Chapter 9 - Red like Roses

A night on the town was what everyone needed after the events of the past few days; that's what everyone agreed upon. Even Pyrrha; the workout queen; had taken the night off to enjoy the wonders of Vale by streetlight.

This needed break was probably the best for Yang. Her temper had been getting the best of her as of late and out of everyone she needed the time to unwind. So that's why she was now flying across the highway on her custom motorcycle; Bumblebee. Nothing got her relaxed like weaving in and out of traffic on her two wheeled death machine. Yet the ride was only half of the fun; her destination was Juniors' club. Rumor has it that there was going to be an exciting new band playing there tonight and she refused to miss it.

As she got close to the club; she noticed however that there was a familiar figure walking into the club. Now her interest was really peaked; not every day one would see Qrow go in to see Junior. She didn't know however if he was going to give or recieve information however.

She parked her bike and walked towards the sharply dressed bouncer; who looked at her with a twinge of fear in his eyes. " Sorry girl. You can't come in today. Bosses orders."

Yang yanked him hard down by his tie so that their eyes could lock. " Look. I am in no mood to do the whole cute routine. Also I don't think you want to taste my fists again. So here's the deal; I go in and enjoy myself while you stay out here and enjoy the fact that you will still be eating solid food. OK?"

The bouncer let out a gulp before letting her in. He didn't care if he got fired; no amount of money was worth pissing that girl off. Yet as he turned to the next girl in line; he noticed a mass of red. ' Dear god. What did he do to deserve this?'

Inside the club the music was already going; a mix of funk and rock assaulting Yangs ears. She actually found the beat quite enjoyable and already decided that coming here was a good idea. Yet her good mood didn't last long as she noticed Qrow and Junior talking hushily at the bar. By Juniors' facial expressions; whatever they were talking about wasn't something Junior cared to discuss. Yang slowly started walking closer towards them; yet tried to stay out of their line of sight. Finally she got close enough to make out some of their words.

The conversation had something to do with a contact of Siegs'; Qrow believing that Junior knew the contacts location while Junior rebuked the statement. Qrow didn't believe him and and threatened to make his life a lot harder than it had to be. Junior then shot back that he wasn't afraid of Qrow and that what he was trying to do was protect the huntsman. " Qrow, if not your own good; then for mine; let this go. These are not the kind of people who forgive."

That comment right there made Qrow snap as he grabbed Junior by his vest and pulled him over the bar and onto the ground. " YOUR OWN GOOD? BE GLAD THAT I DON'T BURN THIS PLACE DOWN!"

" That's enough Branwen." From behind another mans arm yanked Qrow off of Junior and back onto the dance floor. Qrow stood up and unsheathed his blade with just enough time to block this cloaked mans sword. " You and Ozpin should of left good enough alone."

" I have nothing to say to you; you butcher." It was only when the mans cloak fell that Yang noticed who Qrow really fought. Steel gauntlets on each hand, massive two handed sword with a forming around the blade handle, two shorter swords on his back, and the unmistakable unruley black hair with a red hew to it. Qrow had found Sieg; god help him.

Both mens' blades crashed violently against each other and for once Yang noticed a frightening sight; Qrow wasn't holding back. He had been desperately trying to kill Sieg with each blow; yet Sieg either evaded or blocked with ease. The skill that he used such a massive weapon to block and parry sent chills down Yangs' spine. This fight wasn't a stalemate; Sieg could finish it easily, yet held back the killing blow. If it wasn't for the flash of red; the match would of continued unabated.

Sieg didn't want a fight; he just wanted to be left alone and finish what little work was left over in Vale to do before he left again. Yet Qrow just had to be himself and be the big ole saviour again. He refused to let the past be the past. If it wasn't for the fact that it would cause Yang and Ruby pain; he probably would of already killed Qrow and be done with it. Yet Qrow would never stoop so low to settle a debt; would he?

The flash of red crashed against his blade as he parried the spinning masses attacks. He recognized the fighting style anywhere and deep down his gut fell. Sieg performed a hard break; knocking the opponents weapon skyward; leaving the figure open for a frontal kick to the chest. With a mass of strength behind his blow; he sent the figure flying towards Qrow. " I though better of you old man. Thought you had some sense of honor left in those old bones of your. You always preached about how Summer would react if she knew what I did. Tell me Qrow, how do you think she would react if she saw you using her daughter as a weapon?"

Yang was shocked at the revelation. From the dust cloud that was caused from Qrow and the figure barreling into a pillar at high velocity; stumbled out a red cloaked girl carrying a massive scythe. Ruby charged him with a look of hatred in the young girls eyes. " Don't you dare talk about my mother!"

Ruby unloaded an unending stream of combos towards Sieg; who was forced to block each and every one. Yet try as the girl might she could not break his guard. Too bad he was so focused on her that left an opening for Yang. She ran headlong out of the crowd and sent a right straight across his jaw; sending him flying towards the stage. Yet he somehow managed to rotate his body so that his feet hit the stage instead of his head. He shot back towards the two girls and then past them; sending a blast of wind at them; knocking them both off their feet.

" Damn you Qrow for getting the girls involved." Sieg turned towards the stage and shouted. " Apollo, I'm going to need a beat to fight to."

On the stage, Apollo put down his signature trumpet and strapped on a guitar while two young women dress in hooded cloaks; one red the other white; took to the mics'. " Coming right up."

Qrow was now back up to his feet as were both of the sisters as they tried to block Sieg in. They didn't care about why Sieg asked for music; they just wanted him defeated. All three charged him as the music began and the red cloaked girl began singing. " I couldn't take it; couldn't stand another minute..."

All three charged Sieg. " Couldn't bear another day without you in it."

He blocked Qrow, parried Ruby, and blocked Yang. " All the joy that I had known for all my life."

Ruby swung her scythe horizontally causing Sieg to fall back as Yang jumped over her to try and blast him on his head. " Was stripped away from me the minute that you died."

Sieg stepped left to dodge the blonde girl. " To have you in my life was all I ever wanted. But now without you I'm a soul forever haunted."

Both girls noticed that Sieg was singing in tune to the song and seemed to care more about the song than the fight. " Can't help but feel that I had taken you for granted; No way in hell that I can ever comprehend it."

Now both girls had stopped fighting him as they saw tears appear in his eyes. " I wasn't dreaming when they told me you were gone. I was wide awake and feeling that they had to be wrong. How could you leave me when you swore that you would stay? Now I'm trapped inside a nightmare every single fucking day."

Both girls became enthralled by the lyrics that they lost notice that Qrow and Sieg still fought. Deep down there was a reason why Sieg had the band play this particular song. " Its' like a movie; but there's not a happy ending. The scene fades black, and there's no pretending. This little fairy tale doesn't seem to end well. There's no shining knight that will save my from this spell."

Qrow now was increasingly pissed. Not only did that bastard have the audacity to make a song about Summer; he had it played right in front of Ruby and Yang. Qrow couldn't forgive him for this. " I know you didn't plan this. You tried to do what's right. But in the middle of this madness..."

Qrow swung down hard as the back up singers cut in. " I'm the one, I'm the one, I'm the one."

" You left to win this fight..."

Sieg blurred with inhuman speed and struck Qrow hard across the temple with a backhanded fist. " Red like roses... Fills my head with dreams and finds me... Always closer... To the emptiness and sadness...That has come to take the place of you.."

Qrow was left stunned by such an act of speed that Summer never could match. Even as blow after blow of punches and kicked riddled his body. As Qrow started getting overwhelmed; the singer in the white cloak began singing. " I know you're broken down by anger and by sadness... You feel I left you in a world that's full of madness... Wish I could talk to you, if only for a minute... make you understand the reasons why I did it."

" i wanna tell you that you're all that ever mattered... want you to know that for eternity i'm shattered.. i tried so hard just to protect you but i failed to... and in a prison of abandonment i've jailed you." Sieg continued to beat Qrow black and blue till he finally gave up resisting.

Leaving Qrow passed out on the floor he turned back to the band. " I never planned that I would leave you there alone...I was sure that i would see you when i made it back home and all the times I swore that it would be okay... now i'm nothing but a liar and you're thrown into the fray."

"This bedtime story ends with misery ever after. The pages are torn and there's no final chapter. I didn't have a choice I did what I had to do. I made a sacrifice but forced a bigger sacrifice on you."

Sieg walked towards the sisters with tears in his eyes and kneeled down to their height. " I know you girls have lived a nightmare. We've caused you two so much pain. But girls please don't do what I did. Don't wastes your lives in vain."

As their eyes met the Jaegers eyes; they saw a deep sadness that they never saw before. The song was a good choice as it showed the wavering emotions that each one held inside. Before either girl could even respond; he hugged both of them as both cloaked singers began the chorus. " Red like roses... fills my head with dreams and finds me... always closer... to the emptiness and sadness... that has come to take the place of you."

Ruby just looked at the mans grey eyes and couldn't help but feel that there was more to him than anyone would let on. " Who are you?"

Sieg cleared tears from his eyes as he finally got to see how big both the girls had gotten. " Just a ghost from the past..."

Before he could elaborate; the ending of the instrumental caught his attention and he pointed towards the stage. Both singers pulled off their hoods to expose black wigs with a red tint to them. They both took the stage opposite of each other and acted like they were going to battle with words. " You're not the only one who needed me i thought you understood..."

" You were the one I needed and you left me like I always feared you would..." The red robed girl turned her back towards the white robed one as she sung; bringing how she hated the fact that she was left.

The white robed girl walked towards her and acted like she was trying to plead forgiveness. " Would I change it if I could?"

The red robed girl turned to confront her as they sung in unision. " It doesn't matter how the petals scatter now. Every nightmare just discloses. It's your blood that's red like roses and no matter what I do nothing ever takes the place of you.."

Neither Ruby or Yang noticed Sieg leaving; they had become entranced by the band and the two female singers to even care. As he walked towards the back exit; he threw a bag of money towards Junior for all the trouble he caused.

Junior could only nod as he watched the Jaeger walk towards the exit. Despite the years they spent together in their youth; the man that was leaving was just a pale shadow to the greatness that he once was.

Sieg stopped right at the exit due to his desire to hear the end of the song. "Red like roses... Fills my head with dreams and finds me...Always closer...To the emptiness and sadness... That has come to take the place... of... you..."

" Sleep well sis; you're daughters are just fine..."

It w'as becoming a habit of winding up in Ozpins' office after one of their adventures.' That was the first thing to cross Rubys' mind as she watched Professor Goodwitch pace back and forth as she waited for Ozpin to return.

Her and Yang had been taken directly there after the fight at Juniors' club; while Qrow was taken to the hospital for his injuries. Atlas military had literally locked down the club and arrested Junior and most of his staff on charges of harboring a fugitive.

She didn't know what plans General Ironwood had for either of them either. Once word had gotten out that they had fought Sieg; he had locked himself inside his ship and was said to be on a live chat with many of the big wigs on the council. Word had it that there was even talk that he would force Ozpin to expell them from Beacon Academy after this recent event.

Yet underneath it all; she was glad that tonight happened. She learned something about Sieg that she doubt that drive would ever be able to show her. He had an emotion that wasn't rage or emptiness. Also deep down there was a greater connection between him and both of the girls that Ruby deeply wanted to explore. Her attention finally turned towards her sister; Yang; however.

Yang had a very stern, serious look on her face that betrayed her normal demeanor. Yang was always so carefree and rarely had such a serious look on her face outside of combat. Ruby could tell that Yang was thinking on something and that trying to remember was plaguing her. " Yang, what are ya thinking about?"

Yangs' expression broke as she took notice of her sisters question. Yet before she could answer; Glynda cut them both off. " Both of you quiet; not a peep till Ozpin arrives."

" But we didn't do anything wrong..." Ruby tried to rebuke the woman only for her to turn towards her and stare daggers at her.

" You seriously do not know how much trouble you two are in." Glynda walked coldly towards the seated girls. " You should not be surprised if Ozpin expells you for this mess."

" Glynda... I would like it if my staff didn't speak for me in my absence. It would make things a lot easier to clean up." Ozpins' sudden appearance shocked all three of them present. His slow walk over towards his desk; paying no attention to Glynda; only increased it. " It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce that Qrow should be up in about a day or so. So knowing him; he should be trying to escape right now."

Glynda turned towards the headmaster and just glared at him. " I'm glad your being so carefree about this; but I doubt the council will be so willing to overlook this incident."

Ozpin put his cup down and turned towards the female professor. " As head master it is my duty to handle the council. Thus I would like to remind you that it is your duty to see to the learning of the student."

He turned to confront her; causing her to flinch in fear of his abruptness. Ozpin was never one to anger easil so whatever happened has caused him to be on such a short fuse. Glynda stayed silent for a long while before responding. " If it is the will of the headmaster; then I will attend to my students."

Ruby and Yang could only look at each other as they watched their teacher retreat from Ozpins' office with hurried haste. It was only after she left that Ozpin turned his attention towards the girls. " I don't know why you were at that club nor do I care. Unfortunately, due to this recent incident, the council has decided that for the time being both of you are confined to Beacon Academy. You will only leave this academy on either class assignments or when you are shadowing a trained huntsman or huntress on a mission. Do you both understand?"

Both girls nodded slowly at the headmasters. " Ok then. You both are dismissed."

Ozpin turned his back towards them to signify that their conversation was over and expected both to leave. Yang had other ideas. She stood up and walked towards the headmaster with only one question on her mind. " Headmaster Ozpin; who is Sieg?"

Ozpin didn't even bother to look towards her as he responded. " You already have the answer to that question."

Yang refused to be deterred this time. " Ok. Let me rephrase the question. Who is he to us?"

This time his eyes widened in revelation and horror yet he stayed silent.

" Don't give us the silent treatment. There is a connection there that everyone of you have done your hardest to hide. What is his connection to Summer Rose and why the hell does it piss everyone off?"

" THAT'S ENOUGH YANG XIAO LONG! GO TO YOUR ROOMS; THAT IS AN ORDER OF THE HEADMASTER OF BEACON!" Ozpin couldn't even look at either of the two girls as they paused. He was never one to raise his voice; yet today he had yelled harshly at two of the best and most talented girls he had in the school. Dear god; how these demons of the past have crept back into his life. He even still felt the numbing pain from his leg coming back.

Knowing that no answers were forthcoming; both girls left Ozpins office and walked back to their room with a story to tell the rest of their team...