A/N: Sorry for the late update. I had to attend a thing.

I got some stuff to address before the chapter starts.

First, Adam's tantrum and the reason behind it will be explained later, and I'm sorry for just dropping it on you guys with no build up. I'll try to write it so it's a little more natural.

Second, I know Rose cries a lot. I know some of you find it weird. I wrote it this way because I want you as the reader to know that despite the years of hell she lived through, she held on to what made her who she was. Killing was an unforgivable act to her and she never let herself forget that. That is why each kill was so painful for her. The rest is explained in the chapter.

I don't own RWBY or RoosterTeeth.

Guilty Rose Chapter 2

Rose stared into the bathroom mirror for what felt like hours. Her eyes and cheeks were still red and puffy from crying last night.

"They're red because I am still stained with blood."

Rose desperately tried to shake the thought away. She hyperventilated as her thoughts only turned darker.

"I thought taking Ozpin's offer would actually allow me to stop killing. Just like I thought leaving the Oni Tribe would allow me to stop."

Rose felt the urge to start crying again, but she had nothing left to cry. Her eyes just stung.

"Rose, the new students will be arriving today. Would you like to seem them when they arrive. They will be you future classmates and teammates."

Glynda's voice pulled Rose out of her thoughts. Rose wasn't sure about meeting new people, not with her history. Especially not after what she did last night. But Rose also desperately need a distraction from her own thoughts.

"I think I would like to see them, Glynda."

"It's Professor Goodwitch from today on. They'll be here in a few hours, so there's plenty of time to get ready."

Rose sighed before looking back into the mirror. She was struggling to keep her thoughts from turning dark again as she began braiding her hair.

"I wonder how much my team will hate me when I tell them who I am."

"I wonder how much Cin hates me now."

Rose saw the clear recognition in Cin's eyes. She saw the disappointment and pain when Cin looked at her neck and saw that Rose no longer had her charm.

"I don't deserve anything good in my life."

Rose clutched at her neck. The last lesson Hannya taught her had reared its head again. Ozpin and Glynda did their best to help Rose, but they couldn't fix her. The Oni Tribe had not only broken Rose, they stole the pieces of her. Rose resumed braiding her hair, then paused again. She remembered the one person in all those hellish years that put a piece of her back into place.

"Why was Cin there in the first place?"

Rose admittedly knew very little about Cin, but she knew the raven haired girl was the same as her. A tool for someone to use. So she had to find Cin again and talk to her.

"But first, the opening ceremony."

….

"I wonder if Rose escaped the Oni Tribe."

Cin sat locked in her office, trying to avoid Adam's confusing tantrum. He had literally been screaming about Rose for hours. Best she could make from his rantings were he met her a few years back and she slaughtered his men. She couldn't tell what type of revenge he wanted, but she was certain she couldn't let him carry it out. And the worst part was, Adam had convinced the rest of the White Fang that Rose was a traitor to her kind and she was to be brought to him at any cost.

"Salem said to deal with him, but we need the White Fang. If this continues, we'll only get Rose."

She had been coming up with various plans, but she could only could see either keeping the White Fang's support or recruiting Rose. Cinder swirled the wine in her glass again while deep in thought. A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts.

"Who is it, and this had better be important."

"It's Emerald and Mercury, we have news from Lionheart."

Cinder felt a small amount of excitement as she made her way to the door. She unlocked the door and locked it after her too subordinates entered her office.

"So? Did you get the transcripts? Can we begin our mission?"

"Um, no. we have the transcripts, but Ozpin won't allow exchange students for a few more months."

Emerald watched as Cinder grit her teeth. She didn't understand Cinder's interest in the Guilty Rose.

"It's just one girl!"

"We'll just have to deal with Adam until we can get to Rose."

Emerald couldn't take it any more.

"Why does some little girl matter so much!"

Cinder spun and glared at Emerald.

"Rose is not just some girl, Emerald."

"Emmy, drop it."

"No! we're risking the everything for this girl."

"And she'll be worth it!"

"How? In what way can she possibly worth all these risks? I seen the way the White Fang are acting because of this girl. If we recruit her, we will lose their support, and you know that!"

"I know that! But she's worth it!"

"You keep saying that! How?"

"She's the Guilty Rose. I've told you what she's capable of. Even the mistress sees her worth. That is all you need to know."

Emerald scoffed in defeat. She had lost this battle, but she wasn't done fight against the recruitment of the girl.

….

Yang could barely contain her excitement while she waited for the bullhead to Beacon Academy to arrive. Her father had made her a massive breakfast, all of her favorites. She met her stepmother Summer Rose at the port so they could wait for the bullhead together. She was so happy until she glanced back at her stepmother, who was wearing a sad smile.

"I really wish Tai would have come to see you off here."

Yang sighed, her father and stepmother had lived separately for months now. After Ruby was taken, they had spent months searching for her. Summer even found Raven Branwen, Yang's biological mother, and forced her to help them search for Ruby. Summer was terrifying when it came to finding Ruby. But as months turned to years, people gave up on Ruby one by one. And when her father finally gave up on Ruby, it drove a wedge between him and Summer. All Yang could do was watch them drift apart over the last few years.

"You and dad aren't getting back together, are you."

"No, he...sent me the legal divorce papers last week."

Yang hugged her stepmother tightly. She held the somber embrace for a few moments before finally pulling away, but still held her stepmother's hands. The elder woman took a few deep breaths and gave Yang a genuine smile.

"I'm sorry, today is about you and your first day at Beacon."

Yang squeezed Summer's hands for a moment.

"It's okay, I know it's been rough. But hey, you're the reason I'm even here."

"That's not true, you worked hard for this all on your own."

Yang hung and shook her head while squeezed the pale hands once again.

"I'm here because of the example you set for me on what a huntress should be. Strong. Determined. Unwavering."

"Sweetie."

Yang meant every word of what she said. Summer's unending search for Ruby had truly been what inspired her to be a huntress herself in the first place. Yang looked back into her stepmother's silver eyes.

"Mom, is ruby still out there?"

Yang had asked this question countless times in the past, and it was always a serious matter for her because of the way Summer answered. Her stepmother stood straight and closed her eyes. Yang then watched as Summer's aura flickered. The woman stayed like this for a few moments. Then her eyes opened and she looked at Yang with certainty.

"Yes, Ruby's still alive and out there."

Yang pulled her stepmother in for another hug.

"I'll find her then. No matter how long it takes."

"I know you will."

….

Rose sat on a bench that looked out on the docks wearing a new forest green cloak that Glynda gave her this morning. She actually liked this one. Glynda advertised it had rose vine print that doubled as camouflage, but really they both liked the design. Rose may not have had a fashion sense, but she knew what appealed to her.

"I need to get something special for Glynda."

The sound of approaching aircraft caught her attention. When she looked up, Rose couldn't help but marvel at the aerial vehicles. She was always captivated by machines, and to some extent weapons. Rose let out a sigh and just listened to engines to calm her nerves. She'd be lying to herself if she said meeting knew people wasn't nerve wracking for her.

"Why did I even want to see these people in the first place."

Rose watched the transports land, both curious about and terrified by the people who were about to exit. However, the first to come out defied all of her expectations. A scraggly blonde boy came sprinting out of the bullhead, all the way to a trashcan. He retched repeatedly into the can. Rose was disgusted by the vomit boy, but somehow felt less terrified. She then continued watching the crowds that walked before her. She made mental notes on several interesting people. A tall redhead she felt like she recognized, but couldn't remember where she knew her from. Another blonde caught Rose's eye, a girl this time. She was gaudy, beautiful and surrounded by people. But again, she was somehow familiar to Rose. She focused on the blonde.

"Who is she?"

Then Rose remembered why she was even out there. She decided the blonde girl looked friendly enough to approach. She got up and took two steps towards the blonde, but then was hit by a luggage cart.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

The shrill voice tripped something in the scarred wolf faunus. She instinctively balled up and covered her head, preparing for the hits and screaming.

"I said-"

Weiss was furious with whoever was standing in her way. That was until she saw the cloaked girl balled up and trembling on the ground. Suddenly, all she could think about was helping this person.

"Hey, are you okay?"

The girls breathing shuddered and quickened. Weiss felt panic rising in her chest. She reached out and touched the girl's shoulder. The cloaked girl immediately tensed up.

"Are you hurt?"

Weiss watched as the girl turned her head to look at her. She was stunned momentarily when she met those huge silver eyes. She could have sworn there was an actual sparkle to them. When she recomposed herself, Weiss inspected the face of the girl carefully. She was rather pretty, and must have been about two years younger than Weiss. The cloaked girl's eyes showed obvious signs of crying, and she looked she was about to start crying right then.

"Miss?"

Rose closed her eyes and took a deep ragged breath to calm herself. She knew her nerves were shot because of the previous night, she just didn't realize how bad. The faunus composed herself enough to sit up and looked back into the blue eyes of the girl who ran into her.

"Rose, Weiss Schnee, my name is Rose."

"Ah, well then, Rose, are you hurt?"

Weiss offered Rose a hand, which she hesitantly took before dusting herself off.

"No, I'm fine. You just startled me is all."

Rose began picking up the spilled luggage. This took Weiss by surprise.

"You looked a lot more than startled. Are you sure you're okay?"

Rose picked up a vial of dust that had its cap knocked loose. She tightened the lid before handing it to Weiss. Weiss packed the vial away into its padded case.

"Yes, I'm fine. You just brought back some bad memories when you yelled at me."

"Ah."

Rose placed the last piece of luggage back onto the cart and turned to Weiss again.

"The ceremony will begin soon, we should head to the auditorium."

Rose didn't wait for a response before walking off. Weiss was shocked by Rose's actions again, but quickly recovered and followed the girl.

….

Yang stood with her friends. Ozpin had just given his haunting speech and Glynda told the initiates they'd be staying in the ballroom. She was looking around at other initiates seeing if anyone stood out. She saw a black haired beauty with a bow on her head who was being a wallflower.

"She reminds me of a cat for some reason."

Yang continued scanning the crowd until she spotted vomit boy from the airship attempting to hit on two girls. One had white hair and an expensive-looking white and blue dress and the other had this green cloak with what appeared to be vines printed on it. He obviously wasn't getting anywhere if the white haired girl's annoyed expression was anything to go by, but he kept at it. Yang couldn't let this continue, she began marching over.

"Hey man, can't you see you're bothering them."

"I-I-I-"

"Would you just go."

The boy deflated and walked off, glancing back at the trio. Yang huffed and turned to the two girls with her signature smile.

"Some guys just don't know how to take a hint, huh? Yang Xiao Long, by the way."

Yang threw out a hand for the white haired girl to shake. The girl took it with a dainty hold and gave Yang a curt smile. Yang couldn't help but noticed the cloak girl kept her hood up and actually shrank away from her.

"I am Weiss Schnee, this here is Rose, um, actually you never gave me a last name."

"I just go by Rose, I don't know my last name."

Both girls were taken back by this revelation, but the cloaked girl just shrugged. Yang's shock turned to pity, and she approached the girl. Rose held out a hand to stop Yang.

"It's fine, really. I-I'll even tell you the story, if we end up on the same team."

Yang saw the girl lips curl into a sad little smile. She wanted to hug her even more now. It was odd, like she was a big sister again.

"Okay then, Rose, you want to sleep next to me in the ballroom tonight? We can chat and all that."

Yang cranked up the charm on the girl. But the girl just shook her head and let out a sad little chuckle. Yang felt her 'big sister' instincts kick in again.

"Come on, I just want to get to know you."

"I'm not staying in the ballroom tonight, I have...special arrangements made. But thank you Yang."

Yang deflated at Rose's words. She honestly never knew anyone who could resist her charms like this, and it made her wonder who this girl was.

"Well, I need to finish preparing for tomorrow. It was nice to meet you Weiss and you too, Yang."

"Farewell."

"See ya tomorrow!"

Yang watched the girl disappear into the crowd before shaking her head.

"I hope we end up on the team."

Rose glanced back over her shoulder and sighed.

"I hope we don't end up on the same team, I'm not sure I could bear them hating me."

A/N: There it is, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, the next chapter will be the initiation arc, I might do a part I & II. I haven't decided though. I'll write it and then decide.

I want you guys to know that I love your critiques and suggestions, I really take them seriously as most of you have learned. Please keep them coming.

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Thank you again!