[Ruby Rose]

"Good morning Team RWBY!!!" I energetically greeted as I opened the curtain windows, letting the sunshine through the faces of my dear friends.

Yang groaned loudly, rubbing her eyes and I smilingly observed them as they began moving from their mattresses. Everything has adapted, and from the bunk beds that we just had back in Remnant, we had now the mattresses because Yang told me that the landlord doesn't allow bunk beds in his apartment. It didn't occur much of a problem to me, and as we have our room, we have gotten into a lot of effort to clean and revise it until there is no spot of dust left. Blake contributed a shelf just for her belongings and especially books, while Weiss brought a closet and drawers for our clothes. We had been generally cleaning since we moved until the night, and we were really jaded.

"What time is it?" Blake mumbled, covering her face with her pillow.

"It's 7:00 in the morning!" I chirped.

"We slept 2:00 in the morning because of cleaning!" Weiss complained.

"Yep and my arms are still sore," Yang added.

I sighed and sat beside where Yang is still lying down. I am really excited for today because this time I can be able to explore more of Kanagawa and I can also look for some missions. I can't wait to start helping other people again, it just makes me not think things through grief and nothing is bad happening against us. It is my job to help as a huntress, and I will never let that pass. I had a minute of exercising and I even cooked breakfast for us.

This time, I started pulling Yang by her arm, not her artificial one but the left one and she really is heavy and tough to pull up. I keep pulling and she is mumbling about how she is so tired and sleepy after our trip and the general cleaning of an apartment. She never even called me when she found the apartment, but I am still grateful that I never thought that I could still end up seeing her, and that is thanks to the two guys I met yesterday. Thought of them just got into me again, and I am still curious about who they really are and why I ended up meeting them.

"Stop it, Ruby," Yang complained, her face is on her pillow and her back is against me.

"What about the mission? I've been thinking about it. Since we were already here we can meet some new people and help them!" I stated.

"You can't keep helping people if they can do it themselves," The blonde mumbled.

I guess I have to do it by myself then. I let go of my sister's arm, and she altered into another sleeping position while Weiss and Blake are still heavily asleep. I can't complain and help myself to smile at them. I almost forgot about Zwei, our dog as he is sleeping in front of the door. He was inside my travelling bag all along, and as we got to bring out all our things, he just appeared. Weiss was stunned when she saw him and happily hugged the dog as if she didn't see him for a decade.

I left the apartment for a while and conceived the morning at Kanagawa. I can almost forget the smile that is displayed on my face as I observe people walking past, and some stores are opening just closer to us.

"Oh, good morning Ms. Rose!"

I looked to my right and saw the landlord that offered Yang the apartment. He is about 50 his age, his height is how related to his regular stoutness. He got our names easily and felt attached to us, and I can say he really is nice. How fortunate are we to keep meeting nice people., and it feels like a day to remember.

"Good morning, Mr. Satoshi!" I greeted back. He smiled and walked past the apartment.

I start to stroll through the road and keep roaming my eyes around seeing busy people, vehicles passing by, signboards and street lights. There are highways where there are most vehicles and the signs say all of the street names. I start to feel fazed about the area, and the people are so overwhelming. I want to ask some questions, but I am still timid to do it. I don't know where to start, probably because of being so flattered since yesterday. But I have a mission to search for and I have been pondering about where to get it from.

"Who is she? Is she the grim reaper?"

"Where did she come from?"

Eyes begin to surround me, supposing they are coming after my life. I did my best to just disregard all of their glares at me, and I feel sorry for them for being confused at my sudden appearance. The red cape did all the trick, and every time I walk past people, it just keeps reminding them that I am someone that is being brought here for some purpose, which I can't determine what.

I got to a residential area, and there are also shops about artefacts, food and other necessary accessories and equipment. The neighbourhood is quiet too, and I saw people who are tending for their shops. I keep glancing at them and they don't look that lively at all. As I reached the end of the area, I came across a fabric store and saw a middle-aged woman who is dressing a white figure that is chiselled as a modelled human. I open the door and go inside, and that is where she take heed of me. The figure is already clothed in a long dress that is enough to reach the floor. The black color is passionately vivid and it is enticing me to wear it. I fiddled with the fingers of my hands, and the lady is already looking at me, a genuine and welcoming smile is on her face.

"Hello dear. How can I help you today?" She greeted.

I don't know her accent very well and she doesn't look Japanese to me. She wears a sleeved, black dress with white lace as the neckline, and her hair is wrapped with a white fabric. I give her a tight smile and glance mostly at the fabrics around her and a sewing machine near a table full of clothes.

"Hi, ma'am. I'm Ruby Rose, I'm just new here and I was about to look for a mission," I kindly introduced.

"Oh, I see. Where did you come from?" She asked, and she is taking this quite interestingly.

"I'm from Remnant."

"Never heard of that," She smiled at me. She turned to her modelled figure and dusting off the black dress.

"Yes, ma'am. It's complicated."

"You can call me Elsa. I'm a designer from Italy, I came here so I can contribute to some fashion ideas. And about the mission you want to search for, I have something for you."

Elsa told me about the forest where most hitchhikers venture themselves. But some people who want to take a shortcut go right over there and they never even got to the end of the forest. Travellers, students, and such normal people, never got to see home again. When I heard it from her, I felt the hair on my skin lifted and gripped my cape as my hands are quivering. None of them vouched for safety, without anticipation, they were just gone.

"Others say that there is a creature living inside of the forest and have been luring people to their deaths. It was unseen and vigilant. No one knows where it came from, it just appeared there. The forest should have been safe, but that cursed apparition inhabited that forest and made it as home."

"Can I still possibly go there?" I asked.

"Ask yourself, Ruby. Or just don't go too deep in the forest. You'll never know what will come to you," Elsa warned.

I didn't make any second thinking, not even one assumption of what will happen if I ever make it out alive. I just have to find out what kind of creature it is and how to fight it away. This is my first mystical mission and it feels like the old times. I remembered about slaying grim creatures and Salem. As she has crossed my mind, it is such a horrendous nightmare one could never get out of. I have learned to not be afraid of her anymore because Mom used to have conceived the same fate. Though I was so disgraced because of that, and because Salem just made everything shattered like Mom's sacrifice meant nothing to the world. This must be easy, that creature is what I have been after and to keep the forest safe again.

I have thanked Elsa for the advice she gave to me. The residence area where I have gone to is the place where some travellers came from. When I left the residence area, I got to the train station, took a train and from it I could almost see the buildings of Kanagawa, and as Yang has told me every night it is so bright for having it illuminated with colored lights and even the big Ferris Wheel. I have gotten myself further from Naka Ward, the train is passing by tunnels, and surrounded mundane trees until it stopped from its resolved destination. I finally got to my first mission, even my nerves are holding me back as if they want me to back out though my soul is hyped up for an adventure.

When the train stopped, the doors opened. People are coming out of it and don't forget about me. They all dispersed and as I glanced side by side, a tall figure of a man appeared to my left as he got out of the train too. I could have rubbed my eyes to glimmer that up, assuming I wasn't daydreaming. The dark-brown haired, bandaged guy turned to me stunned and smiled widely at me like that time I first saw him yesterday.

"Ruby-chan!"

I almost squeezed my chest tight, my mouth gaped as I gazed over him. He walked to me and waved his hand which was holding a book.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my eyebrows raise astonishingly.

"What about you, what are you doing here?" Dazai inquired back.

I glowered at him and crossed my arms on my chest. I narrowed my eyes at him but he just stood there before me and grinning.

"Wait up!" A man with glasses and dirty blonde hair walked behind him. He was holding a notebook from his side and I carefully gazed at him too. I stood before them, confounded. I never met him before not even yesterday, and I somehow got confused too that they also knew each other. I see the bandaged guy has another person with him, and it wasn't the guy who wore a hat yesterday. He is different and he is wearing glasses, and they got almost the same height.

"Are you just going to stare at us and won't answer my question?" Dazai spoke again.

"You know the lady?" Four eyes added.

"What?" I snapped out. I looked at them alternately and standing in the middle of the station just got us into an even more awkward situation.

"Alright, I came here first. I have a mission and that is going to the Devouring Forest," I explained.

I turned my back against them then started walking. Dazai called my name again and I just kept my eyes closed by the sudden irritation. I breathed heavily and turned back to look at them again. I eyed the two boringly and I knew bandaged guy is going to say something again.

"Actually red, that is our mission."

"How can you know all about it? I thought I was the only one," I complained.

"Everybody knows about that cursed forest. People are getting lost there, and they were never seen anymore. We are here to stop it," The man with glasses stated.

"How are you going to stop it?" I asked.

Dazai chuckled then swung his arm around four-eyes who got surprised and eyed him annoyingly. He is bidding bandaged guy to let him go, and I was just there watching them awkwardly.

"This man here is Doppo Kunikida. He's my partner and a poet. His ability is to summon things as he writes in his notebook, and it will be a great help to accomplish our mission."

"What are you guys exactly?" I asked curiously. Curiosity just got to me, and how can things adapt so easily. I keep meeting people out of nowhere, and now it is not only my mission and I wasn't alone. They just keep on showing up.

"We are the Armed Detective Agency. Only the two of us were sent here by our boss, and he knew all about you and your team," Dazai grinned at me especially when he said the last phrases.

My mind started to get wired up with questions. I couldn't almost see them from all the words pouring from my vision which turned into an illusion. Are we really just sent here for something? Yang never told me about this and she never knew, does she? My sister picked this place, and I knew she will never lie to me. Forget about that, I have to focus on the mission. I left the train station, and of course, the two are now with me and since I am not the only one who has a mission. I was happy that I get to have one, but I think I will just end up being useless to think about what will Doppo's ability can be like.

I asked Dazai about what their agency does, and he told me they can solve crimes and take on different missions. They solve crimes, and that is one of the things I seldom see. The agency that he said has members and they also have their own abilities, and I was curious to know what his ability is like. He looked at me and told me that he will just tell me some other time. The boss insisted to focus on the mission then.

We got to the forest, every step I take just make my insides churn itself though this is just like facing a grim creature. The trees don't look keen on me, and I don't get why people have to explore this kind of place. I don't feel anything, not a breeze and not even a swift of an animal in the clearing. We wander around it, we get deeper even the sun is being blocked, leaving me to see with just my naked eyes.

"Do you feel scared and plan to run away?" Dazai muttered.

"I'm not scared. I had experienced worst like this. But it's not bad to be afraid, it just helps you to feel stronger and face what must end," I firmly said.

"I could lose my way. If I do, will you look for me?"

I raised my eyebrow and slowly turned to him. He just remained calm, and not thinking about how cursed this forest is. I couldn't even answer his question, I am too nervous to think about it. If I ever talk, one of us may be taken away.

"Why are you talking like that to her?" Doppo interfered.

"I just feel like it," Dazai said then smiled.

I can't seem to guess the way he acts. I just want to do my job and end this mission safely. We slowly walked through a trail, a lifeless one that can bring someone in his doom. I can feel it but it never occurs, not yet. Just as I went here, everything colorful I deemed just got carried away and I can't even take it back, and what if we never find a way out?

Elsa told me not to get deeper into the clearing, but since I am with someone, I just went along with them. Just by the look from their eyes, they are never scared instead they remained careful and silent.

I cautiously dragged my feet to where they want me to lead and with my eyes gazing everywhere, I saw something moved. I gasped which made bandaged guy looked at me and his partner stopped from pacing. I followed the movement from the air, though I don't feel any wind blowing through me. It is not the wind that I am worried about the most, it is something I can see, and I can't tell if Dazai and Doppo can sense it too.

I heard the trees rustled, the bushes made a whooshing sound and it kept going around us. I followed it until I got dazed, gripped my head and my weapon from my back. This does not feel good to me, it knows we are here and it may just grab one of us and just disappear. But not without a fight, I will not let any of us just have to end up missing like those people who had travelled all the way here.

"Get ready, Doppo-kun," Dazai instructed.

"How can you even see it? It's everywhere," I demanded.

"It probes through coloration. It can mimic and confuse other people as it alters into a tree or a flower if it must. That is how it can lure a victim."

The swish of the trees continues and it grows louder making us feel the breeze and it seems it is gigantic that is standing before us. Its shadow poured through us when I got to look down, trying to distinguish its form with my eyes almost gaping. I held Crescent Rose tight from behind, as the shadow ceased before us, the creature made its disposition. My eyes rounded in terrified awe with my hand holding my scythe. The creature is obscure, it has horns on top of its head with two long arms and its standing legs. It has claws from its hands, red, glowing eyes and a dark aura. A creature like any other children's nightmare. Though it eats people and doesn't leave a trace, not even a spot of blood.

"Grimm?" I whispered to myself.

"What?" Dazai heard me. I looked at him, my eyes seemed frail.

I grabbed Crescent Rose from my back and it unfolded to a scythe. The creature growled lowly at us and I was just standing there, staring widely shocking at it with my scythe beside me. The next thing I knew, is that I keep hearing voices, especially from Dazai. The creature is looking right at me and it supposes it has found a deserving meal to eat.

"Ruby-chan, stay away!"

The Grimm stooped down at me, but I didn't get taken. My eyes never blinked as I felt a hand held me by my wrist and pulled me towards him. I looked at him and it was bandaged guy all along. I turned to Doppo and he was writing something in his notebook. Then guns just appeared before my eyes and it began shooting the creature, then it grumbled so loud, I got to cover my ears. I just can't watch, I have to do something. I prepared myself, stood up as Dazai already has let go of my wrist. I took a grip on my scythe and my legs sent me sprinting towards the creature. I swung Crescent Rose, and it cut the Grimm's arm off.

"Doppo-kun, the portal!" Dazai commanded.

Portal? This creature wasn't from here all along. I knew it, it was a Grimm. A different kind of one, and it was being talked about by a lot of people and the reason why some travellers kept missing. This one was vicious, it is definitely one of Salem's. My hands started to shake impetuously and I once again swung the scythe through the creature.

"Hurry, I will bait it to the portal!" I exclaimed.

The Grimm started to force itself to get me, and I dodged away from it. I started running around it, embezzling the creature as I began firing with Crescent Rose when it changed to a rifle. Then a green light brightened up as a round, mystical portal was unsealed and a gale of wind is coming from it, making leaves and other remnants from the clearing are being guzzled through it.

I ran heading for the portal, the Grimm following me as it continued growling and slamming its claws on the ground. I felt running around in circles because of its presence and I have tried to fight it so hard as I am getting to the portal. The creature leapt at me and I whimpered loudly as I blocked it with my scythe.

I yelled towards the creature then dodged higher as I stepped right on to Crescent Rose, which sent me wavering from the air. Lastly, I brandished my scythe towards the Grimm resentment plastered on my eyes. I heard it bawled loudly until it came to fade with the portal enclosing. I gasped for breath, my legs felt withering and my arms sore from wielding Crescent Rose.

I hold onto my knees and breathe roughly when a hand just landed on my shoulder. And I thought the mission will destroy the creature, that I never realized a portal just imparted. I stand up straight again and look up at Dazai who is now in front of me. He is smiling and the last thing I feel is his hand on my head. My face heated up though felt confused at the same time. No one could ever do that to me, and I just got speechless when I really fancied his hand ruffling my hair.

"That was a great job, Ruby," Doppo interfered, sliding up his glasses on his nose's bridge. Dazai already removed his hand on my head. I smiled at both of them very happy to help. I really thought I wouldn't have any use to this mission, and I was bothered too when a Grimm just loomed in front of us. Like how many years it has been when people went missing from this forest? How did a Grimm end up in a place like this?

"Ruby-chan,"

"Huh?" I stammer.

"You're spacing out. Let's go home," Dazai smiles at me.

We leave the forest and it is safe once again. All along, it was just a hungry Grimm that terrorized other people. I can't get this out of my head, this is a mission to remember! I feel thrilled and I can't wait to tell this to Yang, Blake and I bet Weiss will be surprised at me too.

"Why do I suddenly get the feeling you have gotten so close to her?"

"What?"

"Tsk, airhead."

I heard Dazai and Doppo were talking about something, but I didn't think of interrupting them. I just followed them from behind until we got to a train station and gave ourselves a rest.