A/N: So I'm back on schedule! Kinda… Not really…

Anyway, it's here, and it's another big chapter content wise.

I'm quite pleased with how this chapter came together.

Also, 600 followers...damn guys, I feel the love and it helps me write.

So without further adieu, the chapter.

I don't own RWBY or RT.

*Edit: 12/31/18 A friend decided to do fanart for GR and so I made it the cover art for the story. His deviantart page is www .deviantart thehonestspacepotato just remove the spaces, so please check him out.

Guilty Rose Chapter 29

It had been a few days since the incident with Qrow's flask, and Summer was still not letting Rose out of her sight. Thus, here they were, her, Raven, and Rose, walking home from the grocery store after buying all the things they needed for one last big meal for Rose before she went back to Beacon in a few days.

Summer didn't actually want Rose to go back, but apparently the White Fang in Vale was more active than ever, and all of it was looking for Rose. So Beacon Academy would be the only place she'd actually be safe in Vale.

A sigh slipped past her lips as she once again finished that particular train of thought. The sigh went unnoticed by Rose, who was trying to avoid all the people walking towards her. However, Raven picked up on it and immediately turned to her faunus lover.

"You're thinking about it again, aren't you, Sum?"

"How can I not? My daughter, who I've only just found is being hunted by fanatic faunus as a traitor to her kind'. And let's not forget, my idiot brother-in-law put the idea that alcohol is a good coping mechanism in her head."

"Your brother-in-law? When did we get married?"

"Shush dear, I'm ranting."

Raven snorted in amusement and motioned for her self-proclaimed wife to continue.

During their exchange, neither huntress had noticed a pair of malicious eyes that on them. Though where they were too preoccupied, their youngest daughter was not and so she found the owner of said eyes easily. Rose didn't make any visible reaction to the faunus that was now following them, she prepared herself to react.

"I mean, what could those maniacs possibly want with Rose?"

"I mean, you did say they branded her a traitor, and we both know what kind of monsters they are to 'traitor'."

"Yeah, that makes me feel worse. Now I want to go to Beacon with her and protect her from those psychos."

Apparently their follower had enough of being unwittingly insulted and pulled out a knife.

"Die, Traitors!"

Summer reacted immediately, but as she was caught off guard her movements were slower than they should have. Not that they needed to be, the idiot announced himself so far back she had more than enough time to be ready for him. However, before he could even reach her, the blur of her daughter zipped past her.

The incompetent assailant couldn't even mentally register her opening uppercut before she grabbed him by the collar and brought the right blade of Blossoming Rose to his neck.

It wasn't until the blade edge met the man's neck that Rose realized she let muscle memory take over again. Her heart sank as she waited for the inevitable sight of blood, but it never came. The man's aura stopped her from delivering the would be fatal blow. Instead, his head snapped to the side and then slumped from the whiplash.

Rose stared at the unconscious man, baffled that he was still breathing. Suddenly the whole thing hit he and she dropped him.

Summer and Raven rushed to her immediately and started checking her frantically, ignoring the gathering crowd.

"Are you okay, sweetie?"

"I didn't kill him."

The words were hardly a whisper.

"What was that?"

Rose turned to Summer with big eyes full of emotion.

"I didn't kill him."

Summer didn't immediately catch the meaning of her words and so looked between her daughter and the unconscious grunt. Raven, however, did understand, and immediately hugged the girl.

"Yeah, he's fine, just knocked out. You did good."

"But it wasn't me. I tried to kill him, but I couldn't because mommy's weapon."

Raven bit her lip at that, not sure what to say. But then it turned out, she didn't need to say anything as Rose turned to Summer again, happy tears running down her cheeks.

"You stopped me from killing him."

….

James was finally back from his investigation in Mistral, armed with as many questions as he had gotten answers to.

The Oni Tribe's ruins showed they were small for a bandit tribe, but had resources well beyond their means. Thus they must had someone supporting them, but who.

Then there was the fact that they were wiped out so brutally. The forensics just wouldn't add up there. How did one person kill an entire tribe of well funded bandits. Not to mention who would want them dead, it wasn't a huntsman because there should have been some kind of report.

And finally the bullets, he had sent some of them to his most trusted engineers to analyze them. Their report worried him, the only things they knew for sure was that the dust bullets absorbed aura and were fragile. They couldn't properly discern the types of dust used or who could have made them. This worried him because the evidence pointed to there being thousands of of rounds.

James sighed and massaged his temples to ease his growing headache.

"There is too much going on here. I need answers."

As if by providence, a knock sounded from his door.

"General Ironwood, I have some matters I wish to discuss with you."

James recognized the voice of his assistant immediately.

"Ah, Specialist Schnee, come in."

"Sir."

James caught a glimpse of his daughter as Winter opened the door and stepped. He was now truly curious on the matters that needed to be discussed, as well as welcoming the distraction.

"What do you need to discuss with me?"

"Your daughter and myself wish to accompany you to Beacon Academy."

James quirked an eyebrow. He didn't see any reason not to allow it, though he needed to be certain of her reasons.

"For what purpose?"

Winter straightened up her posture even more somehow.

"As you are no doubt aware, my younger sister attends Beacon Academy, and I wish to see how she is doing with my own eyes."

Winter subtly glanced to the side as she said her piece, James had known the specialist long enough to know that meant she wasn't being entirely truthful.

"While I have no doubt you wish to see your sister, that cannot be the only reason why you'd wish to accompany me."

Winter's eye twitched, James knew he caught her.

"I can't give away too much about the team or he could ruin my investigation of them."

"There is evidence that a team attending Beacon may be harboring a criminal. Sir I'd like to make sure my sister is truly in good hands."

James' eyes widened.

"How did she learn about the Guilty Rose? Did her sister tell her?"

James closed his eyes and weighed his options. He could tell them no, but then they could easily just take leave to visit Vale regardless. If he said yes, then he could monitor them and make sure they didn't attack Rose.

It was another moment before he made his final decision.

"I am giving you permission to join me. However, there is a condition. You will not engage any students or staff at Beacon under any circumstances. If you do find definitive evidence of this criminal, bring the evidence to me and I will deal with it."

Winter bit the inside of her lip, she knew he'd do something like this. At least he wasn't actually restricting her.

"That condition is acceptable. When do we leave and how many troops are we bringing?"

"We leave in two days, and only us three."

"Sir?"

"I am going to see Ozpin to discuss my investigation with him. This matter is sensitive in nature and so the fewer people, the less risk."

"I understand. I'll begin all necessary preparations."

"Thank you."

Winter turned and walked out of the office, leaving James to consider the fact that she had discovered the Guilty Rose as well as his own investigation.

His headache returned with a vengeance.

….

Rose could honestly say she had never seen Weiss acting like this. Her partner was both ecstatic and anxious to incredible degrees.

And thus this is why Rose, Blake, and Yang found themselves sitting on Rose's bed watching Weiss pace back and forth fretting about how her 'amazing older sister' would be at Beacon Academy soon.

"Wow. I've never seen her so worked up."

"I know, and I can't tell if it's because her day is being made or the world is coming to an end."

Rose didn't comment, as she was now beginning to really worry about Weiss.

"The dorm is spotless, my appearance is immaculate, Ren has Nora corralled, what am I forgetting?"

Weiss began chewing her lip so hard her aura activated. And that was the last straw for Rose, she couldn't take seeing her partner devolving into self-destruction like this. Not when she could do something.

Rose jumped off the bed and made her way to Weiss.

"Weiss, you need to calm down."

"But I can't Rose, I have to make sure everything is perfect!"

Rose could now see how truly wild Weiss' eyes were. Simple words wouldn't do anything here. So she looked to her sister. Yang, no longer thinking this was humorous, tried to think of a solution. However, she only saw the problem and a vague solution.

"Weiss you're overthinking this, just sit down and stop thinking for a moment."

"'Stop thinking'! How can I possibly stop thinking?"

Yang and Blake looked at each other and remembered the other day when Rose was drunk.

"Rose can definitely help you with that."

"And how can she help, exactly?"

Yang smirked, this she would enjoy.

"Same way she did last time. Rose, If you kiss Weiss again, it'll make her feel better."

"Really?"

"What?"

Yang's smirk grew into a grin.

"I promise that it'll help her."

Rose turned to Weiss and Yang was immediately satisfied with result of her efforts.

Weiss on the other hand worked her jaw trying to voice some kind of protest or assurance, but Rose big silver eyes were melting any resistance she tried to mount.

Rose reached up and grabbed Weiss by the collar of her jacket and began slowly pulling Weiss to her level. Agonizingly slow for Weiss.

"May I kiss you?"

Rose's words were so soft and Weiss could no longer trust her traitorous tongue and simply nodded. Rose closed the gap between them and her lips met Weiss'. The kiss brought upon such an intoxicating feeling. It was like nothing else mattered. But soon, Rose ended the sweet contact and looked back into Weiss' eyes to see if the kiss had the desired effect. Weiss eyes were glazed overand she just looked content with the world. Rose almost giggled at Weiss' expense, but instead led Weiss to her bed so she could sit.

Yang smiled at the pair before glancing to her side. There she found Blake staring longingly. Yang sighed and shook her head. She'll have to talk to Blake about this soon.

"Is this what Cinder had to go through with Neo?"

Yang poked her partner, who jumped at the sudden contact. Blake then glared at Yang, who just smirked in response.

"Oh, she needs a good talking to."

….

Winter stood as the Bullhead made it's final approach on Beacon. Finally, she could see if her sister was truly safe here at Beacon. She had pulled so many strings to get Weiss into Beacon and away from Jacques and his influence.

The possibility that she had put Weiss in danger by doing so was suffocating.

"It will be fine friend Winter. We will make it so."

Winter looked over at the younger Ironwood, and took comfort in the finality of her words.

"I know, I just can't help but worry."

Winter sighed, she needed to talk this out.

"Did I ever tell you that I was the real one that got Weiss into Beacon, Penny?"

Penny looked at Winter, baffled by that bit of information.

"No, I was under the impression that your fa-, I mean, Jacques Schnee used his influence to accomplish that."

"No, he only made a token effort. Weiss was accepted into Beacon Academy through a combination of her merits and my efforts to convince Headmaster Ozpin to give her the chance she truly deserved."

Penny looked to the cargo hatch to process the information.

"I see, is this why that folder of evidence had you so worried?"

"That is correct. It terrified that even though I spirited her away to safety, only for it to put her in the path of another criminal."

"But she told you that the team in question wasn't that bad?"

"I know, and I want to believe her, but..."

"She is your younger sister and you need to know she's safe."

Winter simply nodded at the truth in Penny's words. There was nothing rational about this.

"Then I will repeat what I said before, we will make so that she is as safe as can be."

Winter smiled at the redhead beside her.

"Thank you."

Penny beamed at her in response.

It was at this moment that the speakers in the bullhead came alive.

"We are landing now."

….

Ruby stood next to Weiss, holding her hand to keep her calm. She also asked Blake, Yang, Cin and her team, and team JNPR to come to the docks to lend moral support.

Weiss sharply inhaled when she saw Winter's bullhead come in for a landing. Rose squeezed her hand gently to reassure her.

"She's here."

"It's going to be okay."

The aircraft landed and the engines whined as they spun to a stop.

"She's actually here."

"Weiss. It's okay."

The cargo hatch finally opened to reveal two figures standing there. Rose recognized which one was Weiss' sister, White hair and blue eyes are not common occurrences.

Weiss took a moment of hesitation before briskly walking up to the bullhead. Rose let her go on ahead, figuring she needed to do this part by herself.

"Greetings, sister. It is a pleasure to see you again."

Rose was worried once again, Weiss was standing far too stiff.

"How have you been sister?"

"My grades, as well as my team's, are at the top of our class, and we are-"

Rose saw the painfully familiar movements of Winter preparing to slap Weiss. No one got to hurt Weiss, not when she could stop them.

Rose channeled her full semblance and rocketed towards the pair. She put herself between the sisters just in time to catch Winter's wrist.

Both Schnees tared wide eyed as the petals settled.

"I don't care who you are, you will not hurt Weiss."

Rose released Winter, who then stumbled back before regaining her composure.

"And who are you to get in between our family's affairs?"

"I am her partner."

Winter narrowed her eyes and studied the girl before her.

"So this is the partner I've heard so much about."

Winter's curiosity quickly turned to terror as she began recognizing the girl.

"You."

Winter drew her saber and pointed it at Rose.

"I knew there were criminals walking freely here at Beacon, but for them to let the Face of Death even breathe freely here."

Winter immediately thrust her blade at Rose's neck. Unfortunately with Weiss behind her, Rose parried the attack by slapping the flat of the sword.

"Winter! Stop!"

"I will not let this filth walk free any longer!"

Rose flinched at the insult. She had been called foul things before, but this time it truly stung.

Winter lashed at Rose again, but Rose had manage to draw Blossoming Rose with a reversed grip. She parried the attack and delivered a right hook to Winter's ribs, forcing the specialist back again.

Winter growled after recovering from the blow, Giving Rose time to take a proper stance this time.

"Please don't do this, I don't want to hurt you."

Winter only responded by lashing out again. Rose spun her left blade around and caught Winter's sword. She then pulled her weapon to trap the sword, twisting it so much that she nearly wrenched it from Winter's hand. Rose then delivered a low kick to her opponent's knee, sapping the strength from that leg.

Winter hissed as she fell to her knee and again when she felt cold steel against her neck.

"Well, what are you waiting for."

Her eyes lifted, expecting to find cold, murderous eyes, only to find two molten orbs of silver.

"She's not going to hurt you, she hates hurting people."

Winter snapped to her sister who closed in on Rose and gently grabbed Rose by her wrists. It was then that Winter noticed that the girl she expected to be a hardened killer was shaking violently.

"Come on Rose, let go, you didn't hurt her."

Winter could only watch as her sister soothingly talked to Rose and got the girl to put her weapons back in their sheathes.

"Okay, now you, Winter, are you calm enough to talk about this like a mature adult?"

Winter felt physically struck by that remark.

"I was just doing my job."

"No, you were acting on assumptions. Now will you or will you not let us say our piece."

"Fine."

Rose offered a trembling hand to her.

Winter stared at the hand for a moment, still baffled by her situation. Finally, she took the hand and pulled herself up.

"Friend Winter, are you okay?"

"Oh, Penny, yes, I'm fine."

Winter dusted herself off and looked at Rose, ready to hear what she had to say in her defense, instead the girl was staring at Penny with horror written all over her face.

A/N: Aaaannndd cliffhanger.

Sorry guys, I didn't intend for it o be a cliffhanger, but I got to this point and I felt that it was better to end it here and tackle the rest of it next chapter.

Okay, recap time. Mostly because I want to to talk some more and give you guys insight on the scenes as these were a looonngg time in the making.

So the walking home scene. That one I changed a bit. Originally, this was the "wake up" scene for Raven and Summer in the same way that the docks scene was for WBY. I changed it because I wanted this to be the first seen where Rose physically couldn't out right kill someone. Thus making it a more bittersweet scene. Also, before anyone says "How did hitting his neck knock the guy out?", because I said so, I couldn't exactly leave him conscious so I decreed that he was knocked out.

James' scene, that kinda came from nowhere. My best justification, I want to summarize everything about his storyline so far, as well as give his thoughts on everything. Plus, he finds out Winter is investigating Beacon students, which of course can only end one way. He tried though, Winter may be an Ice Queen, but she can have a hot head.

So the fluffy scene with Weiss and Rose, I once again thought that was a scene that needed to play out specifically. We all know Weiss frets about seeing her sister, and that Rose jumps at chances to help when she can. Yeah, this wasn't the only way things could have gone, but I had too much fun doing it this way.

Winter and Penny's talk. Yeah, Penny is James' daughter. It's official. Tell me what you think in a review. Anyway, this scene was a stroke of inspiration. I added the twist that it was Winter that got Weiss into Beacon and not Jacques. I don't know where this idea came from, but I loved it. I added this bit to really cement why Winter has reacted the way she has, and to reveal Penny. Though this wasn't the original plan.

The last scene. Yeah, that happened. So I'll admit I planned for the fight to be longer. But as I was writing, I realized, Rose suffers in drawn out battles. She's an assassin, she takes down her opponents in seconds or not at all. Regardless, I achieved my desired result. Winter losing to Rose. I originally planned this scene to showcase Rose's new weapon in actual combat, and I feel I've done that. Though, I wish to clarify her new style of fighting. Before, when using Guilty Rose, she would rely solely on her weapons. Now with Blossoming Rose, she has blended her Muay Thai into her fighting style, basically she'll lash out with punches, kicks and other attacks while using her weapon.

Alrighty, that's it for the chapter!

I hope you enjoyed!

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