New Divide

"I'm sorry." Ruby repeated for what felt like the millionth time since she caught up with the rest of her team. She was also sure she was now sporting a lump on the back of her head from where both Weiss and Yang had whacked her (Yang probably contributing more to the lump), "Man I think I lost a few brain cells." She grumbled in a low tone under her breath.

Apparently not low enough for Weiss responded with, "If you had any to begin with. Honestly at this point I should just purchase one of those collars that have a locator on them and make you wear it so we can find you."

Ruby winced at this comment, but of course it wasn't over with yet, "Seriously Ruby, do you think we enjoy whacking you upside the head? Don't answer that." Yang added once she saw her sister open her mouth, "Point is that you have to stop running off. Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Yang asked.

"Look I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed emotionally and the need to run;" Blake said placing a hand on Yang's shoulder and shot Weiss a warning look before looking at their leader with a mix of sympathy and underlying disappointment, "but do you remember how that worked out for me?"

Ruby sighed and they stopped walking for a brief moment in front of a small restaurant, "I know and I am sorry."

Yang's lavender eyes softened and she placed her hands on her hips, "Blake, Weiss go ahead in and grab us a table. Rubes and I will be in soon."

Ruby looked at her sister. Blake and Weiss just stared between the two uneasily, "Yang-" Blake started to say.

"No, this is a long time coming."

"Ruby-" Weiss started to say as well.

"It's alright. Go." Ruby said softly looking at the black and white duo.

Blake and Weiss nodded reluctantly and went inside the restaurant, but not before taking one last look at the sisters as Yang dragged Ruby into an alleyway. Weiss gave the alley a skeptical look, "Was that really a wise choice? Sure I am pissed as hell but-"

"Yang dragging Ruby into a shady looking alley? Yea probably not a wise choice on our part." Blake said in a tone of agreement, "However let's get a table and some appetizers and hope for the best."

Weiss shrugged knowing the cat faunus was correct however she had to ask, "So if Yang shows up alone, do we assume…?" She trails off when a hostess escorts them to a booth after indicating they were waiting on the red and yellow pair.

Blake gave Weiss a leveling look and asked silently, "Would you really suspect Yang of murdering her younger sister?"

"Shady alley and angry sister, I mean that smells like a crime of passion waiting to happen don't you think?" Blake shrugs and motions Weiss to continue after they are seated and being handed their menus, "Besides I think I would be a bit more annoyed if that were the case."

"Why is that?" Blake asks over her menu to look at the heiress.

"Because I'd like an opportunity to murder my partner before she does; or at least help." Weiss commented back, causing Blake to chuckle as their waiter came to them asking for their drink order.

-SNOOPYKID-

"So you are upset, which I understand totally, however is this really the best place to have a serious conversation? A sketchy, suspicious alleyway?" Ruby asked looking around.

"I am not going to murder you Ruby." Yang sighs out wanting to lean against the brick wall behind her, but doesn't when she sees the disgustingness on it.

Ruby smiles lightly, "Murder by definition can be described as a crime of passion; and you are a rather…passionate…person."

Yang blinks once, then twice before saying slowly as if analyzing her own words, "I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or not."

Ruby shrugs, "Take it how you will."

Yang thinks for a minute before coming to her sense. Shaking her head, she says defiantly, "No, no I will not let you distract me."

"Damn and I thought I was doing oh so well."

"Stop it damn it! This is serious." Yang nearly yells and slammed her hand against the wall near Ruby's head.

"And there's that passion I was referring to." Ruby states not fazed. She doesn't know why, but she is rather enjoying this. Whether it was due to missing the banter between herself and her sister, or it was something that can keep her mind off of what had happened, she could not decide. Either way, anything to keep Yang off balance and twisting the conversation was a win in her book.

Yang was not amused and gave her a leveling look. Removing her hand and taking a step back, she takes a deep breath and exhales out, "Ruby please. Can we not do this and just seriously talk?"

Clearly her fun went a bit too far, so also sighing Ruby ran a hand through her hair and said, "Yea alright, let me have it."

Yang looks at her sister. Like really looks at her, and she senses something. Something almost ancient and heartbreaking behind what used to be cheerful and mischievous silver eyes. Suddenly all the fight and frustration that Yang felt all this time, vanishes. Resigned she sighs out, "Honestly? I don't know if I can anymore."

A pause ensues and Ruby feels surprised. She was about to voice her opinion on the matter, but Yang continues, "It doesn't matter. You are going to do whatever you do with no consideration for us as your team, friends, and family; especially me." Now Ruby was about to protest that, but Yang saw this from a mile away and cut her off, "Do not try to deny it! Woman up and admit it! You will do whatever you want, enact whatever plan you have yet to fully share with us, with no regards to our opinion and feelings on that matter." Ruby saw lavender eyes flare to red for a moment, before fading back to lavender with a large hint of disappointment, "You do not trust us."

"It's not a matter of trust Yang. That was and never will be an issue. Please, I have my reasons and I will reveal everything in time; however now is not that time."

"Then when will be the time?" Came the tone that was demanding yet desperate at the same time, "When we are in some kind of mortal peril and have nothing left to lose?" Again before Ruby could protest, Yang cuts her off, "Quite frankly Rubes, you make it sound like time is something we do not have."

She watches the reaper closely. Ruby's expressionless mask breaking like small spider like cracks, 'there has been a war you have been fighting your whole life'. Yang hears the woman from the tent in her head as she looks at her sister, 'You were born a warrior, and trained like a solider.' In this moment that Ruby was trying to remain in control, Yang can clearly see this solider like comparison. It was almost scary that she could see Ruby as this soldier in a great war, and Yang desperately wanted to help find out what it was that caused this drastic, almost irreversible change in her baby sister, "Please Ruby, let me in. I do not want whatever is going on destroy you."

Ruby pauses her pacing and runs a hand through her hair before rubbing her face with her hands. She then takes a deep breath and places her palms together and sighs, "I appreciate the concern," she starts diplomatically, "I understand your frustrations;" More than you can possibly imagine, "however that said, I need everyone to focus on why we are really here, and that is Haven Academy. Not some fortune teller that had gotten into my head."

"Bull-shit." Yang challenged, "That is utter shit and you know it." Ruby narrowed her eyes in a deadly gaze. It didn't help that the scars that marred her sister's face only amplify the gaze that nearly caused Yang to flinch, but she didn't. Instead she met the glare head-on, "Ruby it's precisely why you need to tell me what is happening. If that woman managed to get to you like that, how the hell can you expect to lead us?"

Ruby kept her gaze trained on Yang for a moment before looking away, "You don't quit, do you?" She muttered.

Yang heard the comment and crossed her arms before smirking, "One of my many endearing qualities."

Ruby snorted, and sighed out, "That it is."

Longing and regret is the tone that Yang heard, even though she knew that Ruby didn't mean for her to hear those words. Silver eyes darkened slightly, allowing Yang to catch a glimpse of a soul that had been tortured and had seen so much in what was a short amount of time. The blonde sighed and placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. She felt the flinch, but didn't let up, offering support that she knew the reaper needed, "Ruby, I've seen you in many situations and as of late, I am not liking what I am seeing. You are not the sister I remember you being, nor the leader I had seen on top of the damned cliff at initiation."

"You are not the leader I remember you being." Weiss's words echoed heavily in Ruby's head.

"You are right, I'm not. Besides what I am doing and planning, you have no right nor business being there." She had said to the last remaining team member she had.

Now looking at Yang she replied, "You are right. I'm not. Now are you satisfied?"

Yang looked at her sister, Ruby had not removed her hand, nor had she backed away. Instead she gave her a challenging look, to which again Yang met head on, "No more like disappointed." Ruby looked away now, but Yang forced her to look at her once more, "You are…like a time bomb. There's something that you are hiding, and there is something that I once heard; you are only as sick as the secrets you keep."

"Sick as the secrets you keep." Ruby repeated as she gently took Yang's hand off her shoulder, "That is an interesting concept and very philosophical of you sis. Please tell me more." This last part was said almost condescendingly with an eye roll to match.

"It basically means that a secret kept in the dark grows and becomes more harmful, but once it is exposed to light or released, its power is lost." Yang explains ignoring the attitude, seeing that Ruby was now listening.

She allows for a few moments of silence, letting Ruby contemplate her words. Ruby breathes in and says, "I…" What had been months for Yang since Ruby had last opened up to her, it was years for Ruby (not counting that hallucination when she had been unconscious). She had promised though to talk to them and tell them the truth, but Haven had to come first. That was what she had promised, that and a deep selfish part of her didn't want to see the shame and disgust that she knew was bound to come once everything was revealed. That she was afraid the love she saw and remembered her sister having for her would disappear once her sister knew the ugly truth, "Yang I'm sorry, but right now I can't. I told you before, I need everyone to focus on why we are really here, and that is Haven and retrieving the Relic of Knowledge."

"But-"

"No buts Yang. Also this really isn't the proper time nor place to discuss things. Classes right now have been suspended at Haven. If Salem were to plan an attack, it would make sense that it would occur prior to students' return." Ruby explained in a hush tone taking a quick glance around their area.

Yang levels Ruby with a look, "It's an excuse and you know it. Stop lying to yourself and most of all to me."

"It's not an excuse, and I am not lying to you. Right now I just need to play certain…details…close to my chest. Please Yang, can you trust me a bit longer? I will tell everyone everything after our mission at Haven."

Yang once more leveled Ruby with a look. Her arms were crossed and seeing the desperateness in the silver eyes she had come to know so well, Yang sighed and relented. Dropping her arms she stares up at the twilight sky, the shatter moon starting to give off its supernatural and ominous glow, "Alright. Fine. I am willing to trust you a bit longer. However as soon as we are done with Haven, you will tell us everything."

Ruby nodded as they proceeded to exit the alleyway, accepting the small victory while she could. It was hard, and she knew she might be playing into something she knew not of yet; but for now she brought herself time, I'm just so tired of running away from this, she thinks to herself as she allows Yang to lead them to the restaurant that Weiss and Blake had walked into.

Then don't, another voice responded that sound eerily like Blake's. This momentarily caught her off guard, seeing as the black and white pair just flagged them over to the table. Seeing the cat faunus brought up another round of memories, ones that Ruby was ashamed of. She was sure that if she had her own set of animal like ears, they would be pressed against her head in sadness and shame, "So you are still alive." Weiss commented as she slid over in the booth to allow Ruby to sit.

When had they fully made their way to the table? Ruby silently questioned herself as she took her seat, "What, you thought I'd kill her?" Yang asked as Blake allowed her to sit as well.

Blake smiled and said, "Well you did drag Ruby into a shady looking alley. What else were we to think?"

Yang frowned, "First Ruby thinks I'd commit murder, and now you two? Honestly I was more annoyed not totally pissed. I can have a level head."

Weiss snorted, "Please. You level headed? That's like saying Blake isn't really a book nerd."

Yang huffed, "Really Ice Queen? Is that the best you got?"

Ruby shook her head and took a fry from the appetizer dish that Blake and Weiss had ordered for the pair of them, "Look all we thought is that the way you dragged Ruby into the alleyway, it was like a…Weiss what did you call it? Crime of passion waiting to happen?" Blake said before Weiss could make a comment back.

"Wow. Guys wow. Thank you for the void of confidence. Really appreciative." Yang said sarcastically arms crossed. Weiss and Blake both smirked and Ruby sighed shaking her head.

"Anyway…" Weiss trailed off looking at the cloaked reaper critically, "Got anything you want to discuss?"

Ruby's eyes widened as she reached for her glass of water, "Uhm…"

"Sorry Weissicle, what is said in a shady alley, stays in the shady alley." Yang said quickly giving Ruby a leveling look. Surprised marred their faces, the three of them not expecting Yang to cover for Ruby. Yang flagged down the waitress and ordered for both herself and for her sister.

Ruby looks at Yang, trying to decipher the blonde's motives…that is until she met Yang's look. It was one she saw on the blonde many times in the past: you owe me. Weiss and Blake shared their own looks with each other, knowing that they would talk to their respective partners later.

The subject was momentarily dropped as the waitress brought out the food and a refill for their drinks. Conversation picked back up to more lighthearted things in nature, to which Ruby was thankful for. It had quieted her ranging darkened thoughts, "Hey guys." They looked up and saw Jaune and Pyrrha standing at their table looking troubled.

"Oh no. I thought we were supposed to enjoying the night off. Why the long faces?" Yang asked.

"Well we were having fun as a team, until we went to this fortune teller tent." Jaune started to explain hesitantly.

"Maybe we should report that lady…" Weiss muttered, and Ruby caught something else about lawyers.

"Anyway," Pyrrha said making sure to make as little eye contact with Ruby as possible, "we went back to lodge to freshen up before dinner, and we heard someone asking for you Ruby."

Ruby internally wincing at the Pyrrha said her name, at the same time however she sensed something different about the tone of voice she was using, "Asking for Ruby?" Blake asked suspiciously, "Why?"

"Well we brought him back to our room and…here we'll just introduce you." He waved towards the entrance.

Nora and Ren came over with another boy causing Ruby to drop her fork onto the plate with a clatter, "Oh shit." Ruby choked out looking at the boy, eyes wide and mouth dry. So much lighthearted conversation.