"For it is in passing we achieve immortality." Pyrrha

Chapter 9-

"Friendly! Friendly!" One of the soldiers shouted out as they all ducked and moved into the room, taking cover behind some of the tables.

"Took you long enough." Ruby groaned out, putting her pistol down to allow the soldiers including Ironwood to come out of cover and look at Ruby.

"What happened?" Ironwood asked, crouching down next to Ruby as another soldier look at her injury.

"Woman in a mask attacked the guard's downstairs, I followed after her. She was doing something on the computer but I interrupted her. We fought and I managed to get a couple hits in but she caught me with an arrow. We heard you coming up and she bailed. I didn't know which side you were so I shot first." Ruby answered easily, but made sure to sound in pain.

"Sir, she needs immediate medical treatment." The soldier stated.

"Just pull it out and wrap it in a bandage, I'll be find in a day or two." Ruby replied, grimacing slightly at the dull, throbbing pain.

"But…" The soldier attempted to say.

"Do it. Or I'll do it myself." Ruby stated coldly, staring the man down until he reached for the arrow and pulled it out, bandaging up the wound as best he could.

"Am I able to leave now?" Ruby asked, turning her attention to Ironwood.

"Yes, you may Miss Church. But I must ask that next time that you do not intervene or attempt to fight, you are still just a student." Ironwood replied, condescendingly.

Ruby just stood up, walking to the elevator as she said under her breath. "Watch your words child, there is much you do not understand." Ruby mumbled and it seemed like he heard her as she left.

By the time she got back to her dorm room the wound was already healed and she removed the bloody bandages and threw them into a bin.

Telling her team about what had happened made them worried but she left out the part about being hurt, but they all agreed that the next day they would start looking around the city for anything happening.

They split up the next day, Ruby going off on her own and she even ran into Penny. Speaking with the girl a little more she was surprised when the girl revealed the fact she was a robot by protecting her against a truck.

She couldn't help but wonder what Ironwood was attempting to do, if he was truly attempting to better things or something else.

Turning around she found Penny had vanished and a call coming through her scroll about problems with Blake and Sun involving a Paladin and Roman.

Leaving, using her semblance of speed she made quick time to help her team on the highway and was able to knock the large robot off and onto the ground.

Calling out a series of commands Ruby and her team were able to defeat Roman but she escaped. Neo helping her.

Ruby stood there, Blake was next to her as she recognised who the woman was. Ruby stood there frozen in shock at seeing Neo aiding Roman and those she was fighting against, but that shock soon faded to anger.

Walking away Ruby, "Go back to Beacon. I'll be back later." Ruby barked over her shoulder, her destination was locked in her mind.

Blake looked sadly at Claire's retreating form, she'd met the girl and knew Ruby was close. Really close if what Amber had said was true, so she knew what Ruby must be feeling now. The same sense of betrayal she felt with Adam.

Her decision was made quickly, deciding to help Claire as she knew the feeling and didn't want her to be alone. Who knew what she might do.

Slipping away from the other two was easy, and she silently followed Claire and where she was going. Confused as she went to a small on the side shop selling noodles.

Standing back, she silently watched what was happening, between Claire and the old man running the shop.

Ruby was seething, her rage was barely contained that she didn't notice Blake following her. Arriving at the old man's shop she saw Neptune and Sun sitting there, eating.

"Sun. Neptune. Leave. Now!" Ruby barked, scaring the two men that they decided to follow her order and run.

"You! You set her up for this! She could die. If they ever find out, they'll kill her. I won't be able to save her, and you knew. You fucking knew when we met." Ruby screamed at the man, her shield on her arm deploying on instinct and her sword was in her hand in mere moments.

"Ruby, please. Sit down and let me explain. There's a lot to tell you about everything." The old man said, his voice was calm against Ruby's screaming voice.

"I'll give you three minutes. I owe you that much, but if I don't like your explanation then I walk. I walk and you never see me again. I don't care for our history." Ruby said angrily, still annoyed but calmer as she took a seat.

"What do you know about the mind's eye?" The man asked.

"If you plan on asking me questions I walk right now." Ruby threatened.

He sighed in response, "To put it simply, the mind's eye is a belief that people are able to see in the future. I had this gift alongside my own powers as a wizard. Strictly speaking I could not see every event. It was very much pick and choose in whatever the Fates decided to show me." The man explained.

"I didn't see you and your sisters arriving that day, nor the events that transpired after that. But not long ago I saw an event coming. A large battle in Vale, between Atlas soldiers, Hunters and Huntresses from Beacon and a few others. And the Grimm, alongside Cinder's faction. Amongst them was Neo. Working with Torchwick. I can't give too much away; in case I change how it plays out." The man said.

"I made a decision. I had a feeling about Neo, so I approached her before Torchwick. Set in motion the events before us, but at the same time to keep everything to plan I needed her to be with that man and against you. I spoke to her, explained multiply things to her about this and it was her choice. She could act as an insider for you, giving you information when she can about what is to happen. But it is serious. It starts at the tournament." The man informed her.

"What is so important about this? My duty is to protect the Maiden's. Not get involved in human affairs as much as this, so why am I doing this? Why am I set on this path?" Ruby asked.

"They want to release him." Was all the man said, but it was enough for Ruby's face to drop at the news.

"He's sealed. I made sure of that. He is sealed, there's no way to…" Ruby stopped, a cold chill going through her body. "Who?" She asked.

"Katakana. She was interrupted but they got her, Qrow managed to stop them but couldn't clearly see them. But he's taken her to the others. Out of my reach." The man informed her sadly.

Ruby closed her eyes. Processing the news and multiply plans running through her brain at once. "I can get you in. I have an idea of where they might be, if not I'll find out and get you in…" Ruby said, telling him of the multiply ideas she had of getting them in to wherever Katakana was being kept.

"Ruby, stop. Please. I…I need to tell you something." The man said, sadly once more.

"What is it?" Ruby asked.

"I'm dying." He stated bluntly. "I have been for years; I gave the four of you most of my remaining powers. The only reason I've been able to survive is how I am drawing away from your powers, but I can't keep doing that. With what's coming, my time has long since passed. This will be the last time you see me, so I guess you can ask me whatever you want and I'll answer as best I can." The man said, his tone was mournful but not because of dying, but because he was leaving Ruby.

"But…but you can't die. Take my power back, I don't need it. I can live without it and still do my duty, please. You can't die." Ruby said, tears falling down her face at the news.

The man regarded her sadly, "I can't do that. You know as well as I do that I can't. I'm sorry to be leaving you like this, but you need your full power. Not some half assed power." The man said, swearing for the first time in Ruby's long life.

"Please. I want you to, please keep living. I don't care about my powers. Use them, I'll find something. Something to give you my gift. Something to make you immortal instead. I don't want it. But you…you can do good with it, you have done. There must be a way." Ruby said, trailing off tearfully as she thought of any way possible to save him.

"I know it's hard Ruby, but please, please don't make it harder. I'm made peace with myself. I've led a long life, too long perhaps. And I am old, but you. You are young, yes you've lived a long life as well but you are forever young, you can do more good then I. It's why I gave you and your sisters the power. Please, keep living, keep helping people. I know you see your immortality as a curse but you've helped so many people with it. So please, keep living, if not for yourself but for me." The man begged.

"But I can't lose you as well. You're the only one left, please. I don't want to be alone again." Ruby begged back.

"You won't lose me. I'll always be with you, and be watching over you. And you won't be alone, you have friends that care about you. Amber, Neo, your teammates. They all care about you; you won't be alone. And I think I should be truthful with you about something." The man said.

"What?" Ruby asked, tears still rolling down her face.

"The soul mark. It's not just something to push you towards your soul mate. But rather offers a gift. I've only ever seen one other person with the mark. You are given a choice, according to what I was told, the gift can be whatever it is the two of you desire the most. But it is only when the two seal the bond." The man explained.

"Who gives the gift? How do you bond? What does it all mean?" Ruby asked in quick fire fashion.

"I don't know, making love with each other, and I don't know that either. She didn't tell me much about it, but that's all I know. That and the fact the mark reacts when close to them." The man explained.

"I know the last part, it's hard not to see." Ruby replied softly. Standing up from her seat she slid over the counter and hugged the old man. "I love you, you're like my father. Always there for me, and helping me. I love you and thank you. For everything." Ruby whispered softly, hugging the man close. Neither caring at how Ruby was wetting his shoulder with her tears.

"I love you too Summer, you and your sisters are all like the daughters I never had. Thank you, thank you for getting me outside that day." The man replied. "Remember that you're never alone. Even now, one of your friends is worried for you." He pointed out.

"I can feel her. Just now, but she's been here the whole time. I'm sure you didn't say anything on purpose. But I have to ask. How many are going to die? Is there any way to save them?" Ruby asked, scared of the answer.

"I don't know. Perhaps it is possible to save a few, but you must remember that you can't save everyone." The man replied. "You should go." He gently suggested.

"I know." Ruby said, not moving from hugging the man. "May the Fates guide you to the next life, rest easy now traveller and find peace in the next life." Ruby said strongly, but her breaking voice betrayed her true emotions.

"Thank you." The man whispered, feeling honoured by what Ruby had said. Knowing very few people have ever heard Ruby's last rite she gives to people.

Although simple and brief the only people she had said these words to were her closest friends, the two Shadows, alongside her three sisters, though they weren't sisters by blood they were close enough to Ruby to be called as such.

Blake came out of the shadows as she saw Ruby pull away, shocked that she wasn't surprised at her appearance and was even more shocked when the man spoke to her. "Trust her, she will explain in time. And both of you should trust Ozpin. And Summer, may we meet again." The man said, smiling sadly at the pair before he vanished.

Ruby started to cry again, only muttering out one word to Blake, "Amber." She said weakly, fresh tears running down her face as everything settled in.

Unsure what to do exactly Blake reached for where Ruby kept her scroll, unlocking it with ease and dialling the number labelled Amber.

It was answered within seconds, "Ruby. What's wrong? What happened? Are you okay?" Amber asked quickly, unsure what to make of the unexpected call at this time.

"Amber? It's Blake. I um, I'm not sure what to say. Claire, I mean Ruby…Summer, I uh. Don't know her real name. But she's crying, like a lot. Something happened, an old man running a noodle shop, I don't know…" Blake attempted to explain but was interrupted.

"I understand. We live not far from the town centre. You're under the highway right?" Amber asked, rattling off an address shortly after.

Hanging up Blake managed to slowly get Ruby to walk, and eventually they arrived at the modest house.

Barely knocking on the door it was thrown open and both of them were pulled inside quickly and practically thrown onto the couch.

Amber took in the scene quickly and hugged Ruby, whatever it was that happened was clearly big as it affected Ruby as badly as it did.

Eventually after almost two hours of crying, Ruby had cried herself out and fallen asleep on Amber. "We'll talk tomorrow, clear the air a little. I already know what happened, he spoke to me with Neo. You're free to stay the night, there's plenty of room and maybe some clothes that'll fit you. But could I ask one more favour? Could you help me get Ruby to bed?" Amber asked.

"Of course." Blake said, helping Amber get Ruby to bed, and once she was shown the spare room she stripped down and went to bed herself.

A/N

So it was never really my plan to have him live through the story, or really be that immortal but just a longer life span. So him drawing power from Ruby to sustain himself sounds good to me. If you're wondering how it affects Ruby's power, then it's like taking a sip out of a glass of water. It's not a lot but just enough.

I haven't got much in the way of things to say except that I'll be doing a double update, one this morning and then one tonight. So expect Chapter ten, well it's tonight for me let's say in around twelve to fourteen hours.

I'm doing this because I'm dumping loads of information on you with this chapter but the next will be a lot while the one after that drops another bombshell which won't pay off until the sequel.

Oh and i'm looking at releasing more unfinished stuff or just random works, would people like to see that or not?

So until next time.