Author's Note

Man, it's been a long time since I've updated. I've been catching up with school so I don't have much time to spare for writing. Besides, I have my exam and that adds up to the delay excuse. Well, I could say as much as I want but I think all of you prefer to read the chapter than my nonsense so, enjoy this chapter mes ami. Credit to Darkesper for the editing.

Chapter 11 – Rose Storm

It was surprisingly quiet. Too quiet. I haven't heard a single sound of team CRDL in the cafeteria, as if they weren't here. I soon realized it was indeed a fact. "Cardin and the gang aren't here today?" I asked.

"Not a clue. Usually they would be causing more of a ruckus this time around..." Jaune answered. I glanced at Ruby who was munching on her cookies happily. I didn't have to find the answers since she's the only person I could suspect. Actually, the real suspect.

She saw me glancing at her and gave me a wide smile. Her smile seemed to tell me everything. 'Yup, I killed them all. They deserved it.' It's kinda creepy to figure it out immediately especially if you're the only one who knew about it. She returned to eating her cookies. I puffed out air from my lungs.

"Hey, did you guys hear that Velvet's teammates dropped out of the academy?" Pyrrha asked.

"R-really? You mean the whole team?!" Weiss questioned.

"Their leader, Coco? Went nuts after she heard what happened to Velvet and decided to quit from being a huntress. Her other two teammates, Fox and Yatsuhashi, dropped out, too…" Jaune explained.

I couldn't help but glance at Ruby again. She munched her food slowly. She probably knew what I was thinking. She glanced at me and there was no smile. "Can you guys excuse me with my sister for a moment?" I tugged her arm and led her to the courtyard.

We sat on a bench that was far enough from any students that were passing by. I looked around to make sure there wasn't anyone nearby. I sighed in relief once I was clear. I looked at Ruby who stepped on a flower and squished it. "Ruby, what have I told you about killing people? Did anyone see what you did?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Look, just because I said I'll keep it secret, I didn't mean you could kill them! Well, no one really cares about CRDL anyway, but you made Velvet's teammates drop out... Why did you do it, Ruby...?"

She looked down to the flower and scrapped it off with her boot. I watched her actions then looked into her eyes. Cold and merciless.

"I wouldn't do it if it weren't for you, Yang... They disturbed me and you... I can't let them disturb do that again..." She answered.

"Killing them is wrong, Ruby, and Velvet didn't do anything to me! I keep your secret because I don't want you to rot in prison. I don't want them to send you away again. Who knows where you would end up. Some creepy asylum? I don't want that to happen!" She responds with a smile and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. "Ruby..."

"I may be crazy, Yang. But I'm crazy enough to protect you... I don't care where I end up. I'll always find my way back to you…" I wanted to protest but she suddenly kissed my lips. She pulled back before I could return the kiss and smiled. "I'll be fine. I'm a big girl now! I can look after myself,"

I respond with a smile.

"Yeah, you're my big girl…" I hugged her tighter. I didn't hear what she was murmuring near my ear.

The day suddenly went well. No one cared about team CRDL's disappearance. Maybe they finally got tired of their shit. Huh, whatever… I decided to lie down on my bed for the day. Weiss went for combat training while Blake, as always, was at the library. I was left with Ruby, she writing something in her diary. I finally saw a different Ruby an hour ago, normal and mature. I still didn't understand what triggered her psychotic instinct. Maybe I didn't know her as much well I thought.

I didn't realize I was staring at Ruby for a while when she asked, "Is something wrong, Yang?" I tried to pretend I was feeling groggy from waking up but she knew me so well. She giggled. "You don't have to pretend, sis. I caught you~!" She cooed. I let out a nervous laugh. She smiled and continued to write. I got curious, so I dropped myself from my bed and went over to her. I was about to peek when she suddenly slammed the book shut. "No peeking Yang~!"

I pout, earning a kiss on the cheek. She giggled as I blushed. "What's that you wrote in there?" I asked.

"It's a diary, sis. You don't ask people what they write in their diaries!" She smiled. I scratched the back of my head. Great, I asked a stupid question. Real smooth, Yang…

I placed my chin on her bed and glanced up to her. "Aren't you bored just sitting in here all day?" I asked.

"Actually, I felt like doing something, but I don't know what..."

I perked up. "Lets take a walk in the forest. You and I could get some fresh air," I suggested. She smiled and nodded.

She put her diary in a small backpack next to her and slid it under the blanket. I helped her to get down from her bed which swayed a little. She immediately hugged my arm and snuggled closer to me. I respond with a giggle.

Ruby skipped happily when we got to the forest. She hummed a tune while smiling wide, as if there was nothing that could bother her. I smiled and kept my eyes on her, afraid she would run off and do something again.

She often glanced at me and smiled. I didn't understand what she wanted to tell me, but I smiled back, happy to see her smiling. She hummed a tune that sounded familiar, but I couldn't recognize it very well.

The forest was extremely quiet. The birds didn't tweet at all. Ruby didn't seem to mind the silence, but as a precaution, I called her. "Ruby, get back here!"

She stopped and turned around, looking at me in confusion. I noticed a pair of red eyes stared at her.

"What is-..." Her words were cut off with a loud howl. A beowolf jumped out of the bushes behind her and pounced her.

"Ruby!" I activated my gauntlets and rushed to the Grimm, punched it away from her and helped her up. I grabbed her arm and ran when the Grimm got up, snarling at us. I ran as fast as I could while pulling on her arm. She whimpered.

"I-it hurts sis..." I stopped and let go of her arm, not realizing I gripped onto her too tight.

"S-sorry, but we have to-...!" We heard more growls approaching us. A large pack of beowolves came out of the bushes and surrounded us. Ruby took out her scythe and pointed at them. Both of us backed away from the back until our backs hit each others.

"S-sis, there's too many of them..." she said.

I raised my arms in offensive mode. "Ruby, I want you to run once I punch our way out..." She immediately grabbed my arm.

"No, I'm not leaving you, Yang!"

A beowolf jumped towards us, baring its teeth and struck its claws at us. I pushed Ruby away before it clawed my shoulder. I yelled in pain.

"YANG!"

I stumbled onto the ground and held my left shoulder to prevent more blood from seeping out. I yelped in pain.

"Y-you hurt Yang..." I heard Ruby mutter and turned to her.

"R-Ruby...?!" My eyes widened when I saw thorn vines coming out of the corner of her eyes and mouth. Her eyes turned black with white pupils present. A cloud of rose petals circled around her. The Grimm suddenly backed away.

"Unforgivable... UNFORGIVABLE!" I laid down on the ground when the cloud of rose petals suddenly became a huge rose storm. The Grimm around us tried to run but they were trapped in the storm and suddenly cut into pieces.

I looked up to Ruby who clutched her head and screamed in agony. I slowly crawled to her and called her. "R-Ruby, stop!" She couldn't hear me through the sound of the strong wind and her own screams. I kept crawling until I reached her. I got onto my knees and wrapped my arms around her despite the pain on my shoulder.

"Ruby, stop! They're dead! You can stop now!" This time she heard me when she stopped screaming.

"Y-Yang...?" she muttered. Her body trembled violently.

"I-I'll be okay... The Grimm are dead... You can stop now..." I hugged her tighter, hoping she would calm down.

The storm subsided and the rose petals landed on the ground gently. Dead bodies of Grimm fell and disintegrated into thin air. Trees suddenly fell, creating a deafening thud and tiny tremors. Ruby fell to her knees and her arms dropped to her side. I moved myself to her front and lifted her face by the chin.

I noticed the vines from the corner of her mouth and eyes disappeared. Her eyes returned to their beautiful silver color. I smiled and sighed in relief. "Oh Ruby..."

Tears slowly fell from her eyes."Y-Yang, you're h-hurt... T-they hurt you..." She gently placed her hand on my wounded shoulder despite trembling. She sobbed. I frowned and held her hand. I don't like seeing her cry.

"Ruby, it's okay. It's nothing serious. Just a little stitching and I'll be fine..." She looked up at me, wiping her tears as she did.

"R-really? You'll be… o-okay?" I nodded and she smiled. I got up and helped her up. Her knees trembled, probably due to her exerting herself from creating the storm. I offered her a piggyback ride.

"B-but what about your shoulder?"

"It's nothing that I couldn't handle! C'mon, Ruby!" I squatted down and Ruby wrapped her arms around my neck. I got up and supported her legs by my side.

She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. I smiled and glanced back. I couldn't believe what I saw. How did she conjured such power? What's with her eyes and the vines? I can keep asking myself these questions, but I don't know the answers.

I glanced at Ruby who was now sound asleep. I felt her soft breath on my skin. I frowned. Something's definitely wrong with her and I will find out what it is. That's my promise, Ruby...