Otherwise known as Dead Faint

Ruby didn't necessarily dislike dances, it wasn't like she didn't see the good points of parties either. She just was uncomfortable wearing clothes such as these and having to actually talk to people. Yang told her that to grow up she had to expand her circle and meet new people to grow up. Like always she had replied with the words, "I don't need people to grow up. I drink milk." Yet here she was, wearing a sparrow mask, standing by the punch bowl, watching Weiss and Yang welcome the other students and teachers. It had taken the latter part of an hour for her team to force her into the thigh high dress. The sleeves ended in tips on her hand and swathes of cloth fell off her arms to look like wings. The skirt portion poufed out with borrowed brown and red petticoats, while the top hugged Ruby's still forming curves. The dress itself was a bright red and Ruby wore crimson flats with beads decorating them. On her lower back her symbol, a burning rose, was cut into the fabric, exposing her pale skin. The mask covered the top half of her face, that is to say, from her forehead down till her nose. It was covered in fake red feathers that had white and brown gems holding the feathers in place. Yang had forced her to wear a light lip-gloss that made her lips a nice scarlet shade. Her team had shoved her out the door into the hallway where she stopped struggling and resigned herself to her fate. So here Ruby stood, sipping punch, admiring costumes and when someone in a bear mask approached, she was asked to dance. And after the first few dances, the Rose girl actually started to enjoy herself.

Torchwick entered the gymnasium/all purpose room wearing a black jacket with double coat tails. He stepped up to Yang and she welcomed him, "Professor Kasai!" she gave him a once over, "Nice costume. Did you know Professor that you always wearing a mask gave us the idea for the masquerade, so feel proud. Please have fun and no need to act like a teacher for one night," she winked at the man.

Kasai bowed his head in acceptance, "I'll hold you to that," he promised, then entered the throng of students.

-Ruby POV-

I spin from the arms of person to person and laugh, when you don't have lady stilts on, dances are actually sort of fun. I stop to take a drink of punch and hydrate myself then go back to dancing with people I don't even recognize because of their masks. Suddenly I'm pulled away from the person I was dancing with and am in the arms of someone else. He is wearing a fox mask with a long black tail coat, with orange collar and cuffs. The rest of his suit is a mix of black and orange, while on his head rests a black fedora. "Torchwick," I say under my breath, only he would wear such a costume and get away with it.

Normal POV

Ruby is twirled around by various students and Roman clenches his teeth, little Red is his and his alone. Breaking control Torchwick grabs Ruby and pulls her into the next dance, he leans close to her ear and whispers, "Having fun Red?"

She immediately pulls back, her face the same color as the mask that covers it. She continues dancing with the man although she wants to run away, she isn't supposed to know he is a criminal after all. "I was, having fun that is. Until you showed up," Ruby answered his question.

The song changed to a slow song and Roman pulled Ruby even closer, "Oh, really. You look like you are still having fun to me. After all I am having fun, plus your sister told me that I don't need to act like a teacher for one night, so I can have all the fun I want."

Ruby's face heated up a bit more and she gave a little "Eep!" as Torchwick's lips brushed against her ear. "Stop it!" she whispered toward him, "Why did you come as a fox anyway?" she directed the conversation away from the current topic.

"Well Red, isn't it obvious? Foxes eat sparrows," he grinned and for once Ruby was able to see it, for the mask was only a half mask, much like her own.

Ruby clenched her teeth and continued dancing, "Yes, but sparrows can escape with their razor sharp reflexes. A sparrow can catch a fox in its cage with cunning and speed."

Roman was now only a centimeter away from Ruby and she could feel his warm breath on her, "Foxes are pretty cunning too you know, I wonder who is more cunning, hmm? Who is in control now?"

At this point Ruby's face was burning and so was the rest of her body, and like a sparrow dying in the hands of a fox, her legs crumpled and she fainted. Torchwick chuckled a bit, he didn't think she would get so flustered, then he pulled his teacher mask back on. People were noticing the collapsed girl and were beginning to surround her.

Kasai pulled off her mask and felt Ruby's forehead, "I'm afraid Ms. Rose has a fever, I will return her to her room. Please do not let this disturb your fun. I'm sure Ms. Rose would agree if she could say so."

The professor picked up the small girl in his arms and shoved through the students to the door. By that time Yang had joined the party herself so she did not even see him carry her, not to her room but to a secluded corner of the garden.

When Ruby awoke she had the distinct feeling of being carried, she hadn't felt such a sensation since she was a child and her father had carried her about. She looked up and was surprised to see a fox mask staring back at her. Realizing who was carrying her she screamed and landed punches on the man. "Put me down!" She shrieked and continued bombarding him with punches, which had absolutely no effect on him.

Finally Roman chuckled and set her down, then removed his mask so that she could see his face. "Hey! What's so funny?" Ruby asked, vexed.

"You suck at punching! Red, how can you be so powerful with an overgrown gardening tool and not know how to do hand to hand combat?" he laughed more and Ruby glared at him.

Torchwick then, calmed down and looked at Ruby, he raised his eyebrows, "Do you want me to teach you?"

Ruby looked down and ignored Roman's knowing smirk, "Why would you help me like that? You are my enemy, so why would you teach me something that may make me more powerful than you."

The orange haired man once again pushed Ruby's head up so that she could see him, "For one, you will never be as good as me at hand to hand combat. Number two, technically I'm not your enemy," Ruby started to say something but Torchwick put his finger over her mouth.

"I worked for your enemy, and even though I was the one you saw the most that doesn't mean that I was your enemy. Now I work for the head-bastard, so we're almost allies, yes?" he took his finger away from her mouth.

"Fine, teach me." Ruby's eyes narrowed and Roman quickly swiped out his leg so that Ruby was lying on the ground groaning.

"First lesson: Always be ready for an attack, when you twisted my arm the first night here I had neglected to be on my guard, you must never do the same. Now get up," Ruby moaned.

Then she grinned, she kicked out, trying to topple Torchwick, however he just stepped aside and grabbed her leg, "Second lesson: Do not make a move unless you know such a move will either hit your opponent or distract him from your real hit."

"I know that much at least," Ruby gasped and wrapped her legs around him and then flipping him.

In the process of the flip Ruby forgot to remove her legs and ended up flipping along with him. His momentum carrying her so that when he landed she slammed into him. "What are you doing Red? Do you want to beat me that much? I told you, the fox always eats the sparrow."

At that he turned the two of them over so that he was leaning over Ruby, she blushed, finally realizing the situation she was in. She struggled against his hold and his hand dug into her wrists, "Sometimes an enemy, may in fact let you get a hit in so that the situation may turn to his advantage."

Ruby barely breathed, "What is the point of the enemy's need to get the advantage?" she whispered, they both knew she was really asking why he had let her throw him.

Roman grinned and leaned his face closer to Ruby's, "To teach little Red a lesson."

The girl shuddered at his words and opened her eyes wide when he lowered his face even more. Slowly as if through sand he brushed his lips against Ruby's and for the second time that night the girl fainted.

Roman chuckled, this was easier than he originally assumed. Then he thought back to earlier in the night when he had first seen Ruby laughing and dancing with boy after boy. Somehow he felt selfish, more so than usual, when he saw her. That night when he had first seen her in her cute little sparrow costume he really had wanted to eat her up. Roman recognized the warning signs, but there wasn't much he could do about it now. The fox was already trapped by the sparrow.

-Elsewhere-

Cinder sat on the bed of their dorm room while Mercury sat on the floor and Emerald paced, her clear melodic voice rang out, "Any news? Besides the masquerade ball going on today."

Mercury raised his head, "There is a new teacher, calls himself Kasai."

The powerful woman raised her eyebrows, "What class does he teach?"

It was Emerald who spoke up this time, as always, eager to please, "Criminal Psychology, it is required for all first years and optional for other students. Rumor is he never takes off his mask because he is a very powerful and sought after hunter."

A smile ghosted across Cinder's lips, "It seems Roman has found a new boss. I knew not trusting him was the right idea. Well, the Vytal Festival is coming up. This changes nothing, do not inform Neo that Torchwick is still alive. And do not reveal you know his identity, he'll be killed with the rest of them."