had tried to confront Yang the day before, she might not have survived that.

For now, all she could see was darkness, and the stars twinkling in her own dream state.