A/N: This takes place about two weeks after her time at Atlas, they went back home to patch for training. Because her master has been so busy, Ruby has been training a lot on her own… with his instructions of course. This has left her in a weird place, at home but more alone than ever. She's also switched out her outfit for her volume 4 outfit, thinking it was a bit more mature looking.

Chapter 3

I sighed with relief as I hit the couch, my muscles were sore all over from the morning practice. I got half the day off because Yang was coming over. Will she be angry at how much I've changed? Maybe I should go put on my old outfit… no, she should see that I've become more mature. I sighed discontentedly at the state of my head, I really hated silence.

"I'm home!" Yang! I got out of the couch and turned to the doorway, there she was with that big goofy grin, we locked eyes and she tackled me in a big bear hug.

"Sis, I missed you so much!" We said almost at the same time and after hugging became a bit awkward she pulled away and looked me up and down, "wow… you changed your look. Kinda sexy."

I blushed and gulped, unsure how to respond to the compliment. "No comments about me? Oh well, what'ya been up to sis?"

I shrugged, "not much. Training hard mostly. I've learned a lot, you should see how strong I am!" Well… maybe not my full strength.

Yang punched my shoulder and laughed, "same old Ruby, always doing her best. Why don't we go grab something to eat, I'm starving!" I nodded, feeling a bit hungry myself. "Hmm… you want to go eat at that café you like? Get some cookies?" Fuck! Not there…

I bit my lip and tried to think of a practical way to say no but Yang just grabbed my arm, "come on." Please don't be at work today, please don't. Unable to find a good excuse, I allowed Yang to pull me onto the back of bumblebee and begin speeding off towards town.

It was a beautiful place by the seaside with an outdoor eating area, being the middle of the day it wasn't very busy but was obviously open and just getting off the bike made my mouth water with the smell. Still, unlike usual when we walked inside I was a bit hesitant and though Yang could see it she didn't mention it. She opened the door and there she was, this is what you get for sleeping with the barista at your favorite café. Alexa, a redhead girl with shiny green eyes smiled at Yang until her eyes set on Ruby, darted back and forth between her and Yang. "H-hello. Long time no see Ruby." Her words were friendly but they had a sort of edge to them.

Yang glanced between me and her, "know each other?" Please, please don't say it!

Alexa nodded and before she opened up her mouth, I shouted "uh yeah! We're friends, uhm Alexa, this is Yang, she's my sister." Alexa's look softened and she seemed to realize my distress.

"Ah, I almost thought she was your girlfriend, well I take it you'll want your usual… and you miss Yang?" Yang again glanced between me and Alexa, completely oblivious to the situation between us. Eventually Yang just sighed and ordered a coffee and a muffin.

Once we were outside and seated with our sweets Yang looked at me all deathly serious, "what's the deal between you and the girl?" Tell her you dolt!

"Deal?" I hid my face by sipping my extra sugary coffee.

"You two were acting weird, something happen between you two?" I gulped and prayed I wasn't blushing too hard.

"Oh… yeah, I uh, spilled a drink on her. I wasn't looking and bumped into someone, landed on her."

She obviously didn't buy the excuse but thankfully switched topics, "so how are you sister?"

I breathed a soft sigh of relief, "I'm good, great actually. I'm three times stronger than when you last saw me!" She smiled and sipped her coffee.

"So what your saying is, your almost as good as me now?" I laughed and munched down a cookie.

"And what's with the look change? There aren't any foreign boys your trying to impress, right?" I gulped in a breath and blushed heavily, there was no way Yang missed it either. "There is a boy!?" her voice was half angry, half curious. At least tell her about your sexuality. She'll be mad if you don't.

"N-no… not a boy."

Yang sighed with relief, "good. I was thinking I might have to go and pound some skulls… actually pounding in a skull wouldn't be so bad, would it?" Yang started laughing, until she realized I wasn't. "Did I say something wrong?"

I gulped, "uh… I m-meant n-not a boy as in… well a g-girl… sort of."

Yang was slow to process it but eventually Ruby could see the lightbulb over her head. "O-oh! Why haven't you told me? We're you afraid I'd care about your sexuality? Cause I don't, my sister can love who she wants."

I shook my head, "no. I just, didn't think about it much until recently."

Yang nodded, "so your dating the redhead, Alexa? Or at least want to? Was that why it was awkward?"

"Well no, it's a bit uh, complicated." Yang got out of her chair and hugged me, it felt so weird because I knew she didn't get my meaning but I accepted it to put off the conversation.

"It's okay if you want to ask for advice, I know love can be complicated." Sure, but I'm not in love! Well… I might be in love but not with her! I breathed in and out as I thought about how to say what I wanted to say. Yang was my sister and she deserved to know.

"Yang… uhm, look." I pulled back from the hug and Yang smile softly, "it's not that I like her, it's uh… well uhm…" get it together! "We had sex."

"WHAT!?" Her happy smile morphed to angry, murderous glare in a split second.

"Well uh… it wasn't anything special. I was just feeling lonely and wanted some company." Yang's look softened only slightly as she thought about how to respond.

"If your feeling lonely, talk to me." Yang leaned back over and wrapped me in a hug, "I'm mad that your growing up so fast and you really shouldn't go around having one-night stands. Still, I'm sorry that you're so alone."

I gulped, "I know… I do talk to you when I'm feeling lonely, it just doesn't always work. I miss you all so much." Yang kept me in her embrace for a few long moments as I kept myself from crying.

"It's okay, let's go home and play some video games." I squeezed Yang in a hug and we hopped onto bumblebee.

The next morning

"I'll beat you this time sis!" I mashed at the controller as best I could but found my gaming skills lacking.

Yang laughed and wrapped me in a hug, "well now I know you haven't been wasting time on video games." I hugged her back but glancing at my Scroll made me groan in annoyance.

"Training time." Yang grumbled about how early it was and I stretched my arms, "I have to practice from dawn to dusk sometimes. You can join me if you like?" Yang smiled and grabbed Ember Cecilia.

Master was waiting outside, come to think of it… I never asked his name. Dolt. "Ah, you brought your sister with you. Good to… sense you? Yang." Yang cocked her head, then realized his eyes were closed and gasped.

"Your blind?!"

"Yes. So, training. If you wish to join us Yang, so be it. For a warm up, we're going to go for a ten-mile run and then sparring practice."

Yang stared at him in amazement, "ten miles?" He nodded and without another word, gestured for us to follow and took off. Yang was never much of a runner and despite only going at a jogging pace it was clear she was a bit exhausted by the run. "W-wow! You train really hard!"

Master nodded, "sparring time." He rushed Yang before she could react and punched her in the stomach, sending her flying backwards. Being used to his rush tactics, I quickly dodged a kick and moved to regroup with Yang.

"Wait for my opening, then return that punch twice as hard!" I saw Yang nod in the corner of my eye and I dashed towards him, leapt in the air and used Crescent Rose to change positions. He saw it coming but as he dodged my strike from up high, Yang rushed down low. Seeing this as well, he leapt in the air and did a horizontal spin. By the time I landed he had his knives at the both of our throats.

"Too slow."

Yang was panting and I was feeling it pretty bad too, "show off." He chuckled and sheathed his weapons while Yang glared at him.

"We're going for round two." This time he rushed me first, so I managed to dart out of the way. Yang for her part blocked a punch with one arm and tried to riposte with the other. He was way to fast for her to hit though and she wound up swinging wildly and burning through her energy. "What's the matter? Aren't you supposed to be hitting me?!" Yang was getting angrier; her eyes were beginning to shift color but my teacher didn't seem to mind… perhaps he couldn't sense that?

"You're just a coward! Wait till I get you!" He laughed and turned, kicking Yang's legs out from under her. Not enough damage to add to her power but enough to turn and focus on me. He darted forward and this time I wasn't able to dodge a kick to the head that nearly wiped out all my aura in one blow. I was reeling from the attack as he went towards Yang and began taunting her further. He dodged and counter attacked, riling her up but she never stood a chance.

By the time I had recovered my senses, Yang was panting from exhaustion and still hadn't hit him. He seemed to have had enough though, because this time he landed a solid blow to Yang's gut again. She went reeling backwards and her flames dissipated. "You need more than just strength or speed to beat me. Focus! Breathe in, breathe out and think about what you're fighting for. Think about what you want and visualize it, then achieve it."

I looked at how hurt Yang was and got Angry, I'm supposed to protect her! I remembered how to use that and saw a plan… so you like to dodge? I whispered to Yang, "you want to be the strongest huntress ever right? Well he's the strongest hunter, I want you to block a punch from him and then wait for me to give you an opening… I have a plan." She nodded to me and I waited for her to move forward. She swung at him and he counter attacked with a shove that knocked her to the ground. I used my semblance to dash behind him just as he attacked her and made an attack that left me easily open. He took the bait, swung his foot out and I grunted from the pain. I grabbed his leg and held on tight, Yang ran at him and swung as hard as she could right for his face.

The blow landed but didn't phase him do to his aura shield. "Session over. Good job." He shook his leg and broke from my grip like it was nothing and started walking away.

"Wait?! You just show up, exercise and beat us up? I thought you were supposed to be teaching my sister!"

He nodded, "and today she learned a lot. You learned something important, you saw what you wanted and found your reason to fight. Ruby practiced her leadership skills. Normally yeah, I'd keep pushing but I'll let you two relax for today. Breaks are important." He kept walking away and Yang watched him in silence.

"Is he always such an edgy bastard?"

I laughed, "the edgiest. But he is a really good teacher."

Yang nodded and caught her breath, "yeah obviously. I'm exhausted but you're not breathing as heavy, despite doing and taking more damage."

I wrapped an arm around her and smiled, "I'm used to this. We haven't sparred in a while but the first week we would fight for hours and hours until my aura was completely depleted and then some. It helps make the supply of aura bigger when you do that."

"Really? Hmm… I might need to start doing that then. Can't let you get too far ahead can I?" We both laughed happily and walked into the house. Just a few more months… and you'll have them all the time.

A/N: Thanks for reading folks. Ruby got some of her feelings out with Yang and just being in the company of her sister and dear friend has cheered her up a fair bit but her shell is far from broken. Next chapter it will break wide open though, after a one-month time skip. As always, feel free to leave criticism/reviews.