Hello and welcome to this new story I'm publishing! First and foremost, I would like to give a special thank you to all the wonderful readers who gave this story a chance and a very special thanks to all who decide to favorite and follow this story. Now I don't have a set schedule for writing this as my life outside of writing is pretty tight with many work hours. But fear not! That's why I am working with a good friend KittyKat-Belle who will act as my beta reader and editor.

Now let me make this absolutely clear to all who read this: THIS STORY IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. What I mean by that is this story is rated M for a reason so, if you are not comfortable with any of these I give you this warning to let you know what you're getting into.

This may seem like a long Author's note, and I know most will not read this, but it is there to inform you all on what this story is like and what you will be getting into. The next author's notes will not be nearly as long as this one and I am sorry for the delay! So, without further ado, sit back, relax because it's time to begin the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY; all rights go to the Legendary Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth. I do not own any of the Music, Anime or Manga that will be referenced in this story as well, all rights go to their respected creators and studios.

Beta Reader: KittyKat-Belle

Opening Theme: We're Not Alone by Coldrain

CHAPTER 1: A Typical day (Part 1)

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"Ugh… shut up… please~"

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"Just… five… more… minutes~!"

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"FINE! YOU WIN! I'LL GET UP!" Cried Ruby, slamming her fist down on the alarm clock next to her bed. She couldn't help but smirk under her pillow as she heard something crack within the loud-mouthed contraption.

'Suck it alarm clock! That will teach you to mess with my precious sleep! HAHA!... Wait, did I just say "ha ha" in my head? Gods… now I'm thinking about it… ugh too early for this."

Like any other early mornings, this was how Ruby Rose would start her day. Or rather, how she would start her 'school day'. With the weekend now over Ruby rose from her bed like Dracula from out of his coffin. That is to say, if Dracula was a groggy 15-year-old girl with short black hair and red highlighted tips then yes, Dracula.

"Stupid Mondays." She muttered, rolling the blanket off and already missing its warmth. She felt a shiver crawl up her feet the second they contacted the cold floor. She ignored it and stood up, stretching her arms out, walking over towards her dresser mirror. "Man... what time did I even sleep last night?"

Aside from the mess of bed hair, Ruby noticed two dark bags underneath her tired, silver eyes. It was then that the memories of last night flashed through her mind. "Oh yeah, 3 A.M.! So~ worth it, that Evangelion marathon was awesome!"

With a smile Ruby turned and glanced around at her room, admiring the sight of her beloved "sanctuary" through the illumination of the sunlight. Aside from the usual bedroom furniture one would find like a TV, dresser, coffee table, etc, the rest was filled by her passion and hobby, anime. From the four corners of her room were a sea of different posters, manga, and figures all throughout her room.

'Ah, the holy land.'

"Glorious." Ruby whispered as she changed into her bathrobe, "Time to start the day!" she cheered but suddenly winced as her face turned red from embarrassment. "I gotta stop talking to myself." she muttered as she left the room. "No wonder people think I'm weird."

During this time, Ruby would not have been so lucky as to grab the first shower of the day. That courtesy was nonexistent so long as her older sister, Yang Xiao Long, had anything to say about it. There was no doubt that Ruby loved her sister dearly, despite being too overprotective at times. She was a great sibling; sincere, caring, and loving, but that never meant she couldn't get on her nerves. It would happen from time to time, especially when Yang would flaunt her "older sister privileges'' by hogging up the bathroom.

Thankfully since it was Monday that meant her dear sister would still be sleeping in from her "weekend adventures". While she had to be Yang's early morning wakeup call today, things were fine thus far, and it gave her a chance to shower first without having to race her sister every morning. It wasn't even fair since Yang always cheats. And every time Ruby would ask why she got to shower first; Yang would always shout back:

"Because beauty requires lots of time, Rubes! You'll understand when you're older!"

'Hmph stupid Yang! I don't need to understand, I just need a freaking shower! Seriously, I'm not even that much younger than her! I'll be 15 on Friday and two years isn't even that big of a difference!'

As Ruby got lost in her thoughts, it wasn't long before she completed her shower. With a quick hair dry and brush of her teeth, she walked out into the hallway feeling refreshed as the cool air stimulated her skin. On her way back to her room, she sighed heavily as she stopped in front of a door that was not her own. It was time to hold up her final piece of the bargain.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

"Yang! Time to get up! The showers yours and PLEASE don't take too long! If you get another tardy slip Dad's gonna flip!"

She could hear an audible groan reply back. Good, since Yang was a heavy sleeper Ruby always had to be loud with her voice; and if that didn't work she had an air horn and whistle ready as plan B. After all, Yang had stressed to get her up no matter what and, like any good sister, she would obey.

Now that her job was complete, Ruby entered her room and closed the door behind her. With a quick motion, she disrobed and let the wet clothing fall to the floor as she walked into her closet, fully naked.

After quickly putting on her bra and panties, Ruby now came to the toughest part of her morning routine, choosing what to wear. As she skimmed through her choices she couldn't help but mutter "Ooo maybe this" or "Ooo no this" at every graphic anime shirt she saw.

After much second guessing and self-confliction, Ruby settled on a personal favorite and pulled on a black Soul Eater shirt. After rolling the sleeves up to her elbows, she pulled on some black pants and laced up her favorite pair of boots before attaching a chained wallet of Liger Zero from Zoids.

With a nod of satisfaction, Ruby left the closet and walked out her room. She saw that Yang's door was open, but the blonde girl wasn't inside. It was then that she could hear the shower head running further down the hall. Good, she was getting ready. So long as her sister wasn't late to school there was no need to worry.

As Ruby passed the bathroom the sound of her sister's voice echoed off the tiled walls inside. She cringed slightly as Yang was singing along, rather offkey, to one of those good-looking pop singer guys she was obsessed with.

Rather than stick around any longer, Ruby left the blonde girl to her privacy as she headed downstairs for some much-needed breakfast. When she reached the bottom floor, Ruby jumped at the last four steps with a rush of adrenaline as she fell. When she landed she could hear the sound of padded paws running towards her before skidding into her leg.

Ruby glanced down with a big smile on her face as she picked up the family corgi, Zwei, who happily barked and licked Ruby's cheek. "Hey Zwei! How'd you sleep, little buddy?!"

"Arf! Arf!"

"Good! Did you take care of your business outside?"

"Arf! Arf!"

"Awesome! And keep those annoying racoons out of our trash?!"

"ARF! ARF!"

"HA! Good boy! Come on, let's go get you some foodies!" Setting down the little grey and white dog, Ruby led the way into the kitchen as Zwei happily skipped alongside her with his tail wagging.

It was a beautiful room, large enough to hold a small gathering of people yet wide enough to not feel crowded. The countertops were a shimmering onyx marble that went perfectly with the dark oak cabinets they covered. Despite its size, the kitchen looked relatively average as it lacked any decor or personal touch that expressed the family.

'Certainly, no mother's touch.' Ruby thought with a slight frown. She shook the thought out of her head when Zwei barked at her. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Just wait one sec little buddy!"

Walking around the kitchen's center island, Ruby opened one of the lower cabinets and took out Zwei's bowl along with two cans of his favorite meat. If her dad found out she was doing this he would scold her ears off.

"Ruby what did I tell you?! He's only allowed one can per day, young lady! You know this! It's not good to spoil him too much because he'll start to expect it more and blah, blah, blah!"

She was sorry but she couldn't help it! He deserved it after keeping those raccoons away from their trash cans! Last week those stupid rodents came by every single night when their dad took Zwei with him on his trip. They were merciless as they spilled the entirety of the garbage bags across the driveway! And who did he think cleaned it up every time? It certainly wasn't Yang - despite most of the trash being hers!

Therefore, Ruby gives her dog an extra can! She commands it as the current responsible one of the house! Besides, it wasn't like she was doing this all the time. It's just a little reward he gets every now and then for being such a good helper. He was, after all, the best dog a girl could ask for.

"Here you go pal!" Ruby smiled as she lowered the bowl to Zwei. With a jump of excitement, the corgi barked happily and dug into his meal with his tail wagging the whole time. Ruby chuckled as she tossed the cans into a special recycling bin used only for dog food.

She always wondered what that stuff tasted like. It didn't look like any of the other canned dog brands people bought at the grocery's stores. It was even delivered once a month from the dog food company her dad assured her was legit. They even collected the opened cans they threw in the bin for recycling. Apparently this type of dog food was made with the best nutrients possible that would allow Zwei to live his best life.

Ruby took comfort in that as she patted his head and made her way towards the fridge. He was a beloved member of her family, and he deserved the best he can get just like anyone else. With Zwei being fed, it was time to feed herself now as Ruby quickly fixed herself some scrambled eggs on top of sliced toast with a side of oatmeal.

"Itadakimasu!" she cheered, happily clapping her hands together, and quickly dug in. No matter how cringy it may sound outside in public, she truly enjoyed saying it on the inside.

As she poured herself a cup of orange juice she could see Zwei finishing the last bits of his meal before licking his bowl clean. He let out an adorable little belch as he walked over to Ruby and laid down next to her feet.

"Glad you enjoyed it! Just don't tell dad ok?" She whispered, putting a finger to her lips. "This will be our little secret!" Zwei glanced up with his tongue out and gave a little nod. Normally that would have been the strangest thing to see a dog do; but ever since their dad brought him home when he was a pup, Ruby had just believed he was a really smart dog which made him extra cool!

With breakfast now done, Ruby made her way to the sink and started washing her plate and Zwei's bowl just as she heard a door upstairs open and close. She glanced behind her towards the digital clock on the stove. It was now 15 minutes past seven.

"Yang!" She shouted up, placing the bowl and plate in the dish rack. "You have 45 minutes to get ready!"

"I know Rubes! I know!" Yang called back. "Don't worry I'll make it!"

Ruby frowned as she walked over to the bottom of the staircase. She saw her sister standing at the top in nothing but a purple towel with her hair out dripping wet.

"Uh huh, yeah sure!" She rolled her eyes, "You said the same thing last week and what happened?" She smirked when Yang flinched a little with an embarrassed look. She crossed her arms triumphantly. "Yeah, my point exactly. Just get dressed ok, I'll have breakfast ready for you by the time you come down."

Yang's lilac eyes widened with glee. "Awww, my beloved baby sister is making me food?! I'm so touched~ I could just hug you~!"

The blonde spread her arms wide open and took a step down the staircase. Ruby instinctively stepped back when she saw more of her sister's creamy long leg than she would have liked.

"Yang no! Stay back! You're naked and the last thing I want is to be suffocated by your freaking large chest!"

Yang laughed as she puffed her chest out proudly. "Aw come on sis, don't hate on the girls!" she teased and gave said "girls" a little bounce. "There's nothing wrong with being envious of your big sister!"

Ruby's left eye twitched at the sight of the blonde grinning while striking one of her stupid "sexy selfie poses''. "I know you're jealous and all but don't worry! You'll grow a large pair yourself in no time! Then you'll have all the boys drooling at your feet just like me!"

Ruby was about to retort but instead sighed as she rubbed her forehead. She couldn't deny the fact that her older sister was indeed "blessed" in all the right places. There was little wonder why she has so many followers on social media and the countless eyes of so many guys at school. She knew exactly what she had and knew how to flaunt it to get her way.

"Yang, that's not what I meant." She counted to five in her head, a habit she formed to increase her patience. But right now, it was barely working as her sister continued to laugh at her reaction. "Look just… don't be late, ok? As soon as your foods ready I'm heading out so you better-"

"Wait!" Yang cut in, "You're not riding with me?!" she cried, making Ruby wince as she looked away.

"Well… no I was… gonna walk… today." She could see her sister's dismay from the corner of her eyes as she rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"GASP!"

And like that the guilt was dead as Ruby turned back and gave her a dry look. "Did you really say the word gasp? Really? "

She went ignored as Yang dramatically gripped the railing with a feigned, sorrowful expression as one hand fell onto her forehead like a terrible theatric.

"Oh, woe is me! How cruel can this day be!"

"Stop..."

"Why must fate be so cruel ~ for an older sister, cast aside, like a tool!"

"Yang…"

"Rejected by my sister! Treated like a stranger!"

"Yang…"

"She shows no remorse, as she kicks me like a broken horse!"

"What does that even mean?"

"You have made Bumblebee cry! Refusing to let her drive!"

"Yang, please this is-"

"Is it my driving? My speed? GASP, could it be that she's afraid? Of Bumblebee?!"

"Yang I just wanna walk! What's so bad about-"

"How horrible! How terrible! How-"

"I WANNA WALK WITH JAUNE AND REN TODAY, OK?!"

Yang's expression changed from feigned sorrow to awkward hesitation as she lifted herself off the railing and shifted side to side uncomfortably.

Ruby crossed her arms. "Is that a problem, Yang?" Through her tone the blonde could hear the subtle warning behind her voice

"N-no!" She said, a little too fast. "No, I- I just… ya know… think it's been a while since... we went to school together and…"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "You do realize you drove me last Friday, right?"

Yang chuckled slightly and scratched her cheek. "Man, time flies huh?! You know what, forget breakfast! Give me five minutes and we'll-"

"Yang," Ruby interjected, "I already said I'd walk with them, and I want to." Her eyes narrowed, "You don't mind that, do you?"

Yang shook her head a little too vigorously. "N-No! No! I-I don't mind, I just... ya know… thought maybe… we could… uh… have more sister time together! Yea, that's it!"

"Yang stop ok. Let's just address this now." Ruby sighed. "I know you don't like my friends very much-"

"I never said I hated them!" Her eyes widened as she slapped a hand over her mouth.

"I didn't say that." Ruby replied calmly, ignoring the annoyance she felt by that too quick of a reply. "But I know how you don't want me around them either."

"I didn't say that either, Ruby!" Yang defended, pointing a finger at her little sister. "Don't put words in my mouth?!"

"Oh, come on Yang!" she groaned as she tossed her hands up in frustration. This caused the blonde girl to recoil her finger back. "I'm not a little kid anymore! I'm not blind, I can see what you're doing. You weren't exactly subtle last year."

Yang looked god smacked by the lack of hesitation in her sister's voice. Her cheeks reddened a little.

"W-What do you mean?! I didn't do anything!" Yang laughed weakly.

"Really?" Ruby asked deadpanned, "What about all the times you dragged me to your lunch table?"

Yang shrugged, "I just wanted us to eat together."

"Alright, how about those times you made me hang out with you and your friends?"

"I just thought it'd be nice if both of us had the same friends so we can spend more time together!"

"If that's the case then why did you sometimes drop me off with random groups of people before taking off?"

"Uh… well… I-I mean… I just thought i-it'd be good for you to grow out of your shell and meet new people ya know!"

"Ok, but did you really think I'd somehow be a part of their circle like that?"

"I mean… strangers are just friends you haven't-"

"And aside from that, "coincidentally", they always happen right before I have plans with my friends."

"Uh, I-"

"And you always seem to try and make me cancel them for you. Whether it's for "sister time", or "helping you with your bike", or a 'family emergency/errand". She paused as Yang seemed to shrink a little with every new example. "I'm not blind sis. I can see an elephant in the room just fine."

As frustrating as it was, Ruby felt a little more relieved in getting these thoughts out. This was the first time she had ever confronted Yang on this, and she realized how long overdue it was. She may have been terribly naive to her sister's actions as a freshman; but now she was a junior and, in hindsight, she should have buckled down when she finally noticed what Yang was doing.

She sighed heavily as the memories of last year flooded her mind. "Look Yang, you always told me not to judge you by your friends. So please... stop judging me by mine." Ruby frowned. "You know Jaune, and Ren are cool. You know how far back we go. And, aside from Nora and Velvet, they're the only friends I have."

"That's not true Rubes!" Yang couldn't take it anymore, "You have loads of other friends! What about-"

"Yang!" Ruby raised a hand to cut her off. "I know what you're gonna say so let me stop you right there." She looked her in the eye. "Even though I've spent time with your friends, they aren't mine. Pyrrha and Coco are cool, don't get me wrong, but I can't say the same about the others."

"Come on Ruby," Yang frowned, "You didn't even try to get to know them."

The younger girl scoffed, "More like they didn't! For starters, Weiss. Out of all your friends, she's as cold as ice. Half the time she either calls me an idiot or dolt and the other half is her criticizing every little thing about Jaune! His looks, his personality, his self-esteem, and his stuttering problem - which she made worse! I mean seriously, she must have a whole binder full of insults off him alone!"

"Weiss is…. Weiss Rubes!" Yang confessed with a sigh. "Don't take it personally, those are just… terms of endearment she calls people!"

The younger girl rolled her eyes, "Wow~ she must really like me then."

Yang played with her hair. "I mean you never know… if you want, I could put in a good word for you." She chuckled awkwardly but stopped as she felt her sister's piercing glare.

"Not funny Yang." Ruby growled. "And it's been a year since that incident at lunch so could you maybe tell her to lay off Jaune?"

Yang sighed as she broke eye contact. "Come on Ruby, you know what happened that day. You can't blame her for that!"

"Well, you can't blame Jaune too!" She retorted, "He has bad anxiety and gets really nervous! I understand why she's upset but he didn't deserve to get chewed out and belittled in front of the whole school! All those insults… that anger… for what? A misunderstanding? You know people still call him Vomit boy to this day!"

Yang rubbed the back of her head. "I mean, Ruby, she's-"

"And then there's the Malachite twins, Melanie and Miltiades. You know they don't even consider me worth their time. They only tolerate me as "Doll hair's baby sister!" She stated, "And there's never a day where they don't openly give my friends the stink eye and call them losers."

Yang looked away "I mean… they're just… really outspoken, Ruby. Sure, they can be a little… honest, but - just like with Weiss - when you get to know them you'll see how they're actually good people just like-" She quickly shut her mouth. She internally cursed herself when she saw Ruby's eyes narrow.

"Like who, Yang?" Ruby crossed her arms. "Maybe… like Cardin?!" Yang could hear the venom in her sister's voice.

"Ruby please, let's not start this again!" Yang retorted with a heavy sigh.

"Then don't bring him near me!" Ruby growled. "You know how much I don't like him, yet you still insist on having around!"

"Oh come on Ruby! Cardin's not bad!" Yang felt her irritation rise. "What do you have against him?! All you ever do is get angry and upset whenever he's around, but he doesn't do anything?!"

"Not when he's around you!" Ruby hissed back. "You don't know what he's like when you're not there!"

"How can you tell me what I don't know about my own boyfriend!" Yang cried angrily. "We've been dating for two years, Ruby! Almost three by next month! Don't you dare say I don't know my own boyfriend! All I hear is people in school hating on him when they don't even know him!"

"Yang, the man literally bullies people and makes their lives a living hell! You don't see it because he doesn't do it around you! People see it Yang, people talk!"

"Oh, so I'm supposed to believe trolls online who are too scared to say it in person?!" Yang laughed, "Cardin has been doing nothing but helping those who need it! His charity streams for children's hospitals, his donations to the homeless, the livestreams and podcasts he hosts to talk about the inequality of Faunus?! Actions speak louder than words Ruby! So after all that, who am I really gonna believe, huh?"

Ruby wanted to argue back but gritted her teeth. She knew she could and tell her every little thing he has done to her and her friends, but it would all just go in one ear and out the other and she didn't have the heart to make the argument worse.

"Fine Yang, believe what you want. But you said it yourself, He's your boyfriend, not mine and I don't want anything to do with him or his asshole friends."

"You didn't even give them a chance either!" Yang groaned. "You act like they're monsters!"

"Because they are, and I don't trust them!"

"Oh, here we go again!" Yang growled. "How can you be so hypocritical when you're friends with Nora! She's psychotic and unstable and should be locked up after what she did to them!"

"THEY STOLE REN'S INHALER!" Ruby's chest rose and fell heavily as her eyes burned with rage.

"DON'T YELL AT ME RUBY!" Yang screamed back then took a breath. "And where's your evidence! The video showed Ren lunging at them and they pushed him back in self-defense! How does that excuse that psycho coming at them with a hammer!"

"Ren couldn't breathe, Yang!" Ruby shrieked. "Of course he tried to take his inhaler back when he was literally dying of suffocation!" She gritted her teeth, "And don't start with the video! The headmaster confirmed it didn't show everything!" Ruby growled. "Some of it is missing and now, because of those assholes, the school's breathing down Nora's neck!"

"And how's that their fault?!" Yang asked. "Did they tamper the video? No! Did they attack her with a dangerous weapon? No! Did they start the fight? No Ruby, they did not! They were in the hospital getting treated! While Nora was getting arrested for a good reason! The fact that Arc bailed her out shows how insane he is for freeing her! She should have been locked away-!"

Yang stopped and knew she stepped on a landmine when tears flowed down Ruby's cheeks. Instantly, all her anger washed away, all her irritation, frustration and sorrow were gone and immediately replaced with guilt.

"Ruby I-I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"F-Fuck you!"

Yang flinched with disbelief in her eyes. It was such a rare scenario for Ruby to genuinely curse at her out of pure anger. She was in so much shock she had no idea what to say as Ruby pressed on.

"Y-You think you know e-everything! Y-You think you understand everything w-when you don't know anything!" Ruby hiccuped and began to hyperventilate, "Y-You think I-I l-like it when you t-tear me away from my f-friends?! Y-You think I'm ok with how o-openly you dislike them! T-Then force me around your f-friends and listen to them talk so much s-shit about them!"

"It's not that simple Rubes!" Yang finally yelled out, slamming her fist into the wall, creating a hole. "You can blame me and act like I'm the bad guy all you want but in the end I'm trying to protect you!" Yang's chest rose and fell as she inhaled deeply.

"You think I don't know anything?" Yang let out a sad chuckle, "Believe me Ruby... I know more than you will ever realize." She gripped the side of her head and looked away as she exhaled a tired sigh.

Soon both sisters fell into silence as seconds turned into minutes until Ruby finally regained her composure and Yang opened her eyes.

"I'll… go get your food ready…" Ruby muttered, "You have 35 minutes sis… please… don't be late."

She didn't see Yang nod as she took off back towards the kitchen. When Ruby returned she could see Zwei sitting down and looking at her with his ears down. He gave a little whine as he walked up to her and placed a paw on her boot. She smiled softly and picked him to give him a loving embrace.

"Don't worry Zwei. I'm not mad at her. I'm just…. I dunno… but I'll definitely get over it! So no more frowning, ok?!"

The corgi's ears perked a little and barked as he licked her nose. Ruby giggled as she patted his head and set him down.

True to her word, Ruby immediately started on Yang's breakfast, making her favorite. A stack of blueberry and chocolate pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs and bacon. After setting the plate down on the table, she quickly poured a mug of coffee with milk and two teaspoons of sugar and settled it next to the plate.

She nodded in satisfaction and made her way to the base of the staircase. "Yang... your food is ready! I'm heading out!"

She didn't receive a reply back, not that she expected one. In truth, Ruby did not want to start the day like this. If only her sister could have just accepted her desire. All she just wanted to do was walk with her friends, that's all. So how did it escalate to this? Maybe she could have said it better. Maybe explain it gently, and slowly make her see the reason as to why…

'No… I think this was inevitable… maybe things will get better later.. Maybe… just maybe..'

Only time will tell as Ruby grabbed her backpack and headed towards the door. She turned to give Zwei a last pet as he followed her. "Try to cheer her up, Zwei. I don't know how she's feeling right now but I think she could definitely use your cuddle powers right now. Ok?"

"Arf, Arf."

"Good boy. See ya later!" With a final pat on his head Zwei scurried off as Ruby opened the door and exited her house.

/-/

The sky was clear today. That was the first thing Ruby noticed as she walked out onto the porch. There was not a single cloud in sight as the sun shined brightly across the city of Vale. It was late October and Ruby could already feel the cool autumn breeze revitalize her as she stepped off the porch. With a content sigh, Ruby followed the stone walkway down towards their gated entrance. She admired every colorful tree she passed, taking in all the dynamic patterns of red, orange, yellow, and brown.

However, just as she reached to push open the gate, she turned and gazed back at her home with a frown. It was not the structure itself that made her sad, far from it. No, her thoughts went back to Yang.

While she stood on the defense of her friends, that didn't stop the guilt in the pit of her stomach. Part of her wanted to turn back and apologize for how she responded, and yet, another part felt she was justified and shouldn't have to. If anything, it was Yang who should apologize, not just to her but to Jaune, Ren and Nora.

Ruby shook her head at the thought and pushed the gate open. For the next few minutes Ruby walked in deep thought over everything between her and her sister.

She wasn't ignorant anymore. She knew exactly how Yang disliked her friends - even if she would never directly admit it. In all honesty, it would have been easier to just stay angry with the girl. She had a good reason to after all. And yet, gods damn it, she couldn't. All she could hope for was a distraction away from this guilt.

And lucky for her, there was one close by.

/-/

It didn't take long for Ruby to spot Jaune's house after rounding a corner. His was the biggest in the entire block, almost like a mini mansion. While it may have looked like overkill for an average family, it was absolutely necessary for his family. Honestly, she couldn't even fathom how he dealt with it all; she had enough trouble dealing with one sister but seven? That must have been tough especially when being the only boy. However, since it was Monday, she knew he wouldn't be alone today.

As she pushed open the large gate to the Arc household, Ruby could already see her friend, Jaune Arc, stepping out of the doorway while another of her fellow friends, Lie Ren, followed closely behind. The two were engaged in a conversation she could not hear, though from the sound of laughter that followed, she knew she wanted to and immediately jogged up to them.

If someone were to describe these two: picture Jaune as a 17-year-old tall, blonde, and scraggly looking boy with soft, cerulean, blue eyes and a timid-looking baby face. He had such round, pinchable cheeks no grandma could resist that screamed 'momma's boy' with his neatly combed bowl hairstyle.

Now imagine Ren as a neat, skinny, tender looking 17-year-old boy with short, black hair, and warm magenta eyes that hide behind large, black glasses. One look at his gentle face and you may compare him to a shy puppy or a pacific bunny; especially when he hides his lower face in his white scarf when he blushes.

"Hey Jaune! Hey Ren! Good morning!"

Upon hearing their names, Jaune and Ren halted their conversation and smiled in the direction of Ruby. They turned just in time to see their youngest friend reach the base of the steps with a big smile on her face.

"Morning Ruby!" Jaune called out as he descended down.

"Good morning Ruby," said Ren, giving her a courteous bow before coming down himself. "How was your Sunday?"

Ruby grinned and held up a peace sign. "It was awesome! Managed to watch all 26 episodes of Evangelion in one day! Took me till three in the morning but it was so worth it!"

"Nice!" Jaune laughed and offered her a high five to which she graciously slapped, "How was it?"

"It was so~ good! Gotta love anime with old style graphics!"

Ren nodded in agreement. "It is nice to respect and appreciate the older animation style from time to time."

"Right?! What about you guys? What did you do yesterday?"

Jaune let out an audible sigh as Ren placed a hand on his shoulder, chuckling softly. "Well aside from dealing with the usual annoying antics my sisters put us through, I finally nailed the cover song we've been working on."

Ruby's eyes lit up. "Oh, you mean "Cloudy Day" from the anime Actors?"

The boys nodded. "Finally! You have to let me hear it!"

Jaune smiled. "Sure! Ren already copied it to a flash drive last night. We can play it in the club room later today if you want?"

Ruby's smile turned into a pout as she shook her head. "No way! I wanna hear you sing it!"

"Ah… l-l-live?" Jaune stuttered.

Ren slowly glanced towards Jaune. His face turned a cherry shade of red as he looked away and made himself smaller, trembling a little.

"Ruby…" Ren sighed "You know how… he gets in front of an audience-"

"Oh, come on Jaune!" Interjected Ruby, frustration in her voice, causing the boys to flinch. "I'm not saying you gotta perform on Vale's Got Talent or anything! I just wanna hear you play it for me! No one else obviously!"

"O-OH!" Embarrassed realization struck Jaune as he rubbed the back of his head. Ruby sighed and shook her head.

Honestly, if Jaune even showed half the confidence he had performing behind closed doors, Ruby could definitely see him getting popular overnight.

'If only'. She thought.

Despite what many people thought of Jaune, the higher pitched "girly voice" he often spoke with was the voice of an angel when he sang. It was smoother, vibrato, and much clearer than when he stuttered and even a little deep - though not by much. It was just the nervous condition and stuttering problem he developed when his dad died when they were kids. Ruby was determined to help him no matter what.

Ren cleared his throat and pulled out his trusty little inhaler. After taking one puff of the mist, Ren held it in for a few seconds before exhaling slowly. It wasn't fair to Ruby as she watched him with a frown. He was already born prematurely with a weaker immune system but developing severe asthma because of that terrible fire in his home village was just like rubbing salt on an open wound.

Ruby frowned and wondered why fate was sometimes cruel to those who were the nicest. Jaune and Ren were some of the friendliest, caring, and endearing people she had ever met. They deserved better.

Then a thought came to mind, one that ran a chill down her spine. What if things were different when they were born? What if Jaune never lost his confidence and Ren never had medical problems? She was sure those two would've had better lives by now. More friends, popularity, maybe even a girlfriend.

But what did that mean for her? Would they still know her? Would they still talk to her? What about being her friend? She'd like to think yes but… if Yang could change her mind about them… then who's to say they couldn't either? Or worse, what if they ignored her? Or made fun of her like so many behind her back?

'What if I end up alone again?'

She shook her head, fiercely trying to erase the thoughts out of her mind. She didn't want to think about it, even if she wished for them better lives.

"Hey guys." Ruby quietly called out, earning their attention once more. "Let's just forget I said anything ok. If you're not ready to play it for me, then no pressure! You're my best friends and you know I'll never make you do anything you don't want to. Right?"

She felt a pinch of fear crawl through her nerves as she waited for their reply. She hated how the anxiety within tormented her. This obnoxious paranoia that always emerged to make her fear the day those she treasured abandoned her. To leave her like nothing, no matter how much she begged. It was a scary thought to think about and more so to sit in silence with as Jaune and Ren stared at her wordlessly.

Then, the two boys nodded to one another with a smile before each grabbed one of Ruby's arms and pulled her into an embrace. She yelped in surprise at the sudden action. However, as she recognized what was happening, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as she leaned further into their bodies and wrapped her own arms around them.

"Ruby, don't be an idiot!" Jaune laughed as he nuzzled his cheek on the top of her head. "Of course, we'll play it for you! You're our best friend!"

"He is right." Ren added as he gave her a reassuring back rub, "We simply misunderstood the question. Your opinion and friendship matter greatly to us."

She embraced the two boys a little tighter as she shoved her face further into their chests. As she blinked back a few tears, she silently thanked them for ridding her of this terrible anxiety.

"Aw~ this is just so~ adorable!"

*CLICK*

At the sound of a new voice followed by a distinct flash of light, the trio quickly pulled apart and turned in the direction of where it came from. Upon seeing the new figure, Ruby chuckled awkwardly as she rubbed the back of her head, Ren blushed profusely as he pulled his scarf over his face, and Jaune merely hung his head low and let out an audible groan as he gave a halfhearted wave.

"Hey Saphron."

There, standing in the driveway in front of a small white car, stood Saphron Cotta-Arc, 26 years of age and oldest child of the Arc family, with her scroll out in one hand and her beloved son, Adrian Cotta-Arc in the other.

"Good morning little brother!" Saphron grinned then turned to Ruby and Ren, "And a good morning to you two as well!"

She casually walked over and leaned closer to Ruby which earned her a confused look from the young girl. "I have to say Ruby, you're a bold one." She whispered, granting Ruby even more confusion. "Two boys at the same time? And so early in the morning in the public eye~ how scandalous! Not even I got that lucky when I was in college!"

"Wait w-what?!" Ruby yelped as her face flushed red. She practically jumped back from the older blonde causing her to laugh as Adrian clapped his hands and giggled alongside his mother.

"Saph~ leave Ruby alone!" Jaune cried as his sister settled her laughter down and played with her son's nose.

"Oh, Jaune my dear baby brother, there's nothing to be embarrassed about! I don't judge what you and your friends do. Why, I'm proud of it in fact! Just so long as you use protection and take turns respectfully I-"

"Saph!"

Ruby felt the incredible urge to be anywhere but here and from the look of Ren taking another puff of his inhaler trying to calm himself down, she knew the feeling was mutual.

"When did you get here anyways? Jaune asked as Saphron finally settled herself down and readjusted Adrian in her arms, cooing and clapping his hands the whole time.

"What do you mean? I've been here for a few minutes watching you kids getting all awkward and sweet with your feelings for one another~! It was just so cute I had to take a picture!"

"Saph, that's not funny! We didn't even hear you park!"

"Guess that means I must be a ninja then, huh?!"

"I'm serious!"

"So am I~! As serious as these pinches!"

"Ow! Saph stop it!"

"No way! Your cheeks were made for pinching!"

"That sounds so wrong, quit it!"

As Jaune attempted to pull away from Saphron's teasing, Ruby silently laughed as she watched the scene play out. Slowly, her smile turned into a frown as it reminded her of how things used to be between Yang and herself long before their high school years. All the playful banter, embarrassing teases, and just all-round laughter the two shared with Jaune and Ren; those were the days.

She sighed as Saphron finally let go of Jaune's cheek and focused her sights on Ren who Ruby noted was slowly backing away towards the gate.

"Don't think I don't see you trying to sneak away, little Lie!"

She walked right up then passed the silent boy, blocking his exit as he stood there like a statue with his eyes darting back and forth.

"I… beg your pardon?"

Saphron quirked an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, you will be! Don't think I forgot last week mister, I expected better from you! Terra and I have grown quite lonely without our favorite little helper~."

Her words were filled with such sultry, Ren's blushing red face visibly winced as his eyes widened a little. "C-come again?"

Saphron giggled as his face sunk lower into his scarf. She could see his glasses fogging up ever so slightly as she leaned in closer to his ear, "My dear Lie, did you know my poor wife misses your cooking? She's had a stressful week so due pay us a visit soon and maybe~ just maybe~ we can both treat you to a memorable dessert."

That was it. Ren felt his face grow warm and sweaty despite the cool autumn winds and started wheezing huge gasps of air as he turned away from the winking blonde. He ignored the worried cries of Ruby, the bursting laughter of Saphron, the small cheers by Adrian, and the yelling of Jaune as he desperately took another puff of his inhaler with only one thought in mind.

'Real girls are terrifying. At least in the realm of 2D they cannot harm me.'

After he finally regained his breath, Jaune had already ended his meager scolding to his older sister which did not seem to faze her in the slightest. Saphron sighed happily and waved her little brother away. "Ok, ok, I'm very sorry for my behavior." She didn't hear it. "Don't worry, I had my fun and now it's time to get down to business. Are the twins ready yet? I don't want you to be late."

Jaune shook his head and sighed as he pointed behind at the door. "Last we saw them; Mom was scolding them when their fight ended up making a mess on the table..."

"Is that so?" Saph glanced at Ren and wiggled her eyebrows. "Well I do know about getting messy on the table."

Jaune slapped his forehead, "Saph that's so inappro-"

"I mean Adrian never likes to sit still when I feed him!"

Jaune signed as Saphron grinned and suddenly pinched his cheek. "You are just too easy, little bro!"

Jaune winced and quickly pulled away as he rubbed the redness on his cheek. "Aw man Saph, this is gonna leave a mark!"

"Good! Think of it as a token of my love little brother!" She shrugged, walking past him and up the house's steps. "I'm gonna go get the twins and get Adrian settled in with mom. Be right back, ok?!"

Jaune flinched as his eyes shifted to anywhere but to his sister. "Actually Saph… we were planning to... go on ahead."

Saphron paused and turned to them with confusion. "What?"

"Yeah." Ruby quickly added, "We planned on walking to school today."

"Is that so…" Saphron frowned and turned fully around as she placed her unoccupied hand on her hip. "And pray tell Jaune! Just why would you want to walk to school when your perfectly capable older sister is here to drive you?!"

He felt a cold shiver run up his spine. "I-I uh… f-felt l-like it?"

"You hate long walks."

"Uh… I-I-I wanted to l-l-lose w-weight?"

"Jaune, you couldn't even gain weight when you tried for a year."

He really felt that one as he winced, "W-well… I-I… uh… y-you know i-it's really because… uh…"

This was entirely the reason Jaune hoped to avoid when they agreed to meet up earlier than usual. Once Saphron got into her Big Sister Mode there was very little he or any of his siblings could do to deter her suspicion. The blond boy continued to shift around awkwardly as he felt the cold, hard stare of his sister intensifies. He looked to Ruby for help though from the looks of her own shuffling he knew he wouldn't receive any.

However, in her stead it was Ren who answered the call. "I am sorry Saphron, it was my request that we walk."

If life were a cartoon, Jaune and Ruby would have stars twinkling in their eyes by now as their silent friend stood before them.

'Thank you Ren!' They both thought.

"Ren?!" Saph gasped, though Ruby considered it way more exaggerate than it should have been, just like her sister. "How could you!" She embraced little Adrian tightly as she mimicked wiping tears from her eyes. "Do you really hate me that much Lie?! Have I truly wronged you to the point of no return?!"

Ren queried an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"Oh, woe is me! He does hate me! I was only half serious with my advancements!"

"I beg your pardon?!" Ren's eyes widened.

"What will I tell my beloved Terra!"

"T-that you're being over dramatic." Jaune mumbled.

"Saphron please, I do not hate you." Ren stated calmly, "I merely wanted to-"

"Could it be that you think I'm a bad driver? Is it that noticeable?!"

Ruby sweat dropped and slapped her forehead. 'I'm getting flashbacks and it's not even noon yet dude.'

"No Saphron, your driving is fine I just-"

"I only have three tickets and the last one shouldn't have even counted!" She flailed an arm up in anger. "That cop should have taken my flirting as a compliment! I mean how was I supposed to know she didn't swing that way! You don't just show that much cleavage and not expect me to stare! It was my duty- nay - my responsibility to ogal those coconuts!"

"Saph…" Jaune sighed "Terra was there too, you know…"

"I know! And even she peeked a few times! Yet she didn't get scolded! Ugh!"

Ren rubbed his shoulder uncomfortably, "Saphron I-"

"You know I wasn't even being serious! Just a little winky face to let us off with a warning but no~ I get ticketed for unsolicited philandering! Why would she even use that word?! I'm not even a dude! Like seriously what the fu-"

"Saph!" Jaune yelled. "Adrian's right there!" He pointed to his nephew.

As if she had a momentary absence of the mind she looked down to see her adorable pouty faced son staring up at her with his little arms crossed. It was too cute to ignore as she cooed and kissed his face until he giggled and cheered at the affection.

Ruby smiled fondly at the image, ignoring the ounce of pain in her chest.

"Sorry about that! Got lost in the moment!" Saphron laughed then cleared her throat. "But you still didn't answer my question, Lie." She turned back to Ren with a look of dejection. "You know I always drive my sisters and Jaune to school every day, and you were no exception whenever you stayed over. You've never had a complaint before so what changed?"

Ren frowned and shook his head. "There is no complaint Saphron. Your family has been nothing but good to me since my arrival to Vale. Even allowing me to spend the weekends here to be with my friends despite living on the campus dorms is a happiness I cannot express with words."

Jaune smiled as he walked up and placed a hand on Ren's shoulder just as Ruby stepped up next on his other side and wrapped herself around the silent boy's arm hugging it tightly. Saphron couldn't help smiling a little when seeing the sincerity behind the oriental boy's eyes.

"And you and Terra are no exception. You both have done wonders in teaching me how to live and manage by myself. Which is what brings me to my point." He inhaled a deep breath and firmly locked eyes with her. "I fear that I'm becoming too sheltered, too reliant on your family's generosity."

Saphron opened her mouth to retort but Ren raised his hand to silence her. "Please, listen to what I have to say first." She slowly closed her mouth and frowned, clearly unhappy but nodded at his request.

"Everyone here knows of my… conditions." He frowned, never finding it easy to openly admit. "I tire easily, I have the lowest stamina among the boys in my class and… to be quite frank my body is certainly not the strongest it could be." He felt the touches of Jaune, and Ruby tightened a little more for reassurance which made him smile. "That is why I fear that I have overindulged myself with your kindness. You have shown great care for me as if I were your own. But I realize now that if I want to get stronger I need to push myself a little more hence why I wanted to walk today. I know it's ridiculous considering how the school is only a mile down the road but still… I feel it would be good training for my stamina. I'm 17 years old and yet sometimes… I feel like an elder and… it frustrates me to know how limited I am. It's not an enjoyable feeling and sometimes I curse myself for my own weakness. That is why I want to get stronger, so that I don't fall behind any further. So, based off my reasonings, I humbly request that-"

"Ren." Saphron interrupted, surprising him as she rarely used his last name. "Let me stop you right there. Mind if I say my piece now?"

The boy shook his head. Saphron smiled and walked down until she was standing face to face with him.

"Good. Now let me say one thing first." She then flicked his forehead causing the boy to wince and rub the wounded flesh. "Are you stupid or something?"

Ren blinked. In honesty, he hadn't expected that response. "For a boy as smart as you, I can't believe you would believe something so silly."

"Saph..." Jaune warned but she continued.

"Do you remember the promise our mom made to yours? The day when your parents moved back to Kuroyuri and let you stay?"

Ren grimaced at the thought. How could he forget? Since the destruction of his house from that fire, he remembers all too well the events that unfolded after. How he and his parents moved into a small house in Vale City that was left to his father after his grandmother's passing. It was completely different from the peace and quiet of his secluded village, almost like an entirely different world.

Ren remained silent for a moment as the memories of the past subsided. With a soft sigh, he nodded and smiled warmly to Saphron. "I remember."

Saphron replaced her frown with a smile of her own and gently placed a hand on his arm. "Then you know she wasn't the only one who made that promise dummy." She laughed and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "We all promised her, and you."

She let go, and Ren found himself strangely missing the warmth from it. She took a step back and readjusted Adrian to her other side as she gently rocked him back and forth. "Lie, I've watched you grow up for seven years. You went from the shy, nervous but well-behaved little boy to… well, the same thing but taller." She giggled as Ren looked away in embarrassment.

Oh, how tempted she was to just reach out and give his mop of hair a little head rub. How she missed the cute little pout he made whenever his cheeks puffed out in annoyance. With a hard restraint, she resisted the urge and continued. "But that doesn't mean you're still the same. When we were kids, I saw you as my new adorable little brother I had to protect. Not because I thought you were weak or because of your conditions. But because I know you." She glanced down at her son and embraced him a little more tightly.

"I always noticed the look mom gave you when you played with us, how much it made her smile. It was the same look your mom had when she brought you over to play with Jaune and my sisters." She kissed Adrian's forehead and smiled up at him. "An is an amazing woman and she and your father did a great job raising you." Ren blushed a little and mentally thanked her for her kind words of his parents. "If it wasn't for her and mom, I'd have no idea what I was doing in life."

Adrian started laughing as Saphron suddenly held her son out to Ren who instinctively grabbed the little boy and held him closely to his chest. Saphron cupped her hands together over her heart and felt a warm sensation running through her at the sight of her son and Lie together. It was not just her. Jaune smiled sweetly at the sight of his best friend and nephew as Ruby desperately tried to restrain her tears from falling. In the moment, the memories of her own mother tried so hard to breach her mind. She, herself, was also thankful for Ren and Jaune's moms being there for her in her times of need as well.

'Yang… if only you can see this… maybe then… you wouldn't have forgotten.'

"And now that I am a mother myself, I can see now what they meant, what they saw when they watched you playing, smiling." Saphron's eyes trailed down to her son as Ren glanced as well to see Adrian looking up at him, smiling. "It's not something you can easily describe with words." She continued, gently rubbing her son's head, "it's something you feel, almost instinctual."

"Just like mom and An, I've watched you and the others grow before my own eyes. And as the oldest, it was my responsibility to help raise you ever since dad…" she trailed off as her lips frowned and quivered ever so slightly. Jaune closed his own eyes and sighed as he turned away as Ruby quickly wrapped an arm around his waist and hugged him.

Clearing her throat, Saphron smiled once more "Well… as a happily married woman with my own family, I can say this… after you spend so long taking care of those younger than you… you can't help but see them as your own. That's why I don't agree with what you said, about being too reliant on us because that's nonsense."

Her sudden frown said it all as Ren immediately regretted his poor choice of words earlier.

"We know you aren't a delicate little flower Lie. Believe me, we've seen how hard you work, and I won't allow you to talk about yourself like you didn't do enough. I mean not anyone can earn two black belts for crying out loud, give yourself some credit! You're a strong, determined, young man who hasn't let his disabilities dictate his life before. And I'm not about to let you start now!"

Ren kept his eyes on the ground as Adrian made little sounds and pulled on his scarf, trying to earn his attention. Saphron took one step forward with her hands firmly on her hips. "After living with us for so long you, Mr. Ren, know good and damn well how important family is to us Arcs."

He nodded as his eyes narrowed a little in shame.

"And whether you consider it, or not, it doesn't matter because to us - regardless of blood or name - you are family to us! And you should never feel like you overstayed your welcome because you would be an idiot to even think that!"

He hadn't realized it, but Ren closed his eyes and subconsciously embraced Adrian closer as the little boy nuzzled into the side of his neck as he shook slightly.

Jaune and Ruby looked at one another, unsure of what to do or say until they heard Saphron let out a deep sigh and saw her smiling softly as she walked towards Ren.

With a quick and sudden motion, she wrapped her arms loosely around him as he continued holding Adrian. His eyes opened sharply as he saw the older blonde woman looking up at him smiling as her little son laughed at the feeling of both Ren and his mother's chest squishing him.

"Like mom said… we love you... Jaune loves you… and I love you. You're our family… and I promise I will protect you like you were one of my own pups too." She whispered and in a flash, quickly pecked his cheek and backed away as she snatched Adrian back into her arms. "After all, you know us Arcs! When we make a promise, we never go back on our word!"

Ren was visibly stunned for a moment as his face reddened and glasses fogged. He raised a hand to the cheek that was kissed and stared at the laughing blonde girl with widened eyes.

"Wha… I.. uh…"

"Wow Little Lie, you're supposed to be the bookworm and yet you can't even form a proper sentence?! Could it be that I finally took your breath away?" Saph teased as she winked and blew him a kiss.

Ren couldn't handle the embarrassment and lowered his face into his scarf as he turned around.

"Aw~ it's still as adorable as when you were little!" Cooed Saphron as Ruby covered her mouth trying to hold in her laughter. Jaune merely groaned into his hand as he slapped his forehead.

"Saph~" He whined as his sister nodded and composed herself. "Okay, no more teasing. But that also means no more doubting yourself. Is that understood mister?!" She pointed to Ren as he flinched and slowly turned back around. He had already taken another puff of his inhaler as he readjusted his glasses.

"Yes Saphron, I understand fully and humbly apologize for my words. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." He straightened himself up and bowed deeply before her as she gained with an almost smug look in her eyes.

"Yes, bow for your queen Lie! If you truly want my forgiveness then I demand shoulder massages and foot rubs for both Terra and I!"

Ren, still remaining bowed, nodded "Of course."

"And… I command you to make us your special pancakes too!"

"As you wish."

"Ooh… and you have referred to us as your majesty!"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Oooooh and you have to let us dress you up and do your hair! Oh, oh and also-

"Saph! You said you'd stop!" Cried Jaune as he gently pushed Ren back up. Ruby looked visibly terrified by how heavy her panting was at every new request and she could have sworn she saw the woman drooling a little. Even Adrian stared at her as if he wanted to cry.

The older Arc chuckled awkwardly and as she rocked her son back and forth to keep him happy. "Sorry… sorry about that heh heh… kinda lost it in the moment." After her son was calmed, she rubbed the back of her head and turned. "I'm gonna go get your sisters now Jaune. Be right back and Do. Not. Move!" She glared at her little brother. "Got it?!"

Jaune backed away with a flinch and nodded vigorously. She smiled sweetly at him. "Good! Say bye-bye Adrian!" She cooed as she walked up the steps and waved her son's little hand at them before entering the house.

Jaune released the breath he was holding and slumped over as Ruby shook her head. "Man, she's intense sometimes."

The blond boy nodded and dejectedly walked over to her. "Try living with her." He mumbled. "And why did she threaten me? It was Ren's idea!"

The silent boy walked over and shrugged as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "I do not understand her ways either. But then again, I rarely understand girls."

"Same, and I am one!" Ruby groaned. "Oh well, water under the bridge right?"

The boys nodded and just as Ruby was about to say something else, the door behind them burst open causing all three to jump in surprise as two very loud, very angry, female voices started screaming at one another as they walked outside.

"You're the one who spilled the table over you idiot!"

"Only cause you pushed me out of my seat dumbass!"

"It was my seat! You know I called dibs!"

"And I countered with double dibs! So, it was mine!"

"You can't do that! I sat there first!"

"Yes, I can! It's written in the official dib rules!"

"There's no such thing!"

"Yes, there is! Look it up!"

"That's not an official thing!"

"It's on the internet, isn't it?"

"That makes it even less credible!"

"Oh, so does that make online dictionaries less credible?!"

"What? Those two have no connection whatsoever!"

"Yeah? Just like your ugly face and my chair!"

"We're twins you idiot! We have the same face!"

"Well, your ass is definitely fatter!"

"Wha- how dare you! It's not!"

"Yuh-huh! Just look at that thing, it's huge~!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes it is! It's thicc!"

"Shut your lying mouth up!"

"It's dummy thicc!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

"UGH! WILL YOU BOTH JUST SHUT UP! GODS YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!" Cried a third voice stomping out the door and down the steps.

Staring at the three new figures, Ruby instantly recognized the arguing twins as Solana and Luna, the sixth and seventh youngest of the Arc children; both were 15 years old just like her and two years below Jaune who was the fifth youngest. They were freshmen at the same high school they went to though it felt unusual with how she was technically their superior as a Junior despite their age.

Being nearly identical in terms of face and body with the same cerulean blue eyes as the family, the difference was noticeable in three ways: their hair, their styles, and their attitudes.

If Ruby were to describe the two it would be a classic case of prep vs punk with Solana being dressed in brighter, more proper attire than her sister. Most of which would consist of a wide range of colored clothing like blouses, sweaters, and flats along with the standard body jewelry like earrings and necklaces. Her long wavy blond hair always seemed to have a matching-colored headband that went with her top. Her personality certainly differed from her counterpart as she was more pristine, orderly, and proper focusing on academics and studying more than anything.

Her younger twin of 10 minutes was the polar opposite in every way possible. Wearing mostly black with darker colors, her style usually involved lots of aesthetically oriented features like mesh sleeved shirts, fishnet stockings, and low-heeled black boots. She was certainly not shy in her accessories with more chains, beanies and fingerless gloves that made even Ruby envious. Even her short, straightened blond hair was styled in such a way it reminded Ruby of Kiba's mom from Naruto with a face that screamed 'don't fuck with me' and a matching attitude to boot, being more assertive, outgoing, and wild with her adventures.

And finally, there was Orchid, 13 years old and the youngest member of the family. She was the only one not in high school but rather a seventh grader at Signal middle school. Despite being the smallest and youngest, though she was taller than Ruby, she was considered to be the most abrasive, sarcastic, and outspoken among all her siblings. It certainly showed since she always had a bandage on her cheek, nose, or forehead as her tongue usually got her into plenty of scraps with boys and girls.

One look at her and the word tomboy would come to mind with her pixie cut, dark tank tops, hoodies, and cargo shorts. Though her biggest distinction was without a doubt the bandaged knuckles she always wore. She was almost like a mini-Yang: thrill seeker, vigorous, quick to temper, and a great fighter. Though Yang was all for boxing, Orchid was more in favor of Muay Thai, ever since she watched Ren receive his third and final black belt.

"Morning guys!" Ruby called out as the three sisters gathered near them.

"Morning!" Solana and Luna simultaneously said, glaring at one another before looking away. It wasn't hard to notice the not-so-subtle peeks they took at Ren if the blush on their faces didn't give it away.

"Sup Ruby." Was all Orchid said as she nodded to Jaune and walked over to stand next to Ren, giving him a slight bow. "Morning Bro-Sensei."

Ren inwardly cringed as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly after returning the bow. "Good morning Orchid. I could have sworn I asked you to stop with that little… nickname of yours. It's embarrassing."

Orchid snorted as she crossed her arms. "Don't wanna. It makes sense to me. You're my big bro and my teach, that makes you Bro-Sensei. See?" She asked, as if it were the most logical sense in the world. She then turned and pointed to Jaune, "Just like how I call Jaune Gentle-Fist or Gentle-Brofist. He's my other big brother but his punches are weak, and he's super gentle."

Jaune groaned as he shoved his hands into his pockets, "H-hey! Y-you know, in Naruto gentle fist is actually a r-really strong fighting style! S-so if you call me that then you're saying I'm s-strong!"

"He isn't wrong," Ren followed up. "The style is based on an ancient martial art called Baguazhang; used for redirecting and maneuvering around your opponent."

"Oh, oh!" Ruby jumped up and down excitedly, "That's what airbenders use too right!?" Ren nodded to which Ruby squealed in delight. "It's so cool! Even if I love firebending more!"

The only reaction received from the youngest sister was a raised eyebrow. "Those are cartoons. This is real life. And that style sounds way too weak for me. Which makes sense for Jaune now thinking about it. He's weak and can't really fight so dodging might be the only thing he can do."

Ruby could only wince as Jaune gave a somber whine in defeat as he kicked the ground below him.

"Orchid…" Ren sighed with clear disappointment, "That wasn't very nice."

She shrugged defensively. "What?! I didn't say anything wrong! It's all true, even you can't deny- ow!" She was interrupted by a sudden bonk on the head by Saphron's fist who emerged from nowhere.

"That's enough petals! No more bullying your big brother or else I'll give you another taste of my big sis-fu!"

Orchid rubbed her head and growled up at her smirking older sister. "Stop calling me that! All your nicknames are cringe!"

Saphron scoffed, "Wow~ talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Now get in the van."

Orchid crossed her arms defiantly. "I thought I was going with Cynthia?"

"She has a meeting today that she can't miss and needs to get to her office earlier to set up." Saphron leaned in closer, smirking at the scowling face of her little sister. "So that means you get to ride with your big sis today! How honored you are!"

Orchid growled, gritted her teeth, then out a raspy tired breath. "Fine! But I call shotgun!" she yelled quickly and ran to the black van parked next to Saphron's car.

The older girl could only shake her head and laugh as she turned to the rest of the teens. "That goes for all of you too! I don't care how close we are to the school. I refuse to allow any of you to be late, so let's go! Butts in seats, butts in seats!"

As she commanded, the teens obliged and walked in an orderly fashion towards the vehicle. It was one of the newer models of passenger vans that came out two years ago with three rows of backseats instead of two. Having such a big family almost required a spacious and hefty car and this was the perfect choice for their mother when she happily bought it.

With Orchid already in the front seat messing with the radio and Saphron already taking her place in the driver seat, it was time for others to follow suit. Jaune opened the sliding door and stepped to the side, allowing Ruby to enter first as she practically nosedived into the second row behind the driver seat.

Ren chuckled softly to himself as he watched his friend roll and loiter around as Jaune tried to push Ruby off of him as he took the seat next to her. It was his turn to enter now, but just as he took a step forward both of his arms were suddenly grabbed and pulled back as he recoiled with them. He looked to his left and right to see Luna and Solana both looking up at him with smiling faces.

"Hey Ren/Lie, let's sit next to each other!" They said simultaneously. Their eyes narrowed as they turned towards one another. "What?!" they screamed in unison.

'Oh no.' Ren thought as he struggled to pull away.

"Oh no you don't, Sola! I'm not letting you ruin this for me again!" Luna cried and gave Ren's arm a hard tug causing the boy to wince.

"Me?!" She gasped and pulled his other arm with equal strength as he groaned. "You're the one who ruined breakfast Luna! You always cause trouble when I'm trying to have a conversation with Lie!"

Luna glared daggers at her sister and pulled Ren back to her side, "Oh please, like Renny here would actually choose to talk to you over me?! I'm way more fun to be around! You'd bore him to death with all your study sessions little Miss Honor Roll!"

Solana scoffed, "There's nothing wrong with trading academic strategies! But of course, you wouldn't understand that slacker! Not like the more dignified students like Lie and I here! You'd just turn him into another delinquent with your loud, obnoxious music!" She growled and pulled him back again, ignoring the faint cry of pain coming out of Ren's lips.

"You gotta problem with my music blondie?!" Luna screamed and pulled harder. "I'll have you know metal takes way more skill than you will ever know you Justin and Britney wannabe! I know Renny here would be way more open minded to give it a listen to than your judgmental ass!"

"We're both blondes, you idiot!" In her anger, her nails dug into Ren's sleeve as he whimpered. "And I won't let you poison his mind with your ridiculous bang head noises! If Lie wants to listen to actual music then I have a wonderful selection of classical tracks we can listen to together! Alone! Far away from you! What do you say, Lie?"

Ren was too busy feeling the pain of both his arms going numb, "I… uh I don't-" He didn't get a chance to finish as was pulled again.

"It's headbanging dumbass!" Luna screamed. "And I see what you're doing, I can play that game too! Hey Renny! Why would you wanna study all day with her when you can hit the town with me! We can go go-karting or grab a bite and play at Rave and Busters! Or we can pick you out some new gear over at Spensey's or Cool Topic if you want?! Ooo~ or better yet~ you can help me pick out new underwear~!" Luna's eyebrow wiggled as she inched ever so closer to his face.

Ren felt himself begin to hyperventilate as his glasses fogged. "W-what?! I-I don't know what to, uh, say…"

"I do~" Luna purred as she grabbed the back of his head with her free hand and pulled him closer to her face. "Just say the word Ren~ and I'll make sure you aren't disappointed in her selection~."

"Unhand him Luna!" Solana cried and tugged his arm back. "I already said he and I are going to spend time together!"

"And I told you that's not gonna happen!"

As the two began the vicious tug of war, Ren couldn't even process the thought. This was all too familiar, too sudden, and too dangerous. Several dozen anime titles rushed through his mind! Normally the harem genre was Jaune's preference, but of course he had some guilty pleasures of his own. No one could fault him for that! He was a healthy - relatively speaking - young male! But this was too much. He couldn't handle this and the anime knowledge within him knew this would end badly.

He turned to Jaune and Ruby, desperate for any kind of help, knowing they were his only means of escape. However, his hope was quickly shattered upon seeing them distracted on their scrolls with intense focus. He could hear the familiar jingle of the Pokemon Emerald opening introplaying through both their speakers and flashbacked to last week when they all downloaded the game from an emulator and ROM site.

"You're mine this time, Ruby!"

"Keep dreaming, Jaune!"

'Damn it.' Was all Ren could mentally say, not even feeling the regret of his choice of words as he rarely swore.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

The sudden sound of a car horn was enough to startle both twin girls into releasing their grip on the poor raven-haired Ren. As he fell, he quickly dived into the van right in between Jaune and Ruby who looked around in surprise and shock at their friend's state and the sudden ruckus.

Orchid was already turning around to check on Ren as he whimpered from the pain as she shot her twin sisters a glare so intense that if she were Lucy from Elfen Lied it would have killed them.

"Now you two I'm starting to get very angry!" Saphron smiled though her voice boomed with declaration as her eye twitched uncontrollably. Her glare sent a shiver up everyone's spine, especially the twins as they clung to each other. "I know you wouldn't like me when I'm angry! So, if I have to get out of my seat to discipline both of you, you will regret ever crossing me!" She pointed behind her. "Now please both of you get in the van and sit far away from Lie as possible or else you will not live to see another sunrise!"

Everyone nodded, even though it was only for the twins who did not object. They didn't need a second further as Solana and Luna quickly did as they were told and practically dived into the van towards their designated seat like good little girls.

Saphron nodded in approval as she watched them and closed and locked all the doors. "Jaune, would you be a sweetheart and keep an eye on your sisters back there." She asked, turning on the ignition. "And do let me know if they act up. Don't give them mercy… they brought this upon themselves." She giggled.

Jaune sweated a little by how uncharacteristically sweet her voice sounded as she smiled so sincerely at him. "Y-y-yeah… s-sure, n-n-no problem!"

"Good!" She cheered, "Now who's ready for school?!"

No one dared to reply. Orchid practically squished her cheek to the window to get as far away as she could.

"Good! And we're off!"

With a wink towards Ren in the rearview mirror she slowly drove the van out the parking, down their road and out onto the street before driving off.

And as they drove, Ren quickly relaxed himself into his seat as he slouched back. His heart was racing so fast he could feel it in his toes. After wiping some more sweat off, and clearing the remaining fog off his glasses, he took another puff of his inhaler, a deeper one this time, as one thought came to mind.

'I was right… real girls are terrifying.'

And thus, the first chapter comes to an end! What did you guys think? It feels wonderful being able to write with a clear head after such a long time. So much has happened and I'm excited to show you where this story goes from here.

Please be sure to share your thoughts and constructive criticisms in the reviews – whether it's good or bad it's all welcomed! And make sure to favorite and follow! Well, that's all I have to say! Please stay tuned for the next chapter and until then I will see you later!