Keys of Heart

Key #1

Shouts.

Her evening always filled with their muffled shouts, at first, they will usher her upstairs, then its started. Argument after argument, slowly but surely raising in volume into shouts. It didn't matter who started it. it always ends the same. One of them would walked out of the house, only to return in the morning.

Granted, it never escalated into physical harm… but nobody said they didn't leave any scar.

Ruby—knowing her parents would argue again, immediately went to her desk after entering her room upstairs, she grabbed a pair of crimson headphones that laid on it and wear it. she pulled her phone out of her pocket and play some upbeat rock music, she didn't forget to raised its volume, just to drown any curse words they'll spat at each other.

She went to sat on her bed, turning her head to the window. Gazing at the raindrops that silently knocking on her window.

'Perfect timing…' she thought to herself. usually even though she turns her music to the max, she could still hear their screams. As she grows older, Ruby grows to like rainy days.

She turned her head away, towards an assortment of photograph. Images of happier life, a normalcy she hoped she could take back. but things rarely go her way. her life in recent years hasn't been great, her grade dropped down significantly, her schoolmates slowly avoid her because of her foreign blood.

As time passes, she starts to feel that she's the causer—she's the problem.

Ruby let's out a weary sigh and pinched her nose bridge, she immediately stopped her line of thinking, and settled on listening on her songs. Closing her eyes, she drowns herself into her own world, a world of rhyme and rhythm… a happier world.

Suddenly, her music stopped, silence replacing its place.

her eyes instantly shots open and was greeted by darkness, but this wasn't the familiar darkness of her room, because there's no dim light from her window that usually lighten the room. then she noticed more things that was wrong.

The fact that she was now laying down instead of sitting, she could feel something soft (probably a blanket) covering her body from her chest down. Ruby shifted into sitting position, feeling the blanket gently crumpled down to her thigh. It was softer than her own blanket, that's for sure.

She took steady breath and tried her best to not panic as she whipped her head around uselessly. It was so dark, that she couldn't even see her nose!

"Where am I?" she wondered aloud.

A sudden wood creaking startled her.

With hitched breath, she turned to its source; at around her corner, where light peeking into the room.

Ruby held her breath as the creak continued and light slowly floods the room. she held up her arms, shielding her eyes from the light, it didn't blind her, but it's still felt uncomfortable.

Ruby slowly lowered her arm, her sight locked to the newly opened doorway, where a figure stood. she wasn't sure who it was, but their physique hinted that they're not much older than her, or perhaps the same age. She tried to squint her eyes, but the shadow casted by the light behind them was proven to be unnaturally dark, as if it hid their visage on purpose.

The figure then started to move, they strolled towards Ruby, one hand swayed with every step they took, while the other was curled to their midsection. Their footsteps echo in the room, Ruby swallowed her spit, but too scared to move.

They stopped by her bedside, Ruby anxiously shifting away from them. the figure stood still for what felt like an eternity for her, their inhumanely golden eyes glowed as they gaze on her.

'Who is this!?' Ruby's brain tried to rack any clues of what happened or who this person was, 'I don't have any friends, and dad nor mom isn't the type to pull things like this.' Ruby swallowed her spit and open her mouth.

All of a sudden, the figure raised their right hand and hastily reach for Ruby!

Ruby's arms instantly crossed in front of her face, she screamed and looked away, shutting her eyes tightly.

And she woke up.

Ruby shots forward from her seat, her breath was heavy, cold sweat running down her neck and forehead. She glanced around her, releasing a long sigh at the familiar view of her mother's car interior. She sunk back to her seat, brushing strains of hair covering her face.

"Bad dreams?" womanly voice spoke from the driver seat. Ruby nodded at her mother's question, "care to tell me what's it about?"

Ruby thought about it, she shook her head, "it's nothing, just some weird dream" she looked away to the window on her side.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing. you're just tired, its what 6 hours travel do to your body!" her mother consoled, "speaking of, we're almost there! I know it's been a while you've been there, but I'm sure you liked it more than Patch"

'Oh yeah…' Ruby thought sadly.

Her parents had a divorce few months ago, after few years of being at each other's throat, they decided to just end it (on a good term at the very least). After that, they had a discussion with Ruby, they asked her who she wanted to live with, after a day thinking about it, she decided to live with her mother. as she thought, it saddened her father, but he did not object 'you're a big girl' is what he said, 'if that's your choice then I'll respect it.'

Before she and her mother departed this morning, they made it sure that she wasn't the cause of their separation… but what if she was? what if they lied just to make her feel better?

Ruby couldn't help but wonder.

As she gazed on the trees they passed by, she caught a glimpse of a big sign in the corner of her vision, it read; 'Welcome to Vale'.

They arrived at their destination after 7 hours of travel.

Their car stopped in a driveway beside a small house in a small suburb at the edge of town. Ruby followed her mom and stepped out of the car. She approached the small house, her silver eyes idly wandering on its surrounding. There was a small patch of garden under the front window, buds of roses growing on its damp soil. there was also a lonely tree near the edge of the property, one branch jutting out above the wide sidewalk near it.

"Nice house, right?" Ruby turned to her mother who was standing beside her, "its near your new school too, we're lucky we got this place"

Ruby nodded, 'small blessing, I guess…'

Her mother then walked to the front door, an assortment of keys in hand, Ruby followed her mother, pulling out her phone from her pants' pocket. Turning on the screen, she was greeted by a picture of mask with burning left eye and a top hat, there was a date written on top of the picture, 'Tuesday, 3 April 2019', Tomorrow will be her first day in her new school.

A click turned her away from her phone, her mom had opened the door, she turned forward and entered the house. The interior was minimally decorated, red sofas sat in the middle of the room surrounding a glass coffee table, a bookshelf filled with books stood by the window, fancy chandelier hung above the room—illuminating it with its light. There's almost nothing noteworthy in the room, Ruby noticed a set of photographs suspended on the wall, it was picture of her and her mom… unsurprisingly, her father was absent.

A hand settled on her shoulder, Ruby turned to her mom, her expression mellowed, "lets see your room, okay?" Ruby nodded and her mother led her upstairs, they turned right and her mother led her to a door in the end of the hallway, she twisted the doorknob and opened the door. the room was surprisingly familiar, for it was decorated just like it was back in patch, it was almost an exact (albeit smaller) replica, the only thing missing were posters on the wall.

"Sorry, but I the posters won't be arrive until tomorrow, bu~t I got those Phantom Thieves figurine you always wanted~" her mother winked with a smirk, Ruby's lips tugged to a small smile.

"Thanks mom"

"You're welcome! Now, why don't you clean yourself and go to sleep, tomorrow's your first day in school, after all!"

Ruby nodded and did as she told, donning her favorite black and red pajamas, she laid down on her new bed. She gazed at the ceiling for a while, before her eyes grew heavy and sleep overtook her.

Soft tunes of piano accompanied by beautiful singing voice awakened her from slumber, Ruby slowly opened her eyes and sits up. in her drowsiness, she looked around. Her breath hitched, eyes went wide, for she was back in the room in her dream!

Ruby shoots out of the bed and stands by it.

Now the room wasn't as dark as before, for the door in the corner of the blank room was already opened, Ruby swallowed and carefully approach the doorway. she took a glance at the bed she laid on. It was a metal framed bed with velvet blue mattress and pillow, beside it was a similar colored blanket crumpled on the checkered ceramic floor.

'Where am I?' she wondered and turned to the door. hesitantly, Ruby exited the room, as soon as she stepped out, she was greeted by the view of a velvet blue lobby, it looks like those lobby in old movies from the 90's, wooden pillars and reception desk, windows covered by deep blue curtains, small chandeliers hung on the ceiling.

But that wasn't what caught her attention… it was who were in it.

A young man around her age was standing behind the reception desk, he wore a deep blue nurse uniform, fancy 'V' plastered on his shoulder. He has his hair styled in slicked back, a stethoscope hanging on his neck. He was smiling at her, eyes closed.

The other person was a hunched man dressed in tuxedo was sitting behind a table near the reception desk, his fingers intertwining in front of him. his nose was inhumanly long. He turned his bloodshot bulging eyes on her, Ruby took instinctively took a step back.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room." a high pitch voice announced, it belongs to the long-nosed man. "Ah, it seems we have a guest with an intriguing destiny" the long-nosed man chuckled, "please… do not be alarmed, you are fast asleep in the real world…"

'So, this is a dream after all' Ruby thought to herself.

"Please, have a seat" the man invited, gesturing at a cushioned chair in front of him. Ruby exhaled a breath and do as she told, "now, let me introduce myself. My name is Igor… I am delighted to make your acquaintance. this place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a room only those who are bound by a 'contract' may enter…" Ruby was immediately alarmed by the contract, but it seems Igor was also aware

"The contract is simple, 'you have to take responsibility for your action.' That is all we asked, in return we will provide help for your upcoming journey." Ruby nodded at the information, "Now, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"My name is Ruby, Ruby Rose." Ruby introduced herself

"I see, it is nice meeting you Ms. Rose." Igor then gestured towards the young man behind the reception desk, "this is Walton, he is a resident of this place, like myself." The young man, Walton nodded.

"My name is Walton. it is my duty to aid you in your journey" he said simply and smiled at her.

"We shall attend to the details another time. Until then, farewell…" as soon as those words escaped Igor's lips, Ruby's vision started to blur, her hearing muffled. Then it was dark.

Friday, 4/04/19.

Ruby was woken up by her alarm clock, she slowly rose up from her bed, 'Velvet Room, Igor, journey… What was all that dream about?' she wondered, rubbing her temple. But before she could mull it over, her mother called from downstair. Ruby stepped out of her bed and got ready for school.

The school was big, bigger than her old school back in Patch. During her meeting with the headmaster, Ruby got to meet her homeroom teacher, Ms. Glynda Goodwitch.

Glynda Goodwitch was a tall woman in her mid-forties, despite that she looks younger than her age. Her hair was blond styled in tied back in a bun with a curl hanging down the right side of her face. Her eyes are bright green and she wears thin ovular glasses. She has dangling teal earrings that match the hanging pendant on her collar. She wore black business suit with white shirt inside.

After a brief introduction, she was asked to follow her. The trip to the class was a silent one, Glynda didn't utter a single question, nor did Ruby.

As they walked, Ruby took a good look at her new school, 'even the hallway is big!' she silently thought. They passed few students, they all wore the same uniform; Black blazer lined with gold worn over white shirt and red tie, for boys they wore a pair of black pants while girls wore black plaid skirt. On their left chest the emblem of Beacon Academy was shown proudly, Ruby also noticed that on their blazer there were roman number pins ranging from 1 and 2.

Ruby looked down on her own uniform, looking at the number 2 pin on her blazer, 'first and second year roam the first floor, got it' she reminded herself, she doesn't want to get into any trouble with anyone, after all.

Ms. Glynda stops in front of a door, '2-A' was written on a wooden plaque right above it. the teacher then pulled open the door and entered the room, Ruby followed suit. Ms. Glynda placed the books she was carrying upon a desk in front of the class, she then gestured Ruby to stand beside it.

Ms. Glynda then tapped the blackboard loudly "Your attention Please! As for today, we will get a new student among us. You may introduce yourself." Ruby nodded and bowed down.

"My Name is Ruby Rose, pleased to meet you!"

"Now Ms. Rose, you may take your seat beside Ms. Nikos" Glynda pointed at an empty seat in the middle row beside a red-haired girl with long hair tied in ponytail. Ruby took her seat and placed her bag under her desk.

"Hi!" the red-haired girl greeted, "My name is Pyrrha, Pyrrha Nikos" she extends a hand, Ruby blinked before took the hand and introduce herself. Ms. Glynda then tapped the Blackboard again and started the class.

School bell rang across the school, signaling the end of first class. most of the students in class 2-A exited the room as soon as Ms. Glynda concluded her teaching.

Ruby was in the middle of packing her things when someone approached her.

"Sup Good looking" said a boy with blond hair with a painfully forced suave

Ruby didn't know how to react, "uh… hi?"

"Say, did you just drop from the heaven?"

Ruby tried her best to not cringed, "…No….?" she has an idea where this was going.

"No, you surely are, cuz you're just as gorgeous as an angel!" Ruby laughed awkwardly at the obvious disastrous attempt at flirting, but the boy seemed to not noticed her discomfort, suddenly someone smacked him in the back of the head! "Ouch, what the hell!"

"you're the one who dropped, as a baby" said a girl with a bright blonde hair, "stop flirting with the new girl, can't you see that you made her uncomfortable?" she shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"What—No! she's obviously liked it, right?" the boy asked Ruby, but she shook her head.

"See?" the girl smugly nudged the boy.

"Yeah, yeah, you right, I'm wrong, happy now, Tank?" he rolled his eyes, pocketing his hands into his pants.

"It's YANG!" the girl, Yang corrected, she then turned to Ruby, "Sorry about him, he's just can't keep his willie under control." The boy scoffed at the statement, "by the way, the name's Yang Xiao Long… and this is Jaune Arc."

The boy, Jaune waved a hand, "Yo…!" Ruby nodded and introduced herself, Jaune then scooted closer and sat on a vacant chair in front of Pyrrha's seat, "by the way, you're from the city, yeah? Why did you moved here, I mean there's nothing really interesting going on in Vale!"

"Oh, um… I moved with my mother, she was transferred to work here" Ruby decided, it was a half lie, her mother did transfer here but it was of her own volition.

"Really? man~ you're lucky!" Ruby disagreed.

Yang scoffed, "nothing interesting? You just didn't look at the right places, Jaune."

"Look where? The only thing remotely interesting in this place was Atlas Mall's Arcade, other than that this town is as entertaining as a sack of rock."

They then continue to bicker, ignoring Ruby who just politely listening to their conversation, 'they seem lively' she thought to herself, she then pulled out her lunch from her bag and started to eat while watching the two rebutted against each other, she glanced at the clock, it's near the end of lunch, 'I should remind them…'

But she didn't have the guts to do so…

The last bell rang, School already over for the day.

Ruby packed her things and already exited her class, as she walked out the school, she noticed that it was foggy, foggier than this morning, Ruby suddenly sneezed, 'it's cold…' she shivered.

"you'll get used to it" an unfamiliar voice said to her from behind, she turned around and saw a tall young man wearing Beacon uniform leaning on a pillar suspending the roof above. he crossed his hands upon his chest, there was a 'S' shaped pin on his collar. "This place is goddamn cold this time of year, it'll get warmer near summer."

He stood up and approached her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "now take care, maybe wore a scarf or jacket until it gets warmer" he advised, flashing him a warm smile, patting her shoulder and walked away. Ruby watched him walked away, silently wondering.

"Who was that?" Ruby yelped at the sudden voice and smacked the source in the face out of instinct! "OUCH!"

Ruby immediately aware of her action, she just hit Jaune! "S-S-sorry, you startled me!" she bowed down.

Jaune nursed his left cheek, "For someone small you hit like a bull-ow!"

"I am so, so sorry!" Ruby still bowing down, but Jaune waved it off.

"No, no, it's okay, it didn't leave a mark anyway… beside you're not the first girl to hit me." she didn't know if she should feel relief or worried…

Jaune then continued, "speaking of, did that guy just hit on you?"

"Umm… no, he just advised me to use a scarf or something, he said it will be cold until summer come."

Jaune rubbed the back of his head, "well, he wasn't wrong, but it's not that cold if you get used to it." he gave his two cent, "by the way, where do you live?"

"Jovia St., near Emerald River"

Jaune perked up, "really, that's near my sister's house! Mind we walking together?"

Ruby weight her option, she decided to accept the invitation, 'I need someone who knew ways around here anyway'

Jaune grinned, "sweet, let's go! and while we at it, I'll show you around!"

As the two walked home, just as he said, Jaune showed her around. They passed few places that was he deemed noteworthy, there was a big bang burger joint, ice cream parlor, marketplace, and an internet café. Jaune only showed her some places near their suburb, he didn't show her the mall (which they needed to ride a bus to go there) but he did promise to show it if Ruby ever want to hang out.

"And that's conclude the tour for today!" Jaune said, stretching his muscle, "Man, been a while since I had a long walk like that!"

Ruby was right at his side. earlier, they passed some busy streets, she then placed herself beside him, so she wouldn't lost "Thank you for showing me around, Jaune" Ruby said, bowing a little.

Jaune blinked, but he waved it off, "no biggie, I'm in the mood for walking around anyway… "

"If you say so…"

As they continued walking, Ruby can't help but feel unease… she didn't know what made her feel like this, maybe it was the fact that's it getting colder… Ruby decided to not dwell on the thought. Then in the corner of her eyes, she noticed an announcement board, 'oh yeah, I need to look for part time jobs!' she recalled.

Lately, she noticed that her mother rarely at home after the divorce, no doubt she was busy with her other jobs, there's a bill to pay, after all.

She stopped before the board, Jaune following suit, "you're looking for part time job? I heard Junes been looking for extra employee lately" he idly said, Ruby nodded and kept that in mind.

"let's see here…" she muttered and point her finger at some list on the board, but there wasn't any part time job on those lists. She sighed and starts to walk away… but she stopped when she noticed a faded flyer stapled near the list.

'Missing Person' was written on huge bold letters, under it was a picture of a boy around their age with buzzcut and sharp jaw, he has a scar under his neck. Ruby tried to find his name, but it was scribbled with red pen, rendering it unreadable.

"Oh that, he's a third year from Shade Academy—in the other side of town. He's been missing for 5 months now." Jaune explained the unasked question, "I heard he was a swell guy—helping people and all that."

"What do you think, why did he suddenly went missing?" Ruby asked him, did he run away?

Jaune shrugged, "No clue, never heard of any bad rumor about the dude, but- "he suddenly stopped talking, his eyes went wide, mouth slowly clenched shut. Ruby was puzzled, she followed his line of sight and her body stiffen when she saw it…

Dried trails of blood.

Her eyes followed the trail, it was heading into an alley, she jolted up when Jaune suddenly grabs her arm, "dude, we must go..." he said, his voice wavering.

"B-but there's might be someone in trouble!" Ruby tried to persuade. With that much blood, they might be in heavily wounded… or worse….

Jaune look conflicted, he glanced around and grabbed a lid of a trashcan nearby, breathing heavily, he placed himself in front of Ruby, "a-alright, but if whoever did that still there, we're get the hell out of here, you hear me" Ruby hesitantly nodded.

The two then slowly but surely approached the alley, hugging close to the wall. Their steps were heavy, cold sweat ran down Jaune's forehead as they finally got close to the alleyway. Swallowing spit, the two took a peek inside.

There was a corpse, suspended on a ladder of fire escape, the corpse was still fresh, blood still dripping from its many wounds. The two went pale at the sight, but it wasn't just that what scare the two.

It was the pitch-black creature perching above the corpse.

The creature shaped like a huge bird, deathly white mask covering its face, bones protruding out on parts of its body. There's a smaller frowning blue mask chained on its chest. It was busy eating the corpse, its sharp beak took bits and pieces of the corpse's head.

Ruby instinctively took a step back, hand on her mouth. Jaune was frozen with fear, he couldn't move a muscle… instead, his muscle slacken…

Jaune dropped the metal lid.

The monstrous bird head turned towards them as fast as lightning.

It squawked, releasing a deafening shriek and accompanied by a gush of wind, throwing the teenager to his rear. The bird spreads its wings and darted towards Jaune with maw opened, revealing its serrated edges. Jaune shuts his eyes and shield himself with his arms.

But Ruby was able to pull him away at the last second!

The bird dove straight unto a building, raising clouds of dust as tons of brick and cement crumble upon it. Ruby didn't spare a second, she immediately locked her fingers to Jaune's wrist and dragged him away, sprinting back towards the school.

The two heard the monster's demonic caw echoed in the air, they decided to weaved into small alleyways, this time Jaune who took the lead. he was still shaken by what he saw, but he can think about it later, now it's time to run!

The two stopped and took a breather on some alley near the school, their body was drenched in sweat, feet shaking as they ran for 15 minutes nonstop.

Feeling that they're save for the time being, Jaune starts to freak out, "w-w-what the hell is that thing?!" he hissed, "that- that thing just killed a guy!"

"Not just some guy…" Ruby said, her voice low. Jaune looked up to her, "that guy… that guy was the same guy in the flyer…"

"You… gotta be joking…" Ruby shook her head.

"No, I saw it—same haircut, same face, same scar… it was definitely that missing guy"

"that's impossible! How the hell did someone not notice then?" they did pass some people before they found the corpse, after all.

"I… I don't know, but Jaune didn't you noticed…?" Ruby trailed off, "we haven't pass anyone when we ran away, even though the street was busy on our way back earlier…"

Then it dawned on Jaune, he stepped out of the alley and took a peek of the street, "y-you're right, what the hell happened, where is everyone?" he then gasped, Ruby immediately approached him. what she saw made her jaw dropped.

a gargantuan tree stood on where their school was.

"A giant tree…. On our school…." She muttered, her eyes turning wide as plate. Jaune dropped to his rear, frantically looking around.

The street was familiar, if it wasn't for the tree, he might mistake it for the street he usually passed by, "where the hell are we…?" Ruby slowly shook her head, wherever they are, it's obvious that it wasn't the Vale they've walked upon this morning.

To be continued

A/N: A persona and RWBY crossover, heavily inspired by elements from Persona 4, some liberty will be taken on the characterization and story. it will be an amalgamation of both series (hopefully in a good way)

Thank you for reading!